February 20th, 2025 edition

St. LouiS AmericAn

Maryville U. president retires after 18 years

By Namratha Prasad

Maryville University announced Wednesday that Dr. Daniel Shipp will assume the role as president of Maryville University in June, 2025. The St. Louis American had the opportunity to speak with former President, Dr. Mark Lombardi, Maryville University’s longest standing president, in recent months. Lombardi prides himself on the number of first-generation graduates who have graduated under his leadership. Over 30,000 students have graduated in the 18 years Lombardi has held the position.

See LOMBARDI, A6

City, GSL announce Millennium Hotel plan

By Alvin A. Reid

The St. Louis American Calling it “an exciting plan,” St. Louis

Mayor Tishaura O. Jones is joining city leaders in heralding the selection of the Cordish Companies to redevelop the vacant Millennium Hotel at 200 S. 4th St. adjacent to the grounds of St. Louis Gateway Arch Foundation. According to Cordish, the nearly $670 million preliminary plan includes 1.3 million square feet of residential, office, commercial, cultural, and public spaces “to create a vibrant, multifunctional destination.” The proposal includes upscale residential, Class A office space, public spaces, an amphitheater, a food hall, event space, a potential home for the Gateway Arch National Park’s archives, enhanced streetscapes, pedestrian-friendly spaces, landscaping, and art installations.

“Back in May of 2024, I asked St. Louis Development Corporation and Greater St. Louis Inc. to

By Sylvester Brown, Jr.

The St. Louis American

It was perhaps an unplanned but still disheartening visual commentary. During a Thursday press conference, representatives of Annie Malone Children & Family Services stood behind a podium with a poster of an adorable Black child holding a brown, fuzzy teddy bear. Beside the child were the words: “Making Lives Better.”

Apparently, that mission has been compromised due to diminished funds. The situation is so dire that the nonprofit announced it was postponing its annual Annie Malone May Day Parade originally scheduled for May 18 this year- a St. Louis tradition for more than a century. Annie Malone is a long-standing social service agency that provides crisis programming for the St. Louis region. Its mission is to “Improve the

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

Gov. Mike Kehoe insulted African Americans and halted civil rights progress throughout Missouri when he signed an executive order the barring the use of state funds for DEI and prevents agencies from considering DEI in their hiring decisions on Tuesday. He twisted the knife in the egregious wound by acting in February -Black History Month.

In announcing his Trump-inspired action that ignores past racial practices, Kehoe also used words often spoken by civil rights leaders of the past who sometimes gave their lives for the right to employment opportunities.

“Missourians deserve a government

The St. Louis American

Black youths gather with a Hidden Valley resort snowboarding instructor for some tips before heading to the slope for practice. Show Me Skiers welcomed 70 young Black skiers

snowboarders for four lessons that closed on Sunday Feb. 9, 2025. For more coverage, see Sports.

Photo by Taylor Marrie / St. Louis American

Dr. Mark Lombardi, president of Maryville University in his office on the Maryville University campus.

Photo courtesy of Show Me Skiers Club

Diddy issues statement on dropped Tony Buzbee suit, Jay-Z takes legal action

Last Friday, Houston attorney Tony Buzbee dropped the lawsuit filed against Bad Boy Entertainment CEO, Sean “Diddy” Combs, and Jay-Z that accused them of assaulting a 13-year-old girl.

Combs, who is currently incarcerated in New York awaiting trial for sex trafficking and racketeering charges, issued a statement in response to the dismissal.

at a house party after the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards in New York.

The Jane Doe accuser was represented by Buzbee, who’s filed dozens of lawsuits on behalf of accusers who made sexual assault claims against Combs.

Jay-Z is moving forward with a defamation lawsuit he filed against Buzbee over the now-dismissed lawsuit. In a leaked declaration that made its rounds on X (formerly Twitter), the hip hop mogul described his experience.

“This is yet another confirmation that these lawsuits are built on falsehoods, not facts,” the statement said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “Accusers have been hiding behind anonymity, represented by an attorney more focused on headlines than legal merit.”

The complaint, first filed in October in New York federal court against Combs and later amended to add Carter, revolved around claims that rap moguls assaulted an underage woman

“I felt that Mr. Buzbee was placing a gun to my head that I either bow to his demands or endure personal and financial ruin,” an excerpt from the dec laration read.

On Thursday, Combs filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against NBCUniversal, Peacock, and Ample Entertainment over the documentary “Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy,” which made explosive allegations about his life.

R. Kelly sentence upheld in appeals court

Nearly four years

ago, singer/songwriter R. Kelly was convicted on nine counts of racketeering and human trafficking charges and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Last Wednesday, a federal appeals court upheld his sentence.

His lawyer attempted to reverse his convictions or win him a new trial by arguing to judges on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan that prosecutors improperly used a racketeering statute that was written to shut down organized crime to instead go after the singer.

The appeals court rejected Kelly’s claims on Wednesday.

“We have considered all arguments presented by Kelly on appeal and concluded they are without merit,” the court concluded in its decision. “For the reasons set forth (in the court document) we AFFIRM the district court’s judgment.”

Wendy Wiliams fighting to end court-ordered guardian

Two years ago, rumors were floating around that Wendy Williams’ son Kevin

Hunter Jr.’s, lavish spending triggered Wells Fargo Bank to seek a court ordered financial guardian for her. In a video chat with Harvey Levin of TMZ and attorney Mark Geragos Williams claimed the rumors were true.

“My son is a good person, but at this point he is a horrible person to me,” she said.

TMZ said Williams signed an affidavit Wednesday afternoon asking the judge to set her free. According to the affidavit, she says she has “regained capacity” to function without a guardian. The affidavit also says she does not have Frontotemporal Dementia, despite what doctors had claimed.

The celebrity news and gossip site reported that sources claim Williams will be re-evaluated by a doctor next Tuesday. The doctor was reportedly selected by the attorney she has hired to end the guardianship.

If the judge turns down the request to end the guardianship, TMZ said Williams is expected to demand a jury trial – where jurors will decide if she has regained her capacity to run her own life without guardian control.

Sources: Twitter.com, WGN.com, Allhiphop.com, The Hollywood Reporter, TMZ.com

Wendy Williams

Tony Buzbee

- Dr Jamal Bryant, pastor of New Birth MBC in Atlanta, calling for a 40-day boycott of Target

Wilson assumes chair of RWJF board of trustees

‘A critical time for achieving health equity’

By Alvin A. Reid

The St. Louis American

Starsky Wilson, a frequent visitor to his native St. Louis after departing to lead the Children’s Defense Fund, said last year during the annual Webster University DEI Conference that Black youths “radicalized” him.

“The Ferguson uprising was young, Black, poor people,” Wilson said of the months following Brown’s death at the hands of a police officer.

“They saw themselves in Michael Brown, they saw their strivings in his story. They had a beat of their own harmony. As I stood among them, I was radicalized.”

He remains steady in his belief those momentous days changed him forever.

Wilson, the CDF president and CEO, is also now fulfilling a new role, one that will help shape the nation’s philanthropical and healthcare future as dire times have started since President Trump took office.

He has assumed the Board of Trustees chair for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), following his election last July after serving as a trustee since January 2022.

Wilson is the first Black person and first faith leader to guide the governing body in RWJF’s 52-year history. He succeeds Kathryn S. Fuller, JD, the first woman to chair the RWJF

Board.

Wilson, who will continue to lead CDF and CDF Action, a lobbying and advocacy organization, said, “I am honored to serve the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and my colleagues on the Board of Trustees at this critical time for achieving health equity for children and families in America.

“RWJF is leading the field of philanthropy in confronting structural racism as an impediment to health and its tradition of healthy governance helps to make this possible. I’m pleased to partner with Dr. Besser and the board to continue this progress.”

The St. Louis American recently published a commentary by Besser that condemned presidential executive orders to end DEI and health initiatives.

“It is unconscionable that the Trump administration would coopt the language and vision of the civil rights movement in these executive orders as it attempts to send our nation back to an era of rampant, state-sanctioned discrimination,” Besser stated.

“Ultimately, these measures drive us farther away from a future when health is no longer a privilege, but a right for all.”

“At RWJF, we will continue to defend and advance fundamental American values of diversity, equity, and inclusion with the urgency this moment requires...” Dr. Besser said.

St. Louis

As Wilson becomes chair, Besser stated, “Our grantees and partners have for decades worked relentlessly to build a healthier, more equitable future for everyone. In these days of backlash and backsliding, we at RWJF must match our commitment and resolve to transform health in our lifetime. We will.” RWJF is a leading national philanthropy dedicated to transforming health in our lifetime. Through funding, convening, advocacy, and evidence-building, they work side-by-side with communities, practitioners, and institutions to get to health equity faster and pave the way together to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right.

“I am thrilled to welcome Rev. Dr. Wilson as the next Board chair of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,” Dr. Besser said.

“He brings a legacy of inspired leadership and transformative policies that have enhanced the health of children and communities. His dynamic vision will be instrumental in driving our mission forward and ensuring a future where health is no longer a privilege but a right.”

Wilson served the Deaconess Foundation president and CEO from 2011 through 2020 and was also pastor of Saint John’s Church (The Beloved Community.)

He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Xavier University of Louisiana, a Master of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Duke University. He is currently chair of the Board of Visitors for Duke University’s Divinity School.

He is also a staunch defender of DEI programs. He said in 2024, “It was proven a long time ago that these programs are successful. We need to know these are the grounds that should be protected.

Wilson was also prophetic when he stated, “Don’t waste your time [trying to convince those the refuse to admit DEI’s importance.]

That group of politicians now includes Gov. Mike Kehoe, whose executive order on Tuesday Feb. 18, 2025, axed all state DEI hiring initiatives in its various departments.

Photo by Sylvester Brown Jr. /

American

Rev, Strarsky Wilson, president and CEO of the Children’s Defense Fund, paid tribute to the late Michael Brown in August 2024, at St. John AME church, where he formerly was pastor. Wilson now also serves as president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation board of trustees.

Editorial/Commentary

Guest Editorial Commentary

America’s new foreign policy: Who cares?

By Eugene Robinson

The Washington Post

After four disorienting weeks, the Trump administration’s foreign policy has become crystal clear: Screw the rest of the world, allies and adversaries alike.

Who cares if Russian dictator Vladimir Putin gets to keep the wide swath of Ukraine’s territory he seized in a brutal, unprovoked invasion? Why should the Ukrainians even be at the table when we talk to the Russians about a peace deal? After all, President Donald Trump promised to quickly end the war; he and Putin can decide the terms. Maybe the United States would be more concerned about Ukraine’s sovereignty if we were given half of the country’s valuable mineral resources. Does that make us sound like mobsters running a protection racket? Well, the world is a tough place.

Who cares if the newly contemptuous U.S. stance toward the democracies of Europe makes them feel abandoned and vulnerable? Who cares if the leaders of wealthy, technologically advanced nations such as Britain, France, Germany and Italy — effectively demilitarized, beneath the U.S. umbrella, since the apocalypse of World War II — decide they now have no choice but to massively rearm? What if Europe is soon bristling with weapons, and what if Putin sees this buildup as a threat? What could possibly go wrong?

to “take it back.”

All Americans should care about these radical departures from long-established policy toward the rest of the world. Trump promised to make America great again, but he is doing the polar opposite. His bellicose chest-thumping makes this nation smaller, weaker, more isolated — and negates the concept of American exceptionalism.

Bullying is a behavior that can intimidate, as anyone who has spent time in a schoolyard knows. But it does not project genuine strength. It reveals insecurity, weakness, overcompensation for some deficiency. Trump’s foreign policy is that of a paper tiger, not a real one.

Who cares if the Palestinians are permanently denied their dream of an independent state? Now that more than a year of scorched-earth Israeli bombardment — in response to the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack and hostage-taking — has reduced much of Gaza to rubble, why doesn’t the United States just seize that seafront property and turn it into a lucrative Riviera-style resort? The Palestinians can go live elsewhere, all 2 million of them, and we don’t care where, as long as it’s not here.

Who cares if children die in regions of Africa ravaged by war, famine and disease? Trump promised to cut federal spending, and although foreign aid is just 1 percent of the budget, the U.S. Agency for International Development is an easy target for Elon Musk and his “Department of Government Efficiency.”

Yes, the richest man in the world is taking food out of the mouths of some of the poorest people. Deal with it.

Who cares if our allies in the Western Hemisphere are alarmed by sudden new demands for territory and tribute? Trump insults Canada, our most steadfast partner in war and peace for more than a century, by calling it “the 51st state” and referring to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a “governor.” He threatens Canada and Mexico, our biggest trading partners, with crippling tariffs. Displeased with the way the Panama Canal is being run, he vows

Since the postwar Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe was launched in 1948, generations of U.S. leaders have been guided by the principle that encouraging the spread of democracy and free markets makes our own nation safer and more prosperous. We have made terrible mistakes along the way — the Vietnam War, interventions in Latin America, the invasion and occupation of Iraq — but we have never abandoned the idea of the United States as a “shining city on a hill.” Presidents from John F. Kennedy to Ronald Reagan to Barack Obama have used that metaphor to describe America’s place in the world.

Trump evidently has a meaner, more constricted vision. He reduces the United States to just another cynical player in a zerosum game. For us to win, in this view, others must lose.

This is an abdication, not an assertion, of American leadership, and it invites other nations to fill the vacuum. China is the obvious main beneficiary. European Union officials have already talked about expanding trade with Beijing in light of Trump’s myriad tariffs. China has spent years expanding its influence in Africa and reportedly has offered to take over halted USAID projects in Nepal, Colombia and the Cook Islands. The BRICS trade group founded by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa has grown to include 10 nations — including Indonesia, which joined in January. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spends his time uselessly trying to end diversity efforts in the U.S. military rather than planning to counter the Chinese military’s growing power and sophistication.

Trump is leading us not toward greatness, but toward surrender.

Eugene Robinson writes a column on politics and culture and hosts a weekly online chat with readers. In a three-decade career at The Washington Post, Robinson has been city hall reporter, city editor, foreign correspondent in Buenos Aires and London, foreign editor, and assistant managing editor in charge of the paper’s Style section.

EMERITUS LEADERSHIP

Nathan B.

Trump’s ‘slash and burn’ on education is illegal

Presidents Trump and Musk and their billionaire buddies are so detached from how Americans live that they cannot see how ending public education and canceling these contracts kills the American Dream. This is not about Democrats versus Republicans. This is about billionaires versus the middle class. If kids from working class families do not have access to schools, how can they build a future?” — U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro

By Marc Morial

The Elon Musk-led slash-and-burn squad euphemistically known as the Department of Government Efficiency has revoked the contracts of researchers who are years into the collection, analysis, and study of educational data.

It has pulled about 100 Department of Education employees, including those with even the slightest connection to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, from their jobs.

At her Senate confirmation hearing, the nominee for Secretary of Education -an extremist advocate for diverting public funds to private schools -- outlined her plan for dismantling her own department.

Americans.

The Department of Education has been a cabinet-level agency for only 46 years, but opponents of educational equity have been trying to eliminate federal oversight and support for education since shortly after the Civil War. Just a year after President Andrew Johnson signed a bill creating the first Department of Education, resentment over the education of formerly enslaved people led to the demotion of the agency to an office within the Department of the Interior.

Federal support for education remained relatively feeble for nearly a century, until the landmark Elementary and Secondary Act of 1965. Part of President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty, the Act represented the first significant federal investment in primary and secondary schools and a commitment to closing the achievement gap.

Meanwhile, extremist allies in the House of Representatives were preparing legislation to divert the resources slashed from educational initiatives to billionaires.

The current administration appears recklessly determined to sabotage our nation’s competitiveness in the new technology-based economy by undermining federal oversight and support for education. Openly mocking its own legal and moral duty to eliminate educational opportunity gaps as “wokeness,” the administration will abandon students in underserved communities, shifting ever-more resources toward the wealthiest

Both Republican and Democratic presidents have reauthorized the Act over the years, most notably 1994’s Improving America’s Schools Act under President Bill Clinton, 2002’s No Child Left Behind Act under President George W. Bush, and 2015’s Every Student Succeeds Act under President Barack Obama.

The Trump administration is drafting an executive order that calls on Congress to eliminate the Department of Education, but members are unlikely to defy the strong public sentiment in favor of it. Only 29% of voters want to see the Department eliminated, and nearly 70% support increased funding for education.

A clue to the motivation behind the administration’s unpopular and disastrous campaign against education lies in Musk’s own publicly-declared desire to displace American-born engineers with lower-paid immigrants. He falsely claims that Americans aren't educated enough for the work, but seems determined to make that claim a reality.

Commentary

HB495 is a modern version of Jim Crow

By State Rep. Marty Joe Murray

Missouri’s HB 495 should never be called a “public safety” bill.

In fact, it’s nothing more than an attack on the very freedoms that define our democracy, specifically the right to free speech and the ability to protest. This legislation isn’t about keeping our communities safe, it’s about giving the state unchecked power to silence dissent, punish peaceful protests, and undermine the will of the people.

If anything, this bill should be called what it really is: an anti-freedom bill, designed to protect the status quo at the expense of our fundamental rights.

Missouri House Bill 495 is a sweeping proposal with far-reaching implications for both civil liberties and local governance. The bill seeks to redefine and expand the concept of "rioting," enabling law enforcement to target and criminalize peaceful protests by categorizing gatherings of six or more individuals as potential riots if any law is violated.

social justice issues, or any number of grievances that might inspire a peaceful protest.

What’s most alarming is the state's disregard for the local communities it’s supposed to serve. Who carries the liability for poor behavior from officers?

In 2017, when St. Louis was rocked by protests after the acquittal of officer Jason Stockley in the shooting death of Anthony Lamar Smith, the police response to those protests was oppressive. The tactic of “kettling,” where officers surrounded protesters and detained them without clear means of escape, resulted in a multimillion-dollar settlement against the city.

It introduces stricter penalties for actions such as blocking traffic, which have historically been key tactics in nonviolent demonstrations. Additionally, the bill proposes transferring control of the St. Louis Police Department from the city to a stateappointed commission, stripping local voters of their ability to influence public safety policies through elected leadership.

Together, these measures represent a dramatic shift toward centralized state power, suppressing free expression, eroding local autonomy, and potentially burdening Missouri taxpayers with the costs of defending lawsuits over civil rights violations.

The bill gives the state sweeping authority to define and penalize "riots" and "unlawful interference," criminalizing forms of protest that are essential to a free society. It doesn’t just target violent protests; it punishes nonviolent dissent and expands the scope for police to intervene.

The result is a tool for silencing people who are fed up with the way their communities are being treated, whether that’s related to policing practices,

The city had to pay $5 million to resolve claims from individuals whose constitutional rights were violated by the police. This wasn’t just about the city facing a financial blow; it was about the broader implications of government overreach, where innocent people were penalized simply for exercising their First Amendment rights. If the State takes control of our police department who takes that type of liability moving forward?

Perhaps the most troubling aspect of HB 495 is the timing. With St. Louis on the cusp of a mayoral election that could shift the direction of the city’s leadership, the people of St. Louis should be the ones deciding how public safety is handled, not Governor Kehoe. We are less than two weeks from a mayoral election, and this bill is attempting to undermine the very democratic process that allows people to speak out against the status quo. It’s a modern version of Jim Crow 2.0, where people who seek change through nonviolent protest are penalized.

We must stand firm in protecting the rights of citizens to speak out, organize, and demand change. HB 495 is bad for St. Louis, it’s bad for Missouri, and it’s bad for democracy. I urge everyone who values their freedom to call upon their Missouri state Senators to filibuster this bill. It’s time to make our voices heard.” State Rep. Marty Joe Murray represents part of St. Louis City (District 078) in the Missouri House of Representatives. He was elected to his first two-year term in November 2024.

Guest Columnist Marty Joe Murray

Columnist Eugene Robinson

Columnist Marc Morial

Comptroller Darlene Green will hold a community blood drive from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday February 24, 2025, at City Hall. The American Red Cross, which is facing a national blood crisis, says that a third of all African American blood donors are a match for a patient with sickle cell disease.

Comptroller’s community blood drive Feb. 24

St. Louis American

Severe winter weather, which the St. Louis area and other regions continues to deal with, and the California wildfires, are having an unseen impact on American health.

The American Red Cross is facing a national blood crisis because these conditions have forced thousands of blood donations to go uncollected. There is a critical need for platelets, as well as an emergency shortage for types O negative, and B negative blood. A national call is out for donors, especially Black donors, and people in the metro St. Louis area have an opportunity to help during Black History Month.

Comptroller Darlene Green will hold her semi-annual community blood drive from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday February 24, 2025, in Room 208 of St. Louis City Hall.

The blood drive honors Dr. Charles Drew, a physician and medical researcher who developed the first large-scale blood banks early in World War II.

The Red Cross urgently needs blood and platelet donors to meet the needs of patient care, and there is ongoing need for African American blood donors for sickle cell therapies. Individuals who receive frequent blood transfusions, such as patients with sickle cell disease, need to receive the most compatible match possible. There are more than 600 known antigens, and some are unique to specific ethnic groups. One in three African American blood donors is a match for a patient with sickle cell disease.

To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-REDCROSS or visit redcrossblood.org [www.redcrossblood.org/STLCity]

This game is far from over

By E. Faye Williams

I was blessed to attend Grambling University as my first of several colleges and universities after high school. A Black guru of college football was there at that time. I don’t have to tell most of you that I am talking about the great Coach Eddie Robinson.

I remember a lot about what he said or did, but one of my favorite statements from him is, “You don’t leave the game until it’s over.” Well, too many of our people are afraid the game headed up by Donald Trump is over for us. Rob would tell you to stay in the game and be ready to play because this game of Trump vs. the People is not over!

A month into this Trump and his sidekick Elon Musk’s pitiful show of retribution is in high gear! We can’t say he didn’t tell us what he was going to do. Some of it was so outlandish that many couldn’t believe he would do it.

It’s probably one of the things those who voted for him said, “He was just kidding! That was just campaign talk!” Well, for once in his life, he was telling the truth! Unfortunately, too many people didn’t believe him!

The game, if you call it that, has just begun, and Coach Rob would tell us to get in the game and stay. Fannie Lou Hamer would warn us “to be no ways tired!” With all the damage that has already been done to our democracy, cleaning up this garbage is going to take all of us to stay in the game and play our role as though our lives depend on it — because life as we have known it “ain’t happening no more!”

These lunatics have told even those who voted for Trump (white women) that they have no rights. They knew better since Vice President Kamala Harris supports women’s rights strongly. Trump definitely does not. Certain immigrants knew better — including Melania — who doesn’t seem to be interested in being seen by her husband’s side. Did you see that hat she wore for the inauguration that blocked her husband’s view of her and hers of him?

Others who, according to statistics, voted for him were too many Hispanics — and look at how he’s showing his appreciation to them. Certainly, those civil servants who’ve either been fired or laid off never believed they were on his retribution list — especially the FBI, CIA and prosecutors.

Black Teamsters knew what Trump would do and voted in their best interest. But many non-Black Teamsters ignored the message and stayed with Trump — only to find he is working to end union rights. Rep. Byron Donalds and Sen. Tim Scott weren’t even considered for Trump’s Cabinet, or were they asked and just said no?

It’s time to do what Alicia Keys advised the rest of us to do: “Rise up!”

This is not a time to sit back waiting for somebody else to fight for your rights while you leave the game!

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

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American E. Faye Williams

Since 2015, 25 students who were St. Louis American Foundation scholarship awardees have received scholarships, totaling almost $2.5 million.

“That’s always the legacy,” Lombardi told the St. Louis American in his office.

“I’m not directly responsible for every one of those graduates, but part of a team of faculty and staff and alums and everyone that together help those students get there.”

Students who pass their education on to their community and inspire others to do the same makes Lombardi happy.

“When you’re an educator, you have to have faith that the work that you do is going to empower people,” he said.

Lombardi, who works to increase DE&I at Maryville said he is inspired by conversations over his 42 years in higher education spaces. Some of his efforts include recruiting and retaining a diverse group of educators, as well as keeping tuition flat for six years.

“You can’t snap your fingers and make it so you have to push through the opposition,” he said. “You have to go out and recruit and hire and promote, and you have to do all of that work. And there’s always going to be both active and passive opposition to that, and you got to push through it.”

But the conversation around DE&I initiatives have changed over the decades Lombardi has been in higher education. Though so much progress has been made, Lombardi said, universities across the nation are facing backlash for deploying these

initiatives.

“We’ve encountered what is what happens in every society, which is the cultural backlash of ignorance, which is what I call it,” Lombardi said. “We’re under attack, both from governmental agencies and state politicians and federal too on the ground in terms of the way people perceive these initiatives, and what we’ve tried to do.”

Lombardi said now, more than ever, the need to evolve and shift the public perception and the application of the initiatives is necessary to keep promoting access to education for diverse communities.

“You can’t give up on those values and those ideals,” he said. “You’ve got to be able to find different ways of making sure that you can keep those things that keep the forward momentum going.”

On a day-to-day basis, inclusivity includes the spaces where students eat, live and socialize, Lombardi explained. This model serves as a reminder to students that their presence in academic spaces are not an afterthought. He said cultivating conversations centered around the history of diversity and inclusion in these spaces in addition to the classroom is what makes the difference between a campus that considers DE&I practices and actually implements them.

“I think those conversations are not the only ones, but they’re absolutely essential to help young people understand where we’ve been and where we’re headed,” Lombardi said. “It helps, I think young people understand that these issues are not ancient issues. They are front and center, and they’re living them right now.”

“We’ve built something here over the last 18

Mayoral forum

Recorder of Deeds Michael Butler and three other candidates shared their plans for the city’s future during a forum at Harris-Stowe State University on Feb. 13, 2025, which was hosted by 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis and the HBCU. Joining Butler on stage (seated) are candidates Andrew Jones and Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. Also on stage was candidate Alderwoman Cara Spencer.

years, we’ve built a culture and an approach on these issues that I think is very powerful and very strong with a lot of advocacy at all different levels,” Lombardi said.

Lombardi’s interest in DE&I stemmed from his experiences both at home and abroad, where he learned about different cultures and saw first-hand the struggles people of color face everyday. He said as a white man, he struggled to comprehend the barriers to access peo-

ple of color face.

“My belief [is] that education is the great equalizer of everything, that education is an empowering tool, I think, even more powerful in the society than money. Hard to imagine, but I really do think it’s true,” he said.

Inspired by his experience in Africa, including Senegal and Nigeria, Lombardi created programs at Maryville that enabled students who could otherwise not afford it, to study at various cities in the United States.

“I’ve lived in Florida and New Mexico and all over the country, and there are all kinds of cultures and communities around that a lot of people aren’t aware of,” he said. “America has all these subcultures existing within it. So I’ve always been just real curious: how do other people see the experiences that I’m seeing?”

As funding for DE&I initiatives in universities across the country decline, Lombardi said the institution is a financially strong one. He said they’ve had multimillion dollar surpluses in operational funds. In endowment funds, he said the funds hover around $80 million. He said though the national trend in enrollment rates reflect a decline in enroll-

Millennium

Continued from A1

lic-private partnership, the Gateway Arch Park Foundation stepping up for our community, and the Cordish Companies’ exciting plan, this property at the front door of our state will again be one that St. Louisans can be proud of, and which will contribute immensely to downtown.

Neal Richardson, SLDC president and CEO, called the Millennium Hotel redevelopment “just the start.”

“The city has a clear path to site control to the Railway Exchange Building. Once the Railway Exchange Building is acquired, downtown St. Louis will be a step closer to a transformational shift,” he said.

“This redevelopment plan will transform the St. Louis skyline. Working with Gateway Arch Park Foundation and The Cordish Companies on this project will provide the rejuvenation St. Louis desperately needs to transition into a world-class city.”

Dustin Allison, GSL Inc., president and CEO,

ment in higher universities, Maryville’s rates have increased over the past few years. He attributes the growth to the university’s decision to implement the latest technology, when he implemented campus-wide wifi and a portal for students to submit their assignments.

And part of his commitment to DE&I practices included giving every student on campus an iPad to complete and submit their assignments.

“We invested four and a half million in basically a digital infrastructure network, wired and wireless, that would allow people to use these devices,” he said. “We basically invested so that every student had a digitally equitable platform from which to learn.”

Lombardi emphasized the importance of a space where students can have a dialogue amongst each other, without needing to get heated or protest. He said a lot of students who protest go to SLU or Wash U in order to experience the more widespread protests. In 2012, Lombardi and other staff involved in student life decided to create an event titled “diversity dialogues” in order to curb the need for protests on campus.

“We give people the

said, “Revitalizing this iconic site into a hub of activity is critical to the future of Downtown St. Louis.

“St. Louis is the best city in America, and this new project will help our ongoing efforts to once again have the safest, most vibrant, most beautiful, and best downtown in America.”

In November 2024, the Arch Park Foundation issued a request for development proposals. It reviewed submissions in January with partners and independent experts, evaluating each based on key criteria, including, consistency with local planning guidelines, feasibility of execution, highest benefit to the neighborhood and broader community, and alignment with the approved redevelopment plan for the site.

The Foundation received three qualified and complete responses to the RFP, and all called for demolition of the hotel structure.

“We are delivering on our promise to take swift action to bring vibrancy once again to this critical downtown location,” said Ryan McClure, Executive

opportunity, the students, the opportunity, to voice their feelings. And it works. I mean, it seems to help them, and it doesn’t change perspectives. It just helps them, because a lot of times people want to be heard. Anybody does, whether they’re students or my age or whatever, people want to be heard, and that’s an important element,” Lombardi said.

But as current federal DE&I initiatives decline and become obsolete, Lombardi said it is a dark time for those who hope to improve upon the policies he built. He said he does not know what to do with the impending insidious opposition to the initiatives. It’s an uphill battle.

“We can have legitimate disagreements about strategy and tactics and all those things, but the values of what it means to live in a diverse and inclusive society where you value everyone and their contributions and their backgrounds, and that’s the struggle,” Lombardi said.

“That’s the struggle that happens and that’s where the opposition is. nIt’s opposition in terms of basically arguing that these issues are not issues at all. Where do you go with that? I don’t know where you go with that.”

Director of Gateway Arch Park Foundation.

“By selecting a developer before closing on this property, we are continuing momentum with purpose and dedication.

The Cordish Companies is a world-class U.S. developer, and their vision will be transformative for this site, creating a stronger, more connected downtown St. Louis and uplifting our entire region.” Blake Cordish, The Cordish Companies principle, called the development “a once-in-a-generation moment to reimagine and continue to reinvigorate downtown’s urban core.”

“By linking new and existing assets to thriving corridors, this project will act as a catalyst for further revitalization, bringing more residents and visitors, attracting new businesses, and driving long-term growth and vitality for St. Louis and the region.” The redevelopment plan is scheduled for review during the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority (LCRA) Board Meeting at 3 p.m. Tuesday Feb. 25, 2025.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Continued from A1

Postponement was a tough choice, CEO Keisha Lee told reporters.

“It wasn’t a light decision for my board or myself. Everybody had devastation in their eyes and all we could think or talk about was what this parade means to this community,” Lee said, detailing last week’s decision to postpone the parade.

“But, looking at it, it was a business and ethical decision.”

In a previously released statement, Lee elaborated on the results of operating the agency with insufficient funds: “Right now, we have families who can’t afford their next meal or a safe place to sleep,” she said, adding that the organization grapples with the “difficult decision” to put children’s “needs first and ensure we are directing as many resources as possible toward providing real, life-changing support.”

“If we made the decision to push forward with the parade, it would hurt our programming. And, because of the state of our country, we know that families are more important.

When asked if federal cuts to social programs by the Trump Administration had played a role in the decision, Derrick Roberts, board treasurer, responded candidly.

“We know the landscape of our country right now and there are a lot of moving pieces to that so, we are strategically planning in that space. We don’t know what funding will look like for Annie Malone but we’re moving strategically to change some of our programming but we’re also looking at our finances…not just this year but upcoming years for our funding sources.”

Roberts went on to say: “We want to make sure that we not only want to provide those services, but we want to provide them at a high-quality. To do that we need to make sure all our funds are available to help our families.”

Alderwoman Pamela Boyd, an Annie Malone board member, was straightforward.

“Trump,” she said when asked if funding attacks played a role.

“We are trying to hold on to our dollars to keep our programs going.

regionally and nationally) to make a one-time pledge of $136-a nod to the agency’s 136-year-history in St. Louis.

“We got a call from White Castles asking, ‘What’s going on? Is this fake news?’ They were devastated about it. It felt good but it’s all about how organizations give and their decision-making about giving to nonprofits based on their budgets.”

The agency announced a new fund-raising campaign, “Annie Malone: 136 Years of Impact—Join Us in Changing Lives.” The goal calls for one million people (locally,

Not only were some St. Louis citizens shocked by the news, Lee said some of their corporate sponsors were caught off guard as well.

Kehoe

Continued from A1

that treats all individuals equally, without preferential treatment or discrimination based on immutable characteristics,” Kehoe said in a release

“Our state agencies must operate under a framework that ensures fairness, equal opportunity, and merit-based decision-making.”

Missouri NAACP President Nimrod Chapel said in statement, “We will not sit quietly while our dignity and humanity are under attack.”

“The executive order from Gov. Kehoe is extremely disturbing. It is part of an anti-Black agenda that seeks to revert our nation back to segregation and Jim Crow. We refuse to go back.”

“More importantly for state agencies, the DEI programs help service providers connect with their clients and better serve their needs. This is a step backward for everyone.”

Kehoe picked himself – and conservative Republicans here and in Washington D.C., to determine a “DEI” program is.

He defines it to include “efforts to manipulate or influence the composition of an organization based

solely on race, color, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation.”

State agencies have 90 days to review and end any initiatives that violate the order.

This includes the University of Missouri system, which last year eliminated its office of DEI, and several related programs.

“At the University of Missouri, we follow all applicable state and federal laws and regulations. We will carefully review this order and ensure we are in compliance with it as applicable,” University of Missouri spokesperson Christopher Ave said in response to the order.

In addition to Kehoe’s executive order, Republican state Rep. Dirk Deaton, chair of the House Budget Committee, has announced the formal filing of the appropriations bills for the 2025 legislative session.

Included in the bill that appropriates money for public colleges and universities is language to ensure that state funds will not be used for contracts, programs, positions, or organizational entities within institutions of higher education that are solely focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) or similar initiatives.

In the press statement, the agency wrote that it’s calling on “corporations, philanthropists, and community leaders to rally behind this mission, knowing that next year, the parade will come back stronger and better than ever before.”

“It’s very simple,” said John Bowman, president of the St. Louis County NAACP and former Annie Malone board member, added. “We’re a 501 C-3 organization, so, please

National alarm

Several civil rights organizations and not-forprofit partners have filed a federal lawsuit challenging three executive orders issued by resident Donald Trump.

According to a release, “the orders threaten civil rights and the ability of organizations to provide vital social and health services. The lawsuit— National Urban League v. Trump—was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. It claims that the orders violate the First and Fifth Amendments by targeting diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility (DEIA) programs, and transgender rights.

“This assault on diversity, equity, and inclusion is discriminatory at best and institutionalized economic oppression at its worst,” said Marc Morial, National Urban League president and CEO.

Morial noted that Urban League programs “have placed over a quarter-million people in jobs over the past decade, often with federal support.”

Joining as plaintiffs in the lawsuit are National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), and AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC), and they contend with the Urban League,

step up. Let’s not wait on budget cuts to affect this organization; let’s make sure we take care of our own needs in our community.”

Lee was careful not to use the word “canceled” regarding the parade. She specified that, at this time, it’s only been “postponed.” It may return in 2026.

Additionally, she said that she and fellow board members are discussing perhaps hosting another “less expensive” community, fund-raising event later this year.

According to an Annie Malone press statement, with “rising inflation,

“the executive orders infringe on free speech by censoring DEIA-related communications, violating

housing instability, and increasing food insecurity, families need more support than ever before. As the need continues to grow, we must shift our focus to raising the critical funds that help stabilize and strengthen our community.”

Asked if there was still a chance to resuscitate the annual parade this year, CEO Lee said that midMarch is the cutoff date for someone to step up with the necessary funds to successfully implement the event.

“This city has always been a ‘Show Me’ state community—one that

due process through vague prohibitions, and discriminating against marginalized groups.”

steps up when it matters most,” Lee said. “Now, we are calling on corporations, philanthropists, and community leaders to rally behind this mission, knowing that next year, the parade will come back stronger and better than ever before.”

Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow. Anyone interested in supporting Annie Malone’s efforts or becoming an “exclusive parade sponsor” next year, contact them at executiveassistant@anniemalone.com.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Annie Malone Children & Family Services Chief Excecutive officer Keisha Lee addressing the media about finances and funding the annual May Day parade during a Wednesday morning Feb. 19, 2025 press conference on the postponment of the annual parade. At left is former board John Bowman and treasurer Derek Roberts at right.

They seek declaratory and injunctive relief to halt enforcement of the orders.

‘Taking Care of You’

Dr. Will Ross says Trump NIH cuts could be catastrophic

‘Continue to see disproportionate deaths’

Dr. Will Ross delivered an address entitled “An American Dilemma: Asserting a Moral Imperative in Our Quest For Health Equity as the new Alumni Endowed Professor Of Medicine in November 2021 at the Washington University School of Medicine. Ross says President Trump’s planned halt to NIH funding will “impede the ability of investigators to address some of the long-standing health issues in the African American community.”

By Alvin A. Reid

St. Louis American

President Trump’s seemingly unwarranted and unconstitutional financial attack on the National Institute of Health and institutes of higher learning including Washington University St. Louis has a direct impact on the health and wellbeing of African Americans.

Dr. Will Ross, Alumni Endowed Professor of Medicine, Nephrology and associate dean for diversity at Washington University School of Medicine, says Trump’s cuts to NIH “will not only hobble critical biomedical research and stifle innovation, but will also impede the ability of investigators to address some of the long-standing health issues in the African American community.”

“The cutting-edge advances in diabetes care and hypertension, two major causes of poor health and disability among African Americans, will be

stalled as we continue to see disproportionate deaths from these preventable diseases,” said Ross.

Within the last year, Washington University has launched or completed NIH funded medical studies that benefit all Americans, including several that are of unique importance to the Black community.

A recently completed study focused on children with neurological condi-

See ROSS, A9

Black women and cardiovascular disease

Recently my youngest daughter celebrated her 18th birthday, and it was with that milestone that I realized that I was indeed a middle-aged woman.

n Black women are more likely to be single mothers as compared to white, Asian, and Hispanic women.

I guess in my head I was still that “full of energy” young girl from Pine Bluff, Arkansas who could not wait to see the world. However, there were obvious signs that I was not as young as I used to be. For instance, I was freezing my family out of my home due to my own personal summer raging through my body. Secondly, my morning routine required a little bit more effort to get going. I was no longer able to just jump out of bed. My joints yearned for some gentle stretches. Lastly, I noticed that I prefer to go to bed early than to attend some latenight events. As I pondered this epiphany of my advancing age, I started thinking about what this meant for my health going forward. As a Black woman, what should I be concerned about and where should I focus my efforts?

Black women are profoundly affected by cardiovascular disease. Though cardiovascular disease is the #1 cause of death for all women, the greatest burden of disease is felt by Black women at 59% per the American Heart Association. Roughly 50 thousand Black women die each year from cardiovascular disease. Various factors contribute to this disparity including

See ANDERSON, A9

Helping women find mental health ‘resilience’

By Ashley Winters

The St. Louis American

Pamela Anita Mary Davis never thought “in a million years” she would lose both her parents to kidney failure.

Tragically, it took less than a year for something that seemed so far-fetched to become her reality. Her journey of grief, depression, and anxiety inspired her to write a memoir for those facing some of life’s most difficult challenges.

Davis’ debut book ‘Resilience Found Me: A Memoir of Anxiety, Grief, and Passing the Crown’ addresses how to process grief, and rebuild your life after trauma.

“There’s so much going on in the world it’s important that we have a resource to help us,” Davis said.

Davis shares her first-hand experience of dealing with a tremendous loss, with a goal of helping others find the courage and strength it takes to face difficult emotions and feelings.

“It’s an uphill battle,” she said.

“I wanted to fill the book with spiritual

n “46% of White college students sought mental health treatment compared to 23% of Asian students, 26% of Black students, and 33% of Latino students.”

inspiration and empowerment that will help those in need.” Some of the key highlights are:

• Building resilience in the face of trauma is a six-step “Resilience Approach,” which teaches readers to acknowledge their pain, face their fears, and create a clear path forward.

• Managing anxiety and emotional strife uses practical tools such as journaling, spiritual growth exercises, and developing healthy support systems.

See DAVIS, A9

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Pamela Davis dealt with mental health struggles in college and after losing her parents and overcoming the challenges, she decided to help others facing similar situations in life.

Denise HooksAnderson

Davis

Continued from A8

• Finding beauty and purpose through grief uses strategies for healing, including releasing control, staying present, and transforming loss into meaning.

Each chapter displays the writer’s pathway to mental wellness, and includes exercises designed to guide readers toward self-discovery.

“My book is relatable, tackling themes such as work-life challenges, familial loss, and overcoming self-doubt,” Davis said.

She hopes readers will see themselves in her story and gain new tools to help them when life seems unbearable.

Davis’ ‘College Through Anxiety’ chapter examines the pressure that many Black college students face for the first time in their lives. Davis was a first-generation college student who was attending the University of Missouri Columbia, and experienced mounting stress during her freshman year.

She lost an uncle, and then experienced a panic attack at his funeral.

At the time, she didn’t know what was occurring, but she remembers being unable to catch her breath. Davis was rushed to the hospital, and was fortunate to encounter a compassionate nurse who taught her breathing techniques to ease her anxiety.

According to the University of Michigan

Ross

Public Health School’s annual Healthy Minds Study, about 44% of college students report symptoms of depression and 37% report experiencing anxiety. Many are dealing with both mental health concerns.

A report by the Journal

Continued from A8 on African Americans.

tions and found that only 50% of Black patients completed genetic testing within a year of doctors referring patients for such testing, compared with 75% of white patients. The results indicate the disparity is due to differences in the type of health insurance kids have and other barriers to accessing care. The findings published Feb. 12, 2025, in the journal Neurology, highlight the difficulties that patients — particularly Black patients — face in accessing genetic testing to receive accurate diagnoses, the researchers said. According to Washington University, the study has led to a change in practice at WashU Medicine’s pediatric neurology clinic, where a genetic counselor has been embedded to help address some of the access challenges uncovered by the study.

While the number of COVID cases has fallen in the U.S., it still circulates and causes significant illnesses and deaths. With higher rates of mortality

Anderson

Continued from A8 obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.

Compared to white women, Black women are more likely to be diagnosed with hypertension. Greater than 50% of Black women over the age of 20, have high blood pressure. However, only 20% of the

of Adolescent Health–Mental Health Disparities

Among Students of Color study shows about a third of college students — white, Black, Hispanic, and Asian — have felt “so depressed that they couldn’t function.”

White college students

are almost twice as likely than Black students to seek help. The study also found that 46% of white college students sought mental health treatment compared to 23% of Asian students, 26% of Black students, and 33% of Latino students. The

A nasal vaccine for COVID-19, based on technology developed at Washington University in St. Louis, will enter a phase 1 clinical trial in the U.S. after an investigational new drug application was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The trial will be sponsored and conducted by the NIH and is “a critical first step toward initiation of the phase 1 trial, planned for this spring.

Washington University School of Medicine has

Black women with hypertension have blood pressures within normal range.

This increased prevalence is often rooted in a combination of genetic predisposition and the socio-economic pressures faced by Black communities, including high-stress environments, food deserts, and limited access to quality healthcare. Additionally, Black women are more likely

also received two large NIH grants to renew funding for the Human Pangenome Reference Sequencing Project, which began in 2019 with the goal of increasing the diversity of human genome sequences that are pooled into the widely used reference genome. A thorough representation of human genetic diversity can help researchers discover how genetic variation contributes to disease and perhaps offer new routes to innovative treatments.

Washington University

to be single mothers as compared to white, Asian, and Hispanic women. 47% of Black mothers were single mothers in 2023, which was higher than the national average which was 21%. In addition to leading a single parent home, Black women are extremely likely to also be a caregiver. The demands as a result of that particular lifestyle leads to little room for exercise, sleep,

researchers have conducted significant studies on human genome sequences from African Americans, particularly focusing on large-scale whole-genome sequencing projects to better understand genetic variations within this population, often in relation to diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, and to identify potential disparities in disease risk compared to other ethnicities; these studies are often conducted through the McDonnell Genome Institute at Washington University School of Medicine.

and healthy meal preparation.

Socioeconomic status also plays a pivotal role in the health disparities faced by Black women. The communities in which Black women reside often have fewer resources, limited access to nutritious foods, and reduced opportunities for physical activity.

Socio-economic struggles can lead to unhealthy

ors are white. Just 11% are Black and Black students may have good reason to prefer to see Black counselors.

In January 2021, the American Psychiatric Association issued a public apology for perpetuating systemic racism in its treatment of Black people.

Davis overcame her college challenge and earned a B.S. in Healthcare Management in 2013. She would go on to earn master’s in Healthcare Administration from Webster University.

“I’ve since built a fulfilling career as a human resources specialist, focusing on areas like recruitment and placement, credentialing, and workers’ compensation,” she said.

In 2017, she founded Queen of Resilience, Inc., to assist other women and college students overcome mental health challenges “by empowering them through mentorship, professional development, and increased awareness.”

While Davis battled depression and anxiety after losing her parents, she found a path forward. When the days of isolation started to pile up, she began journaling, starting each entry with ‘Dear God.’ Journaling became a tool to help her navigate her emotions and soon became her book.

study shows the disparity in non-white counselors on campus.

A recent survey among college counseling center directors found that, while nearly half of U.S. college students are non-white, 72% of college counsel-

Funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the project “aims to accurately reflect the full range of human diversity worldwide, make the reference genome more useful to researchers and ensure that all people — regardless of their genetic ancestry — can benefit from the promise of precision medicine,” according to the university.

Ross said Washington University and other leading academic centers’ research touches many other aspects of Black healthcare including the higher maternal mortality rates and infant mortality rates, along with breast cancer and ovarian cancer in women.

“(Studies on) estimates that Black Americans have about twice the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease compared to white people, will be put on hold through the (funding) pause and ill-conceived cuts to NIH research payments,” said Ross.

The school reported in December 2024 it secured $683 million in research funding from the NIH in federal fiscal year 2024 – a record high.

This support – which places the school at No. 2

coping mechanisms such as unhealthy eating and sedentary lifestyles. Furthermore, research has shown Black women, even when they do seek medical care, are often not provided the standard of care or referred to specialists at the same rates as other populations. Cardiovascular disease poses a significant threat to the health of Black women. However, there is

“My book allowed me to ask myself ‘who is Pam?’ Davis said.

“I have so much resilience now that I didn’t know I had (after losing my parents.) Having that experience helped me become who I am today.”

nationally in NIH funding for the second year in a row – “enables groundbreaking advances in the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of illnesses and propels its relentless pursuit of improvements in medical care.”

Over the past eight years, WashU Medicine has been the fastest growing of the top U.S. research-intensive medical institutions in NIH funding.

“Far too much still is unknown about human diseases,” said David H. Perlmutter, MD, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs, the George and Carol Bauer Dean of WashU Medicine, and the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Distinguished Professor, said in a release announcing the funding record.

“Our research programs are designed to tackle the most vexing questions with state-of-the-art techniques and analytical methods and generate innovative answers that will substantially improve outcomes for our patients. Ross added, “Our community and the American public in general will stand up for health and demand that NIH funding be restored.”

no singular cause but an interplay of social, economic, and biological factors. Reducing cardiovascular disparities in Black women will require community support, increased access to healthcare, and advocacy around policy change.

Denise HooksAnderson, MD, FAAFP can be reached at yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com

Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT

Students Neveah Ficklin, Zriyah Murphy and Jada Randle, in Ms. Cheryl M. Christian’s 9th grade class at Jennings Senior High School, work together to determine the density of water.

Photo by Cheryl Christian

SCIENCE CORNER

What Is Geology ?

Geology is the study of the earth, its rocks and minerals. Geologists are scientists who study the matter that makes up the earth. They also study the earth’s history and the processes that have formed it. It has been said that geologists tell the story of the earth. Geologists study earthquakes, rock formations, oil exploration, groundwater, volcanoes and soil erosion. Geologists may work in the research lab or in the field. They use a variety of chemistry, biology, physics, and other sciences. Farmers depend on accurate soil sampling, land erosion monitoring and water drainage information provided by geologists. Fishermen also seek the help

SCIENCE EXPERIMENT

It’s your turn to be a geologist. In this experiment, you will learn about the weathering of rocks.

Materials Needed:

• Plastic Wrap • Clay • Water • Notebook • Camera Process:

q Moisten the clay with a little bit of water.

of geologists who can explain silting, underwater seismic events, and other factors that may impact the waters. Geologists are usually logical thinkers, good problem solvers and enjoy working outdoors.

Discussion Questions: Would you be interested in a career in geology? Why or why not?

For More Information, Go to: www.kidsgeo.com/geology-for-kids

Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction text to learn about careers in science.

w Divide the clay into two equal pieces, and roll it into a ball or use it to form a square.

e Use the plastic wrap to carefully wrap each piece of clay.

r Place one piece of clay into the freezer and leave the other piece on a counter. The clay will stay in the freezer overnight.

t After the clay has sat overnight, take the clay out of the

MATH CONNECTION

Practicing math facts is fun when you use rocks or pebbles. Try these three activities.

q Sorting: Use rocks and pebbles of different shapes, sizes, and colors. Sort them in categories such as small, medium, and large. Sort them by surface: rough or smooth. Sort them by color. Have students decide a rule for sorting their rocks and have the other students guess what rule they used to sort the rocks.

freezer and unwrap both pieces.

y Make observations. How is the surface of the clay? Do you notice any cracks? Take a picture of both pieces of clay and write your observations in your notebook.

u Place the clay in the freezer and repeat the process for several days. Which piece of clay looks more weathered, the piece that has been frozen or the piece that has been on the counter? What observation can you make about temperature and rocks? How do the cracks change over time? Rock On with

an added challenge, you can use 20 squares.

e Rock Review: Use a marker to label 20 pebbles with the numbers 1-20. Place them in a sealed bag. Students will take turns drawing two pebbles to practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division skills. For example, if a student draws a 2 and a 6. They can state 2+6=8, 6-2=4, 6x2=12, 6/2=3.

SCIENCE STARS

AFRICAN-AMERICAN GEOCHEMIST:

Samuel B. Mukasa

Samuel B. Mukasa was born on September 29, 1955, in Maseno, Kenya. His parents divorced when he was only six years old, and he was raised by his mother. He attended high school in Kampala, Uganda, and then went to the University of New Hampshire in 1977 for his bachelor’s degree in geology. In 1980, he received his master’s degree in geology from Ohio State University. In 1984, Mukasa received his doctorate degree in geochemistry from the University of California.

After graduation, Mukasa worked at the Laboratory at Lamont-Doherty Earth observatory at Columbia University for a few years before he worked as an assistant professor at the University of Florida. In 1989, Mukasa began work at the University of Michigan. In 2007, he was promoted to the dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of New Hampshire.

Mukasa’s research focused on the plate tectonics of the continents, which describes the motion of the plates covering the earth. He has also participated in several service organizations, including the Polar Research Board of the National Research Council, and the National Science Foundation. Mukasa received an honorary Doctorate of Science by the Nkumba University in Uganda. In 2010, he was elected to serve as president of the Geochemical Society. He has written and received many grants to continue research in the field of geochemistry and has served as a mentor to many students. Most importantly, Mukasa worked with the Science and Technology Recruiting to Improve Diversity and Excellence (STRIDE). STRIDE provides assistance to communities with minorities who wish to pursue higher education after they graduate from high school.

Discussion Questions: What does the prefix “geo” mean in science terms? Can you think of any other types of scientist with “geo” as a prefix? What do you think a geologist or geochemist does?

Learning Standards: I can read a biography to learn about an African American who has made contributions in science, math, technology, or engineering.

MAP CORNER

Use the newspaper to complete the following activities: Save the Earth: Think about ways human activity affects our environment. Locate pictures of people solving environmental problems in your community. Cut and paste the pictures in a mural titled, “We Can Save the Earth.”

w Calculate It: Use chalk to draw 10 squares on the sidewalk or black top. Label the squares 1-10. Each student will throw two pebbles into a square. The student will then add, subtract, multiply or divide those two numbers. For

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

Future Artifacts: Artifacts help us learn about our history. Locate a picture of something in the newspaper that could someday be used as an artifact. Paste the picture on a piece of paper and write about what the future scientists could learn from the artifact.

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can create a bar graph and make observations.

The word fossil comes from the Latin word “fossilis,” which means “dug up.”

Gigantic pink granite boulders can be found at Elephant Rocks State Park near Graniteville, Mo. The rocks even have names. The largest one is named Dumbo and stands 27 feet tall, 35 feet long, and 17 feet wide. It weighs 680 tons.

FEBRUARY 20 – 26, 2025

HSSU Vendor Fair an affirmation of Blackness

‘We have more power in togetherness.’

- Volo Brewer/ Vendor

Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) in partnership with the Anheuser-Busch School of Business Center of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) and the African Chamber of Commerce St. Louis hosted a Black History Vendor Fair on a chilly February 15, 2025. Julian Keaton, CIE’s community manager, described the fair as a way to “showcase minority-owned businesses and put some money in their pockets.”

By Sylvester Brown, Jr.

St. Louis American

Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) in partnership with the Anheuser-Busch School of Business Center of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) and the African Chamber of Commerce St.

Louis hosted a Black History Vendor Fair on a chilly February 15, 2025. A day after Valentine’s Day, a spirit of Black love and achievement was in the air. According to the CIE, its curriculum and programs are geared to enhance Black and brown scholars as well as the broader innovation community and

entrepreneurship ecosystem. Julian Keaton, CIE’s community manager, described the fair as a way to “showcase minority-owned businesses and put some money in their pockets.”

Not only was there a sense of economic collaboration among vendors,

See VENDOR FAIR, B2

SLCCU, partners invest financial faith in Black businesses

‘Lend responsibly for maximum community impact’

By Alvin A. Reid

St. Louis American

Deborah James and her husband

Freddie Lee, owners of Freddie Lee’s Gourmet Sauces, say a St. Louis Community Credit Union loan helps them “breathe a little easier and not have those high-interest loans hanging over our heads.”

Black-owned businesses may get a boost through a unique combination of partner institutions in the St. Louis area.

St. Louis Community Credit Union (SLCCU), in collaboration with BJC Health System (BJC), SSM Health, and the James S. McDonnell Foundation (JSMF) will provide nearly $15 million in low-cost deposits through the credit union’s Community Impact Deposit program.

The resources are earmarked to assist underrepresented businesses that need affordable loans for working capital, equipment, real estate, and other business expenses.

“Access to affordable loans, especially for Black- and Brownowned businesses, can be hard to

SLCCU is partnering with JC Health System, SSM Health, and the James S. McDonnell Foundation to provide nearly $15 million in low-cost deposits through the credit union’s Community Impact Deposit program.

Roy Whitley named president and CEO Roy Whitley

Rx Outreach, a national nonprofit mail-order pharmacy headquartered in St. Louis, has appointed Roy Whitley as president and CEO after serving as interim president since September 2024. Whitley has served in multiple roles during 15 years with Rx Outreach including chief operating officer, vice president of operations, director of operations, and operations/pharmacy manager.

During his tenure with Rx Outreach, Whitley has worked to increase health equity and medication access, and removing social, economic, and geographic barriers for people in Missouri and across the country.

Dr. Mwirigi named Hanna H. Gray Scholar

Neuroscientist Juliet Mwirigi, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been named a Hanna H. Gray Fellow by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). The fellowship supports promising earlycareer scientists as they transition to becoming principal investigators, by providing up to $1.5 million for up to eight years. Mwirigi’s research focuses on finding effective treatments for chronic pain, which affects more than 20% of the adult U.S. population, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

Dr. Omotola honored by Hearst Media Group

Aaron Omotola

Dr. Aaron Omotola, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon whose practice is part of the BJC Medical Group of Illinois, was recognized as part of the Best of the Best” awards and honored as “The Best Surgeon” by the Hearst Community Media Group. He has worked with athletes at Southern Illinois UniversityEdwardsville, the New Orleans Hornets and the New Orleans Saints, and treats all ages needing surgical or nonsurgical care as a result of injuries, defects or disease of the joints, bones, muscles and tendons.

Dr. Jackson recognized by SLU, Urban League

Jeffrey L. Jackson

Dr. Jeffery L. Jackson, PhD, was recently honored by the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and Saint Louis University as a recipient of the Dr. Donald Brennan Humanitarian Award As St. Louis University associate provost for career development, Jackson oversees the daily operations of the Career Services Center and Valerie A. Davisson Career Resources Center (Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business) and is responsible for expanding and tracking experiential learning activities for undergraduate and graduate students.

Promotion, board appointment, new hire, award... please submit your People on the Move item (including photo) to areid@stlamerican.com

Through a St. Louis Community Credit Union loan, Freddie Lee and Deborah James, the husband-and-wife owners of Freddie Lee’s Gourmet Sauces, are planning to expand in a new building.

Photo courtesy of Freddie Lee’s Instagram

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Juliet Mwirigi

Vendor Fair

Continued from B1

there also seemed to be a collective recognition that the event was a timely response to a political and social environment determined to dismantle Black safety nets.

Speaking for himself and not the university or business center, Keaton stressed, “We’re at a time and place in history where we’ve been before; where we’ve had to lean back into our own community and lift each other up… at the core of it all, it’s time for us to come together and practice group economics.”

On that note, Johnson Lancaster, one of the founders of Progressive Emporium & Education Center and a vendor, quoted historian John Henrik Clarke.

“(Clarke) used to say, ‘Nobody is going to advance the progress of African people

SLCCU

Continued from B1

community impact.”

Businesses such as Freddie Lee’s can benefit in many ways.

“We are able to take care of business like we’re supposed to. We’re able to see our goals being fulfilled with this building. We were able to believe in the banking system again,” said Deborah James.

SLCCU, a Black-owned not-for-profit credit union, is owned by its nearly 54,000 members who live or work throughout the St. Louis region.

In addition to being a Minority Depository Institution (MDI), the

like African people,’” Lancaster said, adding: “He meant that we don’t have any allies, so we must depend on ourselves.”

Lancaster credited Harris Stowe and CIE for organizing the fair which he said provided opportunities for Black entrepreneurs “to network with other businesses from the African diaspora and other places.”

Around noon, Nigerian businesswoman, Kayla Iken had sold almost all of her 15 packages of colorful homemade cupcakes. She, too, spoke highly of the day’s event. “It’s been very, very energetic. I love the diversity of vendor fairs, I really do.” Iken said.

East St. Louis businesswoman Briana Brown gave equal kudos. The fair, she said, gave her the chance to network and “connect with different entrepreneurs” and promote her business, “Buttons by Briana.” Proudly showcasing

credit union is a certified Community Development Financial Institution.

BJC, SSM Health, and the James S. McDonnell Foundation have joined “the national movement of large anchor institutions flexing their financial balance sheets for the benefit of low- and moderate-income households, through strategic investments in financing entities like the credit union,” according to a release.

“As the largest employer in St. Louis, BJC is committed to addressing the root causes of health inequities inside and outside our walls–and economic well-being and health outcomes are intertwined,” said Rich Liekweg, chief executive

a diverse display of hand-crafted aluminum buttons, earrings and pinsall covered in eclectic fabric-Brown said, “I hope I made a mark on somebody today, so they’ll invite me back.”

Brown added that she hopes the withdrawal of funds and institutional attacks on diversity, inclusion and equity will move Black consumers to action.

her mission to promote the work of women from Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and other parts of the African continent.

n According to the CIE, its curriculum and programs are geared to enhance Black and brown scholars as well as the broader innovation community and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

“I think it’s big. If you can support Target, if you can support Walmart, then you can definitely support small (Black) businesses,” she said.

In a sunshine yellow dress with a matching disposition, Volo Brewer, a native of Guinea in West Africa cheerfully described

officer of BJC Health System.

“We believe investing in the financial health of our community will create opportunity and progress that will be felt for generations to come, and this collaboration with St. Louis Community Credit Union and other anchor institutions helps to ensure greater, collective impact for our region.”

Jason Q. Purnell, JSMF President, said “SLCCU helps drive the inclusive growth that is essential to our long-term vision for shared prosperity that will help all of St. Louis grow.”

“This investment allows us to directly support a local, community-based financial

“I feel they don’t get the kind of recognition in the global market that they deserve,” Brewer explained. “Because we are the biggest consumers in the world, my main goal is to not only showcase our talent, heritage and culture but also embrace it and show the world the beautiful things that we make.”

Waving her hand across a colorful collection of earrings, necklaces, bracelets and clothing, Brewer boasted: “We don’t do mass production. Every single piece is unique. Everything made by hand

institution that is dedicated to providing accessible, equitable financial services while still realizing a return on our investment,” said Purnell.

Black families own about 23 cents for every $1 of white family wealth, on average, according to St. Louis Federal Reserve.

“Because of historic financial inequities, the majority of depositors we serve lack the same savings capacity as consumers from whiter, more suburban-focused financial institutions. That means we have to find alternative sources of deposits to meet the growing borrowing needs of small businesses and consumers,” said Mills.

SSM Health President

is luxury.” Reflecting on challenges facing businesses of color, Brewer cited an African proverb, “‘If you want to go far, go together.’ We have more power in togetherness.”

Mellarie and Tyree Thomas are founders of Tommy Wong Select Premium Seasonings and Sauces. The couple, who started the company in 2020, described the fair as a wonderful way to network, showcase their vast selection of spices, reconnect with loyal clients and introduce themselves and their products to potential ones.

Considering today’s social and political environment, Tyree said networking events like Saturday’s fair are “more important now than ever.”

“We, as a community, must band together and support each other in every avenue…that’s the way we’ve always survived. We either live together or die alone.”

It was Cherlier Willis’

and CEO Laura S. Kaiser, FACHE said a person’s zip code can have a significant impact on their overall health and well-being.

“Providing high-quality health care services is crucial. But people also need access to nutritious food, safe housing, reliable transportation, and strong, stable employment opportunities in order to thrive,” said Kaiser.

“Through this partnership, we’re investing in the economic health of our community so that everyone has the opportunity to lead their healthiest life.”

Since launching its Community Impact Deposit program in 2022, SLCCU has attracted more than $30 million in new deposits from private,

first time participating in a CIE business fair. The owner of Krafty Kravings, Willis – a self-described “artist by heart” – promoted her unique line of decorated cookies. They include Black Lives Matter-themed cookies and a “314 Day” selection depicting Old Vienna chips, Vess soda and a box of fried rice creative decorations. Willis said she was moved by vendors at the fair who seemed to support and encourage one another. “It lets me know this is community and it’s intentional.”

Aware but not deterred by efforts to stymie diversity programs, Willis spoke defiantly and somewhat prophetically.

“DEI, do what y’all gonna do and we gonna do what we gotta do,” she said.

“You got your plan and God got his!”

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

public, and philanthropic entities committed to equitable finance. The deposits fund a portion of the more than $40 million in business loans issued during this same period. In total, 90% of all business loans issued during this period have assisted Blackowned businesses.

Limited access to affordable financing slowed the Freddie Lee’s owners from expanding until the couple was approved for a loan “that changed everything.”

“The new building we have will allow us to grow, to hire more people, and it will allow us to help our clients more,” said James.

n “Honestly, it was pretty fun out there. I think it’s going to be good for the league.”

– Cleveland’s Evan Mobley on the NBA All-Star Game format

What a week it was for many talented athletes from the area, ranging from high school to college to the pros. Here we go as we move a little closer to spring.

Napheesa Collier is ‘Unrivaled’

St. Louisan Napheesa Collier emerged as the champion at the inaugural Unrivaled 1-on1 Tournament.

Collier defeated Aaliyah Edwards two games to one in the best of three championship match-up to claim the $200,000 first prize. It is the largest one-day prize in women’s basketball history.

Sports

InSIdE SportS

With Earl Austin Jr.

Who says things move slowly in winter?

game-clinching bucket on a slam dunk.

Meanwhile, Jayson’s father, Justin Tatum, was recently named the Coach of the Year in the National Basketball League (NBL) in Australia. Tatum guided the Illawarra Hawks to a 20-9 record, which was the best in the NBL. It was the first time the Hawks had the best regular season record since 1979.

Collier, the former Incarnate Word Academy All-American, was the No. 1 seed in the 30-player tournament while Edwards was the No. 8 seed.

“Unrivaled” is an eightweek three-on-three basketball league that is based in Miami, FL. The league features 30 of the top players in the WNBA.

Great week for Tatum Nation

It was a productive week for the Tatum family on the pro basketball front.

Former Chaminade College Prep star Jayson Tatum enjoyed another successful NBA All-Star Weekend. He scored a game-high 15 points to lead Team Shaq’s OGs to a 41-30 victory over Team Chuck’s International AllStars in the championship game of the new four-team tournament format.

Tatum scored the

Freshman girls of influence

The St. Louis metro area is full of talented freshman girls’ basketball players who have made a big impact this season at the varsity level for their respective teams. Here is a look at five of those talented impact freshmen.

Jordyn Haywood (MICDS): The nationally recognized 6’0” guard is currently averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds a game in leading a young Rams team to a 17-5 record.

Jamiah HerringGreen (Hazelwood West): A 5’10” shooting guard who can really put the ball in the basket. She is currently averaging 23.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.4 steals a game for a young Wildcats’ team that is 14-6.

Hailey Gray (Belleville East): A 5’4” point guard who is one of the top youngsters in the metro east area. She is averaging a team-high 14.2 points, four rebounds, three assists and four steals in leading the Lancers to a 19-11 record.

Loganne Love

Jayson Tatum’s dunk sealed a 41-30 victory for Team

over Team Chuck’s International All-Stars.

(Principia): A 5’5” point guard who has stepped in and become the floor leader on one of the state’s top Class 3 teams. She is currently averaging 11.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 3.5 steals for the 19-5 Panthers. Veronica Simmons

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

(Francis Howell): A talented young point guard who has been instrumental in the Vikings’ 18-4 record this season. She is current-

ly averaging a team-high 10 points a game while shooting 37 percent from 3-point range.

Prep game of the week

John Burroughs at Principia, Friday, 6 p.m.The championship of the Metro League will be on the line on Friday night as John Burroughs pays a visit to Principia in this boys’ basketball showdown. Burroughs (17-5) is currently 6-0 in league play. Principia (22-1) is 5-1 in conference and can earn a share of the league title with a victory. John Burroughs features its impressive pair of twin towers in 6’9” junior forward Tristan Reed and 6’11” junior forward Sheek Pearson. A talented Principia team is led by 6’3” junior guard Quentin Coleman.

Earl’s World

Congratulations to St. Louisan Madison Farr who was selected as one of the top young softball players in the country. A middle school student in Hazelwood, Farr was recognized in the “Hot 100” list of top players in the Class of 2030. She is listed among the top 15 players in the latest rankings. She plays for the St. Louis Chaos, which is one of the top girls softball grassroots teams in the country…Lindenwood’s Jadis Jones broke his career-high in scoring after dropping 27 points in the Lions’ 81-78 overtime victory over Southern Indiana on Feb. 15. Lindenwood moved to 13-13, recording its most wins since 2018-19.

Showing the way for Black youths on ski slopes

As Super Bowl party preparation swept the nation on the morning of Feb. 9, 2025, a hearty band of Black youths, parents and members of the Show Me Skiers Club were braving the cold and hitting the slopes at Hidden Valley in Wildwood, Mo.

Almost 70 youths were concluding their four respective Sunday training sessions at Hidden Valley, with participants either learning to ski or snowboard – or returning for a second or third season.

Black people, especially youths, eagerly heading out to ski and snowboard was beyond impressive – it was inspiring.

12-year-old snowboarder Nate Thompson was ready for the challenge of his new sport.

“It’s difficult, but I like it. I’m doing it for the fun,” he said with a smile. The Sydnor family was out in full force, and Sanjoria Sydnor said she and her husband, Jauron Sydnor Sr., had participated with Show Me Skiers as novices.

This was the third year that Hidden Valley hosted the Show Me Skiers youth, according to club president Deanna Carroll.

“(The kids) love it,” said Carroll, as the youthful winter sports enthusiasts headed out for their lesson.

“We start in December. We get their sizes, and they are provided with jackets, pants, undergarments and everything you need. Then the Sunday practices begin.”

Being there, I can say that seeing that many

“Prior to the program, we had not skied,” she said The family skiers now include their children Jauron Jr., 13, Sonjaia, 9, and Sonaia, 5.

The Show Me Skiers is a National Brotherhood of Snowsports member, an organization chartered in 1983 with a goal to expose people of color to winter sports. Show Me Skiers has sponsored activities on and off the snow since 1986.

“Our members are passionate about skiing and snowboarding and

we enjoy the opportunity to share that passion with young people from our local community,” said Carroll, who first learned to ski at Sundown Mountain in Dubuque, Iowa. According to a 2021-22 survey by the National Ski Areas Association only 1.5% of skiers at resorts were Black. The partici-

pation level has remained unchanged for more than a decade.”

Almost 90% of skiers surveyed were white, 5.7% were Asian or Pacific Islander, 5.5% were Latino, and less than 1% were American Indian or Alaska Native.

With 70 youths involved with the Show Me Skiers, and their par-

ents’ either with them on the slopes or in support, the number of African American participants could certainly rise. By the way, I never wanted to ski or snowboard. My opinion changed on that Super Sunday. Sign me up next fall, Show Me Skiers. I plan to learn with the kids.

The Reid Roundup

Imagine if your bosses said in mid-January that their main goal over the next six weeks while you were on vacation was to send you packing to another company. Six weeks passed, and you had to return to work.

Welcome to St. Louis Cardinals spring training Nolan Arenado…If the season began today, the Cardinals would have three Black starters in the opening day lineup –shortstop Masyn Winn centerfield Victor Scott III, and right fielder Jordan Walker…New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said in a team statement after meeting with Aaron Rodgers last week “our intention

was to move in a different direction at quarterback.” Had former head coach Robert Salah had that option this time last year, he would probably still be with the Jets…As if things weren’t bad enough for the Dallas Mavericks following the much-maligned Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis trade, assistant coach Darrell Armstrong was arrested Feb. 15 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after arguing with a woman and hitting with her gun, according to Dallas police…The Sports Business Journal is reporting that the WNBA will award Cleveland its 16th franchise, with an approximate record bid worth a league record $250 million. Sources said Houston “is probably the most positioned” for the 17th team…Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum has invested in a St. Louis bid, and Phoenix Suns F Kevin Durant wants a team in Austin, Texas, where he starred in college. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife are backing a KC bid, and former WNBA superstar Candace Parker is a Nashville group partner.

Earl Austin Jr.

Alvin A. Reid

Shaq’s OGs

Photo courtesy of Celticblog.com

Black youths and a Hidden Valley ski instructor prepare to head downhill during a lesson at the Wildwood, Mo., resort.

Photo courtesy of Show Me Skiers Club

A vital line of transportation will reopen in the Metro East when Blue Line MetroLink trains will resume service to the Emerson Park MetroLink Station on Monday, February 24.

Since mid-January, Blue Line trains have only operated between the Shrewsbury-Lansdowne

I-44 and Forest ParkDeBaliviere Stations due to a daily single-track operation that caused delays for some customers.

According to Charles Stewart, Metro Transit COO, on Feb. 24:

• Red Line trains will operate between Lambert Airport and Shiloh-Scott MetroLink Stations.

• Blue Line trains will operate between Shrewsbury-Lansdowne

I-44 and Emerson Park MetroLink Stations.

• Blue Line customers will not need to transfer to a Red Line train at the Forest Park-DeBaliviere

Following a $1.4 million renovation, Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital has unveiled its first two classrooms specifically designed for its ‘OZ’ program.

Optimization Zone (OZ) is an in-hospital, neurodevelopmental program for children aged 5 and younger with complex medical conditions. It provides structured social

MetroLink service returning to Emerson Park Station Feb. 24

Station. Only Blue Line customers traveling east of Emerson Park Station will need to transfer to a Red Line train to continue their trip.

• Some MetroLink schedules have minor changes, customers are encouraged to doublecheck the new schedules to see if times for their MetroLink trip have changed.

• New MetroLink schedules and other details can be found at MetroStLouis.org/ ServiceChange.

“Resuming Blue Line service to the Emerson Park MetroLink Station requires careful train coordination and track management to prevent serious delays,” said Stewart.

“We are working as quickly as possible to finalize these operational details so we can provide our customers with better MetroLink service starting on Feb. 24. Ensuring the safety of our customers and our MetroLink opera-

Metro COO Charles Stewart discussed Metro’s growing ridership and its Secure Platform Plan during the APTA Transform conference in October 2024 in Anaheim, California. Stewart and Metro have announced Blue Line MetroLink trains will resume service to the Emerson Park MetroLink Station on Monday, Feb. 24.

tors is our top priority.” Blue Line MetroLink trains normally operate between the ShrewsburyLansdowne I-44 and Fairview Heights

MetroLink Stations but have been operating limited service since mid-Jan-

Rankin Jordan unveils two ‘OZ’ classrooms

play and developmental stimulation, two important factors to help reduce the adverse developmental impacts that often accompany long-term hospitalization.

OZ started in 2022 in a makeshift space in the hospital’s South Gym.

After seeing positive results from patients participating in OZ, the Ranken Jordan team want-

ed to grow the program and give it a permanent home. Two new OZ classrooms were announced in the spring of 2024 as part of a $1.4 million renovation.

In addition to the classrooms, the renovation included repurposing a nursing station and administrative space on the inpatient unit to create corrals, similar to play-

pens, for children under 5 to allow for more space to play. The project also included enhancements to the hospital’s art room to improve therapeutic art capabilities.

The OZ classrooms were the final stage of the renovation and are now fully up and running. Kristin LaRose, Chief Nursing Officer for Ranken Jordan, said the

space represents more than a renovation.

“Our new classrooms send a huge message about our commitment to OZ and who we are as a hospital,” LaRose said.

“We created OZ because the 0–5-year window is critical for a child’s neurodevelopment, and research shows children who are hospitalized are more likely to have devel-

uary due to single-track operations. Precipitation followed by cycles of thawing and freezing has contributed to some ground instability in a small area near the MetroLink tracks in Illinois, and trains are operating on a single track around the area as a precaution.

Stewart said in order to maintain consistent train schedules while providing safe operations, the MetroLink team has developed this new operating plan to provide better service for customers and reduce delays and overcrowding.

Metro Engineering teams have been monitoring ground conditions and have determined that the special single-track operation must be in place until further notice. They will begin a project to permanently address the issue over the next few months.

opmental delays. “We’ve seen tremendous improvements in the patients who have participated in OZ. The new classrooms offer more space so all children ages 0-5 at Ranken Jordan will be able to take part in this program. OZ is not just a permanent part of our building now; it’s a permanent part of our care.”

Photo courtesy of Metro

Living It

Awareness through fashion at ‘Gent X’

Prostate cancer given a spotlight for 10th runway experience

Zaria Mac St. Louis American

The culminating event for the 10th annual Gent Men’s Fashion Week was true to its brand of ripping the runway with top-tier expressions of men’s style. The show was produced by BrainChild Next on Sunday, February 16th. This year the fashion show was hosted by Alex Rich from the pop radio station Y98 FM and was once again held at the St. Louis CITY SC’s Energizer Park.

Actors, bloggers, and local designers all dressed in their finest gathered in the sleek grey ULTRA Club, just to the right of the soccer field. Animating the ceiling were holograms displaying the GentX logo, the X in blue symbolizing the fashion show’s leading partner. Vendor tables were set up near the entrance where designers sold their garments following the show. Before each designer’s look hit the runway, host Alex Rich briefly interviewed each designer about their collection. He even asked a few audience members to comment on what they were wearing.

The fashion show was done in partnership with Siteman Cancer Center and Fashion Group International-St. Louis in support of prostate cancer awareness month. Their collaboration brought forth the “Blue Jacket Segment” which featured survivors, surgeons and physicians as the models.

The “Blue Jacket Fashion Show” has been held annually for the last nine years and cleverly uses fashion to spread awareness about prostate health. Proceeds from the fashion show have gone to benefit ZERO Prostate Cancer, a nonprofit group that has been dedicated to educating and supporting those affected by prostate cancer for the last 25 years.

For the “Blue Jacket Segment” 12 local creatives were selected to partic-

“Thank y’all

- A$AP Rocky to jurors who acquitted him on two felony counts of assault Tuesday

Echoes from heaven

ipate. They ranged from designers to artists and stylists. They were able to choose their own materials and perspective for their blue jacket presentation.

Jewelry designer Yoro Newson styled a navy blue, two button shawl lapel suit jacket with shimmering baguette cut crystals and knee length cape to honor those affected by prostate cancer. Her model was Dr. Russell Pachynski, an oncologist at Washington University. Multi-hyphenate creative Brock Seals showcased a light blue vegan leather varsity jacket with hand painted embellishments. The jacket spelled his last name on the front and the back in his signature

script. It also featured a beautiful woman sitting atop this script in a red swimsuit and golden curls. With his jacket he wanted to symbolize speed, passion, and drive. His model was Dr. Brian Meek of Physicians Pain Services.

Dwight Carter Sr., father of Gent producer Dwight Carter Jr. and cancer survivor, also walked in the “Blue Jacket Segment”. His designer was Dianne Isbell of HATS by DI-Anne, a nationally awarded and internationally recognized milliner. Her presentation featured a dark blue single-breasted, notch lapel

‘Black voices are very important in this art form’

Mother-daughter librettist team to visit STL ahead of world-premiere opera

By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American

Regardless of how broad the subject matter – or prolific the storytelling –every great playwright has a common thread within their work that connects them with the audience and sets them apart from the ordinary.

Tennessee Williams leaned on forlorn and tragically poetic characters who reflect the dysfunction of Southern sensibility. Arthur Miller indicted the nation’s moral compass and the hollowness of the notion of the American Dream. August Wilson showcased the extraordinary within everyday Blackness. He revealed what the poetry of our language – and the legacy of our relentlessness – can teach the world.

And then there is Lynn Nottage. She uses her characters and themes to demand agency for the unseen and the unsung. The wallflowers, and those who have fallen (or have been shoved) through the cracks of society, are given a safe space within her words.

Nottage and her daughter Ruby Aiyo Gerber – a poet, nonfiction writer, and librettist in her own right – will deliver two talks in St. Louis on Sunday, February 23rd and Monday, February 24th.

“Bridging the Arts: A conversation with Lynn Nottage and Ruby Aiyo

Gerber,” presented by Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts. Nottage and Gerber will be in conversation with Jacqueline Thompson, artistic director of Metro Theater Company, on the same stage where Nottage’s Tony Award-nominated play “Clyde’s” is currently being staged by The Rep (through March 2). The discussion will be framed around how writing for various mediums has connected the St. Louis regional arts scene to their work. Sunday’s event will also feature a special welcome by Ron Himes, one

Pulitzer Prizewinner Lynn Nottage will be in St. Louis with her daughter and fellow writer Ruby Aiyo Gerber for a pair of talks on Feb. 23 & Feb. 24. Conversation topics will include their world premiere ‘This House,’ which is being staged as part of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ upcoming 50th Anniversary Season.

earns Grammy for co-writing CeCe Winans hit

By Zaria Mac

The St. Louis American

Lloyd Nicks opened his interview with

The St. Louis American recounting the favor and grace of God. “When he wants to breathe on something he does,” Nicks said. “So, finding out I won the Grammy, I was outdone by it.”

He won as a co-writer for “That’s My King,” a credit he shares with Taylor Agan, Kellie Gamble, and Jess Russ. The song was made famous by gospel great CeCe Winans – as the lead single for her 2024 album “More Than This.” Since its release, the song has been translated into Spanish and Portuguese. It won a Billboard Award for “Top Gospel Song” and was nominated for a Dove Award.

n “We never even planned for it to be recorded.And the fact that the legendary CeCe Winans decided to record one of our songs and the song won a grammy, I am just overjoyed.”

- Lloyd Nicks

“Our song was the new kid on the block,” Nicks said. “It was written four years ago. We are friends now, but we had just met each other then.”

The song was up against some heavy hitters in its category –like “Praise” by Elevation Worship and “Firm Foundation (He Won’t)” by Honor & Glory. But “That’s My King” came away as the winner of the “Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song” at the 2025 Grammy Awards less than three weeks ago in Los Angeles.

of the stars of “Clyde’s” – and founder and Producing Director of The St. Louis Black Repertory Company.

On Monday, February 24 at 6 p.m. at the Center of Clayton, OTSL and the City of Clayton will host them for “If Walls Could Talk: A Conversation with Lynn Nottage and Ruby Aiyo Gerber,” about their world premiere opera “This House.” The conversation will be moderated by Dr. Amber Simpson, Senior Learning and Performance Consultant at Edward Jones and an Opera Theatre board member.

See Opera, C3

“We never even planned for it to be recorded,” Nicks said. “And the fact that the legendary CeCe Winans decided to record one of our songs and the song won a Grammy, I am just overjoyed.” Nicks, an East St. Louis, Illinois native who also lived in Cahokia, developed his musical talent first at Cahokia High School training with music instructor Penny Zimmerman. Then he received a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance (Classical), and a master’s degree in management from Greenville University. He had no other musicians in his family, but he knew he would go on to write and per-

Photo by Taylor Marrie/St. Louis American

The 10th Annual Gent Men’s Fashion Week runway finale, produced by Dwight Carter’s BrainChild Next, was held on Sunday, February 16 at St. Louis City SC’s Energizer Park.

Photo courtesy of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

Photo courtesy of Llyod Nicks

Metro East native Lloyd Nicks, who is from East St. Louis with roots in Cahokia, Illinois, was among the winners at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards earlier this month. He was a co-writer for ‘That’s My King,’ the lead single from CeCe Winans’ More Than This’ album.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH ACTIVITIES

Sun., Feb. 23, 4 p.m. From the Roots to the Future: The Soundtrack of Black History, Atomic Cowboy, 4140 Manchester Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information visit www.eventbrite.com.

Thurs., Feb. 27, 5 p.m.

Thursday Nights at the Museum presents Navigating the Intersection of Race and Disability, Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63112. For more information, visit https://stlouis. washu.edu.

Fri., Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m. Soul Train Gospel Music Revival - In Celebration Of Black History Month, City Winery St. Louis, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https:// citywinery.com/st-louis.

Fri., Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m.

St. Louis Symphony’s IN UNISON Chorus presents Lift Every Voice featuring Grammy-winning gospel artist Donald Lawrence, Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St. For more information, visit https:// slso.org.

CONCERTS

Fri., Feb 28, 8 p.m. Lil Wayne with special guests The Hot Boys, Enterprise Center, St. Louis MO 63103. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

Wed., Mar. 12, 7 p.m. Mary J. Blige: The For My Fans Tour, Enterprise Center, 1401 Clark Ave. St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit www. enterprisecenter.com.

STL Sites & Sounds

SPECIAL EVENTS

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.

Sat., Feb. 22, 6 p.m., The St. Louis Chapter of Jack and Jill Incorporated presents in Harmony: An Inspired Evening of Entertainment and Philanthropy,” hosted by Guy Torry, .Zack, 3224 Locust. For tickets or more information, visit https://www.jackandjillstl.org/ fundraisers-and-events/

Sat., Mar. 1, 7 p.m. Funky Butt Brass Band: The Third Annual Mardi Gras Brasstacular, Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63112. For more information, visit www. thepageant.com.

COMEDY

Fri., Feb. 21, 5 p.m. Saint Louis Art Museum’s new comedy series Gallery Laughs featuring nationally touring comedians and local performers, February will feature Jackson, Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis MO 63110. For more information, visit www.slam.org.

Sat., Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m. TownsendX3.Live presents Darius Bradford and Friends City Winery St. Louis, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https://citywinery.com/ st-louis.

Sat., Mar 1, 7 p.m. Special Event: Lavelle Dontae, Helium Comedy Club, 1151 St. Louis Galleria Street, St. Louis, MO 63117. For more

Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit www. fabulousfox.com.

Through Feb. 23, 8 p.m. Long Day’s Journey Into Night, The Gaslight Theatre, 360 N. Boyle Avenue, St. Louis MO, 63108. For ticketing information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Feb. 26 – March 9, The Fabulous Fox presents Some Like It Hot, The Fox Theatre,

Gent

Continued from C1

various American flags stitched together. This motif also appeared on a pleated scarf draped over his shoulder and baseball cap. In addition to this moving segment, five local designers unveiled their men’s collections.

New York-based designer Terry Singh served as the headliner. Each collection displayed a diverse range of style and sewing techniques that set them apart from the next. This blend of fashions allowed each designer to shine – and created a more dynamic show with looks that were not redundant.

Gent X marked designer Barbra Bultman’s first time creating a men’s collection. She featured her designs at “Pins and Needles,” a fashion show Dwight produced ten years ago. In that show, she debuted a collection

Opera

Continued from C1

The talks are taking place two months before Nottage – MacArthur “genius grant” recipient and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner – receives the 2025 International Humanities Prize from Washington University in St. Louis. The biennial prize, awarded by WashU’s Center for the Humanities in Arts & Sciences, is one of largest U.S. awards for the humanities.

St. Louis native Adrienne Danrich and OTSL favorite Justin Austin are a part of the all-Black ensemble of “This House,” which premieres May 31st as part of OTSL’s 50th Anniversary Season. “Black voices are very important in this art form,” said Danrich. “That goes for singing voices and the voices who bring the characters we sing to life with their words.”

Like Danrich, Austin could hardly contain his excitement about “This House.”

“I had the immense pleasure and honor to premiere the first opera that Pulitzer-Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage did with award-winning composer Ricky Ian

Nicks

Continued from C1

form music. He carved out a space for himself on the gospel music scene.

“I kinda sit in the gap between pop, contemporary Christian music, and this gospel and soul sound,” Nicks said. “I’m not trying to sit in the gap, it’s naturally the way I write and hear music – a melting together of sounds and culture from what I grew up around.”

Nicks grew up listening to his mother’s old school R&B – like Anita Baker. His stepfather introduced him to a mix of hip hop and soft rock ranging from Tupac to Aerosmith. His uncle introduced him to Fred Hammond, who Nicks referred to as the “gospel Luther Vandross.”

These styles blended together when it came time to write “That’s My King.”

Nicks met his “That’s My King” co-writers at a writing camp in Nashville, the hub for Midwest gospel music recording labels. While finishing their lunch and playing around on an out of tune piano, they began to craft the lyrics of this song from a sermon co-writer Agan received

that was inspired by the Vietnam War. She revisited the theme for Gent but remixed it with a bespoke collection for men. Her designs were inspired by the 1970s and included vests and bell bottoms in sandy neutral tones and a hint of peach. Some of the designs featured a tie dye splatter design in brown and red that resembled charred and bloody clothing. Her collection was both thought provoking and fashion forward.

Continuing with the theme of fashion forward was the headliner Terry Singh with his innovative and experimental men’s fashion. For his collection, he redeveloped a wrap trouser – similar to a sarong for men. When Singh was asked how Dwight convinced him to come to St. Louis, he said, “Dwight has a vision for menswear, and I have a vision for elevating menswear and pioneering”. Singh’s wraps presented much better than imagined. The “skirt like”

Gordon,” said Austin, referring to his starring role in the opera adaptation of Nottage’s “Intimate Apparel.” I’m very happy that they are continuing their relationship and have created another opera.”

He’s also happy about the fact that Nottage is co-librettist with her daughter Ruby.

“She is a brilliant mind and extraordinary writer in her own right,” Austin said.

He calls “This House” a fascinating and thrilling story about a Black family – and is especially pleased that it is not rooted in pain.

“I think that is probably the one thing I would criticize the industry as of late,” Austin said. “Thankfully, we are starting to tell more stories –but so many have this trauma porn. I think there is a place for that, but there is also a place for Black joy. There is a place for Black mystery. There is a place for Black comedy. There’s a place for all of it. We’re not just sad and miserable.”

Austin feels that the production will demonstrate the genius of Black creativity.

“I think it’s fun to be able to show how creative we can be developing stories of fantasy,” Austin said. “Because we are a creative people – and we

from his grandfather. In it he spoke about the greatness, omniscience, and holiness of Jesus.

“We paired this sermon with a guitar driven contemporary Christianstyle instrumental,” Nicks said. “But with a spiritual, African American gospel feel.”

Nicks is thankful to be able to use his everyday vernacular in his music and have it celebrated by mainstream media. “I didn’t know I was breaking all the rules of Christian Contemporary music,” he said. “‘Who we talking about,’ that’s how we talk. That ain’t how the predominantly bigger churches talk.”

Nicks is a current member of Influence Church and has found so much joy in creating songs that offer healing and can “change the trajectory of someone’s life”. He says he chose gospel music because it talks about something greater than himself – and feels his songs are divinely driven “echoes from heaven.”

“What if the songs I’m singing have been sung for ions in heaven, so many and I’m just getting a glimpse of them on Earth”. He adds, “The words are living, they’re not just

garments were in shades of black and grey with layered pleats that gave them a bold and structured look. When one thinks of a skirt, the imagination tends to drift towards a garment that curves to accentuate the female form. But Singh’s designs were straight and angular creating masculine shapes.

His wraps were paired with suit jackets and even sports gear showing the range and versatility of the garment. Though St. Louis isn’t the most progressive when it comes to gender fluid fashion, Singh’s wraps were well received.

Carter concluded by thanking all the new and repeat designers, models, and patrons that have made Gent Men’s Fashion Week possible over the past ten years. “We started this 10 years ago with no plan,” Carter said. “There was one fashion show, and it just continued. There was no five-year plan, no tenyear plan, we just let it keep going.”

are all wonderful storytellers.”

The opera is about a young Black woman who inherited her family brownstone in Harlem.

“She’s grappling with the history of the place,” Austin said. “And if she wants to live there or sell it. What unfolds is the stories that have happened within the home – and the secrets. It’s basically a mystery of what exactly happened.”

Austin calls “This House” a hybrid of ghost story, thriller and sci-fi opera.

“I think the audience will love it.”

Bridging the Arts: A conversation with Lynn Nottage and Ruby Aiyo Gerber will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 23 at the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Rd., Webster Groves, MO 63119. To register, visit https:// opera-stl.org/

If Walls Could Talk: A conversation with Lynn Nottage and Ruby Aiyo Gerber, about their world premiere opera “This House,” will take place at 6 p.m. on Monday, February 24th at the Center of Clayton, 50 Gay Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105. To register, visit https://opera-stl.org/

songs that touch your emotions, but they have action and power behind it”.

Lloyds Nicks’ Grammy winning “echoes from heaven” have landed him a recording deal with Curb Records in Nashville. He will be the first gospel artist the label has signed in more than six years. He has already begun work on his debut album – and is co-writing the next album for Grammy-nominated gospel music veteran Maurette Brown Clark. He recently welcomed his second child with wife Ashley Nicks. She is the owner of Simply LULA, a bakery in St. Louis specializing in pie flavored cookies.

“I am living my dream, but I didn’t know that I would have something that would give me so much more joy,” Nicks said. “And that’s being a husband and a father”

He credits the region as one of his secrets to success.

“I would not be the musician I am today if I did not come from [East] St. Louis,” Nicks said. “So, I feel indebted to just pour back into this community here – and create opportunities like those you find in Nashville”.

Museum premiers winner of Best Short Film Award

The Saint Louis Art Museum is premiering Manuel Mathieu: Pendulum, a short film by Haitian-Canadian artist Manuel Mathieu, on Friday, February 28, 2025, in Gallery 301. This free exhibition will run through November 30, 2025 Mathieu, a contemporary artist, uses his multidisciplinary practice, including painting, sculpture, and installation, to explore historical violence, erasure, and spirituality themes. His upbringing in Haiti partially informs his interests after the fall of the Duvalier dictatorship in 1986 and his experience emigrating to Montréal at 19. With his abstract visual style, he uses his personal journey to reflect on collective experiences, cultural histories, and political issues, making his work timely and relatable.

featured at the New Orleans Film Festival the same year.

Opens Friday, February 28, 2025

Manuel Mathieu: Pendulum Saint Louis Art Museum Gallery 301 Free

In the film, Mathieu utilizes storytelling and symbolic representations of freedom to demonstrate the collective, generational, and ongoing pursuit of liberation. The 2023 film showcases the artist’s directorial vision and features his talent for making sculptures and textiles.

Notably, Pendulum received the Best Short Film award at the 41st International Festival of Films on Art in 2023 and was

The Art Museum’s black box gallery features modern and contemporary videos, films, and time-based media that connect to and expand on the artworks in the Museum’s collection. The Museum offers opportunities to engage with the artwork’s themes to accompany the exhibition. On July 11, SLAM is hosting a program featuring a lecture and dance performance, highlighting Haitian and Caribbean music and dance techniques. Additionally, the Ollie Family Resource Cart will offer children’s books highlighting Haitian traditions, generously donated by Joyce Wilks-Love and Reginald Ollie, providing engaging resources for youth and families.

Manuel Mathieu: Pendulum is curated by Justice Henderson, the 2023–2025 Romare Bearden Graduate Museum Fellow, and Simon Kelly, the curator of modern and contemporary art. This exhibition will be on view during regular Museum hours. Learn more about the artist, exhibition, and related programs at slam.org, and visit the Saint Louis Art Museum to view the short film.

SLDC IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) is eagerly seeking candidates to join our team as we endeavor to bring economic justice to St. Louis City residents and communities that were disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

There are multiple 2-4-year limited term positions available, term of employment will vary for each position.

These positions will assist in the administration and implementation of various Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) Programs targeted for households, small businesses and communities adversely impacted by the pandemic.

All positions will be funded in whole or in part through an allocation of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the US Department of the Treasury and the City of St. Louis’ Community Development Administration.

To apply online and see a full job description go to https://www.developstlouis.org/careers and then click “Open Positions & Apply Online.”

GUARDIAN AD LITEM –FAMILY COURT - JUVENILE DIVISION

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.

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

ASST. PROF. HEALTH MGT. & POLICY

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.

HR GENERALIST IN HAZELWOOD, MO

BS. Wage: $60,000/year. Resume: sburkhan@itfgroup. com, ITF LLC, 11990 Missouri Bottom Rd., Hazelwood, MO, 63042

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

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.

HR GENERALIST III – TRAINING DIRECTOR – 21ST CIRCUIT COURT

Family Court of St. Louis County is hiring for a Human Resources Generalist III- Training Director in our Human Resources Department.

The HR Generalist III - Training Director coordinates and oversees the planning, development and delivery of educational and training programs for the entire St. Louis County Circuit Court, ensuring these programs support the goals and direction of the court and provide development opportunities for employees. This position is responsible for all aspects of training for State and County employees for the Saint Louis County Circuit Court (excluding all Article 5 Judges), and reports to the Director of Human Resources.

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in training or related behavioral science (preferred). At least 5 years of experience in training or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Experience training in a government environment is preferred. This is a non-merit position. Recruitment for this position will be handled by the Family Court of St. Louis County. Position is eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

As an employer, St. Louis County cares about the health and well-being of our employees. In an effort to provide for the best possible work-life balance, the County offers a generous benefits package that includes affordable health insurance, dental and vision coverage, 4 weeks of Paid Time Off the first year, 11 paid holidays, deferred benefit retirement plan, paid life insurance as well as short- and long-term disability. A full listing of benefits is available under the benefit tab at the top of this page.

Pay Grade 12 - $55,536 - $83,304. This position is eligible for the 10% addition to pay effective January 12, 2020.

Note: All selected individuals will be required to submit to a background check. Apply online at the following link on or before February 28, 2025. https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/stlouis/jobs/4778399

EOE. Please contact the Human Resources Department at 314-615-8088 (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. Cover letter and resume may also be sent to: Attention: Human Resources, Circuit Court of St. Louis County, 105 S. Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105.

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

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Hankins Construction Co. is requesting bids from MBE/WBE/SDVE/DBE Subcontractors and Suppliers for our proposal on the Saint Louis Public Schools Phase One Auditorium Renovations Project. A diversity goal of 25% MBE and 5% WBE has been established for this project. To access the bid documents, or if you have any questions, please email/call Nicole at Office@HankinsMidwest. com /314-426-7030. Please submit bids to Bids@ HankinsMidwest.com by 8:00 AM on 2/27/2025. Hankins Construction Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Family

Sub-Contracted

Services

The St.

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 OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS –PROGRAMS TO REDUCE CRIME AMONG AT-RISK YOUTH (PROP S)

The City of St. Louis Office of Violence Prevention, in partnership with the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, invites proposals from qualified nonprofits for youth programs to reduce crime among at-risk youth. The RFP may be found online at: https://tinyurl.com/ovp-rfp.

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 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 PROPOSALS FY 2026

OLDER ADULT PROGRAMS

SEALED

BIDS

Bids for Retaining Wall Replacement WMMHCBM, Project No. M240701 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, March 20, 2025. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Install New Heating Unit at Bothwell Lodge State Historic Site, Project No. X233101, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, March 20, 2024. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

Aging Ahead invites proposals for legal services, ombudsman, multipurpose senior centers, satellite meal sites (only congregate or only home delivered) within the counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Jefferson, and Franklin.

Awards to be made are governed by Titles III of OAA regulations and specifications of U.S. Dept. of HHS, MO Div. of Senior and Disability Services and Aging Ahead. Agency reserves the right to award multiple contracts within each program.

The total cost for all programs mentioned above is $269,118 for IIIB (legal and ombudsman) and $4,405,099 for IIIC (multipurpose senior centers, satellite meal sites) programs. 85% ($80,000) of IIIB legal and 85% ($3,744,335) of IIIC is funded through Contract # ERS10526008 from MO Dept. of Health & Senior Services and U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Administration on Community Living.

The remaining 15% ($14,117) of IIIB legal and 15% ($660,765) of IIIC is funded through non-Federal resources as a match requirement for the contractor. The total cost for IIIC noted above includes all services; not all funds will be awarded.

Initial contract period is July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. Contracts may be extended for two additional fiscal years. Specifications and proposal packets may be obtained from Aging Ahead’s website at https://www.agingahead.org/ who-we-are/financials/ at noon on March 3, 2025. A public hearing is scheduled for March 10, 2025 at 2:00pm via Zoom. Agency reserves right to accept or reject any or all proposals. Closing date for receipt of electronic proposals is April 4, 2025 at 4:00pm.

SEALED BIDS

SEALED BIDS

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Requests for Quotes, Bids and Proposals are posted online for public download. Please navigate to www.msdprojectclear.org > Doing Business With Us > View Bid Opportunities

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

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 mail.

Monday-Friday 8-5 Managed by Related Management Company

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

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for the St. Vincent Greenway187B Phase 1: Ferguson Avenue project, Great Rivers Greenway Project No. 220044, and Federal Project No. 9901(666), will be received electronically thru the County’s Vendor Self Service portal at https:// stlouiscountymovendors.munisselfservice. com/Vendors/default.aspx, until 2:00 PM on March 19, 2025

The bidder for St Vincent Greenway-187B Phase 1: Ferguson Avenue will be required to submit a responsive bid for the Ferguson Avenue Resurfacing, St. Louis County Project No. AR-1795, Federal Project No. STP-5515(603). The lowest responsive bidder for the combination of both projects will be awarded both contracts.

Plans and specifications will be available on February 17, 2025 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouiscountymo. gov) or by contacting Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies, 2731 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118 (314) 678-0087.

ACTING DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

ST. LOUIS COUNTY

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for the Ferguson Avenue Resurfacing, St. Louis County Project No. AR-1795, Federal Project No. STP-5513(603) will be received electronically thru the County’s Vendor Self Service portal at https://stlouiscountymovendors. munisselfservice.com/Vendors/default. aspx, until 2:00 PM on March 19, 2025

The bidder for Ferguson Avenue Resurfacing will be required to submit a responsive bid for the St Vincent Greenway-187B Phase 1: Ferguson Avenue Great Rivers Greenway Project No. 220044, Federal Project No. STP-9901(666). The lowest responsive bidder

Plans and specifications will be available on February 17, 2025 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouiscountymo. gov) or by contacting Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies, 2731 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118 (314) 678-0087.

ACTING DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

ST. LOUIS COUNTY

LETTING NO. 8786

RELOCATION OF AIRFIELD MAINTENANCE (AFM) AND SNOW REMOVAL EQUIPMENT (SRE) FACILITIES

AT ST. LOUIS LAMBERT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Electronic bids submitted through the Bid Express Online Portal will be received by the Board of Public Service until 1:45 PM, CT, on March 25, 2025, then publicly opened and read. Proposals must be submitted electronically using “Bid Express Online Portal” at https://www.bidexpress.com/ businesses/20618/home.

Plans, Specifications, and the Agreement may be examined and downloaded online through Bid Express.

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

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

A pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held February 25, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. The pre-bid conference will be held in Ozark Conference Room, 4TH Floor of the Airport Office Building, 11495 Navaid Rd., Bridgeton, MO 63044.

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

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

By Angelita Houston

Are you wanting to find “The Secret Place” in God? Do you know who you are in Christ?

You are not who others say you are. You are who God says you are. No more feeling insecure. No more feeling unloved. No more feeling confused.

In my book, “The Secret Place,” I share how you can be strengthened in your faith, and help you pursue your purpose. There is direction on how you identify in Christ and get an intimate relationship with God. You will also read the Biblical truth on how to change your thoughts and be spiritually guided.

The secret is to have a personal and intimate relationship with God. In order to establish our relationship with God, we must first accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord & Savior. We have to admit that we are sinners. Ask for forgiveness, and then we are saved.

Romans 5:8 reads, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God loves us all and he created us all for His glory and purpose. Every one of us has sinned. None of us is perfect, but God.”

The scripture reads in Romans 7:18-19 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. We are completely loved, adopted, and not forsaken! Our past does not define us, the cross and His resurrection define us and our future.”

It begins with understanding who we are in Christ. Jesus al-

ways put others before himself. Jesus was compassionate for the broken hearted. He obeyed all that God sent Him to this world to do. Jesus also spent time pray ing and seeking the will of God and His next direction.

We must work towards the goal of having a mind like Christ. Sometimes it’s difficult to concentrate on spiritual things throughout the day. Sometimes, our thinking interferes with our healing, our deliverance or our blessings.

We have jobs, family, friends and events to attend on a daily basis. Not that these are bad things in any kind of way. Life just be “lifeing.” Although life can distract us from the purpose of what God wants us to do and learn in life, we still must make time for God and concentrate on what He has planned for us. Words can build up, tear down, encourage or harm. Being careful that our words reflect wisdom, love, and respect for others, demonstrating a heart aligned with God’s will.

God promises us His presence, His protection, His peace, His joy, His deliverance and His salvation.

We must have that confidence in God, if we make him our resting place, He will never leave us. We see this in Psalm 91 how God is our keeper and protector through our daily lives. Psalm 91:1-2 reads, He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Sometimes trusting God doesn’t make sense at the time but, when we put our trust in Him, He works everything out in His own time. No matter what

comes your way, God promises to work it all out for your good and His glory.

Angelita Houston is St. Louis American classified manager. If you would like to purchase a copy of her book, “The Secret Place” please email her at ahouston@stlamerican.com.

Black health tour in Southern churches

The National Blood Clot Alliance is launching a six-city bus tour, spreading the gospel of

blood clot awareness at churches in the South. Alliance members will teach their host congregations ways to prevent blood clots, how to identify the warning signs and the steps they should take to manage the condition.

“It is well known that Black Americans face significantly higher rates of blood clot incidence and mortality, yet information about blood clots is not reaching our communities,” Arshell Brooks Harris, an NBCA board member, said in a statement announcing the tour. “We are taking awareness directly to the people and providing the information they need to protect themselves and their loved

According to the American Heart Association, a blood clot, or thrombus, happens when blood flow through the body slows in an area, allowing blood to collect and congeal. The clot builds, then breaks free and moves through the bloodstream until it lodges in a narrow passageway.

The clot, called an embolus, blocks blood flow, starving vital organs, tissue or limbs of oxygen. An embolus in a coronary artery can cause a heart attack; in a cerebral artery, it can cause a stroke.

Each year NBCA serves more than 3 million people with blood clot-related information, resources, and support. Sadly, Harris knows about the subject from experience: her daughter, Leschel Brooks, died from blood

“Nobody should be dying from blood clots, given how preventable they are,” she said.

The bus tour, which will kick off Blood Clot Awareness Month in March, will make stops at churches in Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Houston, Memphis and New Orleans.

Shirley Bondon, executive director of the Black Clergy Collaborative of Memphis, says the tour is a significant step forward in bringing attention to the issue and potentially saving lives.

“We look forward to partnering with the National Blood Clot Alliance and raising awareness about blood clots in the Black community in Memphis,” she says. ”Knowledge is power, and with information, we can reduce both the incidence and mortality of those impacted by blood clots in the Black community.”

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

Show Me STEM

Black Missourians celebrated for their contributions to the field

By Kenya Vaughn

The St. Louis American

Anyone who passed John McWhorter on a St. Louis street in 1914 would not have assumed him to be an aviation pioneer. He earned a living as a postal worker. But just like his father before him,

he made a life filled with invention and discovery.

He filed three patents for flying machines – one of them took off vertically with specs that resemble a helicopter, which was yet to be developed at the time of his patent.

He was one of many names an audience in the grand hall of the Missouri History Museum learned about during the Black Missourians in STEM presentation held Saturday morning.

Missouri History Museum K-12

Programs Manager Maria Russell started with McWhorter for a reason.

“There are some amazing and really famous Black scientists, architects and engineers that we want to remember,” Russell said. “But there are also some people we want to remember who didn’t

become famous.”

As she talked, an old black and white image of a young boy perched on a contraption with a man smiling off in the distance was displayed on a projector screen. Turns out the man in the image was McWhorter. The boy was sitting on one of his flying machines.

“They didn’t become famous, but they lived every day with curiosity and invention,” Russell said. “And spent their time learning and creating and discovering science, technology, engineering and math.”

As an icebreaker, Russell asked the audience to take one minute and think of as many names of Black scientists that they possibly could.

When the minute elapsed, she asked how many could name one. Hands shot up like rockets. She asked for three, about

Buzzing with Black History

Saturday story time honored Sumner educator and pioneering entomologist

By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American

As she heard the book being read about Charles Henry Turner, six-yearold Isla Smith’s eyes were as wide as her adorable afro puffs. With each new bit of information revealed in “Buzzing with Questions: The Inquisitive Mind of Charles Henry Turner,” her excitement became more palpable.

She was oblivious to the toddlers scooting around her as Dr. Naomi Msengi of Washington University turned the pages and read more about Turner’s life. For this week, the reading for the recurring story time segment at The Missouri History Museum reflected the theme of the full-day Black Missourians in STEM program that was underway on Saturday, February 15.

Six-year-old Isla Smith peered through a microscope at cicadas following Saturday morning story time on February 15 at The Missouri History Museum.

The first Black to receive a graduate degree from the University of Cincinnati and among the first to earn a PhD from the University of Chicago, Turner was also the first Black entomologist. He was a pioneer in the field thanks to his experiments to determine the cognitive abilities of arthropods, such as spiders and bees. He also examined different individuals within a species. His groundbreaking work was a precursor to the study of animal personality. And most of his experiments took place right here in St. Louis – where he spent most of his career as a science teacher at Sumner High School.

“It was the first Black high school built west of the Mississippi,” the pro-

gram facilitator told the children. “He taught science there – and his students helped him do experiments.”

Before Dr. Msengi read the book, the woman gave them a brief history lesson about him in a manner that was digestible for their young minds.

“He loved bugs – and I love bugs

See Museum, D3

half the hands went up in the room. One woman beamed with pride as she looked around and saw that her hand was the only one up when Russell called for five names. When Russell got to ten, everyone’s palms were facing the floor.

“There is a table back there with 28 Black Missourians involved in STEM,” Russell said. “If you could walk away remembering three people that you didn’t already know, I think that would be really cool.”

The talk was a fascinating roll call of Blacks from across the entire state – including the St. Louis region. Their contributions live on, even if their names have been forgotten. There was WPT Jones. He was born

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

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.

Photo by Kenya Vaughn

See STEM, D2

Photo by Kenya Vaughn

Kirstan Riddle of the Missouri History Museum at a station devoted to Homer G. Phillips Hospital that paid tribute to the late Dr. James Whittico Jr. during their Black Missourians in STEM program on Saturday, Feb. 15.

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too,” she said.

“I love bugs too,” they repeated without prompting, Including Isla.

“He studied how bugs acted around each other –and around him,” she said. “We are going to learn about one of his experiments.”

They also learned about his life by way of Janice N. Harrington’s book.

“He never stopped asking questions,” Dr. Msengi read. “A classmate said he spent hours peering through microscopes, planning for experiments and gathering specimens.”

The book detailed a particular experiment where he concluded that insects could sense time and detect color.

“Even though he was a respected scientist, Charles faced racial prejudice,” Dr. Msengi read. “African Americans had to attend separate schools. And he lived in St. Louis during the terrible East St. Louis riots, when hateful mobs killed more than 100 African Americans, and burned their neighborhoods.”

It was the study of plants and animals that gave Turner hope.

“He hoped that biology could help people see the connections among all living things,” Dr. Msengi read. “Biology teaches us to think less of ourselves, and more of each other.”

The book described Turner as a devoted scholar who taught students to look closely to find the webs that connect us all.

“Just as he did,” Dr. Msengi said. “And to fill the world with questions.”

As soon as the story time was over, Isla made her way to the microscopes – the same as the book described Turner doing 140 years ago.

Kirstan Riddle presented her with slides of different insects to choose from.

“Do you have any grasshoppers,” Isla asked.

“I don’t, but I do have cicadas,” Riddle said.

She started to provide an explanation of what it was, but Isla made it clear that Riddle didn’t need to.

“Cool,” Isla exclaimed, before Riddle could go any further in her description.

Charles Henry Turner had to be looking down with a smile even bigger than Isla’s.

Celebrating Black History Month

Calendar

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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 Society at (314) 965-5151.

Sat., Feb. 22, 3 p.m., Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing presents Deaf Black History Month Celebration, Commerce Center located at 56 N Euclid Ave., St. Louis MO 63108. For more information, visit mcdhh.mo.gov

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/678c13de602fca-

0f6a619481

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.

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.

Fri., Feb. 21, 8 p.m., The Sheldon presents Martha Redbone, Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd. For more information, visit thesheldon.org.

Sat., Feb. 22, 10 a.m.,

Author Talk: Black St. Louis by Nini Harris, Ulysses S. Grant National

Historic Site, 7400 Grant Rd, St. Louis, MO 63123. For reservations call 314842-1867 ext. 230 or visit www.nps.gov/ulsg.

Sat., Feb. 22, 11 a.m., St. Louis Civil War Sites and the Fight for Freedom with Peter Downs, This program is free with limited availability in person and on Zoom. Field House Museum, 634 S. Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102. Reservations must be made in advance at: fieldhousemuseum. org/events, by calling the Museum at 314-421-4689, or by emailing info@fieldhousemuseum.org

Tues., Feb. 25, 9 a.m., Delmar Divine Presents: Black History is G.R.A.N.D., Celebrate Black History Month with Author & CEO Tina Grimes as she shares a book from her GRAND Anthology series featuring women leaders! Delmar DivINe, 5501 Delmar Boulevard St. Louis, MO 63112. For more information, visit

St. Louis County Library welcomes Bestselling Young Adult author Ibi Zoboi, author of (S)kin to the Clark Family Branch on Wednesday, Feb. 26.

Tues., Feb. 25, 6:15 p.m., 3rd Annual Black History Month Ride and Flow presented by Derrick Walker and Andrea Cox, celebrating Black History Month with powerful energy and movement, TruFusion Foundry, 3770 Foundry Way, #Suite 192 St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit trufusion.com/foundry/

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.

Fri., Feb. 28, 5 p.m., Triton Connect presents Black Excellence Fashion Show, UMSL Millennium Student Center - Century Room BC, 17 Arnold B Grobman Dr., St. Louis, MO 63121. For more information, visit tritonconnect.umsl.edu.

into slavery – but escaped through the Underground Railroad to Canada. While in Canada he attended medical school and became a physician. He arrived in St. Louis in the 1870s, he became the first known Black physician to practice here. When he left St. Louis, he became the first Black man to practice medicine in Denver.

“The National Science Foundation doesn’t consider medicine a STEM career, because it is about applied science and not about understanding the world,” said Russell. “We have medical professionals that we are covering. They are working a lot with science, understanding our bodies. They are also working a lot with different technologies, and they are inventing new things. So, I personally must disagree with the National Science Foundation.”

The event included an exploration station devoted to esteemed Black doctors – like Dr. James Whittico Jr., Dr. Helen Nash and her brother Dr. Homer Nash – and the global impact of Homer G. Phillips Hospital. She also discussed the legacy of ophthalmologist Dr. Howard Venable, the first Black physician faculty member at Washington University – who paid for medical school by touring as a trumpet player.

The Missourians who heard Russell’s lecture now know of the individuals in our state that changed the world with respect to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

When Charles S. Baker and his family migrated from Savannah, Missouri to St. Joseph, one of the wheels on their wagon didn’t have enough oil. The friction caused heat, which produced steam when it began to rain. The

a place where goals could be accom-

a chance to succeed and prosper.

moment inspired Baker to create a radiator that used friction instead of combustion.

“He demonstrated his invention at a number of expositions and fairs around the country,” Russell said. “He started a company called the Baker Friction Heater Company. It was a successful company. He changed the name to the Baker Revolutionizing Super Heating Molecule Union Developing Company,

which is a mouthful.”

Tom Bass was a horse trainer from Mexico, MO. He grew up around horses, donkeys and mules, and he loved them. He wanted to take care of them. He wanted to make sure people could work with them – and be kind to them.

The bits that are used to control their motion can be hard and painful. He invented a bit that was designed to give the rider control, but without causing that pain.

“The Bass bit is still used today,” Russell said.

“He never patented that design, which meant that he didn’t get exclusive rights to it and other people could make it without crediting him or paying him.”

Annie Malone was among the most recognizable names on Russell’s list, though Moddie Daniel Taylor might ring a bell. He was raised in St. Louis. He was a professor of chemistry at Lincoln

University when he was recruited to join The Manhattan Project in 1943.

“He specialized in rare earth minerals, which get used sometimes for nuclear physics and nuclear energy,” Russell said.

She brought up second-generation architect Francis Rassieur Roberson, who designed the visitor center under the Gateway Arch. St. Louis Housing Authority stationary engineer Ivan C. James Jr., software engineer and

Kinloch native Roy Clay, who is often referred to as

“The Godfather of Silicon Valley” made the list too.

“When we do this work, we’re trying to get these names out to get more of them remembered –because a lot of them are forgotten,” Russell said.

“Most of history is lost. The only way to keep it is by working to remember and to find things to commemorate them.”

Photo courtesy of Missouri Historical Society

The Homer G Phillips Hospital opened in 1937. It was the only public hospital for Black St. Louisans until 1955. The hospital was also designed to be a training facility for Black doctors and nurses both nationally and internationally to complete their medical residences. By the early 60s, the hospital had trained the largest number of Black doctors and nurses in the world.

Homer G. Phillips Hospital was more than a hospital in the Black community. It was

plished, Black excellence was celebrated, and future Black professionals had

Black music is Black history

By Kenya Vaughn

The St. Louis American

The music of Grammy Award-winning gospel artist and songwriter Donald Lawrence is considered contemporary. But his songs speak to what it has meant to be Black in America since we arrived.

“When Sunday comes, my trouble’s gone,” the late great Daryl Coley sang on Lawrence’s “When Sunday Comes.” “As soon as it gets here, I’ll have a new song.”

The lyrics are much deeper than making it to church. It reflects our ability to endure, despite the unspeakable atrocities of systemic racial terror and orchestrated inequity.

Radical faith and defiant hope – which is apparently within the DNA of Black people – has carried us for centuries.

Lawrence will be the soloist for the 2025 St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus Lift

Every Voice: Celebrating Black History featuring the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. The concert will

take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, February 28th at Stifel Theatre.

Hope is echoed in Lawrence’s music. So is self-determination.

“When we speak, we have to speak into our future,” Lawrence told podcaster Michah McLean in a 2023 interview.

“Words are very powerful – and they carry a spirit. The words we speak really set the tone for our lives.”

Lawrence has written, produced and performed with some of the biggest names in gospel over his 30-plus years in music.

Karen Clark Sheard, Kirk Franklin, Bishop Walter Hawkins, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Coley, LaShun Pace, Donnie McClurkin, Hezekiah Walker, Richard Smallwood and Le’Andria Johnson are just a few. Hits like “The Best Is Yet to Come” and “The Blessing of Abraham” have become inspirational music anthems. “Music is a heart thing for me,” Lawrence told McLean.

“If I do what my heart dictates, it always hits and touches the people it is

Grammy-winning gospel artist Donald Lawrence will be the featured soloist for St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus on Friday, February 28th at Stifel Theatre.

Photo courtesy of St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

supposed to touch.”

One of Lawrence’s biggest hits is adjacent to the messages of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” The Black National Anthem written by James Weldon Johnson 125 years ago –and the namesake of IN UNISON’s concert. The gospel staple “Encourage Yourself” with the TriCity Singers also reminds Black people of two of our most formidable superpowers – resilience and fortitude.

“Sometimes you have to encourage yourself,” soloist Sherri Jones-Moffitt sings in “Encourage Yourself.” “Sometimes you have to speak victory during the test.”

St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus will present Lift Every Voice: Celebrating Black History featuring Grammy-winning gospel artist Donald Lawrence at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, February 28 at Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St. For more information, visit https://slso. org.

Legislation introduced for Rosa Parks Day federal holiday

December 1 could become first national observation in honor of a woman

Special to The American From Word In Black

At a press conference earlier this month, Reps. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, and Shomari Figures, D-Ala. introduced legislation to make Rosa Parks Day a federal holiday.

The Rosa Parks Day Act would designate Dec. 1 as a federal holiday marking Parks’ 1955 arrest in Montgomery, Alabama. She refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. Her arrest sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement.

“At a time when Black history is under attack, it is especially important that we recognize the bravery and heroism of changemakers like Rosa Parks who dared this nation to live up to its highest ideals,” Sewell said.

“Honoring Rosa Parks with a new federal holiday will ensure that her contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and to American history are never forgotten.”

While several states have adopted their own holidays honoring Parks, no federal holiday currently recognizes her contribution to the Civil Rights Movement. If established, Rosa Parks Day would become the first federal holiday to honor a woman.

“Nearly 70 years ago, Rosa Parks changed the course of history when she refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery,” Beatty said.

“On that day, she sparked a civil rights revolution, challenging our country to deliver on the principles we’re bound to — that all of us are created equal.”

Beatty, who championed Ohio becoming the first state to recognize Dec. 1 as Rosa Parks Day during her time as a state legislator, called for national recognition of “this esteemed American hero” through a new federal holiday.

Figures, a freshman representative whose district includes Montgomery and Parks’ birthplace of Tuskegee, supported the measure. “I am proud to join this legislation designating a national holiday in her honor to ensure her contributions that helped ignite the Civil Rights Movement are never forgotten,” he said.

“By honoring her with a new federal holiday, we can ensure that what hap-

pened in Montgomery and Selma and Birmingham is never ever erased or forgotten, no matter how hard some extremists may try,” Sewell said. “Moreover, it will become the first federal holiday to honor a woman, let alone a Black woman.

The bill was introduced on February 4, which would have been Parks’ 112th birthday.

Sewell says that the bill already has 57 cosponsors in the House.

“We look forward to harnessing this momentum to get it across the finish line, and it is our hope that we can do so in a bipartisan way,” Sewell said.

“Her quiet, distinguished courage set the stage for the historic Montgomery Bus Boycott and galvanized a movement that changed the very fabric of this nation.”

This article was reprinted with permission from Word In Black and originally published by The Washington Informer.