February 2nd, 2023 edition

LouiS AmericAn

Bridging divides, fueling dreams

Ferrings to receive Business Salute’s Community Impact Award

By Kenya Vaughn St. Louis American

younger St. Louis-based Black artists such as Jerald Iaens and Kahlil Robert Irving. However, their philanthropic footprint stretches across multiple sectors and includes groundbreaking medical research, education and

Expect Us mem-

ber Reginald Garth speaking to protesters that gathered in front of the St. Louis Police Department Friday night Jan. 27, 2023 to protest police brutality after Memphis Police released a video of five black police officers brutally beating 29-yearold Tyre Nichols, who died three days later on Jan. 10 from his injuries.

John and Alison Ferring at the Ferring Family Foundation office on Friday, Jan. 13.The couple will receive the inaugural Excellence in Community Impact Award at the St. Louis American Foundation’s 21st Annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards Luncheon on Thursday, February 16th.

Louis American staff

The St. Louis Public Schools district has looked West to find a new leader with a proven record of

On Wednesday, SLPS announced that Keisha Scarlett, a Seattle Public Schools assistant superintendent, will become SLPS superintendent on July 1, 2023. She has served the Seattle city district for 24 years and has been assistant superintendent of academics since 2021. “A Saint Louis Public Schools education will be a ‘gateway to unlimited possibility,’” Scarlett said in a release.

“[The St. Louis] community is resilient and has made important progress. Together, we will continue moving forward, until all [SLPS] students are safe, cared for, and prepared with an

See SCARLETT, A7

Jameel Spann turned life around page by page

By Sylvester Brown Jr.

The St. Louis American

“I’m sorry, but what position am I being interviewed for?

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

The shocking brutality unleashed by five Black Memphis police officers on unarmed on Tyre Nichols on January 7, 2023, became public last week. Protests, prayer vigils, reactions of outrage continue throughout the nation, including here in St. Louis. Nichols was pulled over by police for an alleged traffic violation after photographing a

sunset, according to his family. A confrontation ensued, and he was brutally beaten in an encounter that is recorded by police body cameras. Nichold died three days later. On Thursday Jan. 26, the five officers were charged with murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression. Video of the traffic stop was released on Friday night, Jan. 27. “Families across our region and our coun-

try have seen yet another traumatizing video showing the tragic, heinously violent final moments of a Black man’s life,” said St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones.

“As the mother of a Black son, my heart goes out to Tyre Nichols’ family and friends, and I pray they find justice. Tyre should still be with us today.

“Community trust is necessary to make our

Jameel Spann had filled out numerous applications for jobs and acceptance to colleges. When he received an email to schedule a phone interview, he eagerly accepted.

Spann was seeking a position where he could work with felons and potential young lawbreakers. He was being inquired about a crime he committed while in his teens that led to a lengthy prison sentence.

Spann summarized the incident, segueing to his remorse and sharing lessons he’d learned from his

See SPANN, A7

Jameel Spann in front of the closed Harrison Elementary School where he attended as a kid and where his grandfather was once the principal Thu. Jan. 26, 2023 in the city’s O’Fallon neighborhood of north St. Louis.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Keisha Scarlett

Barrett Strong, founding Motown artist, dies

Barrett Strong, founding Motown artist and songwriter who helped pen hits for The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, and more, has died. He was 81.

Motown’s first big hit, “Money (That’s What I Want),” vaulted Strong to stardom and sold more than 1 million copies.

As a songwriter, he co-wrote with Norman Whitfield “I Heard it Through the Grapevine,” “War” with Edwin Starr, and “Smiling Faces Sometimes” with The Undisputed Truth.

Strong’s most successful run was as a contributor to Temptations songs “I Wish it Would Rain,” “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” for which he shared a Grammy Award.

“I never felt comfortable with myself as a recording artist,” Strong said in a 2016 Billboard interview.

“I had to work to support my family. I’m not looking for the spotlight and all the glamor and stuff like that. I just like to work in my

studio and see what we can come up with.”

Latto auctions panty on eBay to prove a point

Latto is poking fun at a Twitter troll who accused her of wearing the same panties with different outfits. She found humor in the accusation and auctioned her underwear on eBay.

The lowest bid started at 99 cents and reached over $95,000 with 80 bids. The link has since been removed.

The controversy started when Twitter user @extraathique posted two images of Latto in different outfits wearing similar cheetah print under wear captioned, “Can’t afford new panties?” assuming the rapper wears the same underwear everyday.

Latto’s response was, “Oh no, it’s the panty police.”

She also showed her underwear drawer on her Instagram Story proving she has several pairs of cheetah-print underwear, not just one pair.

“These are all my Target panties that caused such a discrepancy yesterday,” she said in the clip. “So um, $5 at Target. Here’s the cheetah stash. So, that’s two, three, four, yeah, clean. Five. Oh look, this one has a brand new tag on it. So that’s cute.”

Babyface, Rihanna, Sheryl Lee Ralph are Super Bowl LVII’s Black performers

will sing his rendition of “America the Beautiful” during pregame festivities.

Rickey Smiley’s son died at 32, no cause verified

Super Bowl Sunday will feature the before, during, and after the game show when the Kansas City Chiefs play the Philadelphia Eagles on Feb. 12 in Glendale, Arizona. Rihanna will perform during the halftime show, and the NFL is running a heavy stream of advertising with the singer speaking of her return to performance.

Brandon Smiley

Sheryl Lee Ralph will perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and Babyface

Rickey Smiley’s oldest son, Brandon Smiley has died. He was 32.

“I lost my oldest son

#BrandonSmiley this morning,” Smiley said in an Instagram video taken at an airport over the weekend.

“I’m okay, but please pray for my son’s mother Brenda, his siblings and his daughter Storm.”

Brandon died on Sunday, Jan. 29. A cause of death wasn’t given.

Smiley also shared he now understands how it feels to lose a child after witnessing his grandfather mourn his father.

“Now I see … why he felt the way he felt,” he said. “My granddaddy went through this [expletive] with my dad and somehow, here I am going through the same thing my grandparents went through. So just pray for our family.”

Sources: https://www.cnn.com/, https:// www.xxlmag.com/, https://twitter.com/, https://pagesix.com/, https://www.freep. com, Billboard

Babyface

Judge Carla Hughes brings classroom to her courtroom

By Ashley Winters St. Louis American

Judge Carla Hughes says she brings compassion to her courtroom.

Hughes was appointed a St. Louis County municipal judge last fall and hears misdemeanor, criminal and civil matters.

“I don’t have cases that would send someone to prison and I’m not looking to send anyone to prison. My main goal is compliance,” she said.

Her bench is in the north division of north St. Louis County, and becoming a judge fulfilled a long sought-after goal.

“I’m just trying to make a difference, I’m just trying to give back to the community that has given so much to me,” said Hughes.

“I care about people knowing what their rights are and being protected.”

There are few Black female judges in the St. Louis area and nationally.

According to a Zippia report, there are over 16,840 judges currently employed in the United States. 50.3% are men, while 49.7% are women. 79.6% of U.S. judges are white, 7% are Hispanic or Latino, 5.9% are Asian, and 5.5% are Black.

There is also a gender/race pay gap, according to the study. An Asian judges’ average salary is nearly $175,000, while a white judges’ salary is close to $168,000. While it is not a penance,

Black judges are paid less at $159,000 per year.

The judge says that she stands on the shoulders of those who came before her, she looks up to any Black judge because she knows the struggle they had to go through.

“I want to make [those that came before me] proud, they are an inspiration to me,” Hughes said.

Hughes is a graduate of Hazelwood East High School. She attended Tennessee State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She graduated Summa Cum Laude.

She returned home to attend the Saint Louis University School of Law.

She said her interest was business law “to protect businesses financially and legally.”

The municipal judge opening was listed on the St. Louis County website, and a friend asked Hughes if she was interested in applying.

She was interviewed, underwent a background check and “shadowed” her potential courtroom for two months. There was also a confirmation hearing before the County Council. Her swearing in ceremony was in November of 2022.

Wesley Bell, St. Louis County prosecuting attorney, has known the judge for over 20 years. They have both served on the faculty at Harris-Stowe State University.

He said she shows patience, com-

passion, and grit in her classroom.

“All the things needed to be a fair and effective judge,” said Bell.

“Carla, even as a young person, has always displayed a maturity beyond her years and the intelligence to do whatever she set her mind to.

“I have no doubt she will be a tremendous asset to the St. Louis County Municipal Courts. Needless to say, I’m very proud of her. She is an outstanding addition to our courts.”

The mother of two toddler boys, she is still a practicing attorney and on the

HSSU staff.

“When I gotta work, I gotta work. And When it’s family time, it’s family time.”

Hughes’ skills in law and education are also put to use in her courtroom.

Many traffic offenders plead guilty and, before she sentences them, she explains what it means to plead guilty.

“I like to take the time and explain to them their options and most of the time they accept my suggestion and I’ll give them a continuance on their case,” she said

I want people to think long term, to really think about their future. That’s why it’s so important to me to educate people on their rights.”

Her advice for future lawyers and judges is this: Help before sentencing, and extend grace to those who have made mistakes.

Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for

the St. Louis American

Photo by Wiley Price I St. Louis American

St. Louis County Municipal Judge Carla Hughes says she is inspired by the Black attorneys and judges that came before her, adding that she wants anyone who appears before her in the courtroom to know what their rights are.

Guest Editorial

Black mothers and fathers continue to shed tears for their children killed at the hands of those sworn to protect them.

Facing the dark side of Black history

Black history is American history. It is interconnected with the contributions of Black inventors, explorers, activists, educators, entertainers, and more, and we proudly celebrate those contributions each February. My original intention was to focus on the major impact Blacks have had on American history despite the critical race theory confusion and crusade of misguided opponents to erase our contributions as a people. But with the release of videotapes showing the brutal and heartbreaking beating of Tyre Nichols by five Black Memphis police officers my focus turned to the dark side of Black history that we know all too well.

From Emmett Till to George Floyd, countless African Americans have been murdered by avowed racists or thugs in uniform time and time again, and something must be done to stop the madness. Generations ago, we were kidnapped and abused as we crossed the ocean from Mother Africa and arrived in a land where lynchings became a dark part of history and evolved into the beatings and shootings of today. When we explore our genealogy, some of us uncover a lynching or beating in our family history, as I did.

To temper the anger and outrage, some point to laws that, though it took generations to change attitudes, have altered the course of our history. They include:

In the 1800s, the Emancipation Proclamation paved the way for the permanent abolition of slavery in the United States, resulting in the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States.

The Fourteenth Amendment gave citizenship to all people born in the U.S. and the Fifteenth Amend-

ment gave Black Americans the right to vote.

In the 1900s, the Civil Rights Act of 1957 allowed federal prosecution of anyone who tried to prevent someone from voting.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

The Civil Rights Act of 1991 restored and strengthened laws that ban discrimination in employment.

Those changes would not have occurred without federal legislation. The changes needed to stop the killing of Black people by police include getting better police candidates and requiring better training, but what we need most is federal legislation.

1.Police Camera and Accountability Act

The Tyre Nichols beating would not have been captured without police body cameras and a street camera giving a big-picture view, which is why the Police Camera and Accountability Act passed by the U.S. House must become law.

In 2022, federal grants were given to local police departments to secure body cameras. President Joe Biden’s executive order mandated federal officers to wear body cameras, yet only seven states (Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Carolina) mandate their use.

Note: We applaud Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis for firing the accused of-

Commentary

ficers, releasing the videotape, and acknowledging Nichols’ beating as “heinous, reckless and inhumane.”

2.George Floyd Policing Act

This legislation will hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct in court, improve transparency through data collection, reform police training and policies, and restrict the use of no-knock warrants and chokeholds.

3.Replacement of Qualified Immunity

Police should be held personally accountable by laws with monetary consequences. We understand there should be protection from frivolous lawsuits against cities, counties and states that abuse taxpayers’ monies.

If our legal system is good enough for Joe Q Public, it should work for our men and women in blue. Federal legislation should abolish qualified immunity, which protects police and other government officials from individual liability in certain cases, and replace it with new legislation that holds officials accountable yet takes into consideration split-second decisions.

Across America, Black mothers and fathers continue to shed tears for their children killed at the hands of those sworn to protect them. Abolitionist Frederick Douglass, one of the illustrious African Americans we celebrate during Black History Month, said, “Power concedes nothing without a demand.”

We demand that our elected officials stop the bleeding and make needed legislative changes a reality.

Sonny Messiah Jiles is CEO of the Houston Defender Network.

More mass shootings in 2023 than days

It’s sad to imagine that Half Moon Bay and Monterey Park have joined a list with Uvalde and Buffalo and Orlando and Charleston and Sandy Hook and Columbine, reference points for a national epidemic we haven’t mustered the will to end despite decades of tragedies. But they will unless we can confront both the symptom that is gun violence and the underlying disease that causes it.

I shoot for sport, and I’ve trained others to shoot. I live in a coastal community in Maryland where hunters and hikers share wild places and work together to preserve them.

I also live not far from the Capital Gazette’s offices, where a man armed with a shotgun and angered by newspaper stories about him killed five and injured two in 2018. For generations, many in my family have served in law enforcement. I support common-sense steps to keep guns out of the hands of those who have demonstrated they shouldn’t have them. We all know that list by now -- more and more thorough background checks, bans on assault weapons and unnecessarily large magazines, red flag laws that allow guns to be taken away from those who are risks to others or themselves, and penalties for gun owners

who fail to keep them out of the hands of children, teens, and mentally unstable people. Fighting the disease at the root of the violence demands that we address it like the public health crisis it is. I realized that as a graduate student at Oxford when I started exploring rates of suicide in the United States. Almost unfettered access to guns, particularly handguns, has a lot to do with the numbers. If you try to kill yourself with a firearm, you’re much more likely to succeed. While suicides among young Black men sparked my research, I learned that white men over 55 were more likely to die of suicide with a gun than Black men 15 to 30 were to kill each other with a gun. You would never have known that from the media and popular culture at the time.

What pushes those two trend lines in the same direction are shared causes – hopelessness, economic uncertainty, down-

Keeping score of economic justice

By Adam Layne

In September of 2022 at the City of St. Louis’ annual Funds Committee meeting, I introduced the Banking for Economic Equity (BEE) Scorecard, which establishes Economic Justice accountability standards for banks that do business with the City of St. Louis. The Funds Committee, made up of the Treasurer, Mayor, and Comptroller, convenes annually to provide an update on the financial investments of the city and approve all banks that will move forward as city depositories for the fiscal year.

With a mayoral administration intent on taking a dynamic approach to uplifting the most marginalized areas of St. Louis, the BEE Scorecard is critical and is in direct alignment with the Economic Justice priorities of our city. The BEE Scorecard rates all city depository applicants in five categories: Diversity of the governing board and executive leadership, diversity of mid-level managers and client facing staff, equitable lending, specialized program, and community investment. Each category is weighted, and the scoring criteria is detailed and outlined in a comprehensive rubric. The first two categories outline what is means to have ongoing commitment to inclusive leadership, representation, and pipeline cultivation for those who have been historically underrepresented in banking leadership due to race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. The equi-

table lending category measures lending activity by banks and the degree to which banks are supporting loan originations in low-to-moderate income (LMI) census tracts and ground gained in refinancing, small business, and home improvement loans. The last two categories of the scorecard serve to intentionally measure the investments our banking institutions are making directly within the communities they operate in.

Historically, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) Report served loosely as the analytical tool used in determining the approval of our city depositories. Banks would submit information on total lending business in the city, encompassing home mortgages, refinancing loans, home improvement

n When banks are attentive to the needs of the community they serve, they have the power to be the financial bridges to economic success that our communities need.

loans, and small business loans. That Fund Committee members would review the data by census track to determine how well our banks were performing in ensuring all St. Louisans had access to buy and improve homes.

Knowing that homeownership is a major factor in building generational wealth, the HMDA Report has been helpful, and a good barometer of how lending activity is trending in our region, but as we know, banking institutions can play a significant role in the health of a community. When

Letter to the editor

We want to hear from you

As the region’s leading media source for the African-American community, The St. Louis American wants to hear from you.

To send a Letter to the Editor, please send to: editor@stlamerican.com.

To submit a free People on the Move listing in our Business section, please send photo and write up to: kjones@stlamerican.com.

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ward mobility, and addiction all made more painful by social isolation. Those same factors feed both cultural and political polarization that have many Americans wondering about the future of our republic.

Let’s not accept the isolation so many feel and the polarization we see in our public discourse as reinforcing and insurmountable. Let’s be determined to act now to find the solutions we can agree on – even gun owners overwhelmingly support some regulations, just as majorities support helping those with mental health needs.

I’ve seen this happen. When I was young, my dad organized a peer counseling program for abusive men, with 80 men taking part every six weeks. Men grew not only more empathetic but more humane. Some eventually wanted to do more together and formed Whites Interrupting Racism in our community. It was one of many lessons my dad taught me – that how we treat each other in our lives shapes what we’ll permit in the structures of our country.

Ben Jealous is the incoming executive director of the Sierra Club, and a former NACCP national president

banks are attentive to the needs of the community they serve, they have the power to be the financial bridges to economic success that our communities need. It is my goal that the BEE Scorecard will serve as a more dynamic and sustainable tool used to both hold our banking institutions accountable to the economic justice priorities of the St. Louis and simultaneously supporting and celebrate the strides our banking partners are making in communities that need it the most, and showing how intentional investment both fortifies our neighborhoods and allows our banking institutions to thrive.

I am excited by the launch of this initiative, and I look forward to the work that still needs to be done to ensure that this tool is the most effective for measuring what we want to see our partners in this work of economic justice. Our next steps are to present the BEE Scorecard and rubric to our bank partners for feedback and to convene a working group of community members, local leaders, and other key stakeholders who will review the language and criteria so that the communities we seek to uplift have a voice in what they believe is important to see. As the Treasurer of the City of St. Louis, I am dedicated to ensuring both the city and its residents are financially healthy as we continue to grow and build the city we know St. Louis can be. I encourage everyone to check out the BEE Scorecard and supporting documents, which are available for the public to view on our website (www.stltreasurer.org) as well as the City of St. Louis website.

Adam Layne serves as the Treasurer for the City of St. Louis after being appointed by Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, the former City Treasurer, in 2021.

All letters are edited for length and style

Brief, please send to: editor@stlamerican.com. For information on obituaries and in memoriams, please send to: ahouston@stlamerican.com. For advertising information, please send to: advertising@stlamerican.com. To receive our weekly E-newsletter, visit stlamerican.com. If you are interested in purchasing a print subscription to have the newspaper delivered to a home, please visit stlamerican.com and click on subscriptions near the bottom of the site.

Guest Columnist Adam Layne

Mayor Jones tells Girls Inc. members to seize opportunities

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones recently encouraged young women in Girls Incorporated to be leaders whether in business, politics, or community service.

Speaking at the Girls Inc. headquarters at 3801 Nelson Drive, Jones said when opportunity knocks be ready to answer.

“I was asked to fill an unexpired Democratic committeewoman’s term. I did that and got bit by the bug. A lot of times when women run for office, it isn’t something that we think of initially like ‘I want to do that when I grow up.’ It’s usually that we are asked to do it,” she said.

“A woman on average has to be asked seven times to go into politics or run for office. A lot of times we don’t think that is something we are qualified to do.

“I’m here to tell you right now that the only requirement you need to be a politician is to care about your community.” Jones is a former state representative, the first Black woman

to serve as city treasurer, and was elected the city’s first Black woman mayor in April 2021.

According to its website, the organization inspires girls “to be strong, smart and bold.”

It provides educational and cultural programs that enable girls to raise their aspirations and realize their potential.

In a recent interview with St. Louis magazine, Cheryl Jones, Girls inc., president and CEO said its members “are ingrained with the Girls Inc. Bill of Rights.”

“They have the right to be themselves and resist stereotypes. Girls have the right to prepare for interesting work and economic independence. What we want is a leader who knows what it means to have integrity and how to give back.

“It is our assumption that once you leave, you’re going to come back and give. That’s kind of how we view this—’to whom much is given, much will be required.”’

For additional information please visit www.girlsincstl.org

Let’s get a few things straight

By Wendy Gladney

When life throws you a curve ball, you must either sit on the sidelines or get in the game. Recently, I had someone very close to me admitted to the hospital, and I had to not only help with things pertaining to their home and personal business, but I also had to make serious decisions pertaining to their health and overall wellbeing.

When faced with such serious matters it makes one pause and look at their own life to make sure things are decent and in order for those that may have to help us one day in the same situation. Oftentimes, we delay putting our affairs in order thinking there is always tomorrow. Now that we are in a new year, let us work on getting a few things straight.

Depending on your assets and the various things that concern you, there are different things you need to make sure you put in place. I recommend you consider first finding the right consultant that can help you do everything legally and proper.

Here is a list of things I recommend no matter what your status: life insurance, a Living Trust or Will, a Medical Directive, and possibly even appointing a trustworthy person as your Power of Attorney. It is very important that you make it very clear to those that you trust to know in advance what your wishes are if they must make certain life altering decisions for you.

If you are in the hospital and you do not want to be resuscitated (DNR) under certain circumstances, you must have that in writing. If you want to donate your organs, you must have that in writing as well. If you want to donate your organs, you can also communicate that information to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) when you renew your license. Do not leave anything that is important to you up for chance.

There are several other things you can work on getting straight for your family and loved ones that may have to step up to either help you while you are recovering or will have to handle your affairs once you are gone. One of the things I found helpful while I was helping my loved one is they had a list of all their bills and when they were due to make it easier to help keep them being paid on time. This was crucial so that when they returned home none of their utilities or basics were turned off or disconnected. They also had a list of key people with their phone numbers that should be contacted in the case of an emergency. Have you put together your desires for your memorial service and write out what you would like to have? I know when this day comes, we will be gone, but it sure helps our loved ones while they are dealing with losing us and gives them a little more space to mourn without a lot of things falling through the cracks. This takes out the guesswork in fulfilling their wishes.

I understand discussing these types of issues can be difficult, but I have had to help in situations where people were prepared and provided a road map for those trying to assist, and I have helped people who did nothing in advance and I can tell you when you do not provide guidance it can be very difficult and decisions that are made may have negative ramifications for future generations. Take control of the situation while you can and get a few things straight.

Wendy Gladney is a columnist for the Los Angeles Sentinel

St. Louis Mayor Tishuara Jones spoke with young women participating in the Girls Inc. program last week.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

St. Louis American staff

Wendy Gladney

Nichols

Continued from A1

neighborhoods safer, and the incident in Memphis tragically reminds us that we still have a lot of work to do.

Jones said the Nichols’ killing illuminates the importance of a new ordinance that would “strengthen civilian oversight of our public safety departments.”

It is being challenged in court, but Jones said the litigation “will not stop me from continuing to advocate for police accountability in St. Louis.”

Congresswoman Cori Bush said charging the officers who killed Nichols “is not enough.”

“Our country will continue to sanction the taking of Black lives with impunity until it embraces an affirmative vision of public safety and dismantles

Ferrings

Continued from A1

entrepreneurship in addition to better-known funding of arts, culture and arts education initiatives.

“When we were first in the position to share some of the money we made and contribute, we were more arts oriented because we collected art – so it was kind of natural,” John said. “But it has really evolved.” Alison, an artist, quickly chimed in to agree.

“I want people to know that the arts are important in terms of inspiration,” she added. “But that’s what I like to call, ‘the icing on the cake.’ And we need to bake the cake.”

The generous couple will be honored with the inaugural Excellence in Community Impact Award at the St. Louis American Foundation’s 21st Annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards Luncheon on February 16th at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. As they sat down to discuss their com-mitment to giving, the modest

its racist policing system rooted in enslavement and government control,” she said.

“Let’s be clear: merely diversifying police forces will never address the violent, racist architecture that underpins our entire criminal legal system.”

On Wednesday, National Public Radio reported that four of the five former officers who have been charged had previous infractions with the department.

Former officers Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills, Emmitt Martin, Justin Smith and Tadarrius Bean were fired Jan. 20 and are now being charged with murder.

Four of those officers — Haley, Martin, Mills and Smith — were reprimanded or suspended earlier for their failure to report when they used physical force, failure to report a domestic dispute, or for damages sustained to their squad cruisers, according to the files

couple stayed focused on their why – and what’s next. John and Alison are strongly motivated by a love-hate relationship with St. Louis, but not in the typical sense of the expression. They love the city, but hate the systemic barriers that keep St. Louis from reaching its full potential with a passion. So – out of love –they have vowed to continue investing in the work of remediating some of the challenges that keep St. Louis getting in its own way.

“What has particularly energized us in the last five to ten years is this group of 30-40 something year-old millennials who are really doing incredible work for systemic change, policy change,” Alison said, “The stuff that is messy and hard.” She named State Representative Rasheen Aldridge, WEPOWER founder and CEO Charli Cooksey and ArchCity Defenders Executive Director Blake Strode as examples. “What inspires us is finding super-talented people,” John added. “We love to invest in people and their ideas.”

from Memphis police. Bean did not have any reprimands or suspensions in the files.

“This heinous act is another example of the systemic problem with policing that too often brutalizes the Black community,” said Missouri Legislative Black Caucus Chair Marlene Terry, D-St. Louis.

“The firm responses from Memphis Police Department Chief Cerelyn Davis and Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy are appreciated. Policing will not get better until we have significant policy reform and hold every officer who commits these acts of inhumanity to account.

“The MLBC will make every effort to ensure that the blight of police brutality is finally a relic of the past.”

State Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, D-St. Louis said, “What happened to Tyre Nichols is nothing short of a lynching.”

On the dividing line

One of the most stubborn barriers to the elevation of St. Louis when they arrived was what they referred to as “the divide.”

“We have always lived on divides,” John said. “The divide was 18th Street in Lafayette Square. Then we moved to Kingsbury Place, which is a few blocks from the ‘Delmar Divide.’”

Granted the neighborhoods where the couple raised their three sons were advantaged. But the family could not go anywhere without the difference in the reality between the haves and the have nots been staring them in the face.

“You couldn’t insulate yourself,” Alison said. “Which was a good thing.”

“The thing that is really wonderful about St. Louis is that way before we could give any money, we could get involved,” John said. “I got on a board when I was 31. I didn’t have money, but I could work on their finance committee and I felt great about that. St. Louis is still the same way. If you

“It remains disturbing that nearly one decade after Ferguson, we still see violence like this inflicted upon Black people by the authorities. The fact that it was five Black officers who committed this horrific act shows what activists around the country have been saying for nearly a decade: It is not the remediation of individual actors with law enforcement but the system itself that needs serious reform.”

The Missouri NAACP released a statement which called the beating recorded on the officers’ body cameras “sickening.”

“African Americans are disproportionately stopped in Missouri at shocking rates throughout the state. Stops are more likely to end in ticketing or arrest when the driver is a person of color.”

“Mr. Nichols is the latest state-funded illegal execution

show an interest and you are willing to work – even if you don’t have any money – boards will want you.”

Opportunity equalizers

The couple has come a long way since Alison secured her three-figure gift from Strauss and John exchanged sweat equity for a board seat. Both as individuals and as a couple, they have led capital campaigns that have resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars of improvements to some of the area’s most beloved cultural institutions: The Gateway Arch, St. Louis Public Library and Forest Park. John led the first endowment campaign for the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis – Alison joined him as co-chair for the second campaign several years later. They were co-chairs of the Center of Creative Arts (COCA’s) $50 million capital campaign, which was held from 2017-2020.

“When you go to COCA and you see all of those kids on stage and they are from everywhere – from a city school to

and generations will know the depravity witnessed in the videos that have been released. Missouri must address the use of local law enforcement in violation of our rights and our freedom. Missouri must also ensure that prosecutors are held accountable for lives lost.”

On Wednesday, an ice storm gripped Memphis and delayed Nichols’ funeral.

Vice President Kamala Harris was scheduled to attend. She was invited by Nichols’ mother and stepfather, RowVaughn Wells and Rodney Wells, according to Harris’s press secretary, Kirsten Allen.

Harris spoke by phone with the Wells family on Tuesday, expressing her condolences and offering her support. President Joe Biden spoke by phone to Nichols’ family last week.

Harris was joined by former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a senior adviser to

John Burroughs – that’s what community impact looks like,” Alison said.

In 2010, they established the Ferring Annual Award for Philanthropy at COCA. “That stage is the level playing field,” Alison said. “Those kids are with each other twenty hours a week. They are building connections with each other that could not have been established otherwise.”

The Ferring Family Chair for Pediatric Cancers and Related Disorders at St. Louis Children’s Hospital was established in 2009. The Ferring Family Foundation Endowed Executive Director Chair at CAM was created in 2018. In 2021, The Ferring Foundation agreed to fund the Arch Grants Donald M. Suggs Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards of $100,000, equity-free, for African-American entrepreneurs for the next five years.

There is simply not enough space for a complete list of those who have benefited from the generosity of the Ferrings. They have already won several awards for their service

the president for public engagement, and Mitch Landrieu, a White House senior advisor and infrastructure implementation coordinator, who is a former mayor of New Orleans.

Members of the Nichols’ family have also been invited to attend President Biden’s State of the Union Address on February 7, 2023.

Biden called Nichols’ beating death, “yet another painful reminder of the profound fear and trauma, the pain, and the exhaustion that Black and brown Americans experience every single day.”

“We must do everything in our power to ensure our criminal justice system lives up to the promise of fair and impartial justice, equal treatment, and dignity for all. Real and lasting change will only come if we take action to prevent tragedies like this from ever happening again.”

–most recently the Washington University’s 2022 Jane and Whitney Harris St. Louis Community Service Award.

“To know John and Alison is to understand their commitment to seeing St. Louis live up to its potential as a top-tier city with world-class institutions and services that benefit every zip code,” said Donald M.Suggs, president of the St. Louis American Foundation. “Their generosity and personal involvement with worthy causes in our region would be difficult to quantify and impossible to overstate, as they are willing to get engaged and travel roads that are often risky and less traveled.”

The St. Louis American Foundation’s 21st Annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards Luncheon will take place at 12 noon (11 a.m. networking reception) on Thursday, February 16th at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis (100 Carondelet Plaza, Clayton MO 63105). For tickets and/or additional information, call (314) 533-8000 or visit www.stlamerican.com

Continued from A1

education to take them wherever they want to go.”

Matt Davis, SLPS Board president, called Scarlett “a talented, genuine and visionary educator.”

“Scarlett possesses the perfect mix of skill, knowledge, and experience while also caring deeply for students, families, teachers, and staff.”

A nationwide search was reduced to three candidates last week, including Scarlett. Also being considered were SLPS interim superintendent Nicole Williams and Jermaine Dawson, Birmingham, Alabama chief academic and accountability officer.

Williams has led the district since Jan. 1, 2023, following

Spann

Continued from A1

crime. The interviewer insisted they go back and rehash the incident.

After Spann asked about an expected job position, the caller explained that this was not an interview for a job but one for a news story.

“Oh, I wasn’t sure,” he exhaled. “I was trying to be respectful but…”

On Sept. 29, 2003, Spann was a 19-year-old Fisk University student. He was in St. louis to attend a college football game. The next day, a Sunday, Spann, his cousin, and a friend were driving around and smoking marijuana [which Spann later learned was laced with PCP.]

He doesn’t use that as an excuse for his actions. Yet, it might explain why he participated in what he described as a “totally random” unplanned act.

As they drove through a residential area in Clayton, his friend hopped out of the slow-rolling car and placed a broken BB gun to the head of a woman who was unloading

Kelvin Adams, who served as SLPS superintendent for 14 years. She will remain in the role until July 1, the beginning of the 2023-24 school year.

“We were extremely fortunate that Williams stepped up to serve as interim and we are indebted to her for the pivotal role she will play in this transition,” Davis said.

While serving as assistant superintendent, Scarlett crafted a strategic plan that helped increase early literacy among Black boys and students “furthest from educational justice.”

She also had served as the district’s chief of equity, and was a co-founder of the Academy for Rising Educators [ARE]. The tuition-free educator preparation program partnered with Seattle Central College and the city of Seattle to serve more than 300 aspiring educators of color. The program

groceries from her car. Spann remembers “stupidly” joining his friend.

They forced the woman into her house. Someone called the police. As sirens blared, Spann and his friend fled, but both were quickly apprehended. They were charged with first-degree robbery, kidnapping, burglary, and felonious restraint. Spann’s bond was set at $250,000. He had never committed a serious crime before that day. He had support from his mother and the aunt and uncle who raised him in the Old North neighborhood.

Spann had made it to college and planned to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather and other relatives who had careers in education.

Spann’s uncle got a bail bondsperson and managed to raise the $12,000 needed to get him out of county jail, a month after his arrest. Spann was in his junior year at Fisk. He wasn’t allowed to leave the state while out on bond, so returning to college was impossible. Attorney Charles C. Kirksey, who happened to be in court on the day of Spann’s sentencing, described what he saw in a 2004 commentary for

has a 90% retention rate. Scarlett also served SPS as executive director of organizational development, human resources director, principal,

the St. Louis American:

“Upon Entering the hallway near the courtroom, there was an unusually large throng of African Americans of varying ages seated and standing, all neat and quiet in their appearances,” Kirksey said.

He described Spann as “a bright college sophomore attending a prominent Black college.”

Kirksey expounded on the “tragic, unnecessary waste” of the three young men about to be sentenced. In particular, he mentioned Spann’s sentence of 15 years with a mandatory 85% time-served requirement. Spann eventually landed at the Southeast Correctional Center, a maximum-security state prison in Charleston Missouri.

There, Spann received another kind of education. He realized he had been grappling with depression. A cousin had just been gunned down and the murder was still eating away at him the day he committed his crime.

He makes no excuses, but he realized his head wasn’t in a good place and prison didn’t make things better.

“A lot of people in prison should be in mental health

During her recent visit to St. Louis as a finalist for the SLPS superintendent position, Keisha Scarlett worked with students at Adams Elementary School. Scarlett was hired on Wednesday and will begin her tenure on July 1, 2023.

and Geometry end-of-course

exams. Scarlett was honored as Washington State Middle-Level Principal of the Year for leading South Shore to 80% proficiency across multiple grade levels in reading, writing, and math on state exams. Before becoming an educator, Scarlett worked for Boeing. She earned her doctorate and principal certification from the University of Washington, her master’s in education from Heritage University, and her bachelor’s from Clark Atlanta University.

and teacher. As principal of South Shore PK-8 School, she developed an accelerated mathematics pathway for students in grades three through eight.

facilities,” Spann stressed. “Incarceration cuts you off mentally and literally from your family and community. My social and mental development took a major hit during my almost 13 years in a concrete box.”

America’s jails and prisons have become de-facto mental health providers, according to the National Alliance on Mental Health, which estimates that about “two in five people who are incarcerated have a history of mental illness.”

At the Charleston facility, he said, it was customary for inmates to spend 23 out of 24 hours in their cells. The only way out was through extracurricular activities like chess, book clubs, or taking classes mostly taught by prison psychiatrists. Soon he became a tutor in those classes and a facilitator with the prison’s alcohol and drug abuse programs. Through education, Spann saw a way to shave time off his sentence. So, when he heard about the Prison Education Project offered by Washington University, he quickly applied. After 12 years, nine months, and six days, Spann was released from prison.

In 2014, 25% of eighthgrade students were two years advanced in math and all those students met/exceeded standards on the state’s Algebra I

He has completed his undergraduate studies through the prison education project. He now plans to continue his education by taking the law school admissions test and pursuing a law degree. Spann said his passion nowadays is to make sure felons have access to higher education.

“Everyone, even felons, should have access to education. I received a second chance because I already had some college before I was locked up,” Spann said.

“But most people in prison never even receive a first chance at higher education.”

In the six years since his release, Spann and his significant other have two young children. He lives in the SkinkerDeBaliviere neighborhood near Washington University. He has worked for the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison and volunteers with various local nonprofits as an advisor or consultant, doing what he describes as “social justice work.”

Spann was recently invited by Washington University to do a local TEDTALK titled: “Higher Education is a Human Right.” During his talk, he detailed his dream of turning

“I am honored to be chosen to lead St. Louis Public Schools. The children in this great city are full of promise. I know that with the right support, they can thrive in the classroom today and achieve their goals for the future,” she said.

abandoned public schools into hubs of education where young African Americans can get degrees, not just from colleges, but from organizations offering education in the trades like carpentry, welding, and construction.

The Sentencing Project, a national agency that advocates for effective and humane responses to crime, estimates that Blacks are incarcerated in state prisons at nearly 5 times the rate of white Americans.

Spann defines himself as an “abolitionist” on a mission to “alleviate the prison problem especially for young men who share his hue. Higher education, he stressed, is the most effective way to “put prisons out of business.”

He hopes the next call from an interviewer will be the one that allows him to put his passions into practice.

“I want to create conduits for opportunities in the neighborhoods where I grew up,” Spann explained. “Lived experience is the most credible form of research on this topic. I’m a Black man who’s been to prison and want nothing more than a chance to create opportunities for others like me.”

Photo courtesy of SLPS

Bell says ‘facts not there’ to vacate Taylor’s death sentence

Does support time for ‘additional review’

St. Louis American staff

Wesley Bell, St. Louis County prosecuting attorney, said in a statement on Monday that his office would not step in to halt Leonard Taylor’s death sentence.

“We are not filing a motion to vacate Leonard Taylor’s sentence. The facts are not there to support a credible case of innocence,” Bell said in a release.

“We will support a stay of execution if Mr. Taylor asks for one so his counsel may further investigate the time that the victims died, based on the affidavit from Dr. Jane Turner that Mr. Taylor’s counsel gave us and released on Wednesday, [Jan 25, 2023.”]

On Tuesday, Bell’s office sent a letter of support to the Missouri Supreme Court.

Congresswoman Cori Bush said Sunday executing Taylor, who claims he is innocent of murdering his girlfriend and her children in 2004, “would be a grave injustice.”

Taylor has been in prison almost nearly 20 years after being sentenced to death for the murders of his girlfriend and her three children in Jennings.

His attorneys have submitted his case for review to Bell’s of-

fice and a clemency application to Gov. Mike Parson’s office.

Taylor is scheduled to die by lethal injection Feb. 7.

“Raheem’s execution must be halted, and the death penalty must be abolished,” Bush said in a social media post.

Should Taylor’s execution go forward, he will be the third person the state has put to death in 10 weeks.

On Nov. 26, 2004, Taylor flew to California to meet one of his daughters for the first time.

Eight days later, the bodies of Angela Rowe and her children Alexus Conley, 10, Acqreya Conley, 6, and Tyrese Conley, 5, were found in the home they shared with Taylor. The autopsies initially indicated the homicides had taken place two to three days before the bodies were found, which would have eliminated Taylor as the killer.

Then-St. Louis County Medical Examiner Phillip Burch told jurors that the temperature in the house had been in the 50s, which led to the estimated time of death changing.

Last Wednesday, as Bell’s statement mentions, forensic pathologist Jane Turner cast doubt on the medical examiner’s determination on the time of death.

She said the victims’ bodies showed signs of rigor mortis when discovered. That would not last more than a week after death, even with the cold temperature in the house, according to Turner. Other post mortem changes that would occur a week or more after death were

Leonard Taylor, a prisoner on Missouri’s death row, poses for a photo Jan. 18 at the Potosi Correctional Center in Mineral Point. Taylor was convicted of killing his girlfriend and her three children in 2004, but his attorneys have presented new evidence that they say prove his innocence.

Photo by Nick Wagner | Courtesy of Kansas City Star

not present.

She concluded the condition of the bodies suggested the victims were killed after Taylor left town.

On Tuesday, Bell’s office provided a letter of support of a stay of execution, based on Dr. Turner’s findings in the future, to the Missouri Supreme Court.

“On January 25, 2023, we received an affidavit from [Dr. Turner] containing a preliminary opinion about the victim’s time of death. When we received this affidavit, our office had completed our independent review of evidence of the victims’ time of death, along with Mr. Taylor’s related claim of alibi.”

“Our understanding is that Mr. Taylor will be asking this Court to delay execution to allow additional time for Dr. Turner to review the autopsy report, photographs, and related investigative materials.

“Due to Mr. Taylor being under sentence of death, this office supports Mr. Taylor’s request to allow Dr. Turner time to do that additional review, and would consider her final conclusions as part of our investigation on the issue of alibi, if a final report is presented to us in the future.”

The letter was signed by Jessica Hathaway, Conviction and Incident Review Unit chief.

In charging Leonard Taylor, investigators also relied on Perry Taylor, Leonard Taylor’s brother. He said his brother confessed to killing Rowe and the kids before leaving for California. He later recanted his account during the trial.

ESOP sides with MO GOP; Aldergeddon by the numbers

St. Louis froze over this week - and maybe Hell has too.

The so-called “Ethical” Society of Police (ESOP), once known for its diligence in standing with the community in the face of police misconduct, has taken the side of the wrongdoer.

Last week, the Missouri Senate held hearings, led by State Senator Nick Schroer, on whether the City of St. Louis should lose local control of both its police department and its democratically-elected circuit attorney. Schroer, who lives somewhere in St. Charles County, enjoys touting his Ferguson high school diploma while also ignoring his own White flight to the suburban wasteland that is Defiance, or Wentzville, or wherever Schroer is claiming to live these days.

We cannot emphasize enough what a bad idea returning the SLMPD to state control is -not only was there more crime in St. Louis City during state control, but Missouri would be on the hook for all financial responsibility if the SLMPD causes culpable harm or death. Even the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s typically-pro-police editorial stance can’t ignore recent data showing recendecline in crime. After this week’s announcement of a $5.2 million settlement with the SLMPD’s kettling victims related to the 2017 Stockley protests, we wonder how serious the state legislature actually is about taking control and becoming responsible for all of those settlement and lawsuit expenses. Moreover we have yet to see a single St. Louis City elected leader step forward to support this policy change.. Besides forcefully exerting unwarranted control over the largest city in the region because of the states’ shortsighted, even resentful approach we really don’t understand how the Missouri legislature would even consider such a move.

But we don’t expect people like Schroer to try to understand except these ‘dog whistles are an essential part of the Trumptist Republican party We do, however, expect organizations like ESOP, which has historically stood with residents of St. Louis and called for internal police reforms, transparency

measures, and communitycentered policies. For decades, ESOP’s former president and current Deputy Public Safety Director, Sgt. Heather Taylor, advocated for programs that sought to rebuild policecommunity relationships. Taylor and other ESOP members recommended[CKM1] an independent Civilian Oversight Board in its 2020 “Report on[CKM2] St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) by the Ethical Society of Police,” and issued public statements calling out racism within the SLMPD. Now this flip-floppery to complete alignment with the notorious St. Louis Police Officers Association (SLPOA) could mean that ESOP’s leadership has been usurped by those who want to silence the once-powerful organization. Whatever it is, it’s certainly disrespectful to the Black women who worked hard to engage with the community to repair their interactions with police.

• • •

Pervasive doesn’t end with local police - the Rockwood School District has caused another mass exodus of employees who were made to feel unwelcome by the district. The Rockwood School Board seems to have been hijacked by two women of color who have bullied district employees, harassed fellow school board members, and targeted some district parents through social media stalking and threats.

This week, we call out Jessica Laurent Clark and Islam “Izzy” Imig for their openly hateful behavior toward Black and Brown children, LGBTQ+ children, and parents and community that support them. Laurent, who is Black, and Imig, who is Iraqi, have been the primary aggressors against children of color in the Rockwood public school system. These two women working to terminate diversity initiatives aimed to close racial disparities in discipline and test scores. Instead of focusing on improving student experience - as all directors of the Rockwood school board have been charged to do - Laurent and Imig have launched a culture war on the

students they’re supposed to serve and enrich.

At Laurent’s first school board meeting as an elected member, the self-described “sugar baby” stated with great confidence, “[t]hey come in with the kids in wheel chairs and everything...whatever, you are a libtard and I mean that and I stand on it,.” Laurent further went on to say, “[w]hen we talk about this transgender crap, you’re not going to do that to my kids.”

Of course, that language has no place in a public school, but rather then resign with dignity, Laurent had to be sanctioned at her second school board meeting and was removed from two key roles in the district.

Rockwood parents have reported Imig calling herself as a “veteran” despite having no actual military service for any country. During her school board campaign, she touted no professional experience but said that being a translator was “a skill she said she can use to help with disagreements.” Imig has caused more disagreements (and legal problems) for the Rockwood District in the nine months that she’s been on the board than any interpreter skills could ever hope to resolve.

media fodder for State Senator Andrew Koenig, who has embraced the Christo-fascist culture war as part of his political agenda in Jefferson City. Koenig has opposed teaching Missouri public school children about the centuries-long impact of slavery in the U.S. and how post-Reconstruction institutions like Jim Crow, mass incarceration, and the “War on Drugs” have impacted Black people, mistakenly referred to by legislators who don’t want to know any better, as “critical race theory,” which is a graduatelevel cross-disciplinary review of how laws and political movements shape, and are shaped by, race and ethnicity.

As a direct result of Laurent’s and Imig’s fanaticism, the Rockwood School District may be on the hook for very real employment law consequences: of the five district administrators who have left Rockwood in the last year, three are Black women who have referred directly to racist threats of violence by white MAGAinfluenced parents as the reason for their departures.

Rockwood parents have questioned both women’s credentials to serve on the board. Before being elected to the school board, Laurent hosted a conservative web-based radio show and flaunted her privilege paid for by Fabian Marta[CKM3], her “sugar daddy” who seems to be lacking[CKM4] any actual “sugar” to pay for anyone’s lifestyle, including his own. Marta, however, seems to be Laurent’s connection to the farright politics[CKM5] of West County.

Both women apparently created fake personalities in order to be elected, and now that they have a smidgen of power, Laurent and Imig have largely become pawns for wealthy white men who don’t care about them as women of color or the schoolchildren that they are supposed to serve.

However, they have created

The EYE will continue to watch this situation as it unfolds, as we suspect it is far from over.

•

•

•

Finally, two MEC deadlines have passed in January alone, referred to below as two separate reports: the “40 Days Before the Municipal Primary” filing and the “2022 Q4” filing.

For the new First Ward, we dont’ understand why anyone would be so foolish to challenge incumbent Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer, who reported nearly $37,000 cashon-hand in her latest disclosure and who has probably already knocked on every door within the expanded ward boundaries. Her opponents, Republican Matthew E. Kotraba, and deputy sheriff Tony Kirchner don’t come close (combined and doubled, their fundraising efforts fall short). Kirchner even received a boost from recently defeated congressional candidate State Senator Steve Roberts, although, in consid-

eration of that 40+ point loss to Congresswoman Cori Bush, we think taking a contribution from him might be considered more of a liability. On a related note in the new Second Ward, Bush’s field director Morgan Lowe has stepped in to take on leading Katie Bellis’ campaign, bringing with them a hard-hitting grassroots plan to engage deep South City voters. This is a refreshing counter to incumbent Tom Oldenburg’s politics, led by the Kelley Group, which calls a handful of impersonal mailers and a few sand castles “community outreach.” Oldenburg has the usual suspects in his MEC reports - including both the SLPOA and its lobbyist Jane Dueker, corporate welfare lawyer Dave Sweeney, and former mayor Lyda Krewson - to the tune of nearly $37,800 on hand, but Bellis has raised an impressive $5,630 in her relatively recent launch. Bellis recently landed the endorsement of St. Louis’ Democratic Socialists, whose grassroots organizing helped both Board President Megan Green’s and Congresswoman Bush’s 2022 decisive victories.

Skipping ahead to the race for the new 7th Ward, current SLPS school board member and front-runner Alisha Sonnier has raised the most money of the non-incumbent challengers, amassing nearly $15,000 in financial support. Challengers Jon-Pierre Mitchom and Cedric Redmon raised around $6,400 and $2,900, respectively. Sonnier has garnered nearly every organizational and political endorsement in the race thus far, including current Alderpersons Christine Ingrassia Dan Guenther, and Annie Rice (all who are not running again) and President Green.

Next door in the 8th Ward, incumbent Alderwoman Cara Spencer managed to raise $34,520 between the close of the 2022 Q4 filing (December 31) and the close of the “40 Days” report (January 26).

Those funds include contributions from real estate developers, Teamsters Local 6 and Building Trades PAC, and lobbyists. Spencer has some support after her failed 2021 run, but her MEC reports don’t show a lot of her financial support coming from within her new ward. Shedrick “Nato Caliph” Kelley of McKinley Heights, on the other hand, has shown strong community support in both canvassing and fundraising, collecting $5,315.

Former alderman and current bar owner Ken Ortmann has not filed an MEC report since opening his committee on January 17. His former aldermanic committee terminated in May 2021.

Perennial candidate Emmett Coleman posted some sad numbers in his campaign for the new Tenth Ward, logging only donations from himself and his brother totaling $2,000. Incumbent Alderwoman Shameem

Clark-Hubbard, on the other hand, has raised around $6,700 within about two weeks and has been speaking with voters of the New Tenth for months. At least, her MEC records show significant activity, including purchasing yard signs and voter database access that would show community engagement. For the Eleventh, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Wards, we couldn’t really tell you much about the finances in those races, primarily because of the lack of required campaign finance disclosures and “limited activity” reports. Both Tashara Earl of Baden and incumbent Alderwoman Sharon Tyus running to represent the new Twelfth, disclosed their contributions and expenses through their filings, but Tyus has had the same amount of cash on hand since 2021, indicating that she has done very little recently if anything - to engage her constituents and keep them informed on important issues at the Board. According toMEC reports, Earl has out-fundraised all of her opponents. Incumbent Alderwomen Lisa Middlebrook, Norma Walker, and Pamela Boyd all filed limited activity reports for the Thirteenth Ward in January, suggesting little voter engagement and campaign communications. Remember, this is the only ward where all three candidates are incumbents vying for a single seat. Walker did report raising a little more than $3,000, although she has reported $2,000 in debt and $1,774 on hand. Boyd raised $1,052 and Middlebrook reported nothing. Finally, in the new Fourteenth Ward, incumbent Aldermen James Page has raised $5,675, including a contribution-in-solidarity by fellow alderman Oldenburg. His campaign reports a nearly $1,400 debt. Other incumbent Alderman Brandon Bosley has filed one limited activity report since April 2021, when he claimed $100 cash on hand. Alderman Bosley is currently the frontrunner for this electoral cycle’s award, “The Least Transparent Campaign.” Newcomer Ebony Washington, a member of the Hubbard political family, reported $7,300 raised, although $5,000 of that was loaned funds from her own accounts and her grandmother, former state representative Penny Hubbard However, the current state representative, Rasheen Aldridge, has the clear financial advantage in this race. With transparency on his side, Aldridge’s MEC reports show $35,283 cash on hand and December & January fundraising at nearly $18,000. Aldridge has the support of former state representative Bruce Franks, former mayor Francis G. Slay and former state senator Jamilah Nasheed

The next round of financial reports are due February 27 - just in time for our final Aldergeddon candidate guide!

“Taking Care of You”

Missouri Foundation for Health launches food insecurity initiative

current policies and practices that shape the way Missourians eat.”

Ensures access to healthy, affordable meals

By JoAnn Weaver

For The St. Louis American

Between 700,000 and 860,000 Missourians are estimated to not have enough nutritious food to meet their daily needs, according to the Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH).

The Foundation reports that this disproportionately impacts Black, Indigenous, and Latino people, immigrants, people with dis-

abilities, rural communities, older adults, and people with low incomes. Insufficient access to enough food, or food insecurity, which was intensified by the pandemic, has profound consequences on physical and mental health.

Research has linked food insecurity in children to behavioral and cognitive problems, asthma, anemia, and poor oral health, according to the Foundation. In adults, lack of adequate quality food can lead to a range of health problems like increased rates of depression, diabetes, and hypertension.

The Foundation announced a 20-year commitment to transform the food system in momentous pursuit of systemic change on Tuesday, January 24. The new initiative will build collaborative efforts to spur shifts in current policies and

practices that shape the way Missourians eat. MFH also aims to strengthen local food systems.

“We see the harmful impact of the industrial food system and its effects play out today: the formula shortage, empty grocery store shelves during the pandemic, corporate agriculture undermining local farmers, supply chain issues, and pollution from factory farming, among others,” said Katie Kaufmann, MFH Senior Strategist and lead for the food justice initiative at the Foundation.

Food insecurity is ultimately an economic problem driven by the concentration of market and political power in the industrial food system, systemic and institutionalized racism

STAR School

Partner violence is more than physical violence

By Denise Hooks-Anderson

One of my routine questions asked yearly to women at their annual exams is: “Do you feel safe at home?” I follow that question with more questions such as: “Is anyone punching, slapping, pushing, or kicking you?”

Some patients are shocked at my line of questions, some thank me for asking, and some unfortunately answer, “yes”. It is the recommendation of the United States Preventive Services Task Force(USPSTF) to screen all women of reproductive age for intimate partner violence (IPV), which is abuse or aggression in an intimate relationship. About 1 in 3 women have experienced severe physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime as compared to 1 in 4 men. A large number of cases never even get reported. Every community regardless of socioeconomic status, age, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, or race is affected by intimate partner violence. A 2011 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior study showed that 9.4% of high school students reported being purposefully hit, slapped, or physically hurt within the last 12 months by their partner.

Physical violence, however, is just one aspect of abuse. There are 4 other categories of violence: emotional, sexual, stalking, and socio-economic.

Emotional abuse may include shaming, belittling, or continued attacks on self-esteem. Some abusers may also try to control the victim’s speech, dress, or circle of friends.

Sexual violence is forcing someone to engage in sexual acts, unwanted touching, or any sexual behavior without the partner’s consent.

Stalking is also seen in intimate partner violence. The CDC defines stalking as: “a pattern of repeated, unwanted attention and contact by a partner that causes fear or concern for one’s own safety or the safety of someone close to the victim.”

The 5th category of violence is socio-economic. Financial abuse involves controlling the money. This form of abuse could result in the abused partner not having access to the funds

SLU professor works to build next generation of HIV researchers

St. Louis American staff

Juliet Iwelunmor, Ph.D., professor of global health and behavioral science and health education at Saint Louis University’s College for Public Health and Social Justice, is using her experience empowering youth in Nigeria to identify young people in the United States seeking to become a new generation of HIV researchers, leaders, and innovators. Iwelunmor and her team have organized young adult implementation HIV research as part of I-TEST (Innovative Tools for Expanding HIV Self-Testing). She received a $2.3 million NIH grant in 2018 to develop and implement a crowdsourced framework for at-risk youth in Nigeria.

“Our I-TEST study discovered that crowdsourcing methods could be used to help identify highly qualified trainees through open calls, build capacity for youth-led research using design-a-thons, and sustain these benefits through participatory learning communities,” Iwelunmor

n STAR is part of the NIAID Research Education Program, which provides support to eligible institutions to train participants in biomedical research areas, including areas such as HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases.

said.

“These approaches break new ground in HIV training using participatory methods that will help young people to become leaders and innovators.”

Iwelunmor was also recently awarded a five-year $1.76 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

See STAR, A13

Missouri Foundation for Health’s recipe for reducing food insecurity includes a 20-year commitment to create “shifts in

Photo courtesy of Friesland Campana Institute for Daily Nutrition

See FOOD, A13

See ANDERSON, A13

Juliet Iwelunmor, a professor of global health and behavioral science and health education at Saint Louis University’s College for Public Health and Social Justice, has launched an innovative program using crowdsourcing methods that helps guide young people into research and innovation in the study of HIV.

Photo by Sarah Conroy / SLU

Denise HooksAnderson

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

Approximately 196 (or 6.1%) of U.S. counties, districts, or territories reported a high COVID-19 community level as of Jan. 19, while 1,010 (31.4%) reported a medium community level.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 2,011 (62.5%) people had a low community level.

This winter, those figures have continued to fall, a significant improvement from the previous two years, when COVID-19 was the leading cause of respiratory disease in the United States.

While the flu, RSV and COVID-19 have strained healthcare systems this fall and winter, CDC officials are optimistic about the decline in coronavirus cases.

“Taking Care of You”

Health experts, researchers see ‘milder’ COVID-19 infections

“What you’re seeing is a transition to ongoing transmission but much milder infections,” said Dr. Céline Gounder, a senior fellow at the Kaiser Family Foundation, in a newsletter published by the New York Times

According to health officials, the Omicron XBB.1.5 variant is involved in roughly half of all COVID-19 cases in the United States.

However, a hybrid of two other Omicron sub-variants has grown in popularity, particularly in the northeast.

Nonetheless, the Times’ daily newsletter noted that “a comparable surge has yet to materialize on a comparable timeline this winter.”

“By now, hospitalizations, in particular, would have begun to rise sharply. However, data suggests that there has been more of a COVID bump than a surge, and recent hospital-

n “The worst-case scenario in America has been avoided because people have developed immunity to the virus. Much of this is due to vaccines and boosters, but repeated exposure to the virus and infections have also played a role.”

ization figures are much lower than in the past,” the newspaper reported.

More COVID hospitalizations have occurred in the South and Northeast in recent weeks, possibly because of the new Omicron subvariant.

Even so, hospitalization levels are “closer to the summer increase caused by the Delta variant in 2021 than to the following winter surge caused by the Omicron variant,” researchers wrote.

According to the researchers, hospitalization rates in some Western states are among

the lowest they have been since the pandemic began.

“After years of winter surges, the absence of one translates to potentially tens of thousands fewer deaths and is worth celebrating,” they wrote.

The worst-case scenario in America has been avoided because people have developed immunity to the virus, the researchers declared.

Much of this is due to vaccines and boosters, but repeated exposure to the virus and infections have also played a role, health officials stated.

“Anecdotally, experts and

others continue to report a lot of sickness around them — but no hospitalizations or deaths,” the researchers claim.

“This is the result you would expect to see with COVID in a population with higher levels of immunity: vaccines and previous infections appear to offer strong protection from the virus’s worst outcomes, but they don’t fully prevent infection and milder disease.”

Health officials insisted that the good news does not mean that COVID is now a thing of the past.

Older people and those with weakened immune systems are still at risk.

More than 90% of Americans who die today are 65 and up.

Hospitalizations are nearly five times higher among Americans aged 70 and up than among all Americans.

“If public health interven-

tions helped tame COVID this winter, then too much relaxation could lead to a surge,” the researchers declared.

According to the researchers, experts do not expect a return to 2020-style lockdowns, masking or testing.

“Their recommendations are less strenuous: get boosters, isolate sick people, and wear masks in indoor public places if the virus is rapidly spreading.”

In addition, medications such as Paxlovid should be available to those who are ill.

“We’ve made strides. We’re ahead of the game. People know what to do,” Saskia Popescu, an epidemiologist at George Mason University, wrote in a statement.

“However, it worries me because people use that progress as an excuse to be less vigilant and less serious.”

City Health Department to hold vaccine clinics

St. Louis American staff

The City of St. Louis Department of Health will provide COVID-19 vaccines to anyone 5 years old and above at two locations in the next week. For individuals under 18 years old, a parent or guardian must be present to consent to the child receiving the vaccine. Vaccines will be avail-

(NIAID) to create NIAID STAR (Stimulating Training and Access to HIV Research Experiences)

STAR is part of the NIAID Research Education Program, which provides support to eligible institutions to train participants in biomedical research areas, including areas such as HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases. HIV is more common among underrepresented minority adolescents and young adults or those ages 13–24, in the United States. Low uptake of HIV prevention services suggests a missed opportunity for implementing evidencebased interventions such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and sexually transmitted infection testing among this

able 9-11 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, at New Northside Missionary Baptist Church, 8645 Goodfellow Boulevard St. Louis, MO 63147. Walkins should arrive by 10:45 a.m. Vaccines will also be available 4-6:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 8 at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 1919 S. 7th Street, St. Louis, MO 63104. Walk-ins should arrive by 6:15 p.m.

population.

STAR focuses on strategies, like crowdsourcing, for youth engagement in HIV prevention research, involving diverse young people as leaders of strength-based HIV prevention interventions.

Crowdsourcing has a group of individuals develop a solution and share or implement the best solutions with the community. It includes open calls for submissions; design-a-thons, similar to hacka-thons; and other participatory activities.

STAR will be a partnership across four participating universities: Saint Louis University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Georgia State University and Texas A&M University. Each year of the project, 10 students will become part of a year-long cohort where they will build and implement their own crowdsourced research

The COVID-19 Vaccines available are:

Ages 5-11: Pfizer (including boosters for eligible individuals)

Ages 12 and older: Pfizer (including boosters for eligible individuals)

Ages 50 and older: Pfizer (including boosters for eligible individuals)

If you require any reasonable modifications or auxiliary

leading to racialized poverty, and economic disinvestment in rural areas and places populated by marginalized groups. Across the country, corporations make a profit at the expense of people and the environment.

“Given the complexity of this problem, we’re taking an intersectional approach that embeds racial, social, and economic justice in our work to make sure our food systems are able to provide affordable, healthy, culturally relevant food for all Missourians,” Kaufmann said.

To address urgent needs, MFH will work with food banks and pantries to improve the quality and variety of foods offered.

Currently, many of these entities rely on major corporations for product donations, limiting available options for those who depend on them.

MFH plans to support staff and clients working together to identify and implement solutions to make healthy food more accessible.

“True systems change, especially an effort working to

• Unexplained bruises, cuts, or broken bones

• Avoidance of family gatherings

or being forced or coerced into spending the funds.

It is important that we know how to recognize intimate partner violence. Signs of abuse include but are not limited to:

Missouri

Working

• Uncomfortable behavior around partner

• Constant excuses for the partner’s behavior

• One partner making all of the decisions

• Partner frequently checks

and

the

aids and services for effective communication because of a disability, call (314) 657-1480 or email health@stlouis-mo. gov 48 hours in advance.

Health Dept. Job Fairs

There will be a virtual job fair on Thursday, February 9. to discuss job opportunities with the Department of Health, how to apply, and opportunities for

n “These approaches break new ground in HIV training using participatory methods that will help young people to become leaders and innovators.”

– Juliet Iwelunmor, Ph.D.

project, receive research and career mentorship, and participate in experiential learning activities covering varied topics including leadership, JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion), and grant writing.

Through building capacity in implementation science, crowdsourcing, and related participatory action research methods, students will build and develop innovative strategies to scale up evidence- and strength-

reform and reimagine hundreds of years of consolidated and exploitative power, requires a generational commitment,” said Dr. Dwayne Proctor, MFH President and CEO. Additionally, MFH will bring together safety net advocates from programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Woman, Infant, and Children Food and Nutrition Services (WIC), and

based HIV interventions for underrepresented minority young adults.

To become a STAR Scholar, underrepresented minority undergraduate students, graduate students and post-doctoral researchers at the respective universities apply and submit their creative ideas to an open-call question.

A selected number of individuals and teams from each university then move onto the design-a-thon. During the design-a-thon, they receive the

Dwayne Proctor, MFH president and CEO

on the victim at school or work

As mentioned earlier, adolescents are also experiencing intimate partner violence. Therefore, being aware of any behavior changes in teens is extremely important. Teenager manifestations of abuse may appear as depression, anxiety, or withdrawal. Intimate partner violence is

school meals to push for policy changes that remove barriers to access. MFH will also launch a public awareness campaign to promote SNAP enrollment and destigmatize usage.

“We’re not just looking at this issue from an individual hunger standpoint, but an overhaul of an entire system –from growers and farmers to grocery store clerks and all those who work to provide us with the food we eat each day – so we

not just an individual matter. Victims often miss work which then results in lost revenue which could result in housing instability or food insecurity. Furthermore, witnessing violence in the home has a negative impact on children such as academic decline or mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. Children exposed

career assistance. Registration through Eventbrite is encouraged [doh-virtual-jobfair-2-9-2023.eventbrite.com].

For information or to connect with SLATE before the event, please call (314) 5898000. You can also visit the SLATE Job Center Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., except on Wednesdays, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Registering with MoJobs and

opportunity to build and refine their ideas before pitching their ideas to a panel of judges.

Finalists are inducted as STAR Scholars, where they then take part in a six-week hybrid, summer boot camp.

They participate in capacitybuilding courses and training modules while still developing their research projects.

After the six-week boot camp, STAR Scholars engage in online learning communities, take part in mentoring pods, and implement their intervention and research projects in their communities with support from their institutions and STAR network.

“When I think about my own journey into research, I was an undergrad student that didn’t know anything about research until I came across the McNair Scholars program.

The McNair Scholars Program paved my way to the MHIRT program. Both then opened a

can build an equitable and just food system that nourishes us all,” Proctor said.

Longer-term strategies will focus on building power and resources among those disproportionately affected by food insecurity. This approach will also foster the economic development of marginalized communities. This new initiative builds on the Foundation’s previous work to encourage good nutrition by increasing the availability of fresh foods. In the past, MFH has supported a myriad of programs and initiatives focused on similar topics, including most recently with the Healthy

updating your profile before visiting SLATE will save you time at the Job Center. Register at https://jobs.mo.gov/ A current listing of all openings within the City of St. Louis, including Department of Health jobs, is available at stlouis-mo.gov/jobs For additional information, please visit www.stlouismo. gov/government/departments/ health.

path for me to move straight from a bachelor’s degree to a Ph.D.,” Iwelunmor explained. “I always tried to figure out, ‘How do you make something out of research? How do you make it a career?’ and to see it come back full circle now, where I get to actually be at the helm of helping other undergrads, grads, or doctoral students navigate the world of research and even make it a career, is pure joy to me.”

With the goal of strengthening and developing a sustainable pipeline of diverse HIV-focused research scholars, Iwelunmor calls STAR “a space for voices to be heard, an opportunity for visions to come to life, and a journey worth pursuing.”

The co-principal investigator is Joseph D. Tucker, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Schools Healthy Communities initiative (HSHC). “We’re continuing to learn from our prior efforts about what more is needed to address the systemic inequalities in our food system,” said Donna Checkett, MFH Board Chair. “This new initiative is taking a comprehensive approach that embodies the Foundation’s values, which is why we’ve made this unprecedented 20-year commitment and are focused on building strong partnerships centered on trust and collaboration with those most impacted to help guide this work.”

to intimate partner violence are at a higher risk of abuse compared to children not exposed. If you are experiencing intimate partner violence, seeking safety is very important. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If not in immediate danger, seek medical care if you have been sexually assaulted or physically injured. Calling a helpline is also an option. These calls are anonymous. You can reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at: 1-800-799-SAFE.

Denise Hooks-Anderson, MD, FAAFP can be reached at yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com

Photo courtesy of MFH

NEWSPAPER IN EDUCATION

PRESENT:

PRESENT:

Dining

What Is ASize?Serving

Out.

GRAINS Keep ‘em Whole!

The Smart Way!

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

Nutrition Challenge:

Staying Active (Naturally) DuringSummer!the Smart Summer Eating!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yogurt is also a great way to regulate your

Warm Up & Cool Down

First Day of Spring!

Do This. Not That!

Winter Activities

Exercise Game

Smart Choices

Tech-Neck

for several different reasons.

Conflict Resolution

Let’s make a game out of exercise!

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

those leftovers for lunch the next day!

are popcorn, wheatberries, brown rice and wild rice.

Healthcare Careers

Cocoa Puffers Cereal

Healthcare Careers

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

lifestyle. You can do this by forming new habits. For example, if you decide to eliminate sugary drinks completely, it only takes a few weeks until this becomes what you’re used to. Here are the steps to making a healthy permanent change. We‘ll use the sugary drink change as an example.

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

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

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

digestive system. It contains “good” bacteria called probiotics that can help your stomach and intestines work better. If you’ve ever been constipated or had diarrhea, you know how uncomfortable it can be when your digestion isn’t working properly.

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

How to “sneak” yogurt into your diet:

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

> Start by substituting one drink per day to water.

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

> Substitute your usual sour cream with plain Greek yogurt.

Melissa Douglass, MSW

Weekly Newspaper in Education Program

Latoya Woods, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

Edwards, School Nurse

> Use plain yogurt as a dip for celery or carrots.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Learning Standards:

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

> Mix vanilla yogurt, fruit and granola into a tasty breakfast parfait.

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

Learning Standards:

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

Where do you work? I am the chief nursing officer (FNP) for CareSTL Health.

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

Where do you work? I am the founder and distance counselor for Goal Driven Counseling, LLC.

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

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

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

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

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

HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 3, NH 5

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

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

> Wash your parent’s car.

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

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

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

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

> Walking to the store when possible.

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

It’s important that before you embark on any kind of exercise to remember two things: warm up and cool down. Start with some slow stretches and movement (like walking) to increase your heart rate a little. Warm up for a good five minutes before increasing your heart rate.

watching your favorite TV show, you can stand and walk briskly in place. Raise your knees and swing your arms as you walk. You can easily get in 20-30 minutes every night just by remembering this easy fitness trick!

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

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

Now that the temperature has dropped, how can we stay active and fit this winter? Ask your parents where you can set up a work-out corner in your house for exercising (jumping jacks, stretching, dancing, etc.) Here’s an idea — why not stay active while watching TV? It’s easy to do! Instead of sitting and

Instead of watching TV — ride your bike with friends.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5

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

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1

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

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

When you find yourself in a conflict (fight/disagreement) with someone, practice these 5 steps for conflict resolution.

1. Identify the conflict. (Why aren’t we getting along?)

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

> What to do if you see someone else bullied.

4. Negotiate. (Discuss possible options.)

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

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

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

Cracker-wiches

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

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

> What to do if YOU are the bully.

5. Compromise on a solution. (Each person can give a little.)

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

Easy Hummus Dip

2. Agree to disagree. (Nobody has to be “wrong.”)

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

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

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

doctor if you have any questions. The formula to calculate your BMI is 703 X weight (lbs) ÷ height (in inches/squared) or search “BMI Calculator” to find an easy fill-in chart online. If your number is high, what are some ways to lower your BMI?

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

Ingredients:

3. Listen to each other. (Really listen to the other person’s side.)

> How bullying hurts others.

> What to do if you are bullied.

Frozen Yogurt Blueberry Bites

Look through the newspaper for a story where two people (or groups of people) are in a conflict. Write out how each of these steps could help the situation.

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

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, NH 5

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

> What other ice hazards are there?

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 4

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

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 4

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

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

Ingredients:

1 15-Oz Can Garbanzo beans

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

1 Garlic clove, crushed

Ingredients: 8 Saltine crackers 4 Tbsp Peanut butter 2 Large Strawberries 1 Tbsp Honey (optional)

1 cup blueberries 1 cup non-fat Greek Yogurt

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

Directions: Combine yogurt, cocoa and honey until smooth. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and use as a dip for graham crackers or fruit slices.

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

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

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

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

Where did you go to school? I graduated from Northwest High School. I then earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Barnes Jewish College of Nursing, St. Louis, a Master of Management degree from Fontbonne University, Clayton, Missouri, a Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of Missouri, St. Louis, and a Doctorate in Advanced Nursing Practice and Leadership from Chamberlain University, Downers Grove, Illinois.

What does an EMT do? My day-to-day includes helping others when they aren’t feeling their best. I also assist getting them to the hospital when they can’t take themselves.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What does a chief nursing officer do? As the Chief Nursing Officer of five sites, my days are usually very busy. I ensure that patient care by the nursing staff is safe and that we provide quality care to the patients in our community while also supporting the providers. My days are related to setting patient care standards, establishing processes and protocols for achieving those standards, and managing the work of nurses who care for patients.

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

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

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

Why did you choose this career? I chose this career because I enjoy helping others problem solve. Also, I have twin stepsons, one who wants to be a police officer, and the other who wants to be a doctor. I thought that being an EMT helped me to meet them both in the middle. And, back in 2018, I had my own medical emergency and was transported by ambulance to a hospital. The paramedic that took care of me was so comforting and assuring that I realized that becoming an EMT is an honorable career. I now work with that same paramedic, at the same company.

Why did you choose this career? I’ve always been a person that wanted to help, regardless of what type of healthcare is needed. I’ve always wanted to see people get help and succeed. My mother was in healthcare. I would watch her leave every day in her white uniform, going to take care of children located in a hospital for those who were developmentally delayed. She seemed so fulfilled in doing this work. I wanted to follow in her footsteps, and once I got into nursing, I knew it was for me.

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

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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

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

What is your favorite part of the job you have? I love to see a patient smile and know that I’ve given them 100% of my time and healthcare knowledge, with hope that it makes a difference and improves their quality of life. Watching a patient walk away from me knowing that they received the best possible quality care from me is rewarding and what I strive for.

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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

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

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

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

Chocolate Yogurt Dip

Banana PB Smoothie

Deborah

Marnay Howard, EMT - B

The St. Louis American’s award winning NIE program provides newspapers and resources to more than 7,000 teachers and students each week throughout the school year, at no charge.

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

how to analyze their outdoor findings.

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT SCIENCE STARS

African-American Sociologist Cora Bagley Marrett

Sociology is the study of human societies or groups. Sociology often includes anthropology.

(See last week’s STEM page for information on anthropology.)

Sociologists analyze how gender, age, race, religion, and environmental factors affect human behavior and interaction. The studies may be as small as the interaction between two people, to as big as the interaction between countries and nations. Sociologists often study such details as how the economy, crime rate, or technology affects a group. Sociologist will also study marriage and divorce rates, and will evaluate trends

Look at the map above: Where are the Elvis Fans? Here you find each state in the U.S. color–coded according to its inhabitants’ tendency or inclination to purchase Elvis memorabilia. Do you notice a pattern, or are the colors randomly distributed? What accounts for these findings?

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

in substance abuse and health issues in a community. These studies are helpful to people who are interested in resolving problems and creating rules and procedures. Examples of these people are educators, lawmakers, administrators, etc.

For more information, visit: http://www. kidzsearch.com/wiki/ Sociology.

Learning Standards:

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

Deliver A Message

In this experiment, you will use critical thinking and problem solving strategies to solve a problem.

Materials Needed:

• Paper & Pencil for writing a message

• Stuff From Around Your Classroom or House to build your message delivery system, ex: string, scissors, straws, balloons, plastic tubing, empty water bottles, corks, paper cups, masking tape, rubber bands, cardboard boxes

Your Goal:

Use your imagination and design a delivery system that gets messages from one place to another. The catch is, you can’t throw your message to the other team, and you can’t just get up and walk over with it.

MATH CONNECTION

Process:

Use materials you find around the classroom or house to build your message delivery system. Then, write a message and test it out. If the other team can receive and read your message, the design was successful. If your design was not successful, try again.

Evaluate:

What designs worked and what designs did not work? What techniques were most effective? Why?

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

Problem Solving

z If there are 98 students at an orchestra concert, and there are 3 seats open in each row, how many rows of seats will they need? ___________

x A restaurant is hosting a birthday party for 37 guests. If each table seats four people, how many tables are needed?

c 25 summer campers plan to take a boat ride on the lake. If each boat holds 5 passengers, how many boats will be needed? __________

James Earl Jones has one of the most wellknown voices, but as a child, he had a very bad stutter.

v A politician is ordering campaign posters. If the politician has $750 to spend and each poster costs $2.00, how many posters can he/she buy? ___________

b There are 358 students attending a field trip to the zoo. If students need to be in groups of 6, how many groups should they form? __________

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

Bill Gates began programming computers at age 13.

Early Life: Cora Bagley Marrett was born in Virginia in 1942 and was the youngest of 12 children. Her parents only had a 6th grade education and they encouraged their children to get more education so they could have a better life.

Education: B.A in Sociology from the Virginia Union University, M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She earned her Ph.D., which focused on the study of races, in 1968. In 1996, she received an honorary doctorate degree from Wake Forest University. Her research has been published in many academic journals.

Teaching: Marrett was a sociology professor at Western Michigan University, the University of North Carolina, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

National Science Foundation (NSF): Marrett is best known for her work with the National Science Foundation, where she has held many different leadership positions. In 1992, she was the first Assistant Director for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences. She then served as the Assistant Director for Education and Human Resources, where she promoted STEM education. In 2009, she became the Acting Deputy Director, and from 2010-2013, she served as the NSF Acting Director.

Committees: Marrett has served on many committees, lending her advice and expertise. She has worked with the United Negro College Fund, the National Institute of Health, the National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Congress.

Awards/Honors: Marrett was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She won the Distinguished Alumni Award Honoree in 2012 from the University of Wisconsin; she was nominated for a University Teaching Award at Western Michigan University, and earned the National Science Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award.

Awards: Jackson won the Distinguished Scholar Teacher Award at the University of Maryland and the Ernest E. Just Prize in Medical and Public Health Records.

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

W.E.B. DuBois (civil rights activist and sociologist) said, “Now is the accepted time, not tomorrow, not some more convenient season. It is today that our best work can be done and not some future day or future year. It is today that we fit ourselves for the greater usefulness of tomorrow. Today is the seed time, now are the hours of work, and tomorrow comes the harvest and the playtime.”

MAP CORNER

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

Activity One —

Elected Officials: are the qualifications a person should have to hold public office? Make a list, and then see how the current office holders of candidates stack up. Use articles from this paper and other sources to find out about previous jobs, experiences, and other factors that make each candidate or office holder prepared to serve as an elected official.

It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”

~ Frederick Douglass

Activity Two — Nations in the News: Scan the international news stories in the newspaper. Consult a map to determine what nations in the news have geographical features (rivers, oceans, mountains, etc.) that form their political boundaries. Are these geographical features related to why that particular nation is in the news?

Learning Standards: I can use a newspaper to locate information. I can make text-to-world connections. I can analyze data.

Teachers, if

Tonia Scherer of Seed St. Louis shows Summer Science participants

People Do Amazing Things Every Day. Check Out These Facts...

Snoop Dogg made a rap song with astronaut Buzz Aldrin about landing on the moon.

Whisky On Washington wows downtown revelers

Owner blends cocktails with history

By Ashley Winters

The St. Louis American

Whisky On Washington owner David Shanks says his establishment locally at 1321 Washington is bringing “a new vibe” to the downtown area.

“I help expand the palette of non-whiskey drinkers. as well as expand their knowledge of one of the most popular drinks around,” said Shanks.

Open Sunday through Thursday, the merriment starts in the afternoon and continues in the evening 0for those who want a late cocktail at the bar which Shanks calls “WOW.”

Shanks was inspired to open a whiskey bar after he toured distillery sites and bars in Kentucky. A trip to Woodford Reserve Distillery led Shanks to believe he wanted to create his own whiskey brand.

n

“I

started out with a hope and a

dream. I invested my life savings, with no experience in the hospitality industry”

– David Shanks

He soon learned that each brand usually has its own unique story. With an appreciation of that history, he set his sight on opening a whiskey bar. He says he is “celebrating and honoring the stories of some of the oldest whiskeys around.”

“I started out with a hope and a dream,” said Shanks. “I invested my life savings, with no

experience in the hospitality industry.”

Shanks shared the story of Old Rip Van Winkle, a family-owned business that was established in 1935 by Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle. He started as a whiskey seller for the WL Weller Company, traveling by horse and buggy throughout the Midwest.

He carries their brand, one of his most expensive, which can go for $2,000 a bottle.

Also on his shelf is the controversial Uncle Nearest Whiskey. The backstory of the popular brand includes antebellum tales from the South.

According to Shanks, the original recipe of Jack Daniel’s Whiskey was stolen from Uncle Nearest, a slave who worked in Tennessee.

Stories like these are part of Whisky on Washington’s lore, and Shanks enjoys sharing them with his patrons as they sit and sip at his

See WHISKY, B2

BJC backs WEPOWER Capital Investment fund for Black-

By Eric Schmid St. Louis Public Radio

PeoPle on the Move

Maryville appoints Dr. Caldwell VP of DEI

Dr. Nina Caldwell, MBA, Ed. D, vice president for student life at Maryville University will be appointed to the role of vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, effective June 1, 2023. Dr. Caldwell served in Student Life at Maryville for over 18 years, beginning her time in 2004. Prior to joining Maryville, Caldwell worked for several years in the student services area of higher education, primarily in California. Originally from central Illinois, Caldwell began thinking of a career in higher education, and specifically student life, while she was a graduate student at Illinois State University, pursuing a master’s degree in counseling.

Castilleja-Cutts named HR manager

Operation Food Search (OFS) welcomed Kitty Castilleja-Cutts as their new human resources manager. Castilleja-Cutts will lead all aspects of the human resources team, including attracting and hiring top talent, providing positive employee relations support to managers and employees, administering benefits, and enhancing existing policies, procedures, and programs to sustain OFS’s healthy and thriving culture. She will serve as a key member of the senior leadership team.

Tiffany Patton named development coordinator

Tiffany Patton

Riverview Gardens School District announced the appointment of Tiffany Patton, Ed.D. as the new professional development coordinator. Patton will oversee the district’s initiatives to develop and revise the curriculum to align with state standards and district goals for student achievement. She will also provide teaching, assessment and professional development support for teachers. Prior to her appointment, Patton served as a principal in the Hazelwood District and as school leader at KIPP St. Louis.

Daniels Jackson named director

and Latino-owned businesses

A new investment fund for minority-owned businesses in the St. Louis region is getting support from one of the largest employers in the area.

BJC HealthCare and WEPOWER Capital announced a collaboration on January 25, 2023 to support Black- and Latino-owned businesses.

The health care system’s funding, which was not specified, goes into the pilot fund managed by WEPOWER, a nonprofit working to build political and economic power in local communities of color.

“It very much aligns with our work, where we’re committed to improving and addressing the racial wage and wealth gap that we’re seeing in our region,” said Christopher Nolan, BJC’s director of anchor initiatives and community health improvement.

He explained this investment is an opportunity for his organization to affect health and well-being in the region by focusing beyond direct clinical care on things like economic and social health.

“We really want to start looking at what’s happening outside of our walls,” Nolan said. “You’re starting to see that with health care institutions, we’re looking at what’s happening in the day-to-day lives of folks, understanding there are other factors.”

WEPOWER Capital is a way to create generational wealth and other opportunities for historically underserved parts of the region, he said.

BJC’s contribution, along with others, brings the fund’s total to $1.5

WEPOWER execs (front row) Keisha Mabry-Haymore holding daughter Zari Haymore and CEO Charli Cooksey. (back Row) Edgar Payano and Yoni Blumberg. Last May, WEPOWER announced an initiative to help make North St. Louis residents partial business owners. On January 25, 2023, BJC HealthCare and WEPOWER Capital announced a collaboration to support Black- and Latinoowned businesses.

Kristy Daniels Jackson

The Anheuser-Busch School of Business (ABSB) at Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) has named Kristy Daniels Jackson, Ed.S. as director of the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE). As CIE director, Jackson is responsible for management of The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, supporting innovation and the facilitation of partnerships to enhance Black and Brown scholars as well as community members. Jackson most recently served as the lead consultant, developing numerous programs for MECCA.

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

Whisky On Washington owner David Shanks in his downtown location near 14th Street Sunday, Jan. 22.

Dr. Nina Caldwell

Kitty CastillejaCutts

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Photo Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Whisky

Continued from B1

hardwood sleek bar top.

Black-owned whiskeys are giving you their fight and struggle,” he said.

Behind the bar are three lengthy shelves that stretch across the back wall. The top two shelves are for whiskeys, and the bottom shelf is designated for gin, vodka, and tequila.

The bar ordered 30 whiskeys when it opened last year, and he let his customers select their favorites. He always inquired first about what customers would like.

BJC

Continued from B1

million, and will be invested in high-growth Black- and Latino-businesses, said Yoni Blumberg, WEPOWER’s vice president of community wealth building.

An investment in Black and Latinx entrepreneurs is an investment in our region’s collective prosperity. Black and Latinx entrepreneurs create jobs at the same rate or higher than white owned firms. However, our systems weren’t designed for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs or communities to thrive.

Traditional Capital

Denied: Black and Latinx entrepreneurs are more likely to be denied bank loans, offered less capital when approved, and charged higher interest rates.

Soaring Racial Wealth

Disparities: Given the massive racial wealth gap – white families have 10-20x the wealth of Black families – most Black and Latinx entrepreneurs do not have access to anyone who will make an early investment of $30,000, let alone $100,000.

The fund doesn’t function like most forms of investment, shedding the need for an entrepreneur to have a particular credit score or offer personal collateral, he said.

“We’ve seen those things have racially disparate impacts and also believe there are better ways to assess how risky an investment is,” Blumberg said.

“The core way we’re making investments in companies is through an unconventional financial vehicle: a revenuebased investment.”

Instead of being for a set dollar amount each month, as with a usual bank loan, the payments are based on last month’s revenue, he said. This helps better share the investment risk between the fund and the business and creates incentive for WEPOWER to support the

n Shanks proudly said, “Black-owned whiskeys are giving you their fight and struggle.”

While most of those whiskeys are no longer carried, Shanks calls it “a learning experience that he does not regret.”

He now serves “rare and allocated whiskeys that the average person doesn’t have access to,” he said.

Shanks said the drink he carries the most pride for is called the “WOWmopolitan.” It is a cosmopolitan made with whiskey instead of vodka.

Customers can select the whiskey of their choice.

“I have the best Old Fashioned in town, and I stand on that 10 toes down.” He called the Old Fashioned, a cocktail consisting chiefly of whiskey, bitters, water, and sugar, “the most popular drink ever.”

“It’s one of the original cocktails, and I make it with 100-proof Old Grand Dad Whiskey,” he said.

“Since my doors have opened I have received so much love and support. This bar may be my vision but the success is from the people,” said Shanks.

Ashley Winters is a Report for America Corps reporter for the St. Louis American

continued growth and success of the venture, Blumberg explained.

“It’s also different from venture capital because it doesn’t require an entrepreneur to give up large shares of ownership, like an equity investment would from a conventional venture capital firm,” he added.

All of this is designed to keep the autonomy of a Black or Latino entrepreneur intact and eventually have the venture stay with the community instead of going to a private equity firm, Blumberg said.

WEPOWER Capital will have an investment committee made up of entrepreneurs of color, local residents and people with more conventional finance and investment backgrounds to review potential ventures, he said.

“We’re trying to find good deals, good prospects and underwrite them, but then bring them to our investment committee,” Blumberg said.

“That’s a step on the way to making investments more

accountable to the community.” He acknowledges it’s an unconventional approach and explains why the initial pilot investment fund is only $1.5 million at this point. The idea is to demonstrate small-scale success before growing it, which makes BJC’s support at this point substantial, Blumberg said.

“It’s really exciting to have them show interest and a desire to work together,” he said.

“BJC is looking at how can they take their economic power and instead of shying away from it, taking a critical look at what they can do with that to advance community health outcomes in the region.” Nolan shared a similar sentiment.

“We are focused on thinking about how our investments can have an impact locally,” he said. “BJC is not going to pick up and move to another state. We’re anchored in our community.”

Eric Schmid covers economic development for St. Louis

Public Radio

Whisky On Washington owner David Shanks stands outside his downtown location near 14th Street on Sunday, Jan. 22.

BJC HealthCare operates Barnes-Jewish Hospital and more than a dozen others in the St. Louis region. The health care provider and WEPOWER Capital announced a collaboration Wednesday to help support local Blackand Latino-owned business.

Photo by Huy Mach / Washington University School of Medicine

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

n I’m

Sports

FEBRUARY 2 – 8, 2023

InSIdE SportS

By Earl Austin Jr.

Circle the wagons

Kirkwood blazes trail with 17-0 start to season

Kirkwood enters February with a 17-0 record and two tournament championships.

The Pioneers were dominant in a 57-39 win over DeSmet to clinch Circle 7 Ranch Tournament at Parkway West. KHS also won the championship of the Don Maurer Holiday Tournament at MICDS in late December.

The Pioneers feature an experienced senior lineup led by dynamic wing players 6’2” Christian Hughes and 6’3” Javaris Moye. Hughes, an Arkansas-Little Rock recruit, averages a team-high 14.9 points a game along with 3.8 rebounds. Moye is a tremendous two-way performer who is averaging 13.4 points and four rebounds a game. Both players are shooting 51% from the field.

Show stoppers

The Show-Me Championship Classic at Vashon featured the host Wolverines defeating Staley 58-57 in an overtime thriller. Staley, a Kansas City area power, forced overtime on a jumper by 6’7” sophomore Xavier Wilson. Sophomore guard Dierre Hill of Vashon hit a 3-pointer with one second left in overtime to give the Wolverines the victory. Senior forward Kennard Davis Jr. scored a game high 23 points to lead the Wolverines while senior guard Kyan Evans led Staley with 21 points, which included five 3-pointers.

The six-game showcase was entertaining from start to finish. Charleston defeated St. Mary’s 96-78 behind the stellar play of seniors Rico Coleman, Trey Stanback, junior Ko’Terrion Owens, and sophomore PJ Farmer. The Bluejays won the Class 3 state championship last season.

St. Mary’s was led by sophomore guard Zyree Collins, who scored 35 points, Zyree is the younger brother of Saint Louis U. standout guard Yuri Collins.

Cape Girardeau Central was matched against Chicago area powerhouse Simeon, who is currently nationally ranked. The Tigers, who are currently ranked No. 1 in Class 5, put on a strong battle against a very tall and talented Simeon team before falling 70-57. Cape Central is a talented and athletic team that is led by 6›8» senior forward Cameron Williams.

In the other games, Chicago Whitney Young defeated Chaminade, Hazelwood Central defeated West Memphis (AR) and Miller Career Academy defeated Webster Groves in another overtime thriller.

Ramey basketball in Mid-Mo Local basketball event coordinator Terrell Ramey will hosting the Mid-Missouri Invitational at Harrisburg Mo., High School.

The event begins on Friday Feb. 3, 20234 with three games and continues Saturday with six games. Friday’s games feature six local teams with Higbee taking on Van-Far in a girls’ game at 5 p.m., Harrisburg vs. Marshall (girls) at 6:30 p.m. and Higbee vs. Van-Far (boys) at 8 p.m. Saturday’s games will feature a team from the St. Louis metro area against a team from MidMissouri.

Saturday’s schedule:

McCluer North vs. Macon, 11:30 a.m. -

McCluer North has a solid 10-7 record. The Stars are led by senior guards Trey Harris and Rashod Burns. Macon is having an excellent season behind senior guards Boston Douglas and Hayden Lovinger.

SLUH vs. Mexico, 1 p.m. - SLUH is coming off impressive MCC victories of CBC and Chaminade. The Jr. Bills are led by senior point guard Aaron Walker Jr. Mexico has a team full of quick guards, led by senior Jordan Shelton and junior DJ Long.

Whitfield vs. Columbia Hickman, 2:30 p.m. - The Whitfield Warriors feature a strong senior backcourt in Jorden Williams and Nolan Simon. Hickman features junior point guard Isaiah Bonaparte and 6’6” sophomore forward Brock Camp.

Principia vs. Harrisburg, 4 p.m.Principia is having a strong revival season, led by 6’9” senior forward Stephen Okoro and freshman guard Jaylen Edwards. Host

Harrisburg is led by senior point guard Brayden Ott. Cardinal Ritter vs. KC Center, 5:30 p.m.Cardinal Ritter is a well-balanced team that is led by 6’2” junior guard Clayton Jackson. Center is led by 6’4” senior forward Keyon Spiller.

East St. Louis vs. Father Tolton, 7 p.m. - East St. Louis brings a strong team that is led by 6’6” senior Kansas State recruit Macalaeb Rich. Tolton features a strong back court in seniors James Lee, Izaak Porter and sophomore Exavier Wilson. Webster Groves vs. Hallsville, 8:30 p.m.Webster Groves features 6’4” junior forward Iziah Purvey while Hallsville is led by 6’5” senior forward Kolton Garner.

Before the kickoff of Super Bowl LVII at 5:30 p.m. Sunday Feb. 12 occurs, I will have become weary of articles, commentaries, “hot takes,” and Stephen A. Smith waxing poetic about Black quarterbacks.

For now, Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles should be celebrated for guiding their respective teams to AFC and NFC championships. Their talent, grit, determination, and intelligence have taken the football world to a place it has never traveled before: Black quarterbacks will start against each other in the Super Bowl. As was the case when head coach Tony Dungy’s Indianapolis Colts faced Lovie Smith’s Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl, a Black man is going to win.

Alvin A. Reid

people crazy. Mahomes, playing with a painful high ankle sprain, overcame the loss of three receivers during the dramatic 23-20 victory over the trashtalking Cincinnati Bengals.

He displayed everything you want in an NFL quarterback, passing for 326 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He willed his team to win that game, plain and simple. Yet, the highest trending hashtag following the game was “NFL rigged.” Apparently, the NFL wanted Mahomes and the Chiefs in the Super Bowl so badly it had the referees cheat against the Bengals. There were questionable calls that went against the visitors but credit should be given where credit has been earned.

Earlier on Sunday, Hurts’ Eagles blasted the San Francisco 49ers 31-7 in the

This is already driving some

NFC Championship game. From the opening drive, it looked as though the Eagles were the better team. Hurst, an MVP candidate, didn’t come close to a Mahomes’ type performance but he did not have to.

He finished a modest 15 of 25 passing for 121 yards with no turnovers. The Eagles, including to playoff wins, are 14-3. Hurts missed a pair of games with injury, and his record is 12-1.

On Monday morning, several NFL pundits and Twitter experts said Hurts was along for the ride during the championship game and several games during the regular season.

“If 49ers quarterback had not been hurt on the first series of the game…” was the

top trending question on the internet among sports fans.

The refs gifted Hurts and the Eagles with a reception on Devonta Smith’s one-handed 29-yard catch on a fourthand-3 that set up the Eagles’ first touchdown.

The Eagles hurriedly ran a play before replay showed the ball came loose when Smith hit the turf.

“The game would have been different if the refs got that call right,” goes a narrative that seems reserved for Black quarterbacks.

The upcoming Super Bowl will give the NFL a chance to trumpet its diversity at the quarterback position. It will also provide cover for its shamefully small number of Black head coaches.

As the late Richard Pryor

said during a routine in the late 70s, “Be happy for any Black man doing anything.”

I’m certainly happy that two excellent Black quarterbacks will share football’s biggest stage. They deserve the recognition and the accolades that will come their way. But I wish the game was Sunday, and could be spared 10 days of MSNBC vs. FOX News instead of game discussion.

The Reid Roundup

After taking themselves out of the AFC Championship game with respective injuries, and watching Patrick Mahomes play in intense pain, Kansas City Chiefs wide receivers Kadarius Toney, Juju Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman need to show the same toughness and play in the Super Bowl… Jayson Tatum should have been whistled for a foul and LeBron James should have shot two free throws with four second left in Saturday’s L.A. Lakers at Boston Celtics game. The score was 105-105 when the refs missed the call, and the Celtics prevailed in overtime 125-121. The NBA referees union said a mistake was made and called it “gut wrenching” in a statement… The Houston Astros have hired Dana Brown, previously the Atlanta Braves’ vice president of scouting, as their new general manager. Brown becomes Major League Baseball’s

Earl Austin Jr.

Kirkwood’s Aldan Trawick throws a slam dunk down in the Pioneers’ 57-39 over DeSmet in the Circle 7 Ranch Tournament championship game at Parkway West.

Photo courtesy of KHS Basketball Twitter

Jalen Hurts

Patrick Mahomes

Gale King named chair of Executive Leadership Council

Gale V. King, independent board director and executive vice president and chief administrative officer (retired) at Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, has been elected chair of The Executive Leadership Council (ELC). The ELC is the preeminent global membership organization for Black CEOs, C-Suite and senior executives, board members, top-tier entrepreneurs, and global thought leaders. The

organization and its members work to build an inclusive business leadership pipeline that empowers global Black leaders to make impactful contributions to the marketplace and the global communities they serve.

After a distinguished career that spanned 37 years where she served as a member of the senior executive leadership team overseeing human resources, corporate real estate,

and related support services across the business, King retired from Nationwide in July 2021. Her business leadership, which had marked impact across the organization, left an indelible mark on Nationwide. King notably spearheaded inclusive and futurefocused workforce

and culture practices that helped Nationwide become an awardwinning workplace. As Chair, King heads the Executive Committee of The Executive Leadership Council Board of Directors, which includes Directors Nancy Armand of HSBC, Vice Chair; Gena Ashe of Anterix,

Secretary; and Shaundra Clay of Beam Suntory, Treasurer. In addition to the members of the Executive Committee, The ELC Board of Directors includes Gerald Charles, Jr. of Capital One, Ed Dandridge of Susan G. Komen Board, Thomas R. Harvey of FloZenda Consulting, LLC, Janice Innis-Thompson of Nationwide, Sena Kwawu of Avista, Cynt Marshall of Dallas Mavericks, Oral Muir

St. Louis CITY SC, UMSL to partner on esports and professional development education initiatives

St. Louis CITY SC and the University of Missouri–St. Louis are entering a dynamic new partnership to grow the next generation of esports players and fans and unite the two STLMade brands in programming designed to foster professional development by expanding UMSL’s sport management offerings.

“UMSL is now the official higher education partner of St. Louis CITY SC,” Dennis Moore, the chief revenue officer for St. Louis CITY SC said. “We will work together to build the St. Louis CITY/ UMSL Sport Management Program, and UMSL is the new presenting partner of our club’s esports program.”

The St. Louis CITY SC/ UMSL Sport Management Program expands upon UMSL’s current curriculum for the Bachelor of Science in Sport Management and will foster the next generation of sporting professionals.

The program includes opportunities for students to engage with CITY SC executives through on-campus classroom visits and speaking engagements. Additionally, UMSL students across all majors will have the opportunity to intern with St. Louis CITY SC and to gain service hours.

“This is an exciting and unique partnership that focuses on building direct connections between the University of Missouri–St. Louis and St. Louis CITY SC,” UMSL

Chancellor Kristin Sobolik said. “Our partnership includes academic integration to provide students with internships, gameday opportunities, in-class engagements with club personnel and players, and more – all to build a direct and diverse pipeline for the region’s workforce.”

Capitalizing on the global popularity of esports and the

St. Louis CITY SC and the University of Missouri–St. Louis are entering a dynamic new partnership to grow the next generation of esports players and fans and unite the two STLMade brands in programming designed to foster professional development by expanding UMSL’s sport management offerings.

success of eMLS, Major League Soccer’s esports competition, UMSL also is serving as the presenting partner of St. Louis CITY SC’s esports program. The university’s familiar branding will be featured on CITY SC’s eMLS kit and throughout CITY SC’s esports lounge, which will be located at the club’s Downtown St. Louis headquarters in CITYPARK’s stadium district.

The partnership comes ahead of the launch of UMSL’s first-ever competitive esports team which will debut in fall 2023. UMSL and CITY SC also will coordinate events between UMSL esports students and the club’s eMLS player, Niklas Raseck

of Hilton, Javara Perrilliat of Republic Services, Irene Quarshie of Target, Valerie I.Rainford of Elloree Talent Strategies, Shelley Stewart, Jr. of Bottom Line Advisory, Telisa Toliver of Chevron and Roy Weathers of PwC. Ex-Officio members of The ELC Board are Lloyd W. Brown, II, immediate past chair, and Michael C. Hyter, ELC President and CEO.

Cong. Bush selected to serve second term on House Judiciary Committee

The Committee oversees DOJ and DHS, and handles key issues, including civil rights, immigration and public safety

Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) was selected to serve on the House Judiciary Committee in the 118th Congress. The House Judiciary Committee is the second oldest standing committee in Congress; its jurisdiction includes constitutional rights and civil liberties, oversight of the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, legal and regulatory reform, innovation, competition and antitrust laws, terrorism and crime, and immigration reform. The Committee also has jurisdiction over all proposed constitutional amendments. This will be Congresswoman Bush’s second term on the House Judiciary Committee.

Gale V. King

Living It

‘Abbott Elementary’s class act shines at Golden Globes

Tabbed as Best Comedy

St. Louis American staff

Abbott Elementary, whose cast includes St. Louis native William Stanford Davis, schooled the competition in several Golden Globe categories and garnered top prize for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy.

The ABC “mockumentary” was nominated along with FX’s The Bear, HBO Max’s Hacks, Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, and Netflix’s Wednesday.

Quinta Brunson won for Best Actress in a TV Series — Musical or Comedy, and Tyler James Williams, won Best Actor in a Supporting Role. The series garnered five nomination.

“We make this show because we love comedy, and we love TV. This is my cast, and I love

a third season.

them,” Brunson said on stage while surrounded by cast members.

“I don’t know where I’d be without them. We get to make this show for everyone, and during a very tough time in this country, I’m very happy that Abbott Elementary is able to make people laugh.” Brunson plays Janine Teagues, a positiveminded second grade teacher in a fictional, predominantly Black, and poorly funded elementary school in Philadelphia.

She is also creator, head writer, and executive producer of the series, and she will be honored during the 60th International Cinematographers Guild Publicists Awards with the 2023 Showperson Award at The Beverly Hilton on March 10.

Brunson was also recently listed among Time magazine’s “Time 100: The Most Influential People of 2022.”

Davis portrays Mr. Johnson, a janitor who gives some credence to some outlandish conspiracy theories.

He recently told “The Observer,” “We’re not [focusing on] anything about critical race theory or anything that brings any negative spin on it.”

“We want to talk about the issues but keep a positive, joyful [tone], and still show what teachers actually go through, what they do to make ends meet, what they do to make sure that these kids are taken care of, that they’re fed, that

See Abbott, C8

Another Oscars ‘Black

out’

By

Chris King

For the St. Louis American

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s world premiere of James Lee III’s “Visions of Cahokia” at Powell Hall on Saturday, January 28, began in an extraordinary way: Music Director Stefan Deneve invited the composer onstage to introduce his new work and then interviewed him in front of a crowded concert hall.

Lee said that though he has friends in Central and South America and through them knew of ancient southern ruins, he was surprised to learn, through research, that the St. Louis region has a well-preserved network of mounds from a native metropolis that flourished around 1100 AD. He visited Cahokia after a previous performance in St. Louis, which inspired him to discuss composing a piece with SLSO staff. That led to a commission and ultimately this world premiere.

By Danielle Brown

St. Louis American

The 95th Academy Awards nominations lack diversity in race and gender, snubbing Black women actors in the including best director and best actress categories.

Viola Davis [The Woman King] and Danielle Deadwyler [Till] are not included in this year’s nominees for best actress.

Davis’ portrayal of a woman warrior who protected the kingdom of Dahomey in 19th century West Africa earned Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations.

Deadwyler portrays Mamie Till-Mobley in the film which chronicles the 1955 lynching of Till-Mobley’s 14-year-old son Emmett Till and the aftermath.

No women directors are included in the directing category. This includes Gina PrinceBythewood [The Woman King] and Chinonye Chukwu, who directed “Till.”

“We live in a world and work in industries that are so aggressively committed to upholding

whiteness and perpetuating an unabashed misogyny towards Black women,” Chukwu wrote in an Instagram post.

Angela Bassett is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” making her the first actor nominated

Viola Davis was not included in this year’s nominees for best actress. Davis’ portrayal of a woman warrior who protected the kingdom of Dahomey in 19th century West Africa earned Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations.

n [Visions of Cahokia] has the potential to become a repertory piece for orchestras programming around American Indian culture or African American composers.

Deneve asked Lee why he wanted this particular orchestra to premiere his Cahokia composition. Lee overlooked the obvious reason – that Cahokia is 12 miles from the concert hall that SLSO calls home – to cite the virtuosity of the orchestra, in particular “certain aspects of the strings” (Deneve did not ask which) and the “power of the brass.” Deneve informed the audience that SLSO would be recording the world premiere and the orchestra’s performance of Leonard Bernstein’s “Serenade after Plato’s Symposium” that followed it on the program, begging for silence in the seats to preserve the integrity of the recording. Then he led the orchestra through what he described as the “birth of this new piece.” Lee may have come to SLSO for the strings and the brass, but the tubular chimes and bass drum did the most to communicate the American Indian spirit of the composition. The chimes – recurring through most of the 10-minute piece – evoked the ankle bells of Indian dancers, and the bass drum made Powell Hall sound like the center of an Indian drum circle.

Deneve looked, at turns, elastic and ecstatic as he led a very large orchestra through the tone poem. He brought the musicians into the second movement by hushing the violin section with his right index finger pressed to his lips before cueing them in, a remarkable way to ask for dead silence followed by a quiet fade in, which is exactly what he got.

for a performance from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Bassett portrays Queen Ramonda, the mother

“Wow,” a man sitting beside my guest and me in the dress circle said, as we stood in ovation – “I mean, wow. That was amazing. I can’t wait until they release this performance.” I was reminded by something a tall, broad, elderly, distinguished man said to Lee before the performance (Lee was seated near us, and

Photo courtesy of ABC

The cast of “Abbott Elementary” is celebrating being named Best Television Series –Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes. The hit show has also been renewed for

James Lee III (right) during intermission at the St. Louis Symphony’s world premiere of his symphony “Visions of Cahokia” at Powell Hall on Saturday, January 28.

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures

Black History Month at the Missouri Historical

By the Missouri Historical Society

and murals

in Civil Rights: The African American Freedom Struggle in St. Louis, a 2017–2018 exhibit at the Museum. In this program these artists will talk about how they developed their

At 6:30pm, join MHS Curator of Urban Landscape and Community Identity Gwen Moore as she moderates a presentation and panel discussion with artists Dail Chambers, William Burton, Robert Ketchens, and De’Joneiro Jones. #1 in Civil Rights now lives online as a virtual exhibit, and a banner show based on the exhibit will be on display in the Museum’s Grand Hall throughout the month of February. Start the evening at 5:30pm with happy hour food and drinks available for purchase from Sugarfire. Visitors can also explore the Museum’s exhibits and displays of original art by the artists featured in the panel discussion, take a 10-minute civil rights highlights mini-tour through the galleries, and visit resource tables to learn more about the Missouri Historical Society’s African American History Initiative (AAHI).

On Friday, February 3, Storytelling in the Museum will feature stories of Black Missourians. Storytelling programs take place in the Museum’s History Clubhouse every Friday from 10:30am to 11:00am and are recommended for families with children ages 2 to 6. A daytime program at the Museum on

Tuesday, February 7 (11:00am) will explore the Collecting Process: The African American History Initiative at the Missouri Historical Society. Join Moore and other staff for presentations and a question-and-answer session.

On Friday, February 10, and Saturday, February 11, the Museum’s History Exploration Days series will focus on Movement and Migration: The Black Diaspora. St. Louis has been a starting point, rest stop, or homecoming for millions of travelers and migrants. From the Exodusters of the post–Civil War era to the Great Migration of the early 20th century to today, families can explore the history of Black Americans who have traveled to or through St. Louis. History Exploration Days take place from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Among other activities, a special bilingual storytelling session on Saturday at 10:30am, Cuentos en el Museo, will highlight Black Latinx stories.

On Thursday, February 23, the Thursday Nights at the Museum topic is RACE: Listen. Learn. Live. Celebrating Black History Month. At 6:30pm, 5 On Your Side’s Kelly Jackson and Brent Solomon will moderate a panel of athletes, businesspeople, and students who will talk about their experiences and perspectives on race. Before the discussion, join us for happy hour at the Museum, where dinner and drinks will be available for purchase from Sugarfire. You can also view past 5 On Your Side RACE specials and explore the Museum’s exhibits and gift shop from 5:30pm to 8:00pm. Victory at War and at Home: Civil Rights Activism in World War II will be presented at 11:00am on Friday, February 24, at Soldiers Memorial Military Museum in downtown St. Louis. Dr. David Lucander, author of Winning the War for Democracy: The March on Washington Movement, 1941–1946, will discuss Black American activism during World War II with a focus on St. Louis.

Be a Tourist in Your Own Town

Experience the Arts this February

By Barry Draper

In St. Louis, museums, galleries, public artworks, theaters and performing arts organizations inspire us in more ways than one. This month, as temperatures hover around freezing, we encourage you to stay inside and enjoy some of the enticing exhibitions and emotive performances that the region has to offer.

The Light February 1 to 26

This month, the St. Louis Black Repertory Company will stage a new show called The Light by Loy A. Webb. On their two-year dating anniversary, modern-day couple Rashad and Genesis have plenty to celebrate: a marriage proposal and the promise of a new life together. Part of Genesis’ present is tickets to a concert featuring the same female artist that they saw on their first date; however, the male headliner uncovers memories that Genesis had buried long ago. As she is forced to deal with her trauma, the couple begins an emotional journey of love, laughter and heartache, working to reconcile their past and reaffirm their personal values to live in the truth.

Confederates

February 10 to March 5

An enslaved rebel turned Union spy and a tenured professor in a modern-day private university are having parallel experiences of institutionalized racism, despite existing more than a century apart. MacArthur “Genius” Grantwinning playwright Dominique Morisseau brilliantly bends the continuum of time and weaves together the stark realities of racial and gender biases that both female characters face in this illuminating drama. Presented by The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Confederates will run from Feb. 10 to March 5 at the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts.

Valentine’s Soul Jam

February 11

Fall in love all over again at the Valentine’s Soul Jam coming to Stifel Theatre on Feb. 11. Featuring performances by R&B soul stars Russell Thompkins, Jr. & the New Stylistics; The Manhattans; Ray, Goodman & Brown; Blue Notes; and Enchantment, fans will have the chance to hear some of the greatest songs ever recorded, sung by the artists who made them famous.

Narcissus Garden

February 11 to May 14

From Feb. 11 to May 14, the Aronson Fine Arts Center at Laumeier Sculpture Park will exhibit Yayoi Kusama’s Narcissus Garden, an immersive installation consisting of almost 1,000 mirrored balls. As the title suggests, Narcissus Garden presents itself as a human-made garden, acknowledging and embracing the inherent narcissism in the viewer’s desire to see themselves reflected in it. Born in 1929, Kusama’s career is on the rise once again, and it’s surreal to see how her work appeals to today’s selfie culture.

Age of Armor February 18 to May 14

Age of Armor: Treasures from the Higgins Armory Collection at the Worcester Art Museum presents highlights from the collection in a major survey of defensive armor in Europe from its origins in the 1300s to today. The exhibition begins with an ancient Greek helmet to demonstrate armor’s long history in Western civiliza-

tion and includes superb helmets from Japan, India and Sudan to suggest the universality of armor as a defensive tool and a medium for artistic virtuosity. The heart of the exhibition is the gloriously decorated armors – including several full suits – produced by Renaissance craftsmen in the 1500s. Basic forms of plate armor have inspired designers and creators throughout time and into the late 20th century, and the Saint Louis Art Museum’s presentation of this exhibition will add examples of modern defensive gear developed by the U.S. Army as well as representations of armor from Hollywood films.

Lift Every Voice: A Black History Month Celebration February 24

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, in conjunction with IN UNISON Chorus – an all-volunteer, 120-voice auditioned ensemble –will perform a concert to exemplify African and African American traditions through music. The annual concert, featuring a reflective and uplifting score, is especially meaningful when experienced with family and friends.

Giordano Dance Chicago February 25

Dance St. Louis, one of the country’s longestrunning nonprofit arts organizations, continues its 57th season with a performance by Giordano Dance Chicago, the original jazz dance company in the U.S. The company’s new works continually expand the boundaries of jazz and contemporary dance, solidifying it as American jazz dance royalty, then, now and forever. “From the first moment that Giordano Dance Chicago steps on stage, the audience knows that the evening will be electric,” Chicago Tonight wrote in a recent review. Secure your seat for this one-night-only performance before it’s too late.

To Kill A Mockingbird February 28 to March 12

All rise for Academy Award winner Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece. The emotionally shattering landmark production of the American classic is “the most successful American play in Broadway history,” according to The New York Times Critic’s Pick. Emmy Awardwinning actor Richard Thomas will play the role of Atticus Finch in the national tour of To Kill A Mockingbird, which will run from Feb. 28 to March 12 at The Fabulous Fox.

If you’re looking for other ways to experience the arts in St. Louis, visit explorestlouis.com/ arts.

St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission

Guest Columnist Barry Draper

Black History 2023

Missouri History Museum ‘digs deep’ into Black history

St. Louis American staff

The Missouri History Museum is celebrating Black History Month with a range of programs throughout February.

Cicely Hunter, Missouri Historical Society public historian of the African American History Initiative, said the museum highlights diversity year-round, but especially during Black History Month and Juneteenth.

We have a series of different events on Tuesdays and on Thursdays,” Hunter told KSDK.com.

“We’ll have the ‘#1 Civil Rights Exhibit and Beyond’. We’ll also have ‘Movement and Migration’. It is focusing on the early period, post-Civil War time frame.”

“It’s important for us to dig deep and have that knowledge base and share with our community in order to advance forward for that younger generation,” Hunter said.

When hired in 2021, Hunter called the Historical Society “second to none.”

“MHS’s wonderful exhibits, programs, and initiatives have been a personal favorite of mine since I arrived in the area in 2014.”

Hunter most recently served as served as the Assistant Director of Equity and Inclusion for Carthage College.

Hunter said the museum is “Really spotlighting the importance of Black history told from Black perspectives and narratives [so] we can build that equitable future.”

Hunter said financial support for the museum is vital, she wants the community to be curious and connected.

During her time as a Graduate Research Assistant at Saint Louis University, Hunter worked on a joint initiative with the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States and Saint Louis University titled, “The Slavery, History, Memory, and Reconciliation Project.”

It included experiences of enslaved people whom the Jesuits owned, conducting extensive historical and genealogical research on enslaved

people and their descendants.

The Missouri History Museum Black History Month

Feb. 2 — The Artists of the “#1 in Civil Rights” Exhibit and Beyond — More than 260,000 people came to recall personal memories and family legacies, explore, and engage in meaningful conversations during the 2017–2018 Missouri History Museum exhibit #1 in Civil Rights: The African American Freedom Struggle in St. Louis. To share St. Louis’s complex history in a visually compelling way, MHS commissioned local artists to create portraits and murals for #1 in Civil Rights, and on this spe-

cial night these artists will talk about how they developed their work.

Feb. 11 — History Exploration Days - Movement and Migration: The Black Diaspora — St. Louis has been a starting point, rest stop, or homecoming for millions of travelers and migrants. From the Exodusters of the post–Civil War era to the Great Migration of the early 20th century to today, we’ll explore the history of Black Americans who have traveled to or through St. Louis.

Feb. 16 — An Evening with Bishop Deon Johnson. On June 13, 2020, Deon Kevin Johnson was ordained as the new bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of

Missouri. Although he is its eleventh bishop, he holds the distinction of being both the first Black and first openly gay leader of the diocese.

According to his biography, Johnson and his brother decided to move to the United States when Deon was 14 years old. They moved in with their father in New York City until their mother came to the United States two years after their arrival.

Upon arriving in the U.S., he had to adjust to the different cultures that he was introduced to. He quickly rose to the top of his class and was enrolled in AP and honor courses in high school. He credits his education in Barbados for his academic achievements in the U.S.

Johnson has joined other religious leaders as plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the state of Missouri. They are challenging Missouri’s abortion ban, contending that lawmakers “openly invoked their religious beliefs while drafting the measure and thereby imposed those beliefs on others who don’t share them.”

Feb. 24 — Victory at War and at Home: Civil Rights Activism in World War II. Dr. David Lucander, author of Winning the War for Democracy: The March on Washington Movement, 1941-1946 will discuss Black American activism during World War II with a focus on St. Louis.

St. Louis County Library Black History Celebration 2023

Celebrating

BLACK RESISTANCE

Visit www.slcl.org/black-history-celebration for a full listing of events.

Keynote Event

Friday, February 17, 7:00 p.m.

Ethical Society of Saint. Louis, 9001 Clayton Rd.

Civil Rights Leader Carlotta Walls LaNier

Author of “A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School”

Carlotta Walls LaNier’s engrossing memoir about being one of the “Little Rock Nine” is a testament not only to the power of a single person to make a difference but also to the sacrifices made by families and communities that found themselves a part of history.

Dr. Will Ross will receive the Frankie Freeman Inspirational Award during the program.

Highlighted Events to Injustice

Saturday, February 4, 2:00 p.m.

Lewis & Clark Branch, 9909 Lewis-Clark Blvd.

The Black Rep Presents “Turn-Up”

This performance tells a fun, humorous story about perseverance and the power of community.

Friday, February 10, 7:00 p.m.

Florissant Valley Branch, 195 New Florissant Rd. South Set the Night to Music

It’s back and better than ever! Enjoy the soulful sounds of The Black and White Band featuring Songbird.

Saturday, February 25, 1:00 p.m.

Florissant Valley Branch, 195 New Florissant Rd. South

Gift of Gospel

Enjoy the hand-clapping, inspirational and joyful gospel music of Shadrach Robinson, Mia Gully Calicutt and the Rest Outreach Ministry Youth. Pastor Shaun Williams will serve as the emcee.

Monday, February 27, 7:00 p.m.

Florissant Valley Branch, 195 New Florissant Rd. South

Bobby Bostic, “Time: Endless Moments in Prison” In Conversation with Pulitzer Prize-Winning St. Louis Post Dispatch Columnist Tony Messenger.

St. Louis Community College is committed to excellence in education

Artist Jacob Lawrence created a series of paintings depicting The Great Migration of Black people from the South to northern industrial cities including St. Louis. This image was used in a book called “The Great Migration.” A Feb. 11 event at the Missouri History Museum will include discussion of the early 20th century movement of African Americans north.

Florida Black clergy joining to stop attack on Black history

St. Louis American staff

Black religious leaders from Florida and throughout the nation will join Feb. 15-16, 2023, to “Stop the Black Attack” on African American history.

The USA TODAY Network in Florida is reporting that A Wednesday Feb. 15 rally will be held in Tallahassee in the state Capitol on the fourth floor rotunda that will be attended by national civil rights and faith leaders.

Another rally will be held the following day in response to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration rejection of a new Advanced Placement course on African American Studies.

“We urge my beloved governor of Florida and the Florida

Department of Education to not diminish, dismantle and destroy the teaching of Black studies and do more research about the power of diversity, equality and inclusion,” the Rev. R.B. Holmes Jr., pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee, said during a Monday gathering at his church.

“[Students should be] “learning about all people’s history, and not at the expense of erasing and eliminating Black studies.”

Rev. Dr. Joseph Wright, pastor of Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, said clergy members must decry rejection of the AP course and also other actions by DeSantis and Florida Republicans.

Tallahassee Commissioner

Grace abounds, is everywhere

By Preston T. Adams III

2 Corinthians 9:8: “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” Grace is defined by most dictionaries as “God’s unmerited favor.” It is God’s unconditional love and never-ending provision. The biblical defini-

Curtis Richardson called the actions “a culture war against

tion of grace is more expansive. Grace is: “The spontaneous, unmerited gift of the divine favor in the salvation of sinners.” It is: “The divine influence operating in individuals for their regeneration and sanctification.” Grace is: “God’s life, power and righteousness given to us by unmerited favor.”

Grace abounds in our everyday life. The word “abounds”

African Americans.”

“We’re here today to tell

means “to be present in large numbers or in great quantity or to be prevalent.” Humans experience grace in numerous ways from salvation to the daily provisions essential to our every need. Abounding grace is grace in overflow and abundance. It is God’s love and provision beyond our daily needs. In 2 Corinthians 9:8, the Apostle Paul provides the readers instruction on how God wants us to give. Paul begins in 2 Corinthians 9:1-2 instructing us to always be ready to give. In 2 Corinthians 9:3-5 Paul sends

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the governor we’re not going to stand by and just let these things happen to African Americans in our state,” Richardson said.

DeSantis’ actions also cost him an ally in Holmes, who was a longtime Republican. Holmes, who is now an independent, delivered the closing prayer at DeSantis’ first inau-

Guest Columnist

Dr. Preston T. Adams III

Titus and the others to pick up the collection. In 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, Paul reminds us of the reward of giving and how important it is to have the right heart in giving. Our giving should be bountiful if we expect to be rewarded bountifully. And 2 Corinthians 9:8-9 is adamant in its assertion that the right kind of giving is always blessed. God is able. God’s grace is sufficient in all things at all times. And God makes grace abound, in abundance, in every good work! Why is God’s grace powerful? Because we can trust the enabling power of God’s grace!

As one commentator notes: “It enables the recipient to do and to be what he or she cannot do and cannot be if left to his or her own means.” All of us need such an enabling power. Enabling grace also teaches us to be content. In fact, the word “sufficient” in the text means “contentment.” God’s abounding grace is so amazing that it gives us the ability to be content regardless of the situation we are facing. We are content because God will see us through! Grace abounds! God’s children are the perpetual recipients of this amazing grace. It is an eternal God-given grace which calls us to salvation, holds us up and heals us when we are

guration.

“We want to unify people, not divide people,” said Holmes, who dropped DeSantis after the governor’s handling of COVID-19 health guidance, including penalizing those who complied with mask mandates. Holmes said Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, clergy members and Black lawmakers and others are scheduled to speak. Chris A. Burney, Greater St. Mark Primitive Baptist Church pastor, offered “A special prayer for our governor, oh God, that you will give him a heart, oh God, that will have a heart for all people.”

sick, encourages us to never give up, empowers us to make it through all of life’s travesties and tragedies, and equips us to do the work that God calls us to do. We are blessed so that we can be a blessing to others. God wants us to be channels of blessing, not reservoirs of blessings. Grace abounds today. Grace abounds forever. Thank God for God’s abounding grace.

Preston T. Adams III is senior pastor at Amazing Grace Christian Church in Indianapolis

TECHNICAL SERVICES ANALYST

Responsible for analysis, design, and maintenance of reports for all lines of business utilizing available tools for report development. Assist, train and encourage personnel to utilize each business computer system and application optimally. Responsible for planning, organizing, documenting and training end users of all policy administration systems, custom applications, project enhancements, and continually aiding in the assessment and improvement of all system support.

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

PRODUCT MANAGER

Spectrum Brands is seeking a Product Manager Home & Garden and Pet Latin America in Earth City, MO. Identify customer needs and larger business objectives that a product or feature will fulfill, articulate what success looks like for a product, and rally a team to turn that vision into a reality. Travel up to 15% of time, including international travel to Latin America. Must be able to speak, read and write Spanish. Apply on-line at spectrumbrands.com/careers

www.stlamerican.com

VICE PRESIDENT – TREATY REINSURANCE CLAIMS

Responsible for handling assigned claims from initial assignment to closure as well as managing the Treaty Reinsurance (Treaty Re) Claims team.

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

ERM ANALYST I

Building knowledge of current and emerging ERM modeling principles and practices by successfully completing applicable exams or educational programs. Developing knowledge of generally accepted ERM modeling methods and new technologies or methodologies as they emerge.

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

FINANCIAL SYSTEMS ANALYST

Entry level professional position primarily responsible for providing technical systems support to help implement technical solutions that help Finance meet their annual goals. The role will partner with the core Finance team, which consist of General Leger, Billing, Accounts Receivable, Asset Management, Financial Reporting, and IFRS Accounting along with Information Systems department on development of technical solutions and support of existing systems.

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

PREMIUM AUDIT ASSISTANT

Entry level staff position responsible for providing administrative support for the Premium Audit unit’s operational functions. Performs routine tasks for primary and excess worker’s compensation including, but not limited to, ordering, status requests, and receiving both voluntary and physical audits.

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

SPECIALIST –CLAIMS – CLAIMS OPERATIONS

Responsible for various Claims Operations tasks related to claim duties and the processing of primary claim data. To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational. com/careers-page/

FINANCIAL REPORTING ACCOUNTANT

Responsible for timely completion of a variety of reports and schedules that support the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting process, including management reports, journal entries, tie-outs, reconciliations, and footnotes for Safety National and its subsidiaries.

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

INSURANCE UNDERWRITING COORDINATOR

Responsible for handling the various administrative tasks associated with management level assistance and Underwriter support.

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

CITY CLERK/ ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: CITY OF MAPLEWOOD

The City of Maplewood is seeking a City Clerk/ Administrative Assistant. Salary is $56,000-72,000 DOQ. Job description is available at www.cityofmaplewood.com/ jobs. First review of applications on February 24, 2023. Email cover letter and resume to Michael Reese m-reese@cityofmaplewood. com

CITY OF JENNINGS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

The City of Jennings is accepting applications for the following positions: Deputy City Clerk; Finance Director; Administrative Assistant I; Administrative Assistant II; Fleet Maintenance/Mechanic; Correctional Officers; Court Clerk, Public Works Laborer; P/T Accounting Clerk; P/T Assistant to the City Clerk; P/T Public Works Laborers; P/T Code Enforcement Officer; P/T Site Monitor. Please see the full job descriptions online at www.cityofjennings.org. Applications are available at the Jennings City Hall or on the website at www.cityofjennings.org

The City of Jennings is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Deaconess Foundation will sponsor a network of Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools® programs this summer. The six-week program provides summer enrichment for children and families.

The Site Coordinator manages the day-to-day operations and serves as the supervisor for one CDF Freedom Schools program site. The Site Coordinator should be capable of leading an intergenerational staff. The Site Coordinator should be committed to the goals of the program, able to work collaboratively with all program constituents and be familiar with the culture and dynamics of the community.

Starting salary range is $23.00 to $26.00 per hour.

To apply for this position, upload resume and references, all as one document, at: https://deaconess.org/joinus

INVITATION TO BID

ST. LOUIS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION REQUEST FOR STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS ENGINEERING SERVICES

Issued February 1, 2023

Responses due February 27, 2023

This RFQ and required Response Form is available online at https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/ procurement.cfm

St. Louis Development Corporation is seeking Statements of Qualifications from engineering firms for the purpose of establishing a “short-list” of prequalified firms from which it and its constituent agencies may secure professional services as needed. The “short-list” is expected to include firms who are qualified in one or more of these disciplines: civil engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, marine engineering, and land surveying.

For more information, contact: Peter Phillips, at phillipsp@stlouis-mo.gov

The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) allocated to SLDC, passed through the St. Louis City Community Development Administration, may provide funding for certain projects. SLDC is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity.

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for CONTRACT NO. A22-0345-KWA, Letter Of Intent To Bid with Qualification Documents for new building at St Louis Community College Wildwood Campus. Closing at St Louis Community College Engineering and Design 5464 Highland Park Drive, St Louis MO 63110 , until 2:00 p.m. local time Tuesday February 14, 2023. Document available in Bonfire at https://stlcc.bonfirehub.com

Questions regarding the scope of work should be directed to Ernie Keller, ekeller@kwamebuildinggroup.com

The College has the proposed minority goals MBE 15% and WBE 12% The College also proposes the general contractor and there subcontractors employ apprentices in each of the building trades involved in this project.

Individuals with special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act may contact: 314-644-9039

REQUEST FOR BIDS

The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the County of St. Louis (“LCRA”) solicits bids from firms to demolish certain residential structures in Wellston, Missouri. The work generally consists of asbestos surveys for all structures, abatement of asbestos containing material as needed, demolition of structures, removal of demolition debris, site clearing, and grading. This activity is funded in whole or in part with Community Development Block Grant funds pursuant to Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended. All applicable federal regulations are in full force and effect. A MBE-participation goal of 20% will apply to this project.

Be advised that contracts over $200,000 trigger Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968. Section 3 requires that economic opportunities generated by the expenditure of HUD funds be directed, to the greatest extent feasible, to low- and moderate-income persons via contracting, employment and training. All contractors and subcontractors working on this project will need to demonstrate compliance with Section 3 numeric targets and other applicable provisions. In cases where Section 3 compliance is not achieved, contractors and subcontractors must document good-faith efforts to comply.

LCRA will accept sealed bids for the work until Friday, February 24, 2023, at 3:00 PM, at which time all bids will be opened and read publicly via Zoom. Bid documents and bid opening details are available at www. stlpartnership.com. Electronic proposals and questions should be sent to ecastillo@stlpartnership.com

St. Louis Economic Development Partnership Equal Opportunity Employer

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.

PUBLIC NOTICE

The City of Vinita Park is accepting proposals for Police Department Towing Services RFP’s can be obtained at City Hall 8374 Midland Boulevard Vinita Park, MO 63114 M-F, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. or email at cityclerk@vinitapark.org Proposals will be accepted until 4:00 p.m., Monday, February 20, 2023. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids and or combination thereof, and to waive any minor irregularities.

Brent Bury, City Clerk

INVITATION TO BID

PATTONVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT PARKWOOD AND HOLMAN SCHOOLS

Sealed bids will be received by the Construction Manager, S. M. Wilson & Co. at S. M. Wilson’s Main Office, 2185 Hampton Ave. St. Louis, MO 63139, until 3:00 p.m local time on February 16, 2023 for the Projects and Bid Packages described herein for the Pattonville School District. Bids MUST be sealed and hand delivered to the above address no later than the date and time noted.

Pattonville Virtual Pre-bid information below: Tuesday, February 7 · 3:00 – 4:00pm Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/bvy-rywo-ipa Or dial: ‪(US) +1 828-513-0178‬ PIN: ‪399 665 997‬# More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/bvy-rywo-ipa?pin=6588808863925

Pattonville School District Bid Package 2 - Parkwood Elementary Addition & Renovation and Holman Middle School Addition & Renovation

Bidders are not allowed to visit the site unless prior arrangements are made with the Construction Manager.

The bid documents will be available for viewing after January 27, 2023 at BuildingConnected.com. (https://app.buildingconnected.com/public/5913928fce945d0a00d28943)

You can view the project by logging into the BuildingConnected site by setting up a free account on their Website.

The Construction Manager for this project is S. M. Wilson & Co. and the main contact is Mr. Colonel Swiney, Project Manager, 314-633-5792, colonel.swiney@smwilson.com This is a prevailing wage project.

S. M. Wilson & Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Pattonville School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer

SEALED BIDS

Bids for O190301 Repair Parking Deck Joseph P. Teasdale State Office Building Raytown, MO, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, February 2, 2023. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Head Start/ Early Head Start is posting this bid request for food service management companies wishing to provide breakfast, lunch, and afternoon (PM) snacks for approximately 895 children ages 0-5 and 145 adults. Meals must comply with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal patterns. The contract period will cover April 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024.

Written bids must be received by 2:00 p.m. on February 8, 2023, at Urban League Jennings Head Start Center, 8964 Jennings Station Road, St. Louis, MO 63136. Bids must be sealed and marked “Food Service BID” on the sealed envelope. Appointments will be scheduled with each bidder on February 16, 2023, at the Urban League Jennings Head Start Center. Each bid will be opened, read, and recorded at that time. Bids received before opening will be securely kept and unopened until the appointed time.

Bid forms and specifications may be obtained by calling Erin Weekes at 314-295-2353.

INVITATION TO BID

The Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit is currently soliciting bid proposals for Annual Inspection, Repairs and Monitoring services. The request for proposal is available on the Court’s website www.stlcitycircuitcourt.com Click on General Information, Then Request for Proposals. A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on March 7, 2023 at 9:30 a.m., at the Carnahan Courthouse, Room 308, located at 1114 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63101. EOE

INVITATION TO BID

FERGUSON-FLORISSANT SCHOOL DISTRICT GREASE TRAP REPLACEMENT (10 LOCATIONS)

Sealed bids for District wide grease trap replacement are being requested from the Ferguson Florissant School District and will be received and publicly opened on Friday, February 24th, 2023 @ 1:00pm CST at the Operation and Maintenance dept. located at 8855 Dunn Rd. (REAR) Hazelwood, MO 63042. Pre bid meeting Thursday, February 16th, 2023 @ 8:00am @ Wedgwood 6th grade ctr @ 14275 New Halls Ferry Rd. Florissant, MO 63033. Bid specs must be obtained at http:// new.fergflor.k12.mo.us/ facilities-rfq. Contact Matt Furfaro @ mfurfaro@fergflor.org for further information/questions.

INVITATION TO BID

FERGUSON-FLORISSANT SCHOOL DISTRICT DISTRICT WIDE GREASE TRAP CLEANING SERVICE

Sealed bids for District wide grease trap cleaning are being requested from the Ferguson Florissant School District and will be received and publicly opened on Friday, February 10th, 2023 @ 1:30pm CST at the Operation and Maintenance dept. located at 8855 Dunn Rd. (REAR) Hazelwood, MO 63042. Bid specs must be obtained at http://new.fergflor.k12.mo.us/ facilities-rfq. Contact Matt Furfaro @ mfurfaro@fergflor.org for further information/questions.

St. LouiS american Bids &

CITY OF ST. LOUIS BOARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT ENHANCEMENTS, PHASE 5, DELMAR: DEBALIVIERE TO VANDEVENTER, CMAQ9901(690) Statements of Qualifications due by 5:00 PM CT, February 9, 2023 through the Bid Express online portal at https://www. bidexpress.com/businesses/20618/ home?agency=true RFQ may be obtained from BPS website https:// www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/ departments/public-service/, under BPS RFQ and RFP Announcement, or email Board of Public Service at bryanth@stlouis-mo.gov. 16% DBE participation goals.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Altman-Charter Company requests subcontractor/supplier proposals for Winstanley Park (Sinai Village Phase III). This project consists of 6 New 2-Story Apartment Buildings/Townhomes and the Renovation of an Existing 2-Story Building. There are a total of 38 units, and the project is located in East St. Louis, IL. Proposals are due at the office of Altman-Charter Company, 315 Consort Dr., St. Louis, MO 63011 on or before Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at 3:00 PM (CT). Qualified Minority, Section 3, and Women owned businesses are encouraged to submit proposals. Plans can be viewed at FW Dodge, Construct Connect, SIBA, MOKAN, Cross Rhodes Reprographics, and the Altman-Charter plan room in St. Louis. Bidders should contact Greg Mehrmann at gregm@altman-charter.com or Jon Press at jpress@altman-charter. com with any questions. All bids should be sent to bids@altman-charter.com. Our telephone # is (636) 207-8670, and our fax # is (636) 207-8671.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL: SSD

102-23: LITZSINGER SCHOOL –PARTIAL ROOF REPLACEMENT AND SSD 103-23: ACKERMAN SCHOOL – PARTIAL ROOF REPLACEMENT.

Due to unexpected District closure on January 30, 2023 there is a new date for the walk through and bid opening for SSD 102-23 and SSD 103-23: Project Manual and drawings will be available through RMT Roofing and Waterproofing consultants at the mandatory pre-proposal conference and walk thru. All vendors interested in participating in the proposal process are required to attend the mandatory pre-proposal conference at 10:00 AM on February 9, 2023. The pre-bid conference will commence at Ackerman School (1550 Derhake Road, Florissant, MO 63033) and proceed to Litzsinger School (10094 Litzsinger Road, St. Louis, MO 63124). ONLY attendees of this meeting will receive any correspondence or communication after that date.

A $50.00 refundable deposit check made out to Special School District will be required for copies of plans and drawings, refunded upon return of the project manual to RMT.

Bids are due at 2:00 pm on February 23, 2023, at Special School District Purchasing Department, 12110 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63131.

INVITATION TO BID

PARIC Corporation is requesting bids for the:

MU NEXTGEN PRECISION HEALTH BUILDING –LEVEL 4 SHELL SPACE FITOUT

The project consists of:

Project consists of the 4th Level Fitout of the Lab Bar and Innovation Tower in the existing Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health Building (NGPH).

Documents: https://securecc.smartinsight.co/#/ PublicBidProject/685931

Bids are being requested for the following: Proposals are due on March 1st at 10:00AM by email to Mskalski@paric.com or bids@paric.com. We as that Subcontractor’s S.O.W due prior on February 28th. PARIC’s proposal is due to the Owner by March 3rd.

A pre-bid meeting will be held at 2:30 p.m., C.T., February 16, 2023 in the General Services Bldg., Room 194A, followed by a site walk-through. A Diversity Participation Goal of 10% MBE, 10% Combined WBE, DBE, Veteran Owned Business and 3% SDVE has been established for this contract.

This Project is Prevailing Wage

This Project is Tax Exempt

All requests and questions will be received until February 20th. After that time, no requests for clarifications or questions will be accepted. No questions or requests are to be made directly to the Architect, Engineer or the Owner.

All questions regarding this Invitation to Bid shall be directed to: Michael Skalski (Mskalski@paric.com)

Bids shall be delivered to (Bids@paric.com) or (Mskalski@paric.com)

PARIC CORPORATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

BIG CAT COUNTRY REPLACEMENT SHADE PANELS

RFP 2023

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks bids from qualified firms to submit proposals for Big Cat Country Replacement Shade Panels RFP 2023. Bid documents are available as of 2/1/23 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for the CRS RehabilitationSappington Acres No. 2 & Tara project, St. Louis County Project No. CR-1885, 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 8, 2023

Plans and specifications will be available on January 30, 2023 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouiscountymo. gov) or by contacting Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies, 2731 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118 (314) 678-0087.

DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ST. LOUIS, COUNTY

PULL TAB, DISPENSERS AND RELATED SERVICES

The Missouri Lottery is accepting bids for the purpose of establishing a contract for Pull Tabs, Dispensers and Related Services. The bid document with the specifications can be obtained by going to https://www.molottery.com/ bid-opportunities or by contacting Melissa Blankenship at melissa. blankenship@molottery.com or 573-751-4050.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for the 2021 ARS Improvement Program, Area A, St. Louis County Project No. AR-1817, 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 February 22, 2023. Plans and specifications will be available on January 16, 2023, from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouiscountymo.gov) or by contacting Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies, 2731 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118 (314) 678-0087. DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ST. LOUIS, COUNTY

LEADERSHIP

DEVELOPMENT, NEW MANAGER 360 & COACHING RFP 2023

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks bids from qualified firms to submit proposals for Leadership Development, New Manager 360 & Coaching RFP 2023. Bid documents are available as of 2/1/23 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for the Airport Road Resurfacing project, St. Louis County Project No. AR-1692, Federal Project No. STP-5595(617) 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 8, 2023

Plans and specifications will be available on January 30, 2023 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouiscountymo. gov) or by contacting Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies, 2731 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118 (314) 678-0087.

DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ST. LOUIS, COUNTY

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Great Rivers Greenway is requesting qualifications for Electrical Vehicle Infrastructure Feasibility Study. Go to www.greatriversgreenway.org/ jobs-bids and submit by February 10, 2023.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

The Missouri Historical Society is seeking a Contractor to provide daily café or coffee shop services at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. To receive a copy of the RFP email Tami at tgold@mohistory.org or call 314 454-3137. Proposals are due to MHS on February 20, 2023.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Paric Corporation is seeking proposals for the following project: BROWN & CROUPPEN located at 4914 Daggett Ave.

PARIC Corporation is soliciting bids for BROWN & CROUPPEN located on 4914 Daggett Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110. The project consists of 46,600 SF tenant build out of an existing building. Access to documents is available from our SmartBid link. If you do not receive a bid invitation, please send your company information to tlalexaner@paric.com

BIDS WILL BE DUE ON MARCH 1st, 2023 at 2:00 PM. Send all questions to Kory Kostecki (kKostecki@paric. com).

Goals for Construction Business Enterprise:

• 21% African American

• 11% Women

• 0.5% Asian American

• 0.5% Native American

• 2% Hispanic American

All bids should be delivered to Paric via e-mail (bids@paric.com) or fax (636-561-9501).

PARIC CORPORATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

ROOMS FOR RENT

$400-$440/mo Utilities, Cable, Internet Included, Near Busline 314-327-3042

we had a good view of his comings and goings and all of the respectful and giddy attention he generated).

“Cahokia is important,” the man said, as he bowed and leaned in to shake the composer’s hand, “and it’s important that you composed music in honor of it.”

Were three people not waiting their turn to greet the composer, I am certain that the man would have added: And it’s important that SLSO commissioned, supported and recorded the composition. It has the potential to become a repertory piece for orchestras programming around American Indian culture or African American composers.

I am in awe of how Deneve programmed the Bernstein serenade to follow this world premiere, given that he could not have heard or even read the completed score of “Visions of Cahokia” when SLSO announced their 2022-2023 season. “Serenade after Plato’s Symposium” has a mixture of philosophic intensity and definitive percussion very similar to “Visions of Cahokia,” while also providing contrasts that reveal nuances to both pieces. Whereas Lee underplayed a mammoth orchestra, Bernstein dismissed the woodwind and brass sections altogether and put the strings and percussion through just about every change imaginable. Without winds or brass, we could hear their sonorities in the strings, and the brighter percussive instruments – such as, again, those tubular chimes – sang more distinctly without competition from the brass. Finally, Bernstein wrote a

virtuosic solo violin part that guest soloist James Ehnes made utterly his own, whereas Lee wrote for the ensemble. That solo violin part, which winds its way through nearly every bar of the score, moves from plaintive screech (mind you, that’s a good thing) to a lush, swooning romanticism that had the 50-something couple in front of us literally pawing all over each other. They served as a good reminder that the symphony is still the hottest date night in St. Louis. Bernstein also wrote a solo cello feature as intense and sweet as anything in the lead violin part. Principal cello Daniel Lee took it and filled Powell Hall with his four strings. The cello feature comes in the final section, which is named for two beloved peers, Socrates and Alcibiades. Ehnes and Lee made for a worthy Socrates and Alcibiades in the final moments of the serenade.

Fittingly, they were the first two musicians Deneve asked to stand at the end of the performance, and when Deneve was finished showing off principal double bass Erik Harris and the entire six-person percussion section, Ehnes crossed the conductor’s stand to recognize Daniel Lee personally.

Deneve’s genius for programming culminated with his finishing this program with Jean Sibelius’ “Symphony No. 2 in D major.” If Bernstein’s serenade shows how much strings can do when isolated from woodwinds and brass, Sibelius shows how much strings can do, period. Full stop. From the first moments of the symphony, SLSO showed how Sibelius has the hugest violin section sound in the business. At moments, every string player bowed in accord, swaying side to side like the orchestra was a see-saw.

Deneve was entirely in his element. On Bernstein, he conducted like a mesmerist, with his hands shaping every note. Conducting the Sibelius, he combed his curly mane, massaged the orchestra with both hands, and held his left hand aloft for an oddly long time, as if to show that this is a symphony he could conduct with one hand tied behind his back.

Then, again, with the expressive contrasts. After Bernstein had filled our ears with percussion, Sibelius scored for only one timpani, though he really put it to work. There were slow rolls for what seemed like minutes at a time, followed by fast roles leading to a dead stop – and, on this night, this orchestra was as crisp getting in and out of compositions and movements as I have ever heard them.

Pro tip: The finale of Sibelius’ second has the most beautiful melody I have ever heard in classical music that has not been exploited by a pop music songwriter. Paul McCartney, Eric Carmen, Lana Del Ray – what are you guys waiting for? There is a smash hit lurking here.

That finale also made me helplessly think of every dramatic swelling in every soundtrack to every romantic movie ever made as the movie is building to its heart-stopping climax. At 43 minutes and (I believe) in the public domain, Sibelius’ second symphony would make a beautiful score for a romantic silent film yet to be made. I was making that film in my head as I noticed that couple in front of us getting more and more intimate. They kept it clean – they did not embarrass themselves –they were simply playing along with the band in the same key.

Abbott

Continued from C1

they’re clothed if they need [clothes].

“And that’s the seriousness of the issue, but we do it in a comedic way and, hopefully, we’re bringing a lot of joy to people as we do it.”

As the show’s successful first season was nearing its close last March, Davis told the St. Louis American’s Kenya Vaughn ““[Teachers] do a hard job – sometimes an impossible job – but they make do, especially African American teachers,” Davis said.

“A lot of them have been through what those kids are going through.”

Davis said the janitor he portrays has the students’ best interest at heart despite his quirks.

[Mr. Johnson} wants to make sure things are running smoothly,” he said.

“To the best that he can, Mr. Johnson is trying to make sure that the kids have what they

Oscars

Continued from C1

of late T’Challa, the late king of Wakanda. The role garnered a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actress. She also is nominated for a BAFTA, Britain’s version of the Academy Awards, in that category.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” received four other Oscar nominations: Best Costume Design, Best Original Song, Best Makeup and Hair Styling, and Best Visual Effects.

Shanita Hubbard, a freelance writer and author who has been published in The New York Times and Essence posted on Twitter, “Wait. No nominations for the Woman King?? It’s not surprising but DAMN that’s a glaring snub. We don’t have to guess why this happened tho. Smh. #Oscars2023.”

“This isn’t some missed opportunity for diversity, nor is it an oversight — it is a reflection of our country at large. We live in a world where marginalized people have to fight to keep our literature and history from being banned and erased.”

In an email to MSN Business Insider, Samantha Sheppard, an associate professor of perform-

need as they walk the halls.”

Davis is a graduate of Northwest High School and was enticed by acting while attending Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo.

“I wanted to join [an acting troupe], but I was just too chicken [expletive] to try out,” Davis said. “They did ‘Purlie Victorious,’ – they did all these plays that I knew and wanted to do – but I would say, ‘man, these guys are good.’”

He was working at a country radio station in Texas when he moved to Hollywood to pursue an acting career. A bad omen did not change his mind.

“My car caught on fire the second I got to Los Angeles, but I didn’t turn back,” he said.

He went on to land roles in “Snowpiercer,” “Ray Donovan” and the HBO limited series “Perry Mason.”

As for Golden Globe winner Williams, Davis said, “he reminds me of myself when I was young.”

Along with the awards and recognition, Abbott Elementary has also been renewed for a third season.

In a Houston Defender

ing arts and media at Cornell University, said the snubs show a devaluation of Black women’s stories and storytellers.

“Gina Prince-Bythewood is one of the best directors working today. She, Davis, and the film have been recognized and nominated throughout this award season,” she wrote.

“For the Academy to snub her directorial work and the category to be so blindingly male continues to show the chasm between excellence and recognition,” she concluded.

“Nope,” a science fiction horror film that won raves at film festivals and from many critics directed by Oscar winner Jordan Peele, garnered no nominations. The film stars Keke Palmer, Daniel Kaluuya and Brandon Perea.

Brian Tyree Henry [Causeway] is nominated for Best Supporting Actor and “joins the race for stealing scenes from Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence as a fellow PTSD sufferer nursing physical and psychological wounds,” wrote “Good Morning America” film critic Peter Travers. Travers calls Henry “the real deal.” Bassett and Henry recently appeared on “The Late, Late Show” with James Corden, and she praised the young actor.

commentary, writer Laura Onyeneho says “Abbott Elementary is a comedy that addresses serious concerns.

“As Black History continues to be under attack in public schools nationwide, it is difficult to ignore the plight of Black educators. Not only are they constantly under pressure to do their jobs, they also have to do them while trying to keep a positive attitude and elevating the future generation,” she wrote.

“Unfortunately, educators aren’t paid their worth and rarely get the respect they deserve outside of the classroom.”

On television, teachers are usually portrayed as devoted and valuable members of society who work hard to inspire and encourage students. Yet, there still continues to be a gap in representation.

According to a report from the Center for Black Educators, 15% of U.S public school students identify as Black, while Black teachers only account for 7% of public school educators nationwide.

“I appreciate the work that you do and I hope to be lucky one day to work with you. Your vulnerability and sensitivity and strength and you’re just a badass,” she told a national TV audience.

Rihanna is nominated for Best Original Song for “Lift Me Up” featured in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”

“The energy around the show should feel like a massive celebration of cinema and the awards — our legacy, our artists, our movies, our future,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer said in a statement that did not address the controversy.

“The 95th gives us a great opportunity to knit together the incredible legacy of the Oscars, the diverse and powerful work we do across the Academy, and our vision for the future.” Jimmy Kimmel returns, making this his third time as the award’s master of ceremonies. He also hosted in 2017 and 2018.

The 95th Oscars will be televised live on ABC, March 12, from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

NBC News, Business Insider, and ABC contributed to this report.