January 12th, 2017 Edition

Jamilah Nasheed endorses Tishaura Jones for St. Louis mayor

‘We will have to turn out in record numbers’ on March 7, state senator says

By Chris King Of The St. Louis American

State Senator Jamilah Nasheed – the city’s most senior and powerful elected official in state government – has endorsed Tishaura O. Jones for St. Louis mayor in the March 7 Democratic primary election. “The candidate I plan to work to have our community

U.S.

SLPS earns full accredited status

Superintendent Adams: ‘we still have a lot of work to do’

By Rebecca Rivas

Louis American

Of The St.

Nine years, nine months and 19 days ago, Saint Louis Public Schools lost its accreditation status. The elected school board was stripped of its authority and replaced by a three-member Special Administrative Board (SAB). Dr. William Danforth told those three members that it would take at least 10 years before the district would see real change and improvement.

“I couldn’t even fathom being in this role for 10 years,” Richard Sullivan, head of the SAB, said at a press conference on Tuesday, January 10. “While those words ring in my ears, I’m pretty proud and happy of the

SLPS, A7

unite around is Tishaura Jones,” Nasheed said in a statement.

“I have known Tishaura since we were colleagues in the Missouri Legislature more than six years ago. She has always, like me, been her own person. And also like me, she has always been unbought and unbossed See NASHEED, A6

Power of mentors

Jarvis Brown listened

to leaders – and is one himself now in the U.S. Air Force

By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American

As an incoming freshman at Gateway High School, Jarvis Brown joined the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. Although

Brown said. “I guess every leader would say that it is hard to lead people, especially when you don’t have that structure.”

The civilian world is more relaxed, he said, and they are not particularly obligated to listen to you.

New standards for muni police rejected

Appeals court says policing standards not covered in state law on public health

By Rachel Lippmann Of St. Louis Public Radio

A three-judge panel of the Missouri Court of Appeals has ruled that the St. Louis County Council overstepped its boundaries when it tried to impose certain minimum standards on the 50 or so municipal police departments in the county’s borders.

The County Council approved those standards in December 2015 over fierce objections from municipal leaders. Departments would have

See POLICE, A7

The

Air Force Academy’s Class of 2016 consisted of 812 cadets who graduated on June 2, 2016 at Falcon Stadium in Colorado – including Jarvis Brown, front.

Tishaura Jones

huddled with Jamilah Nasheed during a Democratic National Committee meeting held at St. Louis Union Station in August 2010, when both were Missouri state representatives. Nasheed has now endorsed Jones for St. Louis mayor.

Photo by Wiley Price

Mike Jones, a member of the State Board of Education, spoke with Kelvin Adams, superintendent of Saint Louis Public Schools, at a press conference to discuss the district’s return to full state accreditation status on Tuesday, January 10.

Photo by Wiley Price

Photo by U.S. Air Force/Liz Copan

Bobby Brown shuts down health crisis claims

Last week, there were rumors that R&B singer Bobby Brown had almost died after suffering a terrifying medical emergency.

Brown says that not a bit of the claims had any merit.

“People make up a lot of different stories about me,” Brown told PEOPLE at the Boston premiere of “The New Edition Story.” “But, as you can see, I’m fine, and handsome, and healthy. Look at me. I’m as happy as a lark.

Jenifer Lewis puts fraudulent ex-boo on blast

actress and St. Louis native

on Tuesday

the

of $50,000 and duped other investors out of $4 million.

“On September 11, 2015, only hours before my mother passed away, I learned that the man I planned to build a life with was a convicted felon and con artist whose criminal career spans more than 25 years, with a special skill in swindling women,” she wrote on Instagram.

“This man, whose name is Tony Wilson had been sentenced in 2010 to four years in federal prison for conning investors out of $4 million and was currently out on parole. I learned also that his name wasn’t Tony Wilson — it was Brice Carrington,” she explained. Lewis said that upon further investigation, she discovered more about his alleged criminal enterprise.

“By searching online, I learned that Tony Wilson is a convicted felon and con artist. By searching online, I learned that Wilson, as Brice Carrington, had falsely claimed to be a three-time ‘Oscar winner’ in sound design and had paid a jeweler to create fake Academy Award Oscar statues to lure unsuspecting investors for his sound effects business,” she added.

“Unfortunately, I learned the truth about Tony Wilson only after he conned me into investing

more than $50,000 into the exact same sound effects business for which he had plead guilty, for which he had served time, and for which he was currently on parole.”

The actress says she has filed a lawsuit against her ex-boyfriend, as well as his employer, LA Fitness, where she says Wilson still works despite the fact that she made LA Fitness aware of the situation.

“I have worked hard and now feel emotionally capable to take the final step in my healing, which is to protect others,” she wrote.

Drug test may relocate Chris Brown vs. Soulja Boy boxing match to Dubai

Chris Brown and agreed to a celebrity boxing match to settle their ongoing online beef, but the pair’s recreational activities have reportedly create a wrinkle in the fight that’s supposed to go down in Vegas this spring.

Several outlets are reporting that promoter Floyd Mayweather is exploring options to put the fight on in Dubai in order to skirt drug test rules for American fighters. In related news, Floyd Mayweather is getting Soulja Boy in fighting shape – and the

rapper took a few jabs at Chris Brown’s trainer Mike Tyson on Twitter.

“What the [expletive] is Mike Tyson gonna teach Chris Brown, how to bite my ear off? The Money Team never lost [sic].”

Tyson fired back on Instagram.

“Soulja Boy, what the [expletive] you talkin’ about Tyson said in a video posted on his account. “I’m going to teach him every dirty trick in the book on how to knock you out. And I’m not gonna teach him how to run.”’

Landscapers slap

Sheree Whitfield with $10K lawsuit

Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Sheree Whitfield is said to be getting sued by contractors over unpaid bills.

According to popular celebrity news and gossip blog Straight from the A, Whitfield was hit with a $10K lawsuit claiming she’s refusing to pay Heritage Landscape Group of Flowery Branch for landscaping work and assistance with obtaining her certificate of occupancy.

Heritage claims after paying less than half the amount owed Whitfield first admitted she didn’t have any money but later claimed she was unsatisfied with the work. The case is reportedly pending.

Sources: Twitter, Instagram, Eurweb.com, PEOPLE.com

Acclaimed

Bobby Brown

Jennifer Lewis

Missouri attorney general will prosecute Clemons case

By Rachel Lippmann

Of St. Louis Public Radio

Missouri’s attorney general will be taking over the retrials of Reginald Clemons.

St. Louis Circuit Judge Rex Burlison granted the request of circuit attorney Jennifer Joyce late Thursday evening, agreeing that the turnover that happens after an election had left her office understaffed and unable to prosecute the case.

“The court has been made aware of personnel and staffing issues that will have a direct effect on the ability of the Circuit Attorney’s Office to comply with the [Missouri] Supreme Court’s directive that the murder case be prosecuted expeditiously,” Burlison wrote in his order. “These issues will also affect the ability of the Circuit Attorney’s Office to timely prosecute the rape and robbery case, and to comply with the defendant’s request for the prompt disposition of such charges.” Clemons is facing the death penalty for the 1991 murder of sisters Julie and Robin Kerry, who were pushed from the Chain of Rocks Bridge. His earlier conviction was thrown out because of prosecutorial misconduct. Clemons is also facing rape and robbery charges connected to the Kerry sisters’ death - the attorney general’s office will handle that case as well.

Attorneys for Clemons opposed Joyce’s request,

Racism has no place on school boards

By Marc H. Morial Guest columnist

The national wave of racist, vicious invective unleashed by the 2016 presidential campaign is well-documented. Hundreds of hate crimes have been reported to watchdog groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center. Social media is awash in cellphone video of racially motivated confrontations invoking the name of the president-elect.

But the recent hateful tirade of failed New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino stands out among the others. Warning: his words are dificult to read.

When the Buffalo weekly newspaper Artvoice asked locals their hopes for 2017, many gave positive, community-minded answers: “A return to shopping in communities and brick-and-mortar stores,” “the Bills get in the playoffs,” or “more kindness.”

Carl Paladino hopes President “Obama catches mad cow disease after being caught having relations with a Hereford. He dies before his trial and is buried in a cow pasture next to Valerie Jarret, who died weeks prior, after being convicted of sedition and treason, when a Jihady cell mate mistook her for being a nice person and decapitated her.”

What do Buffalonians want to see go away in 2017? “Hate.” “Discrimination.” “Preconceived stereotypes.”

Carl Palidino wants to see Michelle Obama “return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe where she lives comfortably in a cave with Maxie, the gorilla.”

arguing that special prosecutors could be appointed only in limited circumstances.

“To take the circuit attorney responsible for deciding to prosecute the case off the case flies in the face of the integrity of the judicial system,” public defender Charles Moreland told Burlison during a hearing on the special prosecutor request on December 28. “The claim of resources is a farce.” Moreland’s co-counsel, Heather Vodnansky, also found it ironic that prosecutors were claiming a lack of resources, given the welldocumented concerns of public defenders about their caseloads. Joyce, who did not run for a fifth term, left office January 1. She was replaced by Kimberly Gardner.

“If the circuit attorney-elect has different feelings about the case, it will no longer be her decision,” Vodnansky told Burlison. “I don’t know if she will be favorable to my client, but they are taking large moves to silence her.”

“For them to do a preemptive strike seems to undermine even the role of the prosecuting attorney,” said Jamala Rogers with the Justice for Reggie Campaign. “Whenever there’s an election of a new prosecuting attorney, there’s turnover in that office and it has never resulted in major cases being turned over.”

Rachel Smith, one of Joyce’s top prosecutors, said Gardner did not express any concerns about having a special prosecutor take over. Gardner

did not respond to a request for comment.

In addition to a new circuit attorney, there will be a new attorney general, Republican Josh Hawley. Joyce’s office wrote in her initial request for a special prosecutor that the attorney general’s staff “do not object to the Court’s appointment of them as special prosecutor ... and will obey any court’s order.”

Hawley’s transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether that statement was true for the incoming administration.

Follow Rachel on Twitter: @ rlippmann.

Reprinted with permission from news.stlpublicradio.org.

In response to the horriied national outcry over his reprehensible remarks, Paladino irst rebuffed inquiring journalists with an obscenity, then penned a deiant non-apology, defending his words as “deprecating humor.”

Paladino is certainly no stranger to this brand of so-called “humor.” During his failed 2010 gubernatorial run, a local news site exposed racist and pornographic emails Paladino had shared with associates. While he lost the election in a landslide, garnering only one-third of the vote, he managed to be elected to the Buffalo School Board in 2013.

The Buffalo school board is to be commended for its swift rejection of Paladino’s hateful statements, and its recognition that a man who holds such views cannot be entrusted with the education of children. If Paladino does not heed the demands of the board and resign, we expect NYS Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia to pursue his removal.

The president and CEO of our afiliate in Buffalo, Brenda W. McDufie, has been outspoken on this issue, and we urge the entire Urban League community to unite in opposition to Paladino’s hatefulness by signing the petition urging his removal.

In fairness, when ArtVoice asked Investigative Post editor Jim Heaney what he’d like to see go away in 2017, Heaney responded, “Carl Paladino.” We couldn’t agree more.

Marc H. Morial is president and CEO of the National Urban League.

Pool photo provided by Post-Dispatch

Missouri Assistant Attorney General Susan Boresi shows Reginald Clemons the flashlight that tied Clemons and his codefendants to the crime scene of the Chain of Rock Bridge rapes and murders when Clemons took the stand during the evidentiary hearing that the Missouri Supreme Court ordered in his case on September 19, 2012.

Guest Columnist

Marc H. Morial

Congratulations – and advice –for Circuit Attorney Gardner

Kimberly Gardner was sworn in as St. Louis circuit attorney on Friday, January 6, making history as the first African American to serve as the city’s chief prosecutor, the official who decides which cases to take to trial and what sentences to seek. She brings to this critical position – in a city that experienced an unconscionable 188 homicides in each of the past two years – a unique and unprecedented perspective, as she described in a campaign interview with The American before the August primary, a competitive four-way race that she won by nearly 10,000 votes.

“My family’s 70-year North St. Louis funeral home business exposed me to the devastation that violent crime delivers to many of our city’s families,” Gardner told our readers. “My experience as an assistant circuit attorney for the City of St. Louis gave me insight into the complexities that hinder us from creating safer communities. My background as a licensed nurse has exposed me to many of the health-related causes and consequences of persistent crime in our neighborhoods. Through my service as a state representative for residents of the 77th House District, I have gained a deeper understanding of the required legislative skill and political awareness necessary to change laws that we seek to enforce. I have also spent most of my life in North St. Louis, where the vast majority of crime and victims are located.” It is easy to see why voters gave such overwhelming support to someone with such a broad range of experiences that enable her to see both the deep roots and the direct effects of the violent crime that remains our city’s most immediately pressing problem.

“As a community, we have a lot of challenges and opportunities to address the criminal justice system,” Gardner told the crowd of more than a hundred supporters at the Old Courthouse in downtown

after she was sworn in. “The team at the circuit attorney’s office and I are ready and eager to take on this work for the community.” These remarks reflect a critical awareness of two groups that she will need on her side if she is to succeed. She will need the community – both as witnesses willing to testify and jurors committed to serve honorably – and the office’s team of prosecutors and investigators. It will be important for her to remember how critical relevant trial experience is to prosecute the most violent crimes. And, no matter how high-minded her motives are going into the job, the reality of the office involves grinding through a neverending stream of cases, with our public safety dependent upon effective prosecutors.

To this end, whatever Gardner thinks of the leadership of her predecessor, Jennifer Joyce (who did not seek reelection), Joyce alone has hired, promoted and fired prosecutors in the city since 2001. If Gardner does not keep, trust and depend upon some of the prosecutors who gained experience under Joyce, it’s not clear where she will find the number of experienced prosecutors needed in one of the most violent cities in

Commentary

America.

“I will not only hold my office accountable to the residents of St. Louis,” Gardner told our readers before the election, “but I will hold serious and violent criminals accountable, whether I find them in our neighborhoods, in law enforcement or in other parts of government.” Her vow to hold law enforcement accountable when police officers commit crimes was important to her electoral success, given the focus our community has given to issues of police conduct. But now Gardner must cooperate with law enforcement on a daily basis, as cops bring her cases and serve as key witnesses, so law enforcement must be added to the groups whose help she needs to succeed. Circuit Attorney Gardner, congratulations on your historic election and inauguration. If you honor these noble campaign vows – with the support of the community, your team of prosecutors and investigators, and the police – then you will indeed bring much-needed change to a city that is troubled, yet is showing promise that it will finally address its many challenges.

What’s the deal with Trump and Russia?

Coming from a presidential candidate, Donald Trump’s misty-eyed admiration of Russia and its autocratic leader was weird. Coming from a president-elect, it’s nothing short of alarming.

What’s the deal with Trump and Russia? Does he have financial entanglements with Russian banks, businesses or billionaires that color his views? If not, as he claims, then why won’t he release the personal and business tax returns that could put the matter to rest?

The latest sign of Trump’s infatuation is his refusal to accept the conclusion of the U.S. intelligence community that Russian state-sponsored hackers meddled in our election – a risky and provocative operation that could only have been authorized by Vladimir Putin.

“It could be somebody else,” Trump told reporters on New Year’s Eve. “And I also know things that other people don’t know, and so they cannot be sure of the situation.” The president-elect added that “I know a lot about hacking, and hacking is a very hard thing to prove.”

It is unclear how Trump could know even a little about hacking, since he rarely uses computers. Aides reportedly must print out news articles for him to read. In my experience, experts on cybersecurity know how to use a web browser. President Obama has seen the evidence – and was convinced enough to impose new sanctions against Russia as punishment. When Putin decided not to reciprocate, given that Obama will soon leave office, Trump offered this

glowing comment on Twitter: “Great move on delay (by V. Putin) – I always knew he was very smart!”

Trump has argued that since the CIA was in error about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, it may well be wrong about Russian hacking. That’s ridiculous. It’s like saying that since Trump was wrong when he claimed early in the campaign to have seen thousands of Muslims celebrating in New Jersey on 9/11, everything he has said since may well be exaggerated, half-baked or a flat-out lie. On second thought, maybe I should choose a different analogy.

One possible reason for Trump’s stubbornness is that intelligence officials believe the intent of the hacking was not merely to shake public confidence in the U.S. electoral process, but to help Trump win the election. The hacked material that was allowed to surface, mostly through WikiLeaks, contained embarrassing information about the Democratic National Committee and John Podesta, Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman. Republicans were almost completely spared. Perhaps believing that the legitimacy of his victory is being impugned, Trump is willing to take the founder of WikiLeaks – a fugitive from justice on sexual assault allegations – at his word. Trump tweeted: “Julian Assange said ‘a 14 year old

What I want for my son – and yours

By Tishaura O. Jones Guest columnist

Here is what I want for my son, and for yours.

A spirit of volunteerism. As a public servant and a private citizen, I make it a priority to be a volunteer. Often, I bring my son Aden along with me and try to make it a lesson for him that there are many people who are less fortunate than he is, a lesson that there is always something that a person can do to make the world a better place.

A desire to stay. St. Louis needs to keep its talent. Too many of the city’s promising people go away for school and decide to live somewhere else afterwards. Aden knows how important this city is to me, and how important it is to his family that he retains his St. Louis citizenship.

A desire to go (and then come back). I hope that Aden cultivates a sense of adventure. Other places offer educational opportunities and insight into what our city could be. It’s why I have traveled extensively as a state rep and as treasurer. I want my son to view himself as an ambassador: someone who can represent St. Louis well in other places, and then bring the best parts of those places back with him.

An open mind. I am lucky to say that I have friends who live all over the city, state and country, who come from all

backgrounds and teach me all sorts of different things. I hope that Aden experiences the city as One St. Louis, that he actively seeks opinions that are different from his own so that he can expand his mind and make well-informed decisions.

A willingness to seek help When my son has a problem, I hope he knows that he can ask for help and that there are people who want to help him.

As I learned in my 20s, it’s too easy to become holed up in your own world, in your own problems, and watch things spin out of control. Large problems can be prevented if the small ones are addressed early enough.

That’s the theory behind the city’s Office of Financial Empowerment. An eye to the future. Like many parents, I find that thinking about my son growing up and moving on is bittersweet. I want him to always be growing, always be learning. I want him to take tomorrow as seriously as he takes today.

A sense of humor. I’m lucky that my house is full of laughter (credit my dad for that), and I hope that Aden takes that into the rest of his life. I also hope

he always thinks I’m as funny as he does now. That hope might be in vain. An open heart. Starting from a place of love removes so many barriers that society inflicts upon us. Empathy, compassion and care for others are the best qualities for which I could hope for Aden.

A sense of history. History teaches us the “why” – why race relations are the way they are, why black lives matter, why there are gross economic disparities, why the city has embraced technology so slowly. History is an important marker of how far we’ve come, and should be one of many things that are considered when making decisions. Change is a good thing. Change is a necessary thing. I hope that Aden always understands where he came from.

A belief in himself. I tell Aden all the time how proud I am of him. While I wish it were, it’s not enough for him to know his momma believes in him. He has to believe in himself. I want Aden to throw himself headfirst into the things he cares about, into the things he wants for himself and his community, and I want him to believe that he can be the change he wants to see in the world.

Tishaura O. Jones, currently St. Louis treasurer, is a candidate for mayor in the March 7 Democratic primary election

could have hacked Podesta’ – why was DNC so careless? Also said Russians did not give him the info!”

Another possible explanation is that Trump is deliberately making a huge shift in U.S. foreign policy regarding the other two global superpowers. Not only has he been much more indulgent of Russia than recent presidents, he has also taken a much tougher and more confrontational line toward China. Such machinations cannot be advisable in the nuclear age.

On New Year’s Eve, as Trump prepared to host a black-tie gala at his Mar-aLago estate, three members of the Senate Armed Services Committee – John McCain, R-Ariz., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. – were meeting with front-line Ukrainian troops who are defending their country against Russian-backed military aggression. In 2014, Putin annexed Crimea by force. A few years earlier, he sent troops into the sovereign nation of Georgia.

Perhaps Trump doesn’t believe all of this is really happening. Maybe he doesn’t care. The senators made clear they want tougher sanctions against Russia to punish its territorial ambitions and its outrageous attempt to influence our election.

Perhaps McCain and his colleagues will get to the bottom of why Trump, who sounds like such a tough guy with regard to the rest of the world, is such a pussycat when it comes to Russia. Senate committees can issue wide-reaching subpoenas, and should.

Preston Bouie was a pioneer

I am deeply dismayed that the death of Preston Bouie has not been reported by any media outlet and that The American did not report this. He was a historical figure in city services, the first black battalion chief and the first black assistant fire chief in the City of St Louis. Please do not let this man’s passing go unnoticed. He was a pioneer.

Zachary Atkins, Via email

Editor’s note: The obituary of Preston Bouie appeared in our January 5 edition. Its appearance was slowed by the short weeks and slim papers of the holiday season.

Diversity in uncertain times

As a citizen who realizes how important St. Louis Community College is for our region, I am appreciative of the positive comments made in your editorial on January 5. St. Louis Community College is taking steps beneficial to the community by assuring that it promotes diversity and reaches out to students of many backgrounds. When the board sought to hire Dr. Pittman as our new chancellor in 2015, the Board of Trustees made a commitment to assure that the college leadership included diversity as one of its key goals. As your editorial states, Dr. Pittman is taking steps to strengthen the college’s diversity both within its organization and in its outreach efforts.

Likewise, I share your same concerns regarding support and funding among elected officials. Years ago, college leadership took steps to be part of a collaborative effort, the Missouri Community College Association, with all Missouri community colleges. The MCCA works for education for all students, regardless of background, residency (urban and rural), or ethnicity. I am optimistic that MCCA will continue to provide positive advocacy when dealing with our elected officials at the state level.

St. Louis Community College also belongs to a number of organizations at

the national level that work in collaborative ways to assure that diversity is supported. One such organization is the Association of Community College Trustees. ACCT works collaboratively to advocate the positive contributions made by community colleges to elected federal officials.

In these uncertain times, it is heartening to know that there are organizations that will continue to work for what is positive for communities and students. The Board of Trustees for St. Louis Community College remains committed to strengthening the educational health of the region; promoting diversity and inclusion is just one of many ways to do this work.

Joan McGivney, chair

St. Louis Community College Board of Trustees

Reduce command manpower

St. Louis’ mayoral candidates have been quick to board the bandwagon when addressing the many issues associated with the city’s police

department. More cops, better training, ingenious crimefighting programs, etc., are emblematic positions of those seeking office in St. Louis. They too are issues that deal strictly with the veneer of the department. Unfortunately, as long as nepotism, cronyism and favoritism continue to control hiring, job assignments, promotions, purchasing and manpower distribution, the St. Louis PD will remain beholden to the furtive political and business interests that actually run the department.

A simple manpower fix remains hiding in plain sight. Reducing the number of police districts to three (from six), coupled with reorganizing the district precincts, would serve to put more cops on the street. Doing so would reduce the number of command rank by 18, a payroll savings that could be used to hire more patrolmen. But command rank positions are filled by “who you know” promotions as favors to the well-connected. Command manpower it one of the department’s sacred cows.

Michael K. Broughton Green Park

Columnist

Tishaura O. Jones

Columnist Eugene Robinson

Photo by Wiley Price

Kimberly Gardner was sworn in as St. Louis circuit attorney at the Old Courthouse in downtown on Friday, January 6, making history as the first African American to serve as the city’s chief prosecutor.

Arts and crafts for Kwanzaa

Scholarship Foundation accepting loan applications

The Scholarship Foundation is accepting applications for its interest-free, fee-free student loan program through April 15. Qualified postsecondary students of any age can be issued a renewable, interest-free loan of up to $11,000 annually.

Those interested must meet the following requirements: be pursuing a first certificate or degree at an accredited, nonprofit college, university, or technical/trade school; demonstrate financial need; have a cumulative GPA 2.0 or higher or have earned a GED; be a permanent resident of the St. Louis metropolitan area, for at least two years prior to application.

Students from the following areas are eligible to apply: St. Louis City and St. Louis County; the Missouri counties of Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, Warren, and Washington; and the Illinois counties of Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Madison, Macoupin, Monroe and St. Clair.

For more information, or for application assistance, contact The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis at (314) 725-7990, info@sfstl.org or visit www.sfstl.org.

Free recycling of Christmas trees –and free mulch

City of St. Louis residents have until Friday, January 13 to drop off their Christmas trees to one of three city park sites to be recycled. Trees may be dropped off at Forest Park, Lower Muny Opera parking lot; O’Fallon Park, West Florissant and Holly, picnic grounds #4; and Carondelet Park, Grand and Holly Hills, in the area between the gate and recycling containers. The trees will be ground into mulch that residents may take home for free from the same parks. Trees must be free of all decorations. Please remove ornaments, tinsel, lights and tree stand before recycling your tree. Do not put the tree in a plastic bag or cover it.

Execution shouldn’t be torture

By Desiree Austin-Holliday Guest columnist

Pentobarbital is currently the drug that Missouri uses to execute death row inmates. In 2014, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals had to order the Missouri Department of Corrections to make public its supplier of pentobarbital. The Missouri Department of Corrections wasn’t very happy about this decision.

Then, just when our system appeared to be on the verge of transparency, the same court decided this year that the Missouri Department of Corrections didn’t have to make their supplier known.

Pentobarbital should kill. That’s why it’s used in executions. But does it, and does it do so humanely?

I’d like to share a story: Clayton Lockett. One of the most recent and famous botched executions in our country. Lockett was tried and convicted of several horrendous crimes and sentenced to death. April 29, 2014, Lockett was led to the death chamber at an Oklahoma penitentiary. Oklahoma, along with several other states, had been struggling to find a steady supplier of drugs that it could use in their executions. Oklahoma also passed a law so it wouldn’t have to reveal what drugs they were using in their executions and who supplied them.

It was chaos in the death chamber: wrong needles, incorrect drug doses, repeated injections trying to find a vein. Witnesses claim Lockett started convulsing and rising off the table, and he described experiencing a burning sensation. Over an hour after the execution began, a heart attack ultimately caused Lockett’s death.

Some might think that pain is a small price to pay for the crimes Lockett committed. But if we are going to call ourselves civilized, then we need to conduct ourselves as a civilized society.

Lethal injections have the highest botched execution rate. This means that states need to work toward consistently effective policies and procedures. We should not subject inmates to forms of torture, remembering that the 8th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits cruel and unusual punishments. The death penalty should be unconstitutional, but if we’re going to have it, it shouldn’t be torturous.

Our criminal justice system wasn’t created to exact revenge. It was created to punish in the short term, deter in the long term and to rehabilitate those who run aground of the law. Instead, punishment has reached a point where people see it as a way to “get back” at those who’ve committed crimes. Desiree Austin-Holliday is a J.D. candidate at Saint Louis University School of Law.

Desiree AustinHolliday

Martay Lovebey and granddaughters Faith Lovebey and Marika Lovebey make masks at the St. Louis Art Museum’s Kwanzaa celebration on New Year’s Day.

Photo by Wiley Price

BROWN

Continued from A1

“It’s harder to get things done and I love to get things done, and I found with the Air Force the structure that they have is easier to get things accomplished,” Brown said.

“People who sign up know what they are signing up for –they are obligated to listen to their peers; they are obligated to listen to their commanders. I wanted to strive to be a commander who can learn and be knowledgeable and then give direction.”

Brown learned from a number of strong mentors, including Philip Deitch, a local human rights activist who is like an uncle to him, and ROTC instructor and retired Air Force Chief Thomas Williams.

“He’s the one that really got me inspired,” Brown said of Williams. When he saw the youth was making great grades and enjoying Air Force ROTC, he suggested that he apply for the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Brown was accepted into academy after graduating from Gateway in 2011. Five years later, in 2016, he became Lieutenant Jarvis Brown upon graduation.

Although his adopted father, Neil Westbrooks, was in the U.S. Marines, Brown said he never spoke to him about his military experiences, until he became military as well.

“It was after I was accepted into the Air Force Academy that he then started talking to me,” Brown said. “And I think he did that strategically in order to not persuade me one way or the other.”

Over the recent holidays, Brown spent five days in St. Louis connecting with family and friends before heading to San Angelo, Texas, where he is training to become an intelligence officer. He will be there for six months, then on to his next assignment.

“I’ll be headed to Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, working side-by-side with the CIA and other threeletter, four-letter, five-letter agencies,” Brown said.

NASHEED

Continued from A1

While studying at the academy, Brown came home to St. Louis to visit his old high school twice to speak to students. He emphasized to in standing up and standing strong for the people.”

Jones, who recently was elected to her second term as St. Louis treasurer, represented the 63rd District in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2008 to 2012. She served as assistant minority floor leader in the state House during the 96th Missouri General Assembly, the first woman to do so.

“Jamilah is a tireless fighter for her constituents and a loud advocate for public policies informed

by racial equity,” Jones reacted to the endorsement.

“I am delighted to have her energy and ideas in our campaign.”

Nasheed – who won a contested primary for state senator in August with 79 percent of the vote – said she had considered running for mayor in this cycle herself, but feared her candidacy would only cause more division in a crowded primary. In addition to Jones, there are two other serious African-American candidates for mayor, Lewis Reed and Antonio French; one serious white candidate, Lyda Krewson; and three perennial candidates running in the Democratic primary.

them that strong mentorship provided the direction he needed.

“I think a lot of people in my generation now are shying away from the many mentors who are out there,” Brown said. “I had Chief Williams and I had a colonel who was in the ROTC program. There were many mentors along the way that I particularly chose to just sit down for hours and hours to listen to and to take their advice and follow through with that advice. And it worked out for me.”

n “We will have to turn out in record numbers on Election Day. United, though, we can do this.”

– state Senator Jamilah Nasheed

“As I looked over the large field of candidates, I felt that I could better serve by trying to bring unity to the community, rather than creating more division by throwing my hat in the ring amongst the many others,” Nasheed said in her statement.

Nasheed’s endorsement of Jones is the most senior and powerful elected official endorsement that any mayoral candidate has announced.

“Her endorsement moves us

closer to having a consensus candidate,” Jones said.

Nasheed – who grew up on the streets of North St. Louis and evolved from street activist to elected official – said the “severe problems” that beset St. Louis, “such as crime, poverty, and racial division,” call for “leadership that is visionary, capable, and acutely attuned to the needs and aspirations of citizens, from the highest to the lowest rung of our community.”

She said she believes Jones will be “a mayor of this caliber.”

Nasheed said her years dealing with city leadership as a state official convinced her of “the great difference the mayor makes to the growth and progress and prosperity of the city.” She understands, with the mayoral seat being open for new leadership for the first time since 2001, that “a new mayor can have a transformative impact.”

As an African-American woman, she said, she also appreciates the opportunity to help make history. St. Louis has never elected a woman mayor, and Jones is the only black woman in the race.

“In addition to her

having those qualities and unimpeachable credentials,” Nasheed said of Jones, “I just think it would set an empowering example for our city to elect an AfricanAmerican woman as mayor.” Nasheed said she now intends to work to unify voter consensus around Jones.

“I urge you to join me in unifying our community to support Tishaura Jones. I urge you to join with me and Tishaura to make our city a first class city for all, to make history,” Nasheed said. “We have the rare opportunity to make this a reality. It will take enormous work, and we will have to turn out in record numbers on Election Day. United, though, we can do this.”

The municipal primary election is Tuesday, March 7. In addition to mayor, voters will elect primary candidates for comptroller and the city’s odd-numbered wards. A list of candidates is available at www. stlouis-mo.gov/government/ departments/board-electioncommissioners.

Photo provided by Jarvis Brown

St. Louisan Jarvis Brown said the highlight of his time in the U.S. Air Force Academy was meeting President Barack Obama, who spoke at his graduation.

Jarvis Brown posed with family members at the parade his graduation held June 1, 2016 from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado.

Photo by Philip Deitch

SLPS

until every single child can read.”

fact that we beat [Danforth’s] 10-year deadline.”

On Tuesday morning, the State Board of Education voted unanimously to classify Saint Louis Public Schools (SLPS) as fully accredited, effective immediately. The last time the district was fully accredited was in 2000. SLPS received provisional accreditation status in October 2012. The state board’s vote followed a presentation by department of education staff outlining the district’s student growth in academics, as well as stability in leadership and finances.

Community members and leaders gathered to celebrate the news just before the SLPS board meeting on Tuesday night.

“This work has never been about one person, one program, one organization or one idea,” said SLPS Superintendent Kelvin Adams, who came to the district in the fall of 2008. “We realize and understand that we still have a lot of work to do. We are not going to stop

POLICE

Continued from A1

Continued from A1 been required to have at least two officers on duty 24-7 and conduct background checks on prospective officers that included psychological screenings.

Elected officials in cities that failed to comply could be jailed, or the St. Louis County police could take over public safety services in the city. County Executive Steve Stenger, a strong proponent of the measure, claimed the council had the authority to set those standards under a portion of Missouri law that gives

Since Adams’ arrival, the district has gone from having a $25 million budget deficit to now having a $19 million surplus. SLPS earned 104.5 Annual Performance Report (APR) points in 2015-2016, surpassing the required 98 points required by the state for full accreditation.

In 2014-2015, the district earned 106.5 APR points.

“This is an opportunity to celebrate really great things in the district,” said State Board President Charlie Shields.

Schools have walked a long and difficult road to accomplish this improvement,” Danforth said.

He explained that after the settlement of the desegregation litigation in 1999, authority over the district returned to the elected school board.

n “We still have a lot of work to do. We are not going to stop until every single child can read.”

– SLPS

Superintendent Kelvin Adams

“Today’s decision should be viewed as a major success for St. Louis, the State of Missouri and the department.”

At the celebration, Danforth shared a statement written by both him and Frankie Freeman – both who have been deeply involved in the district since the desegregation settlement in 1999.

“The Saint Louis Public

county officials the power to pass laws that “tend to enhance the public health.”

Judges Angela Quigless, Robert Dowd and Lisa Van Amburg wrote that while the aftermath of Michael Brown Jr.’s death in 2014 had revealed problems with smaller police departments, setting minimum standards for those departments had nothing to do with enhancing public health.

“[P]roof ... that there is a need for improved policing standards in the municipal police departments of St. Louis County is simply not necessary for resolution of the issue before us,” the court wrote.

“However real, important and urgent the need might be,

“Soon the SLPS was spending more than it was taking in,” Danforth said, “financial reserves were going from positive to negative; board members were micromanaging the SLPS, arguing publicly with each other; and with the seven superintendents appointed in an eight-year period, faith in the competency of SLPS management was fading.”

In 2007, the State Board of Education replaced the elected board with the SAB, which then included Sullivan, a developer; Melanie Adams, then a Missouri History Museum employee; and Richard Gaines, an insurance

the County can only legislate if it has the authority to do so. The positive impact that improved law enforcement may have on the public – including the extent to which it improves the community’s physical and mental well-being – is simply not what was meant by ‘enhance public health’” in state law

In a statement, Stenger said he is reviewing the appeals court ruling, but remains committed to ensuring quality policing for all county residents.

Follow Rachel on Twitter: @rlippmann. Reprinted with permission from news.stlpublicradio.org.

executive. The SAB hired Kelvin Adams less than a year later. This leadership team remained the same until this fall, when Adams took a job in Minnesota. Darnetta Clinkscale now serves as the third SAB member.

Danforth said that the district’s accomplishments were possible because of the SAB governance structure. “But the SAB is temporary, and there is no clear path to a more permanent arrangement,” he said.

Danforth and Freeman gave several pieces of advice, and the first was, “Do not rush” when establishing the district’s permanent governance structure.

board, said he does not believe that “flipping the switch” and immediately returning authority to an elected board – or another governance structure – is in the best interest of the kids.

n “The Saint Louis Public Schools have walked a long and difficult road to accomplish this improvement.”

“That is completely a discretionary decision of the State Board of Education,” Jones said. “We haven’t seen a process that makes us comfortable that the hand-off would be productive. For us, there’s no clock. We are prepared to entertain the beginning of the conversation.”

– Dr. William Danforth

The SAB members are contracted to stay until June 30, 2019, and the state board renews this arrangement every three years.

State board member Mike Jones, who also serves on the St. Louis American editorial

as well as showing student progress in social studies. SLPS exceeded its growth targets in math for 2015 and 2016 and exceeded its ELA target in 2015 and was on track for 2016. The district improved student attendance and graduation rates, as well as its use of data to lead improvement efforts.

“The progress in St. Louis was brought about by a whole collection of unsung heroes, starting with students,” Jones said. “They made a commitment as individuals to get better. This is an exceptional day for Superintendent Adams and his staff, but mostly for the students and teachers who worked every day for this result.”

According to the state board, SLPS is showing student academic growth in English language arts (ELA) and math,

Full disclosure: St. Louis American Publisher and Executive Editor Donald M. Suggs served with Danforth, Freeman and two others on a state-appointed committee that recommended the appointment of the SAB in 2007.

Rough waters

By Kristie Lein Missouri History Museum

Just over 1,000 miles east of St. Louis is Pea Island, North Carolina. At first glance, St. Louis and North Carolina’s barrier islands, known as the Outer Banks, don’t seem to have much in common. And the one feature we do share isn’t one that most people associate with St. Louis at all: islands.

The Mississippi River has been home to many islands, and often their names were less-than-subtle hints about what happened there. Bloody Island, for example, wasn’t under the jurisdiction of either Missouri or Illinois, so it was a lawless place where people settled duels. In the mid-1800s, Arsenal Island, located a few miles south of downtown St. Louis, became known as Quarantine Island. It’s where settlers had to be examined and declared free from cholera, a disease that had reached epidemic proportions.

Over time, flooding and erosion brought an end to these and other islands scattered in the Mississippi, just as hurricanes and tropical storms are constantly molding the shape of North Carolina’s coast. Some weather creates new islands, and others are washed away altogether.

For decades the Outer Banks’ Pea Island was under water, swallowed whole by the sea. Today the 13-milelong stretch is home to the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, but it’s in the history books for an entirely different reason: It was the post of the Pea Island Life-Saving Station – the country’s first one staffed and led by an all-black crew. It’s also the scene of Rescue Men, a documentary that will be screened later this month at the Missouri History Museum.

When the U.S. Life-Saving Service was founded in 1871, its purpose was to supervise cargo shipping and perform rescue operations. In the Outer Banks region, the fledgling organization faced particularly harsh criticism after nearly 200 deaths occurred in two months.

Officials dismantled the existing all-white crew at Pea Island and tapped former slave and Union soldier Richard Etheridge as its new leader. The move was a controversial one.

In the book Fire on the Beach: Recovering the Lost Story of Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island Lifesavers, authors David Wright and David Zoby write: “[The inspectors] had considered the risk involved [in promoting Etheridge] and stood by their proposal. Shoemaker, the ranking officer, followed up

On Saturday, January 21, the Missouri History Museum – in partnership with the St. Louis African American History and Genealogy Society – will host a free screening of Rescue Men in Lee Auditorium at 1

in a letter: ‘I am aware that no colored man holds the position of Keeper in the Life-Saving Service. . . . I have given this matter as careful consideration as I am capable of . . . and I am fully convinced that the efficiency of the service at this station will be greatly enhanced by the adoption of my recommendations.’”

After Etheridge was installed as captain in 1880, he began building his crew – and rebuilding the reputation of the Pea Island Life-Saving Station.

A well-regarded lifesaver with a military background, Etheridge put his men through intense drills and grueling practices. It paid off.

The Pea Island crew performed countless acts of heroism on the Carolina coast.

The most terrifying took place during a hurricane on October 11, 1896, when the E. S. Newman lost its sails and ran aground. Conditions were so rough that not even the crew’s equipment could stand up to the storm. Etheridge tied two of his men together with a line and anchored the line’s other end to the land. The surfmen swam into the crashing waves and were pulled back to shore by the rest of the crew an astonishing ten times. Everyone aboard the E. S. Newman was saved – including the captain’s three-year-old daughter.

“A new day had dawned in

the Life-Saving Service,” Zoby and Wright write in Fire on the Beach. “The black surfmen suspected – and, in fact, some actually knew – that trouble was brewing just beyond the horizon, but for the present, Pea Island was President Lincoln’s promise fulfilled.”

The Pea Island crew undeniably faced racism from men in other stations. Still, they persisted in their efforts. It took 100 years for the men to receive official recognition for their incredible bravery.

On March 5, 1996, Etheridge and the crew at the Pea Island Life-Saving Station were posthumously awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal from the U.S. Coast Guard. The crew’s story found its biggest audience yet with the 2010 release of the documentary Rescue Men On Saturday, January 21, the Missouri History Museum – in partnership with the St. Louis African American History and Genealogy Society – will host a free screening of Rescue Men in Lee Auditorium at 1 p.m. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about these incredible heroes whom history is finally starting to remember.

Kristie Lein is associate editor of Publications for the Missouri History Museum Library and Research Center.

Candidates respond to mayoral race poll, TIF glut in Central Corridor

The EYE asked two sets of questions this week for all four of the major mayoral candidates – Antonio French, Tishaura O. Jones, Lyda Krewson and Lewis Reed. They were also asked at the same time in the same email and given the same deadline; only French and Jones responded by deadline.

The first set of questions concerned a poll on the March 7 Democratic primary for St. Louis mayor released by MoScout, a political junkie newsletter published by Dave Drebes. It was announced as an “independent” poll, though Drebes did not respond when asked who paid for the poll, so its independence has not been established.

The poll was based on a survey of 1,373 likely St. Louis Municipal Democratic Primary voters “weighted to match expected turnout demographics” for the primary, conducted January 6-7. The poll revealed: Undecided 32 percent, Lyda Krewson 24 percent, Lewis Reed 18 percent, Antonio French 11 percent and Tishaura Jones 8 percent, with three perennial candidates splitting 6 percent of the vote between them.

Our questions: “What confidence do you place in this polling, if any? What implications for your campaign does it have, if any? A plurality of voters, according to the poll, are undecided. What kinds of voters do you think remain undecided and how can you get them?”

Tishaura O. Jones answered first.

“I’d rather be leading in an early poll than be in the middle of the pack, but there’s more than enough good news for African Americans, progressives and me in this poll,” Jones responded.

“First, the status quo’s candidate is only getting 24 percent of the vote. If you clear the field, you ought to be doing better than that. Undecided is running nearly 10 points ahead of that. Second, African-American candidates, combined, trounce the candidate currently leading. As we get closer to the election, and the forums and debates begin, I expect young, white voters who strongly favor a change and most African-American voters to trend towards a consensus candidate. With this platform (http://tishaura4mayor. com/policies/) and a robust campaign effort, I expect that to be me.”

Ryan Hawkins, campaign manager for Antonio French, answered next.

“President-elect Hillary Clinton put a lot of stock in pre-election polling and fundraising as a show of strength, oh, wait, that wasn’t what happened. This race has barely begun and Antonio looks forward to the debates, as he has a positive message for change that is based in reality.”

Both Reed and Krewson responded nearly an hour after deadline when this column was completed.

Note that these voters were polled before it was clear that Jamilah Nasheed was not filing for mayor and before Nasheed endorsed Tishaura O. Jones. Given that Nasheed had been widely discussed as a possible candidate, it is likely that some of those 32 percent of undecided voters – a plurality of voters polled – were waiting to see what Nasheed would do, and that many of those will join her in rallying around her candidate, Jones.

TIF and equity

Our second set of questions: “The TIF Commission just approved $42M in incentives, all for projects in the Central Corridor of the city. What can the mayor actually do to bring more equity to the TIF allocation process? What would you do? What have you done up until now in your current position?”

Tishaura O. Jones responded first.

“Most of the city’s current development incentives and tax breaks take away money from city schools, and all of them make it harder to provide dayto-day neighborhoods services like policing and trash pickup. As Comptroller Darlene Green has warned, the city already has limited financial flexibility. Diverting revenue to developers, while sometimes necessary, should be done rationally and rarely,” Jones responded.

“And it should be done fairly. Approximately 85 percent of all the development incentives in the city are provided to projects in the Central Corridor, much of it in the fashionable 28th Ward, and the 17th and 7th wards. North St. Louis and struggling parts of South St. Louis are consistently overlooked. It will not be easy to change the city’s habits – and impossible without a change of attitude in City

Hall,” she continued.

“As mayor, I will push development North and South, where it is needed most, and not solely focus on the Central West End, high-end homes, luxury apartments, and sports stadiums. St. Louis must stop handing out public subsidies to large developments until their developers and lawyers show their projects will help the community by creating new jobs with living wages right now.”

Jones said this is what she would do differently:

• Require the developer to agree to a Community Benefits Agreement

• Require neighborhood investment surrounding large projects

• Require publicly subsidized projects include onsite SLATE Job Centers

• Promote inclusionary zoning

• Implement models like Denver’s that uses a mix of property tax and one-time costs to developers to increase the size of the city’s affordable housing trust fund.

Antonio French responded next.

“TIF and other incentive laws were designed to assist blighted and low-income areas. They are very often manipulated to increase the profits of projects in the richest parts of our city. It’s time we used these tools in the areas they were designed to be used. Blighted neighborhoods where vacant schools, warehouses, and other buildings make it impossible to attract the kind of businesses and jobs communities need to grow,” French responded.

Both Reed and Krewson responded nearly an hour after deadline when this column was completed.

BJ publishes hits on French, Jones

French and Jones have something else in common, besides taking advantage of a chance to address our readers in this space this week. Both were targets of opposition research against them that was successfully placed in the St. Louis Business Journal

The piece on French targeted the North Campus Partnership

that he founded in 2012 serving kids and families in the 63115 and 63107 zip codes of North St. Louis with an all-volunteer staff. French continues to serve in a volunteer capacity. North Campus is an ambitious effort to nurture North St. Louis students. How and why was it used against French? Because it had, then lost, non-profit status.

“As North Campus began to grow, we eventually applied for and received an IRS determination letter recognizing its status as a Section 501(c) (3) charity in April 2015. But in May 2015, the IRS issued an ‘automatic revocation of exemption’ due to our failure to file Form 990s the previous three years,” reads a statement on its site.

“As soon as North Campus became aware of the need to file Form 990s for the years prior to receiving 501(c)(3) status, we hired staff to file the required paperwork. That has been done and all paperwork has been submitted to the IRS

along with our application for retroactive reinstatement. In the meantime, we continue to serve hundreds of kids and their families. We look forward to reinstatement of our 501(c)(3) status, but not having the status has not in any way interfered with our abilities to serve our students, their families, and our community.”

To impugn the work of an educational non-profit in North St. Louis over a technicality of paperwork like this, just to hurt a mayoral candidate, is shameful strategic communications (it’s hard to call it “journalism”).

As for Jones, she was the subject of not one, but two Business Journal stories about her bankruptcy filing in 1999. You read that date right: 1999, in the previous century, when Jones was in her mid-20s.

Mind you, Jones has publicly discussed losing control of her finances in her 20s. In fact, it’s one reason why, as St. Louis treasurer, she founded

the city’s Office of Financial Empowerment. She has worked hard to educate citizens on matters of finance so they don’t repeat mistakes she made long ago and long ago corrected. The most amusing thing about this shameful strategic communication, published only to damage a black political candidate, is it was penned by a man-child named Jacob Kirn, who doesn’t even look like he was alive in 1999. In fact, Jones said she asked him how old he was in 1999, and she said he responded “about 8 years old.” Who knows what childish habits Kirn still exhibited in 1999 – maybe he still wet his bed, or slept with his night light on, or picked his boogers and left them under his chair at his elementary school – but it’s certain no one would hold those far-distant misdeeds against his professional work as a journalist in 2017. Well, then again, maybe his editors and publisher at the Business Journal would, if he were a darker shade of pale. This follows on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s egregious front-page strategic communication about the treasurer’s office under Jones’ leadership doing open and transparent public bond business with a reputable company (with other public clients) that employs an ex-felon with past ties to her father, former St. Louis Comptroller Virvus Jones Both the Business Journal and the Post-Dispatch are devoid of African-American leadership in any senior editorial position. The race-baiting journalistic malpractice of these two newspapers, at a time when St. Louis is poised to make a pivot in the direction of racial equity, is dismaying.

Antonio French Tishaura O. Jones

Lyda Krewson Lewis Reed

PRESENT:

Healthy Kids Kids

Healthcare Careers

A Closer Look at Ingredients

Start Small!

You get home from school and you’re hungry. You grab the closest snack you can find. But do you really know what’s in the food you’re about to eat? Take a look at the Ingredients Listing found on all food labels. Two key things to remember are: What comes first? — Ingredients are listed by the amount of that item the food contains. In other words, if the first ingredient is sugar (or corn syrup, fructose, etc.) you know that food contains a lot of “empty” calories. This means that the food probably won’t provide many nutrients, just a lot of calories.

It is often said that the hardest part about exercising is getting started!

So, start small. For example, if you want to be able to run 5 miles, you can’t just go out and run that far on your very first try. First, start by walking farther and faster each day.

Monday, January 16, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Why not celebrate by not just enjoying a day off school, but deciding to use the day to make a difference for your community?

Research online and in the newspaper for events taking place on Monday

Cocoa Puffers Cereal

INGREDIENTS:Whole Grain Corn,Sugar,Corn Meal,Corn Syrup,Canola and/or Rice Bran Oil,Cocoa Processed withAlkali,ColorAdded,Salt,Fructose,Natural andArtificial Flavor,Trisodium Phosphate,BHTAdded to Preserve Freshness. Vitamins and Minerals:TricalciumPhosphate,Calcium Carbonate,Zinc and Iron (mineralnutrients), Vitamin C (sodium ascorbate), A BVitamin (niacinamide), Vitamin B

Keep it short! — You want the list to be short: not many ingredients. Generally the shorter the ingredient list the more natural the food, and healthier for you. Avoid foods that contain a lot of chemicals and preservatives in the ingredients list.

Discussion: Why aren’t there ingredients lists on fresh fruits and vegetables?

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

When you can walk briskly for thirty minutes, slowly add in some running along the way.

Try walking 10 minutes and then run for three and walk for 10 again. When you can do that pretty easily, switch it to walking for five minutes and running for five. Finally, you’ll switch to walking for three,

that reflect the ideals and causes that were so important to Dr. King. Are there any community/ neighborhood projects that would appreciate your contribution? Can you think of your own project?

Learning Standards: HPE 2, NH 5

running for 10, and eventually you can run the entire 30 minutes! Remember that this could take a few months to accomplish, and always ask your doctor if it’s a good idea to do the kind of exercise you’re choosing.

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1

Fruit Pizzas

Ingredients:

1/2 c non-fat plain Greek yogurt, 2 tbs natural peanut butter, creamy or crunchy, 1 tb honey, Rice cakes

Toppings: any of your favorite fruits; granola Directions: In a medium bowl, stir together the yogurt, peanut butter, and honey until smooth. Spread over rice cakes. Top with sliced fruit, granola as desired.

Marie

Truss

, Certiication Coordinator

Where do you work? I work for BJC Healthcare. Where did you go to school? I graduated from Maplewood High School in St. Louis and earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management from National-Louis University in St. Louis. What does a certification coordinator do? Every day, I coordinate scheduled admissions, denials, ensure third-party authorization for patients, post payments, collaborate with the Patient Accounts department regarding insurance information and provide support to the Care Coordination department. This support allows patients to get the care they need and the nurses to have more time to focus on our patients and families.

Why did you choose this career? I became interested in the healthcare profession after volunteering as a candy striper during my junior year in high school. After working under the supervision of several dedicated nurses, I knew healthcare was the field for me.

What is your favorite part of your career? My favorite part is working with the Care Coordination team. They have big hearts and do whatever they can to help our patients and families.

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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

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

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

Aspire Academy

5th grade teacher, Casey McBride, shows students Dalisa King, James Holmes, Shauna Soott, and Jacob Jones how to use the STEM page in the paper to practice their math skills.

Aspire Academy is part of Confluence Charter Schools.

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT SCIENCE STARS

African American Physician and Open Heart Surgery Pioneer Daniel Hale Williams

SCIENCE CORNER

Your heart has an important job. With each pulse, oxygen-rich blood is circulated throughout your body. It’s important for you to do your part to take good care of your heart. There are four important steps.

STEP ONE: Eat healthy foods. Whole grains and fiber help to clear plaque from your arteries so your blood can flow smoothly. Lean proteins and vitamin rich fruits and vegetables give your body the nutrients it needs to function properly. Conversely, if you eat a lot of sugary or fatty food, it will make it more difficult for your heart to function properly.

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

In this activity, you will create a device to help you take your pulse. You will see how different activities affect your pulse.

Materials Needed:

• Play Dough • Toothpick • Stop Watch Procedure:

q Roll play dough into a dime-sized ball, and flatten it slightly by setting it on a hard surface.

w Stick the toothpick half way into the top of the play dough to create a pulse meter.

STEP TWO: Get plenty of exercise. Exercise, especially cardiovascular or aerobic exercise, helps your heart to grow stronger. Try to get at least 30 minutes of activity each day. Make this activity fun and enjoyable—include your parents, pets, and the whole family.

STEP THREE: Drink plenty of water. When you are properly hydrated, your body functions properly and it is easier for your heart to do its job.

STEP FOUR: Get plenty of rest. Try to get 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night. Rest helps your body to restore and rejuvenate.

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

Play Dough Pulse

e Rest your arm facing up on a level surface such as a table or counter. Place the pulse meter on the inside of your wrist, just below your thumb.

r Observe the toothpick as it goes up and down with each pulse. If you are having trouble seeing the toothpick move

up and down, you may need to move your pulse meter around a bit until you get it on the correct spot. Once you see your toothpick moving up and down, you’ve found your pulse!

t To determine the number of beats per minute, set a stopwatch for 10 seconds. Count the number of times the toothpick moves up and down during those ten seconds. Multiply this number by 6 to get your beats per minute.

y Experiment: What can cause your pulse to quicken or slow down? Try standing in place for 1 minute, then take your pulse. Try jumping jacks for 1 minute and take your pulse. Try lying on the floor for 1 minute, then take your pulse. Learning Standards: I can follow sequential directions to complete an experiment. I can analyze results and draw conclusions.

Cardiovascular Exercise

q Cardiovascular exercise increases your heart rate and helps circulate oxygen throughout your body. Make a goal of 20-30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise each day. How many minutes of cardiovascular exercise should you get each week?______ How many minutes should you get each month?______

w To find your resting heart rate, check your heart rate while you are still lying in bed. You will find your pulse in your wrist and count the number of heart beats in one minute. Calculate your resting heart rate 3 different mornings, and then find the average. That is your resting heart rate. Calculate your resting heart rate below.______ + ______ + ______ = ______/3 = resting heart rate.

e To calculate your maximum heart rate, subtract your age from 220. 220-______ = ______ maximum heart rate. You do not want your heart rate to be above this number.

DID YOU KNOW?

Daniel Hale Williams was born in Pennsylvania in January of 1856. His father was a barber and a member of the Equal Rights League. Williams had many siblings, as well. His father passed away when Williams was only 10 years old and he went to Maryland to live with friends of the family. While in Maryland, he worked as an apprentice with a shoemaker. Williams later returned to his family, now living in Illinois, where he worked as a barber. However, he wasn’t happy and decided to go back to school to get an education in medicine at Chicago Medical College. Williams was an apprentice with Dr. Henry Palmer. Next, Williams taught anatomy at Chicago Medical College and worked as a physician for the city’s street railway system. His patients called him Dr. Dan. Williams used newly discovered sterilization techniques in his office. However, this was an era of discrimination. Not only were African Americans denied positions as doctors and nurses, many African Americans were not able to be treated at local hospitals. In order to meet the need, Williams opened the Provident Hospital and Training School for Nurses in May of 1891. Two years later, Williams had a patient with severe stab wounds to the chest. He successfully completed open heart surgery on this patient and was one of the first doctors in history to complete this feat. The next year, he moved to D.C. where he was chief surgeon at Freedmen’s Hospital, which cared for formerly enslaved African Americans.

Williams left Freedmen’s Hospital in 1898. He moved to Chicago with his wife, where he worked at Provident, then Cook County Hospital, and then St. Luke’s. He also traveled to Nashville, Tennessee where he was a voluntary visiting clinical professor at Meharry Medical College. The American Medical Association did not allow black members, so in 1895, Williams co-founded the National Medical Association. In 1913, he became a charter member of the American College of Surgeons.

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

During cardiovascular exercise, you should aim for a safe Target Heart Rate. This rate ensures that your body is getting cardiovascular benefits without putting too much stress on your heart. You should aim for 50%-85% intensity.

The formula for the target heart range is: Target Heart Rate = [(Maximum Heart Rate –Resting Heart Rate) × %Intensity] + Resting Heart Rate.

r Calculate your target heart rate below:

[(Maximum heart rate- resting heart rate) x .50 intensity] + resting heart rate =______

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

Activities — Scientific Advances:

Using the newspaper, collect advertisements for products that were not available 10 years ago.

[(Maximum heart rate- resting heart rate) x .85 intensity] + resting heart rate =______

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

Can you identify the scientific advances that have made this new product possible? Make a prediction about products that will be available in the next 10 years.

Capitals: Scan the datelines in the newspaper and circle those that are capital cities of either states or countries. Clip these datelines from the newspaper and paste onto another sheet and list what state or country they are a capital of.

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can explain scientific advances. I can make predictions. I can identify cities and capitals.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Business

Coleman co-anchoring at KSDK

On January 7, Christina Coleman and Casey Nolen started anchoring the 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. KSDKC Channel 5 newscasts on Saturdays. Coleman began her career in Anchorage, Alaska as a reporter and anchor on the evening news before moving to Texas. After producing, reporting and anchoring in both Waco and San Antonio, she came to KSDK in April of 2014. Growing up in a military family, she has extensively traveled across the country, but is proud to now be a St. Louisan. “St. Louis has been a wonderful place for me to call home,” she said. “The entire city and everyone at 5 On Your Side have made this a wonderful place to live, work and report the news.”

TIF Commission approves $42M for central corridor projects

Projects include three new hotels and a pharmacy in the Delmar Loop

By Rebecca Rivas

Of The St. Louis American

On Wednesday, January 4, St. Louis city’s Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Commission approved about $42 million in TIF support for four mixed-use projects – all in the city’s central corridor. The combined project costs for all four is almost $313 million.

The projects include three new hotels – one near Saint Louis University, one within the Cortex research park and one downtown – and a pharmacy in the Delmar Loop.

n “Unless we start expecting better, we are going to get the minimum requirements.”

– Jason Deem

The commission approved an $10.4 million TIF deal to renovate the Old Armory building, located near the Grand Avenue MetroLink stop. The developer, Green Street Development Group, said it is transforming the historic military building into a 135-room hotel with 160,400 square feet of office space and 75,000 square feet of retail/restaurant space. The project is valued at $83.4 million.

Out of all four projects, the Old Armory redevelopment received the most support during the public comment phase, as both the St. Louis City NAACP and Team TIF St. Louis spoke in favor of it.

“I’m worried about the lightning strike, because I think this is the first time we come here to actually support and endorse a project,” said Adolphus Pruitt, president of the St. Louis City NAACP. “We think the culture of this

project should be a model for most of the ones that come before here.”

Team TIF is a newly formed group that supports incentives that move the city toward “a more racially equitable outcome,” according to its website.

“This is a project that integrates public transportation well,” Jessica Payne, of Team TIF, said of the Old Armory project. “It’s something that’s clearly very hard to develop. The use of historic redevelopment is great to see.”

In the past five years, Green Street has brought six projects to the TIF Commission. Now as part of the commission’s meeting, the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) and the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) present commissioners with information on how well the developers did at employing minority and women-owned

See TIF, B6

No County Council action yet on Jamestown Mall

‘I want people to realize it’s going to take a while,’ says Walton Gray

By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American

At a public hearing on January 3, the St. Louis County Council heard about current deteriorating conditions at the old Jamestown Mall site, which is located in an unincorporated area of North St. Louis County near Florissant. Council members were trying to determine if the site, which had multiple owners, will qualify as a blighted area. Sheila Sweeney, CEO of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, provided an historic timeline about the mall until its permanent closure in 2013. She also talked about success the partnership had with revitalizing other shopping developments, such as Crestwood Mall, located in South St. Louis County. Architecture and planning firm Peckham Guyton Albers and Viets, Inc. was hired to conduct field investigations of the site, which includes 1.2 million square feet of space, in October 2016, as well as February and March of 2014. John Brancaglione, vice president of

See MALL, B2

St. Louis County Council Chair

Councilwoman

PGAV Planners, during the council’s regular

the shuttered Jamestown Mall site in North St. Louis

due to unsafe and insanitary conditions.

Hazel Erby is the new vice chair of the St. Louis County Council. A Democrat from University City, she represents Council District 1, which covers north central county, including Ferguson, Jennings and Berkeley. She was the first AfricanAmerican woman to serve on the council. Sam Page (D-Creve Coeur) is the new chair.

Ron Austin is one of 10 local artists who each received a $20,000 Artist Fellowship from the Regional Arts Commission (RAC) of St. Louis. They were selected from 212 applicants after being reviewed by RAC Commissioners, a community advisory committee, 26 expert readers, and staff. He was recognized in the category of Literature.

Evelyn Rice-Peebles has been chosen as an honoree for the Young Women Christian Association’s 2016 Leader of Distinction Award. These women exemplify excellence in their chosen profession, are outstanding role models for other women, and have made significant contributions to their communities. She is commissioner of recreation for the City of St. Louis.

Reverend Rodney T. Francis is the new senior director of Opportunity Youth Services at EmployIndy, the State of Indiana’s largest workforce development board serving nearly 50,000 youth and young adults. He is the former executive director of the Youth and Family Center and senior pastor of Washington Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis.

Abby Surlet was selected to perform in the St. Louis AllSuburban Orchestra, which is organized by the Suburban Music Educators Association, the professional organization for music educators for member schools of the Cooperating School District. A student at Pattonville High School, she was selected as principal chair of the bass section.

U.S. Representative Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) on being elected to serve his second term as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the official campaign arm of the Democrats in the House of Representatives. He represents his diverse district by participating in a variety of Caucuses including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Native American Caucus.

Hazel Erby

Evelyn RicePeebles

Rodney T. Francis

Abby Surlet

Ron Austin

Ben Ray Luján

Sam Page (left), Vice Chair Hazel Erby and

Rochelle Walton Gray listened to John Brancaglione, vice president of

session on January 3. Brancaglione said

County qualifies for blighting

Photo by Wiley Price

Personal Finance

Resolve to replace your bad financial habits

By Nathaniel Sillin

Most people have at least one bad financial habit.

Whether it’s impulse shopping, forgetting to pay bills on time or putting off building that emergency fund, balancing what you want to do and what you “should” do is never easy. The new year is the perfect time to identify potential financial weak points and replace bad habits with productive ones.

Start by identifying your bad habits. Sometimes a bad financial habit is easy to identify. For example, there might be a growing stack of bills in the kitchen that you willfully ignore. Others may be subtler, or perhaps they’ve become so ingrained that you do them without thinking twice.

Not sure where to start?

Looking through your previous months’ expenses can help you identify expensive trends or one-off purchases that are part of a larger theme. Online or paper bank statements can make this particularly simple. If you have a budget, you likely already compare projected spending with actual spending on a monthly basis, if not, this might be a good time to start.

You might recognize a few of these common bad financial habits in your life:

• Paying bills after the due date.

• Paying only the minimum required on bills.

• Ignoring bills and letting them go to collections.

• Putting off saving for retirement or for a rainy day.

• Impulse shopping or “retail therapy.”

• Not keeping track of how much debt you have.

• Taking on debt to pay for

MALL

continued from page B1

PGAV Planners, told councilmembers that the 148acre Jamestown Mall site qualified as both “blighted” and “unsanitary,” as defined by state law. He said there are unsafe conditions inside and outside on the site.

“When you combine these things together, in our opinion, it’s clearly an economic liability, clearly a social liability, and some of these things are really a menace to public health and safety,” Brancaglione said.

Factors that make Jamestown Mall qualify as blighted, according to PGAV Planners, include defective or inadequate street layout, unsanitary or unsafe conditions, deterioration of site improvements, improper subdivision or obsolete platting and the existence of conditions that endanger life or property by fire and other causes.

“There’s a situation in the theatre complex where the second floor exits on the balcony area and the doors open onto a service corridor, which means if you walk out those doors, you’d be at a 15-foot drop onto the concrete floor,” Brancaglione said. “How that ever happened, I don’t know, but there are many of those things.”

Birds have made their way into the site, which has broken skylights, leaking roof areas, ceiling damage, growing mold, code violations, lack of outdoor lighting, outside graffiti and other nuisances.

“The market area, based on some analyses we’ve done, not specifically for this project but for other [areas] in North County, suggest that the amount of retail space represented on this

something you don’t currently need.

Ultimately, all of these lead to spending more than you earn and in some cases, bad habits can have a cascading effect.

Try to figure out what’s driving your behavior. You might need to figure out what triggers your behavior and the reward you perceive afterward before you can change a habit. However, triggers and rewards aren’t always obvious.

For example, you might buy big-ticket items when they’re on sale because you want to feel like you’re accomplishing something by “saving” so much. Perhaps you could foster a similar feeling of accomplishment by investing the money in a taxdeferred retirement account and calculating how much it’ll be worth after years of compound interest

Aim for these healthy financial habits. What habits should you try to adopt?

Budgeting is certainly a worthy activity, but also consider the following mix of behaviors and specific objectives that can help keep your finances in order.

• Pay bills on time. In addition to avoiding latepayment fees, making on-time payments is one of the most important factors in determining your credit score.

• Make paying down debt a priority. Rather than accruing interest, make a point to pay down debts as quickly as possible.

• Build and maintain an emergency fund. Having three to six months’ worth of living expenses in savings can help cushion the blow from a financial or personal setback. You could start with

property can’t be supported,” Brancaglione said. “It’s not to say there is not potential for some retail use of this property, just not 1.2 million square feet of it.”

Under consideration is the Jamestown Mall Redevelopment Plan and Project and Qualifications Analysis. That redevelopment plan, created a few years ago, called for mixeduse development with a combination of housing and retail.

Jamestown Mall is located in the 4th Council District, which is represented by

“We would like to see that our feelings are included and we are getting the same treatment as if we were a Clayton or a Ladue or anywhere else where people feel happy and safe.”

– Carletta Washington

newcomer Councilwoman Rochelle Walton Gray, a former state representative. She requested time to review the redevelopment proposal before further action by the council.

During public comments, educator Carletta Washington asked the council not to negatively impact the local school district (Hazelwood) and to consider Jamestown Mall without the disparaging thoughts and reputation that people who do not live in adjacent communities have about it and North St. Louis County.

a goal to put $1,000 aside and then build towards the full emergency fund

• Save for retirement. You can put aside a percentage of your income for retirement and invest the money within a tax-advantage account, such as a 401(k) or IRA. Find a comfortable contribution amount to start with, and then try to increase it at least once during the year.

• Plan your large purchases. To help prevent impulse shopping from draining your budget, resolve to wait at least one day before buying anything that costs over $100 (or whatever amount makes sense for your budget). If you know there’s a large purchase coming up, start saving early by setting a little money aside from each paycheck.

You might consider asking others for input during this process. Especially if you’re having trouble identifying a bad habit or finding the motivation to change, sometimes an outside perspective can help.

Bottom line: Make a resolution to replace your bad financial habits with healthy ones this year. Start by identifying the habits you want to change and trying to figure out the trigger and reward that surround the behavior. Then, try to replace that behavior with something positive. After identifying and trying to change your personal financial habits, you might want to consider the financial practices you share with a spouse or significant other.

Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www. twitter.com/PracticalMoney

“I would ask you to consider from the perspective of those of us who live there,” Washington said. “We would like to see that our feelings are included and we are getting the same treatment as if we were a Clayton or a Ladue or anywhere else where people feel happy and safe.”

“We haven’t yet determined the best redevelopment plan – that will be through the Economic Partnership and a lot of folks in the Planning Department,” said Council Chair Sam Page, who represents the 2nd Council District.

“We’re still trying to determine if this needs the blight designation, and if it does, and the property is consolidated, then we offer it for different proposals. And some of those proposals would include, I’m sure, multi-use development. That’s what’s been considered in the past, but there isn’t a final plan right now. This is just discussion. But other properties of similar structure have been redeveloped as multi-use format.”

Washington said she wants the council to consider technology tenants.

“Did you consider bringing in technology? But to just jump to apartments and housing – that’s not always the answer,” Washington said. “There are things that are happening in the central corridor of the city and the Central West End, and it makes sense that it could apply to where we are in North County.”

After recently visiting Cortex in St. Louis, Walton Gray agreed.

“Technology is in the forefront of my mind as well,” Walton Gray said.

Although North County residents are anxious to have the Jamestown Mall site return to a vibrant, productive area for its communities, this is still early in the process.

“I want people to realize it’s going to take a while,” Walton Gray said.

“To be clear, this is not over yet – this is the beginning part.”

n “I think I’m changing the game. In that sense, I’m what Steph Curry is to basketball.”

– Le’Veon Bell

Two black QBs and one black coach still contending for Super Bowl

~ See ‘Sports Eye’ page B4 ~

Chaminade still dominant

McCluer stuns Sikeston at Tiger Shootout

PreP BasketBall NoteBook

The Jayson Tatum and Co. era may be over at Chaminade, but the Red Devils are still one of the elite teams in the state of Missouri.

Tatum has taken his All-American talents to Duke, while former teammates Tyler Cook and Mike Lewis II are doing well at Iowa and Duquesne, respectively. Despite the graduation of that stellar 2016 class, the Red Devils have continued their winning ways with a 12-1 record heading into Tuesday night’s showdown with Sikeston.

Chaminade has a deep and talented unit, led by its three-headed monster in 6’7” junior Jericole Hellems, 6’6” junior Karrington Davis and 6’4” senior Reginald Crawford. The trio combines for nearly 60 points and 20 rebounds a game and all can shoot the 3-pointer.

Hellems is averaging 20.5 points and 8.6 rebounds to lead the team. Davis is averaging 19.5 points and 5.3 rebounds while Crawford is averaging 17.8 points and 5.3 rebounds. Crawford shoots a teamhigh 47 percent from 3-point range, Davis shoots 46 percent and Hellems shoots 40 percent from long distance.

Last weekend, the Red Devils outlasted Champaign Central 92-89 in one of the featured games of the Highland Shootout. Hellems scored a game-high 33 points while Davis added 26 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks as Chaminade avenged its only loss of the season.

McCluer pulls off upset

McCluer High ventured to Southeast Missouri on Saturday and pulled off an 82-75 stunner against Sikeston at the Tiger Shootout in Cape Girardeau. Sikeston was 10-0 and ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 4 before the Comets achieved the upset. McCluer (8-4) was led by senior guard Anthony Harris, who scored a team-high 17 points. Senior guard Damond Gathing had 15 points while 6’3” junior forward Jamori Criswell also had 15 points. Senior guard Jaylen Kimple and freshman guard Jeremiah Johnson added nine points each for the Comets.

Formula for success

The St. Louis College of Pharmacy introduces Danny Brown as head coach

The men’s basketball team at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP) has a new head coach. I know what you’re thinking. The St. Louis College of Pharmacy has a basketball team? It’s a question coach Danny Brown has fielded often since taking the reins for the Eutectics on Jan. 7, and with good reason. Brown inherited a team that is currently in the midst of a 57-game losing streak. FIFTYSEVEN. The last time the team notched a victory was Nov. 1, 2014. It gets worse. Off to an 0-9 start this season, the team’s average margin of defeat is a staggering 49.4 points per game. With that type of track record, maybe it’s best that people were unaware the NAIA basketball program exists. It was obvious that a change was needed for the program, prompting the school to make a midseason coaching change.

STLCOP parted ways with former coach Brian Swift, who led the Eutectics for 12 seasons. The college’s coaching search led STLCOP Director of Athletics Jill Harter to Brown.

A Houston (TX) native, Brown found his way to St. Louis in 2004 as a shooting guard for the Saint Louis University Billikens. He played four years at SLU as a sharpshooting twoguard under coaches Brad Soderberg and the late-Rick Majerus Following his collegiate career, Brown spent several years playing professionally in Mexico, Venezuela, Cyprus and Spain. Eventually, he found his way back to SLU as an assistant on the staffs of Majerus and Jim Crews Harter is confident that Brown has the tools to help the team discover a winning formula.

“Danny brings experience and perspective, and I know he will capitalize on our team’s

talent and use it as a building block for the future,” Harter stated in a statement. “We are looking forward to the impact he will have on the men’s basketball program now and in the future.”

Losing can become an infectious disease. However, there’s no FDA-approved pill, shot or

serum Brown can concoct to lead the Eutectics to victory.

The coach understands that if he wants to ensure a bright future for the program, habits and expectations must immediately improve. Initially, the coach expects the changes may be uncomfortable, but they are certainly necessary.

“My top priority is to change the culture,” Brown told The American. “I plan on coaching my players hard and holding them accountable as student athletes. I want them to be excellent on and off the court.”

It’s easy for people to desire excellence. However, excel-

n Brown inherited a team that is currently in the midst of a 57-game losing streak. FIFTYSEVEN. The last time the team notched a victory was Nov. 1, 2014.

lence and sustained success often come at a steep price. Hard work. Sweat equity. Attention to detail. Brown believes that somewhere along the way, the STLCOP community not only began expecting the losses, but accepted them. As a first-time head coach, Brown has high expectations for the entire program, including the players, coaches and STLCOP community. The highest expectations land on his own shoulders.

“I know what winning looks like. A winning culture is one that’s consistent, with winning habits on a day-to-day basis,”

Earl Austin Jr.

With Earl Austin Jr.

New St. Louis College of Pharmacy basketball coach Danny Brown teaches his team proper defensive technique during the team’s inaugural practice. Senior guards Mahde Shawahin (center) and Cameron Whitlock watch intently, hoping to end a 57-game losing streak.

With Ishmael H. Sistrunk

Ishmael H. Sistrunk

Photo by Wiley Price

Northwest Academy Hornets

Jamarr Williams (#23) had over 30 points on the night to defeat the Golden Eagles of North Tech 82-64.

Photo by Ishmael H. Sistrunk

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Two black QBs and one black coach still contending for Super Bowl

With the NFL playoffs now in the Divisional round it should be noted that there are two minority quarterbacks and one black head coach still holding shots to reach the Super Bowl.

Mike Tomlin will bring his Pittsburgh Steelers to Kansas City on Sunday to take on the Chiefs.

This is the same Tomlin who broadcaster Terry Bradshaw said is not an elite coach. He called Tomlin “a cheerleader guy,” and Tomlin responded by saying Bradshaw’s comment bordered on disrespectful.

He then delivered one of the great lines of the season.

“But what do I know?” Tomlin said. “I grew up a Dallas Cowboys fan, and a fan of Thomas ‘Hollywood’ Henderson.” In 1978, Henderson said Bradshaw couldn’t spell cat “if you spotted him the ‘c’ and the ‘t.’

are within two wins of the Super Bowl after thumping Detroit last week. They have a daunting task in winning on the road against the Atlanta Falcons and quarterback Matt Ryan, who directs the NFL’s most potent offense. If the Cowboys face the Seahawks in the NFC Championship game, the Super Bowl is guaranteed to feature a player of color starting at quarterback. Only five black quarterbacks have started in the Super Bowl: Doug Williams Steve McNair, Donovan McNabb Colin Kaepernick and Wilson.

Howard Richards connects Mizzou with Lou

The first step in solving a problem often is recognizing that there is a problem.

Speaking of the Cowboys, quarterback Dak Prescott must overcome Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers on Sunday to advance to the championship game.

Prescott and All-Pro running back Ezekiel Elliott, a St. Louis area native and former Burroughs and Ohio State star, will take part in what could be the most-watched NFL game in history that is not a Super Bowl. Meanwhile, Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks

Jim Sterk, University of Missouri athletic director, has learned in his short time on the job that there is a disconnect between his school’s athletic department and the St. Louis region. As a result, native son Howard Richards has been hired as the school’s first assistant athletic director for community relations. Richards was a one of the nation’s top linemen at Mizzou from 1977-80 and was selected in the first round of the 1981 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He currently serves as a member of the Tigers football broadcast

team and is an unabashed Missouri supporter – but not an apologist. Richards said former players, coaches and staff members have shared their thoughts with him on Mizzou’s shaky relationship with St. Louis.

“I have heard their voices loudly and clearly, and I want give my best efforts on their behalf to help build a better future for their school,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to getting to know the St. Louis community even better, from an individual and corporate standpoint – to solicit their opinions to assist our staff, and to increase the department’s visibility.

“This is a very important time to lead Mizzou into the future, and I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to be part of that leadership team,” he said.

Sterk said he and the athletic department are “very excited to have Howard on board to assist us in our efforts in St. Louis.”

“There’s no question that he loves Mizzou and I know he will work very hard to represent us well in his hometown and that he will help us make inroads there,” Sterk said. “He’s got an infectious personality, great people skills, and a very well-rounded background, and I know those will be great assets for this role.”

After his seven-year NFL career ended, Richards was a special agent for the Central Intelligence Agency from 1990 to 2003.

He has been color analyst

for Mizzou Football games on the Tiger Radio Network since 2011. He is a booster, but does not shy away from being critical of the Tigers when they struggle – which was often last season.

Richards also served as Harris-Stowe State University director of public safety from 2011-15, before joining

n Only five black quarterbacks have started in the Super Bowl: Doug Williams, Steve McNair, Donovan McNabb, Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson.

Missouri’s staff as College of Arts and Science senior manager for external relations in St. Louis in May of 2015. Richards said he will strive to “affect positive change and to elevate the Mizzou brand, to encourage prospective studentathletes, especially those who live in Missouri, to make Mizzou their first choice.”

Duke’s season a trip

When former Chaminade star Jayson Tatum picked

Duke University to play college basketball he couldn’t have known that his freshman season would by anything but tranquil.

First, he suffered a foot injury that kept him sidelined early in the season. Fellow freshman star Harry Giles is just now seeing significant minutes after minor knee surgery in August. Senior forward Amile Jefferson suffered a bone bruise in his right foot that kept him out of Tuesday’s tussle with No. 10 Florida State and eight Blue Devils have missed at least a game because of injury.

Tatum has bounced back from his early season injury to contribute 17 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game for the seventh-ranked Blue Devils and continues to impress NBA scouts. His career high 22 points helped Duke hold off Boston College last Saturday.

Things are anything but calm in Durham, N.C., as the season hits its second half.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski opted for midseason back surgery and is out for at least four weeks. He left the team in the hands of assistant coach Jeff Capel, a former Duke star. And then there is the sordid saga of serial tripper Grayson Allen. After purposely tripping two players last season, Allen was up to his old tricks when he tripped an Elon player last month.

He was suspended indefinitely – which was one game – before Krzyzewski put him back on the court. The coach then left the team for his surgery. Allen apparently tripped a Boston College player last Saturday. Amazingly, no foul was called and there was no penalty from the team or ACC. The ACC released a statement saying, “There is nothing conclusive that can be determined as to whether Allen intentionally made contact with an Eagles player using his leg or foot.”

Tatum and Allen’s other teammates are counting on him to keep his cool the rest of the season and not trip anyone. However, one must wonder if he was another player, on another team and/or was another color would he still be on that “indefinite” suspension?

Alvin A. Reid is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook and appears on ABC’s The Allman Report and several sports radio shows, including Frank Cusumano’s “The Press Box” on KFNS. His Twitter handle is @aareid1.

Alvin A. Reid

Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys willl take on the Green Bay Packers in what could be the most-watched NFL game in history that is not a Super Bowl.

inSide SPorTS

With Earl Austin Jr.

Ezekiel Elliott to start in Pro Bowl

Napheesa Collier excelling at UConn

St. Louisan Ezekiel Elliott of the Dallas Cowboys capped off a wonderful rookie season in the National Football League by being voted as a starting running back in the Pro Bowl. The former John Burroughs star was one of the leading vote getters for the game, which will be held on January 29 in Orlando.

Elliott finished the regular season as the NFL’s leading rusher with 1,631 yards on 322 carries, which was good for 5.1 yards per carry. He also had 32 receptions for 363 yards. Elliott scored a total of 16 touchdowns as he finished the year as one of the leading candidates for NFL Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player as well.

rushed for 157 yards in leading the Cowboys to a 30-16 victory over the Packers in Green Bay.

Napheesa Collier

Dominates

Former Incarnate Word Academy girls basketball star Napheesa Collier spent her freshman year at UConn as a valuable reserve on a powerful team that won a national championship and finished the season undefeated.

Before even thinking about the Pro Bowl, Elliott and his Cowboy teammates have more pressing business this weekend. Elliott will experience his first NFL postseason action on Sunday as the Cowboys host the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Division Playoffs. Kickoff time is at 3:40 p.m. In the first meeting between the two teams on Oct. 16, Elliott

CLUTCH

Continued from B3

Brown said.

“At SLU we were very successful. We were a detail-oriented program built off championship habits. That’s something that the St. Louis College of Pharmacy can get to that point as a program. We can get there fast.”

On the basketball court, proper timing can often be the difference between a make or a miss, an assist or a turnover, a win or a loss. It appears that Brown is joining the St. Louis College of Pharmacy at the perfect time.

The school is nearing completion on a new state-of-theart student center, residence

PREP

Continued from B3

Jordan Goodwin

Injures Shoulder

Althoff High standout

Jordan Goodwin injured his shoulder in the Crusaders’ loss to East St. Louis at last Saturday’s Highland Shootout. Goodwin was injured late in the first half with the Crusaders leading 37-26. He did not return for the second half. The 6’4” Goodwin is currently averaging 31 points a game to lead the St. Louis metro area in scoring. He is also averaging 11 rebounds a game. Goodwin is headed to Saint Louis University.

Pickett and Ramey show out at Highland

Standout guards Javon Pickett of Belleville West and Courtney Ramey of Webster Groves put on a show in last Saturday’s afternoon game at the Highland Shootout, won by Webster Groves 67-65. The 6’4” Pickett scored a Shootout record 40 points while grabbing 10 rebounds. The 6’3” Ramey had the final highlight as he knockdown a 15 foot jumper at the buzzer to give the Statesmen the victory. Ramey finished the game with 21 points.

Big Girls Shootout in Alton

The Liberty Bank Great Rivers Shootout is a sevengame event that will feature many of the top girls’ programs in the St. Louis metro area. The

As a sophomore this season, Collier has moved into a prime-time role for the Huskies and she has become one of the top players in the country. With Collier leading the way, the Huskies are 14-0 while eyeing a record 90th consecutive victory on Tuesday night. For the season, Collier is averaging 19.4 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 64 percent from the field and 81 percent from the free throw line. In her first game of the season, Collier had 28 points, eight rebounds and four blocks in a victory over Florida State. She has been rolling ever since.

hall and recreation facility. The contemporary seven-story building is located in the Central West End at the corner of S. Taylor Ave. and Parkway Place - in the heart of the college campus.

Currently, the Eutectics team plays its home games at St. Louis Community College –Meramec and practices at Saint Louis University High School.

The new building will make it much easier for athletes to access team facilities such as the gymnasium and weight room. It will also enable easy access for STLCOP students to attend games. Those on campus will be just an elevator ride away from the team’s home games, which should give the team a true home-court advantage.

The school is also expand-

Shootout is set for Saturday at Alton High (IL). The schedule is as follows: Collinsville vs. Hazelwood Central, 10 a.m.; Alton vs. Francis Howell, 11:30 a.m.; Festus vs. Jerseyville, 1 p.m.; Hardin Calhoun vs. St. Joseph’s, 2:30 p.m.; Incarnate Word vs. Belleville East, 4 p.m.; Parkway North vs. Arlington (TN), 4 p.m.; Washington vs. Civic Memorial, 7 p.m.

St. Mary at Cardinal Ritter highlight weekend

Cardinal Ritter College Prep will host St. Mary’s in a big Archdiocesan Athletic Association showdown on Friday night at 7:45 p.m. Ritter is one of the state’s top ranked

Ezekiel Elliott of the Dallas Cowboys capped off a wonderful rookie season in the National Football League by being voted as a starting running back in the Pro Bowl.

Former Chaminade College

Prep star Jayson Tatum has made an immediate impact at Duke as a freshman this season. After missing the first five games of the season with a foot injury, Tatum has played like the National Prep Player of the Year that he was at Chaminade.

ing its academic programs to include an extended seven-year program as well as a Bachelor of Science program. Those options should help to make the St. Louis College of Pharmacy a more attractive program to potential student athletes.

With his SLU pedigree, it’s no surprise that Brown expects that his Eutectics team to hang its hat on its defense.

“I want aggressive players, Brown exclaimed. “We’re going to be tough. We’re going to be aggressive. We’re going to be a stingy defensive team.”

Most of all though, Brown wants and expects for the St. Louis College of Pharmacy to become a consistently successful basketball program.

“We want to win championships and I truly believe

teams in Class 3 while St. Mary’s is one of the state’s top Class 4 teams. Both teams love to play fast and employ fullcourt pressure defense.

Tournament weekend

There are five tournaments going on in the St. Louis area this week, with the championship games all set for either Friday or Saturday night. Here are the dates of those championship games.

D.C. Wilcutt Tournament (at CBC), Friday, 8 p.m.

Denver Miller Tournament (at Kirkwood), Friday, 7 p.m.

Dave Sinclair Tournament (at Lindbergh), Friday, 8:30 p.m.

Rotating 8 Tournament (at Clayton), Friday, 8:30 p.m.

Mike Lewis shines at Duquesne

Former Chamainde

College Prep standout

Mike Lewis II has enjoyed an outstanding freshman season at Duquesne. The 6’2” Lewis has earned Atlantic 10 Freshman of the Week honors three times this season. He is averaging nearly 13 points a game to lead the Dukes in scoring while shooting 36 percent from 3-point range. Lewis had 23 points against VCU in the Dukes’ Atlantic 10 opener last week.

Josh Robinson gets buckets

Tatum is currently averaging 17 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.9 blocks for the Blue Devis. His coming out party came last month when he had 22 points and eight rebounds in a victory over Florida at Madison Square Garden. Last week, Tatum had 22 points, eight rebounds, four steals and two blocks in a victory over Boston College.

that can be a short-term goal,” Brown said. “We have players who have never won a basketball game at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. I expect that to change.”

Watching Brown’s demeanor, it’s clear that he is confident he can achieve his lofty championship goals. In discussing STLCOP’s future, his knowledge, enthusiasm and energy

Former St. Mary’s scoring phenom Josh Robinson has continued his scoring prowess as a college standout at Austin Peay State. The 6’3” Robinson is currently averaging 20.8 points a game to lead the Governors. Robinson has scored more than 20 points 11 times this season and has topped the 30-point mark twice. As a sophomore, Robinson averaged 16.8 points as he helped Austin Peay win the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title and earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Good-bye to some friends in sports

In recent weeks, we lost some very special friends to youth sports in St. Louis. James Gardner was a terrific track and field coach who trained young athletes, including his daughters Kimberly and Jennifer, who were both state-champion athletes. Kimberly was a state champion in track and field and cross country during her career at Webster Groves High. She recently became the first African-American circuit attorney for the City of St. Louis. Jennifer Gardner was a state-championship sprinter at Cardinal Ritter. Both were trained by their father, James. He was an outstanding coach. John King was a real estate attorney who was a 1954 graduate of CBC and still a great friend to CBC athletics. John was a fixture at CBC athletic events for decades. Perry Jones was a fixture in youth sports circles as a coach and mentor for many young people over the years. Coach PJ made a big difference with a lot of young people in the St. Louis area. Our sympathies and prayers go out to the family and friends of these three outstanding men, who went out of their way to help a lot of kids. They will be greatly missed.

are impossible to miss. The best insight on how he might perform as head coach might have come from the late-Majerus.

According to a tweet from Brian Kunderman, when Majerus hired Brown as senior graduate manager in 2011, he said the following about Brown: “Danny will be a bright, loyal and driven coach because that’s the way he performed as a player.”

If Brown can follow in the footsteps of two his coaching mentors, Majerus and Crews, brighter days are certainly ahead for St. Louis College of Pharmacy athletics.

Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @ IshmaelSistrunk

The ST. LouiS AmericAn PreP AThLeTeS of The Week

Javon Pickett

Belleville East – Boys Basketball

The senior standout averaged 29 points a game in the Lancers’ two contests last week.

The 6’4” Pickett scored 40 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the Lancers’ 67-65 loss to Webster Groves in the Highland Shootout. His 40 points were a record in the 26-year history of the event. Pickett also had 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals in a 67-56 victory against Collinsville. For the season, Pickett is averaging 25 points and 5.8 rebounds a game while shooting 55 percent from the field. He is also averaging 2.8 assists and 2.2 steals. Pickett has signed with the University of Illinois.

Jericole Hellems

Chaminade – Boys Basketball

The 6’7” junior forward averaged 28.5 points a game in a couple of Red Devils’ victories last week.

Hellems had 24 points, four rebounds and two assists in a 73-41 victory over Vianney. He followed up with 33 points and seven rebounds in a 92-89 victory over Champaign Central at the Highland Shootout last Saturday. For the season, Hellems is averaging 21.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in leading the Red Devils to a 12-1 record.

Earl Austin Jr.

Jayson Tatum flourishes at Duke

TIF

continued from page B1

businesses and boots on the ground on past projects.

SLDC’s Howard Hayes said on the six projects, Green Street has awarded 44 percent of their contract dollars to minority business enterprises (MBEs) and 23 percent to women business enterprises (WBEs) – outperforming goals

set by the mayor’s executive order.

SLATE Executive

Director Michael Holmes said that Green Street only has two projects that came after the mayor’s 2012 executive order on workforce – which requires all TIF projects aim for the city’s workforce goals of hiring 15 percent apprentices, 25 percent minorities, five percent women and 20 percent city residents. Green Street excelled in hiring minorities, but fell short slightly in hiring apprentices and local residents, Holmes said.

The Old Armory project includes a 10-year tax abatement, along with a Transportation Development District (TDD) tax and a Community Improvement District (CID) tax.

Former TIF Commissioner David Jackson Jr. made a statement meant to address all four projects.

“Tax abatement idle and hurt the Saint Louis Public School District and should not be included in any TIF proposal that contains other incentives, such as TIF, CID or TDD,” Jackson said.

The project passed with seven “yes” votes and one abstention.

Dubious ‘dead zone’

The project that received the most criticism during the public comment portion was the Northgate pharmacy/ retail area that would replace the Circle K at Skinker and Delmar boulevards. PaceDelmar Associates is the developer. Pace-Delmar Associates

requested $4.374 million in TIF support for the $25.9 million Northgate project, which is 16.8 percent of the total cost. The commission has a recommended 15 percent ceiling, and the higher ask angered some in the audience.

Circle K representatives also spoke against the project, saying that they would like to remain at that location. They also said the city’s blight study was flawed because they would be happy to renovate the area if given a chance. In order to be blighted, it has to pass the “but for” test, which means that no development would occur there but for the TIF support.

Jason Deem, a developer who has several projects on Cherokee Street, also argued that blighting an

area in the most “successful commercial district” in the city was flawed. He questioned why the project’s representative, attorney David Richardson, had labeled the project area as a “dead zone.”

n On six past TIF projects, Green Street has awarded 44 percent of their contract dollars to minority business enterprises and 23 percent to women business enterprises.

“The Loop is not a dead zone,” Deem said. “This is a dead parcel in a super successful district; that’s a great opportunity. This is a perfect example of something that would exist without public subsidy, should exist and works without public subsidy.”

As part of the meetings, SLDC also now shows a “scorecard” for how much

revenue will go to the city and Saint Louis Public School District, along with the projected return on investment for the developer. Out of 40 points, the Northgate project scored 24 – and barely earned the necessary “three star” minimum to pass for approval.

“It may show that this is a small net benefit for the city, but I think the city can do a lot better,” Deem said. “Unless we start expecting better, we are going to get the minimum requirements, and that’s exactly what this is. It’s a minimum requirement proposal.”

The Northgate TIF passed

with five “yes” votes, two abstentions and one “no” vote.

Cortex requested for the commission to unlock $9.5 million of the $167 million in TIF support that was already approved years ago. That will go towards building a research lab, office space, public event and conference hall and 150room hotel – a $100-million project all together.

The commission also approved a $17.4 million TIF to transform the historic Jefferson Arms building, at 415 North Tucker Blvd., into a Marriott hotel, a project valued at $103.7 million. This fall, the project’s original announcement was met by protests, after developer Alterra International had said that it was discussing a partnership with the Donald Trump organization on the deal. Mayor Francis G. Slay

tweeted on November 14 that the developer would not be working with Trump. SLDC Director Otis Williams said that restoring the historic building was important to the city, and it’s taken a long time to find someone willing to take on the restoration project. The commission approved the TIF support with seven “yes” votes and one abstention.

Kwame Building Group will serve as the construction manager and work to ensure the project achieve the city’s minority participation targets.

“Our approach historically has been to treat those goals as a floor not a ceiling,” said Joshua Randall, Kwame’s president, “and so as we move forward on this project we intent to excel and achieve beyond the stated goals.”

TIF Commissioners Sheila Hudson, Gail Brown and Eric Young listened to commissioner Douglas Petty discuss minority participation on proposed TIF projects at the January 4 meeting.

Photo by Rebecca Rivas

Unsung ‘sheroes’

By Kenya Vaughn

Of The St. Louis American

“Women of the blues are like none other

– we don’t just come on stage and sing. B.B. played Lucille, but I shake a mean hip,” said blues performer Shirley King.

She wasn’t taking shots at the late blues ambassador. As her father, he’s the reason the blues is in her DNA in the first place. But, as she gathered to discuss “Women of the Blues: A Coast-to-Coast Collection” as part of the opening festivities for the photo exhibit at the National Blues Museum, she felt she had to give the blues divas their just due.

“I have watched women from the minstrel days and cabaret and it wasn’t no playing around,” Shirley King said. “You had to put it all out there. And when I show up, be ready – because when I show up I’m gonna show out.” Fans got a taste the night before as Shirley and several other leading blues ladies brought the house down at BB’s Jazz Blues and Soups the night before.

As they sat in the Museum discussing the nature of the exhibit Saturday afternoon, curator Lynn Ormon Weiss’ intention seemed

Blues Museum pays tribute to the ladies with ‘Women of the Blues’ exhibit

to be to prove Shirley’s words true with the series of photos that showed leading blues ladies in action. “I call myself a ‘storyographer,’” Weiss said. “Every single woman on that wall has a transformative story that will be so visceral.”

The collection features more than 80 photographs and art of “Women of the Blues” performing, in portrait and screaming the blues. The exhibit is comprised of twelve

By American Staff

“It’s not just good will, it’s God’s will,” Rickey Whittington said as he sat with HarrisStowe State University President Dr. Dwaun Warmack and legendary soul crooner Ron Isley in the school’s library to announce the forthcoming Ron Isley Initiative.

Partnering with Whittington’s R Whittington Foundation and Notifi Records, Isley is preparing to launch a series of programming aid in providing local students with two full scholarships annually to attend the St. Louis Metropolitan area’s only HBCU. The initiative will officially launch with a black tie gala/benefit concert on May 20at The Peabody Opera House.

“It’s gonna be so much fun,” Isley said during

Pulphus’ Ferguson painting returned to Capitol Hill

Art is in the eye of the beholder, but the 1st Amendment protects everyone

By Wm. Lacy Clay

Seven months ago, I was pleased to welcome David Pulphus, a very talented 18-year-old constituent of mine from St. Louis, to Capitol Hill, as we unveiled his painting, entitled “Untitled #1”; the 1st place winner in my annual Congressional Art Competition in Missouri’s 1st congressional district.

Many other members of Congress conduct this contest in their districts as well. We do not select the artists. We do not approve or disapprove any of the artistic concepts; and we have no role in judging the competition.

Recently, an alt-right blog calling itself the “International Journalism Review,” which is clearly not an example of either independence or journalism – alleged that the student’s painting, which has been viewed peacefully by thousands of Capitol Hill visitors and staff for months, was offensive to police officers. Mr. Eric Bolling, a Fox News Channel commentator, began a campaign to have the student’s winning artwork removed.

That effort at blatant censorship and media manipulation was then exacerbated by one of my colleagues from California, Congressman Duncan Hunter, who took it upon himself to remove the painting, without any authority from the Architect of the Capitol to do so.

On Tuesday, joined by several of my congressional colleagues, I restored the winning painting to its assigned location and it once again is on public display in a pedestrian tunnel in the U.S. Capitol Complex.

But this is really not about a student art competition anymore – it’s about defending the Constitution.

It is pathetic that some Republican members and alt-right media types, who constantly refer to themselves as constitutional conservatives, don’t think that same document protects the fundamental free speech rights of my 18-year-old constituent.

I do not agree or disagree with this painting, but I will fight to defend this young man’s right to express himself, because his artwork is true for him and he is entitled to that protection under the law. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that artwork which is intended to make a political

“Women of the Blues: A Coast-to-Coast Collection” curator Lynn Ormon Weiss was joined by Amanda Gresham, Anne Harris and Shirley King for a panel discussion for the exhibit currently on display at the National Blues Museum through March 31.

Guest Columnist Wm. Lacy Clay

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

How to place a calendar listing

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

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

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

mlk day activities

Sat., Jan. 14, 11 a.m., St. Louis Public Library presents the Seventh Annual Rhythm & Rhyme: A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. St. Louis Public Library Baden Branch, 8448 Church Rd., 63147. For more information, call (314) 388-2400 or visit www.slpl.org.

Sat., Jan. 14, 11:30 a.m., The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association present the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Health Fair and Luncheon featuring national recording artist J. Moss, Union Station, 1820 Market. For more information, visit www.heart. org/2017STLMLK or call (314) 692-5639.

Sat., Jan. 14, 11:30 a.m., U City Schools 31st Annual MLK Celebration. 7401 Balson Ave., 63130. For more information, call (314) 290-4001 or visit www. ucityschools.org.

Jan. 14 & 16, Missouri History Museum presents the MLK Family Celebration Celebrate Dr. King with a musical performance by Dre Hilton. 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www.mohistory.org.

Sun., Jan. 15, 7 a.m., The MLK Unity 5K Run Walk. Youth Achievers Foundation, 1 Paddock Hills Plaza, 63031. For more information, call (314) 921-2117 or visit www. youthachieversfoundation.org/ mlkunity5k.

Sun., Jan. 15, 3 p.m., St. Louis Community CollegeFlorissant Valley will host its annual celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Terry M. Fischer Theater on campus, 3400 Pershall Road. For more information, visit www.stlcc.edu

Mon., Jan. 16, 9 a.m., St. Louis City’s annual MLK Civic Ceremony, Pre celebration activities begin at 9:00am at the Old Courthouse with the civic ceremony beginning at 10:00am. At 11:00am, the March of Celebration will begin in the streets of Downtown St. Louis and proceed to Washington Tabernacle Baptist Church where services will conclude with an interfaith service.

Mon., Jan. 16, 10 a.m., Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance. Celebrating the life and values Dr. King with speeches, plays and performances. Touhill Performing Arts Center, UMSL, 1 University Blvd., 63121. For more information, visit www.touhill.org.

Mon., Jan 16, 10 a.m., Southern Mission Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration with special guest Pastor Arbie Peterson & Memorial Tabernacle Christian Life Center, 8171 Wesley Ave., Kinloch, MO.

Mon., Jan. 16, 5:30 p.m., The Coalition of Black Trade Unionist, St. Louis Chapter (CBTU-STL) 39th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Awards, Rasheen Aldridge, Megan Green and Bruce Franks are this year’s honorees. St. Louis City Treasurer Tishaura Jones will provide the keynote address. Sheet Metal Workers Hall Local 36, 2319 Chouteau Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63103.

concerts

Thur., Jan. 12, 8 p.m., The Firebird presents Sevyn Streeter – The Girl Disrupted Tour. 2706 Olive St., 63103. For more information, call (314) 5350353 or visit www.firebirdstl. com.

Fri., Jan. 13, 8 p.m., FUBAR

Featured Event

Mon., Jan. 16, 5:30 p.m., The Coalition of Black Trade Unionist, St. Louis Chapter (CBTU-STL) 39th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Awards. Sheet Metal Workers Hall Local 36, 2319 Chouteau Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63103.

presents Murphy Lee & Nate Moore. 3108 Locust St., 63103. For more information, call (314) 289-9050 or visit www.fubarstl.com.

January 13th - January 16th, TeamBackPack presents Off The Map STL with a live show live show featuring, Danté Wolfe, J’Demul, Najii Person, and The Domino Effect. Hosted by Mvstermind. For more information, visit http://www. teambackpack.net/live-offmap-st-louis/

Sun., Jan. 15, 8 p.m., RockHouse Ent & Liquid Assets present Young Dolph. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

Jan. 13 – 14, 9:30 p.m., Jazz at Lincoln Center Group feat. Terell Stafford, Rodney Whitaker, Steve Fidyk, and Andre Hayward. Jazz at the Bistro, 3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 571-6000 or visit www.jazzstl.org.

Jan. 18 – 21, Jazz St. Louis presents Regina Carter: Simply Ella. Jazz at the Bistro, 3536 Washington Ave., 63103.

Sat., Jan. 21, R&B Legends featuring Miki Howard, Lenny Williams, Surface with special guest Tony Terry. Hosted by Lightning. The Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry. For more information, call (314) 869-9090.

RockHouse Ent & Liquid Assets present Young Dolph. For more information, see CONCERTS.

Sat., Jan. 28, 2 p.m., St. James AME Church hosts Synthesis of Sound 2 Jazz Concert feat. Willena “Mz. NV” Vaughn with Adrianne Felton King and Rhoda G 4301 St. Ferdinand Ave., 63113. For more information, call (314) 371-0687 or visit www.stjamesstl.org.

Sat., Jan. 28, 8 p.m., Saint Louis Classical Guitar Society presents Guitar Duo Noire, The Ethical Society, 9001 Clayton Road, St. L 63117. For more information, (314) 229-8686 or online at www.guitarstlouis.net.

special events

Thur., Jan. 12, 6 p.m., St. Louis Public Library presents I Am My Brother’s Keeper: Building Brotherhood. Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 3674120 or visit www.slpl.org.

Fri., Jan. 13, 6 p.m., United 4 Children’s 5th Annual Quarter Auction. Items will be only 25 cents. Glaziers Hall, 5916 Wilson Ave., 63110. For more information, call (314) 531-1412 or visit www.united4children.org.

Jan. 13 – 14, The 12th Annual Loop Ice Carnival. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ thedelmarloop. Sat., Jan. 14, 8 p.m., Alpha

Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Omicron Eta Omega Chapter presents the 109th House Party. Please bring a coat or a sweater to donate to our seasonal wrap project. Omega Center, 3900 Goodfellow Blvd., 63120. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Jan., 15, 2 p.m., St. Louis Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated International Awareness & Involvement presents Ujamaa Tea, Marketplace Fashion Show & Vendor Row, Infinite Occasions, 3515 N. Lindbergh Blvd. 63074. For tickets and more information, call (314) 2295710.

Fri., Jan. 20, 6 p.m., Annie’s Hope presents the 5th Annual Chocolate and Wine Tasting Event: The Chocolate Affair. 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity Ave., 63130. For more information, call (314) 9655015 or visit www.csc-stl.org. Sat., Jan. 21, 7 p.m., 2017 Slumfest Hip Hop Awards This award show will honor the accomplishments of Area Hip Hop Artists, DJs, Producers, and BBoys/BGirls. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, call (314) 4428749 or visit www.slumfest. com.

Jan. 20 – 22, Peabody Opera House presents Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music. 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, call (314) 499-7600 or visit www. peabodyoperahouse.com.

Jan. 21 – 22, COCA presents Momentum. An unprecedented choreographic collaboration between Kirven Douthit-Boyd and Anthony “Redd” Williams makes this a not to miss performance! 524 Trinity Ave., 63130. For more information, call (314) 561-4877 or visit www.cocastl.org.

Mon., Jan. 23, 5:30 p.m., 26th Annual St. Louis Arts Awards. Chase Park Plaza, 212 Kingshighway Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 289-4003 or visit www.keeparthappening.org.

Sat., Jan. 28, 11 a.m., National Sales Network hosts the 10th Annual State of the Organization Jazz Brunch Windows on Washington, 1601 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, email nsnstlouis@gmail.com or visit www.eventbrite.com.

Feb. 18, 9 p.m., Phi Chapter of Alpha Psi Kappa Fraternity, Inc. will be hosting its 3rd Annual Bowties & Stilettos – a fundraiser , 14th Street Artist Gallery, 2701 North 14th Street.

Sat., Feb. 25, 2:30 p.m., True Light Missionary Baptist

Church Progressive League hosts its Annual Black History Program, 2838 James “Cool Papa” Bell Ave., 63106 at Glasgow Ave. For more information, call (314) 5311801.

literary

Thur., Jan. 19, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library hosts author James Hamblin, author of If Our Bodies Could Talk 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information, call (314) 994-3300 or visit www.slcl.org.

Fri., Jan. 27, 6 p.m., 100 Boots Poetry Series: Lyn Hejinian & Alison C. Rollins. Pulitzer Arts Foundation, 3716 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 754-1850 or visit www. pulitzerarts.org.

Mon., Jan. 30, Left Bank Books hosts author Aaron Coleman, author of St. Trigger. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 367-6731 or visit www.left-bank.com.

Through February 28, St. Louis County Library’s Winter Reading Club. All ages are invited to participate. For more information please call 314 994-3300 or visit www.slcl.org/winter-readingclub.

art

Through Mar. 31, National Blues Museum presents Women of the Blues: A Coast-to-Coast Collection 615 Washington Ave., 63101. For more information, call (314) 925-0016 or visit www. womenoftheblues.com.

theatre

Fri., Jan. 13, 7 p.m., Civic Arts Company and The College School present Race

– A One Act Play. 7825 Big Bend Blvd., 63119. For more information, call (314) 962-9355 or visit www.bit.ly/ raceplayRSVP.

Jan. 13 – Jan. 16, TLT Productions presentation of VOICES: Sounds of America will premiere at the Marcelle Theater in Grand Center. Tickets are $ available at MetroTix outlets, metrotix. com, 314-534-1111

Through January 29, The Black Rep continues its 40th Anniversary Season with Nikkole Salters’ LINES IN THE DUST, Washington University’s Edison Theatre, 6445 Forsyth. Tickets for the production are available at The Black Rep Box Office by

lectures and workshops

Wed., Jan. 11, 6:30 p.m., Uptown Open Rehearsal & Conversation with Matthew Rushing. Hear Matthew Rushing, Rehearsal Director for Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, Rushing will be joined by Joanna Dee Das, PhD, Assistant Professor of Dance at Washington University. 524 Trinity Ave., 63130. For more information, call (314) 7256555 or visit www.cocastl.org.

Wed., Jan. 18, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library presents Community Conversations: Exploitation & Healing Action. Natural Bridge Branch, 7606 Natural Bridge Rd., 63121. For more information, call (314) 9943300 or visit www.slcl.org.

Thur., Jan. 19, 7 p.m., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Alpha Omega Chapter in partnership with State Representative Bruce Franks, Jr. presents a Mayoral Candidate Forum For more information or to register, visit www. stlmayoralcandidateforum. eventbrite.com.

Fri., Jan. 20, 12 noon, Saint Louis University John Francis Bannon, S.J., 2017 Lecture presents “History, Social Justice, and the Age of Trump” featuring Dr. Kambiz GhaneaBassiri, Reed College and Dr. Leah Wright Rigueur, Harvard Kennedy School, Boileau Hall, 38 Vandeventer Avenue (between Laclede and Lindell) at Saint Louis University, for more information, e-mail lglover1@ slu.edu or call 314-977-8621

calling 314.534.3810 or online at theblackrep.org.

Feb. 17 – Mar. 14, Max & Louie Productions’ presents “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” The Kranzberg Arts Center. For more information, visit http:// maxandlouie.com/

Sat., Jan. 21, 9:30 a.m., YWCA Woman’s Place will offer a free workshop on SELF-COMPASSION 8300 Morganford Road. Call 314-645-4848 to reserve your place.

Fri., Jan. 27, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library’s

Black History Celebration presents Bernice King, 2017 Frankie Freeman Inspirational Lecture Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information, call (314) 994-3300 or visit www.slcl. org.

Sat., Jan. 14, 7 p.m., Young Friends of Kids with Cancer presents the 4th Annual VooDoo in the Lou Masquerade Ball. The Fox Theatre, 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, call (314) 275-7440 or visit www.friendsofkids.com.

Fri., Jan. 20, 5:30 p.m., The Foundation Fighting Blindness presents The 8th Annual St. Louis Dining in the Dark Visionary Awards Dinner. Ritz-Carlton, 100 Carondelet Plaza, 63105. For more information, call (847) 680-0100 or visit www.FightBlindness.org/ StLouisDininginthedark.

Sat., Jan. 21, 12:30 p.m., A Day of #BlackGirlHealing. Mindful Movements, 1400 N. Market St., 63106. For more information or to RSVP, visit www.squareup.com.

Sat., Jan. 21, 10 a.m., The Community Action Agency of St. Louis County, Inc. invites you to the Home, Health and Energy Resource Fair. Ferguson Community Center, 1050 Smith Ave., 63135. For more information, call (314) 446-4435 or visit www.caastlc.org.

Mondays, 6:30 p.m., Yoga & Chill. A beginner-friendly, all levels (75 minute) class that spends time working through fundamental yoga postures and shapes while exploring alignment, breathing, relaxation techniques, and a good time. Modern Healer Studio, 1908 Cherokee St., 63118. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com

Jazz St. Louis presents Regina Carter: Simply Ella. See CONCERTS for additional details.

essential to protecting liberty.

Americans as well.

This constitutionally protected freedom is essential. The right to express one’s thoughts and to communicate freely with others affirms the dignity and worth of each and every American, regardless of their point of view, and regardless of who might be offended.

Specifically, the U.S. Supreme Court has written that this freedom is:

“The matrix, the indispensable condition of nearly every other form of freedom.” Without it, other fundamental rights, like the right to vote, would wither and die.”

So for every American like me who loves and reveres the U.S. Constitution, freedom of expression, even for artwork that some find offensive is

That freedom of expression is evident across the U.S. Capitol Complex. For instance, there are multiple pieces of artwork on display here that are deeply offensive to me and many of my constituents, including images that honor avowed racists and segregationists like the late Senator James Eastland. And, statues of Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis, who led a treasonous act of rebellion to maintain the cruel institution of slavery, which cost the lives of over 600,000 Americans.

Yet these pieces remain on public display. And there is another critical question that thoughtful American’s must address.

The student artist is a great young man, academically gifted, artistically talented and is now a freshman in college. He is doing everything that we encourage young Americans to

do to become successful citizens.

His winning entry is a provocative, symbolic representation of the great anger, pain, frustration and deep deficit in trust for local law enforcement that many young African Americas feel in their hearts.

The painting also reflects generations of struggle, sacrifice, abuse of power and tenuous relationships between minorities and a system of justice that still provides equal justice for some – but not for all.

So the larger, more fundamental question is: Why does this young artist feel that way?

And what can we do as leaders of a compassionate and just nation to remedy that?

Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri was just sworn-in for his ninth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is Missouri’s senior Democrat in Congress.

BLUES

Continued from C1

photographers from around the world capturing the ladies in action on stages across the country and abroad.

King and a blues violinist Anne Harris sat on the panel offering insight on the life of a blues woman –and why they are often in the shadows of their male counterparts.

Harris said that blues music – and music in general – is male-dominated because of the traditional role of the woman is to be the backbone of the family, which is not conducive to fully and freely committing to the lifestyle that is often required.

“The idea of highlighting women in the blues is lifting up a gender which is underrepresented and struggles to do everything,” Harris said. “By the time you have a career as a female artist, you’ve also been raising babies –and raising husbands. It’s an underrepresented group of very hard working incredible people who do it all.”

Cookie Taylor, daughter of late blues legend and “Women of The Blues” subject Koko Taylor, expressed those exact

sentiments when she called to congratulate Weiss on the exhibit’s opening at National Blues Museum.

“She said her mom used to get up there and pitch a ‘Wang Dang Doodle’ and be as fierce as heck,” Weiss said. “But when she came home she was a mom first and foremost.”

A music rooted in revolution

The panel discussion, moderated Jacqueline Dace, director of Internal Affairs for the National Blues Museum, eventually gravitated towards the genre and its impact on American music – and American history.

“The blues come from Africa – the rhythm, the sound and the origin is Africa, as well as the storytelling,” said Weiss. “The blues emerged from The Great Migration. It came on the trains and the rails by way of those coming looking for a better life. It was revolutionary in the fact that you had these individuals that were able to talk about things and express themselves in a way that they weren’t supposed to [because of racism].”

Much like women within the

genre, blues in relation to the scope of music is largely unsung.

“We have to take people to the roots of the music to truly appreciate it– and the blues is the root of all American music,” said panelist Amanda Gresham, a producer and radio host. “It’s because of the blues that you have the variation of the beats, lyrics and the language. What people don’t know is that they already do love blues –because every other genre has a blues story in it.”

And the root of the blues story is Black America.

“They lived Jim Crow,” Weiss said of the musicians. “And they had the audacity to talk about who they were and why they were men and women and why they should be respected – and why they should have a voice.

Mavis Staples, who is featured in “Women of the Blues” said, “You can’t have a movement without the music.”

“Women of the Blues: A Coast-to-Coast Collection” is currently on display at The National Blues Museum through March 31. For more information, visit www. nationalbluesmuseum.com or call (314) 925-0016.

Continued from C1

of the gala during an interview with KTVI Fox 2. “I hope it’s one of those great things that happen in St. Louis [every year].

Whittington and Isley have been friends for several years. Four or five years ago, they started talking about how they could use their respective spheres of influence to partner in helping to make the city a better place.

Whittington has been giving back independently through toy and food drives and recently launched the R. Whittington Foundation. Isley is a St. Louis transplant with a heart for the city. Together they hope to build a legacy of creating opportunities for higher learning.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award honoree was spurred into action after meeting with Warmack.

“Last year he said, ‘I’m ready,” Warmack said of Isley.

The Ron Isley Initiative will debut with the Ron Isley and Friends Black Tie Gala, but the

sky is the limit as far as how Isley, Warmack, Whittington and Notifi Records Founder and CEO Ira DeWitt hope to collaborate in helping grant access to the type of quality education

Harris-Stowe provides.

“I see music and education as building instruments not just for our communities, but also as a way of implementing change in our world,” DeWitt said.

“Through this program I’d like to create a platform that would allow students to maintain hope and explore the opportunities of the impossible.”

The Ron Isley Scholarships will financially support graduating seniors from a St. Louis area high school with full tuition and room and board.

“My goal is to have a major impact helping the community through the blessings of my own success stories,” Isley said.

“Being an inspiration as well as a tool to helping educate our youth is a wonderful feeling and I’m excited.”

Programming tied to the Ron Isley Institute is forthcoming.

He could have been joking when he mentioned a “Who’s That Lady Luncheon,” but the city will know for sure soon enough. The title does have a nice ring to it. All parties are

eager to get things started and anticipating its growth. They hope The Ron Isley Initiative becomes a blueprint for facilitating similar partnerships – and ultimately a national model for others seeking to use their celebrity and influence for a greater good.

“Harris-Stowe is honored and sincerely grateful to Ron Isley for his dedication to the St. Louis community and his willingness send students to and through college, and we are proud to carry his legacy by transforming the Ron Isley Scholars into professionals and community leaders,” Warmack said.

If young people have the opportunity to get an education, I think that becomes an equalizer. I thank Rickey for bringing all of these pieces together – and I thank Mr. Isley for his foresight and willingness to do this.”

The Ron Isley and Friends Black Tie Benefit Concert will take place on May 20, 2017 at The Peabody Opera House. More details about the show will be provided as they become available. For more information about the Ron Isley Initiative at Harris-Stowe State University, visit www.hssu.edu.

HSSU

Photo by Wiley Price

Rickey Whittington, Ron Isley and Harris-Stowe State University President Dr. Dwaun Warmack held a press conference to introduce the Ron Isley Initiative Tuesday Morning at Harris-Stowe’s AT&T Library.

“Untitled #1” by David Pulphus

Birth Announcement

Celebrations

Last Lecture

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered his last public lecture at Southern Illinois University Carbondale on December 21. The event was free and open to the public. Sec. General Ban is pictured (center) with Gared Roby of John Burroughs Middle School and George Roby of John Burroughs High School.

Reunions

please contact: Marietta Shegog Shelby, 314-799-5296, madeshe@sbcglobal.net.

Sumner Class of 1959 presents its 39th annual Oldie But Goodie Dance, January 21, 2017 at the Machinist’s Hall, 12365 St. Charles Rock Rd., 7:30 pm—midnight. Donation: $15. Tickets available now. Contact: Hubert at 314-6808324 or Delores at 314-7915504.

Beaumont Class of 1967 will have its 50-year reunion on June 10, 2017. The next meeting is January 21, 2017 at1:30 pm at Normandy Library.

Beaumont High School, Class of 1978 will celebrate its 40-year reunion in 2018. For further information,

Sumner Class of 1965 is planning a “70th” Birthday Cruise for October 2017. If you’re interested and want to receive more information, please contact Luther Maufas (314) 541-4556, Brenda Smith Randall (314)382-1528, or Laura Young (314) 328-3512

with name, address so the info can be mailed to you.

Sumner Class of 1967 is planning its 50-year reunion. Please contact Carlotte Algee Stancil at algee1999@ yahoo.com; DonnaYoung Rycraw at donnarycraw@ aol.com or Stella Smith Hunt at stellalhunt58@sbcglobal. net, 314-381-5104 with email, address and phone number.

Vashon High School 90th Anniversary Celebration will be held at Renaissance Hotel Airport St. Louis, October 6-7, 2017. On October 5, 2017, there will be an Alumni Day at Vashon High School. Please save the dates.

Vashon Class of 1957 is

Honored

Dr. Katie Harper Wright received a Community Service award from her namesake Dr. Katie Harper Wright Elementary School during its annual student Christmas program. Pictured left to right: Mrs. Maria Burton (principal), Dr. Wright and her daughter Mrs. Virginia Jordan.

having its 60-year reunion on May 20, 2017 at the Atrium at the rear of Christian N.E. Hospital on Dunn Road. Classes 1955-1959 are welcomed. For more information, please contact Lovely (Green) Deloch at 314867-1470, Marlene (Randall) Porter at 314-653-0107, Mae (Simmons) Mahone at 314653-0818 or Phyllis (Bolden) Washington at 314-531-9925.

Vashon Class of 1967 is planning its 50-year reunion and is need of contact information for all interested alumni. Please contact JoAnn Alvoid at alvoidjoe8@gmail. com; Sarah (Taylor) Robinson at srobinson647@hotmail. com; or Sonya (Walker) Smith at 314.381.8221, with your

address, email and phone number.

Vashon High School 90th Anniversary Celebration will be held at Renaissance Hotel Airport St. Louis, October 6-7, 2017. On October 5, 2017, there will be an Alumni Day at Vashon High School. Please save the dates.

St. Louis Community College needs your help identifying STLCC alumni. Alumni are encouraged to visit the website: www.stlcc.edu/foundation/, to become members or update information. For more information, contact Ashley Budde, coordinator of alumni relations, at abudde6@stlcc. edu, or 314-539-5145.

Do you have a celebration you’re proud of? If so we would like to share your good news with our readers. Whether it’s a birth, wedding, engagement announcement, anniversary, retirement or birthday, send your photos and a brief announcement (50 words or less) to us and we may include it in our paper and website – AT NO COST – as space is available Photos will not be returned. Send your announcements to: kdaniel@stlamerican. com or mail to: St. Louis American Celebrations c/o Kate Daniel 2315

Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability. We prefer that notices be emailed to us! However, notices may also be sent by mail to: Kate Daniel, 2315 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103

Deadline is 10 a.m. on Friday. If you’d like your class to be featured in a reunion profile, email or mail photos to us. Our email address is: reunions@ stlamerican.com

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway and her husband, Jon, are proud to announce the birth of their third son, Joseph Nickels Galloway, born the afternoon of January 6. Auditor Galloway is the first woman to have a baby while serving as a statewide officeholder in Missouri.

Who is going to direct the choir?

Homophobia and the Black Church

By Rev. Osagyefo Sekou

For The St. Louis American

Some 15 years ago, I wrote this essay in attempt to struggle with the growing and increasing vocal homophobia in the Black Church. It has been edited to suit this moment. Since that time I have deepened my theological and political commitment to queer folks. To this end, I have refused to serve churches that do not allow women or gay folks in their pulpits or ministries. There is a strong possibility that my credentials in Church of God in Christ will be challenged and taken. And that is okay. I don’t want to belong to a church that dishonors the gospel of Jesus, simply taken: love.

Years ago, the late E. Lynn Harris, author of Invisible Life, was asked about being gay and Christian. During his book-signing at Washington University, he responded with deep conviction, “I see no contradiction between my sexual orientation and my faith.” E. Lynn Harris’ proclamation speaks to the ongoing struggle in the lives of gay brothers and sisters as they attempt to reconcile their sexuality and spirituality.

Many Christians, who are very vocal in their opposition to gay and lesbian lifestyles, create barriers that make this journey for inner peace quite arduous. Contempt often drips from their lips as they describe homosexuality as an abomination. When I hear such comments, I always wonder if they know that in the Book of Leviticus the Bible also calls eating

shrimp an abomination.

As a straight black preacher, I have had to come to grips with my own homophobia. One day I received an energetic call from my ex-girlfriend. “Hey baby, James and Alfred invited us to meet them at ‘The Club.’ Do you wanna go?” I hesitated. My sense of trepidation was not mediated by the fact that I am a licensed minister who would seriously be looked down upon by many church folk for going to a “den-of-sin club.”

As a matter of fact, I could not have cared less about what church folk thought or think of me because heaven and hell are God’s questions, so God is the only one who can answer them. It was my homophobia. You see, James and Alfred are gay brothers who have come to be good friends of ours and “The Club” is an African-American gay space. First and foremost, I did not want the brothers at The Club to think I was “like them.”

In a matter of seconds, my brain was flooded by all the sermons I had heard demonizing gay and lesbian lifestyles. Nonetheless, I decided that I loved James and Alfred more than the preachers who preached those sermons. And I went. The Club is precariously nestled in an unassuming building amidst a ghetto, a warehouse district and an affluent neighborhood.

As we opened the door my heart sank deep into the abyss of religious homophobia.

Again, I heard Muslim and Christian ministers blaming gay folk for the problems within the black family. There was silence on the outside of the front door but the air lit up with music and conversation on the other side. I felt like the “enteringin-of-the-straight” silenced the lively voices of these brothers. All eyes were on us. I do not know if it was because we were new faces or what. This

silence was only momentary. It was probably a figment of my heterosexist imagination.

The first part of The Club is a bar area where there is socializing. This room is a sea of ebony brothers from all walks of life. Italian suits, designer jeans, overalls, and khakis adorned these men as they enjoyed their space. While looking around for James and Alfred, I saw a brother I knew from back in the day. Now, I heard that this brother was gay but never had observed any behavior, subtle or blatant, to confirm the rumors.

I spoke to him. He responded with an effortless wave and that was it. A wave? A nonchalant wave from this brother I used to be so cool with? This brother was someone that I use to kick it with. We went to parties, talked about which sisters were the finest, and who had the most game.

Based on that history, I thought I deserved more than a half wave. It also seemed as though the brother was “hiding” behind someone. He acted as though he did not want to be seen.

n I have no memory in my life in which queer folks, particularly gay black men have not been at the center of our worship life.

I did not care if he was gay. I just wanted to catch up on old times. It was strange. Anyway, my girlfriend suggested that we go into the dance area of The Club. We did and saw James and Alfred immediately. We hugged them and they introduced us to their co-workers. Surrounding the DJ was a bar and bar stools. We sat there.

James and I went and got drinks in the social room and talked about work. All of a sudden, I felt someone touching my dreads. I got really nervous. Slowly, I turned around and saw it was a sister. My sense of relief was shattered by the fact that if my girlfriend saw her playing in my hair it was going to be “on” if I did not stop her.

Before I could say anything, the sister apologized and said that she liked my hair and wanted to know how long I had been wearing my hair in dreadlocks. I thanked her for the complement and told her six years. James and I got the drinks and returned to the dance area.

In the corner, adjacent to the bar/ DJ, I noticed a minister of music from a local church. I did not speak. He looked like he was getting his “mack” on. The music in The Club was hardhitting. The bass throbbed with an electric energy.

The DJ, a tan brother with baby doll eyes, was grand. As he spun an eclectic mix of house music with gospel intrusions, he danced, laughed and rolled his eyes ever so fiercely. As we exchanged causalities he made flippant comments about whomever and whatever. He was a joy. My girlfriend and I danced. As the evening progressed, my body became weary. Equally, I don’t like house music. As we prepared to leave, I noticed another familiar face. In addition to directing the church choir, we sang in a group together during my high school years. He had recently become a Baptist minister. After the initial

“Hello,” I asked him, “Well, how’s the ministry?” His face dropped. He answered with what I sensed was shame. “Fine,” he mumbled. As we exited the building, the walk to the car became laborious. My head was flooded with the familiar faces, the “normalcy” of the ebony sea of my brothers, and the “ministry” comment to my old friend. I shared with my girlfriend that I should not have asked about the ministry. He seemed too put off by my question, which was asked in a most genuine manner. “Why?” I wondered. If the brother was gay, why did he have to hide it from the church? There is contempt for gay brothers and sisters in a variety of theological appropriations in the Black Church.

As a third-generation ordained elder in the Church of God in Christ, I know this one thing for sure: I have no memory in my life in which queer folks, particularly gay black men have not been at the center of our worship life. It is normative for gay men to play our organs, direct the choir, and lead us to highest places of spirituality

Perhaps, when he serves in the capacity of choir director, all of the reviled emotions and stereotypical behaviors associated with gay men become tolerable, in fact, celebrated. Aside from the gay choir director, who is retained for convenience’s purpose, any acceptance of homosexuality within most of the Black Church is non-existent.

Simultaneously, we are silent when it comes to issues of class, gender, and undemocratic leadership in the Black Church. Why would a brother in a monogamous relationship with another gay brother be shunned, while the promiscuous preacher is celebrated Sunday after Sunday?

Moreover, there is an uneven critique of “sin,” particularly “sins” that stand in contradiction to patriarchy and pastoral accountability.

Clearly, there are so many contradictions within the unspoken laws of the Black Church regarding homosexuality. Some gay people are alienated while others appear to be accepted for their God-given gifts. Nonetheless, the contradictions are evident. At bare minimum, if the homophobic contempt perpetuated by the Black Church persists, it begs the question, “Who’s going to direct the Choir?”

Guest Columnist

Rev. Osagyefo Sekou

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

ASST-PThelp coordinate and implement eforts to increase audience diversity at Saint Louis Art Museum. Rqrd: 3 yrs work in diverse communities and oice settings. Apply @ slam.org/careers.

Drivers:

STAFF ATTORNEY AND A SOCIAL WORKER

ACCOUNTING

The St. Louis American is seeking a Full-Time Accounting Assistant Proficient in Accounts Payable & Excel Spreadsheets.Working knowledge of Accounts Receivable. Understands General Ledger and Financial Reports. Experience in Quick Books preferred. Professional phone etiquette & customer service skills. Send resume with qualifications and work experience to: SLAM Blind Box 1001 – Accounting Assistance 2315 Pine Street, St. Louis, MO 63103 Or email to BlindBox1001@gmail.com NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

ATTENTION PARAMEDICS

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER

he Missouri Department of Transportation has a vacancy for a Human Resources Manager at its Central Oice in Jeferson City. his position oversees activities regarding all aspects of Human Resources administration.

Successful candidates will possess a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration or related ield. Six years of experience in general human resources activities which may include employment, recruitment, employee/ labor relations, airmative action/Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) compliance, beneits, compensation, or training is required.

To view the entire job description and apply on-line, please visit www.modot. org/jobs. he deadline to apply for this position is January 24, 2017.

MoDOT ofers an excellent beneits package and our Central Oice was recognized as a 2016 Gold Level Recipient of the American Heart Association’s Fit-Friendly Worksites Recognition program. EEO/AA

Mehlville Fire Protection District is looking for highly qualiied CRITICAL CARE PARAMEDICS

Starting at $55,352; $59,352 w/CCP-C $83,001 ater 4 years

Beneits include health insurance, pension, tuition reimbursement, sick leave, attendance bonus, vacation, life & disability, holiday pay, uniform allowance, wellness beneits

REQUIRED: EMT-P certiication through the State of Missouri PREFERRED: CCP-C certiication Applications accepted Dec. 12, 2016 – Jan. 20, 2017, weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Headquarters, 11020 Mueller

ASSISTANT/ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

Webster University invites applicants for a 12-month tenure-track faculty at the rank of Assistant/Associate Professor in School Psychology. Please apply online at http:// webster.peopleadmin.com/postings/2111. No phone calls please. Webster University provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, ethnicity, age, protected veteran or disabled status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

ASSISTANT

Claims Operations at Safety National Responsible for various tasks related to: categorizing, imaging and processing incoming mail for Auto/GL, LPT and Primary WC. To apply, please visit: www.safetynational.com and click on the Careers tab.

LSEM is seeking a Staf Attorney and a Social Worker for a new project focusing on combatting the systemic issues that create racial and ethnic disparities in school discipline and fuel the “school-to-prison pipeline”. For more information on the position and how to apply visit our website at www. lsem.org. his position closes January 22, 2017.

ACCOUNTANT

Leveraged Resources Management (LRM) the accounting subsidiary of Area Resources for Community and Human Services (ARCHS) a St Louis based not-for-proit organization specializing in community development and partnerships is seeking an accountant to assist in the inancial operations of ARCHS and the 10 not-for-proit organizations that currently use the bookkeeping services of LRM. he position requires knowledge of not-for-proit fund accounting, monthly general ledger closes, accounts payable processing and payroll generation with online tax payments. he position is full time and ofers full beneits package and 401K with match. he successful candidate should have a degree in accounting or business and experience in the day to day operations of an accounting department. . No Phone Calls Please. Send resume and cover letter with salary history to careers@ stlarchs.org or Fax to HR 314-289-5670.

EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES TO JOIN OUR BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF EASTERN MISSOURI STAFF TEAM ARE OPEN NOW!

Our staf members are accountable, adaptable, coachable, conident, resilient, and supportive. Sound like you or someone you know?

Current openings include:

•Vice President of Marketing and Communications

•Graphic Designer

•Executive Assistant- Oice of the President

•Enrollment Matching Specialist Check out full job descriptions at http:// www.bbbsemo.org Send cover letters and resumes to hr@ bbbsemo.org

Drivers:

Bonus. Call a Recruiter for Details! 866-263-6079

CITY OF JENNINGS

Accounting Clerk I

Job Summary

Responsible for providing accounting support to the Finance Director and assist the Finance department with administrative and accounting functions.

Primary Responsibilities:

Supports the Finance department by performing administrative and accounting duties

Prepares A/P invoices for check processing

Maintains Purchase Order system by accurately matching them against invoices

Monitors all invoices for proper department account codes

Responds to vendor inquiries and requests from department director’s

Maintains A/P ledger and records entries into the general ledger

Maintains A/P iling system for monthly and yearly external audit

Processes Payroll through an independent payroll company

Prepares various excel spreadsheets and records inancial data into the general ledger

Assists in monthly and yearly external independent audit

Maintains and prepares forms W-9’s and 1099’s

Research and resolve accounting discrepancies

Ability to operate a cash register and prepare a daily deposit

Maintain customer conidence in collecting various inancial transactions

Protects the inance department operations by keeping inancial information coniden-

tial

Contributes to the team efort of accomplishing the goals of the inance department

Qualiications:

EVENING RECEPTIONIST

he Community Music School of Webster University is seeking a part-time Evening Receptionist. Please apply online at http:// webster.peopleadmin.com/postings/2119. No phone calls please. Webster University provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, ethnicity, age, protected veteran or disabled status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Bachelor’s

Proicient in

Proicient

Proicient

Proicient in Microsot Oice Suite including PowerPoint presentations

Proicient in processing Accounts Payable

Proicient in processing payroll

Knowledge of W-2 and 1099 preparation

Customer service experience

Eiciency in 10 key calculations

Salary $34,515 (GS13)

FIREFIGHTER/ PARAMEDIC

he City of Clayton Fire Department is seeking applicants for the position of Fireighter/Paramedic. Candidates must be a high school graduate or have an equivalent level of education, possess a current Missouri Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) license, have current CPAT card by time of job ofer, and possess a valid driver’s license in their state of residence. Starting salary range of $54,841 - $73,225 DOQ. Certiication as a Professional Fireighter by St. Louis County is preferred. Veterans with relevant experience are encouraged to apply. Application packets are available at City Hall, 10 N. Bemiston Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105 or online at www.claytonmo. gov/jobs. Applications must be received by 4:30pm on January 20, 2017.

SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS MANAGER

he Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis seeks a School and Community Programs Manager to extend the educational reach of the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (CAM) by actively programming ofsite and onsite projects, workshops, and experiences across the St. Louis community. he role is designed to maintain and build bridges between the Museum and St. Louis communities through the cultivation of relationships, inclusive programming, and ofsite engagement with schools and community partners. For more info and to apply, please visit camstl.org/jobs.

GALLERY ATTENDANT

$10.53/hour. Weekdays and Weekends. Full Time. Apply at www.slam.org/careers

FOSTER CARE CASE MANAGER

Provide case management services for children in foster care. Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work or related ield. Minimum of one year of employment in child welfare ield. Interested candidates forward letter of interest and resume to: admin@posimpacts.com, Attention: Valerie Atkins. Employee will be employed by Positive Impacts, Inc. and contracted to Epworth Children & Family Services.

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

For the Sake of All, a project of Washington University that seeks to improve the health and well-being of African Americans, is currently seeking a Communications Manager to help formulate, lead, and implement the overall communications strategy for our initiative. Desired candidate should have experience in Adobe Creative Suite, WordPress, and in developing and managing a range of print and online communications. Apply for the position at jobs.wustl.edu, under communications manager 35504.

- SLACO (St. Louis Association of Community Organization) seeks part-time Neighborhood Trainer. Selected candidate will recruit residents for training on neighborhood analysis and revitalization, recruit presenters, handle class logistics. Average 16 to 20 hours/ week, including weekends and some weekday hours. Degree in urban studies ore related ield helpful. Equal Opportunity/Airmative Action Employer. Send resume, cover letter to: kmckinney@ slaco-mo.org. No Phone Calls Please.

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

Management Fellow for the Oice of

and project work.

Salary Range: Commensurate with experience Communications Oicer School of Medicine, – 35435 his position reviews and forwards information in both emergency and non-emergency modes through two-way radio communication, telephone communication, intercom, alarm system/video monitoring, computer interface and face-to-face human contact on a twenty-four (24) hour, seven (7) day per week basis. All transactions are recorded for future use via radio log.

Salary Range: he hiring range for this position is $15.37 - $19.22 per hour

Public Safety Oicer– 34962

Position assists with enforcement of university policy/procedures, patrolling facilities and responding to situations as directed by a Communications Oicer or Supervisor on a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year basis.

Salary Range: he hiring range for this position is $12.47 - $15.58 per hour

Assistant Director, Academic Services (he Teaching Center) – 34951: he Assistant Director of Academic Services provides expert pedagogical support to faculty on teaching with technology, including the University’s Learning Management System. he

Assistant Director works closely with colleagues at he Teaching Center to develop, implement, assess and improve programs on evidence-based teaching and on professional-development in teaching for graduate students and postdocs. he Assistant Director contributes to he Teaching Center’s writing and research projects on teaching and learning in higher education. his position is a 12-month, full-time, exempt staf position.

Salary Range: Commensurate with experience

Nurse Practitioner – 35486

Position provides primary and/or specialty nursing and/or medical care in a variety of settings; works under physician oversight as required by state regulation, and functions within the scope of practice deined by the NP’s specialty certiication, BJH medical by-laws, and, where it exists, the collaborative practice agreement.

Salary Range: he hiring range for this position is $76,627 - $107,265 annually.

Associate Title XI Coordinator-35284 his position acts as Associate Title IX Coordinator and has primary responsibility for timely response to and investigation of all student complaints related to sex discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking. his individual will be responsible for conducting intakes and other interactions with involved parties, managing independent investigators, and overseeing the investigative process. his position also assists in conducting research and assessment related to campus climate and services; and assists in training members of the University Sexual Assault Investigation Board (USAIB).

Salary Range: he hiring range for this position is $49,881 - $64,837 annually.

Acquisitions Librarian - Olin Library - 35377

he Acquisitions Librarian facilitates the acquisition of materials in all formats for the University Libraries to support the critical success of Washington University teaching and research. he Acquisitions Librarian develops policies, procedures and worklow for monographic, databases and serials operations; supervises acquisitions support staf; and acts as a primary liaison to library vendors and materials selectors.

Salary Range: he hiring range for this position is $49,881 - $64,838 annually.

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Technology Entrepreneur Center Inc.

(T-REX) is soliciting responses to a request for qualiications for architectural and construction management services for interior renovations. Extra consideration will be given to irms with proximity to and familiarity with downtown St. Louis. To obtain a copy of the complete RFQ please contact molly@downtowntrex. org. Deadline for requesting the RFQ is February 15th. EOE

NOTICE TO MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISES

(African American and Hispanic American)

TARLTON CORPORATION, 5500 West Park Ave., St. Louis MO 63110, is seeking qualiied Minority Business Enterprises (African American and Hispanic American) to submit a bid proposal on the Lemay Wastewater Treatment Facility, Concrete Preservation project (Contract Letting 12428-015.1) for Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District.

Work consists of the repair and/or replacement of deteriorated concrete decks in all outside process areas and inal settling tank eluent channel at the Lemay Wastewater Treatment Facility, 9200 S. Broadway, St. Louis MO 63125.

Tarlton is soliciting subbids for the following: Demolition Work, Concrete (Supply), Pipe Railings, Bar Gratings, Self-Adhering Sheet Waterprooing, Traic Coatings, Electrical Work, and Stainless Steel Slide Gate Work. Pease reference project manual for complete speciication sections.

he Owner has established a MBE (African American and Hispanic American) goal of 30% utilization for building construction contracts in the amount of $50,000 or more. he Owner’s MBE goal is at least 30% of the total contract price.

MSD will have a prebid meeting, with a site visit following, at the Lemay Wastewater Treatment Facility. Meet in the lobby of the Lemay WWTF Administration Building located at 9200 S. Broadway, St. Louis MO 63125 at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 31, 2017.

Tarlton’s prebid meeting will be held on January 27, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Tarlton’s oices located at 5500 West Park Ave., St. Louis MO 63110. Please let Jim Siess at 314-633-3300 know if you plan to attend.

All interested and qualiied businesses should contact John Siess at 314-633-3300 to discuss subcontracting opportunities. Plans and speciications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “Electronic Planroom.” Plans and speciications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1710 Macklind Ave., St. Louis MO 63110. All negotiations must be completed prior to 12 p.m. on February 13, 2017.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

he St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (the “Partnership”) is soliciting applications from qualiied candidates to be a contract worker for the St. Louis Promise Zone, as the “Promise Zone Catalyst.” his is a grant-funded position for one-year, with the possibility of extension. his paid position is for approximately 20-30 hours per week.

he Partnership will accept applications, which must be received no later than 3:00 p.m. on Monday, January 23, 2017. Resume, references, and cover letter should be sent by e-mail to jmontecillo@stlpartnership.com.

he Request for Applications may be obtained from the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership’s web site at www.stlpartnership.com. he Partnership reserves the right to reject any or all applications and to waive informalities therein. Any questions should be directed to Joseph A. Montecillo, Staf Attorney for the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership at (314) 615-7663 or jmontecillo@stlpartnership.com.

St. Louis Economic Development Partnership Equal Opportunity Employer

Notice of Initiation of the Section 106 Process: Public Participation

Mobilitie proposes the construction of a pole style telecommunications tower within existing road right-of-way at 3614 Avondale Avenue, St. Louis, St. Louis County, MO. 63121. Members of the public interested in submitting comments on the possible efects of the proposed projects on historic properties included in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places may send their comments to Andrew Smith, RESCOM Environmental Corp., PO Box 361 Petoskey, MI 49770 or call 260-385-6999.

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS

SEWER DISTRICT Notice is hereby given that the Metropol- itan St. Louis Sewer

will receive RFQ’s in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 631032555 until 10:00 a.m. on February 15, 2017 to contract with a company for: TOP SOIL, SAND, SEED, SOD AND STRAW.

Speciications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). he bid document will be identiied as 8775 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314-768-6254 to request a copy of this bid.

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

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

he St. Louis Philanthropic Organization (SLPO) invites 501 (c) (3) organizations to submit an application for its 2017 Responsive Grants cycle. Grant requests cannot exceed $10,000 and must be used solely for programs that provide services to St. Louis city residents. Agencies may submit only one application per grant cycle.

he original and two copies of the application, along with one copy of the required attachments, must be received before 4:30 p.m. on Friday, February 3, 2017, at the SLPO oice located at 20 South Sarah Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63108. Please ensure that the required number of copies and all attachments are included.

All grant requests must be submitted on the SLPO application form. he application form, along with instructions for completion and required attachments, may be found on the SLPO web site at www.stlphilanthropic.org as a illable PDF and in Microsot Word. Agencies may also request that a copy of the application and instructions be emailed to them by contacting the SLPO oice at stlphil@ sbcglobal.net. Oice hours are Mondays and hursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Applications will not be accepted by email or fax. hey may be delivered to the SLPO oice by U.S. mail or hand delivered. Delivery methods that require a signature may afect submission by the deadline if delivery is attempted outside of SLPO oice hours.

An Informational Session for Prospective Grantees via conference call will be held on hursday, January 12, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Please see the SLPO website for a copy of the PowerPoint slide presentation.

Enerfab

SALES ASSOCIATE

Sales Associate at Saint Louis Art Museum. Full Time – $12.14/hr. Weekdays and weekends. Apply at www.slam.org/careers

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR I

East-West Gateway Council of Governments has an opening for a Community Engagement Coordinator I. Starting salary is $35,000 annually. Please follow the link to view post at http://www.ewgateway.com/AboutUs/ JobAds/jobads.htm An Equal Opportunity / Airmative Action Employer

CITY OF KIRKWOOD DISPATCHER

Receive & determine nature & location of emergency/non-emergency calls. Dispatch police, ire, EMS, other emergency units as needed. Irregular hours and shits. REJIS Certiication, experience w/ Global CAD, ProQA (EMD) desirable. $19.67-$24.59/ hr. doq. Apply:www.kirkwoodmo.org NLT Jan. 6, 2017 or call 314/984-6975 for a paper application. EOE

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

he City of St. Louis, Department of Health (DOH), Bureau of Communicable Disease – Grants Administration is requesting proposals from local organizations, community agencies, universities, local governmental entities and other interested parties eligible to receive federal funds to provide the following services: Contract Compliance, Planning Council Support, and Childcare services. Interested parties are encouraged to respond to the solicitation for proposal beginning Monday, December 19, 2016

An RFP packet may be obtained from Phillip Johnson, Secretary I, DOH, 1520 Market Avenue, Room 4027, by either calling 314-657-1556 or via email JohnsonP@stlouis-mo.gov. Interested parties may also download the RFP from the City of St. Louis website at http://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/procurement.cfm. If interested parties have downloaded the proposal from the website, they must register with Mr. Johnson; in order to be notiied of any changes or amendments to the RFPs. he deadline for submitting proposals is 4:00 p.m., hursday, February 2, 2017 at the address referenced above.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID

Goodwin Bros. Construction Co. is requesting subcontract bids and/or material quotations from qualifying minority business enterprises for relevant phases of work for Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, Lemay WWTF Concrete Preservation, Contract Letting No. 12428-015.1. Interested parties should contact the Goodwin Oice at (636) 931-6084. A pre-bid meeting will be held at our oice at 1766 Highway 61 South, Crystal City, MO 63019 at 8:00 am on January 30, 2017. Subcontractor/Supplier bids are due February 14, 2017 at 10:00 a.m.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR TRAINING PROVIDER

East-West Gateway Council of Governments is seeking a training provider for Counter Narcotics and Terrorism Operational Medical Support (CONTOMS) Training. Funding for this project will be provided by the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security. Proposals are due no later than 4:00 p.m. on February 13, 2017. Proposals received ater this time will be returned unopened. Details can be obtained at www. ewgateway.org or by calling 314-421-4220 ext. 208.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

he St. Louis Center for International Relations d/b/a World Trade Center-St. Louis (the “WTC”) is soliciting proposals from qualiied companies to provide a venue for its annual event, “Growing Global,” in September 2017. he event will host approximately 700 guests.

he WTC will accept proposals, which must be received no later than 3:00 p.m. on Monday, January 23, 2017. Proposals may be sent or delivered to 7733 Forsyth Blvd., Suite 2300, St. Louis, MO 63105, Attn: Joseph A. Montecillo, or by e-mail to jmontecillo@stlpartnership.com. DBE, MBE, and WBE irms are encouraged to bid. he Request for Proposals may be obtained from the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership’s web site at www.stlpartnership.com. he WTC reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive informalities therein. Any questions should be directed to Joseph A. Montecillo, Staf Attorney for the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership at (314) 615-7663 or jmontecillo@stlpartnership.com.

Advertise Your Job Opportunies, Bids, Notices, Proposals, Rentals, Homes for Sale, Auto Sales and More in the St. Louis American

Invitation for Equipment Bids EQUIPMENT & SOFTWARE

East-West Gateway Council of Governments is seeking bids for equipment: • Tactical Robots, GIS Sotware, SPSS Sotware Bids are due on January 31, 2017. Funding provided by the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security. MBEs / WBEs are encouraged to submit bids. Details can be obtained at www.ewgateway.org or by calling 314-4214220 ext. 208.

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS

SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is accepting proposals in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 10:00 a.m. on February 15th, 2017 to contract with a company for: Chiller Maintenance Services.

Speciications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). he bid document will be identiied as 8782 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314.768.2735 to request a copy of this bid.

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

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Project, Randolph County, Missouri, Project No. Y170101 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 1/26/2017. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

S e a l e d b i d s f o r C B O C Renovations, St. James Missouri Veteran’s Home, St. James, Missouri, Project No. U150302 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 2/16/2017. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

Businesses

Plocher Construction Company, Inc. 2808 hole-Plocher Road Highland, IL 62249

PH: (618) 654-9408 Fax: (618) 654-6454

bids@plocherco.com

is seeking MBE (African American and Hispanic American) businesses for the MSD Lemay WWTF Concrete Preservation for Union Subcontracting & Supply opportunities in the following areas:

Demolition, Concrete Repairs, Metals, Waterprooing, Traic Coating, Equipment, Mechanical and Electrical

All interested and qualiied business should Chuck Wagner or Andrew Wirz in writing or via email to discuss the subcontracting and supply opportunities. All quotes must be received one day prior to the bid opening date of February 14h, 2017. All proposals will be reviewed for the lowest, responsive, and responsible quote.

MSD will have a Pre-Bid Conference at the Lemay Wastewater Treatment Facility Administration Building located at 9200 S. Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63125 at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 for all interested bidders.

Plocher Construction will hold its own Prebid meeting on February 1st, 2017 at 9:00am at Plocher’s oice: 2808 hole-Plocher Rd, Highland, IL.

Plans and Speciications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.”

St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices St. LouiS

S.L.I.M. brought the masses to Chaifetz Arena Saturday morning when he made them an offer they couldn’t refuse with $3.14 for his upcoming State of Emergency “314 Day” Concert. Thousands came through to take advantage of the special offer.

SOE 314’s epic preview. I knew it was gonna be “cray cray” from the jump when LooseCannon S.L.I.M. said he was selling tickets to “State of Emergency 314 Day Concert” cheaper than a whole order of plain fried rice. But even with everything I had in mind, I still had no idea. First of all, the folks started showing up at 6 o’clock in the doggone morning. A least a few of them took power naps in their car after tearing up the club at the Midtown hotspot of their choice. I’m sure of it. And if beating the sun to the Chaifetz wasn’t enough, they showed up in droves … and when I say droves, I mean by the thousands. That’s right, I said thousands. A little birdie told me that the final sale number was closer to 4,000 that it ever was to 3,000 – and that after the sale ended, folks kept right on buying. And who could be mad? Anybody who was on the scene to see it in action knows that if the folks who bought tickets and S.L.I.M. are the only ones who show up, it would still be all the way live. But we all know that will not be the case. Just to prove it, I’m gonna give y’all a major hint to the heat he’s bringing on stage. Y’all ready for it? You know what, I just had a vision of S.L.I.M. ringing me up and letting me have it on speaker phone for ruining the surprise, so I’ve decided against it. Just know that I know he’s bringing some heat – y’all know he is too. And even though the sale is over, you’ll get your money’s worth no matter how much you pay. Mark your calendars for “314 Day!” Y’all better get on it while you can still get in, because something tells me there will be no seats to be had sooner than later.

A Night of Soul singer Searching. I didn’t get the memo about the lastminute lineup change, so I walked up in the Old Rock House Thursday night to show love to my girl Angel Shields regular soul music set and get a sip of national recording artist Calvin Richardson. I know quite a few of y’all are thinking, “who is Calvin Richardson?” Well, he was in the neo soul wave and sang a couple of my jams from that era and I wanted to see what his live show was talking about. Looks like it will be a while before I find out. The show was already a reschedule because of last month’s snow storm. And because of travel logistics, he gave the girls yet another rain check. The good news is that I still had an absolute ball because of the powerhouses that stepped to the mic. Jesse Prather, Truenesia Combs, Golliday, Jessica and whoever else I forgot all got it in. Let me start off by saying the band was sick! Jesse gave me life with his cover of Blackstreet’s “Before I Let You Go,” and True tore it up so much that some woman took her napkins and choreographed a routine clearly inspired by praise dancing to show her appreciation. And if that wasn’t enough, some gentleman in top-to-bottom black leather of all different textures couldn’t resist the urge to jump from his seat and straight into a routine he borrowed from the Nicholas Brothers. Golliday is after my soul with his gaudy self! I was so caught up in the rapture of his Willow Smith hair-whipping techniques and accompanying body rolls that I couldn’t bring myself to care that he didn’t know the words to Ginuwine’s “Pony.” And Amber Bullock was looking like Leah Easley of Easily Done Hair Gallery (that’s a good thing) when she came on stage in thigh-high boots that tied in the back, a strategically cut crop top. She gave me life for the few little minutes she was on stage getting her secular music on.

High Energy at Mood. Friday night I slid on over to Mood for Elite St. Louis’ Energy party. Now before I get into the party, I must say that the folks at Mood pulled a smart little move by putting those curtains near the entrance. Since I can’t get it off anymore, I might as well confess that I don’t know how many times I would ride down Locust and keep right on rolling if I got a peek in the door at the light and could see all the way back to the DJ booth. What? So I’m the only one? Come on now. Okay, now that I have that off of my chest, I can let y’all know that it was so jumpin’ that the Elite St. Louis crew didn’t even need the curtain. I really get a kick out of seeing lit Millennials – because they almost don’t know what to do with whatever hand they hold their phone with when they get to turning up without it. Anyway, I also say my boy Sir Thurl – which was such a treat. I can count on one hand the amount of times I’ve seen him out when he’s not tearing up the tables and have three fingers left. Friday night was quite a good look for the gentlemen of Elite.

Midtown Masquerading. I made my first visit to .Zack (the hotspot formerly known as Plush) to kick it with the minds behind the First Friday Art Walk Masquerade Art Ball. Grand Center got a hold to that building and laid it all the way out! But let’s get to the Ball! Leave it to the creative millennials to refuse to conform to the norm with their masks. I saw more bedazzled Beyoncé “On the Run” masks than anything – but the folks went to town as far as expressing their creativity with whatever they had on their face. I think my favorite was the handsome gentlemen giving me a plus sized Bane from “Dark Knight” with his couture gas mask. There was also a fair share of young ladies in wings that would make the angels portion of the annual Victoria Secret runway show look lowkey ordinary. Actually First Friday Art Walk’s own Jacqueline Craig was my favorite art walk angel with her hot fire red wings. The whole night was prime people watching and art appreciation!

Kim, Angel and Deb dipped into the Marquee for Element Saturdays

Donnie, Kevin, Slick, DJ, and Black celebrated Donnie’s birthday Saturday night @ The Marquee

Lewan and Tiffany stopped through The Marquee Saturday night

Patrice and Jackie were posted @ Marquee for Element Saturdays

Dano, David, Jay, owner of Jay’s Bar and Grill, Jung Coasta and Ness came through to kick it @ The Marquee for Element Saturdays

Frach’e, Kim and Bell observed the art @ The First Friday Art Walk Masquerade Ball @ .Zack

Jackie and Corey were the epitome of creativity for the First Friday Art Walk Masquerade Ball Friday night @ .Zack

Kim and Raquel looked stunning in all black Friday @ .Zack for First Friday

Autumn and Michelle started their weekend off @ Marquee Friday night

Quia and Shiana stepped into the creative wonderland provided by the First Friday Art Walk’s

LooseCannon

Photos by John Scott