January 20th, 2022 edition by The St. Louis American

St. LouiS AmericAn

Celebrations occur with voting rights under siege

By Alvin A. Reid and Dawn Suggs

American

St. Louis

The

Dr. Martin Luther King Day 2022 was held as Congress failed to secure voting rights through the John R. Lewis and Freedom to Vote Acts. Yet, St. Louisans hailed the slain civil rights leader during the celebration of the 93rd anniversary of his birthday and vowed to continue working to create an America King hoped to see. The annual event at the Old Courthouse downtown drew dozens on a frigid afternoon, and Merdean Gales of the Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday Committee said she and her organization will never lose their fire to make King’s dream a reality.

“Here we are, as Dr. King said so many times, still fighting ‘the three evils.’ “Poverty, racism and violence.” We are here to deter it in whatever way we can, the best way that we can,” she said.

“We believe that not only voter education, but voter registration, and then voter participation [are needed.] We’ve got to exchange things with each other. We’ve got to talk about things. And after that we must set a plan of action.” Over 100 vehicles also took part in a ‘votercade’ parade through the streets of St. Louis near the Courthouse after the program.

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones said King’s non-violent crusade to protect voting rights and secure economic fairness for all Americans, which cost him his life, continues today.

“Our fight to protect voting rights, often from some of the same politicians who dare quote Dr. King on this day, does not end when

See MLK, A6

By Dana Rieck

The St. Louis American

Shortly after the city made headlines for a dramatic reduction in homicide numbers, city and community leaders discussed Cure Violence’s preventative work over the last two years.

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones was joined Jan. 13 by her public safety director, Dan Isom, in virtually meeting with representatives from the three neighborhoods where the Cure Violence prevention program was put in place.

Cure Violence is a national program that seeks to prevent gun violence using the methods and strategies associated with disease control: detecting and interrupting conflicts; changing behavior; and changing social norms by connecting residents to services and embedding staff directly in neighborhoods.

n “It’s a hard job to do, but if you place the right people in the right positions, I feel like it would be a big step for the whole city.”

— Juan Williams

The St. Louis Department of Health leads the local Cure Violence program, which was set to receive $8 million in city funds over three years.

The programs’ first location, in the Wells Goodfellow/Hamilton Heights neighborhood, opened in June 2020 and was implemented by Employment Connection, which annually assists about 2,000 people with finding employment and focuses on reducing recidivism.

Later on, in August 2020, Employment Connection was tapped to open another Cure Violence location in Dutchtown.

Sal Martinez, CEO of Employment Connection, told Jones and Isom the Wells Goodfellow/Hamilton Heights neighborhood’s program has conducted 376 “de-escalation sessions,” where employees disrupt conflict situations before escalating. The neighborhood is located in District 5, an area that saw a 27% decrease in homicide and firearms’ violence rates between 2020 and 2021, according to the mayor’s office.

“These staff persons see guns every day while they are in the community,” Martinez said. “… They’re not in the office 80 or 90% of the time, working on their computers. They are in the community, they are in the hotspots, they are in the areas where people are committing illegal activities risking their lives to make the community a

By Dana Rieck

American

St. Louis hasn’t had someone at the helm of its diversity and equity efforts since 2018, but that changed earlier this month with the addition of Vernon Mitchell, Ph.D. Mitchell began his role as chief equity and inclusion officer Jan. 3 after his appointment was announced Dec. 29. His predecessor, Nicole Hudson, served under Mayor Lyda Krewson’s administration and left in August 2018 for a position at Washington University. The position sat vacant until now.

Mitchell, has a lengthy professional background in the academic field and said he will focus on how both qualitative and quantitative data can help inform the city’s decisions when it comes to closing the income gap and increasing equity among St.

n “I think this is an amazing opportunity to really shine a light on what St. Louis can be and what it’s going to be and not just solely be focused on St. Louis’ past.”

— Vernon Mitchell, St. Louis’ equity and inclusion officer

Louis residents. “I think this is an amazing opportunity to really shine a light on what St. Louis can be and what it’s going to be and not just solely be focused on St. Louis’ past, but we cannot create a sustainable future

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Rudolph Lovelace (right) directs traffic during the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis’ food giveaway at its headquarters in the city’s Fountain Park neighborhood Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Several groups helped give away PPEs, toiletries and food at the event dedicated to Dr. King’s Day of service.

Asia Johnson, the neice of Mother’s Advocating Safe Streets founder Jeannette Culpepper who passed away last year, stands on the steps of the Old Courthouse Monday, Jan. 17, participating in national King Day ceremonies.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Photo by Wiley Price

Vernon Mitchell began his role as the city’s chief equity and inclusion officer Jan. 3 after his appointment was announced Dec. 29 by St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones.

Pastor Michael Todd goes viral after wiping spit on churchgoers’ face

Pastor Michael Todd, megachurch leader of Transformation Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma did the unthinkable.

In a Sunday service at his church, he stood in front of the congregation and wiped his spit all over the face of a church member, who volunteered to get on stage.

The man in question who stood still in the gross act is his brother, according to some sources.

In the viral clips, Todd attempts to convey the message that sometimes visions received from God can get nasty. He demonstrated it by spitting in his hand and wiping the spit across the unnamed man’s face to dramatize his sermon’s meaning.

Todd released an apology video on Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Day.

Tiffany Haddish arrested and charged with DUI

Tiffany Haddish

weekend near Atlanta and charged with driving under the influence.

Assistant Police Chief Matt Myers said Peachtree City Police received a call around 2:30 a.m. about a driver being asleep at the wheel on the highway. Myers said an officer saw a car that matched the caller’s description and stopped Haddish while she pulled into a residential yard.

He said she later posted a $1,666 bond and was released from the Fayette County Jail. He didn’t provide details about a potential court hearing.

Peachtree City is located south of Atlanta.

Haddish or a representative have not commented on the arrest.

Don Cheadle portrays Wall Street’s first Black millionaire in new series

Don Cheadle will portray Wall Street’s first Black millionaire in an upcoming series he’s executive producing.

The show, which will air on HBO Max, narrates the story of broker Jeremiah G. Hamilton a Haitian businessman who became a successful trader in the 1800s and gained wealth through investors from a hedge fund.

Hamilton rose to promi nence in the 19th century

He allegedly benefitted from money schemes that scammed insurance companies. His illegal financial transactions gave him the nickname “Prince of Darkness.” He obtained $12 million from involvement with real estate investments, the stock market, and other ventures.

The series is based on a book about Hamilton titled “Prince of Darkness: The Untold Story of Jeremiah G. Hamilton, Wall Street’s First Black Millionaire,” written by Shane White

Steve Harvey refrains from stand-up cause of “cancel culture”

Fans won’t have the opportunity to do more stand-up comedy any time soon, and it’s all because he disagrees with “cancel

Harvey told Variety the current political climate has presented him with challenges for a comeback to the stage.

“The only way I can do one more special is if it’s at the end of my television career because it will end my television career,” he said. “We’re in the cancel culture now. No stand-

up that is sponsor-driven can say anything he wants to. Chris Rock can’t. Kevin Hart can’t. Cedric the Entertainer can’t. D.L. Hughley can’t. I can go down the list. The only person that can say what they want to say on stage is Dave Chappelle because he’s not sponsordriven. He’s subscription-driven.”

Harvey’s comments arrive timely following backlash against Chappelle for his comments about the trans community in his Netflix special, “The Closer.”

Harvey believes cancel culture is destroying comedy. Chappelle is still scheduled to perform this year at the Netflix Is a Joke comedy event.

“If I had tried to continue as a stand-up, there’s no way I could maintain it,” Harvey said. “Political correctness has killed comedy. Every joke you tell now, it hurts somebody’s feelings. But what people don’t understand about comedians is that a joke has to be about something. It has to be about somebody. We can’t write jokes about puppies all the time. The joke can’t be about bushes all the time. Some of these jokes will have to be about people, because that’s the most interesting topic. So if I come back, I’ll have to wait until I’m done. And I’m not done. I want to do one more. I’ll probably have to call it ‘This Is It.’”

Sources: Complex, Paper Magazine, News One, USA Today, The Jasmine Brand, TMZ

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Steve Harvey

Kwofe Coleman says Muny must represent all of St. Louis

By Jeremy D. Goodwin

St. Louis Public Radio

Kwofe Coleman started working at the Muny for a simple reason: When he turned 16 and wanted a summer job, that’s where his older sister was taking the family car every evening to her own job as an usher.

Coleman got a job there too, pushing theatergoers who use wheelchairs up and down the outdoor theater’s steep aisles. After years of summer work and an education at Emory University, he’s been at the Muny full time since 2008. Coleman has managed various parts of the organization’s efforts — as house manager, staff accountant, director of communications and managing director. He became president and CEO at the start of the year.

Coleman takes the reins at a time when the Muny is completing a $100 million capital campaign, facing uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic and working to diversify the organization at all levels.

St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin asked Coleman, 39, about his history with the Muny and his priorities in his new job.

Jeremy D. Goodwin: The Muny is one of the best-funded arts organizations in St. Louis. But because of the pandemic you were essentially dark in 2020 and had a limited season last year. What shape will the Muny’s finances be in if you’re not able to go back to a full schedule in 2022?

Kwofe Coleman: Like at

ity, so we are in a position to withstand it. We’re in a position to be here for the long haul, for sure.

Goodwin: You’ve had a lot of time to think about what you might do here if you had the chance to lead. What are some of your goals?

Coleman: One of the top goals is to make sure that our audience and the people that come to this theater, that it’s representative of the community that we serve. It’s a goal to make sure that we continue to strive to make sure that our audience represents all of St. Louis. That when a person comes into this theater, they see a reflection of themselves on the stage, they see a reflection of themselves in the audience, on the backstage crews, in the musicians. Across the board.

Goodwin: This is one of the longest-running and highestprofile arts organizations in St. Louis. You happen to be the first African American to lead this organization. Why is that important?

Coleman: That’s an immense source of pride for me. I am in this position due to hard work and being what I believe is the best-qualified person for it, but I come to this job with my identity and carry my identity with a lot of pride. I talked a little bit earlier about people coming into this theater and seeing reflections of themselves onstage or backstage, but, you know, it’s also to see reflections of themselves in all levels of leadership. So, I take that with a high sense of pride, but also a

attend a staff meeting at the Muny, you look around and see more diversity than when you

: You know, I’m

of the diversity of the

n I think at this point, the No. 1 thing is to assure people that we’re here. We’re going to continue being here. This is a very unfamiliar and shaky time for folks, especially in this industry. But we’re in strong position.

- Kwofe Coleman, New Muny president and CEO

an ethnic standpoint, gender, sexual orientation, you name it. I think sometimes the word diversity gets so narrowly defined. A lot of it is race, a lot of it is Black and white, but that’s not the limit to it.

That’s really important to me because when we sit at the table and we make decisions about something that’s going to happen in the theater or whatnot, I really appreciate it when someone says, “Not everyone is going to be able to afford that.”

Or, “That’s not everybody’s

Kwofe Coleman, the Muny’s new president and CEO, at the outdoor theater in Forest Park earlier this month. He has worked there since he was a teenage usher and managed several areas of the organization’s operations since 2008.

Do I think that we are making the strides to get there? Absolutely. I hesitate to put a number on it because it just changes. Goodwin: If you had to go out there and give a state of the union address for the Muny, what would your message be? Coleman: I think at this point, the No. 1 thing is to assure people that we’re here. We’re going to continue being here. This is a very unfamiliar and shaky time for folks, especially in this industry. But we’re in strong position.

staff here?

Coleman

proud

Photo by Brian Munoz/ St. Louis Public Radio

Guest Editorial

They tell us slow up; we tell them catch up Commentary

By Cori Bush

On Monday, we honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was not a celebration; it was an acknowledgement of the work that Black history makers in St. Louis have done and continue to do to advance his vision for racial justice. Above all else, it was a reminder of how much work we have left to do.

In the last year alone, Republicans filed more than 440 bills in 49 states, including in Missouri, to chip away at our voting rights, impose harsher voter ID requirements, limit the number of drop boxes for mailin ballots, and make it easier for people to be purged from voter rolls.

The intention and consequence of these bills is to suppress, subvert, and disenfranchise Black voters. For Republicans, the prospect of building Black political power in our country is so dangerous they have used every tool at their disposal to systemically deny Black voters from exercising our most fundamental right.

The U.S. Senate is attempting to pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. Democrats are leading yet another effort to safeguard our democracy. But even in the face of history repeating itself, and Black folks yet again losing access to the ballot, every congressional Republican and two Democratic Senators, Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, refuse to act. In the face of the ignorance and cruelty of these Senators, let us remember the words of Dr. King’s 1957 “Give Us the Ballot” address.

“We call for a liberalism from the North, which will be thoroughly committed to the ideal of racial justice and will not be deterred by the propaganda and subtle words of those

who say, ‘Slow up for a while; you’re pushing too fast.’” Manchin and Sinema are telling us to slow up, while our communities can’t take time off to vote without being scrutinized by employers because Election Day is not a national holiday.

They’re telling us to slow up, while communities like St. Louis with a majority of Black voters still face disproportionately long wait times at the polls.

They’re telling us to slow up, while Black folks in this country continue to show up to the ballot box only to find our names purged from the voter roll.

They’re telling us to slow up, while Black political power in our country is being gerrymandered away through surgically drawn maps that slice up our communities and rob us of our voices.

They’re telling us to slow up, while they deny us our voting rights in favor of the Jim Crow era filibuster.

Let’s make plain what the filibuster really is. It is an arbitrary Senate rule that is a relic of Jim Crow. For 100 years, this arbitrary rule has been wielded against our community to stall civil rights legislation.

So, for us, it’s simple. When exceptions to the filibuster are made to raise the debt limit and to push through Trump’s Supreme Court nominees, we refuse to believe that you can’t make the exception so that Black and brown folks, folks

Commentary

with disabilities, folks with criminal records, and so many more of us can have our right to vote protected.

Still to this day, they tell us to slow up while our children live in poverty.

Slow up, while parents can’t afford childcare to be able to go to work.

Slow up, while underpaid teachers spend their own money to provide students with the basic needs our government fails to provide.

But while they say slow up, we say catch up because we feel that fierce urgency Dr. King spoke of.

Catch up, because we are not going to stop pushing to secure our right to vote, no matter how many times they deny us.

Catch up, because if we do not defend this right to vote, Republicans will keep working to block the teaching of truth about American history in our schools. Let’s be clear, Black history is American history.

Catch up because we need to end redlining, need reparations, and need universal healthcare. We still need to end police brutality, end our incarceration crisis, amend the 13th amendment, and end modern day slavery through the criminal justice system.

We still need to eliminate the racial and gender wealth gaps, end to environmental injustice, and create safe housing for every single member of our community who is unhoused or housing insecure.

When they say slow up, we say catch up.

While we push them to catch up, St. Louis will not let up. We came here to Congress to save lives, and that’s what we’re going to do.

U.S. Rep. Cori Bush represents Missouri’s 1st Congressional District

The power of direct action

President Joe Biden could have delivered his recent voting rights message to U.S. senators from the White House just down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol. Instead, he and Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Atlanta a few days before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It was the perfect place for the president’s powerful message urging senators to be on the right side of history by doing whatever it takes to get voting rights legislation passed and put on the president’s desk.

The president and vice president visited King’s church before traveling to Morehouse College, King’s alma mater. They spoke in a place represented long and nobly by the late civil rights champion and congressman John Lewis.

I was honored to be in attendance, surrounded by friends and colleagues in the voting rights movement. History was all around us. I could feel the presence of so many witnesses, including those who gave their very lives to the cause.

I had to think that Dr. King and the late Rep. John Lewis would appreciate that some of us sitting in the front row for the president’s speech had been on the front lines just a few weeks earlier. We were arrested outside the White House while urging the president to put the full power of the presidency behind a push for voting rights protections.

King and Lewis had great strategic understanding of the power of nonviolent direct action to highlight injustice, to

motivate supporters, to stir the conscience of those on the sidelines—and sometimes to light a fire under allies

The invitation extended by the White House to those of us arrested outside its gates in November was a sign that the president appreciates the urgency that drove our direct action. President Lyndon Johnson and Martin Luther King were partners in passing civil and voting rights laws, and each understood that movement leaders had a different role to play than the politicians. Some voting rights advocates held a sit-in inside the White House itself just days before President Johnson made his famous “We Shall Overcome” speech calling on Congress to uphold American ideals by passing voting rights legislation.

Voting rights advocates have known all along that President Biden was an ally. He has publicly criticized the wave of voting restrictions passed by Republican states after record voter turnout in 2020 led to former President Donald Trump’s defeat. We respected the importance of other items on the president’s legislative agenda, including investments in infrastructure and the American people.

But we watched with increasing alarm as Republicans

Spirit of giving growing in Black America

By Dr. Ben Chavis

Today we are witnessing an increased spirit of giving to help underserved communities across the United States. The Black Press of America acknowledges and takes public note of both the responsibilities and the opportunities for corporate leaders to be “Thy Sisters and Brothers Keepers.” Good social corporate responsibility matters.

This is particularly true in communities of color, which continue to be mired in poverty and insufficient access to transformative economic improvement opportunities. One of the key indicators of economic advancement and sustainability in today’s global marketplace is the extent to which effective community-based organizations have access to equity funding and high-tech innovations.

With 2021 behind us and preparations and commitments now being made for 2022, we are revisiting the progress accomplished by a leading African American entrepreneur and corporate leader, Robert F. Smith, who is helping to increase racial equity funding and bridge the digital divide in six southern cities where a large percentage of African Americans now reside: Atlanta, Birmingham, Memphis, Houston, New Orleans and Charlotte.

Earlier last year, NNPA highlighted the game-changing initiative that , along with PayPal CEO Dan Schulman, and BCG CEO Rich Lesser launched called the Southern Communities Initiative. This initiative is “A catalytic effort to coordinate and accelerate racial equity funding, programming, and convening organizations in six southern communities that are home to approximately 50% of the African-American population.”

owned business growth and access to capital; Housing – providing access to resources that enable home ownership at fair rates and terms; Education / Workforce Development –creating advancement opportunities via formal education/skills training for minorities; and Health Equity – eliminating health disparities through equal access to quality, affordable healthcare.

There are also two racial equity enablers that are part of the initiative: Digital Access – providing access and adoption of affordable high-speed internet solutions for low-income and minority households; and physical infrastructure – providing access to affordable, reliable real-estate and civil infrastructure to support minority families and businesses.

In each of the six states, there is a well-known community servant and leader who has been designated as the “Community Lead” of the Southern Communities Initiative. In Atlanta, The Rev. Bernice King, The King Center CEO, is the lead. In Houston, the lead is LaTanya Flix, Greater Houston Partnership senior vice president. In Memphis, there is Sarah LockridgeSteckel, co-founder and CEO of the Collective Blueprint co-founder, while the lead in Charlotte is Janet LaBar, Charlotte Regional Business Alliance president and CEO.

n One of the key indicators of economic advancement and sustainability in today’s global marketplace is the extent to which effective community-based organizations have access to equity funding and high-tech innovations.

In Birmingham, the lead is J.W. Carpenter, Prosper Birmingham executive director and in New Orleans, it is Judy Morse, Urban League of Louisiana president and CEO.

According to information recently posted on Smith’s dedicated website, we were pleased to learn that the Southern Communities Initiative already has identified, embraced and activated the following local leadership appointments and activations in those six states. There are four racial equity pillars for the initiative: Wealth Creation – supporting Black-

Letters to the editor

The philanthropy and corporate leadership of Robert F. Smith is appreciated by numerous recipients and Smith should be applauded for helping make a difference and providing hope to millions of people in underserved communities. The issues of economic equity and racial justice are still critical for the future of the nation. Yet, the contributions of Smith and others appear to be gaining support because as of today more than 70 major corporate entities have now endorsed the Southern Communities Initiative. The truth is there can be no real racial justice without the reality of sustainable racial equity and economic advancement of communities of color. We, therefore, without hesitation salute Robert F. Smith.

Dr. Benjamin F, Chavis, Jr. is President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association

in the U.S. Senate used filibuster rules to repeatedly block action on federal voting rights bills that are needed to override voter suppression and brazen election subversion schemes being put in place in key states. We saw time running out to reverse these changes before the 2022 elections.

So, we took to the streets and called on the president to make the case to U.S. Senators that the right to vote is far more important to our democracy than the current version of the Senate’s filibuster rules.

President Biden rose to the occasion in Atlanta. “To protect our democracy, I support changing the Senate rules, whichever way they need to be changed, to prevent a minority of senators from blocking action on voting rights.” he said. “When it comes to protecting majority rule in America, the majority should rule in the United States Senate.”

“I will not yield,” President Biden said. “I will not flinch. I will defend the right to vote and our democracy against all enemies, foreign, and yes, domestic.”

I believe that the president’s call to action was a reminder of the power of direct action. And a reminder of the power of the people that when it comes to preserving voting rights and our democracy, we must all remain vigilant and willing to act with what Dr. King called “the fierce urgency of now.”

Ben Jealous serves as president of People For the American Way.

Readers continue to chime in about voting rights

How can people be opposed to the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 and the Freedom to Vote Act? These acts don’t say WHO to vote for. They just make it easier to vote! Voting is the preeminent right of our democracy!

I’m one of those persons holding a sign for a person I support in an election, 25 feet from the polling area. One morning I was at the polling place early and a woman went in to vote but

Guest Columnist

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

Columnist Ben Jealous

Guest Columnist Cori Bush

The Clean City Coalition and its volunteers have banded to help clean up East St. Louis. The group is also painting inspirational signs as part of the campaign.

Clean up effort is on in East St. Louis

The Clean City Coalition is helping end East St. Louis’ problem with litter, weeds covering sidewalks, while also addressing environmental racism.

The Coalition is headed by community leaders Zach Chike, Koran Payton, J.D. Dixon, and Thomas Brown. Chike, a City of Joy Fellowship youth pastor in East St. Louis, said the effort “focuses on the environmental, social and economic conditions in East St. Louis that foster addiction, crime, violence and poverty by building community ownership in creating, influencing and changing public policy.”

Payton works with the organization, Regular Everyday Citizens [RED], Dixon heads the Empire 13 Cleanup Initiative, and Brown’ works with the Building Talent [BTF]. Each of the organizations, including Chike and his church, were hosting various community cleanup initiatives. While they had not met, they became aware of the shared goal. They came together to create the coalition.

In addition to the cleanups, Dixon attended the virtual East St. Louis Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances [PFAS] Incineration Ban Town Hall on Jan. 12, 2022. Illinois state Rep. LaToya Greenwood, East St. Louis environmental activist Mamie Cosey and Sierra Club

representatives Nicole Saulsberry and Sonya Lunder joined more than 30 other people at the event.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, (PFAS) are a group of manufactured chemicals. A common characteristic is that many break down slowly and can build up in people, animals, and the environment

Greenwood filed a bill during the 2021 Illinois legislative that would prohibit disposing of any PFAS through burning. Veolia Environmental Services’ incinerator in Sauget, a neighboring community of East St. Louis, is a site the Defense Department authorized to dispose of the substance.

“It’s up to us to end this injustice and fight not just for us, but for the generations to come,” Dixon said on the Coalition’s Facebook page.

“The effects of systemic environmental racism are deep rooted in the East St. Louis community… we’re not going to wait on [local, state, or federal government] to take action. We’re the change we have been waiting for and we will use the power we’re building to not only clean and beautify our communities but organize and mobilize to pass and enact new legislation to address the disparities black communities like East St. Louis face.”

We lost a warrior lawyer in Lani Guinier

By Julianne Malveaux

Lani Guinier, an amazing attorney, law professor, author, and activist, made her transition on Jan. 7, 2022, even as Black folks and our allies were engaged in the legislative battle to solidify our voting rights. In the middle of the struggle, a beacon, a woman who loved voting rights and fair representation more than life itself, was taken from us.

In a unique act of personal and political betrayal, former President Bill Clinton first nominated Guinier to be assistant attorney general for civil rights, then bowed to right-wing pressure to withdraw her nomination. If Guinier had her way, she would have preferred to defend her record against inaccurate attacks. Instead, she authored brilliant books and provocative articles. Her theme, often, was the tyranny of the majority.

The loonies on the right who vilified Guinier might take a more careful look at her work. They called her a “Quota Queen” and ridiculed her views on cumulative voting as “antidemocratic.” Cities like New York and San Francisco now use ranked choice voting to elect leaders. Both London Breed in San Francisco and Eric Adams in New York won their seats thanks to ranked-choice voting. Some Republican minorities that attacked Guinier might find some solace in her views. She wrote that a 51-49 split should not mean that the 51% gets all the power. Instead, there must be methods of power-sharing.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and his cronies don’t get that. They want it all. Guinier wanted to find a way to share power, manage compromise, and ensure that the 49% had a say. Republicans have so rigged the rules that they flex majority muscles even when they are in the minority. Democrats have forgotten how to fight back, complacently leaning into an unfair process that includes filibusters, gerrymandering and downright theft.

Guinier was inspired by Constance Baker Motley, the first woman to work for the NAACP Legal Defense [LDF] and Education Fund, when she was hired in 1946. Guinier was 12 when she learned of Motley and saw her as an inspiration. Guinier had many others to inspire her, including Elaine Jones, director-counsel of the NAACP LDF from 1993 through 2004, and the first woman to lead the organization. Guinier benefited from Jones’ mentorship and, as an LDF attorney, won 31 of the 32 cases she prosecuted.

I’m not trying to write an obituary. I’m just thinking aloud about an amazing woman who blazed trails, made a difference, shrugged off adversity, and fought passionately for the Black vote. As she makes her transition, we are struggling. One of her contemporaries, fellow Harvard Law graduate and civil rights attorney Gail Wright Sirmans, observed that we “recycle our struggles.” From the end of enslavement, the issue of Black voting rights has been a challenge to our nation. There were grandfather clauses and poll taxes, and when they were eliminated, there were other hurdles to clear.

This is not just a Black thing. To discourage disabled voting, some polling places have been put on a hill, challenging to navigate in a wheelchair. People can’t bring absentee ballots to their grandmothers and grandfathers to discourage elder voting. To prevent youth voting, students who spend most of their year in their college town must clear hurdles to have the right to vote.

Guinier was down for this fight, and she was aware of the attacks on our right to vote. She represents a long line of Black warrior lawyers like Baker Motley, Jones, Sherrilyn Ifill, Kristen Clarke, Barbara Arnwine, and others. These sisters are warrior lawyers. Guinier was among the best of them.

These warrior lawyers are necessary in these times. We count on them to strap on their armor and prepare for the next fight. There are no rights without voting rights. President Biden, step up! You said you had our backs. Vice President Harris, continue to speak up. Guinier, rest in peace and power. Guide our leaders, through your spirit, to do the right thing.

St. Louis American staff

Photo courtesy of Zach Chike / Clean City Coalition

Juliane Malveaux

Continued from A1

we leave today. We organize against those moderates in power who refuse to pass voting rights legislation, [with] the state of our democracy on the line,” Jones said.

“Our efforts to eradicate poverty after decades of intentional disinvestment from Black neighborhoods is an ongoing one. Poverty is the father of violence and crime, and we cannot address one without addressing the other.

“Dr. King was mocked and derided [in his time]. His advocacy of anti-war views held a mirror up to our country and confronted and forced so many to face injustice and racism. That’s uncomfortable for a lot of us. Those conversations are tough and that’s the only way we’re going to move forward.”

Jones, the city’s first Black woman mayor, also recognized “those who fought for unity in our community, those who bring neighborhoods together in his legacy to fight back against the scourges of poverty, racism and violence that hold our region back.”

Hundreds of vehicles also lined N. Kingshighway to receive food, toiletries, and PPE items courtesy of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.

“The Urban League was proud to partner with the Bar Association and MLK State Commission once again to provide almost $200,000 in food, toiletries, PPE materials and other resources to the community on Dr. King Day. Helping our neighbors in need is always a good thing but especially on this day when we celebrate the life and legacy of one of the world’s greatest leaders who spent his life fighting for the poor and disenfranchised,” said Michael McMillan, president and CEO of the Urban League..

“I think that Dr. King would continue to push for equality and equity in everything he did. Look at where he was in Memphis, where he died fighting for people to have a living

wage. Fighting for people to have justice. Fighting for them to have human dignity. To eradicate racism.” It is rare that attendees at an MLK Day celebration would be greeted by protestors, but it happened at the Missouri Martin Luther King State Commission event on Saturday at the Magnolia Hotel in St. Louis The commission awarded U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt the Henry Givens Legacy Award, which drew the ire of

several organizations fighting desperately to protect voting rights.

Rev. Darryl Gray, Greater Fairfax Missionary Baptist Church senior pastor, said “it is simply treasonous to give this award to someone who is actively fighting against the voting rights of people of color, an issue that Dr. King fought, bled and died for.”

“I express our grave concern and disappointment at this award to Sen. Blunt, especially under the auspices of Martin

Luther King, Jr.’s name.”

Nimrod Chapel, Jr., president of the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP said in a statement, “In a time where we rely on senior statesman for leadership and guidance on the most fundamental of American values, Senator Blunt has been silent and has refused to support national voting protections in the face of Jim Crow Missouri legislators in their efforts to restrict voting. No one can stand silent as the right to vote is stripped

from millions of Americans.

Dr. King’s legacy cannot be tarnished in this way.”

The commission said in a statement last week that the late Givens, longtime president of Harris-Stowe State University and civic icon, nominated Blunt for the award before his death.

The weekend of celebration began early Saturday with a peace march in Fountain Park. The park is home to the only statue in Missouri commemorating the life and work of Dr. King.

“The Missouri MLK Commission’s recognition of Sen. Blunt is an affront to the life work of Martin Luther King Jr., an affront to the work of Dr. Givens, and an affront to the King Family, who have unabashedly called for passage of critical voting legislation to combat the assaults on the rights of voters of color,” said Denise Lieberman, director and general counsel of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition.

The snow did not deter the commemoration of the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on his birthday, January 15, 2022, in St. Louis’ Fountain Park in front of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. statue, directly across the street from Centennial Christian Church, and the

“peace walk” which followed led by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Epsilon Lambda (St. Louis, MO) Alumni Chapter, Fountain Park-Lewis Place Community, Central West End Church, Epsilon Lambda Charitable Foundation, Second Presbyterian Church, and the Butler Group.

Photo by Dawn Suggs / St. Louis American

Violence

safe place.”

The Employment Connection has also been able to help many people contacted by Cure Violence find gainful employment, he said.

As for the Dutchtown location, staff has de-escalated 168 conflicts since its creation. Dutchtown is divided between Districts 1 and 3, which saw 16.3% and 6.2% drops in homicide and firearms’ violence rates respectively from 2020 to 2021, according to the mayor’s office.

Mujaa Williams represents the Dutchtown site and spoke during the Zoom meeting. He focused on the interruptions the staff has participated in across all three sites—602 in all combined.

Mitchell

Continued from A1

Continued from A1 without understanding how the past is operating in our day-today lives,” Mitchell told The St. Louis American He noted while he doesn’t believe the city’s past has to be seen as a negative thing, it should serve to arm the city with knowledge of how to create structures and policies that are sustainable and productive.

The St. Louis native was formerly a research assistant professor and instructor of record on African American studies courses within the University of South Carolina’s Department of History and African American Studies.

Prior to this, he worked at Washington University in St. Louis, where he developed academic engagement programs as a curator of popular American arts & culture. He also was the principal investigator for documenting the role of social media in local social movements.

“The chief equity and inclusion officer will help the city of St. Louis bring all communities to the table to address the collective problems our city faces,” St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones said in a statement. “I am excited Dr. Mitchell is bringing his knowledge and expertise to help ensure St. Louis government is more equitable across racial lines.”

On the job for just under three weeks now, Mitchell has mainly worked from home due to the Omicron variant. He said right now, his priorities are understanding the environment and the culture of city hall by getting to know the people in all the departments making up the city’s government.

“And then I’ll start tackling some of the issues that are

“This mission right here has been challenging, but we are up for the challenge,” he said. “In Dutchtown, we have virtually contained the area where we don’t have any incidents, period. Now the incidents have really gone to the borders of our catchment. So, we no longer just patrol our catchment, we go outside of our catchment now because we don’t really have anything to engage with in our catchment.”

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis operates the Cure Violence site within the Walnut Park neighborhood. The Walnut Park catchment area program engaged in 58 disruptions, and is in District 6, which saw a nearly 3% decrease in firearms’ violence and homicide rate from 2020 to 2021, according to the mayor’s office.

Juan Williams is a native

earmarked for me to really pay attention to,” he said.

Of course, the pandemic has prevented Mitchell from the face-to-face interaction he would like to have with the community and his colleagues, but he knows the work can still be done to create equity across the board. While it impacted certain communities disproportionately, Mitchel said he believes COVID-19 has also served an important role in illuminating the fact that these gaps are real and prevalent.

“This is a point … where you can begin to layer quantitative and qualitative [COVID] data,” he said. “The most affected communities tend to be communities of color and the Black community in particular. And so, as we get the data, the qualitative aspect of that is making sure that the citizens in those areas know or can see and feel at what point is their lives are touched by city hall—that they know that we are doing our best to make sure we’re listening to their concerns and that the policies we roll out are positively impacting their life on a day-to-day basis.”

Since the city will receive $498 million in federal money in the next two years through the American Rescue Plan Act, Mitchell will also help to ensure those funds are addressing the parts of the city hardest hit by the pandemic, partially through programs and partnerships with community organizations.

And to answer the burning question on everyone’s mind, Mitchell attended McCluer High School in North County. “I’m St. Louis through and through. You’ll never see me wear any other hat,” he said. “You might see a St. Louis Stars or Kansas City Monarchs [hat], but that’s about it because I’m a big baseball fan.”

of Walnut Park and runs the Cure Violence program there. He told Jones and Isom it makes it easier for him to approach people in situations because they know who he is. He also noted, like Mujaa Williams said, the area is contained, and so staff is focusing on the neighborhood’s borders and just beyond them.

“It’s a hard job to do, but if you place the right people

in the right positions, I feel like it would be a big step for the whole city,” he said. St. Louis’ homicide rate in 2021 decreased by a jaw-dropping 25% as compared to its record-setting spike in 2020, making it one of the nation’s few large cities that bucked the trend of increasing homicide rates since the pandemic began.

More than two-thirds of the country’s 40 most

populous cities saw more homicides in 2021 compared to 2020, according to a CNN analysis

During the Jan. 13 meeting, Jones said bringing down the homicide rate will take an “all hands on deck” approach.

“We’re focused on deterrence, intervention and prevention and Cure Violence is a key piece of that but it’s not the only piece,” she said. “It’s also some of the work that is being done in the police department under the leadership of Chief [Jon] Hayden along with Dr. Isom with our deployment strategies. Cure Violence isn’t a silver bullet, it was never built to be a silver bullet, but it is one piece of a larger holistic approach to address violent crime and intervene where necessary to deter people when applicable and prevent whenever we can.”

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones was joined Jan. 13 by her public safety director, Dan Isom, to virtually discuss Cure Violence prevention efforts with several key players: Sal Martinez, CEO of Employment Connection; Mujaa Williams of the Dutchtown center; Dr. Mulugheta Teferi, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis’ chief of staff; and Juan Williams of the Walnut Park center.

The enduring relevance of Dr. King’s quotes

This is the time of year when scheming Haves encourage Have Nots to keep on dreaming. They use the most famous speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to do so. I have nothing against those eloquent words by our Drum Major for Peace. There are so many other radical speeches and quotes that need equal exposure. One I’m thinking of right about now is highly appropriate for the times.

The quote is, “There is nothing more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

The quote comes to mind as Omicron makes its presence known in a big, deadly way. The profound words of Dr. King are prophetic, though he didn’t know a pandemic would hit this country and turn our lives upside down. The pandemic has become a power play for Republicans. American citizens are the collateral damage. It also refers to the Missouri Dr. Martin Luther King State Celebration Commission giving Sen. Roy Blunt an award. Wake up! Blunt is the antithesis of Dr. King and has been fighting against the very issues he dedicated his life to, including voting rights.

Recently the U.S. reported a record single-day number of daily COVID-19 cases, 1.35 million. There have been more than a million new infections,

with the highest seven-day average of daily new cases in any country. We are shattering records and I say it’s mainly from a good dose of sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

Starting with a former fool of a president and his Republican minions, we’ve seen a legion of governors, mayors and other officials oppose protocols that would be saving lives. The pandemic has been weaponized and racialized by the likes of Blunt and his colleagues. Except for Louisiana, the 10 states with the lowest vaccination rates are headed by Republican governors. Sadly, these are the southern states where Dr. King invested so much time and sweat equity. Tennessee is the state where he gasped his last breath. It rates 40th in health care and 33rd in education out of the 50 states. One of every six residents lives in poverty. I think Dr. King would be frustrated and saddened by our country today. It is as racially polarized as during the Civil Rights Movement. He would be making an emotional plea to

provide people with the necessary information to make rational decisions about COVID-19 vaccinations, to transcend race and class in the name of saving lives. He would be fighting for health care like people’s lives truly depend on it.

The State Commission, bearing Dr. King’s name, has many deserving people it could have honored. Roy Blunt has been a destroyer of anything resembling progress for the marginalized and dispossessed in this country. Whether it’s because of sincere ignorance or conscientious stupidity, the commission is guilty as charged.

Blunt has opposed the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the For the People Act. Further, he is on record in opposition to the rights of women, LGBTQAI folks, poor people, unhoused citizens and public education. He favors corporate rule and gun rights. His platform has little to do with the issues that Dr. King fought so valiantly to make part of the Civil Rights Movement agenda. If people want to seriously honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King or give out awards in his name, they should recommit to the struggle against racism, poverty and militarism. These are the barriers to participatory democracy that Dr. King did more than just dream about.

One Woman’s Journey to Motherhood

Niquaja Burns’ Experience with Prenatal Services, Labor & Delivery and Breastfeeding and Lactation Support at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – St. Louis A Three-Part Series

Part 2 – Labor & Delivery

“Our labor team is focused on empowering patients with education, guidance, physical and

Burns expressed her wishes for a vaginal, uncomplicated birth. She wanted to avoid having a C-section. Fortunately, the induction proceeded as planned with Burns receiving the pain management support she needed as well.

“Our nurses have a wealth of labor support techniques and pain management strategies to best help our patients cope,” said Jenkins. “When you deliver at St. Mary’s, you can rest assured that you’re in the hands of some of the most highly-trained providers in perinatal care.” Just a few hours after the induction began, and with

emotional support to facilitate a safe delivery,” said Elena Jenkins, RN, BSN, nurse manager in labor and delivery at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – St. Louis.

“This begins with talking about the ways in which we can help create the birthing experience you want, whether you have a high- or low-risk pregnancy. We’re dedicated to promoting a comforting environment, including welcoming doulas and family to support you in this final stage of your journey to motherhood.”

Columnist Jamala Rogers

“Taking Care of You”

Former NFL star opens Quantum Laboratory

Sylvester Williams’ new lab helping sack COVID-19

By Sylvester Brown Jr.

The St. Louis American

For many professional football players, life after sports can be difficult. Without an after-the-game-ends strategy, some find it difficult to transition to a life without the fame, glory and massive paychecks. Not so for St. Louis native and former Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos defensive tackle, Sylvester Williams. After ending five seasons with the Broncos last year, one in which he won a Super Bowl ring, Williams wasn’t lost.

n “I bring a championship mentality to anything I’m involved in.”

– St. Louis native and former NFL player Sylvester Williams on his new career as owner of a Coronavirus testing lab

He said he was anxious for the next phase of his life.

“You have to remember, that where I come from, a lot of guys spend their whole

lives wishing they’ll play for the NFL,” Williams said. “I was 22-years-old when I accomplished that. I was a first-round draft pick, was a Super Bowl champion and played with and was coached by Hall-of-Famers. So, my career coming to an end was like ‘OK, what can I accomplish next?’”

Williams’ next feat was way outside the boundaries of sports.

In 2019, months before the coronavirus pandemic engulfed the globe, Williams became the proud owner of Missouri’s first black-owned toxicology testing company, Quantum Laboratory in Bridgeton, Missouri.

By D. Kevin McNeir

Leading health officials from the CDC recently shared the prediction that “everyone will eventually get COVID-19. But that’s not news to me. I contracted the virus more than two years ago during a visit back home to the city in which I was born, Detroit.

Unfortunately, during December 2019 when I came down with COVID19, then President Trump and his cronies had not informed us that we were facing a new virus that had the potential to kill the young, the old, the healthy and the less-than-healthy. And so, believing I had simply come down with a powerful strain of the old-fashioned flu, I followed the same regiment that I had in the past when the flu had visited me.

n It appears that COVID19, like the flu, will probably be with us for a very long time –certainly for the foreseeable future.

With God’s grace, which is always essential and always sufficient, I recovered. But it was a rough couple of weeks. And I would not like to experience a repeat performance. Fast forward to 2022. This mysterious virus has been identified. We have found medical weapons that can protect us better. And we continue to learn as the health community, led by the CDC and a host of others, take the helm in research, evaluation and the identification of best practices and protocols. Millions have been hospitalized or have lost their lives across the globe. Somehow, we have survived the Delta variant only to be struck by another, new variant. And given the highly-contagious Omicron variant which today continues to sweep across the U.S. and Europe at record numbers, the CDC’s warning, that we will all eventually contract COVID-19, seems both logical and inevitable.

No matter how we slice it, it appears that COVID-19, like the flu, will probably be with us for a very long time – certainly for the foreseeable future. However, this should not be a reason for us to react like the protagonist Henny Penny in

As Omicron cases skyrocket, pediatric vaccine numbers lag

Affinia Healthcare sees more minority children getting vaccinated

By JoAnn Weaver

The St. Louis American

Almost three months ago, the FDA recommended the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for one of the most vulnerable groups in the nation: children ages 5-11. The CDC announced it recommend moderately or severely immunocompromised 5–11-year-olds receive an additional primary dose of vaccine 28 days after their second shot. At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized and

recommended for children aged 5-11, according to their website.

“Following the FDA’s authorizations, today’s recommendations ensure people are able to get a boost of protection in the face of Omicron and increasing cases across the country and ensure that the most vulnerable children can get an additional dose to optimize protection against COVID-19,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said.

“If you or your children are eligible

See OMICRON, A11

The CDC announced it recommends moderately or severely immunocompromised 5–11-yearolds receive an additional primary dose of vaccine 28 days after their second shot. At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized and recommended for children aged 5-11, according to their website.

Former NFL player Sylvester Williams reviews a file with a lab technician at his new business Quantum Laboratory in Bridgeton. Williams is one of the few African Americans who owns a lab.

Photo courtesy of Sylvester Williams

McNEIR, A11

D. Kevin McNeir

By JoAnn Weaver

The St. Louis American

A clinical trial is testing the safety, tolerability and immune responses stimulated by different doses of investigational COVID-19 second-generation booster vaccines manufactured by Gritstone bio, Inc.

The study is recruiting COVID-19-vaccinated persons who have not yet received a booster vaccine against SARSCoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

With about 50 participants enrolled so far, Dr. Daniel Hoft, protocol chair of the Gritstone trial, talked about the importance of diverse participation in the trial.

“It’s mostly been more homogenous in terms of pre-dominantly White partici-

Williams

Continued from A10

He said the company will serve disadvantaged communities that have been disproportionately affected by COVID. The company, he insists, is destined for success because of life’s philosophy.

“Personally, I bring a championship mentality to anything I am involved in,” he said.

That “championship attitude,” Williams explained, was seeded by his father as he grew up in the Northwoods area off Natural Bridge and Lucas and Hunt. The single dad worked in a factory, but he side-hustled as a mechanic. His father made sure his four children learned about hard work and respect for their elders, Williams recalled.

“If he saw me playing or riding my bike outside, he’d say ‘Come on, man. We gonna fix this car.’ If we saw a neighbor carrying groceries, he’d make me carry her groceries or push someone’s broken car,” he said. “He was big on hard work and respect.”

Although Williams’ father grappled with substance abuse, he was brutally honest with his children about “that life” and how, no matter

Omicron

Continued from A10 for a third dose or a booster, please go out and get one as soon as you can. Additionally, FDA acted this week to authorize boosters for 12–15-yearolds.”

Health care providers in the St. Louis area have acted quickly since the CDC made the vaccination eligible for children in that age range. According to the Kaiser Health Foundation, 13.1% of Missouri children have received two doses of the vaccine, and 20% of children have received at least one dose.

IPediatricians finds the pace slow and sees geographic dis-

McNeir

Continued from A10

SLU clinical trial looks for older minority participants

pants, but we have participants across the whole spectrum,” he said.

Researchers at Saint Louis University (SLU) are continuing to enroll volunteers in an investigational COVID19 booster vaccine trial.

Volunteers will participate in the second (booster) stage of a phase 1 vaccine trial. Phase 1 vaccine trials are designed to test the safety and tolerability of, and immune response to new investigational vaccines.

According to the CDC, vaccine hesitancy has been commonly documented in pre-dominantly Black communities. When asked how the trial has recruited Black participants, Hoft talked about the difficulty in reaching them.

what, they should define and focus on their goals. Williams took those lessons to heart when, after his first year at Normandy High School, he moved to Jefferson City to live with one of his older sisters. There, he attended Jefferson City High School. Adjusting to a majority white student body was challenging. In fact, Williams said he “got kicked out” in his sophomore year, but a high school coach and mentor, Andre Solomon, took him under his wing and held the student accountable for his actions. Williams joined the high school football team but only played in one game before graduating and joining the workforce. He worked at Backyard Burger and Taco Bell in Jefferson City before going online seeking a factory job like his father. He was hired at Modine Manufacturing Company in Jefferson City, Mo., making radiator parts for trucks.

A casual conversation with a soon-to-be-retired machine repairman convinced Williams that life as an assembly line worker was not for him. He researched the highest-paying jobs at the plant and decided to pursue a career in engineering. Coach Solomon encouraged him to find a community college with a football team where a kid with his speed and size (320 pounds at the

parities are alarming, especially against the backdrop of record numbers of cases and pediatric hospitalizations, according to the Kaiser Health Foundation.

During a recent St. Louis Pandemic Task Force virtual briefing, hospitalizations at local health care providers have spiked up with 194 daily COVID-19 hospital admissions.

“In the past week, we have set several records, including 194 admissions, and these admissions continue to fill up our hospitals faster than we can keep up,” SSM Health Chief Community Officer Dr. Alex Garza said.

Currently, more than 1,300 people have been hospitalized for COVID-19 and more than 130 individuals are using ventilators, according to the St.

the children’s folk tale in which Henny Penny, also known as Chicken Little, runs around in a frenzy of fear, trepidation and heightened anxiety, after being struck by an object from an overhanging tree which leads Henny Penny to proclaim, “the sky is falling.” This story from my childhood came to mind recently after a friend who had visited me about a week ago, called me with the news that he had tested positive for COVID-19. But he also sent me his medical records and shared his testimony of certain doom and gloom. I must confess, that I was nonplussed. Perhaps I should have been

“Throughout the pandemic, we have been trying to increase the volunteering and enrollment of inner-city Black communities, which has been underserved and we certainly want to develop better vaccines for everyone,” he said.

The Gritstone second-generation vaccines are different from current vaccines. They are designed to elicit an immune response to multiple SARS-CoV-2 proteins, in addition to the spike protein targeted by currently available vaccines made by Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson.

By targeting several coronavirus proteins, the investigational vaccines may provide enhanced protection against a wide variety of SARS-CoV-2 strains and variants.

time) could possibly get a walk-on position with its football team.

Williams packed all his belongings in his reliable, 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue and drove to Coffeyville Community College in Kansas City. Heeding Solomon’s advice, he walked into the football coach’s office and asked for an opportunity to play with the team. Impressed with the young man’s resolve, the coach let him try out.

“After that, he said, ‘Ok, you got the size, and you’re quick.’ He gave me the opportunity to walk on, and I never looked back,” Williams said.

“We need to continue to develop new COVID-19 vaccines that can protect against all future SARS-CoV-2 variants that develop, and the Gritstone vaccines have the potential to protect against future variants and provide an additional form of protection by inducing more T cell responses,” said Dan Hoft, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine, molecular microbiology and immunology, and director of the Saint Louis University Center for Vaccine Development and protocol chair of the Gritstone trial.

According to Getahun Abate, M.D., Ph.D., SLU Vaccine & Trial Evaluatio n Unit (VTEU) Site Principal Investigator, great strides have been made in the fight against

(UNC). After graduation from UNC, he entered the NFL draft and was a first-round pick with the Denver Broncos. The university’s head coach, Larry Fedora, publicly recognized Williams’ accomplishments.

Williams used his savings and a student loan to enroll at Coffeyville Community College. After playing for two years there, he was offered a full-ride scholarship at the University of North Carolina

Louis Pandemic Task Force.

“What we do know is that even if [the Omicron variant] is a little less virulent than Delta and the others, omicron is still a nasty bug and can be incredibly serious,” Dr. Clay Dunagan said.

According to Dunagan, in just a few weeks, Omicron has caused more infections than any of the previous variants and has caused a record number of people to be hospitalized across the country.

“You do not want to get this version of the virus,” he said.

“Omicron is filling the hospital beds and making it hard for hospital workers to care for people.”

Additionally, 46 children between the ages of 0-18 have been hospitalized due to

more anxious after receiving his call but in my defense, I had already weathered that storm. Further, I am fully vaccinated and have also received the booster shot. Finally, if the advisory from the CDC is correct, my friend’s call, which came seven days after our contact, was probably a little too late. The five-day isolation period had passed and I had been without any symptoms.

COVID-19.

“However, because the virus is changing to become more transmissible and sometimes more deadly, we should not lose focus and should continue our endeavors to bring forth improved vaccines,” said Abate who is also assistant professor in the division of infectious diseases, allergy and immunology at SLU. “We want new vaccines that give protection against circulating and newly emerging strains as well as provide a long-lasting immunity. To achieve these goals, we need volunteers who have already received COVID19 vaccines to participate in this ongoing vaccine study at Saint Louis University.”

Participants will be asked to make either nine or more study clinic visits in-person and will

Louis.

“Since drugs played a big part in my life, I decided this was something I wanted to go after,” Williams said.

“It’s a great story of perseverance and hard work,” Fedora told reporters. “‘Sly’ has handled the adversity in his life with class and dignity and was able to turn around his life and become a champion.”

In his five seasons with the Broncos, Williams competed in two Super Bowl championships, winning the title in 2016. He said he lived a good life and bought “nice things” but was always good at saving money, another lesson from his father. He’d never forgotten his parent’s struggle with substance abuse and his visits with his father at a drug rehabilitation facility in St.

COVID-19, according to data from the St. Louis Pandemic Task Force.

Dr. Rachel Charney, a pediatric ER physician at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, talked about what she sees in the hospital.

“Similar to what we’re seeing with the adults in our community, we’re seeing a lot of children coming to our hospital both to the ERs and urgent cares as well as being admitted in volumes that are higher than we have seen in other waves of COVID,” Charney said.

Dr. Jason Newland, Washington University Infectious Disease physician at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, said he is seeing the same things Charney described at his hospital.

But at first, I rushed around my home looking for my home test kit and my thermometer. I called my physician, and I began to worry. But I was feeling just fine. I had not been around anyone else. I was eating voraciously and sleeping quite well. And I was wearing my mask whenever I ventured outside of my home. What else could I do?

His goal was to establish a toxicology lab to serve underserved communities and drug rehabilitation centers. Those services combined can help addicts rebuild their lives and possibly re-enter the workforce, he said.

Williams officially opened his $800,000 Quantum Laboratory facility in October 2020. The plan was to offer UTI (urinary tract) and STI testing for sexually transmitted diseases, but when the pandemic hit, he quickly pivoted to serve disadvantaged communities disproportionately impacted by the virus.

“When I learned that people in the city were barely able to get tested, I went to my team and said, ‘Listen, we’re going into the molecular stage right now,’” he said.

Going “molecular” meant Quantum would offer antigen and PCR tests that detect specific proteins on the surface of the coronavirus. These tests, Williams explained, are more reliable than at-home testing and are usually preferred by hiring and travel agencies because a professional lab supplies them with certified technicians.

Quantum partners with health agencies like People’s

“I think some of the things that we have forgotten is that one child can have a mild symptom and get over it, and we have heard that children aren’t that affected by it, but we definitely know there are other complications [with COVID-19],” Newland said.

According to Newland, multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children is a severe illness that occurs in normal healthy children who get COVID-19 about four to six weeks later.

Dr. Kendra Holmes, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Affinia Healthcare, said the federally qualified health centers (FQHC) have seen an uptick in pediatric COVID-19 vaccines.

“We have been conducting a

What else should I do?

Certainly, there was little cause for me to fear the worst much less to speak it into my existence.

also receive one to two telephone check-ins with the study staff over 12 to 14 months. They will receive one or two injections of an investigational booster vaccine. Additionally, participants will have blood drawn several times for safety monitoring and to see whether the vaccine resulted in an immune response. This will also keep track of how they’re feeling after the injection To enroll, participants must be age 18 or older, healthy, without significant allergies, without a history of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and have been vaccinated against COVID-19 at least four months prior to enrollment. Persons over the age of 60 are encouraged to participate.

Health Center and Affinia Healthcare to bring testing to disadvantaged areas in the region. He said he plans to offer his services to other easily accessible locations soon.

Although he had a gratifying football career, he’s looking forward to the next chapters of his life. One of his dreams is to host an annual event where urban youth can meet successful athletes, entertainers and businesspeople for a face-to-face inspirational session.

“I realize that kids in urban communities only see people with nice cars or who seem to have all the money…but they are drug dealers or involved with illegal activities,” Williams said. “Kids need to hear stories of how people took $10,000, invested it and now make $200,000 a year. The more they can see people like me, the better.”

Williams said he’s proud to have young African American technicians working at Quantum.

“‘Success,’” means influencing youth and creating more young entrepreneurs,” he insisted. “Yes, I want to be successful, but it’s not about the money grab. I want to make an impact. I want people to say, ‘That guy made a difference.’”

Sylvester Brown Jr. is The St. Louis American’s inaugural Deaconess Fellow.

lot of tests like it’s 2020 again,” Holmes said. “After October, our numbers have just skyrocketed due to the omicron variant and so many people needing tests and vaccines, so it has been nonstop.” She added there has been an increase in COVID-19 tests.

“We’re very excited to see that we’re getting a lot of minority parents, particularly Black parents, that are getting their children vaccinated, so that has been a very positive outcome and I think with omicron, people are really nervous because so many people are getting it since it is highly contagious, but we are definitely seeing an increase in the number of pediatric vaccinations,” she said.

For the record, I have since tested negative. But this experience has reminded me of how dangerous it is to jump to conclusions or to predict the worst about life. Neither today nor tomorrow are promised. Still, I believe that the sun will come out tomorrow and that I will be here to see the sunrise. In the meantime, I will make sure I’m vaccinated and being guided by science-based protocols, not the idiots who enjoy retweeting falsehoods and fake news on social media platforms.

D. Kevin McNeir is senior editor of The Washington Informer

Sylvester Williams during his playing days with the Denver Broncos. Williams owns Quantum Laboratory in Bridgeton.

PRESENT:

Nutrition Challenge:

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

Dining Out.

Healthy Kids

those leftovers for lunch the next day!

are popcorn, wheatberries, brown rice and wild rice.

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

Cocoa Puffers Cereal

INGREDIENTS:

GRAINS Keep ‘em Whole!

What Is ASize?Serving

The Smart Way!

Warm Up & Cool Down

Do This. Not That!

Exercise Game

First Day of Spring!

Slip Sliding Away...

Ice can be dangerous for several different reasons.

Calculate BMI

Ice can be dangerous for several different reasons.

Tech-Neck

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

lifestyle. You can do this by forming new habits. For example, if you decide to eliminate sugary drinks completely, it only takes a few weeks until this becomes what you’re used to.

Here are the steps to making a healthy permanent change. We‘ll use the sugary drink change as an example.

Let’s make a game out of exercise!

> Start by substituting one drink per day to water.

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

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

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

Weekly Newspaper in Education Program

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

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

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

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE 2,

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

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

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

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

Aunita Hill-Jones , MD, MPH, FACP

Melissa Douglass, MSW

Latoya Woods, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 4, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 2, NH 3, NH 5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Instead of watching TV — ride your bike with friends.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Break into small groups and define what it means to be a bully. Share your ideas with the class. Did you have the same things listed (as the other groups) that you would consider as bullying behavior? Now back in your groups, create a newspaper ad that includes at least two of the following:

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

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

continue with reduced speed movements until your heart rate begins to slow down. This warm-up and recovery period is important for your heart health. It also helps to reduce the amount of muscle pulls and strains.

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1

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

Learning Standards:

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

Learning Standards:

HPE1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5

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

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

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

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

earned my medical degree from The Chicago Medical School, now known as Rosalind Franklin School of Health.

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

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

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

> What to do if you see someone else bullied.

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

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

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

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

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

> How bullying hurts others.

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

> What to do if you are bullied.

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

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

Cracker-wiches

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

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

> What to do if YOU are the bully.

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

Ingredients:

Cracker-wiches

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

Ingredients:

8 Saltine crackers

Easy Hummus Dip

What does an internal medicine physician do? I meet people every day with their own set of medical challenges. I have to be able to decode their medical conditions. I do Medicare wellness exams, routine medical exams, manage chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, asthma/ COPD and I do minor procedures like removing surgical staples once the patient has healed. Why did you choose this career? I wanted to help people take control of their health. I wanted to help people feel better.

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

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

> What other ice hazards are there?

Banana PB Smoothie

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

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

Ingredients:

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

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

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

Frozen Yogurt Blueberry Bites

4 Tbsp Peanut butter

What is your favorite part of the job you have? My favorite part of the job is interacting with my patients and educating them on ways to be healthier.

What is your favorite part of the job you have?

Ingredients:

1 15-Oz Can Garbanzo beans

1 cup blueberries

2 Large Strawberries

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

1 Garlic clove, crushed

> What other ice hazards are there?

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, NH 5

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 4

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

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

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

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

1 Tbsp Honey (optional)

1 cup non-fat Greek Yogurt

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

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

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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

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

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

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

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

Learning Standards: HPE 6, NH 3

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

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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

Yonniece Rose, Registered Nurse

Deborah Edwards, School Nurse

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

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT

Students in Ms. Rhonda Stovall’s class enjoy creating an engineering design using marshmallows and raw spaghetti. Second grade

Apprentice for the

assists first grade student Bellah Jones with a fun learning project on Pajama Day.

by Rhonda Stoval

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), kids are just as likely to face stress as adults. Kids have pressures from school work, dealing with their peers, and family interactions. Stress has a negative effect on the body. It can cause headaches, stomach pain, tense muscles, and much more. Stress can also affect the normal sleep cycle and appetite. How can you deal with stress? The CDC has 10 tips, listed to the right.

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

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

you fight stress more effectively.

3. Laugh it off Have you heard the expression “laughter is the best medicine?” Laughter releases endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that relax your body. Read a joke book, watch a funny TV show, share a funny memory with a friend.

Background Information:

Is chocolate good for you? Chocolate is made from a combination of ingredients, which include cacao beans, cocoa butter, cocoa solids, and sugar. Dark chocolate has a higher concentration of cacao and less butter and sugar and has been found to help your circulatory system and heart, if it is eaten in small portions. In this experiment, you will create chocolate blooms to see the amount of fat in different types of chocolate.

Materials Needed: • A Variety of Chocolate Candy (white chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate)

• A Source of Heat (such as a sunny windowsill)

Process:

4. Have fun with friends Spending time with friends reminds you that you have love and support, even on those tough days.

5. Talk to someone you trust Parents, teachers, counselors, friends, family members…. Find someone you can trust to listen to you and offer advice.

6. Take time to relax Schedules are often hectic. It’s important to schedule time to relax, as well—read a book, do yoga, take a walk, play a game. Find something you enjoy to relax your body and mind.

7. Catch some ZZZzzzzs you should get 8-10 hours of sleep per night. Be sure you are setting a routine to get enough sleep.

8. Keep a journal Writing your thoughts can help you process your feelings and release tension. Give it a try!

9. Get organized If you have everything organized, it saves time trying to find school supplies, sports equipment, etc. It relieves stress if you know everything is in its place.

SCIENCE STARS

AFRICAN-AMERICAN MOLECULAR

GENETICIST AND EDUCATOR: Mary Harris

Mary Styles Harris was born in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 26, 1949. Later, she moved to Miami where she was the first African American to enroll in Miami Jackson High School, where she graduated 12th out of her class of 350. In 1971, she graduated from Lincoln University and four years later, she graduated with her PhD from Cornell University. Harris’ studies focused on molecular genetics.

Harris was passionate about educating the public. She wanted to inform them about health concerns and what they could do to prevent and treat them. In 1977, she became the executive director of the Sickle Cell Foundation in Georgia. Harris went to Washington, D.C., to complete her science residency and then became the state director of genetic services for the Georgia Department of Human Resources, where she helped to implement health policies nationwide.

q Place your chocolate in a warm place, such as a sunny windowsill to allow it to melt. w Cool the chocolate overnight in the refrigerator. e Melt again and refrigerate again. r Repeat the process until you see brown spots and streaks. (This is called the chocolate bloom.)

MATH CONNECTION

Nutrition labels are a great source of math activities. You can calculate portion size. You can also calculate percentage of calories.

Protein and carbohydrates both have 4 calories per gram, and fat has 9 calories per gram.

z If you are eating a snack that has 9 grams of fat, how many calories come from fat? ________

x If your snack has 17 grams of protein, how many calories come from protein? ________

c You are eating a serving of potato chips. It is 160 calories and has 10 grams of fat. What percent of the calories come from fat?

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know food stays in your stomach for 2-4 hours?

Did you know 80% of heart disease and 90% of diabetes are tied to unhealthy eating

Analyze: Chocolate blooms are created when chocolate heats and cools. They are created when the melted fat pushes through the solid particles. Based on the chocolate blooms (created from fat), which type of chocolate had the most fat? Compare your answer with the nutritional label for the chocolate. In your opinion, which type of chocolate is the healthiest?

Learning Standards: I can follow sequential directions to create an experiment. I can analyze results.

Did you know it takes 250 ounces of water to flush the acid of one soda out of your system?

This special Newspaper In Education initiative is made possible, and delivered

b If you consume 1800 calories per day, and 15% of your calories come from fat, how many grams of fat did you consume?

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

Harris was a part-time assistant professor at Morehouse College and Atlanta University and founded BioTechnical Communications. This company produced educational materials on a variety of health topics, such as breast cancer. She was a member of the Atlanta board of the March of Dimes and advocated for newborn screenings for sickle cell disease. Harris hosts a radio show called, “Journey to Wellness” and developed a documentary called, “To My Sisters…A Gift for Life.” She has received many awards, including the National Cancer Research postdoctoral fellowship, and the Ford Foundation Doctoral Fellowship, and Glamour magazine’s Outstanding Working Woman.

10. Lend a helping hand Volunteering to help others takes your mind off your problems and reminds you of your strengths and talents. Journey to Wellness site is an online health magazine for African Americans. Check it out at: www.journeytowellness.com

Learning Standards: I can read a biography about a person who has made contributions in the fields of science and technology.

Use the newspaper to complete the following activities.

Activity One

Synonyms:

Choose a news article to read and underline 5 adjectives.

Use a thesaurus to create a list of synonyms for each of the adjectives. Rewrite the news article with these synonyms.

Activity Two — Healthy

Choices: Make a poster about good dental care using words and pictures from the newspaper. Talk about why good dental care is important.

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can write for a variety of purposes and audiences.

The St. Louis American’s award winning NIE program provides newspapers and resources to more than 8,000 teachers and students each week throughout the school year, at no charge.

MAP CORNER

“Science

day” Lonie Little

Photo

Arch Grants launches national search for new executive director

Emily Lohse-Busch plans to step down effective Feb. 28.

By Karen RobinsonJacobs The St. Louis American

The board of Arch Grants, a St. Louis nonprofit focused on supporting promising startups, is conducting a national search for the organization’s next executive director.

The current head, Emily Lohse-Busch, announced plans to step down effective Feb. 28.

The search comes as Arch Grants plans to boost the funds available for startups that commit to expanding in the St. Louis area.

When Lohse-Busch joined the organization in 2017, Arch Grants funded 96 early-stage companies through its annual Startup Competition. Those companies had generated $60 million in revenue, attracted $119 million in follow-on investments, and created 1,100

help them develop sustainable growth strategies and increase their impact.

jobs in the St. Louis region, according to a news release.

Five years later, Arch Grants’ portfolio of high-growth startups includes 207 companies that have generated more than $479 million in revenue, attracted over $411 million in follow-on capital, and created more than 2,300 jobs in the St. Louis region. Up to 40% of the companies aided by Arch Grants have been co-owned or co-led by African American, POC, Hispanic/Latinx operators, according to an Arch Grants spokesman. The spokesman said LohseBusch plans to launch a consulting practice in St. Louis, partnering with promising nonprofits in the Midwest to

“Leading Arch Grants has been the honor of my career thus far,” Lohse-Busch said in a statement. “I am so proud of what we have accomplished as we’ve proven over the past five years that not only will this organization stand the test of time, but that its impact is just starting to be fully realized. I cannot wait to see what new heights Arch Grants can reach in the next five years and beyond and will absolutely continue to be helpful and involved in the future.”

Since 2012, Arch Grants has awarded more than $11 million in cash grants to attract or retain the 207 early-stage businesses. More than $10 million has been awarded through Arch Grants’ annual Startup Competition, and $600,000 has been awarded through Growth Grants, one of several programs launched under Lohse-Busch’s leadership aimed at boosting

The LOVE BOOK

Get yours in time for Valentine’s Day!

entrepreneurs’ ability to access resources and grow their businesses.

The Growth Grants program launched in early 2021 to provide additional follow-on funding to “Arch Grants Companies that have demonstrated success to hire talent and scale in St. Louis,” according to the release. Six companies were each awarded $100,000 through Growth Grants. Arch Grants expects the program to continue to expand this year.

Arch Grants said Tuesday it plans to increase the level of non-equity grant funding available to individual early-stage businesses to $75,000 ahead of the launch of its 2022 Startup Competition, a 50% increase from 2021. It plans to award about 20 grants later this year. Arch Grants also announced an increase in relocation grants for companies relocating to St. Louis for the program from $10,000 to $25,000, beginning this year.

Karen Robinson-Jacobs is The St. Louis American / Type Investigations business reporter and a Report for America corps member.

Proposed bill would repeal city’s new approval voting system

By Dana Rieck The St. Louis American

The Board of Aldermen introduced a proposed bill Friday seeking to repeal the city’s newly implemented approval voting system.

The city’s March 2021 primary election was the first election in which “approval voting” was used following the passage of Proposition D in November 2020.

Under the new rules, candidates are no longer affiliated with a political party on the ballot, and voters can choose as many candidates as they approve of in each race. The two candidates with the most votes will then face off in the general election.

The approval voting method affects elections for mayor, comptroller, board president and alderpersons.

introduced a separate bill that would not only reinstate partisan primary elections, but also add an additional runoff election when no one candidate secures at least 50% of the vote in a primary with more than two candidates. It would also move the municipal primary election to February and its general election to April, leaving March open for a potential runoff election.

The bill was introduced by Alderwoman Sharon Tyus, Ward 1, and is co-sponsored by several members of the board: Aldermanic President Lewis Reed; Alderwoman Lisa Middlebrook, Ward 2; Alderwoman Dwinderlin Evans, Ward 4; Alderman Joe Vaccaro, Ward 23; Alderwoman Pam Boyd, Ward 27; Alderman Jeffrey Boyd, Ward 22; Alderwoman Marlene Davis, Ward 19. Tyus

Emily LohseBusch

Protest over Jefferson Bank merger yields new branches

In August 1963, the local Committee of Racial Equality began protests against the hiring practices of Jefferson Bank and Trust in St. Louis, which had refused to hire African Americans for white-collar positions. The bank eventually relented.

Advocacy groups had sought to block purchase of the historic bank by First Mid Bank & Trust

By Karen Robinson-Jacobs

The St. Louis American

Illinois-based First Mid Bank & Trust has agreed to operational improvements, including making small business loan subsidies and establishing branches in underserved areas, in response to criticism that threatened to derail its proposed merger with Jefferson Bank and Trust. Advocacy groups, including St. Louis Equal Housing and Community Reinvestment Alliance (SLEHCRA) and Woodstock Institute, last year complained to the Federal Reserve Bank of redlining and low levels of service to Black borrowers by First Mid. The advocates asked the Fed to block the proposed bank merger and alleged the bank was failing to comply with fair lending laws and the Community Reinvestment Act.

– Horacio Mendez, CEO

Those groups now have entered into a Community Benefits Agreement with the bank which they say will “clear the way” for the merger with Jefferson Bank and Trust – known to many St. Louis residents as the focus of civ-

il-rights era protests over discrimination in hiring.

“Once again, we’ve shown that community advocates can and should demand better from our region’s lenders,” Elisabeth Risch, co-chair of the housing and community reinvestment alliance said in a statement.

“We believe that this agreement’s provisions show a significant commitment to improving First Mid’s lending performance in communities of color, including commitments on expanded branching, loan targets, and significant dollars committed for community development,” she added. “Our work with First Mid is not done, and we look forward to continue working productively to implement this [agreement] and increase access to financial services for all in our community.”

The National Community Reinvestment

Mars Howard of Mars Worldwide Moving Company has moved on

By Sylvester Brown Jr. The St. Louis American

The sudden death on Jan. 10 of Mars Howard, owner of Mars Worldwide Moving Company and, later, Sky Moving Company, took many locals by surprise.

“Mars was my go-to guy,” former St. Louis Mayor Freeman Bosley, Jr said. “When I was city clerk, said. “I started putting Mars in as part of our minority participation plan. I’d say he moved about 30 judges every year to their offices. He moved me from the Clerk’s office and into and out of the mayor’s office. He was always on the site dressed in a suit and tie, telling his guys what to do because he knew us and how we felt about our things.” Howard was born May 30, 1960. He started Mars Moving Company in 1985, and it was an electric time of economic, political, and social progress in St. Louis. William L. Clay, the first black elected congressman in St. Louis,

Dr. Sanders Thompson named vice chair

Dr. Vetta L. Sanders Thompson

Dr. Vetta L. Sanders Thompson was re-elected to the board of Missouri Foundation for Health, and was also named vice chairperson. Sanders Thompson is the E. Desmond Lee Professor of Racial and Ethnic Studies at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. She is a noted researcher in the areas of racial identity, experiences of discrimination, psychosocial implications of race and ethnicity in health promotion and the social determinants of health, and mental health services utilization. Sanders Thompson serves as a co-director of the Institute for Public Health Center for Community Health, Partnership and Research.

Spire’s Johnson named to public relations board

Raegan Johnson, PhD

Raegan Johnson, PhD, recently joined the board of directors for the St. Louis chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Dr. Johnson is currently the public communications manager for Spire. Johnson is a past recipient of a St. Louis American Foundation’s Young Leaders Award, as well as the St. Louis Business Journal’s 30 Under 30 award. She previously served as environmental safety and health communications and community engagement lead at Monsanto. Johnson has a bachelor of arts degree in communication from Saint Louis University, a master of arts degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and a doctorate of sociology degree in public policy - urban and community development from Saint Louis University.

Martin named to HSSU Board of regents

Dexter Martin, of Florissant, was appointed to the Harris-Stowe State University Board of Regents. Martin currently serves as an applicant specialist, ESS, with the FergusonFlorissant School District. He is retired from Spire Energy in St. Louis after 14 years of service. Previously, he had a 24 year career with AT&T Corporation, a position which brought him to Missouri from New Jersey. He attended Rutgers College and holds a bachelor of business administration from Fontbonne University.

St. Louis-based First Community Credit Union has promoted Samantha Richardson as the branch manager of the Maplewood, Mo Walmart location. Richardson has six years of experience at First Community. She started as a financial service consultant and within her first year was the assistant manager of Maplewood, which was her most recent role. She is from Louisiana, Missouri, and graduated from Truman State University.

Photo courtesy of Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri-St. louis

Dexter Martin

Richardson named branch manager

Samantha Richardson

Photo compliments of the Howard family

Jefferson Bank

Continued from B1

Coalition (NCRC) also supports the newly reached agreement, according to a news release. The advocates have dropped their request that the Fed block the proposed bank merger. Talks between the advocates and the bank produced a 3-year agreement that includes:

• Opening two new service locations in the St. Louis and Champaign, IL market areas. These new locations will be located in low-to-moderate income and minority communities. The bank also committed to maintaining current branches in low-to-moderate income and minority communities.

• Establishing target lending goals for mortgage applications and originations to minority borrowers, Black borrowers, residents in minority census tracts, low-to-moderate income census tracts and to low-to-moderate income borrowers. The bank also will offer affordable home mortgage products and programs, including FHA, VA, and USDA loans, and will hire community mortgage loan officers in the St. Louis and Champaign markets that are focused on communities of color and low-to-moderate income communities.

• Establishing target lending goals for small business loans in low-to-moderate income communities, as well as increasing financing opportunities to minority and women-owned small businesses. The bank also will provide $100,000 in small business loan subsidies to small businesses in low-to-moderate income and minority communities.

• Positioning an executive Community Development Officer and Community Reinvestment Act leaders who will develop and lead community development strategies, as well as create an internal Community Development Committee of bank representatives. The CRA market managers and Community Development executive will oversee CRA activities in all of the bank’s markets.

The bank also plans to

Mars

Continued from B1

“We were all hustling back then, man,” Sterling Moody, founder of Sterling Marketplace, a Black-owned grocer, said. “Mars had that entrepreneurial spirit. He was a guy who would wear a suit and not let his tie get in the way while he lifted a couch. That’s just the way he was.”

Moody said he saw Howard the Friday before he died.

“He was his normal, humorous self,” he said. “I’m still recovering from COVID. So, when he stopped by, he said, ‘Don’t move too fast, man. Don’t rush it. Take your time. It’s gonna get better tomorrow.’” People who knew Howard remember his upbeat attitude and positive presence. When

create an external Community Advisory Board composed of members representing low-to-moderate income and minority communities.

First Mid has agreed to target community development loans and investments at 2% of the bank’s asset size, including providing $150,000 annually in CRAeligible donations that will go to organizations that serve low-to-moderate income communities. The donations are expected to increase by 5% each year.

The merged bank’s combined asset size is expected to be about $6 billion.

First Mid also agreed to provide $50,000 annually to support financial education to low-to-moderate income borrowers and communities, including sponsoring financial literacy classes; and to proactively increase racial and ethnic diversity within the staff, management and board of directors of the bank.

The bank plans to commemorate the civil rights history of Jefferson Bank with a $10,000 donation to the Griot Museum of Black History.

The agreement marks the second recent announcement of plans to add more traditional banking services in areas of St. Louis where high-fees options such as payday lenders, are predominant.

Last month, the Urban League of Metropolitan Saint Louis announced a partnership with Simmons Bank that will establish a full-service bank branch on the first floor of the league’s headquarters, formerly the Old Sears Building.

A database maintained by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, which was formed in 1990 to boost the flow of private capital into traditionally underserved communities, lists 843 branches in the bi-state St. Louis metropolitan area. That includes 313 in St. Louis County and 66 in St. Louis.

“With the way so many banks are closing branches, winning new ones in low-to-moderate income communities is a pretty big deal,” said Glenn Burleigh, a community engagement specialist with the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing and Opportunity Council.

“Additionally, we’ve found that these community advisory boards are key, as they provide a channel for direct feedback with the communities that have been underserved. This often leads to specifically tailored loans and other products that directly address com-

n “He was always on the site dressed in a suit and tie, telling his guys what to do because he knew us and how we felt about our things.”

– Freeman Bosley, Jr., Former St. Louis mayor

asked to describe Howard in one word, Malik Ahmed, founder of Better Family Life, Inc., didn’t hesitate to say:

“Optimist,” Ahmed answered. “He was someone who always had an ‘I can’ attitude about life in general. I never saw him down, even when things weren’t going well for him. He had these witty, little sayings like when I asked, ‘How you doing, Mars?’ He’d answer, “not fine…I’m doing

munity needs. That ends up helping the banks really serve the community.”

Burleigh added: “We’ve seen how getting banks to diversify leadership and include community voices and feedback as key to not just changing numbers for the duration of an agreement. We’ve seen these things change banks’ cultures, and those shifts in internal culture are key to changing these institutions and making our region’s banking ecosystem more equitable.”

Horacio Mendez, CEO of Woodstock Institute, said in a statement the sale highlights a larger outstanding issue.

“If we want more loans in African-American or other majority people of color communities, we must demand federal bank regulators raise the standards they use to grade lenders,” Mendez said. “This year we have several important opportunities to reform CRA on the table – national reforms planned by the federal bank regulators and the creation of an Illinois CRA stand out among them. If we raise standards for all lenders and get more high-performing loans out to more low- and moderate-income communities and predominantly Black, Latino and other communities of color, doing better can become the norm.”

The proposed target of the merger, Jefferson Bank, played a central role in the civil rights history of St. Louis.

In August 1963, just days after Dr. Martin Luther King’s historic March on Washington, the local Committee of Racial Equality began protests against the hiring practices of Jefferson Bank and Trust in St. Louis, which had refused to hire African Americans for white-collar positions, according to past media coverage Protesters ignored injunctions and many were arrested.

A key figure in the demonstrations was then city alderman, William Clay, who later was elected to Congress Eventually, the bank quietly hired five black clerical workers, according to St. Louis Public Radio. There have been dozens of annual “Jefferson Bank Commemorative” protests since then.

Karen Robinson-Jacobs is The St. Louis American / Type Investigations business reporter and a Report for America corps member.

very fine.” Howard and I became good friends in the early 1990s after I started my monthly publication, Take Five Magazine. He moved my business twice and moved me into my home and apartments about three times. At times, my fortunes vacillated, but Howard was never one to participate in pity parties. He was always upbeat and a steady encouragement even as he endured challenges with his own business.

“Mars was tough and just so positive,” Howard’s twin sister, Mary Howard-Shandis, recalled. “Even when the sky was falling, he’d say, ‘Don’t worry, the sun will come back up tomorrow.’ Apparently, humor runs deep in the family. When asked about Howard’s middle name, “Nocost,” his twin sister laughed as she explained how it was their father, Nocost Burchett Howard’s first name. Their father was born in Covington, Tennessee. When their grandfather asked the small-town doctor what he owed for delivering his son, he replied, “no cost,” HowardShandis, recalled, and that’s what he named his son.” Howard-Shandis shared parts of her twin brother’s obituary where the family described him as “comical, jovial, and a joy to all who knew him.” According to the obituary, Howard leaves behind his wife Patricia, five children and a host of grandchildren. Services will be held Friday at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, 915 N. Taylor Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63108. Mars Nocost Burchett Howard, “the moving man,” has moved on and will be sorely missed by those of us lucky enough to have called him “friend.”

n “It’s bad for basketball. (The Brooklyn Nets) capitulated to Kyrie Irving.”

– ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith on the Nets possibly paying fines and allowing the unvaccinated Irving to play home games in New York

Sports

InSIdE SportS

By Earl Austin Jr.

Chaminade Red Devils, Malcolm Hill Jr. had bullish weeks

In seven days, the boys’ basketball team won a game at a major showcase event and excitingly defeated two conference rivals.

Chaminade’s week started with a convincing 103-59 victory over Illinois power Yorkville Christian at the Highland Shootout. The Red Devils followed up with victories over Metro Catholic Conference rivals DeSmet and CBC. Chaminade defeated DeSmet 82-79 on Jan. 18, then upended CBC 71-65 in an overtime thriller to improve its record to 9-3.

The Red Devils made a run to the Final Four of the Class 6 state tournament last season and finished third. They were expected to be the toast of Missouri going into the season, but they lost the services of 6’10” forward Tarris Reed Jr. and 6’3” guard Damien Mayo, who opted to transfer to Link Year Prep in Branson for their senior seasons. Reed, a Michigan recruit, was the St. Louis American Player of the Year in 2021. While Chaminade had to adjust, it returned several quality players. Last week’s successful run showed they are still a team to be reckoned with come postseason time.

The team’s leader is 6’0” junior point guard B.J. Ward, who is averaging 14.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 6.2 assists a game. He had 24 points, six rebounds and nine assists against Yorkville, 20 points and eight assists against DeSmet, and a gamehigh 22 points against CBC. His production and on-floor leadership have been huge for Chaminade this season.

The Red Devils are a well-balanced team with three other players who score in double figures while also shooting the 3-pointer at an excellent clip. Athletic 6’2” senior guard Nate Straughter averages a team-high 15.6 points a game while also grabbing 6.9 rebounds and shooting 39% from 3-point range. Nilvan Jotham-Daniels, a 6’3” junior guard, averages 13.6 points while hitting 41% from 3-point range while 6’7” senior Filip Sinobad averages 13.5 points while shooting 47% from 3-point range. The senior pair of 6’2” guard Walt Straughter and 6’7” Jimmy Lansing Jr. are also excellent contributors to the attack.

Living the Illinois dream

Former Belleville East High basketball

Former St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt and newly unemployed former Houston Texans coach David Culley have something in common. They were both fired for undisclosed “philosophical differences” by their employer. Culley’s dismissal means the NFL has just one Black head coach. This is one less than Major League Baseball, which seems impossible. Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stands alone. Managers Dusty Baker of the Houston Astros and Dave Roberts of the L.A. Dodgers at least have each other. It should be noted New York Jets head coach Robert Salah became the first Muslim NFL head coach last season, and Ron Rivera remains the lone Latino coach. The New York Giants finally got around to firing Joe Judge as head coach last Tuesday. Culley’s ax swung a day later. This leaves eight NFL head coach openings.

star Malcolm Hill Jr. has hit the trifecta for a player who hails from the state of Illinois.

Hill scored more than 2,000 points during his stellar career at Belleville East and was a two-time All-State performer in Illinois in the process. Hill then went to the University of Illinois, where he scored 1,846 points and finished his career as one of the school’s all-time leading scorers.

After spending several seasons playing overseas, Hill landed a 10-day contract with the Atlanta Hawks. His latest stop is with the Chicago Bulls, which offered him a two-way contract. In his first game, he played 18 minutes against the Boston

Celtics. In his second game, he had 12 points and eight rebounds in 30 minutes of action against the Memphis Grizzlies. Congratulations to a young man who has continued to grind and work to make his dream of making it to the NBA come true. And for a kid from Illinois to star at a Metro East high school, the University of Illinois and now the Bulls, what could be better?

Showcase Event at Lift for Life Lift for Life Academy will host its Sixth

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

NFL Black head coaches: One

Certainly, one or more of the jobs will be offered to a Black candidate. Wait, did I say certainly? Let’s make that hopefully.

Joe Banner, who is a white former NFL general manager and executive, said via Twitter on MLK Day, things could change this offseason.

Alvin A. Reid

“I am helping a few teams with their coaching searches. I have 6 coaches that I am recommending as the top six,” he wrote. “Four of the six are minorities. Change is coming soon, even if it’s not all we hope for this year. I have never been able to say this so confidently before.”

There are three Black NFL general managers, and three GM positions are open. The NFL is aware of its problem, but the league doesn’t hire and fire coaches and GMs. If the embarrassing situation of one Black head coach out of 32 teams is to change, team owners must make it happen. Black men comprise over

70% of NFL players. Of the 24 NFL head coaches as of Tuesday, 0.041% are Black.

“Any criticism we get for lack of representation at the GM and head coach positions, we deserve,” Jonathan Beane, NFL senior vice and chief diversity and inclusion officer, told the Associated Press Jan. 15. “ We see that we’re not where we want to be. We have to do much better. We’re focusing on all roles at the

Texans coach David Culley was fired last Wednesday leaving the NFL with only one Black head coach.

Showcase on

league, and all these roles are key roles. But certainly, at the top of the house, general manager, and head coach, that’s the responsibility of the NFL to make sure that we are representing our current fan base and we’re representing those that are in the league today. And if you look at it right now, we’re grossly underrepresented.”

The NFL had to threaten taking the Super Bowl from

Phoenix in 1986 before the state of Arizona grudgingly accepted Martin Luther King Day as a holiday. On the evening of MLK Day 2022, players from the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals had MLK decals on their helmets.

“Until NFL owners understand and welcome diversity in earnest and realize that coaching staffs and front offices that boast leadership of varying backgrounds can make for a stronger product, the rejections, double standards and tributes to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will remain nothing more than shams,” USA TODAY columnist Mike Jones wrote. “So why bother?”

The answer, for now, will come in the next few weeks.

The Reid Roundup

The 2022 class for the Baseball Hall of Fame will be announced Jan. 25. As of Monday, Barry Bonds had yay votes from 77.1% of voters who gave permission to have their votes released to the public. He needs 75% to be enshrined. Unfortunately, in past years many of the cowardly voters who don’t identify themselves or their ballots tended to spurn Bonds… Willie O’Ree, the NHL’s first Black player, had his No. 22 retired by the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. Because of COVID-19 caution, O’Ree was part of the celebration from his San Diego home…A friend of mine while I was at USA TODAY Baseball Weekly, Roscoe Nance, will be inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame later this year. Nance was the first Black sportswriter at the ClarionLedger in Jackson, Mississippi, and covered SEC and HBCU football for many years before moving to USA TODAY. Nance died in January 2020… Forbes has ranked tennis champions Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams as the top two highest-paid female athletes of 2021. Osaka, 24, had $57.3 million in pre-taxed earnings, and Williams was second with $45.9 million. Both players made the bulk of their earnings through endorsements.

Earl Austin Jr.

Former Belleville East and Illinois star Malcolm Hill Jr. headed north from the NBA G League Birmingham Squadron to Chicago after signing a 10-day contract with the Bulls last week.

Photo courtesy of Chicago Bulls

Biden nominee could be first Black woman to serve on Federal Reserve board of governors

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

President Joe Biden on Friday announced the nominations of three individuals to serve on the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors, including Lisa D. Cook, a professor of Economics and International Relations at Michigan State University. If confirmed, Cook would become the first African American woman to serve in that role.

A Marshall Scholar from Spelman College who received a second B.A. in philosophy, politics, and economics from Oxford University, Cook earned a Ph.D. in economics from the University of California, Berkeley.

She also served as a faculty member of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, deputy director for Africa Research at the Center for International Development at Harvard, and a National Fellow at Stanford

“[President

“Lisa D. Cook would be the first Black woman in history to serve on the Board,” Lowe concluded. The President also nominated Phillip Jefferson, the dean of faculty at Davidson College in North Carolina, and Sarah Bloom Raskin, a former Federal Reserve and Treasury official, for positions on the Board. Raskin was nominated for the top regulatory post. The Senate must approve each of the nominations. For Cook and Jefferson, confirmation would mean joining an exclusive club – the duo would count among just five Black governors in the 108-year history of the Federal Reserve.

“Together with Chair Powell and Dr. Brainard, who I renominated last month, this group will bring much-needed expertise, judgment, and leadership to the Federal Reserve while at the same time bringing a diversity of thought and perspective never seen before on the Board of Governors,” the President asserted.

Arch Grants increases Startup Competition awards to $75,000

Arch Grants, a nonprofit seeking to catalyze economic development in the city of St. Louis, announced it will be increasing its annual non-equity grants awarded to early-stage businesses to $75,000 ahead of the launch of its 2022 Startup Competition, a 50% increase from 2021. Its plan is to award about

To also award $25,000 to companies relocating to St. Louis

20 grants later this year. Arch Grants also announced an increase in relocation grants for companies relocating to St. Louis for the program from $10,000 to $25,000 in 2022 and beyond.

“This significant increase in our funding of extraordinary entrepreneurs will ensure St. Louis continues to stand out as an attractive place for early-stage companies to grow,” Gabe Angieri, Arch Grants’ director of development and strategy said in a statement. “Arch Grants is committed to building upon the success we have had to date in driving economic growth for this region, and this is just the latest exciting step in advancing our vision for sustained and long-term regional growth through entrepreneurship and innovation.”

For the past 10 years, Arch Grants has been on a worldwide search for innovative, diverse early-stage startups looking to take their businesses to the next level. The 2022 Startup Competition will award startups with $75,000 in non-equity

grants, and access to an ecosystem of resources, in exchange for headquartering their businesses in the City of St. Louis for at least one year. In order to qualify for its $25,000 relocation grants, companies must move to St. Louis from outside of Missouri and/or 150 miles from St. Louis. Applications for the 2022 Startup Competition will be accepted from March 18 until April 15. Interested parties can sign up today at www. archgrants.org/competition to receive competition information and reminders. Each year, applications are evaluated by hundreds of investors and industry experts from around the country.

University.

Biden] is work-

ing to bring long-overdue diversity to the leadership of

the Federal Reserve,” Erica Lowe, the White House

Director of African American Media, wrote on Twitter.

A Marshall Scholar from Spelman College who received a second B.A. in philosophy, politics, and economics from Oxford University, Lisa D. Cook earned a Ph.D. in economics from the University of California, Berkeley.

The Ultimate ‘Finisher’

Former gang member lives out childhood dream of becoming a WWE superstar

By Danielle Brown

The St. Louis American

WWE superstar Sidney Iking Bateman better known as ‘Reggie’ to worldwide fans, said as a kid growing up in Walnut Park he never imagined he’d be where he is today.

“I remember teachers and other people asking my peers and I what we wanted to be when we got older,” he said. “There would be generic answers—a football player, basketball player or a rapper. I thought about becoming an athlete, but those goals were so far out of reach.”

Wrestling was always a hobby to him and it was an interest he shared with his uncle who he watched it regularly with. He said he didn’t give it much thought after his uncle died.

“There was no way a kid like me from a poor neighborhood could learn how to receive wrestling training or how to get into the business,” he said. “There was no blueprint back then. I felt the most I was going to get out of living that dream was by watching it or going to watch wrestling live.”

n Coming from a circus background, Bateman knows how to rely on his seasoned acrobatic moves and uniformed agility while defeating his opponent.

Now, more than 15 years later, Bateman’s wildest dreams are a reality. He said he joined the circus but grew tired of it and that inspired his pivot to WWE.

“In 2019, Cirque du Soleil was my employer, and we were doing a show in Orlando, Florida when the head coach told us WWE was in town and they were interested in doing an exchange with us,” he said. “April 2019 was when I changed my life, and now we’re here.”

He reigned as the franchise’s longest 24/7 champion for 112 consecutive days and has been with the company for three years. He received his formal training at its performance center.

He is a graduate of Beaumont High School with college education from National Circus School in Montreal, Canada. After graduation, he joined Seven Fingers, a French-Canadian circus. Prior work was with Circus Harmony and Circus Flora.

He returns to his hometown to compete in the Royal Rumble next Saturday, Jan. 29 at the America Center’s Dome. Go to www. ticketmaster.com for ticket prices and more information. His grand stage introduction led him to embody the fictionalized persona of a debonair sommelier with an undeniable charm.

Sidney Iking Bateman aka Reggie, will compete in the WWE’s Royal Rumble on Saturday, Jan. 29 at the Dome at the America’s Center. For tickets and more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Admittedly, he said the role reversal came easy for him due to his college years in Montreal.

“I went to college in Montreal, so I speak French and know a little bit about some wines,” he said. “It’s easy to be that character because, in many ways, it’s who I was when I was in school.”

Coming from a circus background, Bateman knows how to rely on his seasoned acrobatic moves and uniformed agility while defeating

his opponent.

“I like to be in the conversation for having one of the best dropkicks in the company,” he said. “I’m very evasive, so I do a lot of backflips, front flips, slides on the knees, and different things to help maneuver myself out of tricky situations.”

He said he tributes his stage name to his late

Lakes the Voices heats up Dark Room despite inclement weather

By Danielle Brown

The St. Louis American

Last Friday’s snowstorm that carried into the next day didn’t stop fans and supporters from missing The Grandel’s Dark Room debut of local singer and west side St. Louis native Lakes the Voice. For a two-hour show starting at 10 p.m. and ending at midnight, Lakes and his True Crusade Trap Band blazed the stage with their stellar top-notch showmanship despite the uncontrollable weather outside.

In honor of Memphis rapper Young Dolph who was shot and killed outside a cookie shop in his hometown Nov. 17, Lakes tributed the fallen star opening the show with his 2014 hitsingle “Preach.” The R&B crooner with heavy hip-hop influences transitioned smoothly to the beautiful melodies of The Isley Brothers’ love-making record “Between the Sheets.”

Performing a rendition to an old-school classic like the local residents Ernie and Ronald

Isley’s (who currently live in St. Louis’ West County) timeless song isn’t an easy task, but Lakes did the song justice. He even snuck in Erykah Badu’s lyrics from “Bag Lady,” making his cover more modernized and unique. He and True Crusade closed out the song with the perfect ending; they concluded the stylings of “Between the Sheets” with Biggie Smalls’ “Big Poppa,” who sampled the song in1994. The viral hit, “Smokin’ Out the Window” by Silk Sonic (duo with Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak), made its way into the performance set, and Lakes sang the hilariously shocking prechorus that put the internet in a frenzy when it first released. Looking dapper wearing all-Black from head-to-toe with a turtleneck, slacks, chain, floor-length beige peacoat and shimmery loafers, Lakes complimented his audience with humor.

“What’s up y’all feeling good?” he said. “Y’all look good, real good like a third or fourth stimulus check.”

He told his audience to strap their seat belts because they were in for a ride; he said they could leave their seat belts off if they were feeling dangerous. After encouraging his guests to enjoy the show and sharing some of his life story, he serenaded them with music from his album, “The Playbook” featuring the songs “Clutch” and

See Lakes, C8

Last Friday’s snowstorm that carried into the next day didn’t stop fans and supporters from missing the The Grandel’s Dark Room debut of local singer and west side St. Louis native Lakes the Voice.

home

Gravois Park neighborhood initiative sells homes to low-tomoderate income creatives

By Danielle Brown The St. Louis American

Historically, African Americans and other ethnic groups or minorities have always been victims of unlawful and unethical biases and business practices in the housing and real estate markets, resulting in denied bank loans and discrimation in predominantly white neighborhoods.

Kaveh Razani, director of operations at Arrt Place Iniative said API’s definition of an artist is someone who considers themselves one; the application process is open to creatives of all mediums including fine art, performance, functional art (jewelry, furniture), imaginative works (film, video, digital, etc.), and cultural practice(designers, technicians, tattoo artists, chefs, etc.).

Established in 2019 by the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, The Incarnate Word Foundation, and the Regional Arts Commission, St. Louis Art Place Initiative (API)’s mission is to shift that narrative through homeownership by generating wealth and equity for low-to-moderate income creatives. With a goal to develop 20 units of affordable housing and community green spaces, API secured 25 parcels in the Gravois Park neighborhood. A press release said The properties will include rehabs and new construction available for purchase to local artists.

The release also said previously vacant homes located at 3728 and 3729 Oregon Avenue are the first home renovations. The next construction phase is followed by newly constructed homes located at 3717 and 3719 Oregon Avenue. Over the course of three years, 20 units will be completed.

“This project represents API’s and our founding organizations’ commitment to building the infrastructure needed for local artists to thrive in St. Louis for years to come,” Chris Hansen, executive director of the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, said. “The impetus for this project came directly out of the Gravois-Jefferson Historic Neighborhoods Plan, which included providing affordable housing for artists. We’re excited to help carry out that vision in this collaborative effort.”

Photo Courtesy of Alonzo Townsend

See WWE, C8

Photo Courtesy of WWE

Be a Tourist in Your Own Town

St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission

Events in The Dome at America’s Center

By Barry Draper

The Dome at America’s Center has hosted numerous major conventions, trade shows and exhibitions as well as events as varied as rock concerts, motocross races and monster truck rallies. With so much space and opportunity, you are going to have to strap in for these upcoming events at The Dome in the New Year! Need more adrenaline?

Monster Jam is the go-to place for jaw dropping displays and gravity defying feats that promises to always leave fans entertained. Monster Jam features some of the most recognizable trucks in the world including Grave Digger, Max D, El Toro Loco and many more. Starting January 22nd – January 23rd, world class drivers push perfectly engineered Monster Jam trucks to their limits in Freestyle, 2 Wheel Skills and Racing competitions that will put you on the edge of your seat and leave you craving more of this unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable event.

Next, check out WWE’s Royal Rumble, taking place on Saturday, January 29, 2022, marking the largest venue to host the event in its illustrious 30+ year history. Royal Rumble will stream live at 8 pm ET exclusively on Peacock in the United States and WWE Network everywhere else. The event will be headlined by two 30-men and 30-women Royal Rumble matches, with the winners of both receiving a Championship match opportunity at WrestleMania in Dallas.

In its 44th year, STL RV Travel Show is the place to shop for a new 2022 RV, trade up to your dream RV, or just learn about the joys of traveling RV-style. Presented by the Midwest Gateway RV Dealers Association, the STL RV Travel Show is designed to introduce the public to the freedom, flexibility and fun of the RV lifestyle. Attendees will see over 300 RVs highlighting the latest in state-of-the-art RV technology, streamline designs, RV parts, accessories, and services, as well as travel destinations, including campgrounds. Nearly every style of recreational vehicles will be featured. Motorhomes, 5th wheels, travel trailers,

Check out WWE’s Royal Rumble taking place on Saturday, January 29, 2022.

sport utility trailers, van campers, and folding camping trailers will all be on display and for sale from February 4th through February 6th.

Looking ahead to March 3rd – March 6th, The Annual Builders St. Louis Home & Garden Show is THE place to see, learn about and buy the latest home products and services under one roof. Hundreds of local companies and countless experts will be on hand to answer questions, share ideas and provide inspiration to help you with all of your home and garden projects and improvements.

For a full list of events happening in The Dome at America’s Center, check out our calendar at explorestlouis.com. Also, be sure to share your photos of your St. Louis adventure using the hashtag #ExploreStLouis.

The 1969 St. Louis Rent Strike

By Cicely Hunter, MHS African American History Initiative

Public housing challenges affected low-income communities across the nation, but it was St. Louis’s 1969 rent strike that brought these problems into focus as residents of the city’s public housing facilities grappled with the system’s shortcomings. Though rent strikes were a common form of protest in the 1960s and 1970s, St. Louis’s rent strike was the largest and longest public rent strike in the country, leading to federal housing legislation. The strike was formed by tenants from Clinton-Peabody, Darst-Webbe, Carr Square Village, Vaughn, and Cochran public housing facilities, with Pruitt-Igoe residents joining later.

Led predominantly by low-income and working-class Black women, the rent strike movement protested racialized poverty that prevented residents from receiving affordable housing. Jean King, an African American community leader, was elected president of the Citywide Rent Strike Committee as the St. Louis Housing Authority continued to raise the rents for tenants who were on fixed incomes. At the time, rents were escalating $3 to $19 per month. Rent strikers believed they should be charged rent based on their income, rather than the size of their apartment.

King said, “Let’s stop being so scared of what ‘they’ [the St. Louis Housing Authority] are going to do. We have the money, we pay their salaries.” In a letter to St. Louis mayor Alfonso J. Cervantes, she stated, “[We] feel that the poor people in your city should be congratulated for their fine behavior and nonviolent acts during this time you have taxed them to death in order that you might provide a happy and wealthy life for yourself and your henchmen. We wonder why you are playing a game with us. It’s a very dangerous one you know. We didn’t have to plead with you and we won’t plead any longer.”

The 1969 St. Louis rent strike demonstrated how African American activists tackled public housing as a civil rights issue. The strike encour-

aged tenants to demand better living conditions. For example, residents in Pruitt-Igoe experienced rent hikes, but they did not receive additional services for their units or for general maintenance of the building. In this community-driven initiative, residents tackled housing reform by protesting rodent infestation, broken heating units, overflowing trash incinerators, and overall insufficient living conditions. Tenants insisted that they only pay 25 percent of their income in rent and also requested increased police protection and improved maintenance.

Richard Baron joined the strike as the legal counsel and expert on housing law. With the progressive tactics espoused by the activists and their legal counsel, the rent strike successfully gained recognition and the results that community leaders had anticipated. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that residents withheld $600,000, which nearly bankrupted the St. Louis Housing Authority. After nearly nine months, the strike ended on October 29, 1969. Tenants received many of their requests: They would pay 25 percent or less based on their earnings, members of the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners were removed and replaced, and tenant management boards were developed.

St. Louis’s rent strike had an impact on federal legislation as well. After meeting with King, Edward Brooke, the first African American senator in Massachusetts, went on to address the insufficiencies of public housing through the Brooke Amendment to the Housing Act of 1969. Unfortunately, what was then perceived as a successful legislative act continues to leave many low-income families in intolerable conditions today. Tenants continue to experience mounting rent hikes, insufficient living conditions, and racial disparities that further exacerbate public housing issues. Regardless, while public housing in St. Louis is often remembered for its failures and shortcomings, it should also be remembered as a site of activism and resilience by local African American communities.

Photo courtesy of monsterjam.com

Columnist Barry Draper

Photo courtesy of the Missouri Historical Society Collections

Children at play outside the Darst-Webbe housing project, 1960s.

St. Louis American staff

Lilly Endowment Inc. is donating $20 million to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and its National Fund for Sacred Places.

The fund’s website says the resources will be used to assist “historic Black churches and congregations to reimagine, redesign, and redeploy historic preservation to address the institutions’ needs and the cultural assets and stories they steward. Preserving Black Churches, a new $20 million initiative, offers a national

strategy for historic Black churches that are both stewarded by active congregations and being repurposed for new uses in local communities.”

Historic Black churches in the St. Louis area are invited to apply for up to $250,000 in funding. The National Fund for Sacred Places is accepting letters of intent from congregations seeking funding for significant capital projects. Applications must be received by March 7, 2022. For information on the application process, visit www.fundforsacredplaces.org/apply.

According to the Heritage Action Fund the program will

also:

-Establish a new national grant fund to provide direct funding to Black churches for capital, staffing, and operations

-Create a Rapid Response and Emergency Grant Fund to address imminent threats to Black churches

-Provide targeted assistance

The Bible suggests that God has a history of using people in the strangest ways. My take on it is He uses the strangest people to carry out His divine will. Doesn’t the Bible let us know that those who feel quite strange about it, are chosen by God to carry out heavenly tasks here on earth?

Moses was a murderer. Paul (Saul) killed a few Jesus lovers in his time. Rahab was a harlot and Jacob was, well, y’all know all about Jacob’s shortcomings. And David? I ain’t gonna even talk about that guy.

The point is that God uses the least of us (by our definition) to carry out His plans

despite what we think we’re capable of, or, what we think we’re worthy of. I mean, most of the prophets were reluctant participants at best as implementers and vehicles for God’s message to His people and those around them. In fact, most wanted nothing to do with their assignments because they didn’t think anyone would listen. If left to them, they weren’t worthy and someone else was better suited for the challenge. Whatever the reasons, we should all be mindful that the Hand of God is at work where He deems it will do the most good, regardless of what we think.

Anyone and everyone are candidates for greatness in the eyes of the Almighty, including you and yes, including even me. I used to think that only those called to preach had the gift of ministry. Try telling that to anyone who has accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, then watch how quickly they get corrected. I know I did.

and support to Black churches serving as sites of conscience, memory, justice, and reconciliation

-Amplify historic Black churches through digital documentation, storytelling, and media relations “No pillar of the African American community has been

us by God.

Slowly and reluctantly, I’ve accepted we all have a ministry according to the gifts given to

Neither economic status, academic achievement, or social standing means anything if God says ‘tag’ it’s your turn to do His bidding, carry His message or, simply let others see Him in you. One thing is for certain. You cannot refuse to hear Him when God comes knocking. Just ask Moses, Ezekiel, Isaiah, or Jeremiah. More importantly, ask yourself as I have lately, what are you reluctant to do in the name of God? Only you know if you’re in denial.

Only you know if you’re trying to convince God to choose someone else. The question is

more central to its history, identity, and social justice vision than the ‘Black Church,” said Henry Louis Gates, Jr., professor, filmmaker, and Preserving Black Churches lead advisor.

Brent Leggs, the senior vice president and executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, said many Black churches are community centers, historical landmarks and safe havens.

so many others, you’re going to eventually do what God is telling you to do?

I think you might want to get to that conclusion before God stops asking and starts telling. God is apt to stop asking and abandon you altogether and accept your no as a final answer.

The prospect of that gives a whole new meaning to “When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die.’ and you do not warn him of his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sins, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.” (Ezekiel 3:18)

I now believe that the measure of your life and mine is how we respond to God’s call and not, how hard we work on something else of our choosing, even if we judge that work as beneficial to others.

“The centerpiece of Black communities starts with the Black church,” Leggs told ABC News. “Black churches are exceptionally important in American democracy, not only for their legacy in civil and human rights but also for their role in uplifting civic identity and community empowerment.”

St. James AME Church in Mayfield, Kentucky, will receive $100,000 as one of the first Rapid Response and Emergency Grant recipients. The church, founded in 1868, was destroyed last month in a tornado that killed more than 20 people. “Black history is American history, and it is our responsibility to cultivate spaces to engage with it,” the website stated. “We must ensure that everyone has the opportunity to draw inspiration and wisdom

The question then is, how do we know when God is the one doing the talking?

I believe God doesn’t confuse us. I also believe He’s talking all the time. The key for us is to make a conscious and deliberate effort to listen and hear Him. That requires persistence and prayer. Consequently, listening then becomes habitual. All I’m trying to say is I’m trying each and every day to hear God. In doing so, I’m obligated to share with you that my calling and my job is to accept as a blessing this platform, use it as but another wonderful conduit for God’s will and continue to say loudly and publicly that Jesus is Lord. And if you also believe this, then you better tell somebody. May God bless and keep you always.

american Career Center

and collaborates with

can reimburse for

and other court personnel. This

to 10 hours of work per month, at the rate of $75.00/hour.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from an accredited law school, possession of a current license to practice law in the State of Missouri, at least three (3) years of trial experience, preferably in juvenile, family, or criminal law, and experience working with survivors of domestic or sexual violence (Note: This position is subject to continued availability of funding).

To apply, please send a current resume, along with a cover letter, to the following address (application materials must be postmarked by FEBRUARY 15, 2022): Attn: Human Resources Department, Family Court of St. Louis County, 105 S. Central Ave., Clayton, MO 63105. OR Email same to SLCCourtJobs@courts.mo.gov. EOE.

Please contact the Human Resources Department at 615-4471 (voice) or RelayMo 711 or 800-735-2966 if you need any accommodations in the application process, or if you would like this posting in an alternative form.

CITY CLERK POSITION OPEN

The City of Pagedale is currently seeking to Hire a Full time City Clerk See Below for requirements

We are looking to hire a motivated and experienced city clerk to plan, manage and coordinate clerical duties within the city council. You will be responsible for recording minutes of council meetings, recording and maintaining all municipal documents, preparing meeting agendas, storing financial records and issuing public correspondence.

To excel in this role, you will need to have proven experience in collating and maintaining records and legal documents, working knowledge of relevant computer systems, and an understanding of federal, state and local laws. A minimum of 5 years experience as a city clerk with clerical and supervisory experience is required and a minimum of an MRCC (Missouri Registered City Clerk).

City Clerk Responsibilities: Record, edit and distribute minutes of council meetings. Communicate effectively with management, government officials and staff.

Act as a liaison between the City Council and the public. Draft meeting agendas and bylaws. Record data and ensure that documents are stored, filed and maintained correctly. Utilize computer databases and software. Prepare and maintain official reports, legal documents, financial records, and reference material. Coordinate municipal elections.

Transcribe, type and proofread documents. Distribute public correspondence and ensure that municipal records are accessible to the public.

City Clerk Requirements: Computer skills and knowledge of software applications. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Strong interpersonal skills. Time management and organizational skills. Compliance with all federal, state and local laws and regulations.

You will be under the direct supervision of the Board of Alderpersons.

If interested, please click on this link for the Employment application.

You may either print this application out or come in to City Hall to fill one out. If you choose to print this one and fill it out, you may email it in with a copy of your driver’s license to cityclerk@cityofpagedale.org

INSPECTION SPECIALIST

This position is responsible for scheduling inspections, monitoring and tracking inspection due dates and completion rates, investigating complaints, processing rent increases and maintaining various logs and reports. The position involves extensive public contact. Requirements include a HS Diploma, 2 years at an accredited college or university in a related field and 1 year experience and/or training in Building/Housing Inspection. Salary $36,855 Annually. Apply via our website www.slha.org. Position will be open until filled. A Drug Free Work Place/EOE

PARENTS AS TEACHERS NATIONAL CENTER IS HIRING!

Parents as Teachers National Center is hiring a Parent Educator to provide home visitation services to families and children prenatal - kindergarten in Normandy. A Parent Educator is responsible for delivering all components of the Parents as Teachers model, Foundational Curriculum, implementing the essential requirements and quality assurance guidelines with fidelity, and collecting data required by PATNC. This is a full time, grant funded position.

INSTRUCTOR –CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

URL - https://agency. governmentjobs.com//semoedu/ default.cfm?promotionaljobs=1 Phone number – 573-651-2206

EMPLOYMENT

CONNECTION – CAREER

POSITION

SPECIALIST

EOE M/F/D/V

Full Description and Apply for this and other open positions at https://www. employmentstl.org/ come-work-with-us. Other positions include: Housing Specialist, Behavioral Health Career Specialist, Licensed Counselor. Also hiring for Patient Access and Environmental Services positions at major St. Louis area hospital.

POLICE OFFICER

The City of Richmond Heights is accepting applications for the position of Police Officer, $60,667 DOQ. To apply go to https://richmondheights. applicantpro.com/jobs/ . Applications will be accepted from January 18 to February 25, 2022.

PROBATIONARY FIRE PRIVATE

The City of St. Louis is now accepting applications for Probationary Fire Private. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. For more information or to apply, please visit the City website at http://stlouis-mo.gov/jobs LAST DATE FOR FILING APPLICATION IS FEBRUARY 18, 2022

SEASONAL UTILITY WORKER (PARKS, FORESTRY & REFUSE)

The City of St. Louis is now accepting applications for Seasonal Utility Workers. $15.00 per hour, no Driver’s License required Applications will be accepted until all vacancies are filled. Visit the City website at http://stlouis-mo.gov/jobs

Location: Single Specialty Endoscopy Center located in Central West End

G. I Registered Nurse: Skills:3-5 years of GI experience. ACLS certified. MO licensed. Detailed oriented, in assessment, implementing and recording, comprehensive nursing care in GI setting. Colonoscopy, with biopsy, EGD, PEG Resume: nanette.escueta@cweestl.org

G.I. Technician: Skills: GI experience. Knowledge, preparation, Set-Up, GI cases & Sterile technique. BLS certification. Decontamination and high-level disinfection. Preparation, GI set up, infection prevention and sterile techniques. Resume: nanette.escueta@cweestl.org

Medical Assistant (MA) Requirements 2-3 years’ experience working in outpatient setting, BLS certification. Good people skills, Familiar with intake of insurance information, scheduling, follow up appointments, HIPPA, Privacy Act. Resume: rachel.demouchet@cweestl.org

If you want to make a difference in the lives of young people, join our team at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri! We have a variety of open positions available - check them out at www.bbbsemo.org/careers.

SITE COORDINATOR

Deaconess Foundation will sponsor a network of Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools® programs this summer. The seven-week program provides summer enrichment for children and families. The Site Coordinator manages the day-to-day operations and supervises staff of one CDF Freedom Schools® site. The position’s primary responsibility is to ensure the proper implementation of the CDF Freedom Schools® program model by managing daily site activities. The Site Coordinator will train and manage staff, maintain the safety of all staff and students, coordinate afternoon activities, field trips, family engagement initiatives and volunteer responsibilities and ensure that the CDF Freedom Schools® Integrated Reading Curriculum is implemented with fidelity.

To apply for this position, submit cover letter, resume and references at: https://deaconess.org/joinus

St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Requests for Quotes, Bids and Proposals are posted online for public download. Please navigate to www.msdprojectclear.org

> Doing Business With Us

> View Non-Capital Bids (commodities and services) or >Visit Planroom (capital construction bids)

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

CITY OF CRESTWOOD ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Sealed bids for the Painting of the City of Crestwood Aquatic Competition Pool marked “AQUATIC COMPETION POOL PAINTING PROJECT” will be received by the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Crestwood at the Crestwood Community Center, 9245 Whitecliff Park Lane, until 3:00pm on January 26, 2022; and at that time will be publicly opened and read aloud at the Community Center.

The Scope of Work includes brush blasting, joint repair, cleaning and coating of pool surfaces, etc. at 9245 Whitecliff Park Lane as noted in the specifications of the bid document. These documents can be obtained on the City of Crestwood website. www.cityofcrestwood.org

www.stlamerican.com

NOTICE TO CONSULTANTS

The St. Louis County Department of Transportation is requesting the services of a highlyqualified consulting engineering firm to perform professional engineering services for the Laclede Station Road Resurfacing—Watson to Weil project (St. Louis County Project No. AR-1838).

Full details for this project, including submittal requirements and deadline, will be available on January 18, 2022 from the St. Louis County Web Site (https://stlouiscountymo.gov/)

NOTICE TO CONSULTANTS

The St. Louis County Department of Transportation is requesting the services of a highlyqualified consulting engineering firm to perform professional engineering services for the Hanley Road—Laclede Station Road Resurfacing project (St. Louis County Project No. AR-1819).

Full details for this project, including submittal requirements and deadline, will be available on January 18, 2022 from the St. Louis County Web Site (https://stlouiscountymo.gov/)

INVITATION TO BID

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. requests bids for Design/Build Mechanical, Plumbing, Fire Protection and Electrical scopes from qualified subcontractors for the following project: Saint Louis University Champions Center

A Virtual Pre-Bid and Partnering/Outreach Meeting will be held on Thursday, January 27 at 11:00 AM. Certified MBE/WBE/DBE subcontractors are encouraged to attend the Outreach to learn about partnering opportunities with Saint Louis University’s identified Design/Build bidders.

Tentative Bid Date: February 17, 2022

Contact: Mary Peterein at mpeterein@mccarthy.com or 314-919-2171 for more information and for virtual meeting access.

Prequalification is required and can be accessed at https://www.mccarthy.com/subcontractors

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer

LETTING #8737

CERVANTES CONVENTION CENTER

EXPANSION AND MODERNIZATIONPROJECT 1 ST.

LOUIS, MISSOURI

PROPOSALS will be received by the Board of Public Service until 1:45 pm, CT, on March 1, 2022 through the Bid Express online portal then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org (BPS on line plan room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

A pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held on January 13, 2022 at 10:00 am at the America’s Center. Interested bidders are to enter through the security office at the southeast corner of the 9th St./Cole St. intersection and will be directed to the meeting room. All bidders are encouraged to attend.

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

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

NOTICE TO CONSULTANTS

The St. Louis County Department of Transportation is requesting the services of a highlyqualified consulting engineering firm to perform professional engineering services for the Charbonier Road Resurfacing project (St. Louis County Project Number AR-1744).

Full details for this project, including submittal requirements and deadline, will be available on January 18, 2022 from the St. Louis County Web Site (https://stlouiscountymo.gov/)

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Metal P l a n t R o o f Replacement, M o b e r

Center, Project No. C1913- 03, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1 : 3 0 P M , 2/10/2022 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered t o b i d . F o r specific project information, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

PUBLIC NOTICE

Sisters of Lavender Rose is soliciting bids from food service vendors. Bids are for service in the Saint Louis Area (i.e., Hazelwood, Ferguson Florissant) for approximately 1,653 snacks and suppers. The days of operation are as follows: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. From February 1, 2022-Friday, May 27, 2022. All contracts are subject to review by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. To obtain a bid packet contact; Sisters of Lavender Rose; 314-656-1490; 7220 N. Lindbergh Saint Louis, MO; sistersoflavenderrose@gmail.com The deadline for bid submission is Wednesday, February 3, 2022 at 11:59p A public bid opening will take place at 7220 N. Lindbergh on Monday, February 7, 2022 at 10:30a.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the County of St. Louis (the LCRA”) requests proposals from separate, qualified contractors to perform the following services for the LCRA’s MET Center building, located at 6347 Plymouth Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63133: (1) elevator preventative maintenance and repair services, as needed, (2) HVAC system preventative maintenance and repair services, as needed, (3) janitorial services, and (4) security services. The requested services shall be for a one-year period with two successive options for the LCRA to renew for terms of one year each. A five percent bid preference may be available to certified MBE firms. A copy of the full RFP is available at https:// stlpartnership.com/rfp-rfq/. Proposals should be received no later than 3:00 PM CST on Thursday, February 3, 2022. St. Louis Economic Development Partnership Equal Opportunity Employer

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Altman-Charter Co., requests subcontractor/supplier proposals for Francie’s Place Apartment Renovations. This is the Renovation/Remodel of 3 separate apartment buildings with a total of 23 units. The addresses are 3600 South Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, MO 63118; 4334-4338 Chouteau Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110; and 3851-3853 Shenandoah Ave., St. Louis, MO 63118. Proposals are due at the office of Altman-Charter Co., 315 Consort Dr., St. Louis, MO 63011 on or before Thur., January 20, 2022 at 3:00 PM (CT). Qualified Minority, Section 3, and Women owned businesses are encouraged to submit proposals. Plans can be viewed at FW Dodge, Construct Connect, SIBA, MOKAN, Cross Rhodes Reprographics, and the Altman-Charter plan room in St. Louis. Bidders should contact Mr. James Geerling with any questions or to submit a proposal at jamesg@altman-charter.com. Our telephone # is (636) 207-8670, and our fax # is (636) 207-8671.

NOTICE TO CONSULTANTS

The St. Louis County Department of Transportation is requesting the services of a highlyqualified consulting engineering firm to perform professional engineering services for the Dorsett Road Resurfacing—270 to Old Dorsett project (St. Louis County Project No. AR-1840).

Full details for this project, including submittal requirements and deadline, will be available on January 18, 2022 from the St. Louis County Web Site (https://stlouiscountymo.gov/)

NOTICE TO CONSULTANTS

The St. Louis County Department of Transportation is requesting the services of a single highly-qualified consulting engineering firm to perform professional engineering services for two projects; Baumgartner Road Resurfacing and Bennington Road Resurfacing (St. Louis County Project Nos. AR-1749 and AR-1752).

Full details for this project, including submittal requirements and deadline, will be available on January 18, 2022 from the St. Louis County Web Site (https://stlouiscountymo.gov/)

St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices

ITB #: 57821246

INVITATION TO BID

Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) is requesting proposals for the construction services required for the Dr. Henry Givens Jr. Administration Bldg. Laboratory Renovations Project. Proposals must be emailed no later than 2:00 pm on Wednesday January 26, 2022, to Corey Freeman at freemanc@hssu.edu. Responses to the RFP will be opened and read at a virtual bid opening on Wednesday January 26, 2022 at 2:15 pm. The link to the virtual bid opening will be sent at the time of bid submission.

A pre-bid conference and walk-through will be held on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at 2:00 pm at the Dr. Henry Givens Jr. Administration Bldg. located at 3026 Laclede Ave. St. Louis, MO 63103. Masks will be required for entry into the facility and at the pre-bid conference and walk-through. Social Distancing will also be required in the facility.

A copy of the Request for Proposals can be obtained by contacting Corey Freeman at email address: freemanc@hssu.edu, faxing: (314) 340-3322 or calling (314)-340-3325.

Should you need any further assistance, please email Ryan Wilson with NAVIGATE Building Solutions at ryan@navigatebuildingsolutions.com

The University reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and to waive all informalities in proposals.

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Wachter, inc. is soliciting bids for the Ladue School District New Gym/Storm Shelter Additions at Conway & Reed Elementary Schools. Bids are due in our office by 10:00AM on January 19, 2022. Drawings may be accessed electronically via; https://drive.google.com/ drive/folders/1YEPUG8x1povJKi6gahFe2_ EG4D51Khv2?usp=sharing

This project requires a good faith effort be made to include MBE and WBE firms on the construction team and we encourage these firms to submit bids to achieve these goals. This project is subject to Missouri Prevailing Wage laws and is sales tax exempt.

Please send your bids to bids@wachterinc.com or call our office at 636-464-3555 with any questions.

EOE/AA

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Keeley Construction is soliciting Proposals for the Cervantes Convention Center Expansion Early Utilities Package. Scope of work includes but is not limited to the following: Traffic Control, Erosion and Sedimentation Control, Sawcutting of Pavement, Pavement demolition, Ductile Iron Piping for Domestic Water, Fire Hydrants, Storm Sewer removals and Improvements, Precast Structures, Asphalt Paving, Concrete Curbs and Walks, Shoring, Deep Sewer Construction. Proposals are due to Keeley Construction prior to bid opening January 18th, 2022. The Owner has adopted a comprehensive Inclusion Program for the construction phase of the Project which includes, but is not limited to, the following. Enterprise: 21% African American-owned business enterprises, 2% Hispanic American-owned business enterprises, .50% Asian American-owned business enterprises, .50% Native American-owned business enterprises and 11% Women-owned business enterprises. Workforce: 25% Minority, 7% Women, 23% City Residents and 20% Apprentices. For all inquiries, please contact Elise Brown elise.brown@keeleyconstruction.com

STLZOO MAGAZINE RFP 2022

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks bids from qualified contractors to print four issues of stlzoo Magazine. Bid documents are available as of 1/12/2022 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor

INVITATION TO BID

Sealed bids for the above project are being requested from the Ferguson Florissant School District and will be received and publicly opened on Wednesday February 9, 2022 @ 1:15 pm CST at the Operation and Maintenance Dept. located at 8855 Dunn Rd. (REAR) Hazelwood, MO 63042. Pre Bid Meeting Wednesday February 2, 2022 @ 9:00am at MSB 201 Brotherton Ln. Ferguson, MO 63135. Bid specs must be obtained at http://new.fergflor.k12.mo.us/ facilities-rfq. Contact Matt Furfaro at mfurfaro@fergflor.org for further information/questions.

SEALED BIDS

PUBLIC NOTICE

The City of Beverly Hills is soliciting bids to repair inlets and sidewalks. Call 314-382-6544 ext 11 for the Bid Packet. Sealed Bids due Friday February 4th, 10:00 a.m. at 7150 Natural Bridge Rd Ste 101, Saint Louis, MO 63121

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Great Rivers Greenway is seeking qualifications for design, permitting, construction assurance and federal aid administration for the Brickline Greenway. Check www.greatriversgreenway.org/ jobs-bids and submit by January 27, 2022.

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 301 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on February 08, 2022, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

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

b y F M D C , State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, February 10, 2022. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities

Electrical, Central Region, Project No. IDIQMCA-2007, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 1/25/2022 via M i s s o u r i B U Y S . Bidders must be registered to bid. For specific project information, go to: https://oa.mo. gov/facilities/ bidopportunities/ bidlistingelectronicplans

In its first phase of development, API has finished its first home, which was sold and now belongs to Stan Chisolm, an art teacher at Kairos Academies and multidisciplinary artist.

Chisholm said he’s thrilled to be the first house recipient.

“It’s amazing to have all my hard work over the years pay off,” he said. “It feels surreal to have this be a reality and be here to represent leading the way with it.” Razani said the second house is currently in construction. Once spring comes, development for houses three, four, five, and six will begin simultaneously. He said a total of five houses will be completed in 2022.

“Our total footprint is 20 units of single family for-sale housing,” Razani said. “Their interior designs will be relatively similar. We are designing

everything from two bedroom, two bath to four bedroom, two bath to accommodate different family sizes. We want to make sure there’s diversity in unit sizes.”

In addition to the units, Razani said the project includes public space, green space, and commercial space.

“We’re excited about developing in collaboration with the neighborhood, and with that partnership, we’re helping facilitate a community land trust,” he said. “The land trust is a communal body of residents, stakeholders, and neighbors that will collectively hold ownership over land and maintain options to purchase back the homes from the artists.”

Razani said there is a deep restriction in places that gives API and the community land trust the option to purchase a home from an artist to give to the next artist.

“The home will stay in the program,” he said. “If an artist chooses to live in that home for the rest of their life, they can. However, if they choose to sell

it at any point, they will sell it to another artist through the community land trust and API. We want those homes to remain affordable housing for artists in that neighborhood.” Razani said API builds and

rehab houses in Gravois Park is because it chose them more than they chose it “In 2017, there was a community planning process that occurred called the Gravois-Jefferson Historic

Neighborhood Plan, and it essentially encompassed all the neighborhoods between Jefferson and Grand on the east and west; Gravois on the north and Meramec on the south,” Razani said. “It includes mostly Benton Park West, Gravois Park, and parts of Dutchtown. The goal of that community plan is facilitated by Dutchtown South Community Corporation and its purpose was to create a document outlining how the neighborhood wanted to develop and grow in the coming years.”

Razani said the 350-page plan, which includes input from residents, neighbors, business owners, and former residents, also has an arts and culture section with a call-to-action for affordable for-sale housing for artists.

“Our neighbors care deeply about the future of our community. Gravois Park is home to a very high concentration of artists within the St. Louis region artists who are also neighbors, committed and engaged in bettering their own community,”

Amanda Colon-Smith, executive director, Dutchtown South Community Corporation, said. “This project opens a door for artists connected to the neighborhood to access homeownership and continued stewardship of their community.”

Low-to-moderate income artists are selected through an application and screening process based on specific guidelines determined from a racial equity lens, calculated policies to foster fair housing practices and a confirmed connection to the Gravois Park Community.

Architect Karl Grice of Grice Group Architects is the lead designer for all of the rehabbed houses. Habitat for Humanity St. Louis serves as the general contractor for all properties and is the designer on new construction projects. API also has a partnership with Dream Builders 4 Equity (DB4E), a local nonprofit organization that assists youth in co-developing homes to gain developer experience. For more information, visit stlartplace.org.

childhood friend who died in a car accident when they were younger.

“The name was drawn to me, and my company thought the name fit me, which worked out because it honors my late

friend,” he said.

Thousands of households are frequently entertained from watching Bateman and his colleagues finish off each other one-by-one in some of the rowdiest matches. Fans may wonder who he is outside of the ring. The person shown on TV is who he said he authentically is, but when he’s not on the small screen and at home he’s more

chill, and laidback.

“I love movies. I love writing. I’m writing a book about my life that ties into everything I’ve done throughout this journey of 29 years thus far,” he said. “I like to mentor kids. I’m very adamant about giving back and rebuilding my community in St. Louis. It’s all about paying it forward.” For kids from similar socioeconomic backgrounds like

him, he gives the advice to keep an open mind and knock some of those borders down. As a former gang member, he said once he embarked on a new life, he learned to be receptive to new ideas and new possibilities.

“I never thought in a million years I’d be a wrestler or a circus performer, but you know what, I took that leap of faith and said I want something dif-

Continued from C1

“Sho Me,” which he performed. He kept the crowd engaged and entertained, sparking the ongoing debate on who would win in a Verzuz between Lil Wayne and Jay-Z. Hands were raised, and a tie was drawn for both artists. He shouted his big brother out who was there and said he was the one who instilled hiphop influence in him.

“He used to play vinyl in the room, making me fall in love with hip-hop,” Lakes said. Providing a diverse listening experience for all music lovers, he time-traveled back to the 1970s with Earth, Wind, and Fire’s “September” before taking a brief intermission.

The intermission took about 15 minutes, and Lakes returned to the stage in a more comfortable outfit wearing a Black sweatshirt with rainbow block lettering that reads “Playbook” from his merchandise line. Lakes said he used to sing in school to get girls.

ferent,” he said. “Never give up on dreams you have because you think it isn’t cool enough, or you think people in your neighborhood won’t approve.”

“You don’t wanna miss this show because it’s gonna be a great one,” he said. “I’m super excited because it’s in my hometown.”

He has been featured in the St. Louis American in the past. Read his story from 2018 here: https://www.stlamerican. com/entertainment/living_it/ sydney-iking-bateman-signswith-cirque-du-soleil/article_b3f632ec-f679-11e7-9dc3131767a58158.html. Read his story from 2017 here: https://www.stlamerican. com/entertainment/living_it/ full-circle-for-iking-bateman-atcircus-flora/article_5d7ebf9e4669-11e7-8f7e-7b02715d709e. html.

“After I came home from school, I’d learn songs on my mom’s piano and then go back to school the next day to sing them to girls,” he said. His grown and sexy show full of sounds for men and women to enjoy concluded with arrangements of Mario’s “Let

Let your spirit of giving heat up the homes of

FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 11

Buy a Sausage Biscuit or Egg Biscuit for $1.00 or drop oﬀ a donation.

We’ll donate all of the proceeds to Heat Up St. Louis for Missouri and Illinois charities. Donations accepted January 11- February 13.

Bulk biscuit orders will be taken now through February 9.

See details at

At-Home Learning Schedule

Photo courtsey of stlartplace.org

COVID-19 vaccines are overwhelmingly safe and highly effective at reducing the risk of severe disease, hospitalizations and death. Unfortunately, misinformation and pervasive myths continue to sow doubt, leaving many unprotected.

COVID-19 vaccine myths busted

Roughly 99% of deaths linked to COVID-19 in the latest wave -- and the vast majority of cases involving severe symptoms that require hospitalization -- were among patients who weren’t fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“With high levels of community spread of COVID-19, we’re once again fighting a two-front war: against the virus and against rampant misinformation,” says American Medical Association president, Gerald E. Harmon, M.D.

Here are some of the top myths physicians are hearing and what you need to know:

• Can COVID-19 vaccines impact fertility? Risks to fertility or the ability to become pregnant after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine were disproven through clinical trials and real-world data

points. While pregnant women weren’t specifically targeted for vaccine trials, several participants became pregnant without issue during the trial duration and there’s been no demonstrated real-world impact on fertility. Moreover, COVID-19 itself carries significant risks for pregnant women, including higher risks of preterm labor and stillbirth, and higher risks of hypertension and pneumonia for pregnant women. There’s also no evidence showing that COVID-19 vaccines affect male fertility.

• Can vaccinated people “shed” spike proteins, affecting those close to them? Vaccine shedding can only occur when a vaccine contains a weakened version of the virus. None of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the United States contain a live virus, so it’s not biologically possible for a vaccinated person to affect an unvaccinated person by proxy or by “shedding” spike proteins.

• I’ve already had COVID-19. Do I need the vaccine? Yes, the data shows that unvaccinated individuals are more

than twice as likely to be reinfected with COVID-19 than those who were fully vaccinated after initially contracting the virus. Getting the vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and those around you.

• Why do I need the vaccine if breakthrough infections are possible? Some fully vaccinated people will still get sick because no vaccine is 100% effective. However, data show that vaccination may make COVID-19 symptoms less severe. The vaccines have also been shown to provide substantial protection against death and hospitalization in cases of breakthrough infection.

• I’m young and healthy. Do I really need the vaccine? Many young, previously healthy people have gotten seriously ill or died from COVID-19, and those numbers are increasing with new, more transmissible variants. There’s no way to predict how you’ll respond to infection. Additionally, vaccines help prevent you from carrying the virus and transmitting it to others. Reducing the number of unvaccinated people will mitigate transmission

of the virus.

• I have allergies. Should I be worried about a reaction to the vaccine? There have been very rare (2.5-5 people per million) reports of severe (anaphylactic) allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines. Having severe allergic reactions to certain foods, bee stings or oral medications doesn’t mean you will have an allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccination sites are prepared to evaluate and handle these situations on individual bases.

More fact-based vaccine information can be found by visiting cdc.gov or getvaccineanswers.org.

“The evidence around vaccinations is abundantly clear; they’re safe, effective and will help protect you and your loved ones from severe COVID and death,” says Dr. Harmon. “If you have questions about the vaccine, its safety, or effectiveness, please speak to your physician. We are here for you, eager to answer your questions, and get you protected from this virus.” (StatePoint)

10 doctor-recommended new year’s resolutions to make today

While investing in your health and wellness can sound like an overwhelming goal, doctors say that there are easy, tangible resolutions you can make to feel your best and better protect your health.

“A new year is the perfect time to consider your personal goals, and how you can make positive health choices in the coming year,” says American Medical Association (AMA) President Gerald E. Harmon, M.D. “Small lifestyle changes today can have a lasting effect in improving your health.”

Not sure where to start? Consider these resolutions from the AMA:

1. Make sure your family is up-todate on their vaccines, including the annual influenza vaccine for everyone age six months or older and the COVID19 vaccine for everyone age five and older. Anyone with questions about the COVID-19 vaccines should speak with their physician and review resources, including getvaccineanswers.org.

2. Learn your risk for type 2 diabetes by taking a simple online 2-minute self-screening test at DoIHavePrediabetes.org. Steps you take now can help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.

3. Be more physically active. Adults should do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity activity.

4. Know your blood pressure numbers. Take the time to visit ManageYourBP.org to better understand your numbers and take necessary steps to get high blood pressure -- also known as hypertension -under control. Doing so will reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke.

5. Reduce your intake of processed foods, especially those with added sodi-

um and sugar. Also reduce your consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and drink more water instead.

6. If your health care professional determines that you need antibiotics, take them exactly as prescribed. Antibiotic resistance is a serious public health problem and antibiotics will not make you feel better if you have a virus, such as a cold or flu.

7. If consuming alcohol, do so in moderation as defined by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans -- up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men, and only by adults of legal drinking age.

8. Talk with your doctor about tobacco and nicotine use and quit. Declare your home and car smoke-free to eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke.

9. If you are taking prescription opioids, follow your doctor’s instructions, store them safely to prevent diversion or misuse, and properly dispose of any leftover medication.

10. Manage stress. A good diet and daily exercise are key ingredients to maintaining and improving your mental health, but don’t hesitate to ask for help from a friend or mental health professional when you need it.

If you don’t have health insurance, the AMA also encourages you to visit healthcare.gov to sign up for coverage. You may benefit from recent changes that improve access and affordability. The deadline to enroll for 2022 coverage is Jan. 15, 2022. More health resources can be found by visiting ama-assn.org.

For a healthy 2022, consider making these 10 doctor-recommended New Year’s resolutions today. (StatePoint) Be more physically active in 2022. Adults should do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity activity.

The best way to see improvement in both chronic and short-term conditions is to take medication as prescribed — the right dose at the right time in the right way.

Rx resolutions: 6 ways to improve your health in 2022

While diet and exercise resolutions typically top New Year’s lists, experts say that focusing a few of your resolutions on forming good habits relating to your pharmacy routine can improve your overall health.

Susan Peppers, RPh, vice president, Express Scripts Pharmacy, suggests these resolutions to make the most of your pharmacy care.

Resolve to…ask more questions

Many of us are hesitant to speak up when we have questions about prescribed medications or therapies. Don’t be! Pharmacists have clinical expertise and can play an important role in your whole health. At Express Scripts Pharmacy, pharmacists are available 24/7 to answer questions or talk through any other health issues you may be experiencing.

Resolve to…never miss a dose

The best way to see improvement in both chronic and short-term conditions

is to take medication as prescribed — the right dose at the right time in the right way. Try using a pill container or a dose reminder or taking your medication as part of your daily routine, such as brushing your teeth. Talk to your pharmacist about the best time to take your medication.

You should also consider ongoing home delivery — like that provided by Express Scripts Pharmacy — so you never run out of medication due to a missed pharmacy trip. Express Scripts Pharmacy customers can also enroll eligible medications in an automatic refill program. Your prescriptions will be refilled at the right time, so your medicine will always be on hand.

Resolve to…take your medications safely

Taking medication the wrong way or without knowledge of their effects can be dangerous. Read and understand the instructions printed on your prescription label, so you can be sure you’re taking your medicine exactly as intended. For

example, taking certain medications on an empty stomach if you’re supposed to take it with a meal can reduce their effectiveness.

You’ll also want to be sure you don’t mix your medication with certain other drugs or alcohol, or even engage in specific activities, like driving, if the label warns you against doing so.

Resolve to…clean out your medicine cabinet

Many people find they’re more likely to take medications properly if they have a well-organized medicine cabinet. Go through and properly dispose of expired medications or those you’re no longer taking. For more information on discarding expired medications, visit express-scripts.com/askyourpharmacist.

Resolve to…check-in with your doctor

Your health can change, and your prescriptions should change along with it. Schedule time at least once annually

to go over everything you’re being prescribed. It’s a good chance to talk to your doctor about what’s working, what’s not and what might need adjustments. In turn, keeping all medications at a single pharmacy when possible allows your pharmacist to have the most accurate information to help keep you safe from drug interactions or medication issues. Be sure your physician knows which pharmacy you use.

Resolve to…update your insurance information

The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to ensure you have updated insurance information accessible in case you need to reference it. Replace old cards with new ones as soon as you can to save time and reduce confusion when filling prescriptions.

For more medication pharmacy care resources and information, visit www. esrx.com/AskYourPharmacist.

Here’s to a happy and healthy 2022!

The first step you can take toward improving your heart health is one of the easiest. Simply learning more about heart disease, what causes it, what the symptoms are, and how you can manage it through lifestyle changes can start you down the road to a healthier heart.

Let knowledge lead you to a healthier heart, even during the pandemic

Even though COVID-19 has left a trail of devastation across the U.S., it’s not the biggest cause of death in the country right now. That distinction belongs to an old foe well known to the African American community — heart disease.

Heart diseases are more common in African Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African Americans ages 35-64 years are 50% more likely to have high blood pressure and twice as likely to die from heart and vascular disease than Caucasians. In fact, Black Americans, as a group, have a higher rate of blood pressure and develop high blood pressure earlier in life

Unfortunately, the pandemic has only increased some of the factors that make high blood pressure even worse, including stress, isolation, sleep prob-

lems, poor diet and less exercise. And doctors are already seeing the impact.

One study released by the American Heart Association (AHA) in December found that at the height of the pandemic in 2020, blood pressure measurements were significantly higher across the United States compared to 2019. The AHA warned that this could lead to a wave of heart attacks, heart failure and strokes in the future.

But there is good news. Even if you already have high blood pressure, it doesn’t mean heart attack, stroke and heart failure are going to occur. Studies have shown that taking control of your heart health can lower your risk of death from heart attack, stroke and heart failure.

February is Heart Month and though the pandemic has limited activities like the free heart screenings and heart fairs hospitals often hold, you can still take

charge of your heart health. Here is what you can do now.

Empowering through knowledge

BJC HealthCare and the AHA have free resources on their websites, ranging from this basic video (https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=8VWB2jqR3FM&t=136s) that explains how your heart should be working to a library of heart-related health topics, including information on heart disease and stroke

in the African American community (https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/ consumer-healthcare/what-is-cardiovascular-disease/african-americans-andheart-disease-stroke).

What about your personal risk of heart disease? Our online heart health quiz can give you an idea of where you stand and connect you to a trusted heart health specialist.

Ready to start making some of the simple changes that make your heart healthier and lower your risk of heart disease? There are online tools available, like these https://www.bjc.org/HeartHealth), that share tips on how to tweak your lifestyle and take your blood pressure at home.

While the pandemic has changed people’s lives, you can keep it from taking a toll on your heart. Let knowledge empower you to keep your heart healthy.

Store-bought chicken noodle soup isn’t always the healthiest option, which is why some experts recommend making a homemade version so you can control overall nutrition content.

A healthy homemade soup to jumpstart the new year

When sweater weather arrives, there’s nothing quite as comforting as a pot of something savory and delicious simmering on the stove.

As you turn to hearty soups this winter, having the right seasonal staples means you’ll be well on your way to having piping hot meals on the table, quickly and hassle-free.

Keep your pantry and fridge stocked with essential ingredients like onions, carrots and celery, along with a collection of earthy, zesty spices and versatile, allpurpose seasonings. You’ll also need a rich and all-natural stock handy, such as Kitchen Basics Unsalted Chicken Stock. Simmered all day with chicken, vegetables and McCormick herbs and spices, this deeply flavored stock can bring a burst of savory warmth to countless dishes. It’s low on sodium so it’s a good-for-you start to many delicious meals beyond soup, like rice, sauces, and more.

To help you embrace the colder weather, try a recipe for a hearty classic loaded with tender veggies, chicken, egg noodles and robust flavor that puts this stock -- aka “liquid gold” -front and-center. Yep, you guessed it, savory homemade chicken noodle soup. Nostalgic and nourishing, all you need is 10 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes cooking on your stovetop.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 1 cup chopped yellow onion

• 1 cup chopped carrots

• 1 cup chopped celery

• 2 tablespoons McCormick Garlic, Herb and Black Pepper and Sea Salt All Purpose Seasoning

• 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Ground Turmeric

• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast

• 2 cartons (32 ounces each) Kitchen Basics Unsalted Chicken Stock

• 2 cups uncooked medium egg noodles

• 1/2 cup frozen peas

Instructions:

1. Heat oil in large saucepan on medium heat until shimmering. Add onion, carrots and celery; cook and stir 3 minutes or until softened. Stir in seasoning and turmeric; cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Add chicken and stock. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 15 to 20 minutes until chicken is cooked through and tender.

2. Transfer chicken to medium bowl; shred using two forks. Set aside. Stir noodles into broth; cook 6 minutes or until tender. Return shredded chicken to saucepan. Gently stir in peas. Sprinkle with parsley to serve, if desired.

During the short, dark days of winter, healthy soups like this will feed your body and warm your soul. (StatePoint)

Get kids involved in meal selection and preparation. Even very young children can help wash fruits and vegetables.

Tips to encourage your child to adopt healthy eating habits

While there is a lot of guidance available about what to feed children, until now, there has been little guidance about how to feed them. New recommendations offer parents and caregivers practical tips for encouraging healthy eating habits vital to growth, development and health.

“Childhood is a critical period for developing lifelong eating habits, and home is one of the first places where these habits emerge,” says Megan Lott, MPH, RD, deputy director of Healthy Eating Research (HER). “As a registered dietitian and parent myself, I know that reluctance to try new foods and other picky eating habits are common in childhood.”

In an effort to make mealtimes easier for families, HER, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) based at Duke University, recently convened a panel that reviewed scientific research to develop recommendations for how to feed children ages 2-8.

They found that structuring the home

to provide healthy choices and supporting children’s independence in trying and learning to like new foods are more effective than pressuring children to eat. They also found that the single most effective strategy to get kids to eat healthy food is through repeated exposure. Here’s a snapshot of the panel’s top tips:

• Promote independence: Giving kids some control at mealtime helps them learn to like healthful foods. Avoid pressuring kids to finish everything on their plate. Instead, help them learn to identify when they’re hungry or full.

• Get them involved: Get kids involved in meal selection and preparation. Even very young children can help wash fruits and vegetables.

• Make mealtime fun: Give foods fun names, share family recipes and food traditions, and talk about your favorite dishes.

• Avoid food rewards: Bribing with

sweet treats is tempting, but non-food rewards are more effective in the long run. You can also use praise, like “Good job trying the beans!” to convey love and encourage trying healthy food.

• Create a positive environment: Provide an environment that lends itself to healthy habits. Keep a bowl of fruit on the counter and chopped vegetables in the fridge. Portion healthy snacks into individual-serving size containers and leave them at kids’ eye level and within reach. Offer vegetables as an appetizer to give kids the opportunity to eat healthy foods when hungry and without other competing food. Limit the number of unhealthy snacks in the house.

• Try, try again: Toddlers and preschoolers commonly go through a phase of fearing new foods, however, most kids grow out of this. Try to be patient. It often takes time for kids to develop new, healthy eating habits. Repeated exposure matters. In fact, kids may need to try something 10-15 times before

knowing if they like it or not, and this can happen over weeks or months and through different preparations. To avoid food waste, start small. For a new food, consider offering just a few bites.

• Be a role model: Kids often look around them for cues about what to eat, and they look up to you! Let them see you make healthy choices, for your sake and theirs.

For more tips that encourage healthy eating habits, visit HealthyEatingResearch.org and follow #HealthyTipsHealthyKids on Instagram.

“The recommendations were designed to give parents, caregivers and the providers who work with children reliable information about what we know works,” says Lott. “However, our national policies must do a better job of supporting the health and well-being of children and families, prioritizing equity, and making healthy food available to and affordable for everyone.” (StatePoint)

Additional factors that can drive health outcomes in the short and long term include access to green spaces, educational opportunities, economic stability and living in a safe community.

Why experts say we must broaden our definition of health

Many Americans view health as a product of the medical care they receive. However, public health experts say that’s just one piece of the puzzle.

“In reality, our health is shaped more by the zip code we live in than the doctor we see. In fact, where we live, our financial circumstances, our access to affordable, nutritious foods, and other non-medical factors overwhelmingly influence our physical and mental health,” says Dr. Shantanu Agrawal, chief health officer, Anthem, Inc.

These factors that Dr. Agrawal refers to are known as “social drivers of health” (SDoH), and they determine up to 80% of our health outcomes, according to Robert Wood Johnson Foundation research.

As part of “What’s Driving Our Health,” Anthem’s campaign to start a national conversation around whole health, the healthcare company recently conducted a study to learn more about Americans’ perceptions of what health really means. Here are some of the study’s top findings:

• While 46% of Americans are unaware of the concept of social drivers of health, once given the definition, 60% agree that their local community is facing at least some health issues related to them.

• Americans of color are disproportionately affected by the consequences of SDoH. While 58% of white respondents report that their local community is facing at least some health issues related to SDoH, 69% of Hispanic and Latino respondents report the same, as do 68% of Asian respondents and 68% of Black/ African American respondents.

• Poor nutrition can contribute to a range of chronic health conditions, and 50% of those surveyed say it is hard to find affordable, healthy food in their local community.

• Though 70% of Americans live near at least one hospital or medical center, one in five say that lack of transportation has kept them from medical appoint-

ments. What’s more, nearly one-third struggle with access to health services and care.

• Internet access not only determines whether one is able to use important health services such as telemedicine, it deeply impacts educational outcomes and access to economic opportunities, including employment. Yet, only 39% of Americans believe it significantly impacts their health.

• Some additional factors that can drive health outcomes in the short and long term include access to green spaces, educational opportunities, economic stability and living in a safe community.

Where to Start

More than 80% of those surveyed believe that healthcare entities, local government, private citizens and employers share responsibility to address the many social drivers of health. While these issues are complex

and no one entity can fully address all the social drivers alone, here is what you can do today:

1. Connect the dots. Visit WhatsDrivingOurHealth.com to read the full report and learn more about whole health and its drivers.

2. Spread the word. Share what you’ve learned about the ways social drivers affect you and your community and follow the conversation on social media using #DrivingOurHealth.

3. Join the conversation. Understanding is the first step in making positive change. Engage with friends, family, and community members about the many ways to address health-related social needs in your community.

“The sooner we broaden our definition of health, the sooner we can address the many factors that affect people’s ability to thrive,” says Dr. Agrawal. (StatePoint)

Never leave medicines or vitamins out on a counter, table or at a sick child’s bedside. To a young child, pills can look like candy and liquid medicines can look like sugary drinks.

Tips to keep medicine out of children’s reach

A recent study found that approximately three in four emergency visits for accidents related to over-thecounter cold and flu medicines among young children were made after a child got into the medicine on their own. Are all of your medicines kept somewhere safe? With a potentially tough cold and flu season upon us, experts are urging parents and caregivers to remember to keep medicines up and away and out of sight and reach of young children.

“During cold and flu season, seven in 10 people will reach for over-the-counter medicines to treat fevers, sinus headaches and other unwelcome symptoms. That’s a lot of additional medication in the home. Kids are curious, so parents and caregivers should take care to put medicines up and away, out of reach and sight of young children -- after every dose,” says Mary Leonard, managing director, Consumer Healthcare Products Association Educational Foundation.

The Up and Away campaign is an initiative of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its PROTECT Initiative, in partnership with the Consumer Healthcare Products Association Educational Foundation. The campaign aims to prevent accidental ingestion of medicine in young children by reminding families to follow these tips:

• Keep medicines, including those carried in purses, bags, pockets or pill organizers, in a safe location that is too high for curious, young children to reach or see.

• Never leave medicines or vitamins

out on a counter, table or at a sick child’s bedside. To a young child, pills can look like candy and liquid medicines can look like sugary drinks.

• At home or away, keep medicines in child-resistant containers until right before you take them.

• If your medicine has a locking cap that turns, twist it until you can’t twist anymore or hear the “click.”

• Teach children what medicine is and why you or another caregiver must be the one to give it to them.

• Remind babysitters, houseguests, and visitors to keep purses, bags, suitcases or coats that have medicines in them up and away and out of sight when they’re in your home.

Save the Poison Help number (800222-1222) in your phone, so you have it when and if you need it. Make sure that babysitters, older children, grandparents and frequent family visitors have this information too, in case there’s an emergency when they’re in charge. Call Poison Help right away if you think your child might have gotten into a medicine or vitamin, even if you are not completely sure. You can also visit poison.org. To learn more and for additional free resources, visit upandaway.org.

This cold and flu season and yearround, keep children safe by keeping medicine up and away and out of the sight and reach of young children.

(StatePoint)

A stress fracture may feel like an ankle sprain initially, but you’ll also notice swelling without bruising, and pain during normal activities or when touching the area. If you experience these symptoms, have your foot and ankle evaluated.

Starting a 2022 gym routine? Why you need to protect your feet

Starting a new fitness routine as part of your New Year’s resolutions? Protecting your feet is critical.

“‘No pain, no gain’ may be a motto for most workouts, but ‘too much, too soon’ can lead to foot and ankle injuries, which can sabotage fitness goals,” says Jeffrey Loveland, DPM, FACFAS, a foot and ankle surgeon and Fellow Member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS).

As you follow through on your New Year’s resolutions, here’s how to identify and treat common exercise-related foot problems, according to foot and ankle surgeons.

• Playing through an ankle sprain can cause further damage to tendons, which may take much longer to heal or possibly require surgery. What’s more, you may be overlooking a more serious injury.

“Seek treatment for potentially-sprained ankles right away,” says Dr. Loveland. “Untreated or repeated ankle sprains may lead to chronic ankle instability, a condition that causes persistent pain and a

‘giving way’ of the ankle.”

• A stress fracture may feel like an ankle sprain initially, but you’ll also notice swelling without bruising, and pain during normal activities or when touching the area. If you experience these symptoms, have your foot and ankle evaluated.

• Dr. Loveland explains it’s best to seek treatment for pain or swelling around your Achilles tendon post-workout. Untreated Achilles tendonitis may worsen over time, leading to stiffness and fatigue in your injured leg, or even a ruptured tendon, which would require surgery and several months’ rehabilitation.

• If heel pain lasts more than one-two days or worsens when you stand after sitting for extended periods of time, you may have plantar fasciitis, a common overuse injury resulting from inflammation of the tissue extending from your heel to toes. If caught early, your

foot and ankle surgeon can recommend at-home conditioning. In later stages, the problem is harder to treat and takes longer to resolve.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, according to foot and ankle surgeons, who offer these healthy tips:

• Start gradually. Increase the length and intensity of workouts gradually to avoid overuse injuries. Stretch before and afterward.

• Dress right. Dr. Loveland explains shoes that don’t provide arch support or heel cushioning can cause plantar fasciitis, and shoes that are too small can cause a neuroma (a thickening of the nerve tissue), which may require injections, medication or physical therapy. Be sure to also stick to cotton or nonslip socks to avoid blisters.

• Use good technique. Good form prevents injuries to tendons and ligaments.

“Incorrect posture or misuse of equipment can decrease stabilization in the foot and ankle, leading to joint sprains and muscle strains,” Dr. Loveland says.

• Avoid bacteria. The gym is a breeding ground for fungus, viruses and bacteria, including increasingly common, drug-resistant strains like MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). “Water shoes provide a barrier between your feet and locker room floors as well as pool decks. Cover cuts, cracks and ingrown toenails, since these areas can act as entry points for bacteria. If you have a red or swollen cut that isn’t healing, have it examined,” Dr. Loveland says.

Above all, seek the expertise of a foot and ankle surgeon at signs of injury or pain. To find one near you, use the “find a physician” search tool at FootHealthFacts.org.

Stay on track to crush your 2022 fitness goals by keeping your feet in tip-top shape. (StatePoint)