January 23rd, 2014 Edition

Stewards, Nolting win Arts Awards

Arts and Education Council also honors Edward Jones, Metro Theater

White House comes to North Side

St. Louis picked for Obama’s SC2 Initiative

By Chris King

Of The St. Louis American

The outsized scope and ambition of Paul McKee Jr.’s $8.1 billion, 1,500-acre Northside Regeneration project was critical to convincing the Obama administration to pick St. Louis as one of seven cities to expand its Strong Cities, Strong Communities (SC2) Initiative.

n “After the White House gets here, maybe we can finally get a visit from Gov. Nixon.”

– Paul McKee Jr.

President Obama sent an SC2 team from a host of federal agencies to St. Louis in November to explore the possibility of expanding here. As officials from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice and Department of Transportation, among others, viewed the scope of McKee’s plans, they saw a good fit for their mission.

“The White House was looking for cities where they would send a team of people to help the city work across the silos of government agencies,” McKee described the SC2 initiative. “The fact that we touch so many things, they could see the need to leverage various government agencies to get the most out of it.”

‘Standing

No justice, no peace

C1 Morris Tellis chanted, “No justice, no peace” bearing his grandson Darius Willis, 3, on his shoulders as he marched from the Old Courthouse to Powell Hall on Monday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

on the shoulders of Rosa Parks’

Jamala honored for service at WUSTL celebration of MLK

By Bridjes O’Neil Of The St. Louis American

When Jamala Rogers was awarded the Rosa L. Parks Award on Monday at Washington University’s 27th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration, she recognized that the civil rights pioneer provided the basis for her life work as a community activist, organizer and intellectual. “I know that from the work that

n “I believe that not only is dissent healthy, but it’s essential in a democracy.”

– Jamala Rogers

I do,” Rogers said, “I’m

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

n “We are not required to share those numbers.”

– Zed Smith, Cordish Company

A challenge for 2014

We owe it to our people and our ancestors

A successful local African-American business executive sent us a challenge to the community. We respect this person’s request for anonymity. Forget the messenger; heed the message. Fellow African Americans, today I give you a challenge for 2014. It will take guts, determination and perseverance to accomplish, and I dare you to do so. Black leaders, teachers, actors, sports stars and clergy, I

Photo by Wiley Price

Photo by Wiley Price

Wendy suffers on air meltdown about relationship with son

Monday’s episode of “The Wendy Williams Show” took an unexpected turn as Williams broke down in front of her audience and viewers.

The talk show host’s emotional breakdown came after she talked about Madonna’s controversial comments to a picture of her son Rocco.

The pop icon found herself in hot water after posting “Mama said knock you out! #dis [n-word expletive],” with a photo of Rocco boxing.

way when I was 13, but it is breaking my heart,” she continued. “He’s the one who’s 13 and I get it… But it is breaking my heart. And he doesn’t care about Wendy on TV, he doesn’t care about any of that. Anyways, she’s lucky that he likes her.”

Williams was overcome with emotion as she spoke further on the strained relationship between her and her son.

It was then that Williams thought about her own 13-year-old son, Kevin Hunter Jr., which resulted in a flood of tears.

“Rocco’s 13-years-old and Rocco is a real fan of his mother,” a tearful Williams stated. “What I discovered this weekend is that my son doesn’t like me anymore. Kevin, I discovered this a while ago, but the ball just got smacked home this weekend.”

“You know, he’s all into his father, you know how 13-year-old are, I was the same

“Thank God he has his buddy, and father,” Williams said. “He’s a father, he’s a buddy, they talk sneakers, they go for haircuts, they speed off in the cars and I’m just left there like, ‘Why you so pissed?’ I’m not pissed, I’m a mom!”

Fantasia tells women to steer clear of married men

Fantasia guest hosted on “The View” on Monday and when the subject of dating married men came up she urged viewers to dodge a bullet by heading in the other direction.

The ladies were discussing the episode of the BET Network show “Being Mary Jane” where Mary, portrayed by Gabrielle Union, is confronted by her lover’s wife.”

Fantasia clearly spoke from the heart – and based on her situation with former married

lover Antwaun Cook – who recently returned to his wife and children –when she offered her advice.

“If you’re going to go into a new situation, there’s no need to take the old baggage with you regardless of what they had going on,” Fantasia said. “But if that is the situation, run, run, fast as you can, can’t catch me I’m the Gingerbread Man!”

Oliver Stone dumped from MLK film starring Jamie Foxx

Award winning filmmaker Oliver Stone has been kicked off a new Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. project with Jamie Foxx attached because producers and the King Estate did not like the direction of his script. Stone broke the news on Twitter, saying, “Sad news. My MLK project involvement has ended. I did an extensive rewrite of the script, but the producers won’t go with it,” Stone said. “The script dealt with issues of adultery, conflicts within the movement and King’s spiritual transformation into a higher, more radical being.”

not, as Stone insinuates) be the end result as the production team moves forward.

“I’m told King’s estate and ‘the respectable black community won’t approve it. They suffocate the man and the truth. Martin, I grieve for you. You are still a great inspiration for your fellow Americans, but – Thank God –not a saint. I wish you could’ve seen the film I would’ve made. I fear if ‘they’ ever make it, it’ll be just another commemoration of the March on Washington.”

He went on to voice his predicted displeasure with the film that will (or maybe

Kanye ready to settle with alleged victim

Last week Kanye West reportedly pummeled an eighteen-year-old boy who allegedly called Kim Kardashian a slut and a [n-word expletive] lover at a Beverly Hills doctor’s office. Both sides are said to be ready to settle.

According to TMZ.com, the teen does not want the case to go to trial and is willing to settle out of court for a big pile of cash.

Kanye’s camp reportedly agreed and negotiations are underway.

Sources: TMZ.com, RadarOnline.com, E!Online, Twitter.com.

Walking against obesity

GirlTrek organizes women to exercise outside

By Robert Joiner

When Faye Paige Edwards woke up recently to numbing weather and a wind chill well below zero, she expected some women to cancel plans to join her on their usual walk on the North Riverfront Trail near Hall Street and Riverview Boulevard.

But five women, including Edwards, did show up and began walking at 8 a.m. sharp, their boots making crunching sounds on the snow and ice on a trail where nothing else seemed to move except the glittering water in the Mississippi River.

“There is no such thing as bad weather,” Edwards said. “If you have enough layers on, you can do it. So we are trying to change the face of fitness in the black community.”

The women are part of a relatively new national movement called GirlTrek, which seeks to get often sedentary black women out the house and on their feet for workouts, says Edwards, a retired sales and marketing consultant and the volunteer rep for the local GirlTrek organization.

“We had a lot of cancellations this morning,” she said, “but some of us will be here the first Saturday of every month, rain or shine.”

The monthly river trail walk is in addition to the organization’s efforts to encourage women to exercise at least 30 minutes daily.

“For many people the only way you are going to get fit is to lace up your sneakers and walk because a gym is not an option,” she said. “People ski and skate in cold weather. So there is nothing unsafe about being out here.”

Make a difference in a child’s life

By Flint Fowler For The St. Louis American

January is National Mentoring Month and we’re inviting you to make a difference in a child’s life, through our Mentor St. Louis program.

President Barack Obama launched 2014 by declaring January as National Mentoring Month through a presidential proclamation. This 13th annual public awareness campaign is aimed at expanding quality mentoring programs to connect more of our nation’s young people with the mentors they need to reach success at school, at home and in their communities and in the workforce.

During National Mentoring Month, we celebrate the power of mentoring relationships and the men and women who enrich the lives of our young people. Mentors selflessly give their time and experience to help our youngest generation, and ultimately our country, succeed.

The goal, she said, is to promote good health and address obesity among black women. Obesity is a condition under which body weight is sharply higher than the recommended body mass index. African-American women have the nation’s highest obesity rate, according to the federal Office of Minority Health Edwards and others on the walking trail talked about being proactive about their own health.

One participant was Ida Harris, who works for the American Heart Association and chairs the Health and Wellness Ministry at New Sunny Mount Baptist Church on the north side.

“I am out here with GirlTrek because walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week combats heart disease, diabetes and stroke,” Harris said. “We are committed to be out here the first Saturday of

every month, even on cold days, even if it’s below zero.”

The women envision GirlTrek enjoying lots of growth once more people see the benefit of walking.

GirlTrek is a nonprofit group that began two years ago in Washington, D.C. An estimated 150,000 girls and women nationwide take part in its activities. The unit in St. Louis started last summer, and about 50 people participate in local activities, Edwards said.

What seems to discourage African Americans from exercising in cold weather and in general, Edwards said, isn’t the temperature or neighborhood safety but habit. “We are all victims of our culture and our socialization,” she said. “You do what you see your friends do. That’s one reason we are trying to create a fun, friendly community

of people who are walking.”

Another factor among women, she said, is that many of them “spend time focusing on everyone else’s care but not their own. Their own care has never been a priority. We were too busy or tired.”

GirlTrek intends to make exercise by women a priority, she said.

“If we don’t have healthy black women to model healthy black behavior, we will never have healthy black girls,” she said. “Most of our black girls are on track to have diabetes and most of that is due to inactivity. So there is more at stake than our personal fitness.”

Edited slightly and reprinted with permission from The Beacon and St. Louis Public Radio, news. stlpublicradio.org.

Research has shown that when matched through a quality mentoring program like Mentor St. Louis, mentors can play a powerful role in providing young people with the tools to make responsible decisions, stay focused and engaged in school, and reduce or avoid risky behavior like skipping school, drug use and other negative activities.

Quality mentoring relationships lead to a significant increase in a young person’s prospects for leading a healthy and productive life, strengthening families and our communities.

Mentoring relationships are basic human connections that let a young person know that they matter, and mentors frequently report back that their relationships make them feel like someone who matters.

We invite you to volunteer to be a mentor today through our Mentor St. Louis program and start impacting the life of a child that needs you. Be someone who matters to someone who matters.

For more information, visit www.bgcstl.org. Flint Fowler is president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis.

Women from GirlTrek don’t let cold weather prevent them from taking their monthly walk against obesity. Photo by Robert Joiner

Flint Fowler

Editorial /CommEntary

Had

In his keynote speech at St. Louis Community CollegeFlorissant Valley’s 2014 celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday, Terrence L. Freeman – a venerated professor in engineering science at the college – speculated about what Dr. King would say today if confronted by our problems.

“At a youthful 85, he would no doubt still be making commentary,” Freeman said. “What would he say today?” Freeman’s comments about our martyred leader are insightful –and a challenge to us.

Had he lived, Freeman speculated, Dr. King would have protested the needless deaths of children, as he protested the victims of the 1963 Birmingham church bombing. The children of today, Freeman acknowledged, are not dying at the hands of racist arsonists, but rather as collateral damage from drive-by shootings and at the hands of other children.

“They say to us,” Dr. King said of the murdered children of his day, “that we must be concerned not merely about who murdered them, but about the system, the way of life, the philosophy which produced the murderers.” This suggests that a Dr. King of today would call for gun control and increased efforts in addressing behavioral health needs.

Had he lived, Freeman speculated, Dr. King would have protested the United States’ continued pursuit of wars of foreign aggression, as he protested the Vietnam War near the end of his life. Dr. King warned that if we did not end that war we would “be dragged down the long, dark and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion.” A Dr. King of today would find this country even further down those “long, dark and shameful corridors.”

Had he lived, Freeman speculated, Dr. King would have protested “the introduction of supply side economics, the cutting of food stamps and unemployment benefits, the

he lived

growing economic disparity and the role of government in addressing those issues.” He recalled Dr. King’s passionate cry, “Let us be dissatisfied until the tragic walls that separate the outer city of wealth and comfort and the inner city of poverty and despair shall be crushed by the battering rams of the forces of justice.” The Dr. King of today would be disgusted with a Congress that refuses to extend long-term unemployment benefits and a state Legislature in Missouri that refuses to expand the Medicaid program.

Had he lived, Freeman speculated, Dr. King would have protested “voter suppression under the thinly veiled guise of guarding against a non-existent threat of voter impersonation fraud.” He remembered Dr. King protesting (in 1957) that “all types of conniving methods are still being used to prevent Negroes from becoming registered voters.” The term “Negroes” may be outdated in 2014, but “all types of conniving methods” to disenfranchise African Americans are still being pursued by the Republican Party, most persistently in Voter ID legislation. Had he lived, Freeman

Commentary

speculated, Dr. King would have protested the state of education in this country. “Education,” he quoted Dr. King, “must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction.” Anyone subjected to the incessant barrage of misinformed opinion displayed in broadcast journalism and social media knows the frustration and rage that Dr. King would feel if he encountered the misuse of education today.

But Dr. King did not live, so it is left to the living to protest and act in his name. Freeman’s encouragement was stirring. “One of the great challenges in this new century is poverty,” Freeman said, “and not just the poverty that stings too many Americans through limited access to quality education, health care, positive role models, and economic opportunity; but the poverty of ideas, the poverty of commitment, the poverty of hope, and the poverty of coordinated effort directed at achieving social and economic justice. Being a change agent is not a part-time job – it is continual commitment.” We owe Dr. King, ourselves and our future this commitment.

Silence over a spill

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

Social Justice in Health Care

“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

As the nation honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s social justice work, it is important to recognize the country as a whole has benefited greatly from a movement towards equality for all, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or affluence. But there is still work to be done, especially on the issue of health.

In Missouri, racial and ethnic minorities frequently have lower incomes, higher rates of poverty, and less insurance coverage, contributing to higher incidence of chronic disease and death at an earlier age. African Americans in Missouri lag behind whites on many health indicators, such as the incidence of obesity, asthma and diabetes.

One approach to reducing these disparities is increasing the availability of affordable health insurance to individuals and families who are underinsured or uninsured.

The passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a significant step toward getting more people insured. For the first time, all Americans can buy health insurance that is not biased by health status and

makes assistance available for those who could not otherwise afford insurance.

Until this law passed, there was no incentive for insurance companies to sell their products to low-income families and individuals. The ACA changes the rules: everyone can have access to health insurance and no-one can be asked about their health conditions.

Our state is one step closer to providing opportunities for all Missourians to have greater control over their health care through more insurance choices through the Missouri Health Insurance Marketplace.

All Missourians have the opportunity to purchase insurance with access to navigators, at no cost, to help make sense of health insurance options.

To date, more than 33,000 individuals have newly received access to quality health care coverage through the Marketplace. Unfortunately, some Missourians will continue to be uninsured since they are not eligible for financial help and do not qualify for Medicaid under current rules.

The ACA has broken down some of the barriers contributing to health inequalities, but there is still work to be done in Missouri.

There is an opportunity for the state to expand Medicaid and fill in the coverage gaps left behind. There are about 200,000 adults, who currently make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but too little to receive financial assistance.

There are many steps that can be taken to improve

Letters to the editor

CORRECTION

Last week’s Political EYE mistakenly claimed that Gov. Jay Nixon did not attend the Democratic National Convention when Barack Obama was nominated as the Democratic candidate for president. In fact, Nixon attended the DNC in both 2008 and 2012. We regret the error.

Never have been tolerated

Missourians ability to make good health decisions, including using more plain language when talking about health care and helping newly insured Missourians understand how health insurance works. By creating economic opportunities and decreasing income disparities, we can address health disparities. People with lower socioeconomic status have a higher likelihood of having a major illness and dying younger. How do we make access to quality affordable health care equitable and not a function of zip-code or income or race? How do we reconcile that Americans pay more for health care than any other nation but do not have the most desirable health outcomes in the world? The ACA addresses some of the more persistent health differentials in our country, but these disparities have taken generations to make – let’s not take generations to abolish them.

Monday, January 20 presents an opportunity to honor the hard-won progress for which Martin Luther King Jr. and a generation of men and women fought. It also provides a chance to commit to the work before us. Health and health care cannot be left to the lottery of how much we earn, who our parents are, and where we live. The ACA is already having a positive impact on the health of many Missourians but it is time to improve the health of all. Ryan Barker is vice president of health policy, Missouri Foundation for Health.

All letters are edited for length and style.

while furthering the agendas of wealthy contributors, as opposed to creating legislation that actually benefits the majority of Missouri citizens. Hypocrites! Remove the beam from thine own eye first!

Michael K. Broughton Green Park

Worst in campaign ethics laws

creates the felony of obstructing an ethics investigation.

Secretary of State Jason Kander Jefferson City

The drinking water in nine West Virginia counties has finally been declared safe, or mostly safe. But many people say they can still smell the licorice-like odor of 4-methylcyclohexane methanol – in the sink, in the shower, in the air, especially in neighborhoods close to the Elk River.

I say “mostly” because so little is known about the toxicity of the chemical, known as MCHM, that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised pregnant women in the affected area not to drink the water, at least for now. Unfortunately, this warning came after the CDC had already told residents the water was safe for everyone.

More than a week since the chemical spill in Charleston, the state capital, contaminated the water supply for 300,000 people, there has been little solid information about the danger to human health – and little outrage from officials in Washington. I can’t help but wonder what the reaction would be if this had happened on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

Imagine living for a week without tap water for drinking, cooking, bathing, even washing clothes. Imagine restaurants having to shut down, hotels putting sinks and showers offlimits, nursing homes trying to care for patients with only bottled water at their disposal. Imagine learning that there was essentially no information on

the long-term health effects of a chemical you could smell everywhere you went.

President Obama promptly issued an emergency declaration in the hours after the spill, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency dispatched tanker trucks full of clean water. But the Charleston mishap raises fundamental questions about the coal and chemical industries and the safety of our drinking water –and on this larger subject, from the president and the leadership in Congress, we’ve heard not a peep. For me, this is personal: My son, daughter-in-law and 14-month-old granddaughter live in Charleston. I should say lived there, since they evacuated on the day of the spill when Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin issued the order not to use the water except to flush toilets.

This is what happened: An aging storage tank at a company called Freedom Industries leaked at least 7,500 gallons of MCHM, a “frothing agent” used in processing coal, into the Elk River. A little more than a mile downstream, in the middle of Charleston, there is an intake facility for West Virginia American Water, a utility providing water service to much of the state. Coal and chemicals are two of West Virginia’s biggest and most powerful industries, together employing about 90,000 residents. Officials there have powerful economic incentives to see this spill as an aberration. But there is every reason to believe similar episodes can and will happen again.

Excellent journalism about the spill, much of it appearing in The Charleston Gazette, has

established that this emergency should not have been a surprise.

Officials knew that the coal industry uses dozens of chemicals that have never been thoroughly tested for their effects on human health. Officials also knew this was true of the segment of the industry that Obama and others call “clean coal.”

Officials knew that the tanks at Freedom Industries – which has already declared bankruptcy, in anticipation of lawsuits –were old and needed refurbishment. Officials also knew that having a chemical plant just upstream from an intake for the water system was a potential hazard. And while they still do not know what the longterm hazards might be from exposure to MCHM, they do know that symptoms of acute exposure include eye and throat irritation, vomiting, respiratory distress and skin rashes.

More than 400 people have gone to West Virginia hospitals complaining of these symptoms. Only a handful have been admitted, however, and most of these people may actually be suffering from anxiety. Unless more testing is done, we may never know.

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, told CNN that he is “not going to cast guilt on anybody” and defended the coal industry. U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican, told the Gazette she still believes the Environmental Protection Agency is guilty of “overreaching.”

How do the EPA and the White House respond? Please speak up. We can’t hear you.

If I cannot rely on an administrator to follow proper protocols, it is impossible for me or any other elected official to adequately represent the taxpayers in our districts. I have worked in both the executive and legislative branches over the last 14 years. Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro’s behavior would never have been tolerated under any previous administration, regardless of party.

I strongly recommend that Auditor Schweich use the powers granted to him to inspect both the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the commissioner. As elected officials, we take an oath to uphold the law; we must hold our appointees to the same standards that we hold ourselves.

State Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal University City

Hypocrite Republican

The realm of Republican hypocrisy seems to have no bounds! Lt. Governor Peter Kinder, a Republican, criticizes Governor Jay Nixon, a Democrat, for attaching a housing projects issue to the Boeing tax incentives. Kinder criticized that action as “strictly political” and concluded, “This is not how business should be conducted by the State of Missouri.” Surely, Kinder’s pants must be on fire!

Missouri Republican legislators have for years preferred playing politics

Missouri has the worst campaign finance and ethics laws in the entire country. The Legislature’s dance around this fact has gone on long enough. Legislation recently filed on my behalf by Rep. Kevin McManus (D-Kansas City) is not a watered-down compromise –there is plenty in this bill for politicians of all perspectives and affiliations to dislike. But the nation’s worst ethics and campaign finance laws cannot be repaired by small changes. We need effective and enforceable campaign contribution limits. This legislation sets contribution limits for candidates and political parties and bans the laundering of political contributions. This includes, for the first time, a provision making it illegal to take steps meant to get around campaign contribution limits. Those found to have violated these provisions will be subject to substantial financial penalties, and repeat offenders could be sent to prison.

Our Legislature needs to put some distance between lawmakers and lobbyists. This bill bans all state elected officials from taking anything from a lobbyist. And no longer will politicians have the option of being legislators on Thursday and lobbyists on Friday – they will have to take a “cooling off” period.

We must empower the ethics commission to vigorously and effectively enforce these new laws. In the heat of an election year, and under certain circumstances, this bill empowers the Missouri Ethics Commission to take swift action to order substantial fines during the campaign or the removal of a candidate’s name from the ballot. This bill also

Columnist Eugene Robinson

Guest Columnist Ryan Barker

Professor Terrence L. Freeman delivered the keynote speech at St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley’s 2014 celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday on Monday.

Institute sponsored 611 refugees in 2013

The International Institute sponsored 611 refugees in 2013. They joined more than 8,000 immigrants and refugees who received services at the institute in 2012.

More than 30 percent of refugee arrivals were Bhutanese who have been living in refugee camps in Nepal. Another 30 percent were Somali. The bulk of the Iraqi and Afghan families included members who had worked overseas for the U.S. Armed Forces.

“Refugees are a valuable source of new population and diversity for the St. Louis region,” said Anna Crosslin, president & CEO of the International Institute.

“Although the number of arrivals may seem small, these new arrivals can serve as a catalyst to draw more refugees who have been resettled elsewhere in the U.S.”

A notable example of this secondary migration is the story of the Bosnians, who have helped rebuild many St. Louis neighborhoods in the past two decades. While the institute sponsored almost 7,000 Bosnians between 1993 and 2001, the population in St. Louis, including Americanborn children, is estimated at 70,000 by institute officials. According to a recent study, St. Louis’ population is 19th in the nation among metropolitan areas but 43rd in the nation in terms of immigrant residents.

“If we expect to become a more competitive global economic center, we need more immigrants,” said Crosslin. “And right now, resettling refugees is one of the most attractive ways to build more diversity in St. Louis.”

BEST foot forward

ESL Schools hosts network meeting

East St. Louis School District 189 will host the first Key Communicator Network meeting of the New Year at 6 p.m. Monday, January 27 in the Board Room at the East St. Louis School District 189 Board of Education building, at 1005 State St. Agenda items for the meeting include a district update. Dinner will be provided Please submit any topics that you would like to have addressed to Kimberly Roberson at kimberly.roberson@estl189. com.

Hazelwood Schools hosts STEM Extravaganza

The Hazelwood School District is hosting a STEM Extravaganza Saturday, Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hazelwood Central High School, 15875 New Halls Ferry Rd. The STEM Extravaganza is a showcase of educational opportunities for students in kindergarten through 12th grade in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Attendees can expect demonstrations and hands-on activities for all grade levels, exhibits, speakers college representatives and more. The event is free and open to the community.

The high costs of poverty

By Jeanette Mott Oxford For The St. Louis American

Missouri Association for Social Welfare (MASW) is an enthusiastic supporter of the Missourians to End Poverty coalition because our guiding principles include this statement on basic human needs:

“All people in Missouri should have true access to quality healthcare, decent housing, adequate nutrition and appropriate education. Our state should fully fund, fully implement and/ or fully supplement, as appropriate, state and federal programs for health and mental health services, housing and homelessness services, food assistance programs and all levels of public education.”

These values root MASW members in the work that is the focus of the 2014 report on the state of poverty in Missouri, just as people of faith are grounded in the message Rev. Christopher Ross has articulated. But even if MASW members did not have love for our neighbors and a vision of a just and compassionate society as a guide, we would still have many budgetary reasons to effectively address poverty in our state.

Policymakers should carefully consider the cost of failing to address poverty in Missouri. When a young child is exposed to lead poisoning in a substandard apartment, there often are costs to the Medicaid budget and the K-12 budget. Special remediation may be needed because of the way lead can impact on brain development.

With an increased stock of affordable, accessible and decent housing, homelessness can be reduced as well as the need for special education. Family stability in housing also would be one of the best ways to help public schools succeed according to countless principals and teachers. Frequent moves create barriers to school attendance and graduation.

Those without access to affordable healthcare get sick faster and remain ill longer, impacting our business climate in Missouri and straining the balance sheet of hospitals and clinics that provide charity care.

Medicaid expansion and enrollment in subsidized health plans through the Affordable Care Act can significantly reduce the more than 800,000 Missourians currently without health insurance. That is good for everyone’s bottom line, including our state budget.

The lack of access to affordable community-based mental health leads many of our brothers and sisters to self-medicate with illegal substances in their quest for relief from mental illness. The resulting addictions spiral into law enforcement problems, driving up local and state costs for policing and incarceration.

To put it simply, we all do better when we all do better. MASW and Missourians to End Poverty call on Gov. Nixon and our House and Senate leaders to give focused attention to effectively addressing poverty in Missouri during this legislative session.

Jeanette Mott Oxford is executive director of MASW.

Jeanette Mott Oxford

David McCall and Jacob Dorsey of the BEST Dance & Talent Center performed at Harris-Stowe State University as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. State Celebration Commission’s statewide kickoff of MLK Day events.

Photo by Wiley Price

ROGERS

Continued from A1

Repertory Company; Malik and Deborah Ahmed and Better Family Life; and civil rights legal icon Margaret Bush Wilson, the inaugural recipient in 2006. Rogers’ community advocacy has included leadership roles of several local progressive groups, including Organization for Black Struggle and Coalition Against Police Crimes and Repression. She had leadership roles in coalitions that led to freeing wrongfully convicted Ellen Reasonover, opening a new evidence phase for Reginald Clemons after his execution had been scheduled, and returning the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to local control. For decades, she has been on the frontlines fighting for civil rights, gender equality, civilian review of police misconduct, reproductive rights, public health and education, safe streets, prison reform, overturning wrongful convictions, abolishing the death penalty, and equal rights for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community. She said she holds herself accountable to the community, advocating for those “whose voices can’t always be heard.”

DOLLARS

Continued from A1

workforce.

Several other general contractors were hired to complete the 25,000-squarefoot two-story Budweiser Brew House, the St. Louis Live entertainment plaza and other interior projects – and none of these contractors are being monitored by the city for inclusion.

The St. Louis Development Corporation officials, who negotiated the contract on behalf of the city, have refused to provide the undisclosed contract amounts to The St. Louis American Zed Smith, director of asset management for the Cordish Company, also refused to comment on the contract amounts. Smith said the development agreement passed by the Board of Aldermen only required them to build the outer shell, and “that is all we are responsible for.” He said the interior work – which includes drywall, plumbing, electric and carpentry – is considered “user improvements” or “tenant finishes.”

“Sometimes I have to amplify what I’m hearing in the way that I write and the way that I act,” she said, while accepting the award Monday evening on the Danforth Campus at Graham Chapel.

Rogers said Washington University is a “microcosm of a broader society, ripe with the same kinds of prejudices, inequalities and ideologies.” She said the university bears a responsibility toward its students to nurture their ability to speak truth to power and to test their ideas in the world outside the university walls.

She said the proper goal of education is not racking up alphabets behind your name, but becoming a change agent who will go out into the world as a social servant and drum major for peace.

She said, “I believe that not only is dissent healthy, but it’s essential in a democracy.”

Mark S. Wrighton, chancellor of Washington University, also spoke of the university’s responsibility to groom the next generation’s leaders.

“When we honor the life and legacy of a great person, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I am reminded of the power of single individuals,” Wrighton said.

He said this year’s MLK event was also dedicated to the important contributions

Millions of construction dollars for those tenant finishes are not being monitored by either the city’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Office or St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE.)

The DBE office is responsible for making sure the developers meet the city’s goals – awarding 25 percent of all contracts to minority-owned business enterprises (MBEs) and 5 percent to women-owned business enterprises (WBEs).

SLATE is in charge of reviewing minority workforce participation, and this project’s goals for “boots on the ground” are 17.7 percent AfricanAmerican workers and four percent other minorities.

‘I would have raised a flag’

Alderman Terry Kennedy, who has led the passage of legislation that ensures minority participation and city monitoring on publicly subsidized projects, said he did not know that partial monitoring was part of the agreement when he voted in July 2012.

of the late Nelson Mandela. An oratory tribute to King and Mandela followed the chancellor’s remarks.

Past awardee Ron Himes recited excerpts from King’s and Mandela’s speeches (“Give us the ballot” and “I am prepared to die,” respectively), joined by Black Anthology and Eddie Mungai, a Washington University student. Both performances received standing ovations.

Lerone A. Martin, a postdoctoral research fellow at Washington University’s John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics, gave the faculty keynote address. Martin reflected on this year’s commemoration theme: “The prophetic voice: what does it call you to do?” Martin theorized that “the prophetic voice” calls us to keep it “surreal.”

“The prophetic voice” reveals and condemns evil and wrongdoing, as well as works to reform such wrongs while holding those in power accountable, Martin said.

“The prophetic voice seeks to overcome the chasm between our realities and our ideas,” Martin said. “Like King, ‘the prophetic voice’ calls us to dream, to keep it surreal – dreams that put forth an alternative reality, one that is so alternate to the one we are steeped in.”

“I would have raised a flag,” he said. “I do not have any recollection of this happening in any other project. On other projects, the entire project is included in the various executive orders and ordinances in terms of M/WBE and workforce participation.”

SLDC was responsible for informing the aldermen about the “unusual” nature of the agreement, Kennedy said, but no one did.

Rodney Crim, then SLDC executive director, negotiated the contract for the city, allowing the lack of monitoring. The development agreement defines that “user improvements” are not part of the total “work” that the developers are held accountable for.

Otis Williams, SLDC’s current executive director, defended Crim’s negotiations. He said that because the city is competing nationally for these large-scale projects, “you can’t be as restrictive.”

“There are things you have to do to get them here,” Williams said.

Adolphus Pruitt, president of the St. Louis city branch of the NAACP, said he does not believe compromising the

by

city’s minority participation legislation is the way to attract retailers and economic growth.

“We understand the predicament that the agreement causes,” Pruitt said, “and our position is that we need to make sure going forward that this doesn’t happen in future agreements.”

The project has received a generous amount of local and state subsidies. It received $17 million in bonds from the Missouri Downtown Economic Stimulus Authority (MoDESA). The city authorized a one-percent sales tax at Ballpark Village, which is expected to generate $14 million over 25 years. About $5.5 million of that sales revenue would go to the city and the rest to the developers.

Ballpark Village also benefits from a St. Louis City TIF (tax increment financing), which also puts taxpayer money back into the project.

Current numbers

With more than 75 percent of the project completed, PARIC has hired 12 percent MBEs and two percent WBEs on the outer shell, as of Nov.

30 when PARIC last reported its numbers to the DBE office.

Amber Gooding, who has been tracking PARIC’s numbers for the city’s DBE office, said she expects the numbers to meet the project’s goal of 23.9 percent MBE and nine percent WBE when it is completed this spring.

Zed Smith said he could not provide MWBE participation numbers for the other general contractors working on the interior of the 100,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space, which includes the Cardinals Hall of Fame museum.

Gooding, airport director for DBE and community programs, said she was also not aware of any other contractors working on the job site. She was under the assumption that PARIC was handling all areas of construction, she said.

To receive bonds from MoDESA, the agency requires all projects to meet workforce goals of hiring 17.7 percent African-American workers and four percent other minorities. So far, PARIC has employed 29 percent African-American

workers, 0.23 percent Asian and three percent Hispanic workers on the outer shell, according to Michael Holmes, executive director of SLATE. In January 2013, the Board of Aldermen passed an ordinance that requires all TIF and city-bonded projects to follow the city’s workforce goals of 25 percent minorities, five percent women, 15 percent apprentices and 20 percent local residents. Because Cordish and the Cardinals signed their development agreement about six months before this ordinance passed, Smith said they are not required to follow it. However, insiders say the developers were encouraged to follow the requirement, and therefore they hired a thirdparty monitor to track the city’s required workforce numbers. When asked if Cordish was encouraged to follow the city’s ordinance, Smith did not respond. When asked if Cordish could provide their findings on workforce numbers for local residents, apprentices and women, Smith refused. He said, “We are not required to share those numbers.”

Photo

Wiley Price

Saint Louis University students Maria Yamnitz, Jazmine Rollis and Lyla Petola marched from the Old Courthouse to Powell Hall on Monday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

SLU for MLK

Continued from A1

McKee’s team prepared the application for the city, and St. Louis was selected from a field of 51 applicants along with Brownsville, TX; Flint, MI; Gary, IN; Macon, GA; Rockford, IL; and Rocky Mount, NC.

They join the original seven pilot SC2 cities: Chester, PA; Cleveland, OH; Detroit, MI; Fresno, CA; Memphis, TN; New Orleans, LA; and Youngstown, OH. SC2 teams enabled those seven communities to more effectively use more than $368 million in existing federal funds and investments, according to HUD.

“HUD’s announcement is good news and will help the private-public partnerships needed to attract investment of new housing, business and jobs into our community,” said Vince Bennett, chief operating officer of McCormack Baron Salazar, which has been active in North City redevelopment for decades. “As federal resources have become more competitive, these strong partnerships are key.”

CHALLENGE

Continued from A1

challenge you to take up your leadership roles and work together with the people to take on this challenge. You owe it to our people and our ancestors who sacrificed their lives for all of us. For one entire year, do none of these things: Do not steal from anyone or commit fraud against anyone or any institution. Do not kill anyone for any reason. No one. Do not lie to anyone or about anything. Know that lies hurt worse than the truth in the long term. Do nothing illegal. Nothing!

And, for one entire year, do

At least one federal interagency expert, and maybe several, will live in St. Louis and work in the Mayor’s Office for at least one year and up to two years, according to Mayor Francis G. Slay’s office.

“Starting March 1, we will be prepared the day they hit the ground with a game plan to present them with dollar amounts, the whole bit,” McKee said. McKee said he was impressed with HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan’s statement that the federal government tends to succeed when local communities are able to tell federal officials in detail what they need.

“The federal government realized we are doing something special in St. Louis,” McKee said. “We got this far without their help, and now it’s time for them to step in.”

The Obama administration managed to tour the Northside redevelopment area and commit to assisting with it before the Nixon administration. McKee said Gov. Jay Nixon has not responded to several requests to tour Northside or to send one of his economic development staffers.

“After the White House gets here, maybe we can finally

all of these things: Respect not only your mother and father but any elder. Guard them and appreciate their wisdom. If they have disappointed you, forgive them. Take care of and love your children. Teach them the value of learning and education. Take an interest in their schools, teachers and their homework. Demand quality education with more vigor than you demanded justice for Trayvon Martin. Your children are your blood and our future. If you are married, work to be faithful and stay married so you have a partner to achieve your goals and dreams. Seek the help of counselors or clergy, if needed. But keep your family unit solid. Obtain a useful skill, get

get a visit from Gov. Nixon,” McKee said.

The SC2 Network is funded by a $10 million grant from HUD, but this is not a program that simply dumps one sum of money into projects. It devotes inter-agency experts to finding various sources of unutilized federal funding. That is key.

“The rate of implementation for important redevelopments such as Northside Regeneration will be dependent on local efforts to capture federal resources, combined with state and local resources and leveraged with private debt and equity,” Bennett said.

Mayor Slay said he has “a lot of work” for his federal helpers to do on Northside as well as his Sustainability Plan.

“Leveraged with our strong support from private and public sectors,” Slay said, “SC2 will help us accelerate our economic and community development vision, build strategic partnerships between government and industry, and make more efficient and effective use of taxpayerfunded federal resources.”

For more information, visit http://www.huduser.org/portal/ SC2/home.html.

your GED and/or continue your education using all the tools available. No one can stop you from achievement and success if you have true knowledge. If you are unemployed, seek to become employed and work diligently no matter how menial the position or how much you are paid. If you have a job, do your best work. Seek better employment as your skills improve. Stop being on the government plantation of handouts so you can obtain real freedom to make your own decisions on what to buy, where to live, what you can afford and how successful you can become. Free does not equate to freedom, and freedom is not free. Seek to be drug-free and end

by Wiley Price

Brothers for Dr. King

any dependency on drugs and alcohol so you can end your slavery to those things that hold you back in invisible chains. Control your bodies and minds. Break those chains and claim your freedom. At the end of only one year of doing these things, we will find life totally different in the United States. White women will no longer hold onto their purses when we are near. Whites will not walk on the other side of the street when passing us. White bosses will not fear hiring us. The media will have a hard time because they will no longer have black faces to exploit for their news on crime. Black prison populations will be reduced.

Black children will begin to thrive as families remain intact

and caring. Black neighborhoods will begin to thrive, and new retail and groceries will open in our neighborhoods, providing jobs. More black entrepreneurs will begin to surface and prosper, thereby creating more employment opportunities for blacks.

More blacks will have opportunity as actors in Hollywood and in the media because the power of green (money) in the black community will be greater.

It just takes an effort from all of us to change a negative and very harmful trajectory.

Think about it. Why do you think whites are afraid of blacks? Do you think they may have reasons? Wouldn’t you be afraid of the knockout game? It does not matter that

there are white criminals, dysfunctional families, drug addicts, alcoholics and mass killers in schools, movie theaters and malls. I am not talking to them. What matters is our own legacy and the environment we create as a people. Let’s work together to eliminate all the excuses for not receiving better treatment and opportunities. Let’s eliminate all the excuses for white fear, unequal education, unfair housing, lack of jobs and high unemployment. Let’s take responsibility and control of our destiny. Let’s work together to make those generations that were killed so that we would have greater opportunity proud of us. The challenge is on. Prove me wrong.

Brothers Darius and DeMerrius Blair, students at Fort Zumwalt West High School, sported matching MLK T-shirts as they marched from the Old Courthouse to Powell Hall on Monday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Photo

A firing squad –really?

The desperation of the State of Missouri to keep executions churning is starting to get embarrassing. At a time when the rest of the nation is experiencing the lowest

number of executions ever, the Show Me State scheduled three executions in three months. Missouri has proven it has an insatiable appetite for state killings and is willing to execute by any means necessary – even if it’s illegal, unethical and barbaric. I reported in a previous column how Missouri was going to become the first state to use the controversial drug Propofol for lethal injections. The general public was first introduced to

Propofol as the drug that killed pop star Michael Jackson.

The medical community was furious! It’s is a community that is supposed to be saving lives, not taking them (at least not deliberately). It also feared that the drug would be in short

supply once execution-happy states like Missouri, Texas and Florida got their hands on it.

Just because it has done a lot of killing doesn’t mean that Missouri gets it right. A federal judge stopped executions for a year because of the state’s sloppy implementation of its execution protocol.

The protocol has changed several times under a cloak of secrecy. This is because after the public got wind of the flawed skills of the doctor who

administered the anesthesia and the judge suspended executions, Missouri legislators fast-tracked a bill that would make it illegal to expose the name of the person who administers the drugs for lethal injection.

When European companies that manufactured the drugs the U.S. started to use for lethal injections banned their sale for executions, Missouri moved to Propofol. Not so fast. The staunch death penalty opponents in Europe manufacture 90 percent of all Propofol used in the world. Missouri had not acquired its supply on the up and up and eventually was forced to return its 20 vials to the company. Consequently, the state was again forced to change its drug of choice for executions. It now uses pentobarbital, a drug used to euthanize animals. The state has executed two people using this drug despite the whirl of litigation surrounding it. Given the recent botched execution in Ohio, this is no time for short cuts or ambiguity.

Thanks to the investigative reporting of the St. Louis Beacon and St. Louis Public Radio, the public now knows that the pentobarbital supplier is a compounding pharmacy in Oklahoma that is not licensed in Missouri. This is illegal, not to mention these fake pharmacies are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). No one knows what they’ve cooked up because the Department of Corrections, Gov. Nixon and Attorney General Koster are all mum. With an execution scheduled for January 29, something’s gotta give. Republican lawmakers, led by state Rep. Rick Brattin, have introduced a bill to use a firing squad, thereby eliminating all of this fuss over which drugs to use. Missouri citizens, including those who favor the death penalty, need to demand a halt to executions until we can determine what’s really going on. A more objective bi-partisan group of state legislators are asking the serious questions and are looking to temporarily suspend executions until they get the right answers. We need to support those efforts.

Community Brief

Offenders donate 163 tons of produce to pantries, shelters

The Missouri Department of Corrections’ Restorative Justice Garden Program donated nearly 163 tons of fresh produce in 2013 to local food pantries, shelters, churches, nursing homes and school districts throughout the state, shattering the previous year’s record of more than 117 tons. For many of the venues, the offender-grown produce is the only fresh produce that is available for those Missourians in need. Nursing homes and school districts also take donations from the institutions to incorporate the fresh fruit and vegetables into the meals for its residents and students. The department’s Restorative Justice Garden Program operates without the assistance of tax-payer money. All of the seeds and plants for the gardens are donated to the institutions, and all the produce is then donated. Some examples of produce grown throughout the year include tomatoes, bell peppers, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, zucchini, yellow squash, butternut squash, cucumbers, carrots, green beans, cantaloupe, watermelon, okra, onions, jalapeno peppers, potatoes and pumpkins.

Restorative Justice addresses criminal behavior with the fundamental philosophy that when a crime is committed, a debt is incurred. Restorative Justice holds offenders accountable, while providing a means for them to repay their debt to the victim as well as to the community.

Jamala Rogers

New History Museum president comes on strong

The EYE gave out a little cheer while reading the exclusive interview that new Missouri History Museum

President Frances Levine gave to Nancy Fowler of The Beacon and St. Louis Public Radio, which appeared on the public radio site soon after the announcement of her hiring on Tuesday.

“I don’t think there was as much confusion within the walls of the museum as might have been alluded to in newspaper articles,” Levine said. The “newspaper articles” she alluded to were published by the St. Louis PostDispatch, which ran Levine’s predecessor, Bob Archibald, out of town on a rotten rail. Archibald did commit the museum to a misguided land deal that benefitted former Mayor Freeman Bosley Jr. (with board approval), and Archibald’s $500,000 in board-approved vacation buyout was tacky and excessive. But his leadership of the museum over nearly a quarter-century was a net positive for the institution and St. Louis. This fact was lost in the Post’s bloodthirsty reporting on two St. Louis Zoo-Museum District board members’ crusade against Archibald, which lost all balance and proportion. It was refreshing to see the new museum president had the courage to point out the

excesses of that coverage in her first media interview. Levine also went hard in favor of diversity in this first interview. “What I love is culture contact – what happens when people of different cultures come together,” she said. This is critical to the large African-American following for History Museum programs that was built up under Archibald’s leadership. Archibald programmed a long series of tough exhibitions on the subject of race, as well as popular community programs like the Twilight Tuesday concert series, which turns the museum grounds into what could be mistaken for a black family barbecue on many summer nights. Most black folks who followed the crisis assumed Archibald’s comfort with diversity and advocacy for the black community played a subterranean role in the vengeance with which he was attacked. If Levine has been warned about that in whispered asides, she clearly was not cowed. Also, she comes to St. Louis from the New Mexico History Museum, based in Santa Fe, which had a plurality of Hispanics (48.7 percent) in the 2010 Census. That is almost precisely the plurality of African Americans (48.5 percent) living in the city of St. Louis, according to the 2010 Census. She also is a scholar of other cultures, with

a B.A. in anthropology and archeology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a master’s and PhD in anthropology from Southern Methodist University, Dallas. These are promising signs for someone coming in to lead a museum that leads all local cultural institutions in the diversity of its programming.

Not to mention the fact that she herself is a diversity pioneer in terms of gender. She becomes the first woman to lead the History Museum and in fact the first woman to head any institution of the ZooMuseum District. “Throughout my career, I’ve always been in the boys’ club,” Levine said. “It’s true, nationwide, that women didn’t really start assuming leadership roles in museums until the last, maybe, decade or so.”

The Zoo-Museum District seems to have chosen the new museum president wisely, in the wake of criticisms of its past lack of transparency and oversight of its president. Since 2006, Levine has been the vice chair of the New Mexico Public Records Commission,

which reviews the records management of all public agencies. She is an old salt at the stuff the Post feasted on while hounding Archibald. She also has the benefit of reviewing the circuit attorney’s report on the inner workings of the History Museum, which found problems in the administration of the museum but (alas, for Archibald haters) no criminal wrongdoing.

“We’re lucky to have the circuit attorney’s report that both clears the past and sets a very good path forward for how we’ll all work together,” Levine said. “It really tells us … how do we communicate among our members, how are decisions made? They give us very, very clear ideas about spelling out records management, records retention. In any shared governance procedure, you’ve got to have clear communication. So one of the things we’ll be working on is that transparency and decision-making process.”

Levine’s base salary will be $235,000, or $260,000 including benefits. Archibald’s base salary, before all that

vacation time payout, was $375,000. She starts at the museum on April 15.

Real on race

St. Louis Comptroller

Darlene Green got a nod in Jason Rosenbaum’s report for The Beacon and St. Louis Public Radio on possible Democratic challengers to incumbent state Auditor Tom Schweich (a Republican) in November. Candidate filing runs from Feb. 25 to March 25, and Missouri Democrats do not yet have a candidate –spooked, in large part, by the $650,000 in campaign funds that Schweich has amassed. Rosenbaum glances at Green in a potential candidate field that (by his reckoning) also includes state Treasurer Clint Zweifel, state Sen. Scott Sifton, state Rep. John Wright and St. Louis Collector of Revenue Gregory F.X. Daly “Green has the potential to transition relatively seamlessly into the state auditor’s office,” Rosenbaum writes. “After all, Green’s job as comptroller

makes her the chief fiscal officer for one of the state’s largest cities. Additionally, Green possesses a fairly impressive electoral record: While St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay had to fight to win a fourth consecutive term, Green faced no Democratic opposition in her bid for a fifth full term.” Rosenbaum then weighs her pros – nearly $200,000 in cash on hand; plenty of statewide political contacts, thanks to her role as vice chairwoman of the Missouri Democratic Party –and her cons – $200,000 is a lot less than $650,000; little name recognition outside of St. Louis; no fundraising last quarter. That account fails to mention the most glaring weakness Green faces as a potential statewide candidate: the fact that she is black and this is Missouri and no African American has ever won a general election for a statewide seat in this state. Rosenbaum does note that if Green were to win the Democratic nomination, “she would be the first AfricanAmerican woman to be a statewide nominee,” but that soft-pedals the political reality of race in statewide elections in Missouri.

Gregg’s in the money Rosenbaum’s bean counting turns up a fascinating statistic about Gregg Daly, though. He reports that Daly “has more money on hand than most city of St. Louis-based officials – including St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay. With roughly $615,000 on hand, Daly is almost tied with Schweich when it comes to money in the bank. In fact, Daly’s total is more than what Zweifel and Secretary of State Jason Kander have in the bank – combined.” Who knew?

County Town Hall

St. Louis County Councilwoman Hazel Erby will host a County Town Hall 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 25 at Pasta House, 11202 West Florissant Rd. in Florissant.

Aldermanic President Lewis Reed and gospel legend Merdean Gales followed the lead of William Whittaker on Monday during the annual march in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Whittaker has led MLK marchers in chants for 28 years.

Photo by Wiley Price

New Missouri History Museum President Frances Levine

NEWSPAPER IN EDUCATION

Planting the Seeds for Success!

PRESENT: Healthy Kids is a weekly series that focuses on nutrition, exercise, safety and more.

Nutrition Challenge:

One reason many of us overeat is because we simply aren’t paying attention! Have you ever grabbed a bag of chips while watching a movie, and before you know it the bag is empty? It is very important that we are aware of all of the food that we eat. Here are some ways to think about what we’re eating.

> Don’t eat in front of the television. Make

Choose one leader from your group of friends. Everyone should line up behind the leader and follow him or her throughout the house, yard or playground. The leader will do a variety of actions

Healthy Kids Kids

sure all of your meals are at the table.

> If you do want a snack while playing a video game or working on your computer, take a break and sit at the table for your snack.

> And as always, eat slowly and enjoy every bite.

Sitting at the table allows you focus on your foods, enjoying the taste. It also helps you stay more aware of your stomach’s “full” signals, reducing the amount you eat.

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

using their arms and legs: jumping, skipping, clapping, etc. Do what the leader does until they change to a new action. Take turns being the

leader and creating more difficult, interesting and fun activities along the way.

Following the leader is a great way to stay active, increase your heart rate and burn calories throughout the day. Have fun!

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1

Where do you work? I work at BJC Medical Group, West End OB/GYN.

Where did you go to school? I graduated from Beaumont High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Saint Louis University. What does a heart failure educator do? As a nurse, I sit and talk to patients about heart disease in their hospital rooms. I teach them how to eat the right foods, how to take pills for their illness, and how to measure their weight on a scale. I make them feel as comfortable as possible while they are sick.

Why did you choose this career? I chose nursing because I like to help people and make them feel better. I knew this as a little girl in the second grade. As a teenager, I went on to volunteer at a hospital visiting the patients’ rooms and talk to them. I had fun and enjoyed making sick people smile. What is your favorite part of the job you have? I get

Children and ‘thuggery’

A few months back Geneisha Grey, a 23-year-old East St. Louis woman, went into the Hurley and Company Jewelry store in Granite City, IL along with two children, ages 6 and 8.

Video cameras caught the woman distracting employees while the two children systematically stole over $100,000 worth of jewelry, apparently something which Grey had trained the children to do.

I’m equally disgusted when

I routinely observe parents within East Boogie (and elsewhere) loudly and publicly curse at their children at the neighborhood McDonald’s, grocery store or other public places.

So, unfortunately, I wasn’t at all surprised when I saw the viral video of a diaperwearing African-American toddler in Omaha who was caught cursing, flipping a middle finger and shouting out gang affiliations as so-called

adults filmed the episode while cursing at and coaxing the baby to perform even more lewdly.

The video was posted by the Omaha Police Officers Association (POA), they say, to highlight what they describe as “the cycle of violence and thuggery” prevalent in the Omaha area.

James Ingram

However, since the video was posted the Omaha POA has been under fire from media, activists, the ACLU and Omaha’s police chief, saying that the video needlessly antagonizes minority communities.

When interviewed by CNN affiliate KETV, the 16-yearold mother of the 2-year-old toddler attempted to deflect

criticism by saying, “He had a clean diaper, the house was clean and kids curse. Every kid does it.”

The juvenile mom then went on to place blame on the friend of her brother who filmed the video while she was in another room, saying, “He was wrong for doing that, posting the video up and getting us into this situation.”

Sadly, the young mother missed the point entirely.

In her immature, irresponsible world, all children curse and her brother’s friend is the reason she is in this “situation.”

In fact, poor choices (teen pregnancy, allowing ignorant adults to have access to your child while you aren’t in the room) open the door to the type of negative influences which have affected her child.

The same thing goes for the East St. Louis woman who, instead of performing her babysitting duties, decided to contribute to the delinquency of small children by apparently teaching them to be jewelry thieves.

Folks, there’s nothing magical about what’s going on here. Good parents, generally, produce good children and poor parents, generally, produce poor children. There’s always the exception. But if you follow a bad kid home, more often than not, a trifling parent will open the door.

The African-American community has got to get back to making that trifling parent a rare exception. When we do that, then we will improve academically because we will work with our children and our schools toward better educating our youth.

When we do that, then our children will become successful and become gainfully employed or self-employed and create a better future for our families.

When we do that, jail and thuggery will become lesser options and education and success will become our preoccupation.

Email: jtingram_1960@ yahoo.com; Twitter@ JamesTIngram.

Rev. Victor J. Anderson

Reverend Victor J. Anderson, age 62, a resident of Saint Louis, Missouri passed on Thursday, January 9, 2014.

Rev. Vincent J. Anderson

Reverend Anderson’s precious memories will be cherished and his death longremembered by a loving and devoted wife, Priscilla Anderson; two step-daughters, Melissa Adams and Charlene Jackson, both of St. Louis, Missouri; mother, Verla A. Hopkins of O’Fallon, Illinois; two sisters, Carliss G. Spight of Cahokia, Illinois and Kimberly D. Hopkins of O’Fallon Illinois; Momin-Law, Mamie Cole and Brother-in-Law, William J. Cole, Jr. both of St. Louis, Missouri ; seven grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

Leeola (Williams) Byrth

March 2, 1961 –January 6, 2014

Leeola (Williams) Byrth was born March 2, 1961 to Johnnie Williams Sr. and Eva Mae Williams in Tunica, Miss. She was the seventh child of eight sisters and brothers. She departed this life on January 6, 2014.

Leeola was educated in the St. Louis Public School system and graduated from Beaumont High School.

Recently, she attended St. Louis Community College at Meramec to pursue an Associate Degree in General Studies. She was expected to receive this degree in May 2014.

Leeola lived her life dedicated to God and her family. She faithfully served the Lord at Trinity Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. On August 4, 1984, she was married to Wilbert Bernard Byrth. They had two children, Semaja Denise Byrth and Brittney Danielle Byrth.

Leeola committed her life to serving people. She volunteered with Mission Gate Prison Ministry, visited the sick and shut-in, and helped numerous people when they were at their weakest. She constantly spread the Word of God, faithfully sending devotional messages to encourage the people of God each day. Her light and kindness will be sorely missed.

Leeola leaves to cherish her memories: her husband, Wilbert Bernard Byrth; two daughters, Semaja (Rico) Smith and Brittney Byrth; four siblings, Thelma Royston (Bobby), Melzinnia Hill, Amos Williams, John (Toni) Williams; four grandchildren, Cameron Brown, Ashlynn Smith, Amber Smith and Rhonique Smith; as well as a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Attention St. Louis American Readers

As a service to the community, we list obituaries in the St. Louis American Newspaper, on a spaceavailable basis and online at stlamerican.com. AT NO CHARGE. Please send all obituary notices to kdaniel @stlamerican.com.

By now you have all either seen or heard about the Seattle Seahawks’ Richard Sherman’s rant after the NFC Championship game on Sunday, where he wanted to introduce himself to the free world as the best cornerback in the NFL along with reminding the world that Michael Crabtree (a fellow member of the NFL) is “mediocre.” A lot to be said in about 15 seconds, but he did it.

To say Sherman was highly emotional would be an understatement.

Claib’s Call

With Mike Claiborne

Sherman’s rant rattles media

(who has had his own set of issues) and Sherman that dates back to last summer. There had been some yacking between these two well before last Sunday.

To say Sherman’s actions to discredit a player in the NFL is unprofessional would be true. To say that Sherman is in dire need of attention would be spot on. To say that Sherman’s rant nearly scared the blonde off Fox interviewer Erin Andrews would appear to be close to accurate. Man, Sherman got a lot done in such a short period of time, but there is more. For the record, Sherman has since apologized for his actions on Sunday, but I fear that will not garner the same coverage as his behavior in his postgame rant. Then again, did you really think that they would think that is a story?

The back story here is there is a history between Crabtree

Richard Sherman is actually a really good player, perhaps the best this year at his position. With that comes a player who is not short on confidence and who has something to say to anyone within earshot when it comes to who is the better player. Big mouth? Perhaps. Can he back it up? On most Sundays, yes. So where is the disconnect here? It’s quite simple. There are some who still struggle with the Muhammad Ali phenomenon of a player of color running his mouth and being able to back it up. Throw in the dreads and you have a social media bonanza for those who hide behind the “send” button. Sherman asked for and now he is getting it from all corners of the world outside of the state of Washington.

I am sure that with the Super Bowl in New York this year, Richard Sherman will be a story of some sort. I only hope that those who will attempt to make it an issue will understand that there is more to Sherman than just a rant

and

Seattle Seahawks’ cornerback Richard Sherman gave a post-game rant after the NFC Championship game on Sunday that Sherman’s nearly scared the blonde off Fox interviewer Erin Andrews.

differently by his peers a few years ago. Someone call for a stretcher, as one may be needed. That is no longer the case, so Sherman is safe for now.

Whenever a football player really runs off at the mouth, it normally comes from a cornerback or receiver.

n Big mouth? Perhaps. Can he back it up? On most Sundays, yes.

Think of Deion Sanders, Ray Buchanan, Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, Chad Johnson, Adam Jones and other wannabes. The list is certainly longer. Pick an era and you will find a player who rubs the game, if not the fans, the wrong way, and yet we come back for more.

But now the media taking

their swipes at Sherman and his ilk have become more vicious and partisan. It almost has a tone that would be borderline racist in some circles. Now they will flock to New York for the Super Bowl and the muchanticipated media day to see if they can stir the pot and get Sherman to say something ill about the current anointed face of the league, Peyton Manning You can count on it. I myself will try to read those who won’t go there. They will be in the minority for sure. Yep, you know it’s coming, and I think both of these players are too smart to take the bait as there is too much at stake.

Mike Claiborne

the fact that he can really play football in this era. I say that only because Sherman’s antics would have been handled

Lindenwood University football standout

Pierre Desir will compete in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL on the NFL Network

Saturday at 3 p.m.

Desir to play in Senior Bowl

Lindenwood standout on NFL Network on Saturday

By Earl Austin Jr.

Of The St. Louis American

Lindenwood

University

football standout Pierre Desir will get to show off his considerable talents on Saturday when he competes in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL. The game will be televised on the NFL Network at 3 p.m. It features many of the top senior college football players from across the country.

A graduate of Francis Howell Central, Desir completed a stellar collegiate career at Lindenwood, where he had 13 interceptions in the past two seasons. Combined with the 12 interceptions at his previous stop at Washburn (KS), Desir finished with an impressive 25 interceptions.

For his efforts, Desir was

PREP

Continued from B3

Beau Bommarito added 18 points. Barnes scored 14 points and senior Armon Watts added 10 points.

Chaminade champs

Chaminade won the championship of the Kirkwood Tournament last weekend. The Red Devils defeated host Kirkwood 75-61 in the championship game.

Sophomore star Jayson Tatum had 25 points and 16 rebounds while fellow sophomore Mike Lewis added 22 points. Chaminade also defeated Jennings and Riverview Gardens en route to the title.

n Desir’s name is quite familiar to National Football League scouts and personnel directors as one of the top cornerbacks in the upcoming NFL Draft.

the recipient of the Cliff Harris Award, which goes to the Small College Defensive Player of the Year.

Desir’s name is quite familiar to National Football League scouts and personnel directors as one of the top cornerbacks in the upcoming NFL Draft this spring. At 6’2” and 206 pounds, he brings great size to the cornerback position. He also runs a 4.45

n Madison Head coach Tony Irons has retooled his team around an improved inside game and some talented young players.

Chaminade will visit CBC in a rematch of Metro Catholic Conference rivals on January 31.

Big comebacks

There were a couple of huge comeback victories in conference rivalry games last Friday night. Alton rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit to stun host Edwardsville 59-56 in a Southwestern Conference

second, 40-yard dash. Desir was also considered to be one of the top defensive prospects in last week’s East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, FL. His performance at the Shrine game earned him the invitation to the Senior Bowl. Not only did he earn an invite to the Senior Bowl, but he will also participate in the NFL Draft Combine in Indianapolis.

Desir is hoping to become the first player from Lindenwood to be selected in the NFL Draft. The Lions have had several former players play in the NFL, but Desir would be the first one selected.

showdown. In the process, Alton handed the Tigers their first loss of the season. Senior guard D’Tae McMurray scored 19 points to lead the Redbirds, who trailed by as many as 18 points in the first half. Guard Darrius Edwards added 15 points. On the same night, MICDS rallied for a 21-point deficit to defeat rival John Burroughs 57-52 in front of a raucous crowd at Burroughs. Senior forward Robin Thompson sparked the Rams’ rally by scoring 20 of his 22 points in the second half, including two thunderous dunks. Senior forward Justin Randle had nine points, 14 rebounds and six steals while freshman Alec Spence added 11 points.

CLUTCH

Continued from B3

he can’t be written off as a bad signing. Still, it seems pretty evident that unless LeBron James comes riding into town with a Nike cape, Anthony has virtually no chance of leading the Knicks to a title. That’s why the team should hold a fire sale for draft picks and expiring contracts and start over from scratch. Of course, this isn’t a new idea. After every failed season, Knicks fans petition the team to blow up the roster. The bloated contracts make it difficult, but not impossible if the team resets its sights. The Knicks have talent on the roster, just not chemistry. Instead of throwing money at the latest NBA diva, the Knicks should take a page out of the St. Louis Rams playbook: dump the seasoned vets and build through the draft. Yes, the NBA and NFL

RAMS

Continued from B3 including matching a career high in catches (82) and yards (1,130) in 2007. And Cotchery isn’t known to be the most explosive player at that position. He’s a tough football player who gets everything out

drafts are completely different. No, the Rams team is not a powerhouse and hasn’t made the playoffs since Lance Armstrong was still a national hero. Still, the Rams dropped nearly everyone doused in the dismal stench of losing and are finally starting to build a quality foundation through young, homegrown (via the draft) talent. That includes Defensive Player of the Year candidate Robert Quinn and most of the defense. The Rams have a future. The Knicks don’t.

Sad to say, but the only way the Knicks will dig themselves out of the mire is to rid themselves of Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler, Amar’e Stoudemire, J.R. Smith and others. None of those players are awful and each of them, besides Smith, carries some value around the league, but they’ll never pan out in New York. Madison Square Garden has become a cesspool of mediocrity and all the veteran players are infected. It’s possible for youngsters

of his ability and never gets cheated.

We’ve haven’t seen that yet from this offense. And I think Schottenheimer has more speed to work with here in St. Louis than he had in New York. I know hindsight is 20/20. But, what if the Rams had chosen to target Cotchery instead of tight end Jared Cook?

like Tim Hardaway Jr. and Iman Shumpert to adjust and thrive surrounded by winners. However, those winners will need to young and enthusiastic. They can’t be 10-year veterans looking for the fame and media attention that NY brings. They can’t be guys at the end of their careers, hoping to hang on for another season and make another dollar. The Knicks need young talent and they need it now. The Knicks should focus on building up a stockpile of draft picks and fresh faces and hope to follow the Oklahoma City Thunder’s path to playoff contention. As great as Carmelo Anthony is at putting the ball in the basket, he’ll never put a title in the Garden. It’s time to start over in New York. It’s time to replace the big names with no-names under the bright lights. Only then will the Knicks have a chance to shine.

Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @ IshmaelSistrunk and on Google+.

I think this could be a make-or-break year for Schottenheimer. Rams general manager Les Snead has already stated that he’s going all in with Sam Bradford for 2014 and beyond. So where does that leave Schotty if the offense creeps along again? For more Rams Roundup, subscribe to our channel at www.stamerican/youtubevideo.

St. LouiS AmericAn

Prep Athletes of the Week

Jayson Tatum

Chaminade – Basketball

The 6’8” sophomore standout led the Red Devils to the championship of the Kirkwood Tournament last weekend. Tatum averaged 26 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in leading Chaminade to victories over Riverview Gardens, Jennings and Kirkwood. He had 25 points, 16 rebounds, five assists and three blocks in the Red Devils’ 75-61 victory over Kirkwood in the championship game. In the semifinals against Jennings, Tatum had 31 points, 13 rebounds and four assists in a 70-53 victory.

For the season, Tatum is averaging 25.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 2.4 steals and two blocks a game. He is also shooting 44 percent from 3-point range. Tatum is rated as one of the top five sophomores in the country.

Will Erby

Brentwood – Basketball

The 5’9” senior guard led the Eagles to three consecutive victories last season. He averaged 20 points a game during the winning streak. Erby had 18 points, three assists and six steals to lead Brentwood to a 56-50 upset of Bayless. He followed up with a season-high 34 points in a 61-56 victories over Lift for Life. Erby was 11-16 from the field, including three 3-pointers. Erby also had nine points and four assists in a 52-40 victory over Crossroads.

For the season, Erby is averaging 18.8 points, 3.4 assists and 1.9 steals a game. He is also shooting 47 percent from the field.

Continued from B1

skylights with LED to reduce energy and maintenance costs.

The Kwame project management team recommended opening up the vaults to dramatize the skylights, a feature that was evident in the original mid-century design (1956) by Minoru Yamasaki. Kwame also suggested a film that would allow the LED light to appear on both sides of the glass, accentuating the natural arches of the vault both inside and outside the terminal. When viewed from a distance, the LED lighting washes the terminal with dramatic color.

“The Lambert Terminal 1 renovation is a great example of how a project management team can bring construction solutions to the table to achieve design goals,” said Mike Minges, vice president of Kwame.

The Lambert renovation also received the 2012 AIA Illinois Design Award: Louis Sullivan Award, the top honor for all categories; and the 2011 AIA St. Louis Design Award: Honor Award – Interiors.

airport.

Unemployment benefits must be extended

By Eugene Robinson Washington Post

Shame on Republicans for blocking the resumption of long-term unemployment benefits for 1.3 million Americans. And shame on Democrats for letting them.

The GOP cannot be allowed to cast this as a bloodless policy debate about “incentives” that allegedly encourage sloth. Putting that spin on the issue is disingenuous, insulting and inaccurate: As Republicans well know, individuals receiving unemployment checks are legally required to look for work.

Republicans should also know that the jobless desperately want employment. For some, a new job might be just weeks or months away. But the benefits cutoff may make it impossible to keep house and home together in the meantime.

Labor Secretary Thomas Perez recently convened a group of the long-term unemployed to share their stories with members of his department’s staff. All were over 50 and once held whitecollar jobs; some earned sixfigure salaries. The session was heartbreaking but also inspiring – and it made me wonder why Democrats aren’t screaming louder, in sheer outrage, about this GOP exercise in gratuitous inhumanity.

There was Carol Scott of Baltimore, who lost her job as a program administrator at Johns Hopkins University medical school in 2010. With a master’s degree in psychology, she keeps getting told that she is overqualified for jobs paying less, which she would happily take. She has been scraping by with help from her mother and sister, in addition to unemployment benefits.

There was Kevin Meyer from New Jersey, who

lost his job in corporate communications, accepted another job at a 40 percent pay cut, and then lost that job, too. He said that in the last two years he has sent out hundreds of resumes, sat for about two dozen fruitless interviews and endured a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Now, he said, he is “racing the clock to avoid foreclosure.”

contracts, but the last one ended in October.

There was Johnetta Thurston of Odenton, Md., who lost her position as a human resources executive in May 2011 and continues to apply for job after job. After being turned down, she always calls to ask why; if it was because she lacked a particular skill or professional certification, she goes out and gets it. She managed to win a few short-term consulting

There was George Meagan of Paramus, N.J., who in December 2012 was laid off by Citigroup after 33 years. “I thought it would be easy to find a job,” he said, “and it’s shocking to be sitting here a year later.” He was lucky enough to be given a severance package, but he said that money is now exhausted and he has started to cannibalize his retirement savings. Most of the others around the table said they had long since drained their 401(k) accounts.

And there was Steve Bolton, who lives in the Washington, D.C., area. Bolton spent 22 years in the Army before retiring and going to work for a defense contractor. He was laid off last June and

now finds himself “at the bottom of my barrel,” with no savings left and no job in sight. “Fortunately, we were able to pay our mortgage this month,” he said.

These are people whose lives have been buffeted by forces beyond their control – the worst economic slump since the Great Depression, globalization and outsourcing, irrational federal spending cuts. They have skills and experience; they are willing to reinvent themselves. Isn’t it in society’s interest to give them a chance?

It has been common practice for the federal government to extend unemployment benefits in hard economic times – and to do so on a bipartisan basis, without insisting that the funds be taken out of some other program’s hide. The cost of a full one-year extension would be just $25 billion, little more than a rounding error in a trillion-dollar federal budget.

It would be sound economic policy for the government to finance that extension through borrowing. Interest rates are at historic lows and the deficit has been falling dramatically, making this a good time for capital investments. In this case, rather than building roads or airports, we would be investing in the nation’s human capital. And spending that money would create about 200,000 jobs, according to the Congressional Budget Office –thus putting some of the longterm unemployed back to work. But while Congress inches forward, probably toward some kind of extension, lives are falling apart. All day, every day, Democrats ought to be making a loud and righteous noise over this disgraceful state of affairs.

Eugene Robinson’s email address is eugenerobinson@ washpost.com.

Kwame Building Group is the project manager for the $70 million Airport Experience Program, the largest renovation in the history of the

Eugene Robinson

Ebony on the East Side

Portfolio Gallery curates show for arts center in Eville

By Chris King Of The St. Louis American

Robert Powell, founder of Portfolio Gallery in Grand Center, has taken his show on the road for a new exhibit, Ebony Creations, which is showing through February 28 at the Edwardsville Arts Center, 6165 Center Grove Rd. in Edwardsville.

“They wanted to broaden their clientele and people who visited the arts center,” Powell said, “and my name surfaced as the guy who could put that together.”

n “We show artists that mainstream organizations are overlooking. Who knows us? I still say we’re unknown.”

– Robert Powell

The curator lived up to his name when Edwardsville Arts Center board members Joan Wentz and Dennis DeToye met with him.

“We wanted to make sure he had the same vision as we did, and sure enough he did,” Wentz told the Edwardsville Intelligencer. “We said, ‘He’s the real deal. This is what we want.’ He’s just classy.”

The vision Powell brought to their collaborative show is the same vision with which he founded Portfolio 25 years ago.

“We show artists that mainstream organizations are overlooking,” Powell said. “Who knows us? I still say we’re unknown.” Powell put together a show of 28 African-American artists from St. Louis and across the country.

“Everyone seemed surprised that black artists are showing there,” Powell said. “That’s the underlying thing I kind of feel. But I don’t know the history of Edwardsville. We often treat that river like it’s a big ocean and don’t even go over there.”

STL’s got SAG

Lavell Crawford takes home Screen Actors Guild award with ‘Breaking Bad’ cast

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

While plenty of us were basking in the fashion decision of 12 Years

a Slave star Lupita Nyong’o, actor and comedian Lavell Crawford was representing for St. Louis at the Screen Actors Guild Awards two weeks ago in Los Angeles. He took home a statue for Best Television Ensemble along with the rest of the cast of Breaking Bad

“When we won, it was a beautiful thing,” Crawford said. “It was on TV, and we all got to go up there. It was exciting. I was like, ‘I got a SAG award.’ That’s kind of prestigious for actors.”

A huge deal in Hollywood, the SAG award is among the highest

honors a television actor can receive (along with a Golden Globe).

“For real, I couldn’t believe it, because a lot of comedianturned-actors don’t get that type of recognition,” he said.

The St. Louis native has a recurring role as Hugh Babineaux – a multitasking security guard who cleans up messes and adds comic edge – in the cult classic show.

“I didn’t think we would get our own statue,” Crawford said. “I went back there and saw my name and it was like when I was a teenager and we got our trophy at the end of senior year of football. I was like, ‘Wow, I get a trophy – I can’t believe it!’”

He couldn’t believe the company he was in, either.

“I always give people the advice

Soul serenade

that if you’re doing something big and you can’t believe you’re there to act like you been there before,” Crawford said. “Even though I acted like I’ve been there before, I was like, ‘Man, I can’t believe this is happening.’” He was within eyeshot of Oprah Winfrey, Forest Whitaker, Don

Stewards, Nolting win Arts Awards

Arts and Education Council also honors Edward Jones, Metro Theater

Kenya Vaughn

on “Breaking Bad.”

Cheadle, Tom Hanks and Michael Douglas.

“It was just incredible to be in that company,” Crawford said. “I thank God every day for that.” One of the most memorable moments from SAG was when he crossed paths with another St. Louis native, the

Leap “I got to run into Scott Bakula and said, ‘I’m proud of you –you’re a St. Louis guy too,

Crawford

“I told

‘Go Cardinals’ and said, ‘Hey, you were on one of my favorite shows. After everything was over, he came and congratulated me on the win. It was a beautiful thing.” “The buzz around Breaking Bad is just so much – we have a See LAVELL, C4

Eternally single?

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“God has given me everything I’ve ever wanted … except this …” Her voiced cracked as she fought back emotions.

“I’m 40 years old, and girls I went college with now have children in college,” said a woman I’ll call Nicole.

“Here I’ve been trying to go about things the right way, and I feel like my window is nailed shut on any chances of being a wife and a mother.”

n “The stress, the pace and long hours keep my mind off of knowing that I’m going home alone.”

Over the years, she’s looked to her parents’ now 45-year marriage as the shining example she wanted to follow in her own life.

“First comes love, then comes marriage … then comes Mommy with a baby carriage.”

Sounds easy enough, right? Not so much these days – especially for the single black females.

She swears that she hasn’t been especially picky.

“I’ve had standards over the years, but who doesn’t when it comes to dating – let alone a husband,” Nicole said. “But in all honesty, it’s never even gotten close to the point of marriage in the 20 years I’ve been dating as a grown woman – not even once.”

She’s prayed. She’s fasted. She’s dated – to no avail. She was even celibate for four years.

You might think it’s Nicole’s

Antonio Douthit Boyd and Alicia Graf Mack perform “Unfold” in tribute to COCA Dance instructor Lee Nolting at the Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis’ 2014 Arts Awards.

Photo by Arlis Davis

St. Louis native Lavell Crawford won a Screen Actors Guild Awards for Best Television Ensemble for his role

star of Quantum

man,”

said.

him,

Deborah Lowe received a birthday gift she’ll never forget thanks to a touching moment with R&B icon Charlie Wilson. While treating herself to a night of good music, she ended up experiencing Charlie’s charm in a personal way thanks to a mini one-on-one crooning session as the two locked hands Saturday night at The Fox Theatre.

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

“Divine” by LaToyaHobbs

How to place a calendar listing

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

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

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

black history month

Sat., Jan. 25, 2 p.m., Remembering Martin Luther King Jr., St. Louis County Library – Bridgeton Trails Branch, 3455 McKelvey Rd. For more information, call (314) 994-3300.

Sun., Jan. 26, 3 p.m., St. Alphonsus Ligouri (Rock) Catholic Church Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest Awards and Church Celebration, 1118 N. Grand. For more information, call (314) 382-9545,

Through Sun., Jan. 26, The Black Rep presents The Meeting, Harris-Stowe State University’s Emerson Performance Center, 3101 Laclede. For more information, call (314) 534-3810 or visit www.theblackrep.org.

Mon., Jan. 27, 6 p.m., The St. Louis Public Library presents Monday Movie Madness (The Fight for Civil Rights: Yesterday & Today): Sisters of Selma – Bearing Witness for Change. St. Antona Ebo recounts her journey with Catholic nuns form across the country in answer to Dr. King’s call to join protests in Selma, Alabama. Schalfly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 206-6779 or visit www.slpl.org.

Feb. 8, 1 p.m., In honor of Black History Month, Sabayet’s sister organization, New African Paradigm has partnered with the Missouri History Museum to present a FREE screening of Hidden Colors 2 with a panel discussion following, Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell in Forest Park. For more information, visit www.sabayet.org.

Fri., Feb. 7, 7 p.m., The Black Rep presents

Witnesses to Freedom. Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information, visit www.slcl.org/black-historycelebration.

Sun., Feb. 9, 2 p.m., The St. Louis Public Library presents its Black History Month Keynote Address by Wil Haygood, author of the The Butler. Central Library, 1301 Olive St., 63103. For more information, call (314) 2066779 or visit www.slpl.org.

Fri., Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m., Powell Symphony Hall presents Lift Every Voice: Black History Month Celebration. This annual concert celebrates AfricanAmerican cultures and traditions that have influenced the history of St. Louis, as well as cities around the world. 718 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. stlsymphony.org.

Sat., Feb. 15, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library presents Black History Celebration 2014 with featured speaker, Ayana Mathis. Ms. Mathis will be discussing “The Twelve Tribes of Hattie.” Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information, visit www.slcl.org/black-historycelebration.

Feb. 15 – Feb 28, Gitana Productions’ Global Education through the Arts program will present “Living the Dream: 50 Years and Beyond.” The 45-minute music, drama and dance performance promoting nonviolence and acceptance are scheduled throughout the region during February, Black History Month, to celebrate the messages of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. For more full schedule, locations and more information, visit www. gitana-inc.org or call Gitana Productions at (314) 721-6556.

Thurs., Feb. 20, 6:30 p.m.,

Westminster Christian Academy presents Night of the Arts: A Celebration of Unity: Black History Month 2014. To honor and celebrate the achievements of black Americans throughout history, Westminster will host a Black History Month event featuring Westminster music, drama, and poetry students. 800 Maryville Centre Dr., 63017. For more information, visit www.wcastl.org.

Sat., Feb. 22, 1 p.m., St. Louis County Library Black History Celebration 2014 presents Gift of Gospel Celebration. Lewis & Clark Branch, 9909 Lewis-Clark Blvd., 63136. For more information, visit www.slcl. org/black-history-celebration.

Fri., Feb. 28, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library Black History Celebration 2014 presents Set the Night to Music with Wendy Gordon & Friends. Florissant Valley Branch, 195 S. New Florissant Rd., 63031. For more information, visit www.slcl. org/black-history-celebration.

concerts

Sat. Jan. 25, 5:30 p.m., The Fox Theater presents The Fresh Beat Band - Live in Concert. Children’s TV show with original pop songs produced for Nick Jr. The Fresh Beats are Shout, Twist, Marina, and Kiki, described as four best friends in a band who go to music school together and love to sing and dance. 527 N Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. fabulousfox.com.

Fri., Jan. 31, 7:30 p.m., Jazz St. Louis presents Jazz at

Lincoln Center Quartet. Featuring veteran JALC Orchestra musicians Vincent Gardner on trombone, Walter Blanding on tenor sax, Kenny Rampton on trumpet, and Herlin Riley on drums, this is sure to be one of the best swinging shows of the season. Jazz at the Bistro, 3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Friday, Feb. 14, 8 p.m., St. Louis Music Festival with Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly with Anthony Hamilton and Joe, Chaifetz Arena. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Sat., Feb. 15, 8 p.m., The Sheldon presents Terence Blanchard. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Feb. 19 – 22, Jazz St. Louis presents Christian McBride with pianist Christian Sands and drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr., Jazz at the Bistro. 3536 Washington Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Sat., Feb. 22, 8 p.m., Friends of the Sheldon present Aaron Neville. Proceeds from this special evening benefit Sheldon Educational Programs. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Fri., Feb. 28, 8 p.m., The Sheldon presents Habib Koite and Raul Midon. This inspired cross-genre pairing unites Malian superstar Habib Koité with American singer/ songwriter Raul Midón. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

The Sheldon presents Terence Blanchard. See CONCERTS for details.

special events

Jan. 23 – 26, America’s Center hosts The St. Louis Auto Show. Hundreds of new cars, trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles will be on display representing domestic and foreign manufacturers. 701 Convention Plaza, 63101. For more information, visit www. saintlouisautoshow.com.

Fri., Feb. 28, 8 p.m., The Chaifetz Arena presents 2 Chainz & Pusha T. One S. Compton Ave., 63103.

local gigs

Wed., Feb. 12, 7 p.m., Blueberry Hill presents J Boog. 6504 Delmar Blvd., 63101. For more information, visit www.blueberryhill.com.

Feb. 14 & 15, Jazz at the Bistro presents Valentine’s Day with Erin Bode. Bode consistently wins over audiences with her sweet personality and sincere performances, the perfect combination to celebrate this romantic holiday. 3536 Washington Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. grandcenter.org.

Fred Walker and his Saxy Jazz Music Show returns to Ms. Piggie’s Smokehouse on Sundays with the best in live and recorded Jazz and Gospel. 12noon - 4pm 10612 Page Ave. St. Louis, Mo. 63132 call (314) 428-7776 for information.

Saturdays, 3 p.m., The Kendrick Smith Quartet, Premier Lounge, 5969 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. For more information, call (314)385-5281 or e-mail crusadersforjazz@hotmail. com.

Sundays, 6 p.m., Chuck Flowers Live, InSpot, 5854 Delmar. For more information, visit www.artistecard.com/ cflowers

Sundays, 6:30 p.m. (6 p.m. doors) Jazz @ Eventide, featuring Black and White Trio. Sip N Savor, 286 DeBaliviere, 1/2 block north of the Forest park Metro link. For more information, call (314)361-2116.

Fri., Jan. 24, 11 a.m., The Hilton Ball Park Hotel hosts 2014 Missouri Lawyer Awards. Nearly 250 members of the legal community will gather to recognize the year’s winningest trial and appellate lawyers, law firm innovators and more, capped off with a tribute to Missouri Lawyers Weekly’s Lawyer of the Year. 1 S. Broadway, 63102.

Fri., Jan. 24, 7 p.m., Chase Parks Plaza Hotel hosts The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ 12th Annual St. Louis Food & Wine Experience. 212 N. Kingshighway Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.repstl.org.

Sat., Jan. 25, 7 p.m., The St. Louis Underground Music Festival presents The 2014 SLUMFEST Hip Hop Awards. This award show spotlights the contribution to the St. Louis Hip Hop Community from Hip Hop Artists, DJ’s, Producers and B-Boys/ B-Girls throughout 2013. 3224 Locust St., 63103. For more information, visit www.slumfest.com.

Sat., Feb. 1, 11 a.m., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. St. Louis Metropolitan Chapters present Founders’ Day Celebration: Celebrating Our Past, Securing Our Future with keynote speaker Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson. Rededication followed by luncheon at noon. Open only to members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Sheraton Westport Chalet Hotel, 191 Westport Plaza, 63146. For more information, call (314) 862-8877.

Fri., Feb. 7, 8 p.m., Alive Magazine presents Buzz List Party 2014. Buzz List celebrates St. Louis’ most influential people, organizations and ideas of the year. This is your chance to meet, greet and party with the go-getters enriching the city. Lucas Park Grille, 1234 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com for tickets.

Sat., Feb. 8, 6 p.m., University of Missouri Columbia Black Law Student’s Association hosts 28th Annual Lloyd L. Gaines Scholarship Banquet. This

year’s keynote speaker will be Administrative Hearing Commissioner Mary E. Nelson. Additionally, MU BLSA will present two scholarships to exceptional law students. Stotler Lounge, Memorial Union, 518 Hitt St., Columbia, MO. 65201. For more information, call (205) 641-9987 or visit law.missouri.

edu/blsa.

Feb. 8 – 9, 11 a.m., Bridgeton Machinist Hall hosts I Do! I Do! Wedding Show. The first 500 pre-registered brides-tobe will receive a free gift bag during the event. 12365 Saint Charles Rock Rd., 63044. For more information, visit www. asyougoevents.com.

comedy

Sat., Feb. 1, 7 p.m., Lumiere Place presents Keenen Ivory Wayans. 999 N. Second St.

Feb. 22, 3 p.m., New African Paradigm presents A Comedy, Poetry, Entertainment Showcase at Better Family Life, the event will serve as a fundraiser for the clinic in Ghana. For more information, visit www. sabayet.org.

theatre

Thurs., Jan 23, 6 p.m., RockShow Academy host Auditions for Disney’s “Beauty & the Beast Jr.” Step into the enchanted world of Broadway’s modern classic, come prepared with 16 bars of a song and sheet music; accompanist provided. 8809 Gravois Rd., 63123. For more information, visit www. rockshowacademy.com.

Jan. 24 – 25, Ballet Memphis presents The Wizard of OZ. Touhill Performing Arts Center, One University Blvd., 63121. For more information, visit www.touhill.org.

Through Jan. 26, The Black Rep presents The Meeting, Harris-Stowe

State University Emerson Performance Center. For more information, call (314) 534-3807 or visit www. theblackrep.org.

Jan. 30 – Feb. 9, The Black Rep presents For Colored Girls who have Considered Suicide when the Rainbow is Enuf. Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit metrotix.com.

Feb., 6 – 8 at 8 p.m., and Feb., 9 at 2 p.m., Mustard Seed Theater presents Gee’s Bend. The story of the Pettway women, quilters from the isolated community of Gee’s Bend Alabama. 6800 Wydown Blvd., 63105. For more information, visit www. mustardseedtheatre.com.

Fri., Feb. 7, 8 p.m., The Fox Theater presents Mamma Mia. 527 N Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit metrotix.com.

Fri., Feb. 14, 8 p.m., The Black Rep presents Laughter + Lyrics with Phyllis Yvonne Stickney. Blended evening of conscious comedy and original spoken word accented with music and song. 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity Ave., 63130. For more information, call (314) 534-3810.

Feb., 14 – 16, Peabody Opera House presents Shen Yun. The words evoke a sense of wonder, magic, and the divine. Discover the glory of a fantastically rich culture, that of classical China, brought to life through brilliantly choreographed dance and mesmerizing, all-original orchestral compositions. 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit www. shenyun.com.

Feb. 19 – March 2, The Fox Theater presents Jersey Boys, The musical about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the story of how four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest

successes in pop music history. 527 N Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit metrotix.com.

Thurs., Feb. 20 – Fri., Feb. 21, The Gaslight Cabaret Festival featuring stage and screen veteran Ken Page, The Gaslight Theater 358 N. Boyle St. Louis MO 63108. For tickets, go to www.LicketyTix. com.

literary

Mon., Feb. 3, 7 p.m., Greg Kot signs and discusses I’ll Take You There Greg Kot presents the untold story of living legend Mavis Staples-lead singer of the Staples Singers. St. Louis County Library, 1640 S. Lindbergh, 63131. For more information, visit www.left-bank.com.

arts

Fri., Jan. 24, 7 p.m., Grand Center hosts I Killed Kenny. Joyce Pensato: I Killed Kenny, the artist’s first museum survey, features monumental enamel paintings and a largescale painting rendered directly onto CAM’s gallery walls. 634

The St. Louis Public Library presents its Black History Month Keynote Address by Wil Haygood, author of the ‘The Butler.’ See BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS for more information.

N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. grandcenter.org.

Fri., Jan. 31, 6 p.m., Julia Davis Branch Library hosts Miles from Here. Ron Young presents a series of paintings of legendary jazz trumpeter and East St. Louis native Miles Davis. Ron’s uses color in his compositions to express the emotional energy created in Miles‘ music. 4451 Natural Bridge Ave., 63115. For more information, visit www. fabulousartbymeronyoung. com.

Sun., Feb. 2, 11 a.m., The Contemporary Art Museum hosts Artist Talk: It is What it Is: Conversations About Iraq. The unique discussion brings together key participants in artist Jeremy Deller’s 2009 project about the war in Iraq. The discussion will reflect on how the active engagement of the audience in the experience of art can transform one’s understanding of the world. 3750 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.webster.edu.

Through February 28, Portfolio Gallery, in collaboration with the

Edwardsville Arts Center, Edwardsville, IL presents Ebony Creations. This show will feature the work of 28 artists represented by the Portfolio Gallery and will include paintings, photos, textiles, and sculpture for sale. This exhibit will give patrons of the Arts Center an opportunity to view a collection of work from professional artists from the St. Louis area and beyond. The Edwardsville Arts Center is located at 6165 Center Grove Road, Edwardsville, IL 62025. 618-655-0337 Map directions to EAC at WWW. Portfoliogallerystl.org

lectures

Thurs., Jan. 23, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library hosts a Candidate Reflection Session. Ever wonder what it takes to become a candidate for public office? Come and meet former candidates, learn about the Libertarian Party, and learn the requirements for the different offices. 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131-3598. For more information, visit http://lpmo. org/.

Sat., Jan. 25, 10 a.m., The St. Louis American presents Money Matters 2014 –Financial Literacy Seminar. Topic: Steps to Purchasing a Home. Afroworld, 7276 Natural Bridge Rd., 63121. For more information, call (314) 389- 5419.

Sat., Jan. 25, 1 p.m., St. Luke’s Hospital’s Spirit of Women presents “Girl Talk,” A FREE event for moms and daughters ages 11 and older enjoy an inspiring and fun afternoon filled with health information, communication tips and self-esteem strategies. St. Luke’s Hospital - Institute for Health Education. For more information, call (314) 5424848 for more information.

Sat., Feb. 1, 10 a.m., Mary Institute Country Day School hosts Summer Opportunities

Fair. Discover exciting programs for children ages 3-18. Over 150 day and overnight camp representatives from local, national and international camps, foreign study and travel, specialty camps, academic enrichment, and volunteer opportunities will be on hand. 101 N. Warson Rd., 63124. For more information, visit www. summeropportunitiesfair.org.

Sat., Feb. 1, 1:30 p.m., Missouri Progressive Action Group (MOPAG), St. Louis County Library Headquarters, 1640 South Lindbergh Avenue. For more information, visit http://www.MOPAG.infoTHE

Sun., Feb. 2, 1:30 p.m., As part of its ongoing Parkinson Education there will be a panel presentation on Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson Disease. Topics for the panel discussion include: who is a candidate for DBS, what is DBS therapy and how does it work, what is involved in DBS surgery, and what can be expected after the stimulators are turned on. Congregation Shaare Emeth, 11645 Ladue Rd in Creve Coeur (63141). For more information, call 314-362-3299 or visit www.stlapda.org

Sat., Feb. 15, 1 p.m., 100th Birthday Celebration for Ms. Sarah Jane Stafford lifelong member of The Mercy Seat Baptist Church, The Mercy Seat Baptist Church, 4424 Dr. James Brown, Sr. Dr., St. Louis, MO 63108.

Sun., Feb. 2, 11 a.m., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. St. Louis Metropolitan Chapters Founders’ Day Celebration: Morning Worship. Central Baptist Church, 2842 Washington Blvd., 63103.

Monday night in the Lindell

Ballroom of the Chase Park Plaza, where hundreds of people with a vested interest in the arts – performers, teachers, administrators, supporters and corporate sponsors – came together for the 23rd annual Arts Awards ceremony. The Arts & Education Council also paid tribute to Carol North and Nicholas Kryah of Metro Theater Company (Lifetime Achievement in the Arts), Lee Nolting of COCA (Excellence in the Arts), E. Desmond Lee Fine Arts Education Collaborative (Arts Collaboration), Edward Jones Partners and Associates (Corporate Champion of the Arts), Heidi Morgan of University City High School (Art Educator of the Year), along with David and Thelma Steward (Excellence in Philanthropy).

Antonio Douthit-Boyd, one of Nolting’s prized pupils from COCA, took the stage in tribute to her years as “the heart and soul of COCA’s dance program.” He stood before his hometown as a world-renowned principal dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Gracing the stage with him was fellow Ailey principal dancer Alicia Graf Mack, a former instructor at COCA. They brought the crowd to its feet with a breathtaking performance of the ballet “Unfold.”

“Access for everyone to the arts has been ingrained in me from day one, but

Katherine Dunham showed me how important it really is,” Nolting said.

“If I had not had the amazing moment to meet my husband Darryl Braddox 38 years ago, who introduced me to Ms. Dunham and taught me the Dunham technique – and what she believed in and lived every day – neither Antonio nor myself would be here.”

As one of the generous individuals who provide the resources to make the St. Louis arts scene possible, David Steward says he looks to the arts as a unifier for a famously divided city.

“I’ve never seen a city more divided than St. Louis,” Steward said, “but the arts have brought us together and that’s where we want to put our money – as an investment in the future of St. Louis.”

The Stewards spoke of the fun they had chairing the Symphony Gala last year.

“I believe we were the first persons of color to lead that gala – it was such an honor for us,” David said. Jazz at Lincoln Center executive director Wynton Marsalis sang their praises for sponsoring his Abyssinian: A Gospel Celebration U.S. Tour.

The multi-city engagement featured a full jazz band and a 70-member choir.

“There’s never been an African-American sponsor of something of this magnitude,” Marsalis said. Steward said his wife Thelma ultimately deserves the credit: “You think that I’m the big giver, it’s really Thelma.” They received the final award of the evening to a rousing standing ovation.

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crazy following,” Crawford said. “There’s a picture of me on a T-shirt that people are selling – and they don’t even

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In the 2010 Census, Edwardsville had just over 2,000 African-American residents, which was 8.3 percent of its population. That was well below the national black demographic of 13.1 percent and the black demographic of 14.8 percent for Illinois.

If you do go “over there” to see the show, you will see work by St. Louis artists such as C’Babi Bayoc and Ricky Frager and work by artists from other parts of the country, such as Susan Jackson of Savannah, Dean Mitchell of Tampa and Sandra Smith of Silver Springs.

The DeToye Student Gallery also has work by students

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busy work schedule as a corporate professional that has hindered her from a husband and family. She admits to being driven with respect to her career, but swears it’s by default that she has poured herself into her work.

“If I had to choose between a career and a family, I would walk away from this job in a heartbeat,” she said.

“Actually the stress, the pace and long hours keep my mind off of knowing that I’m going home alone. I’m the only one of my siblings who is still single without children. Nobody even asks when or why anymore – and

have my permission, but it’s out there. Every late night show was doing a skit about Breaking Bad.”

The North County native began doing open mic nights in St. Louis on a dare. He’s gone on to sell out comedy venues across the nation and appear in films and on television. Crawford is currently

from Lincoln Middle School that responds to the Ebony Creations show.

In diversifying the Edwardsville gallery in terms of race, Powell was careful to reflect diversity in other artistic respects.

“This shows has a diversity of media and thoughts,” Powell said. “There is a common thread in that they are showing African Americans in a positive light.”

He said the opening reception on January 10 went well, with a turnout of 250plus and one sale – with “lots of promises,” he added with a laugh.

The Edwardsville Arts Center is located at 6165 Center Grove Road in Edwardsville. Call 618-6550337. Directions are available www.Portfoliogallerystl.org.

I’m so tired of having to settle for nurturing my nieces and nephews.”

There’s a special kind of sadness that comes with her feeling like her family has conceded to the idea that she’s eternally single – especially when she’s total catch.

“I really feel like I’d be a good wife – and I’ve worked hard to prepare myself for the role,” she said.

“It breaks my heart to say this, but I’ve been facing with the idea that it may never happen for me. I just can’t see how this makes any sense in the universe – especially since I’ve been so blessed with everything else.”

Sad and lonely single lady number 2 – whom we’ll call Sheila – factors in her lack of spouse when she speaks about her professional struggles.

preparing to work on a film entitled Evil Nature that stars

Dan Fogler and Gary Busey, and he recently signed a three-record deal with Warner Brothers to make comedy albums. Breaking Bad was his big break.

“It’s been like getting a key to Hollywood,” Crawford said. “I’ve been on The Crazy

They were

and they were like, ‘Your character was so great on the show.’ It opened up doors. I was proud that they gave me a moment to shine on the show.” For more information on Lavell Crawford, visit www. lavellcrawford.net.

After three years Sheila’s small business is on the brink of folding. She can barely keep her head above water with the household bills and the overhead of company expenses.

“It’s at times like this that all I can think about is how things would be if I had a partner in life,” she said. “At bare minimum, my ends would automatically meet. I think about all of the things that we could and would accomplish as equally yoked helpmeets for each other.”

She admitted that she had been waiting to get married before she started her business so she could have that safety net of a guaranteed household income.

Ten years would come and go before she said “now or never” on pursuing her professional goal.

“I just saw my life going so differently,” Sheila said. “I know me having a husband should be the last thing on my mind as I pray my payroll checks don’t bounce. It’s hard to not feel a certain type of way when you know you would at least have someone rooting for you when times get rough.” In this age of the independent woman, these ladies share an overwhelming desire to be anything but. Their turmoil is a poorly kept secret shared among single black females.

“Why would God put it on my heart to want a husband and family and not send me a husband?” Nicole asked. “While I know I’ve had all kinds of favor in my life, it’s something I’ve wrestled with every single day of my single life.”

Ones with Robin Williams, The Jimmy Kimmel Show.

fans,

David and Thelma Steward accept the Excellence in Philanthropy Award at the Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis’ 2014 Arts Awards.

Photo by Arlis Davis

“Red Tails” by Keith Shepherd

Lavell Crawford along with the rest of the cast of Breaking Bad with their Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Preserve the right to jury trial

Preserve the right to jury trial

By Charles A. Shaw For The St. Louis American

The federal sentencing scheme in our country is not fair or just in significant respects, in particular as it tends to force defendants to give up their right to jury trial. Ninety-seven percent of defendants plead guilty rather than going to trial, and the reason many do so is because the system is stacked against them if they try to exercise their Sixth Amendment right to trial. Those who do go to trial end up with significantly longer sentences than those who plead guilty. Part of the unfairness arises from what columnist George Will recently referred to as “sledgehammer justice,” borrowing a term used by U.S. District Judge John Gleeson of the Eastern District of New York. This concerns federal prosecutors filing or threatening to file what is known as an “851 Notice” of sentence enhancement in drug cases when defendants refuse to plead guilty and exercise their Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial. Under Section 851 of the U.S. Criminal Code, a federal prosecutor has the discretion to seek increased punishment

‘What’s

if the defendant has had one or more prior felony drug offenses. (Although the 851 enhancement was intended to be used for drug kingpins, the statute’s language is broad.) Where an 851 Notice is filed, five- and 10-year mandatory minimum sentences are doubled to 10 and 20 years. For a defendant with two or more prior drug felonies, the 10-year mandatory minimum is increased to mandatory life in prison.

It’s important to realize that a “felony drug offense” is defined as any “offense that is punishable by imprisonment for more than one year under any law of the United States or of a State or foreign country that prohibits or restricts conduct relating to narcotic drugs, marihuana, anabolic steroids, or depressant or stimulant substances.” There is no minimum drug quantity required to constitute a felony offense, and no requirement that a defendant actually have served time on the prior offense. The only issue is whether the offense was punishable by imprisonment for more than one year.

The point made by Will and Judge Gleeson is that prosecutors are abusing their discretion by using 851 Notices not to put drug kingpins away, but rather to force low-level drug defendants – many of them addicts – to give up their right to a jury trial and plead guilty, or face a doubled sentence or even life in prison.

This is profoundly unfair.

What has gone unsaid in much of the public discussion is that the federal sentencing guidelines already provide prosecutors with a “hammer” for those defendants who exercise their right to trial. This hammer is the “Acceptance of Responsibility” provision in the

C

ommunity Brief

guidelines, which states that an individual who does not timely enter a guilty plea and chooses to go to trial cannot qualify for a three-level decrease in his offense level. This translates to significantly more jail time if a defendant is convicted following trial, compared to a person who pleaded guilty.

In addition, if an individual goes to trial, testifies, and his testimony conflicts with the jury’s finding of guilt, the prosecution can request an additional two-level sentence enhancement for “obstruction of justice.” This tends to limit a person’s constitutional right to testify in his or her own behalf because it means even more time in jail upon a finding of guilt. The obstruction of justice enhancement essentially finds a person guilty of perjury without ever being charged or tried.

Will pointed out how Judge Gleeson and a former prosecutor viewed the use of 851 enhancements as “sledgehammers” to extort guilty pleas that take away a defendant’s right to trial. I agree with this view, but take hope from Attorney General Eric Holder’s August 2013 statement that offenders should not be charged with “offenses that impose a draconian mandatory minimum sentence.”

Holder also issued a Memorandum to all U.S.

Attorneys which says in part, “We must ensure that our most severe mandatory minimum penalties are reserved for serious, high-level, or violent drug traffickers.” This is a welcome change – if implemented nationwide by all federal prosecutors – as it would limit the use of “sledgehammer justice.”

Some useful recommendations have been floated to correct or modify the harsh and irrational federal sentences.

Right with the Region’ nominations due

FOCUS St. Louis is looking for nominations for the 17th annual What’s Right with the Region! Awards, which recognize the outstanding efforts of 20 individuals and organizations within four categories: demonstrating innovative solutions, fostering regional cooperation, improving racial equality and social justice, and promoting Stronger Communities. The 17th annual What’s Right with the Region! awards will be held on May 7 at the Sheldon

Concert Hall. The deadline to nominate is Friday, January 31. Nominate an individual, organization or initiative at www.focus-stl.org/WRWR or by calling 314-622-1250 ext. 119.

Ram tackles tough questions

Joe Barksdale addresses Adult Rehabilitation Center

American staff

How do you measure a man’s success? By his money and personal belongings or the road he has traveled to attain success? Is it better to be a successful man or a man of value?

When evaluating a person using these questions, you are asking for a deep personal inventory. Topics such as influences, challenges and failures faced, faith and perseverance naturally arise.

In an interview between Administrator Major K Kendall Mathews of the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) in St. Louis and offensive tackle Joe Barksdale of the St.

Louis Rams, these questions about a person’s true character were challenged.

Barksdale, a native of Detroit, started with the Rams in 2012. He views his father, a drug and alcohol counselor, as his biggest role-model. He taught his son important life

n “You cannot tell the true character of a man by how he handles success, but rather how he handles failure.”

– Joe Barksdale

lessons: patience, teamwork, faith, work ethics and right from wrong.

Major Mathews said, “We all need role models, we need people that inspire us.”

Being a moral person and

athlete who gives back to society in a positive way is important to Barksdale. Going the extra mile not only in sports but in life is a necessity for success.

“It has always been my theory that you cannot tell the true character of a man by how he handles success, but rather how he handles failure,” Barksdale said.

This theory spoke volumes to the men of the ARC, who have also dealt with various successes and failures throughout life. One program participant of the ARC said, “Failure is a challenging obstacle for me. I seem to focus on my failures rather than be happy with my successes.”

“Feelings of failure and struggle are something that the men of the ARC work on daily,” Major Mathews said, “to turn their lives around into a more positive direction in hopes to be successful as well.”

Administrator Major K Kendall Mathews of the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center recently interviewed offensive tackle Joe Barksdale of the St. Louis Rams.

Charles Shaw

reunion announcements can be viewed online!

Beaumont High Class of 1964 has started planning for its 50 year class reunion. We are currently looking for participants to help with the planning. Please provide your contact information to: beaumont64alumni@gmail.

~ Celebrations ~

Birthdays

Happy “Sweet 16” to Alexandria M. Brown Alexandria is a sophomore at Hazelwood Central High School and celebrated her special day on January 18.

Happy 16th Birthday to Jason Banks on January 22. We are very proud of the young man you’ve become. Keep up the good work in school and continue enjoying life with family and friends. Love, Mama

Happy Birthday to our son Sheldon CallowayMuhammad who turns 18 January 25. Love Mom & Dad

Happy 12th Birthday to Jeremy Jones on January 20! You are truly a gift from God. We Love you! From, Your mom LaTavia Jones and your sister Jasmine Jones

Do you have a celebration you’re proud of? If so we would like to share your good news with our readers. Whether it’s a birth, graduation, wedding, engagement announcement, anniversary, retirement or birthday, send your photos and a brief announcement (50 words or less) to us and we may include it in our paper and website – AT NO COST – as space is available Photos will not be returned. Send your announcements to: kdaniel@stlamerican. com or mail to: St. Louis American Celebrations c/o Kate Daniel 4242 Lindell Ave St. Louis, MO 63108 FREE OF CHARGE

com.Send your ideas as well as the best time for meetings.

Beaumont High Class of 1968 is invited to plan and organize the June 2014 46th Class Reunion Family Picnic, Jan. 25, 2014 3- 5 p.m. at Cookies n Popcorn Factory 8149 Delmar. For more information email bhsco1968@att.net or call 869-8312.

Beaumont High Class of 1969 reunion planning committee meeting is set for Sat, Jan. 25, 2014 from noon—3 pm at the Vagabond House, 4315 Westminister Pl. Contact info: LaDonne at 314 277-5095 or

beaumontclassof1969@ yahoo.com.

Beaumont High Class of 1984 is looking for participants to begin planning its 30 year class reunion. Please provide your contact information to: beaumont_1984@yahoo.com.

Soldan Class of 1965 Presents Washington, DC: Our Nation’s Capital, June 19-24, 2014. For more information contact: Corinne Parker-Stukes 636-294-4373, Brenda Wallace-Yancey 314-830-1334, Isaiah Hair, Jr. 314-387-7592 or email: soldanclassof65@gmail.com. SumnerAlumni Association

hosts its 11th Annual RoundUp of Sumner Alumni Sunday, February 23, 2014, 1 - 4 p.m. at Sumner High School. This year’s honorees are alumni that have served in any area associated with the Transportation Field. Also, we will honor alumni that have volunteered at Sumner on a regular basis from 2008-14. A Reception will be held in the gym from 12:45 - 1:45 p.m. with displays, souvenir items, photographer, and more. New and renewal of alumni memberships accepted in the foyer. Program starts at 2 p.m. in the auditorium. For more info, contact P. Mason at 314.556.3944, J. Vanderford at 314.454.0029 or email: sumnersince1875@yahoo.com. Vendors are welcome ($50 in

advance); contact B. Louis at 314.385.9843.

Sumner High Class Of 1974 has started planning its 40th class reunion. Meetings are held each third Saturday of the month from 2-4 pm at New Beginnings Missionary Baptist Church, 4055 Edmundson Rd. 63134. Please contact Marsha D. Roberts-Moore at sumnerclassof1974@ yahoo.com, 314-367-3159 or Joyce Bush-Cruesoe at cruesoe2195@att.net, 314484-1552.

Sumner High Class of 1969 has started planning its 45th class reunion. Please email shsclassof69@yahoo.

Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability. We prefer that notices be emailed to us! However, notices may also be sent by mail to: Kate Daniel, 4242 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108. Deadline is 10 a.m. on Friday. If you’d like your class to be featured in a reunion profile, email or mail photos to us. Our email address is: reunions@ stlamerican.com

Happy 64th Anniversary to our parents, Christine and Walter Brown, Sr. on January 29! You have a marriage that has truly been blessed by God. We love you! Your children Linda and Russell, family and friends

Dream Center appoints pastor as director

‘My goal for the next couple years is to expand our reach’

American staff

The St. Louis Dream Center has appointed a new director. Pastor Alex Bryant, a graduate of Evangel University, is gearing up for the New Year with initiatives to bring lifechanging programs to an area filled with poverty.

“My goal for the next couple years is to expand our reach so that we can see more people move from being in a state of extreme poverty to becoming productive members of society,” Bryant said. Having grown up in the housing projects, Bryant brings a unique perspective to the community. In an area challenged with crime and drug activity, the St. Louis Dream Center, 3921 Clarence Ave., has become a place of hope for many. Bryant says, “I want to help kids realize that not only can they make it, but they can live with a purpose.”

Members of the community know the St. Louis Dream Center in North St. Louis for its meal programs, a place to get groceries or a haircut, as well as pick out clothes for their family in the Dream Center clothing boutique. In 2014, along with these weekly activities, the St. Louis Dream Center will also host their annual Easter outreach, Back 2 School Blast, Turkey Basket Giveaway, and Christmas Blessing event.

An outreach arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries, the St.

Religious groups release poverty report

Missourians to End Poverty, a coalition of businesses, religious organizations and governmental agencies, released the first “State of the State: Poverty in Missouri” report last week at the State Capitol Building in Jefferson City. Pat Dougherty, senior director of advocacy for Catholic Charities, said that the report shows that poverty has been rising in Missouri for five consecutive years.

job skills training, home

InspIratIonal Message

Morning prayer, morning praise

Morning prayer is something that I now can do on a regular basis. I’ve been trying for a while, but now it is just part of my daily routine. In the early morning I really don’t need anything, but I think it’s a good time to appreciate the Lord.

just a few dollars, homeless or without clean clothes?

The world is full of disasters that may have missed you, your loved ones or where you live. No flood. No fires. No snowstorms, tornadoes, no bombs, no nothing; just an uneventful regular day. While I’m at it, how’s your family? Are your kids healthy? Did you talk to anyone whose mess is all-encompassing? Did you feel the pressure they’re under?

Louis Dream Center was founded in 2000 by Dave and Joyce Meyer. The Dream Center provides meals to the hungry and assists the homeless. Staff and volunteers make visits to area homes, nursing and retirement communities offering prayer, gifts, companionship and comfort. Bryant says he also wants to add more initiatives that will help people move along in life from where they are to where they need to be. This means incorporating outreaches like a GED program, budgeting skills,

ownership help, medical and dental clinics, tutoring for school-aged kids, etc.

These initiatives will require more local volunteers, skilled with unique offerings. “We are looking forward to getting things going,” says Bryant. “This will be an

n Members of the community know the St. Louis Dream Center in North St. Louis for its meal programs and clothing boutique.

momentous year with the help of our St. Louis volunteers.”

If you are interested in volunteering at the St. Louis Dream Center, please contact Judy Lamborn at 314-3810700, ext. 8001 or visit www. stldreamcenter.org.

Rev. Christopher Ross, pastor of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Owensville, spoke of the biblical mandate for people of faith to act in compassionate solidarity with those in poverty. He called the poverty report “a tool to help us become informed about the basic facts of people suffering around us so we can answer this calling.”

The “State of the State: Poverty in Missouri” report is available on-line at: http://www. communityaction. org/2009%20Poverty%20 Summit.aspx

Bethesda Temple conference

The Bethesda Temple Bible Institute Annual Conference and Symposium will be held January 30 through February 1 at 7 p.m. This year’s theme is “Renewal of the Mind.” Contact Bethesda Temple Church, 5401 Bishop J. A. Johnson Ln., Normandy. Email btbistl@yahoo.com or call 314-382-2606.

From evening prayer to dawn’s affirmation of God’s power, this is a time most of us take for granted. Now, after some practice, it’s easy to thank God for seeing me through the night. It is so appropriate to ask him to order my steps, guide my thoughts, bless and protect those whom I love and show some appreciation for just letting me awaken to another day of the precious gift of life.

If you allow yourself to concentrate on what God has done for you on any given day, it will become obvious that He is here and now, here today working wonders on your and my behalf.

At the end of today, take a moment and reflect on those things that show you God was walking with you all day. Remember, you didn’t have to wake up this morning. Some people didn’t.

If you drove, flew or took mass transportation and arrived safely, you might want to give God some credit because accidents do happen. You may have even passed a wreck or two on the way in. Do you remember seeing anyone in need of food, in dire need of

God’s hand is everywhere, and He starts with you. Just stop for a minute and take a look. I guarantee you’ll see time and again the presence of the eternal almighty God at work in your life, right now, today. For me, once I understood the reality that God held my hand today and every day, “Thank you” seemed to be a natural thing to say.

“Thank you, Father, for seeing me through the night. Stay with me and remind me during the course of this day so that I can do something, say something that will acknowledge your infinite blessings upon me. Let me do something today to make you proud and shows you my appreciation for allowing me to wake up.”

There’s a reason my eyes were opened, and I had nothing to do with it. The very least I can do is appreciate the One responsible.

The American is accepting Inspirational Messages from the community. Send your column (no more than 400 words) as a Word document and pasted text to cking@stlamerican. com and attach a photo of yourself as a jpeg ile. Please be patient; we will run columns in the order received.

James A. Washington

Pastor Alex Bryant is the new director of the St. Louis Dream Center, 3921 Clarence Ave., an outreach arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries.

Nursing clinic offers training, health care St. LouiS AmericAn

SIUE We Care Clinic located on ESL Higher Education Campus

American staff

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing Community Nursing Services Clinic is responding to the changes in the national health care system.

Its East St. Louis clinic’s business and care model is evolving to meet the needs of its patients and adopting a name change. Effective immediately, the nurse-managed, primary care clinic in East St. Louis will be the “SIUE We Care Clinic.”

n Applicants must be first time or re-entry students ages 23 or older with aspirations to attend college full or part-time.

“Health care is changing, and the SIUE We Care Clinic is changing with it,” said Dr. Anne Perry, interim dean of the SIUE School of Nursing. Perry emphasized that the mission of the school and the clinic remains the same – providing affordable primary care, educational and wellness services in St. Clair and Madison counties. However, the clinic’s leadership recognized the necessity to make changes to prepare for an increase in patients. The name change was given to the clinic to better reflect the changes and the broad commitment of the clinic to care, education and wellness.

“The SIUE We Care Clinic provides services across an individual’s lifespan that promote health and well-being to people living in the Metro East,” said Dr. Kim White, clinical director of the SIUE We Care Clinic and assistant professor or nursing.

“Our services include well-women exams, men’s health, pediatric care for children two-years-old and up, treatment of stable chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, health risk assessments and drug screenings.” The clinic was established in 1990 and was formally known as the Community Nursing Services Clinic.

It continues its commitment to improving the health of the community by providing comprehensive, evidence-based primary care.

The clinic’s professional nursing staff consists of advanced practicåe nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialist faculty. They work with residents, health care providers and agencies to identify health needs in the community, as well as to develop and implement plans to meet those needs. The SIUE We Care Clinic also provides educational experiences to undergraduate and graduate students.

The SIUE We Care Clinic is open 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. MondayFriday. It is located on the SIUE East St. Louis Higher Education Campus, 601 James R. Thompson Blvd., Building D, Suite 2015, East

St. Louis, Ill. For more information or to make an appointment, call 618-482-6959 or visit siue.edu/ nursing/siue-community-nursingservices.shtml.

March 7 deadline for scholarship

For the fourth year in a row, the St. Louis Community CU Foundation has launched the Janice Mosby Scholarship opportunity. The foundation is partnering with TIAA-CREF Trust Company, FSB to award $2,500 scholarships to two eligible adult students in spring 2014. Applicants must be first time or re-entry students ages 23 or older with aspirations to attend college full or part-time and are trying to move forward with

their lives. Proof of enrollment is required. Applicants must be seeking an undergraduate degree and either be enrolled or plan to enroll at an accredited school (two or four-year university or technical school) in the greater St. Louis metropolitan area.

The St. Louis Community CU Foundation created the scholarship fund in 2011 to honor the legacy of the late Janice Mosby, who was a teacher and principal in the St. Louis Public Schools for more than 30 years. With a kind heart and gentle spirit, she dedicated her life to helping students in the community develop to their fullest potential. Mosby served on the St. Louis Community Credit Union’s Board of Directors for 40 years and as a board member of the Credit Union’s Foundation.

The deadline for all applications

Dr. Amelia Perez, SIUE assistant professor of primary care and health systems nursing, with a patient. The clinic, located on the SIUE East St. Louis Higher Education Campus, 601 James R. Thompson Blvd., Building D, Suite 2015, is open 8:30 a.m.5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

is Friday, March 7. For additional eligibility information and to access the application, visit http://www. slccufoundation.org.

Pharmacy technician certificate program

Registration is underway for St. Louis Community College’s pharmacy technician certificate program that begins Feb. 3. This short-term allied health care program is offered in partnership with MK Education, a consulting company that specializes in health career training and curriculum.

The pharmacy technician certificate program consists of 165 contact hours, during which students will be in the classroom for 105 hours learning the fundamentals of working as a pharmacy technician. The program prepares graduates for the PTCB and ExCPT certification exams. In addition, students will have the opportunity to complete a 60-hour externship in a retail or hospital pharmacy setting.

“Employers are looking for individuals to come in with basic knowledge of real-life activities that would happen in a pharmacy setting,” said Bree Abbas, student relations adviser with MK Education. “This program is developed with employerrequested qualifications in mind.” Abbas, the program adviser, will critique resumes and offer career planning tips to help students enter the pharmacy field.

The $2,100 tuition includes books, materials, lab fees and externships. Students may register at the Office of Continuing Education at STLCC’s Forest Park campus, 5600 Oakland Ave.

For more information, contact Diane Sterett at 314-539-5754 or visit stlcc.edu/ce.

Celebrity Swagger Snap of the Week

Baby-faced couple Marvin and Breona illustrated the diversity of Charlie Wilson’s fan base when they were blessed with the opportunity to meet Uncle Charlie (one of their favorite singers) in the flesh – thanks to a special meet and greet arranged by the wonderful folks over at Majic 100.3 FM.

Young Leaders: Take IV. So you already know I’m gonna be spending the next few weeks pumping up the St. Louis American Foundation’s 4th Annual Salute to Young Leaders Networking Awards Reception. And you should be more than happy to receive my friendly reminders – especially since in just a few short years it has proven itself to be the hottest ticket in town for the ___________________ (insert new slang for young, black and fabulous). I don’t know about y’all, but I’m gonna be the female Barney Stinson at The Four Seasons on Feb. 13…as in SUITED UP! Come on now, I can’t be the only black person that watches “How I Met Your Mother.” Well for those who don’t know, he’s always fly in his suit and tie. You know what then, I’ll be giving Olivia Pope a run for her money in a boss lady pinstriped power suit. Is that a better reference? Of course it is. But enough about television, I want y’all to tune into the Young Leaders event because it pays tribute to the future and current fresh-faced leaders in the city early on, and inspires the other folks to get about the business of representing excellence in their respective fields. It’s going down Feb. 13 at The Four Seasons downtown. Please know this will sell out, so call (314) 533-8000 or email kdaniel@stlamerican.com to get your tickets, for a mere $25 each.

Shan has ‘Under the Gunn’ all sewed up. Since I’ve already been talking about television, I might as well let y’all know I was beaming with STL pride thanks to Shan Keith staking his claim for top prize on the series debut of “Under the Gunn” a.k.a. “Project Runway 2.0” on the Lifetime network. And I made sure I made my way to the viewing party last week at the Over Under Bar to tell him such personally. I had to. He’s my favorite STL designer. That’s right I said my favorite. And y’all saw why if you checked him out on the small screen. He kicked the show off slaying! I can’t wait to see how the season pans out. I know it’s still early but Shan is clearly in it to win it and has already proven himself to be a standout with Tim Gunn, the mentors and the viewing audience. I couldn’t help but give him praises in person along with his family, friends and fellow fashionistas like Victoria Wreen and Nikole Shurn Perkins. Be sure to check him out and show support EVERY THURSDAY at 8 p.m. on the Lifetime Network. You know you need some Thursday night must see TV in your life anyway since Kerry Washington and that baby left y’all high and dry on “Scandal” until after President’s Day!

A cute, soulful tribute. On Friday night I scooted over to the Rustic Goat for the latest Delux Magazine tribute performance show – this one featured Anthony Hamilton as performed by Justin Hoskin. While the sound was shaky baky at best, as usual, I had a nice little time. Justin doesn’t have as much gruff in his voice as my homeboy in the head Anthony Hamilton, but the set of covers was much better than I expected. I like these little tributes and something tells me because I already got an invite to another one that it’s going to be the new flavor of the month on the STL nightlife/music scene. And the crowd is grown and sexy enough without being boring.

Charlie Wilson and the Technicolor cat daddy dream suit. Uncle Charlie came through the Lou for his annual concert showcase at the Fox theatre on Saturday. And as usual he rode the funk train in, bedazzled the crowd with his glow in the dark suit game, thrilled us with a symphony of fake violin players and wowed the folks with how he keeps the pace on stage as a man of a certain age and can hold his own against performers half his age. I promise every time I see Charlie in action it makes me think “Trey Songz should be ashamed of himself.” But anyway, I started to cut and paste my take on his show last year because it was the same show - except for the fact that I think he took a Cialis too soon because he was hunching and humping the side of the stage like nobody’s business. As usual, he sounded great and the crowd loved him, especially the Crosby, Stills and Nash looking crew to my immediate left. I guess he says “if it ain’t broke…you know the rest.” But I will tell you the one thing that was out of order for the evening – the Tookie Williams prison plaits boldly worn by one of the backup dancers. I spent the whole night painting scenarios in my head. “Did her wig fall off during the funk train stomp down?” “Maybe she left the wig at their last show in KC?” Perhaps she ran low on bobby pins and her fellow dancers didn’t hook her up.” Now don’t get it twisted, I’m pro natural, but I don’t understand why she didn’t opt for a sickening twist out or larger than life from when the rest of the dance crew was serving “Solid Gold” style big hair from the heart of Texas. I mean, her face was beat and her outfits were glamorous, but she was giving off an elderly Celie.

Happy b-day OTO. After the concert I made my way to the Omega Center to catch the lovely ladies of Omicron Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha celebrate their 30th chapter anniversary. Since Charlie Wilson sang every.song.he.ever.made, I figured by the time I made my entrance that things would be winding down. Wrong! Those pretty girls were putting their ankles into that party and serving life in the process. I didn’t stop until they all but got set out. The folks were strutting so tough that it was sweltering in that building like a throwback southern HBCU homecoming bash. All the Greeks were in the building too! And you know the party is jumping if they brought out the ever elusive Iota Phi Thetas. In all my years of frat and sorority parties, I’ve never seen more than two of them in the same place at the same time – that was until Saturday night. It was a whole handful in the house, throwing up their sign and getting their stroll on as well. Well done OTO….well done!

AKA’s Jacquelle, Saffiyah, Lisa, Patrice, Taylor and Porscha were partaking in some post Founder’s Day festivities during a special happy hour Friday night @ Lola

Tiphanie and Kayhla caught up with some friends Saturday night @ Soho

Kappas Malcom and Richard showed love to the Omicron Theta Omega Chapter of AKA on their 30th anniversary bash Saturday night @ The Omega Center

Yolanda, Ronin, Flora, Donna, Yara made pretty look easy @ The AKA party Friday night @ The Coliseum

Keith Marni, Carri and Lawrence opted for a night cap @ The Coliseum Friday night

Beauties Cherie and Tamar kicked their weekend off Friday night @ The Coliseum

Sky and Jaye were among the folks getting their chill on for The Meltdown Friday night @ The Office

Rita and Vanessa kept the fire going Friday night @ The Meltdown @ The Office

Mickkie, Michelle and Tia took their girl party to the Coliseum Saturday night

Ashley and Moji mellowed out at the Meltdown Party Friday night @ The Office

Photos by Lawrence Bryant

Preparing for life after 50

Marc

Freedman of Encore.org lectures at community college

By Ciera Simril For The St. Louis American

St. Louis Community College’s Plus 50 Completion Initiative recently sponsored a lectured by Marc Freedman of Encore.org. He spoke to about 100 people at the Forest Park campus’ Mildred E. Bastian Center for the Performing Arts about the role of higher education.

The lecture addressed all age groups from different points of view for the audience. Freedman used videos during his two-hour lecture to emphasize how we have to adjust our lifestyle according to our age. He said, “We can’t have people spending 30 years in sustainable leisure” because we must prepare for where we want to be by the age of 50.

you it often makes you reflect on your own life and reevaluate things. He described this reevaluation as “fewer years left ahead than behind.”

Marc Freedman

Freedman is founder and CEO of Encore.org, a nonprofit organization working to promote encore careers, acts for the greater good, jobs that combine personal meaning, continued income and social impact in the second half of life. While Encore.org is not a job placement service, it provides free, comprehensive information that helps people transition to jobs in the nonprofit world and the public sector.

He also discussed that millions of people are in the midst of inventing a new stage of life. These areas are focused on work, between the end of midlife and anything resembling old-fashioned retirement. Freedman related to his audience by pointing out that adults are looking for a change in their second half of life. He also acknowledged that “people want work that has a social impact.” Making the most of your life sets the tone for the later part after age 50 hits.

n He described this reevaluation as “fewer years left ahead than behind.”

He is the author of The Big Shift: Navigating the New Stage Beyond Midlife and a frequent commentator in the national media. He has been recognized by Fast Company magazine three straight years as one of the nation’s leading social entrepreneurs. In 2012, AARP Magazine named Freedman one of “The Influentials,” the 50 people over 50 affecting individuals’ lives and futures.

“Mostly it’s a positive opportunity,” he said, to take advantage of a second chance. He encouraged everyone to make better choices for their future. He said that “20-year-olds don’t think about this” area of their lives because they’re in the moment of being young.

Freedman added that “classmates pass away” and this impacts others also. When you lose someone close to

St. Louis Community College provides programs through Plus 50 at all four campuses. This program gives an alternative for people over 55 years of age who may have career but want a change. Plus 50 Completion Concierge gets you energized to obtain a degree or certificate. Individuals receive support and flexibility to help reach their goals, from choosing a course of study and scheduling classes to applying for financial aid.

For more information about the program, contact STLCC by phone or online at stlcc.edu.

How credit cards impact your credit score

Due to the recent economic recession and legislation that has passed like the Dodd Frank Act and the Credit Card Legislation of 2009, credit card companies have gotten a bad name –they can be high interest and high fees. But what most consumers don’t always understand is that credit cards can be an important tool in building and re-building your credit score, if you use them correctly.

Tips to using credit cards to build your credit score:

Have at least one credit card – maybe two (but do not get caught in the trap of opening too many credit cards) 6 credit cards won’t boost your score any more than if you just manage 1-2 credit cards correctly.

Pay on time – Never be 30 days late! A 30 day late payment can drop your credit score 100 points!

Keep your balance on your credit card under 30% of the credit limit – even less is better, 0-10% is optimal. If you have a credit card at a $300 credit limit, your balance should never be over $90

Use your credit card for a need not a want! – a tank of gas, couple of groceries, prescriptions, something that is part of your monthly budget and you pay off each month. Do not buy something you want with your credit card, something you need

Do not max out credit cards – a maxed out credit card could decrease your credit score 50-60 points.

Pay off your balance in full every month! Consumers think that you have to

keep a balance at all times to build your credit score but this is not true, paying off your balance every month is the best way to build your score and not pay interest on the money borrowed. Though, if all you can afford is the minimum payment make that payment on time! Paying on time is the most important to your credit!

Do not close your credit cards. Closing a credit card can signiicantly decrease your credit score and needs to be done strategically.

For consumers who are in the process of re-building their credit scores, a secured credit card is the best way to build your score. Be careful of credit cards that have high annual fees and other fees associated with opening cards. Be sure to read and fully understand the terms and conditions of any credit card that you open!

For those that are stuck in credit card debt and don’t know what to do:

• Put your credit cards away and stop using them. But don’t close them!

• Create a realistic monthly budget and stick to it. If you ultimate goal is to cut back on your credit card debt you will most likely need to change the way your spend so you can put more money to pay off your credit card debt.

• Be careful about debt consolidation plans – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

• Use credit card reduction tools like powerpay.org or Bankrate’s Credit Card Loan Consolidation Calculator to see how long it will take you to pay off your credit card debt.

Watch out for hidden taxes

What you don’t notice will still cost you

By Alma M Scarborough

For The St. Louis American

Initially, let’s give definition to term “hidden taxes.” A hidden tax is one that is not visible to the taxpayer. That’s it. Hidden taxes are alive, will decrease the purchasing power and lifestyle of individuals significantly; they are just not visible.

Hidden taxes are assessed upon consumer goods and services without the consumer’s knowledge. We, the taxpayers, purchase goods or services, we just do not know what they cost. Hidden taxes are levied upon the goods/services at some point during the production process and raise the cost of the product or service. If we want the product or service, we pay what is required or we do without it.

Alma M Scarborough

This tax is never revealed directly to the consumer, who pays a higher price for the goods/ service purchased not knowing that part of that price is due to this tax. Here are a few examples.

Alternative minimum tax aka (AMT) is a flat tax with two brackets, 26 and 28 percent. The AMT now ensnares not only the wealthiest Americans but 4 to 5 million taxpayers with annual incomes between $200,000 and $1 million. The AMT is currently reaching deeply into the middle class. Sin tax is generally levied against alcohol, tobacco, gambling, with marijuana soon to be included. Tax added on to the purchase price is generally 15 to 22 percent to the products cost. These are hidden but manageable.

With travel taxes, business travelers pay more hidden taxes in car rental, hotel and meal taxes. Global Business Travel Association Foundations study found that the 2013 taxes for travel increased by 58 percent. Business travel in Chicago sports the highest price, and 58 percent is difficult to hide.

In employment taxes, employer’s must pay a portion of the employee’s Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, city payroll tax expense, and the cost of managing these funds – before they issue a paycheck. This may be the cause of stagnant wages. Also, if not paid timely these taxes are associated with heavy and aggressive penalties.

n A hidden tax is never revealed directly to the consumer, who pays a higher price not knowing that part of that price is due to this tax.

ObamaCare or the Affordable Care Act imposes another tax that is not well hidden. Blue Cross- Blue Shield, a pacesetter in the health insurance industry, has notified customers it’s raising premiums by as much as 10 percent in January 2014 because of new levies and fees (hidden tax) in the Affordable Care Act.

Gasoline taxes cost approximately 49.5 cents on each gallon. That makes carpooling look better.

Electricity or natural gas taxes are based on consumption. They are shown on your bill but impossible to evade.

A cable TV tax is hidden but you could eliminate the service so this is optional. Generally you can only watch one channel at a time.

Cell phone taxes are imposed by federal, state and local authorities. They are posted on the billing summary, but often require interpretation.

Until our tax burden is made more visible, federal, state and local municipalities will continue to take a larger and larger bites of our income. Watch for invisible taxes that are sharper than a two-edged sword, and speak up.

Alma M Scarborough: taxhitlady@sbcglobal.net; www.taxhitlady. com.

Cell phone taxes are imposed by federal, state and local authorities. They are posted on the billing summary, but often require interpretation.

Money Matters

A special supplement of the St. Louis American January 23, 2014

Donald M. Suggs, President and Publisher

Kevin Jones, Senior Vice President, COO

Dina M. Suggs, Senior Vice President

Chris King, Editorial Director

Onye Hollomon, Sales

Barb Sills, Sales

Pam Simmons, Sales

Michael Terhaar, Art/Production Manager

Angelita Jackson, Cover Design

Wiley Price, Photographer

For advertising information on our next Money Wise section, please contact 314-533-8000.

The Affordable Care Act and you

Advice from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, about 85 percent of Americans who already have health insurance are seeing their benefits and coverage better protected and seeing enhanced benefits.

For example, insurance companies can no longer impose life time limits on your health insurance benefits so your insurance company can’t stop paying their share once you hit a certain dollar amount.

At least 80 percent of your premium dollar now has to be directed to pay for your health care benefits, and not overhead, such as salaries and bonuses for insurance company executives. If less than 80 percent is used for health care benefits, your insurance company will owe you a rebate at the end of the year.

Also young adults up to the age of 26 can stay on their parent’s insurance. These are just a few examples of the benefits of the Affordable Care Act law, since it was implemented in 2010.

For uninsured Americans, roughly 15 percent of the nation’s population, they will finally gain access to quality, affordable healthcare from private health insurance companies. Initial enrollment began October 1, through a new way to shop for health insurance. The Health Insurance Marketplace gives Americans who are uninsured, or who buy their own coverage, a whole new way to shop for coverage.

All private health insurance plans that operate in the Marketplace are required to cover a comprehensive set of benefits, including physician visits, preventive care, hospital stays, and prescriptions. Discrimination based on gender and preexisting conditions is banned.

And many individuals and families will qualify for a break on their monthly premium and other out of pocket costs, depending on their income, through advanced tax credits or through costsharing reductions. Be sure to include your income on your application to find out if you qualify for this help.

Nearly half of all Marketplace-eligible uninsured young adults are finding health care coverage in the Marketplace that is $50 or less per month. The health care law is delivering the quality, affordable coverage people are looking for.

It is important for consumers to know that starting in 2014 the law says that individuals of all ages, including children, must have minimum essential health coverage, qualify for an exemption, or make a shared responsibility payment when filing their federal income tax return, as those without health insurance cause insurance

premiums to rise for all others.

Again, if you have Medicare, it is high-quality coverage so you don’t need to shop in the Health Insurance Marketplace, and you will not have to pay a shared responsibility payment.

Consumers need to know that an accident causing a broken limb can cost upwards of $7,500 and a 3-day hospital stay can cost thousands and thousands of dollars, out of pocket, without health insurance. In some cases, emergency health care costs could unnecessarily bankrupt individuals and families. Health insurance coverage through the Marketplace can be peace of mind.

n Be sure to include your income on your application to find out if you qualify for this help.

Initial enrollment runs through March 31. Be sure to make your first month’s premium payment after you have enrolled in a health plan, and check directly with your plan to ensure that your application for coverage is complete and when it becomes effective.

Finally, please educate yourself and others about the health insurance marketplace and what it can offer you or others you know who may not have quality affordable health insurance; it could be peace of mind for years to come.

And if you are a Medicare beneficiary, what is most important to remember is that the Marketplace will not affect your Medicare coverage or benefits at

all. The Marketplace is primarily for people who do not have health insurance, have had trouble obtaining coverage because of their health history, or who have individual policies now which are expensive.

To enroll: apply online at healthcare. gov, or call 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1 855-889-4325) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You can also find in–person help from certified assisters in your area. Go to LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov and enter your zip code or city and state. You can also ask the customer service representatives at 1-800-318-2596 for local help in your area.

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMS, Kansas City Regional Office.

Living paycheck to paycheck?

Small steps and a little planning can put you ahead

By Debbie Irwin For The St. Louis American

Do you feel like you’re living paycheck-to-paycheck, struggling every week to make ends meet? If so, you’re not alone. Almost half of Americans have less than $3,000 in the bank and report feeling financially vulnerable.

So what’s the cure for the paycheckto-paycheck blues? Everybody’s situation is a little different, but small steps and a little planning moves you in the right direction.

First, assess your situation. How much money comes in every week, bi-weekly, or monthly? Gather all your bills together. What are your monthly expenses? Be realistic. Computers are nice, but all you need is a piece of paper and a pencil. Do you have money left over after the bills are paid, or do you run out of money and still have bills to pay? What can you do about it?

n Call the United Way’s 211 hotline to find out about eligibility, what to documents to bring, and where to find a free tax site near you.

Develop a habit of conscious spending. When thinking about spending money, ask yourself these questions: Are my basic expenses covered? Do I really need this? What is truly important for me and my family?

If you find you’re short on money each month, figure out what to do. Do you need to increase your income? Cut expenses? Find a new job? Work more hours? Go back to school to improve your skills?

You have heard of “pay yourself first.” A quick and easy way to get a jump start on saving is to save part of your tax refund. Do you have an emergency fund for unexpected expenses? Even $500 in the bank can make a difference. Can you put $500 of your tax refund into savings? What about $1,500?

Another option for saving money at tax time is to get your taxes done for FREE at tax sites operated by IRS-trained volunteers. Tax returns can be filed electronically, and direct deposited to a bank account or debit card. If your family makes less than $52,000 a year, you may qualify. Call the United Way’s 211 hotline to find out about eligibility, what to documents to bring, and where to find

First, assess your situation. How much money comes in every month? Now gather all your bills together. What are your monthly expenses? Be realistic.

a free tax site near you.

To encourage Americans to save, the Doorways to Dreams Fund (D2D), a non-profit organization, is sponsoring a weekly drawing with $100 prizes, for people who save at least $50 of their tax refund using IRS Form 8888. Ten people will win $100 prizes each week. To learn more about the drawing, go to

www.saveyourrefund.org<http://www. saveyourrefund.org/>.

Whether you start saving at tax time, or start saving $5 a day, $5 a week, or $50 a month, you will be on your way to easing the crunch of paycheck-topaycheck stress. Best wishes and happy saving!

Debbie Irwin is Community Economic Development director at United Way of Greater St. Louis, and co-chair of St. Louis Money Smart Week, April 5-12, 2014, with over 100 free personal finance classes and events offered throughout the St. Louis metro area. For more info go to www.moneysmartstlouis.org<http://www. moneysmartstlouis.org/>.