January 26th, 2023 edition

LouiS AmericAn

Yemi Akande-Bartsch, Non-Profit Executive of the Year

By Chris King For The St. Louis American

2023 Salute to Excellence in Business on February 16 – has served as president and CEO of FOCUS St. Louis since 2014. Previously she served as vice president of Leadership and Alumni Programs for FOCUS, and had more than 20 years of experience in

development, and

Dancer Dezzia Payne (left) and dance instructor Anneka Shaw (right) from Yes Honey Studio in The Grove lifted people’s spirits with their performance during the STL Women’s March abortion rights rally on the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023 at the World’s Fair Pavilion in Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri. In the background are DJ Maxa (left) and DJ Prospect Out Hrr.

Yemi AkandeBartsch, Ph.D., will be honored as Non-Profit Executive of the Year at the St. Louis American Foundation’s 2023 Salute to Excellence in Business on February 16.

SLPS superintendent search down to three candidates

Nicole Williams a finalist

St. Louis American staff

St. Louis Public Schools could have its new superintendent before the first day of Black History Month, Feb. 1, 2023.

Three candidates, each an African American, will meet with the SLPS board of directors this week, and each will spend a day touring the district.

“We are excited to host these three very impressive career educators and introduce them to our community,” said Matt Davis, SLPS board president.

“On their visits, they will have opportunities to visit classrooms and meet and interact with students and staff members individually and in small groups.”

The final three candidates include Nicole Williams, who has served as interim superintendent since Dec. 31, 2022 when former Superintendent Kelvin Adams resigned from the post. Williams served in several senior-level leadership positions, including as a superintendent of

See SLPS, A6

Dan Isom will have served almost two years when he steps away from his role as interim director of the St. Louis Public Safety Department.

Coyle named interim Public Safety director

Dan Isom moving to Ameren

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

By Sophie Hurwitz

For The St. Louis American

Fifty years ago, on Jan 22, 1973, the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalized abortion across the United States. This past June, however, that decision was reversed, leading states including Missouri to declare abortions illegal within their borders. Despite that reversal, the mood at Sunday’s Women’s March gathering to com-

memorate Roe’s 50th anniversary was not entirely somber. Hundreds of people gathered in Forest Park’s World’s Fair Pavilion to remember the years of activism between the passage of Roe and today, and to plan the future of the abortion-rights movement in Missouri. There were speeches given, and attendees were asked to donate to groups like Missouri Abortion Fund–but there was also dancing, led by dancers from Yes Honey

Studio, to songs like Doja Cat’s “Woman” and Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul.”

Dana Kelly, the Executive Director of the St. Louis Women’s March, acknowledged that the celebratory mood might seem odd–but she considered it a critical part of the battle.

“Once we leave here, we all go back to the fight again, a lot of us by ourselves,” she said. “So it’s very important to me that we find joy

A national search for city Public Safety Department director after interim director Dan Isom leaves the role Feb. 11, 2023 to take a position with the Ameren Corp. Charles Coyle, a 45-year veteran of the St. Louis Fire Department has been tagged as his replacement while the search, which could take three to six months according to Mayor Tishaura Jones, is completed.

Jones, who will select the new director, said Isom served “with patience, passion, and integrity.”

“I asked him to join me for ‘a spell’, [and he

See COYLE, A7

Photo by Brian Munoz / St. Louis Public Radio

Photo by Taylor McIntosh

Photo by Dawn Suggs / St. Louis American

Smokey Robinson admits to affair with Diana Ross in his first marriage

Smokey Robinson has no shame in spilling old tea, even if it means putting him and another legend in a bad light.

He revealed in an interview with Vlad TV how his longtime friendship with Diana Ross turned into a relationship, resulting in him cheating on his then wife.

“Yes…it lasted probably longer than it should because I was married at the time,” Robinson explained. “This happened later, after I got married, after I got them signed up at Motown. That’s when that started.”

Robinson has been married twice. His first marriage was to Miracles member, Claudette Rogers, in 1959.

He admitted to the affair, filing for legal separation and ultimately divorce. They separated in 1974 and finalized their divorce in 1986. His extramarital affair inspired the song “The Agony & The Ecstasy.”

Him and Frances Gladney have been married since May 2002.

Like Robinson, Ross has also married twice. Two months into her pregnancy she married music executive Robert Ellis

Silberstein in January 1971. She met her second husband, Norwegian businessman Arne Naess, Jr. in 1985. They married the following year.

Flo Rida wins $8 million lawsuit against energy drink company

Flo Rida is laughing to the bank after winning a lawsuit he filed against the energy drink company Celsius. Rida, born Tramar Dillard, accused the company of not paying him some money from an endorsement deal he started with them in 2014 and resumed in 2016. He was awarded $82,640,450 in damages.

In their original complaint, the plain tiffs wrote that Rida’s involvement with Celsius boosted the company in many ways, leveraging lots of opportu nities for them.

Rida’s attorney John Uustal said his client was interested in the one-percent ownership he was guaranteed, not a specific dollar amount.

“It’s about my passion,”

Rida told Law&Crime Network on Tuesday after jurors didn’t come to an initial verdict. “It’s about my team. It’s about my dedication. It’s about something that I started

years ago and just to see it come full fledged like this–I hate for it to be this way.”

Actors Anika Noni Rose, Jason Dirden wed in a private ceremony last year

Actors Anika Noni Rose and Jason Dirden’s nuptials were under the radar until now. The two shared a spread with the online bridal website Brides about their recent private ceremony.

In a matter of two months they planned the wedding of their dreams and wed at the Paramour Estate in Los Angeles, California on Oct. 16, 2022. Euphoria actor Colman Domingo officiated the wedding.

Rose’s stunning gown was designed by London designer Gbemi Okunlola. The dress features intricate details consisting of an “illusion tulle bodice embroidered with Japanese micro luster beads, which cascade down the skirt.” To add some umph to her dress, handmade organza flowers from her mom’s wedding dress were added under the tulle.

“[Our vision

was] that of a rose coming into full bloom, but without being too fussy. I also didn’t want anything I could wear on a red carpet,” Rose said.

Dirden wore a custom look with the help of Wayne Willis of Well Groomed Man, who created his “single-breasted salmon wool suit and silk-charmeuse pleated tuxedo.”

“The pink matched really well with the suit and allowed it to be business on the top and playful and fun on the bottom,” he said.

The DreamPlug quartet and vocalist

Bianca McClure were the event’s entertainment Dirden and Rose met in 2014 as castmates in the Broadway production of A Raisin in the Sun.

Both agreed they started off as close friends. Their relationship had been under wraps. Prior to the wedding, they hadn’t shared information about dating, their engagement or their marriage with fans.

“We created this friendship walking 60 blocks from rehearsal to the gym, just talking about life, or about anything really,” he said. “It had nothing to do with the play that we were working on. There’s always been that kind of comfort and ease between us.”

Dirden proposed in December 2021.

Sources: youtube.com, news.yahoo.com, lawandcrime.com and brides.com

Pillars of community

ARCHS’ $1 million grant bolsters Urban League SOS program

St. Louis American staff

St. Louis’ steadfast support of nonprofit organizations serving urban areas has continued into 2023, and the efforts are saving lives.

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis created its Serving Our Streets program [SOS] in 2020 with the goals of intervention and prevention of violent gun confrontations. The urban League responds to information given by neighborhood residents, or who call a hotline with knowledge of gun violence confrontations – and it is a success.

Since its inception, SOS has intervened to de-escalate 207 conflicts, all within 72 hours. On average, 98% of participants did not engage in violent crimes while in the program during a six month follow up period.

The program also provides education, employment, health, legal, safety, and social services.

Area Resources for Community and Human Services (ARCHS) announced this week that it has issued $1 million to the program. This is the third grant cycle ARCHS has provided funding and strategic support for the program that has served more than 8,500 participants.

The SOS program centers on three north St. Louis neighborhoods.

• Hyde Park: A historic North St.

Louis neighborhood, bound by Ferry to the North, I-70 to the east, Palm Street and Natural Bridge Avenue to the south, and Glasgow to the west.

• Jeff-Vander-Lou: Situated between North Vandeventer Avenue on the northwest, Natural Bridge Avenue on the northeast, North Jefferson Avenue on the east, Delmar Boulevard on the south, and North Compton Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive on the southwest.

• Kingsway East: Defined by Natural Bridge on the north, Martin Luther King on the south, Marcus Avenue on the east, and Kingshighway on the west.

“As opposed to running away from the neighborhoods that need us the most, we should be running to them,” Mike McMillan, Urban League president and CEO when the program was founded.

James Clark, Urban League public safety vice president, recently told KSDK “The neighborhood approach is gaining momentum. We’ve got to double and triple down on this because it works. We have analyzed this, we have come up with evidence-based practices, that have marginal success.”

St. Louis can become a national model because we have the will to do it. We just now have to be willing to do it,” he said.

Through the SOS program, Clark says “the pieces are in place to be successful.”

“We have a mountain of data. We understand the social determinants now, we understand, and we’ve watched young people go from being at risk to now being immersed in risk, so our response has been too slow,” he said.

We’re working hard to help even more customers get connected to the energy assistance they need. That’s why we offer multiple programs and services, including several with expanded eligibility criteria.

Our team of dedicated customer support specialists is here to help guide you to options that best meet your household’s unique needs. We’re here to help Energy assistance available to help even more customers

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Serving Our Streets program embraces its mission of reducing gun violence, hunger, and drug misuse to street corners, porches, living rooms or wherever needed.

• Develop a deeper understanding of trauma and its impact.

• Gain trauma-sensitive practices and strategies to avoid re-traumatizing individuals who have experienced trauma and/or victimization.

• Learn to navigate community resources and networks to support the immediate and long-term needs of individuals who experience trauma.

A third initiative of the SOS program is its Urban Opioid Triage, which provides street level outreach for people suffering from addiction and congregating in open air drugs markets.

In addition to the gun violence intervention initiative, SOS has also established The Neighborhood Healing Network. It supports an individual or family who has been impacted by crime or violence. Community resource specialists connect residents of St. Louis City or County to victim services, social services, trauma workshops, and support groups for both the general public and professionals in different sectors. Its goals are to:

Open-air drug markets are areas in neighborhoods, where drug sales and prostitution happen daily. Through weekly engagement efforts, resources are offered to encourage and empower individuals suffering with addictions. This includes food, toiletries, health screening, NARCAN, access to inpatient drug treatment.

Learn more about energy assistance programs and services. SpireEnergy.com/Assistance

Photo courtesy of Urban League

On Further Reflection Guest Editorial

Hakeem Jeffries ‘carrying hopes and dreams’

Being the first is a solemn responsibility.

I would know as the first Black woman elected to the Greensboro City School Board, and as the first Black woman to represent Charlotte and the Piedmont in Congress.

When you’re the first woman, first African American, or the first of any group in a prestigious role, you feel the weight of generations on your shoulders. Black women doubly so. People pin their hopes on you. They look to you for guidance and strength. They hold it against you when you fail.

You also have a responsibility to pave the way for others. Thanks to pioneering Congresswomen like Jeannette Rankin, Patsy Mink, and Shirley Chisholm, I was the 100th woman in Congress – not the first.

Another member of Congress celebrated being the first – my friend, Representative Hakeem Jeffries, officially became the first African American leader of a party in Congress early Saturday morning after it took 15 roll call votes to choose a Speaker of the House.

Leader Jeffries takes over the Democratic caucus at a pivotal moment. MAGA Republicans have pulled the Republican Party to the farright, and some members of the House who assisted the January 6th insurrection were involved in the effort to prevent Republican leader Kevin McCarthy from becoming Speaker of the House.

With this newfound power, the far-right Republican confer-

ence is advancing legislation that will appeal to Trump Republicans and the MAGA mindset but has no chance of receiving more than 49 votes in the Senate.

For example, this week’s bills included government welfare for millionaire and billionaire tax cheats, antiabortion legislation that will harm parents and exacerbate the Black maternal health crisis, economic bills supported by racist and xenophobic rhetoric, and more. This has the potential to be a disaster for Black America. Luckily, we have the right leader for this moment.

As he demonstrated with his passionate introductory speech, Leader Jeffries is focused not on fighting one another, but on the ABCs of governing.

“American values over autocracy. Benevolence over bigotry. The Constitution over the cult,” he said. Nineteen letters later, he added “voting Rights over voter suppression.” Leader Jeffries knows this moment is about keeping our democracy strong. As Donald Trump’s January 6th insurrection showed, there are Americans who are

Commentary

content to bend the rules of our Democracy until it breaks.

The MAGA Republicans are experts at this. They changed the House rules so any one member of their conference can call for a vote of no confidence in the Speaker at any time. That means that if the Republican leadership tries to compromise with Democrats on any issue, the far-right can hold the Speakership hostage.

Most Americans know it would be a disaster for us to default on the national debt or weaken Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. The white supremacist far-right, however, will cling to power by any means necessary to accomplish their agenda, even if it means burning everything down.

Figuratively or literally.

That’s one of the many reasons I’m proud we have Leader Hakeem Jeffries at this moment in history. He’s knows he’s not only carrying the hopes and dreams of Black America on his shoulders; he’s defending the hopes and dreams of all Americans from the fascist forces that poison our politics.

Roll call is in alphabetical order, I was proud to be the first to vote for him. If House Republicans continue on this path, I’ll lead a Democratic majority in voting for Speaker Jeffries in two years.

It’s only going to take us one vote.

Congresswoman Alma S. Adams represents North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District.

Where we’ve come from, where we must go

By Ben Jealous

Two things happened last week — one public, the other personal — that made me reflect on how far we’ve come as a nation, how we got here, and what it will take to keep that journey moving forward.

Maryland, my home state, inaugurated its first Black governor, Wes Moore. It’s a description I thought might go to me four years ago when I became only the third person and the first African American to win 1 million votes in a statewide race. Unfortunately my incumbent opponent was one of the other two.

Attending the inauguration made me think about how we’ve gotten here — more slowly than anyone who truly believes in our American ideals would consider right, but making steady progress all along the way. My vote total helped Wes, just as President Obama’s victory in 2012 eased my way. I think back to being a youth leader in my California county for Rev. Jesse Jackson’s 1988 presidential bid. While we can bemoan the pace for good reason, we shouldn’t overlook that change has come. That long arc of the moral universe remains. Even when we fall short of something like an electoral victory, we make progress. The question remains the eternal one when we see injustice, inequity and threats like climate change that are unquestionably existential. How do we pick up the pace?

On the same day, I celebrated my 50th birthday. That means I’ve been organizing

and advocating for change for more than half my life. I’m lucky in many respects. Thirty years ago, celebrating someone else’s 21st birthday, I remember standing with other young Black men somberly pouring out our drinks in memory of our friends who had been killed or imprisoned before we got to college. I’m luckier still that I’ve had people throughout my life — starting with my parents — who have helped me find my commitment and learn ways to put it into effective practice.

People like Alvin Chambliss, the North Mississippi Rural Legal Services lawyer, who asked me to lead protests against closing two historically black universities to turn them into prisons. People like Norman Hill, a protege of A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin, and union leaders Richard Womack and Bill Lucy who trained me (along with Stacey Abrams and Derrick Johnson) at an AFL-CIO summer institute for Black student organizers. People like Bishop Desmond Tutu and Colin Powell. I remain deeply committed to passing forward all that knowledge and insight, so hard won by folks who preceded me in ways that paved my road. For me that starts with listening to young leaders and organiz-

Judging by true

‘content of ‘character’

I normally think of my columns as independent of one another, but occasionally I realize I’ve written a series of columns that individually stand alone but could also be considered variations on the same theme. I’d like to extend the themes of a couple of recent columns to really emphasize how perilous our current situation is.

Our misrepresentation of who Dr. King is in American history, makes us complicit in our oppression. The inability or unwillingness of white Americans to recognize and accept, that in a democracy, you have personal moral responsibility for the society’s condition, in the words of Rabbi Abraham Heschel, “…in a free society, some are guilty, but all are responsible.”

The renowned British philosopher Alfred North Whitehead said that the Western philosophical tradition consists of a series of footnotes to Plato. Now I can’t speak to the entire Western philosophical canon, but when it comes to Western political theory the man’s got a point. For the last 2300 years every serious Western political theorist has struggled to answer the question posed in The Republic, what is a just society?

In “The Republic,” Plato writes that the state is the soul writ large. Because the state consists of individuals, the state then is the magnification of the individual, this would be especially true of a democracy. A state that lacks justice is a state of unjust individuals. Dr. King had more than a passing familiarity with Plato, and like Plato, he considered the question of justice to be a moral construct, not a political one.

cally. What’s s clear is that character is a function an active process that requires some necessary cognitive prerequisites.

White America has a real affinity for the ending of MLK’s improvised ending To have a dream you must first be asleep, if you’re awake you have to deal with reality as you find it. So, on the questions of race and justice it’s obvious White America prefers to sleep and per chance to dream.

Another way to think of awake is consciousness, to be conscious is to be aware of and responding to one’s surroundings. Unconsciousness is the part of the mind which is inaccessible to the conscious mind but still can affect behavior and emotions. Now you know why Ron DeSantis, et al are so adamantly against “woke culture.”

There’s an almost childlike giddiness that White MAGA America gets quoting the line about being judged by the content of their character whenever the question of racial justice is raised.

So let’s grant MAGA America and White MAGA Americans their wish, and judge them by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.

Let’s define terms. If you look up its meaning, character will be defined as the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual, with that in mind, we also need to define moral. A good dictionary will tell you moral has to do with the principles of right and wrong behavior, and the goodness or badness of human character. When we examine the mental part of the character definition, what are they talking about? Mental here is referring to cognitive abilities relating to or involving conscious rational intellectual activity, which means the ability to think clearly and logi-

ers both to understand their perspectives as well as to give them space to air what they are compelled to get out. For me, change starts with listening.

What I hope to impart are the lofty ideas that were passed along to me, like Gen. Powell’s lesson that finding the one common cause we can share can be much more powerful than a hundred things that we may disagree about. Finally, I want to charge them to use their own gifts, talents, and knowledge to make the progress we still need. They will know how best to reach their peers and those who come after them. A quinquagenarian like me will never be able to use the tools of their generation to their fullest effect. What I hope to do is inspire and applaud.

That’s an optimistic view, I know. One that I get genetically perhaps. Just before my grandmother died, she took a call from Sen. Barbara Mikulski, who had been a graduate student in social work decades before when my grandmother was creating Child Protective Services in Baltimore. It was that long arc in view. It was my grandmother who gave me the perspective that still guides me. ““Baby, it’s true. Pessimists are right more often, but optimists win more often,” she told me once. “In this life, you have to decide what’s more important to you. As for me, I’ll take winning.”

Ben Jealous is incoming executive director of the Sierra Club and a former national president of the NAACP.

Everything in our definition of character is referencing the character of the individual. Humans are social animals however, and as such, we categorize individuals(including ourselves) into social groupings. The person who has identified themselves as a MAGA individual, has also generally self-aggregated themselves into a group as MAGA Americans. Not all White Americans are MAGA Americans, but nearly all MAGA Americans are white and Republican. We’re going to do an exercise in inductive reasoning, which is the logical process of reasoning from the specific to the general, from the singular to the plural as it were. Our predicate therefore is, what is true of the individual self-identifying as a White MAGA American, can reasonably thought to be true of the self-aggregated white MEGA America. Since no one has successfully refuted Plato, we will stipulate the polls (https://www. wordreference.com/definition/-polls) represents the collective character of the people. Sometimes the best way to understand what something is to know what it’s not. We have defined character as including the capacity to make moral judgements, discern right from wrong, good from bad. The opposite of that is the sociopath. A sociopath is a person who consistently shows no regard for right and wrong, and ignores the rights and feelings of others. If there were a picture dictionary to define words, the picture for sociopath would be Donald Trump, and you don’t need a clinical degree to make that judgement. But the real issue isn’t Trump, but what he’s emblematic of, he didn’t create this moment, but this moment made him possible. He’s also in the picture dictionary twice, the second time as a pathological liar.

Then there are the Republican members of the US Congress. Let’s take Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, who makes the lion in the Wizard of Oz look like a Marvel superhero. In our picture dictionary McCarthy would define craven, contemptibly lacking in courage, cowardly. Let’s expand our sample of Republican members of Congress and see what that tells us. Marjorie Taylor Green(GA), Lauren Boebert(CO), Ronny Jackson(TX), Louie Gohmert(TX), Paul Gosar(AZ), add a few senators for balance, Sen. Ron Johnson(WI), Sen. Marsha Blackburn(TN). This random sampling of malcontents can be found in the picture dictionary under actively ignorant, which is Then there are the over 100 Republican members of this Congress who supported the January 6 insurrection and didn’t vote to certify the 2020 Presidential election who, despite their public oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic.

None of these Republican Congresspersons or Senators snuck into Congress, they’re all elected, they therefore represent and reflect the moral sentiments of most people that voted in their elections. I suggest you heed Toni Morrison’s advice, “when people show you who they are, believe them the first time.”

Letter to the editor

We want to hear from you

As the region’s leading media source for the

community, The St. Louis American wants to hear from you.

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

Columnist Alma S. Adams

Columnist Ben Jealous

Columnist Mike Jones

participate.

Comptroller Green’s Red Cross blood drive Feb. 6

Donors need appointments

The office of St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green encourages residents to help by making a blood donation at its semiannual community blood drive on Monday, February 6, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Room 208 of St. Louis City Hall.

Held each year during Black History Month, Comptroller Green’s February blood drive honors Dr. Charles Drew, the physician and medical researcher who developed the first large-scale blood banks early in World War II.

The Red Cross urgently needs blood and platelet donors to meet the needs of patient care, and there is an ongoing need for African American blood donors for sickle cell therapies.

Donors who participate in a February Red Cross blood drive receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card by email. They will also be automatically entered for a

chance to win a trip for two to Florida, including roundtrip airfare, a three-night stay at the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach, a $100 voucher for the resort’s Ocean Hai restaurant, and a $750 gift card for expenses. Details are available at rcblood.org/heart

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org

The following measures are in place to operate in the safest way possible for donors, volunteers, staff, and visitors to city hall:

All blood donors should schedule an appointment in advance by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or visiting redcrossblood.org

Visitors to city hall must wear masks or face coverings and will have their temperature taken at the point of entry. The Red Cross requires all individuals at blood drives to wear a face mask regardless of vaccination status.

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control. Learn more about the Red Cross safety protocols at: COVID-19 and Blood Donation

Black community fights for abortion rights

By Jamesa Bailey

I’ve seen a whole new level of outrage in the Black community since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and states started banning abortion — and it’s invigorating.

When I launched Planned Parenthood’s Black Organizing Program in 2019, people at our community gatherings wouldn’t even use the word abortion. They were interested in discussing birth control, cancer screenings, and other sexual and reproductive health care. Abortion? Not so much. I think the general feeling was that since abortion was legal, there’s no need to talk about it — especially with strangers.

After June 24, 2022, that all changed. The U.S. Supreme Court ended the constitutional right to abortion, a right Americans had since 1973. The decision cruelly stripped us of our reproductive freedom, allowing states to ban abortion, and many have. Seven months later, as we mark what would have been the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade (January 22), we live in a world where our children will grow up with fewer rights than their parents had. And it’s unacceptable. Like millions of Americans, Black people took to the streets marching and protesting. And sisters — as well as some brothers — are finally ready and willing to say it with raised voices: “abortion.”

To be clear though, even with Roe v. Wade in place, the right to get an abortion was never enough for many Black people. Access has been out of reach for generations. For so many people, it’s nearly impossible to navigate a health care system steeped in racist practices with a long, despicable history of policing Black bodies. Removing the federal constitutional right to abortion robs us further of the right to decide whether and when to have children. Now, state lawmakers are the ones with the power to make those decisions for us.

As of this month, 18 states have either banned abortion completely or imposed harmful and often confusing restrictions. In the first 100 days following the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe, 66 clinics in 15 states with abortion restrictions were forced to stop offering abortions. Nearly 5.8 million Black women, or 56.7% of the reproductive-aged Black women in the U.S., plus nonbinary and trans people, face new barriers to abortion care

Planned Parenthood’s Black Organizing Program held its first-ever Shop Chat meet-up in 2019 as Texas and other states enacted strict abortion bans. These gatherings take place at Black-owned spaces in local communities — usually a barber shop or beauty salon.

They bring together dozens of Black people to enjoy brunch and discuss how sexual and reproductive health care, or the lack thereof, harms their communities. At that time, people were shocked to learn threats to abortion rights, decades in the making, were becoming a reality in some states.

The stories began to flow about why people get abortions, in spite of the maze of challenges to do so. Many folks in the room shared how their lives may have gone differently had they not had that option.

Toward the end, one woman who had been silently observing stood up and told her abortion story for the very first time. “I have never even told my mother, and I’m really close to my mother,” she said. She hugged me later and thanked me for what turned out to be a cathartic experience.

Since Roe was overturned, people don’t want to stop sharing. They understand the importance of eliminating stigma and shame around abortion, and they recognize the value of sharing their stories. They are outraged that lawmakers can now make decisions that should be left up to them and their health care providers. And at Planned Parenthood, we were outraged, too.

Here’s the bottom line: No one is free unless they have control of their own body and future, and all people deserve the freedom to make their own health care decisions.

Jamesa Bailey is the director of Black Campaigns for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Flavia Horne, a phlebotomist with the American Red Cross, prepared to draw blood from Michele Coleman at the Dr. Charles Drew Blood Drive sponsored by Comptroller Darlene Green on February 11, 2019 in Room 208 of St. Louis City Hall. The blood drive returns on Feb. 6 and Black donors are urged to

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

St. Louis American staff

Jamesa Bailey

Continued from A1

in what we are doing. We want to make sure that we celebrate each other. Just as much as we fight, it is important that we smile together, as well.”

And that struggle hasn’t been an easy one: even prior to the fall of Roe, Missouri had some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation, and most Missouri abortion patients got the procedures out-of-state. Now that abortion is entirely illegal in the state, though, local advocacy groups have stepped up their efforts to overcome logistical barriers to getting pregnant people out-of-state for abortions. In a report released Friday by Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region, the group shared that they have distributed nearly $2.5 million dollars in abortion aid to about 5,000 patients–85% of that aid coming post-Roe. They’ve seen a spike in Missouri patients traveling to the Hope Clinic and Planned Parenthood Regional Logistics Center in Granite City–about half of those

SLPS

Continued from A1

schools in New York. She was serving as Adam’s chief of staff before becoming interim superintendent. In that role she oversaw district strategic priorities including pandemic relief spending, equity, family engagement, and organizational transformation.

She had also served as SLPS chief academic officer for several years before serving as a superintendent in New York. Williams was a member of the New York State Council of School Superintendents’ Diversity and Inclusivity Commission, where she focused on addressing gender and racial parity in the superintendency across the 733 school districts in New York State.

patients coming from outside Missouri and Illinois. The weight of these abortion bans, as Dr. Love Holt explained at Sunday’s rally, isn’t being felt equitably across the population. “We know all of this falls hardest on my community, on Black and Brown and Indigenous women, and our trans siblings, and working mothers,” she said. Planned Parenthood’s data backs that up: about 70% of patients who required aid through the Regional Logistics Center to access reproductive care this year were women of color. Holt added, though, that this moment could be an opportunity to advocate for stronger reproductive-rights laws than Roe ever provided. “Even with the legal protection offered under Roe, too many Missourians were denied access to safe abortion care—forced to travel hundreds of miles, spend thousands of dollars, risk their lives and jobs to take days off of work, risk staying in abusive relationships or carrying unintended pregnancies to term,” Holt said. “In this post-Roe world, we have the chance to build something better—to build something more. Missouri

Bilingual in Spanish and English, Williams holds a doctorate and a master’s degree from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education (with a concentration in the Urban Superintendents Program); and a master’s degree in education (with a concentration in bilingual education), and a bachelor’s degree in political science, both from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York.

Jermaine Dawson, Chief Academic and Accountability Officer, Birmingham City Schools

An Atlanta native, Jermaine Dawson graduated from Morehouse College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology. He then received his Master of Arts degree in educational leadership from

deserves meaningful, liberated abortion access—Missourians deserve access to birth control, to doulas…whether or not they

Kennesaw State University.

In 2019, he received his doctorate degree in educational leadership from Northcentral University. Dr. Dawson has a passion for the education of youth and has served in a myriad of capacities.

He has served in his current role since July 2020 and came to the Birmingham district after being a Zone Superintendent for Fulton County Schools in Atlanta.

He was the North Florida Area Director for Charter Schools USA, June 2018 to May 2019 and has been a Region Superintendent for Duvall County Public Schools in Jacksonville, Florida. He previously had also been Director of Schools for the Birmingham district, a school support officer and area superintendent for the Houston Independent School District,

Women’s rights are a family affair at the STL Women’s March abortion rights rally on the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023 at the World’s Fair Pavilion in Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri. Wednesday holds up her sign quoting Tupac Shakur while surrounded by family protesting with her.

know that the overturning of Roe isn’t the final step.”

“There’s already a bill that’s been filed in the Missouri Senate,” she said, “That would criminalize a lot of forms of birth control, and criminalize a lot of forms of assisted reproductive technology.”

On the national level, House Republicans have so far passed two anti-abortion bills in what Congresswoman Cori Bush called “a blatant attempt to lay the groundwork for a national abortion ban.”

At Sunday’s rally, Dana Kelly hadn’t given up hope–not just for abortion rights, but also for better access to other forms of reproductive and maternal healthcare.

“There are a lot of things that are out of our control, that you can’t help but be sad about,” Kelly said, but added that she and her fellow organizers “want people to know that we will have something to celebrate.”

choose to carry their pregnancy.” Anti-abortion activists, however, also hope to advance

as a principal in Atlanta Public Schools district.

Keisha Scarlett, Chief Academic Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Academics, Seattle Public Schools

Keisha Scarlett formerly served as Seattle Public Schools Chief of Equity, Partnerships and Engagement. She began her career with The Boeing Company and would move on to become a middle school teacher and principal.

Scarlett previously worked as the district’s chief of equity and co-founded the Academy for Rising Educators (ARE)—a tuition-free educator preparation program—in partnership with Seattle Central College and the City of Seattle.

During her time as principal of South Shore PK-8 School, Scarlett developed an accelerated mathematics pathway for students in grades three through

their cause further post-Roe.

As President of the Board of Aldermen Megan Green pointed out at Sunday’s rally, “We

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

She was selected as Washington State Middle-Level Principal of the Year and was recognized for leading South Shore to reach 80% proficiency across multiple grade levels in reading and writing on state exams.

She earned her doctorate and principal certification from the University of Washington, her master’s in education from Heritage University, and her bachelor’s from Clark Atlanta University.

Each candidate will record a brief introduction and interview video for the public, moderated by Karen Hall, a national search director with Ray & Associates. The interviews will be posted

“The things that our parents fought for, that our parents’ parents fought for, will come to fruition, while we’re alive–and even more so for our children and their children.”

on the District’s YouTube channel on Thursday, January 26th.

Ray and Associates reports that 49 applications were submitted for SLPS’ top job. Applicants were then screened for experience and academic background and matched against the results of community engagement focus groups and surveys that the firm conducted in September 2022.

“The earlier community focus groups and surveys gave us a clear idea of what students, teachers and families wanted in a new Superintendent,” Davis said.

“We created a solid profile of what kind of leader we were looking for and are thrilled that we received such a tremendous response from educators locally and across the country.” The new Superintendent will begin in July, according to Davis.

Photo by Dawn Suggs / St. Louis American

Salute

Continued from A1

coaching programs. She holds a doctorate in communication (with a specialty in intercultural, organizational, and political communication) from the University of Oklahoma. She also earned two master’s degrees from the University of Oklahoma, in human relations and organizational development, and in public relations, journalism, and mass communication. She earned her bachelor’s degree in speech communication from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo. She serves on the boards of directors for the Sheldon Arts Foundation, Greater St. Louis, Inc. and the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy.

The American spoke to her about FOCUS St. Louis’ future plans, how the organization has navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, and why, as a transplant to St. Louis, she continues to call this region home.

St. Louis American: What is new and what is next for FOCUS St. Louis?

Coyle

Continued from A1

served almost two years.]

While there is work to do, under his leadership the department is better now than when he found it.”

Coyle is now responsible for the police and fire departments, and the ongoing challenge of helping the city reduce violent crime. This includes the new Office of Violence Prevention.

“I will be working hard every day at the Public Safety division to keep our neighborhoods and families safe,” he said Tuesday during a press conference at City Hall.

Coyle now also oversees

Yemi AkandeBartsch: While FOCUS is always growing and evolving, I think this is a particularly exciting time for the organization. Last year, we had the good fortune of celebrating our 25th anniversary – both as an organization and for our signature “What’s Right with the Region Awards.” Now we are hard at work on a new strategic plan engaging our board leadership, staff, alumni, and other stakeholders in helping us to envision and chart our course for the coming years.

This year, more than 250 individuals will graduate from our leadership programs, taking with them the knowledge, resources, and networks so they can help make change not only in their own organizations, but our entire region. It’s been great to be back to in-person sessions for all our programs and to be able to offer participants the opportunity to get back out in the community so they can build face-to-face relationships. But we’ve also been grateful for the lessons and capabilities we gained from our time as a virtual learning provider.

In March, we will be wrapping up our Community Forum Series, hosted in partnership

the corrections, excise, building, neighborhood stabilization, emergency management divisions.

Isom is a former St. Louis

Metropolitan Police Officer who rose to the rank of captain, a position he filled from 2008 to 2013. He was CEO of REJIS, a criminal justice data company, when Jones asked him to return to public service in 2021.

“It was an honor to come back to serve the City of St. Louis after serving as the police chief,” Isom said. “We have been working to change decades’ long practices.”

“I truly believe Mayor Jones’ vision for St. Louis has and will continue to make our neighborhoods safer for families.

Isom is returning to the

with the United Way of Greater St. Louis, which has been focused on some of the most pressing needs in our region –affordable housing, jobs/transportation, and behavioral health care. We’re also working on a new lineup of forums exploring workforce development issues, which we hope to announce soon. This is, of course, in addition to the ongoing variety of

private sector as Ameren vice president of corporate safety, security, and crisis management.

Among the accomplishments he listed while working with Jones were closure of the medium-security jail known as the Workhouse, Criminal Justice Center security upgrades and working to combine the city’s 911 systems in a central location.

He also led the search for Police Chief Robert Tracy, who took office earlier this month.

“Under his leadership, St. Louis lowered violent crime rates, appointed our first outside chief, tackled longstanding issues that plagued city government for decades,” Jones said.

“I thank him for serving the

Yemi AkandeBartsch, Ph.D., has served as president and CEO of FOCUS St. Louis since 2014.

in-person and virtual opportunities we offer to our alumni and the community for leadership development and networking.

St. Louis American: What is new and what is next for you personally?

Yemi Akande-Bartsch: On a personal level, I’m a relatively new mom and enjoying and

city in this interim role.”

When asked how he would handle the relationship between police and Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, Coyle said he is “going to dig into that; find out what is going on and why.”

“I look forward to working with the other [city] leaders.”

Coyle filed a racial discrimination lawsuit alleging the city did not follow its own policies when it promoted current Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson to the position in 2007.

savoring every moment with our daughter. I’m experiencing the world and leadership through her eyes, and it’s been refreshing and simply magical. We’ve all heard the quote about enjoying the journey, not just the destination. I could go on about monumental expectations for the future, but that’s not where I am mentally and physically. I’m taking time

A jury awarded Coyle $350,000 in damages. He later received an additional $208,000 in attorney’s fees and court costs, as well as the difference in salary he would have made had he been promoted to chief rather than Jenkerson.

“That was in the past, and I’m no longer living in the past,” Coyle said.

“My focus is looking forward and being a part of any changes that need to take place in public safety and in the city.”

He said he took pride in

to lean into lessons of the moment. My future personal journey is embedded in my present – and that is bringing leaders together to make greater impact.

St. Louis American: Given the nature of leadership, it’s somewhat surprising that it can be taught – you know, “sit down, shut up and learn how to be a leader” seems a contradiction. How does one teach leadership?

Yemi Akande-Bartsch: It’s the great debate in leadership development as to which is more important – nature or nurture. I’d have to say both are equally important in the development of a leader. At FOCUS St. Louis, we view leadership training as a combination of self-awareness, civic issue education, leadership development, and experiential training to amplify strengths and minimize weaknesses. We have natural born leaders who come to us to fine-tune their leadership skills and we have others who may not be natural leaders but learn about the leadership playbook in ways that strengthen their impact at work, at play, and in community.

building community and a community based [Fire] department through health drives and neighborhood meetings “to help the department personnel get to know the residents they serve.”

While the search for a permanent director will be national, like the search for a new police chief, internal candidates have been encouraged to apply.

Rachel Lippmann of

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Teens to talk race, social justice with KSDKs Kelly Jackson

“RACE: Listen. Learn. Live: Teenagers” will be hosted by 5 On Your Side anchor Kelly Jackson, who asks teenagers to share a time when they experienced racism and how it affected them.

St. Louis American staff

Black teenagers representing different high schools will share their stories and perspectives during a February online program on KSDK called “RACE: Listen. Learn. Live: Teenagers.”

The show is part of a series produced by 5 On Your Side that gives a voice to community members. It will be hosted by 5 On Your Side anchor Kelly Jackson, who asks teenagers to share a time when they experienced racism and how it affected them.

The students, who will also discuss their inspirations and hopes for the future, include:

• Mary Akakpo-Lado, senior at Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School

• Jeremy Avan, senior at East St. Louis Senior High

• Ariel Eastwood, senior at Parkway North High School

• Indya Griffin, senior at Parkway Central High School

• Zoey Hall, senior at

Clayton High School

• Zion Murphy, senior at Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School

• Kameron Turner, senior at Lindbergh High School

• Kyle Williams, senior at Ritenour High school

“I was excited to hear the perspective of our younger generation,” said Jackson.

“Our panelists include a group of teens who come from diverse backgrounds from several different school districts in our community. One of the biggest things they all have in common is their drive to enhance the community they live in and share their own experiences and the challenges they’ve faced.”

This newest RACE: Listen. Learn. Live. special is the fourth to be produced since 2020 by executive producer Sonya Potter. The series has been honored with several awards, including a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, a 2022 Gracie Award, and it

Enhance the fundamentals of financial learning for kids with these fun and free resources. Call (314) 317-6940 or email Bud@stifelbank.com to request copies.

is a finalist for 2023 duPontColumbia award.

The series can be viewed on 5 On Your Side’s YouTube channel.

In late February, 5 On Your Side will host an event in relation to the RACE series.

RACE: Listen. Learn. Live. Celebrating Black History Month will be a live in-person event Feb. 23 at the Missouri History Museum. More information will be announced in coming weeks.

TEACHERS: Ask about resources for your class!

Watch Bud’s video and download digital books on www.StifelMortgage.com/FinancialLiteracy.html Enhance the fundamentals of financial learning for your kids with these fun and free resources. Call (314) 317-6940 or email Bud@stifelbank.com or to request copies. TEACHERS: Ask about resources for your class!

PRESENT:

PRESENT:

PRESENT:

Dining Out.

GRAINS

What Is ASize?Serving

Keep ‘em Whole!

The Smart Way!

Staying

Warm Up & Cool Down

Do This. Not That!

Exercise Game

First Day of Spring!

Smart Choices

Pill Safety

Ice can be dangerous for several different reasons.

Tech-Neck

Nutrition Challenge:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let’s make a game out of exercise!

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

Healthcare Careers

those leftovers for lunch the next day!

are popcorn, wheatberries, brown rice and wild rice.

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

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

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

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

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

Cocoa Puffers Cereal

INGREDIENTS:

Healthcare Careers

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

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

To help you visualize what those portion sizes should be, here are a few examples using items that you are very familiar with their size.

> Start by substituting one drink per day to water.

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

Weekly Newspaper in Education Program

Melissa Douglass, MSW

Angela Klocke, MPH, MSN, RN

Latoya Woods, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

Deborah Edwards, School Nurse

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

First, locate either a deck of cards or two dice.

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

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

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

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

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

For Other Examples, Visit: http://www.webmd.com/diet/ healthtool-portion-size-plate. Try coming up with your own visual portion size ideas!

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

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

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

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 4, HPE

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where do you work? I am an RN Clinical Care Coordinator for the SYNCHRONY Project (Strengthening Young Children by Optimizing Nature/Nurture in Infancy), for the Department of Pediatric Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine. I also support our ACE (Autism Center of Excellence) team by working with African-American families with children with Autism.

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

> Wash your parent’s car.

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

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

> Walking to the store when possible.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Balance is an important part of physical fitness. Balance relates to how steady and straight you can hold your body while doing different activities. Practice your balance by doing the most basic balance test. Stand on one foot, hold your arms out to your side and see how long you can hold this pose. Is it harder if you close your eyes?

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

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

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

Now challenge yourself to increasingly difficult balancing actions. Try holding something heavy in one hand, leaving the other hand empty. Can you lean over (while still on one foot) and place the object on the floor? Can you stack a number of items on the floor while staying on just the one foot?

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

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

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

Only take pills (medicine) that have been given to you by your parent (or a doctor/nurse). Never take anything that is being offered by a friend just because they say it’ll make you “feel good.” Many school-aged kids die every year because their body has a bad reaction to pills

Instead of watching TV — ride your bike with friends.

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

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

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

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

that they should not be taking.

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

Do you think balance can be improved with practice? Try some different balance activities for several days in a row and see if your balance gets better the more you do them.

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

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

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

Over the last 35 weeks we have discussed many smart choices that you can make to help you stay safe and healthy. Break into small groups and list as many Smart Choices that your group remembers. Now individually, choose one that you think is very important.

> What to do if you see someone else bullied.

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

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 4, NH 1

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

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

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

Where did you go to school? I graduated from Collinsville (IL) High School. I then earned an Associate Degree in Nursing from Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Illinois, a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Sciences, Communication, from SIU, Edwardsville, Illinois, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Goldfarb School of Nursing, St. Louis, and a Master of Science in Nursing from Webster University, St. Louis.

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1

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

Cracker-wiches

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

If someone offers you a pill, be sure to tell your parent or teacher. By helping to keep these pills away from others, you could be saving a life!

> What to do if YOU are the bully.

Describe in your own words what that smart choice is, and how you can remember to make the right choice in the future. Name a new “smart choice“ that you will make this summer.

Directions: Combine ½ cup of the juice with the gelatin in a bowl. Bring the remaining juice to a boil and pour over the gelatin/juice mixture. Add honey and stir. Pour into a loaf pan and chill until firm enough to cut into squares. put on your plate.)

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

What does a Licensed Clinical Social Worker do?

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

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

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

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

What does a clinical care coordinator do? I work with a team of doctors and therapists who work with parents and kids and any needs they may have, like good food choices, safe spaces, which toys are safe for different age groups and being healthy and happy. We do this mostly through play.

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

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

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

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

> How bullying hurts others.

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

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

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

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

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

> What to do if you are bullied.

Jigglers

Ingredients:

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

2 Cps Fruit juice

Frozen Yogurt Blueberry Bites

2 Pkts Unflavored gelatin

Dip Ingredients: 1 15-Oz Can Garbanzo beans

1 Tbsp Honey (optional)

> What other ice hazards are there?

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

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, NH 5

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

1 Garlic clove, crushed

Ingredients: 1 cup blueberries 1 cup non-fat Greek Yogurt

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

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 4

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

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

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

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

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

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

2 Tsp Cumin, 1 Tsp Olive oil, ½ Tsp Salt Directions: Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Enjoy with baked tortilla chips or raw vegetables.

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

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

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

What does an EMT do? My day-to-day includes helping others when they aren’t feeling their best. I also assist getting them to the hospital when they can’t take themselves. Why did you choose this career? I chose this career because I enjoy helping others problem solve. Also, I have twin stepsons, one who wants to be a police officer, and the other who wants to be a doctor. I thought that being an EMT helped me to meet them both in the middle. And, back in 2018, I had my own medical emergency and was transported by ambulance to a hospital. The paramedic that took care of me was so comforting and assuring that I realized that becoming an EMT is an honorable career. I now work with that same paramedic, at the same company.

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

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

Why did you choose this career? My major in college was not in nursing. I worked part-time in a hospital and enjoyed working with kids. After two serious and separate events involving kids with illness and injury, I found my lifelong career. I changed my major to nursing and after graduation, I was hired in an emergency department at a children’s hospital. I met a lot of worried parents and soon realized that I could help those families by giving them the resources and tools needed to be healthy and safe.

What is your favorite part of the job you have?

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

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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

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

What is your favorite part of the job you have? My favorite part of the job is watching families and their kids thrive.

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

Learning Standards: HPE 6, NH 3

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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

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

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

Yonniece Rose, Registered Nurse

Banana PB Smoothie

Marnay Howard, EMT - B

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

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

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT

Fourth-grade students

Phaith Brown, Xavier Hazzard, Brandon Chambers, and Jayairra Evans, in Ms. Rhonda Stovall’s class at Gateway Elementary School are investigating the reflection of light using microscopes.

Photo by Rhonda Stovall

What Is Anthropology?

Anthropology is the study of humans. It comes from the Greek words “Anthropos,” which means human, and “logia,” which means study. Anthropologists study customs in communities, such as marriage traditions, languages spoken, tools used, etc. Anthropologists also study physical changes and trends in humans, such as average height and size and how

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

that changes through generations. Often, anthropologists research by observing others, usually living among people for a long time. While living within a community, they are able to experience the culture and traditions personally. Many anthropologists return to that community many times throughout their career to observe how the culture has changed over time.

Anthropology majors are hired for jobs in medicine, public health, business, environmental protection, marketing,

SCIENCE STARS

African-American Biologist and Anthropologist

Fatimah Jackson

human resources, forensics, and museums. Google hires anthropologists to understand internet search patterns, Intel employs anthropology graduates to study how culture shapes customers’ technology habits, and General Motors’ anthropologists study the company’s corporate culture.

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

Fingerprints

Did you know that no two fingerprints are exactly alike? Anthropologists can use fingerprints in their studies. Fingerprints have a whorl, a loop, or an arch. In this experiment, you will evaluate your fingerprint.

Materials Needed:

• Paper • Pencil • Clear Tape • Your Fingers

Procedure:

q Take a pencil and create a dark square (approximately 2 inches) on a piece of paper.

w Then rub your index finger (the pointer finger next

MATH CONNECTION

to your thumb) in the square you created.

e Next get some transparent tape. Put a piece of it over your finger, press down, and pull it off. Put the tape on a piece of paper and you can see your fingerprint. What is your pattern? Compare your pattern with those of your classmates.

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

Hieroglyphics

Directions: Did you know that anthropologists used math to decipher hieroglyphs? Egyptian hieroglyphics are solved reading right to left. A single line is used to represent each number 1-9 (1 has one line, 3 has three lines, etc.). Look at the example.

The answer to this example is: 5+ 7=12

Can you solve the following problems? Write the number sentences on the line below each problem. Remember to read right to left.

Use the hieroglyphics to create a problem of your own. Trade problems with a friend and solve.

Learning Standards: I can use symbols to add and subtract to solve a problem.

Who she is: Fatimah Jackson is an African-American biologist and anthropologist. To learn about anthropology, read today’s Science Corner. What she does: She studies African plants used for food and medicine, such as tea, cassava, and sorghum. She travels to Africa and studies the plants in a lab to see how they work.

Why it’s important: Jackson has learned that the cassava plant can help prevent diseases like malaria and sickle cell anemia. It can also be used to create insecticides so that other crops can grow without being eaten by insects. Sharing this knowledge can help people become healthier and keep them safe.

Her early influences: Jackson’s family was very close growing up. She spent a lot of time with her extended family, as well. Her aunt would discuss a lot of topics with her, including biology. Their family often went to the library and she read as many books as she could because she wanted to learn as much as possible. At the age of 11, she requested a chemistry set and her parents bought her one to encourage her interests.

Education: Jackson wanted to attend college at Cornell University, but could not afford it. She was told she could receive money to help pay for college if she maintained A’s in her classes. She earned three degrees from Cornell University—a B.A. earned in 1972, an M.A. earned in 1978, and a PhD earned in 1981. Her studies focused on anthropology and biology.

Career: Jackson worked at the University of Maryland teaching biological anthropology. She served as the director of UNC’s Institute of African American Research. She was also the director for benefits for the New York African Burial Ground Project. Currently, she works in the Department of Biology at Howard University.

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

For a free 16 page guide about Fatimah Jackson created for students, visit: http://wonderwise.unl. edu/02teach/afrplbio.pdf.

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

MAP CORNER

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

Activity One — 3,2,1 Summary: a news article to read and write a 3,2,1 summary. You will list 3 things you learned, 2 things you disagree with, and 1 question you have.

Activity Two —

Climate Control: Find news stories in today’s paper that are related to the climate in various regions of the Earth (for example, crop failure due to drought).

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can summarize information and make deductions.

Teachers, if you are using the St. Louis American’s NIE program and would like to nominate your class for a Classroom Spotlight, please email: nie@ stlamerican.com.

Missouri Legislature continues its WAR on St. Louis; community backlash, union opposition cause Kairos collapse

The annual legislative assault in Jefferson City against St. Louis, its favorite target along with Kansas City, has begun.

The GOP-dominated Missouri Legislature has already introduced a bill to disenfranchise voters in our city. We’re specifically calling out House Bill 301, sponsored by Joplin State Representative Lane Roberts, which directly names and targets only St. Louis City and our democratically-elected circuit attorney, Kimberly Gardner St. Louisans in all zip codes already cannot democratically elect our judges, thanks to the so-called “Nonpartisan Court Plan.” Every judge in St. Louis City and County is appointed by the governor, which prevents primary elections that could otherwise challenge some of the corrupt judges and create voter accountability. And now, the state legislature wants to take away the powers given to our elected prosecutor.

Have we mentioned yet that the Missouri state house is also trying to take away local control of our police department to reinstate state control? Of course, this pathetic intrusive attempt comes from Republican St. Charles state senator Nick Schroer, whose white male fragility would not last one night in the city. But also it’s unsurprisingly short-sighted support from the “Ethical Society” of Police, formerly recognized as the “common sense group,” now woeful, police union has recently aligned itself with the miscreant St. Louis Police Officers Association (SLPOA). Reportedly the new Police Chief, Robert Tracy and the outgoing interim Public Safety Director Dan Isom opposed the move insisting that the most important needed change is strong leadership.

Not only is this legislative policy rooted in “anti-

blackness,” but creates further a situation where the infamous “Hancock Amendment,” would have to be amended, as Missouri law prohibits the state legislature from forcing unfunded mandates onto cities. The state legislature may be forgetting that, by moving SLMPD under its control, Missouri becomes responsible for our policing costs - the good and the bad, including multi-million dollar civil rights lawsuits.

• • • •

In the meantime, local police apologist Jane Dueker has been re-hired as lobbyist for SLPOA. Dueker had most recently resigned her post as police union mouthpiece to run and lose not just one but three campaigns against incumbent County Executive Sam Page, including her own. Is anyone taking bets on when Dueker brings back noted racist Jeff Roorda to run SLPOA again?

As Dueker returns, we say goodbye to Dr. Dan Isom, who will step down as interim public safety director in mid-February. Current St. Louis Fire Department’s Deputy Fire Chief Charles Coyle will step into the vacant role while the city launches a nationwide search for a new public safety leader.

•

In St. Louis County, the clock is literally ticking for Leonard “Raheem” Taylor, a Black man on Missouri’s death row for the murder of Angela Rowe and her three children in Jennings. Taylor has maintained his innocence from the beginning, supported by an airtight alibi and a lack of physical evidence tying him to the murders. Evidence shows that Taylor was out of the state at the time of the murder and many witnesses saw

the family after Taylor left. We can attribute Taylor’s sentence to police and prosecutorial misconduct, as another conviction was obtained under the “Shadow of Death” - former prosecutor Bob McCulloch County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell has once again found himself in a difficult situation. Taylor is scheduled for execution on February 7. Despite significant evidence indicating Taylor’s innocence, Bell’s office has yet to file any pleadings to question the integrity of Taylor’s conviction.

• • • •

Earlier this week, St. Louis somberly acknowledged what would have been the 50th anniversary of former landmark Supreme Court case, Roe v. Wade, which allowed pregnant women to terminate pregnancies through the second trimester. Roe was overturned last June under another Supreme Court case, Dobbs v. Whole Women’s Health. The anniversary marked the increased urgency of electing pro-choice candidates to the Board of Aldermen to introduce and support critical legislation like the Reproductive Justice Equity Fund, which was sponsored by Alderwoman Shameem Clark-Hubbard For two straight years, St. Louis voters loudly and overwhelmingly chose proudly pro-choice leaders like Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and Board President Megan Green Current alderpersons Anne Schweitzer Mike Gras, Tina Pihl, Bret Narayan, and Shane Cohn have been reliable votes for pro-choice legislation and are running for re-election. Younger candidates running in

aldermanic races have leaned into a message of reproductive justice and bodily autonomy. Second Ward candidate Katie Bellis frequently serves as an escort for patients to the Granite City clinic where they are frequently harassed by white men screaming out-of-context Bible verses as they walk inside. SLPS Board of Education member and Seventh Ward aldermanic candidate Alisha Sonnier is a board member for Pro Choice Missouri and emceed the organization’s annual gala last September. Fourteenth Ward candidate and currently state Representative Rasheen Aldridge has staunchly supported pro-choice and reproductive justice legislation in the Missouri House. In 2023, there is very little room for anti-choice candidates and politicos in St. Louis who do not believe that adult women are capable of making their own healthcare choices.

But St. Louis’ leadership in the fight for personal autonomy does not end with elected officials - a group of 13 clergy members announced last week that they are filing a civil rights lawsuit against the State of Missouri for violation of the separation of church and state.

The preamble of the law alone makes a compelling case for the faith leaders’ lawsuit, stating, “In recognition that Almighty God is the author of life...” reflecting a Christian belief. Legislative testimony from bill sponsors cited Christofascist ideologies and extremist beliefs that are not rooted in any religious text. The lawsuit, in turn, suggests that these “conservative Christian” talking points violate the religious and moral beliefs of others.

In other words, St. Louis and Kansas City clergy have argued that Missouri legislators are forcing their religious beliefs onto them, their congregations, and millions of others living in the state.

• • • •

Finally, we bring news of a David-versus-Goliath-level victory: community triumphing over deep-pocket developers. Last week, Alderwoman Cara Spencer announced - for some reason - that a proposed expansion of Kairos Academy in the Marine Villa neighborhood had fallen through. Kairos Academy is the charter school system founded by Teach for America alum Jack Krewson, son of former mayor Lyda Krewson Why the alderwoman announced the fate of a private project is beyond our understanding. However, it does make us wonder about the extent of Spencer’s personal involvement, considering her full-time employment as Senior Vice President of Community and Economic Development at Saint Louis Bank, one of the potential lenders identified by Kairos at a December community meeting for development of the project. Typically, an alderperson does not become this involved in a private construction project. Clearly, Spencer has gone above and beyond for Kairos Academymore so than for most of her other business “constituents” and certainly more than her actual voters. Even more curious, however, was Spencer’s complete flip-flop from fully supporting the charter school construction project - even going so far as to go behind constituents’ backs to scout potential locations - to walking past her past behavior and portraying herself as always

aligned with the community. In real time, the EYE saw Spencer change her entire position on this project, perhaps in an effort to save face in a hotly-contested race with community activist Shedrick “Nato Caliph” Kelley. Spencer deserves an Academy Award for her slick pivot on this issue. Neighbors complained that they had been completely in the dark about Kairos’ plans to develop the nearly two-acre campus until they were contacted by developer Urban Improvement Conglomerate (UCI) to purchase their homes. Spencer and Kairos claimed, however, that the community had been made aware through every step of the process. That turned out to be completely untrue. When questioned directly about violating the Board of Aldermen’s moratorium on opening up new schools, Kairos leadership doubled down on their curious argument that the proposed six-block charter school campus was not an “expansion,” it wasn’t “opening a new school” -- Kairos was “just adding” new grades to its school. The Post-Dispatch reported that Kairos added only nine new students in the last year, calling into question the need for anymassive expansion. Ultimately, it was union opposition that shut the project down, with the Teamsters union, Brewers and Maltsters Benevolent Association declining to sell a critical piece of real estate to Kairos and UIC. Leadership at American Federation of Teachers Local 420 had sent a letter to the Teamsters, citing the closure of SLPS schools and the “fantasy-land numbers created out of thin air” by Kairos. Ultimately, Kairos’ math simply didn’t add up.

Budding diversity

Black-owned ViolaSTL dispensary includes Larry Hughes as a co-owner

By Alvin A. Reid

St. Louis American

ViolaSTL, a cannabis dispensary outlet, is serving medicinal patients at its 2001 Olive Street location and is the only African-American owned shop in the downtown St. Louis area.

Dan Pettigrew, managing partner, and Jamil Taylor, director of operations, has a third teammate on the ViolaSTL owner ship team – former SLU and NBA star Larry Hughes. Pettigrew and Taylor celebrated the store’s debut on Monday afternoon. Several customers stopped by before its doors were officially open.

“We want to be in urban areas,” said Pettigrew, who along with Taylor opened dispensaries in downtown Detroit and Chicago.

“A lot of these area are underserved, and Black ownership is important because few dispensaries are owned by African Americans.”

n The Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association reported in 2021 that there were 192 dispensaries in the state, and none were owned by a Black entrepreneur.

Pettigrew said he and his partners’ zeal to open dispensaries is based on past law enforcement efforts that “targeted certain people.”

The American Civil Liberties Union found in a 2020 analysis that Black people are 3.64 times more likely than white people to be arrested for marijuana possession, even though Black and white people use marijuana at similar rates.

It is also a lucrative business, especially since

Missouri has legalized recreational marijuana use.

Marijuana Business Daily, an industry newsletter, estimates that retail marijuana sales will have reached $33 billion when final totals are released for 2022, and $52.6 billion by the end of 2026.

Unfortunately, there are few Black dispensary owners in the St. Louis area, Missouri, and United States.

Because states do not readily identify the race of dispensary owners it is difficult to find an exact national percentages. However, the Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association reported in 2021 that there were 192 dispensaries in the state, and none were owned by a Black entrepreneur.

That changed in January 2022, when Adrienne Scales-Williams launches Luxury Leaf at 1463 S. Vandeventer Avenue in The Grove neighborhood.

A 2017 MjBizDaily survey concluded only 4%

See VIOLASTL, B2

Black-owned small businesses bolster record national growth

Biden: ‘Best days are ahead’

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

Recent Census numbers show that the Biden-Harris administration set a new high for the number of new small businesses created. The U.S. SBA administrator, Isabella Guzman, stated that the rate of new business applications in 2022 was slightly lower than in 2021, but still showed excellent growth under President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

According to Guzman, “Small business applications hit a high of 10.5 million since the start of this administration, the largest in any two years in our nation’s history.” The report’s authors state, “Steady and consistent growth, as well as unprecedented investments in infrastructure, manufacturing, and R&D, present enormous prospects for America’s entrepreneurs.” Small businesses, Biden said in a statement, are “the engines of our economy and the heartbeat of our communities.”

According to data released on Jan. 17, “we learned that my first two years in office have been the two greatest years for new small company applications, with more than 10 million total new businesses created,” See BUSINESSES, B2

PeoPle on the Move

Richardson new project manager at Kwame

Kwame Building Group (KWAME) has added Stan Richardson as senior project manager. Richardson has 15 years of industry experience in new construction and renovation for healthcare, K-12 and higher education facilities as well as transportation and public works projects. He is overseeing the City of St. Louis Cervantes Convention Center Expansion and Modernization Project. He holds a bachelor of science in industrial engineering from University of Missouri-Columbia, and he serves as a board member for Ali Academy.

Brooks named director at AB School of Business

The Anheuser-Busch School of Business (ABSB) at Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) has named Brandi Brooks, M.S. as director of the Minority Entrepreneurship Collaborative Center for Advancement (MECCA). As MECCA director, Brooks will partner with the CIE director to develop, plan, implement, and evaluate MECCA programs and administration. Brooks brings a robust and well-rounded background to MECCA, with more than 10 years of combined experience in marketing, digital media, and operations.

Ivy new executive director at Episcopal City Mission

Nathan Ivy was named the new executive director of Episcopal City Mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri. Most recently, Ivy served as a project director with Vision for Children at Risk in St. Louis, promoting the wellness of young children in the St. Louis metropolitan area. He has also worked with Urban Strategies, Inc., Washington University, and the Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Clubs. Ivy is a lifelong St. Louisan, born and raised in Webster Groves. He says he is looking forward to partnering with the ECM board to develop a shared vision and goals for the future.

Michael Kennedy Jr. now a Tatan 100

Michael Kennedy Jr., CEO of KAI Enterprises and The UP Companies (UPCO), has been named a 2023 St. Louis Titan 100 – a program recognizing the area’s most accomplished C-level executives for their exceptional leadership, vision and passion. As CEO of KAI (architecture, engineering and construction firm) and UPCO (electrical, carpentry and labor subcontractor services), Kennedy has successfully embraced change in the ever-evolving design and construction industry. After years of developing progressive resolutions, Kennedy managed to grow KAI’s revenue from $8 million in his first year as president to more than $55 million.

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

From left, ViolaSTL dispensary staff member Wilson Chandler, Managing Partner Dan Pettigrew and Director of Operations Jamil Taylor were putting the final touches on the Black-owned store just as its doors would officially open on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023.

Michael Kennedy Jr.

Brandi Brooks

Nathan Ivy

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Photo courtesy of The White House

ViolaSTL

Continued from B1

up in opposition of minority entrepreneurship,” he said.

Dan Pettigrew, ViolaSTL dispensary co-owner and managing partner, will soon replace the temporary sign behind him as the location has opened for business at 2001 Olive in downtown St. Louis. The partnership includes former SLU and NBA star Larry Hughes.

That figure includes 5.7% of owners who identified themselves as Hispanic/Latino and 2.4% that were Asian. Another 6.7 percent labeled their race as “other.”

Jesce Horton, co-founder and board chairman of the Minority Cannabis Business Association, told MJBizDaily “The biggest need and the biggest disparity and the biggest outrage has been the licensing process and the ability for small businesses to first get into the market.”

“And then to survive after dealing with large taxes, huge licensing fees or all these other things that we fear are shaping

Businesses

Continued from B1 of cannabis companies were owned by African-Americans. In a 2022 update, it reported businesses with owners who identified themselves as minorities was around 19%.

Biden noted.

There has also been healthy growth in the number and revenues of Black-owned small businesses, according to the Census Bureau.

In 2020, there were about 141,000 Black-owned businesses nationwide — a 5% increase from the previous year. This occurred as the nation remained in the worst months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Black-owned small business statistics include:

• Black-owned businesses employed 1.3 million employees in 2020, according to the Census Bureau.

• A University of California Santa Cruz study found that 0ver 1.2 million African Americans were self-employed in February of 2022, compared to 1.1 million in 2020.

• Black owners have accounted for 26% of all new business websites since the pandemic began, compared to 15 percent before the pandemic, according to a Brookings Institute study.

• Black-owned businesses currently bring in an average total revenue of $1,031,021, compared to $6,485,334 for non-Black businesses, according to Brookings.

• Nearly one-third of Blackowned businesses in the U.S. are in the healthcare and social assistance fields. Black women own 54% of those businesses.

• Black-owned businesses are much more likely to hire Black workers.

• Health care and social assistance are the top industries for Black-owned business, with close to 40,000 companies nationwide.

While there is good news, Black entrepreneurs face financial obstacles unlike many white small business owners.

According to the National Minority Supplier Development Council:

ViolaSTL has overcome the obstacles and will “bring hundreds of jobs” to the city by the close of 2023, according to Pettigrew.

The location has opened just over two months after Missouri voters approved recreational use of marijuana.

“Now that this is legal, it is important that we deliver a positive experience for our customers,” he said. “For now, we will prioritize medical patients.”

“We will soon transition to medical and recreational customers.”

As for Hughes’ involvement, Pettigrew said “we wanted to be as local as possible and given his involvement with this city, Larry is excited to be involved.”

“He is always giving back to his community, and the best way to show that is to be an owner.”

Taylor said the partners

of

U.S. SBA Administrator Isabella Guzman said a recent Census numbers show that small business applications hit a high of 10.5 million since President joe Biden a Vice President Kamala Harris took office, “the largest in any two years in our nation’s history.”

• 8 out of 10 Black-owned businesses fail within the first 18 months

• 58% of Black-owned businesses were at risk of financial hardship before the pandemic, compared to 27% of white-owned businesses.

• Only 4% of Black American businesses survive the startup stage, even though 20% of Black Americans start businesses.

• Only 5% of Black Americans hold some business equity, compared to 15 percent of white Americans.

• Black entrepreneurs start their businesses with an average of $35,000 of capital. White entrepreneurs start their businesses with an average of $107,000 of capital.

• In 2019, about 30% of Black-owned businesses spent over 50% of their revenue paying off debt.

• 22% of Black-owned small businesses reported receiving financial assistance in the form of cash grants or government loans in 2022, compared to 27% of non-minority-owned small businesses.

have been working to find a location to open a business for four years, and the area where ViolaSTL has opened “does not look like it did back then. The store is located across from the SC STL soccer stadium and is adjacent to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police headquarters.

“This is exciting for us,” Taylor said.

“We are going to have a great product and great customer experiences. Taylor navigated the details of licensing and the store’s design and buildout. According to Pettigrew, Taylor crafted “the highest scoring application in the state.”

“We love this neighborhood. We love being by the soccer stadium. We are huge soccer fans,” Pettigrew said, just hours before the location greeted its fist customers.

Biden said the small business report “provides more evidence that [the administration’s] economic plan is helping to strengthen the middle class and the economy as a whole.

Guzman said that tens of thousands of businesses were struggling to stay operational when Biden was elected. According to her, Americans have been creating businesses and employment at unprecedented rates since the economic recovery began.

Guzman claimed that “the SBA and the Biden-Harris Administration continue to retool vital federal small business support programs and services to expand access to capital, provide much-needed trusted networks for technical assistance and training, and help America’s entrepreneurs seek new revenue opportunities from transformational legislation,” such as the president’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Biden said there are reasons for economic confidence all around the country because of the historically low unemployment rate and the two strongest years of job growth in history.

He stated that revitalizing America’s infrastructure and supply networks would be essential in the long-term success of the country’s small companies.

The president called House Republicans “sad” because they have made defending affluent tax cheats their main legislative goal.

He argued that his plan to crack down on corporations that cheat on their taxes will also help level the playing field for small businesses.

“I will continue to work with anybody from either party, in Congress or in the states, to implement my economic agenda and build our economy from the bottom up and middle out. And I am convinced America’s best days are ahead,” Biden said.

Photo courtesy

U.S. SBA

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

By Earl Austin Jr.

Show time at Vashon

High school classic features nationally ranked teams

Vashon High and Staley High from Kansas City are outstanding high school basketball teams and favorites to win state championships in their respective classes in March.

The Wolverines are two-time Class 4 state champions, and Staley returned a strong nucleus from last season’s Class 6 Final Four team. Both teams have been tested by rugged schedules against talented teams from outside the state of Missouri.

On Saturday evening, these teams will square off in the featured game of the Show Me Champions Classic at Vashon. The Vashon-Staley showdown is the marquee game of a six-game event that features top teams from Missouri, Illinois, and Tennessee. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. Vashon had taken its share of lumps early this season against its national schedule, but the Wolverines have put things together as they came up with two big victories over the weekend. Vashon defeated nationally-ranked Huntington Prep (WV) last Friday night, then followed up with a win over a strong Modesto Christian (CA) team on Saturday at the Quincy Shootout in Illinois.

The Wolverines are led by 6’6” senior forward Kennard Davis Jr., who is headed to Southern Illinois next season. Seniors Jayden Nicholson and Jordan Logan are also strong veterans while sophomores Christian Williams and Trey Williams are talented young players.

Staley has been rolling through much of its season behind a talented group of seniors, who are headed to Division I schools next season. Senior point guard Kyan Evans recently became the school›s career scoring leader. He is headed to Colorado State. The Falcons also feature a strong front court with 6’7” senior Kayden Fish and 6’9” senior Cameron Manyawu, who are headed to Iowa State and Indiana State, respectively.

Here is a look at the rest of the schedule for Saturday’s Show Me Champions Classic.

Hazelwood Central vs. West Memphis (AR), noon - Hazelwood Central is led by 6’2” junior guard Travis Green III, who is averaging 13.4 points a game, along with 6’3” senior guard Jhordan Covington-Berry. West Memphis has a strong tradition in boys’ basketball that goes back to the 1980’s.

Webster Groves vs. Miller Career Academy, 1:30 p.m. - Webster Groves features one of the top juniors in the area in 6’4” forward Iziah Purvey, who is averaging 14.5 points a game. The Statesmen also feature senior guards RJ Trevino and CJ Lang. Career Academy has a talented senior guard in 6’0” Charles Nelson, who is averaging 16 points a game. Senior guard Nehemiah Reedus is averaging 12.2 points a game while 6’4” junior Antione Franklin is averaging 10 points.

Charleston vs. St. Mary’s, 3 p.m.Charleston comes in as the defending Class

3 state champions. The Bluejays are talented with all five starters averaging in double figures. They are led by 6’1” sophomore PJ Farmer, who is averaging 19 points a game. The Bluejays also feature 6’3” senior Rico Coleman, who is averaging 15.6 points and 6’1” guard Trey Stanback, who is averaging 13.8 points. St. Mary’s has a talented backcourt duo in sophomore Zyree Collins and senior Kaliel Boyd. Collins is averaging 23.8 points a game while Boyd is averaging 14.6 points.

Michael Lee of the Washington Post was part of a team that assembled a series of articles detailing the shameful treatment of Black NFL coaches entitled “Blackout.” He recently told Lisa Desjardins on PBS NewsHour that the hiring record is despicable, but so is recent history when it comes to Black coach dismissals.

“Black coaches are most likely to be fired after having success than a white coach,” he said.

order, in short order.” In 2011, there were 10 Black coaches, seven full-time and three interims.

Alvin A. Reid

“If you are a Black coach who wins nine games, you’re just as likely to be fired as a white coach who won six games. And you’re also going to be the first one to be dismissed in quicker — in quicker

“It appeared that the NFL was moving in the right direction. But, in the last decade, things have progressed to the point where now, again, you have a lawsuit in place,” he said. Lee was referring to former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores’ racial discrimination lawsuit against the franchise and the NFL. Flores won nine games but was dismissed after the 2021 season. He was replaced by Mike McDaniel, who is bi-racial and cherishes it.

David Culley inherited a miserable team Houston

Texans team racked by controversy because of the on-going Deshaun Watson sexual misconduct allegations. The Texans went 4-13 in 2021 and Culley was fired after one season. Next up for the Texans was Lovie Smith. He too was hired to coach a talent-starved team, but his guys never quit, and Houston won its final game to finish with a better record than the Chicago Bears. The win cost the Texans the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft in April, and it might have cost Smith his job. He, like Culley, was fired after just one season. Steve Wilks is still interim

Chicago Simeon vs. Cape Girardeau Central, 4:30 p.m. - Chicago Simeon (18-1) fields one of the top teams in the country. They feature 6’8” twins Miles and Wesley Rubin, who are headed to Loyola of Chicago and Northern Iowa, respectively. Senior point guard Jalen Griffith is also a main contributor. Cape Central is currently 18-0 and ranked No. 1 in Missouri Class 5. The Tigers are led by 6’8” senior Cameron Williams, who is averaging 20 points a game. They also feature 6’4” junior Jay Reynolds and a talented pair of freshmen in 6’3” Marquell Murray and 6’6” Ty Edwards.

Chaminade vs Chicago Whitney Young, 6 p.m. - Chaminade enters the week with a 14-3 record. The Red Devils feature a strong senior backcourt in 6’3” Nilivan Daniels and 6’0” BJ Ward. Daniels is averaging 21.8 points a game while Ward is averaging 13.4 points. Ward has signed with SEMO. Whitney Young is led by 6’0” senior guard Dalen Davis, who has committed to Penn, and 6’6” senior forward Daniel Johnson.

head coach of the Carolina Panthers. He took over after Matt Rhule, an abject failure, was fired five games into the season. Wilks closed with a 6-6 record and almost won the NFC South division. Wilks deserves the job. I doubt he gets it. Wilks had his own one-and-done season in 2018 with the Arizona Cardinals. He went 3-13 and was fired to make room for the young genius Kliff Kingsbury and his hand-picked quarterback Kyler Murray. Kingsbury was fired after this season. Mike Tomlin of the

Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay’s Todd Bowles are the only NFL’s Black coaches, not counting the interim Wilks.

Tomlin avoided his first losing season by closing 9-8 and is a dean in the league’s coaching ranks. If Bowles turns in another season like 2022, he’ll be fired just as his offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich was last week.

among several Black candidates. The San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator saw his unit who shut down the vaunted Dallas Cowboys offense last Sunday in a 19-12 divisional playoff win…A GoFundMe page has been established for continued support of the late Ted Savage’s RBI Golf Classic. [Reviving

Earl Austin Jr.

Iziah Purvey and the Webster Groves Statesmen have a tough battle against Mille Career Academy on Saturday during the Show Me Champions Classic at Vashon High. Purvey, a junior,

Photo courtesy of Prep Hoops

DeMeco Ryans

Boeing/STLCC program named finalist for Bellwether Award

A collaborative program aimed to meet the workforce needs of the highly specialized aerospace manufacturing sector has been named a finalist for the 2023 Bellwether Award.

The Boeing St. Louis Preemployment Training program, led by St. Louis Community College’s Workforce Solutions Group, is one of the finalists for the prestigious Bellwether Award in the Workforce Development category. The awards will be presented during the Community College Futures Assembly Feb. 26-28 in San Antonio, Texas.

The Bellwether Awards annually recognize outstanding and innovative programs and practices that are successfully leading community colleges into the future. Winners and finalists are invited to join the prestigious Bellwether College Consortium.

The award in the Workforce Development category recognizes public and/or private strategic alliances and partnerships that promote community and economic development.

The Problem and the Solution

To support new program contracts and program growth, as well as address a talent shortage due to retirements, Boeing needed to create a sustainable pipeline for future hiring. To solve this problem, Boeing St. Louis and STLCC’s Workforce Solutions Group partnered in 2007 on the Boeing St. Louis Pre-Employment program to train candidates to work as aircraft assembly mechanics.

As part of this program, STLCC instructional designers teamed up with Boeing to develop two pathways: Sheet

Metal Assembler, Riveter (SMAR) and Composites Technology.

SMAR training requires 200 contact hours; composites technology, 120 hours. Both also require eight hours of teambuilding and four hours of interview skills. STLCC staff also assist students with updating and revising their resumes in preparation for the Boeing application process.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are guaranteed an interview with Boeing; however, jobs are not guaranteed. Additionally, students can receive nine credit hours for the SMAR course. Those who have a mathematics class credit on their transcripts may apply for a Certificate of Specialization in STLCC’s Skilled Trades Industrial Occupations Technology program. Credit for the composites technology program also can be pursued.

This is Boeing’s only pre-employment program of its kind in the country.

According to Becky Epps, manager of STLCC’s Center for Workforce Innovation, a unique benefit of the program is the fact that it is led by instructors who bring years of real-world experience to the classroom.

“When developing this program, we knew it was imperative to have high-quality instructors, so we sought to hire Boeing retirees to serve on our staff,” she said. “Their knowledge of the very specialized aerospace manufacturing industry, combined with their enthusiasm for teaching, is invaluable.”

All costs for the program are covered by Boeing, which enables students to complete it

with no out-of-pocket expenses. Moreover, students receiving unemployment are eligible to continue receiving benefits while in training since the program is approved by Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

To cast a wider net of prospects and make the program inclusive to women and high school students, Boeing and STLCC also implemented the Women in Aerospace Manufacturing program and the Second Semester High School Senior program. This program allows high school students to simultaneously attend the training program and high school with the potential of a job offer

after graduation.

The Results

In 2022, Boeing St. Louis and STLCC celebrated a major milestone -- the 1,000th job placement of the program.

Since its inception, 1,321 individuals have graduated from the program, and Boeing has hired 1,082 of the graduates.

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

St. Louis CITY SC and the University of Missouri–St. Louis are entering a dynamic new partnership to grow the next generation of esports play-

ers and fans and unite the two STLMade brands in programming designed to foster professional development by expanding UMSL’s sport management offerings.

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

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

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

“This is an exciting and unique partnership that focuses on building direct connections between the University of Missouri–St. Louis and St. Louis CITY SC,” UMSL Chancellor Kristin Sobolik said. “Our partnership includes academic integration to provide students with internships, gameday opportunities, in-class engagements with club personnel and players, and more – all to build a direct and diverse pipeline for the region’s workforce.”

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

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

The Boeing St. Louis Pre-employment Training program, led by St. Louis Community College’s Workforce Solutions Group, is one of the finalists for the prestigious Bellwether Award in the Workforce Development category.

Living It

NandoSTL signs with T-Pain’s

Nappy Boy Entertainment SLSO sees

By Danielle Brown St. Louis American

NandoSTL’s career has grown steadily since 2019, he has performed at several large events including the music festival S.L.U.M. Fest STL and last year’s Music At The Intersection. He has also shared the stage with Grammywinning multi-platinum songwriter, and producer, T-Pain. T-Pain has recently topped the charts with hits including “I’m N Luv ” “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin’)” “Bartender” and more.

The talented duo are now part of a team since Nando signed onto T-Pain’s independent record label and entertainment company, Nappy Boy Entertainment.

“I feel like when I got there I felt like I was in the right spot,” Nando said.

“I didn’t want to go somewhere big [a major label] because I knew I’d be at the bottom of the roster with artists way bigger than me also being on the label. It’s different with Nappy Boy. Since I’m the new guy now, I’m getting the most attention. My next few projects are gonna do way bet-

NandoSTL has signed to T-Pain’s independent record label and entertainment com

pany, Nappy Boy Entertainment.

ter than they would’ve if I did them by myself.”

When Nando first stepped into T-Pain’s Atlanta studio he saw the many plaques and writing credits on the wall. Nando says T-Pain told him he’s “not caught up on chasing after another hit anymore. [I’m] more interested in placing his artists in a position for them to be bigger than [me.]”

T-Pain’s label has also taken on Nando’s “team,” which is composed of friends he has worked with throughout his career.

“Since I already have a team, he usually sends an idea then my team and I bring it into fruition,” he said.

Nando met T-Pain while competing in T-Pain’s

March Madness contest, a weekly competition hosted in Feb. 2022 on the gaming app, Twitch. Artists from around the world battled under T-Pain’s watchful eye. Nando lost in the final round of competition, but the artists developed a business relationship and friendship. “He was already sold on me and told me he decided on me coming over there [to Nappy Boy],” Nando said. “We kept in touch after the competition, shot a video together and I wasn’t even signed yet.”

See NandoSTL, C8

The Rep installs Reggie D. White as associate artistic director

His first show hits stage Jan 29

By Danielle Brown St. Louis American

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis has welcomed West Coast native and longtime actor Reggie D. White as the company’s new associate artistic director. White joins The Rep’s artistic team of Hana Sharif, artistic director, and Becks Redman, associate artistic director and director of new play development. White is responsible for directing, serving with The Rep’s Learning and Community Engagement [LACE] department, and more. He’s currently directing his first show with The Rep, “Side by Side by Sondheim”, a musical revue featuring Broadway songs and compositions by Stephen Sondheim. It opens Jan. 29, 2023 and runs through Feb. 19 at COCA’s Catherine Berges Theatre.

Last year, while in California, White worked on a production for Sondheim’s “Into the Woods.” He was backstage when he learned of Sondheim’s passing

“His work has always been meaningful to me,” White said. “I think Sondheim as a composer and a musical dramatist was the first person, in my mind, who gave musical theater characters the permission to be real people.

“Also his music has always been so deeply moving and beautiful to me because of its complexity.”

When he accepted the position with The Rep, White said Sharif inquired how he would feel beginning his tenure directing the Soldheim revue.

White says he couldn’t think of a better way to introduce himself to the St. Louis community than with this production.

“I feel like people will get a sense of the kind of artist that I am, what my point of view is and the way that I wanna make art in this community,” he said

SLSO to give world premiere of Cahokia symphony by Black composer

By Chris King For The St. Louis American

On January 28-29, music director Stéphane Denève will lead the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in the world premiere of “Visions of Cahokia,” a new symphony by African-American composer James Lee III commissioned by SLSO.

Reggie D. White gives direction during a rehearsal Fri. Jan. 13, 2023 as The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ (The Rep) new Associate Artistic Director. White brings more than two decades of theatre experience, including over 10 years of involvement as an award-winning artist, educator and arts advocate.

Photo by Wiley Price

“I’m Black as hell. I’m gay as hell, and I’m talented as hell. I feel like those things will be very very clear when you see the show.” White and Sharif met several years ago through advocacy work. They appeared on several panels together, and continued to communicate virtually. Their community discussions centered on removing barriers, and creating

n Typical of a Lee symphony, “Visions of Cahokia” calls for a big band: four horns; three trumpets; three percussionists playing a total of 13 instruments; two each of flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, and trombones; one each of bass trombone, tuba, timpani and harp; and strings.

“I had been researching interesting historical connections between Black Americans and American Indians,” Lee described the origin of the piece to The St. Louis American. “In the process of my research, I discovered the history of Cahokia and I approached the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra about composing a new work on the subject. I believed that the orchestra would be the best medium to evoke images and certain sounds of ancient Cahokia. Various aspects in the orchestration that I used to correlate to Cahokia include the prominent use of flutes and percussion to convey the ideas of singing, ritual, recreation, and celebration.” This will be Lee’s fourth composition that Denève has conducted. The composer’s relationship with SLSO started with Erik Finley, the vice president of the orchestra, who was familiar with Lee and his work from the time Finley used to work at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Lee is a professor at Morgan State University in Baltimore and has had his music performed by the orchestra there on numerous occasions.

“I start to see what is his voice, his very distinctive voice,” Denève told The St. Louis American about working with Lee. “It’s very virtuosic. Sometimes it’s very fast, very dense, and you have to know what exactly you want to hear, how to make the layers of the music heard in the most moving way.”

Typical of a Lee symphony, “Visions of Cahokia” calls for a big band: four horns; three trumpets; three percussionists playing a total of 13 instruments; two each of flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, and trombones; one each of bass trombone, tuba, timpani and harp; and strings.

“He’s a grand symphonist,” Denève said. “He really uses a big orchestra with a lot of percussion. He has a very distinctive orchestration, very powerful – his pieces go from very, very soft to very, very, very loud. I’m always impressed by how he builds the climaxes.”

The symphony’s first movement builds to the first of these climaxes as Lee tries to evoke the settling of the native metropolis in the Metro East, which flourished from 700 to 1400 AD. Lee notes that he employs the harp and clarinet as singers among the tribes. This movement, he notes, “reaches a climatic arrival point in which the orchestral texture is decidedly denser,

Photo by Wiley Price I St. Louis American

-

Photos courtesy of James Lee III

Composer James Lee III with St. Louis Symphony Orchestra music director Stéphane Denève.

“Taking Care of You”

SOS Task Force founded to fight substance misuse

Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, St. Louis Health Department director, has announced that the St. Louis Opioid and Substance Use Task Force [SOS] has been established by the city’s new Behavioral Health Bureau. Davis, speaking here during an August 2022 press conference at City Hall, said bridging gaps between substance misuse prevention and treatment is a priority.

A city Behavioral Health Bureau effort

St. Louis American staff

The City of St. Louis Department of Health’s new Behavioral Health Bureau, [BHB] established in October 2022, begins

the new year after establishing the St. Louis Opioid and Substance Use [SOS] Task Force.

Composed of community leaders, faithbased and non-profit organizations, and stakeholders in policy/government, the task force’s mission is to reduce substance misuse in the city.

It will also inform the community about “the needs, barriers, and strengths that impact the ability to provide and sustain services to address substance use,” according to Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, St. Louis director of health.

In 2021, there were 448 fatal drug overdoses and 3,782 non-fatal overdoses in the City of St. Louis.

“Nearly 450 families lost a loved one to substance use; even one of those is too many,” Davis said.

“Making mental health a priority is a priority for me and has been since day one. It’s why I am so dedicated to building an infrastructure for this bureau that will connect residents to needed services and bridge gaps

By Lee Ross Washington Informer

Books about Black health and health disparities in the United States are sometimes difficult to find. However there are several available that should be considered required reading.

I recommend these works for those who want to hear Black doctors and others detail the history of medical racism and the fight for health equity in America.

Sickening: Anti-Black Racism and Health Disparities in the United States

By Anne Pollock

From the spike in chronic disease after Hurricane Katrina to the lack of protection for Black residents during the Flint water crisis — and even the lifethreatening childbirth experience for tennis star Serena Williams — author Anne Pollock takes readers on a journey through the diversity of anti-Black racism operating in health care.

“Sickening” concludes with an examination of racialized health care during the COVID pandemic and the Black Lives Matter rebellions of 2020. It cuts through statistics to vividly portray health care inequalities. In a gripping and passionate style, Pollock shows the devastating reality and consequences of systemic racism on the lives and health of Black Americans.

We’ll Fight It Out Here: A History of the Ongoing Struggle for Health Equity David Chanoff, Louis W. Sullivan Racism in the U.S. health care system is undermining Black health care professionals and exacerbating health disparities among Black Americans for centuries. These health disparities only became a mainstream issue after a group of health professionals at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

‘Hustle Culture’ is dramatically impacting Black health

Don’t work yourself to sickness

By Laura Onyeneho Houston Defender

Hustle culture has been an essential part of being Black in America. It’s hard not to normalize seeing Black people work multiple jobs to survive, let alone fighting an uphill battle for access to the middle class. The grind might seem like it eventually “pays” dividends, but it has an adverse effect on a person’s mental health.

Hustle culture is the idea that to achieve success, one must continuously prioritize work. This is extremely popular among younger generations. Black people are overworked and underpaid, and overtime, the hustling leads to continued burnout and poor health.

Bankrate states that 45% [estimated 70 million

people] of working Americans report having a side hustle along with a full-time job. Among millennials, that statistic rises to 50%. Reasons include needing to make money to make ends meet, while others plan to use the money for savings or for additional disposable income.

In 2019, the World Health Organization chartered workplace burnout as an occupational phenomenon, describing burnout as a “syndrome” conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that hasn’t been successfully managed.

Research conducted in 2018 by Current Cardiology reported that people who worked more than 50 hours per week had an increased risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. It also can cause high blood pressure due to excessive psychological activation and stress. That is why the viral trend “quiet quitting”

See HUSTLE CULTURE, C3

About 13 million Americans have more than one job, and many Black people in

Culture” are overworked and underpaid. This can lead to health challenges.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

the

Photo courtesy of Medical News Today

St. Louis American staff

In the ongoing challenge to end food insecurity, which has a significant long-term impact on moms and babies, Bank of America has awarded Operation Food Search [OFS] a $25,000 grant to support the Fresh Rx: Nourishing Healthy Starts initiative. Seventy-five babies were delivered during a 24-month Fresh Rx pilot study, where moms were supplied with healthy, nutritious food.

Hustle Culture

Continued from C2

or, in theory, “Acting your wage” — doing the essential of what you are paid to do and nothing extra, is what younger workers are doing today to address their mental health concerns. Putting self-care first, declining additional responsibilities outside their pay grade.

Productivity is always recognized, but when it’s necessary to prioritize physical and mental health without jeopardizing how an individual makes a living?

Former First Lady Michelle Obama once said that Black people had to “work twice as good to get half as far.” Black people continue to face financial and economic challenges due to the country’s history of systemic racism and discrimination. The term has transformed as years pass and technology

SOS

Continued from C2

between equitable prevention and treatment.”

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics announced in March 2022 that there were an estimated 107,622 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2021. This was an increase of nearly 15% from the 93,655 deaths estimated in 2020. The BHB has focused on developing a comprehensive strategy to address behavioral health for the city, beginning with substance use and overdose. It has launched the Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program, a collaborative effort between the CDC Foundation and the Department of Health, has engaged community partners in strategic planning, capacity building, and technical assistance to reduce the overdose epidemic’s impact.

In December 2022, OD2A team members spent met with over 100 individuals from more than 40 agencies. Dr. M. Scott Tims, Project Director for the OD2A team, said the week-long series of meetings

Reading

Continued from C2

[HBCUs] banded together to fight for health equity. “We’ll Fight It Out Here” tells the story of how the Association of Minority Health Professions Schools (AMHPS) was founded by this coalition and the influence it built in politics and health care. David Chanoff and Louis W. Sullivan, former secretary of Health and Human Services, detail how the struggle for equity has been fought in the health care field.

“Taking Care of You”

Bank of America takes fresh approach to fight food insecurity

During that time, depressive symptoms in moms decreased by 14% and the low-birthweight rate was 5.3% points lower than Medicaid funded individuals in St. Louis City. It is estimated that preventing low-birthweight deliveries has already saved $189,000 in healthcare costs during the pilot program.

This program connects pregnant individuals and their families who are experiencing food insecurity with fresh, local food and resources for

advances. In the passage of Malcolm X’s 1965 autobiography, he wrote that “everyone in Harlem needed some kind of hustle to survive,” or anything that could help the poor Black man make ends meet, whether it be selling drugs or illegal gambling. People are working longer, taking on more tasks, and accepting multiple jobs that pay low wages, which force individuals to take on side gigs to survive.

Health Implications

Ja’Vonnie Partlow is an Austin-based HR Professional and entrepreneur. Originally from Boston, her journey to becoming a six-figure earner was both a rewarding and challenging one. Growing up in extreme poverty meant that she had to work harder for a comfortable lifestyle. Her efforts led to burnout.

“With hustle culture, I always felt like I wasn’t doing

“brought new insight to the team’s work and led them to re-work some of their approaches and strategies.”

“We definitely heard their feedback. Many of the communities just asked that we recognize them, and I want those community members to know we see and hear them in the work we hope to facilitate for the city”, said Tims. Since October, the bureau has been active throughout St. Louis.

It began in-depth data analysis of city data and worked with local partners to gain access to additional data that could be useful in monitoring and evaluation.

• participated in response to the shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School (CVPA) and mapped crisis response patterns of agencies to school district needs.

• held over 100 meetings with partners across the city and region to foster relationships and build rapport in the community.

• hosted task-force meetings to glean community needs, engage in discussion-based planning and identify gaps/barriers in services for SUD.

• developed the Snapshot, a high-level community assessment. The matrix collected

Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor’s Reflections on Race and Medicine

By Damon Tweedy

When Damon Tweedy begins medical school, he envisions a bright future where his segregated, working-class background will become irrelevant. Instead, he finds that he has joined a new world where race is front and center and Black bodies are considered pathological and inherently diseased. “Black Man in a White Coat” examines the complex ways in which both Black doctors

a healthy household.

It also provides nutritional education and counseling, mental health support when needed and support for ensuring other basic needs are met.

“Their support of our Fresh Rx program will allow OFS to continue helping moms and babies have healthier outcomes during this crucial time in their lives,” she said.

enough with just one stream of income. I would see people making money and having a bunch of businesses, and it became overwhelming. I felt guilt,” she said. “I started venturing into different things, got a second job, traded stocks. It got overwhelming. I told myself that I had to focus less on hustling and more on moving effectively and efficiently.”

She recalled a period during the COVID-19 pandemic when she experienced daily bouts of anxiety working a job that she outgrew professionally but was stuck.

“Bank of America is a multiyear donor to OFS and a committed partner in community work.” OFS is partnering with all Medicaid health plans, SSM clinics, and the Social Policy Institute at Washington University to launch a randomized control trial of the Fresh Rx program to determine how Medicaid can promote food security and better birth

tasks because I was so burnt out. I felt stuck,” Partlow said. “There was hiring freezes everywhere, and I hadn’t tried to learn any new skills. Not only was I stagnant, but I wasn’t qualified doing anything but the job I was doing. I developed insomnia, gained weight, stopped exercising, and didn’t have the tools to get through it.”

Research has shown that increased stress levels lead to reduced professional productivity. Your body is wired to react to stress. When your body faces demand each day, the body treats these minor hassles as threats.

outcomes for all Missouri families.

Bank of America works with nonprofit partners and local organizations in St. Louis to improve economic mobility and create a thriving and healthy community.

The bank’s grant and partnership will support OFS’s efforts to provide nutrient-dense meals to families.

Founded in 1981, Operation Food Search (OFS) is a hunger relief organization located at 1644 Lotsie Blvd.

lead to far more health complications.

“There is ‘hidden curriculum’ in the workplace for first gen Black students [people]. There is this expectation that we should know how to navigate these spaces when we are the first ones to uplift our families out of financial struggle, she said. “Feeling hypervigilant, low mood, hypertension, and headaches slowly manifests psychologically too. Your body is in a constant fight, flight, or freeze mode.”

Dr. Bettina M. Beech, a clinical professor of population health at the University of Houston, said that young people should bridge the gap of understanding between how young people cope with mental health challenges versus the older generations.

It provides free food, nutrition education and innovative programs proven to reduce food insecurity, including food and services to 200,000 individuals on a monthly basis – one-third of whom are children – through a network of 330 community partners in 27 Missouri and Illinois counties. To learn more about OFS and how people can access their services, call (314) 726-5355 or visit OperationFoodSearch.org

“I remember saying aloud how much I hated what I do. I was a high performer, but I started to avoid doing easy

Jessica Jackson, PhD., a Houston-based licensed psychologist, said burnout can

data from all different agencies and stakeholders in the City of St. Louis that work in overdose and substance use awareness, prevention, and treatment.

It showed the scope of work in all these services/areas [www. google.com] and what gaps exist.

Created an Epidemiology

and patients must navigate the difficult and often contradictory terrain of race and medicine. Tweedy discovers how often race influences his encounters with patients, and illustrates the complex social, cultural, and economic factors at the root of many health problems in the Black community.

Body and Soul: The Black Panther Party and the Fight Against Medical Discrimination Alondra Nelson

Between its founding in 1966 and its formal end in

Profile to highlight the burden of substance use disorder on the population/area of St. Louis in terms of socioeconomic, geographic, and behavioral factors.

The team also plans to continue discussion-based meetings and collaboration with partners to address sub-

1980, the Black Panther Party blazed a distinctive trail in American political culture, touting revolutionary rhetoric and militant action. Alondra Nelson, however, uncovers an indispensable but lesser-known aspect of the organization’s broader struggle for social justice: health care.

The Black Panther Party’s health activism was an expression of its founding political philosophy and also a recognition that poor Blacks were both underserved by mainstream medicine and overexposed to its harms. In 1971, the party launched a

stance use and mental health. Community summits are also being planned for the spring.

The Department of Health will release more information on how to attend these summits as the coordination process is still underway.

The bureau is supported by the Missouri Department of

campaign to address sicklecell anemia and established screening programs and educational outreach efforts.

Black & Blue: The Origins and Consequences of Medical Racism By

J. Hoberman

“Black & Blue” is a description of how some American doctors think about racial differences and how it affects the treatment of their Black patients. Unlike many studies of medical racism that fail to address racially motivated behaviors of

Dr. Jackson said experiencing burnout doesn’t need to be dealt with alone.

“Get connected with a therapist. Find someone to help you develop a framework to get you focused and back on track,” she said. “Also, learn to check in with yourself and don’t ignore the signs. It’s mind-body connection. Take a few minutes to breathe and check in with what’s going on with your body. Give yourself compassion.”

“Young people are bold with setting boundaries while my generation had to keep pushing through the burnout; however, the world isn’t going to change as quickly as maybe their generation has established. We don’t want young people to lose out on great opportunities that could help them advance in their careers. People will always have to unlearn and relearn,” Beech said. “What is meaningful work for you? What does an excellent quality of life look like? Decide what those are and pursue them.”

Laura Onyeneho is a Report for America corps member for the Houston Defender Network

Health and Senior Services (DHSS), resources from the state’s settlement with opioid manufacturers and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

For the current fiscal year, the Department of Health has secured approximately $400,000 from DHSS and nearly $565,000 from opioid settlement funds. The department plans to use $2 million of ARPA funding to continue the work through 2026. The OD2A team “is only the kickstart of the bureau’s team of 14 staff members who will continue the work,” according to Davis. The Department of Health is hiring, and the city Department of Personnel released applications in November for a Public Health Education Coordinator and Public Health Educator. Additional positions will continue to be posted. All applications should be submitted through the Department of Personnel and can be found at www.stlouis-mo.gov/jobs

The S.O.S. task force is currently seeking feedback from the community for the strategic plan through a brief online survey at [stlouisdph. qualtrics.com].

physicians, “Black & Blue” penetrates the physician’s private sphere where racial fantasies and misinformation distort diagnoses and treatments.

Doctors have imposed white or Black racial identities upon every organ system of the human body, along with racial interpretations of Black children, the Black elderly, the Black athlete, Black musicality, Black pain thresholds, and other aspects of Black minds and bodies.

Lee Ross is a health writer for the Washington Informer

Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated in March 2022 that fatal drug overdoses nationwide killed 107,622 people in 2021, an increase of nearly 15% from the 93,655 deaths estimated

Illustration by Jamiel Law / NPR

Dr. Jessica Jackson

Erica Campbell ‘feels alright’ about new single, grammy nomination

St. Louis American staff

Multi-platinum gospel recording artist Erica Campbell is sharing her joy with release of a new single “Feel Alright,” which she describes as “an uptempo affirmation of the power you find in choosing joy even when life is messy and unpredictable.”

Campbell, along with her husband, Warryn Campbell and Juan Winans, is nominated for a 2023 Grammy Award in the Best Gospel Performance/Song category for the single “Positive.” Grammy winners will be announced Sunday night, Jan. 26. It is her 14th Grammy nomination with five wins to her credit. Campbell is also nominated

for the 2023 NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Gospel/ Christian Song for her charttopping single, “Positive.”

The lyric, “Today I feel alright, and ain’t nothing gonna bring me down… ‘Cause I’m blessed,” opens “Feel Alright,” and the following verses “make it clear that she knows exactly where the source of her joy lies,” according to a release.

“The song also reinforces Erica’s desire to make sure everyone listening understands that this kind of joy is accessible to all with lyrics like, “I’m giving You the glory, ‘cause you’ve been good to me. No, I ain’t gon’ be selfish, can’t keep it all for me. I want the world to know, I’m living life to show.”’

“Feel Alright” leans heavily into contemporary Soul and R&B genres and displays the vocal command and expertise that has made Campbell a

Don’t grow weary of well doing

By Lyndia Grant

On Dec. 25, 2022, my jour-

Gospel star.

“Positive,” was Campbell’s first single to top both Bill-

Gospel singer Erica Campbell is celebrating release of her new single “Feel Alright,” and her 14th Grammy nomination.

Photo courtesy of Praise Houston

board’s Gospel Airplay chart and the Mediabase Gospel Radio chart in August 2022. The song also became her latest single to crack the Top 10 on Billboard’s US Gospel Chart and spent 22 weeks in the Top 20 Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart - a hybrid chart that includes radio, streaming and digital downloads. In addition to her continued

success as a music artist, Campbell also hosts a syndicated morning radio show, “Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell.”

Currently available in 40 markets nationwide, the show sets “a new bar for syndicated morning programming by creating a high-energy experience for listeners through a range of music styles, powerful interviews, lively features and a fresh approach on news and listener engagement.”

According to a list of stations on the show’s website, it does not air in St. Louis.

“Feel Alright” was released on Jan. 13, 2023 and is available for purchase and streaming on all digital music platforms.

ney of helping others reached 22 years. My mom died on Christmas Day, and we are just beginning this season. Let us stop a moment and reflect on our lives as we have lived it this year. Have you been on the right path? You must sow love. Scripture tells us, “He who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not (therefore!) grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6 NKJ.

You will reap eternal life, if you sow to the Spirit, that is, if you don’t grow weary in welldoing. While doing some projects, I could not stay the course.

During those projects given to me by myself and not from the Holy Spirit did not work. During those times, there was a point when my thrill had gone away. I was not on my proper path; I had taken a detour, so my soul was not at peace. It was during this time that I began to be awakened by my alarm clock, at 4 a.m. each morning to pray, meditate and seek guidance from the Lord. That guidance came, and now that I am on my proper course, I can see myself writing my column,

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Guest Columnist Lyndia Grant

and enjoying my radio show and coordinating health fairs for a lifetime! The key here is you must stop and hear from the Holy Spirit; obviously, you are doing what YOU want to do, and not how many of us quit trying to reach our goal because we got tired of failing. Time is most likely the worst enemy of enthusiasm. If someone continues to pursue a goal, no matter what it is, there is a way to make it become a reality, however, if you do not love doing the job, you will quit pretty quickly. Almost

every one of you can think of something you were enthusiastic about, yet now, you are not happy about that at all, you get tired quickly. When you are doing what you have come to this earth to do, you will never tire. If that has happened to you, then you are likely on the wrong road. In fact, you will enjoy doing what God sent you to this earth to do so much, you will do it for free. You will not charge one red cent. Your joy simply comes from giving this service. It is ‘who’ you are. It happened to me too, after my mom died. I started learning about how to live a better life when you have Type 2

Diabetes. I Was NOT doing any of my work to make money, I did my free work without one thought of making money. I never wanted another person to suffer like my mom did. Because I gave my all to this project, I became consumed with it, and loved every minute of writing my column about it, and brought health Please, do not grow weary in caring for yourself, choose life, and that more abundantly

Lyndia Grant is a speaker/ writer in the D.C. area., and host of radio show, “Think on These Things.”

The Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corporation (VICC) is seeking a Chief Executive Officer (CEO). VICC supports racial diversity in public education by administering the voluntary student transfer program for St Louis City and County.

The VICC CEO reports directly to the Board of Directors and is responsible for the effective and efficient operation of the transfer program. The CEO position is a part-time position, requiring about 2 days a week. A more detailed job posting, description of duties and application instructions can be found at https://choicecorp.org/CEOopening.htm.

Application Deadline: January 30, 2023. Start Date: July 1, 2023

Questions - contact Bruce Ellerman at 314-880-5699 or bellerman@choicecorp.org VICC is an equal opportunity employer.

DATA SCIENTIST I

Writes software utilizing analytics and machine learning to the achieve business goals and objectives of the company under immediate supervision. Demonstrates clear and working knowledge and concepts of software development, data science and learning algorithms. Responsible for the internal application programming and analysis of requirements using various technologies.

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

S.M. Wilson is growing and we’re hiring for an Accountant Coordinator, Project Accountant and a Construction Technology Manager. Please visit our website at www.smwilson.com to apply.

St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices

SOLICITING BID

Reinhardt Construction LLC is Soliciting Bids from MBE/ WBE/DBE/Veteran/SDVE for the following:

CP221531 Pershing Hall –Renovation for MU Student Health Center and SOM/ MUHC Offices

Contact: Mike Murray ; mikem@ reinhardtconstructionllc.com

Phone: 573-682-5505

SOLICITING BID

Reinhardt Construction LLC is Soliciting Bids from MBE/ WBE/DBE/Veteran/SDVE for the following:

CP210781 UMTH Patient Care Tower – Pharmacy Renovation T0020-T0039

Contact: Mike Murray ; mikem@ reinhardtconstructionllc.com

Phone: 573-682-5505

PUBLIC NOTICE

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

To Advertise your Job Opportunity in the newspapeer ad online please email Angelita Houston at ahouston@stlamerican.com

SOLICITING BID

Reinhardt Construction LLC is Soliciting Bids from MBE/ WBE/DBE/Veteran/SDVE for the following:

CP220972 NextGen Precision Health Building – Level 4 Shell Space Fitout.

Contact: Mike Murray ; mikem@ reinhardtconstructionllc.com

Phone: 573-682-5505

PUBLIC NOTICE

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

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

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Dome at America’s Center is seeking bids from qualified companies to install a 120V circulating pump with approximately 200-ft of new piping on condenser water system with electric heat trace. Interested bidders must attend a pre-bid on-site walk-thru of project 10:00 AM Tuesday February 7th, 2023. Contact bsmith@ explorestlouis.com. Quotes due, February 15th, 2023. The facility reserves the right to reject any and all proposals. EOE.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Altman-Charter Co., requests subcontractor/supplier proposals for the Renovation of Bentwood Townhomes in St. Louis, MO.

This is the renovation of 186 units and some miscellaneous exterior site work. Proposals are due at the office of Altman-Charter Co., 315 Consort Dr., St. Louis, MO 63011 on or before Tues., February 14, 2023 at 3:00 PM (CT). Qualified Minority, Section 3, and Women owned businesses are encouraged to submit proposals. Plans can be viewed at FW Dodge, Construct Connect, SIBA, MOKAN, Cross Rhodes Reprographics and the Altman-Charter plan room in St. Louis. Bidders should contact Mr. James Geerling with any questions or to submit a proposal at bids@altman-charter.com. Our telephone # is (636) 207-8670, and our fax # is (636) 207-8671.

INVITATION TO BID

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL: SSD

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

Project Manual and drawings will be available through RMT Roofing and Waterproofing consultants at the mandatory pre-proposal conference and walk thru.

All vendors interested in participating in the proposal process are required to attend the mandatory pre-proposal conference at 10:00 AM on January 30, 2023.

The pre-bid conference will commence at Ackerman School (1550 Derhake Road, Florissant, MO 63033) and proceed to Litzsinger School (10094 Litzsinger Road, St. Louis, MO 63124).

ONLY attendees of this meeting will receive any correspondence or communication after that date.

A $50.00 refundable deposit check made out to Special School District will be required for copies of plans and drawings, refunded upon return of the project manual to RMT.

Bids are due at 2:00 pm on February 15, 2023, at Special School District Purchasing Department, 12110 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63131.

SEALED BIDS

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

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Gravel Mitigation at Ha Ha Tonka State Park, Project No. X2116-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 1/19/2023 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

PATTONVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT PARKWOOD AND HOLMAN SCHOOLS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SINGLE FEASIBLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT FOR PROCUREMENT OF ADVANCEMENT MARKETING SERVICES FROM EAB GLOBAL, INC.

Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) anticipates procuring the services listed above from EAB Global, Inc. for use in the Office of Institutional Advancement, for purposes of fundraising and institutional data analysis. EAB Global, Inc. is the sole owner of any and all intellectual property related to Advancement Marketing Services. The anticipated dollar amount of the product is $29,480.00 in the first year of their three-year contract. The award is scheduled to take place on or about Feb 6, 2023.

The contact for the University is Corey Freeman, University Buyer, email address: FreemanC@hssu.edu or telephone #:(314) 340-3325.

CITY OF ST. LOUIS ST. LOUIS LAMBERT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

SOLICITATION FOR BIDS (SFB)

Service: Lindbergh Tunnel Cleaning Services

INVITATION

TO BID

FERGUSONFLORISSANT SCHOOL DISTRICT DISTRICT WIDE GREASE TRAP CLEANING SERVICE

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

Pre-Bid Meeting Date: February 1, 2023 12:00PM

Meeting will be held via Zoom. See SFB for details.

Question Due Date: February 3, 2023

Bid Due Date: February 21, 2023

M/WBE Goals

Point of Contact: Gigi Glasper – gxglasper@flystl.com Bid documents may be obtained at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, Airport Properties

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE TO CONSULTANTS

The St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works is requesting the services of a highly-qualified consulting engineering firm to perform professional engineering services for the Pennsylvania AvenuePage to 180 project (St. Louis County project number AR-1824).

Full details for this project, including submittal requirements and deadline, will be available on January 19, 2023 from the St. Louis County Web Site https://stlouiscountymo.gov/

NOTICE TO CONSULTANTS

The St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works is requesting the services of a highly-qualified consulting engineering firm to perform professional engineering services for the Howdershell Road - I-270 to Utz project (St. Louis County project number AR-1854).

Full details for this project, including submittal requirements and deadline, will be available on January 19, 2023 from the St. Louis County Web Site https://stlouiscountymo.gov/

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Project Name: HSSU

AT&T Library & Technology Resource Center Renovation

Bid Date: January 31, 2023 at 12:00 PM

The estimator working on this project is Erik Hankins PLEASE SEND ALL BIDS TO BIDS@HANKINSMIDWEST. COM

TRASH BIDS NEEDED FOR PINE LAWN

Trash Hauler “Sealed”Bids Due by 4:30 pm Jan. 27, 2023— Bids Open at 5pm @ 6250 Steve Marre Ave.Pine Lawn, Mo. 63121 Bidders must be licensed/bonded/insured & Experienced Hauling for Approx. 1,300

Residential/Commercial Properties ALSO Pine Lawn is HIRING for Public Works Labor Assistant City/Housing/ Court Clerks Apply at Address Above

NOTICE TO CONSULTANTS

The St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works is requesting the services of a highly-qualified consulting engineering firm to perform professional engineering services for the Big Bend Boulevard - I-44 to South Elm project (St. Louis County project number AR-1851).

Full details for this project, including submittal requirements and deadline, will be available on January 19, 2023 from the St. Louis County Web Site https://stlouiscountymo.gov/

INVITATION TO BID

Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) is requesting proposals for the construction services required for the renovation at the AT&T Library and Technology Resource Center. Proposals must be received no later than 2:00 pm on Tuesday January 31, 2022, to Corey Freeman at freemanc@hssu.edu. Responses to the RFP will be opened and read at a virtual bid opening on Tuesday January 31, 2023, at 2:15 pm. The link to the virtual bid opening will be sent at the time of bid submission.

A pre-bid conference and walk-through will be held on Tuesday January 10, 2023, at 2:00 pm. Please meet at the front entrance of the AT&T Library and Technology Resource Center located at 3011 Laclede Ave St. Louis, MO 63103. If necessary, a subcontractor site walk will be held on Tuesday January 17, 2023 at 2:00pm for all interested subcontractors. General Contractors will be responsible for informing all potential sub-contractors of this date and time. Masks will be optional for entry into the facility and at the pre-bid conference and walk-through. Social Distancing recommended.

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

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

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

INVITATION TO BID

FERGUSONFLORISSANT SCHOOL DISTRICT DISTRICT WIDE GRASS CUTTING

Sealed bids for District wide grass cutting are being requested from the Ferguson Florissant School District and will be received and publicly opened on Monday, January 30, 2023 @ 1:00pm CST at the Operation and Maintenance dept. located at 8855 Dunn Rd. (REAR) Hazelwood, MO 63042. Pre bid meeting will be held January 23, 2023 @ 10:00 am CST. @ Operation and Maintenance Dept. 8855 Dunn Rd. (rear) Hazelwood, MO 63042. Bid specs must be obtained at http://new.fergflor.k12. mo.us/facilities-rfq. Contact Matt Furfaro @ mfurfaro@fergflor.org for further information/questions.

INVITATION TO BID

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

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

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

ON LOCATION AND DESIGN OF EXTENSION OF ST. VINCENT GREENWAY AND CHANGING 70TH ST. TO ONE-WAY

Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that a public hearing will be held at Pagedale City Hall, 1420 Ferguson Avenue, Pagedale, MO 63133 on Thursday, February 16, 2023, at 3 p.m. Central Time. Handicap access is available. All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard concerning their views on the location and design of the extension of the St. Vincent Greenway, including changing 70th Street to one-way traffic southbound between Kingsland Avenue and Wells Avenue, with reference to the economic and social effects of such location and design, its impact of the environment and its consistency with the goals and objectives of the community. The presently contemplated improvement is as follows:

The project includes a new 1.69-mile off-street bicycle and pedestrian path connecting the former Eskridge High School site to St. Charles Rock Road. Improvements include pedestrian lighting, new crosswalks with traffic calming measures, native trees, a new parking lot at the eastern side of the City’s recreational fields, and other amenities.

Maps and other detail information, prepared by Great Rivers Greenway, will be available for public viewing at Pagedale City Hall, 1420 Ferguson Avenue, Pagedale, MO 63133 from January 25 through March 2. Comments can be submitting online using a QR code provided on the materials, or via a comment box on site. Written statements and oral statements will also be received at the public hearing and will be made a part of the public hearing summary if received within ten working days after the date of the hearing.

If you are disabled and require special services at the public hearing, please notify Heather Lasher Todd by February 10 at 314-348-1742 so that arrangements for services can be made.

BY GREAT RIVERS GREENWAY in

partnership with CITY OF

PAGEDALE

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE:

Advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, imitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial\status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.

“We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.”

Call Angelita Houston at 314-289-5430 or email ahouston@stlamerican.com

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for the Berry RoadBig Bend Road Intersection Improvements project, St. Louis County Project No. AR-1724, Federal Project No. CMAQ-5443(602), will be received electronically thru the County’s Vendor Self Service portal at https://stlouiscountymovendors. munisselfservice.com/Vendors/ default.aspx, until 2:00 p.m. on March 1, 2023. Plans and specifications will be available on January 16, 2023 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouiscountymo.gov) or by contacting Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies, 2731 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118 (314) 678-0087.

DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ST. LOUIS, COUNTY

ITB #57823363

NandoSTL

Continued from C1

Nando has started what is amticipated to be a big year.

His new boss, Young Cash, and he have a new song

Y.O.T.A. (Year of the Ape) which has a release date of Jan. 27, and his debut album of the same name will be released in May. He also has a song dropping on 314 Day, and he says he and Nelly “have something they’re working on.”

He said he also has tour and festival dates coming up.

“I played drums my whole life in the church,” he said.

“Outside of that I played in R&B groups, and gospel groups. I already knew a lot of the musicians in the local scene from playing drums. At the time I wasn’t rapping and I did dabble in piano a bit,” he said. Nando said after hearing rap music on the radio he thought, “‘If they can do this, then I can do this.’”

At the time he was enrolled at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina studying mathematics. He planned to work with Wells Fargo as a financial planner. After hearing the artist

n “It’s hard to write when nothing is happening,” he said. “I talk about friends, family, shortcomings, girlfriends. That’s where my music comes from.”

Smino (they were in band together and graduated from Hazelwood Central High School) drop “blkjuptr” and the song “Oxygen,” he was motivated to take rap seriously. “It rekindled that fire. I didn’t know [Smino] was gonna blow up. It inspired me to wanna rap outside of getting big. When

you have something [a talent] in you, just enjoy it. That’s what I did and it turned into this.”

His inspiration for songs comes from everything that surrounds him.

“It’s hard to write when nothing is happening,” he said. “I talk about friends, family, shortcomings, girlfriends. That’s where my music comes from.”

His creative process is interesting. He doesn’t write lyrics, every song is improvised.

“My producer PDub Cookin produces a lot of my music,” Nando said. “I usually get the track from him then I go to the studio. I don’t really write, I freestyle whatever I feel. I never rap over beats. If I say something cold, I’m gonna remember it.”

NandoSTL’s music is available on all platforms and you can locate his account on most social media networks. NandoSTL’s real name is Fernando Tillman II, however he goes by the stage name NandoSTL.

which depicts the growing and bustling population. Various vocal expressions of joy are depicted in the woodwind instruments, which is a counterpoint to the sheer force of the brass instruments’ presence as the violin melodies continue to ascend to the heights of the mounds at the site.”

The second and third movements are titled with Choctaw Indian words: “Na Yimmi” means “faith,” whereas “Chukoshkomo” means “play, game, or frolic.” “Na Yimmi” is more quiet and meditative, suggesting, as Lee notes, “an attitude of humility, sincerity, and prayer among the worshippers.”

“Chukoshkomo” is more playful and raucous, featuring more of Lee’s distinctively dense orchestration and penchant for dramatic climaxes.

“The beginning of the last movement seeks to depict various instances of a Pow-Wow ceremony involving feasting,

Rep

Continued from C1

greater access. He said they both want to “transform stages and the audiences who watch performances.”

White accepted The Rep position “knowing I could do it really well.”

“I’m excited to see the work The Rep has already done to transform the institution from inside out to ground up,” he said.

“We have a lot of stuff cooking. It’s an exciting time for us to reintroduce ourselves to the community.”

White was born in New Orleans and following the separation of his parents, his mom and he moved to California.

singing, and dancing,” Lee notes. “The excitement and density of the piece continues to the very last bar of the music, which celebrates this Mississippian cultural community at the height of its existence before the mysterious decline and abandonment of the city.”

At least that is how it sounds on the page and in the composer’s head. It’s now up to Denève and SLSO to make these visions of Cahokia manifest in sound inside a concert hall. When Denève spoke to The St. Louis American, he flourished his marked-up copy of the score, full of questions that he still needed to ask the composer.

“In a world premiere, the main challenge is to care for the baby, to be prepared to really imagine all the adjustments that could happen,” Denève said.

“There are always surprises when you hear a piece played for the first time by an orchestra. Even if you dream and study in great detail – which, I must say, is my case – you have things you discover and balance, virtuosic aspects of phrasing, the way you organize

a piece, the tempo, the speed.” Lee visited Cahokia during a previous visit to St. Louis to work with SLSO. While Denève did not join Lee on that visit, he is pleased to have the composer’s vision in his head before he sees the site.

“I can’t wait to go there with his music in mind,” Denève said. “I have in my mind now a fantasy of what it could have been like, this big metropolis, and I am happy his music will make my experience different. And I hope this can happen for the audience – that they can hear this and then go (or go back) to Cahokia and be inspired by the music, to imagine the life there, because the music gives it a lot of life.”

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will perform the world premiere of “Visions of Cahokia” 8 p.m. Saturday, January 28 and 3 p.m. Sunday, January 29 at Powell Hall. Also on the program: “Serenade (after Plato’s Symposium)” by Leonard Bernstein and Jean Sibelius’ “Symphony No. 2.” See slso.org for tickets.

Jones, a professor of theater arts at the school.

On the second day of class everyone was asked to sing.

After class Jones approached him and asked if he was auditioning for the winter musical.

His acting career began in Kindergarten in a school play. His career took off with roles on “The Parenthood” and “Sister, Sister.”

He auditioned for a role in “The Lion King” Los Angeles production but did not get offered the job. At 7-years-old, he said he no longer wanted to act.

Law was the career he saw for himself, and he majored in sociology at California State University - East Bay.

He thought acting dreams were gone until he met Darryl

White told Jones he didn’t have the time, and Jones told him “participation is 98% of his grade.”

He auditioned, landed a role and won praise. It was then he knew acting was his way to go

“My grandmother sat on the front row of the closing performance and watched my face as I took my bow,” he said. “She was like ‘he’s never gonna be a lawyer.”’

He worked in LA for a few years after college and eventually moved to New York. He most recently served as artistic director and a faculty member at the Atlantic Acting School in

n “I feel like people will get a sense of the kind of artist that I am, what my point of view is and the way that I wanna make art in this community.”

-Reggie D. White

New York, NY. He is also a resident artist at Vineyard Theatre, a founding member of The Commissary, a multi-generational theater collective, and a founding company member with The Williams Project, a living-wage theater company. He is a recipient of the Colman Domingo Award, The TCG Fox Fellowship, the TBA Titan Award, the RHE Artistic Fellowship and an NAACPTheatre Award nominee. “I’m so excited to be here, this is a rich and incredible opportunity for me to learn and meet the St. Louis community,” White said.

Learn more about Reggie White at https://reggiedwhite. com.

Photo by Wiley Price I St. Louis American

NandoSTL

Photo by Wiley Price I St. Louis American

Is it too late to reduce your mortgage payment by refinancing?

(StatePoint) Experts say that with mortgage rates beginning to rise, refinancing your home now might be your last best chance to lower your monthly mortgage payment, as rates remain near all-time lows.

Those who refinanced early in 2021 have already reaped the benefits. Borrowers who refinanced their 30-year fixed rate mortgage into another 30-year fixed rate mortgage during the first half of 2021 saved over $2,800 in mortgage payments on principal and interest annually, according to a recent Freddie Mac research report.

But mortgage rates are rising. Indeed, in October 2021, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, which is the most common type of mortgage, rose to its highest point since April, surpassing 3.0%. Freddie Mac forecasts that mortgage rates will continue to rise, averaging 3.5% for the 30-year fixed in 2022. That’s up from an average of 3.0% in 2021.

So is it time to refinance your home loan? To help you make an informed decision, Freddie Mac is offering answers to commonly asked questions about the refinancing process:

• What does refinancing mean? When you refinance your mortgage, you’re applying for a new mortgage to replace your current one, which will result in a new rate, term and monthly payment. The most common type of refinance is a no cash-out refinance, in which you’re refinancing the remaining balance on your mortgage.

• When should I consider refinancing? Generally speaking, refinances make the most financial sense when average interest rates are at least half a percentage point lower than the interest rate on your current mortgage. Another reason to consider refinancing is if your financial situation has improved, allowing you to secure a loan with a shorter term and own

your home sooner. Finally, if you currently have an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) and it’s adjusting upward, you may wish to convert to a fixedrate mortgage that provides you with the security of consistent payments.

With mortgage rates beginning to rise, refinancing your home now might be your last best chance to lower your mortgage payment, as rates remain near all-time lows.

• Is refinancing free? Although refinancing your mortgage could save you money both in the long- and shortterm, it isn’t free. For the most part, refinancing costs are similar to what you paid when you purchased your home, including a loan origination fee. There are required services involved, such as appraisals, and state and local fees that can vary significantly based on where you live. The average cost to refinance is almost $5,000, so you should carefully consider how long

you plan to stay in your home to ensure the savings to outweigh the costs.

• Who should handle my refinance? You don’t have to use your current lender to refinance your loan. In fact, it’s in your best interest to shop around and compare multiple lenders’ loan estimates in search of the best terms and cost. It may take more time, but even a difference as small as one-quarter of a percentage point can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your home loan. The good news? Rates are often negotiable. In other words, you can ask lenders to match the rate quoted by another lender.

There may be no time like the present to lock in the lowest possible rate and receive the highest monthly savings. To get a sense of what refinancing could save you, access Freddie Mac’s refinance calculator, along with additional homebuying and refinancing resources, at myhome.freddiemac.com.

As with any big financial endeavor, you’ll want to do your homework, look carefully at your short- and long-term goals, and work closely with your lender to do a cost-benefit analysis.

Six things to consider doing if you can’t pay rent this month

(StatePoint) The average national rent surpassed $2,000 for the first time ever in 2022, which has made keeping up with rent payments challenging for millions of people across the United States. In fact, a recent Freddie Mac survey found that 70% of renters are concerned about making their rent payment in the short term.

If you’re among those struggling to pay rent, there is good news: many resources exist to help renters remain in their homes.

Here are six actions you can take to help keep you in your rental:

1. Contact Your Landlord. If you know you will be unable to pay your rent, contact your landlord in writing to explain your situation. Your landlord may be able to offer you such options as changing the date rent is due each month, lowering rent payments or creating a repayment plan.

2. Consider More Affordable Apartments. Finding a less expensive

apartment may be the right solution if you anticipate having regular trouble paying your rent. However, with rents on the rise everywhere, this can be a challenge. As you start your search, remember to factor in the fees and moving expenses you might incur. Moving within your building or to another property managed by the same company may be one way to avoid onboarding fees.

of your lease when adding a roommate to any apartment. This could include having them sign a formal lease.

3. Find a Roommate. If you have the space, taking on a roommate can significantly reduce your monthly rent and utility expenses. Make sure to follow the terms

There are many nonprofit Renter Resource Organizations throughout the country that can assist you if you are facing a housing-related challenge.

4. Access Short-Term Rental Assistance. Local housing authorities and some national organizations have short-term rent relief funds you can apply for to help cover the cost of rent while you get back on your feet. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has a list of assistance programs for renters.

5. Understand Eviction Protections. Be aware of the eviction protections

you’re eligible for should you be unable to pay rent. The CFPB has a list of states with protections in place that prevent landlords from evicting renters for failure to pay rent.

6. Work with a Renter Resource Organization. There are many nonprofit Renter Resource Organizations throughout the country that can assist you if you are facing a housing-related challenge. These entities provide services and resources to help you maintain housing, including eviction prevention and landlord-tenant mediation. They also can assist you in locating alternative housing and provide financial planning advice. Services offered may vary by provider. To find an organization that can help you with your situation, contact Freddie Mac’s Renter Hotline at 800-404-3097.

For more information about renting, including resources to help you determine how much you can afford, visit My Home by Freddie Mac at myhome.freddiemac. com.

New year, new tech: Top 5 upgrades you need in 2023

(Statepoint) 2023 is off to a roaring start, and according to a recent YouGov poll, 37% of Americans have set a goal to accomplish this year. Whether you made a resolution or not this year, upgrading your tech can help you be more productive. Here are several ways to refresh and update the tech in your life this year.

1. Reset Passwords: With cyber fraud and security threats always present and ever changing, it’s a good periodic practice to set new passwords on all your accounts. From social media accounts to bank accounts, make it a habit to reset your passwords every few months to prevent fraudulent activity.

2. Upgrade Your Smartphone: The average American is forecasted to keep their smartphone for more than two and a half years, according to Statista. However, more regular upgrades may benefit you. Upgrading your smartphone will allow you to utilize enhanced security features, better battery life, faster performance and the latest 5G

network. And with T-Mobile, you can get the best of both worlds without breaking the bank: America’s largest, fastest and most reliable 5G network, and the full potential of the latest Samsung Galaxy A14 5G smartphone. Samsung’s most affordable device yet, it packs a punch with a 5000mAh battery, 15W fast charging, 13 megapixel frontfacing camera and triple-lens rear camera. Check out an unboxing video at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=wXx-S7xHo74! Also, for a limited time, new and existing T-Mobile customers can get the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G for free with 24 monthly bill credits when adding a line on a qualifying plan in stores and online at www.t-mobile.com/cell-phones/brand/ samsung.

smartphone isn’t in the budget quite yet, there are a few ways you can refresh your phone to give it new life and improve performance. First, remove all large files taking up space. Next, clear your storage and internet browser history to speed up your phone. Apps that track your activity tend to drain your battery life. Delete apps you haven’t used in more than six months. If you’re still at full storage, try uploading items to a cloud provider or your computer and reset your smartphone.

phone number and try out T-Mobile’s network free for three months. You’ll get access to T-Mobile’s largest 5G network and the ability to compare your network performance to pick the best carrier for you. The best part, it all can be done online via an app, without having to go into a store.

5. Revamp Your Workspace:

3. Purge and Delete: If a new

4. Enhance Your Network Experience: The network your phone uses may need a major upgrade, and now there’s a way to test out another wireless provider’s network before making the switch. T-Mobile’s Network Pass allows you and your family to keep your current wireless provider, compatible phone and

Whether your workspace is a traditional desk from home or the office, on your feet or in a vehicle, make sure you have all the necessary tools to help you work smarter, not harder this year. Upgrade your workspace setup to be more ergonomically friendly – making sure your head and neck are straight, you have a chair with lumbar support and your computer monitor is about an arm’s length away. Invest in a Bluetooth headset and get your work apps connected to your smartphone so you can take calls and send important documents on the go.

Give your tech an upgrade and you’ll see success throughout the year.

How to prevent being a victim of scams and fraud

(Statepoint) Scams and fraud are more deceiving these days, reaching you in more ways than ever before. The FTC reported 2.8 million fraud reports from consumers in 2021 alone, with reported fraud losses increasing 70% from 2020 and more than $5.8 million.

Identity theft protection expert Carrie Kerskie says being aware of what new cyber and phone fraud trends to look out for is your biggest defense against unwanted fraud.

“The more that we can get this information out there the better,” Kerskie recently told T-Mobile Stories, “Unfortunately when it comes to technology, privacy and identity theft, the same old advice that was given 10, 15 years ago is still the gospel of what you’re supposed to do. And that is outdated. None of it works. It’s not true, it’s not relevant anymore.”

Scammers have expanded from targeting consumers with only traditional email and phone calls. The most recent trending scams are occurring using person-to-person payment platforms or P2P, remote access software and even public Wi-Fi.

Kerskie says the most desirable accounts to criminals include bank accounts, mobile phone accounts, credit card accounts and Amazon accounts. Now, with P2P payment platforms, criminals can get access to your bank account and use it to transfer money within moments.

The latest tactic that concerns Kerskie is using remote access software to gain access to everything on your computer without having to directly ask you for things like your social security number, bank account or credit card number. While many workers use remote access software safely from their companies’ IT departments, criminals are also using this software in their scams.

Prioritize Privacy: Kerskie says, if it’s easy for you, it’s easy for a criminal. Privacy means having strong and unique passwords with a minimum of 12 characters, and for pins using random numbers and taking advantage of extra security. Enabling multi-factor authentication on your various apps and accounts will also protect yourself from potential threats.

n The latest tactic that concerns Kerskie is using remote access software to gain access to everything on your computer without having to directly ask you for things like your social security number, bank account or credit card number.

Use Available Resources: Take advantage of the free anti-fraud safeguards offered by your mobile carrier. In the case of T-Mobile’s Scam Shield, services include enhanced caller ID, scam ID and blocking, which flags suspicious calls and gives customers the option of blocking those numbers. Additionally, customers can get a free second number to keep their personal number personal, or even change their primary number completely.

Criminals also try to access your information in settings like coffee shops or libraries using public Wi-Fi. A laptop or smartphone using public Wi-Fi can easily fall victim to scams. An easy fix is to use your smartphone’s wireless data and hotspot to help keep your personal information secure.

Kerskie says there are ways to keep scammers and fraud at bay.

Validate or Eliminate: Whatever potential threat you come across via email, text message, letter or even a phone call, try to validate the information. If you cannot confirm the information is true or confirm the senders’ validity, throw it away, block the phone number or email address and report it as spam or junk mail.

As potential cyber threats and fraud evolve, it’s important to understand how they work. Doing so will help you stay safeguarded and protected.

Should I buy or rent a home?

(StatePoint) If you’re feeling stressed about rising rents and interest rates, you are not alone. Most American renters say their rents increased in the past 12 months, and for many, their wage gains didn’t keep pace. In addition, mortgage rates have reached a two-decade high. This means that for those in the market to rent or buy a home, there is a lot to consider. According to Freddie Mac, deciding whether to rent or buy depends on your financial situation, future plans and lifestyle. You should also carefully assess the benefits and financial commitments that come with each option.

Why Buy?

If you plan to stay in your home for at least five to seven years, buying can make financial sense. Homeowners may be eligible for certain tax benefits, and increases in home equity are important to building long-term financial independence. Plus, for those with a fixed-rate mortgage, stable monthly payments provide important predictability when creating a budget. Another benefit to homeownership is the freedom to make decisions about your house that best suit your needs without the approval of a landlord.

Why Rent?

Compared to owning, renting is flexible and is usually low risk. Renting can require less money up front and provides you immunity to declining home values. It’s also a good option if you enjoy the ability to move relatively quickly. Not handy? Renting is also great if you prefer to leave home repairs to someone else.

Next Steps

As you make your decision, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

1. Am I ready for homeownership? Mortgage-ready homebuyers typically have not had a foreclosure or bankruptcy in the past seven years and no severe delinquencies in the past 12 months. Potential buyers are also often required to have credit scores and debt levels that meet certain criteria. To learn more about credit scores and managing credit, consider using free educational resources from Freddie Mac.

2. How much can I afford? Free online tools can help you get a better idea of how much you can afford based on your personal financial situation.

3. Do I have enough saved? Determine how much you have saved

According to Freddie Mac, deciding whether to rent or buy depends on your financial situation, future plans and lifestyle. You should also carefully assess the benefits and financial commitments that come with each option.

for a security deposit or down payment. Look into down payment assistance programs, low down payment mortgage programs and learn more about budgeting for upfront rental costs.

If you’re still unsure which path is right for you, check out My Home by Freddie Mac, which offers financial education resources. Compare costs with the site’s Rent vs. Buy Calculator, and explore the tips and tools geared to those who are renting or buying. Visit myhome.freddiemac.com to get started.

Whether you choose to rent or buy, it’s important to keep an eye on your long-term financial goals. Building good credit and making a savings plan today can better position you for the future.

Women business owners are optimistic about the future

(StatePoint) Even as they ride out inflationary pressures, supply chain disruptions and economic uncertainty, women owners and executives of small and mid-size majority-women-owned businesses have an optimistic outlook about the near-term future of their businesses, according to a recent survey.

The PNC Bank survey found that women business owner (WBO) expectations for their own companies remain strong, with 41% feeling highly optimistic – up from 29% in the fall of 2020 but down from 67% in the fall of 2021 – while the share of those feeling pessimistic has held constant at just 1%.

n The PNC Bank survey found that women business owner (WBO) expectations for their own companies remain strong, with 41% feeling highly optimistic – up from 29% in the fall of 2020.

The survey also indicated that more than eight in 10 women business owners are very confident about their future success and nearly half say it comes from their own hard work and drive. Similarly, 79% of WBOs are very satisfied with their role as a business owner or leader compared to 67% of men business owners (MBOs). “We are seeing a new pattern of self-empowerment among women business owners that is very encouraging,” said Beth Marcello, director of PNC Women’s Business Development. “Their own hard work to survive the pandemic is the source of their confidence and optimism today.”

The survey suggests that women have a take charge, can-do attitude. When it was difficult to find employees, 49% of WBOs versus one-third of MBOs say that they or their managers stepped in to cover open staff hours themselves. Additionally, they’re focused on growth: 81% surveyed are Woman Business Enterprise-certified, 73% market their certification, and 88% say that certification has been a helpful business development tool.

“For the first time, we have evidence of increased financial confidence among women business owners. They are two times more likely than men to say they’re considering a new loan or line of credit to support business growth,” said Marcello. “They are monitoring their

The survey indicated that more than eight in 10 women business owners are very confident about their future success and nearly half say it comes from their own hard work and drive.

cash position and have a cash reserve, but they’re investing excess cash rather than stockpiling it; they are continuing to leverage the increased efficiency of the digital financial tools they migrated to during the pandemic; and they are confidently increasing pricing as the economy allows for it.”

Meeting the Challenges

While WBOs have concerns about inflation, profitability and the supply chain, they believe they’re prepared for these challenges. Although similar portions of WBOs and MBOs experienced supply chain issues in the past year, 79% of WBOs believe they have the right

amount of inventory they need to succeed.

WBOs also intend to maintain or expand on policies they initiated during the pandemic, including allowing flexible work arrangements (48%), increasing compensation (38%) and implementing employee health or safety enhancements (33%). WBOs are more likely than MBOs to adopt Corporate Social Responsibility policies or practices, including gender pay equity (34% vs. 9%) and diversity and inclusion (29% vs. 14%). These disparities could be an indication of why fewer WBOs (30%) than MBOs (43%) are finding it harder to hire new staff compared to six months ago.

Identifying and addressing challeng-

es faced by women financial decision makers is a component of PNC’s Project 257: Accelerating Women’s Financial Equality, an initiative to help close the 257-year economic gender gap. More information about these efforts as well as helpful resources for women financial decision makers can be found at pnc. com/women. To connect with Project 257, follow PNC on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

While the pandemic created new economic challenges, many with lasting effects, women business owners largely overcame these obstacles, taking away lessons that have inspired their optimism and confidence today.