January 3rd, 2019 Edition

‘We’re all in this together’

Wesley Bell calls for unity in St. Louis

County – and among his own staff

By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American

Prosecuting

St. Louis County

Attorney Wesley Bell began his first day in office on January 1 with two swearing-in ceremonies and a promise to work together with fairness for all.

n “We’re going to implement these changes, and we want everyone in that office to be a part of our team.”

– St. Louis County Prosecuting

Attorney Wesley Bell

“The goal of this office is to keep St. Louis County residents safe, first and foremost, but we plan to do that in a manner that is not only going to keep St. Louis County residents safe, but also help people that need help,” Bell told reporters shortly after midnight at his New Year’s celebration at the Sheraton Hotel in Clayton.

“We’re going to expand diversion programs and treatment programs for nonviolent offenders. We want to give them the tools they need in the toolbox to be productive citizens and not be progressing to the violent crimes. We want to make sure that we are implementing policies that are not disproportionately affecting people

See BELL, A6

moments into the New Year on January 1.

‘I am not going to sit down’

Bonita Cornute considers next move after Fox 2 buyout

By Chris King Of The St. Louis American

Bonita Cornute is willing to entertain offers for how to continue to serve her adopted community of St. Louis now that she accepted a buyout from Fox 2, where she reported and anchored the news for more than 35 years. But not just yet.

n “I believe I am on the cusp of another opportunity, I just don’t know what the heck that is.”

– Bonita Cornute

“I am ready to chill,” she said – and not only at home. “I am going to travel a little. I need the mountains. I need a lake. I need to go sit by some water and some trees, not think about anything. Breathe in God’s good air and figure out what to do next.”

When she gets back to work, she is not sure what that will be. She might do some acting, her first love. She has done some readings with Ron Himes at Black Rep and an “Elegy” monologue with Bert Coleman, and she said she “might try” some more

See CORNUTE, A6

Bonita Cornute has accepted a buyout from Fox 2, where she reported and anchored the news for more than 35 years.

The rise and fall of Lincoln Law School

And the

disappearance of Lloyd Gaines

By Dwyane Smith For The St. Louis American

Lloyd Gaines

On December 12, 1938 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the University of Missouri had to admit Lloyd Gaines into its law school or the state had to provide a “separate but equal” school. This decision was a major victory for the NAACP and its team of attorneys – Charles Houston, Thurgood Marshall and Sidney Redmond. In a triumphant speech, Gaines declared, “I am ready, willing and able to enroll in the law department at the University of Missouri in September, and I have the fullest intention of doing so.” Unfortunately, his pursuit would eventually prove to be impossible. The State of Missouri hastily appropriated $275,000 through House Bill 195 for the establishment of the Lincoln Law School to comply with the Gaines decision. Then Gaines’ life sadly began to unravel. Prior to the Supreme Court decision, Gaines earned a master’s degree in economics from the University of Michigan. Though he was now a prominent symbol for the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement – one of his final speaking engagements was in Kansas City for the NAACP Forum with an audience of over a thousand – even with two college degrees he could not find suitable employment. He was relegated to pumping gas at a station for 12 hours a day, seven days a week. With his financial situation dire, he

See GAINES, A7

Black candidates have better chance in next Ferguson-Florissant school board election

By Jeffrey A. Mittman For The St. Louis American

n Filing for school board candidates is open until January 15. We hope to see robust participation in the upcoming election.

When the Ferguson-Florissant School District was court-ordered to annex the Berkeley School District and the Kinloch School District in 1975, it was to remedy the effects of discrimination against African-American students. Forty years later, there was just one African-American member on the seven-member board in a district where AfricanAmericans constitute 77 percent of the student body. That’s why we filed a lawsuit against the Ferguson-Florissant School District, on behalf of the Missouri NAACP and AfricanAmerican residents, charging that the district’s electoral system locked African Americans out of the political process through the at-large system that dilutes African-American voting strength. At-large voting can dilute the votes of black voters when

Photo by Wiley Price

St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell addressed family, supporters and team members gathered at the Sheraton Hotel in Clayton after being sworn into office

Usher files for divorce

Earlier this year, Usher announced that he and wife Grace Miguel were ending their marriage.

According to TMZ.com, Usher made it official by filing for divorce just over a year from their initial separation.

“The ‘Let it Burn’ singer filed docs –obtained by TMZ – in Atlanta Friday to call it quits on the marriage,” TMZ reported. “The move is anything but surprising ... it was back in March – on the heels of several allegations and lawsuits claiming Usher spread herpes –the couple announced things were over. The docs state December 24, 2017 as the couple’s date of separation. They also say the two reached a confidential settlement agreement ... so it’s all finished and just waiting on a judge to sign off.”

Usher and Miguel were married in 2015.

Tiffany Haddish admits to bombing NYE gig in Miami, vows to do better

Tiffany Haddish has promised her

performance on New Year’s Eve will “never happen again” after several fans walked out.

The 39-year-old actress and comedian was performing a sold-out show at the James L. Knight Center in Miami to ring in the New Year on Monday night, when she reportedly forgot several jokes and many others fell flat, causing fans to walk out of the comedy gig.

And after confirming reports of the flopped show, Haddish insisted that would be the last time anybody witnesses a bad show of hers.

Responding to an online article about her performance, she tweeted: “Yes this happened. I wish it was better Miami. I prayed on it and I have a strong feeling this will never happen again.”

Haddish admitted that she was having an off night during the performance.

“This is weird for me. Now, this is going to be on TMZ or whatever,” Haddish was captured on stage saying in a video obtained by TMZ, “Every day ain’t the best day, but we do what we do. It is what it is.”

She promised it won’t happen again.

“This will probably be the only time you will ever see me like this because I’m never doing this again,” Haddish said in a

follow up video. “... I will never allow myself to be this woe the [expletive] out.”

Earlier in the day, Tiffany had taken to Instagram to promote the show. She admitted that she had partied into the morning the night before ahead of the performance.

“Went to bed at 7. Cîroc is still in my system,” Haddish said.

Despite the fan backlash, some fellow celebrities publicly spoke out in support of the star.

“Failure is a part of growth and lessons get learned,” tweeted. “The crowd will speak on this night forever, so they had an experience, and you are the wiser. Not end of world. You’ll shine more

family insider told PEOPLE that Kanye is thrilled by the news. “Kanye says that being a dad is the most important thing that he does, and despite his other problems, he’s an involved, loving dad to his kids,” a source told People.com.

Forest Whitaker and wife split after nearly 25 years

According to TMZ.com, Oscarwinning actor Forest Whitaker filed for divorce from his wife, Keisha, after more than two decades of marriage.

Kim and Kanye expecting another baby via surrogate

Kanye West and wife

Kim Kardashian West are expecting their fourth child. PEOPLE.com was the first to confirm the news. A

“Whitaker filed docs Thursday in Los Angeles to call it quits,” TMZ.com reported. “The two got married in 1996 and have three adult daughters together. It’s currently unknown what led to the split. Whitaker cites irreconcilable differences in his divorce petition. There are no minor children, so no custody issues. He’s also asking the court to terminate any spousal support ... but this is done a lot when there’s already an overriding property agreement in place.”

TMZ says Forest and Keisha met on the set of the film “Blown Away” in 1994 and started dating shortly after.

Sources: TMZ.com, Celebretainment.com, People.com, Twitter.com, Instagram.com

Tiffany Haddish

‘We still have trouble, but we’re working on it’

Residents work with housing authority to improve conditions at Ferguson apartment complex

By Ashley Lisenby Of St. Louis Public Radio

The Housing Authority of St. Louis County found water leaks, defective porches, bed bugs and electrical issues among the problems at Park Ridge Apartments in Ferguson over the last three years.

Agency records show inspections at Park Ridge Apartments increased between July and October of 2018. At a Ferguson housing meeting in November, Park Ridge Apartments residents asked Housing Authority of St. Louis County director Susan Rollins about what they believed to be a surge in inspections after years of perceived neglect by the property owner.

Leaders at the meeting said the housing authority increased inspections of buildings owned by T.E.H. Realty after becoming aware of structural problems at Springwood Apartments in Bel-Ridge.

Rollins said red tape is one possible reason housing problems at the apartment complex had not been addressed sooner.

“I do feel that sometimes in the bureaucracy of what we do, we don’t do as good a job as what we should do sometimes. We don’t listen as well as we should, either,” she said at the meeting with residents and activists. “I have tried to change much of the way things have been in the past and also be more accessible to the community.”

Rollins has been the director of the housing authority for 10 years.

The county housing authority condemned a building at Park Ridge Apartments

in October. Residents complained in November about receiving eviction notices from property owner T.E.H. Realty telling them to leave their units. Rollins suspected the letters were a response to the agency stopping its portion of rent payments on Section 8 units - a practice known as abatement.

People who receive housing choice vouchers, or Section 8, were concerned their housing was in jeopardy.

St. Louis Public Radio requested records of Housing Authority of St. Louis County inspection findings at Park Ridge going back to January 2016. The agency is responsible for inspecting units belonging to Section 8 recipients as well as the property where they are located.

There are a few hundred units in Park Ridge Apartments.

T.E.H. Realty said more than 100 tenants in the complex receive Section 8. The housing authority reported that it inspected Park Ridge Apartments and select units more than 300 times in roughly three years. Reinspections are a part of that total number. However, it’s not clear how many of the problems were remedied because of how the county housing agency keeps records.

Many of those inspections happened in the last few months of 2018. More than 40 inspection notes refer to problems with the condition of stairs and porches. The housing authority recommended that damaged concrete on steps, stoops or walkways be replaced.

Dozens of other recommendations include:

replacement or repair of doors or locks for security reasons; extermination of roaches, bed bugs and insects (it’s not clear from the record what kind of insects); and replacement or repair of equipment affecting ventilation.

Over the three-year period of inspection records requested by St. Louis Public Radio, Park Ridge units and property passed inspection 155 times and failed inspection 151 times.

John Dean of T.E.H. Realty told St. Louis Public Radio that the company is addressing problems the housing authority identified.

“It’s looking pretty good.

We see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Dean said in regard to repairs, including replacing elevated concrete, gutter work and tuckpointing.

He said problems on the property are “a reflection of previous management.” T.E.H. Realty became the new owners of the property in May 2018. Amid the confusion over

evictions at Park Ridge Apartments, Section 8 recipients wondered if their vouchers would be renewed, or if new clients would be able to get funding from the housing authority to live there. Dean said that decision comes down to whether the housing agency approves repairs to the property the next time the complex is evaluated.

“We’re working to get the property in compliance and show what we’ve done and move the date (of the next inspection) to January” to retain current Section 8 recipients, he said.

The Housing Authority had planned to inspect Park Ridge Apartments again in April.

Some former residents of Park Ridge now live about a mile away at the Northwinds Apartments, also owned by T.E.H. Realty. Among them are Pamela Johnson and her cousin Mary Boyd, who say they experienced some of the problems found in the

inspection records.

“I had mold in my closet in one of the bedrooms,” Johnson said. “They did not treat the mold so I had to treat it myself. So I went out and got some bleach and a sponge and cleaned the mold off.”

She said the building’s maintenance workers eventually sprayed the apartment for mold and fixed her leaking water heater and dishwasher.

Boyd said she moved from Park Ridge to Northwinds thinking the conditions would be a little better. But she said in the four or five months she has lived there, the state of the property has been roughly the same.

“My ceiling is leaking in the bathroom in my shower,” she said. “My ceiling is leaking in my living room, and I told them people three months ago. They still ain’t came out to do nothing.”

Residents in Northwinds, another building owned by T.E.H. Realty, also received

Housing Authority of St. Louis County records for Park Ridge Apartments in Ferguson show an uptick in inspections in the latter part of 2018. T.E.H. Realty became the new owner of Park Ridge Apartments in May 2018.

eviction

Activists in Ferguson said the housing authority, lawyers and non-profit leaders stepped in to help after last month’s meeting about the mass eviction letters.

“Basically, in Park Ridge a lot of those residents have moved,” said Southeast Ferguson Neighborhood Association President Latasha Brown, “But I have to say Ms. Rollins (of the housing authority) did create a fund to help those residents.” Brown said some residents became clients of ArchCity Defenders and Legal Services of Missouri.

“We still have trouble, but we’re working on it,” Brown said. “We are one community. Togetherness is the key to our success.”

Ashley Lisenby is part of the public radio collaborative Sharing America, covering the intersection of race, identity and culture. This new initiative, funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, includes reporters in Hartford, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Portland (Oregon). Follow Ashley on Twitter @aadlisenby. Reprinted with permission from news.stlpublicradio.org.

Photo by Holly Edgell / St. Louis Public Radio

Resolved: let’s make the most of real opportunities in 2019

We have argued for many years that the unrealized potential in St. Louis’ black community is one of the primary problems holding back St. Louis and also Missouri, given that our region has the state’s largest economy. From that perspective, 2019 could be an exciting and even breakthrough year, with more African Americans taking major leadership positions in St. Louis and elsewhere in the state.

Perhaps most notably, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell has an opportunity to transform criminal justice in the county made internationally notorious by the Ferguson Police Department and Bell’s scandalous predecessor, Bob McCulloch. Not only is he the first black to serve as county prosecutor, he will try his cases in a county court system presided over by an African American for the first time, Judge Gloria Reno.

In the Missouri Senate, with the elections of state Senator Karla May from the city and state Senator Brian Williams from the county, they join state Senator state Senator Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis) Shalonn “Kiki” Curls (D-Kansas City) to give our community four black legislators in the state legislature’s most powerful chamber. If new voter-mandated reforms of the state’s redistricting process survive Republican attempts to undermine them, these positions could become even more powerful in the years ahead. Moreover, a strong new group of black state representatives’ stature will gain as more Democrats are elected in a redistricted Missouri.

On the national scene, with Democrats now ruling the U.S. House of Representatives, the state’s two Democratic congressmen – U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay in St. Louis, with 17 years of seniority, and U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver in Kansas City, with 13 years of seniority, both black – are now in a position to net truly impactful committee assignments and become more significant change-makers for their home districts.

However, much hard work must be done to overcome all kinds of opposition and inertia to bring positive change to this region and state. County Executive Steve Stenger, who unfortunately survived a primary challenge by a whisker, has been a severe disappointment at best and quite possibly (judging by dogged reporting from the PostDispatch, the newspaper that once stumped for Stenger) an outright fraud. Both Stenger and St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson (another disappointment) make encouraging sounds about regional cooperation, but Stenger has not been trustworthy and Krewson has not yet shown the necessary leadership and energy. Add the St. Louis Regional Chamber and the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership to the list of potential change-makers that mostly have been inadequately focused and engaged. Unfortunately, our region and the state are paying a high price for years of feckless leadership.

As for the Republican leadership in this state and country, needless to say, any progressive change agents can expect obstruction and opposition from them. We hold some hope for the newly appointed Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, a St. Louis County resident who cares about the region and made some progressive policy stands as a state senator, though his support for his Trump-toady predecessor Josh Hawley in his bid for U.S. Senate contributed to a major setback for the state.

Yet, all in all, we offer the St. Louis region a guardedly optimistic New Year’s resolution for 2019: in the face of determined conservative opposition and potentially catastrophic national in Republican leadership, let us resolve to make the most of some very real opportunities to take corrective action to improve the fortunes of African Americans in St. Louis – and thereby the entire St. Louis region and Missouri – in 2019.

Why Trump is a Democratic asset and a Republican liability

By Mike Jones

For The St. Louis American

On November 6, 2018, Democrats propelled by the energy of a tentative progressive coalition overwhelmed Trump Republicans, winning 40 seats in the U.S. House, reclaiming 367 of the 1,000 state legislative seats lost during the Obama years and captured six governorships. All in all, a great night, but a great night with limitations.

The win was pivotal, like winning game five of a sevengame series when you’re trailing three games to one. In that situation, winning game five is critical, but not determinative. You won’t win the series unless you win game seven, and you can’t play game seven unless you win game six. Game six in this series is 2019 and the first quarter of 2020, with the Democrats newly in control of the U.S. House of Representatives. In order to win this game, Democrats and their progressive base will need to be emotionally detached, tactically disciplined and strategically focused on policy. Why emotional detachment? Politics is a form of combat, and success in combat requires you to function at your highest intellectual capacity. Emotion is the enemy of reason because it impairs judgment. The legitimate animas that progressives (all decent people, really) have toward Trump and his right-wing Republican minions is understandable, but not helpful to the task at hand. This game six will require a level of mental clarity that emotional engagement will prevent. The opposite of love is not hate, but indifference. As Don Corleone advises, never hate your enemies. What does it mean to be tactically disciplined? It means you never focus on the monkey when your business is with the organ grinder. In this situation, Trump is the monkey getting all the public attention, and the Republicans are the organ grinder who created the economic, political and social

morass of the last 40 years. Republicans have run a hugely successful con game since the 1980s. They have convinced working people that if already rich white men get richer, their lives will get better, especially if you’re white. They even convinced Democrats; Clinton-era Democrats did as much damage to marginalized communities as Reagan on his worst day. When have low taxes on the rich and small government ever enriched the lives of everyday people?

The Democratically controlled House will need a tight focus on executing two tactical objectives: Congressional oversight and legislation.

The oversight function should have an objective of exposing Trump, not removing him. If the Democratic House were to impeach him, the Republicancontrolled Senate will never remove him. That would mean you spent precious time and political capital on a feelgood exercise that creates no advantage. The object of the oversight function should be to expose the incompetence and moral bankruptcy of Trump and his entire administration, and create a situation where Republicans have to defend him or indict him. Democrats must spend the next 18 months forcing Republicans to choose between their base and the rest of America. Democrats need a vision that speaks to the needs of working and marginalized Americans, and that vision will have to manifest itself as policy that’s turned into legislation by a Democratically controlled House of Representatives. To win an election, any election, you have to stand for something. What are some things Democrats should stand for?

The whine of the white working class

and Claire McCaskill

Here are some legislative suggestions: voting rights/ voter suppression, health care, climate change, affordable higher education, a down payment on infrastructure, and something specifically targeted for small town and rural America. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi needs to make the House, through Regular Order, stay in session to produce legislation that can be debated and voted on by the full House. None of these bills will probably be considered in the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate, but that will be what the 2020 fight (game 7) is all about. Democrats must spend 2019 and early 2020 forcing Republicans to choose between supporting legislation that directly and principally supports working Americans, thereby alienating their oligarch funders, or oppose the legislation and expose their hostility for the welfare of average Americans. Good basketball coaches will tell you the key to winning any game is controlling the tempo. In politics, tempo is the political narrative. Control the narrative and you probably win the game; however, if you don’t control the narrative, you will certainly lose the game. Also, Democrats and Progressives must understand who the real political enemy is, and it’s not Donald Trump. It’s Republicans and their insidious ideology that rationalizes the oppression of working people and minorities. Properly understood and in the hands of competent political professionals, Trump is a Democratic asset and a Republican liability. Mike Jones is a former senior staffer in St. Louis city and county government and current member of the Missouri State Board of Education and The St. Louis American editorial board. In 2016 and 2017, he was awarded Best Serious Columnist for all of the state’s large weeklies by the Missouri Press Association, and in 2018 he was awarded Best Serious Columnist in the nation by the National Newspapers Association.

By Charles Jaco For The St.

Louis American

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill’s exit interviews are heavy on advice and conclusions, many of them dead wrong.

The Missouri Democrat who lost her Senate seat to a proTrump religious right-winger, Republican Josh Hawley, told CNN in a lengthy interview that Democrats need to pay more attention to the white working class, that ideas like tuition-free college alienate white working class voters, and that Democratic U.S. Representative-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York is merely the latest “bright shiny object” distracting America from tackling our real problems.

This is gibberish disguised as seasoned wisdom.

Take Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic Socialist who now represents New York’s 14th Congressional District. That district, covering parts of both the Bronx and Queens in New York City, is solidly working class. Ocasio-Cortez is 29, worked as a waitress and bartender before being elected, and has said she needed to float loans to take care of her bills before she starts drawing her congressional salary. She’s working class. The problem seems to be that neither she nor the district she represents are white working class.

Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians make up 42 percent of what we define as “working class” in America. But when politicos like McCaskill or Trump yak about “the working class,” they’re only talking about the 58 percent that happens to be white.

Take McCaskill’s quote from an interview this week with the New York Times McCaskill told the Time’s Daily podcast about an encounter with a “good ‘ol boy” after the 2016 election who claimed to be an ex-Democrat who refused to vote for Hillary Clinton. According to McCaskill, the man said “I knew she (Clinton) cared about women, Mexicans, and homosexuals. But I sure knew she didn’t give a s**t about me.”

The quote oozes self-pity, but it fits perfectly with what separate studies from the University of Pennsylvania, UCLA, Princeton, the University of California, the University of Washington, and at least a half-dozen others have concluded: Trump’s support was driven by whites,

Congress should taste its own medicine

If every law that Congress passed applied to members of Congress as well as to American citizens, we wouldn’t have a government shutdown in which people will not be receiving paychecks for a while (even though some will be required to work, being considered essential government employees). Not having a paycheck would be unacceptable to members of Congress and their families. And we wouldn’t have people without health care, because the members of Congress who are voting against aspects of the Affordable Care Act would not have health care, either, which would be unacceptable to them and their dependents.

Linda Caravelli, Florissant

CORRECTIONS

especially the white working class, and their fear of losing status in an America steadily becoming more diverse in almost every way. Call it racial anxiety, social resentment, or just plain racism, it gave rise to the narrative of “forgotten” chunks of white America rising up and saying, “Screw it, let’s vote for the sociopathic bigot.”

When we talk about the almost constant whining that emerges from the hundreds of articles, TV stories, and scholarly monographs about the white working class, we first need to separate the “white” from “working class.” What is “the working class,” anyway? Oddly enough, being working class is no longer defined by income, since $30,000 a year means you might be able to squeak by in St. Louis, but you would be dirt-poor in New York City.

State University of New York economist Michael Zweig, author of “The Working Class Majority,” has defined the working class by eliminating income. The first metric Zweig uses is education. A member of the working class never graduated from college. But if Zweig used only education as a definition, it would mean everyone from music mogul Russell Simmons (net worth $340 million) to the founder of Oracle software Larry Ellison (net worth $60 billion) would be working class, since neither has a college degree.

Zweig’s second definition for “working class” is someone who has no autonomy and almost no decision-making ability at work. That covers everyone from the shrinking pool of manufacturing hourly employees and agricultural workers to the expanding numbers of retail, food service, healthcare, and other service employees who now make up three-quarters of what we define as America’s working class.

Some parts of the working class are close to totally nonwhite, from nursing home health care aides (almost exclusively black women) to agricultural laborers (almost exclusively Hispanic). Around 46 percent of the working class is female, according to statistics from the Center for American Progress. But angry white males get most of the attention

Due to an editing error, Dwyane Smith’s article on Lloyd Gaines referred to when Gaines “enrolled in law school.” As the article states, he only attempted to enroll. Also, the Sharing America report on the memorial to Levi Harrington in Kansas City that we reprinted stated it was the first memorial to

from political analysts, even though white men make up less than 32 percent of what we call the working class.

The conservatism of the shrinking white workingclass majority stands in stark contrast to the Hispanic and black working-class voters who propelled Ocasio-Cortez to Congress, or who elected criminal justice reformers like St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney-elect Wesley Bell, or who elected 16 black, female judges in Harris County, Texas, which surrounds Houston. With non-white workingclass voters, messages like free college tuition, Medicare for all, and investments in education and infrastructure hit the sweet spot. And it’s not because working-class blacks and Hispanics share the social liberalism of many middle-class voters. Because so many non-whites serve in the military, people of color in the working class share the white working class’s admiration for the military. Because so many working-class Hispanics are staunchly Catholic, and working-class blacks tend to attend socially conservative churches, many share the white working class’s aversion to abortion and gay rights. Both the white and nonwhite working classes put up with the daily indignities that American 21st century capitalism heaps on working people. The difference is the white working class is reactionary, both in the political and social sense. They are conservative politically because they are reacting to social changes all around them. A black president gutpunched them. Non-white faces appear on their TV and movie screens as stars. Their kids and grandkids listen to music that is definitely not white. They may have read the statistics from the Census Bureau that show white Americans will become a minority by the 2050 census. Being reactionary to social and political forces denies the future. The white working class seems to want all of the advantages a global 21st century tech economy has created while living in 1955. They’re for Trump’s America First because, to them, America is white people. Instead of asking Democrats to pander to the white working class, maybe we should ask the white working class to join the rest of America.

Charles Jaco is a journalist, author, and activist. Follow him on Twitter at @ charlesjaco1.

victim James Scott was dedicated in Columbia. We regret the errors.

Letters to the editor

Columnist Charles Jaco

Commentary

Columnist Mike Jones

Urban League sponsors Senior Empowerment Forums

Tina Anderson, Marketing manager of Aetna, Inc., a Homer G. Phillips Apartments resident, Alderman Sam Moore, Shirley Sutherlin and Michael P. McMillan, president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, visited at the Senior Empowerment Forum at Homer G. Phillips Apartments on December 17.

In the month of December, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis hosted Senior Empowerment Forums at Homer G. Phillips, Heritage House and Metropolitan Village apartments. The forums featured presentations on senior services, transportation, health and wellness. Lunch, gifts and clothing giveaways were also provided to the residents.

In addition to the forums, the Urban League adopted hundreds of the 100 Neediest Cases families in partnership with the United Way of Greater St. Louis and Citi. Their assistance provided food, clothing, toys, toiletries and medication to those who were most in need in the St. Louis community.

St. Louis County Extension Council elections January 17-31

Sixteen county residents have remained on the St. Louis County University of Missouri Extension Council in 2018. Most will likely continue their role after a January 2019 election, which allows a maximum of 20 members.

Council members whose terms continue are Sylvester Bolden (Midland), Eugene Franks (Ferguson), Cheryl Jordan (alumni representation), Dave Kreuter (Creve Coeur), Gretchen Luke (Bridgeton), Mary Oswald (Bellefontaine Neighbors), Rob Rambaud (Wildwood), Bill Ruppert (Kirkwood), Tim Schmalz (University City), Wicky Sleight (Kirkwood), Lynn Squires (Hazelwood), Lisa Thompson (Maryland Heights) and Ken Truemper (Glendale).

Cynthia Jordan (Creve Coeur), Tracey Howe-Koch (Florissant), and Jane Kerlagon (Wildwood), are up for reelection after serving a two-year term. In addition, Teyuna Darris, Karen Jamerson, Cathy Lovins, Nancy McClain, and Brenda Smith are seeking election to join the council.

County extension council members work throughout the year with University of Missouri Extension staff members in planning and making recommendations for educational programs such as agriculture, home economics, business and industry, community development, youth development (4-H), and various continuing education courses, seminars and workshops.

The St. Louis County Extension Council meets at 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month at the St. Louis County office.

Individuals interested in serving on the council may contact Dwayne James, County engagement specialist, at the St. Louis County extension center at 314-400-7391.

Elections will take place between January 17 and 31. You will be able to vote online, as well as at the St. Louis County Extension office. For information about the University of Missouri Extension of St. Louis County, as well as where to cast your ballot in this election, visit http://extension.missouri.edu/stlouis/.

Keeping North St. Louis clean – and safe

By Dorothy Dempsey For The St. Louis American

What a world we live in when you come to church to worship God on Sunday and are robbed getting out of your car. The pastor of your church is held captive in the church garage for fear of the robbers who are waiting outside, and the same pastor of your church holds a man in his arms and gives last rites as he dies from being shot on the North Side of St. Louis. Gunshots, robbery and death are the norm on the North Side of St. Louis. How far downhill do we have to go? Where do we go for help? Where are the voices? The telephone lines should be lit up with calls to the mayor, Aldermen, police chief, Neighborhood Watch, everyone who has a title. There is a young lady, Barbara Scales, who has taken it upon herself to try to clean up the neighborhood. She personally takes Operation Brightside bags and attaches them to signposts. After they are filled, she goes back to empty the bags and replace them with new bags.

The bags don’t look the best, but Marcus Street is squeaky clean. She has been seen going into other neighborhoods and cleaning up their trash and putting it into bags too.

We really need trash cans on the corners, but the city does not seem to be able to provide them for the North Side. It would seem that people would be inclined to help Barbara with keeping the North Side clean, but if the police are not keeping it clean then I suppose anything goes in North St. Louis.

People are inclined to keep what is clean, beautiful and comfortable the same way that they see it. If you walk or drive down a street of quiet and solitude, you tend to stay quiet, or if a street is neat and clean for several blocks you may think twice before throwing down that empty cup. It all has to do with the mental process depending on who you are. Keeping the North Side clean is important, but the greatest concern of all is the loss of life in North St. Louis.

Because of the crime, evening church activities were cancelled for fear of church members being on church grounds after dark. An aging church membership and the young volunteer who waters the flowers after work can no longer do so for fear of safety during the evening hours. You cannot stop living because of things like this, and your faith must be steadfast. My prayer it that there will be divine intervention or a miracle in North St. Louis very soon for the safety of us all.

Dorothy Dempsey

CORNUTE

Continued from A1

acting if somebody asked.

Of course, media continues to present all sort of opportunities.

“I might try to freelance,” she said. “Do a podcast – I don’t know how, but it’s worth looking into. I never want to lose touch with what goes on with the community.”

She has many ongoing community commitments and the non-profit sector might come calling. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club and is an active member of Links, Incorporated Archway (MO) Chapter and Iota Phi Lambda Sorority Alpha Zeta Chapter. No doubt she would do more with her home church, St. Alphonsus “Rock” Liguori Church, except she already does so much. She handles sacramental preparation for children who go to public school receiving first communion, helps work the sound system during Mass, reads to the congregation one Sunday a month, and serves on the Art and Environment Committee.

She does not have a nuclear family to spend the proverbial more time with.

“I never married,” she said. “I thought work was more important. Silly me.” Being a local icon has posed challenges as a woman dating men.

BELL

Continued from A1 because of the zip code that they live in.”

When asked if he had concerns about some prosecutors in his office joining the city police union, Bell told The American, “Not at all. I talked to a lot of prosecutors in that office and we’re going to

“Men are pretty particular,” she said. “If you are with them, they want you with them. They are not interested in sharing you with the public. One guy I dated said he was not interested in being called ‘Mr. Cornute.’” She is dating a guy now. Born in Seattle and raised in Milwaukee, she has helped members of her own family settle in St. Louis and loves to indulge her nieces and nephews, especially her nieces, but she has no children of her

implement the changes that we promised, and we’re going to give everyone in that office the opportunity to get on board. And I am very optimistic that they will.”

Bell said that whenever you make changes, there will be some resistance.

“Sometimes, people feel that they are not a part of this change, and maybe if they are holdovers, they don’t believe that they are part of the team.

own: “I kept thinking, ‘Work, work, work, you can’t have any kids.’”

It was family influence – from her mother, Dolores Cornute – that put her on the path to broadcast news as a child.

“My mother was a news junkie. Growing up in ‘60s and ‘70s with the Civil Rights Movement and the War in Vietnam, we watched Walter Cronkite, and you had to sit there be quiet. She wanted to

know what was happening to Dr. King and how the war was progressing,” she said.

“She reacted passionately about what she saw. Sometimes she would get so mad she would throw things at the TV. She would cry and laugh at the TV, so I was drawn to it. That told me that little box and the information from that little box caused her to react emotionally – that is something; that has power. It influences how people think.”

n “The goal of this office is to keep St. Louis County residents safe, first and foremost, but we plan to do that in a manner that helps people that need help.”

– St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell

But am I here to say that they all are,” Bell said. “They’ll have that opportunity to get

Michael Butler sworn in

St. Louis Recorder of Deeds Michael Butler was sworn into office by U.S. District Judge Ronnie White in the Rotunda on Tuesday, January 2 in St. Louis City Hall. Butler is the first African American to hold this citywide position in St. Louis.

Recent changes in the medium and news media generally made her grateful for the buyout. Compact, portable, connected cameras and social media have changed the broadcast news business.

Stations also now compel reporters to shoot and edit their own stories, which makes it more of a grind. She also does not mind leaving an industry that is under assault.

“The national conversation

office to be a part of our team because it’s not an ‘us-versus-them’ thing, it’s a ‘we’ thing.”

Bell’s message to county residents was similar.

on board. And so we’re going to implement these changes, and we want everyone in that

“We’re all in this together, and we’ve preached that from the beginning,” Bell said. “The only way that we’re going to make this region a destination region once again is if we’re all pulling in the same direction.”

His second day in office on

about journalists is enough to make you say, ‘What is the purpose? Why do we do it? How do we do it to ensure we are not continuously criticized for doing something that always provided balance?’

Somebody is doing their best to whittle away at that trust,” she said.

“We are expected to hold elected officials and civic leaders accountable, to hold them to a higher level of responsibility, and when they fail someone has to tell the world about it. But the conversation within the national political arena makes me wonder if that reputation or role is at risk or in jeopardy. I hope not.”

She remains a news junkie, and she still cares deeply about journalism – “I hope people push back against allegations of fake news” – but admitted, “I don’t know if I have the energy to be the leader of the battle against it.”

For now, no fighting, more resting.

“After 30 years of deadlines, emcee here, moderate that panel, participate in a community service project – there has always been a deadline for me,” she said. “Right now, I just need to rest.”

But she is not retired.

“I believe I am on the cusp of another opportunity, I just don’t know what the heck that is,” she said. “But I like to believe I am not all washed up or dried up. I know I am not going to sit down.”

January 2 brought staff changes, with three people reportedly leaving the office. While not commenting on those personnel matters, a spokesperson confirmed that Sam Alton was appointed chief of staff, Tim Swope was appointed chief operations officer, Doug Sidel joined the executive leadership team, and Teresa Bomkamp was promoted to interim head of the sex crimes unit.

Photo by Wiley Price

GAINES

Continued from A1

traveled to Chicago, hoping to find work. Despondent, he wrote his mother that he “wished that he were just a plain ordinary man whose name no one recognized.” His fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, took up a collection for him. One evening he left to purchase stamps. He was never heard from again.

Gaines’ disappearance coincided with the passage of House Bill 195 establishing an African-American law school for him. Missouri Governor Lloyd C. Stark signed the bill into law May 5, 1939.

n Though the school achieved remarkable success, it was still dogged as the “Jim Crow” law school.

William E. Taylor, who had served as the acting dean of Howard University Law School, became the dean. Taylor hired three graduates from Howard Law School, Scoval Richardson, James C. Bush, and Virgil H. Lucas. The school assembled 13,000 volumes of books for its library, with 1,700 coming from the Missouri Supreme Court. The school was established in St. Louis instead of on the Lincoln campus due to the number of African-American attorneys in the city and its proximity to two white law schools, Washington University and Saint Louis University. The school’s site was the Poro Building on 4300 St. Ferdinand and Pendleton, the former home to the Poro Beauty College founded by Annie Malone, America’s first self-made AfricanAmerican woman millionaire. The building was extensively remodeled. Even NAACP attorney Sidney Redmond admitted that it appeared that the state was “acting in good faith.” Thurgood Marshall thought it critical to contact Gaines and insist that he be admitted to the University of Missouri Law School. By this time Gaines had been missing for months.

The Lincoln University Law School was ready for its September 20, 1939 opening. Black newspapers were in a dilemma on how to treat the school. Many outright condemned it as a “Jim Crow” school. Others saw the complexities of the issue. Though the school was established as a means to keep African Americans out of the University of Missouri, they also saw it as a sense of accomplishment, pride and racial uplift.

Eventually 30 students made up the inaugural class of the law school. A picket line from the St. Louis Youth Forum greeted them. Soon a group of white students from the ACLU chapters of

ELECTION

Continued from A1

there are other factors at play, such as a history of white bloc voting against the candidates preferred by the black community. When local circumstances combine with such voting schemes to make it more difficult for minorities to elect candidates of their choice, it violates the federal Voting Rights Act. The court agreed that the voting procedures here were unlawful. Now African Americans in the FergusonFlorissant School District will have a new tool to elect a school board that is responsive to the needs of the community. That tool is the remedy the court selected to make the district’s voting comply with the Voting Rights Act: a cumulative voting system.

In cumulative voting, voters are given as many votes as there are seats open and the freedom to use their votes however they like. Allowing a voter to place multiple votes on one candidate increases that candidate’s chances of being elected. Unlike the previous system, voters are not limited to using

Vigil for those we lost

Washington University, Eden Seminary and the University of Missouri joined the picket line with the St. Louis Colored Clerks Circle. The interracial solidarity made national news. An editorial in the St. Louis Argus argued that while the demonstrations were lofty they should also occur in front of the University of Missouri Law School, where the protest would have greater impact.

With the law school underway, Houston and Redmond’s next step was to take depositions to determine if the month-old school was equal in stature to the 75-year-old University of Missouri. With Gaines’ disappearance, the case was dismissed on January 2, 1940.

Over the years the Lincoln University Law School would have uneven enrollment, but its curriculum rivaled the better-funded law schools in the region. The school was accredited by both the Missouri Board of Law Examiners and the American Bar Association and was elected to membership in the Association of American Law Schools, the highest honor

only one vote per candidate. Instead, they can put multiple votes for any candidate. This increases the opportunity for minority groups to gain representation in an election. When standard ballots are used the majority’s votes typically elect its desired candidates and block the minority voice from being effectively and proportionally represented in the elected body.

The majority should not be able to control the entire district.

We know the importance of ensuring fair elections for all Americans cannot be overstated. The school board makes many decisions that reverberate throughout the community.

Cumulative voting can work for African-American voters in Ferguson-Florissant, just as it did for Hispanics in the Village of Port Chester, N.Y. A federal judge found the at-large voting system was in violation of the federal Voting Rights Act after the Hispanic population was not represented in the village’s elected body.

At the court’s direction, Port Chester became the first municipality in New York to use cumulative voting. After two elections, this system successfully enhanced the voting strengths of the city’s

a law school can earn.

The quality of its students was evident at the 1951 annual Midwest Regional Moot Court Competition. The Lincoln University Law School was the only St. Louis law school to pass the first round, beating Washington University, Saint Louis University and Kansas University law students.

In its 16-year existence it graduated over 80 black attorneys with its graduates admitted to the bar in 14 states. Among its graduates were over 40 practicing attorneys, one magistrate judge, a law school dean, three law professors, a law librarian, one county deputy district attorney, an assistant attorney, an assistant federal housing manager, and two government attorneys.

Though the school achieved remarkable success, it was still dogged as the “Jim Crow” law school. Marshall determined that the school was born out of the racist belief that African Americans were too inferior to attend the law school at the University of Missouri and called the school “the biggest disgrace in the country.”

Hispanic population. In October, the people of Port Chester voted yes on a ballot initiative to make cumulative voting permanent.

It is important that voters know that the next school board election will have cumulative voting. The ACLU of Missouri is working closely with the St. Louis County Board of Elections and the Ferguson-Florissant School District to implement a courtordered voter education plan.

But we also need the community to be involved.

Filing for school board candidates is open until January 15. We hope to see robust participation in the upcoming election.

We’re also working with grassroots groups, such as Grade A for Change, to get the word out about this new voting system and to remind people to register to vote.

We’ll also be co-hosting a candidate forum/voter education program with The St. Louis American and iHeartMedia on March 26. Stay tuned for more details.

For more information about cumulative voting, visit www. aclu-mo.org.

Jeffrey A. Mittman is executive director of the ACLU of Missouri.

By 1954, the number of students enrolled in the Lincoln University Law School numbered 12. It became too expensive for Lincoln University to continue the

school. In June 1955, the Lincoln University Law School closed its doors for good, ending a 16-year journey of preparing African-American attorneys.

Dwyane Smith is the provost and vice-president of Academic Affairs at HarrisStowe State University and a Fulbright Scholar.

Karen Jones spoke on the loss of her son Kiren Jones during Families Advocating Safe Streets’ 27th annual candlelight service for the year’s homicide victims at Williams Temple Church on New Year’s Eve. At left is FASS founder Jeanette Culpepper, Bryce Jones, 13, and his sister Jasmine Jones, 28.

Photo by Wiley Price

Beyond Tarzan

While I was growing up on Chicago’s near South Side, there were several movie theaters within five minutes walking distance of my home. There was The Joe Lewis Theater, The States, The Grand, The Terrace and the Park. A five minute bus or streetcar ride gave me access to the Regal, The Owl, The Met, The NRA and The Tivoli.

All of them had one thing in common. They featured movie after movie starring Tarzan the Ape Man. Tarzan was our hero. When Tarzan talked to the animals and gave them commands, we thought he was amazing. And the way he treated the so-called natives we thought was funny, although we covered and hid our faces in shame. We learned what we thought were two African words, “Bwana” and “Uumgawa.” Nearly every week we would watch Tarzan, Johnny Mack Brown, Buster Crabbe, Wild Bill Hickok or other white heroes. We were bombarded with these negative stereotypical images and loved it, not recognizing the damage it was doing to us.

We didn’t know of the many black cowboys and black women who pioneered and shaped the West. Nat Love, a.k.a. Deadwood Dick, was portrayed as a white man in a John Wayne movie. We didn’t know of Mary Fields, a.k.a. Stagecoach Mary, Cranford Goldsby, a.k.a. Cherokee Bill, and a host of other courageous men and women.

Bernie Hayes

“The Black West” by Lauren Katz tells amazing stories about slave runaways during the colonial era, the journeys of Lewis and Clark, and the charge at San Juan Hill. Katz vividly recounts the crucial contributions African Americans made during scores of frontier encounters. Since the early days of mass culture, newspapers, films, and early television shows, blacks have been vilified and painted us as savages, ignorant, stupid, violent and a threat to the white

social order.

“Slavery characterized and shaped America more than any other institution” said John Fleming, the executive director of the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center in Wilberforce, Ohio. “When movies became popular, racism permeated throughout the American society.”

How do we free our minds from past and present effects of racism, prejudice, and discrimination? Learn your history. Read books by black authors and other historians that will tell the truth. It is not that hard. Visit black bookstores and participate in cultural events that relate to you and your history. It is really easy and rewarding. I hope you will have a Happy New Year with a resolution to learn more about you and me.

Please watch the Bernie Hayes TV program Saturday night at 10 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 5:30 p.m. on NLEC-TV Ch. 24.2. I can be reached by fax at (314) 8373369, on e-mail at berhay@ swbell.net or on Twitter @ berhay.

Frances G. (White) Allen

Trump’s reckoning is well underway

For the new year, critics of President Trump should resolve not to be intimidated by the potential wrath of his vaunted political base. The only one who should cower before the Make America Great Again legions is Trump himself. And he does fear them, bigly. The latest illustration is the way he chickened out on a bipartisan agreement to keep the government fully funded, instead forcing a partial shutdown over chump change for “the wall.” I use quotation marks because there never was going to be an actual, physical, continuous wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, much less paid for by the Mexican government. The president is desperately trying to avoid acknowledging this and other realities before the 2020 election.

Anyone who thinks Trump is a master politician is wrong. He’s a master illusionist, which isn’t the same thing. Politicians can’t keep pulling rabbits out of empty hats forever. At some point they face a reckoning, and Trump’s is well underway.

Trump is talented at making it appear he has more than he really does – more money, more respect, more support. All those campaign rallies before the midterm election were not just an attempt to save the Republican majorities in Congress or feed Trump’s insatiable ego. They were also demonstrations of the fervor of his core supporters – and implied warnings to Republicans who might cross him. But Trump’s bluster camouflages great weakness.

Look at his political standing. Trump won the presidency with 46 percent

of the popular vote. (That’s compared to 48 percent for Hillary Clinton, but who’s counting?) His margin in the Electoral College, which he tries to portray as a great landslide, was actually quite puny – smaller than either of Barack Obama’s, either of Bill Clinton’s, the late George H.W. Bush’s or either of Ronald Reagan’s.

Trump did have a bigger electoral margin than George W. Bush ever managed to win. But only Trump has the unflattering distinction of winning a presidential election while losing the popular vote by nearly 3 million. No matter. A skilled politician would seek to expand his base of support. But according to Gallup, Trump’s approval has been underwater since the day he took office –never once reaching higher than 45 percent – and now stands at 39 percent. Then there are the results of the midterm election, which can only be read as a massive repudiation of Trump and all he stands for. Democrats captured the House, defended all but two of their imperiled senators, and grabbed governorships and state legislatures across the country. The Democratic Party’s House popular-vote margin was the biggest ever

seen in a midterm. So much for the ethno-nationalistpopulist wave that Trump is supposed to be surfing. It is a mistake to underestimate Trump’s base or to suggest that all the issues he raises are, because he raises them, invalid. There are legitimate reasons, for example, to want to ensure border security. But racism is not one of them; and a useless wall, meant to symbolize rejection of a brown-skinned “invasion,” is not an actual solution. If Trump’s core, unshakable base of support is, say, around 35 percent, then he almost surely would lose a re-election bid in 2020. I say “almost” because we don’t know whom the Democrats will run against him or whether there will be a significant independent or third-party challenger; and I say “would” because we can’t be entirely sure that Trump will run again. For now, he may be calculating that 35 percent is enough to keep the GOP-led Senate from removing him from office in the event that the House finds compelling grounds to impeach him. What keeps him from compromising isn’t principle or determination. It’s simple fear.

Anyone who thinks Trump is a master politician is wrong. He’s a master illusionist, which isn’t the same thing. Politicians

Columnist James Ingram

Republicans push conservative agenda at the expense of democracy

Charles Jaco – journalist, author, and activist (on Twitter at @charlesjaco1) – who took down U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill’s Republican challenger Todd Akin six years ago in a bruising broadcast interview, came out of retirement to write for The American before the November 6 general election and has stuck with it. He penned this guest Political EYE.

Maybe because he was born, raised, and still lives in Canada, former Wall Street Journal editorial writer and George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum never bought into the GOP’s inevitable drift into white nationalism.

The man who created W’s “Axis of Evil” speech and left the Republican Party because of Trump was acidly on-point when he wrote last year, “If conservatives become convinced they cannot win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. They will abandon democracy.”

Republicans in North Carolina won the 9th Congressional District by a few hundred votes because GOP operatives hired people to collect absentee ballots from trusting voters in heavily Democratic areas and then dumped the ballots.

Not to be outdone, Missouri’s Republican governor and the GOP super-majority in the General Assembly spent their Christmas plotting how to overturn a series of progressive initiatives and constitutional amendments overwhelmingly approved by Show-Me state voters in November. The state GOP figures they can get away with abandoning democracy for two reasons. One, they’ve done it before, and two, they figure no one can stop them.

That fits perfectly with a national GOP that’s enabling a sociopathic authoritarian in the Oval Office, but it’s even more true on the state level.

Republicans in Wisconsin and Michigan lost complete control of state governments, then used lame-duck sessions to gut power from incoming Democrats. Republicans in Ohio preempted a ballot issue next year to raise the minimum wage by making it basically impossible for voters to amend the state constitution.

Republicans in Georgia won the governorship because their candidate was the very secretary of state who had purged voter rolls of tens of thousands of black people.

Ironically, the efforts are being led by a governor no one elected as governor. Lt. Governor Mike Parson became Missouri’s governor when then-Governor Eric Greitens was forced to resign after charges of assault, blackmail, basement bondage with a mistress, and possibly illegal movement of dark money campaign contributions became too much to handle.

In a pre-Christmas interview with the Associated Press, Gov. Parson made it clear that he and the massive Republican majorities in the House and Senate intend to wreck a clean government constitutional amendment approved by 62 percent of voters. The so-called Clean Missouri amendment changes the state constitution so that state legislative district boundaries that are changed after every census will be drawn by a professional demographer, not by the party in power in Jefferson City. The

amendment also slaps strict campaign contribution limits on candidates and makes it harder for ex-lawmakers to go to work as lobbyists.

“When you start talking about what they proposed in redistricting, of how do you make districts even, I think

voting against Right to Work by a breathtaking 67 percent statewide. Gov. Parson thinks voters didn’t know what was best for them in that case either. He and the state GOP have hatched a scheme to enable Right to Work to be implemented on a county-by-

n “If conservatives become convinced they cannot win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. They will abandon democracy.”

– George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum

that’s so questionable,” Parsons sniffed. “You think when the people vote, you shouldn’t be changing that vote. The reality of it is that is somewhat what your job is sometimes, if you know something’s unconstitutional, if you know some of it’s not right.”

Missouri voters in August resoundingly overturned Missouri’s proposed antiunion “Right to Work” law,

county basis. Not satisfied with that, state Sen. Eric Burlison (R-Christian County) has already pre-filed legislation to overturn the Right to Work vote completely.

Missouri voters also approved hiking the state’s minimum wage, and although no legislation to overturn that vote has been pre-filed yet, several state lawmakers have expressed their intention to

Gov. Parson has made it clear that he and the massive Republican majorities in the Missouri House and Senate intend to wreck a clean government constitutional amendment approved by 62 percent of voters.

explore how to overturn that, too. Lucky for them, Missouri Republicans have a lot of experience getting rid of voter initiatives they disagree with.

Take Gov. Parson.

Back when he was a state representative and then a state senator from the rural area around the Lake of the Ozarks, he spearheaded a drive to gut the anti-puppy mill initiative voters approved in 2010.

Pushed by dog breeders, the measure to enforce humane conditions for 200,000 dogs in the state’s 3,000 dog breeding facilities was watered down until it almost vanished.

The state GOP has also successfully eviscerated voterpassed initiatives on everything from minimum wage cost-ofliving adjustments to regulation of concealed-carry weapons.

Not surprisingly, Republicans have never touched voter initiative results when the result was politically conservative.

The 2004 statewide vote against gay marriage was clearly unconstitutional, as the U.S. Supreme Court later affirmed. But it remained on the books in Missouri until the federal high court tossed it out.

This is how authoritarianism operates, whether in Turkey, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, or America. The authoritarian party in power will stop at

nothing to control elections, manipulate votes, and overturn initiatives because, to them, maintaining power for their ideology is more important than democracy. Authoritarians bulldoze laws over the people because they’re convinced that no one is strong enough to stop them.

On its face, that would seem to be true in Missouri. The Democratic caucuses in the state House and Senate could meet inside a gym locker room and still have plenty of elbow room. The Republicans control the General Assembly, and the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, and treasurer’s offices, leaving Missouri’s auditor as the only Democrat in statewide elected office.

But the numbers make it obvious that a lot of people who voted for Republicans also voted against Right to Work, for re-districting and political reform, and in favor of raising the minimum wage. And like everywhere else in America, the Age of Trump has energized a new coalition of progressive activists willing to take to the streets, lobby lawmakers, and turn the heat up on conservative ideologues. They’ve also been going to court across the country. And that’s the one-two punch that can stop what the GOP has planned. Mass demonstrations clogging Jefferson City and the state Capitol building, plus a barrage of lawsuits can stop this latest blatant attempt by Republicans to overturn the will of the people. Because, like all authoritarians, the GOP will keep going unless they run into resistance – serious resistance.

Photo by Jason Rosenbaum / St. Louis Public Radio

The dope on medical marijuana

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Dr. Randall Williams anticipates medical marijuana will be available for purchase in Missouri as early as January 2020.

Application process getting underway for plants, dispensaries and infused products

By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American

Take care of yourself – but don’t make that something else to worry about

American staff

Self-care is a new buzzword these days, and it can be a great prescription for better overall health. It is a way of recharging yourself so you can be ready to be of service to others.

n Patients seeking medical marijuana must apply for an identification card ($25) from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, starting July 4.

Marijuana.

“We are thankful for members of our DHSS team for their efforts in meeting the January 5 requirement to collect nonrefundable fees for facilities as specified in Constitutional Amendment 2,” said DHSS Director Dr. Randall Williams.

Medical marijuana is now legal in Missouri, and the application processes are getting underway for the state to select cannabis growers, manufacturers and retail distributors. The formal application process to get into the highly regulated and highly lucrative medical marijuana business opens January 5 through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. The nonrefundable Pre-filed License Application fees are $10,000 per Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facility, $6,000 per Medical Marijuana Dispensary Facility, and $6,000 per Medical Marijuana-Infused Products Manufacturing Facility. See MARIJUANA, A13

To lead this implementation, on December 19, the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) announced that State Rep. Lyndall Fraker (R-Marshfield) will join the department as director of Medical Marijuana and Amy Moore will become deputy director/counsel for Medical

“We welcome Lyndall and Amy and their leadership as we dutifully execute the implementation of Amendment 2.” Amendment 2 passed in the state during the November 6, 2018 general election. It was one of three medical marijuana measures that were on the ballot; the other two failed.

“Administering this new program needs to be done in the right way for Missouri,”

Go smoke-free in 2019

American staff

Just in time for the New Year, the American Lung Association (ALA) in Missouri announced free resources to help residents who are ready to quit using tobacco as a part of their New Year’s Resolution.

According to the ALA 2018 State of Tobacco Control report, more than 22 percent of adults smoke in Missouri, which is attributed to 10,970 deaths per year in the state. Unfortunately, not everyone has benefited equally from tobacco-control efforts and, as a result, the smoking rate is much higher for lower-income and some minority communities. In fact, 33.6 percent of adults living in public housing smoke and more than 20 percent of

n “The New Year is the perfect time for people to commit to a smoke-free life, and we are here to help.”

– Plesetta Clayton, American Lung Association

African-American adults report that they currently use tobacco.

“While the smoking rate is decreasing in our state, not all communities are seeing the same progress and lifesaving benefits

of quitting smoking,” said Plesetta Clayton, director of health promotions for the ALA. “That’s why we offer special programs throughout the city to help people quit. The New Year is the perfect time for people to commit to a smoke-free life, and we are here to help.”

The ALA offers several free programs and resources to help Missourians quit smoking.

Smoking Cessation for Low Income Housing Residents Initiative. The ALA works with public housing agencies and other local partners to provide free resources for people who are ready to quit. The residents are given free access to the

n In the new year, think about a resolution that includes being more deliberate about self-care. For example, schedule time for yourself just as you would a meeting or event.

Luke Raymond, a Behavioral Health Services manager for OSF HealthCare in Peoria, Illinois, said self-care can range from taking time to pray, exercise, meditate, write poetry or socialize with friends. He said it involves finding what personally resonates with you, even if that’s watching your favorite TV show.

“You want to sit and have a glass of wine and watch

‘Real Housewives,’ knock yourself out – until it becomes something that is creating an imbalance or a lack of availability for other things in your life,” Raymond said. However, sometimes doing something for yourself makes things worse for people with an anxiety disorder, which represents about

Self-care should involve what personally resonates with you.

ANXIETY

Continued from A12

20 percent of all adults in the U.S. Anxiety disorder is the most common mental illness.

Raymond said for people with anxiety, recommending self-care can trigger the “fight or flight” mechanism in the brain which can affect the way self-care is interpreted.

SMOKING

Continued from A12

“If you’re dealing with anxiety, your brain often tries to find things to worry about, and if we say, ‘Ok, you’ve got anxiety, so it’s important to engage in these three self-care activities a week,’ well, that’s just one more thing to add to the plate of worry,” Raymond said.

He said prescribing self-care can also trigger feelings of guilt or low self-worth, especially in people with anxiety who

Freedom From Smoking Program, a proven, effective smoking cessation program that has helped hundreds of thousands of people quit tobacco. This program is funded by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri. For more information, call 1-800586-4872.

The Lung HelpLine. This free resource at 1-800-586-4872 is staffed by certified tobacco-cessation specialists, some of whom are also respiratory therapists, registered nurses and pharmacists. Along with counseling, the HelpLine offers up to six weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy (such as nicotine patches) to people who are medically eligible. Resources are available online at Lung.org or over the phone at 1-800-586-4872.

“Nicotine in cigarettes and e-cigarettes are highly addictive, which is part of why it can be so tough to quit smoking,” said Clayton. “On average, it takes a tobacco user eight to 11 quit attempts before they are smokefree. This is why it is so important to turn to proven methods and expert resources to help you quit smoking for good.” For more information on any of these programs, call 1-800-586-4872 or visit Lung.org.

MARIJUANA

Continued from A12

Fraker said. “I look forward to continuing to serve the people of Missouri in my new capacity.” Williams anticipates medical marijuana will be available for purchase in Missouri as early as January 2020. There will be a limited number of licenses awarded, based upon population and for dispensaries, 24 in each of the eight congressional districts, said compliance lawyer Derek Mays, founder and CEO of REAL Cannabis Co. Mays also serves on the Business and Trade Planning Committee of the Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association. “The earliest you can submit

for

can obsess about not spending time on something perceived as more productive.

For an easy, low-pressure approach to self-care, Raymond suggests looking for momentary opportunities.

“Instead of looking at selfcare as this big, prescribed notion of what you have to do to get through the day, just take a little bit of time, even throughout the day – a minute or two here and there – to

decompress, to do something that is relaxing and fulfilling for yourself.”

For people with anxiety, it is important to work with a mental health professional to develop a toolbox for what might work best rather than looking at more traditional self-care options.

In the new year, think about a resolution that includes being more deliberate about self-care. To do

that could require some strategizing. For example, schedule time for yourself just as you would a meeting or event. Create tangible reminders like calendar invites, or phone alerts to make moments for self-care a more regular part of your daily routine.

Christian Hospital opens Alzheimer’s Resource Center

The Alzheimer’s Association Greater Missouri Chapter hosted an open house on December 18 at the brandnew Alzheimer’s Resource Center at Christian Hospital, Christian Hospital Professional Office Building #1, Suite 204E, 11155 Dunn Rd. Christian Hospital

President Rick Stevens visited the center to give remarks. The Resource Center will serve the patients, families and seniors who have a desire to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and all dementia-related ailments that affect many families. Office hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information on the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Missouri Chapter, visit https://www.alz.org/ greatermissouri.

Raymond also suggests for anyone who finds selfcare burdensome, consider cutting out extraneous things that aren’t enjoyable or meaningful. If you want help creating a self-care plan, consider contacting a behavioral health professional.

• Cancer

• Epilepsy

• Glaucoma

• Intractable migraines unresponsive to other treatment

Chronic medical conditions that cause severe, persistent pain or persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to

your license application will be August 3,” Mays said, “and then they have 150 days to make a decision as to whether or not or who is going to receive the licenses to operate.” Additionally, licenseholding entities must be

For help managing moderate anxiety, depression or stress, OSF HealthCare offers its “Silver Cloud” app as something to try, available by phone, tablet or internet browser.

February 15 deadline for Alzheimer’s Scholarship Essay Contest

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is sponsoring an Alzheimer’s Awareness Scholarship Essay Contest for college-bound high school seniors. The prompt: describe how Alzheimer’s has affected your life and share how you plan to make a difference in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease in 1,500 words or less. The deadline to submit essays is February 15, 2019. The grand prize winner will receive a $5,000 college scholarship. Prizes will also be awarded for first-runnerup ($2,500), second-runner-up ($1,500), third runner-up ($1,000), fourth runner-up ($750) and honorable mention ($500).

High school seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and entering a four-year accredited college or university within 12 months of the application deadline are eligible.

Those with questions can call the foundation at 866-232-8484. For more information and to submit, visit www. alzfdn.org and click on the “Teen Scholarship Essay Contest” tab in the top menu.

Conditions that qualify for medical marijuana

those associated with multiple sclerosis, seizures, Parkinson’s disease, and Tourette’s syndrome

Debilitating psychiatric disorders, including but not limited to post-traumatic stress disorder, if diagnosed by a state-licensed psychiatrist

Human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune

comprised of a majority of Missouri residents. Only state-licensed physicians will be able to give patients a physician certification for medical marijuana. DHSS stated that the patient application form

deficiency syndrome

A chronic medical condition that is normally treated with a prescription medication that could lead to physical or psychological dependence, when a physician determines that medical use of marijuana could be effective in treating that condition and would serve as a safer

is being developed and will be available online no later than June 4. Patients seeking medical marijuana must apply for an identification card ($25) from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, starting July 4.

alternative to the prescription medication

Any terminal illness

In the professional judgment of a physician, any other chronic, debilitating or other medical condition, including but not limited to hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s

Once the patient’s application is approved, he or she will receive an identification card within 30 days of application. A patient or a primary caregiver of the qualified patient can then purchase medical

disease, Huntington’s disease, autism, neuropathies, sickle cell anemia, agitation of Alzheimer’s disease, cachexia and wasting syndrome.

Source: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

marijuana from a state-licensed dispensary. For more information, email MedicalMarijuanainfo@ health.mo.gov or visit https:// health.mo.gov/safety/medicalmarijuana/index.php.

African-American women now lead city and county courts

Judge Robin Ransom and Judge Gloria Clark Reno now presiding over 21st and 22nd circuits

By Rachel Lipmann

Of St. Louis Public Radio

African-American women

now lead two of the busiest courthouses in Missouri for the first time in history.

Judge Gloria Clark Reno was elected the presiding judge of the 21st Circuit in St. Louis County in October and began serving that month, because her predecessor had retired.

Judge Robin Ransom became presiding judge of the 22nd Circuit, which hears cases in St. Louis, with the new year.

Presiding judges handle some administrative work for the courts, such as deciding which judges will handle what types of cases. As presiding judge in the city, Ransom handles most preliminary matters, like motions to dismiss.

The two women were elected to the presiding judge post by their fellow judges — something Ransom called an honor and privilege.

“These are people that you work with and you respect, but you don’t understand the level of confidence that people really have in you until your

own colleagues support you for a position of this nature,” she said.

Clark Reno agreed.

“It’s always really nice when you get the support of your peers, even more so than when it’s coming from outside – the fact that people you have worked with for a number of years have this kind of faith and confidence in you,” she said.

Clark Reno and Ransom took different paths to the bench. Reno was in private practice, including a stint as a municipal prosecutor, until Gov. Bob Holden named her an associate circuit judge in 2002. Gov. Jay Nixon elevated her to the circuit judge position in 2009.

Ransom started out as an assistant public defender in St. Louis County, then switched sides and worked briefly for St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch before joining St. Louis County’s family court in 1996. Holden appointed her to be a family court commissioner in St. Louis in 2002, before Gov. Matt Blunt named her a circuit judge in 2008.

Ransom and Clark Reno’s

elections, along with Wesley Bell’s win in the Democratic primary for St. Louis County prosecutor, mean that starting in January, the top judges and

Above - Judge Gloria Clark Reno was elected the presiding judge of the 21st Circuit in St. Louis County in October and began serving that month, because her predecessor had retired.

Left - Judge Robin Ransom became presiding judge of the 22nd Circuit, which hears cases in St. Louis, with the new year.

the prosecutors in St. Louis and St. Louis County will all be black. (Kim Gardner, the circuit attorney in St. Louis, was elected in 2016.) Both judges hope that will allow people who distrust the system a space to be heard.

“When I walk into a room, it’s very obvious that I’m a black female. I don’t need to announce that,” Ransom said.

“I think the one thing that makes me very proud in this role with those two particular identifying factors is that we’ve had a lot of stressors in our communities over the last few years. I’m hoping that in our roles, we can really get to some of those people who don’t feel

that they’re represented and let them know that just because a decision doesn’t go your way, it doesn’t mean that we’re not listening.”

Clark Reno added: “The fact that we are here, in these positions, I think, is an indication that the system works. I believe that it may, of course, foster some trust.”

Both women said they want to use their positions as the public face of the courts to encourage jury service. Both will also push for the expansion of diversion programs like mental health or drug courts, which allow defendants facing low-level charges to go through intensive treatment in exchange

for having the charges dropped.

“It costs a lot of money to incarcerate a person,” Clark Reno said. “This is a cheaper way of dealing with those who come into the courts for alcohol, for drugs and for mental-health issues.”

Clark Reno, as presiding judge in St. Louis County, also has oversight authority of the county’s 82 municipal courts, which handle minor ordinance violations. Many are facing lawsuits for violating the rights of defendants.

Reform is a work in progress, she said.

“We’re making sure that all of the judges on our muni courts are certified, that all the muni courts operate the way any other court would, with proper signage, with the separation of powers,” she said.

Clark Reno said she hopes to have all 82 municipal courts online by the end of her first year as presiding judge.

“If we are really making real progress in that, I think I’ll consider that to be a positive, for sure,” she said.

Ransom said she wants to spend her first year getting 15to 25-year-olds excited about “the court system, the judiciary, their city where they live.

“I have so many people that I run into every single day, and they have nothing good to say about their futures or their city,” she said. Success will be “if after 12 months, I can say I’ve reached out to some of those people and had some of our younger kids from the city really appreciate not only where they live, but to appreciate that this is the best system that I think we have.”

Presiding judge terms generally last for two years, but Ransom may leave before her term is complete: She is one of three finalists for a seat on the Missouri Court of Appeals.

Reprinted with permission from http://news.stlpublicradio. org.

Business

‘The people needed a store’

MetroLink station at the corner of Bowman Avenue and N. 15th Street.

Neighbors’ Market embraced by East St. Louis community in food desert

By Marissanne Lewis-Thompson

Public Radio

Louis

Of St.

The Neighbors’ Market grocery store opened its doors in October, filling an unmet need in the East St. Louis community.

The full-service grocery store has fresh produce, healthy food options and ready-togo prepared meals like sandwiches, soups and salads. It has partnered with local businesses to sell their products.

“We have over nine African-American vendors that we let them sell their product here in the store,” said Sterling Moody, the co-owner of Neighbors’ Market. “We have Desserts out the Jar, [which] is pretty famous around here.

n “We have over nine AfricanAmerican vendors that we let them sell their product here in the store.” – Sterling Moody, co-owner of Neighbors’ Market

We’re exclusive in the retail for her.” Yashica McKinney is the owner and creator of Desserts out the Jar. Fresh meat is sliced and prepared daily in the back.

Before Neighbors’ Market opened its doors,

access to healthy food and produce was slim to none. The store is in the middle of a food desert.

Moody said the previous grocery store in that location had been closed for two years before he reopened it.

“The people needed a store,” Moody said.

“And this is the only full-service grocery store on this side of the railroad tracks, so we’re excited about that.”

East St. Louis resident Annie Bell knows this all too well. She lives down the street from the grocery store. She said before it reopened, things were hard.

“[I] had to bum, thumb for a ride to get to a

See MARKET, B6

Homegrown Black Males

Moving ‘Beyond Jobs’ to regional change

By Jason Watson For The St. Louis American

Part of a year-long series, presented by The American and the Brown School at Washington University, on changing the narratives and outcomes of young black males in St. Louis

At 12, I started selling. At 14, I began using heroin. The same year, my best friend was killed.

Jason Watson

At 15, I was kicked out of Beaumont High School. At 16, I was charged with my first felony and landed in a medium-security jail, known as the Workhouse, where I spent the next four months of my life.

After all of that, at 18, I legally became a man. I had survived enough pain for a lifetime, before I was legally considered an adult. Nobody is shocked that life is dark in parts of

n In the end, my thought for these men – for our region, really – is that we don’t have to be what we’ve been.

our city. But not everyone has walked the walk and lived the life to understand how hopeless it really can seem. Growing up in Walnut Park, in the heart of North St. Louis, the youngest of 10 kids in a single-parent home, I know what living in that context means. That’s why I fight for change. That’s why I fight to show the men who come through Mission: St. Louis the dignity they possess. That’s why I fight to give them the resources they need to live a different story.

At 37, I am nearing four years of directing a program called Beyond Jobs out of Mission: St. Louis, helping men with stories like mine change

their lives.

When Mike Brown was killed in August 2014, my family and I were living in Iowa to work with an educational program for students from Chicago. I had traveled the world for 10 years previous to that, touring as a Christian rap artist. We had always planned to move back home to St. Louis one day, but after Mike’s shooting, it felt more urgent to come back and make change here.

At that time, the former director of Beyond Jobs, James Westbrook, reached out to see if I was interested in working at Mission: St. Louis. Plans fell into place, and I joined the team.

In the 11 years that Mission: St. Louis has been a nonprofit organization, it has developed a three-fold focus to manifest change in our city. We focus on emotionally, socially and educationally enriching the lives of students through a program called Beyond School, building relationships and coming alongside

James Clark received a Project Safe Neighborhoods Award from the U.S. Department of Justice. He and 15 others nationally were recognized for going “above and beyond the call of duty in using Project Safe Neighborhoods to reduce violent crime.” He is vice president of Community Outreach for Better Family Life, where he implemented a Gun Violence De-escalation Program.

Margaret Mischeaux was selected for the Opera Theater of St. Louis Artists-inTraining Program. She is a sophomore at Normandy High School in the Normandy Schools Collaborative. Participants enjoy college-level voice lessons and coaching, master classes and recitals, college guidance, the vibrant arts culture of St. Louis, and compete for $12,000 in scholarships.

Keith A. Rusan graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio, Texas as an U.S. Air Force Airman. He completed an intensive, eightweek program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. He is a 2018 graduate of Ritenour Senior High School.

Christian Cashelle published her seventh fiction title, “My Mother’s Child,” which completes a trilogy that addresses generational curses and dysfunctional families. She started Dynamic Image Publications (www. dipublications.com) in 2009 to create a brand that catered to inspirational fiction. She defines the genre as “entertainment with a purpose,” the cross between urban fiction and Christian fiction.

Michael P. McMillan was elected assistant secretary of The Muny’s Board of Directors, which furthers its mission of producing exceptional musical theatre that is accessible to all. He is president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and a former license collector and 19th Ward alderman in the City of St. Louis.

Farida Ahsan is the first PakistaniAmerican to file for the Parkway School District Board of Education. She is a Parkway mom, realtor with Coldwell Banker Gundaker and a Pakistani-American Muslim who lives in West County. Several thousand Muslims live within the district and hundreds of Muslim students attend Parkway schools, yet this group has never sought direct representation.

On the move? Congratulations! Send your good professional news and a color headshot to cking@stlamerican. com

Michael P. McMillan

Margaret Mischeaux

Farida Ahsan

Christian Cashelle

James Clark

Keith A. Rusan

Evelyn Fluellen, manager of Neighbors’ Market, helped Chestina Taylor pick out meat at the East St. Louis grocery store, which sits across the street from a

Photo by Carolina Hidalgo / St. Louis Public Radio

Phi Beta Sigma, Teamsters partner to make students business-ready

Distribution of business clothes culminates ‘Art of the Professional’ workshop

By Patricia Merritt

For The St. Louis American

More than 100 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville male students were dressed for success thanks to the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Alumni Chapter Epsilon Lambda Sigma of East St. Louis.

Students from SIUE’s Collegiate 100 Chapter and Goal-Oriented African American Men Excel (GAME)

received a suit and/or dress shirt on Thursday, December 6 in the Morris University Center’s University Club. The Teamsters National Black Caucus Chapter of St. Louis donated more than 300 business shirts and 31 suits to SIUE students, according to Freddie Wills, Phi Beta Sigma member.

Other members of the Phi Beta Sigma chapter who were part of the presentation and

n “The organizations involved heard about our initiatives that support the retention and graduation of African-American males.”

– Earleen Patterson

distribution of the business attire were James Brown, vice president, and Steve Roberts, chaplain, who attended SIUE

from 1984-86.

“Our fraternity was discussing ways we could help young men on the SIUE campus. We thought of providing items for a career search, because we know how hard it can be to acquire business attire,” said Wills. “Then we had a unique opportunity to partner with the Teamsters National Black Caucus Chapter of St. Louis, who provided us with the business attire.”

“Our SIUE students are

MALES

continued from page B1

men through Beyond Jobs, and practically assisting seniors in our neighborhoods through Beyond Charity. In Beyond Jobs, the bulk of our time is spent on our eight-week Job & Leadership Training (JLT) sessions.

JLT revolves around recognizing potential in men and cultivating it. That means that when I look at our men, I don’t see what they are, but what they can be. So JLT, on a big-picture level, looks like first and foremost, seeing and speaking the worth of these men—sitting across the table from a guy who has a story like mine. He is likely justiceinvolved, potentially a former or current dealer.

And we get to say to him, “You are a man to us. You’re not number. You’re not an inmate. You’re not a felon. You’re a man, and we will treat you as such.” We get the opportunity to tell these guys that they do not have to be what they have been nor are they defined by it. Every time they enter our doors, the men recite a mantra reflecting those exact beliefs:

We are men. We are not less than men because we choose to stand alone. Real wisdom is choosing the right men to stand with me. I admit that who I was was not who I want to be, but I am committed to the change necessary to become the man that I was made to be.

So the speaking of that mantra – the act of our guys owning a belief in something better – is what we shape our curriculum around. It plays out in both practical, very tangible ways, as well as very intangible, inwardly

fortunate to have been chosen as the beneficiaries of this collaborative effort,” said Earleen Patterson, director of Student Opportunities for Academic Results (SOAR)

“The organizations involved heard about our initiatives that support the retention and graduation of AfricanAmerican males.”

The GAME program is coordinated by Patterson and Howard Rambsy, professor in the Department of English Language and Literature.

“The Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity contacted Patterson with the offer of providing suits and business attire to male students,” said Darryl Cherry, SOAR coordinator of retention.

“Distribution of the business clothes culminated our threeseries workshop, the Art of the Professional.”

focused ways. So some of JLT looks like teaching what it’s like for a man to gain employment and maintain it.

Men who once were selling drugs no longer possess the desire to do so, so along with that switch in lifestyle comes a need for skills like money management, interviewing, timeliness, resumé-building, and networking.

For that piece of JLT, men are partnered with mentors and job coaches whom they meet with regularly. We teach classes two times per week focused on this skill set. I frequently teach those classes, as do other staff members here, as well as outside speakers. Guys also have the opportunity to intern at sites outside of Mission: St. Louis. They go to internships twice a week and gain experience and practice diligence in their work. All in all, we are equipping them with a well-rounded set of skills and experiences for the workforce.

On the flip side, much of our program focuses on the inward cultivation of these men. We encourage the development of vital aspects of their lives: brotherhood, the recognition of their own dignity and dreams, proper conflict resolution, the desire to not harm their communities but instead to do good for themselves and their families.

Those things aren’t measurable statistics that we are writing on our grant-fulfillment paperwork, but they are some of the most game-changing pieces of what we get to do. Because every guy is different, their success looks different. For some it means they’ve made a choice to not do drugs anymore or to stay out of prison. In a lot of cases it’s receiving their first paycheck of all time or maintaining sustainable employment. One

The workshops were provided by the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. to increase student preparedness for internships and professional employment opportunities. The workshops discussed professional dress and etiquette, resume writing and interviewing, and a panel discussion with Wells Fargo, according to Cherry. “Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. is committed to helping young African-American males succeed in their efforts to attain a degree,” Wills said. “Our chapter is delighted to support the efforts of the GAME program. We see this as an opportunity to provide mentorship to young men at SIUE, and we would like to have continued engagement with students participating in GAME.”

of our guys went from making minimum wage to a $60,000 salary. That success means provision for his family in a wholly new, life-changing way. That’s not always the story. Some days it is brutal work. But, on the whole, I do see change happening. I see men of color stepping up into leadership roles in this city. I see African-American men and women throughout St. Louis giving their lives to make a better story. In the end, my thought for these men – for our region, really – is that we don’t have to be what we’ve been. We all need each other because we are in the story together – city and county, black and white, young and old. The story doesn’t have to be the one we’ve been telling for years here in St. Louis. It can change and is changing in the nitty-gritty, day-to-day work that we get to do. We’ve just got to keep showing up for these guys with the resources they need and the supportive relationships they are craving, and they are going to keep amazing us with their success and commitment to transformation.

Jason Watson is director of Beyond Jobs at Mission: St. Louis, husband to the beautiful and deeply loyal Nikki, and father to De’Juan, Jalen and Isaiah.

“Homegrown Black Males” is a partnership between HomeGrown STL at the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis and The St. Louis American, edited by Sean Joe, Benjamin E. Youngdahl Professor and associate dean at the Brown School, and Chris King, managing editor of The American, in memory of Michael Brown.

A representation of SIUE’s Collegiate 100 Chapter and Goal-Oriented African American Men Excel (GAME) were at the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity’s presentation of business attire. First row: Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jeffrey Waple, Collegiate 100 member Derrick Miles, Phi Beta Sigma Vice President James Brown, Collegiate 100 member William Mackey, Phi Beta Sigma member Freddie Wills, Collegiate 100 President Braxton McCarroll, Phi Beta Sigma Chaplain Steve Roberts, Collegiate 100 Corresponding Secretary David Robinson, SOAR Director Earleen Patterson, and SOAR Coordinator of Retention Darryl Cherry.

n “I just wanted a new opportunity to move on.”

— St. Louisan Patrick McCaw, on joining his new team, the Cleveland Cavaliers

Sports

PreP BaskeTBall noTeBook

Black Monday was certainly that for African-American NFL coaches

~ See ‘Sports Eye’ page B4 ~

Saturday is Highland Shootout

One of the biggest prep basketball events of the season

One of the biggest events of the prep basketball season is the Highland Shootout, which will be held on Saturday at Highland (Illinois) High School. The eightgame hoops extravaganza features players and teams from both sides of the river, including a dozen players who are currently ranked nationally.

The featured game of the evening will be a showdown between defending Illinois Class 4A state champion Belleville West against Missouri state powerhouse Vashon at 8:30 p.m.

Earl Austin Jr.

The Maroons and Wolverines will close the event in an 8:15 p.m. tip off.

Here is a look at the lineup for the Highland Shootout:

Game 1: East St. Louis vs. Highland (girls), 8:30 a.m.

Game 2: Normal West (Illinois) vs. Edwardsville, 10 a.m.

Game 3: Nashville (Illinois) vs. Effingham (Illinois), 11:30 a.m. –

Undefeated Nashville has one of the top small school teams in Illinois while Effingham has an excellent offensive player in senior Landon Wolfe.

Game 4: Bloomington (Illinois) vs. East St. Louis, 1 p.m. – This game features two of the premiere athletes in the state of Illinois as East St. Louis features 6’7” forward Terrance Hargrove, Jr., a Saint Louis U. signee. Bloomington is led by 6’6” forward Chris Payton, who is headed to Southern Illinois.

Game 5: Poplar Bluff vs. Highland, 3 p.m. – The host Highland Bulldogs are a big team led by 6’4” Iowa football recruit Sam LaPorta and 6’9” senior forward Stephen Torre. Poplar Bluff is led by the brother duo of 6’3” Dominique Hardimon and 5’11” sophomore Jo Jo Hardimon.

Game 6: CBC vs. Rock Bridge, 4:45 p.m. – A battle of Missouri state powers features Rock Bridge and its terrific trio of Isiaih Mosley, Jamonta Black

McCaw joins the Cavs

be one of the

at 8:15 p.m.

Many players in the NBA would give their left pinky toe in order to play for the Golden State Warriors. Kevin Durant endured the scorn of the world by joining the Warriors in 2016. David West passed on tens of millions of dollars with other teams to sign with the Warriors for the league minimum in 2016 and 2017. After tearing his Achilles, perennial All-Star DeMarcus Cousins chose to take a one-year deal on short money ($5.3 million) with hopes of adding a ring in Oakland. Despite the team’s inconsistent start to the 2018-19 season, the Warriors team is the overwhelming favorite to win another NBA championship. After all, no other team features the likes of Durant, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green on the roster. Plus, Cousins is coming soon to a basketball court near you.

While many players are dying to achieve the fame and acclaim that comes with playing for the Warriors, St. Louis native Patrick McCaw went to great lengths to get away from the Bay Area. As a rookie in the 2016-17 season, McCaw was a key contributor off the bench on the Warriors’ road to a championship. As a second-round pick, McCaw averaged 4.0 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 15.1 minutes per game during the regular season. He even earned 20 starts for a 67-win team. McCaw produced similar numbers in the playoffs as he helped the Splash Brothers put a ring on it. Nobody will confuse those numbers with Michael Jordan, but for a second-round pick, McCaw received invaluable experience and exposure with the champs. The following season, McCaw posted nearly identical averages over 16.9 minutes

game. His season seemed to be rolling along nicely until he suffered a frightening back injury that required

Then weirdness ensued. As a

PREP, B5

Ishmael H. Sistrunk

Vashon High junior Cam’Ron Fletcher will

featured players to watch at this Saturday’s Highland Shootout. Vashon will face Belleville West in the event’s final game

Patrick McCaw signed a two-year, $6M offer sheet with the Cleveland Cavaliers after holding out and refusing to sign with the Golden State Warriors. McCaw hopes he can develop into a star outside the shadows of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant.

Photo by Wiley Price

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Black Monday was certainly that for African American NFL coaches

And then there were two –black NFL head coaches

The 2018 season began with seven of them, a high-water mark for the NFL that had been reached twice in its history.

Cleveland’s Hue Jackson was shown the door at mid-season and on Monday four other black NFL coaches were fired.

Most surprising is the Arizona Cardinals dismissal of first-year coach Steve Wilks He posted a 3-13 mark in what was agreed upon would be a rebuilding year between he and owner Michael Bidwill So much for that understanding. Bidwill and General Manager Steve Keim announced the firing on Monday.

“It’s a very tough decision, but when I look at the record and I looked at the lack of competitiveness, the games of that record and the direction we were going in, I felt like it was in the best interests of the organization to go in a different direction,” Bidwill said.

Coach Wilks ... appreciate his dedication to this team and the respect he showed for every man who played for him. Thank you for everything you did and wishing you nothing but success in what will be a long, fruitful career in this league.”

Matt Patricia, another firstyear head coach and former New England Patriots defensive coordinator, inherited a Detroit Lions team that made the playoffs following the 2017 season under black head coach Jim Caldwell Under Patricia’s guidance, the Lions dropped to 6-10 and finished last in the NFC North division. You do the math.

This is the same Steve Keim that was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on July 4 for a second time in his life (another happened in 1996) and lied to police about his identity and his position with the Cardinals. Wilks had not commented on his firing as of Wednesday morning. When rumors began late in the season that he might be let go, he said “I walked into this organization with integrity and, whenever that times comes, I am going to walk away with integrity.”

Future Hall of Fame receiver Larry Fitzgerald said on Twitter, “Endless respect for

After closing at 5-11 in 2017, Vance Joseph almost lost his head coaching position with the Denver Broncos. He followed that up with a 6-10 record in 2018 and was fired at 7:30 a.m. Monday. Last week, Joseph said he deserved a third season to turn the franchise around because two years is not enough to judge a coach or players. He said after his firing in a Broncos press release, “It’s disappointing not being able to finish what we started, but I’m incredibly proud of the players and coaches for how they fought and worked every week.”

General Manager John Elway will now begin a search for a fourth head coach in just six years.

Not surprisingly, the Todd Bowles era with the New York Jets came to an end on Monday after a 38-3 loss to New England. After a 10-6 record his first season, Bowles would win just 14 more games and close with a 24-40 mark.

Knowing his days were numbered, Bowles said in a recent Associated Press interview, “I just worry about: Did I do everything in my power and what can I do in my power moving forward to help us not to have these setbacks – or success, or whatever we do?

“I say and get everything off my chest on Monday during the week, so I can definitely sleep at night and look myself in the mirror.”

After he looked in the mirror on Monday, he started looking for a new job. He’ll likely find one almost immediately as a team’s defensive coordinator.

Marvin Lewis’ 16-year career with the Cincinnati Bengals has been both successful and disappointing. He is the winningest coach in franchise history and snapped a string of 14 sub-.500 years in 2005. He took the team to the playoffs seven times.

But he posted a 0-7 mark in

the playoffs and never reached the AFC Championship game.

“Personally, I am very fond of Marvin and will miss working with him,” Bengals owner Mike Brown said.

“He is a friend and a colleague, and I thank him for what he has meant to this franchise. But it is time to turn the page and look toward the next chapter for our organization, and we are excited about what the future holds for the team and our fans.”

Brown said the parting came as “a mutual agreement,” and that is backed up by Lewis recommending to Brown that Hue Jackson replace him.

I think (Hue is) more than qualified,” Lewis told reporters Monday.

“I think he’s been in a couple of difficult situations, and that’s tough. But I think he’s an excellent football coach, he’s a great motivator. He’s detailed. So, I think he deserves an opportunity. If not here, somewhere else.”

Joseph is reportedly a candidate for the Bengals defensive coordinator position, as well.

Mike Tomlin has apparently survived a stormy season in Pittsburgh. It was not his fault Le’Veon Bell held out the entire season in a contract dispute. Nor can he be blamed for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s poor decision-making at key times in games or for Antonio Brown’s

consistent infantile behavior, which resurfaced the final week of the season.

Should the Steelers not make the playoffs next season, he’ll be out of work as a head coach. The Steelers finished a half-game out of the playoffs thanks to a tie with Cleveland during the season’s first week.

After his first half-season, pundits were saying Anthony Lynn might be fired as Los Angeles Chargers head coach after 2017. He persevered and posted a 9-7 record, narrowly missing the playoffs.

The Chargers’ 12-4 record was second-best in the AFC behind the Kansas City Chiefs 13-3 mark in 2018. Lynn will receive coach of the year votes for his performance and suddenly has more job security than most coaches – black or white – in the NFL.

The Chargers are in the playoffs and travel to Baltimore for a wild-card playoff game on Sunday.

Several black HC candidates

There certainly could be more than two black head coaches when the NFL begins the first week of March.

Black coaches reportedly scheduled to interview for one or more of the eight NFL open head coach positions are Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy,

Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards, New England Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores Dallas Cowboys defensive backs coach Kris Richard and Philadelphia Eagles assistant head coach Duce Staley Richard has won rave reviews for work with the Cowboys and could easily land a head coaching sport. He is the man behind the Legion of Boom in Seattle and its staunch defense of a few years back. It is his first year with Dallas, which hosts a Saturday wild card game against the Seahawks.

Edwards’ Vikings defense took a step back this year from first in the NFL in 2017 to fourth this season, but it was 31st just five seasons ago when he took over.

Eric Bieniemy is in his first year as Chiefs offensive coordinator, which limits his chances. The Chiefs’ explosive offense is the creation of head coach Andy Reid and having a super-talent like Patrick Mahomes at quarterback overshadows what Bieniemy is accomplishing.

Staley has paid his dues as a longtime assistant and this could be the year it pays off. Caldwell’s name is also popping up, and he could return to the sidelines in

The

Roundup I made a legal wager of $20 that the

Cowboys would

the

payoff will be about $100. I’m not bragging. I’m wishing Missouri had legalized sports wagering last year and I could have already chased the

… The SEC is the nation’s best conference, right? So how did the Big 12 go 3-1 in head-toheard bowl game matchups? This includes Oklahoma State beating Missouri in the Liberty Bowl … Why so many empty seats on the Missouri side of field at Liberty Bowl? ... How soon before the St. Louis Blues bring back half-price ticket nights?...The Washington Wizards are 14-23 and guard John Wall is lost for the season after knee surgery. The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 7 and Bradley Beal remains highly sought-after … I mentioned Eric Bieniemy as a 2019 head coaching candidate in early November, I was right. I said the Cowboys would soon be firing Jason Garrett I was wrong. Should Garrett lose Saturday at home to Seattle I’ll be right again … The five writers who cover the NFL for cbssports.com selected Patrick Mahomes over Drew Brees for NFL MVP. Alvin A. Reid was honored as the 2017 “Best Sports Columnist – Weeklies” in the Missouri Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest and is a New York Times contributor. He is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook, a weekly contributor to “The Charlie Tuna Show” on KFNS and appears monthly on “The Dave Glover Show” on 97.1 Talk.” His Twitter handle is @aareid1.

Alvin A. Reid

The Cincinnati Bengals’ Marvin Lewis was one of five NFL African-American head coaches fired in 2018.

Best of the large St. Louis “All” American High School Football Large Schools Team

Offense

By Earl Austin Jr.

It was a tremendous season of high school football in the St. Louis metro area, especially with the large schools. We saw three area teams bring home state championships with Ladue winning Class 4, Vianney winning Class 5 for the second time in three years and CBC winning the Class 6 title for the third time in four years. Here is a look at the 2018 St. Louis “All” American Large Schools All-Star Team.

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Continued from C7

many people expected to McCaw to resign with the Warriors and continue to develop behind Curry and Thompson. The 6-foot-7 guard had other ideas.

Instead of signing a twoyear, $5M deal or a one-year $1.7M deal that would have allowed him to become an unrestricted free-agent at the end of the season, McCaw decided to hold out.

“What in the world is Patrick McCaw doing?” the internet wondered.

QB: Tyler Macon (Soph.)

East St. Louis RB: Bryan Bradford (Sr.)

CBC

RB: Kyren Williams (Sr.)

Vianney

RB: Percy Mitchell (Sr.)

Vianney

RB: DeMonta Witherspoon (Jr.)

East St. Louis

WR: Julian Williams (Sr.)

CBC WR: Maurice Massey (Sr.)

Kirkwood

WR: Dominic Lovett (Soph.)

Belleville West

WR: Jordan Johnson (Jr.)

Nobody understood McCaw’s position. Also, unlike many athletes who voice their demands in the media (either directly or indirectly), there was radio silence from the McCaw. Even his agents were dumbfounded when he turned down the offers from the Warriors.

PREP

Continued from C7

and Dajuan Harris. CBC will counter with highly touted junior guard Caleb Love and senior forward Josh Wallace.

Game 7: Chaminade vs. Milwaukee Nicolet (WI), 6:30 p.m. – Local powerhouse Chaminade has a dynamic scoring duo in 6’2” senior Keyyaun Batchman and 6’5”

According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, McCaw’s holdout had less to do with salary and more to do with opportunity. Slater’s column suggested that McCaw and his father (Jeff McCaw) had made the determination that the best thing for the players’ future was to get out of the shadow of the Warriors All-Star roster if he ever wanted to maximize his own potential. He was willing to sit out the entire season to make it happen. But as it turns out, he didn’t have to. Friday, McCaw signed a two-year, $6M offer sheet with the Cleveland Cavaliers. When the Warriors declined to match the offer by Sunday, McCaw officially joined the Cavs. This isn’t the same Cavaliers team that made it to four-consecutive NBA Finals. This is the Cavaliers sans LeBron James. This version of the Cavs currently boasts the worst record in the NBA.

junior sharpshooter Luke Kasubke. Nicolet has one of the top teams in Wisconsin and they have one of the nation’s top players in 6’7” junior Jalen Johnson along with 6’9” junior Jamari Sibley.

Game 8: Belleville West vs. Vashon, 8:15 p.m. – The game of the night features senior All-American forward and Ohio State signee EJ Liddell of Belleville West along with talented teammates Lawrence Brazil III and Illinois football

DeSmet

TE: Tilor Harris (Jr.)

Hazelwood West

OL: Jeremiah Marlin (Sr.)

CBC

OL: Darrell Simmons (Sr.)

East St. Louis

OL: Marquise Simmons (Sr.)

DeSmet

OL: Deandre James (Sr.)

Pattonville

OL: Eugene Napper (Sr.)

Hazelwood East

RET: Maurice Massey (Sr.)

Kirkwood

ATH: Kendall AbdurRahman (Sr.) Edwardsville

UTL: Dale Chesson (Sr.)

Ladue

Defense

DL: M.J. Anderson (Sr.)

CBC DL: Arvell Ferguson (Sr.)

Kirkwood

DL: Keith Randolph (Sr.)

Belleville West

DL: Demond Taylor (Sr.)

East St. Louis

DL: Moses Okpala (Sr.)

Ladue

DL: Lanell Carr (Jr.)

DeSmet

LB: Jaylin Vaughn (Sr.)

Fort Zumwalt South

As they say, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” In an interview after his first practice with Cavs, McCaw confirmed that his holdout was

recruit Terrance Randolph Jr. Vashon is led by 6’2” Mizzou recruit Mario McKinney, rising 6’7” junior forward Cam’Ron Fletcher and 6’2” University of Portland signee Donyae McCaskill.

*Congratulations to the Holiday Tournament Champions

Boys: Coaches vs. Cancer (Webster Groves); Legends of Winter (Cardinal Ritter), MICDS (Trinity); Affton (Priory), Collinsville

The ST. LouiS AmericAn AreA coLLege AThLeTe of The Week

Marissa Warren Incarnate Word Academy – Girls Basketball

The senior guard enjoyed a big tournament in leading the Red Knights to the championship of the Visitation Holiday Tournament.a Warren scored a team high 14 points in IWA’s 59-30 victory over Parkway Central in the championship game. For the season,

Warren is averaging 13.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists for the 11-1 Red Knights. As a junior, Warren averaged 11.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists in helping the Red Knights to the Class 4 state championship.

LB: Sidney Houston (Sr.)

East St. Louis

LB: Seth Harris (Sr.)

DeSmet

LB: Donovan Prott (Sr.)

Pattonville

LB: Jaden Brown (Sr.)

CBC

DB: Jalani Williams (Sr.)

Parkway North

DB: Antonio Johnson (Jr.)

East St. Louis

DB: Antonio Sanders (Sr.)

Eureka

DB: Fahreed Cheeks (Sr.)

Vianney

about finding a better opportunity to shine rather than any bad blood with the Golden State Warriors.

“I think it was time for me to move on for a new oppor-

(Springfield Southeast), St. Dominic (Sikeston); Public High League (St. Louis

P: Lawaun Powell, Jr. (Sr.) East St. Louis UTL: Devin Ward (Jr.)

tunity within myself. Nothing against Golden State, front office, coaches, players, the environment, it had nothing to do with any of that,” McCaw said. “It’s just a personal thing, and I wanted a new opportunity to move on.”

In Cleveland, McCaw probably couldn’t compete for an NCAA championship, much less an NBA trophy. However, McCaw should have plenty of opportunity to prove that he deserves to be more than just a reserve player in the NBA.

The Cavs team is terrible. The team has worst defensive rating in the entire league.

According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, the Cavaliers starting point guard, Colin Sexton, has been one of the worst defenders in the NBA. Sexton ranks 456th out of 456 players in ESPN’s Defensive Real Plus-Minus metric.

Defense is the skill on which McCaw hangs his hat.

Considering that the Cavs dealt

Player of the

George Hill to the Bucks a few weeks ago, there are plenty of minutes to be had at the guard spots in Cleveland. Now that he’s officially a member of the Cavaliers, McCaw can’t afford to relax quite yet. McCaw’s contract will not become guaranteed until Jan. 7. That means 23-year-old must look sharp on the court. Otherwise the team can treat him like a garbage Christmas gift, box him back up and return him for a full refund. It appears though that McCaw’s big gamble on himself has paid off. Now he must prove that he can seize the opportunity he created for himself.

Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @ishcreates. Subscribe to The St. Louis American’s YouTube page to see weekly Sports Break videos with Ishmael and Melvin Moore.

Collegiate) Girls: Visitation (Incarnate Word), St. Dominic (Francis Howell Central),

(O’Fallon), MICDS (Ladue)

Mascoutah

Patrick McCaw blocks a shot versus the San Antonio Spurs. McCaw, known for his defense, hopes to bolster a Cavs team which features the worst-rated defense in the NBA.

Fund seeks to stimulate investment around HBCUs

The HBCU Community Development Action Coalition (CDAC) has launched the first HBCU-focused Opportunity Fund to ignite reinvestment in and around Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).

The Renaissance HBCU Opportunity Fund aims to attract investment capital to help fund development of mixed-use projects on or near HBCU campuses in federally designated Opportunity Zones. The fund has also been selected to receive support from the Kresge and Rockefeller Foundations through the Opportunity Zones Incubator, which will provide technical assistance to help bring the fund to market.

“With nearly 50 percent of HBCUs located in Opportunity Zones, the HBCU CDAC sees this is an opportunity to position HBCU communities

MARKET

continued from page B1

grocery store,” Bell said. “I’m 70, and I can’t walk too good. But I’m doing pretty good. From right there, I can come out the house and come right in the store, or either I call over here and asked them would they deliver.”

Nathaniel Taylor said he drops by the store at least twice a week on his lunch break. He

n “This is an opportunity to position HBCU communities as investment hubs that will ultimately create jobs and stimulate small business activity.”

– Ron Butler

as investment hubs that will ultimately create jobs, stimulate small business activity, and create better economic opportunities within these communities,” said Ron Butler, chief executive officer of the HBCU CDAC.

The fund is particularly interested in mixed use projects that will attract supermarkets to food deserts designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as well as health care facilities to medically underserved

said the grocery store is a good thing.

“It means we have quality now,” Taylor said. “We can shop, get snacks for the job.”

The store sits across the street from a MetroLink station at the corner of Bowman Avenue and N. 15th Street. Before Neighbors’ Market, it was home to Eco Market for four months, but that store soon closed down.

Moody has plans to open a second grocery store in East St. Louis in 2019.

communities designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The fund also intends to structure each investment transaction in such a way that will allow the neighboring HBCU to share in the financial success of the project.

For more information or to get involved, contact Ron Butler at hbcucoalition@gmail. com or (305) 322-7555.

“We have the funding in place, and people are now more excited because they actually see the finished product that we have here,” Moody said. “This store is 5,700 square feet. The store that we’re building is 23,000.”

Moody said he hopes his Neighbors’ Market groceries truly do become the neighborhood store. Follow Marissanne on Twitter: @marissanne2011. Reprinted with permission from news.stlpublicradio.org.

Financial Focus

By Roger M. Macon, AAMS

possibly worrying about underperformance – you’re better off establishing relevant expectations of your investment returns, based on your specific goals. So, for example, if you want to retire at age 62, you’ll need to know the rate of return you need to

– and

Living It

Ferguson comes to the Black Rep stage Success beyond the resolutions

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

Kristen Adele Calhoun and Michael Thomas Walker were halfway across the country when they heard about the death of unarmed teen Michael Brown in Ferguson.

They were in the middle of a play reading group in New York City that the fellow Rutgers University graduates took part in every week.

“We were like, ‘What sense does it make for us to sit around and read plays? We need to do something, we need to contribute,” Calhoun said.

habits that aren’t helping us bloom into the best we can be.

Often, we are our own worst enemy, second guessing, self-doubt and self-sabotage can get in the way of our success. We can try to blame others for our failures but sometimes we need to take a good look in the mirror and realize it may be ourselves.

Here are some of my tips on how to get to a better new you, right now.

Break the rules

How many times have we looked at job descriptions for jobs we really wanted, seen one qualification that we weren’t well-versed at, and told ourselves, “why even bother applying? I won’t get an interview.”

How many times have we worked with a co-worker or manager and asked ourselves, “How did they get this job? They aren’t qualified at all.”

Many of our counterparts go after these positions without hesitation – maybe it’s a result of their sense of privilege, but it’s also fearlessness.

Go for it. Make a list of everything that you haven’t accomplished because you felt you 42nd season continues with

“It was like, ‘How do we respond to all of this outrage?’ And our tool was our art.” Their art, which became the play “Canfield Drive,” will be the 18th world premiere to be staged by The Black Rep when it opens January 9 and continues through January 27 at Washington University’s Edison Theatre. “Canfield Drive” is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation & Development Fund Project co-commissioned by 651 Arts in partnership with The St. Louis Black

Internet sensation-turned-rising television and comedy star DC Young Fly showed the New Year’s Weekend Comedy Festival crowd Saturday night at Chaifetz Arena that he has the chops to transition from the screen to the stage. The “Nick Cannon’s Wild N Out” cast member was a part of the comedy revue hosted by Sommore and featured St. Louis resident Kenny Howell, St. Louis natives Gary “G-Thang” Johnson and Guy Torry, former “Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper” star and stand up veteran Mark Curry. Mike Epps served as the evening’s headliner.

Managing The Muny

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“If you had asked the 16-year-old Kwofe that was pushing wheelchairs up the hill that this would be the case, at that point I had no idea,” said Kwofe Coleman, newly appointed managing director for The Muny.

At 36, Coleman is extremely young for the position he assumed last month – but he has 20 years of experience in a host of capacities at the world-renowned institution under his belt. He’s now a critical member of the leadership team as The Muny prepares to embark on its 101st season this summer.

He has risen from the ranks of teen usher to one of the top positions within the organization. A friend of the family worked there and introduced the Colemans to the organization.

Coleman followed his older sister’s footsteps by coming to work there while he was still a student at SLU High.

“Twenty years is more than half of my life. This has been an essential part of my life since I was a child and for that reason, I feel wellequipped for this job,” Coleman said. “This place is an incubator for success across the board – on either side of the ‘curtain. ‘That’s why I can be 36 and be 20 years in. That’s why our president can be 50 years in at an institution that is 100 years old. Those things don’t just happen by chance.”

The Muny was his first job and his first internship while in college at Emory University in Atlanta. He says a huge part of his success-

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

How to place a calendar listing

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

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

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

mlk activities

Sat., Jan. 12, 6:30 p.m., The 33rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Statewide Celebration. Protect the Dream: The Fierce Urgency of Now. Harris Stowe State University, 3026 Laclede Ave., 63013. For more information, call (314) 446-0288.

Thur., Jan. 17, 7 p.m., St. Louis Public Library presents I’ve Benn to the Mountaintop, MLK Jr.’s Final Speech. Actors will read text of the speech and perform musical selections. Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, visit www.slpl.org.

Fri., Jan. 18, 7 p.m., St. Louis Art Museum presents Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration. Dreaming in Color: Arts, Equity, and Inclusion. 1 Fine Arts Dr., 63110. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Sat., Jan. 19, 10 a.m., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Epsilon Lambda Chapter presents the 2nd Annual MLK, Jr. Holiday Celebration. Centennial Christian Church, 4950 Fountain Ave., 63113. For more information, visit www. aphia-epsilonlambda.org.

Sun., Jan. 20, 1 p.m., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Epsilon Lambda Chapter invites you to the MLK Weekend Brotherhood Brunch & Day Party Centennial Edition. BLUE Dine + Lounge, 5917 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Mon., Jan. 21, 10 a.m., UMSL Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance. Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center, One University Blvd., 63121. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

concerts

Sat., Jan. 12, 7 p.m., The Pageant presents Jacquees 6161 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. thepageant.com.

Jan. 23, The Pageant Welcomes Noname, The Pageant, 6161 Delmar. For more information, visit www. thepageant.com.

Thur., Jan. 17, 7 p.m., Art of Live Festival feat. Scrub & Ace Ha and Tonina. Gaslight Studio, 4916 Shaw Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Sat., Jan. 19. 8 p.m., Sheldon Concert Hall presents Midwest Avengers: Hip Hop Live. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Sun., Jan. 27, 5:30 p.m., The Drew Project presents Urban Jazz. The Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sun., Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m., An Evening with Robert Dillard. The Gaslight Theater, 368 N. Boyle Ave., 63108. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Mondays in January, The Monday Night Mixer hosted by the Keith Bowman Quartet. Dark Room at the Grandel, 3610 Grandel Sq., 63103. For more information, visit www.thedarkroomstl.com.

special events

Fri., Jan. 4, 6 p.m., St. Louis Science Center presents First Friday: Indiana Jones. 5050 Oakland Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www. slsc.org.

Jan. 5 – 6, St. Louis Bride

The Guide

Kenya Vaughn recommends

and Groom Magazine presents The Wedding Show Enjoy catering samples, a New York-style runway show, a prize vault, and hundreds of giveaways and samples. America’s Center, 701 Convention Plaza, 63101. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sat., Jan. 5, 2nd Annual Mississippi Nights Reunion, Delmar Hall. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com

Sat., Jan. 5, 7 p.m., TOTES 4 Tomorrow presents Back 2 the Books. St. Vincent Community Center, 7335 St. Charles Rock Rd., 63133. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Sat., Jan. 12, 6:30 p.m., The 33rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Statewide Celebration. Protect the Dream: The Fierce Urgency of Now. Harris Stowe State University, 3026 Laclede Ave., 63013. For more information, call (314) 446-0288.

Sat., Jan. 12, 7 p.m., SLUSOM and WashU AMWA Chapters host the

annual Red Dress Event Help raise money and awareness for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Campaign. Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave., #8072, 63110. For more information, visit www.amwaslu.wixsite.com.

Sat., Jan. 12, 8 p.m., S.L.U.M.F.E.S.T. 2019 Hip Hop Awards. An annual music Awards show to acknowledge local St. Louis underground music. Atomic Cowboy Pavilion, 4140 Manchester Ave.,63110. For more information, visit www. slumfest.com.

Jan. 12 – 13, Mississippi Valley Bike + Outdoor Expo St. Louis Union Station Hotel, 1820 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit www. bikeandoutdoorexpo.com.

Jan. 18 – 20, Loop Ice Carnival. Jan. 19: Snow Ball. Jan. 20: Ice Carnival. Delmar Loop, 63112. For more information, visit www. visittheloop.com.

Sat., Jan. 19, 8 p.m., Alpha Kappa Alpha

Saint Louis Art Museum presents ‘Kehinde Wiley: The Power of Aesthetics.’ For more information, see ART.

Sorority, Inc., Omicron Eta Omega Chapter & The Ivy Foundation of St. Louis present the AKA 111 Anniversary Party. Lambert Airport Concourse B, 10701 Lambert International Blvd., 63145. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sun., Jan. 20, 12 p.m., St. Louis’ Best Bridal Show Visit with photographers, DJs, gown and tuxedo shops, florists, salons, and more. St. Charles Convention Plaza, 1 Convention Center Plaza, 63033.

Sun., Jan. 13, 3 p.m., Stepping in Style presents the Diagnosed as Beautiful Fashion Show. Live performance, cash bar, door prizes, hairstylist, make-up artists, models, vendors, and much more. 9800 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Wed., Jan. 16, 6:30 p.m., 24th Ward Alderman Candidate Forum. The Pat Connolly Tavern, 6400 Oakland Ave., 63139. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Jan. 18 – 20, Loop Ice Carnival. Jan. 19: Snow Ball. Jan. 20: Ice Carnival. Delmar Loop, 63112. For more information, visit www. visittheloop.com.

Sat., Jan. 19, 10 a.m., St. Louis Charter Schools Family Fun Fair. There will be charter schools information tables, student performances, NSCW speaker, food, music, activities, raffles & prizes. Grand Hall, 2319 Chouteau Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. mocharterschools.org.

Sat., Jan. 19, 2 p.m., Save Our Neighbor-Hoods Gala: Bringing Wakanda to St. Louis. Music, food, guest speakers, networking, and more. Crown Room, 601 Clark Ave., 63012. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sat., Jan. 19, 8 p.m., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Omicron Eta Omega Chapter & The Ivy Foundation of St. Louis present the AKA 111 Anniversary Party. Lambert Airport Concourse B, 10701 Lambert International Blvd.,

63145. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sun., Jan. 20, 12 p.m., St. Louis’ Best Bridal Show Visit with photographers, DJs, gown and tuxedo shops, florists, salons, and more. St. Charles Convention Plaza, 1 Convention Center Plaza, 63033. For more information, visit www.stltoday.com.

Sun., Jan. 20, 2 p.m., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Gamma Omega Chapter and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Upsilon Omega Chapter host the 2019 Salute to the Veterans Sunday Supper. Omega Center, 3900 Goodfellow Blvd., 63120. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sun., Jan. 20, 6 p.m., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., East St. Louis Alumni Chapter presents the Kappa Klassic. 609 St. Louis Ave., East St. Louis, IL. 62201. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Jan. 21, 28th annual St. Louis Arts Awards, Chase Park Plaza Royal Sonesta Hotel. For more information, visit KeepArtHappening. org/2019ArtsAwards.

Sat., Jan. 26, 1 p.m., Healing Action Network, Inc. invites you to the 2nd Annual Celebration of Hope. Celebrate victims and survivors and highlight the work being done in our region. Goldfarb Schoool of Nursing, BJC, 4483 Duncan Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sat., Jan. 26, 6 p.m., An Evening with the Cardinals. Cardinals Hall of Famers Jim Edmonds and Chris Carpenter will be the featured guests along with emcee and voice of the Cardinals, Dan McLaughlin. St. Louis Union Station, 1820 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit www.thenccs.org.

Sun., Jan. 27, 3 p.m., St. Peters AME and Ward Chapel AME Churches Jazz Brunch featuring 3 Central Jazz Group. Anne O. McDonald Family Center, 11410 Old Halls Ferry Rd., 63033. For more information, call (314) 381-3345 or (314) 741-0112.

Jan. 31 – Feb.3, Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic, Enterprise Center in St. Louis. Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 800745-3000 or visiting www. Ticketmaster.com. To discover more about Disney On Ice, go to www.Disneyonice.com.

literary

Sat., Jan. 12, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library hosts authors David and Nic Sheff, authors of High. The ultimate resource for learning about the realities of drugs and alcohol for middle grade readers. Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information, visit www. slcl.com.

Mon., Jan. 14, 7 p.m., The Novel Neighbor hosts author Chigozie Obioma, author of An Orchestra of Minorities. A heart-breaking story about a Nigerian poultry farmer who sacrifices everything to win the woman he loves. St. Louis Community College – Forest Park, 5600 Oakland Ave., 63110. For more information,

visit www.eveventbrite.com.

Wed., Jan. 16, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Chris McGreal, author of American Overdose. A look at how Big Pharma hooked Americans on powerfully addictive drugs and got away with it. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, visit www.left-bank.com.

Fri., Jan. 25, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library hosts author Anthony Ray Hinton, author of The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row 2019 Black History Keynote Event. Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131.

theatre

Through Jan. 26, Fox Theatre presents Anastasia Anya enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat to embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family. 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103.

Jan. 9 – Jan 27, The Black Rep presents the world premiere of Canfield Drive, The Edison Theatre at Washington University, 6445 Forsyth. For more information, visit www.theblackrep.org.

Jan. 10 – 13, Ignite Theatre Company presents Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Grandel, 3610 Grandel Sq., 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Jan. 17- Jan 27, Max and Louie Productions presents “Love, Linda, ” directed by Ken Page, Marcelle Theater, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive (3 blocks east of Grand Blvd). Tickets are on sale at metrotix.com and by phone at (314)) 534-1111. For more information, visit maxandlouie. com

Fri., Jan. 11, 7 p.m., Kehinde Wiley: The Power of Aesthetics. Larry OsseiMensah investigates Wiley’s ability to leverage the power of aesthetics via the themes of art history, music, place, and identity. 1 Fine Arts Dr., 63110. For more information, visit www.slam.org.

Through Jan. 15., Dimitrina Stamboldjiev Kutriansky’s The Sentimental Landscape. Third Degree Glass Factory, 5200 Delmar Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www. thirddegreeglassfactory.com.

Thur., Jan. 17, 7 p.m., Inner Light Photography invites you to Ain’t I American? A Pictoral Question. Thomas Dunn Learning Center, 3113 Gasconade St., 63118. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Fri., Jan. 18, 8 p.m., One in a Million: Aaliyah DJ Tribute +Art Show. Urb Arts, 2600 N. 14th St., 63106. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Through February 3, The Saint Louis Art Museum presents Graphic Revolution: American Prints 1960 to Now, Saint Louis Art Museum. One Fine Arts Drive, Forest Park. For more information, call (314) 721-0072 or visit www.slam.org.

Through February 10, Kehinde Wiley: Saint Louis,

Saint Louis Art Museum. One Fine Arts Drive, Forest Park. For more information, call (314) 721-0072 or visit http:// www.slam.org/exhibitions/ kehinde-wiley.php

Through Feb. 28, National Blues Museum presents Our Living Past: A Platinum Portrait of Music Maker Photographer Timothy Duffy provides a look at the true pioneers and forgotten heroes of American roots music. 615 Washington Ave., 63101. For more information, visit www. nationalbluesmuseum.com.

lectures and workshops

Wed., Jan. 9, 3 p.m., St. Louis Public Library presents Winter Health and Safety for Seniors. Experts from Washington University’s School of Medicine will provide advice. Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 367-4120 or visit www.slpl.org.

Thur., Jan. 10, 7 p.m., Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice presents Being Poor: No Crime, All Punishment. Speaker: Blake Strode, Executive Director, ArchCity Defenders. Richmond Heights Community Center, 8001 Dale Ave., 63117. For more information, visit www.facebook.com.

Sat., Jan. 12, 8:15 a.m., SCORE presents How to Start and Manage Your Own Business. Topics include legal structure for a business, technology considerations, and funding. Anheuser-Busch Hall, Fontbonne University, 6800 Wydown Blvd., 63105. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Tues., Jan. 15, 5 p.m., Grace Hill Women’s Business Center presents a Legal Clinic. Meet with an attorney from Legal Services of Eastern Missouri to discuss business related questions.

2125 Bissell St., 63107. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Wed., Jan. 16, 1 p.m., Grace Hill Women’s Business Center presents Office Hours with a Banker. Sign up for a 30-minute session with a banker. Discuss business/ personal finance questions and concerns. 2125 Bissell St., 63107. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Thur., Jan. 17, 5 p.m., St. Louis Public Library presents Violence and Black Migration. Cheeraz Gormon, will explore the trauma of violent crime on AfricanAmerican communities and

its impact. Carpenter Branch, 3309 S. Grand Blvd., 63118. For more information, visit www.slpl.org.

Sun., Jan. 20, 1 p.m.,

Representation & Responsibility: Racial and Gender Equity in Film and Television. A panel discussion. Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. opera-stl.org.

Wed., Jan. 9, 3 p.m., St. Louis Public Library presents Winter Health and Safety for Seniors. Experts from Washington University’s School of Medicine will provide advice. Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave.,

63108. For more information, call (314) 367-4120 or visit www.slpl.org.

spiritual

Sat., Jan. 5, 3 p.m., Washington Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church to present “The Heal Our Land” Concert featuring Lowell Pye (formally of the gospel group Men of Standard), guest artist Leah Joelle, Christopher Watkins and band, 3200 Washington Ave. For more information, contact the church at (314) 533-8763.

Jan. 19, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance in Fountain Park with Centennial Christian Church, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and Fountain Park Community, Centennial Christian Church, 4950 Fountain Ave.

Wed., Jan. 9, 8 p.m., Whose Streets? Community Screening. The film is an unflinching look at the Ferguson, Missouri uprising following the death of Mike Brown. TechArtista, 4818 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Wed., Jan. 9, 8 p.m., Whose Streets? Community Screening. The film is an unflinching look at the Ferguson, Missouri uprising following the death of Mike Brown. TechArtista, 4818 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Wed., Jan. 16, 6 p.m., Ballpark Village presents Winter Movie Night –The Incredibles 2. The Incredibles hero family takes on a new mission, which involves a change in family roles. 601 Clark Ave., 63102. For more information, visit www.stlballparkvillage.com.

Kenya Vaughn recommends

St. Louis Art Museum presents Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration. Dreaming in Color: Arts, Equity, and Inclusion. See MLK DAY ACTIVITIES for details.

Continued from C1

weren’t qualified, or that it wasn’t the right time to pursue it. Once you see an actual written listing of the missed opportunities and chances you passed up, it really puts things in perspective. Use the same list and pick something on it to go after, right now.

Self-worth is key

When you really think about it, why do we give others

Continued from C1

ful ascension can be traced to strong family values set by his parents, who came to the U.S. from Ghana.

“My parents sacrificed and stretched significantly to make sure my sisters and I could take advantage of every educational opportunity possible,” Coleman said. “As a result of that, I’m now in a position where I can now use that to positively affect the institution that I work in. Way before those 20 years, I was set on the right course by my parents.” He worked his way up from aiding patrons from the aisles of the outdoor space in the heart of Forest Park to his previous role of marketing director before assuming the newly created position that has a critical role in taking the Muny into its next chapter – which includes a $100 million second century capital campaign.

“Kwofe is an incredibly talented individual who understands both the culture inside the institution and how The Muny interacts with the St.

control or authority over our self-worth? It’s ours. Being fully transparent, you won’t find your self-worth in a day, a week or even a year. The journey can be long and is often emotionally painful, but it is necessary! I didn’t get the opportunities I wanted until I became a person that is ready to receive them.

While we are building our careers, taking care of our families, let’s remember our why and our worth.

You are your biggest investment

We’re quick to invest in

material things that won’t help our personal growth, but not in the personal and/or professional development tools that will. Investments can take the form of both time and money.

When I started my weight loss journey, I had to invest my time into getting healthy by working out. Carving out time in my week to dedicate to my personal fitness goals and health sometimes meant saying no to other things, such as hanging out with friends.

Try investing in a course to further your career, a workshop to help build your business or even time devoted to accomplishing a major goal. Your investment will pay off

and more!

Self-care is not selfish

Learn to say “no.” As women, we tend to think we have to do it all but really, we don’t. We tend to take on other’s responsibilities and use them as the reason why we can’t pursue our own passions.

When I learned to start saying “no,” my life began to flourish.

You can’t build a career or business from an empty tank. You just can’t. Learn to balance your career duties and your personal time. Easier said than done, right? If you don’t have a schedule

Louis community,” said Muny President and CEO Denny Reagan. “As we embark on our second century, it’s important to honor the past and just as important to ensure the future is sustainable and exciting. I am eager to see Kwofe step into this new role and continue the growth of The Muny’s mission.”

For the past 10 years, he’s been seen at Reagan’s side sharing in the opportunity to

the response from NYC when they demonstrated compared to Ferguson was so striking that it left a permanent impression.

engage with the audience. His handshake and smile are as consistent as his blazer –regardless of the temperatures that St. Louis summers impose. Coleman said that Reagan, who began his career at the Muny as a teen picking up trash after performances, has given him invaluable lessons regarding how to treat people and helped shape his views on leadership.

“From my first job as an usher, when I interned in the

Continued from C1

Repertory Company.

Calhoun and Walker had seen stories of many unarmed African Americans die at the hands of law enforcement –including Eric Garner in New York City just days before Brown. But Ferguson was different. Calhoun took to the streets for Garner. For her,

“The New York City Police department just let us march. There was no militarized response to that and there was no pushback,” Calhoun said. “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing as I watched things happening in Ferguson. First of all, you kill this boy. Then you let his body lay out there and then you attack these people for trying to mourn for him.

finance department in college up through today, this institution has said, ‘we believe in you as an individual and as a part of what will move this place forward and along – and how can we support that?’”

Coleman said. “And that’s from the president, board leadership and all the way through to my co-workers – who are this incredible team of people that I get to work with.” Marketing, operations, fun-

“For me that was the ‘Oh no, there is something deeply wrong there.’ And it’s symbolic of a greater American problem.”

Walker said he noticed that what was being said on social media didn’t mirror what was being reported through national media.

“Mike Brown was 18 years old and was going to start college on the Monday after his death,” Walker said. “And then he was portrayed in the media as though he was a demon or

or a daily plan, create one now. Career without self-care is a recipe for disaster. How can you expect to be your best if your mind, body and soul aren’t in alignment?

Let haters fuel your success

There will always be someone who has something negative to say about every goal or move we make to better ourselves. That can be a huge deterrent on why we don’t pursue something. Often, that person isn’t ready to grow themselves, so they are afraid

draising, ticket sales and all administrative departments report to Coleman as managing director.

“We had Denny at the head. We had Mike Isaacson as the leader of the artistic side, but what we needed was something that was on that same level on the administrative side,” Coleman said. “Together the two of us can report up to Denny. On a day-to-day, it’s checking on a stream of projects and making sure they are moving in the same direction.”

As a black man, Coleman said that there is an additional sense of pride that comes with the notion that seeing him in the position will help everyone connect with the concept that The Muny is “everyone’s theater,’ especially in the black community.

“I hope that my role makes our efforts for diversity top-ofmind for people, but not necessarily that it’s all of sudden different – but recognize what already exists for the AfricanAmerican community in this institution.”

Coleman said that from inside-out, The Muny represents an incredible level of diversity in all areas – from the top level and throughout the

a monster or this huge hulking animal that it took eight shots to bring him down. The truth is that he is an 18-year-old kid.”

Learning that his body was in the street for four hours through social media, but not seeing that as an element within the national media narrative is what compelled Calhoun and Walker to come to Ferguson and interview the players –from politicians and pastors to protestors. Their interviews became the framework for “Canfield Drive.”

The play is set up where two news reporters have come to town to cover the Ferguson unrest. They were students together in school, so they have a history. As a white guy and African American woman, they come in with different points of view and very different attitudes and very different assumptions about what is unfolding before their eyes.

“A big part of the play is about their relationship and their evolution,” Himes said. “Actually, their relationship and evolution is kind of a microcosm look at what society itself needs to be doing and dealing with.”

Calhoun and Walker also

star in the production with Himes as the play’s director. A total of four actors in the play perform about 50 characters. The two leads play five or six and the two others play about a dozen each in the interviewbased play.

“There is going to be a lot of footage and history,” Himes said. “A lot of video, a lot of media support in the production will help us tell the story. I think that Kristen and Michael have done is created a piece that is very even-handed. Nobody is going to leave the theater thinking we only told one side of the story.”

According to Himes, presenting “Canfield Drive” lends to the mission of the Black Rep providing a platform for emerging voices that reflect the African and African American experience through drama.

“I’m committed to making sure that we always celebrate the rich canon of literature in African American theater, but that we are also adding to it,” said Himes. “ I think this will be a very valuable addition to the canon of African American literature for the American stage.”

Calhoun is nervous and

of you growing. Sometimes, it comes from those closest to us. That can be very instrumental in making us give up on our dreams. You have to stay committed and believe in your vision even when others can’t fully see it yet. Use that energy to prove them wrong.

Morgan A. Owens is an entrepreneur and speaker based out of Cincinnati, Ohio. She is also the author of “Finding My Sparkle. ” To further connect with Owens, visit www.morganaowens.com or follow her on Instagram at: miss_morgan86.

ranks – pointing to the Director of Advancement Courtney Simms as further evidence.

“I can stand at the side of that house – from the free seats to the first row of box seats –there is such a large swath of the socio-economic representation of the city in one place,” Coleman said. “And for two or three hours, or however long the show is, it doesn’t matter who you are, how you got there or whatever means you have, when you leave this place, there is a shared singular experience that everyone is having. And to play any part in that means more than anything else.”

He said St. Louis has a gem not just in The Muny – and its performing arts scene in general – and he’s thrilled to move the culture forward at the place responsible for his passion for the American art form that is musical theater.

“On a really basic, personal level, I grew up here,” Coleman said of The Muny. “What is a greater dream than to get to help lead the place that formed who you are? Professionally, what else can you ask for?” For more information about The Muny’s upcoming 101st season, visit www.muny.org.

excited about the play’s upcoming premiere.

“We are on stage – a black woman and a white man – talking very directly about race and pulling no punches,” said Calhoun. “I hope that this play gives voice to things that we talk about privately, but not publicly. We are on stage – a black woman and a white man talking very directly about race and pulling no punches.” Walker hopes the audience can handle it.

“I believe that the role of art is to hold a mirror up to society and say, ‘This is who we are,’” Walker said. “This play does that and that makes me nervous because sometimes people don’t want to hear or see truth.” Himes is anything but nervous – and he can’t wait for the post-show discussions that will take place over the course of the play’s run.

The Black Rep’s world premiere presentation of “Canfield Drive” will take place January 9 – January 27 at Washington University’s Edison Theatre, 6445 Forsyth Drive. For tickets or more information, visit www. theblackrep.org or call (314) 534-3810.

Kwofe Coleman as a 16 year-old Muny usher.

New Year’s Anniversary

Happy 3rd Wedding Anniversary to Monica Scaife and Antonio Scaife, who were married on January 1, 2016. Congratulations and Happy New Year!

Celebrations

Centenarian

Reunions

All reunion announcements can be viewed online!

Beaumont High School

Class of 1979 is planning its 40 year reunion. All activities are scheduled for the weekend of September

27-29. The location is The Airport Marriot at 10700 Pear Tree Drive, St. Louis 63134. For more information, contact Milton Jackson at 314-2764392 or Yolanda Lockhart at lockhartyo08@gmail.com.

Northwest Class of 1979 is planning on cruising for our 40th class reunion and would love for you to join us! Date to sail is set for July 20, 2019 and you can feel free to contact: Duane Daniels at 314-568-2057 or Howard Day at 414-698-4261 for further information. Please don’t miss

the boat!

Soldan Class of 1979 is planning its 40th year reunion for the weekend of August 2-3, 2019. Yearlong reunion activities will begin with a kickoff at Soldan High School Homecoming on Saturday, October 13, 2018 prior to the game at 1 p.m. For more information or to assist with reunion activities, please email at: soldanclassof1979@gmail. com or call Barbara at 314 456-3391.

Sumner Class of 1976

Happy 100th Birthday to Adolphus T. Watson, who will mark this special milestone on January 18. Adolphus fought with the Army’s 351st Field Artillery Unit. He earned two Bronze Stars. He retired from Orea and Botta Construction Company.

Graduation

Congratulations to Melvin Taylor Jr. who recently graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a Bachelor of Science in Media Studies, a minor in Digital Marketing and a certificate in Advertising. He is the son of Joyce and Melvin Taylor of Florissant, Mo.

Annual Christmas Party, Friday, December 21, 2018, 7pm @ DEJAVU II Cafe, 2805 Target Dr., 63136. 2 for 1 Drink Specials (5:307:30pm), free parking, band performs from 7:30 - 9:30pm. no cover charge; classmates and guest each pays $5 for the catered food, served during intermission, whether you partake of it or not. Limited reserved seating available until 10 pm. (Doors open 5 pm/ close 1 am) For more info, call B. Louis at 314.385.9843.

Sumner Class Of 1969 50th

reunion “Living Life Like It’s Golden” June 28-30, 2019. Looking for classmates of 1969 to contact us with your updated information via address:sumnerclass1969@ gmail.com or our FB page: Sumner High.

Sumner Class of 1979 will hold its “Bulldogs Rock the Boat” BIG 4-0 Reunion Cruise, June 22-27, 2019. For further information, email your contact information to sumner1979@ ymail.com or call 314-4064309. Join our Facebook group at Sumner High Class of ‘79.

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

St. Louis American Celebrations c/o Kate Daniel 2315 Pine St. St. Louis,

Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability. We prefer that notices be emailed to us! However, notices may also be sent by mail to: Kate Daniel, 2315 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103 Deadline is 10 a.m. on Friday. If you’d like your class to be featured in a reunion profile, email or mail photos to us. Our email address is: reunions@stlamerican.com

A look back at 2018: Take 2. As promised, I would bring y’all the highs and lows (but mostly highs) with a rewind of last year. Because the holiday gave us a wonky deadline, you will have to wait until next week to find out who brought the New Year’s Eve party heat, but as a sneak preview, I will let y’all know I was pleasantly surprised with just about all of my many, many stops. Shall we get right to it? We must. Okay, before I do, can I say one thing: I was so thirsty to say, “I told y’all so” about Tiffany Haddish that I had this item forcibly entered into my prerecorded rundown. Y’all can’t accuse me of being a bandwagon hater in light of Haddish’s most recent standup flop since I mentioned her hot mess of a show in St. Louis a whole week before she found out the hard way that Ciroc and standup don’t mix. If it weren’t for the opening act who tripped over her stilettos trying to drop it like it was hot on that Pageant stage – which gave her wig a gangsta lean for the rest of her set – I wouldn’t have laughed a single time during that show. Unlike that tattered, crunchy thing on Marlo’s head, I’m sure Tiffany will bounce back. Amanda Seales’ second show of the St. Louis leg of her “Smart, Black and Funny” tour at Delmar Hall was also among the low lights of my comedy year. I will say that it wasn’t Amanda’s fault that she requested a smart, black and funny contestant for her game show format and the man showed up with one out of three of the required traits (here’s a hint: he wasn’t smart or funny).

Some unlikely fun. 2018 was the year of “I never thought I would have so much fun here!” When Kameel Stanley of St. Louis Public Radio hit me up about a “trap run,” I was like “girl, I know you used to be a crime reporter, but had no idea you were about that life.” She was talking about a Trap 5K through the historic Ville Neighborhood. I took her up on her offer and I had a blast. Residents were peeking out the windows and cars trying to figure out what was happening. Some man asked, “who all y’all running from?” Can we talk for a second about this community of fine menses (copyright Antione Merriweather from “Men on Film”) who are a part of a group of folks who run for fun at races around the region that I never knew about until that Sunday morning? I’ve even started off the New Year by cranking up the “Couch To 5K” app so that I won’t be humiliated when people ask me my race time next year. Another inaugural event that had me happy to gather with my folks was the Taste of Black St. Louis in Tower Grove Park. I know it cancels out the aforementioned healthy run, but it was still so awesome … and I can’t wait to see how the organizers grow it in years to come, because it has the potential to be something big. I know y’all are all Wakanda’d out now, but the audience participation of opening weekend of “Black Panther” was an absolute ball. Your outfits and Zamunda antics were as entertaining as the record-breaking cultural phenomenon of a film. “Wakanda Foreva!!!” And you might not believe me, but I had an absolute ball at the elderly R&B concert Thanksgiving Soul Jam at Stifel Theatre that featured The Dramatics and just about every R&B male group from the Time Life Body and Soul CD collection.

The places to be. Because of how traffic on Olive and Grand was backed up like a car show in 2017 by folks coming to check out Neighborhood Flavors, I knew history would repeat itself at the Public Commons space over by the Nine Network. I was absolutely right! It was the outdoor event of 2018. And can we take just a minute to talk about the intersection of black excellence and black elegance that was the Legal Solution Group Holiday Party at the Ritz-Carlton! Everybody up in there – including the organizers – came to slay. DELUX’s Power 100 is constantly growing and all the beautiful movers and shakers in the best of their good clothes packed out the Chase Park Plaza Khorassan Ballroom on December 23. Do you know how much sauce it requires to convince folks to get dolled up and come to an awards show on the Sunday before Christmas? Keith Griffin and his whole team have that Bruce Leroy glow for pulling it off. I would start listing the name-brand folks at all of these events, but I would need another Partyline to ensure that I won’t leave anyone off. You already know Arts, Beats and Lyrics had Ballpark Village on lean and I’m here for every vibe that James Biko served up with his 90s Jams and Supernatural sets. Speaking of natural, Frizzfest expanded like nobody’s business for year two and the coming together of kinks, coils, locs, curls, fros and fades in Tower Grove Park was totally worth me almost being late for Anita Baker The Migos and Nipsy Hussle’s respective visits to the Marquee brought out the masses of savage millennials as did Money Bagg Yo and Yo Gotti at The Pageant.

This one’s for the givers. There were some people typically known for nightlife and entertainment that renewed my faith in humanity with their holiday antics. Nichol Stevenson and Angela Brown of Café Soul, selflessly gave up family time to spend their Thanksgiving feeding the homeless – and did the same thing on Christmas. Shout out to The Larry Hughes Foundation for providing support to Café Soul’s mission – and to all of the volunteers who came through to lend a hand. Also, let me give props to Phil Assets and the Liquid Assets team for their holiday toy giveaway. And St. Louis’ own super producer Metro Boomin’ – who gave a total of $20,000 to a church full of single mothers so their families could have Christmas. Oh, and shout out to the Sauce Event Series crew and the Marquee for their citywide trunk-or-treat that brought kids from all over for a fun and safe Halloween experience. I know I’m leaving out some folks and institutions who stepped up and showed out in a major way. Please drop me a line and I will be sure to shout them out.

Comedy vet Don “DC” Curry stopped through Radio One St. Louis studios during his weekend set at Helium in September 2018 and showed love to Mama Jackie

Hot 104.1 FM’s T Marley with Memphis rap veteran Yo Gotti following his concert in December 2018 @ The Pageant Photo by Christopher Hawkins

Rising Memphis rap star Blac Youngsta with the gorgeous Dash Milan in March 2018 @ The Marquee

Comedian and recording artist Lil Duval with chauffer to the stars Terry Dumas during Duval’s visit to the Ambassador in November 2018

R&B star Ashanti with Orlando Watson after his RockHouse Ent. and Clark Wilson Ent. presented her in concert @ The Pageant in June 2018

D.L. Hughley and Micah following his soldout weekend run at Helium Comedy Club in August 2018

Laugh Lounge’s Jessie Taylor with DC Young Fly, who made his first of three separate STL appearances when he performed there in February 2018

Quita of Pangs Play Events with national recording artist Lyfe Jennings following her debut as a concert promoter @ The Ambassador in March 2018

STL comic Stephon Hightower with comedy veteran and fellow St. Louisan Joe Torry Sunday night at the St. Louis Funny Bone in October 2018

Chance The Rapper and super promoter LooseCannon S.L.I.M. were in the building for the Hush Party @ The Marquee in November 2018

Papoose, Remy Ma and former Hot 104.1 FM personality Tropikana @ Super Jam 2018 in June @ Hollywood Amphitheatre Casino

SITE COORDINATOR

Deaconess

FIREFIGHTER/ PARAMEDIC

The City of Richmond Heights is accepting applications for Firefighter/Paramedic. Apply at www.richmondheights.org by Friday, January 4, 2019. EOE

DEACONESS SEEKS PROGRAMASSISTANT

The primary responsibility of this fulltime position is providing administrative support to professional program staff, including coordinating routine processes for grant making and advocacy activities within the foundation’s program portfolio. The secondary responsibility is relationship management and constituency support services to the foundation’s volunteers and prospective/partner grantees. The position assures effectiveness of program operations by enhancing communication with partners and devising and implementing efficiencies of workflow (i.e. electronic and postal communications, filing and data management). For more information and to apply, visit: http://www. deaconess.org/program-assistant

MANAGER OF DATA MANAGEMENT

Oversees

Data Management team that is responsible for the design, implementation, and support of Safety National’s Data Management strategy. Additionally, this team is responsible for supporting application development when SQL expertise is required. This team is responsible for the structure of Safety National’s ODS, the ETL processes that support the ODS, Safety National’s data warehouse, the ETL processes that support the warehouse, and the creation and maintenance of business intelligence reports based on the needs of end users. Requires knowledge of SQL programming.Assist in training developers and end users on reporting tools and analysis of data. To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational.com/ careers-page/.

Integrated Reading Curriculum is implemented with fidelity.

To apply for this position, visit Deaconess Foundation’s website - http://deaconess. org/cdf-freedom-schools-site-coordinator.

ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

Full-Time, non-tenure-trackAssistant Instructor of Social Work position at the University of Central Missouri.Apply at www.ucmo.edu/hr For information about the on-line application process contact Human Resources at jobs@ucmo.edu or (660)543-4255. UCM requires that all faculty applicants complete the on-line faculty profile.All documents requested must be attached to the profile at the time of application. Only completed faculty profiles with attached documents will be accepted for this position. UCM is an AA/EEO/ADAemployer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Cert. Some evenings/weekends. Email resume to marysue@foodoutreach.org

U.S. COURTS EXPERIENCED DEFENSE ATTORNEY

Federal Public Defender – IL www.uscourts.gov/careers/

Small church looking for an administrative assistant. If interested please call Heavenly Bread Missionary Baptist Church (314)381-7691

AND

Assist the Claims Department through innovative measures to improve quality by providing in-house claim oversight and external oversight of third party administrators and non-medical vendor relationships.

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

PROJECT

MANAGER Bayer CropScience L.P. seeks Project Management Horticulture Sustainable Growth Rate to work in St. Louis, MO, & lead Phase 3 horticultural project development through registration submission to commercial launch (phase 4) as well as support the Early Development & Marketing Product Manager. Apply at https://career.bayer.us, #30585.

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Sealed bids for the 2018Accessible Ramp Improvements (2018-PW-02) will be received by the City of Chesterfield Department of Public Services, 690 Chesterfield Parkway W, Chesterfield, Missouri 63017-0760, until 10:00 a.m. (prevailing central time) on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 and will thereafter be publicly opened and read aloud.

This activity is funded in whole or in part with Community Development Block Grant funds pursuant to Title I of the Housing and Community DevelopmentAct of 1974, as amended. All applicable federal regulations shall be in full force and effect.

Plans and specifications for this project will be available after 12:00 noon on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 on the City of Chesterfield’s website: https:// www.chesterfield.mo.us/request-forproposals.html

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

The St. Louis Philanthropic Organization (SLPO) invites 501 (c) (3) organizations to submit an application for its 2019 Responsive Grants cycle. Grant requests cannot exceed $10,000 and must be used solely for programs that provide services to St. Louis city residents. Agencies may submit only one application per grant cycle.

The original and two copies of the application, along with one copy of the required attachments, must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, February 8, 2019, at the SLPO office located at 20 South Sarah Street, St. Louis, MO 63108. Please ensure that the required number of copies and all attachments are included.

All grant requests must be submitted on the SLPO application form. (Please note it is not necessary to three-hole punch or bind the materials. One staple in the upper left corner will suffice.) The application form, along with instructions for completion and required attachments, may be found on the SLPO web site at www.stlphilanthropic.org as a fillable PDF and in Microsoft Word. Agencies may also request that a copy of the application and instructions be emailed to them by contacting the SLPO office at stlphil@sbcglobal.net. SLPO office hours are Mondays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Applications will not be accepted by email or fax. They may be delivered to the SLPO office by U.S. mail or hand delivered.

SLPO will host an Informational Session for Prospective Grantees via conference call on Thursday, January 17th at 10:00 a.m. Please see the St. Louis Philanthropic Organization website for further information.

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR CONSULTING SERVICES TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE PROSPECTUS FOR THE LAND CLEARANCE FOR REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the City of St. Louis (“LCRA”), hereby requests proposals for services to assist with the collection, organization and presentation of market, demographic, and development data in a professional and high-impact prospectus format to attract investors and funds to invest within the City’s designated Opportunity Zones. For a copy of the RFP please visit our website at https://www. stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/sldc/ index.cfm by selecting the RFP/RFQ link for a complete copy of the RFP, or contact:

LAND CLEARANCE FOR REDEVELOPMENT

AUTHORITY

1520 Market, SUITE 2000 ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63103 (314) 657-3700 (PHONE) (314) 613-7011 (FAX)

Proposals are due no later than 4:30 P.M. Central Standard Time on Friday, January 11, 2019.

Notice to M/WBE Businesses

January 3, 2019

LANDCO Construction LLC 1400 South Highway Drive, Ste 99 Fenton, MO 63099

Seeking MBE and WBE businesses for the Cortex Community Accenture Project at 4220 Duncan Avenue, St. Louis, MO, for Union Subcontracting and Supply opportunities in the following areas:

Rough carpentry, architectural woodwork, fireproofing, doors, frames & hardware, glass & glazing, drywall, acoustical ceilings, carpet & resilient flooring, paint & wallcovering, fire protection specialites, toilet accessories, appliances, window treatment, plumbing, fire protection, HVAC and electrical.

All interested parties should contact: Greg Zuzack PH: (314) 744-8260 Fax: (314) 275-7409 gzuzack@rlandco.com

LANDCO will host a pre-bid conference at 9:00 AM on January 11, 2019. Meet in the lobby at 4220 Duncan Avenue.

All proposals will be reviewed for the lowest responsive and responsible quote, and must be received by Friday, January 25, 2019.

Plans and specifications are available for free electronic download from Cross Rhodes Reprographics at www.x-rhodes.com. PH: (314) 678-0087.

Advertise Bids, Bid Notices, Proposals, RFP’s, Sealed Bids, EMAIL ahouston@stlamerican.com

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure an agreement for submersible pump repairs for KSB pumps. The District is proposing single source procurement for this service because Missouri Machinery & Engineering Company is the only authorized service center for pumps that are manufactured by KSB in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. Any inquiries should be sent to strenz@stlmsd.com. Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure an agreement for submersible pump repairs for Flyght pumps. The District is proposing single source procurement for this service because Vandevanter Engineering is the only authorized service center for pumps that are manufactured by Xylem (Flyght) in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. Any inquiries should be sent to strenz@stlmsd.com.

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

Northwoods seeks Construction Contractor City of Northwoods is seeking a licensed, bonded and insured Contractor to repair walls, floors, ceiling tiles & lighting in the City Hall Board/Multi-Purpose Activity Rm. (1264 sq.ft.) + Carpet area (336 sq.ft.); Lobby (672 sq.ft.); Lobby Bathrooms (180 sq.ft.); & Kitchenette (130 sq.ft.) at 4600 Oakridge Blvd., Northwoods Mo. 63121. Detailed Specifications can be picked up at Northwoods City Hall 8:30 am-5:00 pm (closed 1-2pm daily for lunch). Sealed bids are due Jan. 3, 2019 at 11 am. Questions call (314) 477-4051.

CITY OF ST. LOUIS BOARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for PROFESSIONAL

ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR COMPTON AVENUE BRIDGE RECONSTRUCTION, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, PROJECT NO. STP-5451(602). Statements of Qualifications due by 5:00 PM CT, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2019 at Board of Public Service, 1200 Market, Room 301 City Hall, St. Louis, MO 63103. RFQ may be obtained from website www.stl-bps.org under On Line Plan Room, Professional Services, or call Helen Bryant at 314-589-6214. 18% DBE participation goals.

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure: BOARD LOOP CHAIN AND FILLER BLOCKS FOR PRIMARY #4 REBUILD. The District is proposing single source procurement for this equipment because EVOQUA WATER TECHNOLOGIES is the only known available source. Any inquiries should be sent to gjamison@stlmsd.com.

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

Request for Proposals

Rail Upgrade, Phase I Municipal River Terminal 1 Madison Street St. Louis, MO, 63102

The City of St. Louis Port Authority will receive sealed bids for rail improvements at the Municipal River Terminal on 1/24/19. For more info, visit www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/ departments/sldc/???????

CITY OF ST. LOUIS BOARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for PROFESSIONAL

ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR I-64 AT JEFFERSON – CITY STREETS, PROJECT NUMBERS STP-5417(605) AND CMAQ5417(604), SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI. Statements of Qualifications due by 5:00 PM CT, THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2019 at Board of Public Service, 1200 Market, Room 301 City Hall, St. Louis, MO 63103. RFQ may be obtained from website www.stl-bps.org under On Line Plan Room, Professional Services, or call Helen Bryant at 314-589-6214. 18% DBE participation goals.

St. Louis Treatment Court 22nd Judicial Circuit City of St. Louis, Missouri

Request for Proposals

The St. Louis Treatment Court is seeking proposals for the following opportunity to work with participants of the St. Louis Adult Drug Court and/or Veteran Treatment Court: • Substance Abuse Counseling Services RFPFY19-01

A copy of the Request for Proposals can be obtained by writing to: Barbra Lentz, Room 526, 1114 Market St., St. Louis, Missouri 63101 or calling 314-622-4924 for a mail out copy. Interested providers may obtain the proposal specifications by accessing www.stlcitycircuitcourt.com on that website click on Drug Court to find the RFP. Proposals should be submitted no later than 4 p.m. on February 13, 2018 in Room 526, 1114 Market St., St. Louis, Missouri 63101.

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR CONSULTING SERVICES TO REVIEW HOTEL DEMAND AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE LAND CLEARANCE FOR REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the City of St. Louis (“LCRA”), hereby requests proposals for services to assist with a review and analysis of the hotel, lodging, and hospitality market in the City of St. Louis. For a copy of the RFP please visit our website at https://www.stlouis-mo. gov/government/departments/sldc/index.cfm by selecting the RFP/RFQ link for a complete copy of the RFP, or contact:

LAND CLEARANCE FOR REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

1520 Market, SUITE 2000 ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63103 (314) 657-3700 (PHONE) (314) 613-7011 (FAX)

Proposals are due no later than 4:30 P.M. Central Standard Time on Friday, January 11, 2019.

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR CONSULTING SERVICES TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE WEBSITE FOR THE LAND CLEARANCE FOR REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the City of St. Louis (“LCRA”), hereby requests proposals for services to assist with the creation of a website attract investors and funds to invest within the City’s designated Opportunity Zones. For a copy of the RFP please visit our website at https:// www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/ sldc/index.cfm by selecting the RFP/RFQ link for a complete copy of the RFP, or contact:

LAND CLEARANCE FOR REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 1520 Market, SUITE 2000 ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63103 (314) 657-3700 (PHONE) (314) 613-7011 (FAX)

Proposals are due no later than 4:30 P.M. Central Standard Time on Friday, January 11, 2019.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

RELIEF (SKME-615) under Letting No. 10863015.1, at this office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Wednesday, January 23, 2019, at a place designated. Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualified by the District’s Engineering Department for: DEEP SEWER CONSTRUCTION – St. Louis County drainlayer’s license required Plans and Specifications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1712 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for Minitree Ct #101 Storm Sewer Repair (IR) under Letting No. 13069-015.1, at this office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Tuesday, January 29, 2019, at a place designated. Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualified by the District’s Engineering Department for: DEEP SEWER CONSTRUCTION – St. Louis County drainlayer’s license required Plans and Specifications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1712 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid. The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

BID PROPOSAL

KCI Construction requests subcontract proposals from MBE, WBE, DBE, Veteran Owned and SDVE businesses for the East Campus Plant Growth Facilities Complex, Phase 1 and the East Campus Site Utilities & Infrastructure, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.

Asphalt Paving Plans and specifications are available

• To view at our Camdenton office

• By a request for a Dropbox Link from jmorrow@kciconstruction.com

January 21, 2019, at which time they will be publicly read aloud in the Council Room at City Hall. Please contact, Deletra Hudson, City Clerk, at 314-388-1164 or cityclerk@cityofjennings.org if there are any questions or to request additional information.

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 to place your

ad today!

County, Missouri,

X1709-01 will be

by FMDC, State of MO,

1:30 PM, 1/31/19 For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http:// oa.mo. gov/facilities

Subcontractor bids are due by 3:00 p.m. Thursday, January 17, 2019. You may email bids to jmorrow@kciconstruction. com or send a fax to 573-346-9739. Please call if you have any questions: 314-200-6496. FOR RENT North County 3 Bed, Sect. 8 Preferred 314-368-6606

MBE/WBE/DBE/SDVE

FOR RENT 2 Bedroom, Hardwood Floors North City, Fridge, Stove, $550/month

APTS. & HOUSES FOR RENT Sec. 8 welcome with open arms. HOUSES FOR SALE 314-629-5051

APARTMENT FOR RENT South$650,City, 2 Bedroom, 1 Bath 314-868-1559 APARTMENT FOR RENT 3 Bed, 1 Fl, Appl., Stove, Fridge, Cent. Air, 1st & Last, $650/mo, $400 Sec. Deposit 314-583-8764

Marabeth E. Gentry inducted into Stellar Awards Honors Hall of Fame

St. Louis native is president of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses

American staff

The year 2018 was a big one for St. Louis native Marabeth E. Gentry, the president of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, Inc. (founded by Thomas A. Dorsey, the father of gospel music), the oldest African-American gospel singing organization in the United States. In March, she was inducted into the Stellar Awards Honors Hall of Fame during the 33rd Annual Stellar Awards, the first and oldest televised awards show honoring gospel music artists.

This was only the most recent honor for this proud graduate of Vashon High School and Harris-Stowe State University and member of the Vashon Hall of Fame and Distinguished Alumni of Harris-Stowe.

In October 2017, she received the Legacy Award from the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. Gateway Metropolitan Chapter in appreciation of Outstanding Community Service. In October 2016, she received the National Black Radio Hall of Fame Award for continuing the traditions of gospel music. In June 2016, she received the Legacy Award from the Saint Louis County Chapter of the NAACP. In February 2016, she received the Thomas A. Dorsey

St. Louis native Marabeth E. Gentry was inducted into the Stellar Awards Honors Hall of Fame during the 33rd Annual Stellar Awards, the first and oldest televised awards show honoring gospel music artists.

Most Notable Achievement Award at the 31st Annual Stellar Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada. She has appeared on radio and television programs locally, nationally and internationally, and has traveled extensively throughout the United States and abroad singing. She is a lifetime member of the Christ’s Southern Mission Baptist Church, where she serves as the minister of Music, and an honorary member of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority. She has a Master of Arts in Music from Webster University and an Honorary Doctorate from Easter Theological Seminary. She is retired educator from the Saint Louis

Public School District after 32 years of service. She remains the president for When Singers Meet, Inc., a gospel music performance organization that she’s partnered with The Salvation Army for over 40 year

Washington Tabernacle hosts ‘Heal Our Land’ concert

Washington Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church will present “The Heal Our Land” concert featuring Lowell Pye (formally of the gospel group Men of Standard), guest artist Leah Joelle, Christopher Watkins and band on Saturday, January 5. Doors open at 3 p.m., and the concert begins at 4 p.m. at the church, located at 3200 Washington Ave. at the corner of Compton and Washington in Midtown.

“In the wake of all of the tragedy in the St. Louis area, along with the multiple killing sprees within our country, we all need healing,” organizers said. “We want to bring in the New Year unified and in peace. So we invite you to join us for the ‘Heal Our Land’ concert. In order for us to restore the village, we must be a united village. The path to restoration is through healing.” This event is open to the public. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite or Givelifly. General Admission is $25 (or $15 for students, high school and college). For more information on this and other Village Restoration activities, contact the church at (314) 5338763. Rev. Robert McClish II is pastor.

The Message

Jesus is my superhero

For someone who grew up when and how I did, the question of Jesus really mystified many of my so-called friends, when it came to my newest superhero.

If you allow yourself to view Christianity as some kind of sanitized version of European colonialism, then it is no wonder that many regard this version of religion as a copout when compared to more ancient religions of the world, particularly those with African origin. However, if you do your due diligence and study, it becomes clear how the religion of Christ has been manipulated through the ages for political and economic purposes.

Man still kills in the name of his or her God, whatever that name might be. Religious conflict is still the single biggest reason people die at the hands of their fellow man. Check out the Middle East, Lebanon, Pakistan, and India. Look at the hot spots around the globe and you will find religious persecution of some type at the center of the conflict.

But, before I go too far down this road, allow me to put forward the life of Christ as one in which I am in awe and one that has caught and held not only my attention, but all of my respect, admiration, praise and worship. Jesus was and forever will be a bad man. Folks, you can say whatever you want to, but He was indeed a man’s Man. As a matter of fact, what wasn’t Jesus? He was a revolutionary. He was probably a socialist given his predisposition to feed the hungry and take care of the poor. He was definitely anti-establishment. I don’t know anyone more against the status quo than Christ.

He was outspoken, shameless, selfless, compassionate, passionate, an equal-opportunity employer and self-confident. Can you name a more committed individual to his beliefs? This guy was a blessing to anyone who would listen, a teacher, a provider, a source of strength and, of course, an obedient Son respectful of His elders, and in so many ways, larger than life.

I’m trying to give you perspective on why He is my Lord and Savior. God, or Godliness aside, this Man I’ve come to admire so much for what He stood for, and certainly what He said He came to die for. Me. You, too.

Who among us wouldn’t want to change the face of the world by bringing it a concept of love so strong that even death cannot weaken it, but by death strengthen it for all time?

The more I see Jesus, the more I see in human terms why those who can continue to undermine, distort and dilute the reality of the Man. To Him, neither wealth, nor class, nor birthright distinguished one in the great scheme of things. Preferential treatment is not accorded one based on circumstance. The measure of any man comes in terms of love, prayer, faith, service and acceptance of God as God. I keep telling y’all, Jesus was a bad boy. But if you don’t know Him for yourself firsthand, I’m afraid you’ll fall prey to the version given to you by those who have their best interest at heart and not yours. Jesus came to be a blessing. I’m just trying to follow His lead.

Columnist James Washington