January 6th, 2022 edition

The St. LouiS AmericAn

City bucks national trend in homicide rates

Following 2020 spike, rate returns to 2019 level

By Dana Rieck

The St. Louis American

With one of the highest homicide rates nationally for years now, St. Louis has held the reputation of the country’s most dangerous city. Despite this, its homicide rate in 2021 decreased by a jaw-dropping 25% as compared to its record-setting spike in 2020.

In fact, the Gateway City became one of the nation’s few large cities that bucked the trend of increasing homicide rates since the pandemic began. More than two-thirds of the country’s 40 most populous cities saw more homicides in 2021 compared to

Connie Gray, the sister of Families Advocating Safe Streets founder Jeanette Culpepper burns a candle in honor of those lost to violence in 2021. The event took place at Williams Temple Church of God In Christ Friday, Dec. 31. It was the first event without it’s founder who passed in October of 2021. A second event will be held at time 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 7, at the same location.

By JoAnn Weaver

2020, according to a CNN analysis. Not only that, but CNN reported 10 of those cities broke their own homicide records in 2021. They are Philadelphia; Austin, Texas; Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis; Portland, Oregon; Memphis, Tennessee; Louisville, Kentucky; Milwaukee; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Tucson, Arizona.

As for St. Louis, homicide numbers decreased from 263 in 2020 to 195 in 2021, or about 87 homicides per 100,000 people (which was the highest in the city’s history) to 65 homicides per 100,000 people.

n St. Louis’ homicide numbers decreased from 263 in 2020 to 195 in 2021, or about 87 homicides per 100,000 people (which was the highest in the city’s history) to 65 homicides per 100,000 people.

The St. Louis American

“I don’t think we’re there yet,” Mayor Tishaura Jones says

said.

With COVID-19 cases reaching new elevated levels, St. Louisans are worried about what they can do to protect themselves from the new Omicron variant, which, according to the CDC, is more transmissible than previous strains.

When asked if St. Louis city would limit attendance at sporting events in indoor facilities, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones responded by saying, “I don’t think we’re there yet.”

“I’ve been in conversation with health director Dr. Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis, and I don’t think we’re there yet. We are still monitoring the situation,” she

Mayor Jones visited CareSTL Health, a federally qualified health center (FQHC), and thanked health care workers for their tireless effort to keep St. Louis families healthy and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We hear time and time again that our healthcare workers are exhausted and are tired of bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.

“They’ve supported us over the past few years, and we can support them too by taking common sense steps to protect each other from COVID-19. According to Jones, the city’s positive rate is

Mayor to scrap police chief search

Effort hindered by city department

By Dana Rieck

The St. Louis American

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones confirmed Tuesday she is scrapping the current search for the city’s new police chief after facing difficulties created by a former city leader.

Rick Frank, who stepped down from the city’s independent personnel department in December, had put in place a plan to have the police chief finalists chosen solely by his department. This broke from how current Police Chief John Hayden was chosen under Mayor Lyda Krewson and Frank, who hired an outside consultant to find and pick the finalists.

“I only had two white male candidates to choose from and St. Louis is more diverse than white males, our police department is more diverse—there were a lot of diverse candidates within the police department who were kicked out of the first round so I want to start over to find the right candidate,” Jones said. Sources in Jones’ administration told The St. Louis American last month the personnel department rejected the majority of 30 people nationwide who applied for the position and administered a written test to only two internal candidates, who are both white, but did not administer a virtual version of the test to four other out-of-state candidates.

“There were flaws in the current process

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

See HOMICIDES, A6

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

“The Mack” actor Max Julien, 88, dies

Actor Max Julien, 88, known for his role in “The Mack” died on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2022. An official cause of death has not been confirmed.

Julien’s friend, comic book writer and filmmaker David F. Walker confirmed the news of his death with a tribute to Julien on his Instagram.

“I met Max in 1996,” Walker wrote. “He was a great human being and we had so many amazing conversations. He was brilliant and hilarious and charismatic. R.I.P.”

“The Mack” was released in 1973 co-starring Julien and Richard Pryor. Julien’s character is John “Goldie” Mickens, an ex-convict who becomes a pimp in Oakland, California. He partners with Pryor’s character Slim to launch a criminal enterprise.

Hyphy Movement’s

Traxamillion loses cancer battle

Bay Area producer Traxamillion, born Sultan Banks, known for his influence in the ‘hyphy movement,’ died n Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022

from cancer. He was 43.

Bay Area blog “Thizzler On The Roof” is credited for being the first to confirm his death. The news source shared a memorial image on its Twitter account on Sunday afternoon.

Trax rose to prominence two decades ago. He produced Keak Da Sneak’s “Super Hyphy,” The Pack’s “Club Stuntin” and more.

E-40 paid tribute to the late producer on his Instagram page.

“Rest up my fella you will be missed,” he said. “@traxamillion you was definitely a [GOAT] in my eyes glad to be part of your journey #gonebutneverforgotten #f**kcancer.”

Former

LHHATL star

Erica Dixon not complimentary

According to former “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta” castmember Erica Dixon, straight men are considered homosexual if they compliment another man on their looks.

She asked on Twitter if that was considered a red flag.

As expected, the response from her followers wasn’t in agreement with her statement. Her former castmate Tammy Rivera, Baby Blue, and others disagreed.

I don’t think nothing wrong with a GROWN man saying another guy look nice smh,” Rivera wrote.

Baby Blue said it’s homophobic to assume men can’t compliment each other.

“A man with a lot of confidence that is secure with his sexuality not only can give a male a compliment but he can also have gay friends or family members and not feel compromised,” he said. Dixon hasn’t addressed the backlash she’s received.

Stormy times in Wellington household

Popular social media influencer and entrepreneur Stormy Welling ton (Coach Stormy) reportedly had a verbal confrontation with her 21-year-old daughter Canty

Wellington is being ac cused of cutting Canty off without notice and forcing her out of her home. The drama between the two ladies will be shown in their upcoming Lifetime series “Million Dollar Hustle.”

There’s been speculation the story is fabricated for TV, but

Canty says that isn’t the case. She shared on Instagram live her side of what happened with her mom to her more than 330,000 followers.

“All I know is – and ya’ll will see this on the show. I’m not doing this for the show!” she said. “I came to Miami to number one – move. Number [two] – work on my relationship with my mom and boom, I ended up being in the show. I said I wasn’t doing the show no more – long story short – I was in the show, whatever.”

Canty thinks her mom kicked her out for having dinner with someone she doesn’t like. She stated after the dinner Wellington told her to not go in her room, drive her cars, and then forced her to

“You don’t do that to your child! Y’all keep texting ‘she loves you. She loves you. She loves you.’ Yes, that’s my mom! I’m sure she loves me but she got a very weird way of showing it.” she said. Wellington has yet to address Canty’s accusations.

Stormy Wellington

Sources: nbcnews.com, complex.com, npr.org, hellobeautiful.com, cnn.com

free piano lessons *

Pianos for People provides free access to the transformative power of music for those who need it most – children and families with limited resources, and the organizations that serve them.

WE OFFER:

• Beginner Group Piano Classes Ages 4 - Adult

• Music Production For Beginners

• Music Therapy

• Recitals

• Enrichment Classes

• Summer Piano Camps

TWO PIANO SCHOOL LOCATIONS:

• Cherokee Street Ferguson

REGISTER ONLINE: WWW.PIANOSFORPEOPLE.ORG

3138 CHEROKEE ST. LOUIS, MO 63118 314-285-5852 Kayia@pianosforpeople.org

Erica Dixon

St. Louis group says ward reduction decreases Black voting power

City finalized 14-ward map in December

By Dana Rieck

The St. Louis American

Regardless of who drew the city’s new 14-ward map, one St. Louis group contends ward reduction of any kind decreases Black voting power while creating white minority rule.

Kalambayi Andenet, chairperson for the KEEP28 Campaign, told The St. Louis American she didn’t vote yes or no in 2012 for the proposition stipulating the number of wards would be cut in half after the 2020 census. She said it’s because she, like most Black people in the northern parts of the city, didn’t understand what the legislation would do. In fact, during a recent door knocking campaign, she and her colleagues met people every day who had no idea the wards were going to be cut in half. She also noted most of the Black majority wards voted down the proposition—nine out of 13 to be exact.

The proposition passed citywide with 61.50% of the 130,578 votes cast.

The proposition laid out a plan for the first election in the newly drawn wards to be held in 2023 for all wards and aldermanic president. Odd-numbered wards would start with twoyear terms, to stay in line with the election schedule set by

the city’s charter in 1915. The Board president and even-numbered wards would run during that initial election for a full four-year term.

In addition to taking away Black voting power, Andenet said the ward reduction doubles campaign costs for those seeking election.

“We can see that this is an attack against the Black community. There is no plan to say … [how] the budget is going to work,” she said. “There is no plan on how we have already lost our schools or anything like that. So, this ward reduction is not some saving grace to save the Black community but to further gentrify the north side and further develop the Delmar divide. So, we had to kick and fight and scream and yell to the top of our lungs, [but] we didn’t get a victory.”

The KEEP28 Campaign worked to educate and involve the community by holding Sunday town halls for at least two years.

The Board of Aldermen passed the new 14-ward map with an almost unanimous vote. Alderman Jesse Todd, Ward 18, abstained from the vote because he supported the effort to keep 28 wards.

Todd said ward reduction has been debated here since 1957, shortly after Brown v.

Board of Education desegregated schools. His theory is white business people started the effort in response to this ruling.

However, he said the effort to reduce the wards didn’t gain enough traction until it appeared on the 2012 ballot and also said there was no effort to educate the city’s Black population about what the proposition meant.

Both he and Andenet said no 14-ward map would satisfy them, even if they drew it themselves.

“The only thing that would satisfy me would be keeping 28 wards in the city of St. Louis,” Todd said. “So that’s why I abstained because I would not support any map.”

Todd said he also believes if the board had term limits, something he strongly advocates for, ward reduction would not have happened.

“I think it’s a service and shouldn’t be a career because once you start talking about a career, some people are going to do what it takes to save themselves,” he said. “And so that’s my position, and I think if we had term limits, then we would still have 28 wards.”

St. Louis Aldermanic Wards

During her vote on the new map last month, Alderwoman Sharon Tyus, Ward 1, said she never thought she would be voting in favor of the map, but she did.

She’d previously said she did not believe the new map was a good map or a fair map for North St. Louis, but unlike Todd, she was prepared to vote in favor of it because the committee did the best they could with what they were handed.

“It’s not ridiculous to me, and I challenge each and every

one of you all, that if you had your vote taken away in 2001, would you be so cavalier in saying, ‘Oh, I trust this process,’” she said during a meeting. “Because I can tell you as a Black woman who had her vote taken away from her—and two-thirds of her community— illegally, that I’m not cavalier about any of this process.”

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones said Tuesday she supports the will of the voters in reducing the wards and pointed to the makeup of the city electorate as proof Black people are gaining political power in the city. She noted eight of nine citywide officials are African American, almost half the board is a racial minority, and two of its members belong to the LGBTQ+ community.

“So I would say that the diversity within our city electorate is more diverse than it’s ever been, and people have a seat at the table, and representation matters,” she said. The committee in charge of drawing the new wards released five map drafts before finalizing the sixth one. Some activists said the process was not transparent enough and did not involve the community appropriately during that process. The new map keeps 85% of the city’s neighborhoods in one ward, and only two wards represent each of the other 15% of neighborhoods. The wards are split with seven Black-majority wards and seven white-majority wards. Each ward has approximately 21,500 residents.

Alderman Joseph Vollmer, Ward 10, has previously noted during discussion, three of the white majority wards cross north over the Delmar divide. Even though the board finalized the 14-ward map in December, Andenet said their work will continue.

“And so, we have to have a strategy to make sure that we can fight and have power in our hands, in our community, to build economic development, that is not the NGA, not a spy institution that comes and take our homes, not Paul McKee, and all the other rich people that come in and buy up blocks and sit on our community and sell it to the highest bidder,” she said. “So, we have a lot of work ahead.”

Photo courtesy City of St. Louis

Guest Editorial

Guest Editorial Shining light on a historically dark day

This is a special time of year

Jan. 6, 2022, marks the first anniversary of one of the darkest days in American history.

By John E. Warren

Fueled by then-President Donald Trump and conservative anarchists, including Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, a mob of “big lie” believers, unapologetic racists, and conspiracy theorists stormed the Capitol. They assaulted police officers, and one lost his life after the mayhem.

This time of year reminds each of us why we have and celebrate Christmas.

This country, and many of our lives, were founded upon Christian principles that are at the very essence of this season. The fact that those of different faiths are allowed to exercise their religious beliefs does not negate that which many of us profess.

They vandalized and looted the hallowed halls of Congress as death threats aimed at Vice President Mike Pence, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and others rang out. Included in this insane mob incited by Trump’s lies were police officers, veterans, and elected officials.

Commentary Commentary

FCC should empower minorityowned media businesses

Celebrating Biden’s first-year judges

By Ben Jealous

Neither do we require others to acknowledge or share in our beliefs. This is the beauty of the Freedom of Religion clause in our constitution. But the differences in faith do not stop the Spirit of Christmas and here is the reason.

It is no wonder Republicans want to erase the episode from the history books, just as many of them seek to do with Black history that speaks to the shift in the conversation about race from when whiteness was accepted as supreme. They hope ignoring the Capitol insurrection will make it go away.

The Gospel of John, recorded in the Bible at 3:16, states that: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Fortunately, that is not going to happen.

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D, Mississippi), chair of the special committee to investigate the violent Capitol invasion, made it known on Jan. 2, 2022, actions by Trump and others before and during the riot will be scrutinized in the investigation and aired during hearings on national television.

There “appeared to be a coordinated effort on the part of several people to undermine the election,” Thompson told CNN. The Capitol was stormed as the House and Senate were ratifying the election of President Joe Biden.

The operative word is “gave.” It is the gift of Jesus that is responsible for the desire we all have to “give” gifts. With the gift of Jesus to humanity came the Spirit of giving which is released each time we celebrate His birth.

The chilling allegation that Trump’s Department of Defense may have interfered with the National Guard’s effort to protect the Capitol, its police force, and members of Congress are under a microscope.

The angel of the Lord that appeared to the shepherds that night over Bethlehem made a pronouncement that we still feel each Christmas. The angel said: “Glory to God in the highest, on Earth peace, good will toward men.”

“There were significant inconsistencies in coordination, that the National Guard from the District of Columbia was slow to respond, not on its own, but it had to go to the Department of Defense,” Thompson said.

As a Black History Month present to all Americans, Thompson is planning televised hearings later this month,

As more convicted rioters are heading to prison and suspected ones face trial or plea bargains, Thompson said a task force within the committee would investigate the financial support of Trump supporters who attacked the Capitol. The Bipartisan committee includes Reps. Adam Kinzinger (R, Illinois) and Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming).

By Ben Jealous

I woke up this morning with my mind stayed on freedom and how we can preserve it.

Even following the insurrection, 147 House Republicans voted against the certification of Biden’s election. Hawley was among a handful of GOP senators to cast a similar anti-democracy, totalitarian vote.

Trump repeated his lies hours before the assault on the Capitol, and Hawley further inspired the crazed mob with his infamous fist thrust.

Hopefully, someone pointed out to him his action is a Black Power expression.

Consider that Christmas Day is the only time about everything shuts down. It is the one time of the year that we see an outpouring of kindness. That kindness is the “good will” toward men that the angel spoke of. It is also responsible for the peace on Earth which caused soldiers fighting each other during World War I to stop warring on Christmas Eve and sing Christmas songs. While many of us do not have the shelter, food, or comfort that so many others have, we are blessed with health or family or the meeting of our basic needs, if not our wants.

“I think it is critically important, given everything we know about the lines that (Trump) was willing to cross — he crossed lines no American president has ever crossed before. You know, we entrust the survival of our republic into the hands of the chief executive, and when a president refuses to tell the mob to stop, when he refuses to defend any of the coordinate branches of government, he cannot be trusted.”

Those are not Thompson’s words or those of any Democrat. Rep. Cheney said that on Jan. 2.

Could you use some good news as we leave behind a very challenging year?

Whenever I have had the responsibility during the past six decades to weigh in on a vital civil rights issue on behalf of Black America and other communities of color throughout the United States, I have not hesitated to speak out.

I have some great news.

President Joe Biden and the Democratic-controlled Senate have done a fantastic job nominating and confirming fairminded federal judges who are committed to protecting civil and human rights.

Now is the time to publicly address the urgent issue of equal access, diversity, equity, and inclusion of Black-owned media in our nation’s communications industry.

This is a bigger deal than you may think.

and corporate lawyers. Judges confirmed this year include people with experience as public defenders, civil rights lawyers, and advocates for workers.

to geotargeting by minorityowned radio stations and other minority-owned businesses that are vital and effective in today’s global and national media marketplace.

These nominees are brilliant. They are not just book smart and have a real understanding of how the system can be biased against people of color and how it can make life harder for people without a lot of power.

This is another crucial national civil rights issue. This is an issue of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Last month, I wrote to the FCC to stress this point.

In this era of the global digitalization of media and other high technological innovations in the communications industry, Black-owned and other minority-owned media cannot afford to be denied access to the rapidly evolving industry innovations.

For example, before Ketanji Brown Jackson was a federal judge, she served on the U.S. Sentencing Commission.

“I have spent much of my career as a civil rights leader focused on ensuring that technological developments like the one at issue in this proceeding, lift all of America, and not just some of us,” I emphasized.

“We have significant testimony that leads us to believe that the White House had been told to do something. We want to verify all of it,” Thompson said on CNN.

In addition, we agree with U.S. Rep Cori Bush (D.-St. Louis), who warns that “one year later, things are not better.”

Our families might have their personal problems, or many of us have an empty chair at the table this season due to the pandemic or other tragedies, yet we are still blessed. Let us remember those who lost so much during the tornadoes in the Midwest and South. Let us seek ways to be of help to others and by doing so help ourselves. We give thanks for those among us seeking to help and feed and shelter so many others.

Let us commit to seeking what each of us can do to make a difference in the lives of others and by doing so participate in the gift that keeps on living.

“This was a white supremacist attack related to our voting rights,” she said. “We cannot forget this. We cannot allow it to be whitewashed, downplayed. We cannot allow revisionist history to happen. It was an attempt to invalidate our votes.”

Yet, Trump’s evil hold on the Republican Party remains strong.

May God bless and keep you, regardless of your circumstances.

It is driving the misguided and dangerous antics of state Attorney General Eric Schmitt in his effort to win a U.S. Senate nomination.

John E. Warren is publisher of The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint.

It allows the GOP to ignore and some to encourage the rapid growth of white supremacist organizations and unbridled racism in America, not unlike the tenure of Jim Crow in this country.

It played out at the Capitol one year ago.

We have seen past outrageous behavior undeterred – treated as a new normal.

Commentary

Defending a Democracy in flames

But hopefully, hopefully, all the ugliness, terror, and utter disregard for the avowed American way that occurred on Jan. 6, 2021, will be on our televisions soon, and Trump, Hawley and others will face severe legal and political consequences.

Commentary

subversion measures, Congress and the White House need to get new federal voting rights laws passed, signed and implemented before next year’s elections.

Mark Meadows multiple times after the election. Republican members of Congress were briefed on the claims on the eve of the insurrection.

Former President Trump and Republican senators spent four years packing our courts with judges who have made our justice system less fair. Over the past few years, Trump judges have tried to and often did, weaken civil rights, worker protections against job discrimination, enforcement of fair housing laws, and more. Trump’s judges have made it harder to hold corporations and law enforcement officials accountable for wrongdoing. They have made it harder for Americans to count on the courts for justice.

The issue today is Blackowned radio stations and other minority-owned media businesses should be permitted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to compete fairly and equitably with large television and cable stations that geotarget audiences across America.

She fought to do away with the law’s unfair and unequal treatment of crack and powder cocaine—a difference that hit Black communities the hardest.

President Biden’s judicial nominees are quite a different story. This is not only a brilliant bunch, but also the most personally and professionally diverse group of federal judges ever.

Trump’s judges were overwhelmingly white men, and one of his appointees returned a powerful circuit court of appeal to all-white status. In contrast, more than 60% of President Biden’s nominees have been people of color. Nearly onethird of President Biden’s circuit court nominees are Black women.

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) has a strategic alliance with the National Organization of BlackOwned Broadcasters (NABOB) and with the Multicultural Media, Telecom & Internet Council (MMTC). We are all working together to ensure the FCC will approve a rulemaking change that will enable minority-owned radio stations to engage in geotargeting of content to their audiences. This change is necessary because the FCC’s antiquated rules, written 40 years ago, don’t give radio stations the chance to compete in the current media environment.

Biden’s nominees also bring a desperately needed range of experiences to the courts. Courts have plenty of people with experience as prosecutors

The FCC has as its mission to regulate “interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.” The proposed rulemaking change will substantially increase the access

“Too often, I have seen the benefits of technological development accrue to the privileged, with little or no benefit to disadvantaged communities, including some with which I work on a daily basis.” In the letter to the FCC, I concluded:

Judge Jackson is now serving on the powerful D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. She believes the courts exist to protect the rights of everyone and that the rule of law applies to everyone, even the powerful and connected.

When she rejected a White House lawyer’s claim that he could refuse to testify to Congress because Trump ordered him not to, Judge Jackson said, “the primary takeaway from the past 250 years of recorded American history is that Presidents are not kings.”

“Geotargeting technology would give minority-owned broadcasters an enhanced ability to compete with the larger station groups…The technology would enable them to better serve their communities with localized content. In addition, for those broadcasters that choose to use this technology, since it is voluntary, they can give minority-owned businesses an affordable outlet for their messages. In short, I now believe that this technology is beneficial to minority communities, including radio broadcasters, small businesses, and the public they serve.”

We recall President Joe Biden announced, “On my first day in office, I signed Executive Order 13985 (Advancing Racial Equity

Letters to the editor

By Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

Disproportionate mass incarceration of people of color in America continues. The calls for prison reform include proposals to lower telephone rates for prisons throughout the United States.

Our freedom is threatened. We all need to pay attention and prepare to take action next year. Look, I know Christmas and New Years are here, and millions of us are looking forward to time off work and time spent with loved ones. I can just hear people saying, “Ben, the last thing I want to think about right now is politics.” Well, let’s think bigger than that, and let’s think about freedom.

and respond to criticism of the industry.

This would benefit African Americans and other communities of color who have family members currently incarcerated.

Companies that provide communications services to prisons and jails have long drawn criticism for charging high prices for phone calls and emails between inmates and their families and friends.

The freedom to vote has been under attack in dozens of states all year long. In 2020, many states made voting more accessible in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. That was a good thing. We had record voter participation in 2020. But because millions of those voters rejected former President Donald Trump, Republican legislators are rolling back access to the ballot box and imposing new restrictions on voting. And sad to say, new voter suppression laws are not the only threat to our freedom.

I’ve previously written about one such company, Securus Technologies, which in January 2020 did something rarely seen in corporate America, acknowledging past failures and making specific commitments to do better.

What has the company done to deliver on its promises over the last year?

Donald Trump’s henchmen have some other schemes up their sleeve. They’re getting themselves in positions to oversee elections at the local and state levels. They’re creating ways for legislators and election officials to count the votes they want to and ignore the ones they disagree with.

Lower telephone rates on calls to prisoners

The company also says it has renegotiated contracts with more than 100 correctional facilities to lower the cost of calls, and over 50% of their calls now cost less than $1. During the pandemic, they also provided free calls, emails, and video chats – more than 95 million in total.

Securus is now working on expanding the program across all its facilities but would require approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which currently only allows perminute phone plans.

It brought in several outside advisors, including attorney and entrepreneur Yusef Jackson, who joined the executive team of Aventiv, Securus’ parent company, earlier this year.

To combat this onslaught of voter suppression and election

And that’s not all. In the year since the violent attempt to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election, Trump and his allies have done everything possible to deny what happened. But the truth is coming out anyway. We can be grateful for good investigative reporting and thankful for the determination of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and the bipartisan House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. We now know multiple lawyers working for Trump helped him pressure former Vice President Mike Pence to block congressional certification of Biden’s win. We know that a PowerPoint presentation circulated among Trump’s inner circle claiming foreign powers compromised the election and Trump could declare a national security emergency to stay in power. It has been reported the author of that memo, a retired army colonel, met with former White House Chief of Staff

Given that so many of Trump’s allies were willing to ignore the Constitution and overturn the will of the voters, it’s not exactly surprising they are also willing to defy legal efforts to get at the truth.

Anything Securus does “is designed to … gouge the consumer and maximize their profits,” Human Rights Defense Center Executive Director Paul Wright said, according to Communications Daily.

Others have criticized the level of detail offered by Securus with Prison Policy Initiative General Counsel Stephen Raher, saying the company’s petition to the FCC “doesn’t suggest that Securus is serious about doing that.”

Dave Abel, Securus CEO, says the company has provided extensive detail to the FCC and argues any apprehensions about the program are misguided.

One after another, Trump’s political strategists and former aides have been stonewalling the Jan. 6 committee. Meadows and right-wing political operative Steve Bannon have simply refused to comply with legal subpoenas to testify and now face charges of criminal contempt of Congress. Here is the brutal bottom line: Trump has never accepted his loss. He and his allies are showing us that they are more committed to getting and keeping power in their hands than they are accepting the voters’ will. They are ready to sacrifice democracy on the altar of rightwing authoritarianism. That is not a pleasant thought at Christmas time—or any time. We don’t have the luxury of looking away. We have to face these threats and what it will take from all of us to defeat them in the months and years ahead.

“We began this program as a response to specific requests we heard from family and friends of incarcerated Americans,” he said. “Now that we have the data showing us that this is something the community values, we believe that we have a duty to expand these services.”

In this season of gift-giving, think of the time and energy you spend defending democracy as a gift to your family and friends—a future of freedom.

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

While awaiting further instruction from the FCC, Abel said the company is continuing to look for other ways to help connect the incarcerated community to the outside world.

April 2021 Jackson, the of Rainbow/PUSH founder Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, would be helping lower of of calls and help with other services for the incarcerated as change some of its business practices

Securus has petitioned for a waiver that would exempt the pilot subscription plan from the FCC’s rulemaking on per-minute call requirements, allowing them to provide subscriptions in jails and prisons in all 50 states. This could ultimately have a big impact; there are over 2 million incarcerated Americans in thousands of facilities across the country.

However, some prison reform advocates and critics have still questioned Securus’ intentions with the subscription.

“Those who are incarcerated deserve affordable access to the life-changing technology that the rest of us enjoy,” he said. “Our goal is to put a tablet in the hands of every incarcerated individual we serve.”

Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publisher Association.

to the editor

Hello. I was reading The St. Louis American this week, when I came across the Hot Sheet article, “Ghostface Killah shares Aaliyah and Raekwon allegedly had a fling.” The first sentence of this article reads:

“R. Kelly and Dame Dash aren’t the only men in music who were once the apple of the late Aaliyah’s eyes.”R. Kelly is a convicted pedophile and sex trafficker. He allegedly began sexually abusing Aaliyah when she was just 13, 14 years old, and he initiated a child marriage to her. Reportedly, “Aaliyah told her family that she never wanted to see Kelly again, and they set about making sure she would never have to.”

As a survivor of sexual assault and harass-

Taking this time to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with joy and happiness. May we bond together in love and caring and keep the stars adjoined in the glow of a peaceful outcome for the problems faced in this world. The battle of life is difficult and peace hard to find, but each of us can take that moment to feel the joy of peace and love, if only in our hearts. Who knows, one day we may all join together with the wisdom, strength, and grace to be a part of a lasting and eternal peace. I know that looking at the world as it is now it is hard to

and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government), which established that affirmatively advancing equity, civil rights, racial justice, and equal opportunity is the responsibility of the whole of our Government.” We commend the BidenHarris Administration thus far in its first year striving to move the nation forward on equity and diversity matters even during the persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the epidemic of partisan politicization of issues and supporting public policies that will improve and enhance the quality for life of all Americans. On this issue of media reform, we hope and resolutely call for the FCC in 2022 to be aligned fully with the official stated commitments of the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure fairness, equity and diversity.

President Biden deserves praise for making judicial nominations a top priority. In fact, he set a record with 71 district and circuit court nominations in the first year of his presidency.

Democratic leaders in the Senate, including Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Judiciary Committee Chair Richard Durbin from Illinois, also deserve praise for prioritizing the confirmation of judges —and committing the time and energy necessary to overcome the partisan resistance to President Biden’s excellent nominees from Republican senators. Do you know who else deserves praise for the dozens of excellent new federal judges confirmed this year?

The voters of Georgia and everyone across the country who chipped in time or money to help Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff win their special elections at the beginning of the year. Without those two victories, the Senate would still be in the unprincipled grip of the Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell. His record makes it clear if he were still in charge, he would be doing everything in his power to delay and defeat President Biden’s excellent judicial nominees. Courts matter to our lives and our democracy, and elections matter to our courts. President Biden and Senate Democrats have followed through on their commitment to begin reversing the damage done to our justice system during the last administration. That means we can look forward to more inspiring judges to celebrate in the new year. Ben Jealous is president and CEO of People For The American Way.

Now serving on the Seventh Circuit is Judge Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, who gave up a job at one of the most prestigious law firms to become a public defender. She helped people who could not afford a lawyer make sure that police or prosecutors did not violate their rights.

The proposed FCC rulemaking change is also supported overwhelmingly by all of the major national civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, National Urban League, National Action Network, National Council of Negro Women, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, National Congress of Black Women, Hispanic Federation, National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, U.S Black Chambers, and many more. The time for the FCC to act and approve the proposed rulemaking change submitted is now because it will help to empower all minority-owned radio and other media businesses. Millions of Americans, particularly from underserved communities, deserve and have a fundamental civil right to have access and to be included. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr, is president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and executive producer/host of The Chavis Chronicles on PBS.

All letters are edited for length and style.

ment, I was devastated to see the St. Louis American, my favorite newspaper, treat sexual abuse like this. This is not protecting Black women, girls, or survivors. Unless you have experienced it, you cannot imagine how painful and traumatic sexual assault and harassment are, and poor Aaliyah was just a child. Then years after her death for the media to continue treating her abuse as charming gossip fodder is further cruelty to both her and survivors. Please amend the story, release an apology, and do better in the future.

imagine. Keep the heart of love always present and find the joy that is there within you. Perhaps one day the hate and violence will be a thing of the past. We must look forward to a future filled with beauty and love. If we do not do this, we become the embittered

Geneva Lee

Guest Columnist Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

Columnist

Ben Jealous

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

Guest Columnist

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

Columnist Ben Jealous

Guest Columnist John E. Warren

The editorial features the reporting of Lauren Victoria Burke, an independent journalist.

McDonald’s Owner/ Operator Jimmy Williams presented a $15,000 Black & Positively Golden Scholarship check to Howard University student Asia Bradley on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2022, at his store on 7171 Natural Bridge.

Asia Bradley earns $15,000 McDonald’s HBCU scholarship

St. Louis American staff

McDonald’s and McDonald’s owner/operator Jimmy Williams awarded Asia Bradley, a freshman nursing student at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and a St. Louis native, a $15,000 Black & Positively Golden Scholarship.

“Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are of vital importance when it comes to furthering the education of African Americans,” Williams, an East St. Louis native, said in a release. “I’m proud to represent a company [like] McDonald’s that realizes students like Asia deserve the opportunity to pursue their education and ultimately their dreams.” Student debt is one of the largest deterrents to higher education, particularly for Black students, according to a McDonald’s survey conducted from Black U.S. college students.

The study found 43% of Black college students cited personal finance management as a cause of stress or anxiety. To assist financially and provide access to needed resources, McDonald’s USA awarded $500,000 in total to 35 students attending HBCUs as part of the 2021 McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden Scholarship Program. The scholarship grants are in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

“My goal is to become a nurse in the Air Force,” Bradley said. “I’m thrilled that McDonald’s is showing

a commitment to education at HBCU’s, and I hope my journey inspires others to pursue an education and fulfilling career.”

McDonald’s awardees also receive a lifetime membership to Shine, a minority-owned stress and anxiety management app.

According to the McDonald’s survey, 75% of survey respondents are struggling with symptoms of anxiety or depression, and 46% found it “too difficult” to find a mental health professional with which they were comfortable.

“We know that many students experienced unforeseen financial hardships that put their plans for pursuing higher education in jeopardy,” Harry L. Williams, Thurgood Marshall College Fund president & CEO, said. “We are pleased to continue our 20-year relationship with McDonald’s to build upon our shared commitment to our students, who have persisted in their educational journey despite difficult circumstances.”

Franchise Journal reports Williams owns 20 McDonald’s restaurants in the St. Louis metropolitan area and is the region’s largest owner/operator. He also owns the East St. Louis McDonald’s location, where he secured his first job as a teenager.

For more information on the Black & Positively Golden Scholarship Program, contact Jasmine Palmer at Jasmine.Palmer@us.mcd.com or (312) 953-1725.

Shaming the poor the American way

By Oseye Boyd

Joe Manchin doesn’t like poor people.

The Democratic senator from West Virginia allegedly told colleagues in private he thinks poor parents will use money from the enhanced child tax credit for drugs. According to an article from the Huffington Post, Manchin allegedly also is concerned the proposed policy for paid sick leave will encourage Americans to play hooky. Instead of going to work, Americans will go hunting. Manchin is under fire for blowing up President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better bill, an almost $2 trillion package focused on repairing economic and climate issues facing the country today. The bill was whittled down to appease Manchin after he voiced objections to the price tag.

One of the sticking points for Manchin is the enhanced child tax credit through the American Rescue Plan. The child tax credit increased from $2,000 to $3,000, and children under 6 received an additional $600 for 2021. Half of the money was given to families through monthly payments; the rest once 2021 taxes are filed.

Starting in July, families with children under 6 received a $300 monthly payment. Those with children ages 6-17 received $250. Low-income parents who don’t file a tax return were also eligible for the enhanced credit. Build Back Better included a year extension of the credit.

About 36 million families received the enhanced child tax credit, and the payments have cut child poverty by 30%. It’s expected about 10 million children will fall under the poverty line if the credit goes away.

“I cannot accept our economy, or basically our society, moving towards an entitlement mentality,” Manchin said a few months ago.

Well, that’s pretty rich coming from a coal baron. Back in October, some West Virginians kayaked to Manchin’s yacht, Almost Heaven, to protest his resistance to the Build Back Better plan when it had a $3.5 trillion price tag.

My problem with Manchin and so many others in our country is how it’s so easy to shame the poor. We like to pretend everyone who is wealthy received their money through hard work, and we like to pretend as if wealthy people, and the not so wealthy, don’t have an attitude of entitlement. Entitlement is an American tradition. It’s OK for the wealthy to be entitled, though, but poor people better not. It’s OK for wealthy people to use drugs, but not the poor, and it’s OK for wealthy people to skip work, but if you’re poor, you better be at work and be there early!

Politicians get us worked up about supposed welfare for the needy while corporate welfare goes unchecked. The myth of the welfare queen continues to anger hard-working Americans. As long as we’re focused on nonexistent people getting rich off of welfare, we’re not angry the average pay in 2020 for CEOs was 351 times higher than a typical worker. From 1978 to 2020, CEO pay grew by a whopping 1,322%, according to the Economic Policy Institute. This doesn’t get our attention, though, because we want to believe that we too could be that rich CEO one day, and we don’t want to identify with the person living in poverty. No one wants to be poor, and it’s why we work so hard to look as if we’re not.

Although, if we’re honest, more of us are closer to poverty than wealth. We know people who live in poverty work a lot. Many work more than one job. It’s not the lack of work; it’s the wages. They’re too low to live on, which is why people need assistance from the government. Being poor doesn’t make you a bad person. It’s not a character flaw, and it certainly doesn’t make you more prone to drug use than any other group of people.

America tells you to work hard but then shames you if that hard work doesn’t make you rich. Now, that’s shameful.

Oseye Boyd is editor of the Indianapolis Recorder.

Photo courtesy of McDonald’s

Oseye Boyd

Homicides

Continued from A1

In 2019, the city experienced 194 homicides.

“It’s certainly moving in the right direction, but a homicide rate that high is nothing to be particularly proud of,” criminologist Richard Rosenfeld said of 2021’s numbers. “We should view it as good news, the fact that we are moving in the right direction, but we have a long way to go.”

Rosenfeld is with the University of Missouri—St. Louis and is a member of the Council on Criminal Justice’s Violent Crime Working Group. He pointed to conditions that most likely explain those rates and the conditions which created the significant increases the city saw in 2020.

“The longer-term conditions, the deeply-rooted conditions, that give rise to a chronically high level of homicide, they’ll be no surprise to your readers—racial segregation, concentrated poverty, high levels of joblessness, and if you add to that a long-term view of the police that is far from positive or favorable, those are the conditions keeping homicide rates quite high,” Rosenfeld said. He said shocks to the system like the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of George Floyd’s death are believed to have created the spike in homicides seen across the country in 2020. He pointed out, though, while rates began creeping up in the weeks following the pandemic lockdown in March 2020, the significant spikes were seen in the weeks and months after Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer in late May. So why did St. Louis see a decrease in 2021?

Rosenfeld said it’s difficult to answer with certainty, but he points to an unraveling of those two conditions: the pandemic subsided, and there were no local or national incidents that incited the kind of reaction Floyd’s murder did in 2020.

“I don’t want to discount the role of policing; I just simply

can’t tell you how much policing mattered in our decline,” he said. “One hopes it had some impact.”

The St. Louis County Police reported 66 homicides in 2021, according to a spokesperson. Of those, 39 occurred in an unincorporated part of the county, 16 in contracted municipalities and 11 in municipalities.

Sixty-six homicides align with previous county numbers. In 2019, there were 64 homicides reported, and in 2020, there were 71. A locational breakdown for those years was not available.

Deterrence, intervention and prevention

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura

Jones campaigned in 2020 on a platform of violent crime reduction through deterrence, intervention and prevention created through an “all hands on deck” approach.

Working with Dan Isom, St. Louis’ director of public safety, and St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden, Jones said her administration quickly realized law enforcement is not the only answer to reducing violent crime. She pointed to violence prevention and intervention initiatives such as Cure Violence and the Downtown Engagement and Public Safety Initiative. She also highlighted her administration’s decision to pair social workers with police officers on calls to intervene in the cycle of vio-

lence. Isom added the city has increased its victim outreach efforts as well, hoping to provide support to those people so they’re less likely to offend themselves.

“There are a lot of things where our hands are tied, [like] the proliferation of guns in our community because of the [Missouri] legislature, so we are using all the prevention tools in the toolbox,” Jones said.

Both Rosenfeld and Isom said a much lower homicide rate is possible because the city has seen those kinds of numbers before. Rosenfeld cited 2003 when the city’s homicide number was around 100 per year.

“When I left as chief of police, the [homicide] num-

ber was 112, so I do believe that there is the possibility, we have done it before, where our numbers could be much lower,” Isom said. “So that’s the hope that I have, is that if we continue to do things to address people who are actively involved through deterrence, intervention and prevention, then we will have some long-term success.”

Isom acknowledged those efforts would take some time, but he is hopeful the city will continue a trajectory toward less violence.

Rosenfeld cited the city of Dallas, Texas, as a possible model for St. Louis.

He said its police chief, Eddie Garcia, has executed a laser-focused, two-prong

St. Louis Metropolitan Police officers responded to a murder scene in July 2020, a year the city experienced a spike in homicides. The homicide rate in 2021 decreased by 25% as compared to 2020 and St. Louis became one of the nation’s few large cities that bucked the trend of increasing homicide rates since the pandemic began.

approach for decreasing violent crime. Garcia applied standard police deterrence practices methodically while addressing longer-term conditions.

While Jones, Isom and Rosenfeld agree the 2021 homicide numbers are still too high, they agree it’s a move in the right direction and expressed optimism for the future.

“It’s almost as if the stars have aligned right now to do something meaningful about crime,” Rosenfeld said. “So, if you add that to the mayor’s agenda and ambition, what I’m suggesting is that we now have the funds to ratchet up that ambition beyond [where] the mayor has taken it as of now.”

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

COVID

Continued from A1

higher than when St. Louis documented its first COVID19 March 16, 2020. It currently sits at 32%.

“Hospital resources are being stretched beyond belief,” Jones said.

The St. Louis Pandemic Task Force reports 1,023 hospitalizations across our region are due to the virus, including 61 children.

“These stats are heart-breaking, and we need to stay vigilant in protecting ourselves and our loved ones against the virus,” she said. “We know that full vaccination is the key to reducing the strain on our health care systems.”

The St. Louis County Council passed a public health order Tuesday to require vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals to wear masks in public indoor spaces. The order took effect Wednesday morning.

“I was glad to see that just last night, the County Council is following the guidance of our public health experts by implementing masks in St. Louis County,” she said. “This virus is real, and it’s a real threat. I’ve lost friends and loved ones to this virus, so I know firsthand the toll that this virus can take on families.”

In addition to this, Mayor Jones joined CareSTL Health CEO Angela Clabon to speak about the regional rise in case numbers, ways St. Louis res-

idents can protect themselves from the virus.

The virus is definitely taking a toll on health care workers,” Clabon said.

Clabon said last Thursday, CareSTL Health Centers were closed because they were having a breakout at the center.

“All of our employees are 100% vaccinated, and twothirds of our employees have had the booster, but even with that, our employees are still being infected with the new Omicron virus,” she said.

Clabon talked about how CareSTL has lost employees to COVID-19.

“During our first wave of COVID-19, we lost one of our employees to the virus, and several staff members were hospitalized,” she said. Additionally, Clabon talked about her personal struggle with the virus.

“I am fully vaccinated and have my booster shot, but over the holiday, I caught COVID along with my mom,” she said. “Both me and my mom had very mild symptoms, so the vaccinations work.”

Last week, Clabon said the federally qualified health centers ran out of COVID-19 tests, but they were still able to administer vaccines to the community.

“Right now, we still have our clinics going, and we have people who make sure everyone who comes in gets tested or vaccinated,” she said. According to Clabon, the federal government shipped 2,000 COVID-19 tests to CareSTL Health, so staff can administer tests to the community.

and we promised the community an open and transparent process, and this is not that,” Jones said.

Continued from A1 finding an interim personnel director but did not provide additional details. Hayden announced his retirement in September after serving approximately four years as chief. He will step down Feb. 23, the day marking his 35th anniversary with the department. Hayden was met with a host of challenges as chief, including a record-breaking homicide rate in 2020, the pandemic and

The mayor said she wants to start over completely after Chief

n “There were flaws in the current process and we promised the community an open and transparent process, and this is not that.”

– Mayor Tishaura Jones

several high-profile incidents including three white police officers charged with beating

a handcuffed Black detective, Luther Hall; the death of officer Katlyn Alix who was shot and killed by fellow officer Nathaniel Hendren while he was on duty in January 2019; and local protests in summer 2020 over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. His announcement came less than two weeks after St. Louis County Police Chief Mary Barton resigned after 16 months of addressing allegations of a racist culture within the agency. Jones has expressed her willingness to collaborate with St. Louis County Executive Sam Page as both leaders search for new law enforcement heads.

An employee with NextGen Diagnostic Services administers a COVID-19 test at a drive-up testing site at 5261 Delmar Boulevard in St. Louis Tuesday, Jan. 4. The site operated by NextGen Diagnostic Services is listed as a state sponsored location for free testing on the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

brickline greenway mixers

Great Rivers Greenway is looking for a qualified team of experts to help us design a segment of the Brickline Greenway (see map below) that was recently awarded a $15 million USDOT RAISE grant for construction.

Learn about the project, ask questions and meet other vendors to team together to represent our St. Louis region. Vendors of all sizes and experiences are strongly encouraged to attend.

Both sessions will cover the same topics:

IN PERSON: Monday January 10 8-9:30 am at Forest Park Visitor Center (mask required)

VIRTUAL: Wednesday, January 12 4-5 pm. (link provided via email upon registration)

Registration for either or both sessions required at www.GreatRiversGreenway.org/Brickline-Greenway-Mixer

View the RFQ for this project at www.GreatRiversGreenway.org/jobs

Let’s resolve to make a healthier, safer city

By Tishaura Jones

It was New Year’s Eve 1996. My cousin Anthony and I were playing a card game at his mother’s dining room table. Our mothers were in the kitchen, laughing, smoking cigarettes, and telling old stories about their childhood. Our mothers were several months apart in age, which in turn made us more like siblings. Anthony and I had both recently graduated from HBCUs, Morehouse and Hampton respectively. As we sat there, we realized the new year was coming soon, and Anthony said to me, “Hey Cuz! What are your resolutions for next year?”

I don’t remember my exact response, but it was probably some long list that included a bunch of unattainable goals, like finding a husband or paying off my credit card debt. After Anthony graduated from medical school and went away for his residency, this became a yearly phone call ritual. Each year, we would tell each other our lists, and each year, we would come up short. So I stopped making New Year’s resolutions. Instead, I just promised myself to make the next year a better one than the previous.

We’re working to make

positive change in our city, and as we greet 2022, we know protecting our communities from COVID-19 will be a top priority. We’re still learning about the Omicron variant of COVID-19, but we already have the tools to protect ourselves. Get vaccinated, wash your hands, mask up, and physically distance where possible.

If you feel sick, stay home. I’ve spoken often about losing my only remaining uncle, Anthony’s grandfather, to COVID-19; no family should go through that kind of heartbreak.

That’s why I got vaccinated right away and my booster too. I made sure my son was too, when he became eligible. He loves to play basketball, and vaccination has helped him stay on the court and in school. As a mom, I see first-hand how our kids succeed when they can learn in person, surrounded by their friends. Getting vaccinated is how we keep our schools healthy, safe, and open. When I’ve talked with parents during my visits

to St. Louis Public School and Affinia Healthcare’s pediatric vaccine clinics, they’ve all said the same thing: vaccination gives them peace of mind knowing their families have a layer of protection from the virus.

Make sure you, your families and your friends - everyone age five and older - are vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccines are free, safe, and effective, and those getting their first dose are eligible for a $100 gift card at City of St. Louis Department of Health clinics and federally qualified health clinics. Get your vaccine booster too. More and more people are getting vaccinated, so visit vaccines. gov to find first-dose and booster opportunities near you. Let’s make a resolution together, to do whatever we can to help make our households and our communities healthier and safer as we begin 2022. Warmest wishes to you and your loved ones this holiday season, and I will keep working every day to make St. Louis a fairer, safer place for everyone - no matter your zip code, the color of your skin, or any identity you hold. Happy New Year and God bless.

Jones is

Weekday Locations

62201 - East St.

Tishaura

the first Black woman mayor of St. Louis.

Columnist

Tishaura Jones

A most interesting genius Black theater giant Paul Carter Harrison passes at 85

By Kenya Vaughn St. Louis American

There is a segment among the elite few within the classification of genius who possess the gift of identifying the genius of others – often recognizing said talents before the gifted see it in themselves.

Among many other things, author, cultural critic, playwright, director, educator, Black theatre scholar and screenwriter Paul Carter Harrison was that type of genius – who are arguably the most interesting of the lot. He passed away on Dec. 27, 2021, at the age of 85.

“We cannot express more, the utmost respect and affection he had from many people in the U.S. and across the oceans, as a writer, award-winning director, teacher, colleague and friend,” The Harrison family said in a statement. “For the family he was the Pater Familia.”

His stage, film and literary credentials speak for themselves. But Harrison is also specifically known for pointing to a Pittsburgh playwright as having the capacity to create a paradigm shift in writing for the stage from a Black perspective. That playwright’s name was August Wilson. Harrison carefully unpacked Wilson’s work. In doing so, he provided a level of context that stretched far beyond the depth of those who possess only a casual acquaintance with Black culture.

Through his critiques, one of the many themes Harrison explored was Wilson’s intention to highlight the poetic geniuses that float with anonymity through Black America. In vernacular written off by many as artistically inferior

and culturally unsophisticated, Wilson showed everyday characters navigating through life who could spin a phrase with the power to turn someone’s world upside down. Often, they did so in the midst of struggles that would easily break people of a lesser will. Harrison caught on quickly to what Wilson was doing – and made it his mission to document the phenomenon of Wilson’s work as it was happening. Harrison was revered as the pinnacle among August Wilson subject matter experts.

“More so than any other theater scholar or critic in the mid-1980s – and I would argue, beyond – Paul knew intimately what was in August’s toolbox,” said Sandra G. Shannon, President of the August Wilson Society, in a written tribute.

Harrison’s knowledge of the genius he was witnessing in Wilson came from the nearly quarter-century of engagement with the dramatic arts prior to the Pulitzer Prize-winner’s arrival to the scene.

A mind as bright as Harrison’s would have probably otherwise been devoted to medicine or some other field within the sciences. However, being a son of The Great Migration gave him a cultural advantage. He was born in New York City on March 1, 1936, to Thelma Inez and Paul Randolph Harrison, who moved there from North Carolina and South Carolina.

As a teen he mingled with groundbreaking artists, writers and musicians like Amiri Baraka, Thelonious Monk and Ted Joans. His proximity also gave him the type of access to theater that few cities on earth could provide.

“As a youngster, fortunately a Black man in New York, I

had available to me all kinds of different works to look at,” Harrison said in an interview with Talvin Wilks for “Artist

very important experiences.”

He found them interesting, but not necessarily compelling.

“Yet, I would go to a black

n “[I would like to be remembered as] A forward, very progressive forward-thinking, forward-moving dramatist/director who has always been committed to the illumination of the African American experience."

-Paul Carter Harrison

Author, cultural critic, playwright, director, educator, Black theatre scholar and screenwriter Paul Carter Harrison passed away on Dec. 27, 2021, at the age of 85.

Photo by Fred Sweets

and Influence.” “I had seen the Tennessee Williams works – all those plays that I was told were

church and was completely turned out by the experience –and it was doing the same

thing,” Harrison said. “It had text. It had music. It had movement. The text was quite elaborate – and when I say elaborate, I mean it was poetic.”

He envisioned theater more like his engagement with the Black church than what he was seeing on “The Great White Way” and set about bringing the concept to the secular stage.

After earning a degree in psychology from Indiana University and a master’s degree from New York City’s New School for Social Research, he left for Europe to write and direct for the theater.

Upon his return in 1968, Harrison taught theater at Howard University. Among his students were Phylicia Rashad, Debbie Allen, Linda Gross, Pearl Cleage and Clinton Turner Davis.

He moved on to California State University, Sacramento, where he conceived and directed the famed Melvin Van Peebles play “Ain’t Supposed To Die a Natural Death.” His

play “The Great MacDaddy,” which was produced by the legendary Negro Ensemble Company, earned an Obie Award in 1973. After teaching at University of Massachusetts Amherst for four years, Harrison joined Columbia College Chicago in 1976. He served as Chair, Professor, and Writer in Residence at the Theatre Department until his retirement in 2002. Along with directing credits that span decades, Harrison is author of several books and countless essays. His writings, critiques and observations serve as the standard for scholarship within the Black theatre community and beyond.

In 2004, while being interviewed for “The History Makers,” Harrison was asked how he would like to be remembered.

“[I would like to be remembered as] A forward, very progressive forward-thinking, forward-moving dramatist/ director who has always been committed to the illumination of the African American experience – African American experience in ways that can be useful, and not simply grounded in either sociology or journalism,” Harrison responded. “In other words, to open up the gaze on the experience as one that is more, more vital, more, more richer – that has finding a mechanism to, to reveal what this experience has been, and what it meant to us being Americans, being Africans in this American space.” Spoken like a true genius.

Paul Carter Harrison is survived by his wife Wanda Harrison, daughter Fonteyn Harrison and grandson Nigel Plattel.

“Taking Care of You”

Bennett lauded as spiritual ‘center’ of St. Louis’ COVID-19 response

By Rebecca Rivas Missouri Independent

It was never a question.

As the St. Louis region began to close schools and issue stay-home orders due to the pandemic, Rebeccah Bennett knew that the most vulnerable, the Black community, the unhoused and immigrant populations, would bear the brunt of this deadly virus. Bennett, the founder of the consulting group Emerging Wisdom, feared local public health departments weren’t going to be capable of addressing these disparities.

“They were under siege,” she said, speaking of the health departments’ need to focus on contract tracing and coordinate testing. “They had a huge task, and they’ve been serially underfunded.”

n “Somehow this constellation of extraordinary people got together and forged an unshakable bond.”

– Rebeccah Bennett

Just before the stay-at-home orders went into effect on March 23, Bennett received calls from leaders in the Black community, who were all thinking the same thing.

Within days, the group made up mostly of Black women had a plan to launch two grassroots initiatives. The first, PrepareSTL, would be an outreach and communications campaign where

hundreds of volunteer canvassers would be on the ground in Black and immigrant neighborhoods to answer questions about COVID-19 and listen to the community members’ concerns. And the second was the Regional Response Team, a coordinating committee among social-service, philanthropic and public organizations that focus on ensuring racial equity in the region’s COVID response. Within a few weeks, hundreds of PrepareSTL volunteers were putting up flyers in grocery stores and gas stations. They were receiving training from doctors so they could have informed conversations with their neighbors. They were passing out personal protection equipment kits.

Omicron cases surge as COVID-19 testing lags

Develop a plan, not a resolution

By Dr. Denise Hooks-Anderson

n You can’t eat nutritious foods if you do not have them. Exchange processed foods for fresh alternatives.

2022 is a new year and a new opportunity to develop healthy habits for not only yourself but also for your family and friends. You don’t need excessive amounts of money to make lifestyle changes. You simply need desire, a plan, and some grit. Why should you want to change your well-established habits? What’s wrong with eating out three days a week at a local fast-food restaurant or smoking a pack or two of cigarettes per day? Is regular exercise that big of a deal? Is there benefit in sleeping seven to eight hours per night? Should you receive the COVID-19 vaccine? I cannot imagine a greater fundamental desire than wanting to live to see the next day, month, or year; better yet, wanting to live to see your grandchildren graduate from college. Our lives are one small part of the ancestral quilt being sewn with each generation. What do you want your pieces to look like and say? How many scrap parts will exist for you? Will your story be short or long? How you live today will determine the components of your future narrative. As you begin 2022, make a plan, not a resolution. Plan to do better, but be specific. Start with your pantry. You can’t eat nutritious foods if you do not have them. Exchange processed foods for fresh alternatives. You can find almost any recipe online. Fill your cabinets with staples like brown rice, black beans, and corn tortillas. Onions, peppers, lettuce, broccoli, and chicken breasts are also items that will go a long way when planning your menu. These foods can easily make multiple meals, keeping your taste buds from getting bored. Meal prepping is key. Don’t let your busy schedule dictate how you eat. Plan ahead!

Simply put, if you smoke, STOP! Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for many illnesses, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. Therapy, medications, auricular therapy, and nicotine replacement are available to help you quit smoking. The money you spend on cigarettes per year is enough for a plane ticket to a vacation destination. In addition, the money

By JoAnn Weaver

The St. Louis American

With the holiday season over, the nation is seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases, specifically related to the omicron variant.

“We are now averaging 1,500 new cases a day,” County Executive Dr. Sam Page said in Monday’s virtual briefing.

Page talked about how the rising number of COVID-19 cases is affecting small businesses with an employee shortage.

“We’re seeing restaurants closing for days or limiting their hours because they don’t have employees to work due to COVID-19, and I do not see this getting better any time soon,” he said. “Some close intermittently

because they don’t have employees to run the business, and we are seeing this all over the country.”

Page remarked on how case numbers are spiking higher now than when the pandemic first hit Missouri in March 2020.

“We have case rates and positive rates higher than they have ever been and hospital admissions higher than they have ever been,” he said. “COVID-19 will shut down our community or slow it down unless we do something about it.”

The County Public Health Department is in the process of appealing a Cole County’s ruling that has interrupted state-wide mask mandates. The County can issue public

See COVID, A11

Rebeccah Bennett dances at the three-day Living Well Summit in July in St. Louis, which was part of the outreach and wellness campaign PrepareSTL. Bennett served as the managing director of PrepareSTL from 2020 until August 2021.

Photo courtesy of PrepareSTL

See ANDERSON, A11

Denise HooksAnderson, MD

North County resident Cecelia Casey receives a COVID-19 test at the St. Louis County NAACP office in North Oaks Plaza Tuesday, Jan. 4. With COVID cases on the rise over the past 14 days more residents are getting tested around the city and county.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

“Taking Care of You”

COVID

Continued from A10 health orders with the Council’s approval, but there is an issue with a statewide ruling that opposes mask mandates.

“There is authority granted to the state, where the public health department can act independently through state authority, that authority of the County

to act through state authority has been interrupted by the Cole County court ruling, and we’re appealing that,” Page said.

The County Public Health Department is also experiencing COVID-19 test shortages in a way you may not expect.

“The County Public Health Department helps with testing for mostly uninsured populations,” Page said. “We’re very busy, we, like everyone else in

town, are struggling to provide enough tests for this massive surge in our community …up until a week ago, we provided tests to walk-ins, but now they will require appointments like in the pharmacies and the doctor’s office.”

According to Page, the department has enough tests to service the community, but it doesn’t have enough people to perform the tests. He said this is an issue affecting healthcare

providers across the city. Other departments in the county have been affected by the increase in COVID-19 cases. The St. Louis County Police Department has recently seen an influx of cases among its staff. In a statement released Dec. 28, the department had 53 employees test positive for COVID 19, 26 of whom were not vaccinated. They are professional staff and police offi-

cers from all divisions throughout their department.

There have been 343 positive test results since the global pandemic first directly impacted the personnel of the police department on March 28, 2020, according to a statement from the department. Of the 343 people, 321 have recovered and returned to duty, according to the statement.

Data released Dec. 30, from the City Department of

Health, shows the seven-day average positivity rate has climbed to 24%, which is the highest the City of St. Louis has seen since the department reported its first positive COVID-19 case on March 16, 2020. Cases of COVID-19 in the city have more than doubled from the week starting Dec. 14 to the week starting Dec. 21 and are expected to continue climbing.

Louis.”

Continued from A10

In tandem, the RRT was working on strategies for food distribution, eviction prevention and streamlining phone hotlines for crisis response. They were bringing infectious disease doctors to school leaders and homeless shelters to help them with their mitigation plans, among many other things.

On one of the RRT’s daily phone calls, Jason Purnell, who was on sabbatical as the director of Washington University’s Health Equity Works at the time, remembers someone jokingly comparing the team to Olivia Pope and Associates from the TV series “Scandal.”

“We were like fixers,” Purnell, who is now vice president of community health improvement of BJC Health, said. “Not worrying about, ‘do we have a five-point plan?’ We were able to get things done in just a remarkable way for St.

Anderson

Continued from A10

saved could also be used for a college education for your legacies. Getting regular exercise is more than just trying to look

Months later, statistics would confirm their need for their quick response — that Black residents in the region were 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalized than other groups in July 2020. That disparity resulted from long-existing inequities in the health care system and in society in general, experts agreed. Bennett, along with several others, called the group a “dream team.”

“Somehow this constellation of extraordinary people got together and forged an unshakable bond,” she said, “all centered on the well-being of the most endangered among us.”

One of the first calls Bennett received March 19 was from Bethany JohnsonJavois, who was the CEO of the St. Louis Integrated Health Network at the time (now head of the Deaconess Foundation).

“We just stepped into it and said, ‘We’re going to do this because we have to,’” JohnsonJavois said. “Everyone else will fumble and stumble. The

cute in your favorite suit or dress. It is about keeping your blood sugar and cholesterol within normal limits. Exercise can also help control your blood pressure and improve depression. Strength training with light weights can improve your posture and your ability to get up and down from a seated

money will be deployed and spent in ways that don’t impact the need. So it’s got to be us.”

Bennett agreed. Six years before, Johnson-Javois had worked with Bennett during another crisis they were both called to serve — the Ferguson uprising.

Johnson-Javois had been the managing director of the Ferguson Commission in 2015, a governor-appointed committee charged with identifying the underlying root causes that led to community unrest in the wake of Michael Brown’s death.

That unflinching muscle to organize and act they honed through Ferguson was the same muscle they used again to create the pandemic initiatives, said Steve Parish, who has been a community health worker and organizer for more than 30 years.

Parish was also on the initial group phone call with the two women.

“We have rampant indifference to Black and brown people’s lives, from the fed-

position. Joint mobility is also improved with regular movement. To add additional benefit to your new year transformation, focus on getting quality sleep. Good sleep improves concentration and produces mental clarity. Commit to turning off electronic devices one hour

eral government all the way to local government,” said Parish, who brought in the St. Louis Community Health Worker Coalition into the organizing efforts. “So we knew there wasn’t really going to be a lot of will to focus on saving Black folks’ lives during the pandemic.”

That same night of the initial group call, Purnell talked to Bennett about helping to coordinate actions among the city and county health departments.

They acted first and worried about funding later, Bennett said. They received funding for their activities from various groups, including from the Missouri Foundation for Health and Regional Business Council. Organizations also gave in-kind by “loaning” their staff members.

Soon, dozens of people were working on the initiatives, and Bennett was a leader in both spaces.

Bennett, who served as managing director of

before bed. Read a book for 30 minutes and then do some relaxation stretches. Many of these bedtime rituals, such as meditation and restoration yoga, can be found online for free. Finally, get vaccinated if you did not in 2021. COVID19 has shortened the lives of

PrepareSTL until August 2021 and was on the steering committee of the RRT, said the reason their “village” worked so well was the structure was “flat.” Institution administrators were on the same call with canvassers, making daily decisions.

More than 180 PrepareSTL canvassers distributed masks in 70 street and mobile canvasses, reaching 683 community hot spots, a study of the campaign by Saint Louis University reported. Additionally, 31 of the street team canvassers were either foreign-born or served immigrant and refugee communities.

“I think who leads matters, and this particular response was led largely, though not exclusively, by Black women,” Bennett said.

Serena Muhammad, deputy director of the St. Louis Mental Health Board, said the group wouldn’t have gotten through it all without Bennett as the “center point.” Muhammad agreed to serve as the managing director of the RRT because when

too many people. Don’t add your name to the list. Get the vaccine so you can prevent unnecessary death. The opportunity for change awaits you in 2022. If you stumble along the way, don’t linger in that despair, get up and try again. Don’t miss this chance to be a healthier ver-

Bennett asks someone to serve, they don’t say “no,” she said.

“She inspires that level of commitment because she’s real. She’s honest,” Muhammad said. “She’s not going to ask you to do something that’s frivolous or fruitless.”

A big focus of the initiatives was to support both physical health and mental health – and not only for the community members but among themselves. The team met every day about these initiatives, but those meetings were also a place where they found joy and support, Johnson-Javois said.

“All of a sudden, my whole year in pandemic was surrounded by a ton of Black women getting stuff done,” she said. The initiatives still continue, but several founding members have passed the torch to other leaders. However, Purnell said they still check in with each other.

They know they have found a family they can rely on, and Bennett was a big part of creating that.

sion of yourself! Denise Hooks-Anderson, MD, FAAFP is associate professor, Family and Community Medicine and interim assistant dean of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

Dr. L.J. Punch hands out masks and hand sanitizer on June 19, 2020, in St. Louis. As part of the PrepareSTL education campaign, Punch trained volunteer canvassers about COVID-19 safety and facilitated the mass production of kits with masks and safety information.

Photo by Rebecca Rivas / The Missouri Independent

Nutrition Challenge:

PRESENT:

PRESENT:

Nutrition Challenge:

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

Dining Out.

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

those leftovers for lunch the next day!

are popcorn, wheatberries, brown rice and wild rice.

New Year’s Resolutions

Cocoa Puffers Cereal

Resolve to Eat Right!

What Is ASize?Serving

GRAINS

Keep ‘em Whole!

The Smart Way!

Warm Up & Cool Down

New Year, New You!

Do This. Not That!

First Day of Spring!

Exercise Game

Calculate BMI

Tech-Neck

for several different reasons.

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

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

This time of year many people make New Year’s resolutions. A resolution is simply a promise you make to yourself of ways that you would like to improve your life in the new year. So for 2022, why not make a resolution to eat healthier?

are a few ideas (from past Healthy Kids features) to get you started. What are some other tips you’ve learned?

Learning Standards:

Try adding a healthy new habit every few weeks or so. Here

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

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

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

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

Another healthy change you can make for yourself with the new year is to be more active.

Let’s make a game out of exercise!

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

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

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

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

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

Staying active not only helps keep your heart healthy, but it burns calories, improves your brain functioning and helps you feel better — the more you do!

Some reminders:

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

> Start by substituting one drink per day to water.

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

HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5

Weekly Newspaper in Education Program

Monica Carraway, RN, BSN, CCRN

Melissa Douglass, MSW

Latoya Woods, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

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

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

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

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

1. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. 2. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and less fried foods and sweet snacks. 3. Eat slowly and stop as soon as you feel full.

Learning Standards:

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

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

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

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

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

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

minutes of physical activity each day that increases your heart rate (60 minutes is even better).

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

> Warm up, stretch and cool down before and after exercising.

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

> Try to have at least 30

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

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

> Start off slowly and increase time, distance, and speed as you feel stronger.

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

> Check with your doctor before starting a brand new exercise program.

Where do you work? I am a critical care nurse for Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Where did you go to school? I graduated from Cahokia High School. I then earned an Associate of Science in Nursing from Southern Illinois College and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from McKendree University.

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

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

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

> Drink lots of water when you’re working out.

Instead of watching TV — ride your bike with friends.

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

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

Discuss some of the ways you can keep active during the cold winter months.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The new year brings a fresh start. Plan on making 2022 your best year yet! Try letting go of the problems you may have faced last year and look forward to a new year with excitement and hope. Here are a few ways to stay positive.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1

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

What does a critical care nurse do? I draw blood, check blood pressure and give medication. I put in IVs and tubes when needed, and I listen to hearts, lungs, and stomachs on patients to determine and assess complications after transplant procedures. I also listen to those same organs to evaluate successful outcomes of those patients.

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

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

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

> What to do if you see someone else bullied.

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

> Make a list of all of the good things that happened for you in 2021.

> Select one or two of those goals and make a list of specific steps you can take to accomplish your new year goals.

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

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

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

Cracker-wiches

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

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

> What are some goals you’d like to achieve in 2022?

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

> How bullying hurts others.

> What to do if you are bullied.

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

> Always remember — you can’t change others, you can only change yourself and how you react. So focus on yourself and how you can have a happy 2017!

> What to do if YOU are the bully.

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE 6, NH 3

Ingredients:

Frozen Yogurt Blueberry Bites

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

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

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

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

What is your favorite part of the job you have?

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

Ingredients:

1 15-Oz Can Garbanzo beans

1 cup blueberries

> What other ice hazards are there?

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, NH 5

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

1 cup non-fat Greek Yogurt

1 Garlic clove, crushed

tortilla chips.

Why did you choose this career? I chose this career because I wanted to help people in their most difficult and scary times when they are sick. I was also intrigued by pregnancy and how the development of a whole new human arises. I want to teach about health to the community. What is your favorite part of your career? I help people get well and I teach about health maintenance

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 4

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

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

Learning Standards: HPE 6, NH 3

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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

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

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

Yonniece Rose, Registered Nurse

Banana PB Smoothie

Deborah Edwards, School Nurse

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

grade students Kyrese

and John Lewis have fun learning engineering on

Photo by Rhonda Stovall

nie@stlamerican.com.

Did you know some of today’s inventions, such as potato chips, were a popular “mistake?” Other inventions, such as the stoplight, were designed to solve a problem. Inventors are curious and patient, with a high tolerance for trial and error. It also helps to have a strong background in math and science. Many inventors are young, just like you. Frank Epperson was only 11 years old when he developed the popsicle. Louis Braille was just 15 when he designed the Braille system of reading for the blind.

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

Background Information:

If you are interested in becoming an inventor, develop your critical thinking skills. Take apart old machines and put them back together to see how things fit together. Think about your daily life. Are there any processes that need to be improved? Interview your family members and teachers. What invention would they like to see created? Start sketching ideas and designs to solve these problems.

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

“Invent” The Xylophone!

In this experiment, you will “invent” a xylophone using glasses filled with water. It will take a lot of trial and error to get everything just right, so remember to be patient. You will use your xylophone to play “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”

Materials Needed: • 8 Drinking Glasses of the Same Size and Shape. • Pitcher of Water • Metal Spoon

• Table

Procedure:

q Place the 8 glasses on the table near each other without touching.

w Fill each glass with a different amount of water.

MATH CONNECTION

Inventors have strong problem solving skills. Give these problems a try!

z Mrs. Bailey learned that $1,348 worth of tickets were sold at the carnival. If tickets cost $3 for $1, how many tickets were sold? __________

x Mrs. Hilt sold 125 pencils for $0.40 each. If half of the cost is profit, how much profit did she make on the pencils? __________

DID YOU KNOW?

Newspaper In Education initiative is made

e Tap each glass with the metal spoon. What sound does it make? Do the glasses with more water make a higher pitched sound or a lower pitched sound? Try tapping the glass in different places. How does that affect the sound?

r Continue to experiment with the sounds until you have all the notes to play “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”

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

SCIENCE STARS

AFRICAN-AMERICAN INVENTOR & ARCHITECT: Earl S. Bell

Earl S. Bell was born in Brooklyn in 1977. He developed a passion for inventing at a young age. At just nine years old, he presented his first design. His family offered a lot of support, especially his Uncle Virgil. Bell was a student of Pratt Institute’s Architecture Program and began to formally submit his designs in 1998. He holds 3 US patents and 1 international patent and has several patents pending approval. He invented Sasu Technology (liquid hydraulic electrical display for showing information), Slide Skin Technology: (an ergonomic chair system), and Qet Ambit Technology (internal electrical mechanical mechanism). Bell has been classified as an inventor, building designer, architectural theorist, and hip hop architect.

For more information, visit: http://www.earlsbell.com or http://projectblackman. com/GreatBlackMenInHistory. aspx?notablePersonId=211 (this site also features videos). Learning Standards: I can read a biography about a person who has made contributions in the fields of science, math, and technology.

Use the newspaper to complete the following activities.

Activity One Inferences:

c Emmy Noether, the Mother of Modern Algebra, was born in 1882. In what year did she celebrate her 25th birthday? __________

v Many families serve each person in the family one 6-ounce glass of orange juice each morning. If they buy orange juice by the gallon, how many whole servings of juice will they get out of one gallon of juice? __________

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

Read part of an editorial and make an inference about the author’s opinion. Write your inference at the top of a t-chart (labeled fact and opinion), listing facts and opinions from the editorial to support your inference.

Activity Two — Goal

Setting: Find a story in the newspaper about people who have achieved a goal (e.g., a new business that just opened, a sports team that won a game, etc.) Cut out the story and write the steps you think the people had to take to achieve that goal.

D.T.

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can make inferences and describe the necessary steps for goal setting.

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

Josephine Cochrane invented the first dishwasher in 1886.

Leo Fender, inventor of the Stratocaster, could not play guitar.

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

Williams

Pajama Day.

Slide Skin Technnology Chair

The first mobile phone call was made in 1973 by Martin Cooper, a former Motorola inventor.

Adeline

Whitney patented wooden blocks in 1882 to help children learn their ABCs.

Sasu Clock and Wifi Router Charge Ring

Being winners of mortal combat in 2022

2021 was another rough year. In some ways, 2020 toughened us up for the following year but also sucked up a lot of our energy, resilience, and optimism. With the challenges we faced, it feels like you’ve aged years since COVID-19 struck. This is more than a feeling. According to final data released Dec. 21, 2021, by the National Center for Health Statistics, the pandemic shaved two years of life expectancy in the U.S. For Black men, it’s three years. It’s time for a new game plan in 2022.

COVID-19 seems like our worst enemy, but it’s only doing what viruses do. It is trying to stay alive. For it to live, humans become the collateral damage. While a virus is not a living cell, it is a parasitic organism working to find a living host. The longer viruses hang around, the more reinforcements they can summon. That’s why we now have Delta and Omicron variants. More of their buddies are waiting in the cut.

The two biggest reasons COVID-19 is alive and well are human ignorance and political stupidity. They are nourishing an environment that allows the virus to keep hanging out with us.

We aren’t likely to change the attitudes of a governor who wants to prosecute a city or school official for pushing mask mandates to save lives. We haven’t persuaded enough parents who balk at getting their children vaccinated from COVID yet were willing to approve of required immunizations to safeguard them from childhood diseases. We should continue to educate and agitate those we love and those in positions of authority who make decisions about our lives. We only control our own actions and hope they influence the actions of others. We must find the strength and the hope to get back as much of our lives as we safely can. There are places to visit. Graduations to attend. Grandmas to visit. Gardens to grow. Children to love. Books to read. We’ve missed a lot. There’s a world that needs our attention. Racism didn’t sit down because of COVID-19, injustice still abounds. Moping, being frustrated or angry at the world is not going to change this situation. This is mission possible.

The first phase of the mission is to prepare for the long haul. At the rate the pandemic is going, it could be another two years of vaccinations, incessant handwashing, social distancing, and facial masking. We need to get a sleep routine, eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, and get regular exercise. There will be stress coming our way, so get some deep breathing in along with some meditation. Get grounded so you can’t be knocked off your game. Bring positive people around you. Laugh more. You are building up your endurance for your spiritual and mental health. You can’t rumble with ‘Rona’ if you’re weak in mind, body, and spirit.

A new year must bring new ways of living. This is the change COVID-19 is forcing upon us. Many could not do it on our own, but here we are. Our shields against the virus are a healthy lifestyle, determination, and information. We must be victors of this mortal combat, not statistics. Let’s get to living and loving!

Columnist Jamala Rogers

Nearly 350 jobs expected at new Hazelwood snacks plant

8th Avenue Food & Provisions, a private label company owned by Post Holdings, begins production in January 2022 at a new processing plant in Hazelwood in North County. The operation expects to grow to nearly 350 jobs.

PeoPle on the Move

Rowser named interim president

Mayola Rowser, PhD, DNP, FNPBC, PMHNP, the Jack Taylor Dean and Professor at Goldfarb School of Nursing at BarnesJewish College has been named interim president at Goldfarb until Dr. Angela Clark takes over May 1. Rowser received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Southern Indiana. She also holds a doctor of nursing practice and a doctor of philosophy degree in nursing from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

Duncan named director of development

McFarlane Duncan has recently joined PreventEd (formerly NCADA) as its new director of development. Prior to his arrival, Duncan served in a similar role for Confluence Academies, where he helped to build the organization’s fund raising capacity. In his career he has worked to raise over $7 million in funds for various nonprofit organizations, including the United Negro College Fund and Boy Scouts of America. During his stint with UNCF, Duncan also established corporate partnerships to assist students and families in the creation of a pipeline for scholar employment pre and post-graduation.

By Karen Robinson-Jacobs

The St. Louis American

Production is set to begin this month in a new manufacturing plant opening in Hazelwood as a private-label subsidiary of Post Holdings moves processing of its fruit and nut snacks from Canada.

The influx of nearly 350 jobs with 8th Avenue Food & Provisions helps stem a decades-long drain of manufacturing positions from the area. It also helps make good on a goal of civic leaders to boost the overall number of manufacturing jobs in the bi-state region as part of a broader economic development plan.

“St. Louis is [in] the middle of the country,” Charles Sargent, an East St. Louis native who has been hired to manage operations at the Hazelwood plant, said. “So [it offers] transportation advantages and distribution advantages. That makes it more attractive to get to our customers and service our customers on a real-time basis and the great workforce that’s here, that I know [about] firsthand. Those were the kind of factors that went into deciding to relocate here.”

To help cement the deal, the company is slated to receive $2.4 million in tax incentives, Sargent said, including a 10-year personal property tax abatement and State of Missouri

Sargent

job-training funds. Beginning with about 50 workers on the first plant line starting Jan. 24, the operation is expected to grow to 346 workers by the spring.

The 250,000-square-foot plant, which replaces a smaller one in Burnaby, British Columbia, will prepare and package snack nuts, trail mix and dried fruit for retail, food service, and customers who use the items as ingredients.

Management is looking to fill a variety of supervisory and entry-level jobs across three shifts in fields, including quality, operations,

Child tax credits fully refundable for 2021

By Desmond Leong Director of Metro-St. Louis Community Tax Coalition

Tye Taylor, principal of The Consulting Group Ltd., was recently named to the National Small Business Association (NSBA) Leadership Council. NSBA is the nation’s oldest small-business advocacy organization and operates on a nonpartisan basis. Taylor, a recognized leader in the small-business community, joins the NSBA Leadership

Lee appointed interim CEO of Annie Malone

The Board of Directors of Annie Malone Children and Family Services recently appointed Keisha Lee as interim CEO following the retirement of her predecessor. Since March 2019, Lee has served as COO after formerly serving on its Board of Directors for two years, providing leadership to the program directors, implementing operational controls, and administrative and reporting procedures to ensure the agency’s growth and sustainability. Lee is a member of the St. Louis County NAACP and the Regional Business Council’s Leadership 100.

your People on the Move item (including photo) to kjones@stlamerican.com

Mayola Rowser

McFarlane Duncan

Photo courtesy of 8th Avenue Food & Provisions

Tye Taylor

Keisha Lee

East St. Louis offering COVID-19 impact grants to business owners

Tax Credit

Continued from B1

tion services at no charge to Individuals whose income is less than $66,000. St. Louismetro VITA locations are managed by

• Metro-St. Louis Community Tax Coalition

• St. Louis Tax Assistance

Program • Gateway EITC Community Coalition

• National Association of Black Accountants

Site location information can be found at the websites of these programs. Missouri Department of Revenue has a new online MO Property Tax Credit application that allows the client/preparer to fill out a MO-PTC return in

Dependent Care Credit

Category 2020 2021

Plant

Continued from B1 production, warehouse, forklift operator, sanitation, and maintenance.

“The majority of them, if not all,” would be considered jobs that offer a living wage, Sargent said, noting the starting salary for the hourly workforce is $16.50.

He said most of the production jobs require at least a high school diploma or GED equivalent, and none of the positions require a master’s degree or higher.

The Hazelwood location is one of 10 manufacturing facilities 8th Avenue operates in North America, including two in Canada. The company, which posted 2020 sales of at least $1 billion, has about 2,000

Earned Income Tax Credit

workers worldwide.

8th Avenue Food & Provisions was formed in October 2018 through a combination of Post Holdings’ private brands’ businesses. It is owned by Post Holdings and funds affiliated with private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners.

It makes customized private label products, including pasta, peanut butter, snack nuts, trail mix, granola and more.

Earlier this year, 8th Avenue purchased Ronzoni, the second leading dry pasta retail brand in the country, making 8th Avenue one of the largest pasta suppliers in the U.S.

The company moved its headquarters from Minneapolis to Fenton in June 2020 with about 120 workers.

The 8th Avenue announcement comes as the St. Louis region doubles down on efforts

to boost the number of manufacturing jobs available locally. From 2001 to 2020, St. Louis lost 51,000 manufacturing jobs, or 31% of the manufacturing jobs that existed in the metro in 2001, according to the STL 2030 Jobs Plan report put out last year by Greater St. Louis Inc. In a statement, Greater St. Louis, Inc. Chief Executive Jason Hall called the 8th Avenue move a “big, big win for the St. Louis region and an important catalyst for North St. Louis County.” The 100-plus page jobs report describes advanced manufacturing and production as one of five “strong clusters” in the two-state metropolitan area that have potential to “drive growth in the future.” The cluster employs more than 57,000 workers regionally in fields including advanced software engineering, manufacturing, and consumer products and food production.

The report notes the segment “appears poised for growth in a post-COVID world, as the U.S. seeks to re-shore some components of manufacturing,” in part to address supply chain snarls that have boosted inflation. The report proposes development of an Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center in the region to “drive innovation and support area manufacturers.”

For a full list of positions, visit the careers page of 8ave. com or text “CAREERS” to +1 (314) 597-8151. Note: the phone number does not accept voice calls.

Karen Robinson-Jacobs is The St. Louis American / Type Investigations business reporter and a 2021-2022 Report for America corps member.

n “It’s a very difficult thing that everyone is dealing with and it showed itself (Sunday) and it’s shown itself at the Olympics with (gymnast) Simone Biles.”

–Tampa quarterback Tom Brady on Antonio Brown’s dealings with mental health

InSIdE SportS

By Earl Austin Jr.

Holiday tournament champions crowned as new year begins

Gifts of basketball abounded during holiday tournaments. Here are some highlights of the year-ending action as teams prepare for conference seasons.

Incarnate Word dominates Incarnate Word Academy continued its dominance in girls’ basketball by winning the Visitation Christmas Tournament championship. The Red Knights defeated Cardinal Ritter in the semifinals 65-55, then topped Whitfield 69-47 in the title game.

Senior Saniah “Big Game” Tyler and junior Natalie Potts scored 18 points each in the championship game. Tyler was chosen the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. With the championship, Incarnate Word is riding a 48-game winning streak into the 2022 portion of the season.

Vashon conquers Southern Illinois

The Vashon Wolverines made their first appearance at the historic Centralia Holiday Tournament in Southern Illinois and came home with the championship. After a 51-49 win over Mt. Vernon in the semifinals, the Wolverines defeated Evanston 61-38 in the championship game.

Juniors Kennard Davis and Jayden Nicholson were selected to the AllTournament Team. The 6’6” Davis was named to the first team after averaging 12 points and eight rebounds a game in the four victories. The 6’5” Nicholson averaged 12 points and seven rebounds, including a game-high 14 points in the championship game. Vashon is now 12-0.

Webster Groves wows Webster Groves won the championship of the Coaches vs. Cancer Holiday Tournament with a thrilling 81-79 victory against DeSmet in an overtime classic at Lafayette High.

Junior guard Justin Duff of DeSmet banked in a 30-footer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

Senior guard Matt Enright scored a gamehigh 29 points to lead Webster Groves, winning its second tournament of the year. Junior forward Iziah Purvey scored 16 points, while senior guard Ethan Chartrand added 14. Duff scored 22 points for DeSmet, and senior guard Brian Taylor added 24.

MICDS doubles up

The boys and girls’ teams at MICDS won

respective championships at the newly named Don Maurer Invitational, hosted by MICDS.

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

May the St. Louis Cardinals continue attracting more Black fans to Busch Stadium. It was a great idea to feature local artist Brock Seals and the cap he designed for African American Heritage Day at Busch Stadium on Labor Day. This year, add an event or two and make the cap or giveaway item available to all fans, not just those who purchased special tickets.

May Xavier Scruggs, the Cardinals’ diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant, become more visible in the Black community in 2022. Hired in May 2021, his job is to “work within the team’s baseball operations to advance diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and engage with players on those discussions,” according to the Cardinals. I would like to know how or if he is accomplishing those goals.

May the St. Louis Blues

Whitfield’s Treazure Jackson (13) moves around Incarnate Word’s Kaylynn Janes (34) during the Visitation Girls Basketball championship game Tue. Dec. 28, 2021. The Red Knights of Incarnate would win the championship 69-47 over the Warriors of Whitfield.

its own tournament for the first time since 1987. Senior forward Brandon Mitchell-Day averaged 19 points, six rebounds, and two blocks to lead the Rams.

The MICDS girls defeated Pattonville 50-42 to win its first tourney title since 2017. Junior forward Binta Fall scored 16 points to lead the Rams, while sophomore guard Genesis Starks scored 13 points off the bench, including three 3-pointers to spark the team.

SLUH wins Legends of Winter

Host St. Louis University High won the championship of the Legends of Winter Classic with a 51-43 victory over Lift for Life. Senior guard Nick Kramer scored a game-high 15 points to lead the Jr. Billikens. Senior guard Jaden McClain scored 12 points, while junior forward Zach Ortwerth added 11 points.

CBC takes third at King Cotton

The CBC Cadets brought home a third-place trophy from the King Cotton Holiday Classic, held in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Senior guard Rob Martin was named to the All-Tournament Team after averaging 21 points, four rebounds and six assists in the three games. Martin also picked up a scholarship offer from Division I school Arkansas-Pine Bluff after the tournament.

Highland Shootout highlights

A top event on the high school basketball calendar is the Highland (Illinois) Shootout. The 30th edition will be held on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, with eight games featuring teams from Missouri, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. If you want to watch some good high school hoops from the early morning to the late evening, Highland is the place to be this weekend.

Here is the schedule for Saturday.

Freeburg vs. Highland (girls), 8:30 a.m. Wesclin vs. Highland, 10 a.m.

Cardinal Ritter vs. Belleville East, 11:30 a.m. Father Tolton vs. Mascoutah, 1 p.m. Chicago St. Rita vs. Peoria Notre Dame, 3 p.m. Chaminade vs. Yorkville Christian (Illinois), 4:45 p.m.

Vashon vs. Imhotep (Pennsylvania), 6:30 p.m. CBC vs. Kenwood (Illinois), 8:15 p.m.

Some things I’d like to see in St. Louis sports in 2022

also continue outreach into the Black Community. As 2021 was ending, the Blues launched the North City Blues afterschool youth hockey program. Under the direction of former Blues star Jamal Mayers, hopefully, it will grow and attract more African American young skaters to the ice to learn the game of hockey.

A. Reid

May Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and his XFL ownership partners have the good sense to place a franchise in St. Louis. The St. Louis BattleHawks led the 2020 version of the XFL in attendance with head coach Jonathan Hayes at the helm. He and the franchise should be here when the league makes its scheduled debut in spring 2023. May the St. Louis City MLS expansion franchise continue fulfilling its promise to be a community partner as it approaches its inaugural

season in 2023. The franchise’s new stadium is scheduled to open next fall, and according to the team website, “St. Louis City will develop sustainable soccer training programs and facilities, particularly in divested areas whose kids have less access to the sport.”

Former St. Louis

May the St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority, St. Louis and St. Louis County come to a swift and reasonable agreement in deciding the split of $500 million (after attorney fees) won in the settlement of a lawsuit against Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke and the NFL. A chunk of the money should go to a North County

recreation complex and youth sports facilities in underserved areas.

May the legal firms Dowd Bennett LLP and Blitz Bardgett & Deutsch, which worked diligently to crack Kroenke and win the settlement, donate a sizeable portion of the 35% billing windfall ($290 million) from the settlement to support youth athletic and educational programs in the city and north St. Louis County.

May Missouri Tigers basketball coach Cuonzo Martin find a way to turn around his struggling team during the SEC schedule, then make a surprising run in its tournament.

May Missouri Tigers wide

receiver and former East St. Louis star Luther Burden be the best freshman offensive player in the nation next season. A lot of people think this will certainly happen. Nothing is a “gimme.”

May St. Louis University’s basketball program simply avoid the continuous bad luck it has endured the past two seasons regarding injuries.

May Deion Sanders remain devoted to Jackson State University as its coach and not dash to the first major Power 5 coaching position he is offered.

May other successful Black coaches and former NFL stars follow the trailblazing path of Sanders, head coach Eddie George at Tennessee State University and head coach Hue Jackson at Grambling State University.

May Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs bring home another Super Bowl trophy in 2022.

May the Dallas Cowboys at least reach the NFC

Championship game before crushing my heart once again. May the NBA bring preseason games featuring Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics to St. Louis next season.

May SLU billionaire benefactor and huge basketball fan Richard Chaifetz never give up on his dream of owning an NBA team in St. Louis.

May the L.A. Chargers sock it to Kroenke this summer and announce the franchise is moving to St. Louis in 2024.

May the family of the late Buck O’Neal and all Kansas City thoroughly enjoy his shamefully belated induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in July. May 2022 see an end (or at least a slowdown) to the ignorance and political selfishness that has kept COVID-19 going strong in America. And may you have a happy and safe new year.

Alvin

Earl Austin Jr.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

BattleHawks head coach and general manager Jonathan Hayes

Symphony announces Yolanda Alovor as inaugural VP of EDI

Newly created executive position oversees SLSO’s ongoing work toward equity, diversity, and inclusion

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra President and CEO Marie- Hélène Bernard recently announced the appointment of Yolanda “Yoli” Alovor, Ph.D., as the institution’s first vice president of external affairs and equity, diversity, and inclusion.

“Dr. Alovor is a proven leader in EDI, as well as a superb communicator and community connector,” Bernard said. She is a results oriented leader who has a track record of establishing rapport with diverse constituencies at all levels. I know she will be

a strong advisor to me, our Board, and team as we chart a path toward becoming a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive institution.

We are committed to learning from Yoli’s expertise in the same way the SLSO is committed to listening to and learning from the St. Louis community. On behalf of our entire SLSO family, I am excited to welcome Yoli back to St. Louis, her hometown, and look forward to beginning our work together,” Bernard said. This newly created exec-

utive level position oversees the SLSO’s ongoing work toward equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), providing strategic leadership to the entire SLSO operation on all aspects of the institution’s growing EDI portfolio. Alovor will also oversee SLSO external affairs and communications functions, aligning those departments with SLSO strategic plan objectives and EDI framework. She will

provide strategic guidance to elevate the profile of the institution locally, nationally, and globally.

A St. Louis native and graduate of Webster Groves High School, Alovor brings a wealth of experience in EDI implementation and community partnership development. Most recently, she served as the chief of staff and vice president of diversity and belonging at Rosemont College

in Rosemont, Pennsylvania, where she guided complex and confidential procedures in support of the strategic mission of the college, provided critical insight for campus projects, and led diversity and belonging initiatives that helped drive business and administrative functions. In her leadership role, she led grassroots efforts with internal and external collaborators to build the college’s first Diversity and Belonging Department and campus strategic plan. She also launched leadership initiatives and man-

aged internal and external communications.

Alovor holds a Ph.D. in educational research from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and recently completed postdoctoral training at the University of California, Berkeley’s Intercultural Leadership Program: Global DEI Practitioner Institute. She will return to her hometown of St. Louis where her extended family and son, a student at Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri names new chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri (GSEM) announced Amber Overton as its new chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer. Overton will lead the diversity, equity and inclusion strategy for the GSEM organization, fostering an atmosphere and culture that is welcoming to all. With more than 10 years’ experience promoting equity for young people in the St. Louis region, Overton most recently served as the diversity, equity and inclusion specialist at Nestlé Purina Petcare. There she created and implemented

strategies, identified gaps and key programs, and cultivated both cross-functional and external partnerships in support of her DE&I work. Prior to that, she was the national manager of college success for Boys Hope Girls Hope International Headquarters, a 14-site nonprofit organization that nurtures and guides motivated young people in need, to become well-educated, career-ready adults. Overton’s work has been recognized nationally, as well as by Forward through Ferguson, a nonprofit

advancing racially equitable systems and policies that ensure all people in the St. Louis region can thrive. Leveraging her own personal story, she has successfully served as a DE&I leader within the St. Louis community, impacting the lives of many youths and families.

“I am thrilled to join the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri as Chief DEI Officer,” said Overton. “My collective experiences in DEI, youth

development, and organizational change management have led me here and I look forward to leading the GSEM family’s journey in DEI. Throughout my career, my North Star has always been empowering and advocating for young people in the St. Louis region.

I am so excited to continue this work on an even broader scale, leading GSEM as we cultivate, create, and nurture a community where all young

women feel empowered to lead and live life as their most authentic selves.”

Overton will report to the CEO and work across the GSEM organization. She will create and implement a strategic plan that elevates and empowers the diversity, equity and inclusion work of Girl Scouts, while clearly measuring plan outcomes.

Overton’s leadership in the DE&I area will foster a climate and culture that supports GSEM growth and development, access, and opportunity for all.

“I am so pleased to welcome Amber to our GSEM team,” said Bonnie Barczykowski, CEO of Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri. “Her leadership in DE&I work and community outreach will serve as a tremendous asset to our organization. Girl Scouts is a place of belonging for all girls, everywhere. The DE&I work we are doing will contribute greatly to the enrichment, empowerment and care for our staff, girls, families, and communities that make up Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri.”

Yolanda “Yoli” Alovor

Amber Overton

Living It

Praise song for a newly minted ancestor Paul Carter Harrison

By Kym Moore

Special for The St. Louis American

This is not an obituary.

Paul Carter Harrison, award-winning playwright, scholar, professor, mentor, loving father, husband, and loyal friend, was far too invested in and connected to the lifeforce in him for anything of the sort. This is a Praise Song for a Newly Minted Ancestor

Paul Carter Harrison was the quintessential “race man” who spent his entire career dedicated to the task of reconnecting us to the root. Much like the Egungun in the Yoruba tradition, he acted as a luminous bridge between Then and Now. (“Egungun is a visible manifestation of the spirits of departed ancestors who periodically revisit the human community for remembrance, celebration, and blessings.”) For him, we were not lost and wondering but truly connected to a deep rich legacy of art and culture that could serve as a wellspring from which we could drink and evolve.

n Paul Carter Harrison was the quintessential “race man” who spent his entire career dedicated to the task of reconnecting us to the root.

The first time I remember meeting PCH, I must have been about eight years old. He’d come to visit my mother Olivia, who was a longtime friend from college days at Indiana University. I was immediately struck by the way he seemed to glide into the room donning a dashiki and man-bag. When he spoke, I sat mesmerized and wondered where he’d come from. I found him sort of magical and scary at the same time. When my mother took me to see his play The Great MacDaddy at the Negro Ensemble Company, I didn’t quite understand it. Yet that sense of something magical I’d seen in him as a child was also in the play. I was inspired. Paul would become a kind of surrogate father to me as I grew up. His interventions were especially important to me since I would go against mom’s wishes and pursue the art of making theater as a career. He encouraged me and supported me throughout. Eventually, I would get to work with him as a dramaturge which was the ultimate gift of a long-cherished family friend and mentor.

Despite his formidable presence in any room, he inhabited much of his real work and undeniable influence on Black art, and art makers remained in the shadows. PCH was deeply involved in the Black Arts Movement and the establishing of Black Theatre aesthetics. He collaborated and/or maintained close association with many of the luminaries of his time including Amiri Baraka, Melvin van Peebles, Oliver Jackson, Max Roach, Archie Shepp, Ntozake Shange, Diane McIntyre, August Wilson and countless others who were influenced by his writing, lectures, and creative work. In many ways, his work was far ahead of its time. In years to come, as is sadly

CAM’s New Art

Bayer Fund awards

The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis with $15,000 grant

By Danielle Brown

The St. Louis American

Since 1995, The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (CAM)’s flagship teen education program, New Art in the Neighborhood (NAN), has exposed St. Louis and Illinois-area high school students to training, teaching, and development opportunities from veteran artists around the world. The free program provides program participants between the ages of 14-18 with more than 50 hours of studio time each semester where they immerse in the principles and tools of contempo-

the case when brilliant artist-scholars make their transition, many will “discover” him and marvel.

“Drama of Nommo: Black Theatre in the African-Continuum’’, his first book of essays articulating black aesthetics, brought us an alternative weapon with which to ‘fight the power.’ Nommo invoked the power to use language to call forth a new reality. The power of ritual and language to transform reality is essential to our liberation as people of the diaspora. In his seminal essay Mother/Word, he writes:

“ Close inspection of language in the African diaspora-save, perhaps, the hybrid form of nineteenth-century European speech retained in

Liberia-reveals the common verbal impulse to make the word sing, irrespective of alien-tongue or corruptions of original syntax. What is most important here, as much so as for the Dogon, is that the resulting actions of language-spoken or gesticulated have meaningful correspondences in both the physical and spiritual worlds. It is not uncommon, then, to discover in the art forms of the black world a language that is mythopoetic and intensified or amplified by an orphic sonority. A scat song, for example, is a rhythmic elaboration of language that,

Black Panther’s T’Challa a cat with more lives

Houston Defender News Service

A petition to recast Black Panther’s T’Challa is gaining traction. While Marvel announced in late 2020 that the character would be retired upon the death of the late, great Chadwick Boseman, fans are calling for the role to be recast as a tribute to his legacy.

In a statement by Marvel president Kevin Feige, the gavel was seemingly laid down with finality.

“I wanted to acknowledge the devastating loss of a dear friend and member of the Marvel Studios family,” Feige said. “Chadwick Boseman was an immensely talented actor and an inspirational individual who affected all of our lives professionally and personally. His portrayal of T’Challa the Black Panther is iconic and transcends iteration of the character in any other medium from Marvel’s past.”

In April of 2021 however, Chicago film critic and lifelong Marvel fan, Emmanuel Noisette launched a petition to bring the character back to life. The petition reads in part:

“By not recasting, it could stifle the opportunity for one of the most popular, leading Black superheroes to add on to their legacy. The #1 way to kill a legend, is to stop telling their story. “

As of today, the petition has over 50,000 signatures, a huge bite taken out of its 75,000 signature goal.

“Recast T’Challa to honor Chadwick Boseman in the Black Panther Franchise,” the petition

rary art-making and art history.

“Some of the students go to schools with great art programs, while others’ schools may not have strong art programs,” Michelle Dezember, CAM director of learning and engagement, said. “We

want to make sure whether this is students’ first exposure or if it’s a bonus for them they have access to things they wouldn’t otherwise experience.”

Dezember said some of the past projects

young artists have worked on are painting, drawing, abstract writing prompts, print magazine writing, and social practice artworks, where the material they’re working with is the community.

CAM’s NAN program was recently awarded a $15,000 grant from Bayer Fund, the philanthropic arm of Bayer, a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening the relationships between customers and employees in food and nutrition resources.

“Throughout the years, the grants given through Bayer Fund have helped strengthen our communities across the United States,” Al Mitchell, president of Bayer Fund, said. “We’re proud to be able to provide support to develop programs that help combat challenges such as food insecurity, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education and support services to patients and families managing an illness or disease.”

Dezember expressed gratitude for CAM being awarded the grant and said the honor comes when artists return to the museum studio following a period of virtual learning.

“By supporting these young creatives and helping them apply their skills in a variety of fields, we are investing in a better future for us all,” she said. “NAN supports the expansion of recognized leadership and career skills for teens, such as critical-thinking skills, creativity, and adaptability. Program graduates have gone on to careers in a variety of sectors, as professional artists, teachers, engineers, healthcare professionals, researchers, analysts, and more.”

See Panther, C8 See CAM, C8

Photo by Theo Welling courtesy of Contemporary Art Museum New Art in the Neighborhood students meet with artist Liz Johnson Artur.

Photo courtesy of Marvel

A petition to recast T’Challa, formerly portrayed by Chadwick Boseman, has over 50,000 signatures.

Above: Photo of Paul Carter Harrison reading his work in 2015.

Photo courtesy of Mark Harrison and Anthony Dixson

Left: Paul Carter Harrison with his daughter Fonteyn Harrison.

Photo by Fred Sweets/ St. Louis American

Emancipation Day and MLK Community Celebration at the Missouri History Museum

By Ellen Kunkelmann, Missouri Historical Society

From storytelling sessions to presentations to youth activism workshops to a special day of service, the Missouri History Museum will offer activities for all ages on January 13–17 in honor of Emancipation Day and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

On Thursday, January 13, the Museum will be open from 5:30 to 8:00pm for the weekly Thursday Nights at the Museum series. The theme for January 13 is “Missouri Emancipation and the St. Louis African American Community.” At 6:30pm, Etta Daniels and Shelley Morris from Greenwood Cemetery will offer a look at St. Louis’s African American community before and after emancipation on January 11, 1865. This program is presented in collaboration with Greenwood Cemetery.

Saturday and Monday feature one-hour youth activism workshops (10:00am for ages 12–18, 11:15am for ages 6–12). Older students will analyze primary sources to gain a greater understanding of the civil rights movement and discuss their concepts of societal justice using their own experiences and historical examples. Afterward, they can join a special open dialogue facilitated by Tabari Coleman to talk freely with one another about their thoughts on race and activism. Younger students will explore the civil rights movement through primary sources and evaluate how activists communicate their messages, then create a poster that advocates for their views. After the workshop, caregivers are invited to stay for an open dialogue on race and parenting.

Storytelling sessions on January 14, 15, and 17 will explore civil rights. At 10:30am on Saturday and Monday, the St. Louis Black Authors of Children’s Literature will present a storytelling performance of Hey Black Child by Useni Eugene Perkins, along with original spoken-word affirmations and life-affirming music by DJ KP da Kid. Stick around until the end for a special children’s book giveaway, generously provided by Ready Readers. Saturday’s story time will be followed by a Spanish-language storytelling session at 11:00am in the History Clubhouse.

Other activities on Saturday and Monday include advocacy-inspired crafts; a self-guided Black history scavenger hunt through the galleries; 20-minute gallery tours exploring the civil rights movement in St. Louis as well as those who worked for change long before and after the 1950s and 1960s; and a 45-minute workshop

with Mama Lisa that incorporates music, movement, and storytelling.

Saturday’s programs will conclude with “Living Legends: Celebrating Young Sheroes” at 2:00pm, a special program honoring young women who are leading positive social change in our region. This event is inspired by a poetry book co-written by sisters Aja La’Starr Owens and Adrienne Draper.

On Sunday, January 16, Bill Doggett will present a keynote address about the life of his father, Reverend Dr. John N. Doggett Jr., who worked tirelessly for civil rights, human rights, and social justice. An ensemble from the St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus will perform live gospel music at the opening and closing of this 90-minute lecture, which begins at 2:00pm. At 4:00pm, The Collective STL will offer an all-ages yoga practice set to gospel music.

On Monday, January 17, the Museum will host an MLK Day of Service in collaboration with Unhoused STL, a direct service and advocacy group for those experiencing homelessness. Throughout the day, visitors will have the opportunity to build hygiene kits or snack packs and design a card for local unhoused people.

St. Louis public high school students participating in the Ethics Project have created multimedia artwork and written pieces to address the themes of gun violence, peace, and hope. Throughout the weekend, check out their original works in the Grand Hall. Drop by the resource table on Monday from 11:00am to 2:00pm to talk about the student process with Christi Griffin, founder of the Ethics Project, and Lynne Jackson, the great-great-granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott and the president of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation.

All programs listed are currently scheduled to take place in person. For the most up-todate information, visit mohistory.org/events. Support for Thursday Nights at the Museum is provided by Ameren Missouri, presenting sponsor. Support for MLK Community Celebration is provided by the Paz Family Foundation and Ameren Missouri, presenting sponsor. Storytelling in the Museum is sponsored by PNC Grow Up Great.

Please note that out of an abundance of caution due to the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases, the Albert King Alumni Tribute Show at the Missouri History Museum, originally scheduled for Thursday, January 6, has been rescheduled for Thursday, June 2.

The MLK Community Celebration takes place on January 15–17.

By Barnett Wright

The Birmingham Times

Maxine McNair, the last living parent of one of the four girls killed in the 1963 Birmingham church bombing, died Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022. She was 93. Lisa McNair said in a release her mother served as “a beacon of light for the greater Birmingham community.”

“A beacon of light for her strength of character to go on after such a tragic loss of Denise and raise two other girls, but also help raise other people’s [children] as a teacher during 33 years in the

Birmingham public school system,” she said. McNair’s daughter was Denise McNair, who was 11 at the time of the bombing which also took the lives of 14-yearolds Addie Mae Collins, Carole Rosamond Robertson, and Cynthia Dionne Wesley. The case went unsolved for years. Three members of the Ku Klux Klan were eventually convicted, the first in 1977 and two more in 2001. In 2013, President Barack Obama posthumously awarded the four girls with the Congressional Gold Medal in a ceremony that Maxine McNair attended.

Spike Lee’s 1997 documentary 4 Little Girls examined the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. Relatives and friends were interviewed, as well as government officials, civil rights activists, and archival footage to profile the young victims.

McNair said her mother’s faith in God was like no other.

“Her favorite scripture was [Proverbs 3:56] ‘Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, lean not to your own understanding, but in all of your ways acknowledge

Him and He will direct your path.’ She would quote that all the time. Her faith was just unflinching,” she said. “I remember after she taught [school] she would go to the homes of students, some of [the] students who were struggling, spend time with them and their families and take them clothes, stay late and help them read. I run into people all the time, and they say, ‘Your mom taught me, and I wouldn’t be the person I am today had it not been for your mother.’ She was

Word more. God created mess for Joseph to progress.

Don’t be a hypocrite - The Bible says, “Because Joseph, (Mary’s) husband, was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly” (Matthew1:19).

a loss to a lot of people.”

Maxine McNair’s husband, Christopher, a former state legislator and former Jefferson County Commissioner, died in May 2019 also at 93. She is survived by her daughters Lisa, and Kimberly Brock. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin released a statement on Facebook:

“Our hearts go out today to the family and friends of Mrs. Maxine McNair, who passed today at age 93. Mrs. McNair was mother of Denise McNair and the last living parent of the Four Little Girls killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in 1963,” he wrote.

has chosen for him. God caused Joseph to face his hypocrisy because God needed Joseph.

The Bible says, “If a man says, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (1 John 4:20)

“Mrs. McNair was a matriarch of social justice in our city, an incredible wife and mother who imparted love and wisdom on hundreds of young minds while serving 33 years in the Birmingham public school system. We wrap our arms around the McNair family today during their time of loss. Please keep her daughters Lisa and Kimberly in your prayers. The McNair family has given so much to our city and we are forever grateful for their service and sacrifice.” Barnett Wright is a reporter with NNPA member The Birmingham Times.

Fear occurs when you stop reading and believing God’s eternal Word. Fear occurs when you stop meditating and praying unto the Lord. It’s time to have faith over fear! Did you experience mess in 2021? Wake up! God is turning your mess into a miracle.

By Rev. Mark E. Whitlock Jr

2021 was a mess of epic proportions.

Included were the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, economic setbacks, vaccine fears, the Omicron variant, and fear of another national shut down.

If we ever needed God to turn a mess into a miracle, it’s right now. Mary and Joseph were betrothed for marriage, but Mary is with a child who is not of Joseph. A mess. Joseph wants to

end the marriage. A mess. Why has God created a mess for good people? A relevant question to consider is what do you do when God creates a mess?

Mess for people to progress - The Bible says, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this; for after his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18). God causes mess for us to

unlearn old ways of behaving. God causes mess to stretch us, break us, and remake us. God’s mess causes believers to run to God to progress. The mess in 2021 caused some to pray more. The mess in 2021 caused some to call on the name of God more. The mess in 2021 caused some to depend on God more. The mess in 2021 caused some to read the

God created mess to uncover Joseph’s hypocrisy, a pretense of having a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles one does not really have. Joseph practiced a form of righteousness but had self-righteous tendencies.

The self-righteous man is judgmental, but the righteousness man loves unconditionally.

A righteous man does not divorce his wife. A righteous man does

Faith over fear - The Bible says, “But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20).

After Joseph thought about these things, God sent word for him to have faith over fear

As painful, as depressing, and fearful as the mess Joseph was in, we should consider just

Guest Columnist

Rev. Mark E. Whitlock Jr

Maxine McNair

ACCOUNTING CLERK

PROJECT DIRECTOR

Deaconess Foundation will sponsor a network of Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools® programs this summer. The seven-week program provides summer enrichment for children and families. The Project Director manages operations for the CDF Freedom Schools® program. The position’s primary responsibility is to recruit, supervise and manage adequate staff to operate multiple program sites and ensure overall quality as outlined by the standards of the CDF Freedom Schools® program. The Project Director will serve as liaison between Deaconess Foundation and the four program sites, maintain the safety of all staff and students, organize parent engagement meetings, ensure that the CDF Freedom Schools® Integrated Reading Curriculum is implemented with fidelity, and ensure that appropriate program staff inputs data in CDF’s reporting system.

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

MANAGING DIRECTOR CLAIMS

Responsible for handling of assigned claims from initial assignment to closure as well as supervising Claims Managers/Analysts within the Primary LCWC LOB. Also, will provide assistance in various administrative functions associated with the LOB and will liaison with client engagement, underwriting and risk management departments, as needed.

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

SITE COORDINATOR

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

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

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS VIRTUAL JOB FAIR

If you want to make a difference in the lives of young people, join our team at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri! We have a variety of open positions available - check them out at www.bbbsemo.org/ careers. If you’re interested in attending our Virtual Job Fair on 1/13/21 at 5:30PM, please RSVP to hr@bbbsemo.org.

& MECHANIC FOREMAN

The City of Clayton is hiring for full-time Mechanic & Mechanic Foreman positions for Public Works. Apply by 01/14/22: https://bit.ly/3wKAFyj EOE

The City of Richmond Heights is accepting applications for the position of Accounting Clerk Advanced $ $46,347 - 49,725 DOQ . To apply go to https:// richmondheights.applicantpro. com/jobs/ . Applications will be accepted from December 22, 2021 until filled.

LOSS PORTFOLIO TRANSFER MANAGING DIRECTOR

Responsible for managing LPT product aspects of the Claim Department. To apply, please visit: https://www. safetynational.com/ careers-page/

COMMUNICATIONS POSITION

The Gateway Arch Park Foundation is seeking to fill the following open, full-time position.

Digital Content Coordinator: Position requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and 2-5 years of professional experience. View full job description and application process at www.archpark.org

LARGE CASUALTY WORKS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS MANAGER (2 OPENINGS)

Responsible for handling assigned claims from initial assignment to closure, as well as provide assistance in various administrative functions associated with the primary WC LOB. To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational.com/ careers-page/

CONSTRUCTION INSPECTOR

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university in Architecture, Mechanical or Civil Engineering and familiarity with general building construction.

BUSINESS SYSTEMS ANALYST III

Energizer Brands, LLC has an opening for a Business Systems Analyst III, Human Resources Applications to Maintain a global implementation of HR applications and IT systems. Req. Bachelor’s degree in electronic eng, information systems, or rel, plus 5 yrs experience in HR applications and processes. Location – St. Louis, MO. Send resume to ClaudiaL.Giron@energizer.com with Reference #109 in the subject line.

Five (5) years of experience in the construction industry, preferably, as a craftsman of one (1) or more trades applicable to general building construction may be substituted for a degree. At least three (3) years of this experience must be in construction inspection.

Starting Salary $55,000 Annually. Position will be opened until filled. Apply via our website www.slha.org. A Drug Free Work Place/EOE.

COORDINATOR –CLAIMS – MEDICAL MANAGEMENT

Responsible for triaging and documenting incoming bills, referrals, and assisting the Medical Cost Manager. To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational.com/careers-page/

Responsible for providing Pricing Analyses and Technical Support for Treaty Reinsurance with a focus on casualty lines including Workers’ Compensation and Professional Liability.

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

2 ABC PARENT COACHES

In preparation for the launch of a new clinical program, Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri is actively hiring two ABC Parent Coaches. Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) is an intervention designed to help parents provide nurturing care and engage in sensitive interactions with their young children, which helps children learn to regulate their behaviors and emotions. ABC is new to the St. Louis region, which provides an exciting opportunity for the parent coach to be a part of adding a new service to our area. Parent Coaches will be responsible for training in and implementing ABC with families with children ages 6 months to 4 years in the families’ homes. Full cost of training and certification in ABC is covered. Salary rang is $45,000 to $55,000. Rich benefit package including health insurance and paid time off. Please mail resume and cover letter to Brittany.graham@mha-em.org

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

> ARGYLE GARAGE WALL

SCONCE REPLACEMENTS

> Proposals will be received by City of St. Louis Treasurer

UNTIL 3:00PM 1/10/2022

> For specific project information, go to > https://www.stltreasurer.org/ Request for Proposals/

ADVERTISEMENT FOR RFP

HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT

The City of St. Louis Department of Health is seeking proposals from qualified applicants to conduct a Housing Needs Assessment and Housing Market Study for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS in the St. Louis Eligible Metropolitan Statistical Area. These funds are available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Request for Proposals may be obtained beginning Wednesday, January 5, 2022, by downloading from the City of St. Louis website at https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/ government/procurement.cfm. Contact: Sylvia JacksonBell for questions @ DOHGA @stlouis-mo.gov, (314) 657-1581 (email preferred).

The deadline for submitting proposals is Monday, February 7, 2022 by 4:00pm via email at DOHGA @stlouis-mo.gov. The Department of Health reserves the right to reject any and all responses with or without cause.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

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

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Altman-Charter Co., requests subcontractor/supplier proposals for Winstanley Park (Sinai Village Phase III). This project consists of 6 New 2-Story Apartment Buildings/Townhomes and the Renovation of an Existing 2-Story Building. There are a total of 38 units, and the project is located in East St. Louis, IL. Proposals are due at the office of Altman-Charter Co., 315 Consort Dr., St. Louis, MO 63011 on or before Tues., January 25, 2022 at 3:00 PM (CT). Qualified Minority, Section 3, and Women owned businesses are encouraged to submit proposals. Plans can be viewed at FW Dodge, Construct Connect, SIBA, MOKAN, Cross Rhodes Reprographics, and the Altman-Charter plan room in St. Louis. Bidders should contact Mr. Greg Mehrmann with any questions or to submit a proposal at gregm@altman-charter. com or bids@altman-charter.com . Our telephone # is (636) 207-8670, and our fax # is (636) 207-8671

LETTING #8741

2021-2022 CAPITAL MAIN REPLACEMENT PROGRAM –SIX (6) INCH MAIN IN SCANLAN AVE

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

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

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

LETTING #8737

CERVANTES CONVENTION CENTER

EXPANSION AND MODERNIZATIONPROJECT 1 ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

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

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

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

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

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace HVAC System & C o n

a t i o n Center, Project No. M2002-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 1/27/2022 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. For specific project information, go to: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Renovate R e s t r o o m s , M i s s o u r i G e o l o g i c a l Survey, Project No. W1902-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 1/27/2022 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. For specific project information, go to: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

ADVERTISEMENT FOR RFP

EMPLOYEE COVID-19 TESTING SERVICES

The City of St. Louis Department of Health seeks proposals for Employee COVID-19 Testing Services. Request for Proposals documents may be obtained beginning December 27, 2021, by downloading from the City of St. Louis website at http://www.stlouis-mo.gov/health

The deadline for submitting proposals is January 17, 2021, by 4:00 P.M. via email and hard copy to Dr. Fredrick Echols, echolsf@ stlouis-mo.gov, Department of Health, 1520 Market St #4027, St. Louis MO 63103. The Department of Health reserves the right to reject any or all responses with or without cause.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Great Rivers Greenway is soliciting Bids for the Mississippi Greenway: Old Chain of Rocks Bridge Steel Repairs in St. Louis, Missouri. Go to www.greatriversgreenway. org/jobs-bids and submit by January 19, 2022.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

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

SAINT LOUIS MHB

Accepting applications from qualified organizations with experience providing behavioral health and prevention services for St. Louis city children (birth to age 18), Jan. 3 – 28, 2022. Details available 1/3/22 at www.stlmhb.com

BIDS REQUESTED

New Construction Section 3 / MBE /WBE Encouraged 40 Units Multi Family 1 Clubhouse– Fredericktown, MO For Bid Information: 636-931-4244 or zventura@vendev.cc

Double Diamond Construction

1000 A Truman Blvd. Crystal City, MO 63019

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

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

SOLICITING BID

Reinhardt Construction LLC is Soliciting Bids from MBE/ WBE/DBE/Veteran/SDVE for the following: CP219031 Strickland HallRenovate Space for Counseling Center

Contact: Mike Murray ; mikem@ reinhardtconstructionllc.com

Phone: 573-682-5505

SEALED BIDS

Bids for REBID: S i d e w a l k and Drainage Improvements, First State Capitol State Historic Site, Project No. X2101-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 1/6/2022 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. For specific project information, go to: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace HVAC Dining Hall & Barracks Camp Derricotte, Cuivre River S

. X2115-01 will

b

F M D C , State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, January 6, 2022. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities

REQUEST FOR SEALED BIDS

Great Rivers Greenway, is soliciting sealed bids for Centennial Greenway in the cities of St. Charles and St. Peters, Missouri. Check www.greatrivergreenway.org/ jobs-bids and submit by January 31, 2022.

INVITATION TO BID

The Twenty-Second Judicial Circuitis currently soliciting bid proposals to replace damaged tile in patio area. The request for proposal is available on the Court’s website www.stlcitycircuitcourt.com Click on General Information, Then Request for Proposals. A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on January 18, 2022 in the lobby of the Civil Courts Building located at 10 N. Tucker, St. Louis, MO 63101. EOE

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for the 2021 CRS Collector Overlay, Area B, St. Louis County Project No. CR-1830, will be received electronically thru the County’s Vendor Self Service portal at https://stlouisco.munisselfservice. com/Vendors/default.aspx, until 2:00 p.m. on January 19, 2022

Plans and specifications will be available on December 20, 2021 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouiscountymo.gov) or by contacting Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies, 2731 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118 (314) 678-0087.

DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ST. LOUIS, COUNTY

CITY OF ST. LOUIS

PUBLIC NOTICE

DRAFT SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT

AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT AND PUBLIC HEARING

The City of St. Louis is soliciting comments on a Draft Substantial Amendment to its 2020–2024 Consolidated Plan for the 2020 Annual Action Plans. The Substantial Amendment for 2020 funding proposes the reprogramming of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds allocated previously.

Public Hearing Notice/Public Comment Period

The Community Development Administration (CDA) will conduct a virtual public hearing on Monday, February 7, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. The purpose of this hearing is to solicit public comments and answer questions pertaining to the 2020 Substantial Amendment as it relates to CDBG Funding.

Virtual Public Hearing Information can be found on the City of St. Louis Community Development Administration website at https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/ government/departments/community-development/ Documents Available for Review

The Substantial Amendment to the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan for the 2020 Annual Action Plans will be available in draft form for review by any interested citizen on January 7, 2022 at CDA, located at 1520 Market Street, Suite 2000. Copies of the report may be downloaded from the City of St. Louis Community Development Administration website at https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/ departments/community-development/

Written comments for the 2022 Substantial Amendment as it relates to CDBG will be accepted until 12:00pm on February 7, 2022.

Written Comments

The views of citizens, public agencies, and other interested parties are encouraged. Written comments or suggestions may be addressed to Mr. Justin Jackson, Executive Director, Community Development Administration, 1520 Market, Suite 2000, St. Louis, MO 63103, or via e-mail at JacksonJ@stlouis-mo. gov

Other Information

Persons with special needs or accommodations relating to handicapped accessibility or foreign language should contact Mr. Jackson via email at JacksonJ@stlouis-mo.gov or by phone at (314) 657-3835 or (314) 589-6000 (TDD). Interpreting services are available upon request for persons with hearing disabilities. Interested parties should contact the Office on the Disabled at (314) 622-3686/voice or (314) 622-3693/TTY.

CDA is an equal opportunity agency (employer). Minority participation is encouraged

St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices

INVITATION TO BID

The Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit is currently soliciting bid proposals for Lawn Maintenance Services. The request for proposal is available on the Court’s website www.stlcitycircuitcourt.com Click on General Information, Then Request for Proposals. A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on January 11, 2022 in the main entrance at the Juvenile Family Court, located at 920 N. Vandeventer, St. Louis, MO 63108. EOE

LOUIS, MISSOURI

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service until 1:45 PM, CT, on January 18, 2022, through Bid Express online portal then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS Online Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website INDOX Services at cost, plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

A pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held on December 21, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Louis City Hall, 1200 Market Street, Room 325, St. Louis, MO 63103 or virtually using the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7355702554.

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

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

SEALED BIDS

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

BID NOTICE

Alberici Constructors and the Saint Louis Zoo seek bids from qualified construction firms to submit proposals for a project at the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park.

The projects consists of the construction of a wood framed barn with metal roofing and siding. To request bid documents, please send an E-mail to stlzoobids@alberici.com

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

The City of Creve Coeur will be receiving responses to a Request for Qualifications on January 11, 2022 for design services related to a Needs Assessment and Architectural Plans for Renovation of the Creve Coeur Government Center. To view the RFQ, please access the bid page on the city’s website at www.crevecoeurmo.gov

ROOM FOR RENT Quiet, near busline & shopping, Furnished, Cable Ready 314-531-5602

much like “talkin’ in tongues,” probes the “numinous shadow “ for light and the meaning of objective reality, and produces, as Wilson Harris has noted in The Womb of Space, 5 “metaphoric imagery that intricately conveys music as the shadow of vanished but visualized presences.”

Yes!

Though we all took great pride in that PCH was a man of arts and letters to many of us, he was much more. His commitment and loyalty to family were unflinching and profound. His only biological daughter, Fonteyn, described him as a “great father!” And that he was for sure. But he was also a great uncle, grandfather, mentor, friend, husband

and champion of our right to think and live freely. His definition of family was broad and included many of us younger artists-scholars who dared to explore our identities beyond the bounds of established definitions of black art and culture. He studied diligently so that we could know from whence we came.

I spoke to him two days before he made his transition. As always, he was eager to get back to work on a co-edited volume of essays on the “real roots of Afro-Futurism, not that commercial stuff they have going out there,” he said. “I know Paul... I hear you.” In so many ways, PCH played the role of ancestor to his people in real time throughout his embodied life. He could be a harsh critic at times, but beneath it all, you knew that he cared and that he loved you regardless. It was that Ogun/ Shango/Elegba kind of love

that understood the urgency of the task and wanted us to know that artistic production was important. He was a seasoned warrior and a trickster when it suited the circumstances.

Wanda Malone Harrison, his wife and Fonteyn knew the fullness of his passion. He was a complicated man who would come to be revered the way he should have been in life now that he’s gone home

We are blessed to have you with us through the work, of course. But those of us who knew you well will miss you dearly, even though we can rest assured that you are with us nonetheless. Ase’!!!

Kym Moore is Professor of Theatre Arts and Performance Studies at Brown University and Co-Artistic Director of Antigravity Performance Project

Vashon High School Graduate

Now on view, Oliver Lee Jackson is known for creating complex and layered images in which figurative elements emerge from abstract fields of vibrant color. The 12 paintings, drawings, and prints created from the mid-1960s through 2020, demonstrated his significance as a highly experimental artist.

Jackson was associated with the Black Artists Group, which was founded in St. Louis in 1968, and a close friend of co-member and jazz saxophonist Julius Hemphill. Many of the works on view are loans from Donald M. Suggs, a local collector and close friend of Jackson’s.

Continued from C1

More than 700 high school students have participated in the program, and more than 100 local, national and international artists have partnered since its inception.

and the magic that comes from them,” Dezember said. Learn more about the Bayer Fund, here: https://www.fund. bayer.us. For more information and to apply, visit CAM’s website: camstl.org/programs/teens/ new-art-in-the-neighborhood/. CAM

Applications for the winter/ spring 2022 New Art in the Neighborhood cohort are available until Jan. 10, 11:50 CT.

Panther

Continued from C1

additionally reads. “If Marvel Studios removes T’Challa, it would be at the expense of the audiences (especially Black boys and men) who saw themselves in him. That includes the millions of fans who were inspired by the character as well.”

“T’Challa was the “epitome of positive Black representation,” Noisette told HuffPost. “We’re asking Marvel to eventually recast the character to allow Chadwick Boseman to hopefully be the first of many” T’Challas to follow.”

According to TMZ, Chadwick’s brother Derrick says he would want the role recast.

He expressed that even though he never explicitly stated his wishes before his death, that Chadwick thought T’Challa was bigger than just himself as one guy, and that “Chadwick knew the power of the character, and the positive influence it carries.”

Derrick Boseman, the oldest brother of the late actor, is on board with the Black Panther role being recast so T’Challa can continue inspiring Black fans of the superhero films.

Earlier this month, the Murfreesboro, Tenn.-based pastor told TMZ that though Boseman didn’t specifically say before his August 2020 death that he would want the role to

“It’s a space where we really think about the great opportunity we have as a museum to see the next generation artists

continue with another actor.

Marvel VP of Development Nate Moore said in November that viewers will not see T’Challa in the “MCU 616 universe,” referencing the primary timeline for the events in Marvel comics.

When Chad passed, it was a real conversation we had with [director Ryan] Coogler about, ‘What do we do?’ and it was a fast conversation,” he told the Ringer-Verse podcast. “It wasn’t weeks, it was minutes

of we had to figure out how to move that franchise on without that character. Because I think we all feel so much of T’Challa in the MCU on the screen... is tied to Chadwick’s performance.” According to a recent Fandango survey, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is the most anticipated movie of 2022. The film is slated to hit screens Nov. 11, 2022.

Photo by Fred Sweets/ St. Louis American

Paul Carter Harrison, (left) with long time friends visual artist Oliver L. Jackson, and St. Louis American Publisher Donald M. Suggs.

Photo courtesy of Marvel