July 13th, 2023 edition

St. LouiS AmericAn

‘I was sent here as part of a divine plan.’

By Sylvester Brown Jr.

St. Louis American

Dr. Keisha Scarlett, the new superintendent of the St. Louis Public School System (SLPS), is not only an intelligent, commanding, and statuesque figure (she’s six feet tall), she’s also fun to listen to.

The Seattle native has a unique, literary lexicon filled with poetic and colorful phrases. For example, when describing St. Louis’ historic architecture, she speaks of a city “with “beautiful bones even though some are broken.” She’s only been in town about a month but finds St. Louisans to be cordial, nice and welcoming. The city, she said, has a “nice little scoop of the South” in it.

Scarlett began her career in public education 24 years ago as a STEM (science, technology, engineer-

See SCARLETT, A7

Missouri State Senator Karla May officially announced her bid to run for the U.S. Senate on the steps of the Civil Courts building Tues. July 11, 2023. This adds to a growing list of candidates looking to unseat incumbent U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley in 2024.

Karla May enters Senate race, blasts Hawley

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

Calls incumbent a ‘traitor’

St. Louis. “Traitors were cheered on by Josh Hawley with his clenched fist held high. He then turned on his heels and ran from the rabid crowd he incited. Hawley violated our constitution. May’s main challengers for the Democratic nomination for Hawley’s Senate seat are Lucas Kunce and St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney

Wesley Bell. She did not attack either candidate in her speech. When asked about concerns with splitting Democratic – and primarily – Black voters in the St. Louis region and throughout the state, May said her candidacy “is not about race, personality or Black and white.”

Mayor Jones signs bill to help slow evictions

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

Mayor Tishaura O. Jones on Wednesday signed Board Bill 59, which will help provide access to legal representation for tenants facing eviction. The bill, which creates a Right to Counsel program, represents the “the city of St. Louis’ commitment to protecting renters while preventing families from ending up out on the street,” according to the mayor’s office. Jones was joined by Board of Aldermen President Megan Green, and Alderpersons Anne Schweitzer, Alisha Sonnier, Michael Browning, Shameem Clark-Hubbard, Rasheen Aldridge, and local tenants for the bill signing.

“In a city where almost 60% of households are renters, this bill demonstrates St. Louis’ commitment to strengthening tenant protections and reducing housing instability in our communities,” said Jones.

“When we protect tenants, when we make sure families have a place to stay, we are addressing a major root cause of crime in our neighborhoods and across our entire city. Today is just the first phase in what will be a long-term project, and it is important to remember it will take time

By Sarah Kellogg St. Louis Public Radio

for people unjustly convicted of felonies.

Gov. Mike Parson vetoed an omnibus bill last week with multiple provisions related to criminal law, many of which had broad bipartisan support. One of those provisions expanded who would be able to receive restitution from the state if they were exonerated after being convicted of a crime. Currently, those who are convicted of a felony but later exonerated through DNA evidence are eligible for restitution from the state. The vetoed legislation expanded that to also include those determined to be innocent through other evidentiary

See RESTITUTION, A6

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Dr. Keisha Scarlett shows her appreiation to the audience after being sworn in as the new superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools by board president Antionette “Toni” Cousins July 11, 2023 at Carr Lane Elementary.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Mayor Tishaura Jones

Darius Jackson, father to Keke

Palmer’s son, publicly shames her for a sheer dress she wore to Usher’s Las Vegas residency

Darius Jackson, father to Keke Palmer’s son Leodis is catching public scrutiny for shaming her online over an outfit she wore to Usher’s Las Vegas residency.

Palmer attended the residency with her friends wearing a black sheer Givenchy dress.

Jackson wasn’t happy with the outfit and expressed his disapproval for it on Twitter.

“It’s the outfit tho … you a mom,” Jackson, wrote in a tweet in response to a video of Palmer being serenaded by Usher and turning around to show the back of her dress.

Jackson expressed his displeasure even further in a follow up tweet.

“We live in a generation where a man of the family doesn’t want the wife & mother to his kids to showcase booty cheeks

to please others & he gets told how much of a hater he is,” he tweeted. “This is my family & my representation. I have standards & morals to what I believe. I rest my case.”

Da Boy has arrived:

Da Brat has given birth to a son with her wife Jesseca “Judy” Harris-Dupart

Da Boy has made his entrance into the world!

Da Brat gave birth to her son on Thursday, July 6. He came out weighing 7lbs, 8oz, and measured 20 inches long.

The new mother shares the child with her wife Jesseca “Judy” Harris-Dupart.

“I can’t BELIEVE he came out of me!” she told PEOPLE. “Feels like a dream. He’s PERFECT in every way.” As for how mom is feeling: “Very appreciative for such a blessing of our bundle of joy,” she says. “This journey has been more amazing than we could’ve ever imagined.”

The proud mothers named their son True Legend HarrisDupart. The couple used IVF to conceive with an egg from Harris-Dupart and used sperm from an anonymous donor.

Blueface questions his 6-yearold son’s sexuality

What was he thinking?

Blueface rightfully is receiving backlash for questioning his 6-year-old son’s sex uality after the young boy was looking for food instead of sitting in the living room with strippers.

The rapper posted a video on social media of var ious women wearing biki nis dancing in his living room. Then the clip panned over

to his son leaving the room to search for something to eat. Blue found his son in the pantry searching for food.

“It’s booty cheeks out here. You over here looking for chips and Slim Jim’s and s**t,” Blueface tells his son.

“I love Slim Jims,” the son says.

“You ain’t gay is you?” Blueface asks. The boy seemed confused by his question then after Blueface asked him several times he responded “No.”

“My man!” Blueface said before dapping his son up. “My dawg!” Blueface posted another disturbing clip. This time he was seen telling his son and other kids to sit tight while he entertains the scantily clad

“Y’all sit right here while I go fondle with these young women for a while, alright?” he tells the

Sources: Essence.com, Twitter.com, People.com, XXL.com

Darius Jackson

Blueface

Da Brat

“It’s not about party. It’s about people feeling represented.”

- Actor Hill Harper on his candidacy for U.S. Senate in Michigan

Bostic’s poem laments ‘The Bullets’ impact on Black community

By Ashley Winters

The St. Louis American

Bobby Bostic, a St. Louis story of faith and perseverance, has published over 10 books, focusing on youth crime, mentorship, and breaking barriers that are placed through old systemic practices.

He mentors boys at local juvenile detention centers by helping them express themselves through poetry, teaching soft skills, preparing them for job interviews, and filling out college applications.

Bostic’s most recent poem, ‘The Terrible Bullet’ offers a conversation between Bostic and a bullet, which has human qualities. The first stanza reads:

Bullet can I ask you a question

Why are you so terrible in the wake of your onslaught things turn horrible

See how you rip through bodies and kill so many dreams.’

Bostic wrote the poem while he was at Southeast Correctional Center in solitary confinement. He was reading a newspaper and saw a story about a local woman who was killed. It made him think of the impact of gun violence. Bostic began to reflect on his own mistakes and how he grew up— thinking to himself, ‘Here I am serving life in prison and I should have never done what I did 20 years ago.’

Bostic grew up in the inner city of St. Louis in an impoverished community by a single mom on government assistance.

“We lived in extreme poverty which led me at an early age to commit petty crimes,” said the writer.

He broke into cars, and snatched purses which then led him to sell drugs, he said selling drugs came with a lot more than breaking into cars. It’s a different ball game. In the winter of 1995 at just 16 years old, he was arrested for robbery and sentenced to 241 years in prison.

After spending nearly 30 years in prison Bostic made parole and was released this past Fall.

For days Bostic couldn’t stop thinking about the story he had read in the newspaper, and that’s when he began to write his poem. Many of his prison mates read his poem, they felt moved by his honesty about the ripple effect of the bullet. Some asked for copies to send back home to their family and friends.

He wondered if the folks who killed that woman understood what they were doing by pulling the trigger and killing her.

A line in his poem reads ‘ The bullet is the cause of death, but it’s man who pulls the trigger.’

“As we mature we realize the unnecessary pain we caused living how we did,” said Bostic.

“My poem is an expression of how they were feeling.”

Bostic writes to heal, unfortunately, but laments that his poem still speaks to the society we live in.

“Man, I hate that my poem is timeless,” he said.

“We can’t keep ignoring what gun violence does, it’s more

Bobby Bostic has published over 10 books, focusing on youth crime, mentorship, and breaking barriers that are placed through old systemic practices. Bostic spends his time mentoring young boys at local juvenile detention centers by helping them express themselves through poetry.

than taking the life of someone or causing life-altering changes like becoming paralyzed. Gun violence ruins the lives of both individuals involved.”

Bostic reads his poem at high schools, using it as a tool to mentor the young boys he works with. He wants to teach them healthier ways to express all

their feelings, not just anger. He hopes they learn the importance of keeping a cooler head and how not to react so quickly when provoked, informing them that all their actions have a consequence.

“There is no limit to what my boys can do,” Bostic said. He calls them his boys because they are all of our children. He said he was once them, a misguided young person.

“I know I was a problem back then, but now I’m giving back. I’m a part of the solution.”

Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for the St. Louis American.

There’s a lot more riding on Metro Transit than people.

Like scoring a $5,000 signing bonus for starting a career with real benefits instead of just starting another job. Because right now, Metro Transit is hiring passionate people ready to make a living and a difference in our community.

Metro Call-A-Ride, MetroBus and MetroLink operators are wanted, as well as mechanics and electricians.

Join the team who gets our people where they want to go and our region where it needs to be.

Photo by Wiley Price I St. Louis American

Editorial/Commentary

Guest Editorial

The education numbers don’t lie

By Marc Morial

“Decades of research indicate that racism undergirds our public institutions and shapes various aspects of our contemporary society, including public policies. These policies, in turn, shape local school practices that impact the day-to-day experiences of students in classrooms. Even as schools are shaped by broader trends of racial inequality, they serve to maintain – or in rare cases disrupt – racial inequality for students and families.” – The Inequality Project, Columbia University.

Former Vice President and current Presidential candidate Mike Pence, who presided during the most aggressive rollback of civil rights in more than a century, brazenly told the nation this week he doesn’t believe there is racial inequity in the nation’s education system. Confronted with evidence to the contrary, he ducked the question. “I haven’t seen your studies. I don’t know the numbers.” We do know the numbers. And Pence is dead wrong.

ity with whites in almost none of them.

About twice as many Black students are taught by unqualified or underqualified teachers. Black boys are twice as likely as white boys to be suspended from school, and Black girls are three times as likely. Black students are more than twice as likely as white students to live in a home without broadband internet access.

A more recent study found that school districts where the majority of students enrolled are students of color receive $23 billion less in education funding than predominantly white school districts. Districts with a high percentage of students of color receive, on average, 16%, or about $2,200, less per student than largely white districts.

The National Urban League’s most recent Equality IndexTM for education was 74.3. Inspired by Three-Fifths Compromise of 1787, which counted Black Americans as “three-fifths” of a person, the Equality Index is the National Urban League’s semi-annual calculation of the social and economic status of Black Americans relative to whites. Under full equality, the Index would be 100.

Because of the lag in data collection and analysis, the most recent Equality Index does not capture the full effect of the learning disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, which hit Black students the hardest. But even before factoring in the pandemic, Black students lost ground since 2005, when the education Index was 77.2.

More than 100 separate metrics are used to calculate the education Index, and Black Americans have achieved par-

Unsurprisingly, the relative lack of resources and heavier disciplinary burden for Black students contribute to a persistent racial achievement gap: pre-pandemic, fewer than 15% of Black 8th-graders were reading at or above proficiency, compared to 42.5% of white 8th-graders. Only 13.6% of Black students were at or above proficiency in math, compared to almost 44% of white students.

Whether Pence really doesn’t “know the numbers” as he claims, we cannot say. But his choice not to acknowledge racial inequity in education aligns with the so-called “anti-woke” movement some extremist politicians have embraced, hoping to capitalize on a wave of white grievance and racial resentment.

Fortunately, a solid majority of Americans still reject the notion that racial inequality doesn’t exist. But if Pence and his fellow distorters of history have their way, the next generation of Americans will grow up oblivious to the effects of historic and systemic racism and allow white supremacy not only to persist but flourish.

Marc Morial is National Urban League president and CEO

Commentary

A democratic hope in Deep South

By Ben Jealous

A year in which there are only three races for governor’s seats, all in the Deep South, wouldn’t normally create a lot of political speculation. Kentucky’s popular Democratic incumbent may have a tough race, and chalking up Louisiana and its neighbor to the east to a Republican would be typical conventional wisdom.

But “Mississippi Miracle” may well become the catchphrase of this election season. Brandon Presley is making a strong bid to become the first Democratic elected governor in the Magnolia State this century.

Presley (yes, Elvis from Tupelo is a cousin) has won a seat on the state’s Public Service Commission four times, where he’s opposed a huge coal-fired power plant and a proposal to dump nuclear waste in Mississippi and fought to expand internet access in rural areas.

He’s hard to pin as a typical Democrat. He lowered taxes and balanced budgets as a mayor, endorsed George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election and describes himself as a pro-life Christian (which he is quick to note demands supporting health care, education, and seniors as well).

which he says will improve health care to low-income residents and save nearly 40 Mississippi hospitals at risk of closing.

Reeves is unpopular even among his party’s voters. Six in 10 voters in a recent poll, including a third of Republicans and two thirds of independents, said they want “someone else” to be governor. While he’s campaigning on a raise he gave educators, the teachers union has endorsed Presley.

Presley was raised by a single mom who worked in a garment factory after his father was murdered. He’s told poor and working-class voters that they should see their own names on the ballot when they see his.

Nettleton, the town of about 2,000 people in the northeastern Mississippi that Presley hails from and he first became mayor at age 23, is split about 60% White and 40% Black like the state as a whole but has a median income $10,000 below the median in one of the poorest states in the country.

It’s no surprise that Presley is campaigning on issues that matter most to those voters. He responded to Gov. Tate Reeves’ state of the state address outside a shuttered rural hospital to highlight his $1 billion Medicaid expansion plan,

The incumbent has been tied to a scandal in which up to $94 million in welfare funds were diverted to pet projects of the state’s most powerful while many families in need were being denied $170 a month in assistance. It’s a particularly salient issue at this moment when Mississippi and other states are beginning to seek and spend hundreds of billions in federal dollars to build infrastructure and create clean energy jobs. Presley will need a big turnout from the 38% of Mississippi voters who are Black. He’s not well known in Jackson and the southern end of the state where most of them live. He had the endorsement of Rep. Bennie Thompson, the state’s only Black member of Congress, almost immediately after announcing his campaign (the last Democrat who ran did not).

Black and low-income voters would gain much from Medicaid expansion and Presley’s plan to cut Mississippi’s regressive 7% grocery tax. Having suffered with a Republican leading the state a decade ago, they’d have a champion as governor as legislative and congressional districts are redrawn in response to the census this time around.

Even more broadly, a Presley victory and his economic proposals might begin to shift what’s been a historical migration pattern for Blacks out of the state.

No state can thrive indefinitely letting its best and brightest look for opportunity elsewhere. Mississippi may decide to turn off that spigot in November.

Ben Jealous is executive director of the Sierra Club and a University of Pennsylvania professor

As

Time to act on crime, violence and police reform

By Andrew M. Cuomo and Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.

America 2023: tumultuous times. Yes. Yet, amidst the greatest domestic challenges of American history, our nation has attempted to respond to the challenges through transformative public policy initiatives that have moved America toward a more perfect inclusive union.

Today there are new challenges to be sure, but also there are ongoing battles that have yet to be won. There are civil rights struggles and conditions that harken back to the 1960s that still abuse people of color every day, that still deny justice, equality and opportunity for all.

There’s an old saying: The first step to solving a problem is admitting it — and the first step can be painful.

There is still gross inequity in our education system, between rich school districts and poor districts. There is still inequality in access to healthcare, employment, to financial credit and there is a basic violation of civil and human rights in our criminal justice system.

Misguided pseudo-progressive policies such as “defund the police” and soft on crime procedures are literally contributing to the killing of hundreds of Black people and other people of color every day across America.

The truth is, crime is out of control in this country, especially in too many of our cities. While many choose to turn a blind eye, it is people of color who are the majority of the victims: People of color account for 73 percent of rape victims; 72 percent of robbery victims; and 80 percent of felony assault victims; and 68.7 percent of the people in prison are Black and brown and 44% percent of the people killed by police in the United States are Black and brown.

We do need police reform and reform of the entire justice system.

We need to reduce not increase concealed weapons in our cities.

We need to keep guns out of the hands of anyone under 21. We need to fill gaps in the background check system so it’s universal and nationwide.

And we need to bring back the assault weapons ban because weapons of war have no place on our streets or in our communities. Assault weapons enable the horrific mass shootings that continue to plague our country.

Third: We need to reduce recidivism. The vast majority of violent crimes are repeated by a small number of people who keep hurting others over and over.

Fourth: We need to have more effective alternatives to incarceration, safer jails, but dangerous and repetitive violent people must be taken off the streets to protect all Americans, and in particular for the most vulnerable who are disproportionately victimized by violence and crime in Black and brown communities.

One: we need to change the culture and premise of policing. Our basic police system was designed in the mid-1800s — a different time and place. Today, it’s estimated that less than 10% of police officers’ time is actually fighting violent crime. We need a different vision, we need to rethink how we police — 911 calls signal an emergency, and we need more specialized and better trained emergency responders for different needs: domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health, homeless issues, gang problems as well as violent crime in progress.

Second: We need dangerous guns off the streets and all guns away from dangerous and mentally ill people. By far, most gun crimes are committed in urban areas with handguns.

Fifth: We have to stop over criminalizing petty, non-violent acts. 80 percent of crimes are for misdemeanors, and many are petty non-violent acts. And some charges are deliberately vague and are subject to discretion that can be abused by police, like loitering, vagrancy, trespass, or failure to pay a fine. In fact, some of the most horrific examples of police abuse occurred when a minor crime arrest escalated: Eric Garner killed for selling loose cigarettes; Rodney King beaten within an inch of his life for speeding; George Floyd killed for a bad $20 bill; Alton Sterling killed for selling CDs; Philando Castile killed for a broken taillight; and, Michael Brown killed for jaywalking. We believe that the time to act is now. These specific categories of civil rights have been violated for too long and the time to make a difference is surely too short. As a nation we cannot afford to remain silent about extremists’ hatred, violence, crime, and the fear-filled deterioration of American cities and towns. This is for us a sense of urgency and civic responsibility. We have decided to work and act together, and to speak out publicly with recommended common sense solutions to crime, violence, guns, and police reform that we know the majority of the American people support.

Andrew M. Cuomo served as the 56th Governor of New York from 2011 to 2021, and is former Attorney General of New York.

Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr is National Newspaper Publishers Association president and CEO

Columnist Ben Jealous

Columnist

Marc H. Morial

Guest Columnist Andrew M. Cuomo

Guest Columnist Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.

Urban Expo Back to School Fair August 3-6

St. Louis American staff

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) will host the Urban Expo Back to School & Community Empowerment Festival August 3-6, 2023, at the America’s Center in Downtown St. Louis.

The summer event attracts over 27,000 residents and offers book bags, shoes, and school supplies to youth. SLPS officials will be onsite to assist with transportation, enrollment, and other school related questions and concerns.

The festival includes over 350 partners. Nonprofit and civic organizations provide information on topics such as housing, jobs, public safety, and education; as well as social services including health screenings, utility assistance and financial literacy.

The Expo Career Fair is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday August 4 and will feature more than 60 companies. Resumes and business attire are requested for the event, and supportive services will be available.

The Fair is sponsored by the Regional

Business Council, Urban League SOS program, stl.works, and Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. Onsite hiring and job placement opportunities are available to qualified attendees.

The Urban Expo will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, August 5. Booths include two chairs, a skirted table signage for the participating company’s name and more.

Volunteers are needed to help the four-day educational and entertainment expo run smoothly.

“Without volunteers, the Expo would be far more limited in what it can do for our community,” said Michael McMillian, Urban League president and CEO.

All attendees are required to visit all the resource booths before receiving free items. Festival highlights include health screenings, social and senior services opportunities, haircuts, live entertainment, and free food.

For more information on volunteering, Career Fair and Urban Expo booths please visit www. ulstl.com

American ‘exceptionalism’ excludes women

By Julianne Malveaux

Our United States of America loves to brag about our advancements. We are the biggest, the best, the most progressive and the most democratic. We believe that people, no matter who they are, deserve a voice. We have invaded other people’s countries to make that point. We talk about our democracy, our exceptionalism. The data don’t bear us out.

The World Economic Forum says it will take 131 years, internationally, to close the gender gap with economics, politics, STEM engagement and more.

It ranks the United States as 46th in gender parity, behind Norway and Iceland (1 and 2), the United Kingdom (15), France, Columbia, Switzerland, the Philippines and South Africa.

These countries do better than ours because they have policies that support families, instead of penalizing them for simply existing. Our country took a step in the right direction after COVID when we chose to provide unemployment benefits, child services, and more for challenged families. Now, we have leaders who would punish those who want to uphold families.

The gender pay-gap bleeds over to the life gap. Women who don’t earn enough can’t contribute enough to the candidates of their choice. No matter what they think or feel, they can’t support at the level of the predatory capitalist men who have attempted to craft a world that allows them to rule. At the root of the gender pay gap, there is an oppression that sidelines women’s voices. And some of the strange fruit of the root is the way many women buy into our own oppression.

As long as the American economy is introducing great results, the inequity in these results is hidden. GDP growth is robust, unemployment rates are low, at the macro level all is good. Down here on the ground, not so much. Down here on the ground, too many are wondering what will happen next. Down here on the ground, low unemployment rates, coupled with low wages, mean that a robust labor market is not a robust paycheck.

Thus, the myth of American exceptionalism is a story of illusion and delusion. Where is the exceptionalism for women, when a world body ranks us as 46th, not in the top 3? When our wealth gap is greater than that in developing countries? When it is not just our economics but also our politics that sideline women? When we are content to accept a century before we can effect change?

American exceptionalism is a lie if it does not lift all of us up. Exceptional for women? For women of color, especially Black women? Exceptional for other Black people? Exceptional means special, outrageous, amazing.

Can we, somehow, get over ourselves? Can we shrug off the constraints of American exceptionalism to speak candidly about our flaws? Can we decide that American exceptionalism does not serve women, Black folks, other marginalize people and then some?

There is an African saying that “women hold up half the sky.”

We hold up the sky but we are marginalized and it will take more than a century for us holding up half the sky, to get the equality we deserve. As long as women are marginalized, our nation misses out on its purpose. And it’s not just women in general, it’s Black women, Latinx women, Indigenous women. It’s those who are marginalized by class.

American exceptionalism is a bald-faced lie, a horrible illusion, when those who hold up the sky are systematically ignored. Julianne Malveaux is an economist and dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at California State University, Los Angeles.

Julianne Malveaux

Free back-to-school haircuts are available during the Urban Expo Back to School & Community Empowerment Festival August 3-6 at America’s Center.

Photo courtesy of Urban League

Volunteers needed for event

Restitution

Continued from A1

methods. It also increased how much restitution they received per day to $179 as opposed to $100.

Parson said in a statement he did not “believe every taxpayer across the state should be responsible for prosecutorial errors made at the local level.”

Williams, D-University City, said that legislation was a logical extension of what was already in state law.

“We want to just make sure that everyone is eligible under the current law to be able to receive restitution if they were wrongfully imprisoned. And this is just what it simply comes down to,” Williams said.

Gwen Smith, criminal justice policy manager with justice advocacy group Empower Missouri, said that it is fair for

May

Continued from A1

“It’s not about Democrat or Republican. It’s about what is right and what is wrong.”

Bell said in a statement he was aware of May’s pending announcement.

“I know her, I consider her a friend, hugged her and wished her well. Everyone has a right to run. This is the democratic process and ultimately vot-

taxpayer dollars to go toward restitution efforts and that the only way to uncover more cases of wrongful conviction is if courts are willing to reopen them.

“I would certainly, as a taxpayer in Missouri, rather have the court spend time reopening those cases and examining those than have more and more people continue to remain in our prisons for crimes that they did not commit,” Smith said.

Smith said the increase in restitution would have put Missouri more in step with federal standards.

“Federal restitution standards are about $50,000 annually. I think the $179 a year would have put us at doing $65,000 annually in restitution costs,” Smith said.

Williams, who worked on the legislation, said it was disappointing that Parson vetoed it, especially since it had bipartisan support and made it

ers will decide,” Bell said.

Kunce also welcomed May into the race in a statement.

“The state Senator and I spoke on the phone ahead of the announcement, and we had a great conversation. I’m happy to welcome her to the race and look forward to seeing her on the trail.”

May cited her past political races, especially her state representative race in 2012 where she defeated a white and Black candidate, respectively.

through both chambers this session.

“I just hope it doesn’t set precedent for those types of bills being vetoed in the future,” Williams said.

Missouri’s restitution

“I’m not locked into any specific [voting bloc.]”

She served as the 8th District state representative for eight years before being elected the 4th District senator in November 2018.

The 4th District is one of the most diverse senatorial districts in Missouri. It includes parts of St. Louis city, Richmond Heights, Shrewsbury, Clayton, Hadley, Jefferson, Gravois, and Maplewood.

She chose a city location for her campaign

laws have gained attention after the exonerations of Kevin Strickland and Lamar Johnson.

A jury convicted Strickland in 1979 of killing three people in Kansas City. Similarly,

announcement because “I was born and raised in St. Louis.”

“Like anyone who calls St, Louis home, it has lifted my spirit and broken my heart. But I love this city.”

The outcome of the Democratic race, which also includes Columbia, Mo. community activist December Harmon, will also hinge on fundraising. Kunce currently holds an advantage since he declared his candidacy in January, but the

Lamar Johnson waves to the media on Feb. 14 after being released from custody at the Carnahan Courthouse — a part of Missouri’s 22nd Judicial Circuit — in downtown St. Louis. Johnson was released after being convicted and jailed for nearly 30 years for a murder he did not commit.

Lamar Johnson spent nearly three decades in prison for first-degree murder.

Strickland’s conviction was overturned in 2021, while Johnson was freed in February.

Democratic primary is

more than a year away on August 9, 2024.

“If you look at [my past races] I was always outraised. People have always underestimated me,” May said while also sharing scripture from the Bible.

A Black candidate has never won a statewide office in Missouri, a fact that does not deter May.

“If you have the right candidate, you can win statewide,” she said while backed by dozens of cheering supporters.

May was introduced by Lew Moye, president emeritus of the St. Louis Chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, and she has been a member of the local chapter of Communication Workers of America for more than 20 years.

Many of her supporters at the Civil Courts Building are CWA members, the organization which was having its national convention in St. Louis this week.

Among politicians who attended May’s announcement were state Sen. Steve Roberts and St. Louis Sheriff Vernon Betts. Neither have said they are endorsing May.

Kunce’s endorsements include retired William Clay Sr., St. Louis Board

Neither of them was exonerated through DNA evidence, meaning they do not qualify for restitution under state law.

Johnson testified in front of a Senate committee in support of restitution reform in the state.

Williams said Johnson, Strickland and others deserve to be made whole for a mistake the government made.

“I just at the moment don’t see the argument of not allowing the state to take responsibility for folks when the government made a mistake and sent them to prison in the first place,” Williams said.

Williams said he spoke about the bill with Parson’s office, which shows they may be interested in working to pass some form of reform.

“I feel very confident that we’ll be able to create the coalition that we had this year to get that bill back across the finish line next year,” Williams said.

Louis County Council members Rita Days and Shalonda Webb. He also has the backing of the state AFL-CIO.

Bell recently announced that he had secured the endorsement of Ferguson Mayor Ella Jones, who initially endorsed Kunce. She is joined by nine other North County mayors in support of Bell.

Also endorsing Bell are Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker and state Rep. Deb Lavender (D-Manchester).

While the Democratic campaigns will intensify, May only had one target on Tuesday. She was critical of Hawley early and often in her speech, saying that he is among the forces whose goal “is to instill fear and hate in our community.”

“I see a state and a nation that has been torn apart. Thread after thread ripped from their place in an effort to unravel the very fabric of this great nation,” she said.

“Banning books, whitewashing history, and the codification of laws that enshrined fear and hate into our society.”

May said “I can hear the call to lead again,” as her supporters “All the way with Karla May.

Photo by Brian Munoz / St. Louis Public Radio

of Aldermen President Megan Green, and St.

ing and math) teacher and remains a strong advocate of STEAM (arts added) education. Her definition, however, is intertwined with what she calls “educational justice” and “identity-building.”

Scarlett was the chief academic officer and assistant superintendent of academics for Seattle Public Schools (SPS), before being chosen (out of 49 applicants) to replace former SLPS superintendent Kelvin Adams, who retired last year.

A product of Seattle public schools, Scarlett has served in a variety of educational roles, including human resource director, teacher and principal. Among her many accomplishments, she implemented a plan to increase early literacy among African American boys and other marginalized students.

Her beliefs are grounded in her roots. She’s the youngest of three children. Her parents are pastors in Seattle. Her mother was a special education teacher and counselor as well as a gospel recording artist. Her father, she said, had

Evictions

Continued from A1 for providers to scale this effort up to meet the needs of St. Louis families.”

Supported with $685,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, the program will require the participation of legal service providers. There is flexibility to adjust funding in future years. The initial program, which is set to begin on

“all kinds of jobs,” but was best known as a barber and cosmetologist in Seattle.

As a student, Scarlett excelled in math. Although it wasn’t labeled “STEAM” at the time, her parents made sure she was just as accomplished academically as she was socially.

“My parents made me feel very proud of myself as a young Black girl and then I also had the academic identity to undergird that,” she explained, adding: “So there were no barriers that were presented that I wasn’t able to navigate.”

“My mother is a full-contact lover of people. For her, education was an extension of mothering. I saw her show the same love and concern toward children who weren’t her biological children as her own.”

It’s been mentioned in several interviews that the educator is an avid Tupac Shakur fan. It’s true, she said, reminiscing about the time she jumped on stage when the rapper performed at her college, Clark Atlanta University, in 1993. Prince, she added with a shy chuckle, is also one of her favorites.

Scarlett speaks specifically about having “culturally responsive educators”

July 1, 2024, will focus on zip codes with high rates of eviction. These could include 63103, 63101, 63111, 63118, 63112.

“Today, St. Louis becomes the 22nd jurisdiction in the country to put a right to counsel for eviction cases in place and it could not come at a more opportune time,” said Green.

“Between the ongoing affordable housing crisis and the end of COVIDera moratoria, tenants are in a precarious position.

with “love-eyes” in public schools.

“You can’t be who you don’t see,” she explained. “Our young people need to see people who look like them, who have all kinds of different interests…they need exposure to them so they can have bigger access to whatever opportunities they want.”

Public schools, she emphasized, are intended to be “the families” that many children-especially marginalized children of color-may not.

“It should be compul-

Balancing the relationship between landlords and tenants is key to addressing housing insecurity in our city. And I’m grateful to renters, advocates, Mayor Jones’s administration, and my colleagues at the board for working together to make this possible.”

Cities including Kansas City, San Francisco, and New Orleans have implemented similar programs to support tenants who lack access to legal support during the eviction process.

sory,” Scarlett explained. “Children should come into environments where people love them, where they are seen and valued and have unlimited opportunities with people who look at them with loveeyes, who focus on their capabilities without putting constraints on them.”.

She’s a “warm demander,” Scarlett said in describing her leadership style. It means she works to get parents, adults and teachers engaged then gently demands that they show up and do the neces-

“As eviction rates continue to soar, this program will keep families in their homes, protecting them from the devastating and often lifelong impact of displacement, and begin to address the systemic inequities in our housing system that hurt us all,” said Shuron Jones, lead organizer at Homes for All St. Louis:

“Our collective work to make housing justice a reality does not end here, and lawmakers must take additional action to protect

sary work to help students achieve.

“It’s about collective impact. It’s for all of us to participate in the solution…families, communities, businesses, stakeholders. It’s a team effort for us to move the needle forward and ensure students have unlimited educational opportunities.”

When asked about the challenges SLPS faces, Scarlett said they are the same that urban school districts face across the nation, which includes student post-pandemic achievement, school safety, overall decline in enrollment and people’s perceptions of school quality.

The October 2022 shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School put St. Louis on Scarlett’s radar. She was glued to her TV after a 19-year-old former student killed a teacher and a 15-year-old student at the school. She said she was impressed with how the SLPS staff, the superintendent, the school board, parents and students responded to the tragedy.

“I was there in that scenario, I felt it. But little did I know two weeks later, Seattle would have its own shooting,” Scarlett said referring to the

renters in St. Louis who are burdened by high costs and low wages. Homes for All will continue to organize for the housing future our communities deserve, our next priority being a city-wide Tenant Bill of Rights.”

11th ward resident and father Damon Starks, who has been evicted, said “Eviction never impacts just a single person.”

“This is how we protect our communities.”

In addition to Board Bill 59, the city has other

November 2022 incident where a 17-year-old student shot and killed a14year-old inside Seattle’s Ingraham High. “We’re all vulnerable,” she added. “There are all kinds of ways for us to be violated, be it at a school or the mall, but I still maintain that schools are the safest places for our kids.”

Scarlett credits her predecessor, Dr. Adams, for leaving her with an improved and better-functioning school district. When asked about her goals and ambitions, she provided a spiritual, philosophical and even geographical response.

“I have a strong faith in God’s plan and purpose. I believe I was sent here as part of a divine plan and I’m unapologetic about that.

“This is the Gateway City, right? It was a portal to the west. I believe we are poised for a rebirth and renaissance to move forward as one of the greatest cities in the country,” Scarlett said.

“There are a lot of opportunities here, we just have to make sure kids who’ve been most marginalized and most disenfranchised have access to opportunities.”

programs designed to provide resources to help families stay housed, expand a pool of affordable housing, and promote homeownership.

According to the Jones administration, through rental assistance the city has helped nearly 5,000 families pay rent during the height of the COVID19 pandemic. In partnership with the RETAF coalition, dozens of homes were saved from foreclosure and tax sale.

St. Louis Public Schools Board President Antionette ‘Toni’ Cousins takes a photo with Dr. Keisha Scarlett, new superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools, before the school board meeting July 11, 2023 at Carr Lane Elementary.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

American Foundation introduces its 10 Anheuser-Busch scholars

By American staff

The St. Louis American Foundation partnered with the Anheuser-Busch Foundation to award 10 deserving college level juniors and seniors with a $5,000 scholarship for their upcoming semester. These students were selected based on academic performance, community involvement, and professor recommendation.

The St. Louis American Foundation is thrilled to be able to recognize these scholars and look forward to having them celebrated in person at our Salute to Excellence in Education awards gala in November.

Gerald Burton Jr

Gerald Burton Jr. is a Webster University student who desires to use his narrative to tell vivid stories of the community in which he was raised.

“I’ve always dreamed of having the opportunity to depict my neighborhood as a cemented garden through journalism, in hopes of someday publishing a novel detailing how I was shaped by the journey I’ve endured as a proud St. Louis child.” Burton says he is enthusiastic about using his voice to inspire others to embrace their backgrounds. “I yearn to utilize my platform and my opportunities to not only further my own educational experiences, but to be a spark for my neighborhood.”

Candace Carr

versity of Missouri. Fritz says she always turned to art as a method to express herself while she grew up in a low-income neighborhood. She is a National Congressional Art Competition winner, and her social justice piece was displayed in the U.S. Capital. She founded Mizzou Black Creatives and serves as president while she studies English Education. She is former president and co-chair of Freshman Action Team and Mystical 7, former vice President of National Alliance of Black School Educators, and Spring ‘23 initiate of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, INC.

Lailah Christina Hall

in St. Louis as a clinical research data assistant studying child psychopathology. Upon graduation, Hopper plans to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with plans to be a clinical child psychologist.

N’Kayla Jones

Candace Carr is a rising junior majoring in multimedia journalism with a minor in Rhetoric & Media Studies at Drake University. She is a student leader, student publication writer, and loves creating multimedia content for social media. Carr is “deeply inspired” by community advocacy and community storytelling and hopes to translate this inspiration into creating intentional content and a culturally responsive journalistic career.

Nya Fritz

N’ya Fritz is a visual artist and student from Kansas City who attends the Uni-

Lailah Christina Hall is a rising senior studying Agribusiness at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. She has served as president of the Florida Farm Bureau Chapter at FAMU, secretary of community affairs for the Student Government Association, and was an inaugural scholar for several research programs. She was recently awarded the 2023 Trailblazer Award for her outstanding contribution to the campus and the Tallahassee community, as well as the 2023 Servant Leader Award for her efforts in the Student Government Association. Lailah Hall is a Spring ‘23 Initiate of the Beta Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Neleh Hopper

N’Kayla Jones is a rising senior at Tennessee State University, majoring in Biology with a minor in African Studies. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Alpha Psi Chapter and The National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, Incorporated, Women of Empowerment, The Frankie J. Pierce Federated Chapter. Following her undergraduate years, she plans to attend medical school to pursue my dream of becoming a pediatrician.

Maya Owens

Khyree Plair

Khyree Plair is a student leader at Webster University, entering her senior year. She is a proud Dr. Donald Suggs Scholar, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in management with an emphasis in Human Resources and a minor in Film, Television, and Video Production. At Webster, she is currently an active member of the WebsterLEADS program and serves as the Student Advisor for the Association of African American Collegians. Plair has also served as president of the Student Government Association, Peer Mentor in FirstYear Experience. She has been a member of Backpack to Briefcase along with Aspen Young Leaders Fellowship and is currently a part of the Competitive Advantage program through the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management. She is currently an intern at Edward Jones

in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion department through her school’s Pathway Program. She will be studying abroad in Athens, Greece for the Fall semester.

Chelsea Robinson

Chelsea Robinson is a senior majoring in Business Administration with minors in Journalism and Marketing at Lincoln University. Robinson is from South Bend, Indiana and was raised in Missouri. She moved to Jefferson City in 2019 with her two children, after being accepted into the university. Robinson is an entrepreneur, leader, mentor, and motivator in her community. Balancing work and school she dedicated herself to multiple jobs while also being president of NACWC Adult Club and Queens United Leadership Academy, Inc., and member

of the Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., St. Louis Alpha Zeta Chapter. After graduating in 2024, Robinson plans to further her education and obtain her MBA, while opening a store front displaying her many business platforms. “This is only the beginning, I’m aiming for the sky,” she says.

Myles Toliver

Myles Toliver is a rising senior at Saint Louis University with a Business Marketing Major. Myles says he is driven to enhance his experience within the field, and is a third-year intern at World Wide Technology. He is a member of the Alpha Eta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., president of the African American Male Scholars Initiative, Undergraduate Representative of the SLU Writing Across the Curriculum Group, and Black Student Alliance. After graduation, Tolliver aspires to utilize his skills within the technology industry.

Neleh Hopper is a junior at Duke University majoring in psychology with minors in African & African American studies and Spanish. This summer she is working at Washington University

Maya Owens is a rising senior at Hampton University in Hampton, Va. She is a Political Science major with a minor in Leadership Studies on the pre-law track. Her career goal is to become a judge. While maintaining her dean’s list status, Owens is a Leadership Fellow at the William R. Harvey Leadership Institute, a member of the Blue Thunder Cheerleading Squad, Miss NAACP, and a member of the B.R.A.G. organization on campus. She has served over 400+ community service hours as a residence assistant in the White Hall dorm on campus and participated in the Red Cross Blood Drive. She volunteers at T.E.A.M. Food Pantry and collaborates with the choir at Hazelwood Central High School.

Gerald Burton Jr

Candace Carr

Nya Fritz

N’Kayla Jones

Khyree Plair

Myles Toliver

Lailah Christina Hall

Maya Owens

Chelsea Robinson

Neleh Hopper

Pilot program can help land home loans

U.S. Bank has selected St. Louis and 10 other cities to introducing its Access Home Loans program. Up to $12,500 can be provided in down payment assistance.

level of financial support that can make sustainable homeownership a reality for underserved populations.”

American staff

St. Louis is one of 11 markets where U.S. Bank Access Home Loans are available to help more individuals and families overcome obstacles to homebuying.

As part of a mortgage Special Purpose Credit Program (SPCP), Access Home Loans provide up to $12,500 in down payment assistance and up to an additional $5,000 lender credit.

U.S. Bank has committed $100 million over the next five years to the Access Home Loan program, which is now available to qualified buyers in multiple markets. The new mortgage offering aligns with the U.S. Bank Access Home initiative focused on advancing Black homeownership, according to the banking company.

“We know that homeownership is the No. 1 way to build long-term wealth, but far too many minority families and individuals simply can’t come up with the upfront costs to buy a home,” said Lenny McNeill, who leads strategic markets and affordable lending for U.S. Bank.

“There was a need that needed to be met. Our Access Home initiative and, now the U.S. Bank Access Home Loan, provide the

In addition to down payment assistance and lender credit, buyers using the Access Home Loan have the option to use lender credit to buy down their interest rate, a way for borrowers to obtain a lower interest rate at closing. According to the National Association of Realtors, the gap in homeownership rates between white Americans (72.7%) and Black Americans (44%) is at its highest in a decade at 29%. The rate of homeownership among Hispanic Americans (50.6 %) and Asian Americans (62.8%) also falls below the white American homeownership rate.

Features of the U.S. Bank Access Home Loan include:

• Down payment as low as 3%

• Up to $12,500 in down payment assistance

• Up to $5,000 lender credit that can be used toward closing costs, including the ability to buy down mortgage interest rate

• Borrower can combine with other down payment assistance grants and programs

• $1,000 minimum contribution from borrower’s own funds

Prospective borrower qualifications include:

• Borrower must currently reside in a majority/ minority location, determined by census tract data

• Borrower income is equal to or below the HUD Area Median Income in the area where they want to buy. If borrower income is above the median income, subject property must be in a low-to-moderate income census tract

• In most cases, a FICO Score of at least 640 is needed. Alternative credit data like your monthly rent, utility payments, income and employment information may be used.

Joining St. Louis as pilot markets are Las Vegas, Little Rock, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Oakland, Fresno, San Diego, and Riverside/San Bernadino

Photo courtesy of U.S. Bank

Jackson, Miss. Is America’s “Blackest City”

St. Louis not in top 25

NNPA Newswire

A recent report by the Brookings Institution revealed that the internal migration patterns of African Americans in the United States have contributed to “Black-majority cities.”

These urban areas, where African Americans constitute a significant portion of the population, have become magnets for individuals seeking more substantial opportunities and sustainable living.

Experts project that the United States will transform into a minority-white country by 2045, as racial minorities, including African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians, are set to become the primary drivers of the country’s economy.

Census experts attribute this transformation to two reasons: the combined racial minority population is projected to grow by a staggering 74% between 2018 and 2060, while the aging white population is expected to experience a decline during the same period.

Jackson, Mississippi, widely regarded as the “Blackest city” in America, is at the forefront of this demographic shift. With African Americans constituting over 80% of the city’s population, Jackson is a testament to the vitality and prominence of African American culture and influence.

Looking at the state level, Texas boasts the highest African American population, with 3.55 million individuals, followed closely by Georgia and Florida.

The following ten urban areas have the highest percentage of African American residents:

1. Jackson, Mississippi Total Population: 149,813 African Americans: 122,612 Percentage: 81.84%

2. East Orange, New Jersey Total Population: 68,893 African Americans: 55,087 Percentage: 79.96%

3. Lauderhill, Florida Total Population: 73,461 African Americans: 58,704 Percentage: 79.91%

4. Detroit, Michigan Total Population: 632,589 African Americans: 484,779 Percentage: 76.63%

5. Albany, Georgia Total Population: 67,146 African Americans: 49,281 Percentage: 73.39%

6. Birmingham, Alabama Total Population: 196,410 African Americans: 139,691 Percentage: 71.12%

7. Southfield, Michigan Total Population: 75,901 African Americans: 48,391 Percentage: 63.76%

8. Montgomery, Alabama Total Population: 198,659 African Americans: 126,268 Percentage: 63.50%

9. Memphis, Tennessee Total Population: 628,118 African Americans: 398,824 Percentage: 63.50%

10. Miami Gardens, Florida Total Population: 110,881 African Americans: 68,121 Percentage: 61.44% Baltimore (Md.), Shreveport (La.), New Orleans, Mount Vernon (N.Y.), Macon (Ga.), Augusta (Ga.), Mobile (Ala.), Baton Rouge (La.), Portsmouth (Va.), Savannah (Ga.), Trenton (N.J.), Cleveland (Ohio), Hampton (Va.), and Newark (N.J.), rounded out the top 25 cities with the highest African American population.

‘Taking Care of You’

Rising maternal mortality rate worse among Black moms

Three-time Olympic track Gold Medalist Tori Bowie died in June while undergoing childbirth in her home, according to the Orange County Medical Examiner Office in Florida. Possible complications from respiratory distress and sudden high blood pressure led to the tragedy, according to the autopsy. A report released Monday shows that nationally the maternal mortality rate is two to four times higher for the non-Hispanic Black population than non-Hispanic whites.

Up to four times higher than whites

By Kelcie Moseley-Morris Missouri Independent

A University of Washington study released Monday shows maternal mortality rates more than doubled in some states between 1999 and 2019, with sharp increases for some racial and ethnic groups.

Published in the Journal for the American Medical Association, the report showed five states with a 93% increase in Black maternal mortality rates: Louisiana, New Jersey, Georgia, Arkansas and Texas.

Nationally, the maternal mortality rate is two to four times higher for the non-Hispanic Black population than

n According to Kimberly Holland, Bowie’s agent, Tori Bowie “didn’t trust hospitals.”

non-Hispanic whites, the research showed.

Last month, Tori Bowie, a threetime Olympic medalist in track and field died while undergoing childbirth in her home, according to the Orange County Medical Examiner Office in Florida. Her unborn child did not survive.

According to Kimberly Holland, Bowie’s agent, Bowie “didn’t trust

hospitals.”

“She wanted to make sure that the baby was going to be okay with her being in control,” Holland said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women are three times more likely than White women to die from pregnancy-related causes.

“There are systemic barriers that we face in regard to racism, sexism and income inequality, and that shows up in our healthcare system,” said Dr. Regina Davis Moss, president and CEO of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice

Hepatitis, a global health problem

By Denise Hooks-Anderson

Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver that can be caused by heavy alcohol use, medications, and toxins but often hepatitis is caused by infections from different viruses such as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. The liver is a vital organ that filters the blood, processes nutrients, and fights infection. If the liver is inflamed, it cannot function properly. The most common forms of hepatitis in the United States are hepatitis A, B, and C. Hepatitis A and E typically cause acute infections. Whereas, hepatitis B, C, and D cause acute and chronic infections. Many people are unaware that they may have an infection. Therefore, public awareness about hepatitis, transmission of the virus, prevention, and treatment are extremely important for public health worldwide. Hepatitis affects millions of people around the world and can cause serious health complications if not properly managed.

n Hepatitis affects millions of people around the world and can cause serious health complications if not properly managed.

With acute infections, symptoms can appear anytime between 2 weeks and 6 months. Fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, joint pain, light-colored stools, and jaundice (yellowing of skin and whites of eyes) are all symptoms of an acute hepatic infection. Chronic liver infections can later develop into cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. Approximately 354 million people worldwide live with hepatitis B or C. Hepatitis A

Anyone who has not been vaccinat-

Knowledge is power when confronting opioid crisis

Affinia focused on educating Black community

By JoAnn Weaver St. Louis American

St. Louis City has more deaths due to opioid overdose than any other county in Missouri, according to a statement from Affinia Healthcare.

Out of every 100,000 residents, 109 Black men die from opioid overdose, the highest rate in the state. White males die at a rate of

41.45 for every 100,000 residents, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

“The opioid crisis is having a significant impact on underserved populations – especially African-American men,” said Dr. Kendra Holmes, Affinia Healthcare president AND CEO.

The City of St. Louis Department of Health awarded Affinia Healthcare a $122,000 grant on July 5 to help increase awareness of ways to prevent and treat opioid misuse. The grant also provides funding to purchase Narcan, a medication used for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose.

“The overdoses directly affect younger, minority populations, the future of our communities.

The numbers are staggering. We want to make sure our communities are aware of how to avoid falling into this trap of addiction, and if they need help, Affinia Healthcare has evidence-based treatment programs to help them battle the condition,” Holmes said.

The grant is supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through a cooperative agreement for emergency response issued to the state of Missouri.

“What this means for the City of St. Louis is really getting the word out and just eliminating the stigma that we have in the Black community about substance use and opioid use,” Holmes said.

“That’s really one of the main issues that’s killing Black people is because we don’t talk about when people have substance abuse issues.”

Affinia has launched an awareness campaign targeting youth and residents of St. Louis City. The campaign will include radio advertising, print, bus media, and social media promotion. Narcan will also be promoted through this campaign to increase the availability in the general population.

“Part of the campaign will use videos and other tools to show how easy it

Photo courtesy of USA Track

Dr. Kendra Holmes

Denise HooksAnderson

‘Taking Care of You’

Finding ways to improve maternal health equity and healthier birthing outcomes

By Lindiwe Vilakazi Washington Informer

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) held its inaugural Health Equity Conference during the second week of June, with programming dedicated to primary health, dental health, health policy, and sessions aimed at improving maternal health equity and healthier birthing outcomes, particularly in BIPOC communities.

Recently, a new federal analysis reported an alarming surge in maternal death rates by

Opioid

Continued from A14

is to use Narcan and let the public know they can get the medication at any of our locations, free of charge,” Holmes said.

Affinia Healthcare provides substance misuse treatment through its Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program. As part of a comprehensive care program, patients work with medical and behavioral health professionals to treat the addiction.

“When I was actually [applying for] this grant, I was just thinking about you never see signs in like North St. Louis saying, ‘Hey, if you use opioids, this is where you can get Narcan from or informing people about how to use it,’” Holmes said.

“My vision with this is just to get the information out to tell people and let them know where the resources are because I think if you ask just the people in the general public, ‘Do you know where

Black moms

Continued from A14

Agenda.

The study assembled information about people who died while pregnant or up to one year afterward. Causes often include hemorrhage, heart conditions, infections, and high blood pressure, all of which can develop even months post-delivery, because of the ways the body changes and reacts to carrying and birthing a baby.

Dr. Greg Roth, a cardiologist and associate professor of medicine at the University of Washington, said the study did not evaluate potential causes of deaths, but the university intends

Anderson

Continued from A14

ed or previously infected can get hepatitis A. The hepatitis A virus is transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food or water or from direct contact with a contaminated person. The disease is mostly associated with poor sanitation, poor personal hygiene, unsafe water or food, and oralanal sex. Almost everyone fully recovers from hepatitis A with lifelong immu-

40% during the second year of the pandemic in 2021. When considering the modernized healthcare system offered in this age in 2023, the question begs as to why so many Black women are still facing traumatic, and at worst, grave complications during childbirth.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Maternal Mortality Report 2021, revealed major disparities. While Hispanic and White women faced increases as well, Black women neared a rate of almost 70 deaths per 100,000. Some of the top causes of maternal death

you can get Narcan? Do you know that you can get it for free?’ I don’t believe that that knowledge is in the Black community.” Holmes went on to talk about how the crisis not only affects adults, but research shows a significant increase in opioid-related deaths in children.

“The only other piece [about opioid deaths] is related to the accidental ingestion of opioids with children, and we’re seeing an increase in that occurring, and children dying because mom or dad has an opioid or fentanyl in the house and the kids ingested and the kids are dying,” she said.

With the aid of its grant, Affinia Healthcare is now offering Narcan in their pediatrics department.

“If you need this Narcan in your house, we want you to have it in case there is an accidental ingestion so that that child can be saved, no questions asked,” Holmes said.

Narcan is available to the public through Affinia Healthcare pharmacies and outreach initiatives.

to examine those subjects in follow-up studies. He said based on his own experience in medicine, the deaths often point to the conditions in which people live and work. The map of maternal mortality looks like the map of social determinants of health,” Roth said.

“Regardless of what the political situation is in a particular state, social determinants of health are going to drive maternal health.”

Studies over the past decade or more have often revealed large disparities between Black and white populations in maternal mortality rates, particularly in the South, where poor access to health care, gaps in insurance coverage and other social supports have historically been associated

nity. However, a very small proportion of people with hepatitis A infection could die. There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A and recovery can take weeks or months. The spread of hepatitis A can be reduced by having access to safe drinking water and food. Hepatitis A can also be reduced by improving personal hygiene such as washing hands before eating and after going to the bathroom. There are also several commercially available hepatitis A vaccines on the market.

have pointed to cases of eclampsia (as seen in the cause of death of the U.S. Olympic athlete Tori Bowie), hemorrhage, and even mental health-related issues.

Experts are making correlations between increasing maternal mortality rates and deeper flaws within health systems, highlighting structural racism, access to healthcare, and the dire need for equity-centered initiatives to lessen these

Ebony Marcelle

fatal gaps.

“These are traumatizing situations, and we are not doing what needs to be done. Anything happens at birth, but it happens to people of color in health instances all the time, and being able to have spaces where you are acknowledging that there is trauma going into, what can turn out to be traumatic— even beyond everyone’s best efforts, is so essential,” said Sinsi HernandezCancio, vice president

for Health Justice with the National Partnership for Women and Families, during the conference’s maternal health panel held in Howard University’s Blackburn building.

Chief Population Health Officer for CMS Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services Dr. Ellen-Marie Whelan sat with maternal health leaders to discuss the gaping holes in federal health policy, and the birthing disparities greatly caused by a lack of federal financial supports.

While running her own adolescent primary care clinic in Philadelphia, Whelan discovered a

bevy of roadblocks due to federal policy and regulations that have historically deprived needed services in maternal health spaces.

“’’What is valuebased care?’ is one of the first things. We are just paying wrong for care. Those doctors [giving poor maternal care in hospital spaces] make the same amount of money as someone who[provides patients with] better [birthing] outcomes,” Whelm said. “The system is broken, and that is what value-based care is supposed to be doing.”

with high mortality rates.

“One of the key messages here is that we have to focus on women’s health before, during, at the time of delivery, and after pregnancy,” Roth said. “That sounds a lot like easily accessed, universal, lowcost primary care along with high-quality obstetrician care.”

like Louisiana, which is limiting essential care

Recent data in Mississippi where a near-total abortion ban is in place, shows those trends are worsening. Doctors are expressing concern and confusion about reproductive health care laws in states

Dr. Regina Davis Moss

Researchers also noted large increases of more than 162% among Indigenous people in Florida, Kansas, Illinois, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin, where those spikes have not been highlighted as often. The data showed both physical conditions like hemorrhages and mental health were major contributors to their pregnancy-related deaths.

In the Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander category, five states saw an increase of over 83%: Kansas, Illinois,

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is most commonly transmitted via mother-baby during pregnancy or during delivery, as well as during contact with bodily fluids or blood from an infected partner during sex, unsafe injections, or exposures to sharp instruments. Hepatitis B can survive outside the body for at least 7 days. As a result, the virus can still cause infection in the body of a person who has not been protected by the vaccine. In 2019, hepatitis B result-

ed in an estimated 820,000 deaths, mostly from cirrhosis and liver cancer. About 2.7 million people worldwide who are living with hepatitis B are also infected with HIV.

Laboratory confirmation is needed to diagnose hepatitis B and to determine an acute or chronic infection. There is no treatment for acute hepatitis B infection but chronic hepatitis B can be treated with medications, including antivirals. Furthermore, there is a safe and effective vaccine that offers 98-100%

Missouri, Michigan, and Georgia.

Pregnant Hispanic people or those who’d recently given birth in Indiana, Minnesota, Georgia, Tennessee, and Illinois died more than twice as often in 2019 than two decades before.

Dr. Allison Bryant, a high-risk obstetriciangynecologist for Mass General Brigham in Massachusetts, said the data confirms much of what was already known about trends, but it is even more important now that 15 states have neartotal bans on abortion

People who become pregnant unintentionally and can’t get an abortion may become more likely to overdose or die by suicide, particularly those with existing addiction or

immunity. Safe sex practices such as limiting sexual partners and using barrier protection can also help prevent hepatitis B transmission.

Hepatitis C

Globally, an estimated 58 million people have chronic hepatitis C infection. Most infections occur from exposure to blood from unsafe injection practices, unsafe health care, un-screened blood transfusions, or sexual practices that lead to exposure to blood. Antivirals can cure

mental health issues.

Additionally, she said more pregnancies may be carried to term that aren’t healthy and could cause death rates to rise. Nationally, the maternal mortality rate is two to four times higher for the non-Hispanic Black population than nonHispanic whites, the research showed.

According to the study, the states of Oregon, Hawaii, Colorado, Illinois, Wisconsin, Delaware, Vermont, and Rhode Island had lower 2019 maternal mortality rates across all racial and ethnic groups, “suggesting that either underlying risk factors that drive maternal deaths are lower in these states, or that prevention efforts have had some success in these locations.”

more than 95% of persons with hepatitis C. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C.

Hepatitis infection is a global health problem and most people are unaware that they are infected. Please discuss with your personal provider about your risks for hepatitis. For more information, please go to www.cdc.gov

Denise HooksAnderson, MD, FAAFP Family Physician yourhealthmatters@ stlamerican.com

JULY 13 – 19, 2023

A community investment

By Ashley Winters St. Louis American

Invest STL is putting power back into the neighborhoods located in the West End and Visitation Park through their The Rooted: Cultivating Black Wealth in Place initiative. The 20-year timeline is committed to investing in people, property, and small businesses.

“The work is looking at supporting

‘Rooted’ initiative provides 20K to some city residents Cummings becomes first African American CWA president

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

Ameenah Salaam

Claude Cummings Jr. was elected president of the 600,000 member Communications Workers of America during the union’s 79th convention in St. Louis on July 10, 2023. He becomes the first Black person to guide the union in its 85-year history. The convention had another landmark election result when Ameenah Salaam was elected the union’s secretary-treasurer, becoming the first Black woman to hold the position.

Cummings Jr., who served as District 6 vice president which includes Missouri, breezed to victory in a runoff election over Ed Mooney with 59% of delegate votes. Cummings campaigned that he would create a more inclusive and progressive direction for the union. He said he had already changed some union practices and would change more if elected.

“Where others have talked about

residents in these neighborhoods,” said Dana Eskridge, Invest STL executive director.

“This is work we can complete in a generation’s time.”

The initiative will focus on investment in neighborhoods, neighborhood planning, and the power of influence and decision-making from residents. Its goal is to empower residents and help them remain members of a neighbor-

Listen up!

hood that is attracting new development.

The initiative hopes to create “a multi-generational approach to wealth building” by providing $20,000 to 50 participants that live in the city’s West End or Visitation Park neighborhoods who applied and qualified for the grant. Each participant will have access to free services including financial planning, credit

See INVESTMENT, B2

change, I have made change happen even inside of our own union,” he said.

Derrick Johnson, NAACP president and CEO, called Cummings’ election

PeoPle on the Move

Traci Thomas, COO of CEdge, is a recent Metro Area Professionals Organization (MAPO) awardee. Thomas has a BS in business administration and management from Columbia College. Thomas also has a master of arts in purchasing, procurement/ acquisitions from Webster University Additionally, she has a government contracting certificate in contracts management from Webster University In 2022, Thomas was named to Small Business Monthly’s list of Best Bosses in St. Louis.

Boatwright named chair of Catholic Health Assoc.

Catholic Health Association recently inaugurated Damond Boatwright as chairperson of the association’s board of trustees for 2023-24. Boatwright serves as president and CEO of Hospital Sisters Health System in Springfield, Illinois. He joined HSHS in June 2021, following his service as regional president of SSM Health in Wisconsin. Boatwright has received esteemed recognition, including Modern Healthcare’s Up and Comer Award in 2009 and 2010. In addition, Boatwright served as past chair of the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA). In 2020, Boatwright was named as a WHA Distinguished Leader.

Bola Akande named president of MCMA

Bola Akande, city administrator for the City of Brentwood, is the new president of the Missouri City/County Management Association (MCMA). She was elected during MCMA’s annual conference in May 2023. Akande has served as Brentwood’s city administrator since August 2011 and has more than three decades of experience in the public sector. She has held administrative and leadership positions in the cities of Richmond Heights, Mo.; The Woodlands, Texas; Flower Mound, Texas; and Oklahoma City.

Webster’s Trezette Dixon receives DEI scholarship

Webster University Internship Director Trezette Dixon, Ed.D. was recently named the recipient of the 2023 Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship from the Society of Experiential Education (SEE). Dr. Dixon will receive a one-year membership in the society and will be attending the SEE conference in Orlando, FL in September. Dixon holds a BA in Speech Communication and M.Ed. in Adult Education. She is also a certified Global Career Development Facilitator.

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

Dara Eskridge, executive director of Invest STL. Shot June 28, 2023 in the city’s Skinker-DeBaliviere Place neighborhood.

Traci Thomas

Damond Boatwright

Bola Akande

Trezette Dixon

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Claude Cummings, Jr. from Houston, Texas, became the first Black International President of the Communication Workers of America (CWA) Monday night at America’s Center Convention Complex in St. Louis on Monday, July 10, 2023.

Photo by David Carson

Cummings

Continued from B1

Americans.”

“His leadership and resilience serve as a beacon, illuminating the path for the next generation. His remarkable accomplishment reminds us that each step we take contributes to the collective march toward a society where racebased discrimination is a thing of the past.”

During his nomination speech, Local 6222 President Ray Rodriguez said Cummings “fights for workers regardless of age, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.”

“He will never, never, never, ever back down or walk away from an opportunity to make our members’ lives better,” Rodriguez said

“He will always file lawsuits and National Labor Relations Board charges to protect our members.”

Cummings began work at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company (now AT&T) in 1973 and worked as a Frame Attendant and Communications Technician, maintaining systems for businesses and agencies including NASA.

He is no stranger to groundbreaking accomplishments.

Prior to his election to District 6 vice president, Cummings was CWA Local 6222 vice president in Houston,

representing more than 8,000 members, having served previously in other leadership positions in the local, including vice president. Cummings was the first Black man elected to all the positions.

As District 6 Vice President Cummings led negotiations for CWA Bargaining Committees across the District which have led to wage increases, better medical benefits, signing bonuses, job security and additional jobs for the bargaining unit members.

He serves as 1st Vice President of the NAACP Houston Chapter, 2nd Vice President Texas State NAACP Conference, Executive Board Member of the National NAACP Labor Committee, Texas AFL-CIO Executive Board Member, Push Democracy Forward Executive Board Member (a faith-based nonpartisan organization that focuses on protecting our Democracy), while also serving as president of the Harris County Coalition Black Trade Unionists.

He is a trustee for the National Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and an at-large member of A. Phillip Randolph Institute Executive Board, A Houston, Tex., native, Cummings started his union career as a Frame Attendant and Communications Technician, maintaining systems for NASA, among other corporate customers.

Cummings succeeds

Chris Shelton who stepped down after serving as president for eight years and spending 55 years mobilizing, representing, and organizing with CWA. In her new role, Salaam is responsible for overseeing the union’s operating budget, investments and membership funds, facilities, and other operations. She also is charged with ensuring full fiscal and legal compliance by the International CWA and locals with all government, financial and regulatory requirements.

She has served as a steward, local officer, staff Representative, area director, District Vice President assistant, and assistant to the CWA International president. Salaam has played an integral role in organizing, bargaining and mobilization campaigns, supporting staff and pushing CWA’s core mission forward with effective strategic planning and fiscal responsibility, according to a release.

“She has taken charge of union-wide issues in the CWA President’s office, including union governance and administration, the Convention and Presidents’ Meeting, staffing, AFL-CIO coordination, overseeing internal and external communications, education, health & safety, human rights, and more.”

Investment

Continued from B1 counseling, and estate planning.

Michelle Witthaus, the program’s policy design and activation partner said, “We heard from the people in the community. They are concerned with gentrification [and] people getting pushed out of the neighborhood.”

The funds can be used toward purchasing a home in those communities, renovating property, starting a business, or opening an investment account. Participants also will receive an additional $2,000 to pay off debt, create emergency funds, or address immediate financial needs.

Chuck Flowers has lived in the West End for over 40 years after his family migrated to that community from Mill Creek Valley. Flowers plans to use his grant money to make renovations and investments.

“I want to be more prepared for the future so that I can leave my family home to my niece,” said Flowers.

Qualified participants had to show they have lived in the neighborhood since at least 2016, a Black household, over the age of

25 with an income between 10 and 120% of the area median income.

Enrollment ran from October 2022 through January 2023 and 258 applications were received for the grant. In February–Invest STL selected 50 participants. Almost half of the participants have lived in the neighborhood for over 21 years.

“We are looking at how we make the neighborhood work for the residents that already live here,” said Witthaus.

According to Invest STL data, the average income for that community is $28,942. Since 2010 there has been a 396% increase in white residents, meanwhile, Black residents have decreased by 30%. In 2017 residents noticed an increase in investor-owned properties.

Its data also showed a large number of families that migrated to the West End neighborhoods and Visitation Park came from Mill Creek Valley.

Darius Franklin, who lives with his grandfather in a three-story home in the West End neighborhood said 6 generations live in one house. “We entered this program to keep our home. These houses are more than monetary value to us,” said Franklin. Vianey Beltran, VP

of Senior Philanthropy & Community Impact Specialist for Wells Fargo, said the financial institution has funded the initiative since 2020.

“[The initiative] really puts the power in the individual,” said Beltran. According to Beltran, Wells Fargo has supplied a total of $1 million dollars to the initiative, to help support the 50 households that were chosen for the program to receive the $20,000. By the end of 2025, the program hopes to invest in 6-9 neighborhood clusters which total 24 neighborhoods across the region. Over the next 5 years, Invest STL is looking to both pull and invest out $25 million dollars, so far they have raised $10 million–70% of those funds go out to the community. 30% is for the staff. Once the study is complete the organization hopes the results show a need for more local, state, and national levels for scaling and replication by other partners in other communities. Invest STL plans to write a how-toguide so that other organizations can begin the work as well.

Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for the St. Louis American.

Panelist Byron Caskey Financial Advisor, left, and Chuck Flowers Rooted Participant. Shot June 28, 2023 in the city’s Skinker-DeBaliviere Place neighborhood.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

n “Horrible, horrible stuff. It will hurt for a very long time.”

– American Francis Tiafoe on his early ouster at Wimbledon

It is the second week of July, which means my annual pilgrimage to Louisville to watch the Run 4 the Roses Classic.

When it comes to girls’ summer grassroots basketball, it does not get any bigger than the Run 4 the Roses event. The event is spread out over more than 80 courts at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center.

This was my fourth year at the event, so you would think I would be used to seeing how big of an extravaganza this showcase has grown to become. But, I haven’t. When I pull up to the KEC, I am still amazed at how big a spectacle it has become. And it keeps getting bigger and bigger. There are more than 1,000 teams competing in the event and they come from all over the country and some parts of the world. There were teams from Canada and Australia at this year’s Run 4 the Roses.

The event also brings out some of the best high school players in the country to compete on the biggest stage. And in turn, nearly every major college and university is represented at the showcase with a member of their coaching staff. At some point during the week, you will see the Who’s Who of the college basketball coaching profession in the house. Turn to the left, you’ll see Dawn Staley of South Carolina.

Sports

InSIdE SportS

By Earl Austin Jr.

Rose in bloom

Spectacular AAU tournament lights up Louisville

Turn the other way, and there’s Geno Auriemma of UConn. Keep walking and you’ll see St. Louisan Niele Ivey of Notre Dame.

The main reason I’ve made this a permanent part of my summer travels is that we have several St. Louis area grassroots clubs who also make the trip. The local kids also do an excellent job of representing “The Lou” down in Louisville. If you’re a fan of girls’ bas-

ketball, you will be proud of how these young ladies compete and win championships.

At last year’s Run 4 the Roses, the Naphessa Collier Elite 17U team won the championship of the Elite-40 Tournament in a game that was televised nationally on ESPNU.

This year, it was the Lady Brad Beal Elite 17U squad that won a championship as it won the Gold Bracket in the E-40 Division with a thrill-

ing 43-41 victory over Michigan Drive Premier on Saturday afternoon. A last-second jumper by Vashon High standout Chantrel “Tutu” Clayton gave Lady BBE the championship.

So, if you enjoy watching girls’ basketball and have a few days to spare in early July, I highly recommend taking a trip to the Bluegrass State to witness this spectacular event. You will not be disappointed.

With Alvin A. Reid

Pelicans ink E.J. Liddell to a deal

Former Belleville West High basketball standout E.J. Liddell signed a new multi-year contract with the New Orleans Pelicans last week. The new deal that Liddell inked was for $6.2 million over three years. It was a great display of confidence by the Pelicans in Liddell, who was drafted in the second round in 2022, but suffered a torn ACL injury

KY.

in the Las Vegas Summer League. The 6’8” 240-pound Liddell was a two-time Mr. Basketball in the state of Illinois after leading Belleville West to backto-back Class 4 state championships in 2018 and 2019. He was a threeyear standout at The Ohio State University, where he was a two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection. Liddell scored nine points in 20 minutes of action in the Pelican.

Chase is on for St. Louis Cardinals with first-round selection SportS EyE

While the St. Louis Cardinals are far from the pennant chase at the All-Star Break, the team landed Arizona outfielder Chase Davis with the 21st selection of the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft on Sunday, July 9, 2023. Former Arizona coach Jay Johnson, who recruited Davis, was an analyst for MLB Network during the draft and called Davis’ “personality off the charts.” He did not attend the draft in Seattle, instead he watched with his mother in Elk Grove, California. When Commissioner Robert Manfred called his name with the Cardinal’s selection, mom and son stood up and shared a warm embrace. Chase was sensational during his junior year with the Wildcats, hitting .362 with 21 home runs and 74 RBIs. During three seasons with Arizona, he belted 39 home runs, third all-time in school history, and compiled 33 doubles, 132 RBIs, and 132 runs scored. He was named to the

Pac-12 All-Conference Team and selected as a Second-Team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) and the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). He was also a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy.

“Chase is special,” said Johnson.

“Loud contact when he swings the bat. He manages the zone really well. Takes his walks, crushes mistakes. He’s an excellent defensive player.”

While the Cardinals have a glut of outfielders in 2023, pending trades and free agency could open the door for Davis by 2026 if he reaches his potential in the minor leagues.

Rookie Jordan Walker, who hit .283 with eight home runs and 25 RBIs during the season’s first half, seems assured of being a Cardinals mainstay. A Walker-Davis combination in the outfield could come to fruition.

A horrible first half

The St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago White Sox series in the Windy City last weekend was an exercise in futility. I know because they are my favorite teams.

The Cardinals made three errors in a 4-3 10-inning win in the final game before the All-Star Break. The all-out effort to give the game and series to the White Sox failed because Chicago is a mirror image of the Cardinals. Neither is playoff bound unless a miracle happens.

The win lifted the Cardinals to a woeful 38-52, leaving them in the National League Central basement 11 ½ games behind the Cincinnati Reds.

The White Sox, and floundering former All-Star shortstop Tim Anderson, compiled a pathetic 38-54 record. The good news for the White Sox is that they are just eight games out of first place.

Topping the list of prospective Cardinals to be traded is starting pitcher Jack Flaherty. Flaherty pitched 6.2 innings and gave up no runs on nine hits and two walks against the Marlins on July 6, rescuing the Cardinals from a four-game sweep in Miami.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly in the mix for Flaherty because injuries have left a once formidable pitching staff in shambles. It would be a homecoming for Flaherty who was born in Burbank, California.

The Reid Roundup

Congratulations to CBC shortstop Nazzan Zanetello who was select-

ed by Boston with the 50th overall pick in the second round of Sunday’s Major League Baseball draft. A 2023 First Team All-State selection, Zanetello hit .421 with nine doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 33 RBI, and 21 stolen bases his senior season…Enrique Bradfield, Jr., a Vanderbilt outfielder, was the first Black player selected in the first round of the MLB Draft. He went to Baltimore with the 17th pick…High School centerfielder Dillon Head from the Chicago area was tabbed as the 25th pick by the San Diego Padres. Head and Bradfield are considered the two fastest players in the 2023 draft... Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal had a great quote following his trade from the Washington Wizards. “It’s crazy how on draft night [2012], I was embracing my parents and brothers, as this 19-year-old kid about to move to DC … and now I’m leaving with my own family at almost 30.” He also joked that his sons will now probably want jerseys of teammates Devin Booker or Kevin Durant instead of his.

Earl Austin Jr.

Nevaeh Caffey of Napheesa Collier Elite dribbles against the defense of Amya Vangkam-Griffin during Sunday’s pool play game at the Run 4 the Roses Classic in Louisville,

Alvin A. Reid

The St. Louis Cardinals selected Arizona outfielder Chase Davis with the 21st pick of the 2023 MLB Draft.

Photo courtesy of Arizona Athletics

Photo by Earl Austin Jr

Brickline Greenway gets $15 million boost from State

Great Rivers Greenway’s Brickline Greenway project got another boost this week.

This major publicprivate partnership will link historic Fairground Park, Forest Park, Tower Grove Park and Gateway Arch National Park and hundreds of destinations in between with safe, paved pathways. The initiative, launched with an international design competition in 2017 and celebrated the grand opening of the Pillars of the Valley monument earlier this year, has secured significant funding from the State of Missouri Capital Improvement Budget for 2024.

“This $15 million investment provides powerful momentum for the Brickline Greenway, which has been envisioned with input from thousands of residents, businesses and organizations who understand how civic infrastructure boosts the economy of our city and our state,” said Susan Trautman, Great Rivers Greenway CEO. On the heels of a prominent feature in

The future part of the Brickline Greenway which passes by the Griot Museum.

the New York Times, the signing of House Bill 19 adds to the attention Brickline Greenway is earning as an essential part of St. Louis’ future. The report shows the urban greenway will ultimately create shared prosperity for neighborhoods and

boost the local economy with upwards of $462 million invested in construction, operations and maintenance—a 2:1 return on investment.

The total project budget is $245 million, with nearly 40% of that already secured through

a diversity of sources, including $28 million in federal grants; $15 million from the State of Missouri; a recent $2 million in Missouri state tax credits to incentivize further private donations; $15 million from Great Rivers Greenway’s local

tax dollars; $2 million from the City of St. Louis to fund improvements on North Grand; and more than $36 million in corporate and private gifts from early investors such as Edward Jones and the Berges Family Foundation.

Black Enterprise names top companies for DE&I

Black Enterprise (BE) recently announced its list of the best companies for diversity, equity and inclusion. According to BE, “this list features a superb group of companies that have committed to ensuring a dynamic workforce, inclusive management, as well as other diversity-centered efforts. DEI initiatives are an indispensable aspect of creating a progressive workplace.”

The company further stated that “BE recognizes the corporations that work to facilitate equal work opportunities, especially as many companies recuperate from the financial downturn caused by COVID-19 and in the wake of regressive measures to eliminate equity in the workforce.”

The following companies have been recognized for their unwavering commitment to creating a diverse work environment: Accenture PLC; ADP; AFLAC; AllState; Ameren;

American Express; Aramark; AT&T; Bank of America; CIGNA; CMS Energy; Coca-Cola; Comcast; Comerica; Consolidated Edison; Delta Air Lines; DTE Energy; Duke Energy; Entergy; Exelon; Fannie Mae; Fedex; Ford Motor Company; General Mills; General Motors;

IBM; JC Penny; JLL; Johnson Controls; JP Morgan Chase; Kellogg; Lilly; Lockheed Martin; Lowe’s; Macy’s; Marriott International; Mastercard; McDonald’s; Merck; MGM Resorts International; Morgan Stanley; Nationwide; Northwestern Mutual; Pacific Gass & Electric;

Currently, two segments are complete, three more are being designed with community engagement, and several more are in planning. Brickline Greenway construction will continue through 2030.

Pepsico; PNC Financial Service Group; Prudential Financial; Sempra; Southern; State Farm; TIAA; Toyota Motor North America; U.S. Bank; United Airlines Holdings; UPS; Verizon Communications; Walgreens Boots Alliance; Walmart; Wells Fargo; and Xerox.

Chapman’s ‘Fast Car’ takes a Country road to No. 1

Country charts through Luke Combs’ cover version.

NNPA Newswire

Renowned singer and songwriter

Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” took the slow lane to No. 1 on the Billboard’s Country chart, yet it is a historic achievement, nonetheless.

Country star Luke Combs’ cover of Chapman’s iconic 1988 single recently soared to the top spot on the Country Airplay chart. The ascent to No. 1 makes Chapman the first Black woman to reach that plateau as the sole writer on a country music song since the chart’s inception in 1990. The remake also propelled Chapman to the summit of Billboard’s Country Songwriters chart.

“I never expected to find myself on the country charts, but I’m honored to be there,” Chapman told Billboard’s Melinda Newman.

“I’m happy for Luke and his success and grateful that new fans have found and embraced ‘Fast Car.’”

While Combs’ remake has reached a summit, other artists have covered “Fast Car’ including Khalid, Black Pumas, Justin Bieber, Passenger, Sam Smith, and Jonas Blue feat. Dakota.

Combs’ version has climbed higher in the charts than Chapman’s original, which reached No. 6 upon its release over three decades ago. “Fast Car,” the breakout single from Chapman’s eponymous 1988 debut album, earned her numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and two other Grammy’s Billboard noted that, “Combs’ version has generated at least $500,000 in global publishing royalties, “with the bulk going to Chapman who owns both the writers’ and publisher’s share of the song.”

Additionally, the success of Combs’ version has boosted Chapman’s original, with weekly consumption of Chapman’s version increasing 44% since Combs’ version was released, according to Luminate.

The original version garnered nominations for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, solidifying Chapman’s status as a bona fide star in the music industry. She also won Best New Artist and Best Contemporary Folk Album. Chapman’s journey to musical success began in Boston, where she honed her craft as a songwriter and performer,

See Chapman, C6

Mookie Tolliver:

STL’s “Almost Famous” entertainment sensation

Sylvester Brown Jr.

The St. Louis American

Local singer, songwriter, actor and entertainer, Malcolm “Mookie” Tolliver, 33, uses the hashtag “#AlmostFamous” in his social media postings.

Although Tolliver has opened for major entertainers, performed across America, created his own music videos, starred in a movie, and was an actor in a stage play last year, he says further acclaim lies ahead.

“I’m my biggest critic and I know how hard I need to work to be further than I am now,” Tolliver said.

“In five years, I see myself being way more advanced musically; I see myself getting more into the business aspect of music, licensing and getting my music in movies and TV shows and pushing myself more as an actor.”

Tolliver remembers always loving music. In an interview last year on the “Kandi Dish” radio show, he recalled “just goofing” around singing R Kelly’s “I believe I can fly” from the 1996 movie ‘Space Jam.’ He recalled how, at the age of six, friends and strangers complemented his vocal talents.

Born and raised in Madison. Illinois, Tolliver embraced and mimicked the styles of boy bands and singers including B2k, IMx, Dru Hill, and Jodeci. Unlike many other youngsters, Tolliver preferred R&B over hip-hop or rap music.

“When I hear rap, I think of hardcore, thuggish music,” Tolliver explained. “When I think of R&B… that’s singing, that’s love.”

Word spread as Tolliver reached middle school that he was a talented singer.

While in sixth grade, a school superintendent urged him to sing a song in front of his classmates during lunch break. Tolliver obliged, singing a B2k song. He was hooked and became determined to make it in the music and entertainment industry.

After his lunchroom debut, Toliver became quite popular, especially among female students. He said he experienced “love and heartbreak” in his teenage years. He found translating those feelings of euphoria and sadness into poetry quite cathartic.

“I didn’t really know what love was, but I felt like I did,” Tolliver recalled.

Good Vibrations

Jazz St. Louis season to offer array of styles

By

St. Louis American staff

Jazz St. Louis’ 28th season, “Raise

The Vibe,” will feature legends, St. Louis classics, holiday performances, and its acclaimed educational outreach programs. According to Victor Goines, Jazz St. Louis president and CEO, the theme promotes elevating musicians on stage

See Jazz, C6

n “When I hear rap, I think of hardcore, thuggish

When I think of R&B…that’s singing, that’s love.”

“But I came to regard music as a window to the heart.”

His music, he said, wasn’t about his feelings or his experiences alone. Inspiration, he said, also came from his peers. “I’m a relatable person so they would

See Toliver, C6

Photo courtesy of The Yellowjackets

Jazz St. Louis’ 28th season kicks off with saxophonist David Sanborn, follows up with Grace Kelly and beloved veteran group the Yellowjackets (pictured above).

Photo courtesy of Tracy Chapman

Tracy Chapman said she is honored to have her 1988 hit “Fast Car” reach No. 1 on the

Photo courtesy of Mookie Tolliver

music.

- Mookie Toliver

Gospel icons to be honored during Stellar Gospel Music Awards

Ceremony July 15 in Las Vegas

St. Louis American staff

Stellar Gospel Music Awards will celebrate its 38th edition on July 15, 2023 during a live ceremony at The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

Hosted by Jonathan McReynolds and Tasha Cobbs Leonard, the Stellar Gospel Music Awards will honor icons for their significant contributions to the Gospel music industry.

CeCe Winans will receive the Aretha Franklin Icon Award, recognizing her exceptional talent and enduring impact.

Rev. Milton Biggham will receive the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring his lifetime dedication to spreading the uplifting message of Gospel music.

Bobby Jones will be honored with the Most Notable Achievement Award, acknowledging his outstanding contributions and influential career.

The show will feature performances by Kierra Sheard-Kelly, Naomi Raine, Pastor Mike Jr., Tim Bowman Jr., and Zacardi Cortez.

The emerging artists’ stage will showcase HLE and Lena

Byrd, rising Gospel stars.

The Stellar Gospel Awards also introduced its Stellar+ Experience (Stellar+EXP) this week in Las Vegas. This fan experience features concerts, discussions, and master classes.

The Stellar Gospel Music Awards will be televised on the newly launched Stellar Network at 5 p.m. Friday, July 30. The ceremony will also be broadcast on the BET Network at 6 p.m. Sunday, August 6.

Proud Boys must pay Black church

A judge ordered farright Proud Boys militia members to pay over $1 million for their 2020 racist attack against a church in Washington, D.C. The attack was one of the bold actions of the militia linked to Donald Trump and a significant participant in the Jan. 6 insurrection on Capitol Hill.

On July 1, Superior Court Judge Neal E. Kravitz issued a default judgment against several Proud Boys members

n Hosted by Jonathan McReynolds and Tasha Cobbs Leonard, the Stellar Gospel Music Awards will honor icons for their significant contributions to the Gospel music industry.

who had been sued for attacking the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church on Dec. 12, 2020. Judge Kravitz condemned them for their “hateful and overtly racist conduct” in the “highly orchestrated” attack against the

Metropolitan AME Church.

During this attack, members of the Proud Boys jumped a fence onto the church’s property, where they tore down and stomped upon a Black Lives Matter sign in the church’s yard. In ruling against the Proud

Boys for the attack, the judge noted the group has “incited and committed acts of violence against members of Black and African American communities across the country,” as well as having “victimized women, Muslims, Jews, immigrants, and other historically marginalized people.”

The Metropolitan AME Church filed a $22 million lawsuit against the Proud Boys earlier this year concerning the attack. Former Proud Boys leaders Joseph Biggs and Enrique Tarrio were held liable for the attack, as were members Jeremy Bertino and John Turano. The Proud Boys International LLC, the group’s incorporated entity, was also found liable. The judgment of over $1 million was assessed not only to repair the destroyed sign but also to pay for additional security that Metropolitan AME Church has had to hire in the wake of the incident.

In their complaint, one of the church’s lawyers stated, “The ultimate goal of this lawsuit was not monetary windfall, but to stop the Proud Boys from being able to act with impunity, without fear of consequences for their actions.”

In addition to the attack on Metropolitan AME Church, leader Enrique Tarrio also attacked the Asbury United Methodist Church that same night, burning its Black Lives Matter banner; he was ultimately convicted and sent to prison in that case.

Tarrio was in jail for the Asbury attack when several other members of the Proud Boys participated in the Jan. 6 insurrection the following month. In May, four members of the Proud Boys, including Tarrio and Biggs, were convicted of seditious conspiracy for their role in the Jan. 6 attacks, with Bertino providing testimony against them.

ARTS ASSISTANT

The ARPA for the Arts Assistant is a newly created part-time position that will support the ARPA for the Arts Lead with communications, application review, and artist/arts organization support for RAC’s ARPA for the Arts grant awards. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are federal funds that the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis (RAC) has received to support the recovery of the St. Louis arts and culture sector. The ARPA Assistant is responsible for pre-reviewing grant applications related to the administration of ARPA funds and helping to maintain a pop-up location for artists and art organizations to engage with RAC staff and Commissioners. As a part-time employee of RAC, this position is funded through March 31, 2027, using ARPA dollars allocated by the City of St. Louis to RAC. For more information, please visit the job posting on the website, https://racstl. org/career-opportunities/ Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter online by July 16, 2023.

DAYCARE WORKERS NEEDED

Full & Part time positions. We will train you. Call 314- 478-0277

FOSTER CARE CASE MANAGER

Provide case management services for children in foster care. Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work or related field. Minimum of one year of employment in child welfare field. Interested candidates forward letter of interest and resume to:vatkins@posimpacts. com, Attention: Valerie Atkins. Employee will be employed by Positive Impacts, Inc. and contracted to Epworth Children & Family Services.

MANAGER OF INDIVIDUAL GIVING

This position will provide oversight for leadership annual giving as well as manage a portfolio of major gift prospects. This role is also responsible for securing philanthropic gifts and developing prospect strategies, cultivation, solicitation and follow-up activities with major gift prospects and donors. For full details and to apply online, please visit: https:// secure.entertimeonline.com/ ta/CBIZ20491.careers? ShowJob=335906304

SENIOR CLIENT SERVICE MANAGER

In the role of Senior Client Service Manager, you will work closely with department leadership and team members internally, and with our clients and broker partners externally. Your contributions to compile user stories, facilitate client awareness and use of resources, while developing and organizing a K-12 school risk management advisory board, will be felt throughout Safety National. To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational. com/careers-page/

MUNICIPAL COURT MONITOR (CONTRACTED)

Family Court of St. Louis County is seeking to enter into a professional service agreement with an individual or agency, to provide municipal court monitoring services for St. Louis County Municipal Courts. Services are funded from a cooperative agreement with St. Louis County Circuit Court and the Office of State Court Administrator and is subject to the continued availability of these funds. Work involves monitoring and reviewing of operational activities with respect to compliance with the minimum operating standards for municipal division and municipal division judges. The contractual position reports directly to the Presiding Judge of St. Louis County. This agreement is funded up to $30.00 per hour, not to exceed $60,000 annually. Note: All selected individuals will be required to submit to a background check. To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume on or before July 21, 2023. Attention: Human Resources (Municipal Court Monitor), Circuit Court of St. Louis County, 105 S. Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105 or Email: SLCCourtjobs@courts.mo.gov EOE. Please contact the Human Resources Department at 314-615-4471 (voice) or RelayMO 711 or 800-735-2966 if you need any accomodations in the application process, or if you would like this posting in an alternative format.

JR75101 Project/Program Coordinator - Arts & Sciences

The Office of the Dean of Arts & Sciences (A&S) is looking for a motivated individual with an organized and analytical mindset who enjoys a dynamic and collaborative environment to serve as a Project Coordinator for the successful implementation of signature initiatives related to the A&S strategic plan. The Project Coordinator reports to the Project Manager for Strategic Initiatives and provides critical project coordination and administrative support, including organizing events, planning and logistics, developing programs, and tracking the progress of implementation efforts. The ideal candidate will have the following required qualifications: Bachelor’s degree with three years of related experience or equivalent education and experience.

Manager Patient Accounts

Position manages account posting and/or receivable and collection activities of department to maximize income from services rendered. Provides reporting on accounts reimbursement and/or accounts receivable activity, income budget forecasting and implements service orientation for patient accounts office. Required qualifications include: Equivalent of Bachelor’s degree in related field with five or more years of experience in supervision. To apply, visit: Join WashU! (myworkdayjobs.com)

JR76018, Director of Business Operations - Hybrid Schedule –

Anesthesiology

Position is responsible for managing and directing the financial affairs of all financial and system support activities within a department of moderate to large scope, including management of business office services and personnel. Prepares, creates, coordinates and prioritizes financial operations for the entire department operating budget. Continuously monitors, directs and analyzes operations and financial performance. Oversees the process for annual budget preparation and quarterly reporting. Compiles annual Operating and Maintenance Expense Report. Develops standard practices and procedures for business administration. Represents the department on committees within the School of Medicine and the University.

JR75788, Manager, Education Administration - Office of Education

Supports the goals and objectives of the Office of Education (OE), provides a high level of service and contributes to defining and maintaining best practices of management across domains of administration and human resources for the Office of Education. Implements and contributes to the maintenance of standard processes, project templates, tools, and guidelines to support the application of a standard policies, developmental programming, and project management methodologies across the Office of Education. Has primary oversight of relevant human resource information systems and transactions, and shared oversight of risk mitigation activities for the entirety of the Medical Education enterprise. Supports and leads operational efficiency efforts to maintain a sustainable work environment.

JR75469 Director Business Operations (Hybrid) - Faculty Practice Plan Position is responsible for managing and directing the financial affairs of all financial and system support activities within a department of moderate to large scope, including management of business office services and personnel. Prepares, creates, coordinates and prioritizes financial operations for the entire department operating budget. Continuously monitors, directs and analyzes operations and financial performance. Oversees the process for annual budget preparation and quarterly reporting. Performs financial analysis on a variety of projects as requested by Leadership. Coordinates with the Office of Budgeting and Finance and Office of Program and Finance

issues related to the department.

Solicitation For Bids (SFB)

Service: Electrical Systems Services

Pre-Bid Meeting Date: July 21, 2023, 11:00 AM (via Zoom)

Question Due Date: July 25, 2023

Bid Due Date: August 10, 2023, 2:00pm

M/WBE

Salarano Airport Properties Division Manager

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Bloomsdale Excavating Co., Inc., an Equal Opportunity Employer, is requesting subcontract bids and/or material quotations from qualifying minority business enterprises for relevant portions of work for Highway 63 Pedestrian Underpass at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, MO. A pre-bid/outreach meeting for all interested parties will be held virtually on Monday, July 17 at 10:00. All interested parties should email Gina Blum at gab@blex.com or contact our office at (573) 483-2564 by 2:00, Friday, July 14 to be added to the group receiving the meeting link. Subcontractor/Supplier quotes will be due by Noon, Friday, July 21. Click Issued for Bid for link to bid documents.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

PARIC Corporation is seeking proposals for the following project: CRUNDEN-MARTIN EAST & WEST, 700 SOUTH 2ND STREET

PARIC Corporation is soliciting bids for the CRUNDEN-MARTIN EAST & WEST located in St Louis, MO. The project consists of the historic renovation of a 510,000 SF, 6-story multi-structure building and a 43,000 SF, 6-story building with a skywalk connecting the two buildings. Located on the 700th Block of South 2nd Street in St. Louis, MO, the project site is approximately 3 acres. The use of the buildings is composed of commercial spaces and light-industrial spaces. Demolition/remediation work and sitework will start late September/October of 2023. Access to documents is available from our Smartbid link, invitations to bid will be sent out on 11/3/22. If you do not receive a bid invitation please send your company information to tlalexaner@paric.com

Bids are being requested for the following:

• WP 21.00 FIRE PROTECTION W/ DESIGN-BUILD SERVICES

• WP 22.00 PLUMBING W/ DESIGN-BUILD SERVICES

• WP 23.00 HVAC W/ DESIGN-BUILD SERVICES

• WP 26.00 ELECTRICAL W/ DESIGN-BUILD SERVICES

• WP 31.00 EARTHWORK

The last day for questions is 7/18/23. A PREBID meeting will be held on 7/13/23 at 9:00am at the project site on 700th Block of 2nd Street.

BIDS WILL BE DUE ON AUGUST 2nd, 2023 @ 2:00pm

Send all questions to Terry Turnbeaugh tlturnbeaugh@paric.com Goals for Construction Business

•

(field)

of St Louis Resident

All bids should be delivered to PARIC via e-mail (bids@paric.com) or fax (636-561-9501).

NOTICE TO CONSULTANTS

Midas Construction is inviting contractors to bid on the Kimpton/Staybridge hotel project located at 2601 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103.

The project consists of 2 new hotels, a Kimpton and a Staybridge Suites built over a shared 1st floor and parking garage. Bid packages are broken up in various building scopes and sizes. Construction onsite of these new buildings will begin in the 4th quarter of 2023. To access the project in our virtual planroom go to, https://tinyurl.com/MidasK-S-Planroom. A pre-bid meeting for the project will be held on Thursday 7/20/23 from 4-7pm. at 8235 Forsyth Blvd. in the 6th floor Westward conference room Clayton, MO 63105.

For questions or more info, please contact Brian Moore: BMoore@Midas.Build or 314-456-2980.

PUBLIC NOTICE

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

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

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

The City of Crestwood, Missouri will be receiving responses to a Request for Qualifications at 10:00 am Central Time on July 25, 2023 for design services related to a new Community Center and Pickle Ball / Family Games Center to be located in Whitecliff Park, 9245 Whitecliff Park Lane. To obtain a copy of the RFQ, please go to our city website at www.cityofcrestwood.org/ Business/Bids&RFPs or contact Shirley Brown at 314-729-4726 or sbrown@cityofcrestwood.org.

INVITATION TO BID SPARTA, IL COMMUNITY AIRPORT

Sparta IL Community Airport is soliciting General Contractor proposals for new renovation project. Scope of work includes demo of existing lean-to building and construction of new public spaces and offices totaling 2,720 SF. Obtain project documents through Tracy Collins, tracy@formworkarchitecture.com or download at County Blue Reprographics online plan room. PreBid meeting at 9AM on June 28, 2023. Bids due at 5PM on July 17, 2023.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Donald Maggi Inc. is accepting bids from Disadvantaged Business Enterprises for subcontracting opportunities on the Demo Existing Facilities – GSB Area

PROJECT NO. RC000214

Bid Date and Time: 11:00 am Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Plans/Specification is available via dropbox or www.adsplanroom.net

Contact Donald Maggi Inc. at 573-364-7733 or email maggiconst@gmail.com Donald Maggi Inc.

WILDCARE PARK TRAFFIC NEEDS ANALYSIS AND CONCEPTUAL STUDY RFP 2023

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks bids from qualified firms to submit proposals for WildCare Park Traffic Needs Analysis and Conceptual Study RFP 2023 . Bid documents are available as of 7/12/23 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor

SOLICITING BID

Reinhardt Construction LLC is Soliciting Bids from MBE/ WBE/DBE/Veteran/SDVE for the following: CP222321 Clark Hall – First Floor Renovation and South Entrance Creation

Contact: Mike Murray ; mikem@ reinhardtconstructionllc.com Phone: 573-682-5505

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

BIDS REQUESTED

NEW CONSTRUCTION

Section 3 / MBE /WBE Encouraged 40 Units Multi Family – CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO For Bid Information: 636-931-4244 or nleoni@sbcglobal.net or zventura@vendev.cc

Double Diamond Construction 1000 A Truman Blvd. Crystal City, MO 63019

NOTICE OF APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM OPEN ENROLLMENT

You may have what it takes to be successful in the construction industry if you are…

- Dependable

- Someone that enjoys hands-on work

- Someone that works well in a team environment

- Someone that is looking for a career with room for growth

- Someone that wants to help build their community

Associated Builders and Contractors Heart of America is accepting applications for its Pipefitting and Plumbing Apprenticeship programs. All programs take place at our Eastern Missouri Training Facility.

To apply you must be 18 years or older, attend a scheduled orientation, and submit an application including the following documents in person: Valid Driver’s License High School Diploma or Transcripts or a GED Certificate DD214 – Veteran Documentation (if applicable)

Please visit www.abcksmo.org for more information and to complete an interest form in your trade of choice. Staff will contact you to schedule a time for you to attend an orientation.

All minorities, including women, are encouraged to apply. The recruitment, selection, employment and training of apprentices during their apprenticeship shall be without discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, creed, disability or sexual orientation. All contractor members are Equal Opportunity Employers.

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace Sewer Screening System at Chillicothe Correctional Center, Project No. C2223-02, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, July 27, 2023 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for HVAC System Upgrade at Transition Center of Kansas City, Project No. C1904-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, July 27, 2023, via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at: oa.mo.gov/ facilities

INVITATION TO BID

Bids for Pave Gravel Lot at Troop B CDL, Project No. R2308-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, August 3, 2023 , via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project informa-

Sealed bids will be received by the Webster Groves School District at the District Service Center Building, 3232 South Brentwood Blvd., Webster Groves, MO 63119, until TUESDAY, JULY 25, 2023, BY 2 P.M. CDT for the Kopplin Field Renovation at Webster Groves High School. Bids will be opened publicly at that time.

Drawings and specifications for this project are on file at the office of the Architect, Hoener Associates, Inc., 6707 Plainview Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63109, (314) 781-9855.

Information as to bidding instructions and requirements for procuring bidding documents may be obtained from the Architect.

Not less than the prevailing hourly wage rates, as determined by the State of Missouri, Division of Labor Standards, shall be paid all workers employed on this project.

The Board of Education reserves the right to waive technicalities, to select any contractor filing a proposal, and to reject any or all bids.

A PRE-BID SUMMARY PRESENTATION MEETING WILL BE CONDUCTED ON TUESDAY, JULY 18, 2023, FROM 9:00 A.M. UNTIL 10:00 A.M. AND WILL BE HELD AT THE WEBSTER GROVES HIGH SCHOOL LOCATED AT 100 SELMA AVENUE, WEBSTER GROVES MO. 63119.

PROJECT SITE VISIT WILL BE HELD IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS MEETING FROM 10:00 A.M. UNTIL 11:00 A.M. WE WILL WALK OVER TO KOPPLIN FIELD NEXT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL FOR EACH CONTRACTOR TO VISIT THE SITE.

ATTENDANCE AT BOTH MEETINGS IS MANDATORY.

By: Mr. Rob Steuber Construction Project Manager

St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices

REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS

COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY, INC. (CAASTLC) LOW INCOME WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM (LIWAP)

CAASTLC is accepting sealed bids to provide assumed asbestos encapsulation and enclosure services for its residential weatherization program. LIWAP (made available through CAASTLC) is federally funded and administered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

This weatherization grant is funded through the DOE and is subject to all of its provisions. Bid packages will be available to be picked up at CAASTLC starting Monday, 7/03/2023, at 9:00 a.m. and will be available for downloading on CAASTLC’s homepage at https://www.caastlc.org.

Bids must be sealed, marked “LIWAP – DNR Sealed Bid” and delivered to CAASTLC, Inc., 2709 Woodson Road, St. Louis, MO 63114, no later than 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, 7/18/2023.

Bids will be opened and read publicly, via online Zoom Conference, at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, 7/19/2023 at CAASTLC’s main office. The meeting link for this Conference will be available on CAASTLC’s homepage (https://www.caastlc.org/) the day of the bid opening and the login attendee ID and password for this Conference will be in the bid packages.

REBID: REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, MARKETING AND BRANDING

SUPPORT SERVICES # 57823184

Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) is requesting proposals for Marketing and Branding Support Services which consists of Copywriting; Creative Development; Design; Helping to Develop a Strategic 5-year Communication Plan; and Production of Multiple Marketingrelated pieces, to include university-wide design templates, an annual report, banners, billboards, brochures, digital and motion display ads, magazine, tablecloths and advertising buying.

If interested, a copy of the request can be obtained by emailing Barbara A. Morrow at email address: morrowb@hssu.edu or Corey Freeman at freemanc@hssu. edu

Proposals must be emailed no later than 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 31, 2023 (there will not be a public opening), and must be emailed to: morrowb@hssu.edu and freemanc@hssu.edu

The University reserves the right to accept or reject any or all responses received, or to cancel this request in part or in its entirety if it is in the best interest of the University to do so.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for the Buckley Road Bridges No. 528 & 528-P project, St. Louis County Project No. CR-1772 will be received electronically thru the County’s Vendor Self Service portal at https://stlouiscountymovendors.munisselfservice.com/ Vendors/default.aspx, until 2:00 PM on July 26, 2023

Plans and specifications will be available on June 26, 2023 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www. stlouiscountymo.gov) or by contacting Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies, 2731 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118 (314) 678-0087.

DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

CITY OF ST. LOUIS - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION (CDA)

2024 CDBG FUNDING PRIORITIES

The Community Development Administration (CDA) will conduct an in-person/virtual public hearing at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 21, 2023 to solicit public comments and answer questions pertaining to 2024 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) priorities/ activities.

Public Comment Period/Written Comments

The public comment period will begin on July 21, 2023. The views of citizens, public agencies, and other interested parties are strongly encouraged. Written comments or suggestions should be addressed to Community Development Administration, 1520 Market Street, Suite 2000, St. Louis, MO 63102 or via email at CDA@stlouis-mo.gov Written comments will be accepted until August 5, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.

Documents Available for Review

2024 CDBG funding cycle documents are available for review as of June 30, 2023, at CDA, located at 1520 Market Street Suite 2000. Copies of documents may be downloaded at: www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/ departments/community-development/cdbg/2024cdbg-funding-cycle-non-housing-production.cfm

Meeting Information

The public is invited to attend the meeting in person or virtually.

1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 21, 2023 at 1520 Market Street, SLDC Boardroom, St. Louis, MO 63103 In-person and Zoom information will be available at: www.stlouis-mo.gov/events/eventdetails.cfm?Event_ ID=36523

Chapman

recording songs at the local WMFO radio station.

The turning point came in 1986, when a fortuitous introduction to a manager at Elektra Records led to her self-titled debut album, “Tracy Chapman,” released in 1988.

The album’s lead single, “Fast Car,” achieved considerable acclaim, reaching

No. 5 on the U.K. charts and No. 6 on the U.S. charts.

Another critically acclaimed album by Chapman, “New Beginning,” came out in 1995 and featured the hit song “Give Me One Reason.”

Chapman remains an active artist and dedicated activist, lending her voice and performances to various organizations. Extraordinary achievements, including Grammy recognition, chart-topping

hits, and a dedicated fan base, have marked her musical journey.

Beyond her artistic endeavors, Chapman has used her platform to champion causes close to her heart, advocating for organizations like the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and Circle of Life. In a memorable collaboration with Bonnie Raitt during a 2003 event, Chapman showcased her talent and commitment to making a positive impact.

Tolliver

Continued from C1

a teen are evident in the songs he writes today.

“Relatable music is timeless music…people can always go back to it because it reminds them of something they can connect with,” Tolliver said.

and through educational programs for future Jazz generations.

“The organization will uplift and inspire youth through Jazz Academy and JazzU, and with the help of classrooms across the region, students will interact with touring professional artists throughout the week before the artists perform on the Jazz at the Bistro stage,” Goines said in a release.

The season kicks off with saxophonist David Sanborn, and follows up with Grace Kelly and beloved veteran group the Yellowjackets!

Ferring Jazz Bistro at the Harold and Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz in the Grand Center Arts District will feature pianists Peter Martin, Bill Charlap, and Billy Childs with special guests Sean Jones and St. Louis native Alicia Olatuja.

Also scheduled to perform during the 2023-24 season are vocalists Rene Marie and Luciana Souza, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, trumpeter Marquis Hill, saxophonists Camille Thurman and Sherman Irby, clarinetist Anat Cohen, bassist Carlos Henriquez, drummers Terri Lyne Carrington and Herlin Riley, and vibraphonist Jason Marsalis.

The holidays include

the return of A Very Manley Holiday featuring Jim Manley’s Mad Brass & Rhythm, Denise Thimes’ Swingin’, Soulful Holiday, Soul Train award winner Nicole Henry, Ellington’s Nutcracker played by the Jazz St. Louis Big Band, and Jazz St. Louis will bring in 2024 with New Year’s Eve with Victor Goines & Friends.

Keyon Harrold returns in November for a weekend of shows, before closing the season with performances of music dedicated to his work with JSL. Harold’s three-year commitment as JSL’s first creative advisor, supported by the Mellon Foundation, ends at the close of the season.

“It will be an exciting season with something for everyone,” said Goines.

“Jazz St. Louis is thrilled to raise the vibe this year with exciting returning artists Grace Kelly, Yellowjackets, and Anat Cohen; National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Jazz Masters Terri Lyne Carrington and Jason Marsalis.

“We will also welcome first-time leaders in the venue including Carlos Henriques; and a host of others.”

Goines has also had a productive summer leading into the 23-24 Jazz St. Louis season.

He performed his 13-movement work, The Woodlawn Suite, at the Lincoln Center on July

13, 2023, which celebrates the lives of prominent New Yorkers now at rest at the historic Woodlawn Cemetery.

Commissioned by the Woodlawn Conservancy to create a modern memorial, Goines composed the biographical sketches that link listeners to the lives of those who transformed American culture.

“The Woodlawn Suite represents an opportunity to pay homage to American leaders who made significant contributions to American society that rest at Woodlawn Cemetery,” said Goines, a native of New Orleans and former member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

“‘The New Orleans Function,’ a dirge and up-tempo song, commemorates all who have departed this world and gone to a better place. The closer in this 13-movement work, ‘Woodlawn’, is a reminder of how peaceful and comforting the cemetery and its history are and will continue to be.”

In addition to its live performances, the season will also have recorded shows aired on “The Next Set: From Jazz St. Louis,” which will be broadcast at 8 p.m. Friday and Sundays on KWMU 90.7 FM St. Louis Public Radio.

To purchase tickets and learn more about this season visit https://jazzstl.org/ for more information.

The host of the radio show, Kandi Marrs, asked Tolliver about the “vulnerability” she heard in his music. He answered that it was “innate” and stemmed from his mother’s death when he was just nine years old.

“Growing up, going through middle and high school with all those emotions; it just caused me to be vulnerable because I didn’t have that mother love,” Toliver explained.

He did have “love” in his life, however. His sister-11 years his seniorraised Tolliver. Also, he had his mother’s identical twin who, he said, kept his mother’s face in his mind.

Tolliver equates his success to steady grinding, hustling, researching opportunities, acting on them and word-of-mouth praise of his talents.

He remembered singing a Dru Hill song at an afterparty downtown when members of the group walked into the venue. Impressed, they invited him to sing with them.

“I was like, ‘who me?’” Tolliver recalled, adding that he sang two songs with the group when lead singer, Sisqo, handed him the mic demanding he sing his song “Incomplete.”

Because of wordof-mouth, Tolliver has opened for musical heavy weights like Keri Hilson, August Alsina, Trina, J. Holiday, Keisha, Day 26 and more. He’s also recorded with nationally known talents like Dondria and singer, songwriter Sammie.

“When artists come to town looking for an opening act, I get mentioned, my name seems to come up,” Tolliver humbly explained.

Acting, Tolliver added, came via his music videos. In the video for a remix of Ella Mai’s song “Boo’d Up,” he shows his acting chops. He believes it was his music video work that persuaded St. Louis filmmaker, Barron Smith, to cast him in his short film, “A Reckless Victim.”

Tolliver said he depicted a “dirty cop” in the movie.

Last year, he played an ex-con in “Enigma,” a stage play by local playwright, Phoenix Bell.

Last month, he was featured on a FOX 2 News segment with field reporter, Blair Ledet. An admirer reached out to the station to help promote Tolliver’s new “Open Mic Night with Live Band” show at the House of Soul downtown. As host, he said the show was designed to encourage and support new singers. With all his creative endeavors, Tolliver also holds down a full-time job. He works at Worldwide Technology as a shipping supervisor overseeing more than 30 employees. The fact that he works for a multi-billion-dollar company co-founded by David Steward, isn’t lost on him. “Dave Steward inspires me. To have someone who came from the ground up and is so successful is eye-opening and inspiring,” Tolliver confessed, adding: “It says to me, ‘somebody else has to leave a mark like he did.’” Tolliver says he’s using all the “gifts God has given” him to advance his creative ambitions. Whether he’s famous or almost famous, Tolliver’s career trajectory is definitely hitting the mark.

Photo courtesy of Mookie Tolliver

Mookie Tolliver will soon be hosting the “Open Mic Night with Live Band” show at the House of Soul downtown.

Self-care tips for moms and caretakers

(StatePoint) Carving out some “me time” is not just good for your mental health, physical wellness and confidence, as many moms know, it can actually make you a better parent. According to a survey of moms conducted by Hutchinson and Cassidy, those who had higher self-esteem had higher levels of perceived parenting confidence.

Here are three ways to practice selfcare:

1. Get some rest: We live in a goal-oriented society where the value of rest and relaxation is not always emphasized. Whether it’s a spa day with your best friend or curling up with a good book at home, be sure your schedule includes adequate time to recharge your batteries.

2. Take care of your smile: One of

the best ways to foster self-confidence is with a clean, healthy smile. In fact, a 2020 Cigna Dental Report found that smile satisfaction is one of the top three drivers of self confidence among U.S. adults. Give yourself the gift of innovative brushing technology. For example, the iO Series 5 Rechargeable

Electric Toothbrush from Oral-B allows you to personalize your brushing experience with its five smart modes: daily clean, intense, whitening, sensitive and super sensitive. No ordinary toothbrush, this one is designed to help you brush smarter

and more safely. To help protect gums, a smart pressure sensor displays a red light when you’re brushing too hard and a green light when you’re brushing just right, and its dentist-inspired round brush head cleans with micro-vibrations and oscillating action. Plus, a connected app tracks brushing behavior to ensure you’re targeting all six zones of your mouth, and a vibrating timer lets you know when you’ve brushed for the dentist-recommended two minutes.

3. Take care of your mind: So much

of motherhood is ensuring everyone has what they need, and often, your own needs can fall by the wayside. There are many ways to take time to check in with yourself though. You could buy yourself a beautiful journal and jot thoughts down for a few minutes each evening or check out apps like Headspace, which can help get you started on a meditation practice. Even a 10 or 15 minute walk at lunchtime can be a powerful mood-booster and an opportunity to reflect. You might also consider taking up a hobby that offers the chance for self-expression, such as painting, poetry, music or crafting.

When it comes to parents and caretakers, the importance of self-care can’t be overstated. Kick-off new routines that boost your self-confidence and your well-being.

Tips to build a sustainable financial future for your family

(StatePoint) Building wealth is not as easy as it sounds. It can take time, discipline and a plan to keep those dollars protected. However, if done correctly, it can provide security for your family for years to come.

No matter where you are in your personal financial journey, there are steps you can take to help build a financially secure future. Although your approach should be personalized to your specific situation, Freddie Mac suggests building your plan on three main pillars: accumulate, preserve and protect what you’ve built.

Accumulate

The first, and one of the most challenging steps, is saving for your future while covering basic expenses. Establishing and working toward defined financial goals in the short-, medium- and long-term is a good place to start. Also, understanding your money mindset can help you identify opportunities to create healthier spending and saving habits.

Over time, it’s important for you to position yourself to take advantage of opportunities to raise your income. Consider discussing a raise with your current employer, taking a job opportunity with higher pay or starting a side business to supplement your income. You should also begin to build an emergency fund, which will better position you to weather unexpected financial emergencies. In general, you should save enough in this fund to cover three to six months of your typical monthly expenses.

In addition, if you are financially prepared for it, purchasing a home can help you build wealth in ways that renting cannot.

Preserve

Once you’ve begun to accumulate wealth, the next step is preserving it. You can accomplish this by protecting and growing your money over time.

Managing your debts and expenses is paramount. Pay down debts in high-inter-

est accounts and prioritize other expenses that require immediate attention.

Your credit score is a critical part of this equation, and the time to improve it is right now. A strong credit score can help you receive a better interest rate and loan terms when working with lenders, as well as provide a host of other long-term benefits.

Protect

Lastly, you should have a plan in place to eventually transfer the wealth you’ve built to family and loved ones.

CNBC reports that an estimated $68 trillion will be passed down from the baby boomer generation between 2019 and 2044. Having an estate plan can give you peace of mind that your assets will be allocated according to your wishes when the time comes.

In the meantime, you should also protect your assets from the unexpected. In addition to taking steps to safeguard your property from natural disasters, you should invest in a comprehensive renter or homeowner insurance policy. And always be mindful of the wide variety of scammers and hackers looking to access

your resources.

Education has power. As you begin your journey, you can build your financial savviness with Freddie Mac CreditSmart Essentials, a suite of free education tools and information covering topics like how to buy a home or car, how to improve credit and how to build wealth. To learn more, visit creditsmart.freddiemac.com.

Building wealth doesn’t happen overnight. With consistency and commitment, and the right knowledge and mindset, you can create a stable future for you and your loved ones.

Combating the Black maternal health crisis: The vital role of Doulas

Black maternal morbidity and mortality rates in the United States have reached alarming levels, revealing a profound and systemic disparity in health care outcomes. Nationally, Black women are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In St. Louis, the crisis hits home particularly hard. Missouri ranks in the bottom half (43rd) of states for pregnancy-related mortality. Black women are four times more likely to die of a pregnancy-related cause than white women. Additionally, women in rural areas are at a 24% higher risk for severe maternal morbidity and mortality.

While there are many factors contributing to this epidemic and just as many solutions needed, one powerful tool has been critical in changing outcomes—the support and advocacy provided by doulas, especially for Black mothers.

What Is a Doula?

A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to their client before, during and after childbirth. They support many types of families and focus on physical and emotional well-being, informed decision-making and empowering individuals to advocate for their own health care.

“Doulas have a very unique role in birth equity and addressing maternal health disparities. They are one of a few things that move the needle,” said LaShanda Jackson, women’s health nurse educator and outreach coordinator for Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, part of BJC HealthCare.

For families delivering in a hospital where they don’t have a lot of experience or trusted relationships, Jackson said, their doula is a safe person to help them navigate the system of care.

Addressing Health Care Bias

Doulas play a critical role in addressing biases that still can be present in

today’s health care environment. When a care team doesn’t have similar lived experiences as some of the people they serve, it can result in the disenfranchisement of underrepresented communities such as Black women.

To help address the disparate outcomes during pregnancy and childbirth, BJC is working with community organizations to increase integration of doulas in clinical settings and to ensure that doulas are accessible to the people who need them. The approach is two-fold—through policy and advocacy at the state level and internally within BJC HealthCare and its facilities.

BJC is advocating for policies that improve access to and compensation for doulas. This includes collaborating with organizations like Healthy Blue, a Medicaid product offered by Missouri Care, Inc., a MO HealthNet Managed Care health plan, to improve reimbursement for doula care, which would address the financial barriers to doula care access many women face.

Within BJC, efforts are ongoing to

improve education for clinical care teams and ensure the important role of a doula is recognized. An initiative is underway to create a comprehensive directory of doulas as a resource for families seeking support. Additionally, Barnes-Jewish Hospital is hosting quarterly community birth worker receptions to provide a space where doulas can interact with nurses and doctors in a less stressful, more casual environment. These are part of ongoing efforts to educate staff on the benefits of having a doula on the care team.

Extraordinary Outcomes

The results speak for themselves. Doula support is reported to decrease the rate of cesarean sections, decrease pre-term deliveries, increase birth weights, decrease complication rates and increase breastfeeding rates, said Doneisha Bohannon, director of community health partnerships and collaboration for BJC HealthCare.

“It’s very important that we begin to broaden our perspective on what proper care is and the qualifiers for that,” said

Barnes-Jewish Hospital is hosting a community baby shower as another way to get families connected with critical resources. The event will celebrate birthing families in a fun setting, and serve as a place for conversation to discuss important childbirth-related issues facing various communities. BJC will also help families connect with doulas onsite.

What: Community Baby Shower

When: Noon - 3 p.m., Saturday, July 15

Where: St. Louis Fire Department Headquarters 1421 N. Jefferson Ave St. Louis, Missouri 63106

Dr. Love Holt, interim executive director at the STL Doula Project. “Doctors can be even better if they allow people like doulas who have lived experience and who reside among these communities to enhance the quality of care.”

Doulas have emerged as powerful allies in combating this crisis, making a tangible difference in improving birth outcomes and addressing the systemic disparities that underlie the Black maternal health crisis. But, doulas are just one piece of this much-larger, complex issue. Bohannon said the health care industry must look at how we can broadly support families and advocate for social and physical environments that promote good health, including access to affordable healthy food, transportation and safe and stable housing.

In the meantime, Holt believes with certainty that access to doulas will continue to move the needle.

“We will see a very small number of doulas reversing some of the tides of the disparities and co-morbidities we see in these communities,” she said.

Vegan curious? Here’s how to get started

Following a vegan diet doesn’t just reduce one’s impact on the environment. It’s associated with a range of health benefits, making it no surprise that a plantbased food movement is on the rise.

“With more than 100,000 internet searches per month for ‘vegan recipes’ and ‘vegetarian recipes,’ it’s clear there is high demand for plant-based meals,” says Chef Fred Scarpulla, chief culinary officer at Amy’s Kitchen, an organic and vegetarian food company.

A recent national survey commissioned by Amy’s Kitchen and conducted by Atomik Research finds that 52% of Americans are vegan-curious, and men are even more inquisitive, with nearly 3 in 5 revealing an interest in cutting out animal products.

Every individual may have their own unique reasons, but the survey revealed Americans’ most common motivators for purchasing or eating plant-based foods were their health (55%), a desire to protect the environment (34%) and a preferred taste of plant-based ingredients (28%). No matter why you’re considering a vegan lifestyle, actually adopting one is not always easy. In fact, 72% of parents in households with dietary restrictions say finding prepared foods that meet their family’s needs is very or extremely challenging.

“Cutting down on meat and incorporating more plant-based foods into your diet doesn’t have to be complicated or restrictive,” says Chef Fred.

Whether you’re transitioning to a vegan diet, incorporating meatless Mondays into your routine or simply curious about meatless cooking, Chef Fred offers the following tips to help you get started:

• Don’t restrict yourself: While going vegan may sound like it’s all about cutting foods out, it’s actually an opportunity to explore new flavors and ingredients you may not have tried before, and to indulge in vegan-friendly cuisines from around the world, such as Indian food and Thai food. Plus, these days, vegan alternatives to a number of favorite comfort foods, like enchiladas, pizza and even

mac and cheese, abound.

• Keep it simple: As you build your repertoire of go-to vegan meals, take a mental inventory of your family’s favorite dishes. Many of them may already be vegan, or able to made vegan with a few tweaks. Also, be sure to check out online resources offering vegan meal plans, which can help ensure your overall diet is balanced, satisfying and delicious.

• Look for shortcuts: Creating meals from scratch is not always possible for busy families. In fact, 56% of Americans want shortcuts to plant-based meals.

Luckily, there are a growing number of convenient vegan meal options available. Amy’s Kitchen, for example, is founded on the principle that everyone should be able to enjoy a delicious, convenient meal, even those with dietary restrictions, which is why they don’t use meat, peanuts, fish, shellfish or eggs in any of their recipes, and why they offer gluten-free and kosher options.

The brand, which works with farmers using organic and regenerative farming practices to lessen its impact on the planet, has an expanding vegan menu that includes snacks, breakfast, lunch and dinner options, making it easy to ensure your

diet aligns with your values and your desire to eat healthfully.

• Get creative: To reduce prep work, follow recipes that start with already prepared vegan foods. Visit amys.com/ eating-well/recipes to access Amy’s Kitchen’s library of healthy vegan recipes.

“Whether you choose to go fully vegan or simply want to incorporate more plants into your diet, rely on solutions that make it easy, convenient and delicious,” says Chef Fred.

Go whole grain for a healthy heart

(Family Features) Eating healthy is a priority for many Americans but knowing where to start and with what foods may be a little trickier. One way to level up the nutritional value of your meals is to better understand whole grains and why they are important for a heart-healthy diet.

As a key feature of heart-healthy diets, whole grains like sorghum, oatmeal and brown rice are rich sources of dietary fiber, may improve blood cholesterol levels and provide nutrients that help the body form new cells, regulate the thyroid and maintain a healthy immune system.

However, according to a survey by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Heart Association, U.S. adults are least knowledgeable about refined vs. whole grains compared to other foods like fruits, vegetables and proteins. Also, when asked to identify whole grains and refined grains, most adults incorrectly believe multi-grain bread is a whole grain and only 17% believe sorghum is an example of a whole grain when it is, in fact, a nutritious wholegrain option.

If you’re looking to try more whole grains, sorghum is a primary ingredient in these heart-healthy recipes for Pancakes with Blueberry Vanilla Sauce, Raspberry Streusel Muffins and Garden Vegetable Stir-Fried Sorghum. These flavorful dishes can be part of an overall healthy diet as recommended by the American Heart Association’s Healthy for Good initiative, supported by the Sorghum Checkoff.

Find more heart-healthy meal ideas at Heart.org/healthyforgood.

Raspberry Streusel Muffins

Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association and Sorghum Checkoff

Servings: 12 (1 muffin per serving)

Muffins:

• Nonstick cooking spray

• 1 1/2 cups whole grain sorghum flour

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda

• 3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk

• 1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

• 3 large egg whites

• 1/4 cup canola or corn oil

• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 cup fresh or frozen unsweetened raspberries, thawed if frozen Streusel:

• 2 tablespoons whole grain sorghum flour

• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar

• 2 tablespoons uncooked quick-cooking rolled oats

• 2 tablespoons chopped pecans

• 2 tablespoons light tub margarine

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. To make muffins: Preheat oven to 400 F. Lightly spray 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.

2. In large bowl, stir sorghum flour, cinnamon and baking soda.

3. In medium bowl, whisk buttermilk, brown sugar, egg whites, oil, lemon zest and vanilla. Stir into flour mixture until batter is just moistened and no flour is visible without overmixing. Spoon batter into muffin cups. Top each muffin with raspberries.

4. To make streusel: In small bowl, stir sorghum flour, brown sugar, oats, pecans, margarine and cinnamon to reach texture of coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over muffins, gently pushing into batter. Bake 16 minutes, or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. The USDA recommends cooking egg dishes to 160 F.

5. Transfer pan to cooling rack. Let stand 5 minutes. Carefully transfer muffins to rack. Let cool completely, about 20 minutes.

Five healthy habits to help reduce stress

(Family Features) Between work, family obligations and a constantly changing world, people in the United States are stressed. In fact, U.S. workers are among the most stressed in the world, according to a State of the Global Workplace study. While some stress is unavoidable and can be good for you, constant or chronic stress can have real consequences for your mental and physical health.

Chronic stress can increase your lifetime risk of heart disease and stroke. It can also lead to unhealthy habits like overeating, physical inactivity and smoking while also increasing risk factors, including high blood pressure, depression and anxiety. However, a scientific statement from the American Heart Association shows reducing stress and cultivating a positive mindset can improve health and well-being.

To help people understand the connection between stress and physical health, the American Heart Association offers these science-backed insights to help reduce chronic stress.

Stay active

Exercise is one of the easiest ways to keep your body healthy and release stress. Physical activity is linked to lower risk of diseases, stronger bones and muscles, improved mental health and cognitive function and lower risk of depression. It can also help increase energy and improve quality of sleep. The American Heart Association recommends adults get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity, 75 minutes of vigorous activity or a combination.

Meditate

Incorporate meditation and mindfulness practices into your day to give yourself a few minutes to create some distance from daily stress. Some studies show meditation can reduce blood pressure, improve sleep, support the immune system and increase your ability to process information.

Practice positivity

A positive mindset can improve overall health. Studies show a positive mindset can help you live longer, and happy individuals tend to sleep better, exercise more, eat better and not smoke. Practice positive self-talk to help you stay calm. Instead of saying, “everything is going wrong,” take a minute and remind yourself, “I can handle this if I take it one step at a time.”

Show gratitude

Gratitude – or thankfulness – is a powerful tool that can reduce levels of depression and anxiety and improve sleep.

Start by simply writing down three things you’re grateful for each day.

Find a Furry Friend

Having a pet may help you get more fit; lower stress, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar; and boost overall happiness and well-being. When you see, touch, hear or talk to companion animals, you may feel a sense of goodwill, joy, nurturing and happiness. At the same time, stress hormones are suppressed. Dog ownership is also associated with a lower risk of depression, according to research published by the American Heart Association.

Find more stress-management tips at Heart.org/stress.

Stress 101

Understanding stress is an important step in managing and reducing it. Consider these things to know about stress and how it could affect your life:

• Today, 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. report being worried or depressed.

• Higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol are linked to increased risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular events like heart disease and stroke.

• The top sources of stress are money, work, family responsibilities and health concerns.

Work-related stress is associated with a 40% increased risk of cardiovascular disease like heart attack and stroke.

Health care workers: Building a healthier, more resilient St. Louis

Creating Opportunities for Resiliency and Equity (CORE) is an initiative to improve the health of St. Louis Promise Zone residents in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. CORE’s community health workers connect people with the resources they need to stay healthy, from medical appointments and mental health services to housing and education.

CORE is a partnership between the St. Louis County Department of Public Health, City of St. Louis Department of Health, the St. Louis Community Health Worker Coalition, the St. Louis Integrated Health Network, Beyond Housing, and the University of Missouri - St. Louis.

The program is funded through a three-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The aim of the grant is to bolster the power and impact of community health workers to effectively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in St. Louis City and County. The grant focuses on communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

What is a community health worker?

Community health workers (CHWs) are trained public health workers who serve as a bridge between communities and health care systems. These workers can connect people to the services they need and provide education, counseling, and advocacy for residents regard-

ing their health. CHWs are members of the same communities they serve, so they understand the culture and the needs of the people they work with. They are certified through approved training programs.

The goals of the CORE CHWs program is to bring more community health workers to areas disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Raise awareness of and engagement with community resources. Ensure that more African American residents are receiving preventive care. Reduce residents’ barriers to social determinants of health. Reduce the ongoing impact of COVID-19.

Improve the community’s response to COVID and future public health emergencies.

CORE CHWs can help residents find a “medical home” where they can get care. They can help residents manage their health conditions and advocate for themselves and their communities. They can help with transportation to and from medical appointments, the bank, pharmacy, and grocery store.

Creating Opportunities for Resiliency and Equity

6121 N. Hanley Rd Berkeley, MO 63134

St. Louis County CORE CHWs DPH.CORECHWs@stlouiscountymo.gov

What you need to know about cholesterol

Stay in control to help prevent heart disease, heart attack and stroke

(Family Features) Understanding and improving cholesterol is important for people of all ages, including children and teens. Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels can help keep your heart healthy and lower your chances of getting heart disease or having a stroke.

High cholesterol usually has no symptoms. In fact, about 38% of adults in the United States are diagnosed with high cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association. Understanding what cholesterol is, the role it plays, when to get screened and how to manage it are important aspects of protecting your overall health and prevent a heart attack or stroke.

Understanding Cholesterol

A waxy, fat-like substance created by the liver and consumed from meat, poultry and dairy products, cholesterol isn’t inherently bad for you. In fact, your body needs it to build cells and make vitamins and other hormones. However, too much cholesterol circulating in the blood can pose a problem.

The two types of cholesterol are low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is considered “bad,” and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which can be thought of as “good” cholesterol. Too much of the “bad” kind, or not enough of the “good,” increases the risk of cholesterol slowly building up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain.

Cholesterol can join with other substances to form a thick, hard deposit on the inside of the arteries called plaque. This can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible – a condition known as atherosclerosis. If a blood clot forms, it may be more likely to get stuck in one of these narrowed arteries, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.

Understanding Risk

Your body naturally produces all the LDL it needs. An unhealthy lifestyle can make your body produce more LDL than required. Behaviors that may negatively affect your cholesterol levels include lack of physical activity, obesity, eating an unhealthy diet and smoking or exposure to tobacco smoke.

In addition to unhealthy habits, which are the cause of high LDL cholesterol for most people, some people inherit genes from their parents or grandparents – called familial hypercholesterolemia

(FH) – that cause them to have too much cholesterol and can lead to premature atherosclerotic heart disease. If you have a family history of FH or problems related to high cholesterol, it’s important to get your levels checked.

Getting Cholesterol Checked

Adults age 20 and older should have their cholesterol and other traditional risk factors checked every 4-6 years as long as their risk remains low. After age 40, your health care professional will use an equation to calculate your 10-year risk of heart

attack or stroke. People with cardiovascular disease, and those at elevated risk, may need their cholesterol and other risk factors assessed more often.

Managing Cholesterol

If you have high cholesterol, understanding your risk for heart disease and stroke is one of the most important things you can do, along with taking steps to lower your cholesterol.

Often, simply changing certain behaviors can help bring your numbers into line. Eating a heart-healthy diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean or plant-based protein, fish and nuts while limiting red and processed meats, sodium and sugar-sweetened foods and beverages is one of the best ways to lower your cholesterol. While grocery shopping, look for the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check mark to help identify foods that can be part of an overall healthy eating pattern.

Other lifestyle changes include losing weight, quitting smoking and becoming more physically active, as a sedentary lifestyle can lower HDL. To help lower both cholesterol and high blood pressure, experts recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise a week, such as walking, biking or swimming.

For some people, lifestyle changes may prevent or manage unhealthy cholesterol levels. For others, medication may also be needed. Work with your doctor to develop a treatment plan that’s right for you. If medication is required, be sure to take it as prescribed.

Controlling your cholesterol may be easier than you think. Learn more about managing your cholesterol at heart.org/ cholesterol.

Steps you can take to control your asthma

(Family Features) Did you know that asthma affects 1 in 13 people in the United States (U.S.)? Asthma is a longterm condition that can make it harder for you to breathe because the airways of your lungs become inflamed and narrow. If you have the disease – or think you do – don’t tough it out. While there’s no cure for asthma, it can usually be managed by taking a few key steps that can help you live a full and active life.

Here are some important facts to know first:

• Asthma affects some communities more than others. Black people and American Indian/Alaska Native people have the highest asthma rates of any racial or ethnic group, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In fact, Black people are over 40% more likely to have asthma than white

people.

• Asthma rates vary within some communities. For example, Puerto Rican Americans have twice the asthma rate of the overall U.S. Hispanic/ Latino population.

• Some groups are more likely to have serious consequences from asthma. The CDC found Black people are almost four times more likely to be hospitalized because of their asthma than white people.

• Almost twice as many women as men have asthma.

Talk to a health care provider. You can work with a health care provider to set

up an asthma action plan. This plan explains how to manage your asthma, what medicines to take and when and what to do if your symptoms get worse. It also tells you what to do in an emergency.

Know and track your asthma symptoms. Are you experiencing symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of breath? Tell a health care provider about them and make sure to keep track of any changes. That way you and the provider can know if your treatment plan is working.

Identify and manage your triggers. Some common asthma triggers include dust, mold, pollen, pests like cockroaches or rodents and pet hair. The asthma action plan can help you figure out what triggers make your asthma worse and how to manage them.

Avoid cigarette smoke. If you smoke, talk to a health care provider about ways to help you quit. If you have loved ones who smoke, ask them to quit. Do your best to avoid smoke in shared indoor spaces, including your home and car.

Asthma doesn’t have to stop you from leading a full and active life. Find out more about asthma and how to manage it from NHLBI’s Learn More Breathe Better® program at nhlbi.nih. gov/breathebetter.

St. Louis City awards grant to local health center

St. Louis City has more deaths due to opioid overdose than any other county in Missouri. According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, out of every 100,000 residents, 109 Black men die from opioid overdose, the highest rate in the state. White males die at a rate of 41.45 for every 100,000 residents.

The City of St. Louis Department of Health recently awarded Affinia Healthcare a $122,500 grant to help increase awareness of ways to prevent and treat opioid misuse. The grant also provides funding to purchase Narcan, a medication used for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose. Narcan is available to the public through Affinia Healthcare pharmacies and outreach initiatives.

n The City of St. Louis Department of Health recently awarded Affinia Healthcare a $122,500 grant to help increase awareness of ways to prevent and treat opioid misuse.

The grant is a sub-award from the City Department of Health by way of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Depart of Health and Human Services through a cooperative agreement for emergency response issued to the state of Missouri.

“The opioid crisis is having a significant impact on underserved populations – especially African American men,” said Dr. Kendra Holmes, Affinia Healthcare President & CEO.

“The overdoses directly affect younger, minority populations, the future of our communities. The numbers are staggering. We want to make sure our communities are aware of how to avoid falling into this trap of addiction, and if they need help, Affinia Healthcare has evidence-based treatment programs to help them battle the condition.”

Beginning in July, Affinia Healthcare will launch a comprehensive awareness campaign targeting youth and residents of St. Louis City. The campaign will include radio advertising, print and bus media, and social media promotion. Narcan will also be promoted through this campaign to increase the availability in the general population.

“Part of the campaign will use videos and other tools to show how easy it is to use Narcan and let the public know they can get the medication at any of our locations, free of charge,” Dr. Holmes continued.

Affinia Healthcare provides substance misuse treatment through its Medication Assisted Treatment program. As part of a comprehensive care program, patients work with medical and behavioral health professionals to treat the addiction. To contact a member of the Affinia Healthcare MAT team, call 314-658-4860.