July 14th, 2016 Edition

Gardner opposes ‘Stand Your Ground’

By Mariah Stewart Of The St. Louis American

The black man who was fatally shot by a police officer during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, Minnesota last week has roots in St. Louis.

On July 6, Philando Castile, 32, was shot multiple times in front of his fiancée and her four-year-old daughter by St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez. The aftermath of the

Philando Castile was from St. Louis Violence, protest and heartache

shooting was livestreamed in a gut-wrenching Facebook Live video by fiancée’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds.

“He let the officer know he had a firearm and he was reaching for his wallet and the officer just shot him in his arm,” Reynolds said in the livestream. “You just shot four bullets into him, sir. He was just getting his license and registration.”

As she calmly spoke to the officer, he continued to wave the gun at her and the dying Castile and utter curses.

Castile was a nutrition services supervisor at J.J. Hill Montessori Magnet School. He was appointed to the supervisor

Public met the inalists for DOJ consent decree monitor on Tuesday. See CASTILE, A7

By Kenya Vaughn

Of The St. Louis American

“We pray for unity and oneness – and, Lord, I know that’s a tall order,” said Rev. James Stewart, senior pastor of Murchison Tabernacle CME Church. A group organized by the St. Louis County NAACP gathered in the church on Sunday, July 8 for a prayer service as the broken relationship between

By Rebecca Rivas

Photo: House Communications

State Rep. Kimberly Gardner

Photo by Jonathan Bachman / Reuters

By Chris King Of The St. Louis

– Allysza Castile, brother of Philando Castile (above)

Jay Z’s friend and former label mate Memphis Bleek has reportedly filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

According to Bossip.com, the former Roc-a-Fella rapper filed the petition March 14 in U.S. Federal Court in New Jersey. His total assets— which include a Jersey Home, a Chevy Impala, clothing, and wedding rings— total $274,000; however, his liabilities total $350,000. He also claims he has only $100 in cash, as his Chase business account is empty, and his business “Get Low Touring” is worth nothing. In the filing, Bleek claims to earn just $5,911 a month

Memphis Bleek goes broke

while his expenses total $5,377 month leaving him with just $534. Bleek owes $355,000 on his mortgage, $24,000 on the Chevy Impala, $9,000 to the IRS, and $13,000 to Monmouth County Superior Court. A ruling on the bankruptcy is pending.

Rich Homie Quan is sorry for ‘VH1 Hip Hop Honors’ flub

Monday night, rapper Rich Homie Quan fumbled over Notorious B.I.G.’s lyrics from the hit “Get Money” during the VH1 Hip Hop Honors tribute to Lil Kim Quan released an official statement with a formal apology and took to his Instagram to show additional love to Lil Kim fans. The statement reads as follows:

I assure you that I never intended to disrespect the Memory of Biggie Smalls. I have long respected his work and his contribution to the rap

game. I greatly apologize not only to Biggie Smalls, but also to all of my fans, Biggie Smalls fans and to New York. The city of New York has been nothing but good to me. I felt honored to stand on stage with artists I grew up listening to. Once on stage I had some technical difficulties and must admit I got nervous. I will forever be sorry New York, my fans, Biggie Smalls, Biggie Smalls

fans, Lil Kim, and all the Hip Hop community for my performance. I hope you can accept my apology. To Lil Kim, Thank you for the opportunity.

Are Nick Cannon and Chilli a couple?

According to the NY Daily Confidential, “America’s Got Talent” host Nick Cannon was caught getting up close and personal with TLC singer Rozonda (Chilli) Thomas “The crowd at WDKX’s Summerfest Concert in Rochester got a second show on Saturday night as they watched Cannon get cozy with Thomas, whose band was headlining the show,” NY Daily Confidential said. “One insider says Cannon joined Thomas before and after the

performance and watched on adoringly as her band performed its hits, including ‘No Scrubs’ and ‘Waterfalls.’

A source said that the pair looked quite serious.

“They were hugged-up and kissing,” the insider reportedly said.

The pair has been friends for some time.

Does new witness put OJ near the scene of Nicole’s murder?

Former LA prosecutor Christopher Darden claims a reluctant eyewitness just came forward placing OJ Simpson near Nicole Brown Simpson’s house the night she was murdered more than 20 years ago.

On an upcoming podcast of Adam Corolla and Mark Geragos’ web series “Reasonable Doubt,” Darden claims he’d just received a tip that could have cracked the case.

“I got a phone call, not a week ago, from a woman who told me that the night of the murder she saw O.J. Simpson on Bund. That he walked

across her car in front of her,” Darden told “Reasonable Doubt.”

“She was near Nicole’s place and she saw him and recognized him as OJ Simpson, went on about her business — and as the trial went on, she just decided to not get involved.” The quotes were aired as a teaser to Saturday’s podcast.

On October 3, 1995, OJ Simpson was acquitted of the murders of Nicole BrownSimpson and Ron Goldman In October of 2008, OJ was found guilty of felony kidnapping and armed robbery and he was sentenced to 33 years in prison.

Sources: Bossip.com, NY Daily Confidential, TMZ.com

Rich Homie Quan

Memphis Bleek

Christopher Darden

THE STUFF THAT HAS PEOPLE TALKING

WUSTL announces need-based scholarship for local students

By Diane Toroian Keaggy Washington University

Washington University in St. Louis has announced a major new scholarship initiative that will support low-income and first-generation students from the St. Louis region.

The College Prep Scholarship will provide a Washington University undergraduate education to graduates of its College Prep Program, a competitive, multiyear program that prepares high-achieving, low-income local students for college.

The scholarship supports two of the university’s top priorities - to make it a more diverse and welcoming campus, and to improve K-12 education in the St. Louis community.

“I am delighted that Washington University is in

the position – thanks to many generous donors who believe in the power of education to change lives – to offer these scholarships to first-generation St. Louis students who show great promise to succeed at Washington University, and then go on to improve the St. Louis region and, ultimately, the world,” Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton said.

“We never know where the next great doctor, scientist, writer, engineer, business leader or artist will come from, but we have great confidence that there are many such young people right here in our midst.”

Leah Merrifield, associate vice chancellor for community engagement and St. Louis college readiness initiatives, announced the needbased scholarship at the closing dinner and reception for the 25 members of the program’s first cohort. Admitted in 2013 as rising

Campaign donations to Baricevic raise eyebrows

John Baricevic, chief judge for Illinois’ 20th Judicial Circuit, has been a fixture in St. Clair County politics for decades. He previously served as state’s attorney and as county board chairman, a position in which he once, famously, referred to KTVI

TV reporter Elliot Davis (an African American) as “Rufus” during an on-camera exchange. And like many powerful political personalities, Baricevic has a son, C.J. Baricevic, who has decided to follow his father’s path. A Belleville lawyer, C.J. has thrown his

hat into the political arena as a candidate for Illinois’ 12th U.S. House District seat. He’s running to unseat GOP incumbent U.S. Representative Mike Bost, a freshman congressman. Apparently C.J. Baricevic has also acquired his father’s knack for controversy in the form of a complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission regarding questionable contribution patterns by low-level employees of the law firm of Keefe, Keefe & Unsell.

high school sophomores, these students have spent the past three summers on campus

The complaint, filed by the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), essentially alleges that low-

level employees (secretaries, receptionists and legal assistants), who can least afford to donate the maximum of $2,700, all did so on the same day, back in March, to Baricevic’s campaign, inferring that office staff were used as “straw men” to make donations in someone else’s name. Doing so would be a violation of federal election law. In fact, C.J. Baricevic has received the vast majority of his campaign funding (about $250,000) from lawyers who regularly appear in a court system controlled by his father, which would appear to be a conflict of interest.

However, C.J. Baricevic

living and learning.

“This program has prepared you to thrive at any college, but we heard you when you told us that some of you would like to come here,” Merrifield said.

“For scholars who successfully complete the high school component of the College Prep Program, apply, are admitted and demonstrate financial need, this scholarship helps make that possible.”

The news was met with gasps and tears from students and their parents.

“I feel like I’m meant to be here,” said Ahreial Williams, a rising senior at Northwest Academy of Law in Saint Louis Public Schools. “I have loved being here, but I couldn’t see how I could come to Washington University for college. Now I have a chance.”

The College Prep program launched with 26 students in 2013, and has since doubled in size. In 2015, 46 students were accepted, and, in 2016, 50 entered the program.

College Prep is competitive; students must be nominated by someone who knows them well and demonstrate academic

denies that his dad’s status has had any bearing on such generosity to his campaign.

Judge Baricevic has been dismissive of any allegations that his status has created any undue pressure on lawyers to donate to his son’s campaign.

That would be like JFK denying that his powerful and wealthy father had any influence in his presidential victory or George W. Bush denying that his father’s previous presidency and connections had no role in his path to the White House. It’s absurd and would be the first time that a politician didn’t use their influence and power to further their children’s or family’s political aspirations, especially in St. Clair County, the capital of “poli-tricks” in Southern Illinois.

excellence. As scholars , the students take classes for college credit, participate in STEM labs and writing workshops and prepare for the ACT.

The goal, Merrifield said, is to build a community of scholars. But students said the program has meant even more.

“Thinking back, none of us knew what to expect,” said LaDarien Green, a rising senior at Affton High School. “None of us had ever been to college, and we were thinking it would be a fearful experience. But then everyone was so welcoming, and we all came together. We didn’t know each other, but now we are a family.”

Merrifield credited the students with sparking the scholarship program. “Cohort One, you did this!” Merrifield said. “You made it possible for us to start a program that people on this campus could embrace and value.”

To learn how to apply to the College Prep Program visit collegeprep.wustl.edu, email collegeprep@wustl.edu or call 314-935-6317.

John Baricevic’s stint as chief judge has been mired in controversy. It was during his tenure that St. Clair County Associate Judge Joseph Christ died of a cocaine overdose at the hunting lodge of his buddy St. Clair County Judge Mike Cook, who later served two years in federal prison for heroin- and weapons-related charges. I expect politicians to lie, obfuscate facts and insult our intelligence, and the Baricevic name has become synonymous with those who have drank and eaten from the St. Clair County political trough for their entire career.

Email: jtingram_1960@ yahoo.com; Twitter@ JamesTIngram

Photo: Jerry Naunheim Jr./Washington University

Kimberly Gardner for circuit attorney

The City of St. Louis has been offered a remarkable opportunity to make a fresh start with the announcements of Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, the city’s elected lead prosecutor, and Mayor Francis G. Slay to step down at the end of their current terms. First elected in 2000 and 2001, respectively, they are essentially the only lead prosecutor and mayor the city has known in the 21st century. Given that the city took back control of its police department, from a state-appointed board, in 2013, St. Louis stands in an amazing position to elect a new lead prosecutor and a mayor who will appoint new police leadership for the first time in this century.

Given the current crisis concerning the community’s relationship with criminal justice – with prosecutors and police – this opportunity could not be more timely.

City residents will vote on a new mayor in the March primary, and all of the candidates for that position have not yet announced. But Democrats will elect their candidate for the next circuit attorney on Tuesday, August 2, and given the stranglehold that Democrats have on city politics, their candidate will be the next circuit attorney after the November general election. So now is the time to pick your candidate between Mary Pat Carl and Patrick Hamacher, who both currently work in Joyce’s office; Steven Harmon, a former municipal prosecutor and son of former St. Louis Police Chief and Mayor Clarence Harmon; and Kimberly Gardner, a state representative who formerly prosecuted cases under Joyce.

While we do not hold summarily as dim a view of Joyce’s fairness as expressed by the Ferguson protest movement and defense attorneys for victims of police violence whose killers were not charged by her, we recognize that she has lost the trust of a substantial portion of the black community – the community whose trust is most desperately needed to more successfully prosecute a great many of our most heinous crimes. For that reason, we do not think that Carl, who has Joyce’s endorsement, or Hamacher, who has exaggerated his alleged accomplishments while working for her, would be the most effective prosecutor. And we consider Harmon to be unsuitable for this crucial position.

Kimberly Gardner, rightly, has based her campaign on gaining the public’s trust for the criminal justice system and the city’s prosecutor, in particular. To do that, she told us, “We have to change the whole organizational culture of the office. In so many cases, people won’t come forward to testify. And why should they? They don’t feel protected by this system. We need

to foster diversity and build public trust.”

We agree with her wholeheartedly. We believe that she is the clear choice for this critical office and is the person who can build the needed public trust in our criminal justice system. We give Gardner our strong endorsement.

We are not alone in this judgment. The activist groups Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment (MORE) and the Organization for Black Struggle (OBS) have endorsed Gardner, as have the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) and the Service Employee’s International Union (SEIU) MO/KS State Council. These progressive groups are good indicators of how people at the grass roots, whom we most desperately need to reach, would respond to Gardner. She also has garnered powerful political endorsements from U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay, Comptroller Darlene Green, Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones and Alderman Antonio French, making her the consensus black candidate. Moreover, she has received endorsements from a majority (15) of the city’s wards, making her the closest thing to a consensus citywide political candidate that can be expected at this divisive time.

This is one of the most important races for the future wellbeing of our community. It is essential that our people vote on August 2, that we vote in large numbers, and that we vote for KIMBERLY GARDNER FOR ST. LOUIS CIRCUIT ATTORNEY

Seeking justice for all in Missouri

By Jake Zimmerman Guest columnist

It’s almost two years since the tragic events in Ferguson made all of us face again how far we still have to come to create a community in which we all feel safe and fairly treated.

Much has happened in those two years. A broadly inclusive process by the Ferguson Commission gave people all across our region the opportunity to speak up and be heard, to explore in depth some of the toughest issues that face us as a region and, indeed, as Americans. The issues of racial justice, community engagement and safety have rarely been so urgently presented to us as citizens as in the days and months after Michael Brown Jr.’s tragic death.

Some progress has been made. Yet so much more needs to be done. The work is never easy and is never done. At the core, all of us who seek to represent citizens as public officials need to rededicate ourselves to fairness and equity in all that we do. We need to recognize that we still have a long way to go to combat racial bias and discriminatory actions that disproportionately affect African Americans and people of more limited incomes. As a public official, my most fundamental commitment has always been to be the advocate for fairness and justice for all citizens, especially those who may not have power or wealth or position. Justice has been my

passion, and it always will be. Equal justice under law is under attack, and I am strongly committed to fight for it every day for all citizens.

We Missourians have a big choice to make this year as we vote for a new attorney general in our state. Will we pick someone who is on the side of all citizens, not just the powerful? Will we pick someone who will work tirelessly for the rights of all citizens, especially those whose voices are too often ignored? My commitment to fairness and justice is built on respect and has been the core of my work as an assistant attorney general, legislator and assessor. My big battles have always been on the side of the average citizen, those who don’t have special connections, big wealth or power.

As an assistant attorney general, I took on corporate interests that tried to scam senior citizens out of their money with sleazy, deceptive schemes and cell phone companies that tried to mislead customers. As assessor, I have fought against corporate interests that try to cheat on their property taxes by improperly claiming to be charities. I have worked hard to protect honest taxpayers by making sure that others also pay their fair share. All citizens should make

When the laws of the land don’t protect you

By state Rep. Brandon Ellington Guest columnist

Executions live on television, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat. Yet, no action! We talk about mass shootings, and the sentiment of mainstream groups is that there is a need for sweeping gun reform legislation. However, when black bodies are lying in the streets filled with lead from those who are sworn to protect and serve, there are no tears shed, no calls for sweeping legislation dealing with police reform. Just the same old sad song. There are candles lit, a couple of marches and a hashtag in their memory.

So, what do you do when the laws of the land will not protect you?

I’m not asking this question to instigate nor am I trying to be divisive, but the fact of the matter is that, as Americans, we have to examine our social contract. As a black man, I have to be concerned with and prepared to survive in a society that isn’t concerned with the extermination and visible execution of its own citizens.

Now, to say “enough is enough” is an understatement – and it’s been past time for action.

Philandro Castile,

Alton

Sterling, Michael Brown Jr., Eric Garner, Vonderrit Myers Jr., Andrew Josephill, Oscar Grant, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, Freddie Grey, Aiyanna Jones, Kim King, Rekia Boyd, Kajieme Powell, Jorevis Scruggs, Joey Foster Jr., Cary Ball Jr. The list goes on and on, with new names being added daily.

It’s abundantly clear that mainstream institutions do not care and are not concerned with the oppression of its own citizens. This is not a rare phenomenon throughout the history of America. So-called minorities have been marginalized and, in particular, black citizens have been utilized for American prosperity while allowed to fester in American poverty.

And, again, I’m not writing this to be divisive, but rather as an open message with dual meanings. My hope is that the meaning of this message will not fall on deaf ears, but instead those that understand will stand with me to fight for change. If you can say, “All lives matter” but are unwilling to advocate for judicial reform,

Letters to the Editor

Sworn to protect and serve

When we only scrutinize the deceased and fail to turn the same eye of scrutiny upon law enforcement, we fail to hold accountable the very people sworn to protect and serve black and brown communities. Being black or brown while selling CDs, walking down the street, driving, playing in a park or questioning an officer are not crimes punishable by death. Jesse Williams, board member Advancement Project Via email

Your son’s life mattered

sure that candidates not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk. I am proud that fairness and a commitment to inclusion starts in my office. Of more than 100 employees, more than one in four is African-American. More than half of the people in my office are women, and about onethird of them are supervisors. Almost half of the women supervisors are AfricanAmerican. I believe strongly in opportunity and inclusion, and I will continue that commitment as our state’s attorney general.

The state’s top legal officer has many wide-ranging responsibilities. But the AG has the ability to give special attention to issues that matter most to citizens across the state. So as attorney general I will give special focus to those who most need a voice raised on their behalf – emphasizing the rights and needs of senior citizens, victims of abuse and children. I will have their back, to make sure that we do all we can to prevent scam artists and abusers from taking advantage of them.

Everyone has a right to be treated with fairness and equity. That’s the commitment I make to you and to all citizens of our state as I seek to win your trust and support as attorney general.

Jake Zimmerman, who currently serves as St. Louis County assessor, is running for attorney general as a Democrat. The primary is August 2.

Valerie: It is with broken hearts that we must reach out to you regarding the tragic shooting death of your dear son, Philando Castile. As we watched the news coverage today, we noticed an all-toofamiliar resemblance to the October police shooting that took the life of our dear son, Corey Jones.

We believe it is our duty to reach out to you to let you know that we stand with and are praying for you during this most difficult time. While we are certain that all of us would have chosen a different path, God recognized our strength and chose us for this path. We want you to know that you do not have to walk this path alone.

Although we may live several states away, and may only share the common thread of having lost a son due to the senseless killing by a police officer, we want to lend our support to you in whatever

way you may see fit. As we await the criminal trial of the officer who killed our son, we have gathered strength from the love and support of those who support our mission to hold law enforcement officials accountable for their actions. However, I am compelled to tell you that the road to justice is not easy. The pain you feel now is unimaginable and at times will feel intolerable, but through it all we must not, and we cannot lose hope.

Your son’s life mattered. Our son’s life mattered. We must demand that something change! We must demand justice!

Clinton Jones Sr. and Kattie Jones Parents of Corey Lamar Jones Via email

Better way to police

We are grateful to Diamond Reynolds for her courage in sharing the video of Philando Castile’s brutal death, and our thoughts are with her, her family, and the rest of Mr. Castile’s loved ones.

Philando lost his life for no reason, shot to death in front of his girlfriend and her child. We mourn him today because the police failed to protect and serve him. If they had done their job, he would still be alive.

Philando became the 123rd black person to be killed by U.S. law enforcement this year. We know there is a better way to police, an approach that doesn’t leave us with disproportionately high numbers of people of color injured and dead.

law enforcement reform, criminal justice reform and the eradication of economic and educational disparities when it comes to the so-called minority communities, then understand this: You are the problem.

If you’re black or a so-called minority, I believe that we have to do more than understand the effects of oppression. We have to aggressively work to deconstruct the very institutions that have been utilized for suppression. There are no excuses for coldblooded murder nor should we have to walk around in fear that we could be murdered for no reason except for the color of our skin. And it’s unacceptable that mainstream society is more concerned when animals are killed than when fathers, sons, brothers, mothers, daughters and sisters are being assassinated. There has to be a social and political revolution – and the time is now. So, what will you do when the laws of the land will not protect you?

Brandon Ellington (D-Kansas City) represents Missouri House District 22 and chairs the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus.

The ACLU of Minnesota joins the NAACP and others in their demand for an independent investigation of Philando’s killing by a truly independent entity. We do not believe that the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is that independent entity because the recent history of the BCA suggests that it is incapable of conducting a thorough and objective investigation into this tragic event.

Charles Samuelson, executive director ACLU of Minnesota

Inadequate lethal force laws

The available video footage of the death of Alton Sterling raises questions about the circumstances of this shooting that must be answered. A thorough, impartial and independent investigation must be conducted as soon as possible.

The use of lethal force in the U.S. continues unabated due to inadequate laws and the lack of accountability for officers who are accused of using unnecessary or excessive force. Without reforms, there will be more deaths.

According to international law, lethal force must only be used as an absolute last resort to prevent death or serious injury. Laws in Louisiana, and across the country, must be brought into line with international standards.

Jamira Burley, campaign manager Amnesty International USA

Kimberly Gardner

Boys & Girls Clubs has openings in Riverview

As part of their national day of service and to celebrate the opening of the Riverview Gardens Club, New Balance volunteers spent the afternoon engaging Club kids ages 6-12 in a fun-filled field day mingled with costume characters Newbie (New Balance Mascot), Fred Bird and Louie. Club member participants received new and complimentary tennis shoes courtesy of New Balance.

Thanks to the generosity the Regional Business Council, United Way and St. Louis Social Venture Partners, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis will operate a summer program to serve youth attending Glascow and Highland Elementary schools in the Riverview School District. The camp location, known as Riverview Gardens Club, will be held at 174 Shepley Drive and is open to youth 6-12 years old.

If your child lives in the Riverview Gardens District, community partners have made it possible for students to attend the 2016 summer camp for a membership fee of $25 or less. To register your child, call 314-335-8275.

Open call for Open Studios

The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (CAM) opened its call for artists for Open Studios STL. Each year, CAM partners with artists, galleries, alternative spaces, arts organizations and universities in St. Louis city and county, who make their spaces accessible to the public for one weekend – October 8–9 – promoting dialogue about art-making in St. Louis. Locations east of Grand Boulevard will be open to the public 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, October 8; locations west of Grand Boulevard will be open to the public 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, October 9.

To be eligible for participation, artists must maintain working studios or spaces in St. Louis or St. Louis County. Artists actively working in galleries, co-working spaces, university campuses, residency programs, and other alternative spaces are eligible. There is no fee to register and participate .Interested artists may visit camstl. org/openstudios for submission guidelines and further information. Registration is open until July 20.

Census Bureau hiring in St. Louis

United States Census Bureau, Chicago Region is looking for Applicants to fill over 100 positions in the St. Louis area. St. Louis has been selected as a test city for the upcoming 2020 Decennial Census. Currently there is open testing going on, which is virtually unheard of within the region. Salary starts at $12 per hour. Applicants should be at least 18 years of age, with a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance. Residents interested in locations for testing should contact the regional office 1-800-865-6384 ext. 15 or call 630-288-9200 ask for recruiting.

We will not be silent about this

By Judith Browne Dianis Guest columnist

A police officer brutally shot and killed Philando Castile in the St. Paul suburb of Flacon Heights, Minnesota during a routine traffic stop. A gutwrenching video, livestreamed on social media, captures Castile’s slow and painful death after police shoot him multiple times in the arm and chest.

Castile’s death at the hands of police comes on the heels of the tragic shooting death of Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old father of five, outside of a local convenience store on Tuesday in Baton Rouge. The killing, also caught on camera, records police’s sickening assault before his death.

We, like the communities and families of Baton Rouge and Flacon Heights, are outraged, horrified, and frustrated by the violence and brute force in which police officers shot and killed Philando Castile and Alton Sterling.

These killings were not isolated accidents or incidents and reflect our nation’s long history of police brutality against black and brown bodies. We urge the Department of Justice to conduct a full and thorough investigation of both killings and urge the swift release of the dashboard and body camera footage from Baton Rouge Police Officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II.

Louisiana’s notorious history of brutal violence against black people dates back to slavery and the legacy of statesanctioned lynching. Louisiana parishes comprised four out of five places in the United States that had the most lynching victims between Reconstruction and the early Civil Rights era. Today, Louisiana executes and jails more people than nearly any other state in the nation according to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, disproportionately jailing people of color. In 2015, blacks made up less than 6 percent of Minnesota’s population, but 35 percent of the state’s prison population.

n These killings were not isolated accidents or incidents and reflect our nation’s long history of police brutality against black and brown bodies.

In response to the criticism befalling police officers and departments guilty of killing and harming unarmed black people, Louisiana passed the Blue Lives Matter legislation in May, making police a protected class under hate crimes legislation. The legislation, an unacceptable ironic twist on #BlackLivesMatter, is one that the local BYP 100 chapter in Louisiana said “‘provides yet more protection to an institution statistically proven to be racist in action, policy, and impact.”

There will undoubtedly be a push by some to criminalize Castile and Sterling. While people will feverishly work to dehumanize them in an attempt to paint them as unworthy of protection and undeserving of our empathy, their killings were wholly unjustifiable. Police officers mercilessly tackled Sterling to the ground, restrained and shot him at point-blank range. A police officer shot also Castile at point-blank range after he attempted to comply with the officer’s instructions.

We will not be silent about this.

Sadly, police accountability will not bring Philando Castile and Alton Sterling back. Their families will be forever changed by these tragedies. We offer our sincere condolences and pledge to continue the fight to end state violence.

Judith Browne Dianis is executive director of Advancement Project’s national office.

Judith Browne Dianis

Continued from A1

as Advisor, Advocate, Activist,” a daylong forum (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) to be held Monday, July 25 at John Burroughs School, 755 South Price Rd. in Ladue. This event is “exclusively designed for anyone committed to educational equity for St. Louis youth,” according to organizers at Burroughs, one of the region’s premiere independent schools, and Saint Louis Public Schools (SLPS). Daniel Harris, director of Diversity & Multi-cultural Education at Burroughs, said the event is continuing

education in equity for teachers and administrators. He said that educators need to update their diversity awareness and strategies, just as they are encouraged to update their subject matter expertise.

“The need for ongoing teacher education on equity issues is really the goal,” Harris said. “Educators can stagnate, like anyone else.” The discussion will be facilitated by three national educational leaders who are the antithesis of stagnation: Brittany Packnett, vice president of National Community Alliances at Teach For America and a Ferguson protest leader, as well as Burroughs alumna; Chris Thinnes, a veteran independent

school leader and public school parent based in Los Angeles; and Jose Vilson, an author on equity issues and middleschool math teacher in New York City.

“We need to get past Diversity 101 and deepen our level of understanding, which requires an ongoing commitment to learning,” Harris said. “So we created a space for that to take place.”

The one-day program is enfolded in a more intensive, week-long “Equity Exchange,” which is also a partnership between Burroughs and SLPS. This is a more intensive collaboration between teachers

GARDNER

Continued from A1

Louis County municipality. The police officer was afraid because the hoodie made her look “suspicious,” she said. His gun was drawn when he approached her window.

“I had a barrel of a gun in my face, and I prayed to myself, ‘Please give me the strength to live another day,’” Gardner said. “I had to pray because I thought my life was going to be lost, and I was doing nothing wrong.”

Gardner told legislators that passing the bill – Senate Bill 656 – would make many people, especially African Americans, feel like “it’s open season on their lives.”

On May 13, the Republicanled Senate passed the wideranging gun bill that would end the requirement for training and a permit to carry a gun and establish a Stand Your Ground provision. The Missouri House then gave it final approval in a 114-36 vote.

and administrators more experienced in educational equity issues. Harris is its founding director.

“We dig deep in research, advance principles, construct practices to improve on equity, and build relationships to do that work,” Harris said of the Equity Exchange. The one-day event is part of the group’s research, as regional educational challenges that are identified in the one-day forum will become the focus of action planning by Equity Exchange for the remainder of their work week.

Just as the Equity Exchange is a partnership between

n “We need to get past Diversity 101 and deepen our level of understanding, which requires an ongoing commitment to learning.”

– Daniel Harris

private and public institutions, Burroughs and SLPS, the teachers and administrators involved in both the oneday forum and the intensive weeklong working group are from a mix of private and public schools.

“Both private and public schools have strengths,” Harris said. “We get together and share the best that we do so we can elevate all of us.”

In past years, they recruited teachers from all over the country, but this year they are inviting only local teachers and administrators, with an eye toward identifying regional

n “Stand Your Ground laws make our state more racially divided. It hurts our communities.”

– Kimberly Gardner

On June 27, Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed the bill. Republican legislators will try to override the veto in September. If they succeed, Missouri could become the first state to enact a Stand Your Ground measure since George Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin and was exonerated based on such a provision in Florida.

“Stand Your Ground laws make our state more racially divided,” Gardner said. “It hurts our communities.”

It also puts law-enforcement officers at risk, she said.

The Missouri Police Chief’s Association, representing 600 members statewide, and the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police, which represents 6,400 law enforcement officers, also have opposed the measure and called for Nixon’s veto to be upheld.

During the legislative session, Gardner directed a question to state Rep. Brandon Ellington, chairman of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus, a fellow Democrat who represents District 22 in Kansas City.

Ellington cited a 2012 study by researchers at Texas A&M University, which found that the rates of murder and non-negligent manslaughter increased by 8 percent in states with Stand Your Ground laws. That’s an additional 600 homicides per year in the states that have enacted such laws.

The study also found that whites who kill blacks in Stand Your Ground states are far more likely to be found justified in their killings. In non-Stand Your Ground states,

issues in education and strategizing how to address them.

Harris said, “We will prepare people to speak to the bigger, systemic problems that are coming up.”

The fee for “Educator as Advisor, Advocate, Activist” is $75 (includes lunch), and 75 people will be accepted. To register, visit www. theequityexchange.org and choose “One-Day Offering.” Those with questions may contact Harris at dharris@ jburroughs.org.

whites are 250 percent more likely to be found justified in killing a black person than a white person who kills another white person; in Stand Your Ground states, that number jumps to 354 percent.

“So when I said it was a 354 percent increase on white-onblack murders, that means that they are getting killed and they have not sought violently to defend themselves,” he said. Gardner pointed out that now Missouri is a “duty to retreat” state – meaning that unless residents are at home or their place of business, the victim in a murderous assault must attempt to retreat safely rather than use deadly force in self-defense.

“Nobody in here is talking about people shouldn’t have the right to conceal and carry,” Ellington said. “What we’re talking about is: You shouldn’t have the right to unjustifiably murder people. You can create a law that you say is to protect you, and that very law that you create will be the very law that gets you killed.”

Daniel Harris

On Friday, July 8, a Ballwin Police officer in St. Louis County was shot in the neck and critically wounded during a routine traffic stop.

On Saturday, July 9, an offduty St. Louis County police officer shot and killed a black man, Tyler Gebhard, when he allegedly tried to break into the home of the officer, whom he knew, following an online argument over police issues.

Protests continued in many cities over the weekend –resulting in hundreds of arrests and a new iconic image of the movement, when Iesha Evans, dressed in a flowing dress, peacefully defied police in riot gear advancing in the street during a protest in Baton Rouge on July 10.

‘Path to peace’

On Sunday in North County, both sides of the divide between police and the community called on a higher power to help move the nation towards a place of healing.

“We do know where there is unity there is strength,” Rev. Stewart said. “Where there is unity, there is a unified purpose.”

St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief Sam Dotson joined the mostly African-American gathering.

“It’s been a difficult week for law enforcement, and it’s been a difficult week for our country,” Dotson said.

Belmar read the scripture Isaiah 6:8: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” He said it was a verse he often reflected on as a law enforcement officer – and that the verse also exemplifies the NAACP.

“That Bible verse is about sacrifice. That Bible verse is about leadership. That Bible

CASTILE

Continued from A1

Continued from A1 position two years ago and has worked in Saint Paul Public Schools since he was 19, according to a statement by district.

verse is about example,” Belmar said, before leading the group in a brief prayer.

Nearly everyone in the sanctuary responded to Stewart’s request to come to the altar and pray together fervently for clarity and some sort of resolution.

“In order for things to get better, there must be work and effort on both sides of the issues,” Stewart said, as the group gathered around the pulpit.

“We commend our law enforcement officers for what they do, but we also appeal to

n “Is there a way that you can train your officers to deal with our young men without them ending up dead and in the ground?”

– Vanessa

you, as well, to make sure, as you secure our communities, that your effort is even-handed. We know that there are a lot of people weeping today –both black and white. But we cannot make it in this country divided.”

After they left the altar, guests were given an opportunity to share what they had on their hearts. Most of the comments were directed towards Belmar and Dotson, making for a few tense final minutes.

“You didn’t mention the young black men that died,” said Rev. George Tyson, one of the ministers at Murchison.

“I want to be protected by the police. But I think that if we are going to come together and stop the murdering of young black men, then everybody has to drop their rocks and sit down at the table of brotherhood and come to a conclusion. We have to get out of the way and, for once, live out the creed of this country –‘One nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.’”

A woman named Vanessa admitted that she was nervous as she stood before the audience. But she was determined to make a point on behalf of her community while she had the opportunity to speak face-to-face with law enforcement leaders.

“I know, as black people, some of us can come off as aggressive in our conversation. But that doesn’t mean we are going to do anything,” Vanessa said. “Our people, that’s how they sometimes express themselves.”

After searching for how to phrase what she had to say, she finally said, “Is there a way that you can train your officers to deal with our young men without them ending up dead and in the ground?”

Her comments were rebuffed by North County NAACP member John Gaskin III, who reminded the audience that the gathering was a prayer service and not a Q & A.

But both chiefs had made points that spoke to her concerns earlier in their remarks.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I don’t have the answer, Chief Dotson doesn’t have the answer – and I suggest that none of us in this room have the answer,” Belmar said. “But I know that moving forward we have to work together. We have gone too far to turn around now.”

“Whether it’s violence targeting police officers, police officers involved in violence, or violence in the community, it has to stop,” Dotson said. “We all want the same thing. We all want the path to peace.”

Six-hundred miles away, Ferguson protest leader and Teach For America executive Brittany Packnett was protesting and tweeting in Baton Rouge. In a string of tweets that were shared by many, she cautioned against calling for peace or order without working for justice.

“I’ve heard many calls for order,” Packnett tweeted. “Try justice. It will keep the peace.”

“He was smart, overqualified. He was quiet, respectful, and kind,” an unidentified coworker said in the district statement. “I knew him as warm and funny; he called me his ‘wing man.’ He wore a shirt and tie to his supervisor interview and said his goal was to one day ‘sit on the other side of this table.’”

Later police claimed that Yanez thought Castile looked like a robbery suspect who was reported as having “a wide-set nose.”

The St. Anthony Police Department – which patrols Falcon Heights, where the incident occurred – originally reported that Castile was pulled over for a broken tail light.

Long before Castile became a role model to public school students in St. Paul, he was just a boy in St. Louis. Castile’s aunt, Shirley Graves, who is a St. Louis resident, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Castile moved out of St. Louis when

he was a boy and that she had last seen him a few years ago at a family reunion here.

Graves and Castile’s other St. Louis relatives could not be reached for comment by press time.

Castile’s death happened just 24 hours after a viral video emerged of Alton Sterling, a black man selling CDs on the street, who was fatally shot by a police officer in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, while

officers had him pinned to the ground.

Castile’s sister Allysza Castile said that Philando saw that video, in the brief time he would live longer than Sterling, and discussed it with her. She told him that she couldn’t bear to watch the man shot dead.

“I haven’t watched the video of this man being killed by police and I will not because it will literally

break my heart and I’m so tired of seeing this happen to my PEOPLE for no reason!” she posted on Facebook, while her brother was still alive.

“All these killings caught (on) camera and still no justice – it makes me sick!”

This story is published as part of a partnership between

The St. Louis American and The Huffington Post.

A man stared down a Ferguson Police officer during a protest of the Baton Rouge Police killing of Alton Sterling on Wednesday, July 6 – at about the same time a Falcon Heights Police officer killed Philando Castile in Minnesota.

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Ferguson meets the finalists for DOJ consent decree monitor

A world of expertise on police reform converged in the Ferguson Community Center on Tuesday, July 12, when the public met four teams of experts competing to monitor the consent decree that Ferguson signed with the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Whichever of these four finalists is selected by Ferguson and the DOJ will assess and report on whether the requirements of the consent decree are being implemented. Ultimately, the monitor will judge whether the training and policy changes mandated by the consent decree result in lawful and constitutional policing and municipal court administration.

Each of the teams displayed diversity – by race, gender and expertise – as well as a local advocate, and all of their presentations at the forum (and proposals posted on the Ferguson website) show abundant expertise in police reform and in monitoring institutional progress by collecting and analyzing data.

However, the team assembled by Squire Patton Boggs, a global law firm based in Cleveland, stood out for two strong social justice advocates, one local and one national, Kimberly Jade Norwood and Delores Jones-Brown

Norwood, an endowed professor of law at Washington University, served on the Missouri Court’s Municipal Division Working Group and wrote a bold second opinion, published along with the weak group verdict issued on March 1.

“Race and, to a lesser extent, economic status fuel the dysfunction of municipal court divisions in St. Louis County,” Norwood wrote in that opinion.

“While some want to think that this problem just arose in August of 2014 with the killing of unarmed teenager Michael Brown, the reality is that lawyers, particularly lawyers in the St. Louis region, have known about the various abuses in the municipal system for more than half a century, especially the disparate treatment of people of color and the poor; the use of tickets to raise money for tax-poor communities; the misuse of warrants, bail, and failure-to-

recent study.

“We felt like we had no other way to get people in this community to listen,” said Homicide Unit Sgt. Heather Taylor, president of the Ethical Society of Police, which consists of about 200 predominately AfricanAmerican officers.

This week, the society handed over a 112-page evaluation of the Metropolitan Police Department to city aldermen, the mayor and some administrators. The report was leaked to the New York Daily News, where columnist Shaun King pointed out a simple fact St. Louisans take for granted that was shocking to many around the country.

“St. Louis is one of those cities with segregated police unions where AfricanAmerican officers felt like they had to form their own separate organization in order for their concerns and needs to be addressed,” King wrote.

The society’s report shows that black officers represent 34 percent of the force and about 24 percent of commanders, as of data compiled on February 15.

“Cronyism, favoritism, and other biases have continued under Chief Dotson’s leadership, but have existed for decades under various leaders within SLMPD,” the report states.

for our community,” Lt. Cheryl Orange said at the forum, held at the Northside Community Center at 5939 West Florissant Ave. “And that’s why we are here, so you can know the injustices that we face on the inside. Until that is cleaned up on the inside, we can never police on the outside.”

Dotson told St. Louis Public Radio that he will not step down.

“That would mean that I have failed, or that I’m not capable of doing the job,” he said.

He said the department’s relatively diverse force is an example that some things are working.

However, Taylor said after the society announced a vote of “no confidence” for Dotson in December, they have had several conversations with the chief – both using mediators and alone – on improving the department’s weaknesses and their ideas have been not been taken seriously.

About 250 people attended the forum. It was the first in a series of forums that the Ethical Society will hold with the Firefighters Institute for Racial Equality (FIRE), which represents black firefighters.

“We have problems as well,” said Capt. Abram Pruitt, the president of FIRE. “They affect you directly as well.”

appear charges; and the jailing of unrepresented defendants to collect fines and fees.”

Given that the DOJ consent decree in Ferguson compels many changes in its municipal court, Norwood’s expertise on St. Louis County municipal courts and strong, established voice for reform stands out in a field of experts mostly on police reform.

Delores Jones-Brown, also on the Squire Patton Boggs team, is a professor in the Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. The author of Race, Crime and Punishment, she is a powerhouse national expert on the failures in policing exposed by the DOJ in its March 2015 report on Ferguson.

“The only way to reduce questionable police killings is to take seriously the notion

that everyone has individual constitutional and human rights,” Jones-Brown wrote in a 2009 article for the American Bar Association’s Human Rights journal – an article that lists a litany of people of color killed by the police in or before 2009, hashtags before hashtags: Carolyn Adams, Anthony Baez, Sean Bell, Richard Brown, Amadou Diallo, Patrick Dorismond, A. Demetrius Dubose, Jonny Gammage, Oscar Grant, Gary Hopkins, Nathaniel Jones, Prince Jones, Irvin Landrum Jr., Anthony Dwaine Lee, Tyron Lewis, Tyisha Miller, Margaret Mitchell, Roger Owensby, Christopher Ridley, Timothy Stansbury, Timothy Thomas, Cornel Young

“Any indication that a police officer has engaged in violent conduct against a person based on assumptions about the group to which that person belongs,” she continued, “the neighborhood in which he or she is encountered, his or her style of dress, or his or her pattern of speech is a violation of the Bill of Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”

Her article – which could have saved a lot of lives had its insights been heeded in 2009 – concludes: “By giving

the benefit of the doubt to the few officers who act outside the law, prosecutors, judges, and jurors condemn the many to suspicion, fear, and loathing. This is not much unlike the faulty thinking that resulted in the deaths of those officers’ victims.”

The Squire Patton Boggs team is led by firm partner Clark Kent Ervin – we were, in fact, waiting for Superman – who was the first inspector general of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It also includes Edward F. Davis, the former Boston police commissioner who oversaw a 30 percent decrease in violent crime over his nearly seven years as commissioner and was hailed nationally for his leadership after the Boston Marathon bombing.

Squire Patton Boggs assembled a dream team for this difficult and important work – Ferguson and the DOJ would be wise to select them.

Black cops call for Dotson’s resignation

Black police officers in St. Louis called for Police Chief Sam Dotson to resign at a public forum on July 7, citing disparities in promotions and discipline documented in their

Some internal practices and the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) have also played into excluding qualified officers in promotions, the report states.

“This exclusion is seen in the lack of African-American commanders and AfricanAmerican officers in coveted specialized units,” it states.

The gravest disparities exist regarding discipline, according to the report, which details several cases where black officers allegedly were disciplined more severely than white officers for lesser offenses. “Discipline should never vary along racial lines, or with internal affiliation,” it states. “However, this does not appear to be the case within SLMPD.”

Taylor said at the forum, “Any time you have an officer being investigated for murder who is given 30 days and allowed to resign, and we have an officer who was suspended essentially for a fist bump, there’s a problem here.”

While the organization acknowledged that Dotson didn’t start the department’s disparate treatment, he has been resistant to working with the group for change, they said. And that affects the community’s wellbeing.

“We are constantly rolling

The discipline panel’s membership for firefighters is 95 percent white, and the testing for new recruits and promotions has long been criticized for being racially biased towards aiding white candidates, he said.

The six-member panel of officers, firefighters and activists talked about solutions to the problem. Longtime activist Percy Green II said that residents need to be more active voters. Many elected officials and August primary candidates in the room nodded their heads in agreement. Green said, “We should be as quick to vote as we are to say our prayers at night.”

Meeting on next Jennings mayor

The Jennings City Council will hold a special meeting 6 p.m. Thursday, July 14 at City Hall to decide whether to fill the vacant mayoral seat by appointment (of the council) or by a special election. If a special election is to be held in November, filing will open Tuesday, July 19 at 8 a.m. The mayoral seat is open because the council impeached Mayor Yolonda FountainHenderson

The global law firm of Squire Patton Boggs assembled a dream team to bid on the contract to monitor the Department of Justice’s consent decree with Ferguson that includes Kimberly Jade Norwood, an endowed professor of law at Washington University and expert in municipal court reform, former Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis, and Clark Kent Ervin, the first inspector general of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Photo by Wiley Price

Racism, discrimination and health

By Sandra Jordan Of The St.

Louis American

In his keynote remarks at the 80th annual St. Louis County NAACP Freedom Fund Leadership Dinner in St. Louis on June 23, it resonated how often health effects came up in Newark, New Jersey Mayor Ras Baraka’s message about tackling violence, poverty and issues of urban blight his city. The problems he described were not unlike that is occurring in other cities across America.

“The issues in Newark affect us all,” Baraka said. “I know that sometimes we feel like we have come so far and we’ve garnered so much success, there is so much that we have accomplished, but if you really looked at the state of affairs, we

n “If you really looked at the state of affairs, we have come a long way – we just haven’t come far enough.”

– Newark, New Jersey Mayor Ras Baraka

have come a long way – we just haven’t come far enough.”

In a telling recollection, Baraka spoke about the National Black Political convention held in 1972 in Gary Indiana, where 10,000 people from all walks of life advocated for what was needed in American communities.

At its reunion in Gary just a few weeks ago, Baraka said, “What bothered me was, some of the things that they talked about at the convention in 1972 still are the problems today. One of the things they asked for was – get this –free health care. They said that we need public health clinics in our neighborhoods.

“But what did they know? They knew that we were dying of every major disease that existed in this country; that our kids couldn’t even survive asthma; that we had upper respiratory illnesses and were dying of congestive heart failure. And diseases that were curable, we were still dying from because we did not have access to health care in our communities. And now as hospitals close, we still use the emergency room as our primary care health

See HEALTH, A11

Stuck in the Middle

By Durrie Bouscaren/ St. Louis Public Radio

Reprinted with permission

At any given time, a half dozen peo-

ple sit in the waiting room at Affinia Healthcare in south St. Louis. Two parents coo over a new baby, while a group of older patients chat along the back wall. Fifty-three–year–old Keith Carter sits alone. An embroidered polo shirt and badge show he’s just come from work.

“I seem fit. Inside, it’s just breaking down like sawdust. I just keep it in motion,” he said, as he waited to pick up a prescription to manage his diabetes. Three years after Missouri’s legislature first shut down the option to expand Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act, an estimated 173,000 of adults who could have been covered by the law remain uninsured. Many, including Carter, turn to pub-

LSEM addresses health disparities

Assists in navigating the new health care Marketplace

By Joel Ferber, Guest Columnist

Racial and economic disparities in health care outcomes are a significant problem for our community and have been well-documented. These disparities are often attributed to high poverty rates, lack of access to health insurance, lack of access to providers, and a variety of other factors.

n We have uncovered several instances where the State’s practices not only harmed our clients but did not conform to federal law.

Keith Carter, 53, waits to pick up a prescription for diabetes at Affinia Healthcare in St. Louis. Though he falls in the income gap, he’s able to get his preventive care covered through Gateway to Better Health.

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM) addresses health disparities by assisting children, families, people with disabilities and seniors in navigating the Medicaid eligibility and delivery systems, as well as the new health care Marketplace. Among the greatest issues our clients face are denials and delays of care under the Missouri Medicaid program. The reorganization of the Family Support Division, new computer and document scanning systems, a new call center and other changes have led to denials and delays of access to Medicaid, food stamps and other forms of assistance. LSEM assists clients who call us with these concerns and we identify patterns of systemic practices in our clients’ cases. We have uncovered several instances where the State’s practices not only harmed our clients but did not conform to federal law (e.g., regarding how family size is determined or what type of income is considered). As a result, the State revised its practices to come into compliance. We recently discovered that extremely young children who were properly placed on Medicaid at birth were being terminated from the program for failure to provide a social security number when the Family Support Division never told the family that they needed to provide SSNs. The State agreed to reinstate a number of our clients who were perfectly willing to provide this information, and to send proper notice to all families before terminating their children’s coverage. We are now grappling with a change in the Agency’s computer system to automatically terminate benefits unless manual action is taken by an FSD employee to report that requested information was received. When this practice was employed in the past, we found that many eligible clients had their services terminated by the computer, when they had in fact provided the information requested but FSD was not able to locate the documents because of a flawed scanning system or because FSD failed to record that the documents were received. We are concerned that low-income families are being penalized for the Agency’s inability to take timely action to prevent the computer “auto-close.”

See LSEM, A11 Checking in on a few of the thousands living in

See MEDICAID, A11

These technical issues may not seem that exciting to the casual observer but they can lead to life and death issues for low-income clients whose access to health

Joel Ferber

The Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, the Honorable Ras Baraka, received the W.E.B. Dubois Commitment to Social Justice Award on June 23 at the St. Louis County NAACP’s 980th Annual Freedom Fund Leadership dinner.

Photo by Durrie Bouscaren

Photo by Wiley Price

SSM Health unveils plan for new $550 million academic medical center

New Saint Louis University Hospital is adjacent to current facility

SSM Health has unveiled a Master Facility Plan for their new $550 million academic medical center in the City of St. Louis, a 316-bed, 802,000-square-foot replacement hospital and new outpatient care center for SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. Developed in partnership between SSM Health and Saint Louis University, the Master Facility Plan establishes a footprint for the new hospital campus and facilities, including location, size, patient services, expanded parking and green space, along with areas for any future campus expansion. The new complex will be located on the north side of the existing facility between Rutger and Lasalle Streets, adjacent to the hospital’s current location on Grand Avenue, with plans to better integrate the hospital with neighboring Saint Louis University School of Medicine and SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s

HEALTH

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Hospital. SSM Health continues to explore options for the current Desloge Tower, but no decisions have been made.

“This plan shows our commitment to the City of St. Louis and to an improved patient experience that supports our mission to provide exceptional care,” says Kate Becker, SLU Hospital president. “We will not only provide worldclass health care for patients throughout the Midwest, but also ensure they are treated in a more comfortable healing environment.”

n “This plan shows our commitment to the City of St. Louis and to an improved patient experience that supports our mission to provide exceptional care.”

The new SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital includes all-private patient rooms, larger intensive care units and an expanded emergency department. To provide patients with more convenient options, the new outpatient care center will expand outpatient surgery services and provide additional clinical space for SLUCare physician practices. Dedicated educational space throughout

current location on Grand Avenue.

physician because we don’t have access to real health care.

Baraka also talked about the proliferation of automatic assault weapons and ensuing violence that cuts short too many lives, and the unwillingness of elected leaders to ban them; police killings of unarmed black men; disinvestment in certain areas in communities, and called for an “urban Marshall Plan” to invest and rebuild America’s cities.

“There is a crisis of “will’ in America; a crisis of democracy and a crisis of inequality,” Baraka said.

A paper published last year in the Annual Review of Clinical Psychology is one of a growing body of research indicating that racial discrimination affects mental and physical health. Conclusions in “Self-reported Experiences of discrimination and Health: Scientific Advances, Ongoing Controversies, and Emerging Issues,” authors from

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licly funded health clinics like Affinia for care, where they can see a doctor for a small fee. It’s in these waiting rooms where the effects of Missouri’s “coverage gap” come to the forefront.

Stuck in the Middle People in the gap make too much money to qualify for MO HealthNet, Missouri’s existing Medicaid program, but too little to receive a federal subsidy to buy coverage on Healthcare. gov. Carter works as an independent contractor for a courier service in St. Louis, so he cannot get health insurance through his work. Carter lives in St. Louis, so he can use the temporary Gateway to Better Health program, which covers his preventive care. But it’s not “health insurance” per se – if he’s ever admitted into a hospital, he’ll probably have to pay out of pocket. He said that he worries about having an emergency every day.

the facility will allow Saint Louis University to better train future physicians and health practitioners.

“This state-of-the-art facility represents the health care of tomorrow and will benefit the entire region,” said Robert M. Heaney, M.D., SLUCare Physician Group CEO. “Most importantly, it ensures our

Emory, Columbia and Harvard universities noted that discrimination based on race or ethnicity continues to be a persistent experience for people of color in the United States across numerous domains, including housing, community policing, and health care treatment.

UCLA researchers have examined what public health can do to improve the mental health status of persons who experience discrimination. In a recent Fielding School of Public Health magazine, Professor Dr. Vickie Mays stated,

“We now have decades of research showing that when people are chronically treated differently, unfairly, or badly, it can have effects ranging from low self-esteem to a higher risk for developing stress-related disorders such as anxiety and depression.”

Additionally, Mays suggests using electronic screening data for greater understanding of patient experience with discrimination, and the possible need for selecting health providers they may feel more comfortable with.

“At any given time, my sugar could drop,” Carter said. “You never know when you’re going to get sick as you get older… just like this diabetes happened to me, I never knew I had the symptoms or the traits of it.”

About 109,000 Missourians fall between these income guidelines, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Due to a quirk in the Affordable Care Act, another 60,000 or so who would qualify for Medicaid under an expansion bill can already qualify for subsidies because they make more than the federal poverty level. Income limits for MO HealthNet vary, but in general, a Missouri family of four making anywhere between $4,374 and $24,300 a year could find themselves in this situation.

Mona Bryant, a patient who has since been able to sign up for health insurance on the exchange, found herself in the same situation last year.

“I was supposed to go on insulin, but I couldn’t afford the insulin, so I just had to take the sugar pills and hope my sugar [would] pan out ok,” Bryant said. “You just got to

patients have the best possible environment, one that incorporates the latest technology and best practices in patient care. In addition, our new facilities also will enhance the education of future medical and healthcare professionals, while strengthening medical research that leads to lifesaving treatments.”

Alberici Constructors, Inc.

was selected as the project’s construction manager in April and is slated to break ground in the fall of 2017 with an estimated completion date of Sept. 1, 2020. The replacement hospital and outpatient care center is beyond the hospital improvements under way since SSM Health assumed ownership of SSM Health SLU Hospital last

fall, including construction of a new radiation oncology facility. Lawrence Group, in partnership with Hammel, Green and Abrahamson (HGA), began developing the project scope in January of this year, working from information provided by planning architects Frank Zilm and Associates, Inc. (FZA). Through meetings with key leaders from SSM Health SLU Hospital and SLUCare Physician Group last fall, FZA gained critical input and developed a defined project scope. The Master Facility Plan takes into consideration SLU Hospital’s medically-complex tertiary and quaternary services, such as its Level 1 trauma center, organ transplant program and outpatient bone marrow transplant program. The project is part of a commitment made by SSM Health President/CEO William P. Thompson on the first day the organization assumed ownership of the hospital on Sept. 1, 2015. He announced an ambitious 5-year plan to construct a new hospital and outpatient center that incorporates national best practices in patient-centered design while delivering an improved patient experience.

be careful and mindful of your condition.”

Little support for expansion in Jefferson City

Though bills to accept federal money to expand Medicaid did not make it far in the Missouri legislature this year, the Republican–controlled House allowed supporters to have a brief floor debate in March.

House budget chair Tom Flanigan, a Republican, stood firm against adding people to the state’s Medicaid program, which already covers about 980,000 adults and children, and costs $8.2 billion a year.

“It’s a big lug on our budget, it prevents us from doing a lot of good work in this body. And I too will oppose any increase in Medicaid,” Flanigan said.

The state of Missouri oversees its own Medicaid program, but the funding comes from both federal and state sources.

Expanding Medicaid this year would have drawn $1.8 billion in federal dollars to expand eligibility for adults to 133 percent of the federal poverty

level. The limit currently sits at 18 percent for parents, and does not cover able–bodied, childless adults at all.

Democrats argued that legislators had a moral obligation to expand the program, but were outvoted by Republicans, 37 to 109.

Missouri is one of 19 states that have not expanded Medicaid or issued an alternate plan to accept the funds to do so. Three of its neighbors –Iowa, Illinois and Arkansas –have expanded their programs.

Providers feel a stretch

In the meantime, community health clinics continue to do what they can to meet the needs of Missouri’s uninsured residents. Some still lack coverage because they can’t afford it, don’t know they qualify or are waiting on applications to process. Some have no other option because they are undocumented.

People in the gap make up a large portion of the patients seen by Dr. Melissa Tepe, Affinia’s medical director. About half of Affinia’s patients are uninsured – most of the rest are covered by Medicaid.

“I’ll see a lot of waitresses, cab drivers, folks who do seasonal work,” Tepe said, on a break between appointments.

“I think a lot of patients work their bodies to the very edge.”

Tepe said that when her patients don’t have insurance, they delay care or skip medications because they can’t afford to pay out–of–pocket. That makes their health go from bad to worse.

“What happens to their families when these folks aren’t able to live to their potential, right? Are they going to come out of the workforce because their diabetes is too bad?” Tepe said.

Angela Schiefelbein speaks to pregnant women gathered at Affinia Healthcare’s “Centering Pregnancy” class.

“It’s very easy to look at a band aid and say nothing’s profusely bleeding, but that ignores the big problems behind it,” said Angela Schiefelbein, a nurse practitioner at another Affinia location.

Emotion strains her voice when she talks about her patients. One, a 50– year–old woman has never smoked but lives with a severe case of asthma and is now oxygen dependent. Schiefelbein said she knows that patient cuts back on food and can’t always afford her medical supplies because she has to pay her rent. Another patient started having seizures, and might lose her job because she’s missed too many days at work – but can’t afford to see a neurologist or take medication.

“There’s a very good chance she’s going to end up in a shelter – she’s never been in one before,” Shiefelbein said. “This is the face of people who are in shelters now. One health crisis away from being homeless.”

The new complex will be located on the north side of the existing facility between Rutger and Lasalle Streets, adjacent to the hospital’s

Photo by Wiley Price

St. Louis County NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner Co-chairs and leadership: Pamela J. Meanes, partner, Thompson Coburn LLP; Hon. Esther Haywood, president; Jane Dueker, attorney, Spencer Fane; guest speaker Newark, N.J. Mayor Ras Baraka; dinner Chairman John Gaskin, III, NAACP National Board of Directors.

Bullets – and injustice –keep flying

“I’m right here with you”

Those were the comforting words of a 4-year old who had just witnessed a horrific, reportedly unprovoked police killing of a civilian that no one of any age should have to endure. Her mother, Diamond Reynolds, recorded the aftermath of the police shooting of Philando Castile on her phone. While Castile was bleeding out, the child had to watch her mother being forced out of the car at police gunpoint, handcuffed and carted off to jail.

The Castile killing came right after the July 6 police killing of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge. Then came Micah Johnson.

An apparently troubled young man, Johnson reportedly did what he was trained to do by the U.S. military: take out those perceived as a threat. Before his bullets stopped flying, Johnson killed five officers and wounded seven others, including two civilians.

In turn, when police concluded Johnson was a threat, he was blown up by a bomb-throwing robot. It’s not the first time black people have been bombed in this country

(Tulsa and Philadelphia), but it was the first time a robot was sent in to do the dirty work.

Closer to home, bullets kept flying. The details are still being sorted in the cases of an alleged shooting of a white Ballwin officer by a black man and a young, black intruder being killed by an off-duty St. Louis County cop.

Bullets keep flying, and the injustices keep heaping up.

City officials and law enforcement seem to be

n Shooting our way out of this violent cycle is not an option. We are going to have to think our way out.

determined that there will be no changes in the way that police conduct themselves before, during and after they have assaulted or killed a black or brown person. St. Louis spends 56 percent of its general budget on arresting and incarcerating folks, mainly black. A whopping $277,840,566 is spent on courts, jails and law enforcement departments.

These people keep trying to convince us that the answer is more police with bigger guns. Or more robots, more drones.

Community pressure must be put squarely on mayors, police chiefs, prosecuting

attorneys and judges to create an atmosphere where black bodies have value. This means that police who assault or kill civilians must expect the same consequences if they couldn’t hide behind the badge. The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) has 99 ways of avoiding consequences because they have successfully put laws in place that give them greater power while also diminishing the ability of citizens to get justice.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon bowed down to the FOP when he recently signed into law a bill that restricts access to video from police car dashboards and body cameras until investigations are finished. It also restricts recordings in nonpublic areas except to those in the videos. People who want to view these police videos will need to go to court, which means you’ll need money to hire an attorney. The governor threw gasoline on the simmering fires of frustration. Shooting our way out of this violent cycle is not an option. We are going to have to think our way out. It means having the resolve of a child who can give assurance to her mother in a traumatizing situation. It means educating our community about how to organize for power and real change. I think it’s an alternative to dodging bullets this summer.

Jamala Rogers

Business

Transformation opportunity in Canfield Green

A young resident of Canfield Green Apartments in Ferguson added to the community memorial for

September 2014.

To address suburbanized poverty, we need human services along with better housing

By Sandra M. Moore

There are four housing communities that form the one-way-in, one-way-out cul de sac of affordable housing at the epicenter of the Ferguson crisis sparked by the death of Michael Brown Jr. The total number of units, more than half of which are heavily subsidized, is 1,136. Canfield Green, the strongest of the four in terms of both household demographics and housing quality, is nestled adjacent to three separate apartment communities. Canfield Green is all market-rate, with rents ranging from $425 to $600 for a spacious multibedroom unit.

n In Canfield Green Apartments, there is little defensible space for families to mark as their own and no “eyes on the street” to create a sense of community.

All of the housing in the Canfield cul de sac was either developed or redeveloped using Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) awarded by the State of Missouri. The housing is unquestionably affordable, and many have asserted that the housing is decent and therefore adequate for the market.

Assuming, for the sake of argument, that the housing is indeed adequate, the question for community development specialists is whether decent, affordable and adequate housing is enough or whether LIHTC investments should require more. A look at the physical terrain surrounding the housing is illustrative. There are no uniform formal sidewalks running through the property, despite the fact that children and families frequently must walk because most do not have access to cars. There are no parks or other defined recreation spaces within the cul de sac, even though a large number of children and youth live in the housing. Taking from the “new urbanist” design recommendations on state of the art community development, there is little defensible space for families to mark as their own and no “eyes on the street” to create a sense of community. The largest of the four communities is the 438-unit Northwinds Apartments, which has a significant number of Section 8 apartments in its unit mix. Northwinds, located directly northeast of Canfield, can be accessed only through Canfield Drive, which is the sole entryway into Canfield Green Apartments.

People On The Move

Tishaura O. Jones will participate on two panels at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. She was invited by 20/20 Leaders of America – a diverse, bipartisan group of black politicians, prosecutors, defense attorneys, political strategists, police chiefs and other law enforcement – to participate in their Justice Forum panel. And Business Forward asked her to lead their panel discussion on Diversity and Women in Leadership. Jones is treasurer of the City of St. Louis.

Ashraf Hamad joined KAI Design & Build as senior project engineer. His responsibilities include overseeing the entire lifecycle of a project to ensure compliance with scope, budget and schedule at KAI’s St. Louis and affiliate offices in Texas, Nebraska and Georgia. He is a Project Management professional certified through the Project Management Institute with more than 10 years of project management experience.

Melissa Harper was named to Black Enterprise Magazine’s 2016 List of Top Executives in Corporate Diversity. She is vice president of Global Talent Acquisition, Inclusion & Diversity and HR Compliance at Monsanto. She leads a global team responsible for attracting talent, ensuring an inclusive environment and ability to deliver against talent needs that align to strategic business goals at Monsanto.

Ray Riddle joined the Board of Directors for Youth In Need, an eastern Missouri regional agency serving more than 13,000 children, teens and families each year with residential programs, homeless street outreach, education, counseling and support groups, foster care case management and infant, child and family development programs. He is the director of Transmission & Distribution Design at Ameren Missouri.

Tiffany McConnell is returning to Lucas Crossing Elementary Complex in Normandy Schools Collaborative as building principal. She worked there previously as an assistant principal. She most recently worked in the district as the curriculum coordinator for mathematics. She also has served the district facilitating collaborative planning with teachers, supporting school improvement plans, and facilitating professional development for teachers and principals.

Mashroor Rashid was selected for the Saint Louis Suburban Music Educators Association Concert Band. A student at Hazelwood West High School, he played the baritone saxophone. The Saint Louis Suburban Music Educators Association Concert Band is an auditioned group of high school students from Saint Louis County and Wentzville areas. Sarah Merlenbach, also a student at Hazelwood West, was selected to play flute. On the move? Congratulations! Send your good professional news and a color headshot to cking@stlamerican. com

Tishaura O. Jones

Melissa Harper

Ray Riddle

Tiffany McConnell

Ashraf Hamad

Mashroor Rashid

For the St. Louis American

Michael Brown Jr. in

Photo by Wiley Price

By Megan Betts and Rasheen Aldridge Guest columnists

In a recent article in The American, Paul McKee Jr.’s residential co-developer stated that the housing being built as part of NorthSide Phase 1 would be affordable. On the other hand, Washington University professor Molly Metzger questioned who could afford this “affordable” housing. As we all know, what is affordable to one family may not be affordable to another.

The developers say that the housing will be affordable to families making 60-80 percent of the Area Median Income. What does this mean?

The Area Median Income (AMI) is a statistic that tracks the incomes of not only our city’s residents, but also the residents of St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jefferson

INEQUITY

continued from page B1

the units. The notion of decent and adequate might come into question here: Where are families to sit down for dinner?

Is family housing without space for family dining decent? Is such housing adequate?

Against this backdrop of a deep need for affordable housing and an equally deep need for the opportunity to improve overall living conditions, decent, affordable, and adequate housing is simply not enough for the public investment of tax credits.

Affordability, decency, and

NorthSide Phase 1: affordable for whom?

County and Franklin County. These are combined to give a snapshot of our metropolitan area’s incomes.

So, what is the St. Louis metro AMI? It’s $70,300. What is the median income of the area surrounding the proposed development? Try $16,759. That’s not even close to the median income that the developer is referencing.

The developer mentions that the units will be affordable to people making 80 percent of the AMI, which would be $56,250. This is three times the median income of the surrounding neighborhood.

The apartments will also rent for significantly more than nearby apartments in Preservation Place, The Brewery, Cambridge Heights and Murphy Park. In an area where HUD says that over half of renters without

adequacy of housing stock alone are insufficient returns from the use of available housing and community development tools. The Southeast Ferguson housing landscape and the story of its people illuminate the need for some uniformity in standards for affordable housing development, plus appropriate community-enhancing services and supports.

At the federal level, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has set the practice model in place with the launch of the Choice Neighborhoods grant program, which requires more than affordable, decent housing from federal housing

subsidies are paying too much for housing, it makes little sense to add higherpriced units, without an affirmative plan to support affordability in the area.

With all of this considered, most of the area’s current residents wouldn’t be able to afford to move into the new construction without spending an unsustainable amount of family income on rent. If this development increases the area’s overall rental market cost, then it is likely that many families (who already face crushing rent burden) would experience even greater financial stress. High levels of rent burden make it impossible

investments.

HUD has likewise deepened the notion of requiring more than affordable, decent, and adequate housing in its Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Final Rule. The final rule describes the requirements for HUD participants, i.e., those that receive HUD funding, this way: “program participants [are directed] to take significant actions to overcome historic patterns of segregation, achieve truly balanced and integrated living patterns, promote fair housing choice, foster inclusive communities that are free from discrimination.”

Achieving truly balanced and integrated living patterns as mandated by the rule will require focus and intentionality from the housing and community development community on more than affordable, decent, and adequate housing.

Community demographics

The typical household in this Southeast Ferguson cul de sac has an income well below the area median income of $25,882, despite the fact that most adults are working. Many adults have more than one job. These families fit the classic definition of the “working poor.” Nearly 100 percent of the households are AfricanAmerican.

Of the households with children, most are headed by a single parent. The children are likely to attend Koch Elementary School in the unaccredited Riverview Gardens School District. Few, if any, of the children have had early childhood education

for families to save and are a driver of multigenerational poverty in the community.

The city faces an escalating crisis of housing affordability to residents at or below 30 percent AMI. As currently envisioned, this project will not provide an affordability solution, but will actually put increased rental price pressure on an area where the median household income is below 30 percent of AMI. Without an affirmative, forward-looking strategy for affordability, this development will be almost exclusively enjoyed by new residents, as the vast majority of current

preparation and their generally low school performance is the result, with 33 percent of all third grade students performing below the basic proficiency level in communication arts.

According to data from the 2008-2012 U.S. Census, census tract 2120.2, within which these four properties are located, consists of 86.6 percent African-American versus 65 percent in the City of Ferguson overall, and 7.4 percent non-Hispanic white versus 31 percent in the City of Ferguson overall.

Additionally, population data within the census tract 2120.2 shows a dramatically higher percentage of younger residents compared to the population of the City of Ferguson, with approximately 13.4 percent of the residents between ages 0-5 and 14.9 percent between ages 18-24.

As late as January 2015, there were over 1,136 units distributed in these housing communities where a large number of children, youth and young adults live. The high school completion rate for youth has drastically declined from 86.1 percent in 2004 to 64 percent in 2013. The unemployment rate for working-age adults is 21.2 percent in the census tract, nearly nine points higher than the rest of Ferguson at 12.2 percent. Nearly 40 percent of the transition-age youth, defined as young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are classified as at-risk, do not work.

Transformation opportunity

For every dollar of subsidy

neighborhood residents would be unable to afford the units. It would also be likely to create upward pressure on the area’s rental market, causing increased rent burden and displacement of residents who couldn’t afford an increase in rent.

Creating an economically diverse neighborhood is a laudable goal. Unfortunately, the current plan does not take into consideration impact on current residents. Without an affirmative plan for fair and affordable housing retention, this plan will actually make life harder on many families, while providing little benefit to those families. That this is occurring with significant government subsidy is also troubling.

Without a binding Community Benefits Agreement (CBA), it is likely that this development will have significant, negative

for housing development, there must be some corresponding allocation of monetary resources to systems, services and human capital development support. That is what we must do.

The heart of any program to address the challenges of implanting large numbers of heavily subsidized affordable housing units into moderateto low-income communities like Southeast Ferguson must focus on human capital development as a part of the housing development strategy.

Human capital development must include the design plan and implementation approach for a comprehensive set of strategies coordinated from a central unit in the community that are targeted to improve specific health, economic, and social outcomes. That is the starting point of a “Ferguson” transformation and the starting point for similar transformations in Ferguson-like communities around the country. Many such communities are now, since the Ferguson occurrence, seen as pockets of suburbanized poverty; however, the conditions similarly exist in urban core communities that have large concentrations of public or otherwise subsidized housing.

People and systems strategies cannot be an addendum to housing strategies; they must be conjunctive with housing strategies so that public financing support tax credits and similar vehicles can be used to leverage the necessary people and systems strategies.

The federal government has adopted this approach in the

financial impacts on many current residents. Retaining housing stock for our lowerincome families is necessary to prevent homelessness and preserve long-term neighborhood residents. It is our hope that community members and organized labor (which is providing a major portion of the project’s financing) can meet the developer at the bargaining table to negotiate a CBA that will bring jobs, truly mixedincome housing, and muchneeded investment into an area that has seen significant economic decline.

Rasheen Aldridge was a member of the Ferguson Commission and works for Fight for $15.

Megan Zuperku Betts is a community activist who lives in the footprint of the proposed development.

HUD Choice Neighborhood grant program. The people component of the Choice Neighborhood program is literally the starting point of the affordable housing development process and remains central to the success of this affordable housing grant program. Human capital development planning and implementation as part of an affordable housing transformation strategy has four main components: information gathering, plan drafting, fund strategy development, and correlation of human capital planning and physical design planning.

Adding these components to the affordable housing planning process, whether there is a Choice Neighborhoods grant or not, does not add significantly to the planning timeline, especially with the kind of LIHTC regulatory requirements already in place. It will, however, add to the cost. Without the additional federal funding that a Choice Neighborhood grant might bring, the assertion that for every dollar of housing subsidy there must be a source for funding the human capital, systems, and services components is paramount to implementation of this comprehensive approach. Private and philanthropic funding is routinely raised to fill gaps in housing development financing. The fundraising for the human capital planning effort and early implementation efforts must be addressed with as much rigor as funding efforts to support raising the capital for the housing. However, because the human capital outcomes are often seen as riskier than the physical development outcomes, the question is and always will be: What will the investors get for the additional funding required and raised?

What is possible?

In light of recent events, population conditions and demographics, a data-driven human capital plan and implementation strategy as the lead component of a transformation plan for Southeast Ferguson generally, and the targeted affordable housing specifically, would start at the epicenter –Canfield, Northwinds, Oakmont Townhomes, and Versailles Apartments –and move outward into the surrounding neighborhoods. The human capital planning and implementation would be focused on robust multigenerational programming and supports, targeted specifically to the assets and challenges of these four communities. Given the large number of working-age adults and the strong concentration of young adults coupled with the large

Megan Betts Rasheen Aldridge

n “Greatest power forward of all time. Unbreakable power forward. Nothing could break him.”

– Shaquille O’Neal on Tim Duncan

Duncan hangs up the sneakers

Earl salutes the Big Fundamental

The great Tim Duncan finally decided to hang up his sneakers after 19 elegant seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. The Big Fundamental retires as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Plain and simple. It is no secret how much I love Tim Duncan and how he went about his business on and off the basketball court. He was the consummate low-maintenance superstar who dominated his era with his perfect fundamentals and brilliance on both ends of the court.

Earl Austin Jr.

I have been a lifelong fan of the Washington Bullets/ Wizards, but the Spurs became my other favorite NBA team the second they drafted Duncan out of Wake Forest in 1997. As many of you know, I’m an old school guy who loves fundamentals and the game being played the right way. Tim Duncan epitomized all of those values on the court. He was substance over style from the word go. He had the superstar game without the superstar diva attitude. He was the ultimate team player in an era that emphasizes individual play. People said he was boring. Fine, I like boring. Believe it or not, the first time I watched Tim Duncan in person, I was rooting against him. I was broadcasting my Saint Louis U. Billikens game against Wake Forest in the 1995 NCAA Tournament. The Billikens were trying to upset the No. 1 seed Demon Deacons in Baltimore.

It was a close game and it looked like SLU was going to pull off the big upset when David Robinson broke free for a wide open layup in the game’s closing seconds.

By Palmer L. Alexander III

For The St. Louis American

The St. Louis Surge showed no signs of rust after having the previous weekend off due to Independence Day, winning convincingly 95-72 over the Cleveland Crush. Every single Surge player got a chance to play in the game and also to get into the box score.

Shanity James led the Surge with 13 points, 3 assists and 5 rebounds.

Jaleesa Butler and Michala Johnson also helped lead the Surge offensive attack, scoring 12 points each. Starting point guard Rebecca Harris played limited minutes as head coach Tony Condra wanted to give her some much-needed rest for the stretch run.

Jenny Rocha, a Lindenwood University graduate, logged plenty of minutes running the point. She showed off her ability to push the ball up the floor and is a very nifty passer. She is definitely a pass-first type of player and is an ideal fit for a team that really loves to get out and run off missed attempts at the other end of the floor. The Cleveland Crush had moments where it looked like it might become a contest. Guard Porsha Poole put up 22 points and Taylor Ruper had 20 points for the Crush. Poole made several acrobatic shots and is no slouch with her game offensively.

Officers storm out of WNBA game

An individual being against police brutality is not the same as being against the police in the same way that being against drowning is not the same as being against water. Unfortunately, though, many law enforcement officials believe that mourning or showing concern for individuals killed by police is a direct attack on all police officers. Such was the case Saturday night when members of the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx simultaneously expressed grief over the senseless deaths of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile and the five Dallas police officers slain in an ambush last week. Before their home game against the Dallas Wings, Lynx players wore shirts that read “Change Starts with Us – Justice and Accountability” on the front. On the back, the shirts listed the names of Sterling and Castile, along with the Dallas PD shield and, at the bottom, Black Lives Matters. It was a way to honor the lives of all those affected by a week filled with senseless and horrific killings.

Ishmael H. Sistrunk

Lynx All-Star forward Maya Moore told reporters, “We do not in any way condone violence against the men and women who serve in our police force. Senseless violence and retaliation do not bring us peace.”

She added: “We as a nation can decide to stand up for what is right, no matter your race, background or social status. It is time we take a deep look at our ability to be compassionate and empathetic to

Sistrunk

Minnesota Lynx forwards Rebekkah Brunson and Natasha Howard sports black t-shirts honoring Alton Sterling, Philando Castile and the five Dallas police officers killed last week.

Palmer L. Alexander

The great Tim Duncan finally decided to hang up his sneakers after 19 elegant seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. See INSIDE, B5

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Vandy’s Derek Mason needs a reminder he is black

Forty years ago this month

I was a high school student attending the University of Missouri Urban Journalism Workshop. It was prep J-School boot camp with PostDispatch journalists George Curry and the late Gerald Boyd among our instructors.

Feelings got hurt, no punches were spared and we were all better writers, reporters and editors when the week ended.

The workshop continued this week in Columbia and among the many messages I hope were drilled into the young journalistic minds is that there is additional pressure on black journalists to succeed in the whitemale dominated world of media.

with being a successful African American in any business is ridiculous.

No one asked Mason if he was intelligent enough to be a coach – he went there. No one asked him if he could do the job well enough – he went on the defensive.

We knew it, and many of us ran toward that fire instead of turning away.

Let’s fast forward to Monday during SEC Media Days.

Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason was asked if there was any added pressure being an African-American coach in the SEC – where had and Kevin Sumlin of Texas A&M are the only black coaches.

“You know what? I don’t wear that cape,” Mason said.

“I really don’t. I think my ethnicity has nothing to do with my position. I think I’m intelligent enough to be a head coach, and I’ve proven over time that I can do the job.”

Really? Refusing to acknowledge that there is additional pressure that comes

As Curry told us during the workshop – “you’re not a journalist who is black, you are a black journalist.” While teaching the importance of not using passive speech, Curry was also making clear the world sees your skin color before it knows what you do for a living. Mason was either fibbing or delusional when he said Vanderbilt had no idea he was black when the institution hired him.

“There’s a reason why Vanderbilt hired me. They felt I was the best coach. They didn’t feel I was African-American. They didn’t feel I was anything other than the best fit for Vanderbilt. That’s what I coach under,” he said.

Breaking news for Mason: Any successful black person wears that cape. It doesn’t make you a Superman or Superwoman – it makes you never forget where you came from, how you got there and the obstacles you overcame because somebody didn’t like your skin color.

Mason has obviously forgotten.

If he needs a reminder, he should go visit Vanderbilt professor Carol Swain who said on CNN last week the

Black Lives Matter movement is “misleading black people” and “needs to go.” She added that BLM is “a very destructive force in America.”

Vanderbilt Provost Susan Wente countered that nonsense by saying Swain’s comments “in no way represent those of

the university.”

“Vanderbilt University is committed to diversity, inclusion and freedom from discrimination,” Wente said in a statement. “Ensuring that our campus is a safe, welcoming and supportive environment for every member of the Vanderbilt community has been, and will always be, our top priority. Vanderbilt joins the nation in mourning Alton Sterling, Philando Castile and the five officers killed in Dallas Thursday.”

Earlier this year, Swain wrote a column for the Nashville Tennessean attacking the religion of Islam, leading to a protest of more than 100 students.

Of course, Mason is preparing for the upcoming season and probably as oblivious to the world around him as he is to his race.

A list on The One

The African-American news website NewsOne (newsone. com) has come up a team of professional baseball’s greatest black players. I think it did an excellent job, what do you think?

First Base – Frank Thomas. “The Big Hurt” hit .301 with 521 home runs and 1,704 RBI.

Second Base – Jackie Robinson. Six-time All-Star, .311 batting average, 137 home runs, 734 RBI and 197 stolen bases.

Third Base – Derek Jeter. OK, this is a stretch because Jeter belongs on the team. Twelve-time All-Star with more than 3,000 hits and five World Series titles. I would have put Negro League star Judy Johnson here, a posthumous 1975 inductee to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Shortstop – Ernie Banks. This is why Jeter is at third. Banks hit .271 with 512 home runs and 1,636 RBI, unfortunately all with the Chicago Cubs.

Left Field – Barry Bonds. Without question, regardless of steroid use. He hit 762 home runs, with 1,996 RBI with a .298 batting average. He was also an elite outfielder in his prime.

Center Field – Willie Mays. Twelve Gold Gloves to go with a .302 batting average, 660 home runs and 1,903 RBI. Also had an unbelievable .384 on-base percentage.

Right Field – Ken Griffey, Jr. compiled a .284 batting average with 630 home runs,

1,836 RBI and an .370 OBP.

Designated Hitter – Henry Aaron. Obviously, he could be a starting outfielder on this team. His 755 home runs make him the lifetime homerun king in most fans’ eyes. Add a .305 batting average, 2,297 RBI and a .374 OBP. Catcher – Josh Gibson. If you take the 16 Negro League seasons that Gibson played, and break into 162-game segments, he averaged 37 home runs, 137 RBI and a .359 batting average.

Starting Pitcher – Bob Gibson. Of course! A lifetime 2.91 ERA, 251 wins and 3,117 strikeouts. Recorded what is recognized as the best year ever for a pitcher in 1968 with a 23-7 record, 1.12 ERA and 13 shutouts.

Relief Pitcher – Lee Smith. He posted 478 saves with a 3.03 ERA and 1,251 strikeouts.

Alvin A. Reid is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook and appears on ABC’s The Allman Report and several sports radio shows. His Twitter handle is @aareid1.

Alvin A. Reid

Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason seems to have forgotten his responsibility to other minority coaches as one of only two black coaches in the SEC and one of very few in the entire landscape of college football.

By Earl Austin Jr. Of The St. Louis American

Standout center Jeremiah Tilmon of East St. Louis has given a commitment to the University of Illinois. The 6’10” 235-pound Tilmon is ranked among the top players nationally in the Class of 2017. He is ranked No. 19 by Scout.com, No. 25 by Rivals and No. 30 by ESPN. Tilmon chose Illinois over other top programs such as

SURGE

Continued from B5

However, on defense the Crush pretty much imploded. And their head coach James

CLUTCH

Continued from B5

here are two harsh realities: some police officers do their jobs poorly and even good cops can make bad decisions.

Just like in professional sports, officers who perform poorly should either be benched (taken off the streets) until they improve or cut. An athlete’s mistake during a sporting event can cost a possession, a game or even a championship, but an officer’s mistake in the field can cost a life. Unfortunately, our society is stuck in an ‘us versus them’ mentality and many officers and police unions go into full defense and/or attack mode at any suggestion that an officer acted inappropriately. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, when asked about the officer walk out, the president of the Minneapolis Police Federation, Lt. Bob Kroll, commended the officers’ actions.

“If [the players] are going to keep their stance, all officers may refuse to work there,” stated Kroll.

When the initial reports suggested that as many as eight officers participated in the walk out, Kroll took at cheap shot at the WNBA franchise, adding, “They only have four officers working the event because the Lynx have such a pathetic draw.” Great job, Kroll. Temper tantrums and attacks are exactly what was needed to reinforce the public’s trust with law enforcement [/sarcasm].

Continued from B3

Just as David was going up, this long arm came out of nowhere and pinned his shot on the glass. It was Duncan. It was an incredible defensive play that helped saved Wake Forest from an untimely exit from the tournament. I sank in my seat, just devastated. Damn you Tim Duncan, I thought to myself. Well, that was the only time in 23 years that I actually rooted against Tim Duncan and expressed any displeasure against him. He was just a sophomore in college at the time, but even then I knew I was watching someone who was going to be truly special. I knew he was going to be one of the great ones. Once he hit San Antonio, I could not get enough of him and the Spurs. The numbers speak for themselves. Duncan led the Spurs to five world championships. He was a three-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player and twotime NBA MVP. He was a

Tilmon commits to U of I

Plus, Carte’are Gordon takes another championship

North Carolina, Kansas, Michigan State and Texas. He becomes the highest ranked recruit to commit to the Illini since John Groce took over the program as head coach in 2012.

Tilmon spent his first two years of high school at East St. Louis High, where he was an All Southwestern Conference selection. Last season, Tilmon played at La Lumiere Prep in Indiana. He becomes the second Metro East player to commit to the Illinois as part of the 2017 class. Belleville East standout Javon Pickett has already committed to the Fighting Illini. Illinois is also in the hunt for Belleville Althoff standout Jordan Goodwin.

Lacy told me prior to the game that his team lost its last game on the road by 10 points because of poor rebounding. Not only did the poor rebounding continue, there were breakdowns on defense. At times it looked

Carte’are Gordon takes another ‘ship

It has been a fantastic couple of weeks for Webster Groves standout Carte’are Gordon.

After winning a gold medal with Team USA at the FIBA U17 World Championships in Spain, Gordon flew to North Augusta, S.C. to help his MoKan Elite team win the championship at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam, the most prestigious tournament on the summer grassroots circuit.

Gordon has six points and eight rebounds in MoKan’s 93-65 victory over the PSA Cardinals (NY) in the championship game, which was televised nationally on ESPNU. He also had 12 points

like the Surge was having a conga line to the basket for a layup. I was surprised that Poole was left sitting on the bench at the start of the second half, as she was one of their best offensive players and the only

and six rebounds in a victory over California Supreme in the semifinals and a high game of 15 points against King James in pool play. Gordon averaged 10 points a game in the Peach Jam as MoKan Elite finished with an 8-0 record.

Tournaments in STL this weekend

There will be two big NCAA Certified Grassroots Tournaments in the St. Louis area this weekend. The Adidas 3 Stripes Invitational will be held at Lindenwood University from Thursday to Sunday. The tournament is being presented by the Gateway Basketball Club. The St. Louis Eagles Battle for the Arch Tournament

one creating problems for the Surge in the first half of the game.

Still, Surge coach Tony Condra paced the sidelines, constantly checking the scoreboard as if the massive 30-point lead halfway through

will be held from Friday to Sunday at Whitfield and Pattonville High Schools. Both tournaments will be bringing in top grassroots programs from around the metro area, Midwest region and the entire country.

College coaches from around the country will also be in attendance as this is part of the July evaluation period.

Some of the top national players expected to play at the Adidas 3 Stripes at Lindenwood include: 6’6” guard Romeo Langford of Eric Gordon (IN), who is one of the top players in the Class of 2018; 6’7” Darius Hall of Team Magic (TN), who has committed to Arkansas. Other highly ranked kids include: 6’4” DeVon Cooper of Eric

Gordon (IN), 6’3” Jalen Crutcher of Team Magic (TN) and 6’8” Reggie Perry of the Arkansas Hawks.

Among the top local players expected to play are Vashon teammates Daniel “Peanut” Farris and Levi Stockard of Gateway. Other Gateway standouts include Yale commit Wyatt Yess of Parkway West, Ryan Stipanovich of DeSmet and Javonte Perkins of Miller Career Academy. The host St. Louis Eagles feature many top prospects who will be over at Whitfield and Pattonville. They include standouts Jordan Goodwin of Belleville Althoff, Brandon McKissic of SLUH, Reginald Crawford of Chaminade and point guard Darius Garland from Nashville (TN).

the final quarter would disappear. After the game, Condra was happy about the win, yet still unhappy about some things he saw. Typical head coach, right? For post-game interviews of the St. Louis Surge, go to @NTZoneNetwork on Twitter. The Surge’s next game is coming up this Saturday, July 16 at 1:05 pm against Kansas City. Tickets are still available.

Other athletes take a stand

It seems that despite oftenharsh responses by law enforcement, more athletes are making the decision to stand up in the face of injustice. Black athletes make up a sizable percentage of professional sports rosters and athletes of all races are now beginning to make their voices heard more than has been the case in recent years. In addition to the Lynx, the New York Liberty wore shirts

15-time All NBA selection, 15-time All Defensive Team and 15-Time All Star. He was the only player in NBA history to win championships in three different decades. The Spurs were truly a team that managed to remain relevant for a long

with “#BlackLivesMatter” and “#Dallas5” before its game Sunday. Liberty Head Coach Cheryl Reeve tweeted, “To rebut BLM with ‘All Lives Matter’ implies that all lives are equally at risk, and they’re not. #BlackLivesMatter doesn’t mean your life isn’t important if you aren’t black—it means that Black lives, which are seen without value within White supremacy, are important.”

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony took it a step further on Instagram and

time as the game continued to change. What made Tim Duncan truly special was his ability to adapt his game to the changing times and still perform at a Hall of Fame level. He began his career

implored athletes to not only be more vocal, but to join the efforts for change.

“I’m calling for all my fellow ATHLETES to step up and take charge,” Anthony wrote. “There’s NO more sitting back and being afraid of tackling and addressing political issues anymore. Those days are long gone. We have to step up and take charge. We can’t worry about what endorsements we gonna lose or whose [sic] going to look at us crazy.”

LeBron James, who is no

teaming with David Robinson in a dominant Twin Tower look that controlled the paint on both ends. By the end of his career, the league has transformed into a guardoriented “pace and space” game that emphasizes 3-point

stranger to speaking out against police brutality, shared the post. Many other athletes such as Dwayne Wade Swin Cash, Serena Williams, Jeremy Lin, Boris Becker Chris Long Colin Kaepernick, and many others expressed support or made similar pleas against police brutality after witnessing the videos of deaths of Sterling and Castile. They join a long and growing list of athletes who are tired of seeing people unnecessarily killed at the hands of law enforcement.

shooting. Duncan changed his game and still led the Spurs to a championship as late as 2014, which was 17 years after his first one. For the first time in 20 years, I will have to get through and NBA season without those

New York Liberty players wore shirts that read #BlackLivesMatter and #Dallas Sunday before the team’s game against the San Antonio Stars.

While some may see these public stances as lip service or a far cry from the days of Bill Russell, Jim Brown or Muhammad Ali, the more public pressure that is put on politicians, police departments and public officials, the more likely we are to see effective change in laws, policies and behaviors.

Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @ IshmaelSistrunk

a salute to the Big Fundamental. One of the best, ever.

beautiful jumpers off the glass, the trademark cradle of the basketball in both arms, and that wide-eyed stare at officials when a call did not go his way. Here’s

Jeremiah Tilmon

BRYAN

continued from page B1

number of young children, the human capital planning should focus on employment and early childhood education. Both areas have a long and strong history of positively impacting short-term (adults working) and longer-term (children entering school prepared) community transformation.

Early human capital implementation strategies that could launch just before or in conjunction with a housing strategy, whether revitalization or redevelopment, could include proven approaches such as:

• Setting up a local presence within the targeted housing area.

• Identifying and engaging residents, community leaders and non-resident stakeholders in a leadership group to guide the transformation work; meeting regularly to build ongoing working relationships; and providing leadership training to this group.

• Conducting a comprehensive, but quick turn, needs assessment for each occupied household in the target area through interviews and building a complete database of the baseline condition of the households.

• Identifying the working age population and triaging into appropriate category of work readiness or otherwise work availability status.

• Assessing and connecting residents to the myriad of community workforce readiness and employment resources that would make a significant difference in the employment rate and income levels if they were better coordinated and focused on addressing the most challenged households.

• Identifying needs for which no program services currently exist and new partnerships and potential resources to fill those needs.

• Gathering, maintaining, processing, and disseminating data on the results to verify

success and inform the field.

With such a set of strategies in place, early improvement in human capital outcomes could be realized in the time it takes to plan, fund and start a good housing strategy, whether revitalization or redevelopment.

Some of these include:

• Implementation of a barrier removal program for the transition-age youth group that would increase employment for residents between the ages of 18 and 24.

• Connection of households with young children to highquality early childhood education programs in the community, even if short-term transportation is needed until the capacity of local programs can grow, to immediately increase participation rates by the nearly 13 percent of the

n The unemployment rate for working-age adults is 21.2 percent in the Canfield Green census tract, nearly nine points higher than the rest of Ferguson at 12.2 percent.

residents living in the targeted developments who are fiveyears old or younger.

• Use of established resident engagement and leadership identification activities to increase community engagement in some area of common interest, such as public safety, resulting in greater community efficacy around the common interest.

Decent, affordable, and adequate housing is not enough. Taxpayer-supported

affordable housing must be geared to comprehensive community development and complete community transformation.

Since the original Ferguson incident and the subsequent anniversary unrest, and with a second anniversary on the horizon, rental property owners report increased occurrences of abandoned units and rental payment delays on more units than usual. In addition to the business challenges presented

by high abandoned vacancy rates, there are a number of other indicators of need for action, including, but not limited, to:

• high turnover rates in the market-rate communities, arguably the most stabilizing residents of the rental housing community;

• high real or perceived crime rates;

• lack of a clear set of community-owned priorities for housing stability, crime reduction, and social and recreational service delivery; and

• need to increase employment for the working-age population, especially young adults.

Unless we employ a dramatically different approach to just decent, affordable and adequate housing, we are

Canield Green is the strongest of the four housing communities that form the one-way-in, oneway-out cul de sac of affordable housing at the epicenter of the Ferguson crisis. It was a focal point on August 9, 2015, when the one-year anniversary of the death of Michael Brown Jr. was observed.

destined to continue to create the Southeast Ferguson housing dilemma and risk the repeat of the destructive cycle of events we are now witnessing in the Southeast Ferguson affordable housing market. Further, we increase the likelihood of repeating the adverse cycle in similar markets around the country. Ultimately, we run the risk of the losing the comprehensive benefit intended from public policies designed to increase the development of affordable housing-the overall improvement of living conditions for low- and moderate-income households.

Sandra Moore is the president of Urban Strategies, Inc. in St. Louis.

Using star power for justice

Jesse

Williams is a voice for black lives

By Marc H. Morial National Urban League

Fashion in the trap

n In the turbulent days after the killing of Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson, Jesse Williams was a critical voice of protest.

“The burden of the brutalized is not to comfort the bystander. That’s not our job, all right, stop with all that. If you have a critique for the resistance, for our resistance, then you better have an established record of critique of our oppression. If you have no interest in equal rights for black people then do not make suggestions to those who do. Sit down.” – Jesse Williams African-American performing arts celebrities were a driving force behind the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and ‘60s. Lena Horne, who was blacklisted in the 1950s for her activism and political views, performed in the South at rallies for civil rights, participated in the 1963 March on Washington, and supported the work of the National Council for Negro Women. Harry Belafonte, a confidant of Martin Luther King Jr., provided financial backing for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Council and emerged as one of the strongest voices of the 20th century Civil Rights Movement. Sidney

See JUSTICE, C4

“Fashion

– Black Spade

STL hip-hop vet Black Spade talks about ‘visual reflections of musical vibe’

By Danie Rae, styleBROKER

For The St. Louis American

Most of our readers are familiar with Black Spade as being one of St. Louis’ hottest MCs, who also pioneered the underground, hipster scene as we know it.

When I first met Black Spade – or Veto Money, as I like to call him (which is actually his birth name) – about 15 years ago, I was instantly captivated by his ability to balance the ‘hood and the avant garde. We first connected through our love for fashion, when he had a studio in Downtown St. Louis, before it was the “Wash Ave.” that we know today.

He and his crew would bring visions to life using vivid color, random fabrics and instinctive style. He visualized his music through his sense of style. His trademark gold tooth and New Balance sneakers are a representation of his balanced approach

to fashion. With his ability to mix high and low genres of style, he is able to be himself and have that be cool. And he still is one of the freshest cats in the Lou and worldwide.

Danie Rae: How long have you been fashionably inclined?

Black Spade: Fashion has been an influence on me as long as music has. Growing up, I would look at album covers of different rappers and get style cues from their costume approach to fashion. During the ‘80s, hip-hop artists weren’t afraid to be creative when it came to the way they dressed. From Grand Master Flash to LL Cool J, each rapper had their own signature style that was a direct reflection of their music. Fashion has always been able to

Spreading the love through music

The Show Me Arts Academy’s Spreading The Love Tour kicked off at home in the best way imaginable Wednesday night at the Missouri History Museum. An auditorium filled to capacity applauded nonstop after the troupe of young performers gave their best during a 90-minute concert of inspirational songs that included gospel, R&B and hip-hop.

“I wanted to pick songs that spoke to different generations to remind them of where we’ve been, how far we’ve

Show Me Arts Academy kicks off tour, seeks to bring unity through the arts See

and how

we still

to

said Show Me Arts Academy founder Marty Casey. From Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” to Common’s “Glory,” the choir presented songs that reflected the turmoil of then and now – and also the promise. The audience stood on their feet for an extended ovation, eventually standing hand-in-hand and shouting with delight in response to the performance.

“I told the children, ‘If we’ve been able to transfer energy, you won’t even have to prompt people,’” Casey said.

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

See STYLE, C4

Photo by Wiley Price

Jesse Williams speaking in Ferguson in November 2014.

Photos by Lawrence Bryant

Black Spade and Brandin Vaughn of Classic Couture bring visions to life using vivid color, random fabrics and instinctive style.

Photos by Lawrence Bryant

How to place a calendar listing

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

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

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

concerts

Sat., July 16, 6 p.m., Hot

104.1 presents Super Jam 2016 feat. Fetty Wap, Young Thug, K. Michelle, 50 Cent, Desiigner and more. Scottrade Center, 1401 Clark Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.scottradecenter.com.

Sat., July 16, 6 p.m., The Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council presents BBQ Concert: Jon Thomas & Friends. Enjoy fantastic tunes, world-class BBQ and beverages, as well as free art activities for the kids. Greg Freeman Park, 6000 Kingsbury Ave., 63112. For more information, visit www. skinkerdebaliviere.wordpress. com.

Thur., July 21, 7:30 p.m., Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre presents New Edition and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds. 14141 Riverport Dr., 63043. For more information, visit www. concerts.livenation.com.

July 22 – 23, Jazz at the Bistro presents Montez Coleman’s Generations feat. Houston Person. 3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. jazzstl.org.

Fri., July 29, 7 p.m., District Rhythms Series with Dru Hill. Ballpark Village, 601 Clark Ave., 63102. For more information, visit www.tickef. ly.

Sun., July 31, 7 p.m., UNCF

St. Louis presents An Evening of Stars Benefit Concert with Ledisi All proceeds benefit The United Negro College Fund. Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 533-9900 or visit www. thesheldon.org.

Sat., Aug. 27, 7 p.m. An Evening with Chaka Khan and El DeBarge, a benefit concert for Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club, The Fox Theatre. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

local gigs

Sat., July 16, 6 p.m., The Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council presents BBQ Concert: Jon Thomas & Friends. Greg Freeman Park, 6000 Kingsbury Ave., 63112. For more information, visit www.skinkerdebaliviere. wordpress.com.

Tues., July 19, 8 p.m., The Ready Room presents Alunageorge. 4195 Manchester Ave., 63110. For more information, call (314) 833-3929 or visit www. thereadyroom.com.

Sun., July 24, 5 p.m., Union Communion Ministries presents Free Concerts at Ivory Perry Park feat. Soulard Blues Band with Marty Abdullah. 800 N. Belt, 63112. For more information, visit www. ivoryperrypark.com.

Calendar

Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre presents New Edition and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds. For more information, see CONCERTS.

Featured Event

Sat., July 16, 6 p.m., Hot 104.1 presents Super Jam 2016 feat. Fetty Wap, Young Thug, K. Michelle, 50 Cent, Desiigner and more. Scottrade Center, 1401 Clark Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. scottradecenter.com.

Sun., July 31, 6 p.m. (5 p.m. doors) Community Women Against Hardship Summer Jazz Benefit Concert with Johnny O’Neal, Anita Jackson, Eric Slaughter, Jerome Harris and Jeffrey Anderson. Harold and Dorothy Steward Center For Jazz, 3536 Washington. For more information, call (34) 571-6000 or visit www.jazzstl. org.

special events

Through July 15, Global Mama’s and Plowsharing Crafts Summer Trunk Show. Global Mama’s helps to empower African women in need by offering jobs that allow them to create and sell unique, handcrafted clothing

(314) 746-4599 or visit www. mohistory.org.

Sat., July 23, 9 a.m., Ferguson 1000 Hiring Event Come meet with over 50 companies that will be hiring on the spot. Companies include Boeing, KPMG, Washington University, UPS, Fed Ex and others. Positions will be available for entry-level employees, mid managers and upper level executives. Ferguson 1000 will also provide an “Access to Capital” workshop in partnership with Eagle Bank for entrepreneurs. Ray Lewis NFL Great will give 10 autographed books to the first 10 people hired. Meet Billionaire Jeff Hoffman, founder of Priceline and Richmond McCoy President Urban America. JC Penny Building, UMSL, 1 University Blvd., 63121. For more information and to pre-register, visit www.ferguson1000jobs. com.

and accessories. The trunk show will feature women, children, and baby clothing handmade by the women of Africa. 6271 Delmar Blvd., 63130. For more information, call (314) 863-3723.

Fri., July 15, 6:30 p.m., Jerry Jerome Brown Jr. Spark The Leadership Foundation presents Dance for a Cause We will have the one & only DJ Tony-T. There will also be a silent auction including items like: Jerry J. Brown Jr. Dallas Cowboys jersey, Dez Bryant autographed jersey, signed Dallas Cowboys Helmet, and more. We will be selling raffle tickets for a chance to win: tablets, cameras, and other great prizes. All proceeds will go to the Foundation. Polish Heritage Center, 1413 N. 20 th St., 63106. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

July 15 – 16, 11 a.m., Fundisha Movement Workshop: Caribbean Dance Camp. Wiggle and wind with Mama Lisa in free community dance classes for dancers of all ages. Enjoy a chance for the entire family to kick off those shoes and shake, shake, shake to the rhythms of the drums. Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For more information, call

Sat., July 23, 12 p.m., 4th Annual Natural Hair Health & Cultural Expo. This event will be showcasing; health demonstrations, models, live music, poetry, Afrikan drumming, dancers, vendors and so much more. The Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, call (618) 5145240 or email nhbce@yahoo. com.

Sat., July 23, 12 p.m., SMKE & Liquid Assets present The Show Me Kicks Expo This is the premier buy, sale, and trade sneaker expo in St. Louis, Missouri. Our objective is to place sneaker enthusiasts and the casual sneaker fan in a fun and healthy environment, where we can converse and discuss our growing culture. Peabody Opera House, 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, call (314) 458-1840 or email info@ showmekicks.com.

Sat., July 23, 6:30 p.m., Style-Taneous Styles presents its 1st Annual Fashion Show. This event is a launch for a new boutique opening September 2016. The show will feature three exclusive fashion designers: Alisha’s Pieces, Nyla Coleman and K’Veor. We are also looking for additional vendors and models. 4530 N. Lindbergh Blvd., 63044. For more information, call (314) 378-3443 or email styletaneousstyles@gmail.com.

Sun., July 24, 4 p.m. (3 p.m. registration), Better

Love Yourself Foundation presents their 10th Anniversary Trunk Event for College Bound Students, Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd. For more information or tickets, visit www.betterloveyourself.com.

Sat., July 30, 9 a.m., Mothers Against Killing presents Thousand Women March Fairground Park, 3740 Kossuth Ave., 63107. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Sat., Aug. 6, 11 a.m., St. Louis Dream Center presents the Back 2 School Blast. Join us as for food, fun, rides, games, haircuts, backpacks, and much more. For more information, call (314) 381-0700 or visit www. stldreamcenter.org.

Sat., Aug. 6, 6 p.m. Alpha Eta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. will host the Annual “Midwest Marchdown” Scholarship Step Show, The Pageant, 6161 Delmar in the Loop.

Sat. Aug. 13 – Sun., Aug 14, Craig Blac’s 16th Annual Community Cuts for Kids

Saturday August 13th 10a –

2p, The Lessie Bates Davis Family Development Center 1045 State Street, East St. Louis, IL. Sunday August 14th

2p – 6p, The O’Fallon Park Rec Complex (YMCA), 4343 West Florissant, St. Louis, Mo.

To Pre-Register Your Kids & Beat the Line. HAIR MUST BE WASHED! Log on www. thecraigshieldsfoundation.org , email craigblac@gmail.com or call 314–514–5762.

comedy

Sat., July 23, 6 p.m., All Laughs Matter/All Lives Matter. Come out and have an evening of family fun and laughter as we came together to help and heal through laughter. Proceeds will help support the End Homeless Mission. There will also be musical entertainers performing in between acts. Harris Stowe State University, 3026 Laclede Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 243-6034.

Fri., July 29, 8 p.m. Martin Lawrence, Chaifetz Arena. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

literary

Thur., July 14, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts authors Greg Jobin-Leeds, Jose Jorge Diaz, and Deymirie

Hernandez, authors of When We Fight, We Win!: Twenty-First Century Social Movements and the Activists That Are Transforming Our World. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 367-6731 or visit www.left-bank.com.

Thur., July 14, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books and NextSTL presents author David Dayen, author of Chain of Title: How Three Ordinary Americans Uncovered Wall Street’s Great Foreclosure Fraud. Space Architecture and Design, 4168 Manchester Ave., 63110. For more information, call (314) 367-6731 or visit www.leftbank.com.

Tues., July 19, 7 p.m., St. Louis Count Library hosts author Peter Spiegelman, author of Dr. Knox. St. Louis County Library Headquarters, 1645 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131.

Sun., July 24, 5 p.m., STL Book Fair. This is not just your average book fair; we will have authors onsite to discuss their book and answer questions. Utopia Studios, 3957 Park Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ letterinvisibledaughter.

theatre

July 13 – 19, The Muny presents Young Frankenstein. The gang’s all here: Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, Igor

and the horse-frightening Frau Blücher – together again in scenic Transylvania to reanimate a monster. As this comedy classic comes to bawdy, musical life onstage, you too will feel like “Puttin’ on the Ritz” as you revel in a madcap evening of mad scientists and yodeling lab assistants. 1 Theatre Dr., 63112. For more information, call (314) 361-1900 or visit www.muny.org.

July 29 – 30, COCA presents Memphis. Set in the underground dance clubs, radio stations and recording studios of 1950s Memphis, this hot musical bursts off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a tale filled with laughter, soul and rock & roll. Edison Theatre, 6465 Forsyth Blvd., 63105. For more information, call (314) 725-6555 or visit www. cocastl.org.

Sat., Aug. 6, 7 p.m., Still – a

stage play. The play speaks to the business of relationships and will cause you to question how you handle marriage, friendships, and faith in God when life happens. JC Penny Building, UMSL, 1 University Blvd., 63121. For more information, visit www. iamtheatre-srd.com.

lectures and workshops

Thur., July 14, 6 p.m., Whitaker Jazz Speaks: Jazz, Race & Politics. Originally performed in 1963, “We Instist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite” stands as one of most stark examples of how jazz musicians can use their medium to affect social change. Jazz at the Bistro, 3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.jazzstl.org.

Sat., July 16, 9 a.m., The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and The Home Depot present DIY Workshops: Landscaping The event will be hosted at three separate locations, St. Louis City Operations (935 N. Vandeventer, 63108), St. Louis County Operations (8960 Jennings Station Rd., 63136), and St. Clair County Operations (10220 Lincoln Trail, Fairview Heights, IL 62208). RSVP is required. For more information or to RSVP, call (314) 506-5311 or email pcarey@urbanleague-stl.org.

Thur., July 21, Missouri History Museum presents Culture and Couture Panel Discussion. A panel of local fashion bloggers and fashionistas will discuss the ways in which religion, culture, and personal beliefs influence their personal style. 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112.

Fri., August 5, 5 p.m., The Truth Telling Project & The Michael Brown Chosen for Change Foundation presents Youth Speak Truth: Responding to Racial Violence in America. Greater St. Mark Family Church, 9950 Glen Owen Dr., 63136. For more information, call (314) 868-7967.

health

Thur., July 14, 1 p.m., The Alzheimer’s Association and Saint Louis University’s Geriatric Education Center present Free Geriatric Screenings. Screenings are for anyone age 65 years or older and will include assessment of frailty, nutrition, and cognitive function. Central Reform Congregation, 5020 Waterman Ave., 63108. For more information, call (800) 2723900 or visit www.alz.org/stl.

Mon., July 18, 6 p.m., Knee Replacement: Is It Right For Me?” An orthopedic physician discusses minimally invasive knee replacement surgery and other treatment options for

arthritic knees. Admission is free; registration is required. St. Luke’s Hospital, 360 East, Main Level, 232 S. Woods Mill Rd., Chesterfield, MO 63017. Register at stlukes-stl.com. Questions? Call 314-542-4848.

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 7:30 p.m., Get Sexy Movement Boot Camp. Station styled boot camp with 1 minute at each station for three rounds. North County Recreation Center, 2577 Redman Rd., 63136.For more information, call (314) 898-8898.

Through July 14, 6:30 p.m., Washington Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church invites you to Vacation Bible School 2016: I’ve Got Talent. There will be nightly classes for adults and children age 2 and older. We will also be having a Community Fun Night to kickoff VBS on Fri., July 8 at 7 p.m. 3200 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 533-8763 or visit www. washtabmbc.org.

Through July 17, Youth Gospel Music Conference 2016. Calvary MB Church, 2822 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr., 63106. For more information or to register, call (314) 884-8327 or email ygmc4me@gmail.com.

Through July 15, 9 a.m., San Francisco Temple Complex Vacation Bible School, Everyone is Welcome! Pre-K thru adult, San Francisco Temple 10191 Halls Ferry 63136. For more information or to register, call (314) 388-3300. July 18 – 20, Greater Mt. Caramel Youth and Young Adult Revival: I Go to the Rock. Guest speakers include Pastor Damon Cannon, Minister Adrian Hill, and Pastor Rodrick Burton. 1617 N. Euclid Ave., 63113. For more information, call (314) 361-8893 or visit www. greatermtcaramelmbc.org.

District Rhythms Series with Dru Hill. For more information, see CONCERTS.

reinforce the lifestyle that music depicts. When you see videos, the artist’s wardrobe solidifies the lifestyle that they portray in the songs. That’s what initially drew me to love fashion.

Danie Rae: Most of our readers know you from your music. How would you categorize yourself in the fashion world?

Black Spade: I don’t tend to put myself in a box. My style and fashion expression is a direct extension of my music. I don’t really separate the two. I look at my designs as a reflection of the musical vibe I’m on. If I just did a hard rap record, I might construct an army fatigue kimono, just to have a visual reflection of my

JUSTICE

Poitier has been called “the film industry’s living embodiment of the progress generated by the Civil Rights Movement.”

musical vibe. I truly care about the art of fashion. When in fashion school, I was captivated by my costume design classes and viewed it as a visualization of the story. To look at fashion for financial gain is cool and all,

Now, a new generation of activist artists is rising to take their place. Chief among them is Jesse Williams, whose powerful acceptance speech at the BET Awards has created a firestorm. Williams has been attacked for his moving condemnation of racially motivated police violence, evoking the names of Tamir Rice, Rekia Boyd, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland and Darrien Hunt. Sadly, just days later, two more names have been added to the list: Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. At just 36 years of age, Williams has become a leading voice of the 21st century

SHOW ME

Continued from C1

“They will all start to grab hands and stand up and, before you know it, that room will change. And, from that room, they will go back into their houses, and their houses will change. And, from their homes, they will go out to the communities, and their communities will change. I saw that come to life tonight.”

With all of the love in the room, it was ironic that whole concept was an idea birthed from pain.

Casey – an actress, singer and playwright – felt she had to do something as she watched the unrest in Ferguson.

“When I heard everyone complaining about how the children burning down the QuikTrip, it made me very uncomfortable and angry,” Casey said. “I felt that they

just didn’t understand. In my opinion, these children’s voices had been muted and they were lashing out.”

It was in that moment that she decided that she must build a platform where they could have a voice – and be redirected in a positive manner.

“There’s no better way to have a universal communication than through music,” Casey said. The arts saved Casey’s life as a young person. She wrestled with anger as a result of the divorce of her parents.

“I might not be here if I hadn’t discovered music, dance and theatre,” Casey said. “And, if I were here, I would be a completely different person. It’s the heartbeat of who I am.”

She was confident that it would be the same for young people in the region still reeling from the emotional trauma of Ferguson if she provided them with a similar outlet.

Show Me Arts Academy features 20 young people,

“My partnership with Brandin Vaughn of Classic Couture has been priceless. Beyond the music, we have a good working collaboration understanding, and where I lack, they pick up the slack, and vice versa.”

but fashion is an art form.

Danie Rae: What has been inspiration for your design perspective? And is your creative process the same as the one for your music?

Black Spade: I’m ultimately inspired by American Classic

civil rights and social justice movement. He is the youngest member of the Board of Directors at The Advancement Project, a civil rights think tank and advocacy group. This spring, he released the acclaimed documentary “Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter Movement.”

Williams also is the executive producer of the website Question Bridge, “an innovative transmedia project that facilitates a dialogue

style. Classic Ralph Lauren is always a reference when it comes to my design influence. I incorporate denim, and classic blue into a lot of pieces that I create.

Danie Rae: As long as I’ve known you, you’ve been a

between a critical mass of black men from diverse and contending backgrounds and creates a platform for them to represent and redefine black male identity in America.”

In the turbulent days after the killing of Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson, Williams was a critical voice of protest. He was among the stars who chose to boycott the 2016 Oscars, which for two years running included no actors of color among the nominees. He and other

part of a collective or crew, from Soul Tyde to The Force to Hawthorne Headhunters. How has that affected your end result when it comes to creating and cultivating your style?

Black Spade: My partnership with Brandin Vaughn of Classic Couture has been priceless. Beyond the music, we have a good working collaboration understanding, and where I lack, they pick up the slack, and vice versa.

Danie Rae: What is your fashion creative process?

Black Spade: This is where Brandin and I clash. I’ll have a vision that I want to see come to life so bad, but he has the technical background and knows what can and can’t work. Even when he tells me that something is impossible, I have to go against the grain and test it out anyway. And he’s usually right.

Danie Rae: So where does someone of your style

celebrities instead participated in a fundraiser for the victims of lead poisoning in the water supply in Flint, Michigan.

Williams’ commitment to social justice is rooted in part in his background as a schoolteacher in struggling low-income neighborhoods in Philadelphia. He follows in the footsteps of his parents, both of whom have worked as public school teachers

In response to a petition urging executive producer and

ages 10-19. And, though the organization is still brand new, she plans to offer training and development within the performing arts.

In auditioning for talent to create the inaugural Show Me Arts Academy troupe, she wanted to use the children as an example that unity is possible.

“I made the decision to bring young people together from all across the St. Louis region to show it doesn’t matter what

your zip code is – what matters is what type of heart you have and if your intentions are good,” Casey said.

In total, 19 different zip codes have come together and become one through music –not only those who performed, but those who listened to what Show Me Arts Academy had to offer.

Casey also decided to take Show Me Arts Academy on the road in the efforts to change the

inclination shop?

Black Spade: Shoot … Right here in the trap (aka studio)! But, I get my staple pieces from anywhere. Thrift stores have been my go-to since forever. And I research different fabrics and patterns to come up with designs and silhouettes techniques.

Danie Rae: What are some trends that are on your radar now?

Black Spade: You know, I really don’t follow trends. I’ve always had my own interpretation of what was trendy. Now, you can’t help to pay attention to what is popular, but in terms of my own personal style, I just do me!

To keep up with Black Spade, follow him on social media @Blackspade. Follow Danie Rae, Style Broker for the hip!

showrunner Shonda Rimes to fire Williams from the cast of “Gray’s Anatomy,” Rimes tweeted: “Um, people? Boo don’t need a petition. #shondalandrules.”

We are pleased to live by the rules of ShondaLand, where creative and committed artists of color are empowered to lift up one another and change the world for the better. Marc H. Morial is president and CEO of the National Urban League.

response. “After what we’ve experienced when Ferguson unfolded, I think people lost a lot of hope – hope in this generation and hope in a particular group of people,” Casey said.

“Just looking around the room and seeing blacks, and whites and Hispanics, and old and young, and people from different areas holding hands, and no one prompted them to do it. They did it because it felt right. It was almost as if the hope and possibility was restored.”

perception of St. Louis youth in the wake of Ferguson. They hit the road on Sunday, July 10 to continue the Spreading The Love Tour –heading for Washington, D.C., New York and Edison, New Jersey.

She is even more excited about taking the idea of sharing the talents of Show Me Academy with a national audience after being overwhelmed by the locals’

She put this feeling in the context of the Ferguson police killing of Michael Brown Jr.

“Almost two years ago, on August 9, 2014 at 12:03 in the afternoon, we lost that possibility. I hope tonight that a seed was planted for people to say it’s possible for us to do this together.”

For more information on Show Me Arts Academy, visit www.showmeartsacademy.com

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Celebrations

Anniversaries

Congratulations to Cardell and Sandra Jordan, who celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary on July 6.

Beaumont High School

Class of 1976 will have its 40th year reunion September 23-25, 2016. For more detailed information please email bhs1976@swbell.net or Facebook: Beaumont High class of 76.

Beaumont High School, Class of 1978 is organizing

to celebrate our 40th Class Reunion in 2018. For further information, please contact: Marietta Shegog Shelby, 314-799-5296, madeshe@ sbcglobal.net.

Beaumont High Class of 1984 can stay updated via our Facebook page “Beaumont Class of 1984”. We meet the last Friday of every month. Contact Rochelle Williams at rochellewilliams001@yahoo. com.

East St. Louis Lincoln High Classes of 1966 will celebrate its 50-year reunion August 19 - 21, 2016 at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Fairview Hts., Ill. The cost is $100 for classmates and $50 for guests. A late fee of $25 pp will be

Master’s Degree

Congratulations to Charlene Blair, who recently completed her Master’s degree in Management from Walden University’s online program. Birthday

Happy 13th Birthday, Kennedy on July 15. Wow, you’re finally a teenager! We love you always and forever. Your amazing family

assessed after May 31. Please contact John Cunningham for details and reservations at: 618-692-6610.

East St. Louis Class of 1971 will celebrate its 45-year reunion Sept. 2-4, 2016 at the Casino Queen. For more information, please contact Opal at 314-952-4729, Sandra at 314-249-7295 or Glenda at 618-781-4888 or email timac48@aol.com.

Hadley Technical High School Class of 1961 will celebrate its 55th class reunion, September 16-18, 2016 at the Renaissance Airport Hotel. For more information, contact Ralph Johnson 477-2042, Shirley Woods 361-5351, or Jeffery Raybon 382-

1875. Send updated contact information to celiajteach@ gmail.com. Our Annual Picnic on Sunday, September 4th at John L. Brown Park, 4300 Calvert Ave 63134 (off Woodson Rd.).

Harrison School All Class Reunion Saturday September 10, 2016, 6:30 pm-10:30 pm at Ambruster Great Hall (6633 Clayton Rd. Tickets are $60 per person.For more info contact; Judy Darris at 314-443-6741, Yolanda Beck at 314-346-8103 or Làshell Tolliver at 314-420-3566.

Ritenour High School Class of 1976 is having its 40th reunion on October 1, 2016. For more information please see our Facebook page,

Ritenour Class of 1976 or email ekbyers58@gmail.com.

Soldan is having its 11th AllClass Alumni Picnic August 13, 2016 at Tiemeyer Park, 3311 Ashby Rd., St. Ann, MO 63074 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. The picnic is free. Bring your own basket or grill. T-Shirts will be sold for $15. For more information call 314-413-9088.

Sumner Class of 1966 50-year reunion is scheduled for August 26-28 at the St. Louis Embassy Suites Hotel located off Lindbergh Blvd. For complete information, please contact Ida Harris at ezmaxx2@sbcglobal.net or Ella Scott at Els12188@ sbcglobal.net.

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

Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability. We prefer that notices be emailed to us! However, notices may also be sent by mail to: Kate Daniel, 2315 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103

Deadline is 10 a.m. on Friday. If you’d like your class to be featured in a reunion profile, email or mail photos to us. Our email address is: reunions@ stlamerican.com

Happy Anniversary wishes to Sarah and Fred Jones. They celebrated 68 years of marriage on July 8!

Swag Snap of the Week

No Boosie for me. So here’s where I had planned to hip y’all to the glorious savagery being served at the Lil Boosie concert Friday night at IP54. The streets were lined with cars all the way down Grand and on nearly all of the side streets – and I counted four paid parking lots – so I just knew it was gonna be on and cracking with my beloved Boosie Badddd! Well, that’s where the story ends for me, because YET AGAIN the IP54’s overzealous lead security guard has decided he is going to keep us from covering their events by any means necessary. At this point he might as well break out in song and croon “And I’m telling you, you’re not going” in the style of Jennifer Holiday when he sees my face, because every.single.time. we try to show IP54 some love in Partyline, we are “Turned Away” like Chuckii Booker until Jessie Taylor gets involved and sorts it all out. This time, the guard wouldn’t even allow for Jessie to be summoned. So IP 54, if you are wondering why we don’t pump your shows up or give you as much play as you feel we deserve in the paper, take it up with your security staff who clearly doesn’t want you to have FREE publicity. Oh well, maybe we can straighten it out, but I’m at the point of throwing my hands up – and saving myself the gas and the trouble of even stopping by.

Mia X at Marquee. It was supposed to be a double header of Louisiana trap classics, but I had to settle for the First Lady of No Limit thanks to the super security shenanigans. I made the best of it, even though this town isn’t quite big enough for two rappers from “Dat Boot” in the same night. The masses were with Boosie, but I still had a good little time with Mia X strolling down memory lane back to the days when I was absolutely “Bout It, Bout It.” I didn’t realize how rich my recall for “No Limit” music was until “Mama Mia” started with a medley of hits that I knew every doggone word – verse, hook, chorus and the bridge. She was rocking a Shug Avery sequined blouse reminiscent of what the grown ladies rocked at the late, great Spruill’s and some camo

By Delores Shante dshante@stlamerican.com

pants. Somehow it really worked. And when she told the crowd she was knocking on 50, it worked even better. I’m telling you, she looked fantastic. Wasn’t there a rumor that she was on her death bed a few years back? Well either that was a bold-faced lie, or her bounce back is so real that she needs to set up a side hustle selling it in bottles. Either way, I had a good little time kicking it with the strong, proud and few No Limit Soldier ride or die crew who came through to show her love.

Lightweight nightlife weekend. I don’t know if y’all hadn’t recovered from getting rained out on the holiday, but aside from Boosie – which I was never allowed in to give the scoop on the quality of the crowd – it was pretty much slow motion in these streets as far as the club goes. HG had a cute sized crowd Saturday night, but that was about the size of it. Mood’s crowd had a nice look to it, but it was smaller than usual. From the looks of things y’all were resting up for Super Jam weekend.

Super Jam Eve. Speaking of Super Jam… Hot 104.1 FM will take over the Scottrade on Saturday (July 16)with its annual summer concert festivities that have become the place to be for the

folks with a desire to see what today’s hottest artists are working with as far as their stage show game. Fetty Wap, Young Thug and Super Jam regular K. Michelle are just a few of the folks on the bill. I was quietly sad that Rich Homie Quan was not on the bill…that was until his tragic contribution to the Lil Kim tribute for the VH1 Hip Hop Honors on Monday. In all fairness, he mumbles for a living – so it’s not totally legit to judge him for this slip up when he could’ve been stumbling over lyrics his whole career for all we know. And he released an official statement, so he’s clearly in his feelings about it. But this is about Super Jam, so let me get on with voicing my excitement with the upcoming show and the list of performers that stretch from that new new to the vets – including an Effen Vodka legend performance by 50 Cent. It just dawned on me that I’ve never seen him perform live before. It Is it too much to ask for Fiddy to dust off his infamous Instagram towel and wear that for his performance? Oh, so I’m the only one who chopped the head off and had it looped into a feature length film? Anyway, be sure to the show the folks at Hot some love by making this as sold-out affair.

Some soul for the grown folks. I know from time to time I can neglect the nightlife audience of a certain age, so I’m doing a solid by letting you know about the Classic Soul Fest featuring War and Switch NEXT Saturday (July 23) at the Chesterfield Amphitheatre. Don’t get it twisted, all ages who love live music are more than welcome to stop through and enjoy, but I thought the folks who know the hits from when they were on the radio would get a kick out of the opportunity to groove with the live show. And if you hear an angelic voice from the crowd harmonizing with all of her might to “There’ll Never Be,” it’s probably me. The gates open at 5, the show starts at 6 p.m. and tickets are available at ticketfly.com.

Photos by Lawrence Bryant & John Scott

Host T. Baby with No Limit’s leading lady Mia X just before the veteran rapper took the stage to perform some of the label’s biggest hit Friday night at The Marquee.

Mailman and Keem kept it cool @ The Baewatch Day Party Sunday @ The Marquee

Tiffany and Monique Saturday @ The Marquee

Ashley and Salina @ HG Saturday night

Nikki and Tamika took part in the turn up @ Element Saturdays @ The Marquee

Dre’co and DJ Climate had the party live for Surge Sunday @ The OBar

Soweta and Jeanette wrapped up their weekend @ The Baewatch Day Party Sunday @ The Marquee

Sam, Erin and Michelle made their way to Mood Friday night

Stacey, Kim, Brooke and Ericka stopped through Fetish Fridays @ HG

Jiro, Triky and Yung Ro spent their Sunday afternoon @ The Marquee

Brittany, Kim and Debbie started their weekend off early for XO’s Thursday nights @ Mood

PASTOR

Original Friendship M.B. Church is seeking a Pastor. Must be able to demonstrate pastoral leadership. The deadline is August 31, 2016. Submit resumes with references. P.O. Box 150307 St. Louis, MO. 63115 or e-mail ofmbchurch@yahoo.com

MUSEUM

*NOW HIRING LPNs & RNs* Advantage Nursing Services Private Duty Nursing All Shifts Available! St. Louis, MO area Sign-On Bonus/ETO 314-991-4660 www.ansjobs.com

Older Toddlers, and Infant classes. CDAor 9 ECE college credits required. Will consider those working towards CDA. Qualified applicants e-mail your resume to goodshepherdjobs@yahoo.com or call 314-725-5710.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Eden Theological Seminary seeks an Administrative Assistant for Academic Programs. Responsibilities include clerical and adminstrative support for academic programs working with the adminstrator, faculty, students and staff. Skills required include collegiality, hospitality/reception, communication, collaboration, and capacity to work within Microsoft Office suite. 20 Hours/Week. Email letter and resume to dstauffer@eden.edu

ENTRY LEVEL

City Seniors, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, provides important services to senior citizens living independently. Services include transportation, home-delivered meals, and a senior center.

This is an entry level position. The job duties include data entry for client services, preparation of invoices, and reporting to funding sources.

Candidates must be able to enter data correctly, be pleasant on the phone and respond to phone inquiries, work independently, think creatively, and be proactive. The ability to get along with others in an environment where people work closely together is necessary. Must enjoy working with the elderly, and possess good writing and verbal communication skills. Applicants must be able to pass background screenings including: criminal history, family care safety registry, and sex offender.

SCHOOL NURSE

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

De Smet Jesuit High School seeks highly qualified candidates for the full-time position of administrative assistant to the principal for the 2016-2017 school year. Successful candidates will have an associate’s degree in English (or the equivalent), familiarity with Microsoft Office and technological proficiency. More information is available at https://www.desmet.org/about/careers Send a resume, cover letter and a list of at least three references to Anna Oliver, Assistant to the Principal, at aoliver@desmet.org. Application materials will be accepted through July 15.

HELPLINE MANAGER

The Alzheimer's Association, St. Louis chapter seeks a full-time master's prepared social worker to manage a volunteer and student-powered Helpline providing quality clinical support to individuals with memory loss, their care partners and the professional community. Candidates must have solid knowledge of dementia, dementia-related resources, constituent needs and best practices and demonstrated success working with diverse populations, volunteers, staff, and external contacts to build and maintain successful teams and increase quality delivery of service to communities that have had low participation. Excellent management and communication skills, proficiency in use of technology, and ability to train, coach and develop student and volunteer talents are critical to the position. Email resume and cover letter with 2 professional references and salary requirements to stl-hr@alz.org

ADMINISTRATIVE

ASSISTANT

Eden Theological Seminary seeks an Evening Administrative Assistant for Academic Programs. Responsibilities include clerical and administrative support for the academic programs working with administrators, faculty, students and staff. Skills required include collegiality, hospitality/reception, communication, collaboration and capacity to work within Microsoft Office suite, and capacity to support faculty with educational technology. 10 Hours/Week 5-7:30pm M-TH. Email letter and resume to dstauffer@eden.edu

BUS DRIVERS

HIRING FAIR

The Affton Fire Protection District of St. Louis County, Missouri, will be accepting applications for the position of Chief of the Fire Protection District and EMS. This is a full time regular, exempt position. The person selected shall possess strong communication skills and team-building abilities. Required and preferred certification, education, and experience qualifications include the following:

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Firefighter I and II certification, by the St. Louis County Fire Standards Commission, or as exempted by the Commission

• Fire Officer I and II certification, by the Missouri Division of Fire Safety • Fire Service Instructor I certification, by the Missouri Division of Fire Safety

• Ten (10) years of broad and increasingly

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS

LETTING #8613

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Bidders

on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at 10:00 AM in the Ozark Room at the Airport Office Building, 11495 Navaid Rd., Bridgeton, MO 63044.

All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order11246, “Notice of Requirement forAffirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Specifications” set forth within and referenced at www.stl-bps.org (Announcements).

LETTING #8614

Improvements To Tower Grove Park Task III – Reconstruct Park Roadways

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on August 2, 2016, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

Apre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held on July 18, 2016 at 10:00 A.M. in Room 208 City Hall.

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

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order11246, “Notice of Requirement

SEALED BIDS

SEALED BIDS

SEALED BIDS

SEALED BIDS

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

INVITATION TO BID:

E.M. Harris Construction Company (EMH), 2600 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63103 is seeking subcontractor bids for construction of the Nathanial Rivers Place Apartments located in St. Louis, MO.

Scopes of work: New construction of 8 townhouse units and 24 garden units in 5 buildings. Work shall include but not be limited to site work, concrete, masonry, metals, carpentry, thermal & moisture protection, doors & windows, finishes, specialties, appliances, cabinets and tops, window treatments and MEP work.

Section 3, Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises are strongly encouraged to bid.

Project plans & specifications are available for viewing online through an Invitation to Bid and at:

• MOKAN Planroom – 4666 Natural Bridge, 63115 – 314-565-9675

• SLDC Planroom - 1712 Macklind Ave., 63110 – 314-678-0087

• EMH Planroom – 2600 Delmar, 63103 – 314-436-4426

All bids are due to EMH office by Wednesday, July 27th by 5pm. Fax - (314) 436 – 6691.

PREVAILING WAGES (as set by US Department of Labor and Missouri Housing Development Commission immediately prior to start of construction) MUSTBE PAID TO ALL WORKERS; CERTIFIED PAYROLLREPORTS REQUIRED.

For questions or additional information, please contact Vic Hoffmeister at: vic@emharris.com EMH is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE:

All rights reserved; common-law copyright of trade-name/trademark

Elivinias Gypsy, Clower ©, an original expression created on or about August 02 1964, with all rights reserved, held by Elivinias Gypsy, Clower. for the Elivinias Gypsy, Clower. hereinafter Trust, Saint Louis, Missouri. Said common-law trade-name/trade-mark may not be used, printed, duplicated, reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, neither in whole nor in part, nor in any manner whatsoever, without the prior, express, written consent and acknowledgement of the Trust, hereinafter “Secured Party.”

NOTICE

With the intent of being contractually bound, any juristic person, as well as the agent of said juristic person, assents, consents, and agrees that neither said juristic person, nor the agent of said juristic person, shall display, nor otherwise use in any manner, the common-law trade-name/trade-mark, nor the common-law copyright described herein, nor any derivative, variation, and/or spelling and printing of Elivinias Gypsy Clower, including and not limited to all derivatives, variations in the spelling, abbreviating, upper/ lower case rendering and writing of said trade-name/trade-mark. Secured Party neither assents, nor consents, nor agrees with, nor grants, nor implies any authorization for, any unauthorized use of tradename/trade-mark, and all unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. Mutual Assent Implied and Express Contract Executed by

for Uniterruptible PowerSupply & AirConditioning Replacement, Lottery Headquarters, Jefferson City, MO 65102, Project No. N1602-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL1:30 PM, 8/11/2016. Forspecific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

forEmergency Generatorand Site Lighting Replacement, Missouri Eastern Correctional Center, Pacific, Missouri, Project No. C1602-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 8/11/2016. Forspecific project information and ordering plans, goto: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

f o r Replace Exterior PerimeterLighting, Western Missouri Correctional Center, Cameron, Missouri, Project No. C1604-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL1:30 PM, 8/11/2016. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

f o r Replace Parking Lot, Boonslick State School, St. Peters, Missouri, Project No. E1605-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 8/4/2016. Forspecific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

Purpose:

Estimated Cost:Total development cost of this project is will be up to an estimated $1,304,000.00, with $440,000.00 of funding coming from St. Louis City’s Year 2015 Federal CDBG Program funds.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The City has determined that these projects will have no significant impact on the human environment. Certain conditions will apply to these projects. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional information for each project is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file at the City PDA, at the above address, where the ERR is available for review and may be examined or copied weekdays, 8 A.M. to 4 P.M.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to Mark Jefferies, Environmental Review Officer, PDA, at the address listed above. All comments received by 7/23/16 will be considered by the City of St. Louis prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which notice they are addressing.

RELEASE OF FUNDS

The City certifies to HUD that, Francis G. Slay, in his capacity as Mayor, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPAand related laws and authorities and allows the City to

TO RELEASE OFFUNDS

OBJECTION

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE:

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

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

Call Vida at 314-289-5406 to place your rental/real estate ad today!

Local Muslims give to needy for Ramadan Strength in weakness

Also, Ecumenical Leadership Council hosts Black Tie Ball

American staff

During the month of Ramadan, when Muslims throughout the world fast for 30 days, one of their traditions during this 30 days of fasting is to give away food to the poor and needy.

For the last few years, Talib Muhammad, a Muslim from the local Muhammad Mosque, has gone to New Life Evangelistic Center, run by Rev. Larry Rice, to share water and food that is prepared by some of the Muslim restaurants in the greater St. Louis area.

Rev. Rice, who runs a homeless shelter at New Life in downtown St. Louis, uses a terminology that is fitting; he calls this “offering help to the hurting.” The Muslim community in St. Louis participates yearly in this part of their religious practice, and it is also done all over the world.

Those who are in the homeless shelter or congregate in the area of the shelter call Talib Muhammad “the Gyro Man,” because each day he offers delicious gyro sandwiches, as well as delicious vegetable samosas.

During the heat wave St. Louis experienced in the last few weeks, you could find Talib Muhammad giving out food and water. Muslims believe there’s a special blessing from Allah (God) for this type of dedicated work.

Ecumenical Leadership Council hosts Black Tie Ball

The Ecumenical Leadership Council of Missouri is hosting the 2016 Black Tie Ball on Friday, July 15 in the ballroom of the New Northside Conference Center, 5939 Goodfellow Blvd.

This year the keynote speaker will be the only African American on the Missouri Supreme Court, Judge George Draper.

Special remarks will be presented by Michael McMillan, Urban League president; St. Louis Circuit Judge Jimmie Edwards; St. Louis Circuit Judge Paula Bryant; Ferguson Police Chief Delrish Moss; and Lt. Col. Sandy Karstens, second in command of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Host speakers include Bishop Lawrence

Wooten, St. Louis; Bishop Ronnie Webb, Southeast Missouri; Bishop Mark Tolbert, Kansas City; Rev. Adrian Hendricks ll, Central Missouri.

Political candidates for state and local offices (of both parties) have confirmed their intentions to attend.

Bishop Wooten, dinner chairman for the Black Tie Ball and president of the St. Louis chapter of the Ecumenical Leadership Council, said he expects influential pastors from across Missouri to attend this special event.

“The Black Tie Ball is an opportunity for black pastors, and their wives, to introduce themselves and socialize,” Bishop Wooten said. “We want to strengthen the bonds of friendship and brotherhood among Missouri’s African-American pastors as we head into this election cycle.”

As an organization, the Ecumenical Leadership Council of Missouri represents over 600 predominantly African-American churches in Missouri.

The council’s leadership is held by Bishop Lawrence Wooten in St. Louis, Bishop Mark Tolbert and Rev. John Brooks in Kansas City, Bishop Ronnie Webb of Southeast Missouri and Rev. Adrian Hendricks ll of Central Missouri.

Partial proceeds from the Ecumenical Leadership Council’s Black Tie Ball will benefit St. Louis Transitional Hope House. Tickets for the 2016 Black Tie Ball are available at New Northside Conference Center. Prices are $75 per ticket. Tables of eight are available. Interested parties may also call 314-721-2288

State senator to speak at service

Florida state Senator Geraldine Thompson, the niece of Rev. Haymond Fortenberry, will speak at Greater Fairfax M.B. Church (2941 Greer Ave.) at 11 a.m. Sunday, July 17. Thompson, a state senator in Orlando, Florida, is currently running for Congress. The 49 victims killed at Club Pulse were in her district. “Please come out and hear Senator Thompson speak,” urge the organizers at Greater Fairfax.

How many of us have an addiction, a weakness, something we are aware of but just cannot shake on our own? It may be a secret, your secret, something you dare not reveal, for it goes completely opposite of who you believe yourself to be and counter to the person whom you are truly trying to become.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 says, “To keep me from becoming conceited, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

If I’m the only one shouting right now, it’s okay. Some things in the Bible reverberate over and over again, yet some of us still don’t get it, and that includes me. We do not or cannot incorporate what we’re reading into our daily lives. In this passage, Paul lets us know that there is a reason to accept our shortcomings and deal with our flaws with a basic understanding that, in doing so, God will show up and then proceed to show out.

It is through your warts that God can demonstrate to you and me and the world that He is Lord. Can you imagine experiencing the “perfect power” of the Lord? Apparently it’s as easy as looking into the mirror and making an honest assessment of who you really are and who you should be striving to become.

You are who you are only in relationship to God. And don’t forget to take your imperfections with you. If you know and accept yourself to be a child of God, then you must attempt to be an example of God’s Word and His work. The only thing standing in your way is admitting to yourself that you can’t go it alone.

You and I need help and that help comes only from one source. It’s the perfect source and comes with consequences. The consequences begin with recognizing that there is divine purpose in your particular set of weaknesses. That may be hard to believe, but it’s true.

Most of us would reject the notion that sinful could be anything more than just sinful. The text, however, says it is our duty to understand through spiritual recognition that God chooses your problems to show off His righteousness by doing miraculous things.

When you get a hand from the Lord to overcome your addictions, your passions, your vanity, your shortcomings, you get so much more than what you bargained for. According to this part of the Bible, you also get Christ’s power to work with. Isn’t that something?

Stop denying yourself. Stop denying your insecurities. Accept them and give them over to the Lord.

Then step back and watch God do His thing with your life.

Columnist James Washington

Geraldine Thompson

Talib Muhammad and Al X passed out food and cold water to the homeless near Rev. Larry Rice’s New Life Evangelistic Center, which operates a homeless shelter in downtown St. Louis, recently during Ramadan.