July 14th, 2022 edition

The St. LouiS AmericAn

Biles becomes youngest Medal of Freedom recipient

Honored at White House

With a smile as bright as a gold medal, retired gymnast Simone Biles was one of 17 Americans who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom on July 7, 2002, at The White House.

“I’m so honored [and] thankful to be recognized as a recipient by President Biden for this prestigious award. I still have no words. I’m shocked!,” Biles said on Twitter following the ceremony.

Jonathan Owens, Simone’s fiancé, and a native St. Louisan who starred at CBC in football and plays for the Houston Texans, called the day “a surreal experience.”

“You’re one of the strongest people I know and are so deserving, I’m so blessed to be able to experience this with

President Joe Biden awards the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to Simone Biles at the White House in Washington, Thursday, July 7, 2022.

McKee faces federal lawsuit for use of Homer G. Phillips’ name

plan, which is vehemently opposed.

Zenobia Thompson, who served as a head nurse at Homer G. Phillips, said the urgent care building can stay – but the name must go.

By Alvin A. Reid

Developer

hope a federal lawsuit filed by Homer G. Phillips Nurses Alumni Inc., will get his attention, and cause him to rethink his

“Let us be clear, we are not against the facility. We want to protect the name and legacy of Homer G. Phillips by having the current named removed from the building,” she said during a press conference on Monday at the Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse.

“Keeping the legacy of the Homer G. Phillips location in The Ville, along with Annie Malone Children’s Home and Sumner High School is a must.” Walle Amusa, a Change the Name

Coalition member, said the organization stands with the lawsuit plaintiffs.

“Our community and allies overwhelmingly support the demand for Paul McKee to remove the name Homer G. Phillips from the clinic,” he said in a release.

“It was more than two years ago when community activists, civic, political, and religious leaders joined with the Nurses Alumni to organize and mobilize our community to demand McKee remove the name of Homer G. Phillips from the clinic.

Attorney Homer G. Phillips was prominent in both civil rights and politics and founded

Damion Baker remembered as ‘great kid’

Gun violence victim died a hero

By Alvin A. Reid

The St. Louis American

Damion Baker was honored in death on Wednesday as his killer remained free.

Baker, a member of the undefeated 2014-15 CBC state champion football team, was killed in the early hours of Sunday, July 3, 2022, just south of Busch Stadium. His mother, An’namarie Baker, said her son died a hero, according to what the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has shared with her.

“Damion was escorting a young lady to her car. His car was closer, so they walked to his car and then he dropped her off,” she said.

Tragedy soon struck. A man jumped in Damion Baker’s car in an apparent attempt to drive off with it. Baker responded, a fight began, and the shooting began.

“He put himself between them,” Baker said. “He was shot multiple times.” Police reported that a woman was also shot in the legs and feet and was transported to a hospital. After starring at CBC, Damion Baker played college football at Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, and studied psychology. His mother said he returned to St. Louis with dreams of a career in the construction industry. She said he was a journeyman with St. Louis Laborers Local 42, and with Glaziers Local 513.

“Building was his passion,” she said.

“Keep up the momentum”

intervention and mental health resources,” Jones said via zoon following the bill signing.

“Our leaders in Washington need to keep up the momentum - Congress must renew the assault weapons ban.” Jones also called for confirmation of Steven Dettelbach as director of the Bureau of Alcohol,

NNPA Newswire

Photo courtesy of The AP

The St. Louis American

Street.

Yvonne Jones, President of the Homer G. Phillips Nursing Association addresses the media on the use of the name illegally by developer Paul McKee at the new NGA site. At left is the associations Atty. Richard Voytas Jr. At right is Zenobia Thompson former president of the nurses association and retired Homer G. nurse Jobyna Foster.

Damion Baker

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Brittish Williams under house arrest as Hot 104.1 welcomes

“The Home Team” to St. Louis Times flies! It’s been 15 years since St. Louis has had its own Black radio morning show. The wait ended, Monday, July 11, 2022, when “The Home Team,” featuring Jordan “Reggie Son” Johnson, Brittish Williams, and Andrew Caldwell aired on Hot 104.1 St. Louis.

Williams is a cast member of Season 10 of VH1’s “Basketball Wives.” She joined the series in Season 3 and returned to chronicle her rocky relationship and coparenting dynamic with ex-fiance and overseas basketball player Lorenzo Gordon.

Williams might also miss a show or two while she deals with the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District. She faces five felony charges of misuse of a Social Security number; four charges of bank fraud; three charges of making false statements to the IRS; three charges of wire fraud; and three charges of aggravated identity theft.

She will be doing the show from her home because she is under house arrest, and required to wear an ankle monitor.

Williams has requested the judge release her from the monitor. Her attorney states, “it [is] significantly hampering her career opportunities and preventing her from being as successful and productive as she might otherwise be.”

Basketball Wives requires her to shoot for the series and appear for a number of redcarpet events in which the monitor will be shown.”

Hot 104.1 shared a promo video last week on its official Facebook page announcing the new early lineup.

“It’s official y’all it’s been 15 years since we’ve had a local Black morning show for St. Louis, by St. Louis in the city, and we here to bring you “The Home Team” baby,” Johnson said.

Johnson, formerly known as Shorty Da Prince, is a hometown legend notable for his extenuous media career, which began at the tender age of 12 after winning a contest crowning him “The World’s Youngest DJ.”

Outside of his local fame, the longtime media veteran and music artist has also achieved national success. In 2012, he joined BET’s “106 & Park” as one-fourth of the hosts. In addition to his thriving music, media, and acting achieve ments, he’s also one of the founders of the annual arts and cultural festival, STL Fest.

Caldwell rose to viral

stardom in 2015 after a clip of him denouncing homosexuality at the Church of God In Christ Convention left the internet in a frenzy. His catchphrase “I’m Delivert,” inspired a flood of memes, video reactions, and more.

Listeners can tune into “The Home Team,” starting Monday via Hot 104.1, Audacy mobile app, and Audacy website.

Willie Morrow, Afro pick creator dies at 82

Willie Morrow, the creative mind behind the Afro pick innovation died on June 22. He was 82.

Morrow was born Oct. 9, 1939, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, he eventually moved across the country searching for more opportunities in California. He settled in San Diego, the place where he established himself.

Cheryl Morrow, his daughter told San Diego Union-Tribune that the city was key for her father launching his business endeavors.

“For many Black people from the South, San Diego became home because of military service and jobs, and my father saw an opportunity to flourish by supplying the beauty needs of African American military personnel as well as civilians, “she said. “He turned a Black hair care company into a techdesign industrial giant,” He created several haircare products during the 1960s-1970s

for curly hair textures. In addition to the Afro pick, he also designed the California curl, widely known as the Jheri curl.

His achievements in the hair industry directed to a media career in radio and newspaper.

He leaves behind his wife Gloria, their daughters Cheryl and Angela, and a hosts of extended family.

A memorial service will be held on July 15, 2022 at Bayview Baptist Church in San Diego.

Kel Mitchell’s ex-wife alleges Nick Cannon dressed in a cheerleading outfit to brighten the mood

Nick Cannon is making headlines this time beyond baby-making According to Kel Mitchell’s ex-wife Tyisha Hampton, rumor has it that Cannon once dressed up in a cheerleading uniform to uplift his spirit.

Hampton recalled the bizarre alleged moment on TikTok stating how she was blinded by love. She alleges how one day she came home early to find Cannon dressed in her cheerleader attire chanting cheers on her bed in an attempt to cheer up Mitchell who allegedly was unfaithful at the time.

Many users criticized Hampton for waiting until now to reveal the oddly confession.

“What was the point of her bringing this up?” and “Why you coming home if he cheated anyway?” others added.

Sources: NBC 12, The Jasmine Brand, Audacy, The St. Louis American, Ebony, San Diego Union-Tribune, Hot New Hip Hop

The Home Team

“We

Vision quest

Local step teams bring home YouthStep USA titles

By Alvin A. Reid

The St. Louis American

A pair of local step teams put their best foot forward at YouthStep USA and brought home respective national titles.

The Gentlemen of Vision Rites of Passages Enterprises [GOV] high school team, and its middle school program, The Young Men of Vision Mentoring Program [YMOV] used old school themes and modern step choreography to win 1st place and highest scores among all teams in the national competition.

around this.”

n Since its founding 2009, every member has successfully completed high school and has been accepted into a college or university.

GOV based its performance on the 1984 movie The Last Dragon, while the middle school team used the hit 90’s sitcom Martin.

“I love these kids,” Quintton Williams, YMOV founder and director, said in a release.

“The boys and coaches worked really hard to win this championship. And they got to experience seeing the Statue of liberty, ride in a subway, visit Times Square and compete in a sport that they love. I will continually go to the ends of the earth to help make experiences like that happen for them.”

Marlon Wharton, GOV founder, CEO, and head coach, said, “It’s hard to wrap my head

“In the 13 years that this organization has existed this is the third time that both the high school team and the middle school team won both national competitions. I never imagined any of this when we started but I’m grateful to be able to make an impact on the lives the young men that have been in our program, it’s humbling,” he said. Wharton and Chris Randall, YMOV head coach, are also national champions. They were awarded the 2022 National Step Coach of the Year award by YouthStep USA Inc., in their respective divisions.

“I’m proud of the courage, discipline, heart and effort these young men displayed over this weekend,” Randall said.

“The fire and tenacity shown by these guys is something that can’t be described in words. You just have to witness it. It’s amazing, and I’m honored to be a part of their lives.”

Wharton and the late Paul Albea founded GOV on the campus of Riverview Gardens High School in 2009 to address issues and concerns of young socio-economically disadvantaged males.

Wharton said then, and now, the community needs more counseling, academics, mentoring, and programs that specialize in fostering adulthood among young males. These steps would curtail the increasing dropout rate. The Gentlemen of Vision Rites of Passage Enterprises, Inc., includes boys from several school districts within the St. Louis Metropolitan Area.

The organization has a 100% percent high school graduation and college admission/retention rate. Since its founding 2009, every member has successfully completed high school and has been accepted into a college or university.

In addition to servicing high school members, GOV has extended its services to elementary, middle school, and Alumni

members in college and the military.

Bennita Higgins, a YMOV then GOV parent, said the program “changed my son’s life.”

“It’s much bigger than stepping. It’s the character, the foundation of discipline and the set up for the future, The coaches and staff truly care about each individual boy in the organization.”

GOV step team captain Daryl Castaway Burkhalter said the program put him on a path to success.

“This has given me a roadmap for success throughout my time in middle school and high school. They helped mold me from a boy into a king, and for that I am forever grateful,” he said.

Photo courtesy of GOV/YMOV

Members of the Gentlemen of Vision Rites of Passages Enterprises [GOV] high school team, and its middle school program, Young Men of Vision Mentoring Program [YMOV] were stepping lively during a performance at their recent annual banquet.

Editorial / CommEntary

Moore v. Harper

By E. Faye Williams

We will not go quietly into night

“If there is no struggle there is no progress. …Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.”

That 1857 quote from Frederick Douglass accurately describes our current circumstance and gives little hope for a future consistent with the principles of governance outlined under the Constitution. We face an erosion of the freedoms that originally applied to free, white, land-owning, men, and extended only by struggle to women, the progeny of enslaved persons, native Americans, and others illegitimately forced by social convention to surrender the benefits of full citizenship.

States during the court’s October 2022-2023 term. According to the SCOTUS docket page, the case concerns the independent state legislature doctrine, which theorizes that state legislatures alone are empowered by the Constitution to regulate federal elections without oversight from state courts.

The question presented: “Whether a State’s judicial branch may nullify the regulations governing the “Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives and replace them with regulations of the state courts’ own devising, based on vague state constitutional provisions purportedly vesting the state judiciary with power to prescribe whatever rules it deems appropriate to ensure a “fair” or “free” election.”

E. Faye Williams

Unfortunately, too many of us have been lulled into the submission predicted by Douglass by either ignorance, apathy, or both. Many have become the dupes of “victim propaganda” believing the spoon-fed fiction of helplessness in the face of oppression. And even though our lives are enmeshed in the social and societal processes of this nation, others are convinced, and spread the message of malaise, that we should reject participation in deciding those who manage the processes that impact us daily.

Rather than allowing those who read me to go unaware, I want to ‘clang the bell’ about another occasion for us to join the struggle. As with Roe, the struggle may not yield desired outcomes, but, through the struggle, “we will not go quietly into the night.”

n “We face an erosion of the freedoms that originally applied to free, white, landowning, men, and extended only by struggle to women, the progeny of enslaved persons, native Americans, and others illegitimately forced to surrender the benefits of full citizenship.”

As I write this, the conservative majority on the Supreme Court has agreed to entertain an argument allowing state legislatures instead of voters to determine the outcome of elections.

Moore v. Harper is scheduled for argument before the Supreme Court of the United

The short version: Moore v. Harper concerns the independent state legislature doctrine, which theorizes that state legislatures alone are empowered by the Constitution to regulate federal elections without oversight from state courts. The lower court ruling that SCOTUS agreed to review states: We hold that our constitution’s Declaration of Rights guarantees the equal power of each person’s voice in our government through voting in elections that matter. A SCOTUS reversal of the lower court’s ruling would give authority to state legislatures to regulate Federal elections without judicial oversight. On this authority, they could design partisan districts to maintain power in perpetuity or choose the winners themselves.

The Washington Post analysis concludes: “Immense power would go to legislative bodies that are themselves undemocratic, many advocates say, because they have been gerrymandered to create partisan districts, virtually ensuring the party-in-power’s candidates cannot be beaten. Republicans control both legislative chambers in 30 states and have been at the forefront of pushing the theory.”

SCOTUS will make a choice.

We MUST make our choice also.

E. Faye Williams is a Trice-Edney Wire Service columnist and Dick Gregory Society president. This commentary was originally published in the Seattle Medium.

Commentary

Start now to take back Supreme Court

By Ben Jealous

Did you ever wonder whether elections really matter? Well, the Trump Supreme Court majority has answered that question for good.

Or, more accurately, they have answered it for bad.

In the term that has just ended, the new far-right-wing majority on the Supreme Court went on a rampage. They have torn up decades of legal precedent to diminish Americans’ rights and legal protections. To justify the results they wanted, they lied in their rulings the way some of them lied to get on the court. It has been a shameful display of power politics disguised as judging.

Not surprisingly, the most attention has been paid to the Court majority overturning the 50-year-old Roe v. Wade decision. A constitutional right that has made a huge difference in the lives of generations of women was wiped away. The impact will be devastating and deadly.

Millions of individuals and couples dealing with unwanted pregnancies, the trauma of rape or incest, life-threatening pregnancy complications, or even a miscarriage that some intrusive government official decides is suspicious, will have their options severely limited or eliminated entirely. We know that those restrictions and their consequences will fall most harshly on already vulnerable people, including Black people, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities and low-income people. Already in Missouri, a major health care system will no longer treat rape victims with emergency contraception because the state abortion ban puts medical care providers at legal risk.

Anti-abortion state legislators seem to be in competition to see who can pass the most extreme, intrusive and con-

trolling laws. Some are even trying to limit people’s right to travel from one state to another, targeting anyone who helps a person from a state that bans abortion get care in a state that permits it. It reminds me of the old fugitive slave laws that forced free states to help slave states deny people their freedom.

Unfortunately, overturning Roe is just one of the harmful decisions handed down by the Trump court. The court intervened in voting rights cases to protect gerrymandering designed to limit Black voters’ access to political power. This comes on top of other rulings gutting the Voting Rights Act.

The Trump Court went after sensible regulation of guns. The far-right justices overturned a New York law more than 100 years old that required people to show a good cause to get a permit to carry concealed firearms. Communities that are already suffering from the effects of gun crime are likely to experience even greater violence now that the court has robbed public officials of options and given the extremist pro-gun political agenda the power of law.

The court also further dismantled the separation of church and state, which protects religious freedom and preserves equality under law for people regardless of their religious beliefs. The Trump court took a wrecking ball to this pillar of American society. It is forcing states to divert tax dollars to religious schools, like some southern states did when they funded white evangelical segregation-

Collaboration creates beneficial change for students

By Keith Williamson

Gov. Mike Parson’s signing of a bill last week that ensures students in charter schools receive the same public funding as students in district schools shows us what is possible when groups stop letting their differences divide them and come together to advocate for children.

Collaboration among groups who often disagree resulted in historic legislation that will infuse roughly $62 million of new state money into charter public school classrooms in St. Louis and Kansas City next year. This will help pay teacher salaries, buy new technology, and provide essential classroom supplies in schools that serve more than 25,000 children in our state’s two largest cities.

Just as important - existing funding for district schools in both cities will remain constant, even if their school enrollments decline. The legislation is a win for everyone and represents a positive step toward broadening our approach to ensuring that all children, particularly our most vulnerable, have access to a high-quality education.

For too long, the rhetoric in St. Louis has been charter versus district – as if the success of one must come at the expense of the other. Research shows that the growth of high-quality charter schools increases the performance of the system as a whole. We must overcome this zero-sum mindset. The passage of the funding equity legislation

Letters to the Editor

offers hope that we can.

ist academies that emerged in resistance to the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision outlawing racially segregated public schools. This court has made it easier for public officials, like teachers, to coerce students into prayer or other religious practices. This is a very clear threat to anyone whose faith is different from the one dominant in their community or state.

In other words, the U.S. Supreme Court, which we counted on for generations to uphold civil rights and tear down obstacles to equality, is now acting as an arm of the increasingly aggressive farright political movement. How did we get here?

Simple. Thanks to the anti-democratic Electoral College, Donald Trump was elected in 2016 even though almost 3 million more Americans voted for Hillary Clinton. Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell prevented the Senate from even considering President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nomination so that Trump could fill it instead — and then rushed Trump’s third justice onto the court even as voters were casting ballots to remove Trump from office. Behind Trump and McConnell was a massively funded, decadeslong campaign to build the political power to take control of the judiciary. In other words, winning the presidency and controlling the Senate gave the far right the power to force its harmful agenda on the American public long after voters rejected Trump. Taking the court back from the extremists who now control it will be a long-term project. It starts with this year’s elections.

Again, getting to this point involved cross-state collaboration, compromise, and leadership that focused above all else on what is right for all children. This collaboration was refreshing, and it was effective. School districts, education nonprofits, civic organizations, and lawmakers found common ground rather than let differences divide them. They worked as a team and with parents and forged a coalition to improve learning conditions for children.

Keith Williamson

From the time the first charter public schools in Missouri opened their doors in 1999, they have received funding based on a formula that accounts for local property taxes, attendance rates, and state and local allocations. Because that formula held the funding constant for charter schools even as local funding increased, it has resulted in St. Louis charter public schools receiving $2,500 per student less than the city’s district schools. This year, over 40% of public- school children in St. Louis attend charter public schools.

The Kansas City Public Schools played an important role in advocating to fix this glitch as a matter of fairness given that children in charter schools represent half of the public-school population in

No coincidence nearly

Kansas City. They joined a broad coalition supporting the legislation that included business and civic organizations in both metropolitan areas — The Opportunity Trust, School Smart KC, Quality Schools Coalition, the Missouri Charter Public School Association, and ultimately, the Missouri National Education Association. Throughout the process, Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, D-St. Louis, was a consistent advocate for children and families in the city of St. Louis and he was a critical player in getting us to a final bill that was good for everyone. He was later joined by nearly every Kansas City and St. Louis legislator in both parties. We applaud his bold efforts and say thank you for fighting for children. There are other aspects of the legislation that are big wins for children and our city. It increases charter public school accountability - which is critical to improvement. It prohibits for-profit organizations from managing charter schools. And it requires that test scores be posted on the school’s website, providing necessary transparency for parents.

This is the first step of many that need to be taken to create conditions for all our kids to thrive.

Working together next year, we can ensure even more children go to schools that are equitably funded and held accountable for delivering learning outcomes for children.

Keith Williamson is The Opportunity Trust chair

9 in 10

Black Americans smoke menthol cigarettes

Right now, the FDA is taking comments on their proposed rules to end the sale of all menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. If finalized, these rules will have a dramatic impact on the health of Missouri residents.

Tobacco is still the leading cause of preventable death in Missouri, killing 10,970 annually in our state alone. It is estimated that nationally, 1/3 of all people who smoke use menthol cigarettes.

Menthol cigarettes remain a key factor for tobacco-related death and disease in

Black communities. More than 81% of Black Americans who smoke use menthol cigarettes, and a study released in 2021 found that menthol cigarettes were responsible for 1.5 million new smokers, 157,000 smoking-related premature deaths and 1.5 million life years lost among Black Americans nationally from 1980–2018. Additionally, despite historically starting later and smoking fewer cigarettes daily than white Americans, Black Americans are 6% more likely to be diagnosed with and 17% more like-

ly to die from a tobacco-related cancer. We have a tremendous opportunity to save lives and reduce tobacco’s toll on the health of Missouri residents. In the first 13-17 months of removing menthol cigarettes from the marketplace, one study estimates 923,000 smokers would quit. And we know what works to help people quit-- a combination of FDAapproved cessation medication and proven counseling programs. Plesetta Clayton St. Louis

End the sale of menthol cigarettes

We have an opportunity to make a dramatic impact on the health of Black Missourians.

On April 28, the FDA released two proposals to end the sales of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, and right now they are taking comments on the proposals. I am working to encourage Missouri residents to speak up and comment in support of these rules.

For far too long, tobacco companies have targeted the

Black community with advertising for menthol cigarettes. The tobacco industry has historically supported cultural events, community organizations and even scholarship programs in Black communities. These companies also invest in prime shelf space for menthol products in African American neighborhood stores. This targeting has resulted in Black Americans smoking menthol cigarettes at a higher

rate than average. More than 81% of Black Americans who smoke use menthol cigarettes. This directly contributes to the three leading causes of death among Black Americans— heart disease, cancer and stroke—and causes 45,000 Black deaths every year.

Laura Turner

Advocacy Manager

Senior

American Lung Association in Missouri

The largest weekly newspaper in Missouri 100% independently owned & operated

Columnist

Ben Jealous

Guest Columnist

Columnist

County Library fresh produce giveaways extended into fall

Partners with Operation Food Search

St. Louis American staff

St. Louis County Library is continuing to provide fresh produce from Operation Food Search at select library branches through September.

The program offers seasonal produce boxes on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 a.m., and they are distributed curbside in branch parking lots. There is a limit of one box per family, and supplies are limited.

In addition, the branches offering produce boxes are providing free lunches to children from noon to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. Activities will also be provided at the sites.

The produce boxes are made possible by support from the St. Louis County Library Foundation, the Regional Response Team, and the Special Operations Care Foundation.

The produce distribution dates and locations:

July 20, 2022

Lewis & Clark, Natural Bridge and Prairie Commons

July 27, 2022

Bridgeton Trails, Parkview and Jamestown Bluffs

August 3, 2022

Florissant Valley, St. Charles Rock Road and Weber Road

August 10, 2022

Lewis & Clark, Natural Bridge and Prairie Commons

August 17, 2022

Bridgeton Trails, Parkview and Jamestown Bluffs

August 24, 2022

Florissant Valley, St. Charles Rock Road and Weber Road

August 31, 2022

Lewis & Clark, Natural Bridge and Prairie Commons

September 7, 2022

Bridgeton Trails, Parkview and Jamestown Bluffs

September 14, 2022

Florissant Valley, St. Charles Rock Road and Weber Road

September 21, 2022

Lewis & Clark, Natural Bridge and Prairie Commons

Program sites are special needs accessible. With at least two weeks’ notice, accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities. Call (314) 994-3300 or visit www.slcl.org/ contact-us

We must have a right to make our own decisions

By Leslie Nicole Smith

I attended a Juneteenth celebration and listened to the amazing Fay Williams, the last living founding board member of the Indianapolis Urban League. She discussed how her family would celebrate Juneteenth during her childhood. The holiday was one of her favorite memories, so she decided to do some additional research on her family.

Her family, labeled as cargo, was brought over from Africa to Galveston, Texas. Yes, you read that correctly, cargo! There were some enslaved people who were worth more than others — it simply depended on their area of expertise. Some slaves were worth $150, and others $500. Ms. Fay’s story brought tears to my eyes, as it caused me to reflect on my own late grandmother, her experience as a young lady growing up in the 1930s and 1940s, and what she experienced. How was her life was controlled during that era? What type of racism and/or sexism did she face? And now, she’s no longer here, and with all the racist and sexist acts that have transpired over the past few years, I wish I could have those conversations with her. Not too long after that experience with Williams, Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court. Again, another act of control. So, what about the women who did not consent to sexual intercourse, or who are victims of incest? How do we protect these women?

Will there be other health care services to help women through this trauma, or are we just expected to deal with it? How does this impact the men who take advantage of the women in our country? Will women’s voices be taken more seriously to indict these men?

What happens to the children who are a byproduct of rape? America, are we prepared to deal with the repercussions and mental health services that these children will need? There are so many other reasons why women seek abortions, a plethora of other what-ifs and so many perspectives about whether it’s right or wrong.

There have been and continue to be many scenarios of control between these two moments in history — interracial marriage, voting rights, same-sex marriage, contraception, and driving, walking, and running while Black. People are human! Humans have the right to make their own decisions.

In fact, God made us all equal and has given us the liberty to make our own choices in this thing called life. Sure, there are consequences, good and bad, for our decisions, but they’re our decisions. So, America, it’s time for you to step aside, mind your own business and let people be human.

This is the land of the free and the home of the brave, right?

I read this quote on my friend’s social media the day the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which pretty much sums up the control issue in the United States.

“Our government is bold enough to force you to have a kid but too weak to ensure they make it to recess alive.”

Make it make sense, America! It’s time to refocus. We’re tired.

Leslie Nicole Smith is DePauw University Alumni Engagement executive director

St. Louis County Library and Operation Food Search are providing fresh produce at 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays through September at several library locations. There is a limit of one box per family. Supplies are limited.

Photo courtesy of St. Louis County Library

Leslie Nicole Smith

the Citizens’ Liberty League.

The organization advocated for Black St. Louisans after city residents voted in 1916 to mandate segregation in housing.

During the 1920s, there were two public city-owned Hospitals, City Hospital Number 1, which only whites could use, and City Hospital Number 2, a former medical college in the Mill Creek Valley neighborhood. It lacked resources, and Black residents were forced to use the subpar hospital.

In 1923, St. Louis decided to use money from a bond issue for a new hospital. Black residents wanted it in a Black neighborhood. White doctors and politicians wanted the new hospital next to City Hospital Number 1, which was located south of downtown.

Phillips persuaded city officials to build the new hospital at St. Ferdinand Avenue and Whittier Street, in the Ville neighborhood, which at the time was the home to many prominent Black businesses and residents.

From its opening in 1937 to 1979, the hospital primarily served the needs of St. Louis’ Black citizens. Until city hospitals were desegregated in 1955, it was the only hospital for Black St. Louisans.

It became not only one of the best “Black” hospitals in the nation, but one of the

Biles

Continued from A1

you. You motivate me more every day to be the best version of myself,” he wrote on a photo of the couple he uploaded to social media.

The Medal of Freedom is given to those who have made immense, impactful contributions to the United States or the

highest achieving training hospitals in the world.

Community meetings and protests at the facility began in October and pushed through 2021. Alderwoman Sharon Tyus’ resolution calling for the name to be stripped from the facility was passed easily by the Board of Aldermen in December.

global community. Simone was recognized for her advocacy in “athletes’ mental health and safety, children in the foster care system, and victims of sexual assault,” according to The White House.

Actor Denzel Washington is a recipient but was unable to attend because he reportedly is recovering from COVID-19.

“The Fourth of July week reminds us of what brought us together long ago and still

Congresswoman Cori Bush, who told The St. Louis American in December 2021 she considered the use of Phillips’ name “an abomination,” joined with Mayor Tishaura Jones in support of the Tyus resolution.

“Homer G. Phillips Hospital was a beacon of Black leadership in St. Louis, training

binds us – binds us at our best, what we strive for,” Biden remarked during the ceremony.

“We the people, doing what we can to ensure that the idea of America, the cause of freedom, shines like the sun to light up the future of the world,” Biden stated.

The late Sen. John McCain, who served alongside Biden in the U.S. House and Senate, received his

an entire generation of Black doctors, nurses, and health care workers who would go on to serve communities not just across our city, but our entire country,” the women said in a joint statement.

“Profiting off Homer G. Phillips’ name on a small 3-bed facility that will fail to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in

award posthumously, as did Apple Founder Steve Jobs and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.

Other medal recipients were Women’s National Soccer Team star Megan Rapinoe, and Khazir Khan, a parent of U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khan, who was killed in 2004 during the Iraq War.

Also honored were former Sen. Alan Simpson, R-Wyo., an advocate of campaign

Supporters show their support for the nursing association of Homer G. Phillips at the Monday July 6, 2022 press conference in front of the Thomas Eagleton Federal Court House.

McKee did not heed the call and now faces a lawsuit that contends the alumni group’s name is trademarked, and the new health center’s name will infringe on that trademark.

“Under our interpretation of the law, if the name of the health center is confusingly similar to or implies association with my client, then we believe our claim is valid,” Richard Voytas Jr., who is representing the group, told Missouri Independent.

According to the lawsuit, “the plaintiff requests that the Court find that Defendants engaged in trademark infringement, unfair competition, and trademark dilution.”

The plaintiff “requests that the Court permanently enjoin Defendants from using the ‘trademark’ or a name confusingly similar for any purpose, and from infringing on plaintiff’s right to the trademark.”

The Nurses Alumni also want McKee to “provide an accounting to Plaintiff of all monies gained by it from the use of the ‘trademark’ and all profits earned by it since the start of the use of the ‘trademark.’

our communities is an insult to Homer G. Phillips’ legacy and the Black community. We urge the developers of this project to heed the call of former Homer G. Phillips nurses, advocates, health care workers, community leaders, and St. Louis City residents who are demanding respect by changing the name of this facility.”

finance reform and marriage equality; Sister Simone Campbell, an advocate for progressive issues; Julieta García, the first Hispanic woman to serve as President of a U.S. college; Fred Gray, one of the first Black members of the Alabama Legislature since Reconstruction.

The Rev. Alexander Karloutsos, former vicar-general of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; Diane

Darryl Piggee, a McKee attorney and apologist, told The Independent that there is no plan to change the name. He had not yet read the lawsuit.

“As we continue this just and righteous struggle, the Coalition is overjoyed and happy to stand in support of the lawsuit challenging McKee’s right to steal the name of our beloved and respected hero Homer G. Phillips,” Amusa stated.

Nash, a founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee who worked with Martin Luther King Jr.; Wilma Vaught, an Air Force brigadier general and one of the most decorated women in the history of the U.S. military; and Raúl Yzaguirre, a civil rights advocate who was the CEO and President of the National Council of La Raza for 30 years.

Photo by Wile

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

“He always said he was gong to build the community back up. He wanted to own his own business in general construction. He was 25, and as bright as they come.”

Since her son’s death, one of the most difficult moments came when she received a call from the city medical examiner’s office.

“A woman called and told me she was very sorry, but I had to come down and identify my son’s body. She apologized for the delay but explained they could not identify my son through his fingerprints. In other words, he was not in the system,” Baker said.

“I said to her, ‘you sound surprised. Every Black man you come across has not been

Jones

Continued from A1

Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which happed on Tuesday.

The Senate voted 48-46 for his approval, making him the first permanent leader of the agency since 2015. Highlights of the Safer Communities Act include:

-Enhancing background checks for people between the ages of 18-21 through the National Criminal Background Check System (NICS) with an initial investigative period to review juvenile and mental health records in three days. The bill incentivizes states to provide juvenile records for enhanced reviews.

-Closing the “Boyfriend Loophole,” which allows convicted domestic abusers to purchase weapons if they are not married to their partner. Violence and homicides caused by dating partners was not a deterrent to purchasing a gun. The measure also adds those convicted of domestic abuse to the NICS. However, a person convicted of a misdemeanor for attacking a dating partner can buy a gun after five years.

-Directing more money for states to implement plans to address gun violence through crisis intervention and “red flag” laws. States will have the opportunity to seek grants to help pay for crisis intervention programs, regardless of whether they embrace “red flag” laws that allow judges to remove guns from potentially dangerous owners.

in trouble with the law.’” Baker’s family was not the only one impacted by gun violence in the city during the Fourth of July Weekend. From July 1 through July 4, shootings left 7 people dead and 18 injured. It was a violent weekend nationally, which included seven people being killed and 47 injured during a Highland Park, Illinois Fourth of July parade. A shooter, who is now in custody, fired at people from a roof overlooking the parade route.

Shootings were reported in nearly every U.S. state, resulting in at least 220 people being killed and close to 570 others wounded, according to the Gun Violence Archive

“We are a family that understands that you can have a gun. We agree 100% you can protect yourself and your family,” Baker said.

-Allocating $250 million in funding for community violence intervention programs and $250 million to enhance comprehensive community mental health services.

Jones also thanked retiring Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt “for his critical vote on this bill, emphasizing that improving public safety is and should remain a bipartisan issue.”

“Americans should be able to buy groceries, go to church, walk through our neighborhoods, march in a parade, or drop our kids off at school without fear of gun violence,” Jones said before the bill signing.

“Communities across the country have called for congressional action to help keep families safe, and I am honored to join President Biden and fellow leaders at the White House to celebrate the passage of the first major federal gun safety law in decades.”

Biden said “Today is many things. It’s proof that despite the naysayers, we can make meaningful progress in dealing with gun violence.”

“Make no mistake about it, this legislation is real progress, but more has to be done. The provision of this new legislation is going to save lives, and its proof that in today’s politics, we can come together on a bipartisan basis to get important things done, even on an issue as tough as guns.”

The Biden Administration also promised to continue to use “all of the tools at its disposal” to address the epidemic of gun violence.”

The President’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget proposes $32

“But the amounts of guns on the street; the types of guns on the street. We have to stop these guns getting to our city.

“Somebody needs to do something about the NRA

billion in additional funding to fight crime, including $20.6 billion in discretionary funding for federal law enforcement and state and local law enforcement and crime prevention programs, an increase of 11% over FY22 enacted ($18.6 billion) and 18% over FY21 enacted ($17.5 billion).

Biden said there’s much more that can and must be done to save lives.

He vowed to continue to urge Congress to take further legislative action to keep dangerous guns out of dangerous hands, including a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, strengthening background checks, and enacting safe storage laws.

“We’ve finally moved that mountain, a mountain of opposition, obstruction and indifference that stood in the way and stopped every effort of gun safety for 30 years in this nation,” Biden said.

“Now is the time to galvanize this movement, because that’s our duty to the people of this nation.”

[National Rifle Association.] Baker said something must also be done to change the mentality of many Black young people.

“They think they must have

An’nanmarie Baker and her late son Damion Baker (right) were joined by a friend and his mother 9left0 when the former CBC star signed a letter of intent to play college football at Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.

a gun. They go to the grocery store – [with] a gun. They go anywhere- a gun. This is not a Black and white issue,” she said.

“We have to ask ourselves,

‘why are we allowing this to happen.’” Baker is also asking the community for help in finding her son’s murderer.

“Obviously, people know who shot my son. Someone knows something. Please help our family,” she said.

As Damion Baker was laid to rest on Wednesday with many family members and friends in attendance, his mother can only remember what her son had accomplished and ponder all the positive things he wanted to do in the future.

“This kid was special. He was going to do great things, and someone took him away from us,” she said.

St. Louis police said anyone with information on the murder of Damion Baker should call Crimestoppers at 866-371TIPS. Those tips are anonymous and can lead to a cash reward.

Photo courtesy of Baker family

A needless law that threatens Democracy

By Rasheen Aldridge

Gov. Mike Parson has signed a “voter photo ID” into law after Republicans in the state legislature rammed a bill through during the final hours of session.

Unfortunately, our 48 Democratic votes in the House of Representatives could only go so far in a body with 108 Republicans. A ninehour filibuster from Senate Democrats, frankly, wasn’t good enough.

According to our chief elections officer, Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, Missouri’s 2020 elections were safe and secure. Yet, he had pushed hard for voter suppression laws. By his own admission, election fraud is not a problem in Missouri.

25% of Black Americans over 18 do not have a government-issued photo ID, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Under this new law having one would be a requirement to vote.

Not only is this law pointless, but it’s also something the Missouri Supreme Court rightly rejected in 2020. You already need to identify yourself to vote; requiring a photo ID is just another way for politicians to avoid input from Black people and the working class.

Under this law, you could

spend a year in jail, be fined up to $2,500, and lose your right to vote if you offer someone an absentee ballot application or register more than 10 voters without permission from the government.

It requires you to sit in a series of lengthy caucus meetings to cast your vote in Presidential primaries and allows Ashcroft’s office to remove certain citizens from the voter rolls, a measure that other states have used to target Black voters.

Finally, it eliminates the COVID19 health and safety measures for voting. COVID-19 mail-in voting options and ballot drop boxes will no longer be available. We are still in a pandemic that has disproportionately affected the Black community, and provisions like those will only set us back in the case of a future pandemic.

This isn’t an effort to prevent fraud. It is another part of the centuries-long systematic movement to stifle the voices of Black voters. When Black people turned out in droves for former President Barack Obama, state legislatures and the Supreme Court made access to the polls more restrictive.

The Supreme Court’s decision in 2013 to weaken the Voting Rights Act by removing the requirement for states with histories of racially discriminatory practices to get approval from the federal government

before enacting voting laws is a prime example.

After Black voters effectively sealed the fate of former President Donald Trump in 2020, Republicans revitalized their push to disenfranchise Black voters under the guise of “election integrity,” following false claims of election fraud in locations with high minority populations. I stated on the House floor that the bill “this is the most egregious bill when it comes to impact on people who look like me.” I was fortunate I even got to speak as Republicans voted to cut off debate, leaving several of my colleagues’ voices unheard. Republicans had plenty of chances to speak, and their rhetoric was dangerous to our Democracy.

Elected officials spreading doubt about our most sacred right will jeopardize that right for all Americans. For our historic experiment in self-governance to work, we need leaders who believe in it. This means being honest with their base and telling them these laws weaken our government. We need leaders who believe every eligible citizen should vote, whether they agree with them. It cannot truly be the people’s government if people’s voices are limited. These laws will go into place on August 28th. In the upcoming August 2nd primaries, we need to come out strong, get friends and neighbors registered, and out to vote.

State Rep Rasheen Aldridge represents the riverside district in St. Louis.

Rasheen Aldridge

Councilman makes avoiding felony charge

‘Harder’ for himself; Coatar’s history of deals

Since our column last week

- which focused on police lobbyist and Republican-inpractice, county executive candidate Jane Dueker, and her role in the leak of a sex tape that “somehow” Republican State Representative Shamed Dogan obtained - several public (and non-public) events have unfolded.

First, the EYE has learned that the Missouri State Highway Patrol - and NOT St. Louis County Police Department - is investigating the incident after Clayton Municipal Police referred the case to them.

To recap what “the incident” is: former County employee Calvin Harris video-recorded himself engaged in a sex act with a woman inside a County office, and that woman did not consent to the recording being made.

Harris, through his attorney Travis Noble, has publicly stated that Harris did not share the recording with anyone. The woman, through her attorney Grant Boyd, has publicly stated that she did not know the recording was made, let alone consent to its recording or dissemination.

These two public statements together trigger what’s known as “Greiten’s Law,” sponsored by Dogan himself and passed by the Missouri Legislature in 2018. Revised Missouri Statute §573.110 designates the “nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images” as a Class D felony, punishable by up to seven years of incarceration and up to a $10,000 fine. In other words, because the woman did not consent to the video being shared with outside parties, anyone who has obtained and shared that recording with other people likely has committed a serious crime.

Enter Republican County Councilman Mark Harder According to a source close to the investigation, Harder transmitted the video through a private server connected to the far-right Facebook group, “Concerned Parents of the Rockwood School District,” which was founded by Gerard Puleo, a named plaintiff in a 1980 federal lawsuit fighting the desegregation of St. Louis public schools. Harder, along with fellow Republican Councilman Tim Fitch received the video via email from Dogan - who has yet to explain how he obtained the private sexual images that were disseminated without consent.

But all signs seem to point back to Dogan, who is currently the Republican front-runner challenging incumbent County Executive Sam Page. But after Harder started sharing the nonconsensual video - “sharing those tapes like popcorn at a movie theater” - Dogan suddenly got quiet. While it is unclear if Dogan has been interviewed by Missouri Highway Patrol or the Federal Bureau of Investigations related to his apparent role in the illegal dissemination of the tape, what does seem to be clear is that Dogan owes St. Louis County voters an explanation. To the extent that he can do so without criminally implicating himself, that is.

Politics aside: the fact that Dogan, Harder, and Fitch (and Dueker, for that matter) are all trying to exploit a victim of an act of domestic violence -

namely, recording an intimate, sexual moment without her consent - for their own political gain tells us what kind of grimy leadership they seek to bring to County politics. Dueker has the audacity to call herself a “victim’s advocate” while, at the same time, helping her Republican friend Dogan disseminate a revealing video of a victim - is this really who we want in charge of St. Louis County?

These four individualsthree of which are currently elected - have a lot of explaining to do to both law enforcement and the public.

Meanwhile, in St. Louis City, aldermanic presidential candidate Jack Coatar has seemingly found himself in a situation not unlike that of his recently-indicted colleagues. Coatar, elected as the 7th Ward Alderman, supposedly serves as the Public Safety Committee’s liaison to the St. Louis City Preservation Board What is not clear is “who” exactly Coatar really serves. At the Preservation Board’s June 28 meeting, notorious developer Lux Living presented a plan to demolish the structurally-sound Optimist International Building, a 1962 Modernist-style building at the southeast corner of Lindell Boulevard and Taylor Avenue in the Central West End neighborhood. For the second year in a row, Lux Living’s attempt to destroy this iconic building in the name of shoddily-build, over-priced apartment building was defeated - but not without some performative help from Coatar.

Before we dive in more deeply, let’s start here: Coatar is the recipient of thousands of dollars of campaign donations by the ownership of Lux

Living - a fact that, under the newly-passed Proposition D, should have compelled Coatar to recuse himself from voting on an issue that directly benefits a campaign donor. However, Coatar did not file a Conflict of Interest notice with the St. Louis City Counselor’s Office, which is now required by law. And while last week’s Preservation Board meeting certainly isn’t the first time that Coatar has been publicly accused of refusing to refrain from a vote that helps his financial supporters, this vote was curiously timed.

We reference, of course, the three federal indictments against Coatar’s former colleagues, aldermen Jeffrey Boyd and John Collins Muhammad and board president Lewis Reed. These three aldermen engaged in essentially the same practice as Coatar - a “pay-to-play” scheme between elected officials and campaign donors in exchange for political favors like sponsoring tax abatement bills or cutting corners to sell - at a very low price - City-owned LRA properties. Before voters forget - former mayor Francis Slay’s LCRA “sold” 200 LRA lots to untrustworthy developer Paul McKee for around $600,000 while for-

Why do her yard signs only list her last name, Dueker, in tiny obligatory print? She is apparently trying to run away from her lousy reputation.

mer alderman Steve Conway sponsored the tax incentive bill for McKee’s now-failed NorthSide Regeneration. Slay

took tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations from McKee throughout his time in office. Frankly, there isn’t much different between what the three former aldermen did for a particular donor - in exchange for campaign donations, cash payments, auto repairs, and a 2008 Chevy Trailbalzer, than other elected officials who wielded their legislative power to sponsor and push for bills that gave unwarranted tax incentives to their financial supporters. After Reed, Coatar is possibly the second-favorite of wealthy developers in St. Louis. His MEC reports are littered with maxed-out donations from real estate developers to lobbyists since his first run for office in 2014. Those donations can generally be matched up to legislation that Coatar later sponsored - like Lux Living (formerly known as Asprient) or Restoration St. Louis (though, that legislation failed) or the Koman Group (also failed). A major difference is that, the three former, indicted aldermen are Black and Coatar is white. Now that Coatar has stepped into the arena to battle for the presidency of the Board of Aldermen, the EYE will be watching to see if he recuses himself on any votes - whether on the Preservation Board, the Board of Aldermen, or any subcommittee - that benefits any financial contributors.

Jane Dueker

Shamed Dogan

Mark Harder

“Taking Care of You”

Walking a major step in improving Black women’s health

GirlTrek ESL event on Saturday, July 16

GirlTrek members are encouraged to walk 30 minutes a day for five days a week, and the organization says many have experienced “significant health improvements.”

By Alexa Spencer Special to The American

Black women are more likely to die from heart disease than other groups, so GirlTrek mobilizes them to reclaim their health and streets. The organization’s mission is unique: to reclaim their health and bodies as Black women and fight systems that enable poor health — and it’s working here in the St. Louis area too.

n As an aerobic exercise, walking has been proven to reduce anxiety and depression.

Coach Nzinga Medley will host a meet and greet walk at 9 a.m. Saturday July 16 beginning in Virginia Park at 35th and Bond in East St. Louis.

“We are bringing joy to the streets,” Medley says on the invitation at GirlTrek. com

“Put on your comfortable shoes and get your joy walk on. The theme of this walk is ‘connection.’ Come out with your crew, the people you walk with in your neighborhood or workplace or come out to find them.”

Medley said the route will be mostly in the street, but there will be little or no motor traffic at the time.

“We will start with an opening circle and trek about 2 miles, 30-45 minutes. We will end the trek with our Victory Bridge and Joy Jumps. Don’t forget to hydrate before starting and bring a bottle of water,” she said.

A11

Abortion, women’s health, and patriarchy

Currently, there is a lot of conversation surrounding the Supreme Court decision reversing Roe vs. Wade but little discussion about sex, birth control, and women’s health. Society has always portrayed sex as this dirty little 3-letter word. Furthermore, as it relates to sex, women are often not seen in a positive light even as far back as biblical times. Think of “the woman at the well.”

n As a provider whose patient population is majority female, I want the best for my patients and will advocate for their well-being.

The religious leaders at the time were quick to judge her for having relationships with multiple men. During this era, women were not well respected and were demeaned and disregarded. However, it takes two people to engage in intercourse and Jesus had to remind these men that they had no right to judge her when they were not free from sin. Therefore, it is interesting to me how passionately people have argued against abortion, but those same people are often silent on supporting birth control. Ironic, isn’t it? So, we don’t want women to have the choice of an abortion, but we also don’t want to universally pay for birth control nor fertility treatments. Let’s not forget the states that refuse to expand Medicaid. Abortion supporters want women to continue with their pregnancies but then do not want to help support them once the baby is born. As a provider whose patient population is majority female, I want the best for my patients and will advocate for their well-being. There are horrific situations that occur that are unplanned such as rape, life-threatening medical conditions, and genetic abnormalities not compatible with life. It is not my job as a provider to make moral judgements for my patients and their partners. As an individual citizen, if I choose not to have an abortion, so be it. However, imposing my views on a situation that is between the patient, her partner, and her doctor is outrageous. Contrary to widespread belief, contraception is NOT readily accessible to everyone. For instance, I have patients who work for religious organizations who refuse to cover

STLCC expands behavioral health worker training

There are acute staff shortages

St. Louis American staff

The Health Resources and Services

Administration awarded a $1.2 million grant to St. Louis Community College to expand its training program for community health workers and to increase the number of students enrolled in the behavioral health associate degree program. There are career opportunities for community health workers in the St. Louis area because there’s an urgent need for more behavioral health paraprofessionals in Missouri.

“There is a behavioral health staffing shortage in the St. Louis area and behavioral health is struggling to meet community needs,” said Laurie Hawkins, senior health program manager for STLCC’s Workforce Solutions Group.

A community health worker is professionally trained to connect people in the

n “There is a behavioral health staffing shortage in the St. Louis area and behavioral health is struggling to meet community needs.”

– Laurie Hawkins, senior health program manager for STLCC’s Workforce Solutions Group

community

Community health workers serve as liaisons to health care, and the region is facing a shortage of these professionals. St. Louis Community College is expanding its training program and, from left, are CHW graduates Mitch Brems, Tiarra Young, and Valerie Wolford.

Photo courtesy of GirlTrek

Photo courtesy of STLCC

Denise HooksAnderson

By JoAnn Weaver For The St. Louis American

Public health officials are reporting an alarming increase in syphilis in Missouri, especially among its Black and brown populations.

n Two thirds of all babies with congenital syphilis are either Black or Hispanic.

According to an update from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the number of syphilis cases in Missouri increased by 259% from 2015 to 2021. In 2021, there were 63 congenital syphilis cases reported in Missouri, the highest since 1994. It doesn’t stop there. Nearly twothirds, or 65%, of all babies born with congenital syphilis were Black or Hispanic, highlighting the stark disparities in testing and treatment, according to the National Coalition of STD Directors.

The Journal of American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association says, “a partial but insufficient explanation of this phenomenon is the slightly elevated proportion of live births among Black and Hispanic women.”

A more comprehensive explanation is barriers to accessing prenatal care, inadequate treatment of syphilis during pregnancy, and late identification of seroconversion during pregnancy, according to the Association. Additionally, national annual rates were 6.42 and 2.20 times as high among Black and Hispanic than among White

Walking

Continued from A10

To RSVP for the Saturday walk, go to www.mobilize.us/ girltrek/event/478619/ Over one million GirlTrekkers have hit the streets since GirlTrek’s founding in 2010.

“GirlTrek is working to solve the interconnected public health, racial justice and environmental justice crisis impacting Black women today,” says Ebony Roberts.

Black women are facing a health crisis, Roberts explains. While all women in the United States are more likely to die from heart disease than other

Training

Continued from A10

health advocacy and education, Hawkins said.

“These extreme behavioral health staffing shortages in Missouri, coupled with a state drug overdose death rate that is higher than the national average, has fueled the urgent need for more comprehensive and progressive training,” Hawkins

Anderson

Continued from A10

“Taking Care of You”

Syphilis rates soar in city, STL County

Testing urged to curb trend

heterosexually active women, according to the Association. Over the last five years, the St. Louis region also has seen a sharp rise in cases of syphilis and specifically congenital syphilis, which can have devastating effects on newborns. In 2021, there were 11

causes, Black women are more likely to die from it than white women, according to Columbia University Irving Medical Center Following heart disease, diabetes and stroke are leading causes of death among Black women. Yet, GirlTrek, which guides its members to walk for 30 minutes a day for five days per week, has seen significant health improvements.

“We’re seeing positive and consistent progress across all indicators of health, including diet changes, increased exercise levels and reduction in prescribed meds,” Roberts says. More than half of GirlTrek members have sustained walking for more than one year and two-thirds have reported losing

said.

STLCC’s community health worker training program now offers a virtual, evening program for anyone interested in a career as a community health worker in behavioral health. The non-credit training prepares individuals with classes twice a week – Tuesday and Thursday – from 6-9 p.m. The new program started July 5 with 24 students who will graduate in November.

cases of congenital syphilis in St. Louis County and 11 cases in St. Louis City. In 2017, the county had only three cases, and the city had one case –meaning that cases are up 233 percent in the county and 1,000 percent in the city in only four years.

weight — lowering their chances of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

As an aerobic exercise, walking has been proven to reduce anxiety and depression Black women are particularly at risk for mental illnesses due to stressful life experiences sometimes caused by discrimination.

A National Institutes of Health study conducted in 2013 stated that “unlike white women, [African American women’s] low socioeconomic and structural position in United States society, and their experiences of institutional racism and sexism, may provoke mental and emotional distress that can add to their vulnerability for depression.”

Some of these stressors

Tuition, learning materials and supplies are provided.

contraception if it is not for a medical reason. Some of my patients for instance cannot get certain long-acting contraceptive methods due to the cost. Do we want people having unwanted pregnancies and not being able to afford to care for their children; or do we want to provide them with appropriate resources to plan pregnancies according to their desired time frame? Many abortions could be avoided with widely available contraception. I also believe that our outdated approach to educating

addressing the social and

A blood test could help stem a surge in syphilis cases in the city, St. Louis County, and throughout Missouri. St. Louis residents are urged to get tested for syphilis if they are sexually active and especially if they are considering pregnancy.

engaging with local health partners to form a congenital syphilis review board that will examine every case and determine opportunities to prevent future cases of syphilis infection in utero and neonatal infections.

The public health departments are also ramping up communications efforts aimed at young people, local clinicians, and community groups to increase knowledge of syphilis and how to treat it. These efforts are done in partnership with the state to increase capacity to investigate cases of STIs, including syphilis, to reduce transmission through prompt testing, treatment, and outreach to sexual partners.

“Our goal is to have zero new cases of congenital syphilis in St. Louis – not even one,” said Dr. Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis, St. Louis City Department of Health director.

The program includes classroom instruction and community-based service-learning. Topics will cover public health, health equality, cultural sensitivity, mental health, trauma, substance abuse, violence prevention, crisis intervention, care management and more.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the community health worker training

young people about sex and contraception are also contributing to this ongoing debate about regulating female bodies. Sex is natural. Children need to learn about their sexual organs at an early age and learn to respect the human body. Consent needs to also be taught at an early age. Curiosity about sex and body parts is

“A single case of congenital syphilis is heartbreaking because it is completely preventable,” said Dr. Faisal Khan, acting director of the St. Louis County Department of Public Health.

“Given the high rates of syphilis in the Saint Louis

include poor social support, problematic work issues, difficulties managing health problems, and “general satisfaction with life.”

GirlTrekkers show a marked improvement in their mental health. In fact, 90% of members who’d been diagnosed with depression reported fewer symptoms.

“This peace has made them sleep better, and the regular physical activity has improved their breathing and given them greater endurance. They can walk longer and faster without getting winded. And the sisterhood has provided them with accountability partners and daily motivation to walk, rain or shine,” says Roberts.

The organization is effective

program, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or equivalent.

• Submit an application, resume, and cover letter; be selected to interview.

• Demonstrate academic and career readiness.

• Demonstrate a passion for serving the community.

• Be employed, or commit to being employed, within the behavioral health workforce.

region, I urge all those who are pregnant or considering pregnancy to get themselves and their partners tested immediately.”

To respond to this crisis, the local public health departments are taking evidence-based actions. Both departments are

“where other public health and medical interventions have failed” because they “acknowledge the systemic racism that has made Black women unhealthy, and we empower Black women to be the solution — for themselves and their communities.”

GirlTrek acknowledges how racism in the food and healthcare systems causes health issues, for example.

GirlTrekkers come faceto-face with these disparities daily. And because they can see the impact on their communities as they stride on foot, they can do something about it.

“The rates of syphilis among women of childbearing age are rising faster than any other group – and this has led to the unfortunate rise in congenital syphilis as well. We are committed to working with our public health and healthcare partners across the region to increase knowledge, screening, and treatment of syphilis to eliminate congenital syphilis.” St. Louis residents are urged to get tested for syphilis if they are sexually active and especially if they are considering pregnancy. Syphilis testing and treatment are available for free or at low cost in various locations, including the Center at 4000 Jennings Station Road in Pine Lawn and the Health Stop Testing and Referral Center at 1520 Market St. in St. Louis.

“When Black women walk, long-neglected parts of our communities are restored because they notice what waterways, trails, parks, and roads need care and they act. They notice boarded storefronts, empty lots, and imagine the possibilities,” says Roberts. Over the last decade, GirlTrek has seen much health improvement and launched various campaigns, including its’ “Black History Bootcamp,” a podcast centered on Black stories and lessons from past Black leaders. But they’re not done yet. By 2035, they’re seeking to scale the “life-saving behavior change” of walking and extend “the life expectancy of Black women by 10 years,” Roberts says.

Facts

• The Regional Health Commission estimates that between 25,900 and 36,200 people in the St. Louis region are in serious need of mental health services, and more than 50,690 people have an unmet need for substance treatment.

Alvin A. Reid of the St. Louis American contributed to this report

• Local needs assessments in St. Louis City and the greater region suggest that depression has the highest lifetime prevalence rate of any mental health disorder, affecting approximately 20% of individuals.

a natural part of growing up but we must make sure our kids understand boundaries of touch. Children should not be watching inappropriate television content or be present during adult sexual acts. Sexual violence is a major public health problem in this country. Per the CDC, one in four women or one in twenty-six men have experienced an attempted or completed rape. With this new Supreme Court decision, we are now dictating to women that they must have the baby of their rapist.

• Studies also estimate that 24% of children and youth in St. Louis have a mental health disorder. For more information about becoming a community health worker, contact Katy Reynolds, project associate, kreynolds34@stlcc. edu

Debates in our country are often misguided. We waste time and miss opportunities to tackle significant issues like poverty, maternal-fetal death rates, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Today’s abortion debate is nothing more than a patriarchal attempt to reverse years of women’s health advancement. What’s next?

Denise Hooks-Anderson, M.D., FAAFP can be reached at yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com

Photo courtesy of Black Health Network

Chauvin sentenced to 21 years in federal prison for George Floyd’s murder

By Isaiah Peters

St. Louis American

The

Federal U.S. District Judge

Paul Magnuson sentenced former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, 46, to 21 years in prison for violating George Floyd’s civil rights, and ultimately his murder, on Thursday, July 7, at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minnesota Chauvin was convicted in a separate case on state charges of murder and manslaughter. He is already jailed. In total, Chauvin will serve 252 months, subtracting seven months for time he has served as of July 2022. Following his incarceration, he will serve five years of supervised release.

On May 25, 2020, a cashier accused George Floyd, 46, of passing a counterfeit $20 bill at

a convenience store. Chauvin then pinned the unarmed, handcuffed, Black man to the pavement with his knee pressed against Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes, until he suffocated.

The footage recorded by distressed onlookers sparked a worldwide demand for police reform.

Chauvin’s federal charges included two counts of depriving Floyd of his rights: kneeling on his neck as he was handcuffed and failing to provide medical care.

Judge Cahill wrote in a memorandum the case warranted a harsher sentence because Chauvin “abused his position of trust and authority” and treated Floyd “without respect and denied him the dignity owed to all human beings.”

Chauvin simultaneously

also pleaded guilty to another incident against a Black person in the plea agreement from a 2017 incident. Chauvin plead-

ed guilty to violating the civil rights of John Pope Jr., a Black then 14-year-old.

Chauvin grabbed Pope Jr. by the throat, hit him repeatedly in the head with a flashlight and pressed his knee into the boy’s neck while he lay prone, face down, on the ground, handcuffed and not resisting. Prosecutors said unreleased bodycam footage showed Chauvin kneeling on the boy’s back for 17 minutes while the boy was crying for his mother.

Chauvin was serving in “administrative segregation” at Minnesota’s maximum-security prison at Oak Park Heights. He was in solitary confinement in a 10-by-10-foot room and allowed to leave for an hour a day for exercise.

The new federal sentence added a few extra years to the time Chauvin is currently serving for his murder conviction. The two sentences [state and federal] will run concurrently. Chauvin had the potential to serve at least 15 years, as Minnesota state prisoners on average serve one-third of their sentence on parole.

Chauvin pleaded guilty to

After a federal judge sentenced former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin to 21 years in prison for violating George Floyd’s civil rights and his murder, brother Philonise Floyd said, “I wish [Chauvin] would have just probably said how sorry he was, but that’s not going to bring my brother back.”

violating Floyd’s civil rights on December 15, 2021. The plea deal marked the first time Chauvin admitted he kept his knee on Floyd’s neck – even after becoming unresponsive and willfully deprived Floyd of his right to be free from unreasonable seizure.

Chauvin’s attorney Eric Nelson asked for 20 years, arguing that Chauvin was remorseful and would demonstrate that to the court. Yet Chauvin’s remarks did not mention an apology or even remorse, just simply wished Floyd’s children, “All the best.”

Nelson requested Chauvin never be placed in a prison’s general population because of the risks of him becoming a target because of the “intense publicity surrounding his case.” Experts say Chauvin will probably mix with other inmates at some point.

Three other fired-former Minneapolis police officers –Tou Thao, J. Alexander Keung and Thomas Lane – convicted in February 2022 of federal civil rights charges in Floyd’s death in aiding and abetting

Chauvin in Floyd’s murder.

“You absolutely destroyed the lives of three young officers by taking command of the scene,” Judge Magnuson said to Chauvin in the courtroom. Lane’s attorney, Earl Gray, said it was difficult for the defense to negotiate when the three still didn’t know their federal sentences.

Lane is due to be sentenced on Sept. 21, after pleading guilty in state court to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. Thao and Kueng rejected the undisclosed plea deals and are due to be tried in state court on Oct. 24

“George’s life matters,” Mr. Floyd’s brother, Philonese, said in court on Thursday and asked for the judge to give the maximum sentence of 25 years. Based on the plea agreement, Chauvin will serve the new federal and state sentences in federal prison. The judge has not set a sentencing date for Chauvin or for three other ex-officers convicted of related federal civil rights charges on February 24, 2022.

Image courtesy of Ben Crump Law Offices

Alton business owner dies after bus crash in Jamaica

By Anne Stegen, Justina Coronel, Pepper Baker KSDK

Side

5 On Your

A Metro East business owner died of her injuries following a serious crash that happened Saturday.

Yvonne Campbell, the owner My Just Desserts, was on vacation in Jamaica when the tour bus she was on crashed. Campbell was critically injured.

A Facebook post from My Just Desserts shared the news of her death Wednesday morning.

“Anyone that knew her, loved her and knew how much of a bright light she brought to every room she entered,” the post read in part. “No one will ever bake a pie, cobbler, or cake as good as her.”

Campbell’s twin sister, her daughter and niece were injured but later released from the hospital. Two of Campbell’s daughters’ friends were injured and remained hospitalized in Jamaica.

Campbell was scheduled to

be transported from Jamaica to St. Louis for care Wednesday.

Yvonne’s relatives and business family were raising money for her treatment and transportation to the United States. The fundraiser was about $30,000 shy of its $100,000 goal as of Wednesday morning.

Thousands of people shared posts expressing shock and condolences for the family on social media. Campbell was been honored as YWCA Woman of Distinction and her business is part of the Illinois Office of Tourism’s Illinois Made Program.

She was also on the board of Alton’s Main Street, which helps small businesses in the community.

“She’s such a giving person, she gives back to the community. Training young people on cooking and things like that.

Always wiling to volunteer her time and talent,” Alton Mayor David Goins told 5 On Your Side on Monday.

Yvonne Campbell, who owns My Just Desserts, died of her injuries after a shuttle bus she was on crashed.

Photo courtesy of KSDK

‘The

design is local, but the reach is worldwide’

Apparel, sneaker shop elevates community lace-by-lace

By Danielle Brown The St. Louis American

Conveniently located in the heart of St. Louis’ Midtown community, City Foundry STL offers some of the best eats and the dopest threads you can buy from local merchants.

HUSTL3 C1T4 (pronounced Hustle City), a Black-owned clothing store in conjunction with Sanctioned Sneaker Collective, is a must-stop location.

The apparel business sells brands from local designers including Embleu, Mahemi Carter, Santiano Brand, and Legally Trappin. It opened on 314 Day (March 14, 2021) at the Tech Artista studio at 1040 South Taylor Avenue, then moved and expanded.

n HUSTL3 C1T4 (pronounced Hustle City), a Black-owned clothing store in conjunction with Sanctioned Sneaker Collective, is a must-stop location.

says the move was necessary to attract more foot traffic and a more diverse demographic.

“It’s a beautiful thing coming from Tech Artista, where there was no foot space, to [The Foundry] where people from all walks of life stop through,” Erby said.

tures to keep business booming. They include Saturday Sip and Shops from 2 to 6 p.m., which is also where they coined the St. Louis beverage “Vessmosa.” This is any flavor of Vess soda mixed with champagne.

PeoPle on the Move

Briggs named VP at Federal Reserve Bank

Matuschka Lindo Briggs

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis named Matuschka Lindo Briggs as vice president and regional executive for the Little Rock branch, which serves the majority of Arkansas. Briggs represents the St. Louis Fed with business leaders, bankers, local government officials and other stakeholders. She also supports the Little Rock branch’s board of directors. Briggs, a former broadcast news reporter, joined the St. Louis Fed in the Treasury division in 2015.

Dr. Zakiya Brown promoted to VP

Dr. Zakiya Brown

Lincoln University of Missouri announced that Dr. Zakiya Brown has been promoted to vice president of student affairs and enrollment management. Brown joined Lincoln in 2019 as the Title IX coordinator and was promoted in June 2021 to dean of students, chief diversity officer, and Title IX coordinator. In her new vice president role, she will continue to fulfill the responsibilities of chief diversity officer and Title IX coordinator. A Cleveland, OH native, Dr. Brown received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Central State University, a master’s in educational leadership from Concordia University – Portland, and a doctorate in higher education administration from Northcentral University.

Seward named to scholarship board

Owners also host a weekly Instagram live series called “Inside the Vault,” that highlights local designers and brands. It also allows them to display the vast sneaker collection. The store also hosts listening parties, vendor pop-up shop events with designers’ featured in the store, and more.

“We want City Foundry STL to be representative of our city, and HUSTL3 C1T4 and Sanctioned are great examples of successful businesses built by local St. Louisans,” said Will Smith, director of New + Found, the development company that oversees City Foundry STL.

Jermal Seward II

HUSTL3 reintroduced itself in November 2021, and co-owner Louis “MC Tres” Erby III

“Traffic increases gradually day by day.”

HUSTL3 C1T4 [Hustle City], is a Black-owned clothing and sneaker store located in The Foundry at 3700 Forest Park Avenue. From left are co-owners Trimayne Boyd, Tristen Gaither, Anthony “A-Game” Ellis, and Louis “Mc Tres” Erby III. See SHOP, B2

The store now also houses various ven-

Wealth gap isn’t a game for Black America

Inflation impacts Black communities more

By Hiram Jackson

Jackson

living in a world of limited financial advancements and declining employment opportunities.

Case in point: During the pandemic, 10% of Black women remained unemployed, but post-pandemic, in May of 2022, the unemployment rate among Black women reached 16.5%, according to a Bloomberg analysis. And in the wake of the rising cost of goods and services and crippling inflation rates, we’re all feeling the pain from the gas pump to the grocery store. But the underlying reason inflation is so much more of a burden in Black communities is the widening racial wealth gap, with white households having many times more net worth than Black households. Duke University public policy professor

William Darity Jr. estimates that the wealth gap between Black and white households is as high as $800,000.

According to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report, inflation reached 8.5% in March — the highest since 1981. And like most economic spirals, Black communities are disproportionately impacted as they spend a greater percentage of their incomes on necessities like food and gas.

So, since this concept or idea of fairness in economies continues to elude Black Americans, our only real redress to impact the racial wealth gap is at the intersection of political power and economic strength in the Black community. To defeat these astonishing wealth gaps, we’ll (like everything else) do it by using the power of our votes.

The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis recently announced new members and officers to the board of directors, including Jermal Seward II. Seward is chief administrative officer and general counsel at Family and Workforce Centers of America. His prior positions were in the financial services industry, most recently at Saint Louis Bank. Steward’s board and committee experiences include City Academy, the Business Development Committee with the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, and the St. Louis Art Museum’s Committee for Planned Giving.

Health commission hires Pearlina Boyd

The St. Louis Regional Health Commission (RHC) announced the addition of Pearlina Boyd, J.D., M.P.P.A., to its team serving as their public policy and advocacy director. In this role, she will be responsible for implementing the RHC’s regional advocacy agenda that maintains health equity in all policy and outcomes, supporting the organization’s vision of a region committed to achieving zero health disparities, and managing key advocacy relationships with stakeholders, partner organizations, and legislators.

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

Photo courtesy of HUSTLCIT4

Pearlina Boyd

Hiram

Shop

Continued from B1

“We have worked hard to foster a place where local businesses can grow and develop alongside us, and it’s important to have diversity represented in the businesses here. City Foundry STL is here to elevate the voices of inspired minds who want to share their story with more of the city and beyond.”

Black-owned small businesses have been on the rise with more representation across all industries since 2019.

According to the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) study released in February 2022, “Black-owned small businesses in America are growing and thriving.”

Through 2020 and in 2021, the percentage of active Black business owners steadily grew, according to Robert Fairlie, a University of California at Santa Cruz economist. He reports in the NBER study a 33% increase in Black male active business owners from the first quarter of 2020 to the third quarter of 2021. That marked the highest percentage change among all demograph-

ics.

Last year, the Biden Administration introduced its Build Back Better Framework, which aims to create more jobs, encourage more Americans to join the workforce and more funds for college, and more through billions of dollars.

“We need it [the money],” said co-owner Jordan “Reggie Son” Johnson.

“I feel like [Biden’s Administration] should give us the money because we need it to tap into more resources and more accessibility.”

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis announced in April its plan to build an entrepreneurship center in north St. Louis. The center’s purpose is to implement services to business owners for better allocation of their finances, and teaching on the benefits of utilizing technology for their company’s growth.

Erby said he and other owners would love to become involved with the center, and are also already giving back to the community in their own way by supplying jobs to teens through STL Youth Jobs.

“We employ high school students interested in clothing design and running their own businesses to work at our store

HUSTL3 C1T4 co-owner and rap artist Louis “MC Tres” Erby III said the small business employs high school students interested in clothing design and running their own business. “We want our presence to be felt.”

a few hours a week,” Erby said.

“We want our presence to be felt through youth and want them to know there are other ways and opportunities they can build businesses.”

Awareness is part of the battle, according to co-owner Anthoney “A-Game” Ellis

“Seeing more success stories is how you get more people to move to St. Louis and stop leaving. [It’s] how you get more people to visit and not fly over us,” he said.

“It takes the people that live in this city to keep supporting [small Black-owned businesses] so that others have an opportunity to build and create something bigger than themselves.”

Johnson called the store “a one-stop shop for everything.”

“The design is local, but the reach is worldwide. This is something that’s very much needed for the city and I’m glad that I could do it with my family.”

HUSTL3 C1T4 is located at 3700 Forest Park Avenue in St. Louis. The store hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday through Sunday. It is closed on Tuesday. It can be followed on all social media platforms.

Wealth Gap

Continued from B1

But first, we’ll have to work to salvage what’s left of the democracy and shore up those candidates and legislators who hold fast to the principles of fairness and ideals of shared wealth, particularly regarding taxation or welfare economics.

More specifically, we will have to insist our political leaders address and promote economic equality for all citizens — fair and equal income,

financial products, and an increased commitment to a redistribution of wealth in all communities. In short, we will all have to work to support an economy that works for all, regardless of race or ethnicity, gender, or where they live.

Primary among those strategies to close the wealth gap is asset ownership and our leaders in Washington must do a deep dive into the lack of asset ownership because it gives citizens a stake in the economy at a time when the country is polarized economically as well as

politically.

In an effort to break the cycle of policymaking that continues to negatively impact communities of color, some financial analysts and economic experts have proposed measures — from compelling the U.S. government to bring their full weight to bear on lending institutions and require fairness to creating a wealth fund that is funded with bond issuance that invests in diversified portfolios of global risk assets. Ideally, Congress would adopt a “fidelity for the people” approach, expanding and providing opportunities for business ownership, increasing access to financial opportunities, and removing obstacles to fair lending practices.

Black folks will continue to soldier on and manage in the face of inflation and increased financial adversity as we always have — with grit and resilience. But the current financial system has revealed its financial fragility and lack of a fair, comprehensive economic policy that extends to the most vulnerable members of our society. That’s a slippery slope, and it cannot continue if we are to earnestly work toward unification in our fractured democracy and failing economies. Hiram Jackson is Real Times Media publisher and CEO, which includes The Michigan Chronicle, a Word In Black partner.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

n “I want to get to a point, obviously, where there are no more firsts.”

– Sandra Douglass Morgan,

Sports

InSIdE SportS

By Earl Austin Jr.

Making a Run

Area girls race to Run 4 the Roses hoop

titles

I have been attending youth sporting events for more than four decades, and what I witnessed last week in Louisville was truly special.

The 14th annual Run 4 the Roses Classic, an enormous girls’ basketball tournament that brings together more than 1,400 U.S. teams, runs over three days.

The games were spread out over 85 courts at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, and if you are a fan of girls’ basketball, I recommend taking a trip to Louisville to see this spectacle. Everywhere you turn, there is a big-time girls’ basketball prospect displaying her talent on this big stage. Scores of college coaches are seated at each baseline in search of the next star talent. More than 1,000 college programs sent coaches to Louisville to recruit, and a large board with logos of each is displayed.

Many teams from the St. Louis area were in action, and they did not disappoint. Our city is booming with talent, the Roses Classic was a great chance to see players against national level competition.

The Napheesa Collier Elite, named after the former Incarnate Word Academy star who now plays for the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA, took to the courts. Joining that squad was The Lady Brad Beal Elite program and the Midwest United 3SSB program team led by George Merritt, a longtime force in local girls’ grassroots basketball.

Our St. Louis girls did the city proud and returned home with championship hardware. As a bonus, a group of young ladies had the opportunity to perform in the national television spotlight for the first time.

Napheesa Collier Elite’s, coached by Jordan Olufson, won the championship of the Elite 40 Tournament. They defeated Griffin Elite of Oklahoma 52-44 in a game televised on ESPNU. It was the first time an ESPN Network channel televised a grassroots girls’ basketball game and young ladies from “The Lou” took center stage.

Incarnate Word Academy standout Natalie Potts scored a game-high 26 points to lead her team to victory in the title game. The 6’2” Nebraska commit dominated the game at both ends of the court. The team also featured Potts’ IWA teammates Brooke Coffey, Olivia Hahn, and Kaylynn Janes. Their team won the 2022 Class 6 state championship team and was nationally ranked. The point guard is junior Allie Turner, who led John Burroughs to the Class 4 state championship, while senior Shannon Dowell of O’Fallon and junior Hannah Wallace were big additions to the team at the beginning of the

spring.

It was also a big week for Midwest United as the program left Louisville with a pair of championship trophies. The 2022 team won the Platinum Bracket in the Horizon Blue Division with a 54-46 victory over Drill 4 Skill Miller.

This was an entertaining team to watch with plenty of speed and quickness. Midwest United was led by senior guard Shakara McCline of East St. Louis, who scored 17 points and senior Raychel Jones of Vashon, who had 13 points. The Midwest United 2024 team won a

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Gold Bracket championship in the Indigo Division with a victory over Southwest Academy. The top standout in the championship game Dasia Scott, an incoming eighth grader who was playing three grade levels up. The 6’0” Scott dominated the action with a game-high 20 points along with some strong rebounding and blocked shots. The Lady Brad Beal Elite 2023 team advanced to the Gold Bracket championship of the Elite 40 Division. They were led by top area players such as Chantrel “TuTu” Clayton of Vashon and Ai’Naya Williams of Cardinal Ritter.

Diversity will not be on display during 2022 MLB All-Star Game

Major League Baseball’s lack of Black players is presented to America during the annual All-Star Game.

The American League will present a starting team with Black players holding three positions. That is an impressive 33%, especially considering MLB’s opening day rosters. Of more than 780 players, only 7.2% of them were Black on the season’s first day. We can thank the New York Yankees for putting two Black players on the squad, outfielder Aaron Judge and outfielder/DH Giancarlo Stanton. Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson is the third African American starter for the American League, and each was the top vote getter at their respective positions in fan balloting.

be at the helm of the American League squad. Baker’s Houston Astros reached the 2021 World Series before being surprised by the streaking Atlanta Braves. The National League roster is not as diverse as the American’s.

Alvin A. Reid

Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts is the lone NL starter. Before you say “Jazz Chisholm,” let me explain that the dazzling Miami Marlins All-Star second baseman is a native of The Bahamas. That’s it, folks. There are no Black reserves on the National League team. There are also no Black pitchers on the respective American and National League staffs.

Baseball, you have a problem.

Legacy lesson

The AL also has a pair of Black reserves, outfielders George Springer of the Toronto Blue Jays and Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins.

Dusty Baker, who with Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers are MLB’s only two Black managers, will

L.A. Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts should wear No. 1 in the All-Star Game. He is the National League’s lone Black representative.

Cabrera is on the American League roster.

I’m not sure what to think of the inaugural All-Star Game with Legacy Players. St. Louis Cardinals DH/1B Albert Pujols was named to the National League team and Detroit Tigers DH Miguel

Since the slots go to players based on what they accomplished in the past, certainly not what is going on in 2022 for Pujols, I guess it shouldn’t bother me. Yet, it does.

Pujols has played in just 48 of 88 games and is hitting .215

with five home runs and 19 RBIs. Yes, he is hitting .302 against left-handed pitchers. But has only faced lefties in 53 at bats. He is hitting .156 against right-handed pitchers, who he has faced 77 times. That comes to just 130 total at-bats.

Cabrera recorded his 3000th

hit earlier this season, and now has 3,065. Compared to Pujols, Cabrera almost seems deserving of his All-Star game spot.

He is hitting .295 with three home runs and 31 RBIs.

Cabrera has played in 73 games and amassed 264 at-bats. He is hitting a robust .379 against lefties (66 at-bats) and a respectable .268 against right handers.

The rosters were expanded to 33 players to accommodate Pujols and Cabrera, and for future Legacy players.

The Reid Roundup

Not everyone is thrilled with the Washington Wizards ‘super-max’ deal with St. Louis native Bradley Beal Candace Buckner, a Black Washington Post sports columnist, citing the Wizards’ lack of postseason appearances, penned an article with the headline “Only in Washington do NBA stars get $251 million participation trophies.” Ouch…After Beal signed his extension, fellow St. Louisan Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics thanked him for his support over the years in a video. “Without you, it wouldn’t be me. You don’t get enough credit, but I’m always giving you the credit. My big brother. Man -- I appreciate you.”…If Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina does not return from rehabbing his sore knees until Sept. 1, 2022, I would not be surprised. MLB rosters expand on that date, and the Cardinals probably don’t want to sacrifice a 26-man roster spot for him now…Former NHL star Mike Grier was named general manager of the San Jose Sharks on July 5, 2022, and became the first Black person in NHL history to hold the position. After his 15-year career, Grier was a scout for the Chicago Blackhawks, an assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils and worked in the New York Rangers front office. “It’s not something I take lightly. I realize there’s a responsibility that comes with the territory. But I’m up for it,” Grier said during his introductory press conference… Mike Grier’s father Bobby Grier was a longtime scout with the New England Patriots and worked in the Houston Texans front office. His younger brother, Chris Grier, is Miami Dolphins general manager.

Earl Austin Jr.

The Midwest United 3SSB 2023 girls’ basketball team won the championship in the Platinum Bracket Horizon Blue Division at the Run 4 the Roses Classic in Louisville. [Front row, from left] Maliah Sparks, Charlece Davis, Sydney Bradley, Haley Ottenschneider, Shakara McCline. [Back, from left] Eric Johnson, Assistant Coach, Rayvin Jones, Nevaeh Shockley, Sydney Taylor, Raychel Jones, Chase Giddings, Monet Witherspoon, Raven Ward, head coach.

Oakland Raiders president, first Black woman to hold title in NFL

Photo by Earl Austin Jr.

Photo courtesy of L.A. Dodgers

Arts and Education Council names Lyah LeFlore-Ituen president and CEO

The Arts and Education Council (A&E) announced that Lyah LeFlore-Ituen, a bestselling author, television and film producer, and entertainment business executive, has been named president and CEO of the Arts and Education Council. She will replace current President and CEO Cynthia A. Prost who is stepping away from the role at the end of July. LeFlore-Ituen assumes her new responsibilities July 18, 2022, and Prost will ensure a smooth leadership transition during her remaining time at A&E.

“After an extensive sixmonth search process, led by

EMD Consultants, we are delighted to have Lyah lead the Arts and Education Council,” said board chair Terrance Good. “Her passion for the arts and for St. Louis as well as her energy and creativity will serve A&E well as we enter our 60th year of keeping art happening in 2023.”

n “Her passion for the arts and for St. Louis as well as her energy and creativity will serve A&E well.”

– Terrance Good

“It is an honor to be selected to lead the Arts and Education Council, a vitally important cultural institution. As a native St. Louisan, my

parents were key architects of the Black arts movement here and embraced artists from all communities. My deep-rooted appreciation of this city’s rich, diverse history in the arts, combined with my extensive cultural and business experience, makes this the perfect opportunity for me to grow the base of incredible arts supporters and contribute to the vibrancy of St. Louis,” said the new CEO. As a 30-year

entertainment veteran, LeFlore-Ituen has worked at Nickelodeon, Uptown Records/Entertainment, Wolf Films/Universal, and managed Alan Haymon Development for over a decade. LeFlore has also written eight critically acclaimed books. She holds a bachelor›s degree from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and is the co-founder and executive director of the Literary ArtsBased nonprofit, The Shirley Bradley LeFlore Foundation/ Creative Arts and Expression Laboratory, which honors LeFlore’s late mother, St. Louis Poet Laureate Emeritus.

Alena Analeigh, 13, becomes youngest black person accepted into medical school

she becomes a doctor.

By KSDK.com

At 13 years old, Alena Analeigh is making history as the youngest Black person to ever get accepted into a medical school in the United States.

In just one year, Alena has already finished two and a half years of college by taking a full course load at Arizona State University and Oakwood University.

to ASU’s engineering program at only 12 years old with dreams of one day working for NASA.

“I really want to leave my mark on the world. And lead a group of girls that know what they can do,” Alena said. 12 News talked with Alena last year when she got accepted

But another passion took over shortly after: biology. “It actually took one class in engineering, for me

to say this is kind of not where I wanted to go,” she said.“I think viral immunology really came from my passion for volunteering and going out there engaging with the world.” She was inspired by

a trip to Jordan and The Brown STEM Girl foundation

“What I want from healthcare, is to really show these underrepresented communities that we can help that we can find cures for these viruses,” Alena said.

If everything goes as planned Alena will be 18 when

“I want to inspire the girls. I want them to see that there are no limits,” she said. Alena will attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine.

Marson Foods announces manufacturing, warehousing facility in Hazelwood

Marson Foods, a premier manufacturer of quality waffle products, has announced it will open a new manufacturing and warehousing operation in Hazelwood. The company, based in Carson City, Nevada, will lease 147,000 square feet at 1590 Tradeport Drive within

Hazelwood Trade Port. “I’m thrilled to have found a location in Hazelwood for the expansion of Marson Foods. The St. Louis area and community has always had a special place in my heart.” said Dave Marson, Founder and CEO of Marson Foods and part-time St.

Louis resident. “This investment of nearly $35 million will create 45-53 jobs with an annual average salary of $112,400.”

Marson Foods, which owns several nationally recognized brands serving institutional food channels,

primarily K-12, including Waffle Envy Artisan Belgian Liege Waffles and Wow Wow Classic Waffles, plans to open the Hazelwood production facility in the fourth quarter of 2022.

The project was led by Margaret Riter of Steadfast

City Economic & Community Partners, a cutting-edge community and economic development consulting firm specializing in site selection, incentives, and community revitalization.

Kansas City based Northpoint Development, the owner and

developer of Hazelwood Trade Port, assisted in marketing the community and location to Marson Foods. Engaged by Missouri Partnership, Greater St. Louis, Inc. provided support, information, and insight on opportunities for Marson Foods within the bi-state metro.

Alena Analeigh

The Arts and Education Council (A&E) announced that Lyah LeFlore-Ituen, a bestselling author, television and film producer, and entertainment business executive, has been named president and CEO of the Arts and Education Council.

Living It

Finding Dontrell’s roots

Powerful lessons learned starring in Black Rep’s Season 45 finale

By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American

Christian Kitchens discussed his upcoming Black Rep mainstage debut as a lead – the title character in the Nathan Alan Davis play Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea – with the poise and grace of a veteran.

There were no jitters or nerves that could easily come with bearing the weight of the production on one’s shoulders. He did, however, exude an understated sense of excitement and joy about sharing a story he felt so deeply connected with.

“There are a lot of things that coincide with my own life. In that way I feel like the role was made for me,” Kitchens said. “Not in every way, because he was kind of goofy. But I do enjoy presenting his point of view and how he sees the world.”

The play opens this week and will continue through July 23rd at Washington University’s Edison Theatre as the culminating production of The Black Rep’s 45th season.

Dontrell Jones III is a young man on a mission. Despite shortcomings that could impede

Christian Kitchens stars as Dontrell Jones III

which closes season 45 at The Black Rep.

ington University’s Edison Theatre.

n “I can feel what the character feels when it comes to needing to have the information and not having access to it. But this story urges people to just dig in. Even when you don’t know where your roots start –just dig in.”

- Christian Kitchens

his journey, the 18-year-old hits the pause button on his own promising future and takes it upon himself to discover his family’s history in efforts to reveal – and restore – their generational legacy.

“There is a line in the play where he [Dontrell] says, ‘Even though I don’t know why I am supposed to do certain things, I can’t not do them,” Kitchens said. “’You can take away the reasons, but you still have the causes.’ The causes and effects of what I do will not only affect myself, but my friends, my family and those around me.”

Black Rep Founder and Producing Direc-

Can you see me?

By Danielle Brown The St. Louis American

Kristian Blackmon, a Black lesbian woman, realized in her early days after coming out that a lot of events tailored for Pride Month weren’t suitable for people who looked like her. Instead, they were what she considered to be “whitewashed” because she feels the festivities center around white queer males. If there were more Black people involved she said they were tokenized. The plight of Black queer and trans folx was simply ignored.

In 2019, she thought of the concept, “SEEN: A Love Letter to Black Queer and Trans Folx Art Exhibition.” It is a creative showcase where Black queer and trans people are celebrated through their artwork.

The pandemic delayed its debut, but it is now on display at the Black-owned gallery Urb Arts, located at 2600 N. 14th Street. Blackmon, a community activist, organizer, and creative highlighted her pieces including a wooden block titled, “N*****s Be Gay,” and a quote from Brittney Gritner about being a strong Black lesbian woman.

She was joined by nine fellow artists who displayed their art in the exhibition at the opening reception on June 26, 2022.

“I wanted to take the opportunity to showcase Black queer and trans artists in a time where society doesn’t think we matter or are worthy to live,” Blackmon said. “I curated the space for love and to be seen as our full selves.”

Charles Unique, who identifies as trans masculine nonbinary, displayed photos of their partner, Sunni Hutton, inside a 3-D shadow box with flowers from their garden in a 1918 vase from their great uncle, a Negro League baseball player.

They said the work signifies the ability to love and heal through trauma, pain, and existence.

“Oftentimes people don’t see queer love represented in media, I wanted to have something that reflects the nuisance of the accountability we need to take us [Sunni and I] to the next level,” Unique said.

Unique said they define trans masculine nonbinary as they don’t classify themselves using labels such as gender.

“I don’t think about gender, I’m just here to

See Art, C8

tor Ron Himes directs the play. He brings the production home to St. Louis after a successful run at the Nebraska Repertory Theatre this past November.

“Davis’ work explores the lengths and depths to which we must go to rewrite history’s wrongs,” Himes said of the play. “The result is a powerful coming of age tale filled with love and hope that will appeal to a wide audience and is sure to spark thoughtful conversations.”

Kitchens pointed out that like with many Black plays, lineage is at the core of Dontrell’s journey. The deeper he immersed himself into the role, the more he entertained the notion of conducting his own familial research.

“There are tests and other things you can do – but here is so much more that I want to know,” Kitchens said. “I can feel what the character feels when it comes to needing to have the information and not having access to it. But this story urges people to just dig in. Even when you don’t know where your roots start – just dig in.”

Kitchens, an Atlanta native, recent graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), Los Angeles and a Black Rep second year acting fellow, is in good company with the ensemble of Dontrell, Who Kissed the

See Dontrell, C8

St. Louis American Staff

The Center of Creative Arts (COCA) has named Orlando Graves Bolaños as senior director of arts programming, and says “I am thrilled to be joining the COCA family and its vibrant vision and culture.”

“I am honored to be surrounded by a team of high-performing professionals who intimately understand the transformative power of the arts for children and youth. I look forward to working with everyone to grow programs that further engage and welcome the community-at-large,” he said in a release.

n “I am honored to be surrounded by a team of highperforming professionals who intimately understand the transformative power of the arts for children and youth.

- Orlando Graves Bolaños

Graves Bolaños will lead artistic and programmatic initiatives, and report to COCA’s executive director. He brings more than 20 years of international experience, collaborating with artists and creating educational programming. He has served as an educator, trainer, director of education, and gallery director.

“Orlando brings deep understanding as an arts educator and administrator and has thoughtfully engaged diverse communities around the world in artistic experiences. We are thrilled to welcome Orlando to COCA’s leadership team and the St. Louis arts community,” said Kelly Pollock, COCA executive director.

Before joining COCA, Graves Bolaños was Gallery Facilitation & Experience director at The DoSeum in San Antonio, Texas. He incorporated artists and art education into interactive, hands-on exhibitions. He also was a member of the lead-

Photo courtesy of COCA

Orlando Graves Bolaños is COCA’s new Senior Director of Arts Programming.

Kristian Blackmon’s SEEN art exhibition opened with a reception on June 26, 2022, at the Urb Arts Gallery, and continues through July.

Photos by Peter Spack

in ‘Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea’

The show runs through July 23 at Wash-

Kris Blackmon debuts Black queer, trans art exhibition

Be a Tourist in Your Own Town

St.

Louis Convention and Visitors Commission

Now’s the time to plan your 2023 reunion

By Barry Draper, Explore St. Louis

Reunions are a great way for families to create fond memories and cement generational bonds, but preparing for that family reunion is no easy task. It can take months of prepping to ensure that everything will go smoothly, and you should begin planning at least a year out. Here are some useful steps and resources to help you plan a memorable reunion that your entire family will enjoy. For more in-depth guidance, visit explorestouis.com.

Phase One

We recommend planning your family reunion at least a year out. There’s a lot to coordinate! Start by making a spreadsheet with everyone’s contact information and be sure to include fields for special needs as well as notes. Once you have your contact list prepared, you could pick up the phone and call everyone, but we suggest sending a survey out to get feedback on the time of year that is best for the group as well as the kinds of activities everyone would enjoy and, of course, set a budget that works for your group. There are a number of free and easy to use survey tools online that are great resources for gathering input from your family and keeping things organized. And just remember, no date is going to be perfect for everyone.

Phase Two

part of the effort. Consider creating committees for meals, hotel selection, sightseeing activities, invitations, social media and swag items like group t-shirts.

No later than 10 months out, line up your hotel rooms. St. Louis has many great hotels available and Explore St. Louis can assist in sourcing hotels for your reunion. So, before you start making phone calls, visit explorestlouis. com and head to the Reunions section of the site. There, you can submit a request for bids from hotels and services for your reunion that will be sent to all hotels and venues that can handle your particular type of reunion. Depending on your group size, you may even qualify for a group discount.

Determining how much you’re going to be spending can be a daunting task and it’s important to decipher what expenses will be paid directly by your attending reunion members and what costs will be incurred by the group and divided evenly among participants. Some families choose the option of charging a registration fee to cover these budget items. We recommend listing exactly what is and isn’t included in the registration fee. Then, set a due date in advance for the fee so family members can adjust and plan accordingly.

Putting committees in place to handle particular tasks can help lighten the load of responsibility and will allow people to feel that they are

Phase Three

Once you have the foundational costs such as hotels and travel fees finalized, it’s time to start planning what activities to include in the itinerary. For activity ideas, a meet and greet is an excellent way to kick off the reunion and catch up on life updates. For fun icebreakers, consider a talent show, a kid’s table with arts and crafts or, if your family reunion is on the larger side, then consider heading to a park to play sports like softball or kickball. No matter the activity, the idea is to bring everyone together and facilitate interaction.

Once you have your itinerary laid out, it’s time to send invitations. We recommend sending an invitation two months before and a reminder the month before the reunion with logistics such as dates, accommodations, a preliminary itinerary, costs, payment deadlines and where to RSVP.

When all is said and done, family reunions might be a lot of work, but they are a lot of fun! Once the planning is in order, you can sit back and enjoy quality time with loved ones, creating new memories and strengthening connections. For assistance in planning a memorable reunion, contact my colleague Renee Eichelberger at reunions@explorestlouis.com

Barry Draper

“Isn’t Her Grace Amazing?” honors women of gospel

By Brenda C. Siler

The Washington Informer

Author Cheryl Wills poured her soul into “Isn’t Her Grace Amazing!” a book that tracks the impact of women in gospel music. We have heard about how women in gospel music were held back by unsupportive families and the church. We also know how many women in faith music crossed into other music genres, were sidetracked by the recording industry, and then finally revered. Wills, a veteran journalist, uses her

research and reporting skills to shine a light on 25 women in gospel who struggled but never gave up.

Subtitled “The Women Who Changed Gospel Music,” chapter one in “Her Grace Amazing” is an homage to “Queen Mothers” of the music. Mahalia Jackson, Sallie Martin, Inez Andrews, Albertina Walker, and Willie Mae Ford Smith are featured. I learned about Smith when she was featured in the documentary “Say Amen Somebody,” an important film giving an inside look at gospel music. Clear on her

Spiritually Speaking Persistence is integral part of faith

By Lyndia Grant

“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while…” — Hebrew 10:35-37. Simply put, stick with it. Don’t quit! And don’t take no for an answer. Instead, pray daily, use your imagination and find a way around your obstacles. Persistence pays!

Napoleon Hill, author of “Think and Grow Rich,” said something like this about the principle of Persistence: “Persistence is an essential factor in transmuting desire into good health, to a better job, to increasing your business stream of income, to building the congregation of your church, to your monetary goal no matter what it is you seek.”

Today, short attention spans are prevalent in adults and children with the advent of iPods, cellphones and computer browsers. Even my 2-year-old

The

mission, Smith also moved past the sexism she endured.

Many female solo artists started out in gospel groups. Some were all-female groups. Andrews and Walker were in the Caravans along with Dorothy Norwood and Shirley Caesar. Wills gives details

grandson knows how to tinker with computers, phones and remote controls.No wonder folks keep changing from one thing to another without using that oldfashioned elbow grease, that stick-to-itiveness required to win.

Thomas Edison commented that 90% of people quit 90% of the way to accomplishing their goals. These days it is 99% who quit a mere 20% of the way. Those who persist, win; those who do not, lose — that is as true today as it was generations ago. Persistence of bad habits though seems to continue to flourish. Despite the overwhelming evidence that the way we think and what we believe is not producing the results we desire, we

about how classic gospel girl groups were formed and how they broke up. Featured in the “Sisters in Song” chapter are the Davis Sisters, Clara Ward and the Ward Singers, the Drinkard Singers where Cissy Houston got her start, and the Barrett

persist in hanging on to what does not work.

Many people see small problems, molehills, as a major mountain blocking their path. Only a few choose to see a mountain in their path as an opportunity to gain a broader perspective as they continue to travel along life’s journey. It is simply a matter of attitude.

Many fail to be persistent for fear of failure. They lose hope. Fear is faith in reverse; fear tolerated is faith contaminated and fear is not of God.

Scripture reminds us that Faith comes by hearing, so does fear. Make a choice about what it is we hear and accept. You will not be persistent when you operate in fear; fear will cause

Sisters, also featured in “Say Amen Somebody.” It was Clara Ward who coached Aretha Franklin in her gospel style, putting her on the path to becoming “Queen of Soul.” Wills wrote, “Her Grace Amazing” from a deep foundation in gospel music stemming from the family storefront church in Queens, New York. Her grandmother Opal was a pianist and choir director. Her grandfather Fred was the guitarist and pastor, and her dad Clarence was also a guitarist and deacon. It was all rooted in southern traditions. Dedicated to her grandmother, Wills thought Opal could have been a recorded gospel singer like those featured in this book.

A cursory look at the five chapters in “Her Grace Amazing” might be perceived as a coffee table book. There are so many wonderful photos. We see backstage, full glam and tour pictures accompanied by short bios and paragraphs about the selected 25 singers.

you to quit.

Example: When planning the grand opening for my company in 1982, I didn’t have money to pay for the first-class celebration I wanted but, by faith, went ahead and planned as if the money would rain down out the sky. I was waiting on an unemployment check that would cover six months of back pay from my previous job in Oakland, Calif. A wonderful menu was confirmed by our caterer — glass dishes, all top-of-the-line; engraved invitations ordered; guest speakers confirmed, like Congressman Walter E. Fauntroy, news anchor Fred Thomas, Council member Charlene Drew Jarvis (my office was in her Ward 4 area) and Council member Nadine P. Winters, since we lived in her Ward 5 area. Invitations were dropped

Other chapters are “Architects of the Melody,” “Crossover Queens,” ending with “And Still She Shouts.” The last chapter profiles women currently on the gospel scene like Tamala Mann, Dottie Peoples, Yolanda Adams, Tramaine Hawkins, and Kim Burrell. Readers may feel their favorite ladies of gospel music were omitted. That only means the talent is plentiful and Cheryl Wills is waiting in the wings with volume two of “Isn’t Her Grace Amazing!”

“It is my honor to shine a spotlight on the legacy of these extraordinary women who elevated gospel music, each in her own way,” Wills said in her book. “They didn’t just sing a song; they left an indelible mark.”

“Isn’t Her Grace Amazing” by Cheryl Wills is published by Amistad Press/ HarperCollins. For more information, visit HarperCollins. com or CherylWills.com

in the mail, then I remember vividly how fear hit me. I thought to myself, “Are you crazy? Putting all of these invitations in the mail, and you don’t know how you’re going to pay for this.” Too late! They were already in the mailbox. Thank God I was operating in faith, walking by faith and not by sight. In the end, my check arrived one week from our grand opening date, and everything happened just as it had been planned! Persist, and operate in faith. Don’t move forward on what it is you see. Walk by faith, and not by sight. Believe in God, and know He will be there for you.

Lyndia Grant is a speaker and writer. She hosts “Think on These Things,” on 1340 AM in Washington, D.C.

Guest Columnist Lyndia Grant

Photo courtesy Gospel Hall of Fame

Ward Singers, other gospel greats illuminated in “Isn’t Her Grace Amazing?”

OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Great Rivers Greenway is hiring an Outreach Coordinator. Go to www. greatriversgreenway.org/ jobs-bids to apply.

HOMEBUYER SERVICES PROGRAM MANAGER

HEAT-UP/COOL DOWN REPS –3 IMMEDIATE OPENINGS

3 jobs openings at Heat-Up St. Louis, Inc., (Cool Down St. Louis), at different sites. Looking for part-time or full-time. Some college, or college graduate. Excellent computer and verbal customer service skills for direct-utility assistance and referrals. Professional casual dress. No open-toe shoes. Math, administrative and Excel experience helps. Will work with mostly clients via website, telephone bank; and one site person-to-person, in a very anti-COVID environment. Work Schedule: M-F, anywhere in the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. timeframe. Email resume to c/o Personnel Committee, at: jobopportunitiesheatupstl@gmail.com An Equal Opportunity Employer

LIABILITY CLAIMS MANAGER

Responsible for handling assigned claims from initial assignment to closure as well as provide assistance in various administr ative functions associated with the liability lines of business such as Automobile Liability, General Liability, Employers Liability, Public Entity, Cyber, Excess, Umbrella, and Construction Liability. To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational.com/ careers-page/

The Housing Partnership, Inc. has an opening for a Program Manager. Responsible for the operation and administration of the first-time homebuyer’s program and other mortgage assistance/housing counseling programs. For a full job description go to www. TheHousingPartnershipSTL.org Submit resume to The Housing Partnership, Inc. P.O. Box 16356, St. Louis, MO 63125 or via email to kevin@ TheHousingPartnershipSTL.org Apply by July 29, 2022. An Equal Opportunity Employer

HIRING FOR FULL-TIME POSITIONS

The City of Clayton is hiring for full-time positions. Apply at https://bit.ly/3pGDCgY EOE

FOSTER CARE CASE MANAGER

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

LETTING NO. 8751

7TH

STREET IMPROVEMENTS FEDERAL PROJECT NOS. CMAQ5436(603) & STP-5436(604

Electronic bids submitted through the Bid Express Online Portal will be received by the Board of Public Service until 1:45 PM, CT, on AUGUST 2, 2022, then publicly opened and read. Proposals must be submitted electronically using “Bid Express Online Portal” at https://www.bidexpress.com/businesses/20618/home. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

A pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held July 12, 2022 at 9:00 a.m The pre-bid conference will be held in 1520 Market Street, Suite 2000, Boardroom #278, St. Louis, Missouri 63103.

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

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

COTTLEVILLE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

DISTRICT WIDE RENOVATIONS & ADDITION

Sealed bids for the above project are being requested from the Cottleville Fire Protection District and will receive sealed bids until 2:00 p.m. local time; July 28, 2022, at Cottleville Fire Protection District Headquarters located at 1385 Motherhead Rd, Cottleville, MO 63304. Bids will be opened publicly and read aloud at the above address at 2:00 p.m. local time on the day of receipt. They may also be read aloud at a Board of Directors Meeting subsequent to the bid opening. A formal Pre-Bid Conference will held on July 19, 2022 at 9:30. Meeting location will be at the address listed above. All potential bidders are encouraged to attend but is not mandatory. Contract documents may be obtained from Custom Blueprint & Supply, 1632 South Broadway, St. Louis, MO., phone 314.231.4400. All questions are to be directed to LCS, LLC, attention Steve Layne. slayne@lcsconstruct.com

LETTING NO. 8749

TERMINAL 2 ENTRANCE DOOR IMPROVEMENTS

At St. Louis Lambert International Airport

Electronic bids submitted through the Bid Express Online Portal will be received by the Board of Public Service until 1:45 PM, CT, on AUGUST 09, 2022, then publicly opened and read. Proposals must be submitted electronically using “Bid Express Online Portal” at https://www.bidexpress.com/businesses/20618/home. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

A mandatory pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held July 19, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. The pre-bid conference will be held in Ozark Conference Room, 4TH Floor of the Airport Office Building, 11495 Navaid Rd., Bridgeton, MO 63044.

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

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

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council (MODDC) has approved funding for a three year project for $275,000. The overall goal of the project is to disrupt Missouri’s School to Prison Pipeline (SToPP) for students of color who have developmental disabilities. MODDC is currently seeking a partner to develop and implement a series of restorative justice trainings for educators and school resource officers. This project will create systems change and provide opportunity for students who are disproportionally affected by policies and practices that deprive them of a typical education (especially those with disabilities). In addition, this project will provide equitable experiences, access to a quality education and instructional time and provide supports and services that lead to inclusion of the student in a typical school/classroom environment similar to their peers. Learn more at moddcouncil.org

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District), the Owner, will receive sealed bids for Bissell - Coldwater - Missouri - Meramec Public I/I Reduction (2023) Contract C under Letting No. 13033-015.1, at its office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 2:00 PM, local time, on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. All bids are to be deposited in the bid box located on the first floor of the District’s Headquarters prior to the 2:00 p.m. deadline. Bids may, however, be withdrawn prior to the opening of the first bid. BIDS WILL BE PUBLICLY OPENED AND READ IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BID DUE DATE/TIME AT 2350 MARKET STREET, AT A PLACE DESIGNATED.

The Work to be performed under these Contract Documents consists of:

The work to be done under this contract consists of the rehabilitation of approximately 38,363 lineal feet of sewers, varying in size from 8-inches to 36-inches in diameter, utilizing cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) methods, 28 manholes, 756 service connections, and 4 point repairs. The project is within the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Boundaries, inside the city(ies) of Florissant in the State of Missouri. The work will be performed in various quantities at various sites.

All prospective bidders must prequalify in the Cured-In-Place Pipe (CIPP) category, and be certified prior to the Bid Opening. Prequalification forms for obtaining said certification may be obtained from the Owner at the above-mentioned address. All bidders must obtain drawings and specifications in the name of the entity submitting the bid.

This project will be financed through the Missouri State Revolving Fund, established by the sale of Missouri Water Pollution Control bonds and Federal Capitalization Grants to Missouri. Neither the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, its divisions, nor its employees will be party to the contract at any tier. Any Bidder whose firm or affiliate is listed on the GSA publication titled “List of Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement or Non-Procurement Programs” is prohibited from the bidding process; bids received from a listed party will be deemed non-responsive. Refer to Instructions to Bidders B-27 for more information regarding debarment and suspension.

Nondiscrimination in Employment: Bidders on this work will be required to comply with the President’s Executive Order 11246. Requirements for bidders and contractors under this order are explained in the specifications.

Plans and Specifications are available from free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 2731 S. Jefferson Ave St Louis, MO 63118. The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer and invites the submission of bids from Women and Minority Business Enterprises.

SOLICITING BID

Helix Realty is seeking proposals for bids for 28,000 sf of loft conversions. Scope of work includes Demolition. Carpentry, Drywall, Painting, Fire Protection, Plumbing, HVAC and Electrical and has diversity participation goal. Contact Stephen Levin 314 496-9150 slhelix@gmail

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace Roof System, Multiple Assets, F a r m i n g t o n C o r

i o n a l Center, Project No. C1922-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1 : 3 0 P M , 7/28/2022 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered t o b i d . F o r specific project information, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

MARKETING AGENCY OF RECORD RFP 2022

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks bids from qualified firms to submit proposals for the Marketing Agency of Record RFP 2022. Bid documents are available as of 7/13/2022 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Requests for Quotes, Bids and Proposals are posted online for public download. Please navigate to www.msdprojectclear.org > Doing Business With Us > View Non-Capital Bids (commodities and services) or >Visit Planroom (capital construction bids) Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

LETTING NO. 8752

FOREST PARK BOWL LAKE PAVILION

Electronic bids submitted through the Bid Express Online Portal will be received by the Board of Public Service until 1:45 PM, CT, on August 9, 2022, then publicly opened and read. Proposals must be submitted electronically using “Bid Express Online Portal” at https:// www.bidexpress.com/businesses/20618/home Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www. stl-bps.org (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

An optional pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held at onsite at the existing Seven Pools Bridge located at 5032 Clayton Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110 at 10:00 AM on July 19, 2022. All bidders are encouraged to attend the pre-bid meeting.

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

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

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE ON WEST FLORISSANT AVENUE GREAT STREETS PROJECT PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND PAVEMENT, SIDEWALK AND OTHER MOBILITY AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY

Notice is hereby given that between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 11, 2022, St. Louis County will hold a Public Hearing at the Dellwood Recreation Center, 10266 W Florissant Ave, St. Louis, Missouri 63136. The public is welcome to stop by during that time. Free parking is available in the front of the Center and access for people with disabilities is available. All interested attendees will be given an opportunity to ask questions and offer verbal or written comments on their views of the activities proposed in the Preliminary Design of the West Florissant Avenue Great Streets Project. An open house format will be used and attendees may discuss the project with project representatives.

The currently planned enhancements are as follows:

The West Florissant Avenue Great Streets Project will restore approximately 1.5 miles of West Florissant Avenue between Stein Road and Ferguson Avenue through the Dellwood and Ferguson communities. The project includes safety improvements, a new shared-use path, transit stop improvements, new traffic signals, medians, modified property access, new crosswalks, and enhanced ADA-compliant sidewalks. Inclusively, the project will provide greenspace, landscaping, and roadway lighting.

The West Florissant Avenue Great Streets Project has secured an $18.2 million RAISE award. While this is not the total funding amount, this award will help bring the West Florissant Great Streets project to reality. Construction is planned to begin in 2024, with a 2026 completion date. Tentative schedules for right of way acquisition and construction will be discussed at the hearing.

All materials will be available on the West Florissant Avenue Project website for review and comment (https://westflorissantavenue.com/). Maps, drawings, and other pertinent information developed by the department and will be available for public inspection at the city halls of Dellwood and Ferguson. Written comments, oral comments, and exhibits will be received at the hearing. Written comments and exhibits will be made part of the public hearing transcript if received within ten working days after the date of the hearing. Recorded statements will also be accepted.

St. Louis County Department of Transportation will make reasonable accommodations for any person with a disability to participate in the public hearing. Please notify Public Engagement Lead Chandra Taylor at ctaylor@vectorstl.com or 314-621-5566 by August 1, so that arrangements for such services or a translator may be made.

Relocation advisory assistance will be available for all people displaced as a result of this project. Information on relocation assistance programs will be provided.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

By: Glenn Henninger, PE Assistant Division Manager, Planning & Programming

TOWER GROVE PARK RFQ

Tower Grove Park, 4257 Northeast Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110 is requesting qualifications for professional engineering and design services for new basketball courts. RFQ responses are due 7/19/22 by 1:00 p.m. Project information, registration and questions through Katie Aholt (katie@navigatebuildingsolutions.com or 636-359-8538).

Tower Grove Park hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant of this advertisement, businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, ancestry or national origin in consideration for an award. Federal Land and Water Conservation Funds are being used in this project, and all relevant federal, state and local requirements apply.

LETTING NO. 8754

LACLEDE AVENUE PEDESTRIAN STREET LIGHTS

Electronic bids submitted through the Bid Express Online Portal will be received by the Board of Public Service until 1:45 PM, CT, on August 16, 2022, then publicly opened and read. Proposals must be submitted electronically using “Bid Express Online Portal” at https://www. bidexpress.com/businesses/20618/home. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

An optional pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held at onsite at Laclede Avenue and North Taylor Avenue on the 2nd day of August, 2022, at 10:00 in the morning. All bidders are encouraged to attend the pre-bid meeting.

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

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

2023 SAINT LOUIS ZOO CALENDAR

RFP 2022

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks bids from qualified firms to submit proposals for 2023 Saint Louis Zoo Calendar RFP 2022. Bid documents are available as of 7/13/2022 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor.

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Great Rivers Greenway is requesting qualifications for Community Impact BankingDepository and Investment Services

Go to www.greatriversgreenwy.org/ jobs-bids to submit by August 18, 2022.

AUCTION NOTICE

The following people are in debt to Gateway Storage Mall. The contents of their storage unit(s) will be sold at auction to compensate for all or part of that debt.

Auction at Gateway Storage, Belleville- Royal Heights location will be held online with www.storageauctions.com Tuesday, August 2nd, 2022, at 10:00am CST. A cash deposit will be REQUIRED for all winning bids.

Gateway Storage, Belleville Royal Heights: A22—Cory Lee, B05— Tammy Williams, C04—Vernice Smith, D22—Kelvin Luster, E07—Yvette Peals, K08—Natasha Caldwell, K25—Jason Blair, K33— Danyaile Hopson

Auction at Gateway Storage, Tower Plaza and Mascoutah Avenue will be held online with www.storageauctions.com on Wednesday, August 3rd, 2022, at 10:00am CST. A cash deposit will be REQUIRED for all winning bids.

Gateway Storage, Belleville- Tower Plaza and Mascoutah Avenue: 21—Jennifer Allen, 22—Nikolas Tutza, 318—Nikolas Tutza, 633—Rachelle Russell

For all rules, regulations, and bidding process, please contact www.storageauctions.com. All other questions, please contact (618) 2338995 or mail: 17 Royal Heights Center, Belleville, IL, 62226

violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.”

Call Angelita Houston at 314-289-5430 or email ahouston@stlamerican.com to place your ads today!

CITY OF ST. LOUIS BOARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for PROFESSIONAL DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF TAXILANE CHARLIE FROM TAXIWAY SIERRA TO TAXIWAY GOLF AT ST. LOUIS LAMBERT INTERNATIONAL

AIRPORT. Statements of Qualifications due by 5:00 PM CT, July 26, 2022, at Board of Public Service, 1200 Market, Room 301 City Hall, St. Louis, MO 63103.

RFQ may be obtained from BPS website www.stl-bps.org, under On Line Plan Room-Plan Room, or call Board of Public Service at 314-589-6214.

DBE participation goal is 23.00%

NOTICE OF APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM OPEN ENROLLMENT

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

- Dependable

- Someone that enjoys hands-on work

- Someone that works well in a team environment

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

- Someone that wants to help build their community

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

To apply you must be 18 years or older, attend a scheduled orientation, and submit an application including the following documents in person: Valid Driver’s License High School Diploma or Transcripts or a GED Certificate DD214 – Veteran Documentation (if applicable) Please visit www.abcksmo.org for more information and to complete an interest form in your trade of choice. Staff will contact you to schedule a time for you to attend an orientation.

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

NOTICE REGARDING FAMILY COURT COMMISSIONER VACANCY

TO ALL ATTORNEYS RESIDING IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI

The Circuit Court of St. Louis County, Missouri, announces that it is soliciting candidates for the position of Family Court Commissioner of the Circuit Court of St. Louis County.

The Circuit and Associate Circuit Judges en banc will make the appointment for a term of (4) years at an annual salary of an associate circuit judge, payable by the State of Missouri.

Missouri law requires the Family Court Commissioner(s) to possess the same qualifications as a circuit judge, including those set forth in the Missouri Constitution, Article V, Section 21, to wit, they must be qualified voters of the state for the three years preceding their selection, residents of St. Louis County, Missouri for at least one year, at least thirty years old, licensed to practice law in Missouri; and possess all other qualifications as required by law. (See Chapter 487 R S Mo.)

Questionnaires and Candidate Instructions may be obtained by sending a resume and cover letter to St. Louis County Family Court, ATTN: Human Resources, 105 S. Central Avenue, Clayton, Missouri, 63105, or via email to SLCCourtJobs@courts.mo.gov. Completed questionnaires must be submitted in writing to St. Louis County Family Court, ATTN: Human Resources, 105 S. Central Avenue, Clayton, Missouri 63105, or via email to SLCCourtJobs@ courts.mo.gov on or before July 31, 2022. The appointment is scheduled to take place upon a vote of the Court en banc on or about August 10, 2022. EOE. Please contact the Human Resources Department at 615-4471 (voice) or RelayMo 711 or 800-735-2966 if you need any accommodations in the application process, or if you would like this posting in an alternative form

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ership team responsible for re-opening the museum with COVID-19 pandemic safety protocols.

He was also The DoSeum’s art education manager. He played major roles in establish-

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Sea. The production also stars LaKesha Glover, Olajuwon Davis, Brannon Evans, Lucy Graff, Claire McClannan, and Mehki Mitchell.

The play will inspire audiences to find their respective roots. It will also compel them

ing a 68,000-square-foot children’s museum, creation and design of an artist-in-residence program, and was a core educator for camps and field experiences for children. He is a former instructor at the University of TexasSan Antonio Department of Interdisciplinary Teaching and Learning, Education at Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center deputy director, and

to move forward in life with the intention of honoring those who endured unspeakable horrors and made unimaginable sacrifices so that future generations could have the opportunity to eventually thrive.

“We all have that similar tree that we are rooted from – ancestrally in Africa,” Kitchens said. “A lot of people pray to the ancestors and pray to those who are in the past to help guide them and lead them.

trainer/head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Imantia Desarrollo Directivo in Madrid, Spain. Graves Bolaños has a master’s of fine arts in Studio Art from Universidad Complutense de Madrid and is completing the Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching Ph.D. program at the University of Texas-San Antonio.

I feel like it is important to know about those who were fighting for me to make sure I was able to do what I’m able to do now.”

The Black Rep’s presentation of Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea continues through July 23 at Washington University’s Edison Theatre, 6445 Forsyth Blvd. For tickets and additional information, call (314) 534-3807 or visit www.theblackrep.org.

people are scared of,” Kustomz said. “I like to be bold, I love erotica and I feel like its [sex] natural, why are you scared of sex and the human body?”

Kristian Blackmon said she created SEEN art exhibition at Urb Arts Gallery “for love and to be seen as our full selves.”

be myself and look at my full self,” Unique said.

Nakita “Gentleman Hunter,” Anthony, who considers herself to be sexually fluid highlighted three photographs each showcasing a different moment in time. The three images were of Dapper Dan during a talk he did with The Saint Louis Fashion Fund, a personal photoshoot she did with a friend, and of a Black male seen visibly happy. She said the photo of the man was to center Black joy because we don’t see enough of those times.

“Most images show us stressed or protesting, but in some way joy is a revolutionary act that needs to be portrayed,” Anthony said.

Kray Kustomz’s larger than life pieces immediately catch the viewer’s eye because they detail sexual acts between women in neon colors, it’s something she said was done intentionally.

“Intimacy is something

Kustomz said she wants to bring awareness through her art and shine a light on what people are scared to do.

Taylor V. Smith, who recently came out in 2020 has her seven photograph series lined on the gallery walls upon entry. Her project takes a deeper glimpse into a queerplatonic friendship. Smith said the scene embodies a reconciliation space.

Jen Everett’s two pieces titled “Queer Cosmologies” is what she calls the origin of her queer formation as a young person.

“The images and texts were formative to me as a child,” Everett said. “The passage is from a book of erotic I used to sneak and read its from a short story within a book my parents had. The other work features two queer artists Meshell Ndegeocello and Tracy Chapman, who inspired me to map out my own queerness.

Poet Koren performed his blackest pieces ranging in top-

ics of systematic racism, Black royalty, and more. Hip Hop Artist Bates performed “My Keys,” what she said was about freeing yourself from toxic relationships.

Blackmon shared how while heterosexual spaces outnumber LBTQ areas, she still attends them. She added heterosexuals and others should be more open-minded about coming out to support LGBTQ-led events.

“I don’t go places and say, ‘its hella straight people in here, look at all these heteros in here,’” Blackmon said. “People should show up in ways beyond their comfort zone and not view it as ‘oh, imma go to some gay [expletive].”

Free resource bags from the Department of Health filled with safe sex kits, information on HIV, STDs, and more were also on standby.

Find more information about Blackmon and her exhibition, at https://urbarts.gallery. Blackmon will host a discussion about the exhibition as part of a series titled “Culture Conversations: Politics Between the Sheets,” 6-8 p.m. Thursday July 14, at Urb Arts.

Take healthy precautions when having fun this summer

Summer is a great time to enjoy the warm weather, spend time outside, or go on vacation. Kids are often out of school and are filling their days with camps, sports, and swimming. With all the fun that may come with the summer months, there are some health-related tips to keep in mind.

Hot, humid weather in St. Louis requires everyone to stay hydrated. The very young, elderly, and those working or exercising outside should be sure to drink plenty of water or other hydrating beverages. Remember, beverages with alcohol and caffeine can increase your risk of dehydration, so be mindful when

enjoying those types of drinks. Cooling down in a pool can be refreshing fun for kids and adults alike. Kids should always be supervised around a body of water by a responsible adult. Be aware of your surroundings, not only to protect yourself, but to be watchful of others in your area who may need assistance. Also, be careful in lakes, rivers, or bodies of water in which you are unfamiliar. Finally, it’s best to avoid getting into the water if you have been drinking alcohol.

Camping and outdoor adventures can also be a great way to make memories in the summer. When outdoors, wear light

weight clothing and take frequent rests in the shade or cool areas to prevent heat stroke and overheating. Remember to wear sunscreen of SPF 15 or more if you are prone to sunburns.

When camping, don’t forget you’re sharing the outdoors with creatures of all sorts, so be alert to insect bites, stings, snake bites, or other animals. Having an epi pen and first-aid kit on hand is helpful if you are allergic to bites or stings. Finally, be aware of wild animals in your surroundings and keep water and nonperishable food with you.

In addition to fun outdoors, summer can also be a great time to catch up on

health wellness and maintenance visits. The summer months provide a perfect opportunity for kids to get their annual well child checkup for school, sports physicals, and get caught up on vaccines for the year. Don’t forget those dental visits and eye exams! Adults can also use this time to check in with their healthcare providers for their annual physical, dental, and eye exams, as well screening exams like mammograms, colonoscopies, and more.

Regardless of how and where you spend your summer, enjoy the weather and stay safe!

Hot, humid weather in St. Louis requires everyone to stay hydrated. The very young, elderly, and those working or exercising outside should be sure to drink plenty of water or other hydrating beverages.

Increasing access to healthy and affordable food

The Be Well Farmers Market opened for the season May 28 at the corner of Salisbury Street and North Florissant Avenue in the Hyde Park neighborhood of north St. Louis. The sunny Saturday drew people from all over the St. Louis metropolitan area to sample flavorful teas, fresh herbs and handmade items from local vendors. Fitness instructors from Move by BJC offered tai chi and yoga demonstrations, and a local chef created fresh wraps with beet hummus and locally grown veggies.

Kara Hughes is a partnership specialist on BJC HealthCare’s Community Health Improvement team, which is tasked with eliminating health disparities in underresourced communities and giving all people an opportunity for a healthy, productive life. The areas of emphasis for this work in St. Louis include financial well-being, infant and maternal health, school health and wellness, and reducing diabetes by increasing access to healthy food.

In 2022, BJC is partnering with Fatimah Muhammed and the Be Well Farmers Market to increase access to healthy and affordable food, along with access to free exercise demonstrations and health screenings.

Muhammed is executive director of the Hyde Park Neighborhood Association and the founder of Be Well Café, Apiary at the Park and the Be Well Farmers Market. The market brings together urban farmers and growers, artisans, health providers, and food trucks.

“We are working with Fatimah as part of the BJC Community Health Improvement strategic plan,” Hughes says. “We saw an opportunity to extend our reach by participating in the farmers market in the Hyde Park neighborhood, which was already increasing access to healthful foods.”

Uplifting urban farmers aligns with BJC’s emphasis on healthy food access and equity in the region.

“The farmers market brings together a variety of people in one location,” Hughes says. “This is a great way to meet the needs of individuals where they are.”

“Our vision is to provide access to fresh, wholesome food and a diverse local food culture while maintaining an authentic space for all people to share community, fresh foods and healthy lifestyles,” Muhammed says.

The nonprofit started in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Muhammed says the word is now

spreading, as are the number of local growers and farmers and other vendors.

“I met Kara (Hughes) on Facebook, and our circles are so intertwined with the work that we do,” Muhammed adds. “We talked about how BJC could support our efforts, and we talked about holistic wellness — access to wholesome foods and moving.”

Enter Move by BJC — a fitness center operated and staffed by a team of degreed and certified fitness professionals. Move professionals were on hand on opening day for the Be Well Farmers Market, offering free tai chi demonstrations and lessons.

This partnership between BJC and the Be Well Café grew out of organic conversations between Hughes and Muhammed, and as the conversations continued, more ideas came to mind.

“It grew to health and well-being, because so many people here don’t have access to health care screenings,” Muhammed says. “Kara brought together a team of folks who work in the community, and we all sat down to collaborate on how we could best serve the community. The community is not aware of the outreach services that BJC offers. It’s good for BJC to

come here and get the word out, and to show that they are a community-based organization.”

Move by BJC returned to the Be Well Farmers Market in June. And BJC’s Community Health Services team will be on hand to offer blood pressure screenings and healthy recipes from 10 a.m.-noon, July 16, and the BJC/Urban League Van will be at the farmers market Aug. 20 with blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol screenings for the community.

Hughes is excited for the future of BJC’s Community Health Improvement work.

“This is just one of the many ways we can show up,” she says. “Partnering with community nonprofits to offer access to healthy food, free exercise demonstrations and health screenings is one way we plan to engage with the communities we serve — meeting them where they live, work and play.”

For more information about BJC’s Community Health Improvement initiatives, visit https://www.bjc.org/ community-health-improvement. For more information about the Be Well Farmers Market, visit https://bewellcafe. apiaryatthepark.com/farmers-market

n Possibly even more concerning is that 70% of moms admit to holding back their feelings and not telling their partner or family when they’re stressed, and 61% feel that they have no one to turn to or confide in for help.

The mental health crisis of moms: What you need to know

(StatePoint) A new survey reveals that the mental health of American moms is going largely unattended, with many living under a near-constant state of stress and few seeking support to ease the burden.

The research, commissioned by MDLIVE, an Evernorth company and leading provider of virtual care services in the United States, finds that 33% of mothers feel stressed or overwhelmed by their responsibilities as a mom at least five days a week. Drivers of their stress and anxiety may include financial concerns, ripple effects of the pandemic, including the mental health crisis among teens, work responsibilities and being a caregiver simultaneously to both children and aging parents.

Yet, for many moms, the prospect of managing their mental health has become a source of stress in and of itself. For 37% of moms, concerns about their own mental health are among their biggest stressors, second only to finances (40%).

Possibly even more concerning is that 70% of moms admit to holding back their

feelings and not telling their partner or family when they’re stressed, and 61% feel that they have no one to turn to or confide in for help.

“Our research shows that many moms are suffering in silence and not getting the support they need,” says Dr. Shakira Espada-Campos, who brings more than two decades of direct practice experience to her role as behavioral health medical director at MDLIVE. “I cannot stress enough how important it is for them to prioritize their own well-being.”

To help moms manage their mental health, MDLIVE offers the following tips:

1. Prioritize self-care: Recognize that practicing self-care is not selfish. In addition to things like eating well, exercising, practicing good hygiene, getting enough sleep, and seeing a health care professional routinely for preventive screenings and other care, self-care also means taking time to pursue hobbies or personal interests that bring you pleasure or fulfillment or offer you a way to relax

and unwind – activities you may have abandoned after having kids because it would mean time away from family responsibilities. Practicing self-care puts one in a better position to help care for others because your own well-being is in check.

2. Make time to cultivate relationships: Connecting with people who are important to you is essential to mental health. Make it a priority to spend time with partners, family, friends, colleagues, or anyone else who may be important to you, away from the house and kids, even if it’s just for a short period of time.

3. Seek help when struggling to manage stress and anxiety: If your emotional state is interfering with your daily life – if you’re having difficulty controlling your mood, withdrawing from loved ones, feeling fatigued, having trouble sleeping, lacking motivation, or frequently “zoning out” – it’s definitely time to seek professional help.

Acknowledging the importance of mental healthcare, many health plans and employers have expanded the resources available to their members and employers in recent years. New options include digital tools that can help with tracking mood, support meditation, help build life skills, and provide self-care advice. Additionally, telehealth visits with behavioral health professionals offer private, convenient, quality care quickly. For example, MDLIVE’s platform makes it easy to search for providers and schedule appointments with one of their psychiatrists or licensed therapists. MDLIVE is a covered benefit for more than 60 million Americans through health insurers such as Cigna, Aetna, certain Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, and many regional and local plans. To learn more or to register, visit www.mdlive.com.

“Although it’s natural to feel like you need to be a superhero, it takes a toll. You should never feel like you’re alone in your mental health journey or that you need to suffer in silence,” Dr. EspadaCampos.

Diabetes screenings are among procedures that can be obtained without cost through the Affordable Care Act. Mammograms, colon cancer, and depression screenings could also be included.

Know your rights to get no-cost care

By Julie Appleby Kaiser Health Network

A popular part of the Affordable Care Act allows patients to get certain tests or treatments without copayments or deductibles. But determining what qualifies can be confusing.

Since late 2010, when this provision of the ACA took effect, many patients have paid nothing when they undergo routine mammograms, vaccinations, receive birth control, or a screening for other conditions, including diabetes, colon cancer, depression, and sexually transmitted diseases.

This can translate to substantial savings, especially when many of these tests can cost thousands of dollars.

KHN spoke with several experts to help guide consumers through this changing landscape.

1. Your insurance matters.

The law covers most types of health insurance, such as qualified health plans under the ACA that consumers have purchased for themselves, job-based insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. Generally, not included are pre-ACA legacy health plans, which were in existence before March 2010 and have not changed since then, and most short-

term or limited-benefit plans.

Medicare and Medicaid’s rules on who is eligible for what tests without cost, sharing may vary from those of commercial insurance, and Medicare Advantage Plans in some cases may have more generous coverage than the traditional federal program.

2. Not all preventive services are covered

The federal government currently lists 22 broad categories of coverage for adults, an additional 27 specifically for women, and 29 for children. The list can be found at healthcare.gov/coverage.

To get on those lists, one of four groups of medical experts must have recommended screening tests, drugs, and services. One of those is the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a nongovernmental advisory group that weighs the benefits and potential drawbacks of screening tests when used in the general population.

The task force recently recommended lowering the age for colon cancer screening to include people ages 45 through 49. That means more people won’t have to wait for their 50th birthday to skip copays or deductibles for screening. Still, younger folks might be left out a bit longer if their health

plan applies to the calendar year, which many do, because those plans are not technically required to comply until January.

3. There can be limits.

Insurers have leeway on what is allowed under the rules, but they have also been warned that they can’t be parsimonious.

The ACA does set parameters. Federal guidance says stop-smoking programs, for example, must include coverage for medications, counseling, and up to two quit attempts per year.

With contraception, insurers must offer at least one option without copays in most categories of birth control but are not required to cover every single contraceptive product on the market without copays. For example, insurers could choose to focus on generics, rather than brand-name products. (The law also allows employers to opt out of the birth control mandate.)

4. Some tests have special challenges.

As the ACA went into effect, trouble spots emerged. There was a lot of drama around colonoscopies. Initially, patients found they were billed for copayments if polyps were found. But health regulators

put a stop to that, saying polyp removal is considered an essential part of the screening exam. Those rules apply currently to commercial insurance and are still phasing in for Medicare.

More recently, federal guidance clarified that patients cannot be charged for colonoscopies ordered following suspicious findings on stoolbased tests, such as those mailed to patients’ homes, or colon exams using CT scanners.

The rules apply to job-based and other commercial insurance with one caveat: They go into effect for policies whose plan years start in May, so some patients with calendar-year coverage may not yet be included. Medicare is not included.

5. Vaccines, medicines can be tricky, too.

Dozens of vaccines for children and adults, including those for chickenpox, measles, and tetanus, are covered without cost sharing. So are certain preventive medicines, including certain drugs for breast cancer and statins for high cholesterol. Preexposure medications to prevent HIV — along with much of the associated testing and follow-up care — are also covered without cost to HIVnegative adults at high risk.

Photo courtesy of mainlinehealth

Just petting a dog has been shown to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and pets provide a bond that can elevate two feel-good brain chemicals: oxytocin and dopamine. Dogs also encourage people to exercise outdoors.

Seven behavioral health tips for older adults

(StatePoint) Older adults experiencing a behavioral health issue such as anxiety or depression may be embarrassed and think they simply need to “pull themselves up by their bootstraps,” but helping them seek help can empower them to live their best lives, according to experts.

“Everyone is different, but there are tools for better health, including therapy, medication and self-care,” said Dr. Lindsay Evans-Mitchell, medical director for behavioral health for Cigna Medicare Advantage.

Behavioral health disorders affect one in five adults over 55. Older men have the highest suicide rate of any age group or gender. Among men who are 75 and older, the suicide rate is 40.2 per 100,000 – almost triple the overall rate.

The most common behavioral health disorder in older adults is dementia, and its incidence is growing as the Baby Boomer generation ages. Experts project that more than 9 million Americans 65 years or older will have dementia by 2030. Anxiety disorders and mood disorders are also common among older

people.

Dealing with a behavioral health issue? These self-care tips can help:

1. Find a Provider. “Cognitive disorders, such as dementia and mood disorders, often look the same,” Dr. EvansMitchell said. “Only a trained professional can make an accurate diagnosis.” For help finding a provider, reach out to your primary care physician or health plan, such as Medicare or Medicare Advantage. Also consider virtual therapy. It’s easy to schedule and offers the convenience of seeing a therapist without leaving home.

2. Nurture Yourself. Good nutrition feeds the body and mind. If you have questions about nutrition for older adults, consult your physician or a registered dietitian. Additionally, drink water throughout the day. “Dehydration can worsen cognitive issues,” Dr. EvansMitchell said.

3. Sleep Well. Like all adults, older people need seven to nine hours of sleep

nightly. Dr. Evans-Mitchell noted that older people’s tendency to go to bed early, wake up early, and nap throughout the day can disrupt healthy sleep cycles and limit rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, potentially contributing to behavioral health issues.

4. Exercise. Even moderate exercise can improve mental and physical health. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans describes benefits such as improvements in brain health, better cognitive function, and reduced risk of anxiety and mood disorders. People who exercise also tend to sleep better. Having trouble getting started? Some Medicare Advantage plans include a fitness benefit, which can pay for a gym membership or provide at-home fitness tools.

5. Head Outside. Being outside has numerous benefits, including vitamin D absorption needed for cognitive health. Additionally, research has shown that chemicals released from trees can stimulate brain functions. Don’t forget the

sunscreen though, as skin cancer is most common in people older than 65.

6. Buddy Up. Papa, available through some Cigna Medicare Advantage plans, connects older adults and their families with “Papa Pals” for companionship and support. “Papa Pals” can provide transportation, help with everyday tasks -- or simply be a friend, doing activities like watching movies or playing games.

7. Parent a Pet. Caring for pets generates positive emotions and can reduce anxiety. Just petting a dog has been shown to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and pets provide a bond that can elevate two feel-good brain chemicals: oxytocin and dopamine. Dogs also encourage people to exercise outdoors.

“Behavioral health issues can be complex and confusing to navigate, but taking positive actions can be empowering,” Dr. Evans-Mitchell said. “It’s never too late to make a new start.”