June 20th, 2019 Edition

. LouiS A

City judges violate federal court ruling

By

Jackson is being held in the St. Louis Justice Center for having two failure-to-appear charges, which stem from a possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia charge in February 2018. Circuit Judge Thomas A. McCarthy asked the 30-year-old white woman what bond amount she could pay at her detention hearing on Monday, June 17.

“Nothing,” Jackson said. “I’m homeless.” McCarthy then set her bail at $500, lowering it from the initial $2,500 amount.

“The court finds that you will not come back to

Lincoln University president granted three-year contract extension

By Francene Bethune For St. Louis American

Milton Green files suit

Shooting by fellow cop left off-duty officer disabled

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis

attorney of Khazaeli Wyrsch LLC. “Instead of the city taking care of him, they put him in a situation where he is going to lose his home and not be able to take care of his kids.” The 13-page lawsuit provides many details

“That’s

Rebecca Rivas

Of The St. Louis American

Krista Jackson appeared on a TV screen in the Division 26 courtroom in the Carnahan Courthouse downtown.

The unconstitutional cash bail provisions widely practiced in local courts were protested at the Pine Lawn Municipal

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Photo by Wiley Price

Niyah Thomas, 5, a student at St. Ann Early Childhood, enjoys

Pine Lawn Community Park and Pasadena Parkway recently. The event commemorated the completion of both

Milton Green

Jerald Jones Woolfolk

William Tisaby

Rihanna’s father wants her lawsuit against him dropped

Earlier this year, Rihanna filed a lawsuit against her father, Ronald Fenty, after he opened Fenty Entertainment and booked two concert tours for Rihanna without her knowledge or authorization.

According to The Blast, Ronald Fenty wants it to be dismissed.

“According to court documents obtained by The Blast, Ronald Fenty is once again asking the court to dismiss his daughter’s lawsuit against him,” the celebrity legal news site said.

use “Fenty” first NOT Rihanna. He claims that he launched Fenty Entertainment to develop a reality show and to promote his “career, business activities, personal branding, and name recognition in the entertainment industry and as a celebrity.”

“Rihanna sued her father accusing him of trying to profit off her name without permission.

One of her issues was Ronald trying to trademark “Fenty” and use it with businesses. She felt people would be confused into thinking it was her project.”

In newly-filed court docs, Ronald says he was the one to

He says he has used Fenty Entertainment since 21015 for the purpose of a reality show and real estate development projects.

Ronald Fenty says Rihanna doesn’t own any trademarks for “Fenty” solely. He also points out her Fenty beauty line didn’t hit the market until a year after he used it – and claims nobody is confused by him using the name “Fenty.”

Apollo Nida sent back to prison after probation violation allegation

Last week, “Real

THE

Housewives of Atlanta” ex-husband Apollo Nida was sent back to jail after violating his probation.

Atlanta celebrity news blogger Sandra Rose was reportedly told by insiders that Nida broke a rule regarding intimate relations at his halfway house

in Philadelphia. Nida could now remain behind bars until his original release date of October 15, 2019. His fiancée, Sherien Almufti, lashed out about his reincarceration on social media.

“For those who are confused, Apollo Nida didn’t violate a [expletive] thing,” Almufti said via

Instagram. “Another crime against a black man in the system. Jealousy is a disease and his PO [parole officer] will die mad.”

T-Boz reportedly fires longtime manager in wake of theft allegations

According to popular urban celebrity news blog The Jasmine Brand, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins of girl group TLC fame just fired her longtime manager, Brian Amlani, amidst theft allegations.

Sources for The Jasmine Brand claim that he was skimming money from T-Boz’s charity by diverting donations to his personal Venmo account while T-Boz thought a ticketing company had been hired to facilitate the process. T-Boz was reportedly forced to cancel a charity event for

Sickle Cell research because of Brian’s alleged actions.

T-Boz is reportedly planning to sue Amlani, who became engaged to model Selita Ebanks in April.

‘Empire’ co-star

Bryshere Gray arrested in Chicago

Bryshere Gray, co-star of the FOX Network’s “Empire” was arrested in Chicago following a routine traffic stop. Gray was said to have been pulled over in Chicago last Thursday because the tags on the 2014 Rolls Royce he was driving did not match the car. He was arrested and booked on a misdemeanor registration charge and cited for driving without license or insurance.

The

Sources:

Jasmine Brand, Sandra Rose, Page Six, The Blast, Instagram

STUFF THAT HAS PEOPLE TALKING

Rihanna

Bryshere Gray

T-Boz

‘These women are on fire to serve’

ESL Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority introduces new members

American staff

The East St. Louis Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. introduced its newest members the Rhoyal Reign 13 to the Metro East during a Golden Reception in the Rotunda of the East St. Louis City Hall, 301 Riverpark Dr. East in St. Louis, on Saturday, June 15.

The new inductees include Soror Annquarnette Aaron, a Social Security administrator; Soror Latrice Buckner a U.S. government coordinator; Soror Alisha Coleman, a U.S. government budget analyst; Soror Vanessa Curtis, an Illinois internal security investigator; Soror Elaine Dandridge, a Belleville educator; Soror Carla DeBoe, an Urban League coordinator; Soror Jessica Fort, a community justice

specialist; Soror Stacie Hamilton, an East St. Louis educator; Soror Hiawatha Hopkins, a traveling respiratory therapist; Soror Ramona Jones, a senior consultant; Soror Ebony Lacy, an East St. Louis educator; Soror Ak’iya Perry, a Collinsville educator; and Soror Erin Wilson, an East St. Louis School District speech pathologist.

“We are pleased to introduce 13 women from the Metro East area, who have joined the Alpha Upsilon Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and will be working throughout the area to improve the quality of life for area residents by promoting the sorority’s motto of ‘Greater Service, Greater Progress’,” said Soror Shelia Williams, local chapter 1st vice president and membership chair. “What this means is that we

will see these women working hard alongside their sisters to make a positive impact in the community through community service activities. These women are on fire to serve, and we are happy to welcome them.”

The international mission of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. is to enhance the quality of life for women and their families in the U.S. and globally through community service, civil, and social action, with the goal to achieve greater progress in the areas of education, health awareness, and leadership development. Members, affiliates, staff, and community partners work to create and support initiatives that align with the organization’s vision.

For more information, contact Soror Shelia Williams at 618-9730182 or srwnana23@gmail.com.

Former ESL non-profit leader accused of embezzlement

By James T. Ingram For The St. Louis American

The Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House is a faith-based nonprofit agency in East St. Louis that has provided myriad services to low-income residents and others within the community for decades. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for residents of all ages, with the ultimate goal of helping to move individuals and families out of poverty.

I fondly remember attending summer camp as a teen, courtesy of the Neighborhood House. My mother, who has Alzheimer’s, utilized its wonderful adult day care facilities, providing a respite for my late father and our family. Christopher K. Coleman was raised by a single mother in East St. Louis, grew up in poverty and attended East St. Louis School District 189, not an uncommon story in East Boogie. He and his family also benefited from the services of the Neighborhood House.

James T. Ingram

So it seemed fitting, back in 2016, when Coleman was named as the executive director of Lessie Bates. He replaced Bill Kreeb, who led the agency for 35 years. It seemed, at the time, that to have a native of East St. Louis and a former recipient of agency services as the leader of such an organization would provide empathy and the perspective to better serve the community of East St. Louis.

However, Coleman suddenly resigned his post in January 2018 amid an investigation by the Southern Illinois Corruption Task Force, which includes the IRS, FBI and Illinois State Police. Its findings were disturbing.

According to 2016 tax records from the agency’s Form 990, Coleman made an annual salary of $102,000, with additional compensation in the amount of $16,200, a comfortable living for the head of a nonprofit in an impoverished community.

Yet, according to a federal indictment filed last week, Coleman allegedly stole funds from July 2016 to December 2017, creating and utilizing false invoices for payment to CIG (Computerized Information Group), a company that was actually owned by Coleman and incorporated as the Coleman Investment Group.

According to U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft, “The indictment alleges that the former executive director of a faith-based, nonprofit entity embezzled money that should have been used to help those living in poverty.”

If convicted, such embezzlement charges from an organization receiving federal funds carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, as well as a maximum fine of $250,000 plus restitution.

Coleman will make his initial appearance at the East St. Louis federal courthouse on June 25, something that has become an all-too-frequent occurrence in East Boogie.

Recall that Oliver Hamilton pimped the elderly and poor from his position as ESL township supervisor. Former ESL political boss Charlie Powell pimped ESL voters. Kelvin Ellis literally pimped women from his perch at ESL City Hall. They all received federal vacations, courtesy of the Bureau of Prisons.

If convicted, Coleman would join this fraternity of political and criminal parasites who have sucked the blood of the poor in ESL for far too long.

In Coleman’s case, the allegations point to an issue of greed and not need. If a six-figure salary in a poor community is insufficient compensation, then the larger issue becomes one of a character deficit, arrogance and a lack of conscience.

I can’t wait to see what explanations Mr. Coleman offers. Judging from the evidence, he has, in the words of Ricky Ricardo, “lots of ‘splainin’ to do.”

Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com; Twitter@JamesTIngram.

Soror Annquarnette Aaron, Soror Latrice Buckner, Soror Alisha Coleman, Soror Vanessa Curtis, Soror Elaine Dandridge, Soror Carla DeBoe, Soror Jessica Fort, Soror Stacie Hamilton, Soror Hiawatha Hopkins, Soror Ramona Jones, Soror Ebony Lacy, Soror Ak’iya Perry, Soror

Erin Wilson

Tisaby indictment rooted in Gardner’s public distrust of police

The phenomenon of the Brady List is at the heart of the open warfare between the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner –including its most dramatic casualty to date: the indictment of a private investigator who worked for Gardner, William Tisaby, on seven felony counts, including multiple perjury charges. Tisaby, a former FBI agent who pleaded notguilty of all charges, was not indicted by the police, of course. He was indicted by Gerard Carmody, a principal at Carmody MacDonald, a Clayton-based firm. Though his firm’s stated specialties do not include criminal prosecution, Carmody was appointed special prosecutor in the Tisaby case. Carmody was not appointed by the police, but rather by Circuit Judge Mike Mullen. However, Mullen’s appointment of this private defense attorney as special prosecutor came at the request of the police department.

“The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is investigating allegations that Tisaby lied under oath,” as St. Louis Public Radio reported at the time, “and Gardner is a potential witness,” creating an evident conflict of interest for Gardner.

However, Mullen overlooked another evident conflict of interest in appointing Carmody to prosecute the Tisaby case. Tisaby did not allegedly perjure himself in court, but rather in a deposition conducted by another team of private lawyers representing then-Gov. Eric Greitens. As everyone in St. Louis’ legal community knows, including Mullen, Carmody is personally and professionally connected with key members of Greitens’ defense team. This evident conflict is heightened in importance by Gardner’s repeated public accusations that members of Greitens’ defense team threatened damage to her career if she proceeded with her investigation of Greitens (for felonious invasion of privacy; the charge was later dropped).

as it almost goes without saying in St. Louis, we believe they crystallized over Gardner’s unapologetic defense of keeping what is known as a Brady List.

A Brady List – named for John Leo Brady, the defendant in the landmark 1963 U.S. Supreme Court case concerning police and prosecutors withholding evidence favorable to the defendant – is a list that a prosecutor keeps of police officers who can’t be trusted. To tighten the connection to the eventual indictment of Tisaby on perjury charges, a prosecutor puts a cop on a Brady List if he has perjured himself (or withheld evidence) in the past or she thinks he would perjure himself if called to the stand. Notice that this is not called a “Gardner List,” as the practice long predates Gardner’s election or her compilation of such a list. When her predecessor, Jennifer M. Joyce, was in office, police called hers “Jennifer’s List.”

The Post-Dispatch first reported on Gardner’s Brady List (she called it an “exclusion list”) in August 2018 after it claimed that police officials leaked the list. Race may be relevant in that chain of events. We know from police sources that Joyce’s Brady List was a known fact, as surely was the Brady List kept by every elected prosecutor in the city going back to the Brady decision. Why would the police burn Gardner for keeping a list that police know prosecutors keep, whether official or unofficially? Perhaps Gardner made a rookie mistake in making the list official enough to share with police – clearly, when her office first shared the list, she must have thought they were colleagues – that police could then share with friendly media.

Insurance industry pushes to repeal discrimination protection

By Marc H. Morial National Urban League

“As long as the color of a man’s skin determines his choice of housing, no investment in the physical rebuilding of our cities will free the men and women living there,” President Lyndon B. Johnson wrote to Congress in April 1966. “A nation that aspires to greatness cannot be a divided nation – with whites and Negroes entrenched behind barriers of mutual suspicion and fear.”

Racial discrimination in housing harms not only families who struggle to find homes, but communities still plagued by segregation. Housing segregation reinforces racism and diminishes us as a nation.

So why is the insurance industry fighting to tear down one of the most important tools we have for preventing discrimination?

Under pressure from the insurance industry, the Department of Housing and Urban Development is considering revising its regulation on “disparate impact” claims in the Fair Housing Act, the landmark legislation that bans housing discrimination on the basis of race and other factors. Other federal agencies are considering similar action.

Under the concept of disparate impact, actions can

amount to discrimination if they have an uneven effect even if that was not the intent.

The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the principle of disparate impact in its 2015 decision in Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. Inclusive Communities Project. Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy said “recognition of disparateimpact liability under the FHA also plays a role in uncovering discriminatory intent: It permits plaintiffs to counteract unconscious prejudices and disguised animus that escape easy classification as disparate treatment.”

That case revolved around the tax credits the federal government provides for developers who build lowincome housing. The Inclusive Communities Project sued the Texas agency responsible for administering these tax credits for allocating too many tax credits “in predominantly Black inner-city areas and too few in predominantly white suburban neighborhoods.” The policy effectively kept black families out of predominantly white neighborhoods.

n Under the concept of disparate impact, actions can amount to discrimination if they have an uneven effect even if that was not the intent.

But even though the disparate impact principle is settled law, the insurance industry continues to push the Trump Administration to challenge it.

Economic justice is dependent upon fair housing.

Moving from a high-poverty neighborhood to a low-poverty neighborhood raised incomes, improved college attendance, and reduced teen-age pregnancy, a Harvard study found. Zip code is a better indicator of life expectancy than genetic code. To stand in the way of fair housing is to oppose racial equality itself.

As a civil rights organization devoted to fair housing for more than 100 years, the National Urban League will not tolerate the erosion of the provisions of the Fair Housing Act, or the failure of the Department of Housing and Urban Development to fulfill its duty. Marc H. Morial is president and CEO of the National Urban League.

Remarkably but not surprisingly, St. Louis police never investigated Gardner’s accusation of Tampering with a Judicial Officer when private attorneys allegedly threatened the prosecutor. However, the police jumped right on those same private attorneys’ allegation that an independent investigator hired by the prosecutor lied under oath to them. So, instead of a special prosecutor investigating Greitens’ attorneys for allegedly threatening a prosecutor, a special prosecutor with a clear bias towards Greitens’ attorneys has been investigating Greitens’ independent investigator who was investigating those attorneys’ client. To further indicate how tangled this legal matter is in personal conflicts and vendettas, Gardner hired Tisaby to investigate Greitens, she claimed, only because the police would not investigate Greitens (though the police claim she never asked them).

Some community advocates claim that racism underlies the majority-white police department’s resistance to and now open warfare against Gardner, the first black person ever elected St. Louis prosecutor, who was elected with promises of reform. (We understand that the police department has both an appointed black police chief and a black director of Public Safety; we also assert that this has done nothing to impact the department’s deeply ingrained racism.) While racism – and sexism – are underlying factors,

What is remarkable (and perhaps, to the police, unforgivable) was that Gardner defended the list, once its existence was made public. Further, as St. Louis police officers were revealed recently making bigoted and violent posts on social media by the Plain View Project, Gardner essentially announced that she was expanding her list.

We believe Gardner is both courageous and bold in her public claims that there are paid, uniformed, active-duty St. Louis Police officers who could not and should not be trusted in a court of law. We believe this bold stance is based on painful facts: that our police leaders tolerate in their ranks officers who cannot be trusted to protect and serve the public (or are so restricted by police-empowered bargaining agreements and a legacy of leniency in Internal Affairs decisions that all they can do is talk tough about the bad cops). They don’t actually have the power or nerve to dismiss all of the department’s untrustworthy cops, even when they have the will.

William Tisaby may or may not have lied to Greitens’ defense attorneys and tampered with physical evidence (another charge against Tisaby that connects it even tighter to the Brady decision). But we believe that we are only talking about Tisaby today, with some detriment to Gardner’s career – rather than, say, private attorneys’ threat to damage her career – because she has the courage and respect for the rights of the accused to stand by her decision to trust St. Louis Police officers only in so far as they deserve the public’s trust.

Where is the special prosecutor for my allegation of Tampering with a Judicial Officer?

By Kimberly M. Gardner For The St. Louis American

On March 16, 2018 threats were made at a meeting where Eric Greitens’ defense team was present. In another meeting at my office on April 18, 2018, members of Greitens’ defense team asked to have a meeting specifically with two members of my team. I was informed that threats were made to my subordinates with the request to inform me of what was going to happen if I did not dismiss the current pending Greitens’ case. I informed the court on April 19, 2019 of these threats. No action was taken at that time.

In June of 2018, I notified the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department of the threats against me under the crime of Tampering with a Judicial Officer. After Greitens’ defense team made their report to police regarding their concerns about William Tisaby’s statements during the deposition, Police Chief

John Hayden made a public statement that those allegations would be investigated thoroughly.

Columnist

Kimberly M. Gardner

I wasn’t interviewed by police until October 18, 2018 regarding the Tampering with a Judicial Officer complaint I had first made in June. On April 5, 2019, after repeatedly asking the police department about the status of my report, I was sent a letter by police requesting a special prosecutor. On June 5, 2019 our office filed a motion with the court requesting a special prosecutor be assigned to objectively review the investigation of Tampering with a Judicial Officer. As of today, there has been no appointment of a special prosecutor to further investigate these serious allegation.

n The Office of the City Counselor has inappropriately injected itself in the investigation by directing the police not to turn over the department’s police report where I am a victim.

In addition, the Office of the City Counselor has inappropriately injected itself in the investigation related to this matter, by directing the police not to turn over the department’s police report where I am a victim. I ask only that a special prosecutor be named to objectively and independently investigate this matter.

Kimberly M. Gardner is circuit attorney for the City of St. Louis.

Letters to the Editor

Reform police hiring and promotions

Your editorial, “Time to ‘do something about’ racism in St. Louis police ranks,” highlights a racist post by St. Louis Police Officer Ronald Hasty, which was revealed by Plain View Project’s report on social media.

Does any St. Louis-area government really need another report or information from a private watchdog agency to show the way to reforming area police departments? As for the

city P.D., the racial attitudes today are no difference than those of decades ago. The difference lies in today’s electronic communication that allows an individual to instantly post their thoughts and feelings to public venues.

The time to “do something” about racism in the police department was decades ago.

So, what now? A good start would be to reform police hiring and promotional

practices. As long as the department continues to hire, promote and court nepotism, cronyism and political favoritism, there will be no racial equity or justice. The answer is not complex, but implementing the simple answer will require a ferocious and sustained effort by those who desire progressive change.

Michael K. Broughton Green Park

Republicans discriminate against women

Republican Missouri Governor Parson and Republicans who dominate the legislature have effectively taken away the right of Missouri women to abortion through legislation and harassing regulation with the objective of closing all the state’s abortion clinics.

How is this different than Jim Crow and the follow-up laws by Republicans that have the objective of discriminating against African Americans? How is this different than

Trump’s short-lived ban against immigration by Moslem people, struck down by the courts because it was such obvious discrimination against a particular religion?

The answer is that it is not different in substance from these discriminatory laws. Antiabortion legislation, coupled with harassing regulation, also is discrimination – against women, however cloaked in what Republicans say is their respect for the unborn.

If Republicans really have

such regard for the unborn, why do they consistently vote down measures that would provide decent prenatal care to Missouri mothers?

Missourians who believe that the governor and his Republican brethren in the legislature have discriminated against women must remember their behavior on election day 2020 and vote them out of office.

Arthur Hoffman St. Louis

Put down the ball, pick up a book

When the black man decides to put down his ball and pick up a book and read, he will go on a journey that will awaken

his mind. Years ago, sports were the only way to get out of poverty. The black man has a very powerful tool at his disposal: his intellect. Henry Ballard St. Louis

Columnist

Marc H. Morial

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner

Photo by Wiley Price

DOJ hosts 1st Amendment forums in Ferguson

U.S. Department of Justice is hosting a round of policy forums focused on First Amendment-protected activities in its continued efforts to increase transparency and community involvement in the reform of the Ferguson Police Department. The forums will be held 6-8 p.m. Monday, June 24 at the Ferguson Community Center (1050 Smith Ave.) and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 25 at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis (9420 West Florissant)

July 8 deadline for Excellence in Poverty Journalism Awards nominations

ArchCity Defenders, a civil rights nonprofit law firm, invites the community to nominate reporters for its third annual Excellence in Poverty Journalism Awards. The Awards are designed to recognize and honor in-depth reporting on race, class, and poverty, and to inspire more coverage. To be eligible, the work must have published a digital/print or audio/visual piece between May 1, 2018 and June 1, 2019. Digital/print may include newspaper, magazine, and/or online content; and, audio/visual may include podcast, TV, video, and/or radio. The nomination period is open through July 8. Nominations will be evaluated for their emphasis on centering individual experiences with poverty, classism, and racism within a systemic, historical analysis. To nominate, send the reporter’s name, article headline, news outlet, and a link to the piece if it is available online to Communications@archcitydefenders.org or tweet at @ArchCityDefense with #PovertyJournalismAwards.

The trees of St. Louis and us

By Dorothy Dempsey For The St. Louis American

St. Louis was once a beautiful thriving metropolis. with some of the most beautiful trees you would ever want to see. I have always loved trees. They are one of the many gifts that God has bestowed on us.

It is very sad to see the state of the trees in St. Louis city, North or South. If you travel north or south on Kingshighway, the trees are the same, untrimmed and unkempt. A vacant house at 4703 San Francisco has a whole tree trunk lying on the front lawn and a tree with a very dangerous limb hanging into the alley in its back yard. It has been reported to the neighborhood stabilization office on many occasions. The stabilization officer says that their hands are tied.

The problem has not been resolved. What are our tax dollars being used for? You call about having the trees trimmed, and they give you a telephone number to call and a service number; yet the trees never get pruned. There are some trees that have overhang that are blocking the street light at Kingshighway and Maffit and a street sign at Euclid and Lexington. The residents of St. Louis city are being shortchanged in garbage pickup, street cleaning, tree trimming, neighborhood stabilization, city highway maintenance. The highway from downtown St. Louis to the airport is horrible. This is what people see as their first glimpse of St. Louis.

What are the bare benefits for the citizens? We are not asking for anything special, just bare benefits that any citizen would expect to have. It is as if there are people waiting for St. Louis city to die and all its citizens of color to just move on out of the way.

Anything of beauty does not seem necessary in neighborhoods of color in our city.

They built flowerbeds in the middle of the streets starting at Dr. Martin Luther King Drive and Kingshighway to Penrose. The flower beds start again at the Highway 70 overpass and Kingshighway and end at West Florissant. All other flowerbeds are located on Kingshighway in front of Barnes-Jewish Hospital or any other known landmarked areas and have flowers that are well manicured. All other flower beds have nothing worth mentioning.

Why have we as citizens become so acclimatized to the things that are happening in our community and our lives? St. Louis has one of the highest crime rates in addition to its poor city maintenance, drugs, and recent mass shootings. Mass shootings have become so commonplace until it is sad that they do not seem to grip us like before. We have become callous, and it should not be like that.

It is the same with the beautiful gift of trees. Like so many other gifts from God, we have become immune to them. It would be a beautiful thing if all God’s children were treated equal and if God’s most beautiful gift of trees were treated as a precious gifts from God.

Youth against gun violence

Dorothy Dempsey

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Youth committed to ending gun violence marched with together with adults from St. Alphonsus Liguori “Rock”

Catholic Church to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater St. Louis on North Grand on Saturday, June 8 as part of the Wear Orange Day campaign presented by Radio One St. Louis, Better Family Life and co-sponsored by Moms Demand Action.

American publisher honored for partnership with Jewish community

graduate.’”

With a small campus of roughly 2400, Woolfolk uses its scale it to her advantage to build a relationship with the community and the students.

“I think that’s the beauty of Lincoln University, that people care about students and they know students individually and by name. It’s a small campus,” she said.

“The students know us, and we know the students. We eat in the dining hall with them at the residence halls, and that’s what I call a culture of caring.” She has a wide basis of experience for making the comparison. Previously she served as the vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego and held roles as a visiting professor and the interim chief diversity and inclusion officer at SUNY. She has also served as vice president for Student Affairs, Enrollment Management and Diversity at Mississippi Valley State University; vice president for Student Affairs at College of Staten Island-City University of New York; and assistant to the vice chancellor for Student Affairs, associate dean of Students for Residential Life and dean of Student Life at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

In terms of her own education, she holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Urban Higher Education from Jackson State University, a Master of Science in Counselor Education from Iowa State University, and Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree from Jackson State University. In addition, she completed the Harvard University Institute for Educational Management; the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)/ Council of Independent

TISABY

Continued from A1

Continued from A1 with a private probation officer every two weeks.

A special prosecutor, Gerard Carmody, presented the evidence to the grand jury. He was appointed nearly a year ago at the request of the police department because of concerns that Gardner could not fairly investigate herself.

Gardner fought Carmody’s appointment as special prosecutor all the way to the Missouri Supreme Court. A

spokeswoman said the office could not comment because of a gag order issued in the case. Carmody, an attorney for Tisaby, and Greitens’ attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Gardner hired Tisaby in January 2018, just days after Greitens admitted that he had an affair with his hairdresser, a woman identified by her initials K.S. The former governor would later be charged with invasion of privacy for allegedly taking a semi-nude picture of K.S. without her consent, and then transferring it in a way that it could be

n “That’s the way I talk to students: ‘You came here to graduate. We are going to do everything that we can to make sure that you graduate.’”

– Lincoln University President Jerald Jones Woolfolk

Colleges/Academic

Leadership Institute Executive Leadership Academy; the

accessed by a computer.

Gardner said she needed to hire an outside investigator because the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department refused to look into the case. The department says it was never asked to investigate.

The indictment charges Tisaby with lying six different times during a March 19, 2018, deposition with Greitens’ defense attorneys. Gardner attended the deposition, which took place at the circuit attorney’s office.

Tisaby claimed that he did not get any information from

AASCU Millennial Leadership Initiative; and the Indiana University Certificate in

the circuit attorney’s office about the Greitens case before he interviewed K.S. on Jan. 29, 2018. Evidence presented to the grand jury showed that Gardner and Tisaby exchanged multiple calls, text messages and emails, and that Gardner sent Tisaby multiple documents, including notes from an interview she had done with K.S. “Gardner never attempted to correct this false testimony,” the indictment reads.

Tisaby initially claimed that he had taken notes during his interview of K.S., then changed his story when defense attorneys pressed him to turn

Donald M. Suggs, publisher and executive editor of The St. Louis American, received the Norman A. Stack Community Relations Award for interfaith work and partnership with the Jewish community from the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC).

“Donald Suggs is simply an institution within St. Louis and has been a core part of African American-Jewish relations in our region for decades,” said Maharat Rori Picker Neiss, executive director of the JCRC.

Also, Lynn and Dr. Carl Lyss were awarded the Batya AbramsonGoldstein Legacy Award for leadership and impact on the JCRC and the Jewish community. Rick Abrams, who serves as development chair on the JCRC Board of Directors, received the Michael and Barbara Newmark Emerging Leader Award. For more information on the JCRC, visit www.jcrcstl.org.

Fundraising Management.

Other accomplishments under Woolfolk’s brief tenure at Lincoln include an on-campus bookstore, which had been absent from campus for three years, and new uniforms for the marching band, the Lincoln University Marching Musical Storm, which had not updated its uniform in 20 years. The new look will be revealed during the

over those notes. Video of that interview, for which Gardner was present, later showed that Tisaby had been taking notes. “Although Gardner was seated next to Tisaby at the second interview (while he was taking notes), Gardner nonetheless had Tisaby reaffirm that no notes were taken at the interview.” A footnote to the indictment says Gardner’s statements about her own notes from that January interview were also inconsistent.

Tisaby told defense attorneys that he had used a lunch break to search for drafts of notes related to the Greitens investigation, then later admitted that he had not brought his laptop to St. Louis. He also claimed that he did not talk to Gardner during the break, but records revealed he called Gardner at least seven times during the two-hour break. Gardner, who was present for the deposition, did not attempt to correct Tisaby, the indictment says.

Tisaby said the notes of the interview with K.S. that he eventually provided to defense attorneys were direct quotes of what K.S. said in that interview. In fact, the indictment says, Tisaby’s report was actually notes that Gardner had provided him. He also allegedly left out several pieces of information and included quotes that K.S. never said.

Tisaby claimed he did not ask K.S. any questions in the interview. Video evidence, the indictment said, shows otherwise. “Again, Gardner made no effort to correct this testimony even though she sat by Tisaby’s side as he asked those questions,” the indictment claims.

Tisaby said in his deposition that he did not attempt to find experts who could locate the picture at the center of the case, a photo that never turned up. The grand jury said Tisaby, Gardner and other officials in her office had actually contacted an Ohio company for help.

Tisaby is also accused of evidence tampering for allegedly keeping several documents from defense attorneys.

According to their contract, Tisaby and his Michiganbased company, Enterra, were paid $250 an hour to “provide consulting advice to [the circuit attorney’s office] to the extent requested, conduct an

Homecoming Football Game on Saturday, October 19. With three more years now ahead of her, she can look further ahead.

“We’ve spent the last year doing research and doing having interviews with all different constituencies of the university,” Woolfolk said. “We are developing a strategic plan.”

independent investigation into potential criminal (and civil) liability of the governor under the guidance of the CAO,” and to testify at any trial as needed. But Tisaby became a legal liability for the prosecution. Greitens’ attorneys filed several motions accusing Tisaby of lying about the way he had conducted interviews with several key witnesses, including K.S. They even sought to have the judge dismiss the charge over the allegations.

Gardner’s former chief trial assistant Robert Dierker, now an attorney for the City of St. Louis, admitted in court that Tisaby had created a “terrible appearance” and that relying on the investigator was “an egregious mistake.” Though Judge Rex Burlison decided not to dismiss the case, he ordered Tisaby to appear for a second deposition. The investigator would refuse to answer questions, citing his 5th Amendment right against selfincrimination. Dierker, who is identified in the indictment documents by his initials, R.D., reportedly planned to tell the police department about the perjury allegations but was directed not to by Gardner.

Follow Rachel on Twitter: @rlippmann. Reprinted with permission from news.stlpublicradio.org. n Greitens’ attorneys filed several motions accusing Tisaby of lying about the way he had conducted interviews with several key witnesses, including K.S.

Greitens’ defense team also accused Gardner of allowing Tisaby to lie under oath by not correcting him when he claimed, among other things, that he did not take notes during key interviews. She had been in the room for several of his interviews. She has not been charged.

Prosecutors dropped the invasion of privacy case against Greitens after Burlison ruled defense attorneys could call Gardner as a witness to testify about Tisaby’s conduct. Gardner said if she had to testify, her office couldn’t prosecute the case. Greitens eventually struck a deal with Gardner in which he resigned in exchange for her office dropping a separate charge that he had misused a charity donor list for his campaign. The agreement prevented Greitens or his attorneys from suing Gardner or any of her employees in civil court for how she handled both the donor list and invasion of privacy cases.

Joe Pereles, Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) board chair; Maharat Rori Picker Neiss, JCRC executive director; Donald M. Suggs; and John Kalishman, JCRC immediate past board chair

Continued from A1

court on a written promise to appear,” McCarthy said. “So I’m trying to set a bond that you can afford. Maybe you can come up with that.”

In another case, McCarthy heard from a 40-year-old black man who is being charged with possession of drugs and an illegal gun. The judge determined that he could be released on a cash bond. McCarthy then asked the man, Andre Griffin, what bond amount he could pay. Griffin replied $2,000. The judge set the bond at 10 percent of $50,000, or $5,000. What the judge essentially did was set a bond amount to hold a person, said District Defender Mary Fox, who observed Griffin’s hearing. This goes directly against a federal court ruling that just came down this month, she said, which found that people cannot be held in jail just because they can’t pay the bond amount. And while the 22nd Circuit Court has always been required to hold bail hearings that meet constitutional standards, the federal judge’s order increases

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about the incident that had not come to light before, along with Green’s fight to get his pension. The lawsuit’s account of the event is as follows.

On the evening of June 21, 2017, Green was off duty and working on a neighbor’s car in their shared driveway. Late that evening, Green heard the sound of a loud engine on his street. A car attempted to make a right turn and crashed into another car – then stopped in front of Green’s house. Green then heard a screeching sound and noticed a second car – a black sedan with tinted windows – at the intersection of Park Lane and Astra Avenue.

Fearing that a gang shooting was about to erupt, Green ducked behind his friend’s car and watched the driver and passengers of the first car take off on foot through his gangway.

St. Louis police officers wearing bulletproof vests got out of the black sedan and pursued them, shouting, “Drop your gun!” Then, Green heard the sounds of gunfire.

Another suspect ran towards the east side of Green’s house. When the shots were fired, that suspect dropped to the ground, but he stood back up after the firing ceased. After checking himself for injuries, the suspect picked up his gun. Green’s friend yelled that the suspect had a gun.

In response, the suspect turned towards Green and his friend, pointing his gun at them. Green drew his service weapon and yelled, “Police! Drop your gun!” The man then took off running east again, through Green’s yard.

As Green moved to follow, a city police officer told Green to drop his weapon and get on the ground. Green complied, but the armed criminal suspect got away. Although Green explained that he was police, the officer told him to “shut the hell up and stay on the ground.” However, the officer walked away without handcuffing Green.

Green then saw Detective Brett Carlson handcuffing his friend. Green spoke to Carlson and showed his badge. Carlson told his fellow police officers that Green was police and specifically directed them not to shoot Green.

Then, Carlson told Green to approach him. Green stood, took three steps to secure his weapon, picked it up, and started walking towards Carlson, badge in hand. Green carried his gun in his right hand with the barrel pointed at the ground. Green was giving Carlson a description of the fleeing suspect when he saw two officers in his peripheral. Tanner shouted, “Drop your weapon!” and simultaneously shot Green without allowing Green any time to respond. Carlson yelled to Tanner, “I told you he was off-duty. I told you not to shoot.”

the pressure for the judges to meet those standards. “It’s in violation of the Constitution, and U.S. Judge Audrey G. Fleissig was very specific in court on Friday when she said that cash bonds cannot be set when the person cannot make them,” Fox said. “That is a de facto detention –without a finding that a person needs to be detained.”

At a Friday, June 14 hearing, U.S. Judge Audrey G. Fleissig ordered the City of St. Louis and the 22nd Circuit Court to hold 30 bail hearings a day, Monday through Wednesday. This is an attempt to get the approximately 700 pretrial inmates sitting in one of the city’s two jails the opportunity to tell a judge whether or not they can afford the bond amount that has been set for them. These hearings are a right that the city court has been denying people who are accused — but not convicted — of a crime and are awaiting a hearing or trial, Fleissig ruled. McCarthy was among five judges holding bail hearings on Monday morning. A spokesman for the 22nd Circuit Court said the court is not able to discuss or comment on the cases McCarthy heard because they are pending.

Fleissig’s June 14 order

“Defendant Tanner stood silent, offering no aid or apology for such an egregious transgression,” the lawsuit states.

“Had Defendant Tanner exercised due care, he would have noticed that Officer Green was calmly talking to Detective Carlson, with a badge in his hand, and that Detective Carlson had the situation under control.”

Green was transported to Barnes-Jewish Hospital and underwent emergency surgery to repair his shattered arm. He received approximately six months of physical therapy, but his arm is permanently damaged, it states. Two years later, Green is still on disability leave. Because of the financial loss

comes after she issued a preliminary injunction on June 11 in David Dixon, et. al., v. City of St. Louis, et. al. requiring the City of St. Louis to give a fair bail hearing to every person arrested within 48 hours of their arrest — and judges must take into account a person’s financial situation.

“What this means for St. Louis residents is that they no longer face sitting in jail for as many as 291 days just because they can’t make bail,” according to a statement from the groups who brought forth the case, including ArchCity Defenders, Advancement Project National Office, Civil Rights Corps and Georgetown Law’s Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection.

The injunction also grants class certification status, expanding the plaintiffs beyond the four people who originally challenged the constitutionality of the city’s cash bail system.

However, after watching some of the bail hearings on June 17, District Defender Mary Fox said, “I am concerned that the judges have not put a procedure in place that complies with Judge Fleissig’s order.”

Her other concern is that the court has not been giving

directly caused by the shooting, Green is behind on bills and his home is nearing foreclosure. Because Green was out of work, his wife took extra jobs on top of having to take care of Green and their children.

Green’s wife saw him get shot, and his then-15-year-old daughter saw him lying on the ground bleeding.

‘Most egregious ever’

What’s not included in the lawsuit is how the officers treated Green’s family and neighbors after he was shot, said Heather Taylor, president of the Ethical Society of Police, a police association for mainly minority officers.

“It’s one of the most

The Herbert H. Hoosman Circle of Excellence Foundation recently presented college scholarships to three 2019 graduates of Normandy High School. Mohammed Ahmad-Gol, Rianna Curtain, and Antoine Hodge were selected for the scholarships, presented at the Glen Echo Country Club in North St. Louis County. The foundation, named in honor of businessman Herbert H. Hoosman Jr., raises funds for scholarships for deserving students through its annual golf tournament. The foundation presents the scholarships in memory of Hoosman, who died in 2017.

notice to the public defenders and private defense attorneys when the detention hearings will be held.

“I’m here at noon on Monday, and I have no idea what cases are going to be heard tomorrow or Wednesday,” Fox said. “And no one seems to be able to tell me who is making the decisions as to what cases will be heard.”

The court’s spokesman said he could not comment

egregious things ever,” Taylor said. “What you did to his children, you can never ever, ever, recover from that. They saw their father bleeding in front of their house and they ran out frantic. Then the officers cursed his children and his wife out. If you treat our own officers like this, you don’t think we aren’t treating anyone else in the community like this?”

The police department never interviewed Green, the lawsuit states. And the Internal Affairs investigator in the case, whom The American learned was Steve Burle, is the father of Tanner’s partner. (Burle was also seen in a viral video in November 2017 cussing out a person who honked at

on Fox’s complaint, but said that at around 1:30 p.m. the presiding judge receives a list of court cases from the Circuit Attorney’s Office for the following day. The presiding judge divides up the names and sends them out to the five judges who will be holding the detention hearings the next day.

The divisions then notify the defense attorneys of the time and place, he said. The Circuit Attorney’s Office has been cooperative

his unmarked police car, after Burle didn’t move forward at a green light.)

Hours after Green was shot, then-interim police chief Lawrence O’Toole, who is now assistant police chief, wrongfully told the press that Green was injured during “friendly fire.”

The Ethical Society of Police said publicly that it would have been impossible for O’Toole to have had the wrong information. Now Police Chief John Hayden was standing next to O’Toole when he made the false statement. In a January 2018 interview

The American asked Hayden why he didn’t speak up when he heard O’Toole lying to the press.

“Part

Hayden responded, “I didn’t know that [O’Toole] lied until the next day. When you’re standing there, you’re not like parsing his words. I was aware that there was a black and white officer involved. I wasn’t talking. He was talking.”

During that 2018 interview, Hayden said he would look into discipline for O’Toole for making the false claim, now that he was chief. To The American’s knowledge, O’Toole was never disciplined. A Go Fund Me website has been established for Milton Green: https://www. gofundme.com/fundraiser-forofficer-milton-green.

with the Public Defender’s Office, Fox said, and has been trying to provide the public defenders with the hearing information. But the court has not been communicating with Fox’s office at all, she said.

of Judge Fleissig’s order is that the defendant has the right to rebut and present the evidence at these hearings,” Fox said. “If you don’t know the hearing is going to happen, how do you get evidence together to present and rebut?”

Where healthy food meets fitness

Fit and Food Connection volunteers to teach healthier living on the North Side

Joy Millner and Gabi

Cole cofounded the Fit and Food Connection seven years ago to provide healthy resources, including food, nutrition and exercise, to families in North St. Louis City and County.

By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American

One is a fitness trainer with a passion for helping people add exercise into their day. The other is a foodie with a penchant for sharing healthy eating with others. A mutual friend put the two of them together, and the result is the Fit and Food Connection, an organization that offers free fitness classes, nutrition education and a food pantry/food delivery service to selected families in North St. Louis city and county.

“We are pretty much an all-volunteer organization,” said cofounder Joy Millner.

Their work takes them into senior homes, apartment complexes and other areas throughout the community, she said. Millner and Gabi Cole currently operate out of Believer’s Temple Church at 2115 Chambers Rd. in Ferguson. That’s where Millner has been teaching “her baby” for seven years – a health class every Monday evening from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

“You can come anytime. Sometimes we’re inside, sometimes we’re outside – it changes every single week, but the bottom line principle is the same,” Miller said.

“In that one hour, we will stretch and we will de-stress, because you can’t be

healthy when you’re stressed. We do a very brief education on something. Then we do a pretty intense 20-minute workout for all levels. Then we do some core work. We do a positive thought of-the-day. And then I feed them.” Millner cooks for 30 people every single Monday.

“I send them home with a healthy snack, a healthy recipe,” Millner added. “We show them exactly what it looks like. We feed them crops every Monday from our garden and our partner gardens. And so it’s really this whole holistic healing. They leave

See FOOD, A9

By Dr. Lannis Hall For The St. Louis American

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women and the secondleading cause of cancer death. This year, approximately 250,000 women in the United States will receive the diagnosis of breast cancer, and 40,000 will die of the disease. The good news is that breast cancer mortality rates have dropped by 40 percent in the last 25 years. The bad news is that some communities continue to suffer from unacceptably high mortality rates despite significant advances in early detection and treatment. African-American women have a 40 percent higher breast cancer mortality rate compared to white women and, depending on where you live in the U.S., the mortality difference is even greater. AfricanAmerican women in the state of Missouri –and specifically certain areas of the St. Louis region – have breast cancer mortality statistics that are significantly higher than the national average.

n Physical exercise helps to maintain a healthy weight and can help prevent breast cancer (and many other diseases) later in life.

In the St. Louis region, breast cancer mortality rates are significantly higher for African-American women compared to white women despite having numerous health care facilities. In St. Louis County, white women have a breast cancer mortality rate of 18 deaths per 100,000 women, and African-American women have a mortality rate of 34 deaths per 100,000. Thus, African-American women have a mortality rate that is 90 percent higher than white women in the same county. While the reasons for these disparities are

See HALL, A9

Natural ways to maintain healthy testosterone levels

By Envolve

While testosterone is mostly known as the male sex hormone, it impacts overall health in a number of ways, including fertility, bone health, fat distribution, muscle mass, and strength. As men age, the amount of testosterone they produce naturally decreases by about one to two percent each year. While there is no way to completely stop the decline, there are several simple ways to maintain testosterone levels naturally.

Get fit. Regular exercise is essential to a healthy life and can keep testosterone levels up as well. Activities including resistance training, weight lifting, and cardio-driven exercises can help you lose weight, feel better, and build strength. Don’t feel motivated by individual workouts? Try competing in a team sport, like kickball, football, or basketball.

Pick protein. A nutritious, balanced diet with appropriate levels of protein, fat, and whole-grain carbs is key to keeping your

n As men age, the amount of testosterone they produce naturally decreases by about one to two percent each year.

hormones balanced, including testosterone. Try adding lean protein to daily meals by swapping breakfast cereal for scrambled eggs or adding pecans to your lunchtime salad. Snacks like cheese, hardboiled eggs, avocados, and nuts are a good way to sneak protein and healthy fat into meals.

Stay away from canned, packaged foods, and alcohol as these are known to drop testosterone. Processed foods are often high in sodium, calories, added sugar, and trans fat, which may lower testosterone and negatively impact testicular function.

Regular exercise is essential to a healthy life and can keep testosterone levels up as well.

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 20 – 26, 2019

Photo by Wiley Price

Dr. Lannis Hall

HEALTHY

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Soak up sun. Vitamin D is important for strong bones, immune health, and the nervous system. Proper levels of this vitamin have also been found to boost testosterone. As little as 15 minutes of sunshine every day can keep your vitamin D at the right level. You can also add more of this vitamin to your daily meals by drinking fortified orange juice or milk in the morning or grilling fresh salmon for dinner.

Minimize stress. No surprise here: high stress over a long period of time can have a negative impact on your mind and body, including elevated levels of cortisol which results in a direct drop in testosterone. Knowing how to manage your stress is vital to your physical, mental, and hormonal health. Taking deep breaths, listening to music, meditating, or getting some high-impact exercise can help you gain calmness and manage stress, thus regulating testosterone.

Sleep soundly. Testosterone can drop dramatically if you don’t get enough rest each night. According to a study conducted by the University of Chicago, one week of limited sleep is enough to lower average testosterone levels by 15 percent. Getting some decent shut eye could be as easy as lowering the temperature in your bedroom, minimizing light, or using a fan or white noise machine to block out external sounds. Do you snore during the night or feel tired when you

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feeling energized from these different things that we teach them.”

The Fit and Food Connection recently received a $19,500 grant from the St. Louis Women’s Fund to move 30 families off their waiting list and into their fitness and nutrition services.

“It’s been such a shining moment for us. We’re going to spend the next year really taking care of these families,” Millner said.

On a video posted online and to the organization’s website, cofounder Gabi Cole described how volunteering brought her to this mission of food and nutrition.

“We don’t have these resources in our communities,” she said. “We don’t have grocery stores; we don’t have healthy food resources.”

Additionally, transportation is a major issue for individuals and families who live in food deserts – communities without grocery stores – particularly families in need with few resources. Video testimonials on their website describe the difference they are making for those in need.

“Sometimes it’s hard for me to get back and forth to pantries, because of how far it is located and transportation,” client Lavonda Davis said. Millner said individuals can get on its waiting list for the food delivery services by calling its emergency food hotline at 314-649-7367.

Testosterone can drop dramatically if you don’t get enough rest each night.

wake up? You may have sleep apnea, which can also be to blame for falling testosterone. Testosterone has been found

to return to normal if sleep apnea is treated appropriately. Talk to your primary care provider if you think you might

be affected by low levels of testosterone, especially if you believe it is related to sleep apnea or another sleep disorder.

Envolve, Inc. is a family of health solutions. For more information, visit www. envolvehealth.com.

Spanish Lake resident Carol Bailey has been working out in the class for over a year at Believers Temple.

Those who struggle for the basics may be simply looking for something to eat – deprived of the luxury of considering the food’s nutritional benefit. Via video, board member Whitney Jones said the Fit and Food Connection makes that link for them.

“With this organization, they make sure that we’re giving them food that is healthy, that is going to give them the vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin

“What ya’ll give me is enough for me, you know –and take care of me and my needs. It’s nice,” food delivery recipient Christine Evans said via video. With the monthly food delivery service, Evans said does not have to try to find a ride or walk to get to a pantry.

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complex, there are things each woman can do to reverse the trend.

Limit alcohol. The more alcohol you drink daily, the greater the risk of breast cancer.

D and iron that they need daily to grow to be healthy and to maintain a healthy lifestyle,” Jones said.

The organization holds classes in multiple locations. Millner said its Chair Yoga class has been underway on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. at the St. Louis County Library at 10267

interested in picking up a racquet.

n “What ya’ll give me is enough for me, you know – and take care of me and my needs. It’s nice.”

– food delivery recipient Christine Evans

St. Charles Rock Road in St. Ann for the last six months and will continue through September. Tennis lessons are offered for anyone

“We just kicked off our fifth annual tennis program,” Millner said.

“Every Sunday, all summer, we’re teaching people how to play tennis. That takes place at St. Vincent Community Center tennis court” at 7335

St. Charles Rock Rd. Tennis lessons are from 5- 6:30 p.m. Millner said just call the office (314-312-2746) in advance

so they know how many are expected to attend.

Small grants, donations and volunteers are what maintain this connection. This includes individuals who perform administrative functions or offer personal training, grocery store education, food preparation and nutrition guidance at no cost for families in need.

Like many service organizations, Fit and Food Connection has its own needs that need to be met to further its service to the community, like funding for a building and staff.

“We honestly want a building of our own,” Millner

said. “We would love to have our own home. We would love to have an employee to take some of the load off of Gabi and me, like a director of operations. On a much smaller scale, we really need delivery drivers on Sunday afternoons and we just really need healthy food. The more drivers and food we have, the more families we can reach.” For more information on Fit and Food Connection, email joy@fitandfoodconnection. org, call 314-312-2746 or visit https://fitandfoodconnection. org. The Fit and Food Connection’s Emergency Food Hotline is 314-649-7367.

Don’t smoke. Studies have linked an increased risk of breast cancer with tobacco use.

Exercise routinely. Physical exercise helps to maintain a healthy weight and can help prevent breast cancer (and many other diseases) later in life. Recommendations are for at least 150 minutes of routine aerobic exercise (walking at average pace) weekly.

Eat healthy foods. A large study of over 180,000 Nurses suggest that women who consumes over 5 servings of

fruits and vegetables a day had a lower risk of developing breast cancer than women who consumed less than 2.5 servings of fruits and vegetables. Consult American Cancer Society or American Institute for Cancer Research for details on healthy eating tips.

Limit dose and duration of combination hormone therapy Combination hormone therapy (progestin and estrogen) increases your risk of breast

cancer if taken over 3-5 years.

Know your family history Document your family history of cancer and if any family members have undergone genetic testing. Discuss your family history with your health care provider by the age of 30. You may need to begin screening earlier than the age of 40.

Screen early. Begin annual screening at 40.

Practice self-awareness

Know your breasts!

Do not delay. Women who delay surgery and other recommended care after an abnormal mammogram have a lower survival than women who don’t have delays in therapy.

For more information: Mammography Van appointment: 800-600-3606; Show Me Healthy Women: http://health.mo.gov or 866-

726-9926; Siteman Cancer Center: www.siteman.wustl. edu; American Cancer Society: www.cancer.gov. Lannis Hall, MD, MPH, is director of Radiation Oncology at Siteman Cancer Center Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital, Clinical Trials leader at Program to Eliminate Cancer Disparities, and assistant professor of Clinical Radiation Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine.

Photo by Wiley Price

City prosecutor expands Brady list based on bigoted social media posts

On June 18, Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner sent a letter to the Director of Public Safety Jimmie Edwards and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief John Hayden to inform them of the actions she has taken regarding the racially charged social media posts of current and retired city police officers recently revealed by the Plain View Project.

Gardner said she has done an extensive review of these disturbing social media posts.

“Police integrity is at the core of the community’s confidence in the criminal justice system,” Gardner said. “When a police officer’s integrity is compromised in this manner, it compromises the entire criminal justice system and our overall ability to pursue justice. After careful examination of the underlying bias contained in those social media posts, we have concluded that this bias would likely influence an officer’s ability to perform his or her duties in an unbiased manner.” Gardner told them that she was placing 22 officers on her office’s exclusion list — known as a Brady List — that prohibits those officers from presenting cases to the Circuit Attorney’s Office. The term “Brady List” is named for John Leo Brady, the plaintiff in the landmark 1963 U.S. Supreme Court case Brady v. Maryland. The decision in that case required prosecutors to inform the defense of any evidence that might exonerate the defendant, including a police officer who is known to be biased or racist.

The remaining 15 officers banned will be reviewed “in accordance with our mutually agreed upon protocol to determine conditions for reinstatement” for the officers to present cases again.

According to Gardner’s statement, she informed Hayden and Edwards that many of the social media statements and viewpoints of these officers are “shocking and beneath the dignity of someone who holds such a powerful position, especially those comments that advocate violence.”

“While the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department may be limited in their actions due to its labor agreements, the Circuit Attorney’s Office has no such privity with those contracts,” she stated.

Of the 44 St. Louis Police officers documented in the database The Plain View Project (that was initially published by Buzzfeed), 23 of them are still on the force, Hayden said at a June 10 aldermanic meeting. Three of the “most egregious” offenders were put on desk duty, the chief said, while the police department conducts an “extensive investigation.”

Many of their posts included the Confederate flag, while some made racist remarks about Islam and minority

Seven of the 22 officers identified with making bigoted and violent social media posts are permanently banned from the Circuit Attorney’s Warrant Office. These officers are not permitted to present themselves or cases to the Circuit Attorney’s Office, Gardner said. And cases currently under review, in which these officers are essential witnesses, will be refused. Similarly, search warrants in which they are involved will not be signed or approved.

groups. Some posts suggested violence towards protestors and the community.

A July 2013 Facebook post from current officer Michael Calcaterra read, “They said, ‘F--k the police,’ so I said, ‘F--k your 911 call. I’ll get to your dying home boy when I finish my coffee.”

Black cop shot by white cop fights for pension

Milton Green’s a black cop who was living in North St. Louis — in the Baden neighborhood — when he was shot by a fellow white cop on June 21, 2017. Green is exactly what the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and city leadership say it wants: a cop who comes

city counselor who also is also counselor for the pension board, was the person asking Green the questions. City Counselor Julian Bush said that the questioning went on for less than two hours, “but he did question him extensively.”

“It’s probably not accurate or fair to call it a crossexamination,” Bush said. “That makes it sound like there was a trial. Mr. Green was under oath. It was simply asking questions pertinent to his application.”

The hearing was a closed session, so Bush couldn’t speak about what Lawson’s questions were. As far as why it’s taken almost two years to process Green’s application, Bush said, “Because it involved the use of force, the Force Investigative Unit of the police division investigated the matter and that caused the delay.”

from the black community, who understands how to talk to black children and teenagers and has the highest level of integrity.

But actions speak louder than words.

On June 12, the Police Retirement System of St. Louis held a pension hearing for Green. Javad Khazaeli, Green’s attorney, said that rather than arguing that Green’s pension claim to be heard and granted quickly — as it’s done with every other officer injured in the line of duty — the City Counselor’s Office “cross-examined” Green for two hours.

And Green, a father of four, still hasn’t gotten his pension — and his home could go into foreclosure.

Mark Lawson, associate

The Force Investigation Unit’s Steve Burle was in charge of investigating Green’s case. Burle is the father of the officer who shot Green, Christopher Tanner. The Ethical Society of Police (ESOP), an association largely for black city police officers, has been decrying this conflict of interest since 2017.

“[Burle and Tanner] are friends. It’s terrible,” said Heather Taylor, president of ESOP. “We told [theninterim police chief] Lawrence O’Toole and the Force Investigation Unit supervisor. We said all of that, and they didn’t listen.”

Burle was also seen in a viral video in November 2017 cussing out a person who honked at his unmarked police car, after Burle didn’t move forward at a green light.

A pension board hearing was originally scheduled

for February, but the police department asked to push it back to June 2019, according to the lawsuit that Green filed on June 17 against Christopher Tanner and the City of St. Louis. The police claimed that nearly two years later, a second police report about the incident has mysteriously resurfaced and they needed time to review it, the lawsuit states. And the department refused to provide a copy of the report to Green or the board.

“To this date, the pension board has not ruled on Officer Green’s claim, and he continues to suffer needlessly in limbo,” the lawsuit states. Bush said he expects the case to be resolved at the next pension board meeting on June 26.

The American has learned that Tanner is no longer on the police force because he was caught intoxicated on duty. Green and Tanner were both members of the St. Louis Police Officer’s Association (SLPOA), the bargaining agent for police officers. The union raised about $2,000 for Tanner but has held no fundraisers for Green, the lawsuit states.

“In contrast, the SLPOA held a large fundraiser on June [12], 2019 for disgraced ex-SLMPD officer William Olsten,” the lawsuit states.

“The fundraiser, which included free beer and food, was a watch party for the final game of the Stanley Cup Championship. All proceeds went to Olsten, a white officer currently under indictment for beating and shooting a man he had argued with in a bar and lying to police about what occurred. Olsten is also a defendant in a half-dozen civil rights suits alleging that he used excessive force.”

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner sent a letter to the Director of Public Safety Jimmie Edwards (left) and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief John Hayden (right) telling them that although the police department “may be limited in their actions due to its labor agreements,” her office has stopped taking cases from cops revealed to make bigoted social media posts.

Photo by Rebecca Rivas

Business

JUNE 20 – 26, 2019

Census Bureau is hiring now

Half-million jobs open to U.S. citizens 18 or over with Social

By Mark Hedin Of Ethnic Media Services

The U.S. Census Bureau has said it expects to hire about a half-million people nationwide to help in its all-important counting of everybody living in the United States, something the government has done every 10 years since 1790. That half-million hiring target is a sizable decrease from the last census, in 2010, when the bureau was more dependent on shoe leather than silicon to get the work done. Instead of the 635,000 people hired in 2010 to knock on doors to fill out questionnaires with people who hadn’t gotten theirs to the mailbox, in 2020, for the first time, the government is counting on people filling out their forms online.

The half-million Census Bureau jobs are open to any U.S. citizen who can pass a background check, is at least 18 and possesses a Social Security number.

Celeste Jimenez, assistant regional census manager based in Los Angeles, said the number of people hired will depend on how many people didn’t complete their census questionnaires promptly next year, leading the Census Bureau to hire people who know their communities and languages and can go out into the field and come back with completed questionnaires from the non-responders.

n In the past, with questionnaires submitted through snail mail, the cost per person of gathering census data had grown to $92 in 2010, from just $16 in 1970, as measured in constant dollars.

This year, the Census Bureau is focused on setting up and staffing offices across the country and checking and updating the list of addresses used to send people reminders and instructions on filling out the 2020 Census questionnaire online when it is released in midMarch.

The next wave of hiring, for “listers” who will do the address verification work this year, is under way. Those jobs pay from $16.50 to $33 per hour and are expected to last only for a couple of months, including paid training.

To apply for these positions, go to https://2020census.gov/en/jobs.html.

Next year, after mailings are sent out with instructions on the legally required process of filling out the census questionnaires, the biggest wave of hiring will begin: for “field staff” or “enumerators” to do the “non-response followup” work that in large part consists of knocking on doors at addresses where residents didn’t file completed questionnaires.

These positions also will be filled through the Census Bureau website: https://2020census.gov/ en/jobs.html.

The Census Bureau hopes that having people file their questionnaires online will yield billions of dollars in savings on the shoe leather it has always needed to get those questionnaires completed. It expects at least half of the country’s more than 300 million people to take the online option.

In the past, with questionnaires submitted through snail mail, the cost per person of gathering census data had grown to $92 in 2010, from just $16 in 1970, as measured in constant

Security number

The U.S. Census Bureau has said it expects to hire about a half-million people nationwide.

dollars.

The Census Bureau is touting its jobs as ideal for people just starting their working life who need to establish a record of reliability, for people who can use the frequently evening or weekend hours to supplement jobs they already have, or for retirees who would like to re-enter the workforce in a limited way.

Payday comes every week, and people using their cars will be reimbursed. Although the jobs are in most cases temporary, the work occasionally can lead to a career.

The ability to bridge language barriers will be invaluable, and in fact is a requirement for some positions in the Census Bureau. Bilingual census staff will be needed wherever 5 percent or more of a community is believed to primarily use another language.

As for the background checks, hiring will be on a case by case basis, so having a felony conviction, for instance, isn’t necessarily a disqualifier.

For more information and to apply, visit https://2020census.gov/en/jobs.html.

Fathers’ Support Center CEO testifies for federal support of fatherhood initiatives

By Francene Bethune For The St. Louis American

On June 11, Fathers’ Support Center CEO and Founder Halbert Sullivan testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee “Celebrating Fathers and Families” hearing for federal support of the Responsible Fatherhood Initiative.

“We provide services to over 500 fathers annually, and our current grant is at $2 million annually, of which over $400,000 goes towards evaluation,” Sullivan testified.

“Annually, we need to raise an additional $500K to support the services we provide to our fathers, which cannot be covered using grant funds. Fatherhood programs need to take a comprehensive approach to impact the problems

People On The Move

Samuel Achilefu was named a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. He is the Michel M. TerPogossian Professor of Radiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He was one of 156 engineers to receive this honor in 2019. According to the institute, induction into its College of Fellows is limited to the top 2 percent of medical and biological engineers.

Rhonda M. Key was honored as 2019 Principal of the Year by the St. Louis Secondary School Principal Association. She is principal of Jennings Senior High School. She has worked in the Jennings School District for the last four years and has been instrumental in working with others to establish work-based learning opportunities for students, in addition to achieving three years of 100 percent high school graduation for students attending Jennings Senior High.

Kahlil Robert Irving was chosen as one of 10 finalists for the ninth Great Rivers Biennial Arts Award Program presented by the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis and the Gateway Foundation. They were chosen from among more than 85 applicants by a distinguished panel of jurors. From the ten finalists, three artists will be selected to receive $20,000 and will be featured in the Great Rivers Biennial exhibition next year at CAM.

Paula Sams will become administrator of the Lieberman Learning Center in the School District of University City after completing her term this school year as interim principal at Barbara C. Jordan Elementary School. An educator for more than 35 years, she has a B.A. from Spelman College in Atlanta and an M.A. in Educational Policymaking and Administration from Washington University in St. Louis.

William A. Johnson Goolsby graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas as U.S. Air Force Airman. He completed an intensive, eightweek program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. He is a 2015 graduate of Gateway STEM High School and earned an associate degree from Aerospace Institute, St. Louis.

Fathers’ Support Center CEO and Founder Halbert Sullivan speaks to a group of father-students at the center.

Gwendolyn J. Wesley has been elected to serve on the board of CATALIST, a national women’s collective grantmaking organization that has invested over $120 million in local communities through non-profit entities. CATALIST is comprised of 60 sister organizations representing 16,000 women throughout the United States, the District of Columbia and Australia. Locally, she is past president of the Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund (a CATALIST member).

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

William A. Johnson Goolsby

Rhonda M. Key

Gwendolyn J. Wesley

Paula Sams

Samuel Achilefu

Kahlil Robert Irving

Longest time in U.S. history without federal minimum wage increase

By Holly Sklar For American forum

There are a lot of records that would be great to break.

This isn’t one of them: June 16, 2019 marks the longest period in history without an increase since the federal minimum wage was established in 1938.

The federal minimum wage went to $7.25 an hour on July 24, 2009 – nearly 10 years ago. It remains $7.25 today, amounting to just $15,080 a year for full-time work.

When the minimum wage does not go up, it goes down in value relative to the cost of living.

The gap between minimum wage and the cost of rent, groceries, medicine, transportation and everything else keeps growing. That matters whether you’re trying to work your way through school, support your child, or need a job to make ends meet on Social Security.

The buying power of today’s $7.25 minimum is lower than the minimum wage of 1968, which would be $11.96 in 2019 dollars, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Inflation Calculator. Our economy has grown considerably since 1968, but not the federal minimum wage, which sets the floor under worker pay.

When the minimum wage is too little to live on it’s bad for business as well as workers.

“When the minimum wage is inadequate it hurts employee health, morale, productivity and retention,” says Marietta,

Georgia business owner Kyle Johnson. “And it weakens consumer demand.” It’s vital to remember that working people are also customers. Increased pay means increased consumer buying power. U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce CEO Margot Dorfman explains that raising the minimum wage “will help small businesses like my members by putting more money in the pockets of customers – boosting consumer demand and job creation. Businesses that pay low wages may save on immediate payroll, but they experience the

n The federal minimum wage went to $7.25 an hour on July 24, 2009 – nearly 10 years ago. It remains $7.25 today.

significant expense of higher turnover, low morale and a less productive workforce.”

When the minimum wage goes up, worker financial stress and turnover go down, and businesses save on hiring and training costs. They see lower error rates, less product waste and better customer service. While the federal minimum wage has stagnated, more states

have acted. Twenty-nine states have minimum wages above the $7.25 federal level set in 2009. But only three states currently have a minimum wage greater than or equal to $12, approximating the 1968 value. And 21 states remain stuck at $7.25. Job growth has been better in states that have raised their minimum wages than those that have not. State action is important,

FATHERS

continued from page A11

faced by children growing up without a father in their lives.”

Fathers’ Support Center is a recipient of New Pathways for Fathers and Families Grant, which provides the center with $2 million a year to offer services to fathers and families in order to make a possible impact on children’s lives.

The New Pathway for Fathers and Families grant allowed 183 fathers to gain employment through the Responsible Fatherhood program, which channeled $5.8 million back into the economy, Sullivan said. The grant also allowed 216 fathers who were in the Reentry Program to gain employment, funneling

but it’s not sufficient. The minimum wage should not keep workers in poverty, wherever they work. We need a decent new federal floor, as called for in the Raise the Wage Act, which would gradually raise the federal minimum wage to $15 by the year 2024.

Nearly 40 million workers would get a raise if the minimum wage goes to $15 by 2024. The typical worker who would benefit is 35 years old – working jobs from preschool teacher to health care aide, cook to cashier to manufacturing worker.

Many business owners

n “Our program seeks to change the direction of low-income families through a comprehensive approach, which includes parenting, economic stability, employment readiness.”

– Halbert Sullivan

$3.8 million into the economy. Along with employment, the grant in 2018 helped 120 fathers to pay over $300,000 in child support.

Fathers’ Support Center mission is to turn men into responsible and involved fathers and also to help

across the country support raising the minimum wage because they know it will be good for their business and their communities. They know it will help level the playing field.

Keeping the minimum wage low will not help small businesses compete with big businesses. Costco and Amazon already pay $15 minimum wages. Target’s at $13 and going to $15 in 2020. Many smaller businesses pay at least $15 today or are committed to getting there by 2024 or before.

Forward-thinking small business owners know that to survive and thrive amid big chains and online giants, you need employees who want to work for you and customers who want to buy from you. You have to give customers a reason to come through your doors and keep coming back. And that comes back to customer service, which comes back to employees.

Gradually increasing the minimum wage will enable lower-wage companies to adjust to raises over time, experiencing benefits such as lower turnover, better productivity and increased consumer spending as they do.

In the words of Angela O’Byrne, a Louisiana Small Business Person of the Year, “increasing the federal minimum wage will create an economic ripple effect benefitting businesses large and small.”

Holly Sklar is the CEO of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage (www. businessforafairminimumwage. org), a national network of business owners and executives who believe a fair minimum wage makes good business sense.

mothers who require support to become positive role models and active mothers for their children. The center also partners with the Department of Corrections in order to assist incarcerated parents through a 6-week program that promotes parenting skills, economic stability, and building healthy relationships.

The center has been providing support for fathers for more than two decades and has reached over 16,000 fathers and impacted over 40,000 children according to Sullivan. Sullivan said, “Our program seeks to change the direction of low-income families through a comprehensive approach, which includes parenting, economic stability, employment readiness and training and building healthy relationships.”

RAC awards $1M in local arts grants

The Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis (RAC), the largest public funder of the arts in the St. Louis region, awarded a total of $978,400 to 111 organizations this year. Its recipients are nonprofit arts and culture organizations and nonprofit organizations for programming that broadens participation and increases access to the arts.

“The St. Louis art scene is as robust and vibrant as ever, and we continue to see organizations push themselves to develop innovative programs that grow the quality and diversity of the arts in St. Louis,” RAC Executive Director Felicia Shaw said in a statement

In addition, RAC awarded 37 Artist Support grants, which fund career advancement for individual artists in all artistic disciplines, totaling $97,677. Artist Support grants are designed to encourage creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and sustained commitment to artistic work by

n “We continue to see organizations push themselves to develop innovative programs that grow the quality and diversity of the arts in St. Louis.”

– RAC Executive Director Felicia Shaw

providing funds for an artist’s projects, needs and creative opportunities.

In January, RAC announced the 2019 Artist Fellowships, which recognize artistic excellence by honoring the work of seasoned artists, advancing the work of midcareer artists and nurturing the work of developing artists.

RAC will announce recipients of General Operating Support (GOS) grants later in June. Program Support and GOS grant requests are reviewed

and discussed for evaluation and assessment in an open, public forum by citizen review panelists. All applications are consistently evaluated upon artistic merit and quality of the programs, community benefit, and organizational capacity. Individual artist grant requests are read and reviewed by discipline readers based upon an established set of review criteria, specific to either grant. For additional grants information, visit: https://racstl. org/grant/grants-faqs/.

Holly Sklar

n “The critics will have something to say, but I’m a champion.”

— Kyle Lowry

Sports

What a year!

Prep sports year in review

By Earl Austin Jr.

Of the St. Louis American

It was a tremendous season of high school sports in the St. Louis metropolitan area. As we bring the year to a close, it’s time to take a look back at what was a great year with the St. Louis American 2019 Prep Year in Review.

Football Dominance: It was an unprecedented year of success for St. Louis football in the postseason and four teams won state championships and two other teams played for state titles as we had two All-St. Louis state championship games.

The CBC Cadets continued their mini-dynasty as they rolled to their third Class 6 state championship in the past four years.

The Cadets completed their incredible run with a 45-21 victory over Kansas City Rockhurst in the state-championship game.

Their three-headed monster of quarterback Brett Gabbert, running back Bryan Bradford, receiver Julian Williams, a dominant offensive line and Defensive Player of the Year M. J. Anderson kept the Cadets several steps ahead of the rest.

The Vianney Golden Griffins defeated Jackson to win their second Class 5 state championship in three years. The Golden Griffins were led by the spectacular Kyren Williams, a record-setting running back who is headed to Notre Dame.

Ladue won its first state championship in football as it defeated MICDS to win the Class 4 state championship in a battle of schools located on Warson Road. The Rams fielded one of the best defensive units in the state. The Class 3 state-championship game was also an All-St. Louis affair as Trinity Catholic defeated Cardinal Ritter to win its first state championship. The Titans were a star-studded team led by quarterback Isaiah Williams, receiver Marcus Washington and lineback Shammond Cooper.

City of Champions: The community of East St. Louis lived up to its nickname of City of Champions as the Flyers brought home Illinois state championships in boys’ basketball, boys track and girls’ track. The basketball team made history by winning its first Class 3A state championship with a thrilling overtime victory over Chicago Bogan. The Flyers were led by standout senior forward Terrance Hargrove Jr., who is headed to Saint Louis University.

See PREP, A15

In The CluTCh With Ishmael H. Sistrunk

King Kawhi

The Claw carries Raptors to first championship

Shout out to the Toronto Raptors for earning the franchise’s first NBA Championship. Powered by Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors knocked off the Golden State Warriors in six games. Yes, I picked the Warriors in five. Who knew Kevin Durant would only play 12 minutes in the series, Klay Thompson would suffer a serious injury, Kevon Looney would be playing with broken bones or that DeMarcus Cousins would defend like he was playing on two broken legs?

looming large in Toronto. It is possible he could stay up North after winning a championship. However, speculation has run rampant that Leonard has his eye on the Los Angeles Clippers.

Though the injuries will always be a part of the narrative, the Raptors still played lights out basketball and earned the victory. Leonard, Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet showed up and showed out on their way to winning the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Both teams could be absent from the Finals next season. Leonard’s free agency is

For the Warriors, both Durant and Thompson will likely miss the entire 2019-20 season due to their injuries. Plus, Thompson is an unrestricted free agent. Durant is expected to waive his player option to become an unrestricted free agent as well. Should neither team make it to the Finals next season, it would mark the first time since 2011 the Finals did not include at least one team that played in the Finals the previous year. Free Ujiri Winning an NBA championship is one of the happiest times in the lives of players, coaches and team executives. Unfortunately for Raptors President Masai Ujiri, that grand celebration was marred

by a case of walking while black. After the final buzzer sounded, Ujiri made his way down one of the tunnels in

the Oracle Arena to the court. He was on top of the world… until he was accosted by an overzealous sheriff’s deputy. According to the Alameda

for

and

Earl Austin Jr.

See CLUTCH, A15

County Sheriff’s Office, the white officer asked Ujiri, an English-born Nigerian/Kenyan,

his credentials. Ujiri refused

attempted to push past the deputy. The deputy pushed back and Ujiri punched him in the jaw.

Ishmael H. Sistrunk

Trinity Catholic celebrates after defeating Cardinal Ritter to win its first Class 3 state championship.

Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry played outstanding basketball in the Finals and helped lead the Toronto Raptors to its first NBA championship. The Raptors upset the defending champion Golden State Warriors in six games.

Photo by Wiley Price

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

MLB doing better in minority hiring –but is far from what black fans want to see

Jackie Robinson was allowed to play Major League Baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers 72 years ago on April 15, 1947.

He would have celebrated his 100th birthday in 2019 and, had he become a centurion, he certainly would question the lack of African American players, managers and front-office personnel in the game he helped transform.

According to USA TODAY’s annual report, only 68 black men were among the 882 players on Opening Day MLB rosters. This is a meager 7.7 percent. Three teams didn’t have a black player, 11 teams didn’t have more than one. The National League West – comprised of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants – had just three black players among the 100 men on their respective 25-man rosters.

While it is not visible on the field, Major League Baseball has slightly improved its hiring practices when it comes to minorities working for MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred, according to the 2019 Major League Baseball Racial and Gender Report Card (RGRC).

The report, released annually by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) at the University of Central Florida (UCF), concludes there was a slight increase in racial hiring practices and a slight decrease in gender hiring practices. MLB earned an A- on the issue of racial hiring, a C for gender hiring practices and an overall grade of B- in the 2019

RGRC. Racial hiring scored an 88 in 2018 and jumped a point to 89 in 2019. However, gender dipped from 71 last year to 70 in 2019. The combined grade of 79 points is the same score as 2018. Richard Lapchick, TIDES director and the report’s primary author, said “Jackie Robinson’s legacy and vision carries on 72 years after he broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. “He played for a future of baseball where all people can participate on and off the field. The Report Card shows baseball is moving in the right direction, but there must be more urgency to make Jackie’s vision a reality.”

Manfred’s League Office is setting a standard that is not being matched by MLB franchises.

It received an A+ for racial hiring and a C for gender hiring practices, which were the same grades as in 2018. According to the report, people of color comprised 33.3 percent and women comprised 30.8 percent of the total Central Office professional staff. There were 13 people of color and 15 women in positions of vice president or higher at the Commissioner’s Office. Lapchick credited Renée Tirado, MLB’s vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer, for “effectively (leading) the efforts since assuming this critical leadership position.”

However, “the team levels remain far behind the League Office,” says the study. Of the six grades for race at the team level, the only A

grade was for coaches, which is at 43.9 percent. The teams received a B for racial hiring at the senior administration levels and a B+ at the professional administration levels, but a Cand a D+ for gender hiring at the same positions.

The team grade for managers increased from a C in 2018 to a B in 2019. The five managers of color include just one man who identifies himself as black, Dave Roberts of the L.A. Dodgers. The other managers are Alex Cora, Boston Red Sox, Dave Martinez, Washington Nationals, Charlie Montoyo, Toronto Blue Jays and Rick Renteria, Chicago White Sox. All are Latino and the total of four matches the highest level in MLB history. This number has been reached in 2004 and 2011.

The number of minority executives serving in the role of GM/Head of Baseball Operations remained at four, earning MLB teams a C-minus.

The four are Michael Hill, president of Baseball Operations, Miami Marlins (African-American); Kenny Williams, executive vice president, Baseball Operations for the Chicago White Sox (African-American); Farhan

Zaidi, president of Baseball Operations, San Francisco Giants (Asian); Al Avila, executive vice president, Baseball Operations/ General Manager, Detroit Tigers (Latino).

“Though the percentage of managers of color continued to increase this year, the lack of diversity in this key position throughout MLB is of utmost concern, especially when looking at the level of diversity among the players,” Lapchick said.

“The 2019 season opened with only five managers of color, which is half of the all-time high of 10 reached in 2002 and 2009.

“Major League Baseball’s teams must improve inclusive hiring practices in order to accurately represent the players who play the game and the communities they serve.”

So where does the St. Louis Cardinals front office fall in the study?

According to the report, the franchise has one of only 28 black people serving in a role as executive vice-president, senior vice president or vice president on MLB teams

Michael Hall serves as vice president of Cardinals Care and Community Affairs.

All the data for the report comes directly from the MLB Central Office. The report is reviewed for accuracy by that office.

By the way, TIDES operates out of the UCF DeVos Sport Business Management Graduate Program. This is the same family of Richard DeVos, husband of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.

No Cardinals, few blacks

MLB All-Star Game voting has been divided into a primary round (to determine the top three vote getters at each position) and a final round.

Initial results were released this week and it does not look good for the Cardinals or for black player participation.

Josh Bell of the Pittsburgh Pirates is the National League leader at first base, but is followed closely Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves and Anthony Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs.

George Springer and Michael Brantley of the Houston Astros are second and third in American League outfield voting behind Mike Trout of the Anaheim Angels. This would be the starting AL outfield if the numbers hold.

Mookie Betts, the league’s reigning MVP is fifth. Betts and White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson are solid bets to be named to the All-Star team if they are not selected by fans.

But it looks like the game will be very short of black players.

As for the Cardinals, Yadier Molina is distant fifth at catcher, Paul Goldschmidt is seventh at first base, Kolten Wong is eighth at second base, Matt Carpenter 10th at third base, Paul DeJong eighth at shortstop and Marcell Ozuna is 15th in outfield balloting.

A former Cardinal, Luke Voit, is the solid leader at first base in the American League.

The Reid Roundup Give credit to the Toronto Raptors for winning the NBA Finals championship. But without Kevin Durant for all but a few minutes of the series, two injuries to Klay Thompson and nagging injuries plaguing “Boogie” Cousins and Andre Iguodala, the Golden State Warriors were about the 15th best team in the NBA during the series … More than 1.5 million people attended the championship parade in Toronto – and four people were shot … The word is that Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott wants to top the deal that Carson Wentz just signed with the Eagles and is seeking $34 million a season … Former Memphis running back Tony Pollard was drafted in the fourth round by the Cowboys. He got to show his stuff in the Birmingham Bowl because starting running back Darrell Henderson skipped the game. Why do you care? I’m hearing that Ezekiel Elliott might be suspended for the season’s first game against the New York Giants because of his antics involving a security guard in Las Vegas a few weeks ago. Alvin A. Reid was honored as the 2017 “Best Sports Columnist – Weeklies” in the Missouri Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest and is a New York Times contributor. He is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook, a weekly contributor to “The Charlie Tuna Show” on KFNS and appears monthly on “The Dave Glover Show” on 97.1 Talk.” His Twitter handle is @aareid1.

Alvin A. Reid

Dave Roberts of the L.A. Dodgers is the only AfricanAmerican manager in MLB.

CLUTCH

Continued from A13

Wait one second. So you’re telling me Ujiri, who just helped bring the Raptors the first championship in franchise history, decided to celebrate by punching a cop in the face? Nah. I’m not buying it. Despite the claim that Ujiri refused to provide his credentials, video and photos immediately before and after the incident show Ujiri holding credentials in his hand. Unless he tucked them into his back pocket so he could channel his inner-Deontay Wilder, then immediately grabbed them again, that story doesn’t pass the smell test.

Instead, it looks like a law enforcement official first taking one look at Ujiri and determining that he doesn’t belong. Now the sheriff’s office has decided to rely on the tired, bogus narrative that this black man was a violent, aggressive animal that could not be contained. Instead of saying “Our bad” and chalking it up as a misunderstanding, the cops are seeking misdemeanor battery charges against Ujiri. The involved officer is also expected to file a civil suit. That should come as no surprise. After initially claim-

TRACK

Continued from A13

The East Side girls and boys track and field teams won IHSA Class 2A state championships on back to back weekends in Charleston. The girls won their sixth state title and 17th in the Hall of Fame career of coach Nino Fennoy. The boys followed up with a dominating performance to win their state title, led by standout junior Willie Anderson.

V-Get Ready to Roll: The Vashon Wolverines won their

ing there were no significant injuries sustained, the unnamed officer is now said to have suffered a serious jaw injury and a concussion.

Unsurprisingly, this is the same Alameda County Sheriff’s office that “accidentally” retweeted white nationalist leader Richard Spencer from its official account. As Wilder would say, “To this day!”

Crazy offseason ahead

With the Warriors out of the way, the NBA offseason is about to be a crazy one. In fact, it’s already off to a wild start.

Saturday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski dropped the bomb that the Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to acquire Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans for Lonzo Ball Brandon Ingram Josh Hart and three first-round picks.

Even with Davis and LeBron James on board, the Lakers are still expected to have enough cap space to sign another elite player. Possibilities include Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, Jimmy Butler or even Leonard. Adding any of those talents alongside James and Davis and the Lakers would morph into a team that missed the playoffs into an instant title contender.

third championship in the past four years as they won the Class 3 state title in boys basketball. The Wolverines defeated Springfield Catholic 69-59 for the state title. The V was led by senior standout guard Mario McKinney as well as juniors Cam’Ron Fletcher, Phillip Russell and Kobe Clark.

West goes Back to Back: The Belleville West Maroons went back-to-back in boys basketball as they won their second consecutive Illinois Class 4A state championship. The Maroons were led by senior star E. J. Liddell, who was named Mr. Basketball in

It will also be interesting to see what the Pelicans do with their newfound influx of young talent and draft picks. It’s a no-brainer that the Pelicans will select Zion Williamson with the first pick of the draft. However, the deal with the Lakers also included the No. 4

Illinois for the second consecutive year. The supporting cast was also strong, led by Lawrence Brazil III, Terrance Randolph, Will Shumpert and Jaylin Mosby.

Girls Dynasty Continues: Incarnate Word Academy continued its dynasty in girls basketball as it won its fourth Class 5 state championship in the past five years. The Red Knights were led by its standout senior trio of Marissa Warren, Rickie Woltman and Kiki Britzman, who were a part of three of the four state championship efforts.

Kyle Lowry (right) encourages Raptors President Masai Ujiri after he had an altercation with an Alameda County Sheriff’s deputy attempting to stop him from entering the court. Lowry helped pull Ujiri away from the commotion with the officer so he could celebrate with his team.

to trade the No. 4 pick for a talented veteran. Names like Bradley Beal, Aaron Gordon and Miles Turner keep popping up as potential Pelicans targets. Making a move for any of the aforementioned vets would likely propel the Pelicans into the playoffs in the first year post-A.D.

Blues Nation I can’t let this column end without also giving a shout out to the St. Louis Blues on winning the first Stanley Cup in franchise history. There is no coincidence that the first time I went to see multiple Blues games in a single season, happened to be the year they won the Stanley Cup. I’m just saying… Great job to the entire team. St. Louis went from worst-tofirst to capture the Cup. Nearly every hockey fan outside of Boston was rooting for St. Louis. It was a magical season that won’t soon be forgotten. #LetsGoBlues!

pick in this year’s draft. Williamson, Ja Morant (Murray St.) and RJ Barrett (Duke) are considered the elite talents in this draft. They will all be off the board by the time the Pelicans reach their second pick. After those three, projections are all over the place for

CBC dominates the mats: The CBC Cadets went back to back in boys wrestling as they won the Class 4 state championship in Columbia. The Cadets were led by junior Joshua Sanders, who finished 40-2 and became a three-time individual state champion.

Trinity track doubles up: The Trinity Titans put on a show at the Class 3 state track and field championships in Columbia as their boys and girls brought home state championships on the same day and did it in impressive fashion. Both teams scored more than 100 points as they outdistanced

the next best talent. New Orleans could be considering Jarrett Culver (Texas Tech), Darius Garland (Vanderbilt), DeAndre Hunter (Virginia), Coby Wright (North Carolina) or Cam Reddish (Duke). Another option would be for the team

the field. On the boys side, senior Kemeric Winston won four gold medals while the girls grabbed the top four spots in the 100-meter high hurdles in an incredible race.

A Viking Conquest: Parkway North made history as their girls won the Class 4 state championship, which was a first for the school. Star sprinter Alicia Burnett was dominant in the sprints in winning the 100 and 200 and anchoring a relay to a state title, while middle distance standout Reina McMillan was also a stalwart performer.

Be sure to check In the Clutch online and also follow Ishmael on Twitter @ishcreates. Subscribe to The St. Louis American’s YouTube page to see bi-weekly sports videos starring Ishmael and Melvin Moore at youtube.com/stlamericanvideo

Wildcats make history: Hazelwood West also made history in boys track as they won their first state championship. With district rivals Hazelwood East and Hazelwood Central having already won state titles in boys’ track, West now joins the championship party, thanks largely to superstar sprinter Justin Robinson, who won four gold medals at the Class 5 state meet and set a new state record in the 400-meter dash in the process. (In next week’s St. Louis American, we will present the 2019 Athletes of the Year in the various sports).

UP Companies recognized for workplace safety

The UP Companies received numerous safety awards for its carpentry and electrical contractor divisions at the Associated General Contractors of Missouri’s (AGCMO) recent annual convention. Square UP Builders and Power UP Electrical Contractors both received an AGCMO Zero Lost Workdays in 2018 safety award. These awards are presented to firms that had no recordable accidents in the AGCMO charter area for the past year.

Power UP also collected the 2018 award for Accident Prevention in the work hour category of 100,001 to 200,000 hours and was one of four contractors at the convention that qualified for an E.C.L. Wagner Safety Award, the highest safety award honor given by AGCMO for overall safety performance. To qualify for this award, each of the work hour category winners were asked to submit a 250-word essay explaining the company’s safety systems, culture and management philosophy on safety.

The UP Companies (Michael B. Kennedy, president) is one of the region’s largest full-service MBE-certified contracting companies.

Financial Focus

By Aaron Ezell

Smart financial moves for ‘Gig’ economy workers

St. Louis Blues’ Captain Alex Pietrangelo hoisted the Stanley Cup for fans to see as he made his way down Market Street during the team’s championship parade while riding behind the Budweiser Clydesdales on Saturday.

Photo by Wiley Price

Black senator from St. Louis passed bill to make Blues official state hockey team

‘We were all excited about the possibility of the Blues bringing home the Stanley Cup’

By Chris King Of The St. Louis American

The lovefest that the St. Louis region underwent as the St. Louis Blues went from worst to first to win the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history made it clear who is the official, unofficial, and alternate favorite hockey team of the city. The team also is one signature – that of Gov. Mike Parson – away from becoming the official state hockey team of Missouri as well.

Sitting on Parson’s desk is Senate Bill 210, introduced by state Senator Karla May (D-St. Louis), which “creates a number of official state designations, a memorial highway, and the Missouri Historical Theater program.”

“We were all excited about the possibility of the Blues bringing home the Stanley Cup,” May told The American “However, the Senate has been known to vote down such designations.”

May saw an opening when state Senator Shalonn “Kiki” Curls (D-Kansas City) fought in committee to allow the Kansas City Chiefs to become the state’s official football team. That effort passed as Senate Concurrent Resolution 4 and also awaits Parson’s signature.

May nicely got a cross-state assist from state Rep. Matt Sain (D-Kansas City), who added the Blues language to her state designations bill in the House.

“When the bill got back to the Senate, I was able to sustain the language by reiterating

the success of the Blues organization and the length of time they have been our hockey team,” May said (the Blues were founded in St. Louis, Missouri in 1967). “Also,” May said, like a consummate athlete making sure to share credit with other members of the team, “it did help that the other designation had passed.” Curls and May are both African-American women. Though the blackballing of Colin Kaepernick for exercising his freedom of speech has turned some folks away from the NFL, it has long been a league dominated by black athletes with a robust black fan base. Hockey, not so much.

But the Cinderella story of the Blues won the team some new fans and brought into public light some black fans who had been keeping their enthusiasm relatively quiet.

The Blues staff have been very smooth for years in integrating new fans into the base. In April 2016, a brother from St. Louis named Anthony Holmes who tweets as Tony X (@soloucity) stumbled onto the fast-paced game of professional ice hockey and tweeted an immortal witticism that went viral again during the Blues’ successful 2019 playoff run: “White people been hiding hockey from us for years bruh. This shit lit.” The Blues social media team reached out, put him in a seat less than a week later, and tweeted out his smiling face above a Blues jersey.

So as not to overstate May’s rabid fandom, it should be

n “We were all excited about the possibility of the Blues bringing home the Stanley Cup.”

– state Senator Karla May

said that Senate Bill 210 will enshrine more than the Blues if the governor signs it into law. Our city’s hockey team has some quirky company in what would be the Class of 2019 for new state designees. The pawpaw tree would become

the state fruit tree, the Missouri

“Show Me” tartan the official tartan, and the hellbender salamander, “also known as the snot otter or lasagna lizard,” would get the tragic honor of becoming the official endangered species for the state

of Missouri. Also, the portion of State Highway P from Dove Nest Lane continuing east to State Highway M in St. Charles County would become known as “Waylon Jennings Memorial Highway” (hell, yeah).

Nor is May the first African American from St. Louis who has risen to the Blues’ defense.

David Steward, founder and chairman of World Wide Technology, stepped in to help keep the Blues in St. Louis and Missouri in 2012 as part of an ownership group that purchased

the team for $130 million. Though he declined to cite dollars or percentages when interviewed by The American in 2012, Steward said he was “one of a group of business leaders interested in preserving this team in our community. I wouldn’t say it was a business decision, so much as a civic decision.”

Parson’s office did not respond immediately when asked if he will sign Senate Bill 210 or when.

Store employee Nanette Mitten shows off a Stanley Cup winner scarf to a customer at the St. Louis Blues gift shop at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis on June 13, 2019. The St. Louis Blues defeated the Boston Bruins in Game seven of the Stanley Cup finals on June 12, 2019 bringing the Stanley Cup to St. Louis for the first time in franchise history. The gift shop has been busy with new shoppers seeking Stanley Cup winner items.

Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Karla May

Scenes from Saturday’s Blues Championship Parade

St. Louis Blues’ Vladimir Tarasenko waves to the crowd.

St. Louis Blues’ NHL Hall of Famer Bernie Federko enjoys some champagne as he rides in the parade.

St. Louis Blues owner Tom Stillman and his family salute Blues fans.

St. Louis Blues’ goalie Jordan Binnington, who set a Stanley Cup Playoffs record for wins by a rookie goaltender with 16, gestures to the crowd.

St. Louis Blues forward Jaden Schwartz signals to fans where the Blues finished the 2019 season.

Photos by Wiley Price

A Handy tune set the stage for a season that Blues fans will never forget

By Alvin Reid

For the St. Louis American

African-American musician and composer W.C. Handy composed “St. Louis Blues” in 1914. It chronicled the tough times he had in this city in the late 1890s as he struggled to find lasting success.

It would become one of his biggest hits and remains one of the most important Blues songs ever recorded.

Fifty-three years later, an expansion hockey team named, accordingly, the St. Louis Blues, joined the NHL.

Handy’s historic song blared every game when the Blues took the ice at The Arena. It also played at the beginning of every KMOX broadcast. It is still part of the team’s lore and pregame. He watched from above last week, and probably said with a smile to my dad, “It’s about time they did right by my song.” Wednesday, June 12 is a day we’ll never forget.

As I sat on my couch and the final seconds passed, I literally was saying aloud, “They actually did it. The Blues won the Stanley Cup.”

I think the hockey gods sent St. Louis a blessing with the 5-1 loss to the Boston Bruins in Game Six. I fear crazed fans would have gotten a bit out of control had the Cup been won here. So, we waited. We worried. But we knew this team – these guys were somehow different. This time it seemed like fate was finally on the Blues’ side. Three days after the ultimate disappointment, the party was on after a 4-1 win in Game 7.

I work at a health and nutrition store in Kirkwood part-time and it was one of the slowest days I’ve ever

experienced. It seemed like everyone was either downtown at the Enterprise Center, Busch Stadium or their location to watch Game 7 by early afternoon. My gut was wrenched throughout the day. Take away the first five minutes of the game, and it was smooth sailing.

Blues go up 1-0. Cool. Blues go up 2-0. Amazing. Blues go up 3-0. OMG! We’re gonna win!! Blues go up 4-0. This thing is over!!!

Blues win the Stanley Cup. Misty-eyed wonder. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the 9-year-old me that so desperately wanted the

Blues to win that Game Four in 1970 against the Bruins, only to be turned back by Bobby Orr in overtime.

He made a gust appearance in my living room a little after 10 p.m. We both were gleeful. I was in Lawrence, Kansas for the Spring game, the weekend of April 12-14. The Blues’ series against Winnipeg was underway and they took a 2-0 command with two road wins. They then lost the net two home games.

When did I start to believe the Blues could really win this year? When Jaden Schwartz scored with 15 seconds left in Game 5 against Winnipeg. The Jets had led 2-0 heading into the third period, yet the Blues

won 3-2.

This told me that these were not “the same ole’ Blues.”

By the way; I have never liked “Gloria,” and I still don’t.

But getting back to my euphoria. It stayed with me for 24 hours because I boldly promised the viewing audience of Donnybrook during a pledge show that the Stanley Cup would be at our live broadcast “Donnybash” on Sept. 27 at The Sheldon.

My mouth has written a check that my read end now has to cover.

The Blues made it happen. Why can’t I?

Just as the playoffs were about to begin, a viewer pointed out that we had Kurt Warner

The Chuck Berry statue now wears a St. Louis Blues sweater in University City, Missouri on June 13, 2019. The St. Louis Blues are celebrating winning their first ever Stanley Cup, defeating the Boston Bruins in Game seven of the Stanley Cup finals on June 12, 2019. The St. Louis Blues players will have their parade on June 15, 2019, through the streets of St. Louis.

and Ozzie Smith photos on the wall of the set at the Nine Network, but no Blues player. Before Ballpark Village was constructed, the Blues and St. Louis Cardinals pregame and postgame shows were shot in a studio at the Nine Network. I met former Blue and Hall of Famer Bernie Federko. People, he is one of the nicest men in sports I have ever met. A true gentleman. I got to talk baseball with Whitey Herzog when I co-wrote a book about the 1982 Cardinals. I got to talk hockey with Federko on several occasions. They are high on my list of best times in sports – and I’ve been

involved with sports writing since I was in high school.

Our director, Anne Marie Berger, asked Ferderko to make a video that would involve him putting his photo on the wall set. Not only did he do it, he did it with style. He sneaks on to the set and stealthily hangs the photo and the gag is filmed like he’s on security cameras. I would say the next week that the Blues were going to win the Stanley Cup because Federko’s photo was now with us. I also was a guest on several episodes of a program called “Stay Tuned” that aired on the Nine Network for a few seasons. One night, Blues owner Tom Stillman and I were on the same show.

The conversation was about downtown and some millennial know-it-all was talking nonsense about how teams and arenas do nothing for economic development and really don’t help downtown areas. Near the end of the show, all of the guests were on the set.

Stillman and I let the young man know his thoughts were not based on fact. He had a right to his opinion, but Stillman, in a friendly manner, told him what he was saying was shaky. So, there is my hope. Tom and Bernie, we need that Cup on Sept. 27 at Donnybash!! Oh, as I said in a recent column, let’s make sure the Cup travels to every corner of the city.

St. Louis, you’ve waited for 52 years to get that Cup. It’s here. It was a long, hard road this year and the 51 previously. There’s nothing more to say than, “THANK YOU!!” Well, one more thing; LET’s GO BLUES!!

Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Goodbye Charles Glenn

St. Louis Blues bid farewell to anthem singer during historic bid for Stanley Cup

By Kenya Vaughn

Of The St. Louis American

“For the final time, please welcome Charles Glenn as he sings our national anthem,” the announcer said ahead of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals Sunday at Enterprise Center.

Glenn responded the introduction by blowing a kiss and using his hand to extend it to the entire circumference of the rink. The crowd erupted with applause as if they were cheering for a team hero. In his own way, he has become one, since signing on as their home game anthem singer back in 2000.

After he sings, he usually poses for selfies and signs autographs while maneuvering through Enterprise Center.

“This whole thing is mind-boggling,” Glenn said. “ I am an anthem singer, I’m not a player.”

The St. Louis native prayed to become a famous musician and able to sing before crowds of thousands of people every night. “They say if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans,” Glenn said. God actually made Glenn laugh with the way that his prayer was answered.

“Here I am, a brother, out here singing for the hockey team,” Glenn said, laughing all over again. “And every time I sing for the Blues, there are 16,000-17,000 people – every time, and I get nothing but love. It’s a moment of ecstasy I can’t describe. It’s been the same feeling I got the first time, for 19 years.”

The St. Louis Blues stood a fighting chance to have Glenn’s final performance after 19 seasons as resident national anthem-singer take place the same night that the hockey team became NHL champions for the first time ever.

“I didn’t know it at the time,

but as I was singing in the stadium, there were thousands and thousands more people singing along with me on Market Street,” Glenn said. “That blew my mind.”

He took a bit more vocal liberties than usual. Not too much, but just enough for a memorable finale to his tenure as the anthem singer. He held on to free for what seemed like forever in the second to the last line of the song – but without forsaking clarity, tone or pitch. The extra bit of drama came, in part, thanks to his wife, Nikki Glenn. They usually go to the Tony Awards in New York as a vacation.

“She said, ‘This is the Stanley Cup,” Glenn said. “‘We will just have to bring the Tonys to us.’”

The St. Louis Blues posted his final anthem performance

on their official Facebook page – and in three days it received more than a quarter-million views.

The video is captioned with a simple, yet profoundly touching note.

“Charles Glenn, Thank you for everything.”

It was a fitting finale for what an entire city hoped would be the start of a fairytale ending for St. Louis – a Stanley Cup win at home after decades of playoff disappointments.

In April, Glenn announced that due to his battle with multiple sclerosis after 19 years as anthem singer for The St. Louis Blues, this year would be his last.

“In December of last year, things started changing for me,” Glenn said. “Not that I was getting any sicker, but it just became harder for me to

move around a big arena like that.”

He knew for sure when he was walking from Enterprise Center to his car and his leg started dragging to the point where it felt like it would give way that his time had come.

“As I was walking, I thought, ‘Okay, it’s time to give someone else a chance.’”

With his announcement, he said that he had hoped to end his run in mid-June – which meant that the Blues would have to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.

According to Glenn, the team said they wanted to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals and promised themselves that they would work towards it in honor of Glenn’s last season.

Even though the Boston Bruins made sure that a Stanley Cup at home wasn’t meant to

Charles Glenn, singing the national anthem during a St. Louis Blues game. His performance ahead of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Sunday at Enterprise Center was his last as the official anthem singer for the home games of the St. Louis Blues.

be, what a ride this has been for Charles Glenn.

‘Thank God for State Farm’

A connection with a St. Louis Blues insider opened the door for Glenn to be one of 35 lucky singers up for a chance to be the resident anthem singer for St. Louis Blues home games. As they were lined up on the ice, the individual conducting the audition asked the people who knew the Canadian national anthem to raise their hands. About 12 of the 35 raised their hands. Everyone else was thanked for their time and excused.

Glenn was among the remaining 12. He was hired for a gig with State Farm Insurance to perform during a conference in Quebec a few years earlier.

One of the songs he had to learn was the Canadian national anthem.

“Thank God for State Farm,” Glenn said, laughing once again. “Isn’t it funny how God works. I never thought I would sing that song again. And yet out of that song came this experience.”

That’s not to say that the rest of the audition back in 2000 went off without a hitch. By the time it was his turn to sing, the battery of the cordless microphone the auditioning singers used went dead halfway through his song. He kept singing. They changed the battery. He asked if he needed to start again. They said, “that will be all, thanks.” He assumed, that was the end of the line for him. It was just the beginning of a 19-year ride that he wouldn’t trade for the world. “It was something that I did not expect, but it was such a wonderful thing,” Glenn said. Now 64, he has been a professional musician since he was 18 years old. He performed in St. Louis and spent several years performing in California and even enjoyed a stint in the popular singing group, the 5th Dimension. Since 2003, he has been performing as the leader of his own band, The Charles Glenn Group, and has every intention to continue. They perform at weddings and corporate events. He’s also a part of the Central Baptist Church music ministry as a percussionist.

“I’m going to keep on singing and performing until God tells me to stop,” said. Glenn. As he passes the torch, his advice for the St. Louis Blues’ next anthem singer is simple.

“Learn the song,” Glenn said. “And sing it like your last performance in life every time you step on that ice.”

Photo courtesy of St. Louis Blues

A soul jam

Stephanie Mills and O’Jays gave the people what they wanted

Fabulous Fox. She looked great. She sounded even better – which is not always the case for recording stars who have mostly stayed out of the spotlight. She was happy to show off that she still has the voice and the moves that made her a star as the original Dorothy in the classic musical “The Wiz” nearly 45 years ago.

“I’m 62 years old, y’all,” Mills said after bouncing back and forth across the stage nonstop high impact tracks “What Cha Gonna Do With My Lovin’” and “A Rush on Me.” There wasn’t a hint of rust as she moved her hips and hit the high notes that she’s known for even though she doesn’t hit the road regularly. St. Louis fans learned why.

“I come out and play when I can, but my first priority is my son,” Mills said before introducing Farad Mills to the crowd. He had a special seat on the side of the stage where he played tambourine and clapped along to the music before heading backstage. She beamed when talking about Farad, who has Down Syndrome, and the fact that he had just written a new book entitled “The Adventures of Farad.” Mills made up for lost time with her performance Saturday. Fans got the best of the dance music and the ballads – which included a shout out to St. Louis’ own Angela Winbush for writing “Power of Love,” a song that Mills admitted was her favorite song within her catalog of hits to

A ‘national treasure’ at the National Gallery

By Kenya Vaughn

Of The St. Louis American

n “I’ve made works that I didn’t know if I liked them. – or I didn’t like them – but I knew they were correct.”

– Oliver Lee Jackson

live showing of throwback R&B and Soul Saturday night at The Fabulous Fox Theatre.

The brilliance of ‘Last Black Man in San Francisco’

Young black man’s story of poverty and gentrification handled with care and grace

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“The Last Black Man in San Francisco” should be required viewing material for those in search of context for the generational effects of systemic racism, drugs,

and

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

Stephanie Mills and the O’Jays provided fans with a blissful

St. Louis native Oliver Lee Jackson stands in front of one of his multi-paneled works currently on display at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Photo by Fred Sweets

A photo from the movie “The Last Black Man in San Francisco”.

Photos by Lawrence Bryant

How to place a calendar listing

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

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

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

concerts

Fri., June 21, 8 p.m., JHowes Events, LLC presents Throwback Legends Live in Concert: Project Pat & Crunchy Black. The Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sat., June 22, 11 a.m., The Omicron Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. presents Pink Pizzazz Scholarship Brunch featuring Denise Thimes, Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel. For more information, e-mail rbritt@ stlamerican.com

Sat., June 22, 8 p.m., Klymaxx & Pegasus Worldwide presents V.I.C. & Cupid: Up Close & Personal Part IV. 9800 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

June 22 – 23, Gateway Men’s Chorus’ Stonewall Remembrance Concert. Featuring solemn pieces through disco celebrations, GMC shines a light on this important time. Touhill Performing Arts Center, 1 University Blvd., 63121. For more information, visit www. touhill.org.

Sat., June 29, 7 p.m., An Evening with Melba Moore With special guest Lamont

Hadley Sr. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Wed., July 3, 7 p.m., Atomic Cowboy presents Robert Randolph and the Family Band. 41410 Manchester Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Fri., July 12, 7 p.m., Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre presents Santana: Natural Now. 14141 Riverport Dr,, 63043. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

Sat., July 13, 7:30 p.m., 95.5

The Lou presents The Tom Joyner One More Time Experience feat. Tom Joyner, KEM, and Maze feat. Frankie Beverly. Chaifetz Arena, 1 S. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.thechaifetzarena. com.

local gigs

Thur., June 20, 4:30 p.m., Parties on the Plaza feat. Dirty Muggs. West Port Plaza Dr., 63146. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Sat., June 22, 8 p.m., R U Still Down?!: An Art & Music Tribute to Tupac Shakur. The Fellowship, 3453 S. Jefferson Ave., 63118. For

more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Thur., June 27, 8 p.m., Old Rock House presents Southern Avenue. 1200 S. 7th St., 63104. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

June 28 – 29, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m., Denise Thimes Sings Carmen McRae. Jazz at the Bistro, 3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.jazzstl.org.

Sun., June 30, 5:30 p.m., Allusion Entertainment Productions presents The Drew Project: Urban Jazz – Rumble on the Drums The Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, visit www.

eventbrite.com.

Tues., July 9, 7:30 p.m., Gaslight Jazz Series with Lamar Harris. The Gaslight Theater, 358 N. Boyle Ave., 63108. For more information, visit www.stlas.org.

Sat., July 13, Atomic Cowboy presents Kim Massie: Steely Dan Tribute. 41410 Manchester Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

special events

Thurs., June 20, 11 a.m., CAASTLC hiring event, on the spot interviews, and job seekers can sign up for job readiness workshops, one-onone employment/interview training and receive materials to assist with the job-seeking process. 2709 Woodson Rd. Overland Mo. For more information, call (314) 4464431.

Through June 21, 1st Annual Juneteenth Celebration & Comedy Festival. Harris Stowe, 3026 Laclede Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Fri., June 21, 7 a.m., The Soulfisher Ministries presents the 5th Annual Educate Now to Achieve Later Golf Tournament. Norwood Hills Country Club, 1 Norwood Hills Country Club Dr., 63121. For more information, visit www.thesoulfisherministries. com.

Fri., June 21, 5 p.m., Food Truck Fest 2019. Tilles Park, 9551 Litzsinger Rd., 63124. For more information, visit www.facebook.com.

Fri., June 21, 8 p.m., Missouri History Museum presents The Experience: A Celebration of Culture

Celebrate the African American experience. 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. mohistory.org.

Through June 22, Delmar Loop Week. Each day includes a different event such as a Juneteenth Celebration, Taco Tuesday, Pride Day, and more. University City, 63130. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sat., June 22, 11 a.m., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Omicron Theta Omega Chapter presents Pink Pizzazz Scholarship Brunch feat. Denise Thimes Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel, 9801 Natural Bridge Rd., 63134. For more information, visit www.akaomicronthetaomega.org.

Sat., June 22, 12 p.m., Girls With Goals presents Black Business Expo II. More than 40 Black owned businesses will be in attendance. Hilton Garden Inn St. Louis Airport, 4450 Evans Place, 63134. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sat., June 22, 10 a.m., Fiesta in Florissant 5th Annual Car Show. Knights of Columbus Park, 50 St. Francois St., 63031. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sun., June 23, 5 p.m., Sauce Magazine’s Saucy Soiree. St. Louis Union Station, 1820 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Thur., June 27, 5 p.m., Show-Me Downtown: An Evening in Blue. Join us for a concert, food stations, live painting, and more in celebration of the growth of downtown St. Louis. Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Thur., June 27, 6 p.m.,

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Rate Commission Public Hearing. An opportunity to give feedback on the MSD Wastewater Rate Proposal. Maryland Heights Community Center, 9700 2300 McKelvey Rd., 63123. For more information, visit www. stlmsd.com.

Fri., June 28, 9 a.m., St. Louis Public Schools Interview Day. Hiring for nurses, custodians, safety officers, substitutes, instructional care aides, early childhood education teaching aides and childcare attendants. For more information, visit www.slps.org/jobs.

June 28 – 29, 9 a.m., Mud Mania at Queeny Park. Slither and slide, crawl and climb through our mud pit obstacle course. 550 Wiedman Rd., 63011. For more information, visit www. stlouisco.com/Parks-andRecreation.

Sat., June 29, 9 a.m., The Great Inflatable Race Participate in our inflatable obstacle course, visit our inflatable village, and raise money for charity. Forest Park, 5595 Grand Dr., 63112. For more information, visit www. thegreatinflatablerace.com.

Sat., June 29, 10 a.m., Emmanuel Temple Women’s Department invites you to a Summertime Bazaar. Food, fun, fellowship, and shopping. 4395 Union Blvd. (upper lot), 63115. For more information, call (314) 598-8187, Sat., June 29, 11 a.m., Wellston Community Coalition and Young Voices with Action, Inc. present the 4th Annual Black Wallstreet Festival. Wellston Loop, Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. & Hodiamont Ave., 63112. For more information, visit www. youngvoiceswithaction.org.

Sat., June 29, 1 p.m., Black Girls Hustle Harder’s 2nd Annual Summer Block Party. There will be music, inflatables, face painting, vendors, and more. 1400 St. Louis Ave., 63106. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sun., June 30, 5 p.m., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., St. Louis Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Nu Chi Chapter present the Annual STL Alumni Greek Step Show. Ballpark Village, 601 Clark Ave., 63102. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

literary

Sun., June 23, 7 p.m., Sistahspeak presents The Sanctuary. A seasonal open mic that debuted March 2018. Calling all poets, singers, comedians, musicians, and anyone who wants to share their voice. Voce, 212 S. Tucker Blvd., 63102. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Mon., June 24, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library hosts

Kenya Vaughn recommends

Gaslight Jazz Series with Lamar Harris. See LOCAL GIGS for details.

Former Ambassador William

J. Burns, author of The Back Channel: A Memoir of American Diplomacy and The Case For Its Renewal. 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information, visit www. slcl.org.

Sun., June 30, 6 p.m., Books N Bros celebrates Black Excellence in Literacy. Hosted by Dr. Marty K. Casey Innovation Hall, 4220 Duncan Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Sun., June 30, 7:30 p.m., Poetic Justice Open Mic Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

art

Sat., June 22, 9 a.m., Loop Arts Fest 2019. Experience art in all forms from culinary arts to literary arts to musical arts to visual arts. Delmar Loop, 63130. For more information, visit www.facebook.com.

Thur., June 27, 6:30 p.m., Contemporary Art Museum presents Artist Talk: Paul Mpagi Sepuya. Sepuya challenges the history of photography and deconstructs traditional portraiture. 3750 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www. camstl.org.

Sat., July 13, 10 a.m., Pulitzer Arts Foundation presents a Family Day Block Party. Families are invited to take part in free art activities. Designed for ages 3 – 12. Grand Center Arts District, 3716 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.pulitzerarts.org.

comedy

Sat., June 22, 6:30 p.m., 3rd Annual Ladies of Laughter Comedy Show. Special Tymes Banquet Hall, 5950 Natural Bridge Rd., 63120. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

June 27 – 29, Helium Comedy Club presents Ms. Pat. 1151 St. Louis Galleria St., 63117. For more information, visit www. heliumcomedy.com.

Sat., June 29, 7 p.m., The 85 South Show Live feat. DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller, and Chico Bean. Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Kenya Vaughn recommends

July 5 – 6, Helium Comedy Club presents The Plastic Cup Boyz. 1151 St. Louis Galleria St., 63117. For more information, visit www. heliumcomedy.com.

Sun., July 7, 7 p.m., NMotion Ent. & TNT Ent. present the Last Laugh Comedy Tour. Feat. Dyon Brooks & Timothy Wilson. The Laugh Lounge, 11208 W. Florissant Ave., 63033. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

theatre

Sat., June 29, 7:30 p.m., YourWords STL presents This Is Me: Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. A live theatrical performance of the writing of the residents of Marygrove Children’s Home. Innovation Hall, 4220 Duncan Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Through June 30, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and Jazz St. Louis presents the world premiere of “Fire Shut Up In My Bones.” Loretto Hilton, 130 Edgar Rd. For more information, visit www. opera-stl.org or call (314) 9610644.

July 5 – 14, St. Louis Actors Studio presents Labute New Theater Festival. Set One includes: Great Negro Works of Art, Color Timer, Privilege, and Kim Jong Rosemary. The Gaslight Theater, 358 N. Boyle Ave., 63108. For more information, visit www.stlas. org.

July 12 – 14, Independent Theater Company presents For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf. The Theatre Guild of Webster Groves, 517 Theatre Ln., 63119. For more information, visit www. brownpapertickets.com.

lectures and workshops

Fri., June 21, 11:30 a.m., Lunch and Learn with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. Discussion will be on employment issues – hiring, firing, and minimizing risk. 1023 N. Grand Blvd., 63106. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Wed., June 26, 6:30 p.m., The Dark Side of Human Nature: The Rwandan

Massacre of April-July, 1994 – A Personal Story Marie-Christine Williams tell her powerful personal story. Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. mohistory.org.

Thur., July 11, 5:30 p.m., Focus St. Louis presents Equity in City/County Reform. an initial discussion on equity issues in the areas of political representation and in criminal justice. Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www.focusstl.org.

Sat., July 13, 1 p.m., St. Louis Area Violence Prevention Commission presents Conversations on the Future of Community Policing in St. Louis. St. Louis Public Library, 5760 W. Florissant Ave., 63120. For more information, visit www. slpl.org.

health

Sat., June 22, 1:30 p.m., Health Education Forum. St. Louis County Library –Prairie Commons Branch, 915 Utz Lane, 63042. For more

95.5 The Lou presents The Tom Joyner One More Time Experience featuring Tom Joyner, KEM, and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. For more information, see CONCERTS.

information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sat., June 22, 2 p.m., Get Sexy Movement 2 Year Anniversary Sweat Fest, 62 Grandview Shopping Plaza. For more information, call (314) 898-8898.

Sun., June 23, 8 a.m., 7th

Annual Head for the Cure 5K. Funds raised benefit brain cancer research and programs at Siteman Cancer Center and the Brain Tumor Trials Collaborative. The Muny, Forest Park, 63101. For more information, visit www.secure.headforthecure. org.

Tues., June 25, 6 p.m., Mercy Hospital South Nursing Career Fair. We are looking to fill a variety of nursing, student nursing and patient care associate positions. 10010 Kennerly Rd., 63128. For more information, call (314) 3464147.

spiritual

Sat., June 29, 11 a.m., Bethesda Temple Church Community Day. Guest choirs, gaming truck,

resource providers, giveaways, kidz korner, and more. 5401 Bishop JA Johnson Ln., 63121. For more information, call (314) 382-5401.

Sun., June 30, 5 p.m., Fem FM Radio & United Christian Community Church present Gospel Showcase 2019. Gospel Vocalists, Christian Hip-Hop Artists, Praise Dancers, Poets and Comedians. Artist Art, 2643 Cherokee St., 63118. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

July 15 – 19, Newstead Avenue Missionary Baptist Church invites you to Vacation Bible School. 4370 N. Market St., 63113. For more information, call (314) 3714436.

Thursdays, 6 p.m., Coffee Cake & True Islam, 4529 Emerson Ave.

film

Fri., June 21, The Last Black Man in San Francisco starring Jimmy Fails, Jonathan Majors and Danny Glover opens in theatres nationwide

JACKSON

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– who is making the art or who is looking at the art,” Cooper said. “It’s about the art itself. And this art is here because it deserves to be here. It’s about quality and value. That’s what the National Gallery is about.”

Oliver Lee Jackson: Recent Paintings exhibition, was given prime positioning in the National Gallery’s iconic East Building, where it will run through mid-September. Located on the National Mall, the National Gallery of Art – or National Gallery as it is commonly referred – is one of the world’s preeminent museums and is among the country’s most esteemed arts institutions.

“We are honored to have Oliver and his dynamic paintings join our tradition of presenting the work of leading contemporary artists here in the East Building,” said Kaywin Feldman, director of The National Gallery of Art. “Over the course of his long career, Oliver Lee Jackson has evaded definition. He continuously experiments with new mediums, styles and materials. His work is abstract, but also rooted in the human figure. It’s evocative, but not necessarily representational.”

When he does speak about it, Jackson doesn’t talk about his work like many artists would– carrying on about where the inspiration was drawn from, what it means and the idea he hopes the work expresses.

“Jackson’s experience working with writers, musicians, dancers and other visual artists directly inspires these colorful compositions. His work has captivated audiences worldwide and challenges viewers to see in new and different ways,” said James P. Gorman, repre-

BLACK MAN

Continued from C1

surroundings to inform his art. They refuse to reside within the box of expectations imposed on young black boys in blighted communities. And Jimmie feels

MILLS

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senting Morgan Stanley, corporate sponsor of the Jackson exhibition. “Oliver Jackson: Recent Paintings” marked the first time that Morgan Stanley partnered with the National Gallery of Art to showcase an exhibition. They said, “We couldn’t be more pleased that it’s to help showcase Mr. Jackson’s vibrant work.”

“I’ve made works that I didn’t know if I liked them. – or I didn’t like them – but I knew they were correct,” Jackson said. “What makes it right? Well, what was the intention? If I stand before a work and I’m going to take that time – my time – to be still, it better be worth it.” His intention is “to activate.”

“I’m not ever interested in

like he has the opportunity to reclaim his family’s prized possession, he moves full speed ahead.

Jimmie Fails is effective and authentic in the eponymous role. He lives the whole experience just as the portions that inspire the story. Though the role is a relatively small

duet partner, the late Teddy Pendergrass, with “Two Hearts” and “Feel The Fire” and allowed for an expanded tribute via her background singers that paid additional homage to Pendergrass, along

stories. They have a beginning, middle and end,” Jackson said in a film created by the Gallery in his Oakland studio aptly titled, “There Is No Story.”

“I’m interested in the images relating to one another in such a way that they call up and create tension. The tension between them activates the viewer.”

Ideally the implications of that activation are wide open for interpretation.

“There is no story. There is no storyline to follow. There are a series of effects and they should add up to opening up the viewer to a world that has a clear feeling,” Jackson said. “Let the painting lead you. Let it do, standing before you, what it does. Most people want to interpret it before they let it do

one, Danny Glover is endearing presence as Mont’s grandfather – who opens his home and his heart to Jimmie while encouraging both boys through love, kindness and acceptance.

Jonathan Majors in the role of Mont is as stunning as Newport-Berra’s

with Michael Jackson and Luther Vandross.

Mills returned to the stage with a tribute of her own. “We just lost the greatest singer of all time,” Mills said before diving into a mashup of Aretha

to them what it does.”

Being activated by Jackson’s work is a feeling that Cooper has known for more than two decades. While working as curator of Modern Art, Cooper presented Jackson at the Harvard Art Museums when he organized “Duo: Oliver Jackson/Marty Ehrlich.” It featured a series of paintings by Jackson and a music soundtrack composed by Ehrlich. The exhibition was dedicated to their friend and collaborator, World Saxophone Quartet co-founder, saxophonist and composer Julius Hemphill. “Duo” was inspired by Ehrlich, Hemphill and Jackson’s experiences in St. Louis (Ehrlich and Jackson are St. Louis natives). Jackson, a graduate of

cinematography. The young actor embraces the character with the grace, depth and artistic intention that deserves recognition during awards season. Mont has the task of absorbing and then conveying the full breadth of his co-stars all the while presenting as a young man who frames

Franklin’s “Call Me” and “Dr. Feelgood.” A stellar rendition of “Home” from “The Wiz” served as her finale.

After a longer break between acts than usual for The Fox, The O’Jays opened their

At the opening press conference, James P. Gorman of Morgan Stanley, Kaywin Feldman, director of The National Gallery of Art, artist Oliver Lee Jackson and Harry Cooper, senior curator.

According to Cooper, Jackson is also a master of invention.

“You will see in so many of these paintings, things that nobody has really done before,” Cooper said. “Things that he has invented over years or in a moment – there is a lot of improvisation and a lot of inspiration inside the exhibition.”

Two months in, “Oliver Lee Jackson: Recent Paintings” is seeing its intention realized.

“Oliver Jackson paintings at [the] National Gallery,” famed contemporary artist Glenn Ligon said via Instagram to caption a handful of paintings from the exhibition, “Born in 1935 and kicking [expletive] ever since. Some of you all must have known about this, but I’m being schooled. Congrats to curator Harry Cooper for enlightening me.” The reward for Jackson would be if Ligon is schooled and enlightened by the art and not him. He’s pleased that he never reached the point of artistic vanity – which can present challenges to the creative process.

Vashon High School, spent several years as an artist, arts collaborator, arts educator and community activist in his hometown before leaving, finally locating to the Bay Area in the early 1970s.

Nearly 20 years after “Duo,” Cooper considers presenting Jackson’s work at the National Gallery “a great dream.”

“If we were in Japan, Oliver Lee Jackson would be what they call a living national treasure,” Cooper said. “And that really involves mastery of techniques, of genres and of traditional methods. He has done that not just in painting –which is the focus of this show – but sculpture, printmaking of all kinds, drawings and collaborations of artists in many other mediums.”

his existence by the art that inspires him as opposed to the surroundings that have the capacity to suffocate his creativity. He creates his own art with everything and everyone that he observes and is determined to offer a creative response that is honest, affecting and respectful. It is

“Either I’m a devotee to the work, or I want the work to make people know me,” Jackson said. “That’s not what I want. I want the art to be able to do what it does – to stand apart from me. It doesn’t need me to present itself. It’s whole. It ain’t me.”

“Oliver Lee Jackson: Recent Paintings” will be on display at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. through September 15. For more information on the National Gallery of Art, visit https://www.nga. gov/

There is a major Jackson painting, Alchemy (1977), currently installed in the Contemporary art galleries at the St. Louis Art Museum.

a mission that Majors himself fulfills when he embodies Mont.

“The Last Black Man in San Francisco” opens in St. Louis on Thursday, June 20. The film is rated R with a running time of 120 minutes.

show with “Give The People What They Want,” and went on to do exactly that. Hits like “Darling Baby,” “I Love Music” and “Living For The Weekend” had fans dancing in their seats as the R&B trio performed their signature choreography. The Fox quickly felt like a blue light basement party as Walter Williams and Eddie LeVert – distinct, but equally legendary R&B voices in their own right – got into songs like “Forever Mine,” “Let Me Make Love to You,” and “Stairway to Heaven.” The energy on both sides of the stage erupted when they jumped into “Love Train,” which included video footage of the trio performing on the famed music television program “Soul Train.” The audience’s response to the song was so overwhelming, that the O’Jays performed the song all over again in its entirety. The moment felt like a finale, but O’Jays had another act up the sleeves of their bedazzled red suits. They shouted out St. Louis for showing love to them from the very start of their 60-plus years as a group –and even gave mention to legendary radio personality Doctor Jockenstein – while powering through a medley of their lesser known hits, including “I Got You,” “Message in our Music,” “You Got The Hooks In Me” and “Feelings.” They also reminded fans that the Third World platinum hit “Now That We’ve Found Love” was an O’Jays original. Performances of “Back Stabbers,” “Used Ta Be My Girl” and “For The Love of Money” rounded out the lengthy performance that never lost its steam.

Photo by Fred Sweets

Celebrations

Birthdays

Reunions

yahoo.com or send your questions to P.O. Box 155, Florissant, MO 63032.

Beaumont High School Class of 1969 will celebrate its 50-year reunion Sept 20-22, 2019 at Embassy Suites St. Charles. Come join us as we celebrate these golden years, “Living Life Like It’s Golden.” For more information contact Dennis Hayden 314 276-6188 or beaumontclassof1969@

Beaumont Class of 1974 is planning its 45-year reunion for the weekend of July 26-28, 2019. To update us with your information please email us at ten55jw@yahoo.com, forward communications to Beaumont Alumni 1974, PO Box 37091, St. Louis MO 63141 or call James White, 314-494-5554. Details coming soon!

Beaumont High School Class of 1979 is planning its 40-year reunion. All activities are scheduled for the weekend of September 27-29. The location is The Airport Marriot at 10700 Pear

Tree Drive, St. Louis 63134. For more information, contact Milton Jackson at 314-2764392 or Yolanda Lockhart at lockhartyo08@gmail.com.

Kinloch Class of 1969 is planning its 50-year reunion, August 21-23. Dinner dance at Orlandos, 2050 Dorsett Village Plaza. For information call Ruben at 314-239-5202 or Ophelia at 314-280-6596. Classmates please respond by April 2019.

Northwest Class of 1979 is planning on cruising for our 40-year reunion and would love for you to join us! Date to sail is set for July 20, 2019 and you can feel free to contact: Duane Daniels at 314-568-

2057 or Howard Day at 414-698-4261 for further information. Please don’t miss the boat!

Parkway North Class of 1999 will celebrate its 20-year reunion on July 20 at 7 pm at the Fox Sports VIP Lounge at Ballpark Village. Cost is $60/person. For info contact Cyndi at Cyndi@ varsityreunion.com.

Soldan is having its 14th All-Class Alumni Picnic, August 17, 2019, at Tiemeyer Park, 3311 Ashby Rd., St. Ann, MO 63074 from 10 am-6 pm. Bring your own basket or grill out there. Food trucks will be present. T-Shirts are $15—

get your grad year on your t-shirt before August 3, 2019. For more information call: (314) 413-9088.

Soldan Class of 1974 Alumni Association is planning its 45-year reunion. Please get your contact information to dhblackjack@charter.net or call 314-749-3803.

Sumner Class of 1969 50-year reunion “Living Life Like It’s Golden” June 28-30, 2019. Looking for classmates of 1969 to contact us with your updated information via address:sumnerclass1969@ gmail.com or our FB page: Sumner High.

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

St.

We prefer that notices be

to us! However, notices may also be sent by mail to: Kate Daniel, 2315 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103 Deadline is 10 a.m. on Friday. If you’d like your class to be featured in a reunion profile, email or mail photos to us. Our email address is: reunions@stlamerican.com

Happy 3rd Wedding Anniversary to Rufus Conner Jr. and Donna Farrar Conner on June 18, 2019!

Faith leaders demand to be part of sensitivity training for police

‘Officers who hate certain groups cannot protect and serve that group’

By Francene Bethune For The St. Louis American

Police officers from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department who posted racist and bigot Facebook posts are a “ threat to the public,”

Reverend Spencer Lamar Booker, senior pastor at St. Paul A.M. E. Church, said during a press conference on the steps of St. Louis City Hall on June 13. Representatives from Christian, Muslim and LGBTQ communities held a press conference to discuss their dissatisfaction with how the city is handling the post by police officers.

Last week, the Plain View Project unveiled Facebook accounts of 43 police officers who published posts that were offensive to minorities. Twenty-three of the accounts that were found are linked to current police officers.

“Today we gather to amply our voices of the disdain of some 21or 22 police officers who thought it was okay to vent their First Amendment right and to the world their hearts,” said Booker. “In their hearts, they have racist, Islamophobic, and homophobic philosophies and ideologies; they have shown us what they think about those who they have been sworn to protect and serve.”

Before holding the press conference, the coalition met with St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards, and

Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner to discuss further investigation as well as actions to be taken by city officials. The coalition of faith leaders asked city officials to fire the police officers; however, their plea was not met. Instead, the matter was turned over to Gardner for further investigation.

Rev. Darryl Gray said that St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson’s decision to put officers on administrative leave “was important because that sends a message that we

understand due process, we understand collective bargain,” but it was not enough. “At the end of the day, what they have done is inexcusable and warrants termination,” Gray said.

Some of the posts published on the database were comments, likes and reposts, but Gray said they are all the same.

“Whether they were involved based on an initial thought, whether they were involved based on a repost or like, it is the same attitude,”

said Gray. “ If you liked it you agreed, if you reposted it, you agreed. So you may not indict it as an original thought, but when you shared an original thought it became your thought.”

Djilali Kacem, a member of the Muslim community and the imam for the Dar-Al-Jalah Islamic Center in Hazelwood, said the officers involved are “inexcusable and represent the fundamental problem in and within the police department.” He also begged for justice on behalf of the people in his

community. “We all as leaders of this community care about justice and fairness to all people, regardless of their race, regardless of gender, regardless of their faith,” he said. “Police officers who hate certain groups cannot protect and serve that group. There is no way.”

Edwards said police officers will begin receiving sensitivity training; however, civil right leaders in the community criticized the training, saying it does not

prevent bias. The coalition of faith leaders said they would like to take part in the training to restore the trust between police officers and civilians.

“If we are serious and honest about taking care of this, we need to part to partner with the groups who are affected by it,” said Kacem. “Therefore we reject the city’s sensitivity training until the training is done in partnership with such civil rights movements.”

Djilali Kacem, imam for the Dar-Al-Jalah Islamic Center in Hazelwood, said that sensitivity for police must be “done in partnership with civil rights movements” at a press conference on the steps of St. Louis City Hall with faith leaders on June 13.

Photo by Francene Bethune

St. Louis Police Officer Thomas Mabrey used offensive language for Muslims in a Facebook post that the Plain View Project published in Buzzfeed.

JANITORIAL - HIRING

FIRE DEPARTMENT HIRING LIST

The City of Brentwood is creating a hiring list for the Fire Department. Application packets and information can be picked up in person at the Brentwood Fire Department or Brentwood City Hall. Information can also be obtained online at www.brentwoodmo.org/jobs. Please see the website for all details and application requirements.

Posting closes July 1st, 2019.

GUARDIANS AD LITEM

Family Court of St. Louis County is seeking an attorney to serve as guardian ad litem and appointed counsel for parents in the Family Court to handle juvenile matters. Guardians ad litem who serve the Court must commit to serve in various Family Court cases on an as needed basis for a monthly retainer to be paid by public funds. The current retainer is in the amount of $1,850.00 per month. Payments for time expended in adoption, guardianship of minor, and termination of parental rights matters may be made over and above the retainer fee.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from an accredited law school, possession of a current license to practice law in the State of Missouri, at least three (3) years of trial experience, preferably in juvenile, family, or criminal law (additional years of trial experience and guardian ad litem experience are highly preferred), and completion of necessary guardian ad litem training as required by the Supreme Court of Missouri. Note: This position is subject to continued availability of funding.

To apply, please send a current resume, along with a cover letter, to the following address (application materials must be postmarked by July 10, 2019): Attn: Human Resources Department, Family Court of St. Louis County, 105 S. Central Ave., Clayton, MO 63105. EOE. Please contact the Human Resources Department at 615-4471 (voice) or RelayMo 711 or 800-7352966 if you need any accommodations in the application process, or if you would like this posting in an alternative form.

Director of College Planning Enrollment Management and Student Success Full Time

Representing Southeast Missouri State in the Metropolitan St. Louis Area, the Director of College Planning develops and delivers impactful educational programming to promote college and career planning and develops and maintains relationships with students and families, as well as organizations supporting postsecondary education. The creation of the role of Director of College Planning enhances Southeast’s long-standing commitment to helping students prepare for and succeed in college. Southeast’s outreach effort through this role encompasses the St. Louis Metropolitan Area, with a focus on supporting college and career planning for underrepresented student populations and their families.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide group and individual assistance to students and families with admissions, financial aid and scholarship processes

• Represent Southeast Missouri State to organizations and at events in the Metropolitan St. Louis Area promoting college readiness

• Develop and deliver high-impact, informative presentations on a variety of college readiness topics in area school districts.

• Participate in Southeast recruitment events in the Metropolitan St. Louis Area

• Plan events for students, families and schools in the Metropolitan St. Louis Area

• Represent the University at on-campus recruitment events

• Effectively manage the budget associated with outreach initiatives and maintain data to assess and improve program effectiveness

• Oversee development of collateral materials to support college planning, such as publications, social media messaging, presentations, blog posts, and web content

• Select, train and supervise student employees and interns, on occasion

• Utilize relevant student information systems to respond to student inquiries, communicate with students and track activities

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education

• Professional experience in communicating college planning, financial aid, and/or related subject matter to prospective college students and families

• Strong evidence of the ability to create and implement new initiatives with proven results

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills

• Strong evidence of computer skills including word processing, database, spreadsheet, and presentation software experience

• Ability to communicate ideas clearly and effectively to both large and small groups

• Ability to establish and maintain relationships with diverse populations

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision

• Ability to travel extensively with or without accommodations and work alternate work schedules including evenings and weekends

• Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds of publications and display materials with or without accommodations

• Possess a valid state driver’s license

• Exercises sound judgment

• Demonstrated experience and understanding of customer service

• Demonstrated commitment to a diverse work environment, including working with multicultural populations and an understanding of, and sensitivity to, issues affecting women and minorities

Application Deadline

The position is available August 1, 2019 and will remain open until filled. To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by June 28, 2019.

Required Information

To apply, submit the following items online by clicking on the position you wish to apply for at the below link, then click on the APPLY button at the top of the page: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/semoedu/default.cfm

• Letter of interest specifically addressing all position requirements

• Current resume

• Name and contact information of three professional references

About Southeast Southeast Missouri State University is a comprehensive regional state

CITY OF PAGEDALE JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS

City of Pagedale is seeking an experienced City Clerk. Prior experience desired, Salary: OPEN. Send resume to City Clerk, 1420 Ferguson, Pagedale, Mo. 63133 or cityclerk@cityofpagedale.org. or Fax: 314-726-2604

No Phone Calls, please.

City of Pagedale is seeking an experienced Court Clerk. Prior experience desired, Salary: OPEN. Send resume to City Clerk, 1420 Ferguson, Pagedale, Mo. 63133 or cityclerk@cityofpagedale.org. or Fax: 314-726-2604

No Phone Calls, please.

City of Pagedale is seeking an experienced Building Inspector. Must be certified and licensed in St. Louis County. Send resume to City Clerk, 1420 Ferguson, Pagedale, Mo. 63133 or cityclerk@cityofpagedale.org. or Fax: 314-726-2604

No Phone Calls, please.

SHIRT LAUNDRY INSPECTOR/WORKER

Clayton location, one week paid vacation after one year, comparable pay with increase after 30 days. Will train. Banner Cleaners 500 S. Brentwood Blvd. Clayton MO 63105. 314-725-4500.

JUSTICE ORGANIZER WANTED

To staff the Missouri HIV Justice Coalition and serve as the main conduit to community groups, advocates, and other supporters of modernizing Missouri’s outdated laws regarding HIV. A strong commitment to social justice and experience working with marginalized populations – such as people living with low incomes, people living with HIV (PLHIV), People of Color (POC), and or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Queer (LGBTQ) communities. Please send resume and cover letter to jobs@empowermissouri.org

RESEARCH AND EVALUATION ANALYST

ARCHS, a highly respected not-for-profit funding agency, is seeking a full-time Research and Evaluation Analyst with a dynamic data informed approach to grant management and measurement. This position is responsible for supporting an effective system that monitors the progress, impacts, and successes of ARCHS’ 30 funded initiatives. Candidates must demonstrate exemplary technical skills related to logic models, qualitative and quantitative research/analysis, data management/analysis, scorecards, field observation, info graphics, and report writing. Requirements: Minimum of bachelor’s degree, master’s degree (MBA) a plus; 5+ year experience; documented portfolio of evaluation/research; highly organized; deadline focused; outgoing; inquisitive; a strong coach, writer, and editor. ARCHS’ benefit package includes a 401(k) match. Be prepared to provide examples of work upon request. EMAIL initial letter of application and resume by July 12 to careers@stlarchs.org or FAX to ARCHS’ HR, 314-289-5670. No phone calls please. EOE

MEDICAL SCIENTIST

Psychcare Consultants Research needs 1 full time Medical Scientist. MD or frgn equiv. req’d. Mail Resume & Cvr. Ltr to 5000 Cedar Plaza Parkway, St. Louis, MO 63128.

Responsible for claims payment funds for primary workers’ compensation. To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational. com/careers-page/

Ability to communicate effectively with parents and guardians

• Clerical skills to include use of Microsoft office, Word, Excel and email

• Ability to meet the requirements of the district teacher aide job description

Terms of Employment/Hours/Pay:

• Part-Time, 8am-12:30pm., Monday-Friday

• $12.63-$15.06/hour depending on experience

• Eligible to participate in the Public Education Employee Retirement System (PEERS)

• Prorated sick and personal leave

Visit the following website for position specifics and to apply: www.brentwoodmoschools.org Click on the Human Resources tab; Position open until filled. EOE.

Please no phone calls.

LETTING #8695

EMPLOYEE PARKING LOT

FENCE AND

GATES

INSTALLATION AT CITY OF ST. LOUIS WATER DIVISION

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on July 9, 2019, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www. stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

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 OPEN HOUSE N. JEFFERSON/PARNELL CORRIDOR PROJECT

ST. LOUIS DEVELOPMENT CORP.

TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2019 4:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M.

GATEWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1200 N. JEFFERSON AVE.

St. Louis Development Corporation is hosting a public Open House for the N. Jefferson/Parnell Corridor Project, approx. two miles of planned roadway and corridor improvements to N. Jefferson Ave and Parnell St, from Market St to Natural Bridge Ave. The meeting will be an open house format. Come to speak with team members about the project details and provide feedback. Maps and other information will be on display. There will be activities for children. No formal presentation will be given.

Improvements include upgraded signal timing at intersections, ADA crosswalks, roadway resurfacing, traffic calming, and street corridor beautification along the public right-of-way.

The public comment period closes July 30, 2019. Documents and more information will be made available at https:// www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/sldc/north-jefferson-parnell-corridor.cfm

Ja-Mes “Jay” Watson, Project Connect 314-657-3783 or watsonj@stlouis-mo. gov

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for Lakeside Hills 6905 Sanitary Replacement (IR) under Letting No. 12884015.1, at this office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Thursday, July 25, 2019, at a place designated. Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualified by the District’s Engineering Department for:

SEWER CONSTRUCTION – St. Louis County drainlayer’s license required Plans and Specifications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1712 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid.

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

CITY OF ST. LOUIS BOARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE

PUBLIC MEETING/OPEN HOUSE

East-West Gateway Council of Governments (EWG) seeks comment on amendments to Connected2045, the St. Louis Region’s long-range transportation plan, including the FY 20202023 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and related Air Quality Conformity Document. The meetings and comment period will also satisfy Madison County Transit District’s and Metro’s public hearing and program of projects requirement of the Federal Transit Administration Sections 3006(b), 5307, 5309, 5310, 5317, 5337, and 5339 programs in the St. Louis region. The public is invited to view these documents and supporting materials at a series of open-house meetings: Tue., 7/9/19: 4:30 to 6:30 PM – The Heights – 8001 Dale Ave., Richmond Heights, MO 63117; Wed., 7/10/19: 4:30 to 6:30 PM – Hillsboro City Hall, 101 Main St., Hillsboro, MO 63050; Wed., 7/17/19: 4:30 to 6:30 PM – Fairview Heights - The Rec, 9950 Bunkum Rd., Fairview Heights, IL 62208; Thu., 7/18/19: 4:30 to 6:30 PM – Pacific City Hall, 300 Hoven Dr., Pacific, MO 63069; Tue., 7/30/19: 4:30 to 6:30 PM – Wentzville City Hall – Council Chambers, 1001 Schroeder Creek Blvd., Wentzville, MO 63385.

The public comment period begins Friday, June 28, 2019 and ends Monday, August 5, 2019. The documents will be available on the website at www.ewgateway.org. Comment forms will be available on the website and at the meetings. Comments must be received or postmarked by midnight Mon., 8/5/19. Send comments to TIP@ewgateway.org or East-West Gateway Council of Governments, Attn: TIP, 1 S. Memorial Drive, Ste. 1600, St. Louis, MO 63102. Persons requiring special accommodations must notify Roz Rodgers at least 48 hours prior to the open house at 314-4214220, or email titlevi@ewgateway.org. EWG fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and regulations in all programs & activities. For more information, or to obtain a Title VI Nondiscrimination Complaint Form, call (314) 421-4220 or (618) 274-2750 or see www.ewgateway.org/titlevi.

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure: ArcGIS Enterprise Standard Licenses. The District is proposing single source procurement to ESRI. Any inquiries should be sent to ameyer@stlmsd.com.

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

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for Contract No. F 18 406X and F 18 406Y, BID RELEASE #5 - Center for Nursing and Health Science Building, St. Louis Community College at Forest Park, until June 27, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. local time CDT, which includes the following packages: BP-05B Architectural Metals and 10B Exterior Signage, Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 5464 Highland Park Drive. A Pre-bid meeting will be held on June 20, 2019 at 1:30pm at the Tarlton Corporation, 5500 W. Park Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110. Drawings, specifications and bid information may be obtained from Cross Rhodes’ Plan room at 1712 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110 or at Tarlton Corporation’s website at www.tarltoncorp.com.

An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative

NOTICE OF CONTRACTORS

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District), the Owner, will receive sealed bids for Lemay Public I/I Reduction (2020) Contract A under Letting No. 12057015.1, at its office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 2:00 PM, local time, on Wednesday, July 17, 2019. 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 32,596 lineal feet of sanitary sewers, varying in size from 8-inch to 18-inches in diameter using cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) methods, 21 manholes, and 826 service connections. The project is within the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Boundaries, inside the city(ies) of varies 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 1710 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid. The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Oppor-

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR ON-CALL TRAFFIC ENGINEERING SERVICES. Statements of Qualifications due by 5:00 PM CT, WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 2019 at Board of Public Service, 1200 Market, Room 301 City Hall, St. Louis, MO 63103. RFQ may be obtained from website www.stl-bps.org under On Line Plan Room, Professional Services, or call Helen Bryant at 314-589-6214. 25% MBE & 5% WBE participation goals.

SAINT LOUIS ZOO SOUTH WELCOME DESK SIGNAGE PROJECT 2019 RFP

The scope of the project includes: The goal of this project is to install digital signage above our Welcome Desk located at the South Entrance of the Saint Louis Zoo. Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting & Site Inspection - On June 27th at 10 am Meet at the South Entrance Welcome Desk. Sealed bids marked with project name will be accepted on or before 7/10/2019 at 2:00PM. Documents can be found on 6/20/2019 at: https://www.stlzoo.org/about/contact/ vendoropportunities/

LETTING #8691

ASPHALT OVERLAY FOR BANSHEE RD. – NAVAID RD. TO MISSOURI BOTTOM RD.

At St. Louis Lambert International Airport

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on July 23, 2019 then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http:// www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State and Federal laws (including MBE/WBE policies). ). Mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 2, 2019, at 10:00 AM in the Ozark Conference Room at the Airport Office Building, 11495 Navaid Rd., Bridgeton, MO 63044. 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 TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for the Chesterfield Airport Road Resurfacing, St. Louis County Project No. AR-1740, will be received at the Office of the Director of Procurement for the County of St. Louis, County Government Center Administration Building, 41 South Central Avenue, 8th Floor, Clayton, Missouri 63105, until 11:00 a.m. on July 10, 2019

Plans and specifications will be available on June 10, 2019 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouisco.com), or by contacting County Blue Reprographics, Inc., 1449 Strassner Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63144, (314) 961-3800.

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure: Inlet Stones. The District is proposing a 2-month single source procurement to Wieser Concrete. Any inquiries should be sent to acooper@stlmsd.com.

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

for CONSTRUCT CHANGING ROOMS, AVCRADARMY AVIATION SITE, SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, Project No.T1828-01 willbe receivedby FMDC, StateofMO, UNTIL 1:30PM, 7/25/2019. Forspecificprojectinformation andordering plans,go to:http://oa.mo. gov/ facilities

CITY OF ST. LOUIS PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST UNDER THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS

The federal regulations governing the administration of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) grants for local governments have strict guidelines relating to Conflicts of Interest.

Under the federal regulations the following persons are covered: CFR 570.611(c) Persons covered. The conflict of interest provisions of paragraph (b) of this section apply to any person who is an employee, agent, consultant, officer, or elected official or appointed official of the recipient, or of any designated public agencies, or of subrecipients that are receiving funds under this part.

Under the regulations a conflict exists in the following circumstances: CFR 570.611 (b) Conflicts Prohibited. The general rule is that no persons described in para graph (c) of this section who exercise or have exercised any functions or responsibilities with respect to CDBG activities assisted under this part, or who are in a position to participate in a decision making process or gain inside information with regard to such activities, may ob tain a financial interest or benefit from a CDBG-assisted activity, or have a financial interest in any contract, subcontract, or agreement with respect to a CDBG-assisted activity, or with respect to the proceeds of the CDBG-assisted activity, either for themselves or those with whom they have business or immediate family ties, during their tenure or for one year thereafter. The regulations provide for an exception for persons who have a conflict of interest, or a potential conflict of interest, and who have applied for assistance under a program funded with CDBG funds. The exception must be made to HUD after a public notification ((CFR 570.611 (1) (i)) that a person covered by the Conflict of Interest regulations has applied for assistance and the City Attorney renders an opinion that if HUD grants the exception, no state or local law will be violated. PUBLIC NOTICE. In order to fulfill the requirements of Title 24 of the Federal Code of Regulations, Section 570.611(d) (1), the City of St. Louis makes the following public disclosure: Zodiac Lounge and Patio, LLC, (“Zodiac”) would like to participate in the Neighborhood Commercial District Improvement Program (“NCDI Program”) administered by the Saint Louis Development Corporation (“SLDC”). SLDC is a subrecipient of CDBG funding from the St. Louis Community Development Administration. Zodiac has submitted an application to SLDC for funding. The grant funds would be used to make façade improvements to a building leased by Zodiac to operate its business which is located at 3517 North Grand Blvd, St. Louis, Missouri 63107. Freeman Bosley, Jr. is a co-owner of the property to be improved and the brother of Alderman Brandon Bosley. On October 3, 2018 Alderman Bosley submitted a letter in support of Zodiac’s participation in the NCDI Program. Jacqueline D. Harris, Associate City Counselor, has issued a legal opinion that submission of an application by Zodiac would not violate State or local law.

Alderman Bosley serves as a member of the Committee on Housing, Urban Development, & Zoning (the “HUDZ Committee”). He did not vote on the general allocation of funds earmarked for the Program while it was being considered by the HUDZ Committee nor when it was included in the overall budget presented to the full Board of Aldermen.

A potential conflict under federal law may arise due to: (i) Alderman Bosley providing a letter supporting the provision of funding to Zodiac; and (ii) the familial relationship between Freeman Bosley, Jr. and Alderman Bosley and Freeman Bosley’s ownership interest in the property being improved. Any potential conflict of interest under federal law involving Zodiac’s application for CDBG funding under the NCDI program should be waived by HUD for the following reasons:

(i) Zodiac is an eligible applicant for funding under the NCDI program and the exception will permit Zodiac to receive generally the same benefits as are being made available to other eligible applicants;

(ii) Zodiac has been required to go through the same application process as other applicants, receiving no preferential treatment.

To the extent that the provision of the above-referenced assistance to Zodiac would constitute a prohibited conflict of interest under HUD regulations, the City may apply for and is applying for an exception to this prohibition with respect to provision of the above-referenced funding assistance.

University (HSSU) is requesting proposals for Charter Bus Services. A copy of the RFP is available by emailing: morrowb@hssu.edu, faxing a written request to: (314) 340-3322 or calling (314) 340-5763. Proposals must be submitted to room 105 in the Dr. Henry Givens, Jr., Administration (HGA) building no later than 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 3, 2019 and will be opened at 10:15 a.m. in room 123 in the HGA building.

Public

Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure: FIRST SOURCE HIRING PROGRAM. ST LOUIS AGENCY ON TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT (SLATE) was used for service. Any inquiries should be sent to gjamison@stlmsd.com.

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

Public

Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is confirming procurement: temporary bypass pumping assembly for Carr St Pump Station. The District is confirming single source procurement to Mobile Mini for this equipment because blanket contractor unable to meet needs. Any inquiries should be sent to ameyer@stlmsd.com.

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

LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Bids for St. Louis Community College on B0003824 for Shoretel Maintenance will be received until 2:00 P.M. (local time) on Friday, June 21, 2019 at the Dept. of Purchasing, 3221 McKelvey Road; Bridgeton, MO 63044, and immediately thereafter opened and read. Bid documents can be accessed on our website at www.stlcc.edu/purchasing or by calling (314) 539-5227. EOE/AA Employer.

Public Notice of

Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is confirming procurement: temporary dewatering pump assembly system for Carr St Pump Station. The District is confirming single source procurement to Mobile Mini for this equipment because blanket contractor unable to meet needs. Any inquiries should be sent to ameyer@stlmsd.com.

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

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Millstone Weber, LLC is soliciting proposals for Reconstruction of Taxiway K from Taxiway F to Cargo Apron, Letting No 8696 at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Please phone 636-6888794, fax 636-949-3129 or email bob.stubbs@millstoneweber.com or ryan.taylor@millstoneweber. com, quotes to Bob Stubbs by 5:00 pm Monday, June 3rd. Subcontract work includes, removals, concrete, bituminous pavement, PCC backfill, hauling, landscaping, striping, and electrical. Plans and Specifications are available for review on City of St Louis website http:// www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx or at Millstone Weber office.

St.

SLDC is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity.

PRICING ACTUARY

Perform pricing analyses for Loss Portfolio Transfers (LPT) and support pricing initiatives. To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational. com/careers-page/

FAMILY SERVICES COORDINATOR

AAS degree or higher in Social Work, Human Services, Family Studies, or a related field. Minimum of nine (9) college credit hours in early childhood related courses; or current CDA credential a plus. Please reply to Center Manager Linda Davis at (314) 679-5440.

MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEW OPENINGS!

The Missouri Historical Society has position openings for the following:

• Assistant Media Archivist

• K-12 Programs Coordinator

• Production Technician

• Soldiers Memorial Military Museum Education and Visitor Experience Interpreter

Please visit www.mohistory.org under the “Current Openings” tab for position details and to apply.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Small but Mighty St. Louis Church has an immediate opening for a Pianist/Minister of Music to lead its 15 member gospel choir. Contact Bruce Fleming for details at 314-398-3932.

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE:

Advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, imitation, or discrimination because of race,color, religion, sex, handicap, familial\status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.“We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.” Call Angelita Houston at 314-289-5430 to place your rental/real estate ad today!

Swag Snap of the Week

Go Blues!!!!! In the words of rap god Eli Porter (you have to be a truly messy throwback internet content connoisseur to get this name reference) “We da best! We did it!” The St. Louis Blues won their first Stanley Cup and St. Louis is rightfully over the moon. Now there are all types of folks who seem bothered by all of the bandwagon Blues fans. I have to regress to my 8-yearold self to truly express the “unbotheredness” I feel for those who take issue with me having purchased my first piece of St. Louis Blues paraphernalia as of 11 a.m. Thursday, June 13, 2019. To them I say, “And … so ... I don’t give a care.” Let me amend that to add a “Go Blues!” to make sure the haters stay mad. But seriously, I fell in love with my city all over again because of the Blues solidarity as our hockey team made its historic run to Stanley Cup victory – and from dead last place! I was so excited that I made my way down to that epic parade. There weren’t a lot of us, but I still was made to feel right at home. Shout out to Charles Glenn and his group for singing that parade stage down! He went out with an unbelievable bang for his final season as the resident national anthem singer, didn’t he! Can anyone confirm a Baptist, AME or COGIC church sermon framed around the Blues this past Sunday? And in honor of the Blues, I feel like Da Shop Boyz should do a remake of their club hit “Party Like a Rock Star” and rename it “Party Like Brett Hull.” No shade. Just facts.

A Marvelous Ms. Mills the Mighty O’Jays. I couldn’t remember the last time I saw Stephanie Mills on stage, so nothing but death could have kept me from the Fox Saturday to catch her featured performance, along with the O’Jays for their annual visit. It was with this in mind that I beg Mike McMillan and his wonderful team at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis to forgive me for dipping out of their illustrious Salute to Women in Leadership Saturday evening. Backed by a live band that came to slay, she served up everything I expected and more from the minute she body rolled her way through “Never Knew Love Like This” until she took us back to her beginnings with “Home.” Listen, when she told the crowd that she was 62, I all but fainted, because of how good she looked, sounded and moved. I was like, “I haven’t seen her since 1997, because she never left that year –and built a time machine to come to 2019 just for this show.” The

By Delores Shante dshante@stlamerican.com

only thing that didn’t give me life from the time she got on stage until she left were those kitten heel

“Belenci-nada” ankle booties and that flared jersey dress. What? Show me the lie! She was phenomenal otherwise. I was low-key expecting to yawn my way through the O’Jays – especially after they kept us waiting all that time to get the sound right and tight. But Walter Williams and Eddie LeVert gave me a second wind with how they were cutting up like they haven’t been doing their thing on stages across the world since before some of y’all’s grandmothers were born. Eddie LeVert celebrated his 77th birthday with St. Louis – and got so mannish when talking about the biological challenges he’s experienced as a man of a certain age that I couldn’t help but cackle. He might not be able to do certain things anymore, but he can put on a show in a hot, fire red suit and matching Stacy Adams like a young spry whipper snapper.

Another spectacular salute to women leaders by the Urban League. Now y’all already know from my recap of the O’Jays and Stephanie Mills that I didn’t stay the whole time, but I came through and had such a ball that I had to force myself to leave. Seriously, I got to the Fox just as Stephanie was getting ready to make her first twirl. Mike McMillan and his annual Salute to Women in Leadership continues to outdo itself as far as style and grace. And can we talk once again – I know I do it every year, but it warrants repeating – about the gift spread that the honorees are blessed with? I promise if I ever get a nod, I will pull a Jenifer

Lewis and go right to my station to open up mine on site! I love her to the bottom of my soul! There were so many other honorees – past and present, that I want to shout out, but I would need another full page of Partyline just so I don’t miss anyone. Just know that all of the honorees were worthy, the folks came with the classy cocktail and formalwear and it was a wonderful night of fellowship that celebrate the lady bosses in this region and beyond.

Brunching with the Links. Now y’all may or may not care about what is happening on the social scene, but the lovely ladies of the Links’ Archway Chapter had the absolute cutest brunch on Father’s Day, which celebrated the gifted minds behind Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ latest world premiere “Fire Shut Up In My Bones.” Grammy winner Terence Blanchard, acclaimed filmmaker Kasi Lemmons and author/columnist Charles Blow were in the Centene building in Grand Center for the meal and brief panel discussion, moderated by Lamar Harris. Brunch organizers Naretha Hopson and Kay Gage gave all those who attended an opportunity to get up close and personal with Kasi, Terence and Charles – who were so down to earth and chill to the point where everyone felt like old friends. And can I say that Archway Links VP Lauren Nash Ming was giving me every bit of my life in her black and white ensemble!

R&B under the roof. The latest edition of HeyLuv was billed as “R&B Under The Stars” but St. Louis’ unpredictable weather said, “LIES!” They didn’t have far to relocate though. Instead of the patio action of the Bronson House, the regulars and fresh faces had to scoot next door to Barnett’s on Washington to partake in the festivities. Was I the only one without enough common sense to automatically check Barnett’s upon seeing an empty boots Bronson House? Based on how packed it was – and the fact that that’s where they were held all winter – I’m going to say yes. As usual, that vibe was electric and the party didn’t stop until the lights came up! DJ Reminisce was going so hard on the tables that I made a mental note of his playlist and jacked five of the songs for my car ride home.

2019 Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Jenifer Lewis took a moment to chat with KMOX Radio personality and past Salute to Women in Leadership awardee Carol Daniel during the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Salute to Women In Leadership Gala Saturday at the Marriott St. Louis Grand.

Television star Bernadette Stanis was happy to pose with Tommy Wilder @ Urban League’s Salute to Women in Leadership Saturday @ Marriott St. Louis Grand

Sisters Angela and Cassandra met the glamour mandate @ Urban League’s Salute to Women in Leadership Saturday @ Marriott St. Louis Grand

Honorees star Bernadette Stanis and Regina Belle with broadcast journalist Tim Lampley Saturday @ Urban League’s Salute to Women in Leadership

Sabrina and Kevie got into the groove at the latest installment of HeyLuv Saturday night @ Barnett’s on Washington

Leslie and Phyllis made a mother-daughter moment of celebrating with the St. Louis Blues at the Stanley Cup victory parade Saturday morning

LaShone and Chris stopped by the larger-than-life parade held in honor of the St. Louis Blues and their history making Stanley Cup win

Monique and Romney looked marvelous for the @ Urban League’s Salute to Women in Leadership Saturday @ Marriott St. Louis Grand

The Archway Chapter of the Links Inc. hosted a wonderful brunch that included the creators Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ ‘Fire Shut Up In My Bones’ Sunday.

Kay and Naretha deserved high praises for the Archway Links brunch collaboration with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Sunday @ The Centene Building

Beezy, Kamela and April were into the R&B vibe of HeyLuv Saturday @ Barnett’s on Washington

STLCC

CONGRATULATES THE CLASS OF 2019

We celebrate the success of our 2019 graduates as well as the success of more than 1.2 million students who have attended STLCC over the last 57 years.

Graduate / Post Graduate

Dr. Kari Ford, PharmD

FloridaA&M University

Degree: Doctorate of Pharmacy

Next Steps: PGY1/2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration Resident at AdvocateAurora Health Care

Parents: Angela Fantroy-Ford and Curt Ford

College Graduates

Tabitha Harrell

Lindenwood University

Degree: Educational Specialist in School Administration

Next Steps: Pursuing a Doctoral Degree in the area of Instructional Leadership with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction.

Dr. Cheryl Lynne Coleman

Lindenwood University, St. Charles, MO

Degree: Doctorate in Higher Education Administration

Next Steps: Dr. Coleman will continue to serve students with disabilities.

Parents: The late Marcus and Clara Coleman, Toledo, OH

Jeanette V. Rankins

Ashford University

Degree: Master ofArts, Health Care Administration, summa cum laude

Family: Betty Burgess (mom) and Jennifer, Alana and Davona (daughters)

David James Curtis Cross

University of Missouri - St. Louis

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Next Steps: David will pursue a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering.

Parent: Gina A. Givens

Robert J. McRath, II

St. Louis University Parks College Flight Science

Degree: Educational Specialist in School Administration

Next Steps: Rob has already been hired as a Certified Flight Instructor by Parks College.

Parents: Joyce and Robert McRath

Jordan Elizabeth Parker

Tennessee State University

Degree: Bachelor of Science, Human Performance Sports Science

Next Steps: Graduate school for Sports Administration

Parents: Cecil Parker Jr. and Traci C. Jones

Terri Williams

Washington University in St. Louis

Degree: Master ofArts inAmerican Cultural Studies

Next Steps: Terri plans to further her career in the non-profit sector and continue to conduct independent research and projects that highlight the many contributions African Americans have given to this society that have been omitted from history books.

Kyla De’Jour Robinson

University of Central Missouri

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Health Studies with a minor in Dance Next Steps: Kyla will be attending nursing school in the fall semester to pursue a BS in Nursing and later attend graduate school to reach her goal of becoming a Nurse Practitioner specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She would also like to begin coaching a dance team or working as a dance instructor, with hopes of one day owning a dance studio.

Parent: Yamika Forrest

High Scool Grads

Niya Amber Michele Danfort

Pattonville High School

Next Step: Rend Lake College on a full scholarship.

Parents: Neekia Danfort, Calvert Riley and Nathaniel Danfort

Jada Nicole Moore

Pattonville High School

Next Step: Jada will attend San Diego State University to pursue a degree in premedicine.

Camille B. Schoals

Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience Magnet High School

Next Step: Camille will attend Southeast Missouri State University and major in Political Science/Pre-Law and minor in Public Administration.

Parent: Ms. Gwen Cabe

Joshua Cogshell High School Graduate

Next Steps: Joshua will begin his career with the Boys’ and Girls’ Club.

Parents: Michael and Theresa Cogshell

Nadia James

Parkway North High School

Next Step: Attending University of MissouriSt. Louis to major in engineering.

Parents: Doug and Natascha James

Alyssiah Santano

McCluer North High School

Next Steps: Attending Lindenwood University School of Education with the career goal of becoming a high school educator.

Parents: Cedric and Regina Santano

Anye’ Michelle Stevens

Ritenour High School

Next Step: She is enrolling in STLCC Forest Park in the Culinary Program.

Family: La Kesha Hayes (mother), Marquita Rush Dillard (granny), Quiana Ashley (godmother)

Jordan Temple

Fort Zumwalt West High School

Next Step: Jordan will attend IUPUI: Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis.

Parents: Brian and Julia Temple

Chassity M. Williams

Hazelwood West Senior High School

Next Step: Chassity will be attending UMKC to major in Dance and Communications.

Parents: Ms. Tiffany Williams and Marlow Williams

Karrington Green

Clayton High School

Next Step: Southeast Missouri State University to study dentistry.

Parents: Percy Green III and Kim Moore Williams

Ariauna Sharron Johnson

Hawthorne Leadership School for Girls

Next Step: Attending 9th grade at Hawthorne Leadership School for Girls.

Parents: Nikki and Anthony Johnson

Jalen White

Saint Louis University High School

Next Step: Morehouse College

Jordan Young

Central Visual and PerformingArts High School

Next Step: Jordan will be joining the National Guard before attending Mizzou next Spring.

Parents: Ozell and Ronnae Young

Middle School Graduates

Che`Myla Houston

Belle Valley School

Next Step: Belleville Township High School East.

Parents: Marion Jr. and Cheri Houston

Pre-K/K School Graduates

Stephen Fantroy III

The Child Development Center at Florissant Valley

Next Step: Camden will enter Kindergarten at All Saints Academy-Saint Rose Campus in the Fall.

Parents: Stephen and Pleshette Fantroy

Camden A. Jackson Daylan Lovett

LittleArrows Daycare

St. Louis Public Schools Kindergarten Graduate

Parents: Christopher Sr. and Meridith Jackson

Laila Bevly

Megan

Laila Bevly

Duan

THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • CONGRATS TO THE GRADS