June 27th, 2013 edition

Supreme Court attacks democracy

Justin Hansford,formerly of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, responds to the new

Arnold Donald new CEO of Carnival

St. Louisan appointed top leader of

By Chris King Of The St.Louis American

By Peter Baugh

For The St.Louis American

When choosing where she would attend college, Clayton High School basketball standout Lacei Sams loved the campus and atmosphere at Nova Southeastern, located in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“I love the gym, the environment,” she said. “I can see the beach from the campus. I love swimming.” She will attend the university on an

By Rebecca S.Rivas

Alaia Thomas,5,played in the cool water at Citygarden in downtown St. Louis on Tuesday afternoon when temperatures reached the mid-90s. Cool kid

Photo by Wiley Price

Did Chris Brown complicate car wreck with a side of crazy?

Chris Brown returned to Twitter to share his side of the story regarding a recent fender bender.

“It is not a hit and run if you get out of the car and exchange

Brown’s. Tran said she was the owner of the vehicle so Chris didn’t need to supply any info. Gure-Kovalenko says she persisted and asked for Brown’s info

When Brown and Tran refused to cooperate, Gure-Kovalenko felt she needed to get a picture of the two of them in case they split. As soon as she snapped the pic, she says Chris and Karrueche went nuts

Gure-Kovalenko says, “The guy [Chris] tried to grab camera or me. I jumped back, the girl [Karrueche] screamed, ‘Don’t touch her, don’t touch her.’”

Gure-Kovalenko says Chris then started to rant, “You are a [b-word

using the n-word during a deposition in a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against her brother Bubba. Deen spoke with Matt Lauer on “The Today Show” – days after pulling a no show – and Lauer let her have it with a series of blunt questions: which included whether or not she was a racist, if her public apology was coming because “millions of dollars are at stake” with respect to her brand and potential lost sponsorship revenue and if she wish she had lied when asked in court if she had ever used the n-word.

“I have apologized. And I have never with

“Obviously I have a tremendous amount of respect for Serena and what she’s achieved on the court,” Sharapova told reporters. “If she wants to talk about something personal, maybe she should talk about her relationship and her boyfriend that was married and is getting a divorce and has kids. Talk about other things, but not draw attention to other things.”

Sharapova’s comments stem from Williams’ quotes in a recent Rolling Stone article, where Williams appeared to be criticizing Sharapova and her boyfriend but did not mention either by name.

Sources: Straight From The A,

Hazelwood hires black assist. super

District also adds a number of AfricanAmerican principals

American staff

The Hazelwood School District has hired an AfricanAmerican senior administrator and a number of AfricanAmerican principals.

Lisa Strauther has been named assistant superintendent (as has Jeff Haug).

Strauther, a graduate of the district, has more than 17 years of educational experience, most recently as principal of Jamestown Elementary School since 2008. She holds a doctorate in educational administration from Maryville University. She replaces Ty McNichols, who has resigned to take the position of superintendent in the Normandy School District.

“I am pleased with the variety of experience that Dr. Strauther and Dr. Haug bring to the team,” said Superintendent Grayling Tobias, who also is African-American.

Valerie Taylor steps into Strauther’s shoes as principal of Jamestown Elementary School. Taylor, who holds a doctorate in education administration from Maryville University, was most recently an instructional coach at Hazelwood Central High School and has more than 25 years of experience in education.

Germaine Stewart is the new principal of Twillman Elementary School.

“Ms. Stewart will bring diverse experience with a high level of energy to the role of principal at Twillman Elementary School,” said Tobias.

A 19-year veteran of education, Stewart was most recently was an elementary school principal in the Riverview Gardens School District. She replaces Brenda Harris, another personnel loss to Normandy schools.

Shanise Terrell is the new principal of Keeven Elementary School.

A 14-year veteran of education, she is another

personnel gain from Riverview schools, where she most recently was principal at Glasgow Elementary School.

Maxine Valdez is the new principal of Townsend Elementary School. She holds a doctorate degree in educational leadership from Saint Louis University and has more than 31 years of educational experience, most recently as director of the HSD Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative.

Gerald Williams is the new principal of Jury Elementary School. Williams has more than 10 years of educational experience, most recently as principal of the Monroe eMints Academy in St. Louis

Public Schools. He taught at the elementary level in SLPS and the Ferguson-Florissant School District.

Evelyn Woods is the new principal of Grannemann Elementary School. She holds a doctorate in education leadership from Maryville University and has more than 10 years of educational experience, most recently as a turnaround principal at Sigel Elementary School in St. Louis Public Schools.

“Our new principals bring invaluable experience to the critical role of the school leader,” Tobias said. “I am confident they will do a great job in supporting those who work closest to our students.”

A plea to my people

By Sylvester Brown Jr.

For The St. Louis American St. Louis’ violent crime rate is 332 percent higher than the national average. Homicides in the city have seen a 36.4 percent increase in one year. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 9 out of 10 homicides involve black youth. Of those killed, half are black males under the age of 30.

Every year, more than 300,000 school-age children across the nation, mostly black and brown, are introduced to the criminal justice system by way of “zero tolerance” policies. In Missouri, almost 50,000 youth are retained every year in some sort of correctional setting. Since the 1970s, the state and federal prison inmate population has spiked some 700 percent with a total of more than 2 million incarcerated individuals-again, mostly blacks and Latinos. We are all familiar with the toxic connection between poverty and prisons. While the poverty rate for white and Asian children hovers around 21.6 percent, it’s almost 40 percent for black children and 32.3 percent for Hispanic youth. We will never slow the violence or “stop the killing” until we create real, sustainable, money-generating options for disenfranchised young people. The Sweet Potato Project was designed to arrest the disproportionate

number of minority youth destined for poverty, prison or funerals.

Our project is reliant on everybody and anybody who cares about children. But it is incumbent upon the black community to save its own. Unless we’re comfortable with the idea of fearing, incarcerating and burying our young, we have no choice but to step up our efforts to save them.

This summer, we are serving more than 20 kids from some of the poorest zip codes in the city. Most live in or near the O’Fallon Park, Penrose or Greater Ville areas. We’re planting sweet potatoes in some of those wards with the goal of growing more produce and creating more products in North St. Louis. The Sweet Potato Project youth will earn while they learn with a bi-weekly minimum wage salary for nine weeks. We are reaching out to every source imaginable to ensure they are paid this summer. But that spark will flicker longer if our kids know that adults who share their hue made it a priority to fund and support their effort.

Brown is the director of The Sweet Potato Project, a program offered by the North Area Community Development Corporation, a 501 (c) (3) agency. Donate at http://nacda. wordpress.com/.

www.stlamerican.com

New Hazelwood Schools Assistant Superintendent Lisa Strauther

Germaine Stewart, new principal of Twillman Elementary School

Valerie Taylor, new principal of Jamestown Elementary School

Shanise Terrell, new principal of Keeven Elementary School

Maxine Valdez, new principal of Townsend Elementary School

Gerald Williams, new principal of Jury Elementary School

Evelyn Woods, new principal of Grannemann Elementary

Sylvester Brown Jr.

Editorial /CommEntary

‘Saggin’’ has consequences Supreme Court attacks democracy

Alderman Marlene Davis (center), who introduced the “saggin’” legislation, was recently wished a happy birthday by Stacey Edwards and Judge Jimmie Edwards.

When 19th Ward Alderman Marlene Davis proposed last week to revise the city’s ordinance banning lewd and indecent acts to include “wearing pants below the waist which exposes the skin or undergarments” – i.e., “saggin’” –our first thought was: How did we sink so low as a community? We should be focused on opening economic opportunities for our youth and preparing them to seize those opportunities with confidence and competence, and instead we are dedicating legislative attention to getting them to pull up their pants in public?

We think of our community, because –despite Davis’ protestations to the contrary – it is overwhelmingly young black men who wear their pants in this way and who would be targeted for enforcement, should Davis pass her bill through the Public Safety Committee and the Board of Aldermen.

It’s embarrassing to discuss this, but there is another fashion trend that exposes the undergarments and backside, popular among young white women rather than young black men, known as a “whale tail.” Should Davis’ ordinance pass, we would likely see the city’s mostly white male police force enjoy the view whenever a woman with a “whale tail” passes on the street, yet seize on an incidence of “saggin’” as an opportunity to bring a young black man down to the station for questioning and hit him with a fine of up to $500 and/or a jail term of up to 90 days.

African Americans in the city of St. Louis already are twice as likely to be pulled over for a driving infraction as white drivers, according to the Missouri Attorney General, and a stunning 18 times as likely to be arrested for possession for marijuana than whites, despite similar rates of consumption, according to the ACLU. Whatever else law enforcement in this troubled

city needs, it does not need a new racial (and, in this case, gender) disparity for being ticketed because your underwear is showing. Leaving the legal system out of it, we agree wholeheartedly with Davis that it is “lewd and indecent” to deliberately wear your pants in a fashion that exposes your undergarments and backside to view. And – as much as it appalls us that this is what we are talking about, as grown folks, in 2013 – we agree that something must be done about it. We must redouble our efforts to reach our young people and teach them the self-respect that they need to succeed. We must convince them there is real opportunity for them to succeed outside of their insular neighborhoods and circles of friends if they dedicate themselves to school, pursue internships and seek out guidance from mentors.

When asked about “saggin’,” youth often speak in terms of freedom, and we agree that one’s fashion sense – however much or little others may like it – is a freedom of expression. But what not enough of our young people are learning is that freedom has a partner, and that is responsibility. We are free to act, but we are responsible for the consequences of our actions. If your fashion sense limits your employment options to street crime, as for all intents and purposes “saggin’” does, then your exercise of freedom is limiting your possibilities drastically. Young people need to be taught these critically important things, and too many of them clearly are not being taught personal responsibility and the reality of the consequences for their choices. Adults need to take responsibility for the crises in our youth, even this relatively superficial one. We must teach our young people to pull their pants up and take responsibility for their future –but let’s leave the police force out of it.

Commentary

Court chooses reality over ideology

The Supreme Court decision on affirmative action could have been a lot worse. Given the court’s ideological tilt, in fact, it was probably the best we could have hoped for.

This is a “dog that didn’t bark” kind of story: In a 7-1 ruling, the justices ordered a lower court to reconsider its decision upholding the University of Texas’ admissions policy. A tougher standard must be applied, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the majority, in evaluating the school’s practice of using the applicant’s race as one of several criteria. What the right-leaning court declined to do – presented with a case that some legal scholars likened to a hanging curve ball over the middle of the plate –was swing for the fences.

Kennedy wrote that the lower court should have subjected the Texas admissions police to “strict scrutiny,” a standard that “does not permit a court to accept a school’s assertion that its admissions process uses race in a permissible way without closely examining how the process works in practice.”

In other words, the court is raising the bar for Texas and other schools that practice affirmative action. But to the disappointment of those who hoped the court would drive a stake into the heart of affirmative action once and for all, Kennedy’s opinion acknowledges that there is still “a permissible way” for race to

be considered.

That remains true for now, at least.

“The reviewing court must ultimately be satisfied that no workable race-neutral alternatives would produce the educational benefits of diversity,” Kennedy reasoned.

This may prove to be a tough standard to meet. But the court effectively affirmed its previous rulings acknowledging that there are indeed “educational benefits” from having a diverse student body.

Conservative foes of affirmative action had hoped the court would take racial preferences entirely off the table as a means of encouraging diversity. To do so, the court effectively would have had to reverse a 2003 ruling involving admissions at the University of Michigan Law School, which prohibited racial quotas but allowed schools to use race as one of many factors.

Indeed, Justice Clarence Thomas – the lone AfricanAmerican member of the court – wrote that he would have voted to forbid any consideration of race. Still, he concurred in Kennedy’s ruling. Justice Antonin Scalia noted that the court was not asked in the Texas case to decide the fundamental question of whether race can ever be considered, and so he, too, concurred.

The lone dissenter was Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who wrote that she believed there was no need to raise the bar for universities seeking to practice affirmative action. Justice Elena Kagan recused herself. The court’s other two liberals, Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Stephen Breyer, sided with Kennedy and the conservatives.

I was a legal intern in the New York office of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in 2006. A sense of civil rights history, past and present, pervaded the office. Its founder, Thurgood Marshall, had argued Brown v. Board of Education while working there By a happy coincidence, I had arrived during the time when the office was working to help testify in support of the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. After a summer of hard work, one of my most cherished memories was the celebration we had when the U.S. Senate passed the reauthorization act by a vote of 98 to 0.

Seven years later, my heart is broken to see undone, not only my own work and the work of my colleagues, but more profoundly the work of civil rights activists spanning generations. Most poignantly, my thoughts linger on those whose blood was spilled on U.S. Highway 80 in Selma, Alabama on a day in 1965 that will always be remembered as “Bloody Sunday.”

The pain would be worse if I felt that we failed to amass a sufficiently thorough record in 2006, or that we lazily relied on “40-year-old facts having no relation to the present day,” as asserted by Chief Justice Roberts in the majority opinion

on Shelby County v. Holder

My cognitive dissonance on this point could not be more acute. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg accurately noted that the 2006 congressional record of 21 hearings and 15,000 pages belies this point.

My own experience also belies this point. I remember long nights at the office, watching NAACP attorneys Debo Adegbile, Ted Shaw and others pour in heroic amounts of work, compiling contemporary cases of discrimination persuasive to all but the most hardened. The 98 to 0 vote did not happen by accident.

In addition, this decision was very wrong on the merits. As Justice Ginsburg argues in the latest of her brilliant dissents, the Court perversely uses the Voting Rights Act’s own success as an argument against its survival, the ultimate Catch22. As she observes, “Throwing out preclearance when it has worked and is continuing to work to stop discriminatory changes is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.”

My own personal pique and the weight of logic aside, this decision does damage to the U.S. Supreme Court as an institution. Shelby trampled any remaining ideals of judicial restraint.

To overturn a law passed so overwhelmingly by Congress, on an issue – voting – where politicians clearly have legitimate expertise, on an expansive notion of

Letters to the editor

Koster, Nixon, Sinquefield

The American missed another way in which Attorney General Chris Koster is the un-Nixon. Since 2008, Koster has accepted more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from Rex Sinquefield, his PACs and his agents. Nixon, meanwhile, hasn’t taken a dime from Sinquefield.

To those who had hoped for a more sweeping decision, it may look as if the court decided to punt. But my impression is that the ruling represents compromise and consensus, with a healthy dose of restraint.

A host of universities, corporations and other institutions filed briefs in the case supporting the University of Texas and arguing that diversity is not just a worthy goal but a necessary one. The Obama administration argued that racial diversity is vital in the military to promote “operational readiness.”

Racial preference actually contributes relatively little to diversity on the university’s campuses. The greater factor is a policy guaranteeing admission to the top students in every high school in the state – the so-called “Top Ten” program. About 25 percent of freshmen granted admission under the program are Hispanic and about 6 percent are African-American.

The University of Texas case involves a white student, Abigail Fisher, who narrowly missed the cutoff for the “Top Ten” and ultimately was denied admission. Some lowerachieving minority students who also missed the cutoff were admitted because of racial preference, she argued.

The court, in effect, took an incremental step. The justices made it more difficult for policies that take race into account to pass muster. But they did not pretend that our society is totally colorblind, as much as we would like it to be. They chose reality over ideology.

From a court so fond of conservative activism, I’ll take it.

Koster may promise that he won’t pander to Republicans but Sinquefield doesn’t give money to people unless they do his bidding. If the $400K Koster plans to use to help elect Democrats to the legislature is Rex’s money, will that bring more Jamilah Nasheeds to the legislature? To that I say, No thank you!

Before you anoint Koster as the democratic candidate for governor, please do some diligent journalism and ask him the hard question of just what he agrees with Sinquefield about?

Susan Turk, St. Louis

Chaos, not reform

Readers may find it interesting (but not ironic) that The St. Louis American publishes an article detailing national recognition of some high-performing St. Louis Public Schools at the same time a Post-Dispatch editorial page celebrates with Rex Sinquefield “reformers” the potential dismantling of public education in Missouri. It is hard to imagine how destabilizing districts throughout the state will create anything but confusion.

This is not just a handful of students potentially headed from Riverview to Ladue. This is court decision allows student-jumping with taxpayer dollars between adjacent counties throughout the state. Tens of thousands of children across the state could potentially jump from one county to another – that is an invitation to chaos not reform.

So-called school “reformers” ignore real solutions – fully funding the foundation formula first and expanding early

state rights that would warm the heart of George Wallace himself, is horrifying enough. More disturbing is that the decision was reached along party lines, with the five Republican appointees voting to overturn a law that would disproportionally help Republican candidates if it systematically results in the suppression of minority voting opportunities, as it is expected to do. Even more disturbing was Justice Scalia’s conjecture during oral argument that Congress would never vote against a “racial entitlement,” leading us to suppose that the U.S. Supreme Court now feels qualified to judge the intentions of Congress and to overturn laws based on what they surmise the motivations of Congress to be.

Most disturbingly, if history’s pattern holds, we can expect a deluge of Voter ID laws, limits on early voting, racial gerrymandering, and limited access to polling locations in minority communities around the country. When considered in the wake of Citizen’s United, one could very well surmise that this U.S. Supreme Court has indeed begun an attack on democracy that is unparalleled in its history, rivaled only by the abomination that was Bush v. Gore Justin Hansford is an assistant professor of law at Saint Louis University School of Law. Follow him on Twitter @Blackstarjus.

All letters are edited for length and style.

childhood education. A recent poll cited by DESE showed 79 percent of Missouri voters strongly support universal, voluntary Pre-K (vouchers and charter schools – not so much).

Byron Clemens, American Federation of Teachers St. Louis

Making a difference

I read Bernie Hayes’ article in The American about silencing independent black record labels. I would like to help. In what ways are you thinking about making a difference? I believe wealth is not just the accumulation of items but the capability of a network. So I think a proper question to ask is, after Motown was sold, did it create wealth? As I think the solution lies in creating and accessing wealth. I have a degree in math and came across your article as a I work third shift in a factory, doing as a young person should do, learning to become an old person.

Josh Norris, Via email

Reality of random violence

The city of St. Louis is a community plagued by violence, a city with an astronomical per capita rate of gun violence. On a Tuesday afternoon this June on Chicago’s South Side, gunfire sent nine people to the hospital. In St. Louis, only hours prior to that mayhem, seven incidents of gunfire in a three-hour period sent 17 folks to the hospital. Chicago’s population is nearly 10 times that of St. Louis, but in a single day St. Louis hosted nearly double the shooting violence!

Cary Ball Jr.’s death at the hands of St. Louis cops is surely a tragedy, but it is not unforeseen or unexpected. The cops working in the violent neighborhoods in St. Louis work in urban combat zones. Random violence is their reality, something they live with. In the chaotic fog that descends upon adrenalinecharged police pursuits,

life-changing decisions are often made in milliseconds. Sometimes errors in judgment occur – by the cops or by those they pursue, and sometimes by both.

Michael K. Broughton, Green Park

Columnist Eugene Robinson

Guest Columnist Justin Hansford

Photo by Maurice Meredith

Nominate a Nurse of the Year

The deadline to nominate a nurse to be honored as a 2013 March of Dimes Nurse of the Year is June 30. Exceptional nurses employed in the state of Missouri and Illinois counties of Jersey, Madison, St. Clair, Clinton, Monroe, and Randolph are eligible. Dr. Jan DeMasters, President of the St. Louis Campus of Chamberlain College of Nursing, is chairing the Nurse of the Year committee. Nomination forms, categories and additional information are available at marchofdimes.com /missouri. For additional information, contact Ann Fisher-Jackson at 314-513-9962 or jfisher-jackson@marchofdimes.com.

Parking meters will be enforced on Saturdays

Effective July 1, the Parking Division will begin enforcing parking violations, including expired meters, in Downtown St. Louis on Saturdays. Accordingly, Downtown patrons will be required to pay for using parking meters on Saturdays from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. The Parking Commission of the City of St. Louis voted unanimously to change this policy during its monthly meeting held May 9. This change in policy is necessary in order to apply consistent enforcement policies across the city. In order to adjust to the change, enforcement officers will issue warning notices during the first two weekends in July.

Black Legends of Golf tourney

Tee Masters Golf Club will present The Bell Will Ring No More 31st Annual Golf Tournament in memory of Black Legends of Golf on July 12-14 at Probstein Golf Course in Forest Park. Register online at gatewaygolfassociation. org or contact Anthony Coleman at 314-437-1906 or anthony_coleman@us.aflac.com or Charles Smith at 314.853.5091 or Csmithjr57@gmail.com.

Martin Mathews Awardee

City Academy sixth grade graduates Natalie Smith and Alvin Hamilton received the Martin Mathews Award during the school’s recent graduation ceremony.They are shown here with MartinMathews andCity Academy President and Co-Founder DonDanforth.This year, 100 percent of the graduates were accepted into private independent secondary schools,including Chaminade,Crossroads,John Burroughs,MICDS, Thomas Jefferson,Villa,Westminster and Whitfield.

Library Foundation offers teen award

The St. Louis County Library Foundation is seeking applicants for the fourth annual Sidney Johnson Learning Award. Those eligible are teens aged 12-18 who live in the St. Louis County Library District and have demonstrated outstanding service to the library. The winner will receive $1,000. The award application and instructions can be found online athttp://www.slcl.org/teens/sidney-johnson-award. The application deadline is July 31. For more information, call 314 994-3300.

Girl, get that degree

By Alyce Herndon For The St.Louis American

As the economy continues to change, we must be ever more vigilant, innovative and creative to stand out and succeed in an increasingly competitive world. During the industrial era, people with high school diplomas could make a fairly decent living. Abachelor’s degree was considered a huge accomplishment and could usually guarantee even higher wages.

Now we’re in the Information Age. Many of the manufacturing jobs were out-sourced years ago. Therefore we must be more academically prepared with skill sets critical for 21st century jobs. A bachelor’s degree may no longer be enough, and so many are heading back to school for graduate degrees.

It’s crucial to be more competitive, personally and professionally. Strategic thinking and lifelong learning are imperatives for a high-quality life and personal growth.

We possess a multitude of talents (many untapped); however, researching various schools and programs fitting our natural aptitudes can be challenging.

When considering a school, look at the programs and disciplines offered; eligibility requirements; location (on-ground or online) and how long it takes to graduate.Consider the frequency of meetings, deadlines, benefits, accreditation, how to apply and application fees. Don’t forget about prerequisites such as the GMAT or GRE.

The schools’accreditation is vital, because if it’s accredited you have the option of transferring credit hours. Additionally, companies and organizations frequently recruit from accredited and more prestigious schools. Most colleges or universities are accredited through the Higher Learning Commission.

With working women looking to leverage work-life balance, online learning should be considered. Online classes are more convenient, and students with hectic schedules can better balance family, work, school and other responsibilities. Many students take both types of courses.

Internet coursework with no face-to-face meetings has grown at an astonishing pace in ways unanticipated. Part of this growth is attributed to busy people who’ve learned to multitask. When students elect to take classes electronically, there are similar expectations, just as if they’re in a classroom setting. Whatever you decide, pursuing more education is a personal and professional undertaking and will most likely result in a competitive edge in the marketplace.

Women are frequently considered caretakers and pressure is often put on them to maintain these traditional roles; however, they should also consider taking care of themselves more. So, go ahead, get set and pursue that degree.

Alyce Herndon is a member of the Professional Organization of Women (POW) and assistant director and academic advisor at Webster University’s Downtown Campus. To learn more about POW, contact us at empower@powinc.org, 314-963-5287 or www.powinc.org.

Alyce Herndon

Photo by Charlie Barnes

Crown Holdings and Laclede Group.

His most recent executive positions have been as president and CEO of the Executive Leadership Council and as president and CEO of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International.He made his name and fortune previous to that as founder and CEO of Merisant after 20-plus years of senior positions at Monsanto.

One significant reason for his accepting the helm at Carnival relates to the mission of the Executive Leadership Council, a professional network and leadership forum for AfricanAmerican executives of Fortune 500 companies.

“One thing that influenced me to take this role is the relative lack of African-American participation in the leadership of Fortune 500 companies.”

would occupy the No. 159 slot on the Fortune 500 list if it were incorporated in the United States. Carnival lists its headquarters as Panama. Carnival Corporation is the largest cruise company in the world, with a portfolio of cruise brands in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia, comprised of Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Ibero Cruises, P&O Cruises (Australia) and P&O Cruises (UK).

– Arnold W.Donald

“I look across corporate America, and one thing that influenced me to take this role is the relative lack of AfricanAmerican participation in the leadership of Fortune 500 companies,” Donald, 58, told The American. “Hopefully, in taking on this role and joining the ranks of, unfortunately, very few others I will help make it possible for others to follow at other corporations.”

With $15.8 billion in annual revenue, Carnival Corporation

SAMS

Continued from A1 career, both on and off of the basketball court.

The racial demographics of the university are similar to those at her high school. Nova Southeastern had 22 percent African-American undergraduates in Fall 2012, the most recent numbers available, and

Currently, there are six AfricanAmerican CEOs of Fortune 500 companies: Kenneth C. Frazier of Merck & Co., Inc; Roger W. Ferguson, Jr. of TIAA-CREF; Kenneth I. Chenault of American Express; Don Thompson of McDonald’s; Ursula M. Burns of Xerox Corporation; and Clarence Otis Jr. of Darden Restaurants, Inc.

Asked if diversifying the workforce and management at Carnival would be a priority, Donald said, “We have over 90,000 employees at Carnival all over the globe, so it’s already a very diverse employee base.”

Asked if he would target more minority consumers, he said, “I don’t have the stats in front of me, but there is very

Clayton School District’s student body is about 20 percent African-American. Despite a smaller percentage of African-American students than at city schools, Sams said she never felt out of place at Clayton. In fact, when choosing whether to attend high school at Clayton or Villa Duchesne, Clayton’s higher percentage of African Americans was a pivotal factor.

by Wiley

Shot on his block

Anthony Clark,28,of the 5000 block of Cote Brilliante,was shot as he sat in the passenger seat of a vehicle on his block.A masked gunman approached the vehicle and shot Clark multiple times with a rifle.The gunman fled the scene in a blue Audi A6.The victim was transported to an area hospital where he later died of his wounds.

active participation in the African-American community on a number of our lines. Only about 3 percent of available vacationers are cruising, so we have a huge upside as a corporation to teach the public, including the AfricanAmerican community, about the unbelievable experience and vacation value in cruising.”

Donald’s own AfricanAmerican family has enjoyed the cruising experience. In

“The deal breaker was that there were more African Americans there, because some schools don’t have many African Americans, and I felt really happy and comfortable at Clayton,” Sams said.

Her choice proved to be a good one. At Clayton, Sams excelled. She succeeded in the classroom, performed well in sports and was named Homecoming Queen her senior year.

fact, Donald said he has declined other senior executive positions during his years away from the bustle of operations, but he was enticed to accept the opportunity at Carnival because he believes in the product.

“The service, the product, appeals to me,” he said. “It makes a real, positive difference in people’s lives. One of the most memorable experiences of my life was taking my entire extended family on a

“She has put her time in, both on the basketball court and in school, so she’s done a lot on both ends,” said Karen Sams, Lacei’s mother. Sams’time at Clayton culminated in the second semester of her senior year, when Sams was named the Suburban-East Conference Player of the Year in basketball, received AllDistrict basketball honors and had a semester grade point average above 3.0.

cruise. This was maybe 15 years before I joined the Carnival board, but the bonding and memories are things my family still talks about.”

Donald, a New Orleans native, has kept St. Louis as his home city even when taking executive leadership positions with organizations headquartered elsewhere. Will it be possible for him to lead a global cruise line from a landlocked city?

“I will spend every second I

“She’s been a real delight to teach and a wonderful young lady,” said Amy Chappuis, Sams’English teacher her sophomore year.

“I’m so excited for her and really proud of her as well.”

If Sams was struggling in her classes, she would not shy away from asking for help, Chappuis said. Whether it meant scheduling a second writing conference or checking in with a tutor, Sams would do what was needed.

Heath Kent, the Clayton varsity basketball coach, appreciated her discipline, knowing he never had to worry about Sams when he checked on his team members’academic performance.

“We do periodic grade checks during the season, and she was never one that we would have to check in on or worry about,” Kent said.

“She was always in good standing.”

Sams’peers, coaches, teachers and parents also enjoyed her warm personality.

“I think she – on as well as off of the court – has a very positive attitude,” said Alvin Sams, her father.

“She’s a diplomat; she is a very outgoing individual and a peacemaker.”

For community service, Sams volunteered with Forest

need to spend wherever I need to spend it on behalf of the shareholders of Carnival,” Donald said.

“We have a global corporate staff in Miami, and initially I will spend a tremendous amount of time in Miami. But there are no immediate plans to relocate at this time. My family’s home base is St. Louis for the foreseeable future. I love St. Louis.”

Park Forever, an organization that is committed to the improvement and maintenance of Forest Park. Sams and her family co-chaired “Circus Wonderland,” a family tea party that raised money for the park. Sams is a member of Newstead Avenue Missionary Baptist Church, where Elder Richard L. Pearson Sr. is Pastor and Sis. Mary J. Pearson is First Lady. Sams is active in the Sunday school. At Nova Southeastern she will be active on the hardwood. The university has a top-notch Division-II basketball program. In the 2013 Division-II NCAAtournament, the Sharks made it to the quarterfinals, where they lost in overtime. Though it will take some time for her to get adjusted to the faster, more physical college game, Kent feels Sams’best days are ahead of her.

Chappuis agrees, crediting Sams’work ethic, leadership and willingness to listen to instruction as contributors to her success.

“She’s diligent and hardworking and coachable,” Chappuis said. “She really asks for help when she needs it. She’s a self advocate, and she wants to do well. At the same time, she is both a leader and a team player.”

Photo

Price

BALL

Continued from A1

Toni Taylor, had just spoken on camera about her sorrow and confusion.

Moments later, a police car drove by the family, turned on its sirens and then yelled, “Hi. mom!” to Ball’s mother. Then the officers laughed.

The American videotaped the interaction and posted the video of the officers’drive by on its YouTube channel (youtube.com/stlamericanvideo).

Taylor felt police were trying to harass and intimidate the family. Police continuously drive by whenever the family visits the location, she said. On June 17, Taylor called Internal Affairs to file a complaint against the officers, and a couple of days later she talked on the phone with Chief Sam Dotson, who had seen the video.

“I told her I was not happy about it, and I was going to give it to Internal Affairs to start an investigation,” Dotson said.

Taylor said Dotson asked her if the police officers had gotten out of the car to speak with her. She said no, they never had. According to Taylor, Dotson told her that the police officers said they had gotten out of the car and spoke with the family just before they passed by in the car.

The American was with the family during their entire visit, and the officers never spoke to

INCLUSION

Continued from A1

#75CS, championed by Alderman Terry Kennedy as key sponsor a year earlier, was opening doors in the City of St. Louis that were closed in St. Louis County – employment on public works projects.

From 2009 – 2010, the city’s Board Bill #75CS created 234,687 labor hours for construction workers on city public works projects; of those, 62,325 labor hours (roughly 26 percent) went to minority construction workers. Almost half of those workers came from St. Louis County.

In 2010 – 2011, the city documented 381 job referrals to contractors on city public works projects; of the 104 hired, 95 percent were AfricanAmerican, 3 percent were women, and 45 percent were from St. Louis County.

but Bosley said he expects a jury trial and will ask the jury for a much larger sum. In the four-count lawsuit, the family alleges that officers initiated a high-speed car chase that was in violation of the department’s vehicle pursuit policy. That policy states that police only initiate a car chase when they suspect the person has committed a felony. Police used excessive force in shooting Ball over 20 times, the lawsuit claims. The officers “unreasonably seized” Ball in violation of the Fourth Amendment and deprived him of his “right to life” under the Missouri Constitution, the family claims.

“I want justice for my son, and I feel it would be served better in the court of law.”

– Toni Taylor, mother of Cary Ball Jr.

Carr Street. He was shot and killed on Carr Street between 8th and 9th streets. Several witnesses said that Cary had thrown down his gun and surrendered before police shot him. Dotson said the department has not released a police report on the incident because Ball’s case is under investigation, and it could take months before it is completed. On the verge of tears several times, Taylor spoke at the press conference Tuesday on the Circuit Courthouse steps. She was surrounded by family, including Ball’s father, Cary Ball Sr., and his 4-yearold daughter Chanell Williams.

“Excessive force on any level is unacceptable,” Bosley said. “This chase should never have started in the first place, and Mr. Ball should certainly not be dead today. This has to stop.”

the family. However they did pass by several times. In fact, minutes after they put their sirens on, they passed by again, waved out the car window and laughed.

“They tried to justify themselves by saying they got out of the car,” Taylor said. “They lied.”

Dotson did not confirm that he told Taylor the officers’version of events.

“I want to be fair,” he said.

According to statistical data from Board Bill #75CS and other evidence, minorities and women are under-represented in the skilled workforce of the construction industry. Such under-representation is due to past discriminatory barriers. A diversity program is needed to rectify such under-representation. In response, the bill called for the city’s public works contracts to provide training and job opportunities as a means of increasing the skills and diversity of the construction industry workforce. And it committed the city to ensuring that employment opportunities on city public works projects are offered to city residents.

The bill committed the city to using training that is accepted industry-wide so that minority workers could enter the region’s pool of skilled labor, fully qualified for jobs throughout the industry. It also committed the city to promot-

“I want to make sure that I know the full story – what happened in the time before video started and after, so everyone has due process.”

Dotson said he walked down to the Internal Affairs office to show investigators the video. The officers in the video are not the same officers who shot Ball. Dotson said the investigation of the drive-by officers should take a couple of weeks.

Ball’s family files suit

On Tuesday, Ball’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the individual officers involved in the shooting and the Board of Police Commissioners. They have retained attorneys Freeman Bosley Jr. and Daniel Brown. The family filed seeking damages in excess of $25,000,

A St.Louis County disparity study – not Dooley’s personal assurance of his personal good will – would determine if the county has discriminated or not.

ing apprenticeship opportunities on public works projects and ensuring that all contractors participate in this requirement.

On Tuesday April 3, 2012, St. Louis County voters approved a $100 million public works project to build a new family court next to the main courthouse and renovate that 40-year-old structure. In November 2012, St. Louis County voters approved Prop L, an $108 million public works tax referendum to fund system-wide construction and renovation of county libraries.

With a quarter-billion dollars in public works on the books, you would think that the county would enact its own

version of Board Bill #75CS.

Thirty days later, in December 2012 – over strong objections from numerous contractors –St. Louis County passed an ordinance (Bill #289) requiring that contractors bidding on larger county projects be union

On April 24, Ball was driving home from his catering job at a downtown banquet hall, when a police car turned on its lights behind him near Washington Avenue and 18th Street. Rather than pull over, Ball led St. Louis police on a high-speed chase through the downtown area. He crashed his car on the 1000 block of North 9th Street, grabbed his automatic handgun and started running east on

contractors and operate a federally-approved apprentice program.

County Executive Charlie A. Dooley addressed minority contractors in attendance, saying, “As an African American, I want to make something clear: To think that the county would discriminate against any member of the community is simply untrue.”

ASt. Louis County disparity study – not Dooley’s personal assurance of his personal good will – would determine if

“I want justice for my son, and I feel it would be served better in the court of law,” Taylor said. “I don’t understand how anyone can get shot 25 times. No one needs to shoot a human being or an animal that many times.” Taylor said she didn’t understand why the two police officers who shot her son were released back to work.

“They say it’s an ongoing investigation, but they are back at work,” she said. “Someone has already made a conclusion, it seems like to me.”

the county has discriminated or not.

After the county passed Bill #289, Dooley acknowledged that the bill needs fixing. The County Council has yet to offer a fix. In the meantime, the county has $250 million in public works projects about to start that are subject to Bill #289, the bill that needs fixing. Pruitt is president of the St. Louis city chapter of the NAACP.

Cary Ball Jr.’s parents,Cary Ball Sr.and Toni Taylor, spoke at a press conference Tuesday on the Circuit Courthouse steps with attorney Freeman Bosley Jr.The family has filed a wrongful death suit against the St.Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the individual officers involved in the shooting of their son and the Board of Police Commissioners.

Photo by Wiley Price

Edward Snowden and us

There has been a lot of hoopla around Edward Snowden allegedly leaking information from the National Security Agency. Snowden has been charged with espionage, which some would say is unfair for a whistleblower’s reward.

Not everyone is tuned into the intrigue. Most workingclass people are locked into survival mode, trying to make it from paycheck to paycheck. The current security leaks and the privacy issues that it has spawned seem like material for a suspense movie script, not anything that could affect their lives.

Snowden is now on the run, trying to find a country that doesn’t have an extradition treaty with the U.S. Snowden’s expose is being called one of the most explosive security leaks in U.S. history.

He is said to have released classified documents that unveil the covert cooperation of communication corporations like Verizon and Google with NSA through a top secret program called Prism. Snowden claims that the phone information of millions of Americans is being collected and analyzed without warrants and, according to many civil liberties advocates, without cause.

Here’s what I find curious about Snowden and which may be of more significance to the average, working-class person who believes that government snooping is not a problem for them. Snowden was a low-level employee of NSA contractor Booz Allen Hamilton, with highlevel security clearance. The company confirmed that he had only worked for them for three months. That means private

individuals, not only faceless government agencies, have access to all kinds of information about us. Employees in companies have access to our financial, medical, education, employment and police records. Just like the government, these employees can abuse their positions of trust. They may not be jeopardizing national security, but a person with harmful intentions can do a lot of damage to your personal and emotional security.

The infamous snooping by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover on people’s personal lives helped him to keep six presidents in check and hold onto his job until his death.

President Harry S. Truman once accused Hoover of transforming the FBI into his private secret police force.

Jilted spouses and lovers, disgruntled employees and

a sordid array of folks have gotten hold of information that they used for manipulation, blackmail and character assassination. The long-term damage to that person is just as real as the leaks of Snowden and Julian Assange are to national security. It can even lead to death as when a stalker found his victim’s home through Google maps. We must all get engaged in the conversation about privacy concerns by starting with checks and balances to minimize abuse at all levels. There are many places that collect information on us. Without our knowledge or consent, they share and sell that information to others. Surveillance cameras capture our every move. Sometimes we know they are on, other times we don’t. This country is in a tug-of-war between civil liberties and national security. You may not care who Big Brother is watching today, but tomorrow he may be watching you.

Toy Gun Buy Back Initiative

Exchange violent toys for non-violent toys on July 13

American staff

Local faith communities will host a Toy Gun Exchange Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 13 at three locations: O’Fallon Park Recreation Complex, 4343 W. Florissant; North County Recreation Complex, 2577 Redman; and Jackie JoynerKersee Center, 101 JJ-K Circle, East St. Louis.

Parents and children are invited to exchange violent toys for nonviolent ones and enjoy food, music and fun activities for children and youth.

“The goal is to spark meaningful conversations about the culture of violence and change the way kids engage in dramatic play by replacing violent toys and video games with non-violent

Rev. Rodney T. Francis

ones,” said the Rev. Rodney T. Francis, pastor of Washington Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church.

“This initiative is an effort to bring awareness to the implications and impact of violent toys, games and movies on today’s youth.”

Volunteers and donations are needed. Individuals, congregations and organizations are invited to

support by hosting a toy drive to collect new non-violent toys that will be distributed on the Exchange Day, making a financial donation to help cover the cost of non-violent toys and other Exchange Day activities, and volunteering at any of the Exchange Day Sites.

To volunteer, host a drive, make a donation or get more information, please visit www.toygunbuyback.org or contact The Toy Gun Buy Back Initiative, P.O. Box 23325, St. Louis, MO 63156, call 314-225-6990 or visit info@ toygunbuyback.org.

Richard Dockett

Richard Dockett, a University City community activist for more than 40 years who was dedicated to the welfare of his neighbors and schoolchildren, died June 14, 2013, at Ackert Park Skilled Care Community after suffering a recent stroke. He was 71.

Anyone attending a council meeting in University City over the years would see Mr. Dockett’s striking presence, a tall man who often wore a cowboy hat. He also took part in Martin Luther King Day marches, and cared deeply about civil rights. He was president of his neighborhood association covering a large area north of Olive Boulevard and west of Skinker Boulevard. He also volunteered for years on behalf of the University City School District.

The new Pershing School Gym was dedicated to Mr. Dockett last month. Because of his work for the city, Mayor Shelley Welsch declared Jan. 19 this year “Richard Dockett Day.”

A city proclamation said that Mr. Dockett had “tirelessly fought for education, equal justice and economic opportunities” in the school

district and city “for more than 40 years.”

“He reared his children in the district and also served as a guardian and protector of children, particularly at Pershing Elementary School.” The proclamation also said he had been “instrumental in assuring quality education and fairness in the district in construction, hiring and curriculum.”

Mr. Dockett retired after working for 33 years as an inspector and supervisor for General Motors Co. in Wentzville. He had been married to Wilma Dockett. Among his survivors are a daughter, Pamela Dockett, of St. Louis; two sons, Kymal Dockett, of St. Louis, and Kymo Dockett of Washington; and a grandson.

Source: St. Louis PostDispatch

In Loving Memory of Dorothy S. Braxton

July 7, 1923 –June 26, 2012

My grandmother, my soror, my friend. I love you and miss you Big Mom. Kimberly

Dorothy Braxton

Richard Dockett

Jamala Rogers

Shalom Church City of Peace

Celebrates 20 Years in Grand Style!

By Denise Y. Williams

Special to The

American

Shalom Church has experienced the same growing pains as any other church, so it would be quite apropos that they celebrate 20 years of ministry in grand style.

The nearly week long celebration began with Bible Study and Prayer Service on Tuesday. Over 700 attended the St. Louis Cardinals home game Wednesday night. On Friday, a sold out crowd attended a banquet at Orlando’s Garden. The night was filled with all the accoutrements that make for a memorable evening; great food, dinner music by jazz saxophonist Readus Miller; comic relief from comedian Reggie Regg, brief words from Pastor and Founder, Rev. Dr. Freddy J. Clark and more entertainment by Tish Haynes-Keys who was accompanied by a live band and backup singers.

On Saturday morning nearly 100 people sat on the fishing bank at Lake Shalom located on the land behind the church to participate in the first annual Fishing Derby (designed to teach children how to fish.) The day’s activities ended with over 400 members viewing “Now You See Me” at Jamestown Cinema. Oh, but when Sunday Came … after a continental breakfast and devotion, there were three dynamic worship experiences! The sanctuaries were to capacity while the services were electrified with songs of Zion from The Shalom Choir, praise danc-

ing, Praise Phi Praise steppers, a duo piece of spoken word from Poetic Praise; presentations from the Next Generation in Training, the 100 Black Men – St. Louis Chapter, a proclamation and a Key to the County from County Executive Charlie Dooley, and the preached word from Dr. Robert Scott of Central Baptist Church and Dr. Ralph West of Church Without Walls in Houston Texas. Dr. Clark was presented with the original Bible used in the first service at the Mother Church in Berkeley, MO. At the end of each service, Dr. Clark reminisced, thanked the congregation and ended with his standard sincere smile followed by, “I love you. Enjoy. Shalom!” Dr. Clark, it is apparent the members feel the same way about you. Happy 20th Anniversary!

BUSINESS

JUNE 20 – 26, 2013

‘Innovation is going to come from small business’

David Steward talks with SBAAdministrator Karen Mills

By Rebecca S.Rivas

Of The St.Louis American

David Steward started his now $5-billion technology business with the help of a loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and a $10-million contract with the government. His company, World Wide Technology Inc., is now the largest AfricanAmerican-owned business in the world. SBAprograms are one of the government’s best kept secrets, Steward said. However last week, SBAAdministrator Karen Mills went on a national tour with SBA’s “Small Business Week,” pledging that

Kwame Foundation to host golf tournament

Funds $150K in scholarships for minority students annually

American staff

Sponsorships opportunities at the tournament are available from $150 to $10,000.

Kwame Foundation will host its 10th Annual Golf Tournament on Thursday, August 29 at the Norman K. Probstein Golf Course at Forest Park in St. Louis. The foundation endows $150,000 a year in scholarships and grants at colleges and universities that improve educational opportunities for minorities. It recently sponsored a spring break bus tour of Historically Black Colleges and Universities for 48 local students.

Sponsorships opportunities at the tournament are available from $150 to $10,000, with recognition at the event, on the website and in the program. Individual entry for the tourna-

See KWAME, B2

“No one thinks about the small bankers who are looking for entrepreneurs out there and ways to collaborate with the SBA.” – David Steward

the agency will no longer be a secret. On June 19, both Mills and Steward spoke about SBA resources at the agency’s daylong seminar at Harris-Stowe State University.

“The president said, ‘I want everyone out

on the road, making a difference,’” Mills said. “That’s been his philosophy. We’re here, and most of our resources are free.”

Mills interviewed Steward about how SBAhelped him grow as an entrepreneur.

Steward said for his first business, he decided to buy an existing company. After working for Missouri Pacific Railroad Company and Federal Express in sales, he decided to carve out a niche for himself.

“I found a guy who had a business,” he told the audience of about 200 people. “The problem was, I didn’t have any money. You

See STEWARD, B6

Georgetown business school joins Consortium

Joins WUSTLand 16 other universities in business education leadership program

By Chris King Of The St.Louis American

Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business has joined Washington University and 16 other elite universities in the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, a national notfor-profit organization focused on diversity and inclusion in American business. The addition of Georgetown, which becomes official on July 1, brings The Consortium’s member school total to a historical high of 18.

The Consortium will begin recruiting prospective MBA students for Georgetown McDonough in the fall of 2013, with the first class graduating in the spring of 2016. The McDonough School of Business’global approach to business education and commitment to diversity made the school a natural fit with The Consortium, according to Peter J. Aranda III, executive director and CEO of The Consortium.

“Having this school among our offerings increases our value proposition for both prospective MBAcandidates hoping to attend a top-ranked school committed to diversity and inclusion, as well as our cor-

PEOPLEON THE MOVE

L.

porate partners who recruit students and alumni across our member schools,” Aranda said. The mission of The Consortium is to enhance diversity in business education and leadership by helping to reduce the serious underrepresentation of African Americans, HispanicAmericans and Native Americans in its member schools’enrollment and the ranks of management. The Consortium recruits for graduate business education qualified U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents who can demonstrate a commitment to The Consortium’s mission and can best assist The Consortium in pursuing this mission.

The Consortium recruits new member schools selectively. Georgetown is the first university to join the roster since 2010.

“We are excited to join the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management and work together to educate and expand the next generation of diverse business leaders,” said David A. Thomas, dean of Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business.

“Building a diverse student body

See SCHOOL, B6

Calvin L. Holmes has been appointed by President Barack Obama to the Community Development Advisory Board. The board shares with governmental organizations its expertise on economic development in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. He is a former East St. Louisan, Cahokia High graduate and president of the Chicago Community Loan Fund.

Denean Steward, the assistant principal of Wyland Elementary School in the Ritenour School District since 2009, has been named the interim principal of Marion Elementary. She joined Ritenour after serving 17 years as a classroom teacher, reading specialist and instructional coach in schools in the states of California, Maryland and the University City School District.

Jacqueline O’Quinn has opened the Missouri franchise of FirstLight HomeCare, a provider of non-medical in-home care for adults. FirstLight HomeCare of North St. Louis is located in Hazelwood. O’Quinn began her professional career working at law firms in Washington, D.C. and St. Louis, but rediscovered her passion for helping those in need of home care after her parents became ill.

Paris Barclay has been elected president of the Directors Guild of America, becoming the first-ever African American to head the union. Barclay is a veteran TV director whose directing credits include “Sons of Anarchy,”“Glee,” “NCIS: Los Angeles” and “NYPD Blue.” He said the studios and the networks should be “doing a better job as far as hiring talented women and minorities.”

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Express Scripts plans expansion that would add 1,500 jobs

Express Scripts Holding Company, the nation’s leading pharmacy benefit manager, is expected to build a 220,000-square-foot building on its existing campus in St. Louis County and add up to 1,500 jobs between now and 2018, the company announced last week. The expansion project is speculative at this time and contingent upon approvals and economic incentives from the State of Missouri and St. Louis County. The total cost of constructing and equipping the office is estimated at $56 million.

Express Scripts is responsible for the pharmacy benefit for more than 100 million Americans and managed 1.4 billion prescriptions last year.

Boeing plans to open technology center, add 400 jobs

Last week Governor Jay Nixon announced that Boeing, which employs approximately 15,000 workers in St. Louis, will be opening an information technology center at its North County location that will bring at least 400 jobs to the area. Boeing is launching a plan to realign its 7,900 person internal ITunit, which handles a wide range of services for the company including fixing laptops to designs complex aircraft software. The State of Missouri is providing economic incentives, which the company can redeem if it meets job creation and investment criteria.

Nurses at SLU Hospital sign first collective bargaining agreement

Registered nurses at Saint Louis University Hospital (SLUH) have won their first ever collective bargaining agreement with a new three-year contract that provides for significant improvements in patient care protections, compensation and job protections, according to National Nurses Organizing Committee-Missouri (NNOC-Missouri). NNOC-Missouri, an affiliate of the 185,000member National Nurses United (NNU), the largest organization of RNs in the U.S., represents some 600 RNs at SLUH. SLUH is now the only St. Louis hospital where RNs have a union contract. Nurses at Des Peres, who like SLUH RNs also voted to join NNOC-Missouri last June, are presently negotiating with that hospital on a first contract as well.

Calvin

Holmes

Denean Steward

Paris Barclay

Jacqueline O’Quinn

U.S.Small Business Administration Administrator Karen Mills had a conversation with David Steward,founder and chairman of World Wide Technology Inc.,on June 19 during the agency's daylong seminar at Harris-Stowe State University.

David A.Thomas

Photo by Wiley Price

What to do when a loved one dies

By Jason Alderman

Whether it’s expected or accidental, the death of a loved one can shake you to the core. The last thing you want is to have to interrupt grieving to deal with mundane tasks, but unfortunately there are many actions that must be done on behalf of the deceased. Some must be taken immediately, while with others you can take your time and reflect on the best path to follow.

Here’s a checklist: If the death occurs under hospital or hospice watch, they will notify the proper authorities and help you make arrangements with the coroner’s office for transport of the remains. If it happens at home,

KWAME

Continued from B1

ment, lunch and events is $375 and non-golfer participation is $75. The Kwame Foundation Golf Tournament funds scholarships and endowments at the following colleges and universities:

ï Barnes-Jewish Hospital College of Nursing

ï Fontbonne University School of Journalism

ï Harris-Stowe State University School of Business

ï Interdenominational Theological Center

ï Jackson State University

ï Maryville University School of Education

ï Morehouse School of Medicine

call local police or 911 for assistance. If he or she was an organ donor, you’ll need to act quickly.

Reach out for help in making arrangements and locating key documents. Split up such tasks as contacting others who will want to know, taking care of pets, collecting mail and safeguarding the deceased’s home if it’s now vacant. Look for a will or other document that spells out the deceased’s burial or cremation wishes – many people make funeral arrangements in advance, even paying ahead of time. The funeral home can guide you through the paperwork process, such as placing an obituary and ordering death certificates.

ï Ranken Technical College

ï St. Louis Community College

ï Saint Louis University College of Arts and Sciences

ï Saint Louis Zoo

ï Tyrone Thompson Institute for Nonviolence

ï University of Kansas School of Architecture

ï University of MissouriColumbia School of Law

ï University of Missouri-St. Louis

ï Washington University School of Engineering

ï Washington University School of Medicine

ï Webster University School of Business & Technology.

Kwame Foundation is a non-profit charitable organiza-

Hopefully, the deceased prepared a will that names an executor to oversee the disposition of his or her estate; otherwise, the court will have to appoint one. In sorting through their files, also look for: a trust; insurance policies; bank, credit card, mortgage and loan accounts; safe deposit box key; contact information for lawyer, doctor, accountant or other professional advisors; and passwords to computer and other accounts.

Within the first few days, start notifying organizations with which the deceased had business or financial arrangements. In most cases you’ll be required to submit a certified copy of the death certifi-

cate, so be sure to order ample copies. You’ll need to contact:

ï Current or former employers for information about possible final wages, accrued vacation, retirement, life insurance or other death benefits.

ï Social Security Administration. If they were receiving Social Security benefits, you’ll need to stop payment right away. Funeral homes often do this, but be sure to ask.

ï Once you’ve notified Social Security, they will contact Medicare to cancel benefits. However, if they were enrolled in a Medicare Prescription or Advantage Plan or had a Medigap policy, contact each to cancel coverage.

ï Veteran’s Administration.

Veterans, their immediate family members and certain others may be entitled to burial at a national cemetery.

ï Forward their mail to a secure address so you don’t miss important correspondence.

ï Cancel their driver’s license to avoid identity fraud.

ï Banks, credit unions, credit card issuers and other lenders to close accounts – or if you are a surviving spouse, to convert accounts to your name only.

ï If they had a safe deposit box and you don’t have the key, ask what documentation you need to gain access.

ï Close email accounts.

ï Insurance companies, to cancel auto and homeowner’s policies; however, consider keeping them activated until assets are sold, in case of theft or damage.

tion founded by Kim and Anthony Thompson of Kwame Building Group to develop a doorway of opportunity into the professional world for youth in underprivileged com-

munities through mentoring programs and scholarship opportunities.

The schedule for the tournament, held at the Norman K. Probstein Golf Course in Forest Park, is: 11:30 a.m.Registration and Lunch; 1 p.m.

- Shotgun Start - Four-Person Scramble; 5 p.m. - Cocktail Reception, Silent Auction and Happy Hour; 6:30 p.m.Awards Ceremony and Auction. For online registration or sponsorships, visit

ï Cancel magazine subscriptions and utilities. Finally, the executor will have to deal with such issues as locating beneficiaries, distributing inherited property, filing final tax returns, and settling outstanding debts. You’d be wise to work with an attorney who specializes in probate issues.

Dean of Webster University School of Business Benjamin Akande,Kwame CEO Tony Thompson and guests at 2012 Kwame Foundation Golf Tournament.

http://kwame.golfreg.com. Contact Sonja Branscomb (314) 862-5344 or sbranscomb@kwamebuildinggroup.com.

“‘I know it wasn’t the magnitude of MJ hitting that shot in ‘98, but I definitely thought about him.”

– LeBron James,on his final jump shot of the NBA Finals

The 1.35M man

Former Hazelwood West standout pitcher Devin Williams signed a contract with the Milwaukee Brewers last Sunday and will begin his professional baseball career immediately. Just days after being selected with the No. 54 pick in the Major League Baseball Draft, Williams signed with the Brewers and received a hefty signing bonus of $1.35 million. Williams left for Phoenix last Monday to begin his pro career with the Brewers’ Rookie League affiliate.

Gold in Uruguay

Chaminade College Prep’s Jayson Tatum helped team USA’s 16U team to a gold medal at the FIBAAmericas Tournament in Uruguay. Tatum averaged 10 points a game in the USA’s five victories. He scored 14 points in the 94-48 victory over Argentina in the gold medal game. Tatum also scored 17 points in the USA’s 121-52 victory

INSIDE SPORTS

With Earl Austin Jr.

over The Bahamas during pool play.

Surge surges to 4-0

The St. Louis Surge improved to 4-0 with a 133-38 victory over the Louisville Fillies in Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League action at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. It was “Paint it Pink” night at UMSLas the Surge partnered with the American Cancer Society to bring out cancer awareness. As a special treat, Surge assistant coach Petra Jackson came out of retirement to play in the game. Jackson was a former star player at University City and a Hall of Famer at Southern Illinois University. She scored 15 points and had nine assists. Jackson, the Surge and several other people donated $10 for every point and assist she had in the game to the American Cancer Society. The Surge will play at

With Ishmael H.Sistrunk

When the final tocks ticked off the clock at the American Airlines Arena, when the lights dimmed and the confetti fell, LeBron James celebrated his cemented legacy.

“King” James left the castle doors open for criticism about his will to win. Now, after a monster Game 7 performance, back-to-back championships and consecutive Finals MVP awards, James has effectively silenced his critics.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that people who dislike James will shut up. On the contrary, as the championshipeating carnivore at the top of the food chain, some sports

Of course, that doesn’t mean that people who dislike LeBron James will shut up.

fans will loathe him because of his success.

Up until now, there were still valid questions about his will to win. One of my colleagues, a devout Heat fan, finally put into words what I’d been thinking for ages, but didn’t know how to explain. Occasionally, James’brilliant JUNE 27 – JULY3, 2013

home again on Saturday, June 29 against the Kansas Nuggets at UMSLon Public Service Night.

Game changers

The Missouri History Museum, along with Major Game, will host the Change the Game Series. The panel discussions will be held on Saturdays, August 3, 10 and 17 from 2-4 p.m. Based on the successful book by Angela Lewis, The Game Changing Assist: Six Simple Ways to Choose Success, the series will feature panelists who are St. Louis natives who are educators and former collegiate athletes. Lewis, a former standout basketball player at Saint Louis University, will be the moderator of each panel discussion. The August 3 discussion will center on football and track. On August 10, men’s basketball will be the topic while women’s basketball will be featured on August 17.

See INSIDE, B5

Hot recruits

Bell to Iowa St., Watson to Kansas, Daniels to Colorado St.

By Earl Austin Jr. Of The St.Louis American

Incarnate Word Academy girls basketball standout Nakiah Bell has given a verbal commitment to attend Iowa State University.

The 5’4” senior chose Iowa State over the University of Missouri last week.

The 5’4” senior chose Iowa State over the University of Missouri last week. She is one of the top point guards in the Midwest region. Bell also had offers from Purdue and Illinois among several others. Bell will be a fouryear starter at point guard for the Red Knights, who have won two state championships and one third-place trophy with her at the controls.

As a junior, Bell averaged 10.7 points and eight assists a game in helping Incarnate Word to a 31-0 record and the Missouri Class 4 state championship. Bell was a St. Louis American Fab Five Girls All-Star First Team selection in 2013. Iowa State finished the season with a 23-8 record and a berth in the NCAATournament, losing to Georgia in the West Regional.

Wren emerges

Lutheran North football standout Renell Wren participated in the Blue-Gray National Football Showcase last weekend in Canton, OH. The 6’5” 249-pound defensive end was

See RECRUITS, B5

Former Hazelwood West standout pitcher Devin Williams left for Phoenix last Monday to begin his pro career with the Milwaukee Brewers’Rookie League affiliate.

Ishmael H. Sistrunk LeBron could finally silence critics with second straight title

Earl Austin Jr.

Incarnate Word Academy girls basketball standout Nakiah Bell,a St.Louis American Fab Five Girls All-Star First Team selection in 2013,has given a verbal commitment to attend Iowa State University.

Yes, it is that time of the year when ice has melted for hockey, basketballs have ceased to dribble and they have yet to blow a whistle for football. All we have is baseball and some local events that try hard to connect with fans.

But wait, there is more. Yes, it’s time to look for anything that can be printed and not get us sued. Enter: a cat fight.

It seems that instead of watching tennis at Wimbledon – where the only real reason to watch tennis is Serena Williams – our heroine is in the middle of a issue that has nothing to do with her skills on the court.

It all started when Serena decided to take a shot at a rival (or should we say “alleged rival,” as Serena has been wearing her out) –Maria Sharapova

CLAIB’S CALL

With Mike Claiborne

Cat fight at Wimbledon

tennis? Even hardcore tennis fans find their sport challenging to watch these days. The casual fan with the TVclicker would be hard-pressed to name five players who are not the Williams sisters, Sharapova, Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer. Yes, this sport has big problems.

The sad part of this story is this. If these two women were not playing tennis, they would be prime candidates for a Jerry Springer show. They are supposed to be playing tennis, but is it a real story on who is playing with whom off the court?

Williams took a shot at an unnamed rival in Rolling Stone magazine, apparently referring to Sharapova’s love interest. She was not nice about it in the article. Williams did not mention that Sharapova’s new toy was someone Serena used to play with previously.

Spilled milk, sour grapes? I have no idea, but it struck a chord with Sharapova. She responded by highlighting Williams’current romantic situation, going as far as calling her a home wrecker. According to Sharapova, Williams is kicking it with a married man who is the father of two and rumored to be getting a divorce.

When you add it all up, they will say, “Wimbledon will now be must-watch TV.” Really? Are they now going to do something other than play

Someone always wants to look at someone else’s soiled laundry. Why the media is so enthralled by this trash is a mystery to me, much like TigerWoods and Sergio Garcia and their issues. The media covers these things as if someone is actually going to be hit with a pitching wedge or slammed with a backhand.

I often wonder why marquee athletes talk to the media at all. Few have what it takes to say “kiss off” for real. Before you start with the business about it being required that athletes talk to the press or that the media makes these athletes into bankable stars, I might remind you that – as long as an athlete plays at an elite level – they really do not need the media. Their actions can speak louder than any words that can be objectively written about them. There are only a few Michael Jordans, LeBron James, Peyton Mannings and Serenas in the first place, so that argument falls on deaf ears. If it sounds like I am biting the hand that feeds me, you are right. But in this day and age what athlete gives you the good

CLUTCH

Continued from B3

basketball IQ works against him. He’s sometimes content to make the “right basketball play,” rather than imposing his will. During the regular flow of the game, that’s all fine and dandy. Once the game is on the line, however, we’re all accustomed to seeing predators like Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant get turnt up to a level that almost refuses to acknowledge any other acceptable play than them strapping their teammates to their backs and putting the game on ice. Once upon a time, James was afraid of that responsibility. That young phenom could score 35 in the first three quarters and get shut out in the fourth when the game was on the line. It was as if he was afraid of failure and that hampered his success to a degree. However, over the past two years, James has been the man and has the hardware to prove it.

Last season, James put up 26 points, 11 rebounds and 13

assists in Game 5 to close out the Oklahoma City Thunder. This year he dropped 37 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists in Game 7 to deny the San Antonio Spurs’upset bid. Any way you look at it, that’s something like a boss. Sure, there are moments, maybe even quarters, of lethargy and uninspired play, and I’ve joined in the criticism during those times. Mentally, he doesn’t seem to have the obsession to dominate his opponent like the aforementioned legends. Still, with championships on the line, James has stepped up in a major way.

As much as I criticized Gregg Popovich for giving away Game 6 with poor coaching decisions (some of which he inexplicably repeated in Game 7), the Heat earned their victory. Greatness is usually comprised of lots of skill, lots of will and a little luck.

The Heat lucked out when Danny Green returned to being Danny Green and when Popovich outsmarted himself by trying to match up to what Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was doing instead of tossing his best five on the

Sharapova responded by highlighting Williams’current romantic situation, going as far as calling her a home wrecker.

there is controversy, you only hope that they still say the right thing. Other than that, it can be somewhat of a challenge to get them to say anything worth printing, unless you catch them right after the big moment when they forget about the media and their emotions take over. I am at that point where someone’s personal life is none of my business, nor yours. I understand it makes good copy, but I wonder if these same reporters and pundits who pore over the personal problems of star athletes would like it if it were publicly discussed who kicked them out of bed last week?

I am sure there are plenty of real difference-making stories out there and plenty of talented people who can report on them. Cat fights do not make that list. I get a much better kick out of watching Serena dominate her sport. No one has done it like her in any other sport. If you want to bring up LeBron, might I remind you that he needs help every night to dominate. The only helper Serena Williams has is a wellstrung tennis racket. Get ready folks, as off-field stories will only become more and more common in the coverage of sports. At least we will know more about our favorite athletes personally, if you are into that sort of stuff. Not me. I’ll pass.

floor and trusting his superstars to walk off the court with the trophy in hand. It burned him in Game 6 and sank him in Game 7. When he gave James an inch, he took a yard. The scary thing about the Miami Heat team is that they won their second consecutive title without Chris Bosh or Dwayne Wade playing at the levels at which we know they are capable. James is clearly in his prime and has plenty of tread left on his tires. If Wade manages to get healthy and return to form and somebody can fool Bosh into thinking he’s still playing in Toronto so he can be a consistent factor, the Heat can be a scary squad for years to come.

Suddenly, James’illreceived boasts of “not one, not two, not three...” championships doesn’t seem so farfetched. Instead, it’s annoyance is replaced by the background buzzing of the haters who still have the audacity to imply that King James isn’t fit for his crown.

Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @IshmaelSistrunk and on Google+.

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova – before the cat-fighting began.

Mike Claiborne

Top five pick

McLemore expected to go early in NBADraft

By Earl Austin Jr. Of The St.Louis American

Former Wellston High star

Ben McLemore will get to realize a lifelong dream tonight when he hears his name selected at the National Basketball Association Draft.

The NBADraft will be held tonight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, beginning at 6 p.m. It will be televised on ESPN.

McLemore was one of 10 top draft prospects who got the call from the league to be in the green room of the Barclays Center to share his special moment with family and friends. McLemore will get to put on the baseball cap of the team that drafts him and shake hands with outgoing NBA Commissioner David Stern, who has announced his retirement. The 6’5” McLemore is expected to be taken in the lottery, with most experts having

Former Hazelwood West standout pitcher Devin Williams signed a contract with the Milwaukee Brewers last Sunday and will begin his professional baseball career immediately.

The 6’5”McLemore is expected to be taken in the lottery, with most experts having him going in the top five.

him going in the top five.

ESPN draft expert Chad Ford has McLemore going to the Phoenix Suns with the No. 5 pick. NBADraft.net also has McLemore going to Phoenix at No. 5. In his one season at Kansas, McLemore led the Jayhawks in scoring and set a new freshman scoring record, breaking the old record of former KU legend Danny Manning. He was selected to the Freshmen All-American Team after leading Kansas to the Sweet 16 of the NCAATournament.

31-12 in 12U

Torez Mitchell,James Little.Not pictured:Tyrone Bell.The team is coached by former Jennings High and Southern Illinois University standout Darren Brooks.

INSIDE

Continued from B3

STL Football U 7 on 7

STLFootball U will be hosting a 7 on 7 high school tournament on Saturday at University City High, beginning at 9 a.m. The eight teams entered are Hazelwood East, Vashon, Gateway Tech, Maplewood, University City, Christian-O’Fallon, Jennings and Cardinal Ritter. STL Football U is an organization that offers training to young players. They hold sessions every Saturday at the Rivers Edge Sports Complex (5105 North Highway 67 in Florissant).

RECRUITS

Continued from B3

selected as one of the top players in the camp. Wren has emerged as one of the area’s top collegiate prospects in the Class of 2014. Wren has already received offers from Missouri, Memphis, Illinois, Cincinnati, Purdue, Northern Illinois, Toledo and New Mexico.

Kyron commits

One of the most talented football players in the Class of 2014 is linebacker Kyron Watson of East St. Louis, who recently gave a verbal commitment to Kansas. The 6’1” 210pound Watson is rated the No. 4 linebacker in the nation by ESPN. He is also a Top 100 recruit nationally. Watson also received offers from Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Purdue and TCU.

Daniels to Colorado State

Former Wentzville Holt

City vs.County

The Fourth Annual City vs. County High School Alumni Basketball Shootout will be held on Saturday, June 29 at Vashon High (3035 Cass). The event will feature four games with players from 1986 to the 2000s, including a women’s game. The games will be held at 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are the door are $5. Come out and see some of the old greats from the City and County re-live their glory days on the hardwood.

New coaches on the scene

University City High has tabbed Cary Lewis as its new

basketball standout Dantiel Daniels has committed to Colorado State. The 6’5” 230pound Daniels spent his first two seasons at Southern Illinois before announcing his transfer at the end of the sea-

boys basketball coach. Lewis spent the past season as the assistant coach for Lutheran North, who finished third in the Class 3 state tournament. Lewis was the head coach at Hazelwood West in 2011, where he led the Wildcats to 19 victories and a berth in the Class 4 district championship game.

Hazelwood East has filled two head coaching vacancies. Aaron Whittington was hired as the Spartans new football coach while Lawndale Thomas is the new boys basketball coach. Whittington was a former standout player at East and UCLA.

son. As a freshman, Daniels was selected to the Missouri Valley Conference AllFreshman Team. He averaged 7.7 points and three rebounds a game as a sophomore.

The Brooks Basketball Academy 12U boys team is currently enjoying an excellent season with a 31-12 record.The team members are (bottom row,left to right) Caleb Wilkerson,Jesse Little,Yuri Collins and (top Row,left to right) Jordan Holmes,

Former Wellston High star Ben McLemore

STEWARD

Continued from B1

know about that too, don’t you?”

Audience members laughed and nodded.

“It’s important to know what your options are,” he said. “I didn’t know about SBAactually right then.”

Steward convinced the company owner to sell him the business for no money down. He then leveraged the company’s assets to get a loan and give the owner a down payment. He used the rest for capital for his business, Transportation Business Specialists, an overcharge audit firm.

“My first loan was through a local banker, Stockyard Bank of St. Joseph,” Steward said.

“To many, the obvious is Bank of America or First Bank. No one thinks about the small bankers who are looking for entrepreneurs out there and ways to collaborate with the SBA.” Mills said the agency has streamlined and simplified SBAloans to make sure that entrepreneurs have an easier time filling out the paperwork and local banks can get into the SBAloan-making business.

“We guarantee up to 85 percent of the loan so that it’s easier for the bank to make the loan to you,” Mills said.

Mills said business owners can go to SBA’s offices to get

SCHOOL

Continued from B1 enhances the educational experience in an organic way that supplements the knowledge taught by our professors and curriculum. As we prepare our MBAs to be principled leaders with a global mindset, it is essential that they view business through the lens of numerous cultures, back-

connected with banks that are making SBAloans.

“Innovation is going to come from small business,” Steward said. In his first business, he was auditing to find overcharges in freight costs among railroad customers such as Chrysler and Ford. Then he realized he

grounds, and perspectives.”

The Consortium’s Board of Trustees chairman, Dean Paul Danos of Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business, said looks forward to collaborating with Georgetown.

“The addition of Georgetown marks a wonderful point in The Consortium’s history,” Danos said.

“Including an 18th member school shows how The Consortium continues to grow in breadth and prominence.”

was finding just as many undercharges as overcharges.

“So I am going to go back to Union Pacific Railroad and talk about a relationship where I can find undercharges that they have not collected from customers,” Steward said. “Out of the 150-year history of railroad company, they had never

done that. But I was bold

enough to ask the question and to convince them to do this.”

In 1987, he started a sister company, Transport Administrative Services, which audited freight bills for undercharges for the railroad industry. The new company won a contract to audit three years’

“We are excited to join the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management and work together to educate and expand the next generation of diverse business leaders.”

– David A.Thomas,dean of Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business

Other Consortium member schools include University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Los

Angeles, Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Emory University, Indiana University

worth of freight bills for undercharges at Union Pacific Railroad. He received rate information involving $15 billion. “I had to manage it some way,” he said. “I had a file server that was 660 megabytes, and it was state of the art.” Steward’s company built a

– Bloomington, Georgetown University, University of Michigan, New York University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Rochester, University of Southern California, The University of Texas at Austin, University of Virginia, University of Wisconsin – Madison and Yale University.

Founded in 1957, Georgetown McDonough is

local area network to handle the data, revolutionizing the way railroad audits were completed.

“I was beginning to recognize that technology was changing so rapidly and that I wanted to be a part of the technological revolution,” he said.

“In 1990, I started this company called World Wide Technology.”

The audience was silent and still.

“Yea, that’s the same response I got back then too,” he said, getting some chuckles and claps from the audience.

Steward said SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program took his business to the next level. Through the program, he landed a $10-million government contract and then started growing his business from there. He stayed in the 8(a) program for eight years, and then SBAhelped him transition into the commercial realm.

Mills said, “This is one of the real important doors that SBAcan open.”

On the SBAwebsite, people can take a Contracting 101 course to find out how to get into government contracting. The webpage has free online training courses, workbooks and other resources.

For more information about SBAprograms and to take free online courses, visit http://www.sba.gov/gcclassroom.

home to some 1,400 undergraduates, 1,000 MBAstudents, and 1,200 participants in executive degree and open enrollment programs. Learn more at http://msb.georgetown.edu or on Twitter @msbgu.

For additional information regarding The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, visit www.cgsm.org, call 1-888-3288414 or follow on Twitter @cgsm_mba.

As part of a National Small Business Week event at Harris-Stowe State University,David Steward,founder and chairman of World Wide Technology Inc.,spoke about how he benefitted from U.S.Small Business Administration resources.

Photo by Wiley Price

Ready to be a celebrity hairstylist?

Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland passes at

83

Crooner among bluesmen succumbs after 60 years on the charts

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“You cannot hold the blues down because the blues is the truth,” blues legend Bobby “Blue” Bland told The American back in 2007 as he prepared to take the stage in St. Louis.

The same could be said about Bland himself, who passed away on Sunday night, June 23, 2013, due to one of several health issues he had faced over the years. He was 83.

“It’s something that I love doing and I still love doing it after 50 years,” he said about playing music. “Staying healthy is the hard part.” He poured his heart out in his music in the woeful way a blues song tugs at your spirit by sharing an experience listeners can relate to. And Bland seemed to use his notes to make the song cry.

“You have to tell the story you feel,” Bland said. Bland’s journey with the blues began as chauffer for fellow blues legends B.B. King and Rosco Gordon. Although he wouldn’t achieve the same level of success as his former bosses, Bland proved himself as a mainstay in the music scene for nearly 60 years. He was born Robert Calvin Brooks on January

See BLAND, C4

Darico Jackson teaches the tricks of the trade

By Danie Rae, Style Broker For The St. Louis American

“St. Louis has the best hair stylists,” says Darico Jackson, celebrity hairstylist. And he is one of them.

Darico Jackson, affectionately called “Rico,” has been styling hair for over 20 years. He has made his stamp on the hair industry nationwide, and he is taking his brand to broader borders.

His latest endeavor, “Hair 4 Media Workshop,” is an interactive education opportunity for hair stylists to learn what it

takes to become a sought-after hair stylist to the stars. And with a packed class of students expected on Sunday at the Hilton St. Louis Ballpark Hotel, Jackson came back to where it all began.

Jackson worked in several popular salons throughout the St. Louis area before opening his own hot spot in the Delmar Loop area. He is now based out of Los Angeles, where his clientele ranges from Beverly Hills housewives to platinumselling recording artists. His dedication and love for hair goes beyond making women

See HAIR, C4

January 27, 1930 – June 23, 2013

Play explores AfroLatinas

Gitana Productions premieres new work by Maria Richardson on Friday

American staff

What is it like to be AfroLatina in America? Playwright, poet, actress and teacher Mariah Richardson explores outward appearances and ethnic cultures in her new play, “Soy Yo!” (“I Am Me!”), which premieres Friday, June 28 at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand Blvd. “Soy Yo!” is an Afro-Latino Suite filled with rhythm and dance. It runs weekends through Sunday, July 14, Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Gitana Productions, which emphasizes global healing through the arts, commissioned Richardson, to write the piece, which is a glimpse into what it’s like to be African-Latino in America.

“I set it across time, 1763-2013,” Richardson said. “It starts in Florida, when it was still a colony of Spain. It looks at what makes you Latin and how the U.S. classifies people based on appearance. I want people

STL stars shine at Café Soul Live

Hundreds pack Pageant for ‘best of’ showcase

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“When it’s tough, when it’s unfair, that’s when you love, that’s when you love,” Kenny DeShields sang to the packed audience of the Pageant. The crowd followed right along with the second line of the chorus. “When it’s uncomfortable, inconvenient, that’s when you love, that’s when you love.” They sang and waved their hands along to the rhythm of “That’s When

You Love.” A few “Sing, Kenny” shouts could be heard. They carried on in the typical “that’s my jam” fashion. To an uninformed spectator, Friday night would have seemed business as usual. A hot artist singing their signature song in a venue known for showcasing the best in rising stars. But Friday night was a bit different for the audience of several hundred who came to one of the best midsized concert venues in the See CAFE SOUL, C5

Darico Jackson, celebrity hairstylist, works with Monique Richard and Constance Nevels during his “Hair 4 Media Workshop” held on Sunday at the Hilton St. Louis Ballpark Hotel. Photo by Wiley Price

The Dirty Muggs closed out Café Soul Live on Friday night at the Pageant. Photo by Maurice Meredith

Mariah Richardson’s new play, “Soy Yo!” (“I Am Me!”), runs June 28 through Sunday, July 14 at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand Blvd. It’s a commission from Gitana Productions directed by Vivian Anderson Watt.

Left: Bobby Bland, who passed away on Sunday night at the age of 83, with St. Louis promoter Nelson Harvey.

Photo by Maurice Meredith

How to place a calendar listing

1.Email your listing to calendar@stlamerican.com OR 2.Visit the calendar section on stlamerican.com and place your listing

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

concerts

Sat., July 6, 7:30 p.m., The Whispers featuring The Coleman Hughes Project and Adrienne Felton, Khorassan Room, Chase Park Plaza. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com

Sat., July 6, 8 p.m., The Old Rock House welcomes Twista, The Old Rock House. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com or call (314) 534-1111.

July 27, 8 p.m., All White AffairConcert and Party starring Tank, Ginuwine and Tyrese, Chaifetz Arena. Tickets on sale Thursday, June 20 at 10 a.m. at TheChaifetzArena.com, the Chaifetz Arena box office and charge by phone at 314-5341111.

Aug. 3, 8 p.m., Nelly featuring Karmin, The Pageant. 6161 Delmar. For more information, visit www.thepageant.com

Oct. 8, Live Nation presents the “So You Want ATour?” tourstarring Drake with special guest Miguel. Tickets on sale Friday, June 28. For more information, visit www.livenation.com

local gigs

Sat., July 12 – Sun., July 13, Jazz St. Louis presents and Jazz at The Bistro welcomes Anita Jackson, Jazz at the Bistro, 3536 Washington. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com or call (314) 534-1111.

Saturdays, 3 p.m., The Kendrick Smith Quartet, Premier Lounge, 5969 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. For more information, call (314)385-5281 or e-mail crusadersforjazz@hotmail.com

Sundays, 6:30 p.m. (6 p.m. doors) Jazz @ Eventide, fea-

turing Black and White Trio Sip N Savor, 286 DeBaliviere, 1/2 block north of the Forest park Metro link. For more information, call (314)3612116.

special events

Thurs., June 27, 11 a.m., National Black MBA, St. Louis Chapter14th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament, USAOlympian Triple Jump Gold Medalist, Al Joyner will host the event and will kick-off a great day of golf with lunch and networking at noon. Our Honorary Chairs, Alvin Reid, ESPN Sportscaster and Tony Softli, 101 NFLInsider, St. Louis Rams Sideline Reporter, will present team awards and contest prizes at the awards reception. Forest Park at the Forest Park Golf Course, 63131 Lagoon Drive. Register by June 15 and save $10 per person or $40 per team. Visit www.stlblackmba.org for more information and/or to register.

June 28, K.I.S.S. QUEEN FOR THE DAYFIT-SPA RETREAT, Let go of everything and immerse yourself in a different world - one where you are nurtured, guided, and restored to your best self. Participants will receive a thirty minute spa service, a choice of fitness classes, and a light lunch cuisine sure to please picky palates. K.I.S.S. FITNESS STUDIO CAFE AND SPA, 2318 N. US Hwy 67 Florissant, MO 63033. For more information, visit http://kissqueenfortheday.event brite.com.

Sat., June 29, 12 noon, Beaumont High School Class of 1969 45th Reunion Planning Meeting, Royal Vagabond Club, 4315 Westminister Pl. St. Louis, Mo 63108. For more information, e-mail, donniecheryl70@gmail.com

CALENDAR

Sat., June 29, 3 p.m., Howard University Alumni SummerCookout foralumni, new and current students, HU parents and friends of the alumni club are welcome to attend. Beirne Park, 10630 Country View Dr, Creve Coeur, MO 63141. RSVPto stlhualumni@yahoo.com

Sun., June 30, 4 p.m., Blaq Séance Company has announced Washington & 15th street as the setting of its next fashion event – which will feature ninefashion designers and two visual artists. Tickets can be conveniently purchased online at www.luminosityfashionproduction.Eventbrite.com

July 4 – July 7, Essence Music Festival group travel, Seats will fill fast (only 45 seats available)! All prices are per person & include: (visit site) Roundtrip bus fare, 4 days/3 night’s deluxe hotel accommodations. For more information or to book visit http://qwiktripps.com/index.ph p/component/k2/item/10essence-fest-2013

July 12 – July 14, Tee

Masters Golf Club proudly presents: The Bell Will Ring No More 31st Annual Golf Tournament in memory of Black Legends of Golf Probstein Golf Course Forest Park Registration Options: Online: gatewaygolfassociation.org or contact Anthony Coleman at 314-437-1906 and/or

anthony_coleman@us.aflac.co m or Charles Smith at 314.853.5091 and/or Csmithjr57@gmail.com

July 13, 12 noon, Bryan Cox and Club 51 present the 3rd Annual C.O.X. Celebrity Golf Tournament, “Creating Opportunities for eXcellence”, Invited guests include: Fred Baxter, NFLveteran (Jets, Bears, Patriots and Redskins), Andy Dickerson, NFLveteran Coach (St. Louis Rams), Larry Webster, NFL veteran (Dolphins, Browns, Ravens), Brandon Marshall, NFL(Bears, Dolphins), Dana Howard, NFLveteran (Cowboys, Bears), Marcus Coleman, NFLveteran (Jets, Texans), Bobby Hamilton, NFLveteran (Jets, Raiders and Patriots), Carey Davis, NFL veteran (Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers), Far Oaks Golf Club, 419 Old Collinsville Rd, Caseyville, IL 62233. For more information, visit www.faroaksgolf.com or http://bryancoxgolf2013.eventfast.com/

Sat., July 13, 6 p.m. The Igbo Community of Nigeria in St Louis presents Igbo Cultural Day, Bridgeton Banquet Center 12259 Natural Bridge Road, Bridgeton, MO 63044. For more information, call Mrs. Otuoma Onyema314283-2974, Mrs. Stella Oparaji 314-303-9931 or Dr. Isaac Onyema314-443-3544.

Jul. 21, 3rd Annual I’m A

http://gateway.cff.org/jackbuck or by calling the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at 314.733.1241.

Through Sept. 3, Missouri History Museum presents Gridiron Glory; The Best of the Pro Football of Fame Exhibit. The exhibit will also include spectacular footage from NFLFilms’unparalleled archives. 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For more information, call (314) 746-4599 or visit www.mohistory.org

Sept. 25, 6 p.m., The 2013 Signature Chefs Auction, Sample unique and delicious culinary creations by dozens of our town’s top chefs and enjoy the live auction with fabulous items up for bid! More than 600 guests are expected to attend the annual event that raises more than $250,000 for the Missouri Chapter of March of Dimes. Contact Missy Tillman, 314-513-995, to make your reservation or visit: www.marchofdimes.com/missouri.

SurvivorAll White Cancer Gala, The History Museum in Forest Park. For more information, visit www.survivorstl.com

Sat., Aug. 24 – Sun. Aug. 25, 10 a.m., Festival of Nations, Amultiethnic celebration featuring dance, music, food, cultural and educational exhibits, folk art demonstrations, and craft market. Presented by the International Institute and 125 community organizations, Tower Grove Park on the City’s South Side. The event will take place nearest S. Grand and Arsenal. A free shuttle service will be available throughout the Park.

Aug. 18 – Aug. 19, The Jack Buck Golf Classic, benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the exclusive Country Club of St. Albans. The Golf Classic is the longest-running charity golf tournament west of the Mississippi. For the past 44 years, the tournament has raised vital funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The Golf Classic is comprised of two events – the Jack Buck Classic Dinner & Auction on Sunday night and the Jack Buck Golf Tournament on Monday morning. Monday’s golf tournament activities start at 7am with registration, complimentary breakfast, a putting contest, complimentary golf lessons and more. Golfers also have a chance to win a car from TriStar Mercedes and Johnny Londoff Chevrolet. More information and tickets to both events are available online at

literary

Thurs., Aug. 1, 7 p.m., Shirley Bradford Leflore reads and discusses herbook of poetry “Brassbones and Rainbows.” LeFlore, a founding member of the Black Artist Group, has been actively involved in the St. Louis performance art community over the past 5 decades, St. Louis Public Library - Schlafly Branch,225 N. Euclid Ave. St. Louis, MO 63108.

comedy

Thurs., July 11, The All Star Comedy Kick Off featuring Joe Torry, Melanie Camarcho and more, The Ambassador. Formore information, visit www.metrotix.com orcall (314) 534-1111.

Thursdays, 9 p.m., 2 Funny Thursday Comedy & Open Mic,P3 Platinum Plus Playhouse, 5411 Virginia, Free all night. Hosted by Comedian Spinks. For more information, call (314)-440-9262.

theatre

Through June 27, Broadway Treasures: Lerner& Loewe The four blockbuster shows of Lerner & Loewe rival those of Rodgers and Hammerstein. We will focus on Brigadoon, My Fair Lady, Camelot and Gigi in this program of anecdotes sprinkled in with lots of dis-

Saint Louis Art Museum Grand Opening.A view inside the new Chipperfield wing (above).See ART for details.

cussion and music. Session 1 and Session 2 each cover different shows and material. Forest Park OASIS. For more information, visit www.oasisnet.org/stlouis

June 28 – July 14, Gitana presents So Yo, An Afro Latina Suite, written by Mariah Richardson and directed by Vivian Anderson Watt, Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand. For more information, visit www.gitanainc.org or call (314) 721-6556.

Through June 29, 8 p.m. The First Ladies, Stella is young and ditzy and Vivian is holier than thou. Honey is high maintenance and Priscilla is a homebody. Riley is ghetto fabulous and Kenya is well balanced. What do they have in common? They are: The First Ladies! City of Refuge Christian Church, 1208 N Sarah St. Louis, MO 63113. For more information, visit http://www.kdwilson.net

Through June 30, The St. Louis Black Repertory Company presents The Wiz, The Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square, 63108. For more information, call (314) 534-3810 or visit www.metrotix.com

Through June 30, Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents the world premiere of Champion by Terence Blanchard & Michael Cristofer. Inspired by the true story of Emile Griffith, an immigrant from the Virgin Islands. Emile claimed the title of World Welterweight Champion in a fatal 1962 fight, which transformed him into a tragic hero and left the two-year old son of his opponent, Benny “The Kid” Paret, without a father. 210 Hazel Ave., 63119. For more information, call (314) 961-0171 or visit http://www.opera-stl.org/.

July 11 - July 14, JPEK Creative Works presents Through The Eyes, a dramatic journey of love, destruction and truth.Based on a true-life story.... Seating is limited. There are a total of 4 shows to choose from 1 Friday-8pm, 2 Saturday 3pm and 8pm, Sunday 4pm. Kranzberg Theatre (inside of Big Brother Big Sisters) 501 North Grand Boulevard St. Louis, MO 63108. Please go to www.jpektte.eventbrite.com to get your ticket.

July 12 – July 20, 8 p.m. Union Avenue Opera Theater presents one of the world’s most beloved operas, “Madama Butterfly,” Puccini’s tragic tale of love

and heartbreak returns to the Union Avenue Opera stage. Friday Night Lecture Series: July 12 & 19in the Fellowship Hall presented by Glen Bauer, Ph. D., Associate Chair, Department of Music at Webster University. Lectures are free and open to the public. “Madama Butterfly” will be presented in Italian with projected English supertitles. Union Avenue Opera,722 Union Boulevard Saint Louis, MO 63108. For more information visit unionavenueopera.org

arts

Sat. June 29 – Sun. June 30, Saint Louis Art Museum Grand Opening: The Celebration. Festivities are as follows:

9:30–10:00 am: RibbonCutting Celebration

Join us, and be among the first to explore the 21 new East Building galleries. East Building Entry Plaza

10:00 am–10:00 pm: Museum Hours

10:00 am–6:00 pm: World of Art OutdoorActivities

Museum Campus, East Parking Lot, Art Hill Plaza, and Fine Arts Drive Come explore the World of Art, an outdoor celebration of the expansion with hands-on art projects and performances scheduled throughout the day, as well as food booths in the east parking lot. Featured performances include The Black Rep, Nicholas Payton, special guest with Phil Dunlap Quintet, additional appearances by Willie Akins and Brian Owens, The Griot Museum of Black History and more

7:00–10:00 pm: Opening Night Celebration

The celebration continues both in the Museum and outdoors. Live music will be performed by Nicholas Payton, special guest, with Phil Dunlap Quartet; additional appearances by Willie Akins and Brian Owens. Presented in partnership with Jazz St. Louis.

Museum Campus, East Parking Lot, Art Hill Plaza, and Fine Arts Drive

Sunday, June 30 Fine Arts Drive will be closed from Government Drive to Lagoon Drive for the weekend celebration.

10:00 am–5:00 pm: Museum Open, the Celebration Continues

Noon–5:00 pm: World of Art

OutdoorActivities

The celebration continues both in the Museum and outdoors.

Museum Campus, East Parking Lot Lot, Art Hill Plaza, and Fine Arts Drive

For updates and additional information, please visit slam.org or call (314) 7210072.

lectures

July 7 – July 12, 7 p.m., Avenues of Activism, Aweek of powerful events with the purpose of engaging the community, gaining understanding and examining different perspectives of people throughout St. Louis.Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell in Forest Park. For more information, visit www.mohistory.org.

July 13, 20 and 27, 9:30 a.m., Woman’s Place will offer a free, 3-session series for adult women who want to release their fears, boost their selfesteem, befriend themselves and expand their human potential. Group will meet for 3 Saturdays - July 13, 20 & 27, from 9:30 to 11:30 am. Preregistration is required. Space is limited. Call by July 10. 314-645-4848. Visit our website at www.womansplacestl.org

Wed., Jul. 17 – Sat., July 20, 9 a.m., National Black State Troopers Coalition 28th Annual SummerTraining Conference & Membership Meeting, Providing members with personal enrichment, professional development skills, through training, networking, community service and history. This year’s theme is

The Old Rock House welcomes Twista.See CONCERTS for more information.

“Mentoring: Aclear Vision Today, For Tomorrow.” Active and retired state troopers from various states, many of america’s first black state troopers. Join us for our Public Safety Event, Saturday, July 20, 2013, Location-TBA. Follow us on FaceBook @ National Black State Troopers Coalition. The Renaissance Hotel St. Louis Airport, 9801 Natural Bridge Road St. Louis, MO. For more information, e-mail NBSTC.President@gmail.com

Fri., July 19, The Illinois Humanities Council (IHC) will be hosting a special Humanities Resource Day in Hartford, Illinois. Representatives of local Illinois museums, libraries, historical societies, and other non-profits are invited to attend this half-day workshop. It will include an introduction to the work and mission of the Illinois Humanities Council and discussions about opportunities for collaboration in southern and western Illinois. IHC statewide programs that will be discussed include our Community Grants program, Museum on Main Street and Road Scholars Speakers Bureau.Event is free, though

registration is required. Registrations can be made online by emailing to events@prairie.orgor at (312) 422-5580.

Sat., July 27, 10 a.m., Women of Evolution and Destiny Empowerment Conference, a gathering of women on an annual basis to receivethenecessarytools to overcome the mental stigma of abuse of all types., Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Blvd St. Louis, MO 63132. For more information, visit www.lavitabell.com

health

Sat., June 29, 1 p.m., St. Jude Children Research Hospital Annual Fashion Show Gala, St. Douglas Church, 5945 W. Florissant. Models, rappers, singers and dancers may inquire (314) 537-0239.

July 1, July 8 and July 15, 1 p.m. MU Extension’s Eat Well Be Well with Diabetes, this series of 4 classes provides practical information and skills needed to manage diabetes and promote optimal health. As a participant in the class you will learn how to manage your blood sugar, meal-planning and the importance of diabetes self-care. 10650 Gateway Boulevard, Creve Coeur, MO 63132. Cost is $30. Contact Damaris Karanja at 314-4007298 or email karanjad@missouri.edu

Sat, July 27th 11-3pm, Trinity Mt Carmel Church presents: Healthy Families 2013Health & Back To School Fair. This event will offer free cancer screenings for men & women, diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, hearing, vision, dental and healthy eating and exercising tips. Free school supplies, haircuts & safety helmets will be given out to the children along with free food, entertainment and giveaways for all.Over 40 participating vendors on site: For more information: 314837-7878.

June 29, 11 a.m., Bostick Temple Annual Community Day indoor and outdoor activities will be available. Free food, information, games, giveaways, and prizes! Fellowship for all to enjoy! Everyone welcome! Bostick Temple COGIC,1448 Hodiamont Avenue at Wells St. Louis, MO 63112.

Sun., Jun. 30, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Lane Tabernacle Missionary Society invites you to celebrate their Annual Day. Morning Worship begins at 10:00 am, Annual Day Program at 2:00 p.m. 910-916 N. Newstead Avenue. Guest Speaker: Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn Packnett, Associate Minister, Westside M.B. Church, and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, UMSL. For more information, please call (314) 533-0534.

Wed., July 10 – Friday, July 12, Three Church Revival featuring First Missionary Baptist Church of Kinloch, Inc.-4400 Parker Road, Black Jack, MO 63033,Southern Mission Baptist Church-8171 Wesley Avenue, Kinloch, MO 63140, Liberty Community Worship Center-11221 Larimore Rd. For more information, call (314) 521-3951. Sat., July 13, 11 a.m., Southern Mission Baptist Church presents their9th AnnualClassic CarShow, All cars, bike, motorcycles and SUVs are welcomed. Southern Mission Baptist Church-8171 Wesley Avenue, Kinloch, MO 63140. For more information, call (314) 521-3951

July 21, 3 p.m. doors, Grammy Award WinningThe Jackson SouthernairesLIVE in Concert with St. Louis own HIGHLY FAVOR’D and other musical guests, Prince of Peace Church. For tickets or more information, call the church office at (314) 669-2419.

Art Museum Celebrates Grand Opening with World of Art Festival

You are invited to join the Saint Louis Art Museum on Saturday, June 29, and Sunday, June 30, for the public unveiling and celebration of the Museum’s new East Building. During the World of Art grand opening weekend, visitors can see the new expanded Museum Campus, enjoy the newly installed art galleries, participate in a variety of art activities, enjoy a wonderful line up of performances, and delight in foods from around the world.

For more than three years, visitors to the park have the seen the black stone and glass structure grow into a magnificent building created to display the Museum’s extensive encyclopedic permanent collection and changing selection of temporary exhibitions. The East Building, designed by British architect Sir David Chipperfield, provides a striking complement to the iconic Main Building. The new building features over 200,000 square feet of exhibition space, 21 galleries, and 300 underground parking spaces.

African American artists are well represented in the inaugural installations in the new East Building. Among the many contemporary artists on view in the East Building are Willie Cole, Faith Ringgold, Kerry James Marshall, and Leonardo Drew. Works of art include paintings, sculpture, and mixed media. Taking prominent space is Drew’s Untitled #45 – a monumental sculpture composed of found materials which speaks to the artist’s background and the history of African Americans in the US.

On Saturday, June 29, the World of Art

activities will begin at 10:00 am following the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. In addition to viewing the artworks in the Museum, more than 15 arts and cultural organizations will offer a wide variety of free hands-on art making activities from quilt making with the Griot Museum of Black History to bamboo brush calligraphy with the Friends of TaiwanGreater St. Louis. The Art Museum will feature a mural created by artists Solomon Thurman and Gonz Jove which will be painted at the festival by visitors over the two day period. We invite visitors of all ages to come by our booth to help us paint the mural!

The World of Art festival will features more than a dozen music, theater and dance performances including African dance and drumming by Afriky Lolo with Diadie Bathily, Caribbean steel drums featuring Jamaica Ray, and Korean drumming with the Doorei Traditional Korean Drummers. There will also be performances by the Black Rep, That Uppity Theatre Company, Circus Flora and others. A finale musical performance by Jazz St Louis featuring Nicholas Payton, with special guest Phil Dunlap Quintet, with additional appearances by Willie Akins and Brian Owens will close out Saturday evening.

The festivities will continue on Sunday, June 30 at 10 am. The World of Art atop Art Hill will begin at 12 noon and conclude at 5:00 pm. Please visit slam.org. for a full list of grand opening activities including the participating cultural institutions offering free hands-on art activities and performance times and parking suggestions. All grand opening activities are free and open to the public.

BLAND

Continued from C1

27, 1930 in Millington, Tenn., a town just north of Memphis. After he moved to Memphis in 1947, he started in a gospel singing group called the Miniatures before joining the Beale Streeters – a collective of musicians that included Johnny Ace, Earl Forest, Gordon and King. Adopting the surname alias of his stepfather, Bland traveled as part of the Johnny Ace Revue and recorded for labels that included Chess Records, often the produced by Sam Phillips of Sun Studios. Bland was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952. Upon his return to civilian life he became the chauffeur, valet and opening act for singer Junior Parker – as he had previously done for King and Gordon. In 1958, “Little Boy Blue” would solidify his legacy on the blues music scene. The song showcased Bland’s considerable vocal talents –including intricate riffs and

PLAY

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to re-think how they look at others, and to understand that race is a construct.”

The play is directed by Vivian Anderson Watt, with choreography by Carmen R. Guynn, and stars Jayden Reign, Jeanitta Perkins, Sheri Gonzales and Chiffontae Ross. A native of St. Louis and graduate of Sumner High School, Richardson is an adjunct instructor in communications at St. Louis Community CollegeForest Park. She received her bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of New Mexico and a master of fine arts degree in playwriting from Smith

HAIR

Continued from C1

look gorgeous. He believes in sharing his knowledge and giving back.

The “Hair 4 Media Workshop” gives stylists

moans. He was a crooner among blues men. Unlike his guitar-toting and piano-playing contemporaries, Bland’s only instrument was a rich, mellow second tenor voice that simultaneously echoed the precision of a jazz stylist and the aching moans of a gospel singer. He often credited Rev. Dr. C.L. Franklin, father of Aretha Franklin, as one of his biggest musical influences. Between the late 1950s and early 1980s, Bland had more than 60 singles to appear on the Rhythm and Blues charts, including “I Pity the Fool,” “Stormy Monday Blues,” “If You’re Gonna Walk on My Heart” and “Members Only.” He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Music Hall of Fame in 1992 and awarded a Lifetime Achievement Grammy award in 1997.

Although often ill, Bland was a popular headliner for blues revues and concerts on the urban circuit for the past two decades. In St. Louis, Bland co-headlined two performances at the annual St. Louis Blues Festival and performed at The Imperial

College.

Metro Theater Company commissioned her to write “Delilah’s Wish,” which won a Kevin Kline Award in 2011 and was published by Dramatic Publishing.

She has worked with numerous local and touring theater groups over the years. Her play “Sistahs Indeed!” was a mainstage production at STLCC-Forest Park in 2008. She worked with the St. Louis Black Repertory Theatre for two seasons and toured for three years in Metro Theater Company’s production of “Long Road to Freedom.” Her HBO/New Writers Project solo performance show, “all that…”, has toured throughout the country.

She is also a filmmaker with several films under her belt, and her work has been screened at the St. Louis International

an in-depth experience of what it takes to be a celebrity hairstylist. It covers hairdressing and the business of hairdressing, focusing on taking techniques to the next level.

“Coming to L.A. from St. Louis was overwhelming,” Jackson said. “No one ever told me the right or wrong thing to do; I had to figure it out for myself. So I’m taking what I’ve learned and I’m bringing it back to the masses. Being in L.A. and with my clientele, I have the inside track on current trends and hair-dressing techniques.”

When it comes to passion about hair and being hip to trends, the man does know his stuff. With everyone going natural, he emphasizes the new focus of hairstyling is texture, even for our white counterparts.

“Many of my clients, white or black, want to see how their natural hair will look,” he said. “Women are growing their Mohawks and shaved sides back in, letting their hair do its own thing.”

Jackson said his A-list clients feel they must stay

Palace in the past six years alone.

“Blues music hasn’t really received the respect that it has deserved over the years, but that hasn’t stopped us,” Bland said.

In his unpublished memoirs (in the possession of St. Louisbased arts organization Poetry Scores), Rosco Gordon took credit for giving Bland his start. One night Bland was working as a chauffeur, driving Gordon to a gig in Arkansas and singing along to a blues song on the radio.

“He shocked me,” Gordon writes. “So I said, ‘Hey, wait a minute. This is all wrong. One of us is in the wrong place. I should be doing the driving and you should be doing the singing.’”

That night, Gordon claimed, he put Bobby Blue Bland on the stage for the first time.

“I watched him. When I saw that he could make it without me, I went to my favorite spot: the dice table,” Gordon wrote.

“Bobby sang his heart out all night. I shot dice all night. After that night, Bobby got paid for singing.”

Film Festival. Richardson has taught in after-school programs, residences and homeless shelters from Los Angeles to New England. Her goal is to combine all the things she loves – poetry, performance, film and music – to create work which inspires others to tell their own stories. “I’m a creative at heart, so that’s what I do,” she said. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for students and seniors. Group rates available for groups of 15 or more. Credit card purchases can be made through Eventbrite. Box Office – call Gitana to confirm seating availability, 314-721-6556. Tickets also can be purchased at LaTropicana Market & Cafe, 5001 Lindenwood. For more information, visit www.gitanainc.org

current, but he also doesn’t count out the average woman who has to maintain her appearance as well.

“Most women pride themselves on keeping their hair done,” he said. “Your hairstyle is the greatest part of your overall presentation. If you have on raggedy shoes, but your hair is on point, no one would even give your shoes a second thought.” As a part of the class, students previewed Jackson’s new line of hair-styling tools by One Tools. His featured item is the Darico Magic styling iron. He also has plans in the works for releasing his own product line within the Darico Magic brand.

“I am by no means thinking that I’m a better stylist. I just want to equip those who want to transition from the salon into the celebrity/freelance world,” he said. “I have gained a different perspective and am sharing what I have to offer with people who have the same passion for hair as I do. ” Darico Magic, as well as tickets to future “Hair 4 Media Workshops,” can be purchased at www.hair4media.com.

Celebrity hairstylist how-to

• Be true to who you are. If you are branding yourself, it is important to be authentic in your craft.

• Don’t ever skip steps. Give your last client the same treatment as your first.

º Be honest. If you burn somebody’s hair out, let them know. It’s about having integrity and building trust with your clients. They respect you at the end of the day.

• Take care of yourself. What good can you be to others, when you’re not good to yourself?

• Stay on the grind. Give it 100 percent, and that goes for anything you do.

Be a Tourist in Your Own Town

St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission

St. Louis: easy on the budget

If one word describes St. Louis, it’s “surprising.”

Visitors to the Gateway City often express surprise that the destination is bursting with great attractions. Whether you’re into sports, history, art, museums, animals or just keeping the kids happy, St. Louis has something for everyone. But even better, visitors are surprised at how easy St. Louis is on the budget.

You can spend several days here and not have to open your wallet for admission fees to top-rated attractions. General admission is free to each of the cultural institutions in St. Louis’ 1,300-acre Forest Park – the world-renowned Saint Louis Zoo, the acclaimed Saint Louis Art Museum, the everfascinating St. Louis Science Center and the long-lived Missouri History Museum operated by the Missouri Historical Society. And summer in St. Louis means “extras.” The Saint Louis Zoo, for example, is open late on until 7 p.m. FridaySunday through Sept. 2 during Prairie Farms Summer Zoo Weekends. Visitors can also enjoy free music at the Jungle Boogie Friday Night Concert Series on Friday evenings through Aug. 30. Locals and visitors alike party every Friday night in July at Saint Louis Art Museum where free outdoor movies are shown on Art Hill. The Art Museum is also planning a weekend of festivities June 29-30 when the new East Building, designed by award-winning architect Sir David Chipperfield opens.

Deer Park, included on the free tour: the Tier Garten, the Bauernhof, animal shows and the Clydesdale stables. Grant’s Farm is named for the President Ulysses S. Grant who farmed a portion of the land and built the cabin he called “Hardscrabble,” visible on the tour. While the tram ride and tour are free, there is a charge for parking.

Laclede’s Landing, a nine block historic district featuring restaurants and live entertainment. The Landing is where St. Louis began.

Here are a few more free, only-in-St. Louis attractions:

Anheuser Busch Brewery where you can take the free Budweiser Brewery Tour and see the historic Brew House, Budweiser Clydesdale stables, lager cellar, packaging plant and gift shop. Visitors get a free of A-B products or soft drinks at the end of the tour. For a slight charge, attend St. Louis Beer School or take the St. Louis Brewmaster Tour.

Audubon Center at Riverlands in nearby West Alton, MO, on the Mississippi River where you can learn about birds, migration patterns and managing the wetlands in the center or watch nature from the wrap-around deck, picnic overlooking Ellis Bay or hike the Sanctuary’s 8.5 miles of trails.

City Garden, St. Louis’ newest free attraction. Kids and adults alike love this 2.9acre park, with 24 pieces of modern sculpture and three unique water features – a 180-foot rectangular basin with a six-foot waterfall; a 34-foot-diameter tilted granite disc partially covered by a scrim of water and a state-of-theart spray plaza with more than 100 computercontrolled spray jets.

Grant’s Farm the 281-acre ancestral home of the Busch family where more than 900 animals from six continents roam in the Deer Park. Besides a tram ride through the

Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing, the site three miles north of downtown that commemorates an 1855 attempted escape to Illinois of a group of fugitives slaves led by Mary Meachum, a free woman of color. It’s Missouri’s first nationally designated Underground Railroad site. Old Courthouse, site of the first two trials of the pivotal Dred Scott case which hastened the beginning of the Civil War. Also heard here was the Virginia Minor case in the 1870s after she sued for the right to vote. The Old Courthouse is listed in the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network To Freedom.

White Haven (Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site), the family home of President Grant’s wife Julia Dent. Grant farmed the land there for a short time before the Civil War. Admission to White Haven and tours are free but time-specific tickets, available at the Visitors Center, are required. The Missouri Civil War Museum opens June 29th!

World Bird Sanctuary, where you can learn everything you ever wanted to know about wild birds and then some. Located in a hardwood forest next to Lone Elk County Park and Chubb Trail, the WBS features free seasonal shows, nature trails, educational programs and picnic pavilions.

Some St. Louis attractions charge admission, but it won’t break the bank: Butterfly House; City Museum; Gateway Arch (Jefferson National Expansion Memorial), a tribute to President Thomas Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase - no visit to St. Louis is complete without a trip to the top of the 620-foot tall Arch; the Magic House; Missouri Botanical Garden.

With “dynamic pricing,” you might be able to attend a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game for a song. Dynamic pricing adjusts ticket prices upward or downward on a daily basis based on factors such as team performance, pitching match-ups, weather and ticket demand. It’s been a great hit with fans. Last year 77 percent of games in had tickets available for $10 or less and 37 percent of games had tickets available for only $5. Aren’t you glad you call St. Louis home?

SOUL

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nation.

“That’s When You Love” has never been played on the radio or released as a single. DeShields, who also wrote the song, was one of a dozen local performers who graced the stage as a part of Café Soul Live, which closed out with a performance by The Dirty Muggs, another St. Louis act.

“To be up on stage as a local artist doing an original song and have people showing their support like that … it was like, wow,” DeShields said.

The show featured some of the most buzzed about local talent in town – including Tiffany Elle, Theresa Payne and Corey Black.

“That girl can throw down. Is she from St. Louis?” the security guard leaned over and asked as Tish Haynes-Keys belted out Fantasia’s “Win to Lose.”

She was. Every act except one (who flew in from Florida) was from St. Louis or the Metro East.

Some did originals; others did covers – from Stevie Wonder to Cee Lo Green and Lenny Kravitz – and made them their own.

Corey Black (joined by Theresa Payne) even made the bold decision to embark on the rare hip-hop cover with a performance of The Roots’

“You Got Me.”

“Friday night people saw that there are artists here that are ready – they just need an opportunity,” DeShields said.

“And to see people step it up and rise to that occasion, I’m sure it motivated everyone to just keep moving forward and try to move on to a national scale.”

He admitted that it was still sinking in that he had played one of his bucket list venues so early in his career as a singer.

To do it with people singing along to his original tune was “an out-of-body experience.”

The entire lineup of performers that preceded headliner The Dirty Muggs had played Café Soul at a host of clubs over the past seven years, but few had graced a stage like the Pageant.

“It was surreal,” DeShields

said. “To go from where I started at the Lucas Schoolhouse to this is really something special here. To see how Café Soul has grown and to see how packed it was and to see the camaraderie between the singers and the musicians was just amazing.”

In seven years, Café Soul co-founders Angela Brown and Nichol Stevenson have fulfilled their mission – to give St. Louis artists a platform and to show St. Louis audiences the caliber of local talent.

Café Soul is also embarking on their sidebar of bringing national acts to St. Louis. Next month Café Soul returns to the Pageant with KeKe Wyatt as a special guest.

“I think Café Soul Live showed people our potential,” DeShields said. “It was like, ‘Okay, don’t sleep on St. Louis – because there is something special happening in this town.’ And I was like, ‘Wow, I was a part of that moment.’” Café Soul returns to the Pageant on Sat., July 20 at 8 p.m. with a spotlight feature starring KeKe Wyatt. For more information, call (314) 5047405.

The entire lineup of performers at Café Soul Live on Friday night had played Café Soul at a host of clubs over the past seven years, but few had graced a stage like the Pageant. Photo by Maurice Meredith

~ CELEBRATIONS ~

Birthdays!

Reunions

All reunion announcements can be viewed online!

Beaumont Classes of 1965, 1966 and 1967 join us for dinner and dancing at the Embassy Suites Hotel (St. Louis Airport) on October 12, 2013 from 7:30pm to 12:30am. Hosted by Beaumont Class of 1966. For further information contact: Jacque’Hughes-Hayes 314-971-7012 orJosh Beeks 314-303-0791.

Beaumont High School Class of 1973 is holding its 40th reunion on Aug. 16-17. We’re seeking to contactall classmates interested in attending.Contact Randy Sanderson, at 314-393-8510, rsanderson1954@sbcglobal.n et or Shelia Owens Pargo, 314-724-0073, sheliap4@sbcglobal.net

Beaumont High School Class of 1983, Save the Date! Please prepare for our 30 year Class Reunionon October 4, 5, and 6.Please send emails with home address to bhsco1983@gmail

HomerG. Phillips Nurses Alumni, Inc. will celebrate its 90th Anniversary June 2122, 2013 at the Hilton Garden InnSt. Louis Airport,

,

Banquet at Yacovelli’s. The deadline for ticket sales is June 19, 2013. No tickets sold at the door. For more information contact L. Haywood at 314831-6250 or asims4@charter.net.

Northwest High School Class of 1973 will celebrate its 40th Class Reunion July 19-21, 2013.If you have not received the specific details, pleasesend your contact information including email address, phone and mailing address to northwesths1973@gmail.com. Information has also been posted on Classmates.com and Facebook Group: Northwest High School 1973. If you have questions feel free to call Cornelia Clark Stephens at 314 580-1114.

Rosalyn McKissick celebrated her 65thbirthday on June 25!

More

Birthdays!

Felton — June 27

Evelyn Harris (45) — June 28

Soldan is having its 9th AllClass Alumni Picnic Saturday, August 10, 2013 at Blanchette Park in St. Charles, MO, from 10 am- 6 pm. The price is $10 adults, $5 4yrs - 12yrs, free 3 and under. T-shirts with the graduation year on the sleeve are $13. This picnic is for all who attended Soldan High School. For more information call (314) 413-9088 or (314) 3226406.

Soldan High School Class of 1961 will celebrate its 52nd Anniversary High School Class Reunion, September 68, 2013. To register or obtain additional information, please contact Ellen Vernor, 314361-1535 or e-mail Lynn Steele – steelelynn@aol.com.

We would like to wish our mother Elizabeth Clark a “Happy 70th” on June 30. All of your childen, grandchildren and great-grandchildren wish you a happy birthday. We love you very much and always will. Belinda, John, Brenda & Barbara

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, graduation, 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. Louis American Celebrations c/o Kate Daniel 4242 Lindell Ave St. Louis, MO 63108 FREE OF CHARGE

SumnerClass of 1974 is planning its 40th class reunion. Meetings are held each 3rd Saturday of the month at 2 pm at New Beginnings MB Church,4055 Edmundson (63134) Please contact Portia Bryant at bryantpd@swbell.net, (314)867-1131 or Jackie Irving at ji63113@yahoo.com, (314) 367-2570.

University City High School Class of 1973 40th High School Reunion July 12-13, 2013; Cost: $40 per graduate, $35 for spouse/significant other ($50/$45 after July 1). Call (314) 726-6737 or email ucclassof73@gmail.com to register and for more information.

Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability. We prefer that notices be emailed to us! However, notices may also be sent by mail to: Kate Daniel, 4242 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108. 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

Mikal

First Baptist Church of Chesterfield shows ‘Hattitude’

Also, Central Reform Congregation hosts health insurance forum

American staff

First Baptist Church of Chesterfield

held its 10th Annual Hattitude and Hankie Tea on Saturday, May 25 at Norwood Hills Country Club. This annual luncheon, hosted by the Christian Resource Ministry, enables First Baptist Church of Chesterfield to award scholarships to graduating high school seniors in our community as well as support programs of various community agencies.

The theme for this year’s event was “Celebrating Unfading Beauty,” inspired by I Peter 3:3-4. “This passage is a humbling reminder that true beauty radiates from the inside out,” organizers said. The event was attended by 228 women displaying an array of beautiful hats.

The 10th Annual Hattitude and Hankie Tea, with Evangelist Mary Tillman as Mistress of Ceremony, celebrated and honored “a number of illustrious and esteemed women who embody unfading beauty through their years of contributions, sacrificial leadership and service to the St.

Louis community,” organizers said.

Following is a list of the honorees and their respective areas of service.

- Tishaura O. Jones, Treasurer City of St. Louis – Politics - Sister Judy Stubblefield – Religion

- Suzanne Palmer – Arts

- Dr. Angela L. Brown – Medicine

- Pamela Wall-Dover – Business

- Ida Woolfolk (not in attendance) –Innovation - Bonita Cornute – Media - Deborah Berryman – Community Service.

The Hattitude and Hankie Tea has grown to become a signature event for First Baptist Church of Chesterfield, where Dr. T. D. Stubblefield is Pastor-Teacher.

“First Baptist Church of Chesterfield is pleased to have honored these women who have given of their time and talent in service to the St. Louis community,” Stubblefield said.

Central Reform hosts health insurance forum

Rabbi Susan Talve and the Central Reform Congregation hosted former health insurance executive, industry watchdog and consumer advocate Wendell Potter gives

honorees City Treasurer Tishaura

Darbouze

his insider perspective on the Affordable Care Act at a public forum tomorrow last week. The title of the forum was “Health Reform: Holding Insurance Companies Accountable.”

Among Potter’s topics:

What are the new health coverage opportunities?

What are insurance companies doing to maximize profits and how will that affect Missourians?

How will some employers try to avoid providing Missourians adequate coverage?

What’s next for Medicaid expansion in Missouri?

Following a 20-year career as a corporate public relations executive, Potter left his position as head of communications for Cigna, one of the nation’s largest health insurers, “to advocate for meaningful health care reform and to help organizations working for the greater good achieve their goals,” organizers said.

In widely covered Congressional hearings, Potter disclosed how insurance companies, to boost profits, engage in practices that have forced millions of Americans into the ranks of the uninsured, and use deceptive PR tactics to undermine health care reform.

His book, Deadly Spin: An Insurance Company Insider Speaks out on how Corporate PR is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans, is “a stark warning that corporate spin is distorting our democracy,” organizers said.

Among the forum cosponsors was Missouri Health Care for All, a nonpartisan, grassroots movement launched by faith and community leaders committed to providing access to affordable, highquality health care for all Missourians.

The story of Mary and Martha is a classic one in which Mary spent time listening to Jesus while her sister Martha spent time preparing the meal and hosting Jesus. On the surface it looks like both people are doing the right thing – or so it seems. It is good to do godly work for the Lord, and it is good to listen and spend time with God as Mary was doing. Martha had a job to do, and so did Mary.

In trying to impress Jesus, Mary worked diligently to prove to Him and others that she was the superior housekeeper.

In attending to her details Martha found that everything she did was not good enough for the Lord. She found that all her righteousness was as filthy rags. But Martha in her selfsufficiency thought she had it all figured out. She thought if only Mary could help, her things would be just right. Martha thought she could tell Jesus what she needed Him to do. She told Him to tell Mary to help her clean. Because of her distraction, Martha couldn’t see the infinite wisdom that Jesus had. She was blinded by the busywork she had made up for herself to serve God. The Bible says that God is a spirit and those who worship Him shall worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Sometimes when you are busy you can get distracted and spiritually blinded by something that seems good. Mary was not blind or distracted so she was able to recognize that the Son of God was sitting in living room. A man who has the power of the universe in his Hand. In the face of such majesty, all Mary could do was watch in awe.

When you truly spend time in the Lord’s presence your eyes become opened to the things of the spirit. You no longer become concerned with performing or impressing man, it’s all about God. Sometimes we serve the Lord by going through the motions. We have to engage God in a relationship with us. We can do so much for Him without actually spending time with Him. We can go to church, bible study, listen to Gospel music and radio ministries without actually talking to him. It is through quality time with God that you can receive the anointing to destroy the yokes of bondage over your life and other people’s lives. Evangelist Bills serves as First Lady of New Life Ministries Christian Center, 4200 Blaine Ave., St. Louis, where Rev. Bryan C. Bills is Pastor. E-mail: newlifeministriescc@gmail. com.

Angelia D. Bills

Hattitude

Jones, Judy Stubblefield, Suzanne Palmer, Dr. Angela Brown, Pamela Wall-Dover, Bonita Cornute and Deborah Berryman. Not pictured: Ida Woolfolk. Photo by Rostand

Foundation Awards $25K in scholarships, grants S

Also, AKAawards scholarships and an ‘Exceptionally Gifted Student’

American staff

The St. Louis Community Empowerment Foundation

recently provided $25,000 in scholarships and educational grants to students and organizations based on academic achievement and community service. Anheuser Busch and David and Thelma Steward were each presented five scholarships in their name respectively at the 10th Annual Salute to Women in Leadership.

Scholarships and educational grants were also presented to students in the St. Louis Public Schools, Ranken Technical College, the Royal Vagabonds, the St. Louis City, St. Louis County and East St. Louis Branches of the NAACP, St. Louis Public School Foundation and St. Louis Community College Foundation.

“We are extremely proud of our scholarship/internship/mentoring program and the success of the youth that have graduated and those that are still participating,” said Michael McMillan, Chairman of the Board of the foundation. “We are extremely grateful to Anheuser Busch, David and Thelma Steward and all of our sponsors for their generous support of our efforts.”

AKA awards scholarships

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Gamma Omega Chapter, recently awarded financial aid to 16 graduating seniors.

The Scholarship Certificates were awarded by Leonor S. Buchanan, chairman of the Scholarship Committee; Villajean Jones, president of Gamma Omega; and Lonita D. Rowland, member of the committee.

The winners are: Alliah Beeks, Lutheran North, Butler University; Rachel Bisch, Kirkwood, Bradley University;

Sydney Byrd, Pattonville, Lindenwood University; Tevin Hamilton, McCluer North, Southern University; Brianna Helm, Gateway STEM, University of Missouri; Adam Kaminsky, Pattonville, Washington University – St. Louis; Nubari Kanee, Webster Groves, Illinois Wesleyan; Demi Lewis, Kirkwood, Howard University; Marcellus Miller, Chaminade, American University; Mackenzie Patterson, Edwardsville,

University of Missouri –Kansas City; Daisha Tankins, McCluer, Spelman; Tayler Tate ,Carnahan, Webster University; Alexis Tucker, McCluer, Howard University; Aun’yiea Watson, University City, Hampton University; Aubrey Williams, University City, University of Missouri.

Leonor Shelton Buchanan is the chairman of the Scholarship Committee and Villajean Jones serves as president of Gamma Omega.

‘Exceptionally Gifted Student’

Arael Rauls, a Hazelwood School District sophomore who attends the St. Louis Regional Program for Exceptionally Gifted Students (PEGS), was chosen to participate in the 2013 Missouri Scholars Academy (MSA) held at the University of Missouri in Columbia in June. She is one of 330 scholars of MSA who participated in this threeweek educational academy.

PEGS accepts qualified students from school districts throughout the St. Louis area. The program provides a fulltime, multi-aged, enriched and extended academic program for those highly-gifted students who need an alternative to the regular classroom.

The program curriculum is designed for exceptionally gifted students based on the following principles: accelerated learning through curriculum compacting, advanced training in critical and creative thinking and research skills required in

the various academic subjects, creative production of projects based on topics of special interest to students, special assistance with social and emotional growth, mentors to enrich and extend learning in their areas of expertise and main-streaming for fine arts and physical education with students their own age.

She began her educational pursuit at Cold Water Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District, from kindergarten through third grade. That is, until Connie Steinmetz, her former kindergarten teacher, now HSD reading specialist, saw something special in her abilities and encouraged her mother to have her tested for HSD’s gifted education program.

Her mother, Althea Rauls, said, “It truly takes a village to raise a child and Arael has enjoyed a very large village. I believe everyone that enters her life has participated. While special members abound, one in particular, Connie Steinmetz, stands out.”

It has been 10 years since Steinmentz has been in communication with the Rauls’family, but she was delighted to hear about her former student.

a two-week break and sixweek break, which helps the children remember things faster. Unlike in the U.S., where students are given the entire summer off, allowing a greater opportunity for children to forget what they have learned,” she said.

“I remember Arael very well,” said Steinmetz. “I am so happy that she is continuing to be the success that I knew she would be.It made me feel very special that her family remembered me.”

Since kindergarten, Areal has been invited to participate in several conferences and academic forums. She has traveled since she was in the third grade attending different symposiums and educational programs. When she was 8 years old, Arael traveled to Atlanta to attend the Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG). While there, she attended a threeweek program at Emory University.

The SIG program allowed Arael to take college-level courses including business, cartooning, drama and chemistry classes. Although her grandmother accompanied her on the trip to Atlanta, she lived on campus with other participants. During her stay, she was challenged with doing her own laundry, personal hygiene and styling her hair.

Another of Arael’s early accomplishments was the opportunity to travel to Sydney, Australia, as a seventh-grader, to participate in an exchange program.

“One of the primary comparisons in Australian’s schools versus U.S. schools is in Australia, students are given

While in the seventh grade, Arael participated in the Duke Tip program, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving academically gifted and talented students. Duke TIPworks with students, their families, and educators to identify, recognize, challenge, engage, and help students reach their highest potential. The program identifies bright seventh graders based on standardized test scores achieved while attending elementary or middle school. Candidates are invited to take the ACTor the SATcollege entrance exams as seventh graders, which allows them greater insight into their academic abilities. She scored in the upper five percentile on the College Board’s Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and received medals at both the state and national levels.

In a most recent accomplishment, Arael participated in a program called the People to People International (PTPI), which was a conference held in Chicago, IL. The PTPI forum helped her and other students relate to the subjects of international understanding, education, leadership, and humanitarianism.

“I am self-motivated because I want to learn,” Arael said. “I surround myself with knowledge, not always interesting, but definitely necessary. My grandmother was my first teacher. Although I attended several early childhood education centers, eventually, it was my grandmother who home-schooled me until I began my formal education.”

Ara Rauls, her grandmother, believes that early childhood education is the key.

“You have to start setting the expectations early-on, then, the child carries that with them throughout their life,” Ara said. “I am so proud of Arael; thus far she has received 50 letters of interest from colleges and universities and she has not even submitted and application. It seems as if every day she receives another acceptance letter. I am grateful.”

For additional information on the PEGS program, please visit http://gifted.psdr3.org/ pegs.html.

Vanessa Foster-Cooksey of Anheuser-Busch,David & Thelma Steward of World Wide Technology and Aysha Salem Saif Mubarak,a member of the Shura Council for the Republic of Bahrain,are joined by the recipients of scholarships named after Anheuser-Busch (at Harris Stowe State University) and David and Thelma Steward at (Saint Louis University).

Arael Rauls

Celebrity Swagger Snap of the Week

St. Louis was in the building at the Pageant Friday night for Café Soul Live. Host Tendai, and BeeJay the DJ of 100.3 were excited about bringing out headliners The Dirty Muggs to close out a show that featured some of the finest talent our city has to offer.

Living for Café Soul Live. I really have to tip my single unit sew-in to all of the parties involved to make Café Soul Live at the Pageant come to fruition because it was one of the best experiences I’ve had in a while! From Angie and Nichol behind the scenes, Ten (the host), the devastatingly dope DJ Deevine Soundz, the band and the HOUSE FULL of folks who came through to see some of the favorites who had graced the Café Soul stage over the years… Justin Hoskin, Tasha B, Motre, Tiffany Elle, Theresa Payne, Kenny DeShields, Corey Black, Tish Haynes-Keys, Will Robinson, The Dirty Muggs, and more. I know I’m accidently leaving some folks out, so forgive me. It was an absolute triumph from start to finish –even from the folks I was quietly giving the side eye in my head for being on the bill (who shall remain nameless). But anyway, I got my life from the band and just about everybody who blessed the mic – from Corey Black, Theresa Payne, Kenny DeShields and Tish Haynes-Keys in particular. Tish, girl, you put your ankle into “Lose to Win”…and kept your shoes on too. Fannie Mae better watch for her spot. And even before the headliner Dirty Muggs took the stage, I was clocking the concert as one of my favorites so far this year. That act one finale featuring the Café Soul all-stars that took the folks to church was everything! And as usual the Dirty Muggs did the doggone thang (yes, I said thang).

I’m telling you that St. Louis came with the punches at the Pageant Friday night. Beyoncé has her work cut out for her if she is going to capture the concert of the year crown from them. And she is also going to have to reenact her glorious mid-performance stairwell tumble so that I can decide if Theresa Payne has also snatched her “best performance fall ever” title too. What? I mean it as a compliment! She recovered so quickly that the only person who even comes close is King Bey herself. Y’all remember…the viral video of Mrs. Carter falling down the steps and incorporated a body roll and vocal run so smoothly that I’m still not completely convinced the whole thing was a part of the show.

A b-day at The Office. The one and only Tony “T-Luv” Davis of Starpower decided to kick off a weekend birthday celebration at the Office Friday night and it was the perfect situation to unwind after being fired up by Café Soul. Some name brand folks were in the building, like T-Luv’s partner in noncrime Abe Mo Spoon and Topher Jones to name a few. I had a nice time chatting it up about the major moves they are planning to make on behalf of our city. Also, I thought I should take a moment to let y’all know that our favorite turned up auntie Vivica A. Fox will be at the Office tomorrow night (Friday, June 28). I don’t know if you’ve heard, but she gets it crackin’ when she comes to the club and you can’t help but have a good time when Ms. Fox is in the building. Be sure to stop through if you can.

Totally Greeked out. Speaking of turned up…I was heading down to Lola thinking I would unwind a bit before I headed back to the house and perhaps (if my Weight Watchers points permitted…I know, I know… who am I kidding?) steal away a chicken and waffle to-go plate. My ending up being thrust in the middle of was something altogether different. When I tell you, that the Greek Party was _________ (insert new slang for crunk to death), understand it was like “A Different World” and “House Party” had a baby. I’m going to say “School Daze: The Musical 2”! Seriously, they were so fired up that it made me want to pledge somebody’s sorority before the next Greek set! Love & Hip-Hop…and empty houses. I really hate to do this…well I really don’t, but it’s just I think the Paragon believes I have something against them (which is NOT entirely true). And what I’m about to say surely won’t help matters in the least. Oh well, here it goes. I knew when I was looked up and down all suspiciously with one of those “what are you doing here?” side eyes – you know the one you give the maintenance man when he arrives smack dab in the middle of your emergency cleaning session – that it was going to be all bad. I walked in the door and looked all the way to the back door and my eyes didn’t catch a single soul up in the spot – on a Saturday night! And those ratchet reality TV characters typically bring out the masses…rain, sleet or shine….shoot even during tornadoes! I wouldn’t be surprised if poor little Yandy from “Love and Hip-Hop” gets saved this season after seeing more people working the door than working the entire room at the party she hosted. I can’t truly do justice to describing how few folks were in the house. I’m thinking Paula Deen could host a Juneteenth Celebration at the Pink Slip and have more people in the place. The door hadn’t even closed from me walking in before I hit a pivot and punched backwards and let the door hit me where the…well, you know the rest. Better luck next time. May I suggest Joseline and Steebie or K. Michelle or perhaps some decent promotion if you go the reality TV hostess route again? You’re welcome.

Birthday nights. After being depressed by Yandy’s one woman show at the Paragon, I headed over to the Coliseum to give a face to face b-day shout out to my boy Craig during the LA Nights weekly set. At first I thought I was on the set of “Hangover 4: Back to the Hood” after seeing a wedding dress and tuxedoes on the dance floor and a Mr. Chow looking dude chopping it up at the bar. Can anybody tell me where he came from or if he’s a regular? Anyway, things got started when the party bus arrived (happy b-day Ashley!) but I had to hit it over to my next stop. I still managed to accomplish my

of giving Craig some birthday blessings.

mission

Craig And Dano had a tag team b-day celebration Saturday night for the Smoking Aces edition of LA Nights Saturday @ The Coliseum

Meghan and Royal winding down after a long work week Friday night @ EXO

Lovelies Scar, Ana, Teri and Deane came out for the Smoking Aces edition of LA Nights Saturday @ The Coliseum

LA Flava Boutique Kristina Owens and DELUX Magazine’s Keith Griffin celebrated the release of the mag’s latest edition Friday night @ Cuetopia 2

Love and Hip Hops Yandy Smith came into town to come and kick it with Mello of the 2live crew for their party Saturday night @ The Paragon

Tommie, Abe and Triky came through to help the one and only Tony (T-Luv) Davis celebrate his birthday Friday night @ The Office

Trinity Banks of Trinity Wellness and Danielle DaSilva came out to support DELUX Magazine for their issue release party Friday night @ Cuetopia 2

London, Brittany and Diana made a ladies night of Café Soul Live Friday night @ The Pageant

Old friends Shoni, DJ Deevine Soundz and Fareda caught up during an intermission @ Café Soul Live Friday night @ The Pageant

Hasina and DJ Jo Prima were among the local VIPs in the building for a Star Power style b-day celebration Friday night @ The Office

Photos by Lawrence Bryant

July 15 deadline for Community Arts Training

Regional Arts Commission announces call for nominations

American staff

The Regional Arts Commission (RAC), the area’s largest annual funder of the arts dedicated to the cultivation, promotion, and fostering of cultural programming in the St. Louis area, has announced a call for nominations for 16 fellowships for the 17th year of its Annual Community Arts Training (CAT) Institute.

The CAT Institute, which was created in 1997, is an innovative five-month

curriculum for artists and social service professionals/community organizers who learn to collaborate across sectors of all disciplines and develop programs that can affect positive social change through collaboration. These programs take place in homeless shelters, prisons, at-risk schools, hospices, community centers, daycare facilities, social service agencies, as well as within neighborhoods.

“Programs that emerge from this training generally serve communities that are often overlooked,” said

CHOICES/CAREERS

CHOICES/CAREERS, published three times annually, (Spring, Winter and Fall), focuses on career opportunities, career training, career enhancement and financial aid programs for African Americans. CHOICES/CAREERS includes varied profiles and features the experiences of successful post-high school African-American students, alumni and employees in the St. Louis area.

STAFF

Donald M. SuggsPublisher & Executive Editor

Kevin Jones - Sr. Vice Pres. & COO

Dina M. Suggs - Sr. Vice Pres.

Editorial

Chris King - Managing Editor

Kenya Vaughn - Website Editor

Earl Austin Jr. - Sports Editor

Sandra Jordan - Health Reporter

Rebecca S. Rivas - Staff Reporter

Wiley Price - Photojournalist

Consuelo Wilkins, M.D. - Health Editor

Dana G. Randolph - Contributing Editor

Fred Sweets - Contributing Editor

Sales / Marketing

Onye Hollomon- Sr. Acct. Exec.

Barbara Sills - Sr. Acct. Exec.

Pam Simmons- Sr. Acct. Exec.

Nevida Medina - Classified Ad Mgr

Angelita F. Jackson - Graphic Artist

Production

Mike Terhaar - Art Director

Melvin Moore - Graphic Designer

Administration

Robin Britt - Controller

Ishmael Sistrunk - Web/IT/Promotions

Kate Daniel - Exec Assistant

Loistine McGhee - Acct. Assistant

Mary Winbush - Receptionist

The CAT Institute is an innovative five-month curriculum for artists and social service professionals/ community organizers who learn to collaborate across sectors of all disciplines and develop programs that can affect positive social change.

Roseann Weiss, Director, Department of Community & Public Arts/Co-Director of CAT at RAC. “From poetry workshops in homeless shelters to photography classes for at-risk teens, we have witnessed art changing lives and changing

Continued on Page 4

STL VA hires 8 new mental health professionals

VA meets nationwide goal of 1,600 new staff mandated by Obama

American staff

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has met the goal to hire 1,600 new mental health professionals outlined in President Obama’s August 31, 2012, Executive Order to Improve Access to Mental Health Services for Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families.

VA St. Louis Health Care System has hired eight new mental health professionals and a clerical staff toward this goal.

“I am proud of the hard work our staff has completed to bring these new staff members on board,” said Stephen J. Gaioni, Ph.D., Associate Chief of Staff, Mental Health Services.

“We are not slowing our efforts

however, and will continue to actively recruit for any vacant mental health positions for the future so Veterans will get the care they need.”

Gaioni added “these additional staff have enabled us to increase access to Mental Health Services by creating a Mental Health Clinic team at the John Cochran Division, increasing staff at the Mental Health Clinic at the Jefferson Barracks Division, adding marriage and family therapy services, and increasing

staffing for Compensation & Pension examinations.”

As of May 31, VA has hired a total of 1,607 mental health clinical providers to meet the goal of 1,600 new mental health professionals outlined in the Executive Order. Additionally, VA has hired 2,005 mental health clinical providers to fill existing vacancies.

“Meeting this hiring milestone significantly enhances our ability to improve access to care for those Veterans seeking mental health services and demonstrates our continued commitment to the health and well-being of the men and women who have served the Nation,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.

“Meeting this goal is an important achievement, but we recognize that we must continue to increase access to the quality mental health care Veterans have earned and deserve.”

VA provides a full range of comprehensive mental health services across the country. In Fiscal Year 2012, more than 1.3 million Veterans received specialized mental health care from VA. This number has risen each year from 927,052 in Fiscal Year 2006.

In addition to hiring more mental health professionals, VA is expanding the use of innovative technology to serve Veterans in rural or underserved areas. VA expects to increase the number of Veterans receiving care from tele-mental health services in fiscal year 2013, and has increased the number of Vet Centers, which provide readjustment counseling and referral services from 233 in 2008 to 300 in 2012.

In November 2011, VA launched an award-winning, national public awareness campaign called Make the Connection, which is aimed at reducing the stigma associated with seeking mental health care and informing Veterans, their families, friends, and members of their communities about VA resources. More information on Make the Connection can be found at www.maketheconnection.net. Mental health professionals interested in seeking employment with the Department of Veterans Affairs can obtain information at www.vacareers. va.gov. Veterans and their families interested in learning more about the mental health services provided by VA can go to www.mentalhealth.va.gov.

Celebrating Our Di erences. Advancing Our Success.

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Join Us

We have opportunities available at our headquarters and at branch locations across the country. For more information, visit www.careers.edwardjones.com

ARTS TRAINING

continued from Page 2

neighborhoods.”

A panel of community arts professionals will select eight artists from any discipline and eight social service providers/ community organizers/ social activists – to attend the CAT Institute on a scholarship from October 2013 through February 2014.

Created in 1997, the CAT Institute is an innovative program based on the idea that art can be used as an agent of positive social change. The CAT Institute provides a professional level, comprehensive training program to prepare artists of all disciplines and their community partners to collaborate in creating and sustaining significant arts programs primarily in under-resourced community settings, such as neighborhood organizations, social service agencies, development initiatives, and education programs. The fellows grapple with program

n “Programs that emerge from this training generally serve communities that are often overlooked.”

planning and adaptability, partnership development, hands-on projects, teaching and situational strategies, and assessment tools. To date 225 fellows have graduated and are working in the community on a variety of projects, many designed during their fellowships. In 2011, the Kresge Foundation awarded a grant to expand the CAT Institute to include graduate-level curriculum and to develop a new neighborhood-based model for community arts training.

– Roseann Weiss, RAC

Nominations will be accepted through Monday, July 15, and selfnominations are welcome. Nominees will be asked to complete an application by Monday, August 12, to be considered for interviews. The trainings will begin in October 2013.

For a nomination form, go to www.art-stl.com/CAT/ Nomination.cfm. Or contact Lisa Harper Chang, Education Programs Manager, Department of Community & Public Arts/Co-Director of CAT, at (314) 863-5811 x or lisa.harper. chang@stlrac.org . For more information about the CAT Institute, visit www.art-stl.com/CAT/.

Four airmen from St. Louis graduate

Four airmen from the St. Louis area graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. Each completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Air Force Airman Daralyn K. Dalcour is the daughter of Tonia Dalcour St. Louis and Darryl Dalcour of

Houston, Texas. She is a 2009 graduate of Ritenour High School.

Air Force Airman Christian B. McIntosh is the son of Jamie Freeman Ferguson. He is a 2010 graduate of McCluer High School.

Air Force Airman Leon L. Smallwood Jr. is the son of Michelle and Michael Clay of Florissant. He is a 2012 graduate of McCluer North High School.

Air Force Airman Tyrone L. Stainback is the son of Anita O’Neil of St. Louis, and Anthony Johnson of Gainesville, Ga.

Daralyn K. Dalcour

Christian B. McIntosh

Leon L. Smallwood Jr.

Tyrone L. Stainback

Planting future seeds with Jennings Students

STLCCFlorissant Valley helps youth explore career pathways

American staff

Spring has sprung and with it comes new growth and budding opportunities. Students from Jennings Middle School visited St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley on June 5 to tour the campus and explore possible career pathways.

“We are planting seeds for the future,” said Ruby Curry, acting vice president of academic affairs at STLCC. “They are a part of our community, and we want the students to see us as a viable option when they start considering college.”

Approximately 117 students were divided into groups and rotated through hands-on activities on campus.

n They were able to participate in biotech/ nanotech and physics activities, during which they made a DNA molecule using macaroni.

They were able to participate in biotech/nanotech and physics activities, during which they made a DNA molecule using macaroni, and discussed rocket fuel. During the engineering technology activity, they were shown how to use computer-aided design to print a 3-D object on a 3-D printer.

Eilene Lyons, interim dean for mathematics, science, engineering and technology at STLCC, said it was a true delight to have the students, teachers and staff from Jennings Middle School on campus.

“Everyone at Florissant Valley who interacted with the students enjoyed it tremendously.”

Students also had an opportunity to visit the Mobile Tech Center, where they looked at soil types, grasses and made grass heads.

“It was very interesting to watch middle

school students make observations at the pond and to see how fascinated they were with dragonfly nymphs, snails and other invertebrates from the net samples,” said Zoe Geist, STLCC biology instructor.

The students visited Home Plate, Florissant Valley’s educational sustainable community garden, where they observed native flora and fauna.

They learned about composting as well as drip irrigation systems and were able to sample organic vegetables during the tour.

They were given a tour of KCFV-FM, the student radio station, where they learned about audio production and the difference between analog and digital signals. They had an opportunity to do voice-tracking and had a great time on

air.

“The College Prep principal, the board member who volunteered on the trip and all of the staff and students who attended were so impressed with the well-organized, engaging activities the college provided,” said Tiffany Anderson, superintendent of the Jennings School District. “Students had such an enjoyable time.”

Jennings Middle School students visit Home Plate, the educational sustainable community garden at Florissant Valley.

MBA at UMSL

Region’s largest accredited business school offers three programs

American staff

The University of Missouri-St. Louis is the region’s largest public research university and the UMSL College of Business is the largest AACSB-accredited business school in the region. It offers three types of Master of Business Administration

(MBA) programs, a Master of Accounting, a Master of Science in Information Systems, a Ph.D. in

Business Administration with a Logistics and Supply Chain Management concentration, and five graduate certificates.

The faculty consists of highlyqualified teachers and researchers who hold terminal degrees from some of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions. They are actively engaged in cutting-edge academic research and real-world consulting. UMSL, Washington University and St. Louis University, are the only business schools in St. Louis that hold the prestigious accreditation of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Enterprise Opportunity Driver Scholarship recipients

Jeffery Scott, Cierra Powers, David Abolt, Kathryn Bewig, John-Mark Scott and Amel Orucevic attend UMSL on a newly established scholarship created by the Enterprise Holdings Foundation through a $1.5 million gift to the College of Business Administration.

period. Generally, two new courses are introduced every three months.

The International MBA is a two-year program in which students study abroad for one year at one of UMSL’s partner universities in Europe, Central America or Asia. The second year of the program is in residence at UMSL. Students gain practical experience through an international internship and can earn two graduate degrees.

n The Evening MBA program at UMSL is designed to educate a wellrounded business professional.

The Evening MBA program at UMSL is designed to educate a well-rounded business professional. It is flexible enough to accommodate the person who seeks a general, broad-ranging knowledge of business, as well as one who seeks to obtain an emphasis area in a specific discipline. There are emphasis areas in accounting, finance, information systems, international business, logistics and supply chain management, management, marketing, and operations management.

The Professional MBA is a 23-month program that meets one weekend per month (Friday-Saturday). Approximately half of each course is in a lecture format, and the remainder of the course relies on the various communication methods available on the Internet. Each course is completed over a twelve-week

The Master of Accounting (MAcc) degree program is intended for students preparing to enter the accounting profession as well as for those seeking to further their existing accounting careers.

The MAcc program is designed to accommodate undergraduate accounting majors as well as students with other undergraduate backgrounds.

The Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) program is designed to provide the technical and managerial knowledge and skills to operate successfully in careers associated with the design, development and management of computer-based information, telecommunications, and internet applications. The program accommodates students with undergraduate degrees specializing in IS, business, and computer science, as well as students with undergraduate degrees outside business and IS.

For additional information about these master’s programs, the Ph.D. program or the 18-credit-hour graduate certificates, see mba.umsl.edu.

Photo by Jack Crosby

STLCC chooses Innovation of the Year

Master Class Series exposes student to business leaders

American staff

A special speaker series designed to show students how business leaders overcome obstacles to achieve success has been named the St. Louis Community College Innovation of the Year.

The Master Class Series is based on the premise that behind every successful business leader is an inspirational story. It was spearheaded by the Business Club at the Forest Park campus in partnership with the St. Louis Business Journal and other campus departments. A core committee oversees each Master Class presentation; speakers are scheduled two to three times per semester, with two speakers per session. Student hosts guide each presentation.

“These timely stories are not only of personal triumphs, but also of loss and disappointment,” said Angelic Cole, assistant professor in business administration who serves as the chair of the Master Class Series Committee.

“What sets the leader apart from the ordinary business person, however, is how he or she reacts to life’s challenges.”

The featured speakers in March were Robbie Montgomery and her son Tim Norman, owner and chef of Sweetie Pie’s restaurants in St. Louis and stars of the reality TV show on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network. Maxine Clark of Builda-Bear Workshops and John Mozeliak of the St. Louis Cardinals also have been featured speakers.

In addition to Cole, other primary

committee members include Kelli Harris, executive assistant to the president; Sandra Osburn, associate professor in communications; Claudia Perry, district coordinator of college communications; and Ena Primous, administrative assistant to the vice president for academic affairs. The League for Innovation in the Community College established the Innovation of the Year Award to recognize an individual or group from each of the 20 member college districts

who have used creative, productive approaches to meet new needs or solve old problems Criteria for the award are quality, efficiency, cost effectiveness, replication, creativity and timeliness. STLCC is a founding member of the League for Innovation.

More information about this project can be found at http://www.stlcc.edu/ Newsroom/2013/05/News49.html.

Master Class Series Committee members, from left: Claudia Perry, Ena Primous, Angelic Cole and Sandra Osborne

Training winners – off and on the field

Rams and Elite Football partner to open Training Academy

American staff

The St. Louis Rams and Elite Football have partnered to open the NFL’s first youth training academy that will give kids all the tools they need to learn how to play football, both on and off the field.

On Monday, the team hosted a Rams Youth Football Camp, featuring the 2013 Rams Rookie Class, to debut the St. Louis Rams Training Academy.

The St. Louis Rams Training Academy, a 20,000 square-foot indoor training and development facility in Chesterfield, Mo., is outfitted with stateof-the-art training equipment and video analysis labs. It also includes a turf field, Olympic-style weight room with Rams branded power mats, and a speed track with a laser timing system.

In conjunction with the new facility, the Rams have created a Rams Training Academy Leadership Board, led by Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher.

Other members of the Rams Training Academy Leadership Board include: Isaac Bruce, Jack Youngblood, Marshall Faulk, Orlando Pace, Torry Holt, broadcaster Kara Henderson Snead, NFL executive Joe Browne, professional wrestler John Cena, motivational speaker Paul Vitale, ESPN.com contributor Anna McDonald, Elite Football president Matt Biermann and Rams Fan Development Manager Kyle Eversgerd.

The Leadership board members will contribute to the off-the-field curriculum known as the Rams Leadership Program and lead discussions around various leadership characteristics including

teamwork, communication, dedication, perseverance, passion and community service.

“The Rams Training Academy represents our deep organizational commitment to youth fitness and character development,” said Brian Killingsworth, vice president of marketing and brand strategy, St. Louis Rams.

“We are proud to be the first NFL team to establish a premier facility like this, but just as important to us is our ability to introduce the off-thefield educational components. The Rams Training Academy philosophy aligns perfectly with our organizational philosophy of building winners both on and off the field and will be an

outstanding way to engage our next generation of fans.”

The Rams are partnering with Elite Football Academy (EFA) to run the dayto-day operations of the facility. EFA is a year-round skills development program, providing both on-field skills training and off-field classroom preparation. The Rams Training Academy will serve as the headquarters for Heads Up Football seminars throughout the year to improve player safety and football fundamentals.

Other NFL-supported programs such as PLAY 60, NFL Flag, NFL Punt Pass & Kick, and High School Player Development will also be emphasized and used in the facility.

This summer, the Rams will kick things off by hosting three weeks of

St. Louis Rams rookie wide receiver Tavon Austin and other members of the 2013 rookie class worked with youth during the St. Louis Rams Youth Football Camp at the grand opening of the St. Louis Rams Training Academy.

football camps for kids ages 6-14 in midJuly. The Rams will also host one local community organization each month for a free training session as part of the team’s PLAY 60 initiative. In addition, kids will be able to have Rams-themed birthday parties at the facility.

The Rams Training Academy will also include a space for fans to purchase Rams merchandise, apparel and tickets. Furthermore, Rams players, coaches and alumni will make guest appearance throughout the year including autograph signings, coaches clinics and character development seminars.

For more information, please visit www.stlouisrams.com/trainingacademy.