McCluer North goes back-to-back winning the Class 5 state championship for the second year in a row.
B3
Better Family Life’s James Clark discusses a new mentor initiative during a meeting at the Boy Scouts MacArthur Service Center in the city’s Central West End.
Rev. Sammie Jones:
‘We are going to have a glorious week’
By Kenya Vaughn Of The St.Louis American
More than two months remain until 30,000 Baptists convene in St. Louis for a faith-filled learning experience when the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education hosts its 107th Annual Session.
“We are going to bring millions of dollars in to town that week and we will share with the black community.”
– the Rev. Sammie E.Jones
Host committee cochair the Rev. Sammie E. Jones could barely contain his excitement as he spoke of the actionpacked activities planned for the conference when it comes to America’s Center during the week of June 17- 22.
“Oh Lord, we are going to have a glorious week,” said Jones, Senior Pastor of the Mount Zion Baptist Church Christian Complex.
“We are coming together and bringing liberation through Christ to the city of St. Louis. It’s about lifting up the name of our Lord to the community and helping them along the way.”
Jones says that playing host to the largest traveling school in the country is no small matter. How could it be, considering that more than 300 classes will take place over the course of the week?
The National Baptist Congress of Christian Education serves as the primary training arm of the National Baptist Convention. It was constituted to fulfill Objective #3 of Article III of the Constitution of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.: “To encourage and support Christian Education.”
Founded in 1886, the National Baptist
By Rebecca S.Rivas Of The St.Louis American
The St. Louis community can change the path that is leading our young men to prison, to the graveyard or to a life of underachievement, said James Clark, vice president of community outreach for Better Family Life, Inc.
“When you look at all the statistics, we have almost become numbed with analysis,” Clark said.
Scouts. Together the two are working on a “new thrust” for the city of St. Louis. Their first order of business is recruit 100 volunteers by Father’s Day.
“We’ve been working with Better Family Life since this summer,” said David Pettiford, district director of the St. Louis Area Council Boys Scouts of
“We know that the problem exists. We know who are the most vulnerable. The Boy Scouts are the best equipped and prepared to go into the heart of the urban core and give our young men what they need.” In January, the St. Louis Area Council Boys Scouts of America appointed Clark to be its district commissioner. Last week, Keith Antone Willis, publisher of Who’s Who in Black St. Louis, became the new district chairman for the Boy See SCOUTS, A7
“We are looking for individuals from all races, both genders, from all social and social and economic backgrounds.”
– James Clark, Better Family Life
reads “The
The
day.Kirkland Academy,with sponsorship from St.Peters AME’s Project Uplift,served green eggs and ham and read books by the beloved children’s author.
By Sandra Jordan Of The St.Louis American
departments and clinics began moving into the 322,400 sq. ft. building.
$98.5M project in CWE grooms minority apprentice workers “These clinics primarily serve our Medicaid and underinsured members of our community.” – Rich Liekweg, president of Barnes-Jewish Hospital See JONES, A7 See BJC, A6
The new 11-story Barnes-Jewish Center for Outpatient Health is open for business at the corner of Euclid and Forest Park Parkway in St. Louis. Agroup of hospital officials and city leaders attended the facility’s unveiling on Thursday, March 8. On Tuesday, March 12, various BJC
The $98.5 million project was designed by Christner Inc. and built by Tarlton general contractors, with a portion of the work designated for minorities and women. Ajoint venture between Tarlton and minority-owned Interface Construction Corp. provided construction management. “At BJC we value diversity and inclusion in
everything we do,” Rich Liekweg, president of Barnes-Jewish Hospital, said. “And when it
Kanye Kardashian?
Khloe Kardashian was said to have let it slip that rumors of a romance between her sister Kim and rap star Kanye West are true. The 27 year-old revealed that the two have found it difficult to date due to their hectic lifestyles but there is definitely a spark between them.
According to Heat Magazine, the reality TV star told listeners on her US radio show: “They were talking and trying to go on a date here and there, but it just didn’t work out. I know they hung out, but I know it’s never got ten to there.”
“I genuinely think that because we have so much in common - like our fami lies, losing parents and we do have a lot of connections,” she explained, “I think that if they were to go there, it would be a long relationship.” Kim recently took time
out of her busy schedule and jet to Paris to support the rapper at his debut fashion show.
Bobbi Kristina dating ‘adopted brother’
Bobbi Kristina’s unofficial adopted brother
Nick Gordon confirmed what plenty of people were whispering about once the two had been spotted holding hands and kissing at an Atlanta area grocery store. After word spread that Bobbi Kristina and Nick were dating Nick confirmed the rumors on
“Yea, we got a little closer,” Nick said via twitter. “And what?”
Several sources report Nick Gordon was taken in by Whitney Houston when he was 12 years old after his mother could no longer care for him. Nick was said to have never been officially adopted by Whitney Houston but she raised him as her own. Now 22, Nick and 19 year old Bobbi Kristina are closer than ever and living together in Bobbi’s Alpharetta Town house.
Pat Houston tells other side of Stacy Francis’ story
Whitney Houston’s sister-in-law
and manager Pat Houston gives her account of the highly publicized run-in between Whitney and singer Stacy Francis in a revealing interview with Oprah Winfrey.
“There have been lots of talk of a confrontation that she had. Well, there was, kind of. There were words back and forth between [Whitney] and a young lady I believe was on ‘The X Factor.’ [Stacy Francis] comes over, and she says hello, but you keep seeing her. Every corner that we go to, here she comes. She didn’t know her from Adam.
I don’t know what the initial conversation was. I just know that it didn’t feel right … I saw expressions. I saw tears … from the young lady [Stacy Francis]. I said, ‘It’s time to go.’ [Whitney] did not want to leave. I said, ‘No.’ “I didn’t hear the words [of the argument]. There was no physical fighting. I would never let that happen. And we headed out that door … Houston’s story is much different from the one Francis sold to a British Tabloid the day after Whitney passed away.
you’re a legend.’ “I was crying and screaming out; we were both screaming until eventually we were pulled apart.”
“She was out of control,” Francis said. “She put her hand in my face. She was screaming at me and called me a [expletive]. She just went crazy – like Jekyll and Hyde. I turned to look at her and she pushed my forehead and turned my face away.
I grabbed her hand and said, ‘Please don’t do this. You’re everything to me. You’re my idol,
Usher refuses to foot Tameka’s court tab
TMZ says Tameka wants her ex Usher Raymond to write a check for $50,000 to cover her legal costs as the two trade legal shots in their fight for custody of their two children. According to the celebrity news and gossip site Usher finds that request absurd.
In court documents filed earlier this month the R&B heartthrob says Tameka has consistently defied court orders and filed frivolous motions, like the one trying to force him to take a drug test. Usher reportedly claims he’s already given more than $25,000 for her attorneys and has shouldered the brunt of the financial associated with this case – especially when it comes to their kids. Usher is said to feel Tameka’s actions “directly harm the best
By Gerry Hudson For The
Louis American
Trapped on a bridge between life and death, hundreds of marchers were met with violent resistance. In 1965, at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, they were beaten, bullied and terriied for their attempts to safeguard voting rights at a time when less than 2 percent of African Americans in that city (300 out of 15,000) were registered.
A 25-year-old John Lewis, who would later become a member of the U.S House of Representatives, endured a brutal beating that fractured his skull. Amelia Platts Boynton was beaten and nearly gassed to death. James Reeb, the white Unitarian Universalist minister from Boston was killed.
Those marchers set a precedent for protecting voting rights and civil rights in the face of racist rhetoric, vicious physical attacks and inhumane intimidation. They also showed the world how to achieve justice and human dignity
As thousands gather to commemorate the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March this week, it is imperative that we not only understand the ight against restrictive voter ID laws , but that we also acknowledge that racist, anti-immigration laws, like Alabama’s HB56, is an assault on the very values that civil rights marchers stood for nearly 50 years ago.
It’s clear: Alabama state legislators are trying to turn back time.
HB 56 has legalized racial proiling, terrorized persons of color regardless of their legal status, frightened children, entrapped foreigners and harmed the state’s economy. The “show me your papers” law, passed in June 2011, encourages an atmosphere of fear and hate and has resulted in terrible consequences. During a recent CNN interview, Kerry Kennedy, President of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights, explained that a family was denied water for their home for 40 days because “their papers weren’t in order.” Latino students are being bullied and harassed off school property if they show up at all. The Southern Poverty Law Center has iled more than 5,000 complaints and inquiries.
A recent report out of the University of Alabama shows that HB 56 could cost the state’s economy between $2.3 billion and $10.8 billion. The report also shows the state could lose $264.5 million in tax revenue and job losses could total between 70,000 and 140,000 -During these tough economic times, people want to see our legislators working on creating good jobs, not taking away civil rights and keeping hardworking families from making a living.
For Alabama’s working families, and the 99 percent of us who work hard every day to provide for our loved ones and give our children a better future, economic security is in the balance and racial justice is on the line. Yet, we are in the midst of a shameless season of intolerance against voting rights, women’s rights, workers’ rights and the civil and human rights of people who want to contribute to our communities and secure the Dream for their families. These tactics have nothing to do with job creation or inding solutions to income inequality and unemployment.
While extremist, right-wing conservatives attack core values rooted in the American Dream – the sacred right to vote and the basic freedom to pursue happiness – Latino and African American members with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and from all over the country, are marching to galvanize a movement across racial barriers.
Beware. The new Jim Crow is disguised as fair-minded voter protection laws and commonsense immigration legislation sewn into the quilt of continued attacks on the 99 percent. These kinds of assaults actually hurt all workers and all communities. Instead of turning our
backs on those who are suffering, let’s help pave the way for the American Dream. It’s been 47 years since Lewis, Boynton and Reeb, took their irst courageous steps onto that Alabama bridge. Let’s honor their actions and continue to make America better by
protecting our democracy and doing what’s right to help the country move forward. This is 2012, not 1864 and not 1965.
Gerry Hudson is executive vice president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed was recently joined by Alderman Greg Carter,
Safety Committee, and members of F.I.R.E. and Fireighters
announcing an alternative to Mayor Slay’s proposed changes
The present fracas over ireighter pensions in the city of St. Louis is an outcome of the many structural and chronic problems with its political process.
Over the years the city has agreed to a pension system for its ireighters that it can’t afford. These ill-advised commitments were the result of compliant leadership in city government when confronted by the political clout of the ireighters union ruthlessly pursuing the collective selfinterest of its members.
It is a fact that Francis G. Slay played a large role in making these ill-advised commitments when he was an alderman and then aldermanic president. It is also a fact that as mayor in 2012, Slay has acted boldly in opposition to the ireighters union by pushing city legislation that would radically remake the pension system and take major strides in controlling the untenable pension burden.
Slay has been blocked by current aldermanic president Lewis Reed, who is exploiting the city’s weak mayoral government structure. If Reed can get key committee chairs to follow his leadership, as he has lately with veteran and well respected alderman Greg Carter, the mayor can’t do much with a board bill.
Reed claims to be serving the public good in his actions for two reasons: he claims Slay’s plan is illegal and would cost the city in future lawsuits, and he claims to have united city ireighters, who have long been segregated by race and internally antagonistic.
With all due respect to the need for cooperation between the races in St. Louis, any momentary truce between white and black ireighters on this issue is nothing to boast about. Uniting to protect a lucrative pension plan that doles out green to both white and black ireighters is hardly evidence of racial harmony or understanding.
As for the substance of Reed’s claim regarding the legality of Slay’s proposal, there is confusing evidence. When pressed, Slay produced a legal memo from an independent irm claiming the proposal is legal, but the same irm is on the record in a similar case claiming that these sorts of changes can not be instituted for the
pensions of ireighters employed when the city made the commitment. We do agree with Reed that Slay’s administration has a track record of running roughshod over the city charter and legal precedent when pursuing a policy or personnel objective.
Slay and the Post-Dispatch accuse Reed of merely playing the politics of a mayoral hopeful here, grand-standing for attention. Reed is partly to blame for laying himself open to this accusation. St. Louis ireighters are often irst responders who brave life-threatening situations to save lives and property, as no one could deny. But politically, they are never anyone’s friend but themselves for long. If you are going to make a dramatic political play on an issue with dire economic ramiications, it would be wise to stand up for a constituent group with more compelling grievances than the pampered ireighters union.
The Post goes far too far in claiming (in an editorial last Friday) that Reed has shown himself unworthy of being mayor by making this one bad play, but politically we agree it was a poor play. The virulence of the Post’s response to one mistake is out of line, but then everyone knows that the Post has been with Francis Slay and is going to be with Francis Slay. Lewis Reed can expect nothing from its Editorial page.
The Post reprints as its own opinion Slay’s claims that Reed’s counter-proposal in the state Legislature is dead on arrival. In fact, a hearing has been scheduled. Given the plain fact that the current pension commitments are untenable, the pressure is on Reed to deliver on his proposal now that he has blocked Slay’s bill at the Board of Aldermen.
We do predict one outcome from Reed’s new commitment to battling Slay politically. The weakness in our city’s government structure will be dramatized through their battle, and the Post will paint Reed as an obstructionist. Reed may provide proponents of charter reform with a powerful image – an angry black man – for the current, defective structure of city government.
Reed may or may not be able to mount a successful mayoral challenge to Slay and the Post, but he is well on his way to making charter reform an easier sell to the voters.
In Missouri’s political discourse there’s a faction of people who like to talk a lot about “personal responsibility.” But they deine “personal responsibility” in a very skewed way. If you’ve ever needed a helping hand they say, in effect, that you’re irresponsible (particularly if that hand ever came from the state). To them it doesn’t matter if you needed that help through no fault of your own – they just ignore that inconvenient fact as irrelevant. And often in drawing their false conclusions these same people have shown a sad propensity to imply defects in the moral character of others. That is to say, they assert that if you need help not only are you irresponsible, you’re lazy too. We know who these people are. They are the minor league politicians, political hacks and talk radio pundits whose livelihoods depend on fomenting division. They prey upon the basest emotions of the electorate as they offer up a tainted medicine that purports to cure society’s ills. Of course, if you take a good look at how they solve, or don’t solve, many of
their own problems you often see the need for the doctor to heal thyself.
I ind it ruefully ironic, then, that many of the same people pushing this distorted mantra are the same individuals most vociferously advocating for the two pro-discrimination bills moving through the Missouri legislature, HB 1219 and SB 592. I ask, how does it promote personal responsibility to shield an employer from liability when that employer knowingly permits their employees to be sexually harassed or discriminated against in the workplace? Well, the answer is simple, it doesn’t.
And so, I struggle to understand how anyone, much less an advocate for personal responsibility, can favor changing our laws to keep those who illegally discriminate from being held fully accountable for their own behavior. Well, I struggle with this until I remember one thing, this is politics and in politics up is down and down is up. To these people, if you’re an aggrieved employee seeking the helping hand of the justice system, you’re just another free-loader trying to work the system. They take that small group individuals who wrongly bring meritless claims – those few exceptions to the rule – and use them as an excuse to create laws and rules that add injury to
Unless Ron Paul somehow wins the nomination, it looks as if a vote for the Republican presidential candidate this fall will be a vote for war with Iran. No other conclusion can be drawn from parsing the candidates’ public remarks. Paul, of course, is basically an isolationist who believes it is none of our business if Iran wants to build nuclear weapons. But Paul has about as much chance of winning the GOP nomination as I do.
Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich have all sought to portray President Obama as weak on national security – a traditional Republican line of attack. Speciically, they have tried to accuse Obama of being insuficiently committed to Israel’s defense. In the process, they’ve made bellicose pledges about Iran that almost surely would lead straight to conlict.
Santorum’s apocalyptic rhetoric about Iran practically takes for granted an imminent clash. Gingrich would essentially abdicate the decision to Israeli leaders, giving them the green light for an attack whenever they choose.
Romney, the likely nominee, has been somewhat more circumspect. He published an
A recent study of Missouri’s Death Penalty cited the need for Missouri to establish a state entity to investigate misconduct by prosecutors and defense attorneys. And ban the inhumane act of putting to death people with dementia, traumatic brain injuries or mental illnesses that signiicantly impair their ability to act rationally or appreciate the consequences of their actions.
Reginald Clemons is one of more than 3,200 prisoners on death row in the U.S. Amnesty International urged the State of Missouri to commute Reginald Clemons’ death sentences. Amnesty highlighted alleged police misconduct, actual prosecutorial misconduct and fairness of the jury selection process. The only defendant allowed to plead guilty in exchange for a prison sentence and testimony was white.
the truly harmed. I, too, believe that to be productive in our society one must be responsible for their actions and inactions; one must own their own choices. But to own one’s choices means to own all of one’s choices, those that affect just you and those that affect the people around you. Indeed, many of us are taught that how we choose to treat the people around us – our friends, neighbors, strangers, bosses and employees – relects just as much or more on our character as do any of our other life choices. “If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday” (Isaiah 58:10).
My colleagues in my party and I are ighting hard against pro-discrimination legislation in Jefferson City. We know that this legislation would wrongly absolve abusive employers of responsibility for their bad behavior. We know that there’s no room in the workplace for discrimination and harassment. We know that the people of this state are on our side. Personal responsibility means being held accountable for your actions – all of them. It also means letting bad ideas die, which is exactly what should happen to HB 1219 and SB 592.
op-ed in The Washington Post last week blasting Obama’s foreign policy as “feckless” and promising that under a Romney administration, things would be different. He then went on to outline the steps he would take in dealing with Iran –most of which turn out to be steps Obama has already taken.
“I will press for evertightening sanctions.” Check. “I will speak out on behalf of the cause of democracy in Iran and support Iranian dissidents.” Check. “I will make clear that America’s commitment to Israel’s security and survival is absolute.” Check. “I will buttress my diplomacy with a military option.” Check.
Romney’s only new initiatives would be to make Jerusalem the destination of his irst foreign trip and to deploy an additional aircraft carrier group in the region. I imagine the intent would be to show Iranian leaders that they are isolated and under siege, but I think they get that already.
In a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee – a pro-Israel lobbying group – Romney was much more speciic in establishing his bottom line: “We must not allow Iran to have the bomb or the capacity to make a bomb.” It is dificult to imagine how this statement can lead anywhere but to war.
U.S. policy under Obama –and previous administrations – has been that it is “unacceptable” for Iran to have nuclear weapons. The clear implication
University law student a “slut” and a “prostitute” for testifying in favor of mandatory insurance coverage for contraception. Honoring Mr. Limbaugh in the wake of this incident would be seen as a tacit endorsement of his misogynistic attitudes.
To date, inductees have been limited to those widely recognized for making positive contributions in their given ield or who have otherwise achieved acclaim. Mr. Limbaugh’s brand of fame is best described as notoriety and the value of his contributions to the ield of broadcasting are debatable. He would by far be the most divisive and controversial inductee to the Hall, and his inclusion would not bring honor to the state of Missouri. Therefore, the House Minority Caucus respectfully requests that you abandon any plans to induct Mr. Limbaugh into the Hall of Famous Missourians.
State Rep. Tishaura O. Jones
St. Louis
Prosecutor Nels Moss’s criminal cases have been the subject of repeated criticism by state and federal courts. A study in 2003 found that his misconduct had led to the defendant’s conviction being overturned in seven cases; in another 17 cases the courts found that he had engaged in improper conduct.
Misconduct also cost taxpayers money; more than a dozen states have found that the death penalty is up to 10 times more expensive than sentences of life without parole. Missouri is in a budget crunch, and eliminating the death penalty should be on the table; both Maryland and New Mexico have done so recently simply because of the cost.
Adolphus M. Pruitt II President, St. Louis NAACP
Dear Speaker Steve Tilley, It has come to our attention that you plan to induct radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh into the Hall of Famous Missourians. Given Mr. Limbaugh’s controversial career, the House Minority Caucus does not feel he is worthy of this honor. Mr. Limbaugh’s induction would be especially inappropriate and offensive given his most recent vile behavior in calling a female Georgetown
is that while military force is an option that could be employed at any time, including the present, force will be employed if Iran tries to make a bomb.
To say that Iran must never have “the capacity to make a bomb,” as Romney does, is to draw a line that has already been crossed.
Does capacity mean having the fuel for a bomb? Iran knows how to produce the enriched uranium that would be used in a bomb, and while U.S. air power alone could destroy or damage most of the enrichment facilities we know about, the Iranians could have the program back up and running within a few years. The truth is that every nation with suficient wealth and scientiic infrastructure has the capacity to build a bomb if it really wants to. Bombing Iran every few years is not a realistic option, and in any event would not be effective in the long run; when the Iranians rebuild their facilities, they will surely do a better job of hiding and bunkering them.
The United States and its allies should seek to eliminate the Iranian government’s will to make a bomb, not its capacity. I hope Romney realizes that while sanctions and diplomacy may not be working as well as we’d like, they’re the best tools we have – and that an attack at this point gets us nowhere. But if he
den and even his enemies to be the best American they can be. We all must take an honest and sober assessment of the candidates to determine which candidate represents themselves as the best candidate to lead America. And if you do that, like him or not, it is highly likely you will choose Mr. Barack Obama for President.
Allif H. Dove, St. Louis
Extreme sexism
It’s horrifying to note that Republican House Speaker Steven Tilley of Perryville intends to honor Rush Limbaugh, especially at this time, with a bust in the Missouri Capitol building. Did Limbaugh ever sue Al Franken over the book that directly called Limbaugh a liar? That, to me, constitutes an admission on Limbaugh’s part that he’s a professional liar. Does that, and now sexism in the extreme, deserve honor, simply for being famous? Missouri already has a smudged reputation by having been a slave state and the home of John Ashcroft. Let’s not further our image for backward-thinking politics.
Fred Blumenthal, St. Louis
Like him or not
When it comes to the 2012 Presidential Election, like him or not, President Barack Obama is our best candidate.
Like him or not, he continues to be the epitome of poise, discipline and conidence. Like him or not, he continues to play a major role in keeping this country aloat after near ruin. Like him or not, he continues to encourage our children, young adults, women, the downtrod-
Annie Malone May Day Parade is May 20
Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center will hold its Annual May Day Parade – the nation’s oldest African-American parade on Sunday, May 20 at 1 p.m. in Downtown St. Louis. The parade benefits Annie Malone, a non-profit organization that has been serving St. Louis children and families in crisis for 124 years. The 2012 May Day theme is“Embracing Children and Families.” May Day Parade colors are Kelly Green, White, Black and Gold.
Sponsors and volunteers to ensure the safety and success of this historic familyfriendly event. Call 314-5310120 or visit www.anniemalone.com.
Mayors
Meals On Wheels Association of America campaign March For Meals is partnering with local organizations to help raise awareness about senior hunger. This campaigned is helped by another event Mayors for Meals, which includes local mayors and other elected officials on March 21 who will help in the preparation or delivery of a meal to a home bound senior. Senior Services Plus will be working with mayors and elected officials in the Metro East to raise awareness about senior hunger. For more information about this campaign or Mayors or Meals, call 618-465-3298 or email jjaffry@seniorservices plus.org.
The Rev.Sammie E.Jones,pastor of Mt.Zion Missionary Baptist Church,participated in Read Across America Day recently at Oak Hill School.
On Wednesday, March 21, SSM Breast Care at St Mary’s Health Center, 1031 Bellevue Ave., will offer free clinical breast exams,mamograms and breast care education for women age 40 and older with no insurance or insurance that does not pay for mammograms and haven’t had amammogram in 13 months.This service is offered the thirdWednesday of each month throughSusan G.Komen for the Cure grant.Call 314-768-8697 for appointments or visit ssmhealth.com/stmarys.
St. Louis County Department of Human Services’County Older Resident Programs (CORP) offers free non-litigation services for County residents, 60 and older with income of $30,000 or less. CORPVolunteer attorneys offer consultations regarding wills, Powers of Attorney, deeds and other matters not involving litigation.
Assistance is provided one day each month at various St. Louis County locations: Saint Louis County Government Center-North in Hazelwood; Maryland Heights Community Center; Centennial Commons in University City; Saint Louis County Government CenterSouth in Mehlville; and Kirkwood House Senior Apartments.
To schedule an appointment, or learn more about other CORPservices for older adults, please call (314)615-0931, Monday – Friday from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm. Persons with hearing impairments may call (314)615-4425.
By state Sen.Maria Chappelle-Nadal For The St.Louis American
Atroubling trend of attacking women’s rights is making its way across the country. The state of Virginia recently attempted to pass a law mandating that women undergo an invasive procedure known as a transvaginal ultrasound before being able to obtain an abortion. Also, in Missouri and Washington D.C. legislation has been proposed that would make it legal for employers to deny birth control coverage for their employees if employers say it violates their core religious beliefs. These pieces of legislation are an astonishing threat to a woman’s right to make her own reproductive choices.
Even more incredible than the legislation is the lack of representation of women in the discussion. During a recent congressional hearing at our nation’s Capitol, a committee chairman invited a group of male church leaders to testify on behalf of religious institutions. Each of these men stated that their beliefs are being threatened because of the new federal Patient Protections and Affordable Care Act. Incredibly, not one woman was asked to testify.
Fortunately, the U.S. Senate voted to killthis controversial proposal, which would have allowed employers and insurance companies to opt out of certain health care coverage if they disagreed with the coverage on moral grounds.
This assault on a woman’s reproductive freedom also is being fought in Missouri. The debate reached a fever pitch when legislation in the Missouri Senate was brought to the floor regarding the so-called infringement on religious beliefs. Members of the majority party want to turn back the clock and eliminate the fundamental rights that protect women when it comes to their health care and employment.
The argument at hand is whether or not an employer should provide health insurance that covers contraceptives. This could potentially be a valid debate to have – if Missouri state law didn’t already provide an opt-out for health insurance companies that object to providing coverage for contraceptives or abortions in Missouri based on moral, ethical or religious reasons!
The bill we debated is not a protector of religious freedoms. It is an assault on women’s autonomy of their bodies. This legislation expands the exclusionary policy to potentially allow any employer or any employee to object to any health insurance coverage if such coverage violates his or her beliefs. Further, it directs the Attorney General’s office to represent people who file such complaints. This legislation is nothing more than an attempt by members of the majority party to ride the coat tails of a national controversy to score cheap political points locally at the expense of women.
The bill would allow any employer to deny coverage for almost any procedure to which he or she might object. If this bill passes, it would almost certainly be a new form of discrimination aimed directly at women, their free-will choices and the right to protect their bodies. Not to mention the economic implications of women being forced to pay non-insurance rates for preventative care prescriptions. These types of measures are unacceptable in our state and we must recognize them as a threat to women’s rights.
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comes to construction, we certainly make sure we are using minority contractors and representative contractors in our community.”
Christopher Dean, senior project manager of design and construction at BJC Healthcare, said BJC exceeded its standard goal of 10 percent minority-owned plus five percent women-owned businesses on construction projects.
There also was a dedicated effort to employ minorities in the workforce and grow minority capacity in the building trades.
“We required the project manager to employ an apprentice from the Access Center here in St. Louis for every $5 million worth of work,” Dean said. “We ended up exceeding that goal, because the construction value was a little over $50 million.”
Dean said they ended up employing 13 minority apprentices on the job.
“The benefit of that is, the duration of the project allowed some of the young men and women to become journeymen,” Dean said. “They weren’t apprentices anymore, so that was our big goal in minority participation in our project.”
Joe Scarfino, construction manager at Tarlton, said, “The arrangement was to have an apprentice and a mentor – a seasoned veteran – and we put them together to learn their skills and trades, and we actually had two young men who graduated in the course of this project.”
Scarfino said eight of 10 minority/women apprentices stayed in the construction industry and have moved on to other jobs.
“I think it was very success-
ful, and I would assume that we would approach this in the future,” Dean said of this pilot program. “This was the ideal project – brand new out of the ground, we could really access it and give it a good run.”
Dean said they also brought in a life coach to the Access Center for training in other responsibilities of having a career.
“We coached them on life skills – how to open a checking account; how to get to work; how to buy a car; how
Dr.Melvin Blanchard,chief of Medical Education and director of Internal Medicine Residency Program at Washington University School of Medicine, describes what the new BarnesJewish Center for Outpatient Health means for patients,medical students and the hospital’s mission at the facility’s unveiling on Thursday,March 8 in St.Louis.
to insure your car,” Dean said. Patients’‘one-stop-shop’
By consolidating primary and specialty care clinics in one location, Liekweg said Barnes-Jewish can better meet the needs of thousands of St. Louisans who have difficulty affording or accessing healthcare.
“These clinics primarily serve our Medicaid and underinsured members of our community,” Liekweg said. “For our patients, it’s a sort of onestop-shop.”
Liekweg said all of the outpatient care clinics have been expanded from their previous constraints at five smaller separate locations.
“The clinics will almost double in number of examination rooms,” said Dr. Melvin S. Blanchard, chief of Medical Education, director of Internal Medicine Residency Program and associate professor of medicine at Washington University School of Medicine. “This should make our clinics and physicians more efficient and decrease the door-to-door time for our patients.”
In addition to a floor dedi-
cated to primary care medicine, the center will house OB/GYN staff, a surgical new wound care center with a hyperbaric oxygen therapy for wound healing, and areas for minor surgical procedures.
“This feature eliminates the need for the operating room, and you can see that will reduce costs for the hospital and benefit our patients, making it more convenient,” Blanchard said. “There will be readily available diabetic educators, nutritionists, social workers and pharmacists in the medicine clinic. Radiology and point-of-care testing will also be available.”
‘Commitment to its educational mission’
Blanchard said the new facility greatly improves Barnes-Jewish’s capacity as a teaching institution.
“Physicians who train at outstanding institutions practice outstanding medicine. It is well established that the care that physicians provide today, wherever they are, is in large measure dependent on the quality of care that was delivered in the area where they trained,” Blanchard said.
“So this building represents a commitment by the hospital to its educational mission, to patient care and service delivery, and we are really grateful for that.”
With better access to targeted services, administrators hope this takes pressure off the ER.
“We hope by expanding access, patients will be able to turn to the clinics here rather than using the emergency rooms,” Liekweg said. With the hospital serving more than 90,000 safety net patients annually, Liekweg also said their outpatient facility poses no threat to existing public health centers.
“In terms of any perceived impact on federally qualified health centers or ConnectCare, we have a great collaborative relationship with all of those entities,” Liekweg said. “All of us are constrained in terms of capacity, so this just adds a more advanced asset to serve a segment of our community that we are all trying to serve better.”
Environmentally-friendly
The structure is environmentally-friendly and LEEDregistered. Solar panels on the building are capable of producing 22 kilowatts of electricity, which is enough energy during peak production to light one entire floor of the building. The panels are also tied into charging stations at the adjacent parking lot for six electrical vehicles.
It is modern and spacious in design with abundant natural light and picturesque scenery. The facility has wider furniture, hallways and doorways to better accommodate larger patients and persons with disabilities.
The penthouse views on the two top floors are dedicated to BJC and hospital administrative offices and meeting areas. The facility will also house administration from Siteman Cancer Center, St. Louis Children’s Hospital and private physician suites. The first floor is designated for retail space.
Continued from A1
America. “Our young men are at a critical stage of development, and they need intervention to keep them from harm’s way. We have agreed that the Boy Scouts program is the vehicle to do that.”
Pettiford said the Boys Scouts organization itself is 101 years old. Throughout its history, the program has been more attentive to AfricanAmerican young men at certain times than others, he said. However, the organization has always aimed to help boys transition into men.
“We are looking for individuals from all races, both genders, from all social and social and economic backgrounds,” Clark said. “We understand that everyone can help with this initiative.”
The Boys Scouts has a working presence in the urban core, but there is a strong need to energize what is currently there, Clark said. He points to a single mother who has already had one son murdered and her other son is in prison.
“She is looking at her 12-year-old son who is already repeating that behavior,” Clark said. “That’s why the Boys Scouts is so important. We are looking to work with the clergy and we are looking to do effective neighborhood engagement and recruitment. We are excited about this opportunity to change the tide for
Continued from A1
Convention, USA, Inc. is the nation’s oldest and largest African-American religious convention with an estimated membership of 7.5 million.
the children in some of our more crime-ridden neighborhoods.”
Willis was the former executive director of St. Paul Saturdays, a black male leadership program founded at St. Paul AME Church in North St. Louis, and the executive director of Mentor St. Louis. For three years, he was the executive director of the Emerson Park Development Corporation and responsible for the daily operations for a $1.7 million dollar annual budget for Emerson Charter School. He was a Boy Scout himself, and his mother was a den leader. His sons were both in Boys Scouts.
Before joining the Better Family Life staff in 1997, Clark served as an administrative assistant to the first African-American mayor of the city of St. Louis, where he developed initiatives that provided employment, educational, and recreational opportunities for inner-city youth. He’s also been recognized for implementing role model programs in both the St. Louis Public Schools and St. Louis City Juvenile Detention Center.
“Putting Keith and I together is a unique opportunity,” Clark said.
“It’s about saving our sons,” Pettiford said.
The council invites all those interested in volunteering to attend meetings on the second Wednesday of every month. The next meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 11 at 4568 West Pine Blvd. Volunteers must be 21 and older. For more information about volunteering, call David Pettiford at the Boy Scouts’office 314-361-0600.
The National President, Reverend Dr. Julius R. Scruggs, has led the organization since 2009.
And while the premise is learning and growing in the lessons offered through ministry and fellowship through scripture-based education, the experience extends far beyond the lessons.
by
“We will have a gospel music celebration with a choir that will exceed 500 members,” Jones said. “And our youth explosion will feature more than 5,000 young people. It’s going to be a great, great time.”
He says the week will be
jam-packed with classes, seminars, choir rehearsals, health fairs, street services, outreach activities, concerts – and, most importantly, preaching.
Attendees will experience lifechanging worship and preaching, informative panel discussions and empowering breakout sessions led by some of the
Country’s most dynamic pastors, Christian educators and ministry leaders.
“Each day the 30,000-plus Baptists will be in study, prayer, and worship from morning to midnight,” Jones said.
“We are going to bring millions of dollars in to town that week and we will share with the black community,” Jones said.
Just as important as the members being spiritually fed in the comfort of hometown hospitality over the course of the session is the impact that the visit will have on the host community.
“Dollars coming into the city are good to have, but you have to put them in the right place – they have to be going into the right hands. We want to go into the community and spend money, helping reactivate areas where there has been suffering. ”
‘Hands across the Mississippi’ Jones is quick to credit his co-chairs from both sides of the river with working diligently to ensure St. Louis serves as the most gracious of hosts.
The Local Host Committee, led by Jones, also includes Dr. Harold Butler (Pastor of the Northern Missionary Baptist Church, St. Louis) and Dr. Zachary Lee (Pastor of the Mount Paran Missionary Baptist Church, East Saint Louis). They are working with the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission and local churches throughout the metro area.
“We are hands across the Mississippi,” Jones said. “We are working together to do this.”
The National Baptist Congress of Christian Education’s giving will go beyond the exchange of dollars in the city. One of the ways they plan to leave a lasting impression on St. Louis is through teaming up with Habitat for Humanity to build and donate a home to a family. The home is currently under construction in the Carondelet neighborhood and will be presented to the new owners during the 107th Annual Session festivities.
“We are working together to say to the community, ‘We know that we are in difficult times, but through the grace of God we can make it,’” Jones said.
“When our Congress leaves here, I want people to be able to say, ‘Not only did we have a great fellowship and we left something tangible.’The hope is through our prayers, through Christian education, through the money we spend, the house that is built, that we show that we are a well–rounded convention that wants to prepare to build a better quality of life for our communities, not just by studying, but doing something with what we’ve learned.”
This will mark the fourth time St. Louis has hosted the Congress’annual session.
National Baptist Congress of Christian Education’s 107th Annual Session will take place at America’s Center June 1722. For more information and a full schedule of activities, visit http://www.2012congressstl.org.
Discussions and screenings about health and wellness presented by some of the country’s most respected experts from Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University Physicians.
for Your Arteries & Veins
Sudhir Jain, MD, Washington University Cardiologist
Patrick Geraghty, MD, Washington University Vascular Surgeon
In order to reduce your risk of heart attack, it’s important to keep your arteries and veins functioning well. Sudhir Jain, MD, will describe risk factors for hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), which contributes to coronary artery disease and causes peripheral vascular disease. Patrick Geraghty, MD, will explain the vascular health of our legs, including the warning signs and treatment of arterial blockages. He will discuss the symptoms of venous insufficiency and varicose veins, and the minimally invasive options for treating these disorders. This event is free, but registration is required. Call 314-TOP-DOCS (314-867-3627) or register online at barnesjewish.org/classes
Thursday, April 12
7-8:30 p.m.
Holiday Inn South County Center 6921 S. Lindbergh St. Louis, MO 63125
You’re Not AloneUnderstanding and Treating Sexual Dysfunction
Carl Klutke, MD Washington University Urologist at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital
Sexual dysfunction affects many people for a variety of reasons, including hypertension, diabetes, and cancer, often resulting in sex not being a positive experience for you and your partner. Learn more about the reasons for sexual dysfunction and why you are not alone. You and your partner are invited to come and listen as a Washington University urologist explains why sexual dysfunction occurs in both men and women and treatment options available today. Call 314-TOP-DOCS (314-867-3627) to register for this free event.
Tuesday, April 17
7-8:30 p.m. West County Family YMCA Auditorium 16464 Burkhardt Place Chester eld, MO 63017
For more information or for help nding a primary care doctor or specialist, call 314-TOP-DOCS (314-867-3627) or toll-free 866-867-3627
Bryan Meyers, MD, MPH, Washington University
Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Adrian Shifren, MD and Roger Yusen, MD, MPH, Washington University Pulmonologists
Join three physicians from the nationally recognized Jacqueline Martiz Lung Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, as they explain the causes and symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Learn about medical, interventional, and surgical treatment options for COPD, and opportunities to participate in clinical trials. Light refreshments will be served. This event is free, but registration is required. Call 314-TOP-DOCS (314-867-3627) or register online at barnesjewish.org/classes
Tuesday, April 24
7-8:30 p.m.
Sheraton Clayton Plaza Hotel 7730 Bonhomme Ave St. Louis, MO 63105
Skin Cancer Screening
Come in for a free screening with Washington University Dermatologists at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, in association with the American Academy of Dermatology and the St. Louis Dermatological Society. Anyone under the age of 18 must have a legal guardian present to sign consent form and gowns will be provided for those who opt for a full body screening. No appointment necessary, but it is recommended to call for a suggested time slot. Call 314-542-9378 or toll-free 800-392-0936.
Saturday, May 12
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital
Medical Of ce Building #2 10 Barnes West Drive Creve Coeur, MO 63146
Undy 5000
The Undy 5000 is coming back to St. Louis and it’s not your typical 5K. Join the Siteman Cancer Center and the Colon Cancer Alliance for a run/walk to fight colon cancer and be sure to wear crazy boxers or your favorite shorts to raise awareness. For more information and to register go to www.undy5000.org and click on St. Louis, MO.
Saturday, March 31
Registration: 7:30 a.m.
Run/Walk: 9 a.m.
Upper Muny Parking Lot in Forest Park
By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American
Scientific medical research to prevent preterm births is the work of Sarah K. England, PhD, a full professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the Division of Basic Science Research at Washington University.
The uterus contracts and beats, kind of like the heart does, England explained, and these changes in electrical activity are important in a normal, healthy delivery.
“We’re interested in identifying what causes these changes when a woman goes into labor so that if someone who doesn’t undergo these changes and has a dysfunctional labor or a difficult labor or preterm labor, we can figure out why,” England said.
She said about 12 percent of all women have preterm births and incidence in higher in African Americans. Infants born just a few weeks early are at risk for severe health problems and lifelong disabilities.
According to the March of Dimes, premature birth kills more babies than any other health problem in the U.S.
“We’ve discovered some of the proteins are some of the underlying agents that are responsible for the electrical activity,” England said. “We’ve been able to determine which ones may therapeutically be good targets some day.”
In July 2011, England moved her research to St. Louis from the University of Iowa, where she was a professor in the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics for 14 years. Her work is funded by the National Institutes of Health, March of Dimes, American Heart Association and other agencies.
England had a St. Louis (and St. Louis American) connection through colleagues in Iowa –Victor and Vincent Rodgers, twin sons of the late Bennie G. Rodgers, executive editor emeritus of the newspaper.
England ran an undergraduate program for minority students in the sciences with Vincent Rodgers, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Iowa. Victor Rodgers is now the department chair and professor of bioengineering in the Bourns College of Engineering at University of California
- Riverside.
About a year ago, England was offered a chance to grow her research and collaborate with scientists doing similar work at Washington University. Construction of her new lab is being completed at the new Institute of Medicine building on Euclid Avenue, which she and her staff designed for their research.
They conduct both animal and human tissue studies.
“We’ve looked at some genetics to see which women may have a higher propensity of preterm birth, and a lot of it is looking at all of the underlying characteristics that are very molecularbased,” England said.
“The people in my lab have been able to develop new tools to investigate it, to study how labor progresses.”
England wants caregivers to be able to identify in advance women who are likely candidates for preterm labor, in order to stop it before it starts.
“You would hope to be able to identify these women and even before to say, ‘This may happen to you; let us be able to help you,’” England said.
“And right now, we just don’t have very good ways to intervene if there are troubles early on.”
Pregnant women, particularly those who know they will have a caesarian section and are interested in participating in England’s research, may call 314-286-1798.
– The St. Louis Chapter of Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, led by Lew Moye, joined thousands of marchers retracing the steps of those who made the historic 1965 march from Selma, Alabama’s Edmund Pettis Bridge to Montgomery, Alabama. They ended their iveday journey, March 4 through 9, by converging this weekend at the steps of Alabama State Capitol.
The big dagger aimed at Alabama’s immigrants is H.B. 56, the cruelest immigration law in the nation and a law that is wreaking havoc on the state’s economy.
CBTU National President William “Bill” Lucy spoke to the crowd acknowledging “that labor and the trade union movement will ight alongside the Latino community to repeal HB 56 in Alabama.”
“They were marching again in 2012 to demand an end to Republican-led attacks in Alabama and around the country on voting rights, workers rights and immigrant rights,” Lucy said. After the 54-mile trek, marchers jammed the area
around the capital building and many local college students joined the rally on Friday afternoon. The marchers actually grew in numbers as the days went by.
“These laws in Alabama aren’t immigration laws. They’re Jim Crow laws,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton, a leader of the march. His words ired up the crowds.
Among the powerful speakers at the event was the actor Tyrese Gibson who had joined the march a day late. He rented a car to catch up with the others who had already completed 12 miles, then he marched with them the rest of the way.
Gibson put forward what he called a “challenge” to “every performer and entertainer watching this today from home.” He said it was incumbent upon each of them to exercise “all the power you have to register people to vote in the 2012 elections.”
In the beginning, many of the marchers were union members, their friends and allies, but members of Alabama’s immigrant communities joined in along the way. Many said they joined the marchers after hearing about the event on Latino
radio stations.
Estimates are that the state has lost $750 million since the law has gone into effect and continues to lose $1 million in revenue every day.
“It’s time for the Christian right to be right Christians,” said Sharpton. “The Good Samaritan didn’t ask for papers or green cards before offering his help.”
“Together we are one. Together we will make change,” said AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker. Holt Baker had marched the entire route from Selma to Montgomery. She told people at the capital that they were witnessing not just the end of a march but “the beginning of a renewed, bigger and stronger movement.”
American staff
The newly published Missouri Women’s Report details how women in Missouri are faring in health care access and well-being, workforce education, economic justice, and civic engagement.
The report will be presented at a news conference and brief forum on 10 a.m., Friday, March 16 at the Missouri History Museum.
of women has long been understood as a way to gauge the quality of life for families and communities.”
The report was produced by the Women’s Policy Alliance and the University of Missouri Ofice of Social and Economic Data Analysis, and primarily includes statistics gathered from 2004-2011. Selected data show:
Average earnings of women are 74 percent of men’s earnings.
Speakers will include Margaret Eaton, Board President, Women’s Policy Alliance; Susan Kendig, Coordinator, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Program, UMSL/ Consultant, Health Policy Advantage; Pat Rich, President, Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis; Dayna Stock, Manager, Sue Shear Institute for Women in Public Life; Nancy Wegge, President, Foundation for Missouri Women.
“The Press Club is proud to co-sponsor this latest discussion which highlights critical information voters should be aware of in this election year,” said Gloria S. Ross, president of the Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis. “The well-being
Women college graduates earn 90 percent of what men college graduates earn.
More than 32 percent of Missouri’s women who are poor have no health insurance. Rural areas have the highest incidents of breast cancer. More than 21 percent of women report being hurt by an intimate partner. Missouri State Senate: 6 women, 28 men; House: 41 women; 121 men.
The forum is sponsored by the Women’s Policy Alliance, the Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis and the Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis. Printed reports will be available at the forum for media, public policy and nonproit agencies. It will be online at http://missouriwomensreport. org. The event is free, but reservations are required. Call Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis at 636-230-1973 or visit info@ stlpressclub.org.
As a service to the community, we list obituaries in the St. Louis American Newspaper, on a space-available basis and online at stlamerican.com AT NO CHARGE. Please send all obituary notices to kdaniel@stlamerican.com.
Marguerite Elizabeth Clay was born Marguerite Simms on June 4, 1918 to Lucy and Lawrence Simms. Two years later her sister, Lucille, was born. Her parents and sister preceded her in death.
After completing Sumner High School and briefly attending Stowe Teachers College, Marguerite met and married Edward Clay. Two sons were born to that union: Alan Bernard and Charlton Dennis.
For more than 30 years, Marguerite worked in the US Postal Service Office if Kinloch, and after overcoming racial and gender barriers, she became Postmistress. Her warm, generous and fun loving spirit made her a Kinloch icon. Marguerite truly enjoyed people. Although her activity was curtailed in recent years, she tried to take advantage of every opportunity to socialize with her family and friends. Whether it was a meeting if the Gadabouts or brunch with the Kinloch Ladies, she did her best to attend. The 2010 Kinloch Reunion was a highlight for her.
As a child, Marguerite was baptized into the sanctified faith. She later joined First Baptist Church of Kinloch, where she remained a member throughout her adult life. Marguerite often spoke of the power of God’s grace, and during her most recent illness, she comforted family and friends by saying, “God is good, all the time!” Marguerite made her transition from this earth on February 19, 2012 at 10:25 am.
She leaves to cherish her memory: two sons and daughters-in-law, Alan and his wife, Delores and Charlton and his wife, Delores; longtime friend, Richard Bostic; four grandchildren, Alan Jr., Kenneth, Lawrence and Julius; three nieces, Sheila, Freida and Mary Elizabeth; ten greatgrandchildren, Avianne, Alan III, Kenneth, Lawrence, Corey, Chelsea, Sydney, Tristen, Indigo and Julius Jr.; two great-greatgrandchildren, Madison and Jace; and a host of cousins, in-laws and friends.
In
January 6, 1947— March 2, 1997
How much I miss you is beyond explanation
The dictionary holds your
absence in my life
Is a story that can’t be told
You were my angel
Jimmy Lee Williams
My friend indeed
If I could pray for God to send you back I would drop to my knees
I miss you so much
My heart is sore
Yet it gives me comfort
Knowing that you’ve entered Heaven’s door
I know you’re fishing
Save one for me
My buddy, my friend
You will, forever be.
Your fishing buddy, Delores Rich
Nannie Lee Turner-Banks
August 13, 1922— March 9, 2012
Nannie Lee Turner-Banks
Nannie Lee Turner-Banks was born August 13, 1922 to Thomas J. French and Anna MillerFrench in Kansas City, Kansas. She was the 7th of 10 children. Nan, as she was affectionately called, was baptized May 23, 1933 at the Church of Our Lady.
She attended Our Lady grade school and graduated in 1937 in Kansas City, Kansas. At the age of 16, she courageously left Kansas and went to Baltimore, Maryland to become a nun at The Oblate Sisters of Providence: The Nation’s First Order for African-American Nuns. She was the first African American to join from Kansas City, Kansas. After several years she decided to return to Kansas and completed her studies at Kansas Vocational School (KVS) an African American Boarding School in Topeka, Kansas. She loved the school so much she brought her two younger siblings with her the following year because she wanted only the best for them. On March 17, 1944 she married her best childhood friend and neighbor, Dr. Clarence Monroe Turner in Anniston, AL while Clarence was stationed in the United States Army. They added to this union two adopted children, Patrick Edward Lee Turner and Susan Elaine Turner (Buford). Clarence preceded her in death on March 20, 1977, and they were married for 33 years. She later remarried Wilbert A Banks on April 11, 1981. Wilbert preceded Nan on May 2, 1995. They were married 14 years.
Nan was a firm believer in education. She attended Tennessee State in Nashville, TN but came to St. Louis with her husband to complete his intern at Homer G. Phillip Hospital. She fulfilled a life long dream at 53 years of age when she received her Bachelor of Arts from Fontbonne University (formerly Fontbonne College) in 1975. She was one of three graduates of the PACE program that was created in January of 1973 for older adults that wanted to return to school. Nan was a Charter member of the St. Louis Drifters, Inc., a Golden Life Member and Delta Dear of Delta Sigma Theta, St. Louis Alumnae. She was very active in St. Elizabeth Catholic Church (Formerly St. Engelbert’s) and service in many capacities, a lector, past Parish Council and volunteer. Nan was preceded in death by seven of her siblings, Hezekiah French (1972), Wilfred French (1975), Goldie FrenchHill (2000), Cecil Batey-Johnson (2002), Corutello “Tillie” French Henderson (2004), Thomas John French, Jr. (2006) and Elray Theresa French Buford (2011).
She is survived by her son Patrick Edward Lee Turner, daughter Susan Buford (James H. Buford), Sister Leatha Britto (Neville) of Saginaw, MI, Brother James French (Olivia) Charleston, SC, Granddaughter Kenya Aiyana Turner, Grandson Alexander McKinley Allen, Step-Grandsons James Buford (JoeAnn) and Jason Buford (Lateshia) and Step-Great Grandmother of Nosaj, Jazmin, James III, Kristopher Boyd, Dstany and Dymonds Harris. And her special friend and companion Curtis Young along with a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. Services Entrusted To: Austin A. Layne Normandy Chapel. Services will be held Saturday March 17, 2012 at St. Elizabeth Mother of John Catholic Church located at 4330 Shreve Ave, St. Louis, MO. Visitation from 9-11:00 am, Funeral Mass will follow at 11 am. In lieu of flowers a donations can be made to either the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis or Wesley House Meals on Wheels.
In Loving Memory of Mr. Herman Albert Small
Sunrise: March 14, 1912 Sunset: April 13, 2005 -ON THIS YOUR 100th
Herman A. Small
BIRTHDAYA million times we needed you. A million times we cried. If love could have only saved you, you never would have died. Your loving family: Myrna, Guy, Stephanie,
neth, Kurt, Sydney, Keanu,
and Kayden
This is a St. Louis story.
There was an alderman who decided to run for citywide office. He was entering a crowded field where all of the other candidates had some leverage for garnering support, and indeed they started garnering support.
Two of these candidates, the alderman noticed, received financial support from a principal at a business doing business in the alderman’s ward. One businessman donated money to a longtime Democratic Party operative who knows very well how to go along to get along in St. Louis politics and business.
The other businessman donated money to a state representative from a formidable political family with impeccable qualifications for the citywide office in question.
The alderman picked up the phone and called both of these men of business. He reminded each of them that he had an ongoing project in the ward represented by the alderman. St. Louis government provides for aldermen to run their wards as small fiefdoms, giving them the power to stymy development projects.
The alderman reminded each of these businessmen of his power respective to their projects in his ward, and told each of them that if he continues to support one of the alderman’s opponents in his bid for citywide office
that the alderman would stop supporting the donor’s business doing business in his ward.
The businessmen who received these calls were angry and offended, and each began to talk to friends about the call he had received. One mutual friend of both businessmen told a journalist who has a taste for public corruption stories.
The journalist said that this sounds like front-page news, but he would have to confirm the story with the businessmen before calling the alderman and giving him a chance to deny the allegations. The journalist was told that neither businessman would go on the record with their claims while their respective projects were pending in the alderman’s ward.
So the journalist decided to leave names out of the story and move it into the Political EYE, where it might have the effect of scaring this alderman straight on threatening to hurt the businesses of people who fund his opponents. At this point the EYE began to wonder what crime, if any, this alderman had committed. So he called a federal prosecutor and described the scenario. The federal prosecutor said, more or less, “I got nothing on him. I might have had him on denial of honest services –that was always my Louisville Slugger to get dirty politicians – but the U.S. Supreme Court took that bat out of my hands.
Congress keeps promising us to fix it and give us those tools back through new legislation, but in the current political climate, I don’t see that happening any time soon.” He suggested calling a state prosecutor.
The EYE asked if he meant the Attorney General, and the federal prosecutor laughed out loud. He said, “You think Chris Koster is going to prosecute some petty campaign corruption?” The EYE figured the federal prosecutor must have heard some of the same stories about Koster’s primary campaign for AG.
The EYE put down the phone and called a prosecutor who tries state crimes. This prosecutor warmed to the story much more. She said it all depended on what the witnesses said on the record and were willing to do as cooperating witnesses, and she would have to go read the state statutes which “get weird in this area” of public corruption. But she
would definitely be interested if the witnesses were willing to come forward.
The EYE said the witnesses would not speak to a reporter so almost certainly would not speak to a prosecutor.
“So is this going in the Political EYE?” the prosecutor asked.
The EYE said it was and was sure the businessmen would read the story and then could decide for themselves whether or not to come forward.
“Do I get to know the alderman’s name, or do I have to read it in the paper like everybody else?”
The EYE gave her the alderman’s name. Who do you think it was? Name that dirty alderman!
State Senate maps finalized
The final Missouri Senate maps are in, finally, and Jamilah Nasheed is in – her
home is the 5th Senate District, and she has filed in the primary race against incumbent Robin Wright-Jones
Nasheed has been trashing Wright-Jones in Twitter posts. Recently she tweeted, LAZINESS has become the norm for one SENATOR in St. Louis City !!! Bad for our CITY!!!”
Since Nasheed started it, the EYE will share an insight from a colleague of hers in the state House who is working in the campaign trenches on several races. This state rep told the EYE that the lobbyists are grasping for guidance from black legislators as to whom the lobbyists should support in this race. “The consensus is, it’s Lazy vs. Crazy,” the lobbyists have been telling this state rep.
The filing deadline is March 27, and the EYE finds it difficult to believe that this race will remain a two-way contest.
Redditt Hudson is one state Senate hopeful who has
been shredding his fingernails waiting for these final maps to appear. One preliminary map had his 13th Senate District with African-American voters as low as 35 percent. Hudson said the final map has closer to a 55 percent African-American majority. He still has a tough race against Gina Walsh, who has much more experience in Jefferson City and North County labor in her corner. The Beacon summarized some redistricting changes relevant to St. Louis voters:
* The 4th District, now represented by state Sen. Joe Keaveny, will now extend into central St. Louis County, including Clayton. Under an earlier version, Clayton – St. Louis County’s seat – was in state Sen. Maria ChappelleNadal’s 14th District.
* A portion of Jennings was removed from the 4th District and added to the 14th District.
* Small portions of Dellwood and Castle Point were moved from the 14th District to the 13th District. State Sen. Tim Green, a term-limited Democrat from Spanish Lake, currently represents the 13th District.
EYE drops
President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign now has someone on the ground in all 50 states, with field offices in place in St. Louis and Kansas City. The Missouri director is Brian Ponton, an African-American veteran of election campaigns in Missouri including Jeff Smith’s fateful congressional race and Mayor Francis G. Slay most recent reelection effort.
Cole McNary has been endorsed for his campaign for State Treasurer by Bill Corrigan, the Republican who took a good tilt at St. Louis County Executive, Charlie A. Dooley. Both McNary and incumbent Democrat Clint Zweifel currently have no primary opponent.
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Chancellor Dorsey hails ‘an investment in our future’
By Rebecca S.Rivas
in Bridgeton. The college, formerly known as the Marcasco Building, is located at 3221
Combined M/WBE goals of 15 percent for non-building work called ‘hurtful’
By Rebecca S.Rivas Of The St.Louis American
Long-awaited changes to the Metropolitan Sewer District’s inclusion program passed the Board of Trustees Thursday night – but not before a dynamic last few minutes of political maneuvering in the fourth quarter. It deserves an instant replay.
Surprisingly one of the original opposing trustees, John Goffstein, said he had “no problem with 25 and 5.”
Seconds before the trustees were about to vote on a resolution for a six-month interim policy on minority participation, Vice Chair James H. Buford pulled a quarterback sneak, of sorts. He proposed to look at the goals that were voted down in December once again. That’s not what was on the agenda. The voted-down resolution proposed in December would have set separate subcontracting goals for minority business enterprises (MBEs) at 25 percent and women business enterprises (WBEs) at 5 percent for all construction and professional service contracts of $50,000 or more. It would have also set a new workforce goal of 25 percent minorities and 6.9 percent women on contracts $1 million or greater. What was on the agenda were interim goals that stakeholders – minority contractors, union leaders,
See MSD, B2
McKelvey Road in northwest St. Louis County.
“The Corporate College is an investment in our future,” said Myrtle E.B. Dorsey, Ph.D., STLCC chancellor. “This state-of-the-art facility provides a glimpse into the future economic landscape where a premium is place on knowledge workers and innovation.”
The Corporate College has nearly 30,000
square feet with 10 classrooms, including a 360-degree collaborative training space; four conference/break-out rooms, including two executive-level conference rooms; 175 seat multipurpose room; two computer training labs with a total of 36 stations; and testing/assessment center.
See DORSEY, B2
Ricky Whittington builds networks, one customer at a time
By Kenya Vaughn Of The
St.Louis American
“He’s not only a car salesman, but he’s a great human being with a huge heart,” local educator and longtime customer Yolanda Lankford said of Ricky Whittington.
“Working at Plaza Motors he could just say, ‘I’ll deal with this arena,’but he doesn’t.”
After nearly 20 years in the automotive sales industry – close to six of them with luxury dealer Plaza Motors – it’s more than just selling cars for this man.
“He goes backs and he gives back,” Lankford said. “And he’s a man who builds relationships.”
Whittington seeks to use his position to create lasting partnerships between the people he serves at Plaza, corporate institutions in the area and abroad, and most importantly the community.
“I want to be the face for the community when it comes to doing business at Plaza Motors,” Whittington said. “And I’m looking to be the catalyst for building even stronger corporate and community partnerships through the dealership.”
Teaming up in various capacities with Bristol’s restaurant, The St. Louis Rams,
See PLAZA, B2
Community development bond fund spurs Murphy Park project
The redevelopment of the Vaughn Residences at Murphy Park, just north of downtown St. Louis, was funded in part by the CRAQualified Investment Fund CRA Shares, a community development bond fund. The bond that helped finance the project was a Ginnie Mae Project Loan, purchased in part by CRAon behalf of one of its shareholders, First Bank, headquartered in Creve Coeur. The fund was launched in 1999 as a vehicle to help banks meet the requirements of the Community Reinvestment Act.
Developed by McCormack Baron Salazar, Vaughn Residences at Murphy Park is a mixed-income community consisting of 132 market-rate apartments; 56 tax credit rentrestricted apartments; and 223 apartments set aside as public housing built on the site of the former Vaughn Towers public housing project. Richard Baron, CEO of McCormack Baron Salazar, also spearheaded an effort to raise $4 million to reinvigorate the local Jefferson Elementary School, which now offers new computers, after-school arts programs, fiber optic infrastructure, professional development programs, and a computer and job-training center for parents.
U.S. has added private sector jobs for24 straight months Private sector payrolls increased by 233,000 jobs and overall payroll employment rose by 227,000 jobs in February. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 8.3 percent. The unemployment rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage point over the last 6 months. The economy has added private sector jobs for 24 straight months, for a total of more than 3.9 million payroll jobs over that period. In the last 12 months, 2.2 million private sector jobs were added on net. In the last 6 months, 1.3 million private sector jobs were added, the most of any 6 month period in nearly 6 years. Sectors with net job increases included health care and social assistance (+61,100), temporary help services (+45,200), leisure and hospitality (+44,000), and manufacturing (+31,000). Construction lost 13,000 jobs, reflecting a loss of 15,400 specialty trade contractor jobs. Employment in the federal government fell by 7,000 jobs.
Just like individuals, the government, corporations, and banks often need to borrow money for a short time to make ends meet. Unlike most individuals, however, the scale of this borrowing is phenomenal. The money market is the name given to the arena where most of this short-term borrowing takes place. In the money market, money is both borrowed and lent for short periods of time.
For example, a bank might have to borrow millions of dollars overnight to ensure that
Continued from B1 the NAACP, construction organizations and minority and women business advocates –attempted to agree upon during the last several months. These goals included a considerably lower goal – 15 percent – for both MBE and WBE participation on non-building construction contracts of $50,000 or more. And the proposed workforce goals were set at 14.7 percent minorities and 6.9 percent women. So why did Buford push to revisit the December goals in the final seconds? Buford was making a major play for the survival of minority businesses in the region, onlookers said. Between April to October 2012 – the time period in which the interim goals would be in effect – MSD will spend about $68 million on nonbuilding construction and only $1.2 million on building construction, according the dis-
Continued from B1
Black and White Ball Scholarship with Lindenwood University and Nelly’s Derrty Ent. He also coordinated with former Rams Chris Draft and Roland Williams for charitable efforts and football camps for area youth, including at Scott Air Force Base.
“I appreciate my company,” Whittington said. “They have given me an opportunity to do some things in the community that have never been done before.”
By company Whittington means Plaza Motors and its parent company, Ashbury, a Fortune 500 organization with nearly $10 billion in annual revenue. He says that Ashbury is working to dispel certain myths that have haunted Plaza over the years – especially with respect to the atmosphere of “ultra-exclusivity” for
Continued from B1
it meets federal reserve requirements. Loans in the money market can stretch from one day to one year or beyond. The interest rate is fundamentally determined by supply and demand, the length of the loan, and the credit standing of the borrower.
The money market was traditionally only open to large institutions. Unless you had a spare $100,000 lying around, you couldn't participate. However, during the inflationary era of the 70s, when interest rates sky-rocketed, people began to demand
trict. With a 25 percent MBE goal for non-building construction, minority businesses could potentially get $16.9 million of those contracts, if they all were for $50,000 or more. However with the interim goals on the agenda, trustees were only aiming for a 15 percent combined M/WBE goals, with a minimum 7.5 percent of the contracts going to minority businesses. That 7.5 percent would only award minority businesses about $5 million over the next six months in non-building construction.
Buford first asked if any of the trustees who opposed the December resolution wanted to change their initial votes. Surprisingly one of the original opposing trustees, John Goffstein, said he had “no problem with 25 and 5.” Goffstein had voted against the goals in December, saying that without a disparity study the district had no safeguard against a lawsuit. However in February, the board commissioned a disparity study, which will be completed in October.
potential buyers.
“We’ve had problems in the past, but we welcome everybody – school teachers, postal workers … everybody,” Whittington said. “If you work hard and you want a luxury vehicle, you can come to Plaza Motors and buy a car. Those days are over with.”
‘Business within a business’
Whittington believes his presence at the dealership has been a part of that.
“Anybody can sell a person a car, but when it comes to service, where is that person when you really need them?”
Whittington said. “I hang out in the service department. I want to find out what the issue is so we can resolve it. I think people need to take more ownership in what they do. Even though I work for a company, my mindset is that I run a business within a business.”
By Charles Ross PERSONAL
greater returns on their liquid funds. Leaving money in a bank deposit account at 5 percent interest made little sense with inflation running at 12 percent. The money market was returning significantly higher rates but the vast majority of people were prohibited
Charles Ross
The interim goals will be in place until the district receives the study results.
With Goffstein’s approving comment, the end zone was seemingly in clear sight for Buford and the minority business community. More than 50 minority stakeholders were in the audience waiting on the edge of their seats.
Buford then proposed to amend the resolution on the agenda to include the original 25/5 goals. But before it could go to a vote, Buford was taken down by an unsuspecting defender, Eddie Ross Jr. – who is black and was appointed to the board by St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley. Ross voted in support of the December resolution.
Ross said, “There has been a great deal of good faith to get to the document that’s in front of us now. As far as amending what’s on the table now, I would say strictly for the workforce.”
Buford seemed happy to at least increase workforce goals and called it a “friendly
from participating by the sheer scale of the investment required. And so, the first money market mutual fund came into being. By pooling shareholders’funds, it was possible for individuals to receive the rewards of participating in the money market. Because of their large
amendment.” The interim goals then became:
• 25 percent MBE and 5 percent WBE on building construction contracts
$50,000 or more
• 15 percent MWBE (with at least 7.5 percent MBE) on non-building construction contracts
$50,000 or more
• 30 percent MWBE for professional service contracts
$50,000 or more
• 25 percent minority and 6.9 percent women workforce goals on construction and professional service projects
$500,000 or more.
The vote was taken. The board unanimously approved the amended resolution. And the meeting was over.
Outcry from MOKAN Immediately, MOKAN Executive Director Yaphett ElAmin, who advocates for minority businesses, rushed to confront Ross about his decision. Soon the two were encircled by eager listeners.
“I stand here today with
size, mutual funds were able to make investments and receive rates of return that individual investors couldn't get on their own.
Money market mutual funds typically purchase highly liquid investments with varying maturities, so there is cash flow to meet investor demand to redeem shares. You can withdraw your money at any time.
For a minimum investment, sometimes as low as $500, money market mutual funds will allow you to write checks. The check-writing feature is most often used to transfer cash to a traditional checking account when additional funds are needed. These funds are useful as highly liquid,
companies that will feel the pinch because of that,” ElAmin said. “Those goals being minimized today will be hurtful for them.”
During public comment, ElAmin made a strong case before the board members on why they should adopt higher workforce and MWBE goals.
She noted that several of the City of St. Louis’recent major projects have had no problem reaching minority participation goals of 40 percent or higher, including the O’Fallon Park Recreation Center, and the North Sarah and Arlington Grove redevelopment projects.
She also questioned the board’s reasoning for setting lower non-building construction goals than they were currently achieving.
From July 2011 to January 2012, MSD awarded 19.8 percent of non-building construction contracts to minority or women businesses combined –with minorities receiving 10.7 percent of those contracts. She challenged why they would
aim at a goal nearly 5 percent lower than its current participation.
“In our opinion, by setting a minimum goal, it sets up a potential for minority businesses to lose $3.1 million,” ElAmin said. “I don’t know about anyone else in this room, but I am concerned about minority businesses surviving.”
For El-Amin and the minority businesses, this is not political football. They are fighting for the well being of their families, she said.
NAACPPresident Adolphus Pruitt told the board that the NAACPwill be drafting a workforce agreement tied to the consent decree, in which MSD agreed to improve its sewer system and treatment plants at an estimated cost of $4.7 billion over 23 years.
“It is essential that we have some sort of agreement that specifically outlines what would happen post-disparity study, as it relates to addressing any disparities the study identifies,” he said.
willing to take on that sacrifice.”
Whittington also felt the love from Sinclair. Whittington watched him in action once Morrow sold his dealership to him.
“Ricky was really a good find – we were a good find for each other,” Morrow said. “He’s a nice, friendly guy who always has a smile and is always helping other people.”
In 2005, college leaders decided they needed a separate facility to meet the workforce demands and training needs in that particular area, according to the district.
“At the Corporate College, our goal is to leverage educa-
Purchased in 2010, SLCC was able to take advantage of a favorable real estate market and purchase this 150,000square-foot facility for $5.5 million, which originally listed for $12 million in 2009. With two-thirds of the facility currently leased to other businesses that will likely remain as tenants, the revenue generated should offset operating expenses.
He had the rare advantage from learning firsthand from local automotive retail icons Jesse Morrow and Dave Sinclair Sr. The respect and admiration he has for them is mutual.
Society and statistics essentially said no to Whittington when he was growing up in Wellston.
“I’m
looking to be the catalyst for building even stronger corporate and community partnerships through the dealership.”
– Ricky Whittington
Morrow broke Whittington into the automotive sales industry in the early 1990s and since has become a close friend.
“He is a ‘whatever it takes’ kind of guy,” Morrow said. “If I have to come in on off day, or whatever the case may be –people who really succeed in this business are those who are
tion to work for both businesses and individuals, because that is what a relevant, comprehensive community college must do to support its community and the economic development of our state,” Dorsey said.
The Corporate College also is home to the Workforce Solutions Group, formerly known as Workforce and Community Development,
“Dave Sinclair Sr. was a great man. He treated me like I was his son,” Whittington said. “He cared about customers more than anything.”
Whittington shared one lesson he learned from Sinclair as a featured speaker at Ladue Middle School during Black History Month.
“I told them never take no for an answer,” Whittington said. “Because no can always mean maybe, and maybe can always mean yes. You’ve just got to find a way to turn that no into a maybe.”
STLCC’s entrepreneurial workforce development arm that provides corporate and community services, and continuing education.The Workforce Solutions Group is the largest provider of training and consulting services in the St. Louis metro area, advancing nearly 25,000 employees from 100 local companies each year.
At the new facility, the
“I was motivated by death,” Whittington said. “I didn’t want to die – and I wanted to make a difference.”
As he watched his peers succumb to the streets, he was determined to succeed and help others to succeed.
“He doesn’t do things for other people’s praise,” said Austin Layne, local funeral home director and good friend and mentor to Whittington.
“He knows how to reach back and bring somebody along, and that’s rare.”
For nearly 10 years he’s been going back to the community where he grew up –and others like it – to hand out toys and turkey dinners during the holiday season along with other acts of kindness. He looks to Rams star Steven Jackson and Demetrious Johnson as models for how to pay success forward.
Workforce Solutions Group will offer professional development opportunities, including industry-specific licensure, certification preparation and testing.
They will also feature a performance improvement program, including leadership, lean practices, six sigma, customer service and project management.
Sadly, he lost one of his most faithful partners to senseless crime last month when entrepreneur Eric Brown was robbed and murdered. Brown was another customer turned friend.
“We’d rent a U-Haul and drive through the ‘hood passing out toys,” Whittington said of Brown. “He was always there when I needed help with that sort of thing, and he will be dearly missed.”
Whittington plans to continue giving with the added purpose of honoring the memory of his departed friend – individually, through his job and his church home of Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist.
“He personally donates his time and his money to help our children and people,” said the Rev. Alfred Jones, yet another customer of Whittington. “He’s always concerned about our children and our people and with giving them the lowdown on what you have to do succeed.”
“This is a hightraffic corridor in close proximity to labor pools in north and west St.Louis County, as well as St. Charles County.”
Its industryspecific seminar series will highlight critical issues such as electronic health records, cyber security, sustainable technologies, lean enterprise and supply chain management.
– Rod Nunn
“This is a high-traffic corridor in close proximity to labor pools in north and west St. Louis County, as well as St. Charles County,” said Rod Nunn, the college’s vice chancellor for workforce and community development.
Nunn said there are 1,648 businesses, primarily small and
non-manufacturing, in the area surrounding the center. They employ nearly 223,200 workers, many of whom live outside the STLCC service area. St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley commended the college for creating new ways to connect educational opportunities with corporate partners and other working professionals through the Corporate College.
“It makes great sense to create this connection,” Dooley said. “The curriculum here matches the 21st century, and that is so important as we move forward in this economy. St. Louis Community College is doing an outstanding job in really making a big difference not just for students, but for adults and professionals as well.” To learn more about STLCC’s Corporate College, visit www.stlcc.edu/ CorporateCollege
“I still think I can play at a high level.I’m very passionate about the game of football.”
– Randy Moss,on a signing a one-year contract with San Francisco
holy days of the tourney are here
By Ishmael H.Sistrunk
Of The St.Louis American
February 26, 2012 may go down as one of the greatest dates in St. Louis Rams history. On that date Robert Griffin III, Baylor’s speedy Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, may have helped the struggling franchise outrun its bad luck and poor management in just 4.38 seconds.
Soldan High School won its first state championship in basketball in 31 years with a convincing 55-42 victory over Springfield Hillcrest last Saturday night at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia.
For the Tigers and head coach Justin Tatum, the state title was the culmination of three years of hard work, dedication with a little heartache thrown into the mix.
Soldan advanced to the Final Four the past two seasons, only to see St. Francis Borgia defeat them in the state semifinals. The Tigers were not going to be denied this year as they defeated Hillcrest and Liberty North in one-sided affairs to take home the Class 4 state title. For Soldan’s nine-man senior class of Paul McRoberts, Partice
Technically speaking, Griffin’s blistering, but unofficial, 40 yarddash time at the combine was changed to 4.41 seconds after review. But even referee Ed Hochuli and a legion of red-flag waving execs couldn’t overturn the potential end to the Rams’futility. The moment “sub-4.4 40” was uttered, the team holding the second pick in this year’s draft, knew they’d hit the jackpot. Friday, Les Snead, the team’s newly hired general manager, cashed in the chips. With franchise-QB Sam Bradford already on board, Snead dealt the Rams’first-round pick, aka the rights to RG3, to the Washington Redskins for the team’s first (#6 overall) and second-round picks of this year’s draft, as well as a first-round pick in 2013 and 2014. Read it again – three number ones and a number
With Mike Claiborne
The high holy days of sport begins in earnest today as the NCAAbasketball tournament will be in full swing. When you get your sheets out and put faith in Old State U, think about how much money will change hands between the NCAAand its sponsors, the gamblers and their customers and all the office pools.
Not one player who dribbles a ball will receive one real red cent for this exhibition of amateur basketball skills. It goes in the pockets of the NCAAwho in turn disperses it to the member institutions. The trickle-down effect to the players is via the ability to provide educations, room and board to these chosen few who reap gazillions for their owners. And you thought the International Olympic Committee has moral issues. The tournament can only be won by a handful of teams. Spare me the rhetoric of Cinderella, a nice term given by the late Al McGuire when the tournament was in its infant stages of megaexposure. Cinderella may spend the weekend with someone but she never has her prize forever.
never seem to get it right. It will be entertaining to say the least, as Old Mizzou will have a shot. Those who always ask at this time of year “What’s a Billiken?” could find out that they are a handful as well as a good luck charm. This year more teams are equipped to have that coveted six-game winning streak. Step right up, as the fun is about to begin as the emotions run high and the stack of money made will grow even higher.
The tournament can only be won by a handful of teams. Spare me the rhetoric of Cinderella, a nice term given by the late Al McGuire.
This is an event that is based on hope, emotion, luck and some skill as 99 percent of these players will never play this game for a real living. All they have to play for is future memories.
The tournament is where careers start. Ahot coach from a small school that can get to the second weekend normally finds some larger institution with millions of reasons why their place is better than the one coach is currently coaching at. Then the dominoes start to fall as the scramble begins to fill vacancies. Four or five years later, the process starts over for some schools as they
The sport we call the NFLnever has an off day. We follow our teams during the playing season, understanding there is only one winner. The rest of us wonder how their team will get better. Normal for sure, but I always wondered how a player feels when he knows he will be part of an American statistic –unemployment – for all the wrong reasons. Yes, the unemployment season is here. You know, when a player in the NFL makes too much money in the eyes of an owner and when he does not want to take a pay cut (and they cut him. Yes, cut, unemployed, out of a job, part of the 8.3 percent of Americans.
It is sad when anyone finds themselves out of work, but pro football players signed their own death warrant in how they negotiated their contracts. In other sports, a player may get released due to lack of skill.In the NFL, players who can still play but cost too much seldom find work. These are the same players who were afforded a free education that they did not take advantage of, hence no degree, no chance to compete in the real world and they have yet to
see a 30th birthday. They got bad advice from leadership for years, continued to follow it and lived the myth that they will walk away from the game on their terms. You can name that select group on one hand these days. Please, do not feel sorry as they asked
Continued from B3
Now, without ever taking a snap in a blue and gold jersey, Griffin changed the team’s fortunes.
Under previous regimes, more draft picks would’ve likely meant more disappointment. Jay Zygmunt and John Shaw helped make the Rams the laughing stock of the league come draft day.
Recently ousted GM Billy Devaney was slightly less awful. He stumbled upon a few quality players but not enough to keep the Rams from staggering to the worst-five year stretch in NFLhistory.
for it. They thought they were invincible, and all the alleged union can say to them is “it’s the system.” Asystem they agreed to and hoodwinked every other member to buy into. And all the union does is wait for the next group of dues-paying members to enter
the league and feed them the same line. Things with this league never change. The names do. So you will read about players who you think can play get cut, in most cases never to be heard from again or at a significantly less salary. The sad
However, the way Snead deftly handled the Griffin deal gives the long-suffering fan base hope for the future.
Instead of the traditional public auctions teams hold for coveted draft spots, Snead took a different approach. He told the interested parties he wanted to make a deal by Thursday (March 8) and implored them to submit their best offer.
The fact so many teams wanted RG3 made it possible for the Rams to pull off a great deal.
Unlike most GMs, Snead promised to keep the offers private and simply choose the best of the bunch. Though many people handicapped the Cleveland Browns as the favorites in the RG3 sweepstakes, Daniel Snyder’s QB thirst reigned supreme as the ‘Skins swooped in and made the Rams and offer the team couldn’t refuse.
thing here is they have such a unique skill that they could have forced the owners hand, and they didn’t. At least in the real world of employment, many employers give you a heads up, if not severance. In the NFL, maybe a phone call.
By completing the deal more than a month before the draft, Snead and his staff can now focus on free agency and draft evaluation rather than devoting time and energy to haggling over trade packages. Suddenly, instead of fretting over leases, international “home” games and bounties, Rams fans are discussing potential stud draftees such as Justin Blackmon, Trent Richardson and Morris Claiborne. The confidence and competence of Snead and coach Jeff Fisher are giving beleaguered fans something to look forward to.
The NFLfree agency period began Tues., March 13. The upcoming draft will take place April 28. Follow In the Clutch on Twitter @intheclutchstl and at www.stlamerican.com.
By Earl Austin Jr. Of The St.Louis American
Local college basketball fans will have plenty to cheer about this week as the NCAA Tournament begins. The Missouri Tigers received a No. 2 seed in the NCAATournament’s West Regional. Mizzou will open tournament play on Friday against No. 15 seed Norfolk State in Omaha, Neb. Tip off is at 3:40 p.m. The winner will face either No. 7 Florida or No. 10 Virginia on Sunday. Mizzou enters the tournament with 30 victories and the
Continued from B3
Sanders, Randy Holmes, Kawan Griffin, Rashad Simmons, Devin Booker, Elva Shelton, Aaron Diamini and Jibreel Muhammad, this is the way their careers were supposed to end. On top. Not only were they teammates, but they were a band of brothers. Many of them have played together since grade school.
The Tigers prepared for their title run by playing a national schedule against some of the best competition in the nation. They lost five games, but only one of those losses came locally and that was
Continued from B3
to-back Class 5 state titles and complete a tremendous run of success.
McCluer North basketball and winning championships have become synonymous with one another, thanks to head coach Randy Reed and a group of very talented and determined young men.
McCluer North’s run of excellence has been unbelievable. In the past six years, the Stars have won three state championships and played for the state title four times. They have won the state’s toughest district tournament six of the past seven years.
That Stars have competed and won just about every inseason tournament imaginable. They won the Normandy Tournament in 2010, the Troy Tournament four times from 2006-09, the Borgia Thanksgiving Tournament in 2010, the Carbondale Tournament in 2007, the Centralia Tournament last season and the Collinsville Tournament this season. If there is competition out there, Randy will find it. Last weekend’s state championship completed a yearlong mission for the Stars, who entered the season unranked after winning the state title last season. With superstar guard B.J. Young leaving for the Arkansas Razorbacks, the Stars were relegated to alsorans status. However, Reed and his veteran group of nine seniors had other ideas.
After losing to Borgia in the championship game of the Thanksgiving Tournament, the Stars did not lose again. Their combination of depth, talent, athleticism, experience and Reed’s leadership proved to be too much for the rest of the state. Again. That championship experience was never more evident in last Saturday’s final against Nixa, which mounted a furious fourth-quarter rally to tie the game at 54-54 in the closing minutes. Undaunted, the Stars answered with an 8-0 run to bring home the trophy. Senior forward Jordon Granger stepped up and became the Stars’prime-time performer. The 6’8” Granger had 25 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks in the Stars’58-54 victory over rival McCluer in the district finals. In the statechampionship game, Granger led North with 26 points and
SLU Billikens take first Tournament trip in 12 years
championship of the Big XII Conference Tournament.
The Saint Louis Billikens are going to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 12 years. The Billikens will face Memphis in the second round of the West Regional on Friday evening in Columbus, OH. Memphis is the No. 8 seed while SLU is the No. 9 seed. Tip-off time is at 5:50 p.m. The winner of Friday’s game will face either No. 1 seed Michigan State or No. 16 seed LIU Brooklyn on Sunday. SLU enters the tournament with a 25-7 record and a second-place finish in the Atlantic
against a 25-win McCluer team on the road.
Once the postseason came around, the Tigers are an onrushing train that could not be stopped. They won all six of their state playoff games by an average margin of 24 points. Only once did they give up more than 50 points in the postseason and that was in an 81-51 victory over Sumner in a district semifinal game. The Tigers were not always pretty, but that’s the way they liked it. They resembled the Baltimore Ravens with their
10 Conference.
Lutheran North in Final Four Lutheran North will be competing in the Final Four of the Missouri Class 3 boys tournament this weekend at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia. The Crusaders (25-7) will take on defending state champion Hogan Prep of Kansas City in the semifinals tonight at 8:20 p.m. The winner of that game will face
Local players in the NCAA Tournament include Bradley Beal, Jared Swopshire, Drew Hanlen and Anthony Booker.
either Charleston or Mount Vernon for the state championship on Saturday at 8:40 p.m. The third-place game will be on Friday at 8:20 p.m. Lutheran North has been led all season by 5’11” junior guard Anthony Virdure, who has been enjoying an outstanding year. The Crusaders have won state championships in 2002 and 2005.
bly be for an opposing team.
Not only were they teammates, but they were a band of brothers.Many have played together since grade school.
dominance on the defensive end of the floor. They weren’t always an offensive juggernaut, but the defense was relentless with the grinding pressure that just shut opposing teams down. This was a very much a hard-hat and lunch pail group that punched the clock for 32 minutes every night. At the end of the game, opposing teams knew they were in a battle, win or lose. Mostly, lose.
The Tigers prided themselves on getting into your personal space and making the game as uncomfortable as it can possi-
16 rebounds. He played bigboy basketball throughout his senior year.
Senior guard Galen Brown was also huge. The standout football quarterback really came into his own as a basketball player this season as he was named the Suburban North Conference Player of the Year. He scored 20 points in the state semifinals against Lee’s Summit West and 18 in the finals against Nixa. Several players came up with big performances in Columbia. Senior point guard Byron Ray had 19 points against Lee’s Summit West.
Coach Randy Reed has done a tremendous job of building his own legend at McCluer North.
Senior guard Tremayne Garrett added 11 points in the semifinals. Sophomore forward Dorian Holland had 15 points in the championship game. Senior guards Tocari Finley and Damon Clemons provided offensive spark off the bench all season while seniors Latron Thomas and Keith Jones and junior Terrance Bush brought athleticism and muscle up front. The common denominator to all of this success is of course, Reed. He played for a legend in Floyd Irons at Vashon in the late ‘70s and
Congrats
Congratulations to the boys of Imagine Prep and Rockwood Marquette and the girls of Westminster Christian on their fourth-place finishes at last week’s Class 4-5 state championships. All three schools were making their first ever appearance in the Final Four last weekend. Incarnate Word Academy finished third in the Class 5 girls tournament while Miller Career Academy took third in the girls Class 4 tournament. Fort Zumwalt West also finished fourth in the girls Class 5 tournament.
Local talent in tourney
Local players who will be competing in the NCAA Tournament include Bradley Beal (Chaminade) of Florida, Jared Swopshire
On offense, the 6’4” McRoberts was a dynamic performer with his 3-point shooting and high-flying dunks. The 6’4” Holmes was a consistent offensive performer with his old-school game, which including a deadly 15-foot jumper. Sanders handled the ball, hit 3-pointers and helped fuel the Tigers pressure defense.
Putting it all together was Tatum, who was a former standout player himself at CBC on the 1997 Class 4A state champions. He also pushed the right buttons with his combination of game strategy and tough love.
The final result was a welldeserved state championship.
another legend in Bob Nelson and Forest Park C.C. and yet another legend in Jack Hartman at Kansas State.
Now, Randy Reed has done a tremendous job of building his own legend at McCluer North. As a North Star alum, I like it.
The 6’4” senior forward was a key cog in the Tigers run to the Missouri Class 4 state championships. In the state semifinals against Liberty North, Holmes had 18 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals to lead Soldan to a 50-25 victory. Holmes followed up with 14 points, three assists and three rebounds in the Tigers’55-42 victory over Springfield Hillcrest in the Class 4 state championship game last weekend in Columbia. For the season, Holmes averaged 15.1 points a game to lead the Tigers in scoring. He also averaged 4.6 rebounds while shooting a team-high 62 percent from the field.
By Roger Macon, AAMS, financial advisor
Like everyone else, you hope to remain physically and financially independent your entire life. And you may well achieve this goal. Nonetheless, the future is not ours to see, so you’ll want to prepare yourself for as many contingencies as possible — one of which is the high cost of long-term care. As you may know, longterm care primarily refers to nursing home expenses, but it also includes services provided in your own home. In either case, though, it could be expensive. The national average rate for a private room in a nursing home was more than $87,000 per year in 2011, according to the 2011 MetLife Market Survey of Long-Term Care Costs. The same survey found that the average private-pay hourly rates for home health aides and homemaker companion services were $21 and $19, respectively. With luck, of course, you won’t need to worry about these types of expenses. But consider this: People who reach age 65 have a 40% chance of entering a nursing home, according to a study by the
and
of
And about 10% of those who enter a nursing home will stay there five or more years. Clearly, if you take no steps to prepare yourself for the potentially devastating costs of an extended nursing home stay, you could be jeopardizing the assets you’ve worked so hard to accu-
By Bridjes O’Neil For The
Florissant
the
American
represent the United
Sanix Junior High School World Championship in Fukuoka, Japan in December.
Solomon spent 10 days during the Christmas break competing against youth representatives from countries, including South Africa, Japan, China, Russia and The Netherlands.
By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American
“At irst, I didn’t believe that I was selected,” Solomon said in an essay for the U.S. Judo Federation website.
“Sensei told me that [an] invitation meant it was going to be a long and dificult road and asked me if I was going to commit to the training. She’s a very tough teacher and doesn’t like to waste
Through a merger of performance and visual art, Staging Relections of the Buddha at the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts provided the opposite of what art and theatre are often perceived to be. The thought, emotion and spiritual connection that art can inspire in its purist sense was restored via the inspiration of traditional Asian spirituality and community theatre imported into the rarest of artistic spaces. Over the course of several weekends in February and March, the Pulitzer invited a dozen or so new ambassadors to interpret their most recent exhibit, Relections of Buddha, which has since closed. The audience traveled with the actors from the intimate exhibit in the heart of the Midtown arts district to ancient Asia by way of the faces and voices of the most unlikely tour guides: former prisoners turned community theater artists. The most compelling com-
ponent of Staging Relections of the Buddha posed a production obstacle. Fancy sets, costumes, elaborate lighting and sensory overload were nowhere to be found. But as the troupe of Agnes Wilcox’s Prison Performing Arts followed her lead, the lack of ostentatious stimulation delivered an experience that pierced the heart of the audience.
Staging Relections of the Buddha complimented the exhibit Relections of the Buddha, curated by the Pulitzer’s own Francesca Herndon-Consagra, in a way a gallery talk never could.
Each performer was challenged with the task of performing another actor’s take on the interpretation of the many faces of Buddha showcased in the exhibit. The audience was taken out of its comfort zone with respect to the common stage-to-seat exchange as they traveled with the actors from one piece to the next for the different scenes within the production. See story video at www.stlamerican.com
See JUDO, C4
Florissant resident Solomon Jackson, 13, was one of seven teens chosen to represent the U.S. in the 2011 Sanix Junior High School World Championship in Japan.
I
By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American
It seems with every generation, the music of South Africa manifests among the masses and shines light on the organic song that is imbedded within the spirit of its people. Miriam “Mama Africa” Makeba, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Hugh Masekela and Jonathan Butler have left an indelible impression on the music industry. And as they celebrate 10 years of captivating the globe through their vibrant sounds and stage show, The Soweto Gospel Choir stands as “the now.”
“So many have left a legacy that has made it easy for us to be accepted,” choir member Bongani Ncube said. “This is a different era and so many look up to us, but more is required to leave a certain legacy for the ones who come behind them.”
Since forming in 2002, Soweto Gospel Choir has solidified its place in music history. They’ve earned two Grammys, an Emmy and a list of credentials that rivals any musical icon.
But for them, the real reward comes with connecting with souls by way of their music – which is their mission when their
See SOWETO, C4
By
Desiree S. Coleman For The St. Louis American
It happened. He had inally called out of the blue to say that he wanted to get together. Secretly, I was ecstatic. After months of not speaking, I presumed that I’d get a bouquet of lowers or a dinner invitation to make up for the lost time.
n I didn’t let the one relationship that I lacked negate the other ones that I did possess.
As I counted the days, then weeks with no further communication from him, I assumed he was being coy. Not to be disappointed, I sent myself some insurance. It was a beautiful Coach bag, and I requested that it arrive gift-wrapped. Even though it was a gift from myself to myself, it was a gift no less. This was my insurance in case he didn’t come through. After a full month had passed, I realized that he wasn’t calling any time soon and with Coach bag in hand, I did what any girl in my situation would do: I laid on my loor and cried. And I sobbed. And I probably got some ice cream. And as much as I wished that this was a bad romantic comedy scene, sadly it was my existence. In those days, I resented my singleness because the very thing that I wanted (marriage) eluded my grip. Despite being smart and educated with my own house and my own car, I still couldn’t get the one thing I wanted: a great husband. So, I wallowed in that season until I had an important revelation: Singleness is not a curse. It was a change of perspective, but it was the key to everything.
on Friday, March 23.
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. Jazz St.Louis and Wells Fargo Advisors present Nicholas Payton.For additional details,see CONCERTS.
Mar. 18, 7:30 p.m., Jazz St. Louis presents an Evening with Herbie Hancock and his band, Touhill Performing Arts Center, UMSL. For more information, visit www.touhill.org
Mar. 28-31, Jazz St. Louis and Wells Fargo Advisors present Nicholas Payton. Jazz at the Bistro, 3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, call314-289-4030 or visit www.jazzstl.org.
Mar. 29, 7:30 p.m., Foxy 95.5 birthday celebration featuring New Edition & SWV, Scottrade Center. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Sun., May 13, 3 p.m., The Mildred Thimes Foundation forPancreatic Cancer presents The 16th Annual Denise Thimes & Friends Special Mother’s Day Concert: Honoring OurMothers –“The Givers of Life.” Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 773-0337.
Wed., Mar. 21, 6 p.m., Lexus Len’s Happy Hourfeaturing live music from Cheryl Brown, Jeremiah Allen, Jeff Taylor, Gerald Warren & Amos Brewer, The Loft, 3112 Olive.
Grown Folks 2 for1 Happy Hourwith Ms. Silky Sol, Saturdays from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m., The Avenue, 1901 St. Louis Ave..
Thur., Mar. 15, 7 p.m., Rescued Nation & Harris–Stowe State University present Kingdom Builders Extravaganza— Rescued Nation Week. Harris Stowe Auditorium, 3206 Laclede Ave., 63103.
Sat., Mar. 17, 11 p.m., Baddgirls presents Ole School Skate Jam. Skate King, 6100 Natural Bridge Ave., 63120.
Sun., Mar. 18, 3 p.m. Xi Zeta Chapterof Zeta Phi Beta
Sorority, Inc. presents its Annual Unsung Hero Awards Program. University City Administration Building, 8136 Groby Rd., 63130. For more information, call (314) 4792423.
Tues., Mar. 20, 11 a.m., Harris-Stowe State University annual careerfair, Anheuser-Busch School of Business, 5707 Wilson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information on the career fair, contact Director of Career Services Wanda McNeil at (314)340-3512.
Sat., Mar. 24, Centerfor Survivors of Torture and WarTrauma – an organization dedicated to facilitating the healing and self-empowerment of torture and war trauma will be hosting their 10th Anniversary Gala and Auction with special guest acclaimed author Alice Walker, the Saint Frances Xavier Grand Ballroom, located on the campus of Saint Louis University. To reserve tickets for the 10th Anniversary Gala or for more information about the Center for Survivors of Torture and War Trauma, please contact 314-541-4610 or visit the organization’s website at www.stl-
centerforsurvivors.org.
Sun., Mar. 25, 6 p.m., J.Marie Spring/Summer 2012 Fashion Show. Come witness an exciting collection of Spring and Summer J.Marie Designs. The show will also be featuring jewelry designs by Vauje Vintage. Plush, 3204 Locust Ave., 63103.
Sun., Mar. 25, 7:30 p.m. Genesis Arts Ministry will ministerin Concert, “My Worship Is ForReal! Worship Him!!! Based on John 4: 23 - 24, Genesis will minister through song, music, narration, poetry and dance ministry, the total “worship” experience. As worship goes forth, the Holy Spirit will speak direction, give protection, guarantee provision, administer healing and grant deliverance. Worship is lifechanging. Don’t miss the move of God, at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square, St. Louis, MO 63103. For additional information, contact Tracy Holliway-Wiggins @ 618.741.0898.
Wed., Mar. 28, 6:30 p.m., Hazelwood Kindergarten Information Night. McCurdy Elementary School, 975 Lindsey Ln., 63031. For more
author of Love and War: A Strategic Planning on Relationships, Ritz Carlton in Clayton. For more information, visit www.13Blackkatz.com
Berkeley Class of 1982 is celebrating its 30 year class reunion August 17-19, 2012 and is seeking classmates to attend the reunion and reunion planning meetings. For more information about the reunion please call Anthony Wilder 314-479-0110, Portland (Matthews) Whitlock 314-7669108, or Tammy Davis 314302-1339.
Through April 1, 2012 DREAMS Orgs. Inc. presents The Miss Monarch Butterfly Ball. The MMBB is a formal Pageant/Cotillion that recognizes young ladies ages 5-18 for their excellence at school, home, church and in the community. REGISTER NOWMONDAYS/THURSDAYS 6-8PM @ Hazelwood East Middle1865 Dunn Rd. 63138. For more information visit www.dreamsorg.com or call 314-323-3290. Apr. 13-15, St. Louis’Titanic Centennial Weekend. For more information, visit www.titanic2012stl.com or call (314) 657-5033.
information, call 314-9534650.
Mar. 29 – Apr. 1, Moolah Shrine Circus. The Family Arena, 2002 Arena Parkway, St. Charles, MO. 63303. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com
Sat., Mar. 31, 1 p.m., The 13 Black Katz, Shop ‘n Save, Majic 104.9 & Regal Sports will present a Ham Giveaway, Shop ‘n Save Central City, 10805 Old Halls Ferry Road, St. Louis MO 63135. Email donations via PayPal to 13blackatz@gmail.com
Sun., Apr. 1, Fourth Annual Notice Me Awards. Event to recognize models, photographers, clothing designers, makeup artists, hair stylists, and more from the St. Louis area. Plush, 3204 Locust Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314)680-2775.
Sat., Apr. 7, 8 p.m., 13 Black Katz presents “Love after War”, attendance prizes include a fur jacket ($2500.00), diamond earrings & necklace set ($1500.00) 2 tickets to Kevin Hart Concert, dinner & limo ride and event features Jo Lena Johnson
Sat., Apr. 14, 6 p.m., Saint Louis University School of Law Black Law Student’s Association presents Derby Stakes Casino Night. Food, Open Bar, Prizes, Derby and Casino Games. Tickets $45. SLU Allied Health Multipurpose Room, Doisy Hall, 3437 Caroline Mall, 63104.
Sun., Apr. 15, 6 p.m., S.L.I.M. presents the Loosecannon Celebrity Basketball Game. Chaifetz Arena, 1 S. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.
Sat., Apr. 21, 11 a.m., 3rd Annual Drumline Showdown. Seven nationally renowned HBCU marching percussion ensembles will battle it out for $10,000 for their school’s percussion program. Chaifetz Arena, 1 S. Compton Ave., 63103.
Sat., Apr. 21, 6 p.m., 2nd Annual Trivia Night for Neighborhood Houses! St. Louis Gateway Classic Sports Foundation, 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, 63106 For more information, visit http://www.neighborhoodhouses.org.
Sat., Apr. 21, 6 p.m., The Alpha Zeta Chapterof Iota Phi Lambda Sorority is hosting the 2nd Annual Business Month Awards Dinner. Norwood Hills Country Club, One Norwood Hills Country Club Dr., 63121. For more information, visit www.iota-stlouis.org.
Sat., Apr. 21, 7 p.m., MHT
Election 2012: Third Annual Trivia Night. Most Holy Trinity Catholic School, 3519 N. 14th St., 63107. For more information, call (314) 241-9165.
Fri., Apr. 27, 8 p.m., 2 Divas presents The Wild Wild West Dance. The Machinists Hall, Room 1C, 12365 St. Charles Rock Rd., 63044.
Through May 28 Saint Louis Science Center presents StarTrek: The Exhibition. 5050 Oakland Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www.boldlygoexplore.com.
Wed., Mar. 14, 6 p.m., St. Louis Public Library
CarpenterBranch will host author G. Neri, author of The St. Louis Women’s Exchange: 130 Years of the Gentle Art of Survival. 225 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 206-6779.
Thur., Mar. 14, 7 p.m., St. Louis Public Library
Schlafly Branch will host author Joanne Fluke, author of Cinnamon Roll Murder 225 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 206-6779.
Thur., Mar. 15, 7 p.m., St. Louis Public Library
Schlafly Branch will host authors Ashley Ream & Susan McBride, authors of Loving Clementine and Little Black Dress. 225 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 206-6779.
Mon., Mar. 19, 10 a.m., St. Louis Public Library
Machacek Branch will host author Dr. John Oldani author of Passing It On 6424 Scanlan Ave., 63139. For more information, call (314) 206-6779.
Wed., Mar. 21, 7 p.m., St. Louis Public Library
Schlafly Branch will host author William A. Donius, author of Thought Revolution: How to Unlock Your Inner Genius. 225 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 2066779.
Fri., Mar. 16, 5 p.m., 10th Street Gallery presents the opening reception for Lance Omar Thurman’s upcoming photography exhibit “Nostalgia,” 10th Street Gallery, 419 N. 10th Street, St. Louis, MO 63101. Visit www.10thstreetgallery.com
Apr. 13, 8 p.m., Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain, Scottrade Center. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com
Sat., May 12, 8 p.m., Royal Comedy Tour feat. Sommore, Bruce Bruce, Mark Curry, and more. Chaifetz Arena, 1 S. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.
Thur., Mar. 15, 7 p.m., Juice Box Diaries. The Juice Box Diaries are fun, provocative, and entertaining performances open to the public. Emerson Theatre, Harris Stowe State University, 3026 Laclede Ave., 63103.
Sun., Mar. 18, 7:30 p.m., The Black Rep presents Beyond Measures. Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Sq., 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.
Sun., Mar. 25, 7:30 p.m., The Black Repertory Theatre presents My Worship is ForReal: Worship Him. Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Sq., 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.
Mar. 27 – Apr. 8, Bring It
On: The Musical, Fabulous Fox Theatre, 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.
Through Apr. 1, The Black Rep presents No Child. This “remarkable, delightfully entertaining” show features one actress playing 16 roles — the kids, teachers, parents, principals, janitors and security guards of New York City’s Public schools. Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Sq., 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.
Sun., Apr. 1, 7:30 p.m., The Black Repertory Theatre presents Le Freak Le Chic. Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Sq., 63108. For more
information, visit www.metrotix.com.
Apr. 11 – May 13, The Black Repertory Theatre presents Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. In a 1927 recording studio, legendary blues singer, Ma Rainey, finally shows up to record her new album, despite battling musicians and tight-fisted producers. Hilarious and heartbreaking. Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Sq., 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.
Through April 14, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis Shake 38 Performer Registration. Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, 5715 Elizabeth Ave., 63110. For more information, call 314/531-9800, ext. 113.
Sat., Apr. 14, 6 p.m., Saint Louis University School of Law Black Law Student’s Association presents Derby Stakes Casino Night. Food, Open Bar, Prizes, Derby and Casino Games. Tickets $45. SLU Allied Health Multipurpose Room, Doisy Hall, 3437 Caroline Mall, 63104.
Thur., Mar. 22, 6:30 p.m., St. Louis Community College invites you to FAFSAFrenzy. Get FREE help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Wildwood Campus, 2645 Generations Dr., Wildwood, MO. 63040. For more infor-
Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain.See COMEDY for more information.
more information, call (314) 389-4544.
Missouri History Museum presents The Civil Warin Missouri. Border state, slave state or Southern state, we may not agree on the label, but we can agree on the problem. It is too late to change the past, but it is the right time to learn from it and make a better future. For more information, visit www.mohistory.org.
Thur., Mar. 15, 8 a.m., Heart Screenings by SSM Heart Institute. SSM St. Mary’s Health Center, 6420 Clayton Rd., 63117. For more information, visit www.ssmhealth.com/heart or call 1-866-776-3627 to register.
mation, call (636) 422-2000.
Sat., Mar. 24, 9 a.m., St. Louis Community College presents Parent Child Academy. This unique opportunity allows you to have fun with your child while experiencing learning activities that promote healthy eating. These lively sessions teach you interactive ways to enhance your family story and dinner times. St. Louis Community CollegeFlorissant Valley, 3400 Pershall Rd., 63135. For more information, call (314) 5134494.
Tue., Apr. 3, 7 p.m.,
Common: It’ll All Make Sense One Day. Touhill Performing Arts Center, One University Blvd., 63121.
Saturdays, Apr. 14—Jun. 2, 10 a.m. New Sunny Mount Missionary Baptist Church Chancel Choir presents Stepping in the Name of Jesus—5th Annual Gospel Step Class. New Sunny Mount Missionary Baptist ChurchHunter’s Hall, 4638 West Florissant Avenue, 63115. For
Thur., Mar. 15, 10 a.m., Health FairforOlderAdults. Services includes PSA, Vision screenings, Bone Density screenings, EKG readings, Head and Neck Cancer screenings, medication review, BMI, blood pressure screenings and podiatrist. St. Alphonsus Rock Chruch, 118 N. Grand, 63106.
Thur., Mar. 15, 10 a.m., American Red Cross Blood Drive. Christian Hospital Detrick Building Atrium, 11155 Dunn Rd, 63136.
Thur., Mar. 15, 6 p.m., Taking Control of Your Asthma—Christian Hospital Asthma Management Program. Northwest Health Care, 125 Graham Rd., 63031. For more information, call (314) 747-9355.
Mon., Mar. 19, 10 a.m., American CancerSociety presents Look Good Feel Better. Program to help women with physical side effects of cancer. St. Louis University Cancer Center, 3635 Vista Ave., 63110. For more information, call (314) 268-7015.
Mon., Mar. 19, 1 p.m.,
American CancerSociety presents Look Good Feel Better. Program to help women with physical side effects of cancer. St. Luke’s Hospital, 232 S. Woods Mill Rd., 63017. For more information, call (314) 205-6901.
Wed., Mar. 21, 9 a.m., Diet & Lifestyle changes to prevent Colon Cancer. Jamestown Mall Food Court, 209 Jamestown Mall, 63034. For more information, call (314) 747-9355.
Wed., Mar. 21, Free mammograms at SSM Breast Care at St. Mary’s Health Center. 1031 Bellevue Ave., 63117. For more information, call (314) 768-8697 or visit www.ssmhealth.com/stmarys. Fri., Mar. 23, The 9 Energizing Breaths. Want more energy or mental clarity? Come learn the 9 Energizing Breaths from the book, The Power of Prana: “Breathe Your Way To Health and Vitality.” InPower Institute, 5400 Nottingham Ave., 63109. For more information, visit www.inpowerinstitute.com.
Through Mar. 31, 1 p.m., Hip Hop Cardio Class, Saturdays, Cardio fitness class that is guaranteed to help you burn at least 300 calories every class. InPower Institute, 5400 Nottingham Ave., 63109. For more information, visit www.inpowerinstitute.com.
Fridays During Lent, 4:30 p.m., Holy Trinity Serbian Church Fish Fry. 1910 Serbian Dr., 63104. For more information, call (314) 7763262 or visit www.serbianchurchstlouis.com.
Bishop Dwight H. McDaniels Jr. Memorial Museum. Every Sunday in 2012. San Francisco Temple Complex C.A., 10191 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, call (314) 388-3300.
Continued from C1
her time. So I knew I had to commit all the way.”
To prepare for the tournament, Sensei Eiko Saito
Shepherd increased Solomon’s Judo practices to three times a week at the James J. Eagan Civic Center in Florissant. He was not allowed to sit down or take breaks during twohour-long practices. He would weight train twice a week for an hour before every practice.
Solomon disciplined himself to run up and down 10 sets of 308 stairs at Cahokia Mounds every weekend. Solomon also trained against people of higher belts and larger weight divisions in local, regional and national tournaments.
Shepherd said there were times when training became unbearable for Solomon but he never gave up on himself.
Coincidentally, the name of Solomon’s Judo club is Kitokan, which is a Japanese expression that means “never
Continued from C1
American tour stops in St. Louis next week.
Ncube has been a part of Soweto Gospel Choir for six years, and he and the other members consider their performance more of a ministry than a concert.
“It addresses people from the soul’s point of view,” Ncube says. “First, by what we go through when we feel the music, and then that feeling is offered to them through our performance.”
Soweto Gospel Choir also offers a celebration of the rich and diverse cultural celebration.
“We have 11 languages and with each language comes its own music – its own rhythm,” Ncube said. “Our music has been passed down from generation to generation for so long that it becomes instinctive. It is a part of us.”
The Soweto Gospel Choir experience incorporates the cultural depth through drums, dance, song and unadulterated energy expressed through six languages and the various cultures housed within the boundaries of their native land.
Ncube speaks of a South African connection to music
give up.” Solomon is no stranger to hard work. He was ive years old the irst time he stepped onto a mat to learn Judo, a martial art founded in 1882 by Dr. Jigoro Kano in Japan. Persistence enabled him to perfect his craft. Throughout an eightyear period, Shepherd never left his side. Shepherd proudly referred to him as “my son” when he won a match during the international tournament. Shepherd, a 7th-degree black belt, is exceptional in her own right. Shepherd is in high demand to instruct Judo clinics across the country and world. Aside from the civic center, she also teaches at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley. “She’s wonderful,” Denise Jackson, Solomon’s mom, said of Shepherd. “Her love for those kids and her love for Judo combined together is just amazing.”
Denise and Ken Jackson appreciate the opportunities that the U.S. Judo Federation gave to their son. Solomon is a well-rounded individual who has a 3.87 GPA at Cross Keys
in a manner that likens harmonies, melodies and movement to breathing air. He says that music is so deep within the souls of the South African that many can harmonize with strangers with singers based on the sound of their voice and/or the culture they identify with.
“We are a rainbow nation,” Ncube said. “Every culture in South Africa has its own rhythm. And you will hear and see us honor these cultures through good singing and angelic harmonies like you have never heard before.”
They are especially excited for the opportunity to bring them to America live and in the flesh. Cultural and language barriers will be left at the door as the choir taps into a deeper place by using the universal language of music.
“People here in the U.S. have a huge appreciation of music,” Ncube said, “irrespective of whether they understand the music, the language or the rhythms.”
According to Ncube, Soweto Gospel Choir’s performance is not unlike one that you would see during any given church service in South Africa. But this simple formula of praise and worship through song and dance has left an impression on the world.
They’ve performed
Middle School and plays the piano. He is also a volunteer with the United States Air Force Civil Air Patrol. He aspires to serve in the military. If given the opportunity, Solomon hopes to participate in the upcoming 2012 tournament. However, Solomon must be academically in goodstanding, win a National Tournament and receive recommendations from the National Tournament coach and school principal in order to qualify to compete internationally.
“Before I stepped on the mat, I thought about how important it was to do my best,” Solomon said in his online essay. “I didn’t want to let Team USA, my family, my dojo and most importantly, my sensei down. My family and sensei made many sacriices so that I could come to Japan and represent our country. I didn’t want to go home without a win.”
“Mission accomplished,” said Shepherd to Solomon on the airplane before they left Japan for America.
alongside the likes of John Legend, Bono, Akon and appeared on “Good Morning America,” “The Today Show,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and others – including special performances for Prince Charles, Oprah Winfrey and Bill Clinton. They also have a charity organization that has raised more than $600,000 for AIDS orphans and families affected by the AIDS pandemic in South Africa.
But the 26-member choir is more impressed with their opportunity to give than the acclaim they have received over the past decade.
The hope to bless the audience is the ultimate reward for Soweto Gospel Choir and Ncube only needs one word to describe what happens when the Soweto Gospel Choir takes the stage –fireworks.
“The burst of colors from the costumes, the sounds and the energy – you will see the stars,” Ncube said. “You will wish that you could jump on stage with us.”
The Soweto Gospel Choir will perform at the E. Desmond Lee Concert Hall of the 560 Music Center (560 Trinity Ave.) on Friday, March 23 at 8 p.m. For more information, e-mail edison@ wustl.edu or call (314) 9356543.
Continued from C1
Staging Relections of the Buddha offered viewers the range of emotions of the actors as they connected with the art –from their irst impressions and initial reactions to seeing the art at face value, to their own enlightenment as they learned more about the art and the religion that inspired the exhibit. They reenacted, re-interpreted and researched to give Buddha in their own words in a way that would respectfully honor
Continued from C1
Seeing my singleness as a gift and blessing and not a curse really lightened my load. There’s a saying that sums it up: “Either God will change your situation or He will change you.” Well, God changed me and allowed me to see my singleness through a new set of eyes. Here’s what I saw. I saw the gift of relationships. Sure, I didn’t have the romantic relationship that I desired, but I had tons of other fulilling relationships that I was able to nurture while single. My girls and I planned a “Best Friends Cruise” to the Caribbean, I road-tripped across the country to catch up with college friends, and I spent hours on the phone laughing with friends and loved ones. I didn’t let the one relationship that I lacked negate the other ones that I did possess. Instead, I strengthened all of my rela-
Lamonte Johnson, Lamont Hutt, Samantha Thomas, Thomas Walker and Peter Keil in “Staging Relections of the Buddha” at the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts.
the exhibit and the Buddha.
One of the most touching –and spiritual – moments came in the inale. In the last scene entitled “Shotoku,” guests were invited to experience their own “Buddha moment.” They were encouraged to take part in a ritual at the statue paying tribute to Japanese prince and regent known for his devout following of the Buddhist religion. Guests were asked to provide “an offering” that included blessings they hoped to receive.
The question-and-answer session following the performance showed that several members of the ensemble reconnected with themselves
tionships and found joy in the company of family and friends.
I saw the gift of time. I realized that being single allows time for things that would be more challenging for married people. For me, that meant spending Saturdays mentoring kids and volunteering to do community outreach. Being single provides more freedom and lexibility to contribute to worthy causes and help those in need. This service may seem like a small thing to you, but it could mean the world to someone else. Offering your time and talents to help others is so valuable, so use this single season to be a blessing to someone else.
I saw “me.” During my single season, I learned more about myself, including my weaknesses and areas for growth. I focused on improving those areas. And, I also capitalized on my strengths. I tapped into things that I loved and I went after them with a passion. I wrote a business plan, travelled internationally, and
thanks to the principles they were exposed to during the process of bringing Buddha to the audience. Based on the fervor and sheer volume of questions from the audience and the openness to participate in the “Shotoku” inal scene, it was obvious the performance had forged a special connection with the Relections of Buddha. It was something the director had desired from the very beginning.
“We hope that you, too, can look at the art with new eyes,” Agnes Wilcox writes in her director’s notes. “And look through the art at yourself and your life.”
inished a graduate program. I used the time to understand more about myself, my needs and my dreams. And in the end, I was a better me. That was ive years ago. After I embraced these principles, I experienced exponential growth in my personal, professional and spiritual life. Seeing my singleness through a new set of eyes allowed me to maximize my single season, while waiting on my spouse. And eventually, that guy called. He blamed “life” on the delay, but when we inally connected, it was serendipitous. We became friends, eventually started a courtship and now we’re happily married. Read our love story on my website. Ultimately, I believe shifting my view on singleness prepared me to be the wife and mother I am today. So, I invite you to see your singleness through a new set of eyes too. Desiree S. Coleman is a motivational speaker, freelance writer and blogger at www. thelovejourney.com.
Last week, the courts ruled in favor of the deceptive language in the ballot initiative for local control of the city police. The ballot initiative is the handiwork of Mayor Slay, the St. Louis Police Officers Association (POA) and A Safer Missouri, the latter being a front group funded by billionaire Rex Sinquefield. The wicked triumvirate has been exclusionary and short-sighted in its process to oppose the full complements of local control. In doing so, they have added to the growing distrust of the police department. The groups may have won the first round of the legal battle but have lost the public relations war.
Mayor Slay and the POA have long opposed local control. The POA has fought hard against the 20-yearold efforts of the Coalition Against Police Crimes and Repression (CAPCR). The mayor joined their efforts to sabotage the process built by the coalition when it was clear that local control had a good chance of passing in the Missouri Legislature. The St. Louis Board of Aldermen Public Safety Committee recently held a hearing and a public forum on the issue of local control. Three issues have become unmistakably clear in listening to the testimonies
of the representatives of the triumvirate.
The first is that any entity that was non-white was left out of their exclusive process.
The chair of the Public Safety Committee is Alderman Greg Carter, a black man; the Police Chief is Dan Isom, a black man; and the CAPCR co-chairs are Zaki Baruti and me, both black. Worse yet, the St. Louis Ethical Society (the group representing black police office officers) was left out of the process for hammering out the ballot
n Meanwhile, the struggle for local control continues.
The ACLU will appeal the decision on the ballot language by the court.
initiative. The St. Louis American published a letter from Eddie Simmons, the group’s outgoing president, on the POA’s disrespectful course of action.
Secondly, an aversion to transparency and accountability has been made quite clear. The ballot initiative contains language about “exclusive authority” that is designed to keep secret the operations, including criminal investigations, of the police department. The POA is on record opposing a civilian review board so
citizens would be blocked from utilizing an independent and open process when they have a complaint against the police.
Lastly, the three amigos obviously didn’t think through the implications of the ballot initiative. At the two hearings, they have been unable to explain how the process affects existing city statutes and processes. They were so busy trying to maintain the cloak of secrecy that no real attention was paid to how the ballot initiative will be implemented in the real world.
The Police Officers Association has disregarded public sentiment before. Despite citizens wanting and voting on their officers living in the city of St. Louis, the group got the Board of Police Commissioners to vote to relax the residency requirement. The POA will undoubtedly pay a price for their continued disregard for the citizens who pay their salaries.
Meanwhile, the struggle for local control continues. The ACLU will appeal the decision on the ballot language by the court. The Coalition Against Police Crimes and Repression is working to raise awareness about the ballot’s deception. If you signed the petition for local control and didn’t understand that it was actually in opposition to real and effective local control and a civilian review board, please contact the CAPCR at capcr_cob@hotmail.com or 314-454-9005.
By Melanie Adams
I must admit that, until quite recently, I had never heard of the Willie Lynch “How to Make a Slave” speech. Now that I have spoken with Professor Jenali Cobb, I am looking forward to learning more, when Dr. Cobb comes to the Missouri History Museum on Tuesday, March 27 to talk about the Willie Lynch speech and why he thinks it a fraud.
This speech was “found” in the early 1990s and purported to be the work of a slave owner named Willie Lynch who owned a plantation in the West Indies. Lynch was so concerned with keeping African Americans as free labor that he supposedly gave a speech in Virginia in 1712 to tell other slave owners how to “control” their slaves. His main theory was that in order to keep African Americans as slaves, they must be set against each other so they could not join together and fight for their freedom. In other words, separate them and create divisions based on skin color, age, gender, status on the plantation, etc. This separation would encourage them to be bitter and distrustful rivals so that they would never unite and rise up against their masters.
Now the idea of this “found” letter sounded good enough for it to spread like wildfire, even at the beginning of the e-mail craze and before the existence of Facebook. Because of what Willie Lynch supposedly preached over 300 years ago, it was being quoted by African Americans as the reason why we couldn’t unite as a people.
Professor Jenali Cobb, an associate professor of history at Spelman College, considers the speech a hoax. I had the opportunity to interview Professor Cobb to learn more about his interest in the speech and why it is important to question its authenticity.
Q: What got you interested in exploring the Willie Lynch Speech?
remain from that era, and slavery historians would have cited this long before the 1990s were it actually real. Also, for someone who is not necessarily a historian but simply pays attention to detail, the language used in the speech is all wrong.
Q: Why is it important to publicly declare the story a “myth”?
mention that his servant, Dromio, apparently
twin as well. When all four converge on the Big Easy for Mardi Gras, events take a hilarious turn in a comic adventure of madcap mayhem.
I had several students cite the speech over the course of one semester and had to keep informing them that this was an internet hoax. After speaking with some of my colleagues, I realized that we were all dealing with the same problem -- the document had gained such widespread acceptance that we were far behind the curve in getting word out that it was a fake.
Q: As a historian, what red flags went up to its authenticity?
For one, there is no original version of this document. A fairly specific number of documents
African Americans have fought for more than a century for true and accurate depictions of our history. We simply can’t endorse falsehoods, even those that seem to confirm ideas that many of us accept. In some ways those are the worst kinds of falsehoods because they lull us into believing that our pre-existing ideas are correct as opposed to challenging us to read the history and understand it for ourselves.
Q: What do you hope people will take away from your talk at the museum?
I hope people walk away with a sense that African Americans are actors in our own history and not tragic victims of someone else’s manipulations.
Mary
On March 17th 2012 the Little Family will proudly celebrate the 100th birthday of our grandmother, Gertrude (Bigma) Little. She is the proud mother of Russie Benjamin Little, Sr., Mary LittleJackson (deceased), and Laura J. Little-Clifton. Bigma is also the grandmother of nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
Donna Heggins — March 13
Ronald James — March 17
Mary Winbush — March 18
our e-mail address is beaumontclassof67@sbcglobal.net.
FormerForest Park
Beaumont of class of 1967 will have its 45th class reunion on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at the Sheraton Westport Hotel. Cost is $100 per person. On Friday, June 8th, there will be a meet and greet and on Sunday, June 10 worship service and a brunch, locations to be determined. For questions/info on these events
Community College Men’s and Women’s Basketball Players coached by Bob Nelson, will host the Bob “ Mad Dog” Nelson Men’s Basketball Player’s Reunion on Saturday, March 24, 2012 from 1-4 pm. For more information contact Glenn Marshall 314-422-4090, Randy Reed 314-355-3670, Mark Beeks 314-406-2239 or Brian “Mo” Moore 314-591-0230.
McCluerNorth Class of 1992 is looking to celebrate its 20year reunion. We are in the process of planning a dinner/dance. Your contact information is needed ASAP. Go to the web-site at mccluer-
north1992.com
O’Fallon Technical High School Class of 1963 is planning its 50th reunion for the fall of 2013.If you are interested in participating, your contact information is needed as soon as possible.Please contactJustine Crow at (314) 838-2010 or jcrowsnest@aol.com.
Soldan class of 1964 planning committee is looking for members of our January & June class.We are planning our 48th reunion the weekend of August 10,2012. If you know someone from our class please ask them to contact us with their contact info ASAP. Please callJohn Bennett at (314) 503-3541, email lamplitr45@aol.com or
DeOnne Hudson 1-763-374-3287 or e-mail deonne1024@comcast.net.
SumnerHigh School classes of 1946-1951 will be celebrating their “ninth,” four-year reunion August 24-26, 2012, at the Airport Marriott Hotel. We’re still in the process of rounding up all of our graduates and would like very much for you to contact us, ASAPif you would like to be included in this event. Call Barbara Campbell Hunt for additional information at 636-561-6796.
SumnerHigh Schoolclasses of 1962 are planning its 50year reunionfor August 17th19th, 2012 and are looking for the January and Juneclasses to participate in the planning. Please call Eldridge ”Bogie” Bryant, Sr. at 314-489-0532, email: eldridgbrya@sbcglobal .net and Lillian Foster Curlett at 314-269-6450.
SumnerHigh School Class of 1963 would like to reach all classmates to begin planning its 50th reunion for June 2013. Contact Jacqueline R.
On March 13, Ben & Leslie Broadnax celebrated their 2nd wedding anniversary. Their daughter Brooke, right, celebrates her 2nd birthday March 18.
Vanderford, 314-265-9541, jvanderford63@att.net; John Abram, 314-994-0119 or Terri Cobb, 314-868-0233.
SumnerClass of 1972 seeking is alumni to plan its 40 year reunion. Contact: Earlene Brown at 314-534-0467/314731-1276, Jazelle Brown at 314-954-1470 or Kathi Washington Scott at 314-4454715.
Vashon High School Class of 1965 will be celebrating “The Class of 65 at 65” at The Hilton St. Louis Airport, April 21, 2012, 7 pm— Midnight. The cost is $50 per person. For information, contact Cleo at 383-1934, Bernice at 5348282, or Yvonne at 618-2068101. Also email Vashon65Alumni@yahoo.com.
Vashon High School Class of 1977 is planning its 35th reunion for August 10-12, 2012 and looking for all classmates to participate with the planning.For more information email your contact information to Vashonclassof77@yahoo.com.
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
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
By Rev. Traci D. Blackmon For The St. Louis American
A North County congrega-
tion is hosting its 2nd Annual Sista SOS Summit on March 16 and March 17 to equip women and girls to protect themselves spiritually, emotionally and physically from the harsh realities of sexual promiscuity and irresponsibility.
Christ The King United Church of Christ (UCC), located at 11370 Old Halls Ferry Road in Florissant, is partnering with BJC HealthCare; The Deaconess Foundation; The Ofice of Minority Health; Washington University and Faith Communities United in this year’s effort to mobilize and empower African-American women and girls to take charge of their sexual health. This year’s theme is “Just Say KNOW: Equipping Women with the Knowledge to Choose.”
The gathering will include a Friday night red carpet screening of the 2011 Sundance Film, MISS Representation, a ilm that highlights the misogynistic treatment of women in the media, followed by an open forum style “sacred conversation,” a Saturday Summit of skill-building workshops for both youth and adults, referrals to local agencies for ongoing education and intervention, free community health screenings and culminating community forum.
Author and Emmy Award Winning International AIDS activist, Ms. Marvelyn Brown will be the keynote speaker
at Saturday’s Summit. Ms. Brown is the CEO of Marvelous Connections and the current spokesperson for the Greater Than AIDS Campaign. She is the author of The Naked Truth. The conference will launch 6:30 p.m. Friday with a reception and 7 p.m. showing of MISS Representation. Friday’s “red carpet” screening will be held in the Laboratory Sciences Building (#57 on the campus map) on Washington University’s Campus. You can access the building and free parking from Forest Park Blvd. This free screening is open to both males and females. On Saturday at Christ The King UCC, the Summit will begin at 9 a.m. Workshops will equip participants with tools to discern and communicate wise decisions concerning sexual and spiritual health. The workshops will be facilitated by professionals in each ield. The day session will break for lunch with Marvelyn Brown. Hallelu-
jah 1600 will also be on site.
The Summit welcomes the collaborative partnership of its sister churches, Saint John’s United Church of Christ; Liberation Christian Church and the Women’s Missionary Society of The African Methodist Episcopal Church, as well as The University Of Missouri Bridge Program; Project ARK; Girls Inc.; and St. Louis City Health Department. Friday’s events are free and open to the public. Saturday’s Summit requires a $5.00 registration, which includes lunch and give-a-ways. Dress attire for both events is casual. For more information on registration, call 314-741-6808 or email ofice@christthekingucc. org. You may also gain more information, view workshop details, and register online at www.christthekingucc.org.
The Rev. Traci D. Blackmon, RN is Pastor of Christ The King United Church of Christ.
And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Bach’s St. Matthew Passion March 18
The Bach Society of Saint Louis Chorus and Orchestra will present Bach’s St. Matthew Passion on Sunday, March 18 at The Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade, 425 South Lindbergh Blvd. Dennis Sparger is Music Director and Conductor.
Considered to be one of the most important choral works ever written, the Gospel narrative of Christ’s Passion is presented by tenor William Watson as the Evangelist, and bass Stephen Morscheck as Jesus. Solo arias are sung by soprano Sherezade Panthaki, countertenor Jay Carter, tenor Lawrence Homes and bass Curtis Streetman. Tickets are $20-$40. Call 314-652-BACH or visit www. bachsociety.org.
(Matthew 14:29) There are times in our lives that we go through so many aflictions and pain that it seems as though we are sinking and nothing or no one can save. During those times we must stand fast on the word of God and trust that Jesus is here and calling us to walk on the water of our circumstances instead of drowning in them. This reminds me of the Bible story in Matthew 14:21-32, Jesus just inished feeding over 5000 people with ive loaves of bread and two ish when He told His disciples to get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent away the crowds. After He had dismissed the multitudes, He went up into the hills by Himself to pray. When it was evening, Jesus was still there alone, but the boat was by this time out on the sea, about one-eighth of a mile in distance from the land, beaten and tossed by the waves, for the wind was against them. Here comes Jesus walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terriied and said, “It is a ghost”! And they screamed out with fright. But instantly He spoke to them, saying, “Take courage! It is I, don’t be afraid”! Peter an-
swered Him, Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water. Jesus said to Peter, “Come”! So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and he came toward Jesus. But when he perceived and felt the strong wind, he was frightened, and as he began to sink, he cried out, Lord, save me from death and instantly Jesus reached out His hand and caught and held him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?
And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Just like Peter, we are in our little ships of life going through our winds and storms and sometimes we can lose focus of the truth that Jesus is the God of miracles and He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could even ask or think no matter how bad the storms of life seem to be. Peter along with all the disciples had just witness Jesus
Plus, community college hosts career information session March 20
American staff
In a letter dated February 22, 2012, Harris-Stowe State University received formal notification of its Higher Learning Commission (HLC) institutional accreditation status, and the university’s accreditation will continue for the next 10 years.
In October 2011, HarrisStowe underwent a regular review of its self-study during a three-day site visit to campus, which was hosted by a university-wide committee of faculty, staff and administrators. During the comprehensive visit, HLC team members gained valuable insight into the educational programs, processes and procedures practiced by the university and met with various stakeholders, including students, alumni, Board of
Regents and community leaders.
“The Division of Academic Affairs and the entire HSSU family worked extremely hard to ensure that the accreditation visit was a success,” said Dr. Albert Walker, president of Harris-Stowe. “This achievement certainly confirms our long-standing commitment to educational excellence and to the hundreds of students that we serve.”
The HLC is an independent corporation and one of two commission members of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), which is one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. The Higher Learning Commission accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in the North Central region.
STLCC hosts career information session
Individuals interested in careers in law enforcement are invited to attend a special criminal justice program information session 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, in room 201 of the Student Center at
St. Louis Community CollegeMeramec, 11333 Big Bend Road.Prospective students will:
• Learn about academic requirements and career options.
• Participate in interactive sessions.
• Find out how to get start-
Harris-Stowe State University recently received formal notification of its Higher Learning Commission (HLC) institutional accreditation status, and the university’s accreditation will continue for the next 10 years.
reforms and need special intervention. Increasingly, urban school districts are utilizing SIG funds to turn around these schools, implementing some of the toughest reform models called for in SIG at higher rates than seen in other schools nationwide.
ed at STLCC. Registration for the information session is requested; call 314-539-5002 or visit www.stlcc.edu/CareerInfoSessi ons to reserve your place. For more information, call 314539-5002 or e-mail AskUs@stlcc.edu. Individuals with disabilities who have accommodation needs should call 314-539-5002.
Anew report by the Council of the Great City Schools finds that urban school districts mounted an unprecedented number of school turnaround efforts in the 20102011 school year with funds from the revamped federal School Improvement Grant (SIG) program.
While the nation’s big-city schools have seen significant academic gains in the past several years, there are still pockets of schools that are not responding to districtwide
The report – The School Improvement Grant Rollout in America’s Great City Schools: School Improvement Grants 2010-2011– indicates that the number of urban turnaround schools has increased significantly since the School Improvement Grant (SIG) program underwent transformation and expansion as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and launched in 2010.Some 298 chronically low-achieving Tier I and II schools in urban districts were selected to receive grants and undergoing turnaround efforts in the first year of SIG—roughly as many schools as these districts tackled in the previous five years of reform (284 schools).
The report offers a detailed picture of the specific strategies being pursued in urban schools across the country. Some 54 percent of the SIG schools in the urban districts implemented theturnaround intervention model, which includes replacing the principal and at least half of the staff; 36 percent of the urban schools used thetransformation model, which also includes replacing the principal and instructional reforms; 5 percent of the urban schools utilized therestartintervention model, which includes closing the school and re-opening as a charter school; and another 5 percent of the schools used the closuremodel, which involves closing the school and moving students to a nearby school with higher performance.
These findings indicate that the nation’s urban school districts are using the turnaround and closure models at about twice the rate of the nation.
Mike Epps’ okay comedy corral. I had really been lovin’ the fact that Mike Epps has been an annual attraction in the STL. He always comes with something fresh and you can count on him for downright silliness. Last year, I saw some cracks in what has always been a sidesplittin’ cackle for me, but had no idea that I would be so underwhelmed when I moseyed on over to the Chaifetz Arena. And my “ehh” feeling didn’t start with him. I missed a couple of the opening acts but got there just in time for Kenny Powell. To sum his set up, I’m gonna do something that he has become known for …sayin’ the same thing over gain. I mean honestly, I’ve seen him at least five times over the past four years and his set has been EXACTLY THE SAME. He better be lucky that 85 percent of his set is NSFP (not safe for Partyline) or I could type it up to read WORD.FOR.WORD like it was a doggone transcript. Not even the shout out commercials to area businesses were new. I’ll tell you what…my neighbor and her “controlled substance connoisseur (crackhead just sounds so impolite)” mother were less than pleased. I wasn’t even mad when she yelled out “bring Day Day’s [expletive] out here” to the point where the ears of everyone in the section were ringing. Mike Epps must have heard too because it wasn’t too long afterwards that he took to the stage. He was his usual goofy self when he took the stage and I caught life when he impersonated Jim Jones’ mama, called NeNe a moose in drag and clowned Lil’ Wayne’s Soul Train dancer vixen catsuit inspired leggings. But something about the show made me feel like his heart wasn’t all the way in it. Even though his daughter was ALL.THE.WAY. out of pocket for releasing that voicemail to the public, I laughed harder at his “You the [expletive] devil Bria” line than his whole act. Had it not been for crack mama’s zeal that all but flung her poor neighbor’s shape out of the seat, I would have only laughed half of the set. And Epps’ finale was guilty of first degree premeditated FAIL. T.I.’s trial-sized show. I booked it across town from Mike Epps, so I missed the opening acts and most of the impromptu intermission. I don’t know what happened before the show but I experienced a slight verbal ruckus in the streets following T.I.’s Saturday night visit to the Ambassador. The overwhelming consensus was “all he did was 20 minutes,” “that wasn’t no show” and a side of “I can’t believe I fraternized with the ratchets for that.” Now I will agree about the snippet length of the show, but I say the last thing on Earth you should be is mad at T.I. as you reflect on your experience. My thoughts on the matter are purely prediction and speculation, but I’m almost certain that I’m right about it. Those of you walking around with your mouth poked out should actually be sending anonymous tweets of gratitude, because those three songs he served up saved St. Louis from making our way to Worldstar Hiphop…AGAIN. I’m willing to bet by the way he walked on stage saying “Thank y’all for coming…good night” that he was planning to show his face, pick up his check and punch towards the back door exit. And if that was the understanding between him and the folks that brought him through, we would have had no right to be mad. But when he said his little spill and felt that pre-riot rumble, he pulled together somethin’ that gave the folks just enough to get in and go home remotely pleased. I could tell by the way he said “I’ll be right back” that he had no intentions of a performance whatsoeva! The Ambassador was packed in a way that I’ve only seen a few times and it was 147 degrees Celsius because of the body heat, so it was the formula for the perfect storm had T.I. not stepped to the microphone. And when it was all said and done Mike Epps bumrushed the stage as “The Kaing’s” hypeman serving more than he did during his own show and Tiny’s man-made sultry shape was perched on a couch right.on.the.stage. I would have loved to see T.I. put it down the way Jeezy did when he rolled through last month, but it is what it is. And speaking of Jeezy, there is a growing debate over who brought the bigger crowd. Considerin’ that I accidently patted someone else’s sew in as I reached to relieve my own, I’m going to go with Tip. Luke light. I’m guessing it was the unofficial weekend for undercooked performances from visiting celebs. And Luke was responsible for lighting the torch to set it off when he had the folks shoulder to shoulder over at the Loft. I know there are at least 50 middle-aged women with elderly onset “three baby body” disorder that are thinking “I pulled my catsuit with the sides cut out from my storage unit for this?” I know he didn’t do it, but Uncle Luke should have given DJ Cuddy half of his money because he did all of the work. And y’all can say what you will about T.I. but at least he was on the stage (and doing his own music. I’ll get to that in a hot second). When I got there Luke was hovered in the DJ booth looking like he was hiding from the workman’s comp people! And to make bad even worse he wasn’t even doing his trademark cattle call (all pun intended) to his own music. Maybe there’s some kind of legal dispute gag order, but even still “don’t stop…get it, get it” and Lil’ Wayne just don’t go together.
Go Chingy, it’s your birthday. I drove over the river and through the woods to the Jumpin’ Jupiter on Friday night to show some love to Chingy and while he and I were like ships passing in the night I had a ball with some of my favorite – and most beautiful – among the young black and fabulous folks in town. M.C., Aloha Mi-Sho, Reno, Donta Wade and his guns, Mocha Latte, the lovely Miss Beth “BHallewood” and a whole gang of other folks came through to celebrate and to catch some live hip hop in action.
Black Katz and hams. I know y’all have your rumors that I’m about to commence to tossing shade ready to hit the streets based on this subtitle. But I’m actually giving props and issuing a call to help give back, so have a seat. Locally renowned for kickin’ it activities that bring out the young ladies looking to be wooed by an old school playa, the 13 Black Katz are doing something extra special and deserve your support. The
A rare and potentially deadly autoimmunerelated disease called primary amyloidosis destroyed Vanessa Vassar’s kidneys forcing to her to indergo a kidney transplant.
By Sandra Jordan Of the St.Louis American
If you want to know what a miracle looks like, look at Vanessa Vassar. Arare and potentially deadly autoimmune-related disease called primary amyloidosis caused abnormal proteins to build up and form deposits on her kidneys, although the condition may attack and destroy any organ or wreak havoc throughout the
body. The amyloid deposits keep the organs from working properly and causes them to deteriorate.
Shortly after her diagnosis in 2003, Vassar had a stem cell transplant and chemotherapy at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee.
“They did a bone marrow biopsy to see if I had any trace of it,” Vassar said of the amyloid buildup. “They said you’d always have a trace.”
But she had no trace of the disease.
The disease eventually destroyed her kidneys. What it didn’t destroy was her positive outlook and the unwavering love and support from family and friends, who are like family.
“That’s a miracle too – I’ve never been on dialysis,” Vassar. “They’ve always wanted to do this,” she said about undergoing a kidney transplant.
“In ’06, I got really, really, sick – like
150 pounds of edema on top of my body weight, which was, at that time, 120,” she recalled. “I was in a wheel chair.”
She underwent paracentesis to take the fluid off through her abdominal wall.
“For six years after that, I really didn’t have any swelling,” she said.
The kidney transplant process started in 2006. Vassar said he never asked any-
See KIDNEY, page 5
Levels of certain blood proteins indicate which diabetes patients will likely develop life-threatening kidney problems in the future, according to two studies appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The results could help physicians protect the kidney health of patients with diabetes years before any visible signs of trouble arise.
Kidney failure is one of the most life-threatening complications of diabetes, and almost half of patients who receive dialysis treatments need them because their kidneys have become damaged from diabetes.
Unfortunately, physicians don’t have an accurate, non-invasive way to determine which diabetes patients are most likely to develop kidney problems. Because recent research indicates that inflammation may contribute to kidney injury among patients with diabetes, Andrzej Krolewski, MD (Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard Medical School), Monika Niewczas, MD, PhD (Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, and Medical University of Warsaw, in Poland), and their colleagues wondered whether certain markers of inflammation might signal when a patient’s kidneys are in jeopardy.
The investigators measured several dozens of inflammation markers in the blood and urine of more than a thousand patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and then monitored the patients’kidney health for more than a decade. They identified two extremely powerful markers – tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptors 1 and 2 – that increased patients’risk of developing kidney disease by three- to five-fold when found at high levels in the blood 10 years earlier. Adiagnostic test to measure blood levels of TNF receptors is currently in development and should be available in the clinic soon.
The findings also go beyond prediction and suggest that targeting TNF receptors may be an effective way to prevent or slow kidney function decline. “Learning
about mechanisms that regulate blood levels of TNF receptors and the way that high levels of these receptors cause kidney injury will accelerate the search for new therapeutic targets against kidney disease in individuals with diabetes and possibly in those without diabetes,” said Krolewski.
Home-based dialysis treatments are on the rise in both the developing and developed worlds, but developed countries appear to be turning to them less often, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN)
Dialysis treatments for kidney failure come in two forms: peritoneal dialysis is usually done at home, while hemodialysis is predominantly clinic-based. During peritoneal dialysis, fluids that are pumped into the abdominal cavity collect wastes pulled in from the blood and are then removed from the body. During hemodialysis, blood is removed, purified by a machine, and returned to the body.
Peritoneal dialysis is less expensive than hemodialysis, but its use seems to be declining, particularly in developed countries. To get a sense of the recent trends in peritoneal dialysis use around the world, Dr. Arsh Jain of the University of Western Ontario, in London, Canada and his colleagues analyzed records from 1997 to 2008 in 130 countries.
Among the major findings:
• In 2008, there were approximately 196,000 (home) peritoneal dialysis patients worldwide, representing 11 percent of the dialysis population.
• In total, 59 percent of peritoneal dialysis patients were treated in developing countries and 41 percent in developed countries.
• Over the 12 years of the study, the number of peritoneal dialysis patients increased in developing countries by 24.9 patients per million population and in developed countries by 21.8 per million population.
• The proportion of all dialysis patients treated with peritoneal dialysis did not change in developing countries but significantly declined in developed countries by 5.3 percent.
These findings indicate that the number of patients treated with peritoneal dialysis rose worldwide from 1997 to 2008, with a 2.5-fold increase in the prevalence of peritoneal dialysis patients in developing countries; however, the proportion of all dialysis patients using this type of treatment continues to decline in developed countries.
“Our findings may impact future business and research innovations,” said Jain. Because of the increasing use of peritoneal dialysis in the developing world and the lower cost of doing research there, Jain said “it may be the developing world and not the developed world that drives future medical innovations in peritoneal dialysis.”
Bariatric (weight-loss) surgery is safe for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients who are obese, according to a study appearing online in the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The study is the largest of its kind to focus on the impact of kidney function on patients’health following weight-loss surgery.
Physicians Nicole Turgeon, MD, John Sweeney, MD (Emory University School of Medicine), and their colleagues analyzed information from 27,736 patients who underwent weight-loss surgery between 2006 and 2008.
The researchers found that patients with more severe CKD experienced more complications following surgery. Complication rates ranged from 4.6 percent for those with stage 1 CKD or normal kidney function to 9.9 percent for those with stage 5 CKD.
Even though patients with more severe CKD experienced more complications, complication rates remained below 10 percent. “This work provides strong evidence that it is safe to proceed with bariatric surgery in kidney failure patients who suffer from obesity,” said Sweeney.
The findings are encouraging because maintaining weight loss is challenging for CKD patients, many of whom have a decreased ability to exercise. Also, obesity can limit CKD patients’eligibility for kidney transplants. Whether the potential benefits of weight-loss surgery outweigh the risks in this population requires further study, though.
• Localized – on certain organs
• Systemic – throughout the body
• Primary – with no known cause
• Secondary – caused by another diseases
• Hereditary – (passed down genetically)
The organs affected may depend on whether the amyloidosis is the primary, secondary, or hereditary form.
Source: The National Cancer Institute
Continued from page 3
one for a kidney, but scores of people came forward to offer one of theirs – family, church and school friends, and people she’s known since childhood. Amazingly, she had lots of matches, but she really didn’t want a transplant – so Vassar said she put the breaks on everything.
She felt fine, but her kidney function levels were getting really bad. The donor matching process started again last fall.
“I didn’t have any choice, really,” Vassar said. “I had 5 percent kidney [function].”
Best friend Sara Wallace and another friend were both perfect matches, Vassar said. But when all was said and done, it was Paul Wallace, Sara’s husband, who gave one of his kidneys to Vanessa on February 14.
“She needed it,” Wallace said. “When my wife told me that she was going to need a kidney, I told her I wanted to test and we both came here and tested.”
The Wallaces live in Alton, Illinois and have three children, two of whom are young adults. They had a discussion about their children and decided donating a kidney is indeed what they wanted to do.
“The bottom line is, Vanessa needed a kidney, and our children probably won’t, Paul Wallace said. “And if it ever did happen, they have brothers and sisters, maybe a friend or someone like that who would be a match.”
“I really love them both,” Sara Wallace said of Paul and Vanessa.
“Paul is great—he’s a great husband – he’s a great father –he’s a great friend – he’s great with everybody and he is honest and wants to do the right thing always, and so that’s why we’re here, because it’s the right thing to do.”
Vanessa, who Sara describes as being more like family, has always been someone Sara could turn to for positive counsel.
“She has always led me in the direction I’ve needed to go like a big sister,” Sara Wallace said.
As with both families, Shirley Vassar, Vanessa’s mom, believes a wonderful, spiritual force has worked a mighty deed in all of their lives. “I think that if God can make a donkey talk, then he can help us through this and bless others.”
And one way Vanessa Vassar uses her blessing to bless others is by advocating for organ donation.
“I just really have a passion for people to donate organs,” Vassar said. “And I really would like to do some things like that after this.”
The latest figures from the National Kidney Foundation (July 2011) estimates 3,000 patients are added to the kidney donor waiting list each month. Out of more than 113,000 people are on waiting lists for organ donations, the Organ Procurement Network of the U.S. Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration data reports more than 91,000 are awaiting kidneys.
For more information about organ donation, visit www.unos.org
By Consuelo H.Wilkins,MD
Earlier this year, the Association of American Medical Colleges announced some substantial changes to the Medical College Admission Test, which is widely known as the MCAT.
Although the MCATis used as a key consideration for admission to most U.S. medical schools, many have questioned whether the test, especially the writing sample, is biased against applicants with disadvantaged backgrounds.
Additionally, it is not clear whether the MCAThelps select applicants who will be the best physicians because there is little focus on the non-science factors that are important to being a good physician.
For the past three years, a committee has considered whether the current version of the MCATprovided the best opportunity to evaluate potential medical school applicants. The committee has
now proposed changes to the MCATthat could help better identify applicants who have a greater understanding of behavioral and social factors that contribute to health problems. The committee has acknowledged that in addition to a strong base in science, you have to understand the complex relationships between behavior, socioeconomic status, and health. The more a physician realizes that social factors impact health, the more it could help him or her understand health consequences.
Of the current MCAT’s four sections, two would remain strictly science, assessing how well the test taker solves problems about molecular, cellular properties
Consuelo H. Wilkins,M.D., Medical Accuracy Editor
as well as the physical, chemical, and biochemical properties of living systems. The planned changes, which will begin with the MCATin 2015, include
– Revise the current verbal section to assess the way test takers reason through passages. Test takers will have to read passages pertaining to health and could include cultural literacy, ethics, philosophy and population health. The current writing section would be eliminated, under the new proposals.
– Add a new test section on the behavioral and social sciences concepts that lay the foundation for medical students’learning about the human and social issues of medicine. The test would cover content covered in intro to sociology and psychology classes, which many students already take as requirements at their schools. This portion would also be multiple-choice and test for competency in understanding ideas, such as behavioral changes, environmental factors on health, cultural differences and inequities, and how demographics or cultural socio-economic differences influence resources and health.
The revised MCATis expected to increase the test time by more than an hour to six and a half hours.
Although I applaud the Association of American Medical Colleges for recognizing the importance of the social determi-
nants of health in medical education, I’m not sure that testing the “Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior” as part of the MCATis the best method for identifying the most prepared students.
The revised test may actually obstruct the ability to identify prospective medical school applicants who have broader knowledge about people and culture. One of the concerns about the medical school admissions process is the emphasis on the MCATscore. The medical school application and the admissions interview offer a number of opportunities to determine how prepared and knowledgeable an applicant is related to the social determinants of health.
If future applicants have to prepare for a longer MCAT, take more courses prior to medical school, and possibly pay for a more expensive test, this may actually deter some very qualified applicants. Don’t get me wrong; I’m delighted to learn that the writing sample will no longer be a part of the MCAT. It’s been 20 years since I took the MCATbut the essay still haunts me. Perhaps a better approach would be to integrate more social determinants of health, cultural competency and population health in the medical school education and training programs.
Consuelo H. Wilkins, M.D., is medical accuracy editor of The St. Louis American and associate professor of medicine and psychiatry, Division of Geriatrics and Nutritional Science, at Washington University – St. Louis
Abi-monthly special supplement of the St. Louis American March 15, 2012
YourHealth Matters provides up-to-date information, from an African-American perspective, about one of the most important subjects in evryone’s life – their personal health.
Donald M. Suggs, President and Publisher
Kevin Jones, Senior Vice President, COO
Dina M. Suggs, Senior Vice President
Chris King, Editorial Director
Consuelo Wilkins, MD, Medical Accuracy Editor
Sandra Jordan, Health Reporter
Debbie Chase, Director of Health Strategy & Outreach
Onye Ijei, Barb Sills, Pamela Simmons, Sales
Michael Terhaar, Art/Production Manager
Angelita Jackson, Cover Design
Wiley Price, Photojournalist
Distributed by Healthy Living News
Sugar needs to be controlled like alcohol and tobacco say University of California (UC) health experts. They maintain that sugar is causing a global obesity problem contributing to 35 million deaths annually from diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
The health experts, doctors in endocrinology, sociology and public health, recently made their case for a war on sugar in the prestigious journal Nature.
The experts believe that sugar’s potential for abuse, and its toxicity and pervasiveness in the Western diet, make it the cause of a worldwide health crisis.
At the levels consumed by most Americans, sugar changes metabolism, raises blood pressure, critically alters hormones and causes significant damage to the liver – the least understood of sugar’s damages. The effects of sugar also mirror prolonged alcohol use.
According to the U.N., diabetes and obesity now pose a greater health problem worldwide than infectious diseases. In the U.S., 75 percent of health care dol-
lars are spent treating sugar related conditions.
Worldwide consumption of sugar has tripled during the past 50 years making it a key contributor of the obesity epidemic. According to the UC doctors, obesity is just a marker for the damage caused by too much sugar. This helps explain why 40 percent of people with metabolic syndrome – the metabolic changes leading to diabetes, heart disease and cancer – are not clinically obese.
The problem requires communitywide solutions, similar to what has
occurred with alcohol and tobacco, one of the doctors said.
“We’re not talking prohibition,” emphasized Laura Schmidt, PhD, MSW, MPH, of the University of California, San Francisco. “We’re talking about gentle ways to make sugar consumption slightly less convenient, thereby moving people away from the concentrated dose. What we want is to actually increase people’s choices by making foods that aren’t loaded with sugar comparatively easier and cheaper to get.”
Arecent study shows that black and Hispanic families are most likely to buy sugary cereals that are advertised directly to children. The study, which appears in the journal Public Health Nutrition, shows that Ethnic Minority households purchase cereals advertised directly to children at a 13 times higher rate. Advertising to children appears to be extraordinarily effective at increasing sales the researchers noted. They suggest that improving the nutritional quality of cereals targeted to children could lead to healthier eating.
Thurs. Mar. 15, 8 a.m. -11 a.m., Heart Screenings by SSM Heart Institute –$20, SSM St. Mary’s Health Center, 6420 Clayton Rd., Richmond Heights, Mo. 63117. Screening includes LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, HDLcholesterol, total cholesterol, cholesterol ratio, blood glucose, body fat analysis and blood pressure - $20; on the ground floor near West Entrance. For more information, visit ssmhealth.com/heart or call 1-866-776-3627 to register.
Thurs., Mar. 15, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., American Red Cross Blood Drive, Christian Hospital Detrick Building Atrium. Walk-ins are welcome but priority given to those who register at www.redcrossblood.organd use the sponsor code: christianhospita; or contact Sandy Barnesat slm9123@bjc.org.
Thurs., Mar. 15, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Taking Control of YourAsthma – Christian Hospital Asthma Management Program at Northwest Health Care, 1225 Graham Rd. Community Rooms 1&2. The presenter will also discuss ways to help you find free/reduced asthma medication and equipment, Register at 314-747-WELL (9355).
Sun. Mar. 18, 8 a.m. – 12 noon, Mercy Mobile Blood Drive, Holy Spirit Catholic Church, The Annex, 3111 Parkwood Lane, Maryland Heights, 63043. Appointments will be accepted, but are not required. Please call 1-866-37DONOR (373-6667) or visit www.mercy.net/stlouismo, for more information.
Mon., Mar. 19,1 p.m. - 3 p.m. – Look Good…Feel Betterby the American CancerSociety. Afree two hour workshop by trained beauty professionals who teach women in active cancer treatment simple beauty techniques for skin care, makeup application and coping with hair loss. St. Luke’s Hospital. Call to register: 314-205-6901.
Mon., Mar. 19, 10 a.m. – 12 noon –Look Good…Feel Betterby the American CancerSociety. Afree two
hour workshop by trained beauty professionals who teach women in active cancer treatment simple beauty techniques for skin care, makeup application and coping with hair loss. Saint Louis University Cancer Center. Call Cathy to register: 314-268-7015.
Wed. Mar. 21, Free mammograms at SSM Breast Care at St. Mary’s Health Center, 1031 Bellevue Ave., St. Louis, 63117. Free clinical breast exams, mammograms and breast care education for women age 40 and older with no insurance or insurance that does not pay for mammograms and haven’t had a mammogram in 13 months. The services are offered the third Wednesday of each month through a Susan G. Komen for the Cure grant. For appointments, call 314-768-8697 or visit ssmhealth.com/stmarys.
Wed., Mar. 21, 9-10 a.m., Diet & Lifestyle changes to prevent Colon Cancer– with Dr. Rehan Rafiq, gastroenterologist. Jamestown Mall Food Court. Call 314-747-WELL(9355) to register.
Sat. Mar. 24, CHIPS “ANight at the Savoy III” at the Hilton Saint Louis Frontenac. $150 per person. For more information, call 314-652-9231 or visit www.chipsstl.org.
Mon., Mar. 26, 10 a.m. – 12 noon, Look Good…Feel Better, by the American CancerSociety. Afree two hour workshop by trained beauty professionals who teach women in active cancer treatment simple beauty techniques for skin care, makeup application and coping with hair loss. Siteman Cancer Center St. Louis (Barnard Health & Cancer Info Center)Call 314-362-7844 to register.
Tues. Mar. 27, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Diabetes Alert Day free screenings at Christian Hospital Diabetes Institute, 11155 Dunn Road, Suite 101N, Professional Building 1 (Hwy. 367/I270 interchange). Call 314-747-WELL (9355) to register.
Tues. Mar. 27, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Diabetes Alert Day free screenings at Northwest HealthCare, 1225 Graham Road, Florissant, Mo. Call 314-747WELL(9355) to register.
Wed. Mar. 28, Noon – 4 p.m., Mercy Mobile Blood Drive, Zak Companies, 13545 Barrett Parkway Drive Suite 110, 63021. Appointments will be accepted, but are not required. Please call 1-86637DONOR (373-6667) or visit www.mercy.net/stlouismo, for more information.
April 4,5,11,12,18,19,25, –26, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Girls Holla Back: 8-week HIV/AIDS Prevention Program, Missouri Institute of Mental Health - Dome Bldg, 5400 Arsenal St. St. Louis (63139)In an effort to reduce new cases of HIV/AIDS and drug use among African American females in St. Louis, this 8-week program complemented with fun-filled communications and bonding activities is being hosted for girls ages 12 - 17 and one of their adult female family members. Registration is required for this free program. To register, call (314) 8776487 or email girlshollaback@mimh.edu.
Wed. Apr. 11, 8 a.m. -11 a.m., Heart Screenings by SSM Heart Institute –SSM DePaul Health Center, 12303 DePaul Drive, Bridgeton, Mo. 63044, on the Main Entrance. Screening includes LDLcholesterol, triglycerides, HDLcholesterol, total cholesterol, cholesterol ratio, blood glucose, body fat analysis and blood pressure - $20. For more information, visit ssmhealth.com/heart or call 1-866-7763627 to register.
Sat. April 21, 6:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m., Denim & Diamonds Christian Hospital Auxiliary 2012 Charity Ball Paul F. Detrick Building on the Christian Hospital campus. For more information, call 314-653-5634.
Wed. Apr. 25, 8 a.m. -11 a.m., Heart Screenings by SSM Heart Institute –SSM St. Clare Health Center, 1015
Bowles Ave., Fenton, Mo. 63026 in the St. Francis Lobby. Screening includes LDLcholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, cholesterol ratio, blood glucose, body fat analysis and blood pressure - $20. For more information, visit ssmhealth.com/heart or call 1-866-7763627 to register.
Sat. April 28, 8:30 a.m., St. Louis Kidney Walk at Saint Louis University. Walk starts at 10 a.m. For more information, call 314-961-2828 or visit www.kidneyemo.org.
Sundays, 10 a.m., Alcoholics Anonymous Group 109 meets in the 11th floor conference room at Christian Hospital, 11133 Dunn Road at I270/Hwy. 367. This is an open meeting for alcoholics, drug addicts and their family and friends.
Mondays, 7 p.m., “Tobacco Free for Life” support group – free weekly meetings at St. Peters Mo. City Hall. Supported by SSM Cancer Care; RSVP initial participation to 636-947-5304.
Tuesdays, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., Help fora drug-free life - chemical dependency information meeting. Call 314-8393171.
Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., STEPS Schizophrenia Support Group This nationally recognized program provides education and support for those with schizophrenia. Group is facilitated by an experienced STEPS nurse. For more information, call 314839-3171.
First Thursdays, 10 a.m., Family Support Group by NAMI St. Louis, The Alliance on Mental Illness at the Grace Hill Murphy-O’Fallon Health Center, 1717 Biddle St. No registration needed; no cost. For more information, call 314-962-4670.
Free psychiatric and chemical dependency evaluations are confidential at the Christian Hospital Center for Mental Health. Call 314-839-3171
Sexual Health
St. Louis County Health Department offers free, confidential testing, counseling and treatment at the North Central Community Health Center, 4000 Jennings Station Road, St. Louis, MO 63121. For more information, call 314-679-7800.
St. Louis Metropolitan HIV/AIDS Program offers confidential or anonymous Testing at St. Louis ConnectCare, Suite 203 at 5535 Delmar, St. Louis, Mo. 63112. For more information, call (314) 879-6468.
Respiratory Health
Free lung function screening - Christian Hospital Breathing Center at Northwest HealthCare, 1225 Graham Rd. For more information, call 314-953-6040.
Prescription Cost Help
St. Louis ConnectCare Retail Pharmacy – Offers a $4 generic prescription program. Hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mon. – Fri., no weekends or holidays. Located at 5535 Delmar Blvd. in St. Louis, Call 314-879-6208.
Schnucks Pharmacies – now offers certain prescription prenatal vitamins for free and offers no-cost generic prescription antibiotics at select locations.
Wal-Mart Pharmacies – offer select prescriptions for $4 or less for a 30-day supply or $10 for a 90day supply. View the complete list at www.walmart.com/pharmacy.
Prostate Cancer
The CancerCenterof The Empowerment Network at 6000 W. Florissant in St. Louis provides information on prostate and other types of cancer, and services and support. For more information, call 314-385-0998.
Nutrition
Food Outreach provides food, meals and nutritional education/ counseling to eligible persons living with HIV/AIDS or cancer in St. Louis. For more information, call 314-652-3663 or visit www.foodoutreach.org.
Angel Food Ministries operates in hundreds of churches nationwide and offers heat and serve meals, canned and fresh food boxes at a reduced cost. Find the nearest locations by zip code at www.angelfoodministries.com.
Medical
St. Louis ConnectCare offers walk-in services Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and most holidays. For information, call 314-879-6300.
Salam Free Saturday Clinic, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Isom Community Center at Lane Tabernacle CME Church, 916 N. Newstead, St. Louis, Mo. for those who are uninsured. For more information, call 314-533-0534.
Information
Missouri 2-1-1 offers referral and information on a wide range of social service and helpful resources. Call 2-1-1.
Health Partnerships:
The CenterforCommunity Health and Partnerships: Building Bridges forHealthy Communities works to develop and support beneficial community-academic partnerships to address the health needs of the St. Louis. For more information, email publichealth@wustl.edu; phone 314-747-9212 or visit publichealth.wustl.edu.
Eye Health
Free glaucoma screenings at Myrtle Hilliard Davis Comprehensive Health Center, 5471 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. St. Louis, 63112 (second floor - Health Education Dept.).Walk-in screenings are Mon. - Fri., 8:00 a.m. to 4:.30 p.m. For more information, call (314) 367-5820 ext. 2259.
Dental
Free Dental Hygiene Clinic - No charge dental exams, x-rays, cleanings and other dental services for children and adults provided by dental students at Missouri College. Patients needing more extensive dental work (fillings, crowns, etc.) will be referred to local dentists. For information, call 314-7687899.
Diabetes
SSM St. Mary’s Health Center provides free, Diabetes Support Group sessions the second Tuesday of every month from 6 – 7 p.m. to address health management issues. It’s located at Meeting Room 1 on the second floor, 6420 Clayton Rd. in St. Louis. To register, call toll free 866-SSM-DOCS (866776-3627).
Clinical depression can impact women at different points in their lives. Some experts estimate 10% of women are affected during pregnancy. However, several studies indicate that taking antidepressants while pregnant may pose significant risks to the unborn child.
As far back as 2005, information emerged that some anti-depressants and anti-seizure medications may cause birth defects. Mothers who took these medications during pregnancy have given birth to babies with birth defects ranging from cleft lip to life-threatening congenital heart defects. These birth defects may tragically include heart, lung, brain, spinal cord and skull defects, abdominal wall defects, club foot (one or both feet turn downward and inward), limb reduction and persistent pulmonary hypertension.
Anti-depressants in the class known as Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) have been linked to serious birth defects. Common medicines including Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa, and Paxil all fall into this category. In 2006, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued health advisories about the dangers of taking certain anti-depressant and anti-seizure medicines during pregnancy.
Shortly after this warning, two studies published by the New England Journal of Medicine in June 2007 found an increased risk of serious birth defects among pregnant women using SSRI antidepressants. One report found that women who took SSRIs in the first trimester of pregnancy had twice the risk of delivering babies with birth defects including clubfoot, anal atresia, diaphragmatic hernia and/or limb reduction defects. In a second study, titled The National Birth Defects Prevention Study, researchers found that women who took SSRIs while pregnant were twice as likely to give birth to children with certain types of birth defects as opposed to women who did not take SSRIs. Conditions included anencephaly (birth without a forebrain), craniosynostosis (premature closing of sutures of the skull) and omphalocele (babies born with organs outside of the body).
If you or a loved one took medications such as Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa, Paxil, Topamax, or Depakote during pregnancy and gave birth to a child with birth defects, then please seek special attention for your child immediately and secure professional help and support.
Raising a child with birth defects can be very challenging. Parents often say they feel overwhelmed and uncertain whether they will be able to care for their child properly. Check your local listings for resources and advocates. Fortunately, you are not alone. Many people and resources exist to help you.
Where: St. Louis ConnectCare and in private practice
Specialties/Board Certifications: Nephrology
Education:
1990 – University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
1993-1997 – Internal Medicine Residency at University of Pretoria Medical School, South Africa
1998 – Attending physician at Medical University of Southern Africa
1999 – Attending physician at University of Pretoria, South Africa
2003 – Internal Medicine Residency at SSM St. Mary’s, St. Louis, Mo.
2009 – Washington University St. Louis, Fellowship in Kidney Disease
CareerHighlights:
Private practice in Witbank in South Africa before emigrating to the U.S. Current private practice with three colleagues at Nephrology and Hypertension Specialists, LLC in Florissant, Mo.
St. Louis Connection:
Internal medicine residency at SSM St. Mary’s and kidney disease fellowship at Washington University
Why I chose specializing in nephrology and high blood pressure:
I like kidney disease. I have a lot of interest in kidney disease and hypertension. It’s a big burden on the health care as it is. It tends to affect disproportionately minorities as well.
It’s a very common disease, I think often under-diagnosed and misunderstood.
First of all, people think when they have backache, they have kidney disease and backache has got nothing to do with kidney disease for the most part. Ninetynine percent of kidney disease does not cause any backache. Secondly, kidney disease can be silent. Someone can have kidney disease and does not have any symptoms and you need to have a proactive attitude toward looking for it and making a diagnosis.
With the work from the National Kidney Foundation and the American Society for Nephrology, there is increased awareness and more and more primary care physicians are testing. And people don’t understand it as much as they can heart attack, for instance, or stroke.
I think the level of burden kidney disease is causing is important and the population needs to be very much aware. In today’s world, every time you get a chest pain, everybody knows that could be a heart attack, but in the kidney, we don’t realize that yet.
The relationship between hypertension and kidney disease is just like the chicken and the egg. Hypertension is the second leading cause of kidney disease and the leading cause is diabetes. As you can imagine, a lot of hypertensive people with diabetes wind up having kidney disease. In return, kidney diseases cause hypertension. When someone comes to our office with kidney disease and hypertension, it is difficult sometimes to tell which one came first, so they are both linked. So you can imagine, if you have hypertension that is not treated, it causes kidney disease. Then that kidney disease will worsen your hypertension and your hypertension will worsen your kidney disease. It becomes a vicious circle which needs to be broken – so there’s a tight relationship between both of them and both of them are silent, because someone can have hypertension and not know about it.
By the time you start having symptoms, it may be too late
Asimple, 10-minute bedside assessment conducted prior to surgery appears to be the best method yet for predicting which kidney transplant patients will do well with their new organs, new Johns Hopkins research suggests.
Areport on the research, published in the February issue of the Archives of Surgery, suggests that a recently developed test of frailty, typically used to assess the physiologic reserve of elderly patients, is also a useful measure for transplant candidates of all ages.
“Few current measures are accurate in predicting kidney transplant success, but we think we have identified one that works incredibly well,” says study leader Dorry L. Segev, M.D., Ph.D., an associate professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Afew years ago, we showed that a frailty score is a simple, yet powerful, bedside tool to predict surgical outcomes in elderly patients and now it seems it can do that same for younger patients with chronic diseases like kidney failure.”
Frailty, Segev says, is best defined medically as a low level of physiologic reserve and reduced ability to withstand stress to the body. It is measured using a five-point scale developed at Johns Hopkins. Apatient is classified as frail if they meet three or more of the following criteria: shrinking (unintentional weight loss of 10 or more pounds in the previous year); weakness (decreased grip strength as measured by a hand-held dynamometer); exhaustion (measured by responses to questions about effort and motivation); reduced physical activity (determined by asking about leisure time and activities); and slowed walking speed (the time it takes to walk 15 feet).
For the current study, Segev and his team measured frailty in 183 patients prior to kidney transplant between December, 2008, and April, 2010. Twenty-five percent of the transplant patients met the criteria for frailty, a figure three times higher than in elderly adults who live at home. Kidney transplant patients classified as frail were nearly twice as likely to have early problems with their new organs, a sign that their new kidneys would be more likely to fail in the future. This increased risk of a poor outcome, Segev says, occurred regardless of the age of the transplant recipient.
Segev and his team used the short-term outcome of delayed graft function (DGF) – meaning a non-functioning organ within the first week after transplant – as a marker for risk of longer term concerns. Although the transplanted kidney may recover and work eventually, he says, it is unlikely to work for as long as a kidney that begins working more quickly in its new body. Researchers found delayed graft function in 30 percent of the patients deemed frail and in just 15 percent of those who were not.
“This information tells us how long the kidney will likely last and how to best treat the patient,” he says. “Our ability to predict delayed function of a new kidney should help overcome one of the biggest barriers to improving outcomes in transplant right now.”
Serves 4
Ingredients
4 - 6-ounce lean pork chops (we used boneless)
1 apple (your choice) cored and chopped
1/2 onion chopped
1/2 tsp. of ground cinnamon
1/4 cup of raisins
2 ounces of cider vinegar
2 ounces of Canola oil
Preparation:
Add 1 oz. of oil to a heated pan. Add apple to pan and sauté 4 minutes or until lightly browned. Add the onions next then add raisins and cinnamon. Last add the vinegar. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 8 minutes or until apples are tender; stir occasionally.
Prepare pork while chutney simmers: Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Season pork with salt and pepper. Coat grill pan with canola oil. Add pork to pan; cook 4 minutes on each side or until done.
Serve with chutney.
Nutrition Information:
388 calories per serving
Total Fats: 17 g; (Saturated Fat: 6g; Monounsaturated Fat: 7.7g; Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.5 g; Omega-6: 1.2 g; Omega 3: .1g; Trans Fats: 0g)
Cholesterol: 138 mg
Carbohydrates: 7g
Dietary Fiber: 1g
Sodium:100mg
Potassium: 788 mg
Protein: 49g
Sugar: 5g
Established in 1988, Food Outreach continues to be the only nonprofit organization in greater St.Louis that focuses on providing nutritional support to lowincome men, women and children battling cancer or HIV/AIDS. The on-staff Chef and Registered Dietitians are pivotal to the program. Through a combination of freshly prepared frozen meals, groceries and nutrition counseling, clients have access to critical dietary needs to help them best optimize their treatments and enhance their quality of life. In 2011, Food Outreach provided nearly half a million nutritious meals at no cost to 1902 clients of all ages living in 137 Missouri and Illinois zip codes. For more information, call 314-652-3663 x121 or visit www.foodoutreach.org.
