March 15th, 2018 Edition

U. City robotics team wins regionals

RoboLions raising funds to travel to Houston in April

By LaShana (Shan) Lewis

Sophomore Alex Hogan toured a guest around the tiny robotics lab at University City High School, where everyone dons safety goggles. It was 7 p.m. on a school night. The team was putting the final touches on a 5-foot-tall robot named Yoshi, named after the Super Mario Brothers’ dinosaur-like video game character. The team, named RoboLions, was preparing to compete at the world championship for the FIRST Robotics competition in Houston. When they recently won the Miami Valley Regional competition, announcers hailed the RoboLions as the “Pride of St. Louis.” For the world championship, international teams of high school

Alex Hogan, a sophomore at University City High School, is a member of the school’s robotics team, the RoboLions, which is raising funds to compete at the FIRST Robotics world championship in Houston, Texas in April.

Percy Green honored

receive inaugural HSSU Presidential Social Justice Icon Award on March 20

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

Legendary St. Louis activist Percy Green II was 28 when he became a direct-action protestor in 1963 with the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) –

Students protest over gun violence

McKinley High students participated in a national school walkout that started at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 14. The protest was in response to last month’s school massacre in Parkland, Florida.

Burroughs students respond to anti-gay protest with celebration of love

‘They are scared of us,’ say Jake Bain and Hunter Sigmund

Westboro Baptist Church, a hate group based out of Topeka, Kansas. Westboro learned that the school had a gay football star – Jake Bain, a senior who will be playing for Indiana State in the fall – and announced on their website that they would protest the school.

interracial volunteer members.

There have been 18 fatal crashes and more than 1,400 crashes in total since 2012 along a four-mile stretch of Natural Bridge Road, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation, many involving pedestrians and motorists driving at high speeds.

For The St. Louis American

Photo by LaShana (Shan) Lewis

By Sophie Hurwitz and Rebecca Rivas

The St. Louis American

Photo by Wiley Price

Photo by Wiley Price

Percy Green

Craig Mack passes at 46

(CNN) -- Craig Mack, one of the artists who laid the foundation for Bad Boy Records, has died, the label’s former director of marketing Michelle Joyce confirmed to CNN. He was 46. No cause of death was immediately released, though Joyce said he had been ill for some time.

Mack’s1994 song “Flava in Ya Ear” was the first single off of Sean Combs’ Bad Boy label and the subsequent remix featuring artists including The Notorious B.I.G. and LL Cool J became one of the defining songs of 1990s hip hop. “If Berry Gordy had Smokey Robinson and ‘Shop Around’ to launch Motown we had Craig Mack with that single ‘Flava in Ya Ear,’” former Bad Boy president Kirk Burrowes told CNN. “It’s not only one of the greatest debut singles in hip hop history, it launched a label.”

early and by the age of 12 was writing his own rhymes. “I knew I wanted to be like LL Cool J and Run DMC” Mack told the New York Times in 1995.

“Rest in power Craig. May the almighty embrace your soul & lift up your family and friends,” rapper LL Cool J tweeted. “It was a pleasure to know you & rock with you. You stepped away from the game & did it your way…I always respected that.”

The Queens-born rapper came to love rap

Nick Gordon’s girlfriend takes blame for the beating

Nick Gordon, former fiancé of the late Bobbi Kristina Brown arrested and detained for domestic violence.

His girlfriend and alleged victim, Laura Leal, the judge handling Gordon’s case that said the beating was all her fault.

She filed docs in Seminole County, Florida, including a letter asking the judge to lift the no-contact order. Leal says she needs Gordon’s love and guidance – and wants to speak to her boyfriend again.

According to TMZ.com, Leal says in the letter that the case against Gordon is not accurate –particularly when it comes to her alleged injuries on the night of Nick’s arrest.

“Pictures were taken of my face the night of the incident because cops stated my lip was ‘bleeding’ when in all reality my lips were chapped and dry,” Leal wrote in the letter, according to TMZ. “There was no marks on my face.”

The celebrity news and gossip site said Leal goes on to say in the letter that she suffers from severe anger issues and the whole thing was a misunderstanding.

“I am seeking help and determined to take the condition seriously as I have been diagnosed bipolar,” Leal allegedly wrote. “He is not at blame and should not be pushed into any trouble or consequences due to my

The letter lines up with TMZ’s original report that Gordon frantically called 911 saying he “sounds so lame because I’m getting beat up by a woman.”

Juelz Santana facing gun and drug charges

Last week, NBC NY reported that Dip Set

rapper Juelz Santana fled TSA agents at the Newark International airport after agents found a gun in his carry-on luggage. Several sources say that that there were also oxycontin pills in the bag.

Juelz Santana turned himself in Monday and was booked on possession of drug charges, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, carrying a weapon on an aircraft and unlawful possession of a weapon.There was also an unspecified federal warrant. Juelz was remanded into custody and is due back in court March 26.

Baby and Weezy embrace at Miami night club

Three years ago, Lil Wayne filed a $51 million lawsuit against his former mentor Bryan “Birdman” Williams and Cash Money Records. Wayne and Baby have been feuding over countless incidents ranging from creative control to finances. But footage of the two hugging it out hit the

‘A partial removal is a partial solution’

Community clashes with EPA over proposed West Lake Landfill cleanup

By Jessica Karins For The St. Louis American

In a packed auditorium in Bridgeton on March 5, residents of the area surrounding St. Louis’ radioactive West Lake Landfill stood up for what they want out of the cleanup plan for their community – and the solution they’re advocating for is not the one the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prefers.

Bridgeton Councilman Randy Hein was one of many residents who stood up to speak at the EPA-hosted public meeting which took place at Bridgeton’s Machinists Union Hall. The community is home to several areas where radioactive material was disposed of and which is responsible for highly elevated levels of radiation, including in some resident’s homes. Many activists also believe it is linked to incidences of rare cancers in the area.

A crowd of over a thousand came to hear the EPA’s plans to clean up radioactivity in West Lake Landfill and the Coldwater Creek area, but Hein was one of the majority who was let down.

“How many more casualties?” Hein asked. “How many more? I say a lot more, if you let this happen.” Hein, and many of his fellow attendees, were unhappy with the plan the EPA chose as its “preferred alternative” for cleaning up the sites. Alternative 4, one of eight that were discussed during the EPA’s presentation, would require the removal of high-level radioactive materials up to 16 feet below the ground. The site would then be covered by an engineered protective cap. The surrounding area would be monitored long-term for radioactivity and water safety.

“RIM [radiologically impacted

material] located at depths greater than 16 feet, regardless of concentration, would be left in place,” the EPA’s documentation on the proposed plans reads.

That was not good enough for many community members at the meeting. Many of them favored the EPA’s Alternative 7, which would require the total removal of radioactive material from the site. It would also cost approximately $455 million to Alternative 4’s $236 million and take an estimated 14.6 years to complete, in contrast to five years for Alternative 4.

Harvey Ferdman, chair of the West Lake Community Advisory Group, was the first to speak during the meeting’s public comment portion.

“A partial removal is a partial solution,” Ferdman said. “Our city,

county and state deserve a full solution. We deserve Alternative 7.”

After years of advocacy from

n “How many more casualties? How many more? I say a lot more, if you let this happen.”

– Randy Hein Bridgeton Councilman

residents in the area around the landfill, a solution seems closer than ever. Scott Pruitt, the EPA

administrator appointed by President Donald Trump, has taken a special interest in the West Lake Landfill and designated it as a target of the Superfund program that addresses America’s highest-priority environmental disasters. The issue also gained greater public attention from “Atomic Homefront,” an HBO documentary that depicted community activists’ efforts to get the EPA’s help. Two class-action lawsuits were recently filed on behalf of residents around West Lake Landfill and the contaminated Coldwater Creek, aiming to hold the companies that mismanaged the nuclear waste accountable for its costs.

Kay Drey, a longtime environmental activist, said the federal government has just as much

A crowd of over a thousand came to Bridgeton’s Machinists Union Hall to hear the EPA’s plans to clean up radioactivity in West Lake Landfill and the Coldwater Creek area on March 5.

responsibility for the problems at West Lake Landfill as the corporations that handled the radioactive materials.

“The federal government creates nuclear weapons,” Drey said. “The federal government has the moral and fiscal responsibility to clean up the nuclear weapons waste at West Lake Landfill.”

The radioactive material that now resides at the landfill was first brought to St. Louis as part of early nuclear weapons development programs in the 1940s. It was then managed by several private corporations, including Republic Services and Cutter Corp., which failed to properly dispose of it.

Dawn Chapman, one of the co-founders of Just Moms STL, a prominent activist group that formed in response to the issue, called for complete removal of the radioactive materials and relocation for those closest to the site.

“Raise your hand if you feel like an acceptable risk,” Chapman asked the audience.

The number of hands that raised for that question was the same number raised when Chapman’s fellow co-founder, Karen Nickel, asked who in the crowd favored implementing the EPA’s preferred plan: zero.

The EPA is seeking public comments on which alternative to implement until April 23. Comments can be submitted to R7_ WestLakeLandfilPublicComments@ epa.gov, or mailed to Benjamin Washburn at the EPA Region 7’s Office of Public Affairs, 11201 Renner Boulevard, Lenexa, Kansas 66219.

Editorial /CommEntary

Happy Anniversary to you, our readers

As the 90th edition of The St. Louis American goes to press, the most-read story during the current news cycle on stlamerican.com – the only place where we can measure what you are actually reading – is a story of aspiration, resiliency, and overcoming stigma. It tells of a St. Louis public school teacher, Tony Perkins, and his fierce battle to overcome the stigma of keloids, an overgrowth of scar tissue that is tender, painful and disfiguring. The story by Sandra Jordan and photographs by Wiley Price show marked improvement for Perkins since he began a series of surgeries by an AfricanAmerican physician with offices in Atlanta and New York named Dr. Michael Jones. As one of Perkins’ students at Roosevelt High School, Tayla Mosley, said, “He looks better now, and I think he is fine with his surgery.”

But, then, it was never his students who gawked and stared at his disfigured face, but rather the adults, who should know better; and, surely, this is one facet of Perkins’ story to which so many of our readers responded. “His problem is not with the kids,” Perkins’ sister, Tracey Bell, told Jordan in her first story about him almost a year ago. “Kids love him. It’s the adults – adults are the ones that judge.”

We believe it is Perkins’ everyday humanity, resiliency, and hope that made so many of our readers engage with his story, both last year and, again, in this encouraging update. “I’m just trying to get the word out, not just for keloids, but for anyone who is suffering with anything,” Perkins told Jordan last year. “Some people have things inside of them – and if I can walk around like this, then you can walk around like that and be proud of who you are.”

We have been here for 90 years to tell the stories of people in our community like Tony Perkins and his amazing young students, who saw the great man within, not the disturbing physical appearance. As Perkins knows, many of his students struggle with some stigma of their own. Not that being black should be ever equated in any way with a disfiguring physical condition – black, as the soul singer said, is beautiful; say it loud and say it proud! – but Perkins knows that many of his students are stigmatized, unfairly and cruelly, by the wider society simply for being black and young. That is the genesis of the 21st century American political movement known as “Black Lives Matter” – because too many people, particularly too many white people in positions of power, behave as if black lives, and especially young black lives, do not matter and are not worth saving.

It also aligns with our mission that the surgeon who began the lengthy, complicated process to improve Perkins’ condition, after many years of unsuccessful and even damaging surgeries, is African-American. For we also celebrate our community through our non-profit organization, the St. Louis American Foundation, and its Salute recognition series. Dr. Jones is not based in St. Louis, but if he were, surely we would have lauded him by now at our annual Salute to Excellence in Health Care, which (along with the perennial efforts of some members of the Mound City Medical Forum) has done more to elevate and share the stories of black medical

professionals in St. Louis than anyone.

The 90th Anniversary special section included in this print edition glances back at where we have been and what we have done over the past nine decades, but let’s take a further look at where we are and what you are responding to now, based on the most-read stories on our daily updated website.

Next popular after Perkins’ transformation is the overwhelmingly positive response by John Burroughs School students to the gay-shaming of an out gay student on campus, Jake Bain, by an out-of-state hate group, and fifth-mostpopular is a student poem celebrating Bain and other LGBTQ youth. We are encouraged to see this private school next to a public school in our most-read stories, and the defense of someone stigmatized for their sexual orientation alongside respect for someone stigmatized for a disfiguring medical condition.

Two of the top 10 stories (at the 3 and 8 spots) concern St. Louis native Sterling K. Brown’s successful host appearance on Saturday Night Live, which continues our long history of sharing stories about local black artistic excellence with our community. Two are political stories: at the 4 spot, a round-up story of campaign filings for the August primary; and, at the 10 spot, our latest report on the criminal proceedings against Governor Eric Greitens. This reflects our longstanding coverage of electoral politics, advocacy of increased black voting, and vigilance over political threats to our community posed by politicians like Greitens.

In the 6 spot is a reader service piece that informs Medicare recipients to expect a new Medicare card in the mail and to guard against scams regarding it, part of our deep commitment to consumer education and protection. In the 7 spot, our own Mike Jones – the retired political professional and member of the state Board of Education, not the working surgeon – discusses the neglect of public education as a form of child endangerment, which reflects our abiding crusade to defend and empower public schools in this region. Speaking of which, the ninthmost-read story as we go to press is a report on the University City High School robotics team advancing to the world championships in Houston and their need to raise some funds to get there.

This brings us back to Tony Perkins, who also is crowd-funding his surgeries, since we do not hesitate to share with our generous readers the stories about individuals and causes that need help to make their dreams come true. Although our newspaper is a free service, supported by our advertisers, and we do not solicit our readers for money, we are reminded that we continue to come to you, our readers, to realize our purpose. Because it remains our purpose to serve, inform, advocate, and empower the community. And that is why we say to you: Happy Anniversary! It has been rewarding to serve this community 90 years. The American was born in hard, troubled times with bitter, divisive racial strains, and while there has been some positive change over the years for some, difficult challenges remain. We still feel needed... Are you ready for 90 more?

Let’s come together and revitalize

Walnut Park

Trump’s craven surrender to the NRA Commentary

Once again, President Trump has made a cowardly, cynical and monumentally stupid retreat on the issue of guns. Forget everything he said in the wake of the Parkland shooting about the urgent need for meaningful action. Trump now takes a position that will almost surely guarantee more gun violence in schools, not less. The president wants to arm “highly trained expert teachers” with concealed weapons. Anyone who thinks this is not one of the worst ideas in history should conduct a brief thought experiment. Imagine any one of your elementary, middle school or high school classrooms. Imagine a loaded gun in there somewhere. Now imagine what could go tragically wrong. Trump’s support for arming teachers and his refusal to back sensible gun-control measures represent a craven surrender to the National Rifle Association. In his madefor-television meeting with members of Congress to discuss gun violence, Trump accused Republicans of being “afraid of the NRA.” But he’s the one cringing and cowering to keep the gun lobby’s favor.

Trump tried to defend his meek surrender Monday on Twitter: “If schools are mandated to be gun free zones, violence and danger are given an open invitation to enter. Almost all school shootings are in gun free zones. Cowards will only go where there is no deterrent!”

One thing that should be clear by now is that most of the

L

By Devona Rogers For The

St. Louis American

I am currently a Human Service major at St. Louis Community College Meramec. As an assignment by my professor, I was instructed to write a letter to the editor regarding a current issue that affects my neighborhood and state my stance. My current issue is property in what was known as the Walnut Park neighborhood but is now Walnut Park East. I grew up in Walnut Park from 1974 until 1990. I can remember growing up on Thrush, where many of my neighbors were of European descent. The neighborhood was nice. African Americans owned the corner stores. There was a community center located on the corner of Lillian and Thrush where the activities were free and lunch was provided along with various activities. I can remember making crafts out of popsicle sticks. There was also Mrs. Edna’s. Mrs. Edna was an AfricanAmerican woman who owned and operated a beauty salon that she lived above, and she operated a candy store and sold the delicious hamburgers she cooked inside her store. The neighbors were nice and friendly. Fred was a European who lived next door to me. He would reach over his fence and give us jelly beans, peanuts and pretzels. A couple of houses down from Fred was Mr. Kent, who would give us donuts and iron-on stickers. Those were the days of my life. As I grow older, the neighborhood began to move away, some passed away, and this brought on a new era and new group of people. The Community Center closed. Mrs. Edna’s business was torn down, and the stores that are not gone have new owners. As times changed, people changed and things changed. Properties began to go down and deteriorate, drugs were introduced, and the crime rate began to soar. This new era and new group of people brought about change and a toll on the neighborhood as families began to leave Walnut Park. With no one to fight for a community or neighborhood, Walnut Park has been left in shambles. It appears as if no one cares. A few new houses were built over the years,

Guest Columnist Devona Rogers

but with all the red tape and politics, no one has stepped up to revitalize this oncethriving neighborhood. It is only mentioned in connection with crime and poverty, both negativity.

This neighborhood is looked down upon as though those that reside there are less fortunate and it is their fault because they do not want to do better and they do not know better, when this assumption is not true and is biased. This is not an individual issue but a societal issue that needs to be corrected, and change needs to be made. If change is made and this neighborhood is revitalized, not only do the residents benefit, but also our economy and we as society. This will generate revenue as well as open doors for businesses and jobs, growth and development. It takes a village to raise a kid. Without this village, our kids will be lost and we will be lost, and we will have lost the battle of revitalizing our community and city. As an advocate for human rights and safety, we must come together as a society and do better. Encouragement is needed and should be implemented. I am for revitalizing Walnut Park and advocating our community for the greater good.

perpetrators of mass shootings, in schools and elsewhere, do not launch their obscene attacks with the expectation of getting away after the vile deed is done. A few do survive, such as the Parkland shooter, but there is almost never any indication that escape was part of the assailant’s plan. These are not rational acts by rational people.

It is ridiculous to think that the fear of getting shot by a teacher would serve as any kind of deterrent. The most obvious foreseeable consequence is that would-be shooter will probably decide to aim at the teachers first.

Trump is slavishly following the NRA’s party line that “a good guy with a gun” is the solution to mass shootings. Clearly, however, it is not.

An armed security officer was on site at Marjory Stoneman

n It is ridiculous to think that the fear of getting shot by a teacher would serve as any kind of deterrent.

Douglas High School in Parkland while the shooter went on his rampage. The officer never went into the building; he later said he believed the shooter was outside the school, not inside. Additional officers who arrived quickly also did not enter.

Where are the shots coming from? How many shooters are there? Is that an assailant pounding on the classroom door, or a potential victim in imminent peril? The idea that teachers are going to be able to answer these questions more quickly and accurately than

etters to the editor

Cops, kids and books

Dear Police Chief Hayden, I would appreciate if you could consider providing the neighborhood young children with book and pencils so that they can learn to read and write the English language. Look for the Eye See Me bookstore at 7827 Olive Blvd. in University City. Recent test scores by the State of Missouri has shown the young people are academically behind the eight ball. If you are willing to work on the education problem, you can help solve the crime problem. Daniel Jackson, St. Louis

Abusive probate guardianship

The award-winning 2017 short documentary “Edith+Eddie” by Kartemquin Films and directed by Laura Checkoway follows the story of America’s oldest interracial couple whose love story is interrupted by a family feud and an administrative probate hearing. The movie highlights the loss of all human and constitutional rights as well as loss of all property rights once Edith is placed into an involuntary guardianship by a probate judge.

What can happen if you fail to settle a family dispute in a guardianship hearing in St. Louis and St. Louis County?

Once you take the matter to a probate judge, you risk losing your loved one to the system. The probate judge will appoint a third-party guardian, regardless of whether advance directives (durable power of attorneys, health care proxies, wills, trusts, etc.) are in place or not. The elderly ward is

well-trained security personnel is ludicrous.

In gunfights, even bigcity police officers who are regularly tested on their firearms proficiency miss their targets more often than they hit them. Picture the chaos of an active-shooter situation. Hear the shots, the shouts, the screams. Are teachers going to be able to focus in on an assailant despite the sensory overload? Or are they more likely to fire at innocent students? Or perhaps at each other?

Consider another predictable scenario: A high school class gets out of control, to the point where the overwhelmed teacher feels physically threatened. Will the teacher perhaps be tempted to display a loaded weapon to restore order? If so, what happens next?

The tragedy of this awful idea – and the intent – is that it diverts the gun violence debate away from measures that could actually have an impact. Chief among them would be a ban on the military-style assault rifles that have become the mass shooter’s weapon of choice. Trump is too scared of the NRA’s wrath to dare mention this common-sense, life-saving step.

Incredibly, the president has even backed away from the no-brainer idea – newly enacted by the State of Florida – of raising the minimum age for at least some gun purchases from 18 to 21. He supported such a move until the NRA slapped his little hand.

Forming a school safety commission under hapless Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is like consigning the issue to a gaggle of geese. Slightly toughening background checks and banning bump stocks hardly amount to incremental progress. Sorry, students. Trump has wimped out.

punished because his/her family “can’t get along.” Your loved one will lose all constitutional and fundamental rights (right to vote and the right to marry) as well as control of all property, life savings, personal treasures. And that is not the worst of it: You will lose all input into your loved one’s care and the right to know of his/ her medical condition. You will become powerless to help your loved one if the guardian decides to send him/her to a nursing home. Remember who is going to profit from the guardianship/conservatorship of your loved one: the guardian, the other fiduciaries, and your attorney. The issue is not whether the present system is legal. The issue is whether involuntary guardianships are consistent with basic principles of law, democracy, civil rights, human rights, and the constitution. The present system of involuntary guardianship violates all these basic principles. It is a danger to everyone whether or not they realize it.

M. Anthony, St. Louis

Columnist

Eugene Robinson

From Florissant to Japan and back

Niaya Avia Harper Igarashi, who grew up in the Florissant area and attended Parker Road Elementary School in the PROBE program for gifted students, recently returned to the district to speak to fifth-grade students at Walnut Grove Elementary School taught by her aunt Wyntra Storms. Igarashi, who is fluent in four languages (English, Spanish, French and Japanese), set out as a world traveler after completing her graduate studies at Webster University, attending its campus in London. She now lives in Japan. She taught English for two years and currently works with university students who are studying abroad, helping them to acclimate themselves to the Japanese culture. Since living in Japan, she met and married the love of her life (thus “Igarashi”) and they are expecting their first child.

Report service issues to Citizens Service Bureau

The City of St. Louis has a Citizens Service Bureau. People experiences issues with city services, such as burned-out street signs or dangerous potholes, may call 314-6224800, tweet @stlcsb or fill out a request online at https://goo.gl/9gSTTu. City officials encourage readers of The American to report any problems with city streets or services so that repairs can be made immediately. They say that not enough North St. Louis take advantage of the bureau’s services.

Ferguson Youth Initiative banquet is April 7

The Ferguson Youth Initiative will host its annual banquet Saturday, April 7 at the Norwood Hills Country Club. The theme this year is “All Hands In,” to emphasize the importance of working together to support our young people. Celebrated soul artist and Ferguson resident Brian Owens will deliver the keynote address. Owens, who has performed at the Apollo Theater, the World Series and the White House, believes passionately in the power of music to uplift the lives of individuals and communities.

Established in 2010, FYI works with local schools, the City of Ferguson, and other community youth programs to develop safe, wholesome activities as well as college and job counseling for teens. For more information, visit http://fyifergyouth.org.

Tickets cost $50 per adult and $30 per student. Organizations interested in learning more about FYI’s work or sponsoring this event can register online through the website: http://fyifergyouth.org/2018/02/fyis-banquet-is-on-april-7th/.

We shall persevere

Adrian E. Bracy For The St. Louis American

As I sat down to put my thoughts about Women’s History Month on paper, one word came to mind. “Perseverance.” Is there a better word to describe how women have not just survived all these years of subjugation but have managed to keep alive the desire, and the demand, for equality? Perseverance.

Long before there were hash tags, there were matriarchs. Strong women who set the example. Some of these women are memorialized in the history books but most are legendary only in the worn and tattered Bibles and journals of their families. For women of color, as always, it was more complicated. But even slavery and Jim Crow couldn’t silence all of their voices or erase their legacies. We stand on the shoulders of all those women today, women like Frankie Muse Freeman, Dorothy Height and Maya Angelou to name just a few, and we owe them our own perseverance.

We should persevere until all women have safety, security and stability. Those are the three pillars which support the programs of YWCA Metro St. Louis –the largest agency providing services to at-risk women in St. Louis – and the three pillars we all can use to prioritize our actions. And act we should!

insist that those who commit violence are held accountable.

Security. Security from homelessness is not a given, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. On average, in Missouri, you have to earn $15.67 cents an hour working 40 hours a week for 52 weeks a year to afford a two bedroom residence without paying more than 30 percent of your income for rent. If you make minimum wage, get ready to work 117 hours a week, or nearly three full-time jobs! And if you need more than two bedrooms …. well, work even more.

Other issues, like mental illness, substance abuse, medical bills or domestic violence further darken the picture and that’s where our YWCA mission kicks in: providing housing and case management for the chronically homeless. But what about the others? Safe, affordable housing must be a priority for our region if we are to avoid becoming a city, literally, of haves and have nots.

Safety. Safety from sexual violence and domestic violence should be a priority for women and men.

But it took dozens of famous or well-connected women coming forward to accuse Harvey Weinstein of horrific sexual assault and harassment before the #MeToo movement caught the attention of the nation. This, even though #MeToo actually was born a decade earlier by black activist Tarana Burke as a way to reach fellow survivors in impoverished communities.

It took more than 150 young athletes accusing Larry Nassar, and criminal prosecution of his sexual crimes, before U.S.A. Gymnastics and Michigan State University reacted.

It took two ex-wives speaking out about their domestic abuse (one with irrefutable photographs of her injuries) and a national outcry before White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter was forced to resign.

These women persevered, they told the truth, and there was believability, if not safety, in numbers. But even a lone voice should be heard. It is up to all of us to support survivors, believe survivors, and hold perpetrators responsible regardless of their standing in the church, the community, or the workplace. The YWCA sexual assault and domestic violence programs served 2,921 survivors last year. That is one sad St. Louis statistic. We must educate our sons and daughters about healthy relationships, we must demand safe workplaces, and we must

Stability. Women comprise 47 percent of the workforce. Mothers are the primary or sole earners for 40 percent of households with children. More women than men obtain a college degree by age 29. Yet, women make only 80 cents on the dollar compared to men. If these trends continue, according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, it will take 41 years, or until 2059, for white women to reach parity. Black women must wait until 2124 and Hispanic women must wait until 2233 for equal pay.

The YWCA Women’s Economic Stability Partnership provides stipends and case management to help single mothers complete their education and obtain higher-paying jobs. While some of the women obtain four-year degrees, many of the degrees obtained are in vocational areas and the increase in salary for these women is substantial. Breaking the cycle of poverty is powerful for generations to come. But it shouldn’t be so hard. Apprenticeships, paid internships, on-the-job training, and continuing education are pathways that too often elude those who need them the most. Yet we, and the women we serve, persevere because we know the struggle is worth it. We are worth it. Our children and our children’s children are worth it. If you agree, here is your call to action: Look around and see what you can do to create a reality of safety, security and stability for all people. On a macro level, educate yourself about candidates and issues and then vote. Vote in every election. On a micro level, surround yourself with people who lift you up and then repay the favor, think about every child as if she or he were your child, and by all means, persevere. Adrian E. Bracy is CEO of YWCA Metro St. Louis.

Adrian E. Bracy

STUDENTS

Continued from A1

“I thought it was so amazing to see how supportive not only the Burroughs community was but the entire St. Louis community as a whole,” Bain said. “There were so many people there who I’d never met before that were willing to come out and support me and support my community. It was a really cool thing to see that this hate was able to be turned into so much love and support for the LGBT community.”

While groups such as the LGBTQ+ advocacy organization PrideSTL held a counter protest outside the school, the students themselves decided to celebrate their community inside, instead of giving the hate group the confrontation they wanted, they said. First, members of the community, including Bain’s boyfriend Hunter Sigmund, gave speeches in response to the event.

“This past week certainly has been a whirlwind of emotions,” Sigmund told his fellow students, who were dressed in rainbow attire. “I’ve been struck with horror. I’m been struck with sadness. But now, as I’m standing before you, all I feel is an incredible sense of pride and happiness.”

After hearing the announcement last Tuesday, about 200 students – over one-third of the student body –came together to “passionately discuss” how to respond to the Westboro group, he said. He thanked them for allowing Bain and him to “be themselves.”

“Thank you for not only accepting the LGBT community but for also being the most active and the most compassionate allies I’ve

GREEN

Continued from A1

Prior to ACTION, Green garnered national attention in 1964 when he climbed the Gateway Arch, along with Richard Daly, to call attention to the lack of AfricanAmerican workers on the massive, historic construction project. He also participated in the Jefferson Bank demonstration, along with thenalderman, future Congressman Bill Clay in 1963.

“Racism is a business,” Green said about his work. “If you want to make change, you have to make that practice a liability, rather than for it to remain as an asset economically or socially.”

On March 20, Harris-Stowe State University will present Green with its inaugural 2018 HSSU Presidential Social Justice Icon Award.

“Harris-Stowe State University is honored to

U. CITY

Continued from A1 students, coaches, and mentors build robots to compete. The robots will perform tasks like put balls or flying discs into goals, place inner tubes onto racks, hang onto bars, or even balance on balance beams. The judges also score for values like gracious professionalism, which rejects bad sportsmanship and encourages empathy and respect for other teams, and “coopertition,” which emphasizes that teams can both cooperate and

MoDOT

Continued from A1

“If you look at the posted speed limit, it’s 35 miles an hour on this road,” Forneris said. “The majority of drivers during the daytime hours are going over 45 miles an hour. Then, overnight, we’re seeing excessive speeds of 60, 65 miles an hour on this very urban street. Those are interstate speeds. We shouldn’t be seeing those types of speeds.” To combat the problem, MoDOT is hosting a series

ever met,” Sigmund said. “This celebration today is representative of so many things. It represents how little we tolerate hate. It represents how much we all love and respect and support each other. It represents how far we are willing to go to fight for one another.”

Several Burroughs alumni sent in videos with speeches, including Bain’s oldest brother, Jon Hoeven, who married his husband just last summer. Hoeven, who graduated high school in 2004, came out in college “because he was pretty insecure while he was at Burroughs,” Bain said. His brother has been a source of support and guidance.

“When I was thinking that it was time to come out, he was definitely someone who I was always talking to,” said Bain, who came out at 17. “He was able to talk me through that process and make it really easy for me.”

After the speeches, the students held a pride parade and dance party to show “how Burroughs works to enable every community member... to be whoever they are without leaving any part of their identity at the door,” said Sofia Di Lodovico, a Burroughs senior.

Tai Griffin, a senior who has been one of the leaders of Spectrum – the LGBTQ+ student support and activism group – since the beginning of his junior year, told The American that he’s seen massive changes in the school community during his time at Burroughs.

“We have definitely made some huge steps,” Griffin said. “When I came in as a freshman in 2014, it was pretty different in terms of LGBTQ+ acceptance.

recognize those to whom we are so very much indebted,” said Harris-Stowe President Dwaun Warmack. “Without these social justice pioneers, we would not be able to enjoy the many liberties we have today. They opened doors, creating opportunities for the generations that followed. Our goal is to make sure their efforts are never forgotten.”

Warmack will present the award to Green at a free public event 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., March 20 in Room 311 of Harris-Stowe’s Henry Givens Jr. Administration Building.

“Kicking off the annual event with Mr. Green is quite satisfying,” said Charlene Lofton Jones, assistant professor of political science at Harris-Stowe and the program’s coordinator. “Percy has been on the front line of social justice efforts for many, many decades.”

The award program includes a conversation moderated by St. Louis radio icon Bernie Hayes.

compete at the same time. At a programming station in the robotics lab at University City High School, a young man analyzed lines of computer code. In a nearby area, a large monitor sat on stilts, looming in the background with a paused scene; the video explains what the students have to do. Hogan pointed out that the CAD (computer-aided design) computer is used to draw a digital map of the pieces that they used to formulate their final robot. A shelf on the back wall had what looks like a large, stiff board leaning on it. “Back there is a piece of

of focus groups aimed at seeking community input on how to address the problem. They have already met with community members and plan to conduct two groups with the owners of businesses along the road.

“We have learned that what each of us brings is valuable, and we will use that information so we can make better decisions and ultimately improve Natural Bridge,” Forneris said. Natural Bridge Road has had a greater impact on Donna Powell than on most St. Louisans. Powell’s daughter, Tolighta Morrow,

Not that it was a hateful environment or anything, but there were just more steps to take.”

Then, he said, things began to shift. Students campaigned for the school to provide gender-neutral bathrooms.

Several LGBTQ+ students made speeches in front of the school about their identities.

Last year, the school even hosted its first pride parade, which was attended by students of all ages dressed up in rainbow colors.

“Every year we took that next step,” Griffin said. “And we’ve gotten to the point where someone like Jake can come out and be met with

“I’ve watched Percy from afar and seen him put forth tremendous effort, energy and steely resolve in making our region the best it could be,” Hayes said. Green has a master’s degree in social work from Washington University and a bachelor’s degree from Saint Louis University. He keeps a book containing articles of ACTION’s demonstrations during the 1970s. One of the articles details exactly how two white women, who were ACTION members, were able to sneak into the Veiled Prophet Ball in 1972 and expose the Veil Prophet to be Tom K. Smith, then-vice president of Monsanto.

ACTION began protesting the white-only Veiled Prophet (VP) organization in 1967 as part of strategy to enhance the group’s ongoing protest for fair employment.

“ACTION viewed the VP as a racist organization and advocated that it should be abolished so St. Louis could

carbon fiber,” Hogan said. “We made it ourselves.” This work translates into saving 9 pounds off the robot, which can only weigh a maximum of about 120 pounds.

n

unrestrained love from his community.”

Bain, who was honored at the St. Louis Blues Pride Night in February, has been specifically targeted by these homophobic messages, but the whole school has felt the hit.

Bain read a speech in front of the school, in which he quoted the Westboro press release that called him several homophobic slurs.

“If one of the most powerful hate groups in the world is going out of their way to come to our school and protest, then I don’t know about you, but to me, that sounds like a change is coming,” Bain said.

begin freeing itself from institutional racism and become a prosperous city for all,” Green said.

Two years before ACTION’s VP protests began, the group launched a protest campaign to demand “More and Better-Paying Jobs for Black Males, the family chief bread winner.” The campaign targeted large local businesses, including Southwestern Bell (now AT&T), Laclede Gas (now Spire), Union Electric (now Ameren), McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), and McDonald Construction (the general contractor that built the Gateway Arch).

ACTION wanted to generate good-paying jobs for black males, specifically 4,080 jobs spread across all of the targeted companies, a number that reflected the 10 percent of St. Louis’ population made up of African Americans at that time. When ACTION’s demands weren’t met within the allotted time span, the public demonstrations against

“When I got to middle school, they didn’t have a robotics team.

So, I created one.”

As one of only a few girls in the room, Hogan stood out. She participated on her first robotics team in the 2nd grade at Flynn Park Elementary School.

– Alex Hogan

“When I got to middle school (KIPP Inspire Academy), they didn’t have a robotics team,” she said. “So, I created one.”

was on her way to Powell’s home when her car was struck by another motorist on Natural Bridge which sped through a red light. Morrow, a 30-year-old mother, and her boyfriend were killed immediately. Her six-year-old daughter, who was also in the car, was severely injured. Morrow was an U.S. Army reservist who served tours of duty in Iraq and Kuwait. It came as a shock to Powell that her daughter was killed during an ordinary drive to drop off her daughter, whom Powell routinely babysat during Morrow’s night shift at

Jake Bain addressed the John Burroughs School community on March 12 as the anti-gay hate group the Westboro Baptist Church picketed him and the school outside on Clayton Road.

of people shouting horrible, disgusting things at them as they walked into school every day,” Bain said. Bain’s mother is white, and his father is black. However, his maternal grandparents adopted a black baby daughter in 1971, when his grandpa was coaching at Burroughs.

“They got a lot of mixed messages from people who were from Burroughs and around the St. Louis area because he was a well-known football coach,” Bain said. “My family has always been on the front of what it means to be a diverse family.”

His dad often speaks about the discrimination he experienced as a black man growing up.

“It’s just blown me away,” Bain said. “It’s similar to how people are so against being gay.”

Now in her ninth year of competitions, the high schooler plans to continue in the field. After graduation, Hogan wants to study robots at Missouri University of Science and Technology (known as Missouri S&T). She wants to pursue a career in robotics engineering. She is strong, despite dealing with an illness common in the AfricanAmerican community, sickle cell disease, where the body

General Motors. Morrow had retired from the U.S. Army Reserves just three weeks before her death.

“She was loving, kind, giving,” Powell said.

“She loved her family and her friends as well. The community really cried out for her.” Powell later found out that the driver who caused the accident was driving a stolen car in addition to speeding.

“It was just so senseless,” Powell said.

Powell said she believes that safety on Natural Bridge Road could be greatly improved. She said

“They heard our voices. They heard our demands for equality. They saw the support that this entire Burroughs community, and many more across the world, have given to the LGBTQ+ community, and now they are scared.”

There has never been a human rights movement in this world without some form of resistance, Bain said. He sees this resistance as a sign that Burroughs is on the path towards equality for its LGBTQ+ students.

“When the Little Rock 9 marched into Central High School to be the first children to desegregate America’s schools, they endured hundreds

each company began.

In 1967, ACTION discovered that all the chief executive officers (CEOs) of the companies it had charged with practicing discriminatory employment were also active members of the white-only VP organization.

“If a CEO belonged to such an organization, then how likely was it that same CEO would be fair to a black male?” Green said. “According to ACTION, this racist social connection was the glue that reinforced these CEOs’ practices of not hiring AfricanAmerican males into decentpaying jobs.”

After ACTION began to expose their VP connections, the negative public association caused some of these CEOs to begin hiring black males in higher-paying positions.

Green said, “Apart from the personal economic hardships and sacrifices that I have encountered due to lack of employment, I am proud to have played a small

produces red blood cells that form a curved shape, similar to the tool’s blade that is used on farms.

“I chose Missouri S&T also because it puts me closer to home for treatments, she said. “That’s good because I’m also a daddy’s girl, so I’m closer to my family!”

On Sunday, a group of Burroughs students met in the school gym to create signs showing their support, stating, “God loves everybody” and “love is love.” Students from Thomas Jefferson School, Ladue Horton Watkins High School and Westminster Christian Academy joined the Burroughs students in making signs. Bain’s family also came to show their support –including his grandparents.

One of the speeches on Monday that stuck out in Bain’s mind was a poem read by freshman Leyla Fern King

“It was one of the most beautiful poems I’ve ever heard,” Bain said. “She said even if you can’t come out, just the fact that you’re breathing in the world where there’s so much hate towards you means that you are so strong and that you’re enough. That idea that you are enough and you’re perfect how you are, it was incredible to hear.”

role in causing some positive changes for blacks, especially black males, being hired and receiving contracts.”

Green forced change through the courts as well. In May 1973, Green’s lawsuit against his then-employer, Green vs McDonnell-Douglas, became a landmark fairemployment U. S. Supreme Court case regarding racial discrimination.

“The Civil Rights movement witnessed a very turbulent, controversial, and certainly productive movement that swept not only across the country, but across the St. Louis region as well,” Warmack said. “Stalwarts and social justice icons such as Attorney Frankie Muse Freeman, Congressman William L. Clay and certainly Percy Green II, played major roles among black and white, young and old, rich and poor, in moving us forward.” For more information about the event, email davist@hssu. edu or call 314-340-3688.

For now, Hogan handles a bevy of duties for the RoboLions: “I do mechanical work,” she said, “as well as social media, communication, and I’m one of the robot drivers.” She pointed over to a table with a disassembled metal bar. “That’s my piece I operate,” she said, “but it’s been taken apart for repairs.” To get their robot to Houston, they will rely on parents with trucks. “The last robot,” Hogan said, “we had to put it on the front of the bus.”

redesigning the road could make a difference, as could a greater police presence. “If [drivers] know that this is a trap, they won’t speed like that,” Powell said.

After conducting remaining focus groups, Forneris said, MoDOT will compile a document containing community suggestions, which they hope to release in the spring, and will begin working on possible solutions. The department will work with a team of engineers to address the issues.

MoDOT has also launched the Natural Bridge Safety

Robotics Coach Ed Deitzler is working hard to raise money to get the team out to the championships, which will be held from April 18-21. He has a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds that will help with expenses for the approximately 25 students involved at https://www. gofundme.com/help-send-therobolions-to-houston.

Initiative, issuing a number of public service announcements urging pedestrians not to jaywalk and motorists not to drive above the speed limit. Natural Bridge Road is infamous for more than just its traffic difficulties. The road was named the most violent street in America by the Guardian newspaper in 2017 due to its high rate of gun violence and homicides. To suggest solutions for Natural Bridge, contact the MoDOT city team at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (888275-6638) or contact the department through Facebook or Twitter.

Photo by Margaret Bahe

Escaping slavery in 1849 St. Louis

Missouri Historical Society Press publishes new book, ‘Fire, Pestilence, and Death’

By Christopher Alan Gordon

For The St. Louis American

In 1849, St. Louis was little more than a frontier town, swelling under the pressure of rapid population growth, strained due to poor infrastructure, and often trapped within the confines of ignorance and prejudice. A massive cholera epidemic and the Great Fire of 1849 were consequences of those problems, but they were also chances for the city to evolve. Using newspaper accounts, letters, diaries, city and county records, as well as contemporary publications, Christopher Alan Gordon brought to life the stories of the St. Louisans who lived through this tumultuous year in his new book, Fire, Pestilence, and Death: St. Louis 1849, published this winter by the Missouri Historical Society Press. The following passage is adapted from Fire.

Because the legal path to freedom for enslaved persons could be arduous and lengthy without a guarantee of success, it was ultimately no different from attempting escape. But escape, if successful, had the benefit of a quicker exit to freedom. Slaves who were willing to take the risk had friends—both black and white—stepping up to help them. Multiple stories in the Daily Missouri Republican and the St. Louis Daily New Era newspapers show that an organized network of abolitionists was actively assisting enslaved individuals in the St. Louis area in 1849. Some of these escape attempts were successful; many were not.

Both papers took an unapologetic proslavery stance that’s easily discerned in the wording and tone of the articles written about the escape cases. When it was reported that Benjamin Fowler had lost an enslaved woman and two boys the previous year, the Republican stated that the slaves “were enticed by abolitionists.” When Fowler learned that his missing property had turned up in Will County, Illinois, he set off to reclaim it. Upon arriving there he secured a legal warrant to take possession of the three escaped slaves and managed to take hold of the two boys. However, reported the Republican, “abolitionists of that vicinity collected in strong force, and threatened violence if he should remove them.” Fowler backed down and returned home on the steamboat Ocean Wave emptyhanded.

An illustration from the 1847 edition of the book The Narrative of William W. Brown. Missouri Historical Society Collections.

The editors ended the story with an attempt to villainize the Illinois abolitionists by claiming the enslaved woman had expressed interest in returning home with her former owner, a wish “denied by her beloved abolitionist friends.”

St. Louis’s location directly across the river from a free state increased the chances of a successful escape, but it didn’t necessarily make escape easier. Vigilant eyes were always on the lookout for escapees, and just because one made it to a free state didn’t always mean that the local authorities would be sympathetic, as was the case for a group of three enslaved men who successfully crossed the Mississippi at Gabaurie Island in early November 1849. With the assistance of two white abolitionist friends, E. J. Palmer and Isaac Shedeker, and a free black man and experienced absconder, Bob Williams, the three enslaved men raced through the countryside to try to get as much distance as they could between them and Missouri. However, the Republican reported, “eight miles beyond Alton, they were arrested by a gentleman, who committed them to jail at Jerseyville.” This man then proceeded to St. Louis to inform their owners of his discovery, no doubt expecting a handsome reward.

The abolitionist Palmer attempted to create greater distance between the escaped men and their owners by filing a writ of habeas corpus in Beardstown, Illinois, some seventy miles away from the Missouri state line. He also claimed that the men were actually free but had been illegally sold into slavery. With the filing of the writ, the men were allowed to continue to Beardstown for a hearing with a circuit court judge. They were accompanied by a local sheriff, who foiled the men’s “several attempts to escape” along the way. The abolitionist Shedeker was allowed to drive the wagon carrying the men, and when they arrived in Beardstown, he attempted to make a break for it with the wagon. The sheriff, however, was able to seize the reins from Shedeker, thus stopping the desperate dash for freedom. The escaped enslaved men had no further recourse than to be taken before the judge.

Despite the considerable distance, their owners arrived in Beardstown to witness the hearing. The judge ruled that the abolitionists’ activities and the attempted legal proceedings were illegal, and he returned the enslaved men to the St. Louisans.

For his part in the attempted escape, Williams was also arrested and sent home to St. Louis. The New Era reporter covering the story surmised that he would “in all probability expatiate for his crimes in the Penitentiary in Jefferson.” Fire, Pestilence, and Death: St. Louis 1849 is available for purchase at the Missouri History Museum Shop, area bookstores, and Amazon. com.

Senate bill seeks to gut fair housing

By Charlene Crowell Columnist

In just a few weeks, civil rights and housing advocates will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act. Just four days following the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Congress passed the law on April 10, 1968.

On the following day, President Lyndon Baines Johnson’s signature made it unlawful to discriminate in housing sales, rentals and finance. Although race, color, religion and national origin were the original protected classes, in later years the act was amended to include gender, people with disabilities and families with children. With each revision, businesses such as banks, and other lenders, realtors, landlords, insurance companies – even governments that previously used zoning and restrictive covenants to deny housing access - were all obliged to adhere to new standards of inclusion.

Fast-forward 50 years, and much of Black America and other people of color still find that the promise of fair lending remains just that. Our collective experiences as a people provide painful reminders of how full and equal access to credit - particularly in mortgage lending - remains an unfulfilled promise.

These long-standing concerns have somehow failed to be included in a new draft legislative proposal on Capitol Hill. In the name of housing finance reform, a working proposed bill by U.S. Senators Bob Corker of Tennessee and Mark Warner of Virginia would eliminate the current requirement of a “duty-toserve” all markets, particularly those like communities of color and rural areas. Instead,

the promise of inclusion would be replaced with the vague business judgment of a so-called “guarantors’ decision.”

If allowed to be enacted into law, government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, would be eliminated and fair lending requirements could be weakened. At the end of 2016, the GSEs - Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, along with Ginnie Mae together held $16.7 trillion in mortgages on the nation’s secondary market.

It’s the kind of policy development that usually fails to attract major headlines but affects literally millions of unsuspecting potential homeowners across the country. Once mortgage applicants are approved for loans, the bulk of them are sold to the secondary market, most often to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Their sale enables the original lender to free up capital to make more loans to consumers.

Fortunately, the National Urban League and the Center for Responsible Lending joined forces to oppose this proposal before it can pick up more lawmaker support.

A report co-authored by the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) and National Urban League critiques this Senate proposal and criticizes recently published papers supporting it. “Senate GSE Reform Proposal: A Blow to Affordable Housing and Harmful to the Overall Housing Market” criticizes the current legislative proposal as reserving homeownership only

for those who are financially well off.

“Although much of the housing market has recovered in recent years, many Americans have either not benefited or have even lost ground,” said National Urban League President Marc Morial. “Millennials and people of color deserve the opportunity to pursue their own American Dreams. And existing homeowners, especially older Americans, need buyers when they are ready to downsize or retire. The financial glue connecting these generations is affordable mortgage credit.” Morial is right. This year, new discriminatory housing and lending lawsuits in Sacramento and Houston are reminiscent of earlier ones filed in Baltimore, Los Angeles, Memphis, Philadelphia, and other locales. Not that long ago, taxpayers bailed out risky and ill-advised private sector practices that targeted blacks and Latinos for high-cost, risky mortgage loans that were designed to fail. Our communities bore the brunt of the 7.8 million foreclosures and a trillion dollars in lost wealth. The entities under assault are Freddie Mac, the acronym for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and Fannie Mae, the name given to the Federal National Mortgage Association.

“Our recent housing past is replete with risk that eventually harmed consumers, communities, and the entire economy,” said CRL President Mike Calhoun. “A doubtful structure of guarantors awarded unenforceable duties is simply not in our nation’s best interest.”

Charlene Crowell is the Center for Responsible Lending’s Communications deputy director. She can be reached at charlene.crowell@ responsiblelending.org.

Columnist

Charlene Crowell

Physicians and health experts continue to see a rise in the percentage of American children with type 2 diabetes, which usually affects adults. The leading cause for diabetes in children, they said, is obesity, which is still on the rise.

Diabetes climbs among black children

Obesity epidemic blamed for the increase

By Sabrina Shanghie

Of Howard University News Service

NEW YORK – Meagan Charles is a nursing student at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, N.Y. She also one of the rising number of Americans diagnosed as children with diabetes.

“I was 13 when I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes,” Charles, now 22, said. “It was one of those things I didn’t understand at such a young age. I just knew that my father had it.” Diabetes – which can cause kidney failure, heart disease, amputations of legs and toes, and even death – is a condition in which the body does not properly process food for use as energy. Most of the food people eat is turned into glucose, or sugar, for their bodies to use for energy. In diabetics, the pancreas

n In diabetics, the pancreas can’t make enough of the hormone insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies.

can’t make enough of the hormone insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies.

Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. It was previously known as juvenile diabetes. Only 5 percent of people with diabetes have this form of the disease. Actress Halle Berry is one of the small percentage of people with type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is usually diagnosed in adults. It can be genetically passed on by parents or grandparents. It is most often caused by obesity in children, and obesity is the leading cause in adults. The prevalence of childhood type 2 diabetes jumped more than 30 percent from 2000 to 2009, according to a study by the Pediatric Academic Societies.

Additionally, childhood obesity continues to climb, the study found; 35.1 percent of U.S. children were overweight or obese in 2016 – a sharp 4.7 percent increase from just two years earlier, according to a study by Duke University. Maintaining the proper diet is vital for diabetics. Too many sugarcreating carbohydrates or not enough can cause severe illness, and even death.

See DIABETES, A11

By Dr. Eboni C. January

For The St. Louis American

As a gynecologist, my patients are commonly women who have not been to their women’s health care provider in years and lack an understanding of how important it is to have annual screening exams. My goal is to educate women on the importance of not just having a yearly exam, but also the reasons why it’s so important. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in the United States. Additionally, it is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women in America. A woman’s lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is 12 percent. The good thing is that breast cancer-related deaths have decreased over the past 50 years, mostly due to increased screening.

n Breast cancer-related deaths have decreased over the past 50 years, mostly due to increased screening.

The significant risk factors for the development of breast cancer are a family history of breast, ovarian, or other hereditary cancer; early age at menses; late menopause; no pregnancies; increasing age; alcohol consumption; smoking; and certain ethnicities. A mammogram is the primary tool used to screen for breast cancer. Mammograms are also used to check lumps and other breast symptoms. People often ask if mammograms are painful. The pressure of the plates can make breasts ache; however, the discomfort is temporary. Another commonly asked question is: “What does it mean when my doctor says, ‘You have dense breast?’” Fat and fibrous tissue gives breasts their shape. When described as “dense,” it means that they are more fibrous and less fat. Breast density is a normal and common finding on a mammogram.

Clinical breast exams are the other tool used to screen for breast cancer. These should be done every one to three years starting at age 25 unless there is a strong family history of breast cancer. They should be done

See JANUARY, A11

From Normandy to radiology

Dr. Brandon Taylor offers tips for success in the medical field – and life

By Sharifah Sims-Williams

Normandy Schools Collaborative

These days, Dr. Brandon Taylor is learning a new skill: relaxation. That is understandable, considering he just completed a rigorous fellowship in radiology at a leading healthcare provider in Houston.

Since Dr. Taylor graduated from Normandy High School in 2003, he has been studying and working in pursuit of his medical degree. Upon completing his formal schooling, he realized that life could include something else – free time. Raised in Pagedale, Dr. Taylor is a board-certified musculoskeletal radiologist.

n “If you’re black and you’re trying to do the right thing, a support system will come and help you make it happen.”

– Dr. Brandon Taylor

Impressive, but he was not the student who had a life plan in place after graduating from Normandy High School. He was admittedly undecided about his next steps.

“I thought about being a teacher,” Taylor

recalled. “I went to church a lot growing up, so I even thought about being a preacher.”

However, his Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test scores suggested a different route. Based on the PSAT results, a career in medicine was recommended. “I guess it was right,” he said.

Even after he left Normandy to attend Morehouse College in Atlanta, he still was not sold on the doctor track. He liked chemistry and mathematics, but did not like working in a lab. After thinking more about what he wanted for his life, at the beginning of his junior year he decided to go into

See TAYLOR,

Dr. Eboni C. January

Dr. Brandon Taylor is a radiologist in private practice in Washington, D.C. and a Normandy High School alumnus.

Photo by Sharifah Sims-Williams

Eat less salt – or else

New

study reports that

By Sandra Jordan

Of The St. Louis American

Even if your diet is healthy otherwise, it does not make up for the harmful effects of dietary sodium on blood pressure.

That’s the conclusion of a new study led by Jeremiah Stamler, M.D. of Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, and Queenie Chan, Ph.D. of the Imperial College London recently published in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension

The study, under the auspices of the INTERMAP Research Group, also reaffirmed the need for widespread sodium reduction in the food supply. In the U.S., people ingest much more sodium than is physiologically necessary, in part, from eating out a lot and eating highly processed foods.

“Anything that comes in a can, package, frozen dinners, lunchmeat – if all you have to do is open it, heat it and eat it – it’s processed,” said BJC hypertension specialist and cardiologist Angela Brown, M.D. For the INTERMAP study, researchers reviewed data on sodium intake and intake of 80 nutrients – such as proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and amino acids – that may relate to blood pressure in 4,680 women and men participants (ages 40-59) in the United States, Japan, People’s Republic of China, and the United Kingdom. The data included sodium and potassium excretion levels in urine collections. Researchers concluded that other dietary nutrients may not offset the detrimental effects of sodium.

“Regularly consuming excessive amounts of sodium, derived mainly from commercially processed food

DIABETES

Continued from A10

Growing up, Charles said, she watched as her father struggled with diabetes and the health issues that can accompany the disease.

“If my mom didn’t cook the right foods for my dad, or if he didn’t eat on time, he would feel sick,” she said. “Sometimes he would become so weak he wouldn’t be able to do much for a few days.”

After Charles was diagnosed, her mother, Maxiene Charles, found herself caring for her husband but her newly diagnosed diabetic daughter.

sodium’s

health damage may not be offset by better eating

products, is an important factor in the development of the elevated blood pressure patterns,” wrote co-lead author Jeremiah Stamler, M.D. “To prevent and control the ongoing epidemic of prehypertension and hypertension, the salt content in the food supply must be reduced significantly.”

Although some families eliminated salt shakers from their dining tables and add little to no salt when they cook at home, that is not where the biggest problem lies. About three-fourths of the sodium Americans eat comes from processed, prepackaged, and restaurant foods.

The American Heart Association recommends that adults consume no more than one teaspoon of salt (2,300 mg

“It was scary knowing that my child was diabetic,” she said. “At times it got frustrating, if she didn’t want to eat what I had prepared. It’s still a struggle, but we’re getting there.”

Charles had difficulty transitioning to her new diet to keep her diabetes under control. She ended up in the hospital at age 17 after not monitoring her diet properly, she said. “I was on my way home from class when I started feeling dizzy,” she said. “I actually drove myself to the hospital and my father met me there.” Charles had almost slipped into a diabetic coma, which could have been fatal if she didn’t go the hospital when she did, her doctors told her.

Charles’ Type 2 diabetes has followed her into adulthood.

Dr. Shurla CharlesGonsalves, a family medicine physician in New York City, said one of the leading causes of diabetes in children is obesity, largely from consuming sugar-laden beverages, overeating or eating foods high sugar – candies, cakes, donuts, brownies – or

TAYLOR

Continued from A10 medicine.

sodium) total per day through all the foods they eat. For African Americans, cut that number by one-third.

“The recommendation from the American Heart Association is not to exceed 1500 milligrams of sodium a day, which is hard because the culprit for sodium tends to be processed food,” said Brown, an AHA St. Louis division board member and associate professor of Medicine at Washington University St. Louis.

include older adults (age 51 and older), and anyone with hypertension, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease – that would be about half of the US population.

“We’re learning more about the role other nutrients play in influencing the blood pressure-raising effects of sodium, and that the focus on sodium remains important,” said Cheryl Anderson, Ph.D., vice-chair of the American Heart Association’s Nutrition Committee.

Reducing sodium to about 1500 mg per day is about three-fourths of a teaspoon.

Other groups who should reduce sodium intake further

too many carbohydrates.

“We’re seeing more and more children become overweight and obese at young ages, this will often set them up for diabetes now or later in life,” Dr. CharlesGonsalves said.

“We have to understand that socioeconomic issues are also leading factors when it comes to dealing with diabetes. It is a privilege to be able to eat healthy and pay for medications and treatments for diabetic patients.”

“Restaurant and prepackaged food companies must be part of the solution because Americans desire the ability to choose foods that allow them to meet their sodium reduction goals.”

Children are usually diagnosed with diabetes after displaying a symptom, the doctor said.

“That child may be always thirsty, always going to the

bathroom and even eating a lot of food, but not gaining weight,” she said. We often see diabetes affecting children physically, whether it be weight gain, injecting insulin, or feeling any of the symptoms signaling diabetes, but rarely do we acknowledge the psychological effects this disease can have on people, especially children.

Maureen Monaghan, a clinical and pediatric psychologist and certified diabetes educator in the Childhood and Adolescent Diabetes, said the effects of a diagnosis of diabetes on children varies from patient to patient

“We have children as young

The AHA nutrition committee is working with the food industry on ways to reduce sodium in the food supply. In the meantime, reading nutrition labels and awareness of high sodium products will help consumers select healthier choices for themselves and their families.

For people who are busy or who eat out a lot, paying attention to menus is important.

“Most restaurants have low sodium options on their menus,” Dr. Brown said. It also involves knowing how to interpret nutritional content on those menus. “Typically, foods that are fried are going to be saltier ... foods that come with gravies or sauces also tend to be saltier as well.”

Foods that are baked or boiled or broiled, and

as 1 and 2 that are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes,” said Monaghan. “That is very different from a 14-, 15- or 16-year-old with Type 1 diabetes. We have to think about the family and their ability to cope and adjust. There may be some grief and in-denial thinking, but some families are also impressed with how their child is handling their diagnosis.”

As diabetes diagnosis rates are increasing, deaths among children are also occurring, Monaghan said.

“We have lost a few of our patients to diabetes, but thankfully it is fairly rare,” she said. “If patients do pass away due to Type 1 diabetes, it is either because of an extreme high glucose level or an extreme low glucose level (in Type 2).

Or, she said, they can die because they can’t afford the insulin they desperately need.

vegetables that are steamed, are typically healthier choices.

If a restaurant serves cooked to-order food, Brown said you can ask that sodium or MSG be eliminated from the meal.

“Clearly, you want to focus on a diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, but still, watching the sodium on top of that is kind of the key,” Dr. Brown said.

“You can’t get around the fact that, increased sodium by itself raises blood pressure, so if you’re at a good weight, if you are watching your fat intake, eating basically a plantbased diet, the good stuff that you are doing doesn’t outweigh increased sodium.”

More on the INTERMAP study can be found at https:// tinyurl.com/yc8o4wx7.

A month’s supply of insulin typically costs a few hundred dollars for those without medical insurance, and diabetics cannot survive without insulin injections or pills. Even though deaths from diabetes in children are less likely to occur, if diabetes isn’t managed correctly daily as a child and later as an adult, complications related to the disease can cause server problems.

Last year Meagan Charles got a wake-up call when her father lost a limb to diabetes.

“When my dad got his foot amputated, I knew things had to change,” Charles said. Charles suggested people who suspect they or someone they know might be diabetic, to schedule an appointment with a doctor to screened.

“I think everyone should get screened for diabetes,” she said. “It’s better to know now, than be sorry later.”

He is now working in private practice in Washington, D.C. The 32-year-old credits his accomplishments to the support of his community and family, especially his aunt, Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge, who is also a Normandy alum. Taylor counts her as one of his biggest supporters.

“She laid the groundwork, and I wanted to impress her,” Taylor recalled. “She was always smart and successful. Being around her, I didn’t want to disappoint.”

Dr. Taylor studied chemistry with a minor in mathematics at Morehouse, then returned home to attend medical school at Saint Louis University. After completing medical school, he completed his internship and residency at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From there, Taylor moved to Houston for a fellowship in musculoskeletal radiology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Care Center. As a radiologist, Dr. Taylor interprets and provides diagnosis for x-ray images his colleagues order for their patients.

Taylor also credits his success to being exposed to others who were successful, like his aunt Pamela, who is

now a senior executive with Express Scripts and vice president of the Normandy Joint Executive Governing Board. He remembers when, as a teen, he attended City of Life Church in University City. There were doctors, teachers, and other professionals in the congregation. He said they all had a positive influence on him.

If youth are not in close proximity to these kinds of role models, they need to seek these individuals out, because people will help them, Taylor said.

“Try to find someone who looks like you doing what you want to do,” Taylor explained. “Seeing someone

who is doing what you want to do does something to you. What seems so far away, seems a little closer.”

He says this is especially true for students of color.

“If you’re black and you’re trying to do the right thing, a support system will come and help you make it happen,” he said.

Dr. Taylor said he still keeps in contact with many of his Viking classmates, mostly through social media.

Like many Normandy alumni, he definitely has that Viking Pride.

“I love Normandy, and my class was pretty awesome,” Dr. Taylor said. “People from Normandy, we are the best wherever we go.”

JANUARY

Continued from A10

annually after age 40. After age 75, women do not need mammograms. It is no longer recommended to do regular self-breast exams, but women should be aware of what is normal for their breasts. If you see a change in your breast, then alert your health care provider. Lastly and most importantly, women should know their family history. All cancer is not

created equal. Breast cancer is not the same as lung cancer; lung cancer usually isn’t hereditary, but breast cancer can be. Ask family members about specific diagnoses or cancer. In summary, get screened, know your breast, and know your family history.

Remember, People’s Health Centers Women’s Health Department is ready to assist you.

Dr. Eboni January is a board-certified obstetrician/ gynecologist currently practicing at Betty Jean Kerr Peoples Health Centers.

Meagan Charles, now 22 and a nursing student, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes when she was 13.

Angela Brown, MD

PRESENT:

Healthy Kids Kids

those leftovers for lunch the next day!

When we’re lucky enough to have a chance to go out for dinner, there are a few ways to stay healthy with our food

> Avoid gravies, cheese sauces and other kinds of toppings that often just add fat and calories.

Dining Out.

> Ask the server how the different menu items are prepared. Fried, sautéed, and

The Smart Way!

See if the restaurant will let you “share” a meal. Many meals are two, three or more times an actual serving size.

As soon as you’ve divided your plate into the right size servings, ask your server for a to-go box. Go ahead and box up what you don’t need to eat right away. You can enjoy

First Day of Spring!

even simmered can all mean, “cooked in oil.” Instead, choose baked or grilled options.

March 20, 2018, is the first day of spring. With spring comes warmer weather and longer days (later sunset). Make it a habit to spend as much time playing outside as the weather allows.

Some fun outdoor games to play include tag, kickball, basketball, Frisbee, and bicycling. Choose activities that increase your heart rate

A BMI (Body Mass Index) is a generic way to calculate where your weight falls into categories (thin, average, overweight, obese). However, it’s a good idea to remember that a BMI may not take into consideration many things such as athleticism (how athletic you are), your bone density and other factors. Discuss your BMI with your

> Stick with water to drink. Not only will you save money, but you won’t be adding in extra calories from a sugarfilled drink.

> What are other ways to stay healthy while dining out?

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5

and breathing. You want to have fun, but it’s also a great way to help keep your heart, lungs and body healthy.

Make a list of your favorite 10 activities to do outdoors. Compare your list with your classmates and create a chart to see what are the most popular.

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1

doctor if you have any questions. The formula to calculate your BMI is 703 X weight (lbs) ÷ height (in inches/squared) or search “BMI Calculator” to find an easy fill-in chart online. If your number is high, what are some ways to lower your BMI?

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, NH 5

“Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 314-289-5422

Ingredients: 1/2 Cp Vanilla Greek yogurt, 3 Tbsp Natural peanut butter, 1 Ripe banana (sliced and frozen), Splash of vanilla (optional) 6 Ice cubes

Directions: Blend all ingredients until Smooth. Makes 2 yummy smoothies!

Kids got cabin fever?

Spring classes at the Saint Louis Zoo

Cole, MT-BC

Where do you work? I am a music therapist for BJC Hospice.

Where did you go to school? I graduated from Lutheran North High School. I then earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy from Maryville University in St. Louis, and a Master of Business Administration from Lindenwood University in St. Charles. What does a music therapist do? I travel around locally playing music for patients in their homes. A music therapist’s job is to use music to help their patients or clients function better in their everyday lives. Since comfort is the main concern for my patients, I assess pain, determine a patient’s musical preference and proceed by singing and playing guitar in a way that helps increase comfort.

Why did you choose this career? I chose music therapy because I wanted to pursue music as a career but I didn’t want to be a performer or a music educator. Music therapy is a perfect fit for me because I enjoy singing and playing instruments and I love helping people.

What is your favorite part of the job you have? The most rewarding part of my job is when my patients tell me the music made them feel better or that the music lifted their spirits. My FAVORITE part of the job is when I’m challenged to learn new music for a patient.

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3 Alison

Whether you want to learn more about turtles, penguins, apes, or big cats, the Zoo has a class for you! Our programs are designed to help individuals of all ages and abilities learn through experience, involvement and discovery. Programs include live animals, guided tours, and exciting activities and experiences for the whole family. Programs available for homeschoolers and scouts too!

For program listings and registration information, visit www.stlzoo.org/education or call (314) 646-4544, option #6.

Banana PB Smoothie

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT

4th Grade Class Gibson Elementary School

SCIENCE

CORNER

SCIENCE STARS

AFRICAN AMERICAN EVERYMAN—TOPOLOGIST,

AND POET:

Scott Warner Williams

Topology is a type of mathematics that covers distorted shapes. In topology, objects or shapes that are distorted or changed in shape will still have the same properties, such as volume. In the eyes of topologists, two items are the same if they can be distorted without being torn or cut.

What Exactly Is Topology?

If you have soft clay (or play dough), you can observe the theory of topology. You can twist, stretch, bend, and mold the clay to create different shapes. No matter

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

In this activity, you will investigate topology. Topology is the theory that changing shapes of an object does not change the volume. Remember, to calculate volume, you will multiply length, width, and height.

Materials Needed:

Modeling Clay • Ruler • Graph Paper

• Permanent Markers in 3 Colors

• Rolling Pin

Procedure: Form the modeling clay into a square or rectangular shape. Mark the sides with the permanent markers, using different colors for length, width and height. Use the ruler to measure the length, width and height, and record the results. Use the rolling pin to flatten the shape. Keep the edges square while changing the shape of the clay. Measure

MATH CONNECTION

To calculate the area of a rectangle, you will multiply length times width. Use the formula to solve the following problems.

q If the length of a rectangle is 7 yards, and the area is 42 yards squared, what is the width?____________

w If the width of a rectangle is 8 meters, and the area is 96 meters squared, what is the length?

DID YOU KNOW?

what size or shape you create, your clay will weigh the same. You will still have the same amount of clay. You can also use a rubber band to observe the theory of topology. You can create the figure eight with a rubber band, or create an oblong shape.

For An Introduction to Topology, Visit: http://2000clicks.com/MathHelp/ BasicSetTopologyKidsIntro.aspx http://encyclopedia.kids.net.au/page/to/Topology

Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction text to gain background information about a mathematical topic.

length, width and height again and record. Continue flattening the shape while keeping the edges square and stopping to measure and record the length, width and height of the object. Try to get at least 10 examples. Calculate the volume of each recorded shape by multiplying the length, width and height. Compare the results. The volume should be the same for all shapes.

Evaluate: What did you observe as you changed the shape? Did the volume change or stay the same? What did this experiment teach you about topology?

Learning Standards: I can follow step-by-step directions to complete an experiment. I can analyze and record the results.

Calculate Area

e If the length of a triangle is 7 inches, and the width is 4 inches, what is the area? ________________

r If the width of a triangle is 9 feet, and the height is 6 feet, what is the area? _______________

t If the area of a rectangle is 7000 meters squared, and the width is 70 meters, what is the height?

y If the area of a triangle is 48 yards squared, and the length is 8 yards, what is the width? _____________

Learning Standard: I can add, subtract, multiply, and divide to solve a problem.

Scott Warner Williams was born on April 22, 1943, in Staten Island, New York. His mother took him to visit Massachusetts Institute of Technology when his family was on vacation in Boston when he was 12. During that visit, he told his family he would earn a Ph. D. in mathematics. He received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics form Morgan State College in 1964. He earned a Master of Science in Mathematics from Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1967. While at Lehigh University, he co-founded the Black Uhuru Society with the other three minority students enrolled at the university. In 1969, Williams fulfilled his promise and earned his Ph.D in mathematics from Lehigh University. His focus of study was topology, which is the theory that although shapes can be distorted and changed, their properties remain the same.

Williams served as a research associate in the Department of Mathematics at Pennsylvania State University from 1968 to 1971 and was appointed an assistant professor of Mathematics at State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, 1971 to 1985, and made a full professor in 1985.

The trefoil knot is the simplest form of a nontrivial knot. It can be made by joining two loose ends of an overhand knot, resulting in a knotted loop. This knot is fundamental to the study of mathematical knot theory used in topology, geometry, physics, and chemistry.

Dr. Williams was one of two founders of Black and Third World Mathematicians, the first African-American mathematics society, which became The National Association of Mathematicians (NAM). He has also served on the Editorial Board of the Notices of the American Mathematical Society, the Advisory Board for the Summer Conferences on Topology and Applications. Currently, he is a regular columnist and a graphics images editor with the online journal Topology Atlas and presently editor of the National Association of Mathematics.

From 1972-1983, Williams worked as an Artist Blacksmith. His work has appeared in numerous art galleries and craft shows around the United States, including The Smithsonian. Williams has published poetry and short stories. In 1997, he was awarded the Fatherhood and Family Award of the Year in Buffalo, New York, for his work in the community.

Learning Standards: I can read a biography to learn about an African American who made contributions in the field of mathematics.

Use the newspaper to complete the following activities:

Shape Attributes

Identify 2 dimensional shapes (circle, rectangle, rhombus, trapezoid, and triangle). Cut them out of the newspaper, then paste them into a chart according to their attributes. Do the same with 3 dimensional shapes (rectangular prism, cylinder, pyramid, and sphere).

Polygon Perimeters

The name of the popular search engine ‘Google’ came from a misspelling of the word ‘googol,’ which is a very, very large number (the number one followed by one hundred zeros to be exact). ▼

3000 BC. To

right

Trigonometry is the study of the relationship between the angles of triangles and their sides. It wasn’t until the 16th century that most mathematical symbols were invented. Before this time math equations were written in words, making it very time consuming.

Learning Standards:

Locate and circle 4 verbs in a news story. Use a ruler to connect the verbs like a dot-to-dot puzzle to form a polygon. Measure and label each side of your polygon with an inch ruler. Add the lengths of the sides to find the perimeter. Write the perimeter in the center of your polygon. Try it again with nouns or adjectives.

I can use the newspaper to locate, describe, and create geometric shapes and properties.

Ms. Sylvester’s

Teacher Carmen Sylvester shows Gibson Elementary 4th grade students Caleb Finley, Breairra Ellis, Briana Fisher and Mareno Coley how to complete science activities found in the newspaper’s STEM page. Gibson Elementary School is in the Riverview Gardens School District. Photo by Wiley Price Teachers, if you are using the St. Louis American’s NIE program and would like to nominate your class for

Greitens accused of intimidating victim, insulting Gardner

Missouri Governor Eric Greitens and his allies continue to intimidate and shame Greitens’ former mistress, said St. Louis attorney Albert Watkins, who represents the mistress’ ex-husband.

“We live in time of introspection,” Watkins said at a press conference he held outside the Jefferson City Police Department on March 9. “And we have learned [through] the #MeToo movement the importance of everybody recognizing that there are victims, women in particular, who are subjected to persons in positions of power and authority who exploit that power.”

On February 22, Greitens was indicted on felony charges of invasion of privacy, which stemmed from an allegation that he nonconsensually took a photograph of a partially nude woman he was having an extramarital affair with in 2015. Republican lawmakers announced last month that they had formed a committee to investigate the charges against the governor. On March 9, the committee interviewed Watkins’ client, the woman’s ex-husband, at the police department in Jefferson City.

local CBS affiliate KMOV. On the tape, the woman said Greitens photographed her blindfolded and with her hands bound and said he would publicize the photo if she ever spoke about their relationship.

Watkins said the recordings were made while the couple was going through marriage counseling, and the recordings were an effort to help their marriage. The recordings have been handed over for investigation, he said.

A “political operative” sought the recordings in October of 2016, before Greitens was elected, but didn’t use them after hearing that Watkins’ client wanted to protect his ex-wife, Watkins said.

Watkins said he doesn’t believe the photos have been produced for investigation, but they exist and are being withheld so the governor can intimidate his victim and protect himself.

“Our governor and his shills or surrogates,” Watkins said, “have been tone-deaf to the reality that victimizing the victim after the victim has already been victimized is nothing short of another crime.”

would make the Circuit Attorney’s Office the lead investigators of police use-offorce cases came to a standstill on March 7.

Board Bill 234 would allocate one percent of the police department’s annual budget, about $1.6 million, for an independent investigations unit within Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner’s office. For many years, police reform advocates have been calling to take investigations into officerinvolved shootings out of the police department and have them reviewed independently.

On March 7, Gardner answered questions for more than an hour from aldermen on the Public Safety Committee.

“It is no longer acceptable for the police to investigate themselves,” she said at the hearing for the bill.

Gardner explained that some members of law enforcement are even afraid to participate in the current process for fear of retaliation. Community trust is at the heart of the issue. St. Louis is close to being No. 1 in officer-involved cases nationwide, she said.

“I think it’s worth the changes because it creates more accountability and gives it more teeth,” Collins-Muhammad said. Collins-Muhammad said the bill, sponsored by 3rd Ward Alderman Brandon Bosley, has the votes to pass. Coatar led the questioning about how she plans on confronting conflicts of interest, seeing that her office works closely with the police department. Gardner said in some cases, police officers are simultaneously the victims in cases and under investigation in officer-involved shooting cases. Coatar, who previously served as assistant circuit attorney under Jennifer M. Joyce, asked why prosecutors wouldn’t clear the officers if they find them credible enough to use them as witnesses in charging individuals with crimes. Gardner responded because they are two different investigations.

As far as the investigation, Watkins briefly commented on the recordings that his client made of his ex-wife talking about her encounters with Greitens. The recordings were made without her knowledge and shared anonymously with

By “shills or surrogates,” Watkins clarified that he means legal counsel, friends, supporters or other representatives. The intimidation that these people employ on Greitens behalf, Watkins said, is “slutshaming.” Watkins further stated that

“although this [victimizing] may not be a felony,” he still finds the behavior inhumane.

House Republicans, including Speaker of the House Todd Richardson, announced in a statement last month that they would be forming a committee to “answer the question as to whether or not the governor can lead our state while a felony case moves forward.”

The statement did not specifically mention impeachment, which some, including Democratic state Senator Jamilah Nasheed, have called for.

Greitens’ lawyer Edward L. Dowd said in a statement to the media that he and his client welcome the chance to review the matter with a bipartisan House committee.

“The charges are unfounded and baseless,” Dowd said.

Watkins also addressed the governor’s racially charged characterizations of St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim

Gardner. Watkins said that Greitens had compared the educational “Ivy League” pedigree of his defense team to the “night school” pedigree of Gardner, the first AfricanAmerican circuit attorney in St. Louis. This comment is part of the same pattern of berating and maligning that the governor is using to intimidate the victim, Watkins said.

Watkins also applauded the media’s willingness to avoid publishing the name of the victim, which he believes has been beneficial and respectful to the victim’s private life.

“They’re doing so not because they’re told that,” Watkins said. “They’re doing so because of high-professional standards and because of respect for a victim.”

Use-of-force

investigation bill stalls

A St. Louis city bill that

“This bill supports police,” she said. “This is not a onesided bill. We need to sit down together because what’s at stake is the whole criminal justice system.”

However, at the end of the meeting, aldermen decided that some of the bill’s language needed to change, and it’s “more complicated” than just introducing an amendment during the committee meeting, said 18th Ward Alderman Terry Kennedy, committee chair. The police department and the circuit attorney need to come to an agreement on how they plan on working together, he said.

“There are lots of agreements between different departments that this Board of Aldermen does not oversee or have input into,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy said he would like to see the agreement come back in front of the public safety committee.

The need for changes came up during the questioning from 6th Ward Alderman Jack Coatar, when he was asking Gardner about who has control over the investigations.

The language needs to change to give Gardner complete authority over the investigative unit, said one of the bill’s co-sponsors, 21st Ward Alderman John CollinsMuhammad

“It’s almost as if she has quasi control,” CollinsMuhammad said of the bill’s current language. “We are going to rewrite it with her having complete control.”

Making these changes means that the bill won’t pass this session. It would have to be reintroduced next session, which begins April 17.

“I will pose the same question to you in terms of the officer,” Gardner said. “If they are telling the truth and they say X, Y, Z happened, then why are they worried about the officer-involved shooting case?”

They have the same rights against self-incrimination as any other suspect, Coatar said.

“Why would you open yourself up to cross examination if you haven’t been cleared with the agency you’re supposed to be working with and assisting?” he asked. Gardner said that the prosecutors in the investigative unit would only work on officer-involved shooting cases. So, one day they wouldn’t be working with officers on charging individuals with crimes and then next day investigating officers for excessive force.

The unit would include four prosecutors, five specialtraining investigators, and two support staff employees, according to the bill’s fiscal note.

Alderman Shane Cohn of the 25th Ward asked about putting the unit under the authority of the Missouri Highway Patrol or Attorney General’s Office, which was a suggestion from the Ferguson Commission.

Rachel Smith, chief prosecutor in the Community Affairs Bureau at the Circuit Attorney’s Office, told the aldermen that the highway patrol primarily works with traffic control and doesn’t have the resources to do these investigations. They also don’t know the community. She said she was also a special prosecutor for the attorney general for several years. Smith said, “To punt this question to a statewide team would be a mistake and a disservice to our city.”

Photo by Rebecca Rivas

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner – testifying here before the Board of Aldermen on March 7, has been publicly insulted by attorneys for Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, whom she has charged with felony invasion of privacy.

Business

A safe house of their own

Local grassroots non-profit to open home for young sexual abuse survivors

By Jessica Karins

For The St. Louis American

Shante Duncan recently bought a house in North St. Louis, a two-story home on Maffitt Avenue surrounded by many similar homes that stand vacant. Duncan isn’t planning to leave the house that she purchased vacant, but she isn’t moving in, either. Instead, she and the nonprofit organization she founded are converting the house into a space where teenage girls in need can recover from sexual abuse.

Duncan plans to open the house this spring as the Joan B. Quinn Safe House, a home for girls between the ages of 12 and 17 who have been sexually trafficked or sexually abused. Unlike many similar spaces, the house will not have a time limit on how long the clients are able to stay. Duncan wants it to be a true home, not just another shelter or agency.

n “It’s a shortage of safe spaces in terms of housing for girls in the community.”

– Shante Duncan, SHERAH

The house falls under the umbrella of Duncan’s larger non-profit, SHERAH, or Sisters Helping Each Other Reach a Higher Height. SHERAH hosts a program called The Love Project dedicated to encouraging self-love and empowerment among young girls of color. Its circles currently serve 300 girls in five school districts.

The Love Project’s meetings often become a space where girls share deeply personal information, Duncan said. Some of the youngest participants began sharing with her that they had been sexually abused.

As Duncan looked into the resources that were available for those girls, she found that most safe houses were available only to adult women, or women with children. Only two or three places in the city could take on adolescent girls, she found – and those have long waiting lists.

“It’s a shortage of safe spaces in terms of housing for girls in the community,” Duncan said. Duncan plans to partner with city agencies that have long lists of girls who need a place to sleep. Once her safe house opens, it will be able to host up to seven girls at a time. She said the only accreditation process is through the City of St. Louis. “We have to meet the zoning requirements and garner support from the community residents,” Duncan said. “If we desire to be state-accredited, that is a different process.”

The location was previously owned by another non-profit that used it as a home for women working to get off drugs. It is already completely furnished, and Duncan and her

See HOUSE, B2

HUD removes anti-discrimination language from mission statement

‘Extremely alarming,’ says Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights

American staff

Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, attacked the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s decision on March 7 to remove the anti-discrimination language from its mission statement, eliminating any reference to the long-standing goals of inclusive and discrimination-free communities.

“The Fair Housing Act was passed in 1968 only a few years after the creation of HUD. The act’s fair housing principles prohibiting discrimination against African Americans, Latinos and other minority groups, and promoting residential integration have been at the core of HUD’s existence ever since,” Clarke said.

“It is outrageous that HUD would take such action on the 50th anniversary of the act’s passage, a law passed immediately following and in response to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

She said this latest action fits a pattern of recent actions taken by HUD that are contrary to the goals of the Fair Housing Act.

See HUD, B6

Steven Franklin joined the Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council as the new executive director for the Central Illinois/Eastern Missouri area. The council is one of 23 regional affiliates of the National Minority Supplier Development Council. Franklin will oversee operations in the St. Louis office, located in the US Bank Tower in downtown St. Louis. He most recently served as the Business Development manager with Fusion Travel Group in St. Louis.

Johnetta Randolph Haley was honored with the Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award from the Arts and Education Council at the 2018 St. Louis Arts Awards. She is emeritus music professor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She retired from SIUE as the East St. Louis Center executive director and earned a master’s in music from SIUE in 1972.

Jonathan M. Daugherty graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas as U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class. He completed an intensive, eightweek program that included training in military discipline and studies, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. He is a 2017 graduate of Hazelwood West High School.

Taliya King was elected to the Board of Directors of the Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club. She is co-owner of Dollhouse Studios and senior executive with Accenture. She is an alumna of Mathews-Dickey and St. Louis Public Schools and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority with over 15 years of experience in Information Technology.

n “HUD’s abandonment of its historical commitment to fair housing is extremely alarming.”

– Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

Robert Lawrence Salter received a Black Heritage Alumnus Award from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy Alumni Association in recognition of outstanding community and healthcare leadership. He is adjunct professor of Healthcare Management at Washington University in St. Louis and chief executive officer of Market Analytics LLC, responsible for the development of marketing and strategic plans for healthcare and higher education institutions.

Raegan Johnson was appointed to the Board of Directors of Better Together STL. She is Environmental Safety & Health Communications and Engagement lead at Monsanto. Better Together STL supports the St. Louis region by acting as a catalyst for the removal of governmental, economic, and racial barriers to the region’s growth and prosperity for all of our citizens by promoting unity, trust, efficiency, and accountability. On the move? Congratulations! Send your professional news and

Steven Franklin

Jonathan M. Daugherty

Raegan Johnson

Robert Lawrence Salter

Johnetta Randolph Haley

Taliya King

Shante Duncan is founder of SHERAH, or Sisters Helping Each Other Reach a Higher Height, which plans to open a safe house in North St. Louis for teenage girls recovering from sexual abuse.

Photo by Jessica Karins

FTC continues to crack down on student loan scams

Plus, phishers send fake invoices

By Ari Lazarus Of The FTC

A lot of us have student loans – and some of us have trouble paying them every month. Some companies claim to resolve that issue by saying they can help you pay them down quicker, cheaper or get them forgiven altogether. Be cautious – some of these companies are running scams. Here are some tips to avoid student loan repayment scams: Never pay an upfront fee. It’s illegal for companies to charge you in advance before helping you to reduce or get rid of your student loan debt. Companies that make you pay upfront might give you no help and not give your

HOUSE

continued from page B1

husband were able to purchase the home outright.

SHERAH has a board of directors, but Duncan is so far the only employee. Most of the organization’s budget to date has come out of pocket. Duncan has worked as a Development director for several nonprofit agencies in St. Louis and said she has “an extensive fundraising plan in place” for the home, including seeking grant support,

money back. Only scammers promise fast loan forgiveness. Before they know your situation, scammers might say they can quickly get rid of your loans through a loan forgiveness program. But they can’t.

A Department of Education seal doesn’t mean it’s legit.

Scammers use official-looking names and logos and say they have special access to certain federal programs. They don’t. Don’t share your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID with anyone. Scammers could use it to take control of your personal financial aid information on U.S. Department of Education websites.

Last month, the FTC announced a lawsuit against

crowdfunding and hosting events. However, she said, “If we never received a dollar to run this house, we would be able to still successfully run it.”

Girls who come to the safe house will attend school, receive counseling, and participate in women-led programs, from art therapy to meditation. Duncan said there are no specific medical requirements for such a home, although, she said, “we are partnering with other agencies to provide all counseling and medical support for the girls.”

They will also live with a house mother who will ensure

American Financial Benefits Center (AFBC), Financial Education Benefits Center (FEBC), AmeriTech Financial, and Brandon Demond Frere as part of its crackdown against unlawful student loan debt relief practices, Operation Game of Loans. The FTC alleges that the companies charged illegal, upfront fees and failed to deliver on their promises to enroll people into a government program that they claimed would permanently lower monthly loan payments or result in total loan forgiveness.

n You don’t have to pay for help with your student loans. There’s nothing a company can do for you that you cannot do yourself for free.

represented that the fee would go towards the student loan balance. But it didn’t. You don’t have to pay for help with your student loans. There’s nothing a company can do for you that you cannot do yourself for free: federal borrowers can start with StudentAid. gov/repay; private borrowers can start by talking with their loan servicer. Spotted a scam? Report it at www. ftccomplaintassistant.gov.

Phishers send fake invoices

The FTC also alleges the companies charged a monthly fee for the life of the loan (typically 10-25 years) and

they get homecooked meals and contribute to household responsibilities.

“It’ll run like a home,” Duncan said. “We want the girls to feel like they’re at home, not at a shelter.”

We’ve recently heard that scammers are recycling an old phishing attempt. In this version, scammers, posing as

n “We are partnering with other agencies to provide all counseling and medical support for the girls.”

– Shante Duncan, SHERAH

Part of the Joan B. Quinn Safe House’s mission will be to provide a safe space for girls who have experienced domestic child sex trafficking. Though the term is an umbrella for any time a

a well-known tech company, email a phony invoice showing that you’ve recently bought music or apps from them. The email tells you to click on a link if you did not authorize the purchase. Stop – do not click on the link. That’s the new twist on an old scam.

More precisely, you just experienced a phishing attempt – that is, when a scammer uses fraudulent emails or texts, or copycat websites to get you to share valuable personal information. The scammers then use that information to commit fraud or identity theft

Scammers also use phishing emails to get access to your computer or network – then they install programs like ransomware that can lock you out of important files on your computer.

Here are some tips to help keep your information secure: Be suspicious if a business, government agency, or

juvenile exchanges sex for goods or services, many victims of child sex trafficking are introduced to the sex trade by thirdparty traffickers who target economically vulnerable children, according to human rights organization Rights4Girls.

SHERAH is also home to a Human Trafficking Task Force that aims to raise awareness of the impact of human trafficking on black girls.

“Trafficking is a huge issue in the City of St. Louis,” Duncan said. “It has a direct impact on young black girls, mainly because they are poor. Black girls are more likely have experienced some type of sexual abuse at younger age

than any other girls, and so it’s important to us not that only that we share that information with the larger community, but that we provide a safe space for the girls.”

Before the house can open, SHERAH will need to collect signatures from neighbors consenting to its presence in the neighborhood. Duncan said this is an area where she has an advantage: She is from the city and knows the area and the people.

Duncan began her career as a journalist, with a degree in communications from the University of Missouri St. Louis; she worked for The St. Louis American for a time.

After interning with a few nonprofits, she got a job as the St. Louis Area Food Bank’s development coordinator and has been in nonprofit work ever since. The genesis of her own organization came from a need

organization asks you to click on a link that then asks for your username or password or other personal data. Instead, type in the web address for the organization or call them. The link in the email may look right, but if you click it you may go to a copycat website run by a scammer. Be cautious about opening attachments. A scammer could even pretend to be a friend or family member, sending messages with malware from a spoofed account. Set your security software to update automatically, and back up your files to an external hard drive or cloud storage. Back up your files regularly and use security software you trust to protect your data.

Lastly, report phishing emails and texts by forwarding them to spam@uce.gov and filing a report with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.

she saw in her own life.

“I was, at the time, a young black girl in my early twenties, had just gotten out of a bad relationship, was feeling very low about myself,” Duncan said. “I knew there was a part of me that was very powerful, very strong, very confident, but I didn’t know how to bring her to the surface.”

Duncan created a group meant to simply provide support for herself and a handful of other women. But it kept growing, and in 2016 she converted her informal group into a formal nonprofit.

“The mainstream society may overlook us because they’re gonna go to an agency that has a bigger name and budget,” Duncan said. “Women on the ground know about the work that we’re doing, and that attracts them to us.”

n “I’m vengeful in that way.”

— Richard Sherman, on signing with the rival San Francisco 49ers after being released by the Seattle Seahawks

Sports

Down to four

Missouri’s Martin leads field of black coaches into NCAA Tournament

~ See ‘Sports Eye’ page B4 ~

Final Four to decide Class 5, Class 4 champion

The Webster Groves Statesmen and the Chaminade Red Devils have become regulars at the Final Four of the Class 5 state tournament.

Both teams will be in Springfield this weekend in search for a state championship. The Statesmen are back after winning the state title a year ago, while Chaminade is making its fourth consecutive appearance in the Final Four. The Red Devils won the state title in 2016.

Earl

Webster Groves (20-9) will face Liberty (22-7) on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. in the state semifinals while Chaminade (262) will take on Rock Bridge (27-1) in the other semifinal game at 6:50 p.m. The winners will play for the state championship of Saturday at 4:30 p.m. the JQH Arena at Missouri State University. The third-place game will be on Friday at 12:45 p.m.

The Statesmen are once again riding the dynamic duo of seniors Courtney Ramey and Carte’are Gordon to the Final Four. The 6’4” Ramey is averaging 21.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.4 steals a game. The 6’8” Gordon, a Saint Louis U. signee, is averaging 17.2 points and 8.3 rebounds.

Ramey and Gordon get plenty of support from 6’2” senior R.J. Wright, who averages 11.8 points and junior guards Ray Adams and Amorey Womack. Liberty is led by standout 5’10” senior guard Jalen Lewis, who has signed with Washburn University.

Chaminade is looking for a happier ending after finishing fourth in the state tournament last season. The Red Devils are led by 6’7” senior forward Jericole Hellems, a North Carolina State signee, who is averaging 22.6 points and eight rebounds a game.

The Red Devils are a potent

Mizzou women poised for deep tourney

The Mizzou men endured a bit of a soap opera season. The Tigers welcomed a new coach, new stars and new attention. The team also waved bon voyage to numerous players, several via transfers and another due to disciplinary action. Michael Porter Jr.’s well-chronicled back surgery turned the entire season into a guessing a game of whether the future lottery pick would ever suit up again in black and gold. The Tigers team passed the tests and earned its way into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013. Meanwhile, the Mizzou women’s team largely flew underneath the radar. After all, the women’s team had been to the NCAA Tournament for the past two seasons, so a certain level of success was expected.

Junior standout Sophie Cunningham was coming off a sophomore season in which

she was designated First Team All-SEC and All-American Honorable Mention by the AP. Big things were also anticipated from sophomore Amber Smith. Smith was named SEC Co-Freshman of the Year a year ago. What type of hoops buzz would there be without the first gamily is Missouri – the Porters? Junior forward Cierra Porter, yes, the older sister to Michael Porter Jr. and Jontay Porter, also was expected to play a pivotal role in the Tigers success. Instead wondering if the Tigers would make it to the tourney, the big question was whether the talented team could attain a high enough seed to host the first two rounds at home (a privilege granted to the top four seeds in each region). The Tigers got another stellar season from Cunningham,

Austin Jr.

Ishmael H. Sistrunk

Photo by Wiley Price

Photo by Meiying Wu / Columbia Missourian

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Missouri’s Martin leads field of black coaches into NCAA Tournament

Of the 68 participants in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, which includes the “First Four” participants who played Tuesday and Wednesday, 15 have AfricanAmerican/minority head coaches at their helm.

That comes to about 22 percent of the coaches. This would seem like an outstanding number, except for the fact that the number of black players in the tournament (especially those who start or play major minutes) will probably be three times as high.

Also, if you take out the head coaches of mid-major or HBCU schools, the number drops significantly. Just five are from Power 5 Conferences, which includes the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac 13 and SEC.

The black/minority coaches in the 2018 NCAA Tournament are:

Four” game on Wednesday and take on West Region top seed Xavier in Nashville on Friday.

Nathan Davis, Bucknell –Davis was an assistant coach for 14-seed Bucknell when it scored a major upset over No. 3 seed Kansas in 2005. While Michigan State, the No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region, is heavily favored, could history repeat itself?

Travis DeCuire, Montana - This is the black coach most basketball fans have never heard of. He was named the Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year by the league’s coaches and could give the No. 3 seed Michigan Wolverines a battle in a West Region game in Wichita.

Mike Anderson, Arkansas – The former Missouri coach was a stalwart in the SEC this season, guiding his Razorbacks to a 23-11 record and a No. 7 seed. He was on the hot seat when the season started.

Ed Cooley, Providence – Coached his Friars (21-13) to the Big East Tournament championship game where they gave Villanova a fit before bowing by 10 points. Cooley ripped his pants during first half and coached with a towel draped around him until halftime.

Mike Davis, Texas Southern – The former Indiana coach seems finds a way into the tournament again. They were favored to win their “First

Earl Grant, Charleston – He’s just the second Charleston head coach to make the NCAA Tournament. Pundits looking at early-round major upsets are giving Grant’s team (267) a real chance to take down Auburn. That includes yours truly.

Ron Hunter, Georgia State – Hunter’s Panthers (24-10) won the Sun Belt Conference on Sunday afternoon in dominant fashion over Texas-Arlington and immediately learned they would play No. 2 seed Cincinnati, which beat Houston in the AAC Tournament on Sunday.

Avery Johnson, Alabama – When the Crimson Tide hired Johnson, a former NBA player and head coach with the New York Knicks, the university had no idea he would get

things turned around so quickly. Johnson’s crew was 19-15 overall but earned a No. 9 seed in the tournament.

LaVall Jordan, ButlerWhen Brad Stevens left for the Boston Celtics, most fans thought that was the end of Butler basketball relevance. Jordan has guided the Bulldogs back to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 10 seed. It will be a battle of black coaches as he takes on Anderson and Arkansas on Friday.

Kevin Keatts, North Carolina State – The ACC is a tough league – some say the toughest – yet Keatts’ Wolfpack more than stood up to the challenge. Look for Keatts to advance to a showdown with Kansas after beating No. 8 seed Seton Hall on Thursday.

Cuonzo Martin, Missouri – Martin got ripped off in the SEC Coach of the Year balloting. He was more deserving than Tennessee’s Rick Barnes Michael Porter Jr. missed the regular season, yet the Tigers went 20-12. Mizzou will win its 8 vs. 9 game against Florida State AND YES will topple top-seed Xavier to reach the Sweet 16.

Le Velle Moton, North Carolina Central – Respected ESPN pundit and former Indiana coach Dan Dakish said it is just a matter of time before Moton gets a big-time coaching opportunity. Moton, who led his team to the MEAC tournament title over Hampton,

is headed to the NCAA Tournament for a second consecutive year.

Kelvin Sampson, Houston - This guy has bounced around and in-and-out of trouble. But his Cougars are solid, a No. 6 seed and could reach the Sweet 16 with wins over San Diego State and Michigan. Hopefully, he can avoid any more scandal in Houston.

Shaka Smart, Texas – The Longhorns battled offseason transfers, injuries, suspensions, a player’s bout with cancer and a short bench and still put together a 19-14 season in the nation’s deepest conference, the Big 12. Texas is seeded 10th in the South Region and will upset Nevada to reach the Round of 32.

Dedrique Taylor, Cal State-Fullerton – While most of the nation was asleep on Saturday night, the Titans drilled favored UC-Irvine to win the Big West Conference and win the right to take on East Region No. 2 seed Purdue in Detroit on Friday.

You can say what you want about the SEC fan base and their commitment to diversity in their respective communities and work places. But it must be recognized that the SEC put three black coaches into the NCAA Tournament this year, the most of any conference.

Tigers claw into tournament

The Missouri Tigers (20-12, 10-8 SEC) certainly earned the right to be the eight-seed in the West Region. They are headed to the Sweet 16, in part because the NCAA Tournament Committee, did them a favor. More on that in just a bit. The Tigers are returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013 and the school has not won an NCAA Tournament game since 2010. Martin convinced Michael Porter Jr., to transfer from Washington after the Huskies fired former SLU head coach Lorenzo Romar, which got the ball rolling in the right direction.

While Porter Jr. missed the regular season after a back injury, his transfer led to the Tigers getting Porter’s brother, Jontay, and Jeremiah Tilmon to sign with the Tigers. Martin led the team to a 12-win improvement from a season ago. Missouri won only 27 games total from 20142017. Porter Jr. shot a miserable 5-of-17 in a first round loss to Georgia in the SEC Tournament in St. Louis, but the Tigers were still destined for the NCAA Tournament. All was good in Tiger Town - until the early hours of Saturday. Jordan Barnett, the team’s second-leading scorer, was arrested and charged with DWI in Columbia. He is suspended for at least a week, according to Missouri athletic policy. He will miss the game against Florida State.

Mizzou been schedule to

on Thursday, he could have

the next game, which will most likely be against

It would have been a bad look for Martin to play Barnett on Saturday afternoon or evening and say that the arrest happened one week plus a few hours before that game. Thus, the Tigers caught a break from the NCAA.

And the winner is…

Before we get there, let’s see how I got there. Biggest upset – Charleston Over Auburn in Midwest Region. As for my Jayhawks? – A win over Penn, a loss to North Carolina State. Which means? – Mizzou goes farther in tournament than KU. Mizzou reaches Sweet 16. Biggest Surprise – Butler Bulldogs will reach the Elite Eight.

Another Surprise –Michigan Wolverines in Final Four Other Finalists – Virginia, Villanova and (yuck!) Duke National Semifinals –Michigan makes title game by beating Virginia; Villanova beats Duke National Championship –Villanova beats Michigan in overtime

Alvin A. Reid was honored as the 2017 “Best Sports Columnist – Weeklies” in the Missouri Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest. He is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook, is a weekly contributor to “The Charlie Tuna Show” on KFNS and can also be heard on Frank Cusumano’s “The Press Box.” His Twitter handle is @aareid1.

Alvin A. Reid

Missouri’s Cuonzo Martin was a candidate for SEC Coach of the Year.

Who are the next champions in girls’ basketball?

By Earl Austin Jr. Of the St. Louis American

The Incarnate Word Red Knights and Kirkwood Pioneers girls’ basketball teams experienced the joy of winning state championships last season. Both IWA and Kirkwood are back in the Final Four again and looking for a repeat at this weekend’s Class 4 and 5 state championships in Springfield. The games will be held at the JQH Arena on the campus of Missouri State University. Incarnate Word (25-5) will

face Kearney (26-3) in the Class 4 semifinals on Friday at 4:15 p.m. Miller Career Academy (18-9) will take on Carl Junction (25-3) in the other semifinal game at 2:30 p.m. The winners will play for the state championship on Saturday at 6:20 p.m. The third place game will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. Not only is Incarnate Word looking for a repeat state championship, it is also seeking its fifth state title in six years. The Red Knights are led by 5’8” senior guard Sonya Morris, who has signed

with DePaul. Morris is averaging 13.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Junior point guard Marissa Warren is averaging 11.6 points and 4.8 assists while 6’3” junior Rickie Woltman is averaging 11.5 points and 6.7 rebounds.

Miller Career Academy advanced to the Final Four after victories over Gateway Tech and Dexter in the state playoffs. The Phoenix have a balanced offense led

Earl Austin Jr.

by 5’9” junior Daisha Seltzer, who is averaging 14 points a game. Senior guard Mauricea Mathis is averaging 10.4 points and five rebounds a game while senior guard Breyanna Howard is averaging 8.3 points and 4.5 rebounds. Kirkwood (26-3) will face Liberty (227)in the Class 5 state semifinals on Thursday at 5:10 p.m. St. Joseph’s Academy (23-6) will take on Kickpaoo (27-3) in the other

CLUTCH

semifinal game at 3:30 p.m.

The winners will play for the state championship on Saturday at 2:40 p.m. The third-place game will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. The Pioneers will try for another state title behind its dynamic duo of 5’10” senior Jayla Everett and 5’9” senior Jaidah Stewart. Everett, a New Mexico signee, is averaging 17 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.2 steals per game while shooting 39 percent from 3-point range. Stewart, a Minnesota signee, is averaging 16.8 points and nearly six

worried about two intelligent black hosts talking freely about certain topics. Hill was suspended twice, once for pointing out the POTUS’ white supremacist ways and another time for suggesting fans boycott Dallas Cowboys’ advertisers after Jerry Jones came out strongly against NFL players participating in protests of the national anthem.

Eventually ESPN producers tried to turn The Six into a more traditional SportsCenter show. Hill left the show in January, choosing to head to The Undefeated, an ESPN microsite that focuses on topics of sports, race and culture.

Smith continued to host SportsCenter without his BFF, but the show lost its key

rebounds a game. Sophomore forward Natalie Bruns averages 11.6 points and 6.2 rebounds a game, while junior point guard Makayla Wallace averages 8.2 points and 3.1 assists. St. Joseph’s is also back in the Final Four after finishing fourth in the state tournament a year ago. The Angels are led by 6’2” senior forward Alexandra Kerr, who is averaging 19.9 points and 11.8 rebounds a game. Kerr scored a career-high 46 points in the Angels’ victory over Hazelwood Central in the state quarterfinals last weekend.

appeal, which was its witty back-and-forth banter between Smith and Hill. In a move that everybody saw coming, Smith announced last week that he would leave the show immediately. Like Hill, Smith is still under contract with ESPN and will fill other roles with the network. Though the sports world certainly doesn’t lack black personalities, it was nice to see a show as authentically and unapologetically black as The Six. Now that their run on SportsCenter is officially over, maybe the two can rekindle the magic of His & Hers Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @ IshmaelSistrunk

to host games at home. Like a true baller, she’s anxious to get back on the court, any court, and try to advance as far as the Tigers can.

gers hoping for a top four seed. When it was announced that the team would be the fifth seed in the Lexington Region of the NCAA Tournament, the team was simultaneously disappointed, excited and motivated for another run in the Big Dance.

“It’s a good feeling, it’s a great feeling, knowing how far we’ve come as a program,” Mizzou coach Robin Pingeton told reporters according to The Columbia Missourian. “A few years ago, we’re on the edge of our seats trying to figure out if we even make the tournament.” Cunningham doesn’t seem to mind the lost opportunity

PREP

Continued from B3 offensive team that also includes 6’2” junior Keyyaun Batchman, who averages 13.8 points, 6’1” senior Jadis White, who averages 12.6 and 6’6” sophomore shooter Luke Kasubke, who averages 13.1 points. Sophomore forward Harrison Vickers has also become a bigger factor as he averages eight points a game. Chaminade will be facing a talented Rock Bridge team that is led by a trio of excellent underclassmen in juniors Isiaih Mosley, Jamonta Black and Dajuan Harris. The 6’6” Mosely is one of the top juniors in the country.

The Jennings Warriors are in the Final Four of the Class 4 state tournament, their first state appearance since 2000, when current head coach Travis Wallace was the Warriors’ point guard. Jennings (27-3) will face Raytown South (245)in the semifinals on Friday at 7:45 p.m. The winner will face either Sikeston (27-2) or Grandview (26-3) for the state title on Saturday at 8:10 p.m. The third-place game will be on Saturday at 12:50 p.m.

“It doesn’t bother me,” Cunningham said. “We’re still playing, and I’m so excited. We have a good record out in California. Nice weather out there; I’m not complaining. I’m ready to go win some ballgames.”

The Tigers first round opponent will be Florida Gulf Coast from the Atlantic Sun Conference. The No. 12 seed Eagles finished the season with a 30-4 record. The Eagles are the second most-deadly team from downtown in the NCAA, knocking down 12 three pointers per game. In order to advance to the second round, the Tigers will

The Warriors are led by 5’9” senior guard Kyle Younge Jr., who is averaging 17 points a game. He scored 44 points in

need to keep a hand in the faces of the Eagles’ shooters. Mizzou must also use its distinct size advantage to dominate Florida Gulf Coast in the paint on the boards. Though the Mizzou women may not get the same publicity as the men, it’s clear that Pingeton’s club is one of the best teams in college basketball. Now is the ladies’ time to shine.

Mizzou’s Round 1 matchup will take place in Palo Alto, Calif. on Saturday. The game will be televised by ESPN2 at 2:30 p.m. CT. in Palo Alto on Saturday (2:30 p.m. CT, ESPN2)

RIP to The Six

Michael Smith’s recent departure from SportsCenter

the Warriors’ overtime victory over Parkway Central in the state quarterfinals. Jennings also features 6’3” junior for-

PreP AThLeTe of The Week

Kyle Younge

Jennings – Boys Basketball

The junior guard standout led the Warriors to the Final Four of the Class 4 state tournament for the first time in 19 years.

Younge scored a careerhigh 44 points to lead the Warriors past Parkway Central 77-74 in overtime in the state quarterfinals in Washington, Missouri. He scored 10 of those points in the overtime period.

For the season, Younge is averaging 17 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.9 steals while shooting 56 percent from the field and 48 percent from 2-point range. In his two seasons as Jennings’ starting point guard, the Warriors have compiled a 51-8 record with two district titles and a Final Four appearance.

confirmed what everybody knew was coming, SC6 aka The Six is officially dead. What a sad day in SportsCenter history. The Six was formed to rebrand and energize ESPN’s flagship program, which has lost some of its luster in recent years. The network brought Smith and Jemele Hill together on the screen after the two showed amazing chemistry in their His & Hers podcast and television show. In the beginning, the network pulled out all the stops to promote The Six, which blended the traditional sports highlights and conversations with discussions on politics and current events and variety show-style skits and intros. It didn’t take too long for the executives at ESPN to get

The junior guard from Orange, Virginia earned the Newcomer of the Year award in the American Midwest Conference.

The 6’3” Clark had 20 points and 10 rebounds in the Hornets’ victory over Williams’ Baptist in the championship game of the AMC Tournament last week. He

Ariel Jackson

Lindenwood University – Women’s Track

ward Elijah Hicks, who averages 14 points a game, junior guard Terran Jackson and 6’6” senior Jordan Brown.

Continued from B3 was also named to the All-AMC First Team. For the season, Clark is averaging 12.6 points a game along with 1.6 steals while making a teamhigh 82 3-pointers. Harris-Stowe faced LSU Shreveport in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament on Wednesday night in Kansas City.

Harris-Stowe State University – Men’s Basketball already held. She won the MIAA title in the 200 a couple of weeks ago to qualify for the NCAA meet. Clark also earned AllAmerican honors in the 60-meter dash as well after setting a new school record of 7.5 seconds in the preliminaries.

The junior standout sprinter was a national champion at last weekend’s NCAA Division II Indoor Championships in Pittsburg, Kansas. Clark was the individual champion in the 200-meter dash in a winning time of 23.7 seconds, which lowered a school record that she

Michael Smith and Jemele Hill gave SportsCenter a new flavor with The Six. However, both hosts have departed the show after it became clear that ESPN would not allow them to be themselves on the flagship sports show.

Electrical Connection recognized for inclusion

On Monday, March 5, 2018, the Electrical Connection was given the St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers’ Inclusion Award. The Electrical Connection is a partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). Left to right are Mike Newton, IBEW Local 1; Ramon Tumblin-Rucker, BJC HealthCare and SLCCC Diversity Committee chair; Frank Jacobs, IBEW Local 1; and St. Louis NECA representative Ken Naumann, Kaiser Electric.

Today more than 25 percent of apprentices accepted in the IBEW/NECA Electrical Industry Training Center are minorities. IBEW/NECA invest $3 million annually in training, developing highly complex electrical and communication technology skills. The training center has a graduation rate of more than 90 percent. Its career-building education is free of charge, at no taxpayer expense, and allows apprentices to earn a living with benefits as they develop the skills and safety needed for next generation electrical and communications installations.

For more information, visit www.electricalconnection.org or call (314) 781-0755

HUD continued from page B1

Financial Focus

By Aaron Ezell, CRPC

Talk to your spouse about your retirement vision

In any case, moving to a different area is a major financial decision, so you and your spouse will certainly want to discuss all the aspects of relocation. Will either of us work? Retirement no longer means the cessation of all work. You or your spouse – or perhaps you and your spouse – may want to use your skills and experience to do some consulting

Nonetheless, on January 5, 2018, HUD proceeded to suspend another regulation –a landmark rule designed to

Last August, HUD suspended the Small Area Fair Market Rent rule designed to increase low-income families’ access to opportunity and housing choice. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, along with a coalition of civil rights organizations, sued HUD for suspending the rule and on December 23, 2017, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against HUD, requiring the Department to implement the rule immediately.

strengthen the Fair Housing Act’s requirement that recipients of federal housing funding affirmatively further fair housing. “HUD’s abandonment of its historical commitment to fair housing is extremely alarming,” Clarke said. “We will continue to fight this serious attack on the enforcement of civil rights laws by the administration.”

If you’re single, your retirement goals are your own – you don’t really have to consult with anybody, and you can change your plans whenever you like. However, if you’re married, you and your spouse should develop a joint “vision” encompassing all the key areas of your retirement lifestyle. These are a few questions you may want to address first: Where should we live? Once you retire, you may need to consider two key aspects of your living situation: the size and location of your home. Regarding size, you may look around one day and realize you have more living space than you actually need. This is especially true, of course, if you have children who have set out on their own. So, if you have a large single-family house, you may want to consider whether you should move into a condominium or even an apartment, either of which might be more cost-effective for you. As for location, you may decide that retirement is the perfect time to move, either to seek a more favorable climate or to be near grown children and grandchildren.

SKB nails ‘SNL’

Actor and STL native Sterling K. Brown portraying rapper Common in a Saturday Night Live skit.

STL native lands big laughs as latest host of NBC sketch comedy staple

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

Gabbii gets the golden ticket

South city singer headed to Hollywood on ‘American Idol’

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“My daddy has given me 30 days to accomplish my dream,” St. Louis native Gabbii Jones said during her pre-audition footage Monday night (March 12) on “American Idol.”

It had already been a good night for the region. On the second airing of the show’s reboot on the ABC Network after an epic 15-season run on FOX, St. Louis Teen Talent Competition winter Christina Jones (no relation to Gabbii) of O’Fallon, Illinois made it to the second phase of the competition that takes place in Hollywood.

The family and friends who filled Beechwood Bar in South City applauded Christina as well. They erupted when Gabbii appeared on the television sets throughout the space – but tried desperately to contain their excitement so they could hear what Gabbii had to say on “Idol.”

Gabbii’s father Keith Jones listened as she

shared his ultimatum. He had traveled with her to the audition, and it was clear that he’s extremely supportive. Gabbii, who is straight out of South City, started singing at the tender age of 5. She has been relentlessly pursuing a music career full-time since she graduated from Central Visual and Performing Arts High

n Saturday night, Brown flexed his funny bone to the max.

It was clear from the very beginning that St. Louis’ own Sterling K. Brown was going to bring the funny as the latest host for the 43rd season of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” on March 10. His opening monologue ripped on him being television’s reigning king of raw emotion thanks to his Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award winning portrayal of Randall Pearson on the same network’s hit drama “This Is Us.” He cried on demand at every moment of his opening. But for a split second in between the tears, Brown pulled of a deadon impression of SNL veteran cast member Keenan Thompson. As soon as he finished the line, Brown once again melted into a man cry. Those who blinked may have missed it, but his mimic was a glimpse into the nuggets of comedy gold Brown would deliver over the course of the night. With his home-run “SNL” performance, he just might have opened a new lane for himself in film and television.

Aside from a bit of comic relief in his portrayal as Randall, Brown showed a side that most had never seen – but most certainly hope to see again. Brown’s resume is almost exclusively television and film drama. Though he had enjoyed a steady career as a journeyman television actor on shows like “Third Watch” and

See BROWN, C4

A ball of energy, she bounced her way to the front of celebrity judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan wearing a black sequined body suit. “My name is Gabbii Jones, I’m 20 years old and I’m from St. Louis – and I’m ready to kill it,” Gabbii told them with all the confidence in the world.

recording artists. Keith told her that if

See IDOL, C4

Soul at the Ballpark

Soul and 100 years of service

Urban League STL Centennial Gala to feature Eric Benet, Viola Davis to keynote

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“I have a history with St. Louis, and it feels good to come home,” R&B veteran Eric Benet told The St. Louis American.

The Milwaukee native became an adopted son of the city when he came here to record “Feminity” with renowned songwriter/producer and St. Louis native Osunlade. Made on the

North Side nearly 25 years ago, “Feminity” became the debut solo single – and a breakthrough hit for his 1996 album “True To Myself.”

Next week, he will be back as the featured performer for the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis’ Centennial Gala on Saturday, March 24 at The Grand Marriott Hotel.

“Every time I step on the stage, I approach it like my life is depending on this performance,” Benet said. “It’s raw and emotional and speaks to the heart. If I’m blessed to be in front of fans, I have to give them what they love … and a little more.”

Next Saturday’s gala will be about more than just the music.

“We are especially excited to celebrate the Urban League’s Centennial with a black-tie gala,” said Michael P. McMillan, President and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St.

Louis, Inc. “We also would like to highlight the agency’s historical value and contributions to the community-at-large.”

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis was chartered in 1918 and led by George W. Buckner as a direct response to the deadly East St. Louis race riot of 1917. The massacre incited by an angry white mob left several hundred dead. Those who escaped and sought refuge across the river in St. Louis were left displaced without resources.

As a newly formed affiliate, the organization immediately sprung into action as a beacon of hope for survivors of the massacre and the entire region. A century later, the contributions of The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has earned them the distinction as the nation’s

Viola Davis

School in 2016.

She’s worked with Tony Thompson’s TBeats Studios while making her rounds on the local music scene as a performer and opening act for national

Photo by ABC/ Alfonso Bresciani

Singer Raheem DeVaughn lit up the Ballpark Village Fox Sports Midwest Stage with a special concert Sunday night presented by Dino-Gene and Dejaun Lockhart. Known for blending vintage R&B with progressive soul, DeVaughn delighted the crowd with tributes to Prince, R. Kelly, Curtis Mayfield and Earth, Wind & Fire sprinkled into his original material. Photo by V. Lang

How to place a calendar listing

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

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

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

concerts

Fri., Mar. 16, 8 p.m., The Ambassador presents Lyfe Jennings. Featuring Flirt and NO ID. 5800 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, call (314) 371-5585.

Mon., Mar. 19, 7 p.m., The Pageant presents Lecrae – All Things Work Together Tour 6161 Delmar Blvd., 63130.

Mar. 16 – 17, 8 p.m., Gateway Men’s Chorus presents We Will Rise. The program looks at the sociopolitical events and issues impacting the disenfranchised and minorities. Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union Ave., 63108. For more information, visit www.gmcstl. org/we-will-rise.html.

Wed., Mar. 21, Jazz St. Louis presents Brian Owens Jazz at the Bistro, 3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. jazzstl.org.

Mar. 28 – Mar. 31, Jazz St. Louis welcomes Grammy Award nominated The Baylor Project, Jazz at the Bistro, 3536 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.jazzstl.org.

Sun., Apr. 1, 6 p.m., 95.5

R&B Old School presents After 7: Back by Popular Demand. The Ambassador, 9800 New Halls Ferry, 63136. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sat., April 7, 8 p.m., The Cabaret Project of St. Louis presents Broadway veteran Norm Lewis. Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

local gigs

Fri., Mar. 16, 5 p.m., National Blues Museum presents Howlin’ Friday:

Marquise Knox. 615 Washington Ave., 63101. For more information, visit www. nationalbluesmuseum.org.

Fri., Mar. 23, 9:30 p.m., Dark Room presents The Tonina Quartet. The Grandel, 3610 Grandel Sq., 63103. For more information, call (314) 533-0367.

Sun., Mar. 25, 5 p.m., A Night of Wonder: The Music of Stevie Wonder. Featuring Justin Hoskin and The Movie. BB’s Jazz, Blues and Soups, 700 S. Broadway, 63102. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sun., Apr. 1, 6 p.m., The Easter Show feat. Wendell B with special guest Lamont Hadley. Gandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Sq., 63108. For more information, call (314) 4967751.

special events

Through March 18, A Call to Conscience presents Black Women Speak. A series of events celebrating Women’s History Month. The Griot Museum of Black History, 2505 St. Louis Ave., 63106. For more information and a complete list of events, visit www.facebook.com.

Mar. 15 – 17, American Ballet Theatre Studio Company. The Studio Company consists of twelve dancers hand selected from around the world Edison Theatre, 6465 Forsyth Blvd., 63105. For more information, visit www.cocastl.org.

Thur., Mar. 15, 7:30 p.m., Snap Judgment Podcast Live in St. Louis. Hosted by Glynn Washington. Proceeds benefit St. Louis Public Radio. The Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www. thesheldon.org.

Kenya

recommends

Mar. 17 – 18, Black Ops presents The Aerialympics Performances in lyra, silks, hammock and pole competition. Grandel, 3610 Grandel Sq., 63108. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Sun., Mar. 18, 3 p.m., The Dred Scott Heritage Foundation presents The 2nd Dred Scott Freedom Awards Dinner, Hilton Frontenac. For more information, visit www.dredscottlives.org or call (618) 593-7196.

Tues., Mar. 20, 4:30 p.m., Grace Hill presents College Hill Neighborhood Solutions. Session focus: repurposing vacant lots. Grace Hill Water Tower Gym, 2126 Bissell St., 63107. For more information, call (314) 584-6940.

Thur., Mar. 22, 5 p.m., University City Chamber of Commerce presents Taste of U City. One ticket, one location, 40+ restaurants from across U City. Mandarin House Banquet Center, 8004 Olive Blvd., 63130. For more information, visit www. ucitychamber.com.

Fri., Mar. 23, Peabody Opera House presents Bubble Guppies Live: Ready to Rock.. 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information,

visit www.peabodyoperahouse. com.

Sat., Mar. 24, 10 a.m., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Phi Nu Zeta Graduate Chapter presents L.I.T. (Ladies Initiating Transitions) Summit. Scholarships, speakers, workshops, and more.

Maryland Heights Community Center, 2300 McKelvey Rd., 63043. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sat., Mar. 24, 9 a.m., Community Easter Egg Hunt. Bring your little ones out to enjoy refreshments, crafts, a fun egg hunt with three age divisions, and to meet the Easter Bunny. Parkway United Church of Christ, 2841 N Ballas Rd., 63131. For more information, visit www.parkwayucc.org.

Sat., Mar. 24, 11 a.m., Rev. Dr. Roger Richardson and the members of Christ Our Redeemer AME Church Annual Easter Egg Hunt This fun-filled event will take place Saturday, 13820 Old Jamestown Road, Black Jack, MO 63033. For additional information please call 314741-4222.

Sat., Mar. 24, 12 p.m., From Boys to Men: Male Empowerment Brunch. An opportunity for men to

empower and unite. West End Center, 724 Union Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sat., Mar. 24, 1 p.m., STLSpinBox presents the 2018 STL Phenomenal Woman Luncheon & Awards. An afternoon of sisterhood, networking, shopping, and more. Artist Art, 2643 Cherokee St., 63118. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sun., Mar. 25, 12 p.m., Harmon United Methodist Church presents Egg Hunt 2018. Norman Myers Park, 8700 Midland Blvd., 63114. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Thur., Mar. 29, 6 p.m., Radio One St. Louis 2018 Phenomenal Woman Awards. Missouri Athletic Club, 405 Washington Ave., 63102. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sat., Mar. 31, 7 p.m., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Nu Chi Chapter of East St. Louis presents Mardi Gras 2018: All Black the Masquerade Edition. Main Street Brewing Banquet Center, 6435 West Main St., Belleville, IL 62226. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Fri., Apr. 6, 7 p.m., St. Louis Blues Festival. With Calvin Richardson, Lattimore, Bobby Rush, Willie Clayton, and more. Chaifetz Arena, 1 S. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

Sat., Apr. 7, 6:30 p.m., The Saint Louis Crisis Nursery presents the Razzle Dazzle Ball: A Garden of Hope Westport Sheraton Lakeside Chalet, 191 W Port Plaza Dr., 63146. For more information, visit www.crisisnurserykids. org/events.

literary

Thur., Mar. 15, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Mackenzi Lee, author of Bygone Badass Broads: 52 Forgotten Women Who Changed the World. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, visit www.leftbank.com.

Sat., Mar. 17, 1:15 p.m., Girl Talk 2018 with author Ann Billingsley. Come together in unity to share love, fellowship,

and girl talk. St. Louis County Library – St. Ann, 10267 St. Charles Rock Rd., 63074. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Fri., Apr. 6, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books host author Junot Diaz, author of Islandborn Lola’s imagination takes her on an extraordinary journey back to The Island she left as a baby. Ethical Society of St. Louis, 9001 Clayton Rd., 63117. For more information, visit www.left-bank.com.

Tues., Apr. 10, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books host author Natalie Hopkinson author of A Mouth Is Always Muzzled: Six Dissidents, Five Continents, and the Art of Resistance. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108

Mar. 16 – 18, The Laugh Lounge hosts Brandon T. Jackson. 11208 W. Florissant Ave., 63033. For more information, visit www. thelaughloungestl.com.

Sat., Mar. 17, 8 p.m. Festival of Laughs starring Sommore and featuring Earthquake, George Wallace, Tommy Davidson, Tony Rock and Bruce Bruce. Chaifetz Arena. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com

Sun., Mar. 18, 4 p.m., Wake Up Judah presents 5th Element of Hip Hop Comedy Show. Hosted by J-Red with special musical guest YaYa Jones. 2720 Cherokee St., 63118. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Mar. 22 – 24, The Laugh Lounge hosts Turae. 11208 W. Florissant Ave., 63033 Mar. 22 – 25, Helium Comedy Club presents Aries Spears. 1151 St. Louis Galleria St., 63117. For more information, visit www. heliumcomedy.com.

Sun., Mar. 25, 7 p.m., Hang 10 Productions presents Too Live for TV. Featuring Tew Jennings, Nathan Orton, Jaylee Thomas, and Eric Rivers. Mystic Grille, 11836 W. Florissant Ave., 63033. For more information, visit www. hang10productions.com.

Fri., Apr. 13, Kevin Hart Irresponsible Tour, Scottrade Center. For more information, visit livenation.com.

Vaughn

Smokie Norful – Take the Lid Off Tour. See SPIRITUAL for details.

Thurs., May 3, The Lit

AF Tour starring Martin Lawrence and featuring Rickey Smiley, JB Smoove, DeRay Davis and Benji Brown. Chaifetz Arena. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com

theatre

Mar. 20 – April 1, The Fox Theatre presents The Color Purple, 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com or call (314) 534-1111.

Fri., Mar. 30, 7:30 p.m., Kissed by Judas. The modernday tale of seven individuals seeking soul reconciliation. The Sun Theater, 3625 Grandel Sq., 63108. For more information, visit www. kissedbyjudas.org.

Fri., Apr. 13- Apr. 29, The Black Rep closes its 41st season with the world premiere of Nikkole Salter’s Torn Asunder. Washington University’s Edison Theater. For more information, call (314) 534-3807 or visit www. theblackrep.org.

art

Fri., Mar. 23, 7 p.m., The Luminary presents Lot 49. A unique artist-centric auction featuring one-of-a-kind works by over 50 artists in a variety of mediums. 2701 Cherokee St., 63118. For more information, visit www. theluminaryarts.com.

Mar. 23 – 25, 2018 Queeny Park Art Fair. View works from up to 130 juried artists from over 20 states. Greensfelder Recreation Center, 550 Weidman Rd., 63011. For more information, visit www.artfairatqueenypark. com.

Sat., Mar. 31, 5:30 p.m., Creativity & Identity: An American Muslim Art Exhibition. Contemporary Art Museum, 3750 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more

Kenya Vaughn recommends

information, visit www.cairmo.org/art.

Through Apr. 21, Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries presents School Focus: Cardinal Ritter College Prep Student Exhibit. Featuring drawings, paintings, and ceramics by the students. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.thesheldon.org/ upcomingexhibits.

lectures and workshops

Sun., Mar. 18, 4 p.m., STL Village Community Engagement Committee presents Souper Sunday: Bridging the Delmar Housing Divide. Second Presbyterian Church, 4501 Westminster Pl., 63108. For more information, visit www.

stlvillage.org.

Tues., Mar. 20, 5 p.m., Grace Hill Women’s Business Center Legal Clinic. Meet a lawyer from Legal Services of Eastern Missouri to discuss any legal questions or concerns, relating to business. 2125 Bissell St., 6310. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Thur., Mar. 22, 5 p.m., Incarnate Word Foundation presents An Evening with Julian Castro – Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Brown School, Washington University, 1 Brookings Dr., 63130. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Thur., Apr. 5, 6 p.m., Money Smart – Wills, Beneficiary Deeds and Estate Planning. Topics include starting the estate planning process, avoiding probate, and more. Habitat for Humanity, 3763

2 p.m., Center for Divine Love Church presents Finally Understand Race in America. A portrayal of the African-American experience. Discussion will follow. 3617 Wyoming St., 63116. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

health

Sat., Mar. 17, 7 p.m., Pretty Faces of Lupus presents the First Annual Ball for a Cause. 1050 Smith Ave., 63135. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sat., Mar. 24, 3 p.m., Healing America Tour. Join Dr. T. Colin Campbell, the “science father” of plantbased health, and Nelson Campbell, the founder of PlantPure. JC Penney Conference Center, UMSL, 1 University Dr., 63121. For more information, visit www. healingamericatogether.com.

Forest Park Ave., 63108. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Thur., Apr. 5, 7 p.m., Financial Series with Prudential: Roadmap to Retirement. Topics include longevity risks, rollover IRA’s, long term healthcare costs, and more. Kirkwood Public Library, 140 E. Jefferson Ave., 63122. For more information, visit www. kirkwoodpubliclibrary.org.

Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Through Apr. 25, The Missouri Bar Association invites you to the Spring 2018 Mini Law School for the Public. Six-week series covering various legal topics. St. Louis County Council Campus, 41 S. Central, 63105. For more information, call (866) 366-0270 or visit www. missourilawyershelp.org/minilaw-school.

Sundays, Through Dec. 30,

Tues., Mar. 27, 2 p.m., Seniors Home Care invites you to Family Caregiver Training. Topics include monitoring and handling medications, home safety, handling caregiver stress, and more. 504 Marshall Ave., 63119. For more information, visit www.seniorshomecare. com/how-we-can-help.

Thur., Apr. 5, 5 p.m., Toward Healing and Health – Advancing Equity in Healthcare. With keynote speaker Louis W. Sullivan, MD. Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, 1 Brookings Dr., 63130. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com

Sat., Apr. 21, 10 a.m., Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group, Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church Campus Friendly Village, 5545 Wells Ave., 63112. For more information, call 314-4395799.

Through Mar. 16, The James Lee Ward, Sr. District of Eastern Missouri First Jurisdiction presents District’s Crusade. Nightly praise and worship, and speakers. Nazareth Temple COGIC, 3300 Marshall Ave., 63114. For more information, call (314) 665-4418.

Sat., Mar. 17, 5 p.m., Smokie Norful – Take the Lid Off Tour. West Side Missionary Baptist Church, 4675 Page Rd., 63113. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sun., Mar. 18, 11 a.m., Trinity Mt. Carmel Baptist Church’s 99th Church Anniversary. 11755 Mehl Ave., 63033. For more information, visit www. trinitymtcarmel.org.

Mar. 18, 3:30 p.m. New Salem MB Church 90th Anniversary, 1905 Arlington, St. Louis MO 63112.

Fri., Mar. 23, 6 p.m., ChosenLife Youth Ministry presents Spring Bling 2018. Performances by Mark Ant, Oliver Saint, Tarcea Renee, and more. Memorial Tabernacle Christian Life Center, 1350 S. Lafayette, 63031. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ chosenlifeyouth.

Mar. 23 – 24, All Nations Christian Church invites you to their Renew, Rebuild, Restart Leadership Conference. 10047 Jeffrey Dr., 63137. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sun., Mar. 25, 3:30 p.m., James Lee Ward Sr., District of Eastern Missouri First Jurisdiction invites you to the Pastoral Installation of Pastor Keith Strickland. Children of Light Tabernacle C.O.G.I.C., 3332 Edmundson Rd., 63114. For more information, call (314) 4799602.

95.5 R&B Old School presents After 7: Back by Popular Demand. For more information, see CONCERTS.

URBAN

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top-rated affiliate.

“For years St. Louis has been an incubator for excellence and activism,” National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial said while opening their national conference, which was held in St. Louis last summer to celebrate the achievements of the local affiliate and its leader McMillan.

In 100 years, the contributions have grown to include annually serving 100,000 residents throughout the St. Louis metropolitan region with 13 locations and a $21 million budget.

Next Saturday, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis will honor the past and look forward to the future. In addition to Benet as the featured entertainment, Oscar, Tony and Emmy winning actress Viola Davis will provide the evening’s keynote address.

Davis is also an anti-poverty activist that has been vocal about her upbringing in New England to raise awareness regarding the need for continued programming and support – much like what The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis provides daily.

“I was the kind of poor where I knew right away I had less than everyone around me,” Davis told PEOPLE Magazine. “Our

Louis, Inc. will host its Centennial Gala on March 24, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at the Marriott St. Louis Hotel. For more information, call (314) 615-3668 or email specialevents@urbanleague-stl. org.

IDoL

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she didn’t make a major move within a month, she would have to pursue some sort of post-secondary education immediately.

“So, basically, I have 30 days to become a star,” Gabbi said on ‘Idol.’

A ball of energy, she bounced her way to the front of celebrity judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan wearing a black sequined body suit. “My name is Gabbii Jones, I’m 20 years old and I’m from St. Louis – and I’m ready to kill it,” Gabbii told them with all the confidence in the world. She started right into a rock-infused interpretation of pop star Ariana Grande’s “Dangerous Woman.”

“Look at Lionel Richie,” one of the family members at Beechwood shouted at the television. “Look at his face!” Richie has already established himself as the most mellow of the judges – and the toughest to please. Soon after she started into her audition, he was roped in. He was studying her. She continued to belt. Perry and Bryan were their usual enthusiastic selves, but Gabbii connected with Richie in a special way.

When she finished her verse, those viewing her in St. Louis screamed with applause. But then another guest at the bar motioned them to quiet down. “Wait a minute, y’all. Look!” Richie got up from his judge’s chair, walked over to Gabbii and said, “you are good. I mean, really good.” He hugged her and went back to his seat to kick off the critiques of her performance. “There are things that we can tone down, but the basic core of you is exciting,”

BRowN

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“Army Wives,” mainstream Hollywood didn’t take notice of him until his Emmy-winning portrayal of Christopher Darden in “The People Vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.”

An Emmy winning contribution to “This Is Us” followed. Recent film performances in East St. Louis native Reginald Hudlin’s “Marshall” and Marvel Disney’s record-breaking “Black Panther” directed by Ryan Coogler again rely on Brown’s chops as a serious actor. He even played it straight on his pair of appearances on Issa Rae’s hit HBO comedy “Insecure” this summer. But Brown, a classically trained stage actor, proved himself capable of a pulling the reverse of a move typically reserved for comedic actors who delve into serious roles – Will Smith, Jamie Foxx and the late Robin Williams. The MICDS, Stanford University and NYU Tisch School of Drama alum’s comedic timing was impeccable. His commitment to whatever outlandish

Richie said from his judge’s chair.

A day after the episode aired, Gabbii was still in awe of sharing that moment with family, friends, St. Louis and the entire “Idol” viewing audience.

“That was a surreal for me,” Gabbii said. “When he was approaching, I couldn’t believe it. When he actually gave me a hug and said those encouraging things, I was like, ‘wow, I was really able to move this legend in a way that made him get out of his seat and tell me that I did a good job.’”

Perry gave her props for doing justice to Grande – who is a vocal powerhouse among the female pop stars. Bryan got a compliment in before they announced the decision. “I don’t know what to say about this girl,” Bryan said. “It’s already hot down here in New Orleans.

Gabbii was unanimously voted through. “See you in Hollywood,” the judges exclaimed. She got her golden ticket and jumped right into her father’s arms. “I’m so happy. I feel like I made my father proud,” Gabbii said the next day. “And I know I get an extension on my 30 days.”

‘Idol’ to inspire the masses

Gabbii left an impression – and it stretched beyond the judges. She was the featured contestant on a commercial with “Idol” host and producer Ryan Seacrest where Macy’s was introduced as the show’s official fashion partner.

“Fashion is one of the most important things as an artist,” Gabbii told Seacrest during the commercial. “An audience is going to see you before they

character the writing teamed up, made the skits fare well –even a couple that that would have fallen flat on a lesser talent. Saturday night, Brown flexed his funny bone to the max. He made his skit debut in a celebrity “Family Feud” parody with an impression of conscious rapper Common. Brown would be overshadowed by cast member Kate McKinnon’s hilarious spoof of Francis McDormand. No cast member would get the chance to steal a skit from him again over the course of the night – though Thompson came close to making Brown break character and double over with laughter during a “Black Panther” deleted scenes skit. It was a scene Brown shared with fellow St. Louisan’ Chris Redd, a member of the “SNL” featured players ensemble. A skit about an overzealous Shrek fan was the perfect example of how Brown’s instinct, timing and commitment to the punchline made a skit that would have otherwise been marginally funny, downright hilarious.

When he suited up to play HUD Secretary Ben Carson for a “This Is Us” parody entitled

hear you. My game plan is simple. If it sparkles, wear it.”

Gabbii is still wrapping her head around her whole ‘Idol’ experience. Hours before her episode aired, she visited her alma mater Central VPA. The school had declared March 12 “Gabbii Jones Day,” and held a lunchtime pep rally in her honor.

“They went all out,” Gabbii said. “They had the drumline meet me at the door of the auditorium and they walked me to the stage. They had all these posters. It really touched me because you want to get that type of support from the school that you went to – plus, I feel like the whole city has been behind me through all of this.” She hopes to be an inspiration to those students, and everyone else. Her hope is to use the ‘Idol’ platform to as inspiration for everyone who might be afraid to take a leap of faith.

“This means that my voice is going to be heard all over America,” Gabbi said. “It means that I’m going to touch millions of hearts, and they are going to be able to connect with me and be a part of the entire journey.”

While she can’t go into the details about her next chapter on “Idol” right now, Gabbii said that people can expect to see more sass, more sparkles –of course – and truckloads of personality.

“I want people to see that I’m going to stay true to myself,” Gabbii said. “And to show people who are afraid to go after their dream that it’s possible.”

ABC’s American Idol airs Sunday and Monday nights at 7 p.m. CST. Check local listings for channel. For more information, visit http://abc.go.com/ shows/american-idol.

“This Is U.S.,” Brown cemented his ability as an impressionist. “It’s all wrong,” Brown said as Carson in a mousy, whiny tone for the spoof of a show teaser. That bit not being extended into an actual episode parody was a missed opportunity for “SNL.” Probably because of his dramatic resume, writers for the live show seemed to play it safe as far as the sketches that featured him. The move was a shortcoming that the team won’t likely make again should Brown be invited back for a second stab at hosting – which he made sure to pitch as he bid farewell during the closing credits. “Bring your boy back,” Brown said as he thanked the show’s executive producer Lorne Michaels as well as the “SNL” cast, crew, audience, viewers and musical guest James Bay.

Known for recycling hosts who fare especially well with their hosting duties – including Tom Hanks, current resident “Donald Trump” Alec Baldwin and fellow St. Louisan John Goodman – “SNL” would be foolish not to take Brown up on the offer.

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Eric Benet

Anniversary

On March 18, 1978, Michael and Janice Griffin were married at Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis. They are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary! The Griffins are the proud parents of three children and have eight grandchildren. Lord willing, they have many more years to share.

Alabama State University Hornets, alumni, families and friends in the St. Louis area. The Alabama State University Alumni Chapter of St. Louis will have a meeting on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 1:30pm at the St. Louis County Library - Rock Road Branch 10267 St. Charles Rock Road, St. Ann, MO 63074.

Beaumont Class of 1968 will celebrate its 50-year reunion

Celebrations

Star Students

Danielle Kain, a freshman at MICDS and a six-year member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis Ferguson Club received the Joan Ellyn Silber Award for Volunteerism and Leadership and a $1,000 scholarship. Danielle’s award was presented at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis’ annual Table for Four event.

Congratulations to Mayla Ayers, a junior sustainability and urban ecology major at Harris-Stowe State University, who received first place honors in the Ecology, Environmental and Earth Sciences category at the 2018 Emerging Researchers National Conference in Washington D.C.

Pattonville High School junior Aric Hamilton was selected to receive the 2018 Building the Dream Klassic scholarship from the Building the Dream Klassic and Kappa Alpha PSI Foundation. Aric was honored at the Building the Dream Klassic at the PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Gardens, Florida, a fundraising event for the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation.

June 8-10,2018. Yes, Class ‘68 will begin Milestone celebration 6th month on 8th day. Our 2018 meetings in preparation will be held at STL County library located 7606 Natural Bridge at 1:00 p.m.. Dates are (Saturdays) February 17, March 17, April 21, May 19 and June 2. For more information call (314) 8698312 or email bhsco1968@ att.net. Pass the word and lets celebrate!

Beaumont High Class of 1973 will hold its 45th reunion Aug. 10-12, 2018! Any questions, please call Rita (314)241-5419.

Homer G. Phillips and St. Louis Municipal School of Nursing is planning an all class reunion in June 2018. Please send your name, address and telephone number to: Homer G. Phillips Nurses Alumni, Inc., P.O. Box 8033

St. Louis, Missouri 63156.

McKinley Class of 1978 will celebrate its 40-year reunion July 27-29, 2018 at the Embassy Suites-Airport. For more information please contact Barbara Lindsey, Barbara_Lindsey@icloud.com or Marvin Woods, mwoods@ projectcontrolsgroup.com , (314) 647-0707.

Northwest High Class of 1978 is planning its 40-year reunion for next year. If you have any questions please contact Sly at (314) 397-0311 or email us at northwestbluedevils@78gmail. com. Check us out on Facebook Northwest High School-Class of 1978.

Soldan Class of 1978 is planning their 40th class reunion. The dates are June 1, 2 and 3. For more information: call (314) 413-9088.

Sumner Alumni Association hosts its 15th Annual Membership Round-Up Sunday, February 25, 2018, 1-4 pm at Sumner High School with Theme “Showcase Your Talent”. Contact B. Louis at (314) 385-9843 or email: sumneralumniassn@yahoo. com or to Showcase Your Talent on program (provide contact info and your talent). J. House, Chairperson (314) 420-3442.

University City Class of 1978 will hold its 40th reunion May 25-27, 2018. For more information please email ucityhs1978@gmail. com

Vashon Classes of 1974, 1975 and 1976 present: Three Classes Under One Roof! Saturday, April 7, 2018, 7 p.m. until 12 a.m. at the

Aric Hamilton

Polish Heritage Center, 1413 North 20th St., St. Louis, MO 63106. For tickets or additional information, call: Jordan Perry ‘74 (314) 7244563, Elvis Hopson ‘75 (314) 660-1784 or Anthony Arnold ‘76 (314) 677-5667.

Vashon High School will celebrate its 90th anniversary October 5-7, 2018 for alumni, students and community activities to celebrate educational commitment and tradition. For additional information, go to Vashonhigh.org or contact Elvis Hopson, elvishopson@ att.net, (314) 535-0243, Pearl Lake, lakep6@aol.com, (314) 388-0743 or Cozy W. Marks, Jr., jr3810@sbcglobal.net, (314) 383-5682.

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

St. Louis American Celebrations c/o Kate Daniel 2315 Pine St. St. Louis, MO 63103

Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability. We prefer that notices be emailed to us! However, notices may also be sent by mail to:

Kate Daniel, 2315 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103

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

Beaumont High Class of 1978 will celebrate its 40-year reunion in 2018. For further information, please contact: Marietta Shegog Shelby, 314-799-5296, madeshe@sbcglobal.net.

Mayla Ayers

Danielle Kain

Grammy-winner Wyclef Jean gave Powell Hall a performance they wouldn’t soon forget when he teamed up with the St. Louis Symphony for a Night of Symphonic Hip-Hop. St. Louis Symphony’s Public Relations Manager Anthony Kiekow, his wife Apryll Kiekow and Karen Loaiza had a chance to chop it up with Wyclef after the show.

Swag Snap of the Week

Members of Team Gabbii Jones (center) were overjoyed after watching her advance on ‘American Idol’ to the Hollywood round Monday @ Beechwood Bar

Winding it up with Wyclef. Listen, I got my whole entire life from The St. Louis Symphony’s Night of Symphonic Hip-Hop with Wyclef Jean! By the time he got to The Fugees portion of the show, he could do no wrong in my eyes. I didn’t realize how universal “The Score” was until he got off into it. And how about that Moira Mack! That was the name of his guest singer who looked ready to take on Taylor Swift covers instead of Ms. Lauryn Hill and Mary J. Blige. Now she could have used some more energy and some swag on stage, but don’t get it twisted. Miss Moira has the range! And we turned that Fugees suite in to a karaoke moment, didn’t we! I thought I was the only one who put my whole heart into L-Boogie’s verse on “Ready or Not!” Now back to Wyclef. He just might be the first performer I’ve ever seen work the entire Powell Hall. And then he had the nerve to not lose a breath or miss a beat. And I’m talking from the front row to the third balcony y’all. I knew he was a high impact performer, but I still was ready. And after he got his cardio in by sprinting through the venue, he got some H.I.I.T. workout in to the beat of his new single. And the symphony orchestra sounded phenomenal! I can’t say that I would have pulled a Wyclef and carried conductor Gemma New across the threshold like we were getting married, but I certainly would have been appreciative.

A blackout with Vince Staples. I know you’re thinking, “who is Vince Staples?” Well, he is a Cali rapper (Long Beach and Compton to be exact) that I happen to check for so I was thrilled to catch him at The Pageant last Wednesday. I was sad that the masses didn’t show him the kind of love that they do the mumbling rappers at least three tiers lower in talent. I really like his flow and his music is almost a blend of the Bay Area and the LA rappers. I wondered the whole time, though, why he was performing in the dark wearing all black and with a bulletproof vest on. I was like, “Is he paranoid?” I haven’t been to a show where I couldn’t really see the performers face like that since Bryson Tiller came through. Vince did have a cute little light display, but no spotlight to speak of. Bryson had it looking like the Pageant owed Ameren some money. A weak crowd for Webbie. Okay, it wasn’t empty. But he didn’t have the type of repeat success as Blac Youngsta enjoyed when the Louisiana rapper made his way back to The Marquee for the second time in three months Friday night. I know a check is a check, but let people miss you. I hadn’t even finished spelling out the “I.N.D.E.P.E.N.D.E.N.T” from his last visit when he showed back up in the STL. Derez De’Shon. Phil Assets and the crew had the newly remodeled Klub Klymaxx on lean with rising rapper Derez De’Shon. I didn’t realize he had such a following –mainly because I didn’t realize he existed until I saw the flyer. But the club was turned up and they knew every word to his trap offerings. It was definitely a good look for the club’s third week back in the game.

Underwhelmed by Adele Givens. I was excited to see Helium bring one of the Queens of Comedy through The Lou. Adele Givens, who was also one of the hosts of “Russell Simmons Def Comedy Jam,” hit the stage and hadn’t aged a bit since her glory days of providing giggles to the urban comedy connoisseurs. While her skin is intact, I can’t say that her comedy has aged like fine wine. She was comfortable and at ease – and as usual seemed to be a natural with standing in front of folks telling experiences framed as jokes. But her material wasn’t nearly as strong as I remember. I did cackle a bit when she was talking about the woes of getting older and not having any back teeth. But other than that, it was pretty regular for me.

The talented Ty Dolla $ign. Saturday night I hit up the Ready Room to catch rapper, I mean singer … look I don’t know exactly how to label Ty Dolla $ign – except for pretty doggone good. The last time I saw him was at a Hot 104.1 Super Jam installment. Man has he grown since then. There was not a spot to be had in the venue. And I had to hang back by the front door just to keep a steady flow of fresh air. But Ty, his guitar and those lime Kool-Aid dreadlocks were worth it. I got life and I’m so glad I stopped through.

The right kind of celebrity host featuring Raheem DeVaughn. The promoters who bring in talent to sing two or three songs and wave their way out of the door in 30 minutes or less at the absolute 11th hour will have to step their game up thanks to DinoGene and Dejuan Lockhart. If the event says from 6-11, it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for the designative celeb to show up at 10:45. But when Raheem DeVaughn hit the Fox Midwest Live stage at Ballpark Village, no games were played. He put on a whole entire show for that crowd – which for whatever reason had a huge population of exceptionally good looking middle-aged men. He got on stage at 9 p.m. and put it down until 10:15. Then, he hung out in a VIP space afterwards. I tried to wait him out to see how long he would stay. I can’t tell you exactly when, because I left before he did! Let that type of party be the new precedent to take over for these shows that put the con in concert.

Congrats in order for STL. I’ll make it quick but let me give props to some people from the STL reppin’ for the world to see – which feels great on the heels of #314Day. First off, let me give props to Sterling K. Brown for killing it as the host of last week’s “Saturday Night Live.” Chris Redd, who played T’Challa in the “Black Panther” spoof is from St. Louis as well. Also, let me give it up to the lovely ladies showing the type of musical gifts that can be found in the 314 and 618. O’Fallon, Illinois native Christina Jones and South City native Gabbii Jones (no relation to Christina) are headed to Hollywood on ABC’s “American Idol.” A few channels down on NBC, St. Louis’ own Tish Haynes-Keys killed her blind audition on the “The Voice” and is now a member of team Adam Levine!

Alice and Alisha had a chance to unwind with Reggae and good friends Saturday @ Artist Art

Glenn, Tysha and Chris Long came through for A Conscious Conversation STL’s roundtable about ‘Black Panther’ Saturday @ UrbArts

Junior Reid left Recho Mangwenya glowing as he paused for pictures after rocking a full house @2720 Sunday

Kyria and Terrence came through to twostep before the party got real Saturday @ The Marquee

James and Linda were singing their hearts out as Kingston’s Junior Reid performed live @2720 Sunday

DJ 4.0 and DJ Fyahrama of NY bumped nothing but the best reggae and turned Artist Art into an island dancehall

R&B vet Raheem Devaughn posed with Virtu, who proved her fandom with a custom T-shirt of her and the singer from years before Sunday @ Ballpark Village

Photos by V. Lang

Sunday was like a family reunion as DJ Donwon, John and Adam linked up during Reggae legend Junior Reid’s concert @2720

Cornelius, Melissa and DJ Manifest kicked backed at Blank Space as they readied for a Saturday night of RUMPSHAKER with BlvckSpvde

COORDINATORCORPORATE COMPLIANCEDATA REPORTING

Responsible for analyzing and resolving premium and loss statistical data element bureau criticisms and notifications for products written by the Company.

To apply, please visit: www.safetynational.com and click on the Careers tab.

TAX ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST

Individual is responsible for accurate and timely preparing and filing of all state premium and municipal tax returns and estimates for the organization. To apply, please visit: www.safetynational.com and click on the Careers tab.

CASE MANAGER

Urban Strategies is hiring a case manager in St. Louis, for details please visit www.urbanstrategiesinc.org

CAMPUS MINISTER

Loyola Academy of St. Louis, a Jesuit-sponsored middle school for boys, seeks a dynamic person to serve as the Campus Minister for the 2018-2019 school year. Loyola Academy is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty by providing a rigorous education, extra-curricular programming, and an emphasis on personal and spiritual development to sixty students. The Campus Minister teaches Religion courses and guides the students, staff, families, and community members in spiritual formation activities. The successful candidate cares for students, plans and facilitates objective-driven lessons, and demonstrates exceptional organization and communication skills. The candidate must also be a certified teacher or be working toward certification. Please submit a letter of interest and resume to Mrs. Ashley Chapman, Principal at achapman@loyolaacademy.org by 4/6/18. No phone inquiries, please. For additional information about the school, please visit our website www.loyolaacademy.org.

FINANCE DIRECTOR

The City of Jennings is accepting applications for the position of Finance Director. Please see the full Job description online at www.cityofjennings.org

Application available at Jennings City Hall or online at www.cityofjennings.org. NO RESUMES ACCEPTED WITHOUT COMPLETION OF OUR APPLICATION! Completed applications may be delivered to City Hall, mailed, emailed to jobs@cityofjennings.org or faxed to 314-388-3999. Applications accepted until filled.

SENIOR WC PRICING ACTUARY

Responsible for providing Pricing Analysis and Technical Support for all Workers Compensation and other occupational injury lines of business: Excess Workers Compensation, Large Deductible WC, Large Risk Primary WC, and Texas Non-subscriber Policies. To apply, please visit: www.safetynational.com and click on the Careers tab.

SENIOR PRICING ACTUARY-TREATY REINSURANCE

Responsible for providing Pricing Analyses and Technical Support for Treaty Reinsurance with a focus on Workers Compensation. To apply, please visit: www.safetynational.com and click on the Careers tab

SENIOR ENTERPRISE PROGRAM MANAGER

Lead level professional position, which contributes to the accomplishment of project/program practices, and objectives that will achieve business goals and objectives. Supervises and Directs team within Program Management. Manages leads and mentors others within Program Management. Demonstrates and mentors advanced working knowledge and concepts of Information Technology. To apply, please visit: www.safetynational. com and click on the Careers tab.

RESERVATIONS COORDINATOR

The Missouri Historical Society seeks a Reservations Coordinator. Visit www.mohistory.org for position details and to apply. An Equal Opportunity Employer

St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices

MWBE PreBid Meeting Notice

The SITE Improvement Association is hosting a Prebid meeting for Qualified and Certified MWBE contractors to discuss working on MSD’s Avignon Ct & Beaucaire Dr Storm Sewer (Warson Woods 3 -04 05 09) Contract Letting No.12430-15.1

This meeting is being held on behalf of the following SITE contractor members: J.M. Marschuetz Construction Co. 15 Truitt Drive Eureka, MO 63025 636/938-3600

The meeting will take place at 10:00 a.m. March 22, 2018 SITE Improvement Association 2071 Exchange Drive, St. Charles, MO 63303

Project plans are available from MSD. For questions regarding this prebid meeting, Contact the SITE Improvement Association office at 314/966-2950.

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR NEW MARKETS TAX CREDIT PROJECT FINANCING ON BEHALF OF THE ST. LOUIS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

The St. Louis Development Corporation (“SLDC”), a Round 14 New Markets Tax Credit allocatee hereby requests proposals from firms wishing to receive project financing from SLDC’s New Markets Tax Credit program. For a copy of the RFQ please visit our website at http:/ /stlouis-mo.gov/sldc by selecting the RFP/ RFQ link for a complete copy of the RFP, or contact:

BILL SEDDON

ST. LOUIS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 1520 MARKET STREET, SUITE 2000 ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63103 (314) 657-3705 (PHONE) (314) 603-7011 (FAX)

Proposals are due no later than 4:00 P.M. Central Daylight Time on Tuesday, April 3, 2018.

LETTING #8659 REPLACE 5 NON-LOAD INTERRUPTING 5KV SWITCHES ON CONCOURSES A, B & C, TRANSFORMERS 2 & 4 At St. Louis Lambert International Airport Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on Tuesday April 10, 2018, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State and Federal laws (including MBE/WBE policies). ). Mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, at 10:00 AM in the Training Room at the Airport Office Building, 11495 Navaid Rd., Bridgeton, MO 63044. All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Specifications” set forth within and referenced at www. stl-bps.org (Announcements).

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for Contract No. F 18 602, Abatement in Communications North Building, St. Louis Community College at Meramec, until 2:00 p.m. local time Thursday, March 8, 2018. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 300 South Broadway (Room 423, Fourth Floor). Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from the Manager’s office at the above address, or by calling (314) 539-5015.

MANDATORY PRE-BID MEETING: March 1, 2018 (11:00 a.m.) Meet in Communications North –Main Corridor An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District will receive RFQ’s in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 10:00 a.m. on April 26, 2018 to contract with a company for: MARBLE/CARPET FLOORING PROJECT-MARKET ST. Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). The bid document will be identified as 9271-2 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314-768-6254 to request a copy of this bid.

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

ST. LOUIS

COMMUNITY COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for Contract No. F 18 202, Construction of Access Corridor on Third Floor, St. Louis Community College at Corporate College, until 2:00 p.m. local time Thursday, March 22, 2018. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 300 South Broadway (Room 423, Fourth Floor). Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from the Manager’s office at the above address, or by calling (314) 539-5015.

An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY

COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for Contract No. F 18 406, BID RELEASE #2 - Center for Nursing and Health Science Building, St. Louis Community College at Forest Park, until March 27, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. local time CDT, which includes the following packages: BP-01A Envelope Consultant, BP-03B Site Concrete and Furnishings, BP-06A Carpentry and Lab Furnishings, BP-07C Fireproofing, BP-09A Drywall and Air/Vapor Barrier, BP-09B Painting, BP-09C Acoustical Ceilings, BP-09D Flooring, BP-10A General Trades, BP-32A Landscaping, Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 300 South Broadway (Room 423, Fourth Floor). Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from Cross Rhodes’ Plan room at 1712 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110 or at Tarlton Corporation’s website at www.tarltoncorp.com.

An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Collinsville Great Streets Project

East-West Gateway has issued 4 RFPs seeking submittals from consultants to provide planning services for the Collinsville, IL Great Streets project. The planning work will include: an economic assessment, an environmental infrastructure analysis, a transportation analysis, and urban design. Submittals are due no later than 1:00 p.m. on April 9, 2018. Submittal details and specifications can be obtained at www.ewgateway.org or by calling 314-421-4220 ext. 263.

PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC HOUSING WAIT LIST OPENING

Arlington Grove will accept pre-applications online at www.slha.org for 2 & 3 bedroom units beginning March 20, 2018 at 8:00 A.M. closing March 21, 2018 at 12:00 A.M. Applicants with disabilities that need assistance in completing an online application or who do not have access to a computer can be accommodated at 5547 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr., St. Louis, MO 63112 or SLHA Corporate Office located at 3520 page from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on March 20-21, 2018.

INVITATION FOR EQUIPMENT BIDS

East-West Gateway Council of Governments is seeking bids for GPS units, portable gateway repeater devices, crisis response throw phones, automated license plate reader cameras and PAN disrupters. Bids are due March 28, 2018. Funding provided by the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security. MBEs / WBEs are encouraged to submit bids. Find details at www.ewgateway.org or by calling 314-421-4220 ext. 208.

SEEKING BIDS

Great Rivers Greenway is seeking bids for a 48 foot trench drain in Trojan Park. Check https://greatriversgreenway.org/ jobs-bids/ and submit by April 2, 2018.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

The City of St. Louis Department of Human Services, Office on the Disabled, is seeking proposals from qualified deaf interpreting service providers to provide Interpreters for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals using City services and City employees. The deadline for submitting a proposal is March 30, 2018 by 4:00 p.m. Copies of the Request for Proposal can be obtained via mail, email or pick up by request to the Office on the Disabled at City Hall, 1200 Market St. Room 30, ph# 314-622-3686 or by download from the City of St. Louis website at: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/procurement.cfm

SEALED BIDS

SEALED BIDS

Advertised

Rev. Rodrick K. Burton celebrates fifth pastoral anniversary

New Northside Missionary Baptist Church hosted events

March 2-4

American staff

New Northside Missionary Baptist Church celebrated Rev. Rodrick K. Burton’s fifth year of pastoral ministry the weekend of March 2-4.

The celebration began on Friday, March 2 with a Youth Explosion at New Northside, 8645 Goodfellow Blvd., with guest speaker Rev. Carlos Smith, pastor of First Baptist of Chesterfield. It continued on Saturday, March 3 with First Lady Carlotta Burton’s Appreciation Luncheon at New Northside Conference Center, 5939 Goodfellow Blvd. with guest speaker Shirley Washington of Fox2 KTVI. It concluded on Sunday, March 4 with “Celebration Begins” at New Northside Conference Center, 5939 Goodfellow Blvd. with guest speaker Rev. Zachary Lee, senior pastor of Mt. Paran MB Church in East St Louis.

During the five years that Rev. Burton has been the senior pastor at New Northside MB, he has led the church through a transition following the death of the former pastor, Bishop Willie Jr. Ellis Jr.; worked closely with his wife, Carlotta and community partners to reduce infant mortality in the 27th Ward. He also advocated for use of renewable energy and the environment in partnering with

the Sierra Club; worked to reduce violence by working with Better Family Life and other community organization; and worked with law enforcement to bridge the relationship with the community.

He has served as vice president of the Ecumenical Leadership Council, member of the St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition, and board member of the St. Louis Initiative to Reduce Violence.

Burton said he is grateful for the opportunity to serve the church and community by partnering with other churches, social service organizations, schools, businesses, elected officials, and all who are working to improve the lives of those in the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Burton has written for The American several times. In April 2017, we published his open letter to the next St. Louis mayor on crime that reflected on a the Department of Justice report on the region.

“Our city leader’s reactions to the consistent reporting of

America’s most dangerous city is to whine or deny. Now it is time to say to the nation, ‘Yes, we have a problem, and here’s what we are doing about it,’” he wrote.

“If the city does not address the crime problem in a holistic way, as laid out by the Department of Justice, potential investors will pick other cities and the businesses we have will leave.

Lost investment means lost jobs, lost taxes, lost status and decline for everyone.

“St. Louis is the economic engine for our state, a regional giant, but an injured behemoth. Our injuries like most large cities are a combination of globalism, long-standing racial divisions and crime. The fallout of Ferguson put a spotlight on our city and metropolitan area and the perception that our crime problem is growing out of control.

“For too long, stable, thriving neighborhoods have felt comfortable in ignoring and thereby enabling other neighbors to become failed states. Current history has clearly demonstrated

Rev. Rodrick K. Burton, pastor of New Northside Missionary Baptist Church, showed some spirit during a prayer breakfast with local police leadership in October 2016.

Photo by Wiley Price

in Somali, Libya, Afghanistan, Yemen, Iraq and now Syria that failed states affect the security and economy of a region.

“As the DOJ’s report pointed out, the elements to reduce our violent crime are present. We need strong, honest leadership that utilizes smart strategic policing; coordinated surges of social services to underserved communities with a focus on being traumainformed; intentional aesthetic improvements; intentional smart reintegration of ex-offenders to the communities; and presence in those communities.

“What I mean by ‘presence’ is if the mayor shows up in distressed communities, as well as thriving neighborhoods, it shows the residents they care. Many youths interviewed for the DOJ analysis expressed that no one cares. It is time to prove to all citizens that St. Louis cares that all should do well.”

For more information on the church, visit http://www. newnorthsidebaptist.org.

The Message

He uses the strangest people

The Bible suggests that God has a history of using people in the strangest ways. My take on it is, He uses the strangest people to carry out His divine will. Doesn’t the Bible let us know that those who feel quite strange about it are chosen by God to carry out heavenly tasks here on earth? Moses was a murderer. Paul (Saul) killed a few Jesus lovers in his time. Rahab was a ho and Jacob was, well, y’all know all about Jacob’s shortcomings. And David, I ain’t gone even talk about this guy.

God uses the least of us (by our definition) to carry out His plans in spite of what we think we are capable of or worthy of. Most of the prophets were reluctant participants at best as implementers and vehicles for God’s message to His people. Most wanted nothing to do with their assignments because they did not think anyone would listen.

Everyone is a candidate for greatness in the eyes of the Almighty. I used to think that only those called to preach had the gift of ministry. Try telling that to anyone who has accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and watch how quickly they get corrected. I know I did. Slowly and reluctantly, I have accepted we all have a ministry according to the gifts given to us by God. Neither economic status, academic achievement, or social standing means anything if God says it is your turn to do His bidding, carry His message or, simply let others see Him in you.

One thing is certain – you cannot refuse to hear Him, when God comes knocking. Just ask Moses, Ezekiel, Isaiah or Jeremiah. More importantly, ask yourself, what are you reluctant to do in the name of God? Only you know if you are in denial. Only you know if you are trying to convince God to choose someone else. How long will it take you to realize that eventually, you are going to do what God is telling you to do?

You might want to get to that conclusion before God stops asking and starts telling. God is apt to stop asking and abandon you altogether and accept your “no” as a final answer.

How do we know when God is the one doing the talking? God does not confuse us. He is talking all the time. The key for us is to make a conscious and deliberate effort to listen and hear Him.

Columnist James Washington