March 17th, 2022 edition by The St. Louis American

The St. LouiS AmericAn

A communiTy mourns

See related story on page A14

Cora Faith Walker memorial service Friday

She passed at 37 on March 11

By Dawn Suggs

The St. Louis American

A memorial service for Cora Faith Walker will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 18, at Friendly Temple Church, 5545 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.

“The Walker family extends its heartfelt gratitude for the outpouring of condolences since Cora Faith’s transition on Friday, March 11, 2022,” a family statement read.

“Cora dedicated her life’s work to public service, social justice, women’s reproductive rights, and health equity access. She was an ardent advocate for women, children, and the underserved throughout Ferguson, the state of Missouri, and the world. Cora, always strident and steadfast in

Rep. Cora Faith Walker spoke during a “People’s Special Session” at Union and Delmar boulevards on July 29, 2017.

‘It’s Okay to Not be Okay.’

Rep. Cori Bush holds candid conversation with high school students

By Sylvester Brown Jr.

The St. Louis American

“It’s Okay.” Those two words summarized the March 14 “Speak-In,” listening session,” at Sumner High School, hosted by U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-St. Louis. During the candid, one-hour, live discussion with students from area high schools, Bush repeatedly reminded them that it’s normal to feel overwhelmed, frustrated, afraid, scared, or angry.

“It’s Okay to not be Okay,” Bush stressed after students expressed concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, gun violence and racism. Her advice was also appropo for Cardinal Ritter High School student, Kenneth White, who confessed, “I fear leaving my house and the dangerous things happening such as being robbed, killed or more.”

According to Bush’s office, the event was designed to give students the chance to openly discuss issues that are affecting their daily lives. Bush and the panel of eight students

addressed comments that had been submitted by high schoolers prior to the live event.

Dr. Kelvin R. Adams, Superintendent of the St. Louis Public School District, who introduced Bush, opened the session on a serious note. A Sumner High School sophomore, Terrion Smith, 16, of the 4700 block of Newberry Terrace in north St. Louis, had been gunned down over the weekend.

“This tragedy is the sort of thing that no

sAluTe To heAlTh

PrepareSTL is Health Advocacy Organization of the Year

By JoAnn Weaver For The St. Louis American

Health is the number one priority for PrepareSTL.

For its quality work and community health campaigns, PrepareSTL will be honored as the Health Advocacy Organization of the Year during the 22nd Salute to Excellence in Health Care on April 14 at the Frontenac Hilton.

Rebeccah Bennett, PrepareSTL managing director, responded to COVID19’s impact on the African American community by creating opportunities for people of color in St. Louis to recover and heal.

“They got together for the purpose of helping African Americans and foreign-born people of color in these times of COVID to be able to survive and be able to move through the negative impacts that a public health crisis can bring,” Bennett said in a virtual interview.

PrepareSTL hosted its Living Well Summit in July and reflected on the arduous health path the region had traveled since the pandemic began.

“We are out here today, just so we can enjoy having survived the last 17 months,” Bennett said last summer, in a video displayed on the PrepareSTL website.

“Black folks don’t need a reason to celebrate and neither does any other group of people, so we are out here as a part of our Living Well Summit just so we can enjoy.”

In 2020, the St. Louis Regional Health

By Rebecca Rivas

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Sumner High School junior Stephon Riggins speaks on gun violence among young teens that took a classmate during Monday’s listening session with Rep. Cori Bush at Sumner High School Monday, Mar. 14, 2022. At right is Zipporah Lawal from Hazelwood East.

Rebeccah Bennett

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Actress Jurnee Smollett supports brother Jussie Smollett

Despite legal actions taken against her older brother, actor Jussie Smollet, actress Jurnee Smollett is sticking beside her brother.

Jussie, an openly gay Black male, has been sentenced to 150 days in jail and 30 days of probation for arranging his own hate crime and filing a fictitious police report on Jan. 19, 2019. He was originally indicted with 16 counts of disorderly conduct in March 2019.

Jurnee shared an Instagram post in support of Jussie.

“Black Americans are incarcerated in state prisons at nearly five times the rate of white Americans,” Jurnee wrote. “Jussie is innocent. And…you don’t have to believe in his innocence to believe he should be free. #FreeJussie #StopLockingUpOurPeople.”

Following his sentence and probation, Jussie is required to pay $120,106 in restitution and will receive a maximum fine of $25,000.

Jussie argued his innocence after his sentence was announced.

“I am not suicidal, and if anything happens to me when I go [to jail], I didn’t do it to myself and you must all remember that,” he said.

Traci Braxton, former The Braxtons group member, loses cancer battle

Traci Braxton of “Braxton Family Values” reality fame and former member of R&B girl group The Braxtons has died at age 50.

Traci’s husband Kevin Sr. told TMZ after a year-long battle with Esophageal cancer, she succumbed to it.

Traci’s older sister, Grammy-winning singer Toni Braxton, posted a statement on behalf of their family to Instagram.

“It is with the utmost regret that we inform you of the passing of our sister, Traci. Needless to say, she was a bright light, a wonderful daughter, an amazing sister, a loving mother, wife, grandmother, and a respected performer. We will miss her dearly.

“Traci passed this morning as the snow was falling, our angel is now a snowflake.

“We ask that you respect our privacy as we plan to send her home with love, celebrating her life.

“We are family forever.

Love, The Braxton Family.”

Traci’s only child, a son Kevin Jr., shared his feelings on his late mother’s untimely passing.

“When I heard the news about my mother being sick, first thing she said was I’m going to fight and beat this. She fought to the end and today she’s at peace. I love my mother forever and this hurts so much but I’m at peace knowing [she] isn’t in pain anymore. I love you ma. I’m going to miss you.”

Traci, her four sisters Toni, Towanda, Tamar, Trina, and their mother Evelyn, appeared in the WE TV reality show “Braxton Family Values” for seven seasons from 2011-to 2020.

She and the sisters formed a sing ing group and were signed to Arista Records in 1989. They released a single “Good Thing” the following year, but it failed to chart. L.A. Reid and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds launched Toni’s solo career in 1991. Traci, Towanda, Trina, and Tamar sang background vocals for Toni and made appearances in some of her videos including “Seven Whole Days.”

Black Panther director Ryan Coogler mistaken for a bank robber

Black film director Ryan Coogler was confronted by police earlier this year in

Atlanta, Georgia in a case of banking while Black. He attempted to withdraw $12,000 from his checking account at Bank of America when law enforcement was called on him. Coogler, who directed “Black Panther” and “Creed” and got his start in the industry directing “Fruitvale Station” was trying to be discreet, but things rapidly went south. He wrote the teller a note telling her he wanted to withdraw $12,000 from his checking account and asking her to do the money counter somewhere else, but to be cautious about it.

Immediately after receiving the note, the teller alerted her manager, assuming he was trying to rob the bank. Police were called even though Coogler had given her his I.D. and bank card.

Bank of America released a statement about the incident.

“We deeply regret that this incident occurred,” Bank of America said in the statement. “It never should have happened, and we have apologized to Mr. Coogler.”

“I’ve

A model inspiration

By Ayomide Ajakaiye

My parents’ belief in a good education and global citizenry influenced my interest in Model United Nations (MUN). Although they were self-sufficient, other economic development needs affecting their standard of living led to them leaving Nigeria. They constantly tell me to use opportunities to increase my knowledge and capacity. I’m 15 years old, and I’ve done this for as long as I can remember.

In 7th grade, Andrew Newman, a MUN director at my school, John Burroughs, announced an organization he helped found: MUN Impact (MUNI). MUN Impact is a youth-led program that provides free Model UN education to students worldwide over Zoom. MUN@Home, its training program, was starting its third session, he said. Immediately, I knew I should join.

During my first MUN@HOME Zoom session, mentors asked two

questions: “Where are you joining us from?” and, “What’s your favorite SDG?”

I’d never heard of SDGs, much less understood their practical application, so all I could answer was: “St. Louis, USA.”

I didn’t yet realize the SDGs, Sustainable Development Goals, are the UN’s 17 solutions to the world’s most pressing issues. They include providing free primary education or universal health care.

From other delegates, I saw, “India: SDG 3; England: SDG 10; South Africa: SDG 15,” and it kept going. I was inspired. While refining research and speech writing skills, I also participated in riveting conversations on gender equality and refugee status with students living in distant locations, including Japan, Zimbabwe, Mexico, and Qatar. Soon, I would discover MUN Impact had several other programs. From this point on, I wore a lot of hats.

Janai Nelson, newly appointed

I became a journalist, then a podcaster. I helped organize larger events like the Global Summit and Global Week of Action for in-depth SDG discussions. We’ve now provided 30,000 students with mentorship through student leaders and by hosting leaders of non-Governmental organizations and UN officials. As a result, I’ve seen students create their own initiatives. Some have even gotten their words passed in UN Resolution 76/153” on “The Human Rights to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation.”

Participating in these roles made me

realize MUN is a powerful tool. But, as members of MUNI’s North American team and I increasingly realized, it is generally afforded by the wealthiest of us. And though MUN Impact makes its programs free, students in rural areas still may not engage in them.

We had a lightbulb moment. Our team wanted to further action towards, as we term it, “democratizing MUN.”

We now lead an initiative known as MUNI Kickstarters, which raises money to provide rural MUN clubs in Nigeria and Ecuador. We work with local MUN leaders to distribute the

materials.

So far, we have sponsored 22 clubs: 10 in Ecuador and 12 clubs in Nigeria. Our goal is to expand to even more countries and create a more extensive network of students in Model UN.

I am also creating opportunities for other Nigerians like myself to access MUNI’s network and resources.

Before, I was unsure what my favorite SDG was. Today, I know it is SDG 4: Quality Education. That means more than writing essays or learning the periodic table of elements. It provides affirmation of who we are and encourages us to think boldly, and out of the box to achieve our goals. Even in St. Louis, not every kid gets access to these same resources and affirmations. Local organizations like St. Louis Story Stitchers work against gun violence and encourage involvement in the arts to provide healthy outlets for young people.

The St. Louis Area Food Bank provides food to Missouri and Illinois pantries. This year, Burroughs raised $20,000 to partially support a MUN organization, HELA (Hope for Education Leadership in Afghanistan), and its members situated in St. Louis after the Taliban takeover. This isn’t enough. I believe that MUN Impact has the power to even the playing field, to let every child know they can make an impact. For more information about MUN Impact and its various programs, check out its website: https://munimpact.org. View this link to learn more and support MUNI Kickstarters: https://munimpact.org/kickstarterclubs/.

John Burroughs freshmen Ayomide Ajakaiye and Alexander Doty working on visuals for MUN IMPACT.

Photo by Taylor McIntosh | The St. Louis American

Thank you for helping The American celebrate another birthday

Today, March 17, 2022, The St. Louis American proudly yet humbly celebrates our 94th birthday. We think it means something that we are the only local African-American newspaper continuously published since 1928, and the longest continuously published weekly newspaper in the St. Louis region.

We also recognize that news organizations and other information sources are changing rapidly, conglomerating, and even closing permanently. The American faces many of the same struggles of the news industry overall, adjusting to losses in advertising revenues and the growing digital information landscape.

Yet The American continues to report on relevant issues that impact the Black community, focusing on its challenges and its triumphs and providing a nuanced depiction of the lives of African Americans not found in mainstream media.

We seek to tell the multitude of stories found in the Black community.

The St. Louis American was founded in 1928 in the era of Jim Crow by Judge Nathan B. Young and several prominent African-American businessmen, including Atty. Homer G. Phillips, to advocate for social change. The American started as a modest eight page “paid” tabloid, with a circulation of just over a few thousand. Nathaniel Sweets came in less than a year later. Sweets led The American for more than 45 years as owner/publisher. Throughout the 1940s, ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s, The American continued to gain respect and readership, through its venerable editor Bennie G. Rodgers, who worked for the paper for more than 50 years, and is still known as the “dean of Black journalists in St. Louis.”

Shifting changes in the demands and expectations of readers and advertisers led to our currently evolving structure. In the 1980s, we went to a free distribution model, in response to changing residential patterns, and dramatically increased our circulation, available largely at locations where our readers worked and shopped. Simultaneously, we increased the content in our publication to include more broad coverage of the African-American community. We have been embracing the internet as an opportunity

rather than a threat.

In 1929, Nathaniel Sweets’ vision of The St. Louis American was “to give a voice to the African-American community that was lacking, and bring them information they could use. The St. Louis American should carry news tailored to the African-American community and anybody who wants to know about it.”

Sweets’ vision continues to guide us in today’s fast-paced lifestyle, more than ever with our growing multi-media platform.

We want to thank our loyal readers, as well as our advertisers and donors, for their generous response. We urge support of our advertisers as they help enable our print product and stlamerican.com to be free to the public.

We want to continue to provide value to and relevance for our print readers, online viewers, social media followers, and advertisers, as well as attendees at our annual recognition events. Since we always consider ourselves a work in progress and refuse to be satisfied with the “well, that’s how we’ve done it in the past” rule, we seek to maintain and strengthen The American.

Team Work

We’re especially proud of our St. Louis American team members past and present, for their collegiality, diligence, and hard work. These dedicated individuals share our aspiration to bring a high-quality product to the market each and every day to share information and continue to advocate for essential societal change. While we have recently brought on board some new members to our staff, we’d like to note, and take pride in the fact, that more than one third of our team has been with The St. Louis American for more than 20 years of their professional lives. Very few media outlets can make that claim. We are deeply grateful to them and all of our team members, past and present, for their hard work, professionalism, steadfastness and commitment to our mission – serving the community. Again, thank you St. Louis! We can’t do this work without you!

Commentary

From Selma to Supreme Court

We

By Ben Jealous

are still making history

History was made in Selma, Alabama, on March 7, 1965. Alabama state troopers viciously attacked peaceful voting rights marchers at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The troopers were hoping to stop the voting rights movement in its tracks. But their violence did the opposite. Televised images of “Bloody Sunday” offended the conscience of people of good faith around the country. The movement was energized. And soon, the federal Voting Rights Act became law.

Voting rights activists were back in Selma this month to commemorate history—and to make it.

Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at the Edmund Pettus bridge. As the first Black woman to hold that high office, she embodies many of the victories of the civil rights movement. From that “hallowed ground,” she spoke truth about the “un-American” laws that have passed in many states to make it harder for Black people and others to vote.

Vice President Harris recognized that 2022 is not 1965, as her presence made clear. “We again, however, find ourselves caught in between,” she said. The threat to voting rights today comes most directly from state legislators and governors putting laws in place that make it harder for Black people and others to vote. The threat also

comes from a far-right-dominated Supreme Court that has mostly abandoned voting rights in favor of “states’ rights.” In a 2013 decision in a case that began in Shelby County, Alabama, the court’s majority gutted a section of the Voting Rights Act that prevented states from imposing racially discriminatory changes in voting laws and regulations. We must organize. We must elect pro-voting-rights majorities in Congress and state legislatures wherever we can. And we must demand that they take action to protect our democracy. That brings us back to Selma. As a young man, the late Rep. John Lewis nearly gave his life on the Edmund Pettus bridge to secure voting rights. Activist leaders of this generation are now building on that history and making their own. A coalition of local and national civil rights groups used this year’s Bloody Sunday commemorations as a time to look forward as well as back. They organized a march and a series of voting rights events along the route of the original

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

Black people should break with Second Amendment It works against

By Scott Charles

I spent a recent morning at a correctional facility having a conversation about gun violence. My audience, a dozen Black teens between 15 and 17, were all awaiting trial for murder.

Nearly every one of them had taken someone’s life with a firearm before they were old enough to purchase a lottery ticket. Yet here they were, just kids, with their last days of freedom likely behind them. As I stood before them, I could not help thinking about their families, their victims’ families, and this peculiar relationship that we, as Black people, have with firearms. These weapons have wrought so much misery on our communities and figured so prominently in maintaining our bondage. The conversation made me more convinced than ever that we are well past the time for a reckoning around our relationship with guns.

The latest data from the U.S. Sentencing Commission reveals that Black Americans, despite only representing 12% of the U.S. population, account for more than half of all individuals convicted of a firearms offense carrying a mandatory minimum sentence in 2016. Homicide kills Black men under 45 more than any other means. And police use of force is the sixth leading cause

African Americans

of death for young Black men, according to a 2019 University of Michigan study.

Without question, one of the great hustles perpetrated against Black folks was when the gun lobby boldly proclaimed, “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.” This convinced some of us to suspend disbelief and imagine a world in which we can count on being seen as a good guy when we have a gun in our hands.

The reality is we live in a society in which 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse can casually stroll past police officers holding the illegally acquired AR-15 he had just used to kill two people. As a white male, Rittenhouse will never be seen as posing the same threat as 12-year-old Tamir Rice playing alone with

n Today, Black applicants are up to 5.5 times more likely than white applicants to be denied a concealed carry permit.

a toy gun in a park in an open carry state, or John Crawford III holding the toy gun he had picked up in a Walmart in that same open carry state, or Philando Castile reaching for his lawfully held gun permit, or Amir Locke holding the legally owned firearm that he had grabbed to defend himself against what he assumed to be home intruders.

Voting

Selma to Montgomery march. They are lifting up younger generations of leaders and mobilizing activists around the connections between voting rights and the broader movement to advance opportunity and economic justice.

At the same time, civil rights activists around the country are organizing to achieve another historical milestone: the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court justice. As expected, Judge Jackson’s nomination has been met with some resistance and racist commentary. But it is generating even more excitement and enthusiasm.

Our country’s history is in part a history of struggle to achieve hard-won progress toward more universal access to rights and opportunities. That is still our struggle today. Like the work of the activist leaders who are building a movement to protect voting rights and expand access to opportunity, the confirmation of Judge Jackson will move the nation forward toward the ideal of equal justice. It’s our turn to keep our feet on the ground, our shoulders to the wheel, and our eyes on the prize.

Ben Jealous serves as president of People For the American Way.

Today, Black applicants are up to 5.5 times more likely than white applicants to be denied a concealed carry permit. Homicides in which ‘Stand Your Ground’ is used as a defense are 10 times more likely to be ruled justified when the shooter is white and the victim is Black than when the shooter is Black and the victim is white. As historian Carol Anderson forcefully argues in her book “The Second: Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America,” “The Second Amendment is so inherently, structurally flawed, so based on Black exclusion and debasement, that, unlike the other amendments, it can never be a pathway to civil and human rights for 47.5 million African Americans.”

This is not to say that as Black Americans we should not enjoy all the same guarantees that are afforded our white counterparts under the Second Amendment — we should hold America to all the lofty promises found in her Constitution. At some point, though, we must come to terms with the fact that the firearm has done little to guarantee our freedoms and even less to protect our lives. We must acknowledge that the prevention of gun violence is one of the most pressing civil rights issues of our time.

Scott Charles is an awardwinning violence prevention activist and victim advocate who works with gunshot survivors in Philadelphia.

The fact that the Second Amendment ultimately works against Black people should come as no surprise. It is not a bug but a feature. Rooted in anti-Blackness, its language was crafted by those who profited from our subjugation with the intent of suppressing rebellion, not enabling it.

is a powerful force

To send a Letter to the Editor to The St. Louis American, visit stlamerican.com or send your letter to editor@stlamerican.com

Guest Columnist Scott Charles

Columnist Ben Jealous

A group of Wyvetter Younge School of Excellence first grade students recently enjoyed a trip to Eckert’s Orchard in Belleville, Illinois.

Brittany Green named Golden Apple Award finalist

Brittany Green, Wyvetter Younge School of Excellence principal in the East St. Louis School District, is a finalist for the 2022 Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Leadership in Illinois. She is one of six finalists out of more than 100 statewide nominees.

“I believe that building strong relationships between school and family are key factors in increasing student achievement,” Green says on the school’s website.

Alan Mather, Golden Apple president, called Green and other finalists “transformative school leaders [who] affirm, challenge, and support, teachers, and students.”

$5,000 would be used for a project of her choosing at Younge School of Excellence. Green would also be eligible to join over 300 members of Golden Apple Academy of Educators in the Hall of Fame.

“Dr. Green consistently goes the extra mile to lead her students to success,”

“These school leaders have not only guided their school communities during the most trying of times, they have also empowered teachers and students to thrive. We recognize their leadership, resilience, and commitment to success that elevated those they serve,” he said in a release.

As a finalist, Green will be honored in Chicago during the Celebration of Excellence in Teaching and Leadership in April. Following a series of in-person campus visits by the Golden Apple committee, Green could be named the Golden Apple Leadership Fellow.

She would receive a $10,000 award, of which

Superintendent Arthur R. Culver said in a release.

“She is outstanding because of her commitment to excellence, courage to make difficult decisions, compassion for her students, as well as her strong intellectual capacity.”

Green’s school is named for the late former Illinois state Rep. Wyvetter Younge who passed in 2008. Younge was a member of the legislature for 34 years after her election in 1975.

Green is the former principal of Gordon Bush Elementary School. Under her direction, it rose from the bottom 5% of all public schools in the state in 2016 to being ranked as “commendable,” the second-highest ranking by the Illinois State Board of Education.

Gordon Bush and Wyvetter Younge Alternative Center exchanged campuses following the 202021 school year. Renamed the Younge Academy of Excellence, the school retained Bush’s administration and staff and now served K-8th grade students.

By Oseye Boyd

Racism is global; but you knew that

If anyone needed a reminder that racism isn’t solely an American issue, one need only watch media coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. You’ll find racism not only in the way reporters discuss the invasion but also in the treatment of Africans and other nonwhite people.

The media’s message was loud and clear: Wars don’t happen in nice, white countries. Wars are proprietary to what former President Donald Trump referred to as “s**thole countries.” It’s the international equivalent of “this is a safe neighborhood; crime doesn’t happen here.”

According to CBS News senior foreign correspondent Charlie D’Agata, Ukraine “isn’t a place, with all due respect, like Iraq or Afghanistan, that has seen conflict raging for decades. This is a relatively civilized, European — I have to choose those words carefully, too — city, one where you wouldn’t expect that, or hope that it’s going to happen.”

Unfortunately, D’Agata wasn’t alone. Other journalists joined him in their disbelief that conflict could occur among Europeans.

“We’re not talking about Syrians fleeing the bombing of the Syrian regime backed by Putin,” Phillipe Corbe, a journalist for BFM TV in France, said. “We’re talking about Europeans leaving in cars that look like our cars to save their lives.”

Maybe if the refugees from other countries drove cars that looked like the ones Europeans drove, there would’ve been more compassion for them. How sad and shallow.

But wait, there’s more. The well of racism runs deep.

“Now the unthinkable has happened to them,” An ITV journalist from Poland said. “And this is not a developing, third world nation.

This is Europe!” A news anchor from Al Jazeera said, “Looking at them, the way they are dressed, these are prosperous … I’m loath to use the expression … middle-class people. These are not obviously refugees looking to get away from areas in the Middle East that are still in a big state of war. These are not people trying to get away from areas in North Africa. They look like any.”

War can’t happen in Europe because “They seem so like us,” Daniel Hannan of the Telegraph said. “This is what makes it so shocking. Ukraine is a European country. Its people watch Netflix and have Instagram accounts, vote in free elections, and read uncensored newspapers. War is no longer something visited upon impoverished and remote populations.”

Classist and racist.

I would say I’m astounded but I’m not. I’m not surprised by the bigotry expressed by these reporters. This type of bigotry is present in so many newsrooms — especially if there aren’t Black people or other people of color represented in those newsrooms. It’s proof journalism schools need to do a better job and so do newsrooms. It shouldn’t take having the presence of someone from a marginalized group for those who aren’t marginalized to realize everyone should be treated like a human being.

The comments these journalists made is proof we need to do a much better job teaching history — world history in this instance. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the ‘90s and early aughts were filled with conflicts in Bosnia, Chechnya, Kosovo, Croatia and so on. And conflicts in Europe didn’t start in recent decades. Let’s not forget about the Hundred Years’ War. So, there’s a legacy to live up to.

Maybe if the reporters did a better job of being anti-racist, they would do a better job covering the racism Africans, many of whom are students, and people of color are facing. There have been widespread reports of abuse and violence directed at Africans and Indians as they try to flee to safety. Some leaders are explicit in their racism.

“Of course, we will take in refugees, if necessary,” Austria Chancellor Karl Nehammer said recently. A few months ago, Nehammer sang a different tune when those seeking refuge were Afghan. He was vehemently against them settling in Austria and didn’t think twice about sending them right back into the hands of the Taliban. “It’s different in Ukraine than in countries like Afghanistan. We’re talking about neighborhood help.”

The apple (America) doesn’t fall far from the racist tree.

Oseye Boyd is editor of the Indianapolis Recorder

St. Louis American staff

Photo courtesy of Younge School of Excellence

Wyvetter Younge School principal

Oseye Boyd

Brittany Green

child or teenager should ever have to cope with,” Adams said. “However, many young people in our region face these issues directly or indirectly. It is a problem that will take all of us to solve. I’m hopeful today we can play a role in finding a solution.”

Almost all the students on the panel raised their hands after Bush asked if they had lost a loved one or a fellow student to gun violence. Steven Robinson, a senior at Vashon, reminisced about someone he’d lost a few weeks ago.

“He was my friend. He impacted a big part of my life. He was like the first person that

I ever called ‘big bro,’ so, it’s hard to talk about it.” When pushed by Bush to

Congresswoman Cori Bush unveiled a new program called “Congress in Your Classroom,” during a listening session with high school students from across the St. Louis area. Participants (l-r): Moriah Morrow (Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School), Stephon Riggins (Sumner High School), Precious Barry (North Technical High School / Riverview Gardens), Regina Washington (Sumner High School), Congresswoman Cori Bush, Seven Robinson (Vashon High School), Zipporah Lawal (Hazelwood East), Kenneth White (Cardinal Ritter High School), Tania Daniels (Jennings High School).

share who he talks to about his trauma, Robinson said writing about his feelings and talking with his mother helps. But, he added, “It’s like you’re numb. That person is gone, and you’ll never talk to them again. It’s like the water’s been cut off. You’ve never been taught how to feel when you lose somebody. I never got a chance to mourn, to feel sad, to cry. You just keep going on with life.”

Bush assured Robinson that she understood his pain.

“That’s the reality. We still must go on,” she said. “People expect you to show up at school, at work and take care of everything at home while you’re dealing with loss. But grief and trauma are real things; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a real thing and that’s something we want to deal with. I’m not going to push it under the rug because so many of our students live with some type of trauma.”

Villa Duchesne student, Moriah Morrow, spoke about the stigma she feels exists in many Black households where issues of tragedy or loss are often not addressed.

“There’s nothing wrong

Walker

Continued from A1

her devotion to meet the most pressing needs of her community, achieved so much because

with getting help, Morrow stressed. “When you have cancer, you go to an oncologist. If you’re sick you go to a doctor. When you’re mentally sick, when you’re struggling, when you’re dealing with trauma, it’s okay to go get help.”

Young people, Morrow continued, have “so much stress, so much built-up anger and resentment over stuff that has happened in our lives, and we never talk to anybody about it. I think that’s part of gun violence. You’re mad at the world and you’ve never felt safe enough to talk to anybody about it. So, you feel like you have to release your anger on everybody else.”

The students discussed other issues such as losing an educator or family member to COVID-19 and racism in society and schools. That topic motivated Bush to share a personal experience when she transferred to a majority white high school.

“The horrible way I was treated, changed me forever,” Bush said. “Because I didn’t get help, I went from being an “A” student to barely graduating. I got into some very ugly

she put service to others before self.

“While we feel the loss of Cora deeply, we are comforted in knowing that Cora’s community service empowers and impacts the lives of so many families. We know her work will continue through the service of others.”

Walker, an attorney from Ferguson, Missouri, and policy chief for St. Louis County Executive Sam Page, died at age 37. The cause of death has not been announced.

Born in St. Louis, Walker spent her childhood in Tuskegee, Alabama. After earning an undergraduate degree from Washington University, she attended St. Louis University School of Law, where she received her law degree and health law certificate. Walker returned to Wash U as a member of the inaugural Masters of Public Health class at the Brown School of Social Work.

The talented Walker would go on to serve Ferguson, District 74, in the Missouri House of Representatives beginning in January 2017. She resigned in July 2019 and began working in Page’s administration.

Before joining the legislature, she was a faculty member at St. Louis University School of Law and the health law and policy fellow for St. Louis University’s Center for Health Law Studies. Walker also worked at the Missouri Foundation for Health.

Page issued a statement offering condolences to Walker’s family.

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Cora Faith Walker. Cora walked into my office every day with a hundred ideas and the determination to do them. She was a passionate public servant who advocated for women, newborns, survivors of sexual violence, reproductive rights, seniors, and frontline health care workers. She will be greatly missed by her St. Louis County government colleagues and me. We offer our condolences to her husband, Tim, and her parents.”

Walker was honored by the Missouri Primary Care Association with a 2018 Champion of Community Health Centers Award for her work as a legislator on health care issues. She also was cited for leading efforts in the 2018 legislative session to extend Medicaid coverage for postpartum moms who are in need of services to address substance use disorder and for working with a group of

things because I didn’t get help. I need students to know that it’s OK to speak up about racism. If we don’t know what you’re experiencing, then how can we help?”

Zipporah Lawal, a Hazelwood East student, talked about the importance of the event: “Going off the theme, ‘it’s OK to not be OK,’ I think it’s important to do things like this that raise awareness about things we’re dealing with. Speaking out may help another person feel like, ‘OK, I’m not the only one going through this.’” By the end of the session, Bush was in tears. Addressing the students, she said, “I need ya’ll to know that you’ve blown my mind today. You’ve given us so much to start chipping away at, so much that we have to change.”

Vowing that the listening session was not just a “photo opp,” Bush announced plans to continue engaging young people in her district. During the session, she unveiled a new program, “Congress in Your Classroom” designed to connect elementary, middle, high school and college students with the congresswoman and her outreach team.

“To give our youth the best future, we must do everything we can to support them in the present and address the traumas of their past,” Bush said in a press release.

“By bringing Congress to the classroom, we’re cultivating a new generation of changemakers in our communities who will know that their government works for them.” Sylvester Brown Jr. is The St. Louis American’s inaugural Deaconess Fellow.

legislators to find a bipartisan solution that was eventually signed into law to help fight the opioid epidemic in Missouri.

During the 2018 legislative session, she worked assiduously to secure passage of legislation that created the Trauma-Informed Care for Children and Families Board. Her legislation was incorporated into SB 819, which was signed into law. Beyond Housing, during their 24:1 Initiative event that year, honored Walker for her efforts to promote the use of trauma-informed treatment programs.

“We are all shocked and heartbroken at the sudden loss of an incredible friend and a brilliant advocate for so many. Cora Faith will be remembered as a fighter and a person who dedicated her life to making the world better,” House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D-Springfield) said in a statement. St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones’ office released a statement on Friday: “We in the office of Mayor Tishaura O. Jones are deeply saddened and shocked by the sudden loss of Cora Faith Walker. She was a fixture in the St. Louis region, a powerful advocate for her community, and a fiercely loyal friend to all who knew and loved her, especially to Mayor Jones. We extend our deepest condolences to her family and colleagues.”

During a Sept. 9 protest for reproductive rights at the Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis, Walker commented, as a private citizen and protest organizer, after Mayor Jones spoke, “With leaders like Mayor Jones at the helm, this city can rise up for reproductive freedom and be a beacon of resistance for the attack on our bodies … We are unstoppable and another world is possible.”

Leaders of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri said in a tweet they grieve the loss of Walker and that their hearts are with her family.

“She showed us what courage looks like, how justice can transform our lives, and the collective joy of fighting for liberation,” officials posted on Twitter. To honor Walker’s memory, her family has asked for donations to charities and organizations Walker supported: Nurses for Newborns, Jamaa Birth Village, Pro Choice Missouri, and the Veterans Community ProjectSt. Louis.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Continued from A1

Commission (RHC) was awarded a $1 million grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health for the second phase of the PrepareSTL campaign.

In its first phase, Prepare STL provided information and resources to people disproportionately impacted by COVID19. This included low-to-moderate income African Americans and people of color living in St. Louis city and county. Its goal was to slow the spread of the new coronavirus and address its adverse social and economic impacts.

RHC works in partnership with the City of St. Louis Department of Health, the St. Louis County Department of Public Health, St. Louis Integrated Health Network, Alive and Well Communities, St. Louis Mental Health Board (MHB), Vector Communications and Emerging Wisdom.

“Black women have played a major role in developing and implementing this campaign, and we will continue to cultivate and celebrate the leadership of Black women and all community leaders involved with the campaign,”

Lawsuit

Continued from A1

— enough to fill the room with a fog of the substance — and leave detainees to ‘marinate’ in the burning air without access to the medical unit or even water to properly wash the chemical agents from their eyes.”

A spokesman said the city cannot comment on pending litigation, but he pointed to a bill that Mayor Tishaura Jones signed into law in December to establish the Detention Facilities Oversight Board, which will oversee and investigate allegations affecting the health and safety of detainees.

It will operate similarly as the Civilian Oversight Board which was established in 2015 to review complaints against city police officers.

“We look forward to finalizing board appointments and formalizing a system to investigate complaints,” according to

said Angela Fleming Brown, Regional Health Commission (RHC) CEO.

PrepareSTL partnered with “The T,” a community trauma center founded by surgeon and community activist Dr. LJ Punch, to assemble and distribute more than 50,000 personal protective equipment (PPE) kits.

PrepareSTL organized nearly 200 volunteers to distribute the kits and information in more than 1,000 places across the city and county. The effort focused on Black neighborhoods, immigrant communities and senior populations.

“PrepareSTL has created an incredible infrastructure for communications, community outreach, and economic development, which have all been rooted in racial and health equity,” said Courtney Stewart, vice president of Strategic Communications at Missouri Foundation for Health.

PrepareSTL holds an abundance of programs and events annually to inform the community on how to monitor and sustain their health. The COVID-19 pandemic challenged this function, tasking the organization with how to effectively combat rising case numbers and COVID-19 related death rates.

As the pandemic progressed,

the city’s statement. In a February 2021 letter, a city lawyer wrote to the St. Louis public defender and the inmates’ attorneys that the jail turns the water off when detainees clog toilets with clothing, and inmates are told when the water will be turned back on.

The Tuesday filing builds upon a June lawsuit by three inmates who are held in the St. Louis City Justice Center and allege they experienced excessive punishment. If the federal judge grants the motion to expand the original complaint into a class-action lawsuit it would include the more than 500 people currently held in city jails.

The filing includes 38 declarations from inmates whose stories have a lot of “overlapping” commonalities on the ways guards behaved, said attorney Amy Breihan, co-director of the Missouri office of the Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center.

“It’s pervasive,” Breihan said. “It’s not just one floor of

the St. Louis region recently experienced a drastic decrease in COVID-19 numbers, according to the St. Louis Pandemic Task Force. However, this organization is doing its part to ensure Black residents are safe and remain vigilant in the fight against the threat.

PrepareSTL and the COVID-19 Regional Response Team plant to hire 300 people to engage Black residents and other communities of color about COVID-19 vaccines so they can make an informed choice.

The hirings are part of the Community Health Champion (CHC) Peer-to-Peer Outreach Program, and it is based on the premise that one of the most effective forms of communication is word-of-mouth. Especially when it’s peer-topeer and involves people who are trusted.

The program’s goal is to conduct 600 community conversations with 6,000 people in St. Louis, St. Louis County, and East St. Louis, Illinois.

Tickets for the 22nd Annual Salute to Excellence in Healthcare on April 14 are $800 per table of 8 for VIP/ Corporate seating or $100 each, and $75 each or $600 per table of 8 for general seating. To order, call 314-533-8000 or visit www.stlamerican.com

the jail or one unit. It’s not just one guard. It’s part of the custom culture there.”

Plaintiffs are asking a federal judge to order the city to prohibit using water shut-offs and chemical agents as a form of punishment, as well as for “nominal damages” and attorneys’ fees.

Derrick Jones was among the first plaintiffs in the June complaint. He alleges that he

was needlessly maced in the face on Dec. 14, 2020. He was then beaten, maced again and left in a cell to “marinate,” the lawsuit states.

Jerome Jones said he was placed in a small, secure visiting room on Feb. 9, 2021, and jail staff sprayed the room with mace without warning.

“They left Jerome in the mace-filled room, asking for help and shouting that he could

not breathe, for nearly half an hour,” the lawsuit states. Also in February 2021, Darnell Rusan alleges he was locked for hours, fully nude, in a tiny room filled with mace, though he says he was not physically resisting or threatening staff prior to being attacked.

In the new complaint, Marrell Withers alleges he was maced two times in a row in

January 2022, while restrained in handcuffs for expressing concern about COVID exposure.

“Before he was maced, he told jail staff he had asthma and begged them not to mace him,” the lawsuit states. The lawsuit contends that the city violated the Americans with Disabilities Act when officers refused to protect Withers and others who have medical issues.

St. Louis has long faced allegations of inhumane treatment in its jails. In 2009, the ACLU of Missouri published a searing investigation alleging excessive use of force and abuse by the city’s correctional staff. Over the last two years, there have been several uprisings among inmates, decrying conditions.

“These kinds of practices, they don’t just appear overnight,” Breihan said. “Guards do these kinds of things because they’ve been getting away with it for a very long time and supervisors have been allowing it to happen.”

Inmates at the St. Louis City Justice Center downtown protested the jail conditions and yelled through windows they smashed to a crowd below on April 4, 2021.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Photo courtesy of PrepareSTL

PrepareSTL distributed PPE kits and information in more than 1,000 places across the city and county over the past 17 months. The effort focused on Black neighborhoods, immigrant communities, and senior populations.

Gateway Go Youth program on road to expansion

St. Louis American staff

Youths and young adults in St. Louis can be on the go for free through expansion of the Gateway Go Youth Transit Program for the remainder of 2022.

St. Louis and Metro Transit are teaming to use $250,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) revenue to provide thousands of city youth free public transportation through MetroLink and MetroBus.

“An investment in our youth is an investment in our future,” said Community Development Agency Director Justin Jackson.

“Through the American Rescue Plan, St. Louis is making it easier for youth to use public transit while saving money for families in the long run.”

The Gateway Go Youth Transit Program offers 3,000 City residents ages 13 to 25 the opportunity to receive free public transit, connecting people to school, work, and other important opportunities.

“This is an incredible opportunity for young people in St. Louis to have free, convenient access to many destinations in the bi-state area,” said Charles Stewart, Metro Transit executive director.

“This program is an amazing example of what we can accomplish when we work together.”

To register, go to bit.ly/ STLYouthTransit.

After registering, the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) will follow up with individuals to schedule times for individuals to visit SLATE offices at 1520 Market Street to apply, and if eligible, receive their transit passes on the spot.

Those under 17 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Applicants must present proof of age, proof of residence,

as well as proof of income or reside in a Qualified Census Tract (QCT).

“SLATE works hard to connect city youth to careers and training, and we’re excited to help connect them to our region’s public transit resources as well,” said SLATE Director Fredrecka McGlown.

“We encourage St. Louis families to take advantage of this opportunity, and SLATE looks forward to working with our partners on this important program.”

The city is partnering with institutions like Saint Louis Public Schools and the International Institute to move cards to target populations and ensure equitable access to the program.

“The SLPS Career Technical Education team is excited to partner with the city of St. Louis and Metro Transit to help get transit passes to Saint Louis Public School students who need them,” said Josh Henning, Administrator of SLPS Learn

and Earn program.

“Connecting students with transit is life changing and will help them focus on their studies and their work responsibilities.”

“Gateway Go provides an opportunity for new arrivals to access employment, programming, and cultural amenities our region has to offer, allowing them to connect with their adopted home in a meaningful way,” said Arrey Obenson, International Institute of St. Louis president and CEO.

“We are excited to learn that such access is available all year round and look forward to playing our part in assisting our new arrivals to access the unique opportunity.”

Bi-State to modernize buses

The Bi-State Development Agency of the Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District will

EMPOWERING BLACK COMMUNITIES WITH MYELOMA SUPPORT

receive a $4,098,410 federal grant to buy electric buses and charging equipment to replace older buses that have exceeded their useful life.

The Bi-State project is one of 70 in 39 states receiving more than $2.5 billion in funding requests through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“Transit agencies are replacing aging buses and facilities with newer, cleaner infrastructure that is more efficient to operate and maintain,” said Nuria Fernandez, Federal Transit Administration administrator.

“Modern buses, especially those powered with electric batteries or fuel cells, improve air quality and help us address the climate crisis.”

Bi-State said in a release the local project will improve air quality as well as the safety and reliability of transit service for residents in and around St. Louis.

2021, LLS REACHED NEARLY

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is dedicated to helping Black Americans with myeloma access the treatment and care they need and maximizing the quality of life. LLS provides free tools and resources to help patients and caregivers navigate the treatment landscape more e ectively and cope with the disease Learn more at one of our free upcoming education programs:

DATE: THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022 6:00 PM CONTACT INFO: JOSH BOLLAM 314-660-9025 JOSH.BOLLAM@LLS.ORG

This event will be hosted via an online webinar.

Photo courtesy of Metrostlouis.org

“Taking Care of You”

More Black Americans buying guns

Is it driving up Black suicide rates?

African American gun owners up

By Alex Smith, KCUR

When Russell and Sharis Lewis want to unwind, they pack up their guns and drive from their home in a suburb north of St. Louis to an indoor range called the SharpShooter on the city’s south side. Russell dons big protective headphones, carefully lays out his firearms, and selects a Panzer Arms M4 12-gauge semiautomatic shotgun. He takes aim at paper targets, including one labeled “snowflakes,” and squeezes the trigger.

“It’s just something about the power and being able to release that and let it go downrange,” he said. “It relaxes me.”

n Gun buying among African Americans has soared in recent years. At the same time, suicide rates have increased among young Black men.

Sharis, Russell’s wife, practices with her new handgun, a Sig Sauer P365. She bought it because she’s been worried about the increasing crime in her area.

The Lewises are part of a growing cohort of African American gun owners. Nationwide, surveys found that 25% of Black adults owned a gun in 2021, up from 14% six years earlier Gun buying among African Americans has soared in recent years. At the same time,

When young people talk about COVID

Story Stitchers use art to address COVID, vaccine hesitancy

By Sylvester Brown Jr.

The St. Louis American

“Viruses are ganstas. They figure out what’s going on, they mutate and then they mutate again and again.”

It’s probably accurate to say that Dr. Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis, director of Health for the City of St. Louis, hasn’t made such analogies at the usual health forums. But this discussion on COVID and vaccinations was a bit different. It was hosted by a group of young people, ages 16 to 24, known as the St. Louis Story Stitchers. The organization was founded in 2013 by eight artists committed to using art to enact change. Now,

suicide rates have increased among young Black men. Experts believe the trends may be linked, because having a gun in the home increases suicide risk exponentially, for every person who lives there.

But even gun enthusiasts say that the newest generation of gun owners sometimes lack the training and information they need to keep themselves safe around firearms. Homicides in Missouri reached a record high in 2020, spurring even more people to buy guns. But the number of suicides in the state was even higher, and the suicide rate has been on the rise for a decade.

That’s where Bill Mays works — in the fraught space where gun ownership and suicide intersect.

As a firearms trainer and an advocate of “concealed carry,” Mays has been part of the St. Louis gun community for years. He

almost 10 years later, the group is composed of poets, dancers, photographers, videographers, and other creatives who collect contemporary stories. It hosts performances aimed at promoting dialogue on some of today’s most pressing issues. On the afternoon of March 12, streamed live from the Central Library downtown, Stitchers presented a short performance and discussion with Dr. Hlatshwayo Davis on COVID-19 and vaccine misinformation. The presentation opened with the group’s new video developed under the theme, “Perception Isn’t Always Reality.” With the Gateway Arch and Laclede’s Landing as

See STITCHERS, A11

By Denise Hooks-Anderson

Several years ago, my husband was invited to give a lecture in Paris. As a supportive wife, I accompanied him. (I hope you realize my attendance on that trip had nothing to do with support but everything to do with the French fashion and cultural scene.)

n We are a culture of convenience, and our waistlines are expanding because of it.

During the day while he was spending time in some drab lecture hall, I was roaming around the city shopping, eating at local bistros, and reading leisurely in the park. I thoroughly enjoyed “people watching” and noting cultural differences between the U.S. and France. The most notable difference was how much larger Americans were compared to Europeans. My husband and I would walk around picking out the people who were obviously from the states. The clothes in Parisian shops seemed to be tailored to fit a narrower frame. I recall an instance where my husband was discouraged from entering a clothing store because the employee looked him up and down and just shook his head no. There was no political correctness in Paris. So, what makes us so different from other countries like France and Sweden? Those nations’ residents eat their fair share of sweets such as chocolate, and drink modest amounts of wine. I was astonished at the number of croissants and the amount of cheese eaten at breakfast daily. For instance, one morning while at breakfast, I saw a gentleman with six to eight pastries on his plate. Yet, he was extremely thin.

However, a key difference I noticed was the amount of daily movement most Parisians performed. They walked everywhere: to the local market, to work, and to their various entertainment activities. You also noticed a lot of bike riders. A lot of people also used public transportation, which required walking to various bus and train stations.

Now, let’s compare that culture to ours.

Sharis and Russell Lewis are part of a growing cohort of African American gun owners. They practice shooting at SharpShooter ― an indoor range not far from their home in Florissant, a suburb north of St. Louis.

Some of the St. Louis Story Stitchers during one of their poscasts.

Photo courtesy of Story Stitchers

Photo by Alex Smith / KCUR

Denise HooksAnderson

OK,’ I think it’s important to do things like this that raise awareness about things we’re dealing with. Speaking out may help another person feel like, ‘OK, I’m not the only one going through this.’” By the end of the session, Bush was in tears.

Addressing the students, she said, “I need ya’ll to know that you’ve blown my mind today. You’ve given us so much to start chipping away at, so much that we have to change.”

“To give our youth the best future, we must do everything we can to support them in the present and address the traumas of their past,” Bush said in a press release.

“By bringing Congress to the classroom, we’re cultivating a new generation of changemakers in our communities who will know that their government works for them.”

Sylvester Brown Jr. is The St. Louis American’s inaugural Deaconess Fellow.

Photo Wiley Price St. Louis American

PRESENT:

Nutrition Challenge:

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

Dining Out.

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

We each need at least 3 servings per day of whole grains. But what does that mean? How can we know what foods contain whole

Smart

The Smart Way!

Whole!

Warm Up & Cool Down

Do This. Not That!

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

In our “Super-Size” world, we can easily lose track of what an actual serving size means. looks like one small bottle

Look at the ingredients list of a package of food you are about to eat. If the word “whole” is used, then there is most likely a whole grain ingredient. A few items that don’t use the word whole

As soon as you’ve divided 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

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!

Exercise Game

Calculate BMI

can be dangerous for several different reasons.

Tech-Neck

Let’s make a game out of exercise!

Healthy Kids

those leftovers for lunch the next day!

are popcorn, wheatberries, brown rice and wild rice.

Cocoa Puffers Cereal

INGREDIENTS:

Cola

lifestyle. You can do this by forming new habits. For example, if you decide to eliminate sugary drinks completely, it only takes a few weeks until this becomes what you’re used to.

As spring approaches, warmer weather allows us all to get more outdoor exercise. Here are some ways to become a more active person.

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

Getting plenty of whole grains in your diet can improve your health and reduce your chance for some chronic illnesses such as stroke, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Visit wholegrainscouncil.com for more information.

Here are the steps to making a healthy permanent change. We‘ll use the sugary drink change as an example.

> Start by substituting one drink per day to water.

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

> Decide you’re going to switch from soda to water.

Melissa

Douglass, MSW

Rhea Terrell, RRT

Latoya Woods, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

Deborah Edwards, School Nurse

of soda — it may not be considered one serving size. For example, a 20-oz bottle contains 2.5 servings. So if the bottle states “110 calories per serving,” that means the entire bottle contains a total of 275 calories! Remember to watch those serving sizes and you’ll have better control over what you’re eating and drinking.

> Every few days increase the amount of water and decrease your soda intake.

> After 3-4 weeks, this change will become a habit.

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 3, NH 5

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

When you automatically reach for water instead of soda, it has now become a lifestyle change!

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

Where do you work? I am a family nurse practitioner for BJC Medical Group.

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

March 20, 2022, 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.

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

Secondly, when you are finished with any kind of strenuous (very active) exercise, take some time to cool down. You can slowly stretch your arms and

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

Where do you work? I am a respiratory therapist at SSM DePaul Health Care. Where did you go to school? I graduated from O’Fallon Technical High School. I then earned an Associate of Applied Science in respiratory therapy from St. Louis Community College at Forest Park.

Where do you work? I am a school nurse with St. Louis Public Schools.

Where do you work? I am a school nurse at Monroe Elementary School.

It’s important that before you embark on any kind of exercise to remember two things: warm up and cool down. Start with some slow stretches and movement (like walking) to increase your heart rate a little. Warm up for a good five minutes before increasing your heart rate.

Instead of watching TV — ride your bike with friends.

legs again, and continue with reduced speed movements until your heart rate begins to slow down.

Where did you go to school? I graduated from McCluer North High School. I earned an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing from Meramec College in Kirkwood and completing my bachelor’s degree at Webster University in Webster Groves.

March 20, 2021, 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.

Instead of playing video games — play baseball, football, badminton, or some other active game.

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

First, locate either a deck of cards or two dice. Next you’ll need to make a list of different types of exercise: jumping jacks, sit-ups, lunges, etc. Write each exercise item on a small piece of paper or index

Instead of surfing the ‘Net — go for a brisk walk around the neighborhood.

> NEVER walk on a “frozen” pond, lake, river or any other body of water. Just because it looks frozen does not mean it is safe.

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

Break into small groups and define what it means to be a bully. Share your ideas with the class. Did you have the same things listed (as the other groups) that you would consider as bullying behavior? Now back in your groups, create a newspaper ad that includes at least two of the following:

card and fold into a small square. Put these squares into a bowl. Take turns rolling the dice (or drawing a card) and selecting an exercise from the bowl. The total number on the dice or card tells you how many of the exercise you must do. Face cards (king,

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

Where do you work? I am the founder and distance counselor for Goal Driven Counseling, LLC. Where did you go to school? I graduated from Whitney Young Magnet High School in Chicago, IL: same as former first lady Mrs. Michelle Obama. I then earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Work, and a Master of Social Work from the University of Missouri – St. Louis. I also completed two more years of supervision and exams to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Missouri.

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.

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.

This warm-up and recovery period is important for your heart health. It also helps to reduce the amount of muscle pulls and strains.

Can you think of other ways to be more active? Going outside and staying active not only increases your heart rate and burns calories, but it also helps you build friendships!

Learning Standards:

queen or jack) should all count as the number 10. Aces are “wild” and you can do as many as you want! To really challenge yourself, have one person roll the dice and the second can select the exercise. See who can complete the exercise challenge first!

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

HPE1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1

Where did you go to school? I graduated from McCluer High School. I then earned a Bachelor of Nursing and a Master of Nursing Practice from the University of Missouri – St. Louis. And finally, I earned a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Maryville University.

What does a school nurse do?

Where did you go to school? I graduated from Sumner High School. I then earned Associate Degree in Nursing from Forest Park College and a BS in Business Adminis tration from Columbia College.

What does a school nurse do?

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

> What to do if you see someone else bullied.

How much time do you spend each day looking down at a phone, laptop or video game?

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 4, HPE 5, NH 1

What does a family nurse practitioner do? Each day I have office visits with patients to help treat new health conditions and/or man age established health conditions. I perform physical examinations on patients, order labs, read x-rays results, and more.

Chiropractors around the country see young patients every day suffering from back, neck and head-aches resulting from the extra strain you put on your body when you look down for long periods of time.

> If you are with someone that falls through the ice, first run (or call) for help. Do not try to go out onto the ice to help your friend. You can fall through the ice too.

> How bullying hurts others.

> What to do if you are bullied.

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?

What does a respiratory therapist do? I assess my patients and decipher their medical conditions. I work mostly with patients with chronic conditions like COPD or asthma. I manage a ventilator when patients are put on it in acute emergency situations like cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. I administer breathing treatments to these patients, as well as any others that may be in distress.

students medications, so they’re able to focus on learning. I clean and bandage wounds. I use medical equipment like a stethoscope, for ex ample, to evaluate whether or not my asthmatics are breathing well. Moreover, I teach and promote healthy habits to my students.

Why did you choose this career?

What does a Licensed Clinical Social Worker do? I use technology to help teens and young adults explore their emotions, better understand their feelings, work through relationships, and address common challenges completely online through a computer, tablet, or smart phone. Similar to a Face time call, I support and guide my clients from the comfort of their home or private location where they are comfortable

> What to do if YOU are the bully.

> Also — remember to look up! Icicles injure numerous people every year. If you see large icicles forming over your front steps, ask your parents to use a broom handle to knock them off to the side before they break loose from your gutters.

1. Most importantly — take breaks! Have a goal of a 3 minute break every 15-20 minutes. Move around, stretch your neck and relax, without looking down!

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, NH 5

Cracker-wiches

Ingredients:

Banana

Easy Hummus Dip

8 Saltine crackers

Why did you choose this career? I chose this career to help improve the health of my community.

Louis native, and was an asthmatic child who experienced frequent hospitalizations. Besides having the influence of nurses in my family, the local nurses who helped take care of me were my “angels” and always managed to nurse me back to health, thus sparking my interest.

Why did you choose this career? career because I enjoy being a support to teens and young adults in a very challenging phase of life that can be overwhelming. I enjoy teaching them how to best take care of themselves so they can live healthy and fulfilling lives.

concerns of students who are ill, injured or experiencing alterations in their normal health. Nurses screen daily staff, students and visitors for safety. Monroe School is a pilot school for Covid-19 test sites in partnership with the city. Why did you choose this career? I love nursing because there are many opportunities in hospitals, schools, clinics and offices, insurance, legal and research. My passion is working in the schools with students, parents, staff and community partners.

Ingredients:

> What other ice hazards are there?

“Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 618-910-9551

Look through the newspaper for examples of ad layouts and design. Discuss the words “compassion,” “empathy” and “sympathy.” How do they each play into your response to bullying at your school?

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, NH 5

2. Set your tech device in a holder to keep it at eye level, reducing the need to look down.

Frozen Yogurt Blueberry Bites

4 Tbsp Peanut butter

Why did you choose this career? I chose this career because one of my sons had a respiratory infection and while watching and speaking with the respiratory therapist, it sparked my interest. And after some research, I signed up for the program.

What is your favorite part of the job you have?

Ingredients: 1/2 Cp Vanilla Greek yogurt, 3 Tbsp

2 Large Strawberries

1 15-Oz Can Garbanzo beans

Ingredients: 1 cup blueberries

1 Garlic clove, crushed

1 Tbsp Honey (optional)

1 cup non-fat Greek Yogurt

What is your favorite part of the job you have? I enjoy when a child tells you, “I want to be a nurse.” And best of all, I love the smiles, hugs and “thank-yous”.

What is your favorite part of the job you have? My favorite part about this job is meeting new people and helping them to improve their health.

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 4

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, HPE 7, NH 5, NH 7

peanut butter, 1 Ripe banana (sliced and frozen), Splash of vanilla (optional) 6 Ice cubes

What is your favorite part of the job you have? I love that my job makes talking about mental health not as scary and even makes it kind of cool. I love that I get to build valuable relationships with so many people that trust me to be there for them. I love that no matter where my clients are, we can simply connect with a video call and I can not only support them through hard times, but lots of good times as well.

> When walking on icecovered roadways or sidewalks, take baby steps. Walk carefully and slowly.

A couple of quick tips that will reduce that strain on your neck are:

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

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

2 Tsp Cumin, 1 Tsp Olive oil, ½ Tsp Salt Directions: Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Enjoy with baked tortilla chips or raw vegetables.

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

Directions: Spread peanut butter on four of the crackers and top with sliced strawberries. Drizzle with honey and top with the other crackers to make four cracker-wiches.

Directions: Drop each blueberry into the yogurt. Using a spoon, swirl around to coat and place each blueberry on a cookie sheet topped with parchment paper. Freeze for at least an hour.

What is your favorite part of the job you have? Many chronic health conditions (diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure) are preventable, and early detection is key. Thus my favorite part of the job is partnering with patients to establish and manage a plan to help them each live a long and healthy life.

My childhood health challenges have given me sensitivity to children suffering with illness. After being given a new lease on life, I consider it an honor to be in a position to promote health to the children of my community, in whatever capacity I serve – in turn, being their “angel.”

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

Learning Standards: HPE 6, NH 3

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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

Yonniece Rose, Registered Nurse

PB Smoothie

Natural

The

program provides

and resources to more than 8,000 teachers and students each week throughout the school year, at no charge.

Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 618-910-9551

CLASSOOM SPOTLIGHT

box guitar Mon. March 1, 2022. Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Jeanette Jones studied mycology. Mycology is the study of fungi. Fungi are organisms that do not have chlorophyll, but get their food and energy from parasitic growth on dead organisms. Some fungi, such as mold, are harmful to humans, plants, and animals. Some fungi, such as mushrooms, are food. While other fungi are used to make medicines, such as antibiotics. Yeast, a common ingredient in fresh baked breads, is a fungus. There are more than 200,000 known species of fungi, and less than 1% of them are considered harmful to humans.

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

Background Information:

In this experiment, you’ll learn about hydroponics, which is the process of growing plants without soil. Hydroponics conserves water and produces healthier plants with less pollution. It is also versatile, allowing people to grow crops in a variety of places and containers.

Materials Needed:

• Two-liter Soda or Water Bottle • Wick (strip of fabric)

• Dirt or Potting Soil

• Knife • Plant Fertilizer • Tap Water

• Seedling (vegetable or flower)

Process:

q Have an adult use the knife to cut the top of the bottle from the bottom. Insert the top of the bottle upside down into the bottom half of the bottle.

w Stuff the wick through the bottle top opening so that it hangs down to the

MATH CONNECTION

Scientists study mycology to understand the characteristics and growth patterns of fungi. This knowledge can help develop the good fungi — such as producing a large amount of the fungi used in antibiotics, which lowered the price of the medicine. This knowledge can also be used to help stop the growth of a fungus that is destructive.

To Learn More About Mycology, Visit: http://www.njmoldinspection.com/what_is_ mycology.html.

Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction text for main idea and supporting details.

bottom of the bottle. Leave the top of the wick in the inverted bottle top.

e Place the seedling in the inverted top and fill with soil.

r Mix the fertilizer with water (follow the instructions on the bottle). Make sure the wick gets completely wet.

t Place the bottle in an area with sunlight (such as a windowsill). Add water as needed. Change the fertilizer every two weeks.

Analyze: What surprised you about this process? Why do you think scientists and inventors experiment with hydroponics? Have you ever eaten food that was grown hydroponically?

Learning Standards: I can follow sequential directions to complete an experiment. I can analyze results.

The Garden Has Problems!

Solve these word problems from the garden.

z You have 8 pepper plants, with 6 peppers on each plant. How many peppers do you have? ________

x Today, you have picked 38 tomatoes. You need to share them with three classes. How many tomatoes will each class receive? ________ How many will be left over?

c There are 16 vegetable plants in the garden. 5 are tomato and 6 are eggplant. The rest are pepper. How many pepper

DID YOU KNOW?

plants are there? ________

v Your flower garden needs to be mulched. It is 6 feet long and 3 feet wide. The mulch cost $2.50 a bag and covers 2 cubic feet. How many bags of mulch will you need to cover your garden? ________ How much money will you need to spend? ________

b A strawberry has an average of 200 seeds. Estimate the number of seeds in 14 strawberries.

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

SCIENCE STARS

AFRICAN-AMERICAN BIOLOGIST, EDUCATOR, & RESEARCHER:

Jeanette Jones

Jeanette Jones was born in Georgia on September 19, 1950. In 1972, she graduated with her bachelor’s degree in biology education from Fort Valley State University. One year later, she finished her master’s degree in botany and mycology from Ohio State University (OSU). Three years after that, she earned a PhD in botany and mycology from OSU. Jones also studied at the University of Nevada, the University of California Medical School, the National Center for Disease Control- Atlanta, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

After earning her PhD, Jones worked at Alabama A&M University as an assistant professor of biology. Ten years later, she became a full professor and she also worked part time as a professor in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. While there, Jones worked on a special project with NASA. She became the first female to serve as the vice president of research and development.

In 1992, she was appointed to the U.S. Army Science Board. Jones then moved to Mississippi to serve on the Research Centers in Minority Advisory Committee. Many federal agencies sought Jones’ advice for training programs to attract women and minorities to STEM studies and careers.

Jones has earned many awards and honors, including World’s Women Who’s Who, Outstanding Young Woman of America, Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society’s distinguished service award, and NASA’s Significant Service Award. The National Institute of Health gave her the Extramural Associate Research Development Award. A&M University awarded her the Outstanding Leadership Award, and Woman of the Year.

Discuss: Why do you think Jones was chosen to offer advice on STEM programs for women and minorities? Why is it important to promote STEM studies?

Learning Standards: I can read a biography about a person who has made contributions to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

MAP CORNER

Use the newspaper to complete the following activities.

Activity One — Parts of Speech: Choose a story to read in the newspaper. Underline the nouns, circle the adjectives, and draw a box around the verbs. Choose five of those words to write a new sentence of your own.

40% of prescription drugs dispensed in the U.S. have active ingredients derived from plants, animals or microorganisms, many of them from forests.

Activity Two — Pets: Look through the newspaper to locate the classified ads. How many ads are there for pets? What types of pets are listed: dogs, cats, birds, reptiles? Make a bar graph to represent the pets that are listed.

Learning Standards: I can locate information in the newspaper. I can identify parts of speech and I can use a bar graph to represent information.

St. Louis American’s award winning NIE

newspapers

Northview Elementary School art teacher Jeffrey Sass helps students John Cross 11 and Mylon Stayton 9, make their cigar

The average pomegranate has more than 1000 seeds.

American’s Sylvester Brown garners two Press Club awards

St. Louis American staff

Sylvester Brown Jr., The St. Louis American’s inaugural Deaconess Fellow, won an individual news coverage award in the inaugural St. Louis Press Club writing contest, and was part of a team recognized for in-depth reporting.

Brown was honored for his story, “Spanky, COVID-19 and the Plight of Missouri’s Disabled.” Brown profiled Mark Adrian “Spanky” Richardson, detailing his life as he dealt with the pandemic in August 2020.

Brown was also a contributing author in a Pulitzer Center article entitled “63106: The Struggle to Survive the Pandemic in St. Louis’ Most Vulnerable Neighborhoods.” Reporters engaged with families in St. Louis’ most vulnerable neighborhoods to learn how they were coping during the COVID-19 pandemic in spring of 2020. Media partners included The American, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis Public Radio, and Riverfront Times

“St. Louis has a rich legacy of literary leaders and journalists whose work has transformed the craft of writing,” Joan Lee Berkman, president of the St. Louis Press Club, said.

“Their entries reflect the critical issues facing us today as well as the everyday stories that color our lives. We congratulate the winners and we’re proud to be able to recognize their achievements.”

The high school, college, and professional winners:

High School/College

News story

• Elizabeth Franklin, “The Pride and Culture of Black Hair”

• Elle Rotter, “ABCs of Covid”

Commentary

• Grace Hu, “Making the Case Locally for Reparations”

• Mira Nalbandian, “Debunking Critical Race Theory”

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

• Parkway West Pathfinder Staff, A series of articles detailing the impact of the pandemic on various aspects of their lives, including “The Low-Down on Low Staff”.

• Elle Rotter, “The Second Pandemic: Mental Illness”

• Addie Gleason, “Digital Divide”

In-Depth Reporting

• Nikita Bhaskar, “Transgender Rights in the Education System: A Closer Look at Title IX”

• Leah Schroeder, “Runoff Recap: What You Missed About the Georgia Runoffs”

Feature Story

• The Kirkwood Call, “14 Months Later”

Professional

News story

• Sylvester Brown, Jr., “Spanky, COVID-19 and the Plight of Missouri’s Disabled”

• Danny Wicentowski, “Searching for the Real Inside a Police Training Simulator”

In-Depth Reporting

• Before Ferguson, Beyond Ferguson, “63106: The Struggle to Survive the Pandemic in St. Louis’ Most Vulnerable Neighborhoods”

• Danny Wicentoswki, “Inside the Missouri Tribe That Has Made White People Millions”

Feature Story

• Denise Hollinshed, “A Grieving Reporter Rushes to Get Vaccinated as Her Subject Resists”

• Suzanne Corbett, “Purchasing PropertyPromising Preservation - Uncorking the Hoffman Family’s Plan for Augusta’s Wine Country”

Commentary

• Eric Mink, “Dedicated to the United States of America” The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

• Aisha Sultan, A series of columns on the impact of the pandemic on her family’s life, including “The Day We Thought My Husband Would Die of COVID”

A community tribute to Cora Faith Walker

An outpouring of grief continues since honored public servant Cora Faith Walker passed away on Friday, March 11, 2022, at the age of 37.

“Her light and her energy are something she shared with many of us. She made it her mission to help others as a public servant, a fighter and as a mentor.” -- Mayor Tishaura O. Jones

“Brilliant, witty, and kind, I was so excited when she joined the [Missouri Legislature] as my sister in service. I love you [and] know you are restingbut my Lord this is too soon.”

-- Tennessee State Senator Raumesh Akbari

“Cora was a person who had the brilliance and the selfawareness to see something for exactly how it is, but she had the audacity and courage and fierceness to change it. What we shared was a desire for a more just society and liberated world, and she proved that it’s not the position, it’s the person in the position, and her being truly committed to her vision and her mission.” -- Alisha Sonnier, Member of St. Louis Public Schools Board of Education

“God has called this glorious and amazing warrior home. I am devastated but find comfort in knowing she has been welcomed by the ancestors with song and joy.” -- Pamela Merritt, Executive Director of Medical Students for Choice

“A child of STL. She climbed the political ranks while unapologetically standing in her values. She was a survivor and a fighter and STL is absolutely better because Cora lived.” -- Kayla Reed, Executive Director of Action STL

“Want to honor her life? Believe women.” -- 13th Ward Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer

“You were light, kindness, and truth. The world is a bit dimmer today without you here, but your fierce fight will live on. You fought for all of us in the face of opposition. We are forever indebted.” -- Brittany Packnett, Vice President of Social Impact at BET

“Her life was a painting, richly layered, dark depths but tremendous heights, contrasted perfectly against the horizon of

possibility. Her potential was endless. Transformative. Transcendent. There was light, so much light.” -- Angela Bingaman, political fundraiser

“What a monumental loss to the world, what a treasure you are & what a gift your service to our region.” -- 8th Ward Alderwoman Annie Rice

“Cora fully supported my and others’ effort to address the extreme misogyny existing in Missouri politics - on both sides. I can hear her voice saying to me, ‘do it for all of us, the hell with the blowback.’ She will always be in all our hearts; she is forever loved.” -- Katie Graham, political consultant

“I am truly blessed to have so many amazing people in my corner supporting and uplifting me.” -- Cora

Faith Walker

Cora Faith Walker

Sylvester Brown Jr.

SLSO crafting a Powell

Hall renovation masterpiece

Expansion includes education center

will

By Alvin A. Reid

The St. Louis American

The IN UNISON choir, and all St. Louis, will benefit from the first major renovation of Powell Hall since the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra made the historic building its home in 1968.

The renovation and 65,000-square-foot expansion, which is estimated to top $100 million when complete, is an investment in Grand Center, the arts community, and the entire region, according to Marie-Hélène Bernard, SLSO president and CEO.

“We are helping connect north to south, and Arch to “Forest] Park,” she told The St. Louis American on Tuesday.

“Every day we are shaping an orchestra of the future.”

is part of a $100 million Powell

n The renovation and 65,000-square-foot expansion, which is estimated to top $100 million when complete, is an investment in Grand Center, the arts community, and the entire region, according to Marie-Hélène Bernard, SLSO president and CEO.

That future, said Bernard, must include serving the entire community and nurturing IN UNISON, other performers and offering educational programs that are diverse and inclusive.

“The community must have a sense of belonging, inclusion is so important,” she said.

Sherry Sissac, a SLSO trustee, said there has never been a more pivotal time for a project such as this.

“It’s more than just a building expansion, but rather a clear demonstration of the SLSO’s commitment to neighborhood revitalization, economic vitality for the St. Louis region, and sustaining artistic excellence for all to enjoy,” she said in a statement to The American “As we strive to improve outreach and impact,

Black mayors swap tech solutions

PeoPle on the Move

Holman-Besse named Parkway deputy super

Wallace named assistant super at Ladue

Tiffany Holman-Besse has been selected as Parkway’s deputy superintendent. Holman-Besse has more than 20 years of experience as an educator and leader in the St. Louis area. Her previous leadership includes serving as deputy superintendent of the FergusonFlorissant School District for three years. Prior to this role, HolmanBesse served in the Pattonville School District for nine years as an assistant principal for Pattonville High School and then the director of secondary education. Her leadership experience began over 15 years ago as an assistant principal in Rockwood. See SLSO, B2

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones host technology-focused summit

By Karen Robinson-Jacobs

As St. Louis works to boost its credentials as a growing technology hub, city officials also are looking at how to best meet the city’s internal tech needs.

On Thursday, March 10, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and Dave Steward, World Wide Technology chairman and founder, hosted a tech summit for eight black municipal leaders, most of them from the South, to discuss how technology can be better used to deliver city services.

“One thing that I noticed as I came into this office is that we don’t have the technology that we need … and I think other cities around the country don’t have the technology they need to provide efficient service to our citizens,” said Jones, who took office last April.

“And nowhere was that more prevalent than during the …pandemic where people had to try to take care of their business online and a lot of places were closed or had limited capacity. And so I wanted to bring several mayors to St. Louis to talk about what their needs are.” Municipal leaders invited to attend the summit – which was closed to the media – included Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens; Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis Jr; Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin; East Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome; Montgomery Mayor Steven L. Reed; Rochester Hills, Mich. Mayor Bryan K. Barnett; Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins and Harris

The Ladue Schools Board of Education approved the appointment of Dr. Derrick Wallace as the Assistant Superintendent for Student and Community Services. Wallace has served in the Ladue School District for the last 25 years in various positions with increased levels of responsibility. His most recent role was director of student services and Title IX coordinator. He is a St. Louis native, having graduated from Jennings High School. He holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Maryville University.

Taylor-Johnson new director at Ladue

Tiffany Taylor-Johnson will assume the role of director of

services at

Schools. In

new

will be responsible for providing leadership for efficient student services and community education and outreach efforts. Dr. Taylor-Johnson has served in the Ladue School District for 22 years, all at Ladue Middle School. She has led the day-to-day operations as the building principal for the last five years. Before that, she worked as assistant/associate principal for 17 years.

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra IN UNISON Chorus performed during a Black History Month concert February 25, 2022 at Powell Symphony Hall. The choir

benefit from use of a new education and learning center that

Hall expansion and renovation.

County Commissioner Rodney Ellis.

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones and David Steward, World Wide Technology founder and CEO, recently hosted a Tech Summit with several Black mayors from throughout the U.S. Participants included [from left] Mayor Frank Scott Jr., Little Rock, AR; Bob Ferrell, World Wide Technology executive vice president; Mayor Steven Reed, Montgomery, AL; Mayor Adrian Perkins, Shreveport, LA.; Mayor Jones; Mayor Hardie Davis Jr., Augusta, GA.; Mayor Sharon Weston Broome, East Baton Rouge, LA.; Mayor Bryan Barnett, Rochester Hills, NY.; Mayor Andre Dickens, Atlanta; and Mayor Randall Woodfin, Birmingham, AL.

Photo courtesy of the mayor’s office

Dr. Tiffany TaylorJohnson

Business Briefs

STLCC to host virtual career fair March 30

Free to attend for college students and community members

St. Louis Community College (STLCC) will host a virtual career fair March 30th to connect the community with potential employers for full- and part-time positions. The event will be completely online with the STLCC Career Network.

The STLCC Spring 2022 Virtual Career Fair is free to attend for college students and community members. You are encouraged to create an account, make a profile and get prepared on the STLCC Career Network. Instead of meeting in person, you will interact over video – either one-on-one or group video chats.

More than 50 employers are expected to participate, representing health care, banking and finance, retail, nonprofit organizations, state and local government, hospitality, arts and entertainment and other fields.

Employers include

Mayors

Continued from B1

In an interview with The St. Louis American before the summit, Jones listed police services and personnel matters as two areas that could use a technology boost.

“Our technology is outdated and … unfortunately prohibits us from providing the services I think our citizens deserve,” she said. “And [for] our employees, our payroll system is outdated, and we can’t offer better benefits because we literally cannot add more benefits to the system. So it’s about not only providing better services internally, but externally as well.”

During the summit, Jones said she planned to “let mayors

SLSO

Continued from B1

we will continue to seek out ways to make all people central to this project. When we hear people say, ‘my SLSO,’ there is a strong sense of belonging, of ownership. Powell Hall is our collective home. All are welcome.”

A new 3,400-square foot education and learning center will provide rehearsal space for IN UNISON, the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, and St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra. It will also host education programs, lectures, and events that include more than 300 performances and events a year.

“Before a performance, IN UNISON has no real warm up space. Its performers will have a space to gather and unite. The expansion will truly support their art form,” Bernard said. Bernard said the expansion plan’s development began in fall 2019. By spring of 2020, a global pandemic gripped the world.

n Employers include Accenture Federal Services, Concentrix, Enterprise Fleet Management, Fabulous Fox Theatre, Riverview Gardens School District, SSM Health, St. Louis Metropolitan Police, St. Luke’s Hospital and many more.

Accenture Federal Services, Concentrix, Enterprise Fleet Management, Fabulous Fox Theatre, Judevine Center for Autism, Marsh McClennan Agency, Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital, Riverview Gardens School District, SSM Health, St. Louis Metropolitan Police, St. Luke’s Hospital and Weber Shandwick.

know that World Wide is an asset that they can call on for different questions… and advice.”

In a statement, Steward said he looked forward to “sharing ideas and exploring technology solutions to some of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing our great cities.”

Also, Interim Public Safety Director Dr. Dan Isom offered an overview of public safety strategies in St. Louis, including the city’s alternative response models. The city saw a decrease in homicides between 2020 and 2021 of more than 25%, bucking national trends.

How to prepare for a virtual career fair

There are a few tips that can help you prepare for the virtual career fair experience:

• Use a stable device

• Check your Wi-Fi or internet connection

• Inspect your background and lighting

• Dress professionally

• Turn off notifications

• Have your resume on hand

• Pick your chat strategy: Group vs. 1-on-1

• Research and plan ahead of time

• Arrive on time

• Take notes

• Apply to jobs

• Send thank you notes For questions or more information about the St. Louis Community College virtual career fair, call 314-539-5888 or send an email to careerdevelopment@stlcc.edu.

Jones said she envisions the summit as the first in a series of gatherings that will help build relationships and allow “leaders to learn from each other.”

Karen Robinson-Jacobs is

The St. Louis American / Type Investigations business reporter and a Report for America corps member.

Isom spoke about using “smart-on-crime strategies to ensure that we can prevent crime and address it quickly when it occurs [and prioritizing] innovation to achieve better outcomes and ensure that our residents and visitors are physically safe,” according to a spokesman for the mayor’s office. The city is “committed to an ecosystem of support that combats crime long-term,” which views public safety as a public health crisis, the spokesman said.

“But we stayed focused and kept planning. The scope of the project did not plan.”

Built in 1925 as a movie house called the St. Louis Theater, Powell Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The music center addition, audience and artist experience enhancement, and venue modernization are essential to remodeling and expansion. The concert hall’s historic character, however, will be preserved, Bernard said.

“Powell Hall is one of America’s most acoustically remarkable and visually stunning concert halls. The renovation will improve safety, accessibility, and comfort, and will help ensure that it remains a treasured civic icon for generations to come.”

The renovated Powell Hall will include a new lobby with updated amenities, additional concession areas, coat check, elevators, and restrooms.

Powell Hall will connect with the backstage area and education and learning center, and the space will include new lounges, dressing rooms, prac-

tice spaces, instrument storage, a new music library, and media and recording suites. The auditorium’s capacity will drop from 2,683 seats to 2,150, but the change creates room for larger seats and additional leg room. Guests in the orchestra level seating will have external noise reduced through soundproofing and isolation measures. In addition, outdoor green spaces are part of the renovation project. Steve Finerty, SLSO chair, said the ambitious project “will fortify the SLSO’s position as an economic engine for the region, which already triggers $100 million of economic activity each year.”

“St. Louis is experiencing a renaissance of investment and innovation, and the SLSO is delighted to be a part of this trajectory, supporting St. Louis’ reputation as an extraordinary place to live with one of our nation’s most established and thriving cultural and arts scenes.”

Bernard said the project is guided by a SLSO trustees task force, musicians, staff, and advisors under the leadership of trustee Emily Rauh Pulitzer. Anna Leavey is serving as project manager. In addition to lead architectural firm Snøhetta, the project design team includes local minority and woman-owned firms and several industry-leading companies:

• St. Louis-based Christner Architects, a woman-owned architectural design firm, is the architect of record.

• Chicago-based Schuler Shook is theatre planning consultant.

• St. Louis-based BSI Constructors is construction manager.

• Chicago-based Kirkegaard is acoustics design firm The task force is collaborating with the City of St. Louis Cultural Resources Office, and the project will appear for review before the city’s Preservation Board at its next meeting.

“It’s historical. I’d rather be No.1 on April 3. But it’s cool.”

– South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley on being ranked No.1 all season and an NCAA Tournament top seed

Sports

InSIdE SportS

By Earl Austin Jr.

Area teams take spirit, talent to Springfield Final Fours

Four squads defending titles

The St. Louis area is well represented as Final Four weekend of the Missouri State High School Activities Association Basketball Championships begins in Springfield.

Class 4-6 schools take center stage at the John Q. Hammons Arena on the Missouri State University campus. Vashon and Cardinal Ritter boys’ teams, and Incarnate Word and Whitfield girls’ teams will attempt to repeat state championship performances from last season. Also, in the hunt for state championship glory are CBC, Chaminade and Webster Groves boys’ teams along with girls’ teams from John Burroughs, Webster Groves, and St. Joseph’s Academy.

Here is a look at this weekend’s Final Four matchup and schedule.

Class 6 Boys

CBC vs. Chaminade, Thursday, 4 p.m. Nixa vs. Staley, Thursday, 6 p.m. Third Place, Friday, noon Championship Game, Friday, 4 p.m.

Outlook: Metro Catholic Conference rivals CBC and Chaminade played for a district championship last season. This year, they will meet in the state semifinals with a berth in the state championship game on the line. They split two meetings this season, with each team winning at home. The bracket’s other side features a talented Staley team, the best team in the Kansas City area, against Nixa, the pride of Southwest Missouri.

Class 5 Boys

Webster Groves vs. Cardinal Ritter, Friday, 6 p.m. Springfield Catholic vs. Jeff City Helias, Friday, 8 p.m. Third Place, Saturday, noon Championship, Saturday, 4 p.m.

Outlook: Cardinal Ritter and Webster are no strangers to recent state championship success. Ritter is seeking a three-peat after winning Class 3 in 2020 and Class 5 last season. Webster Groves won back-to-back state titles in 2017 and 2018. On the other side of the bracket, Helias features one the premier guard tandems

in Missouri in junior Desmond White and senior Malcolm Davis. Catholic also features a prime scorer in senior Zach Howell, who has 2,000 career points.

Class 4 Boys

Vashon vs. New Madrid Central, Friday, 6 p.m.

Father Tolton vs. Pembroke Hill, Friday, 8 p.m.

Third Place, Saturday, noon Championship, Saturday, 8 p.m.

Outlook: Vashon looks to repeat as state champions with its young and talented squad.

The Wolverines are led by 6’6” junior Kennard Davis, 6’5” junior Jayden Nicholson and sharpshooting freshman Trey Williams. They will face a skilled New Madrid team in the semifinals in a rematch of last year’s state quarterfinal. On the other side, a powerful Tolton team comes to the Final Four, led by 6’11” senior forward Jevon Porter. Pembroke Hill features

a set of brothers, Devin, Darin, and Quinton Conley in its starting lineup.

Class 6 Girls

St. Joseph’s vs. Incarnate Word, Thursday, noon

Kickapoo vs. Blue Springs South, Thursday, 2 p.m.

Third Place, Friday, 10 a.m. Championship, Friday, 2 p.m.

Outlook: Incarnate Word remains a dynasty in girls’ basketball and the Red Knights are back in the hunt for another state title. They have a dynamic duo in senior Saniah Tyler and junior Natalie Potts. On the other side of the bracket, Kickapoo and Blue Springs South are high-quality teams.

Class 5 Girls

Whitfield vs. Webster Groves, Friday, 10 a.m. West Plains vs. Smithville, Friday, noon

SportS EyE

Cardinal Ritter Lions’ Braxton Stacker (1) freezes the defense of St. Dominic Saturday Mar. 12, during Class 5 quarterfinal play at St. Louis Comminity College-Meramec. The Lions would move on with a 67-47 victory. It will be Ritter’s third consecutive Missouri state semifinal appearence.

Third Place, Saturday, 10 a.m. Championship, Saturday, 2 p.m. Outlook: Whitfield is seeking a repeat state championship after winning its first last season. The road won’t be easy as it must face Webster Groves in the semifinals. The Statesmen were Class 6 state runners-up last season. On the other side, West Plains is back in the Final Four after finishing second to Whitfield last season.

Class 4 Girls John Burroughs vs. St. James, Friday, 2 p.m. Jeff City Helias vs. St. Joe Benton, Friday, 4 p.m. Third Place, Saturday, 10 a.m. Championship, Saturday, 6 p.m. Outlook: An extremely competitive Final Four here with each team capable of winning two games and taking home the state trophy. John Burroughs has been on quite a post-season roll with a victory over Cardinal Ritter in the sectionals enroute to the Final Four.

Quarterback Kaleb Eleby’s name could be called during NFL Draft

Former Pattonville quarterback Kaleb Eleby caught then-Illinois coach Lovie Smith’s eye during Eleby’s senior year in 2017, and he was offered a scholarship to the Big Ten school. Iowa State wanted to bring Eleby’s talent to the Big 12. Bigger was not better for Eleby, who chose Western Michigan University. While he will never know how he would have progressed elsewhere, Eleby finds himself as a possible mid-round selection in the upcoming NFL Draft after two outstanding seasons.

Eleby started the Broncos’ final five games of the season, and the true freshman completed 62.6% of his passes for 1,092 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. Wassink returned, and remained healthy, during the 2019 season and Eleby sat out most of the season with a redshirt designation.

“I wanted to go somewhere that was right for me,” Eleby told Sirius XM NFL Radio during last week’s NFL Combine in Indianapolis.

“I just felt at home. I knew it was the place I wanted to be.” He arrived in Kalamazoo in 2017 and shot up the depth chart to No. 2 behind starter Jon Wassink, who sustained a foot injury at the season’s midway point.

During a COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, Eleby threw 16 touchdown passes against one interception for 1,442 yards and the Broncos finished 4-2. His 2021 season made him a potential pro quarterback. He threw for 3,277 yards, 23 touchdowns and just six interceptions. His stellar performance was in an upset victory over ACC champion Pitt when he tallied 337 passing yards and three scores. While his size (6’-1’’ 210 pounds) and lack of speed as a runner are concerns, Pro Football Network’s scouting report says, “Eleby has a great arm.”

“[Eleby] has the arm strength to push the ball over

defenders and maximize calculated risks. He has a crisp, quick-throwing motion and can generate easy velocity in the short and intermediate ranges. He’s very accurate hitting slants and crossers over the middle of the field. Eleby also actively manipulates ball placement to play to receiver leverage.”

Eleby’s mother, Kenyatte, helped put him on the road to a potential NFL career when she made him a CD for his fourth birthday.

“And now, starting quarterback from the St. Louis Rams, Kaleb Eleby,’” Eleby told the Detroit Free Press, recalling his mom’s words on the CD. “I played that every day. From that point on, I felt like this is what I want to do. The game of football has done a lot for me. It’s provided me with an education, provided me with lifelong connections and friendships and it got me here. That’s something I value and something I don’t take for granted,” he said.

The Reid NCAA Roundup

The Big Ten does not deserve nine berths in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Especially infuriating is Michigan and troubled coach Juwan Howard gaining a bid…Shaka Smart has Marquette in the tournament, after leading VCU and Texas to bids in past years… Coach Drew Valentine and Missouri Valley Conference Tournament champion LoyolaChicago will give Ohio State big time trouble…Providence coach Ed Cooley is my sentimental favorite to reach the Final Four…The opposite to Cooley is Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. He and the Blue Devils hopefully go out early… Kansas takes on the winner of the Texas Southern-Texas A&M Corpus Christi first-four game. Norfolk State, which plays East top seed Baylor, joins Texas Southern as the two HBCU representatives in the tournament…There was talk of firing Memphis coach Afernee “Penny” Hardaway last year. He now has the Tigers in the field of 64…Bold prediction

1: Coach Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars will move to the Sweet 16 with a win over Illinois…Bold prediction 2: UCLA loses to Indiana in a second-round contest…Murray State (302) has won 20 consecutive games, could play Kentucky in the second-round, and then lose coach Matt McMahon to Missouri now that Cuonzo Martin has been dismissed… As for Martin, I could see him coaching a HBCU school next season…SLU coach Travis Ford to Mizzou? It could happen…I think Anthony Grant of Dayton could turn Mizzou around…Other Power 5 schools have been less successful than Martin was over the past five years, and respective fan bases have remained strong. Mizzou Athletic Director Desiree ReedFrancois must determine if Martin’s race was a factor with some students, fans, and financial supporters… Northern Iowa was set to play at SLU in a first-round NIT game on Wednesday night. I can almost guarantee it was a great game.

With Alvin A. Reid

Alvin A. Reid

Earl Austin Jr.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Photo courtesy of Western Michigan Former Pattonville quarterback Kaleb Eleby

Missouri only met minority participation goal for contracts four times in 30 years

By Rebecca Rivas Missouri Independent

Every year, Missouri makes what it calls a “feasible effort” at spending 10% of state agencies’ expenditures with minority-owned businesses. In the past three decades, the state has only reached that goal four times.

In fiscal year 2021, minority contractors earned 8.2% of the $1.5 billion that Missouri spent in contracts, according to an annual report from the Office of Equal Opportunity. Womenowned businesses accounted for 3.5%.

In order for Missouri to be able to mandate minority participation goals on contracts — as the cities of St. Louis and Kansas City do to varying degrees — the state must conduct a “disparity study” every five years to stave off court challenges.

But it’s been eight years since the last study was conducted.

“It’s imperative to keep track of what we’re doing,” said Rep. Ashley BlandManlove, a Kansas City Democrat and president of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus. “This is money, so this is accounting. I need all the details filled in.”

Bland-Manlove was among the Black legislators who pushed last session to secure $500,000 for the state’s third disparity study — which will investigate if Missouri is once again failing to equitably employ minority-owned and women-owned businesses.

On Jan. 31, the state announced that University of Missouri-Kansas City has been tasked with completing the study by June 30. The 2014 study found “extensive evidence that discrimination on the basis of race and

gender continues to operate in Missouri’s markets.” It recommended the state make a number of changes, including paying minority contractors sooner, bidding out smaller contracts and conducting more outreach with minority and women business owners.

The upcoming disparity study came up during a recent hearing of the House Special Committee for Urban Issues, where Republican Rep. Rudy Veit of Wardsville said he’s been watching the state’s inclusion efforts since the 1980s and the same issues seem to persist. “Has there been progress made or are we just reinventing the old wheel?” Veit asked representatives from the state’s Office for Equal Opportunity

The OEO representatives told Veit to look at their annual reports.

Corey Bolton, director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, declined an interview request.

But a spokesman for the office said in an email that since the 2014 study the state “has worked to improve overall support services as it relates to the applicant experience and certification processing times.”

How we got here

Missouri first established minority participation goals on state construction projects in 1984, after the federal government passed its requirements on the Department of Transportation contracts in 1980.

But it wasn’t difficult for white-owned businesses to get exemptions for the goals.

A 1989 St. Louis PostDispatch investigation found that 68% of state construction contracts between 1987 and 1988 were exempt from achieving the inclusion goals.

And that year, minority businesses earned $3.7 million out of $352.8 million in construction contracts, and women-owned businesses earned $5.8 million.

In 1990, led by state Sens Phil B. Curls of Kansas City and J.B. Banks of St. Louis, the legislature passed a bill directing the Office of Administration to implement a plan aimed at increasing minority participation. It also ordered a study to look at potential disparities in how the state awards its contracts.

Four years later, then-Gov. Mel Carnahan’s administration analyzed how much MBEs and WBEs earned on agency contracts between 1989 and 1994 and found that less than 1% of those contract dollars went to MBEs and only 2.2% to WBEs.

And the study found the state’s minority- and womenowned businesses were capable of completing much more work than that.

So in 1998, Carnahan signed an executive order to

cited in the study was 10-15 years old, according to the lawsuit.

The state settled with the corporation, after the judge said the program would not likely withstand an appeal with the study’s outdated information. Citing the judge’s opinion in the Behavioral Interventions case, then-Gov. Matt Blunt signed an executive order in 2005 that made those goals “flexible,” and Missouri has not made the goals mandatory since.

of MOKAN Construction and Contractors Assistance Center, a non-profit that assists and advocates for minority- and women-owned firms. “We still continue to swim upstream relative to diversity and inclusion,” she said. “We continue to always have disparity studies show that there is still a disparity. The whole goal of the disparity programs is to eliminate the disparity and get to a point where you don’t have goals anymore.”

“remedy discrimination” and require minority participation on contracts more than $100,000, with an overall goal of 10% MBE and 5% WBE participation for all purchases.

The order also authorized state procurement officers to set a higher “desired goal” – 20% MBE and 10% WBE – if the study found that a certain contract had more minorities available in that industry.

But that all came to a halt in 2004, after a white-owned business sued the state in federal court. A Coloradobased corporation called Behavioral Interventions Inc. lost a state contract providing electronic monitoring services for correctional facilities because it couldn’t find a minority subcontractor to meet the desired goal of 20% MBE.

The company sued, alleging the state’s inclusion program was unlawful because there was no current data showing a disparity in how the state awarded contracts. The last disparity study had been published in 1997, but the data

And without those mandates, “we don’t have a program,” said Sen. Barbara Washington, D-Kansas City. Kansas City has an annual goal of achieving 14.7% MBE and 14.4% WBE on all city contracts, but individual contracting goals are “flexible” and established on a case-bycase basis.

In the City of St. Louis professional service contracts are set at 25% MBE and 5% WBE. For construction projects, it’s at least 21% African-American owned business, 2% HispanicAmerican owned business, 0.5% Asian Americanowned business, 0.5% Native American-owned business participation and 11% certified women-owned business participation.

Both cities’ goals were established based on the findings of disparity studies.

Yaphett El-Amin served as a state representative at the time of the 2004 lawsuit and fought to ensure that it didn’t completely shut down all attempts at minority participation. “We knew…it could eliminate diversity goals and cost minority contractors and female businesses millions of dollars,” said El-Amin.

Since 2008, El-Amin has served as executive director

Many local governments and public agencies started conducting disparity studies after the 1989 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the case of City of Richmond v. J.A. Croson Co. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the City of Richmond’s minority participation program for municipal contracts was unconstitutional after finding that the city failed to identify a substantial need to level the playing field for minorities and women business owners.

Rep. LaKeySha Bosley, D-St. Louis City, said the debate in the House Budget committee meetings last session to secure the $500,000 for the disparity study was heated. “It got heavy for a moment…because of us advocating for the data,” Bosley said. “You had individuals who didn’t want to see that happen and called it ‘cancel culture.’” However, the data is necessary to pass legislation that will mandate participation goals, if the study shows that disparities still exist, Washington said. “We want to help our businesses and entities in Missouri be able to get a piece of that pie, so that things are fair,” Washington said. “It encourages people to come to our state.”

Photo courtesy of Ben Peters/House Communications

Rep. Ashley Bland Manlove, a Democrat from Kansas City, speaks at a press conference in 2020.

Living It

Special edition

pleases

By Danielle Brown

The St. Louis American

Nothing could stand in the way of fans attending the St. Louis leg of The Culture Tour starring New Edition with Charlie Wilson and special guest Jodeci, not even the suddenly cold weather exacerbated by harsh winds.

A nearly sold-out crowd filled The Enterprise Center on Friday, March 11, to hear the iconic R&B ensemble with a career spanning almost 40 years. All all six original members of the supergroup Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant, Michael Bivins, Ronnie Devoe, and Ricky Bell, came on the stage wearing trenchcoats and fedoras. The group of gentlemen – all over 50 and aging like fine wine – belted out sounds in octaves that were deeper than the ones they had as young boys when they released “Candy Girl” in 1983. They followed up with another signature hit

Flipping the script

By Taylor McIntosh

The St. Louis American Javon “Jay” Kendrick is a champion cheerleader who hails from St. Louis, but he moved to Texas to compete in its advanced cheerleading scene. He excelled with three famous teams. The Grand World Champions Cheer Athletics Cheetahs, performed on “America’s Got Talent.” Another, Cheer Athletics Wildcats, won the Grand World Championship in 2021 and other U.S. championships. Kendrick called Navarro College Cheerleading, “the most life-changing team.”

from their early ‘80s era, “Mr. Telephone,” with their impressive cross-step choreography incorporated in most of their songs. Gill did a phenomenal job keeping up, even though he’s consistently recognized more for his vocal abilities than his dancing. Brown struggled somewhat, but he still gave the best he could. After all he’s endured, especially over the last several years, it was just enjoyable to see him happy and in good spirits.

As expected, each group member, including trio Bell Biv Devoe performed a medley of breakout records that fans appreciated, although it wasn’t a part of the

New Edition collective. Brown, who left the group to pursue a successful solo career, sang “Roni,” “Rock Wit’Cha,” “My Prerogative,” and “Every Little Step.” Gill sang “My, My, My,” “Fairweather Friend,” and a cover of Teddy Pendergrass’ “Love TKO.” Every member had an opportunity to shine – to either deliver their entree of individual singles or spotlight their best vocals singing lead on New Edition songs. The setlist included Tresvant’s “Sensitivity,” Bell Biv Devoe’s “When Will I See You Smile Again,” “Poison,” and “Do Me!”

The best part about each man having the spotlight was that the others did a great job support-

ing them in background vocals or synchronized footwork.

The audience received a special surprise when they invited Brooke Payne, their longtime manager, and choreographer, on stage.

“How many of y’all saw “The New Edition Story”? Devoe asked the audience. “If you’ve seen the movie, you know there’s a gentleman that sits in the middle of everything we do on the film. He’s the one that brought me into the group after these guys established it in Boston. His name is Mr. Brooke Payne. His birthday is the next day [March 12], and he won’t be in Cincinnati with us. We wanted to give him his roses and his cake on stage tonight.”

The gentlemen also performed “Count Me Out” (which excludes Bobby Brown from the track), “Hit Me Off,” “You’re Not My Kind of Girl,” “N.E. Heartbreak,” “Is This The End,” “If It Isn’t Love,” “My Secret,” and “Boys to Men.”

By Chris King For

In his first appearance on the Powell Hall stage leading the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra since Russia invaded Ukraine, music director Stéphane Denève opened the program Saturday night by bearing witness to the new war in Europe. After brief remarks, he conducted the orchestra in a rousing instrumental version of the Ukrainian state anthem (its music was composed by Mykhailo Verbytsky in 1863).

table statement of solidarity. The long program concluded with the work of a Russian composer, which Denève offered in the spirit of unity. This made sense. Decisions made about a concert in St. Louis may not stop a war in Europe, but what we think about Vladimir Putin should not distort how

the St. Louis American

Photo courtesy of LaNita Harrison and Angela Brown

nearly sold-out crowd filled The Enterprise Center on Friday, March 11, to be entertained by the iconic R&B ensemble New Edition.

(middle)

Photos courtesy of

Our healthcare workers faced unexpected challenges in the last two years – and they faced their tasks with grace and courage. We’re proud to share their contributions with the community. Moreover, we are pleased to be able to gather again in person to honor them for their service.

Thursday, April 14, 2022 • Hilton St. Louis Frontenac

Reception: 11 am - 12 pm • Program: 12 pm - 1:30 pm

LIFETIME ACHIEVER IN HEALTH CARE

Vetta Sanders Thompson, Ph.D.

E. Desmond Lee Professor of Racial and Ethnic Diversity and Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis Co-Director, Center for Community Health Partnership & Research Institute for Public Health at Washington University Associate Member, Siteman Cancer Center

STELLAR PERFORMER IN HEALTH CARE

Tifani Sanford, M.D.

Director of Clinical Services

Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers HEALTH CARE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

Ketra Collins RN, Gateway Regional Hospital Marilyn Peaston Case Worker, City of St. Louis Health Resource Center Angela Klocke BS, MPH, MSN, RN, Washington University School of Medicine and

Wilma Schmitz, MA Regional Liaison & Trainer, Missouri Connections for HealthCLAIM

Dr. Michelle Grimes Chief Nursing Officer, CareSTL Health

Ursula Wright, FNP Vice President, Clinical Care Redesign, Mercy

Dwight E. McLeod, DDS, MS Dean, Faulty Teacher, A.T. Still University-Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health

Get to Know MHS’s Vynetta Morrow

After numerous wardrobe changes, the sextet closed their noteworthy performance a little before midnight with “Can You Stand the Rain.”

Similar to his performance on The Isley Brothers’ Legends Tour, Wilson’s high energy routine emphasized a party atmosphere rather than a concert. He opened with The Gap Band’s “Party Train,” sporting the same light jackets he and his background dancers wore the last time he was in town in September.

He managed to switch up this performance in some regards. He not only sang hits from his former group and record selling solo records, but he also sang vocals behind the music he is featured on, including Roger & Zapp’s “Computer Luv.”

“I sang on a lot of records –hip-hop, R&B, and pop – with different people, but I bet you one thing all of y’all in this building don’t know I sang on this record,” Wilson said while the music dropped and computer data with a heart flashed on the mega screen. Wilson, 69, shared he recently had two surgeries and almost couldn’t come to St. Louis due to his doctor’s wishes.

“If you see me stumbling around up here being slow, sluggish, I had two knee surgeries,” he said. “The doctor told me I couldn’t go to St. Louis. I said, ‘are you crazy?’ I’m not missing St. Louis.” Wilson, known for his invigorating showmanship, feeds solely on how the audience reacts to him. He addressed fans early on, expressing he only reciprocates energy.

“In case you come here drunk or high as hell, my name is Charlie Last Name Wilson, and I feed off of what I hear, which is your energy level,” he said. “If I can’t hear nothing, I can’t give you all of me so, Imma ask y’all how many of y’all came to party tonight?”

“Is this Dallas, Texas? Is

this Oklahoma City? Is this Cincinnati? Is this St. Louis?” he asked, drawing loud applause from the crowd. Wilson, unapologetic of his complicated past with drug addiction and alcoholism, never shies away from sharing his testimony and telling how God healed him from those vices.

“I’m Blessed” fit the bill perfectly for his segment of gratitude and grace.

“I knew God was always out there with me,” he said. “When I was getting high on crack, I said Lord, if you give me one more chance at life, one more chance on the stage, Lord I promise you imma shout you out. I swear to you, every night on the stage, Imma testify, and we gone have some church.”

He emulated church services when people shout to praise their high power.

“I’m 27 years clean and sober,” he said. “I found something greater than myself who picked me up, turned me

around, and placed my feet on some solid ground. If you have a higher power you believe in, I dare you to get on your feet right now cause I believe in you, good God almighty. Look at what you’ve done for Charlie Wilson. I believe in you, God.”

He ended his performance promoting a new single, “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us,” featuring Johnny Gill, Babyface, and K-Ci on a remake of McFadden & Whitehead’s 1979 hit.

He also sang “There Goes My Baby,” “You Are,” “Yearning for Your Love,” “Outstanding” and more.

Jodeci, the proclaimed “Bad Boys of R&B,” started the show on time at 8 p.m. sharp. DeVanté Swing, Mr. Dalvin, K-Ci performed their endless catalog of 1990’s classic records “Stay,” “Come & Talk to Me,” “Forever My Lady,” “Freek’n You,” and more. JoJo was visibly absent due to illness.

As the Missouri Historical Society’s new Community Programming Coordinator with the African American History Initiative (AAHI), Vynetta Morrow will continue her mission of strengthening roots within the community—a thread that’s been woven throughout her two-decades-long career as an educator, outreach specialist, curriculum designer, and leadership trainer. Among her most recent accomplishments was helping design a virtual leadership experience for youth and leading participants through a seminar called Visioning for Justice. We asked Morrow more about her background, her interests, and what she hopes to accomplish as part of the Missouri Historical Society team.

What attracted you to the Community Programming Coordinator with the African American History Initiative position at MHS?

The position of AAHI Community Programming Coordinator at MHS allows me to expand my knowledge base and skills while supporting the work of others to expand the narrative of St. Louis’s Black history, which is deeply rooted in both US history and world history. In the past, whether reading the Palladium newspaper at the MHS Library & Research Center to gather research for a narrative about African Americans at the 1904 World’s Fair, serving as a docent and Museum volunteer, introducing my students to the galleries, or attending the monthly African American History Series to gather with others to learn about our region’s Black history, I have always valued the Missouri Historical Society. I hope to continue and broaden the work and scope of the African American History Initiative, which supports the collection of unique artifacts and materials concerning historically underrepresented communities, the development of future museum professionals, and preservation of African American resources and history in the greater St. Louis area.

Vynetta Morrow

AAHI strives to promote stories that explore various aspects of the African American experience throughout this region.

You have a BA in history. What are some of your favorite periods or eras of interest? And what are you hoping to learn more about?

My favorite era of history is the 19th and early 20th centuries. I have a particular interest in the 1890s and early 1900s, a time when my maternal grandmother was a young girl growing up in Kimmswick, Missouri, and later migrating to St. Louis. I hope to learn more about the roots and connectedness of St. Louis’s Black history to our current everyday lives.

What will your work at MHS include? Any upcoming opportunities or programs you’re excited about? What are you hoping to bring to your new role?

What else would you like people to know about you?

As a new member of the Harriet Tubman Literary Club of St. Louis, an affiliate of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, I have entered the company of historical Black women including Julia Davis, Arsania Williams, and Annie Malone, who lived by the philosophy, “Lifting as We Climb.” Their legacy as educators, businesswomen, and philanthropists continues throughout our communities and is a guiding light for my work. I enjoy walking through Fairgrounds Park, writing poetry, archiving family stories, and sipping lemon-ginger tea on Sunday afternoons.

As Community Programming Coordinator with the African American History Initiative, I am looking forward to working with the community to create spaces to share the intricate story of the history of Black St. Louisans. I look forward to supporting my colleagues working within AAHI and colleagues working across all MHS institutions, including the Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, the Library & Research Center, and the Missouri History Museum. I am looking forward to amplifying the work of Vida “Sister” Goldman Prince, who conducted oral histories that are part of the MHS Collections and are in the process of being digitized. It’s exciting that more people will get to hear her conversations with Marian Oldham, Frankie Muse Freeman, and Margaret Bush Wilson, Black women who lived and worked in St. Louis while playing critical roles in the modern civil rights movement. I’m also looking forward to several programs April. Families will have the opportunity to explore environmental racism at History Exploration Days, and on April 28, as part of the Thursday Night at the Museum Series, the community will gather to learn more about the work around reinterpreting monuments and creating new memorials in St. Louis. There are several programs in June, including the Juneteenth community bike ride, the Juneteenth keynote lecture and gospel music performance honoring Reverend Dr. John N. Doggett, and the Albert King Alumni Tribute Band concert in honor Black Music Month. For the past couple of weeks, I have enjoyed perusing the #1 in Civil Rights virtual exhibit accessible on the MHS website. It’s based on the 2017 MHS exhibit of the same title.

Photos courtesy of LaNita Harrison and Angela Brown Charlie Wilson not only sang hits from his former group and record selling solo recordings, but he also sang vocals behind the music he is featured on.

Photos courtesy of LaNita Harrison and Angela Brown

Jodeci, the proclaimed “Bad Boys of R&B,” started the show off with their endless catalog of hits.

St. Louis American staff

The Black Interfaith Project at Interfaith Youth Corps [IFYC], an initiative to spotlight the longstanding diversity of Black religious life, recently celebrated its launch in Washington, D.C.

“The interfaith experience of Black life in America has often been overlooked and unacknowledged,” said the Rev. Frederick Davie, IFYC senior advisor for Racial Equity.

“The Black Interfaith Project seeks not only to rectify this unfortunate past but to celebrate the richness of interfaith bridge building within

Black communities and thereby enrich the entire interfaith experience of the nation.”

IFYC is a national non-profit “working towards an America where people of different faiths, worldviews, and traditions can bridge differences and find common values to build a shared life together,” according to its website.

The Black Interfaith Project “centers the diversity of religious, spiritual, and philosophical expressions that have animated the Black experience in America,” according to a release.

Religion

Additionally, it will explore bridgebuilding between corresponding groups, and the implications for Black communities and America as a nation. The project is supported by a $1 million grant from the Henry Luce Foundation.

The United States prides itself on being the world’s first religiously diverse democracy. Perhaps no community has negotiated the complexities of religious diversity more impactfully than Black people. Still, much of what we think of as ‘interfaith cooperation’ has emerged from principally white spaces, with Black voices systemically underrepresented,” Davie said.

“The Black Interfaith Project maintains that some of the most inspiring crossing of religious

boundaries and many of the most meaningful moments of interfaith cooperation in American history have come out of the Black experience, from the Underground Railroad to the Harlem Renaissance, the

Civil Rights movement to the interfaith coalition that elected President Obama.”

The cornerstone of the Black Interfaith Project is a fellowship program “which convenes Black professionals from a wide range of sectors and worldviews who are engaged in interfaith bridgebuilding through their lived experience, scholarship, and civic engagement,” according to the release.

The project’s steering committee includes

• Mesha Arant – Manager of Administration & Programs at 3Arts

• Alia Bilal – Deputy Director, Inner-City Muslim Action Network

• Dr. Marla FrederickProfessor of Religion & Culture, Emory Candler School of Theology; President, American Academy of Religion

• Dr. Peter Manseau - Curator of American Religious History, National Museum of American

History and Director, Center for the Understanding of Religion in American History, Smithsonian Institution

• Sabrina Motley – Director, Smithsonian Folklife Festival

• Dr. Eboo Patel – Founder and President, IFYC Dr. Yolanda Pierce –Professor & Dean, Howard University School of Divinity

• Teri Simon – Director of Executive Office, IFYC

• Dr. Josef Sorett - Professor & Chair, Dept of Religion; Director, Center on African American Religion, Sexual Politics & Social Justice, Columbia University

• Dr. Jonathan Lee WaltonDean of Wait Chapel, School of Divinity, Chair of Religion and Society, Wake Forest University

• Dr. Eric Williams - Curator of Religion, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

By Froswa Booker Drew

I hate to rush but according to the GPS, I would only be two minutes late. That wasn’t bad but I wasn’t prepared for an accident to happen. In my haste, I panicked and decided to jump on another freeway thinking I can just loop around and miss the accident all together. To my surprise, there was another accident. I was irritated that my plans of being just two minutes late became a 20-minute delay. Had I just remained patient

and waited, I could have gotten there just 10 minutes late. In that moment, I realized how often we make decisions because what we see ahead doesn’t look like what we planned. We can make choices that delay our progress because we aren’t willing to wait and be inconvenienced.

When life doesn’t work out as planned, instead of waiting on God, we will make decisions out of our limited perspective. At the core of our decisions is an unwillingness to trust God and believe that we know what to do. I was reminded that the

delay was in my best interest and that God was protecting me from something.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

How often have we all decided abruptly to do something that later cost us more than it was worth? Instead of trusting God and getting there on a straight route with a brief interruption, I was going in a circle and wasting time. The Israelites are a prime

example of how we can waste time when we allow what we see to stop us from getting to our promised lands. Instead of trusting God, we can spend so much time wondering and wandering when we chose to take our lives into our own hands. The Israelites called out to God for help and God heard them. “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt,” (Exodus 3:7). We, too, cry out to God for help but because we do not receive the answer we want immediately, we can become discouraged and take matters into our own hands. Moses, in his frustration because of what he saw around him, killed an

Egyptian. He fled because of fear that others knew what he had done. (Exodus 2:11). When we don’t trust God’s timing, we can make decisions that cost us and have consequences. Even as Moses followed God’s instructions and said to the Hebrews that it was time to depart Egypt, they became overwhelmed at what they saw in front of them. Despite God’s reassurance that He would be there with them, when faced with something unexpected, they wanted to go in another direction. They were not prepared to be chased by the Egyptian army and they didn’t expect God to part the Red Sea for their deliverance.

“And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:13-14). I learned a valuable lesson this weekend. Expect interruptions and detours. It doesn’t mean that God isn’t at work in those moments. And check this out, I got to my destination when I needed to. It was all a part of God’s perfect timing when I accepted the unexpected. Froswa Booker-Drew is a Texas Metro News columnist and author of three books for women.

Rev. Frederick Davie

Guest Columnist Froswa Booker Drew

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To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational. com/careers-page/

GUARDIAN AD LITEM

Family Court of St. Louis County is seeking an attorney to serve as guardian ad litem in the Family Court to handle juvenile matters. A Guardian ad litem who serves the Court must commit to serve

expended in adoption, guardianship of minor, and termination

parental rights matters may be made over and above the retainer fee. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from an accredited law school, possession of a current license to practice law in the State of Missouri, up to three (3) years of trial experience preferred; preferably in juvenile or family law (additional

To apply, please send a current resume, along with a cover

Please contact the Human Resources Department at 615-4471 (voice) or RelayMo 711 or 800-735-2966 if you need any accommodations in the application process, or if you would like this posting in an alternative form.

CUSTOMER SERVICE COUNTER PERSON

Cleancrafts Cleaners. Trustworthy, customer service counter person needed. 30-36 hrs weekly. $10-$11. Must know fabrics and Computer literate. Apply at 5311 Pershing, 63112 between 8:30am-1pm or send inquiry to cleancraftscleaner@att.net

STAFF COUNSEL

Under the direction of the senior attorney(s), responsible for assisting senior attorney(s)’ management of business transactional support, information security related issues, and other legal affairs of the Company.

To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational. com/careers-page/

Position Summary

OPERATING SYSTEMS ENGINEER I

Demonstrates an understanding of Microsoft Windows operating systems (Server 2012, 2016, 2022 and Win10) SCCM, Active Directory, Group Policy Objects, Server and Workstation patching methods and networking concepts. Working knowledge VMware vSphere and desktop virtualization helpful.

To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational. com/careers-page/

SERVANT LEADER INTERN

Deaconess Foundation will sponsor a network of Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools® programs this summer. The seven-week program provides summer enrichment for children and families. College-age young adults and recent college graduates play a key role as facilitators in the CDF Freedom Schools program in the position of Servant Leader Intern (SLI).

The Servant Leader Intern’s primary responsibility is to supervise and maintain the safety of children. The Servant Leader Intern will facilitate daily literacy activities; manage classroom spaces; establish and maintain a supportive, structured environment; serve as Harambe leader, afternoon activities facilitator, and field trip chaperone. Starting salary range is $15.00 to $18.00 per hour.

To apply for this position, submit cover letter, resume and references, all as one document, at: https://deaconess.org/joinus

CITY OF CLAYTON HIRING FOR FULLTIME POSITIONS

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

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis seeks a talented and creative Communications Specialist. Reporting to the Director of Marketing and Communications, the Communications Specialist serves as steward of the institutional “voice,” and primary press contact. This position interacts with all Museum departments, and is responsible for copywriting, copyediting, and pitching stories to the media. The ideal candidate is a strong writer and persuasive communicator with exceptional interpersonal skills, impeccable attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment. For more information visit camstl.org/jobs or call 314-535-0770.

The primary responsibility of this full-time position is providing Deaconess Center relationship management support to the Director, Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being. The Relationship Coordinator will be responsible for greeting all building entrants in a joyful manner and assisting them with deliveries, meetings, and appointments in the Deaconess Center, including navigating people to their appointments and/or desired locations. Duties include communicating effectively with volunteers, visitors, co-locators, Deaconess Center and Deaconess Foundation team members, and all other persons who enter Deaconess Center, and notify all co-locators of visitors. The duties also include utilizing good telephone etiquette with all who call Deaconess Center, convening space scheduling, calendar management, prioritizing and managing multiple projects simultaneously, and exercising independent judgment.

For More information or to Apply: Please upload cover letter, and salary requirements as one document to the Deaconess career website: https://deaconess.isolvedhire. com/jobs/ and include references.

St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for CONTRACT NO. F 22

402, Signage Replacement at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park Campus, until 2:00 p.m. local time Thursday March 31, 2022. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 5464 Highland Park, St. Louis, MO 63110-1314. Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from the Manager’s office, at the above address or by calling (314) 6449770.

PREBID MEETING: None

An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for Contract No. F 22 502, Replace Roof on Childcare Building, St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley, until 2:00 p.m. local time, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. Bids will be Publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 5464 Highland Park Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110-1314. Specifications and bid forms may be obtained by emailing Angie James at ajames84@stlcc.edu or call (314)644-9770.

An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer

VOLUNTARY PRE-BID MEETING:

Date: March 15, 2022, Time: 11:00 a.m.

Place: Front of Childcare Building at Florissant Valley

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Paric Corporation is seeking proposals for the following project: BUTLER BROTHERS, 1717 OLIVE

PARIC Corporation is soliciting bids for the FINISHES ONLY for THE BUTLER BROTHERS BUILDING located on 1717 Olive St. St Louis, MO. The project consists of the renovation of the historic building into 384 units including amenity spaces, fitness room and community areas. The project also includes an enclosed parking garage and retail spaces. Access to documents is available from our Smartbid link, invitations to bid will be sent out on 3/8/22. If you do not received a bid invitation please send your company information to tlalexaner@paric.com.

The last day for questions is 3/29/22.

A PREBID meeting will be held on 3/15/22 at 10:00am at the project site on Olive Street

BIDS WILL BE DUE ON APRIL 5, 2022 @ 2:00pm

Send all questions to Terry Turnbeaugh tlturnbeaugh@paric.com

Goals for Construction Business Enterprise • 21% African American • 11% Women • 1.5% Other – Veteran, Hispanic, Asian American, Native American

Goals for Workforce (field) participation • 25% Minority • 7% Women • 10% Apprentice • 23% City of St Louis Resident

All bids should be delivered to Paric via e-mail (bids@paric.com) or fax (636-561-9501).

PARIC CORPORATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

PENGUIN AND PUFFIN

COAST LIGHTING

UPGRADE RFP 2022

INVITATION TO BID

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. requests bids for from qualified subcontractors for the following project:

Saint Louis University - Champions Center

For the following scopes of work:

Bid Package 02 – Earthwork, Concrete & Reinforcing, Structural Steel, Waterproofing, Glazing, Masonry, Roofing, Sheetmetal and Elevators

Bid Package 03 – Drywall & Ceilings, Flooring, Painting, Doors/Frames, Casework, Division 10 Specialties, Window Treatments, Kitchen Equipment

A Virtual Outreach Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 24 at 11:00 AM. Certified MBE/WBE/DBE subcontractors are encouraged to attend the Outreach to learn more about the project and forthcoming bid dates.

Contact: Jennifer Simpson at jsimpson@mccarthy.com or 314-919-2304 for more information and for virtual meeting access.

Prequalification is required and can be accessed at https://www.mccarthy.com/subcontractors

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer

LETTING #8743 CERVANTES CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION AND MODERNIZATIONPROJECT 2 ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

PROPOSALS will be received by the Board of Public Service until 1:45 pm, CT, on May 3, 2022, through the Bid Express online portal then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org (BPS on line plan room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

A pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at 10:00 am at the America’s Center. Interested bidders are to enter through the security office at the southeast corner of the 9th St./Cole St. intersection and will be directed to the meeting room. All bidders are encouraged to attend.

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

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

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks bids from qualified firms to submit proposals for Penguin and Puffin Coast Lighting Upgrade RFP 2022. Bid documents are available as of 3/16/2022 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor

ADVERTISEMENT FOR RFP COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION

The City of St. Louis Department of Health seeks proposals for Community Violence Intervention programs.

Requests for Proposals may be obtained beginning February 28, 2022, by downloading from the City of St. Louis website at www.stlouis-mo.gov/health. Contact Sara Baker, City of St. Louis Mayor’s Office, for questions: bakersa@stlouis-mo.gov, (314) 622-3201. Questions must be submitted no later than March 22, 2022.

The deadline for submitting proposals is March 28, 2022, by 5:00 P.M. to the Mayor’s Office, 1200 Market Street – Room 200, St. Louis, MO 63103. The Department of Health reserves the right to reject any or all responses with or without cause.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

Alberici Constructors and the Saint Louis Zoo seek bids from qualified construction firms to submit proposals for a project at the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park. The project consists of the construction of a 1,400 sqft utility building and approximately 2,000 lnft of associated site utilities. To request bid documents, please send an E-mail to stlzoobids@alberici.com

SOLICITING BID

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

Notice To Small (SBE), Disadvantaged (DBE), Minority (MBE), Women’s (WBE), Service Disabled Veteran Owned (SDVOB) & Veteran Owned (VOB) Businesses Advertisement River City Construction, L.L.C., 6640 American Setter Drive, Ashland, Missouri 65010, (573) 657-7380 (Phone) (573) 657-7381 (Fax) Is Seeking Qualified Small, Disadvantaged, Minority, Women’s, Service Disabled Veteran Owned & Veteran Owned Businesses For The Design Build Project For The Missouri University of Science and Technology General Services Building, Rolla, Missouri; Project No: RC000211. All interested and qualified SBE, DBE, WBE, SDVOB, AND VOB General Construction and Subcontractors businesses should contact, in writing, (certified letter, return receipt requested) Joe Seymour to discuss the subcontracting opportunities. All negotiations must be completed prior to the bid opening date 4/12/2022 @ 2:00 P.M. Proposals will be evaluated in order on the basis of low responsive bid received. CERTIFICATION OF DBE/WBE/MBE/SDVOB/VOB

Public Hearing Notice and Draft 2021 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER)

The City of St. Louis is soliciting comments on its draft Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). The CAPER is an overall review of the housing and community development activities undertaken in 2021 by the City of St. Louis. It is part of the Consolidated Planning process, which is a pre-requisite to receiving funding allocations from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the following programs: Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships, Emergency Solutions Grant, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS.

Virtual Public Hearing Notice/Public Comment Period

The Community Development Administration will conduct a virtual public hearing on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. The purpose of this hearing is to solicit public comments pertaining to the 2020 CAPER prior to its submission to HUD. Instructions for attending the Virtual Public Hearing are available on the CDA website:

https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/cda/.

Available for Review

The 2021 CAPER will be available in draft form for review by any interested citizen prior to submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on March 16, 2022 through the City of St. Louis Community Development Administration website http://www.stlouis-mo.gov/cda/

The draft report, including IDIS reports and the Financial Summary, will also be available for review at the offices of the Community Development Administration located at 1520 Market Street, Suite 2000, St. Louis, MO 63103 and the City of St. Louis Central Library, located at 1301 Olive Street.

Written Comments

The views of citizens, public agencies, and other interested parties are encouraged. Written comments with respect to the proposed 2021 CAPER will be accepted via email until 5pm on March 30, 2022 and should be directed via email at CDBG@stlouis-mo.gov

SEA LION SOUND SAND FILTER REHAB RFP 2022

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks bids from qualified firms to submit proposals for Sea Lion Sound Sand Filter Rehab RFP 2022. Bid documents are available as of 3/16/2022 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice

SOLICITING BID

Reinhardt Construction LLC is Soliciting Bids from MBE/WBE/ DBE/Veteran/SDVE for the following:

CP219076 MU Naka HallRelocate Naval ROTC. Bids

Received until 10:00 AM March 24, 2022

Contact: Mike Murray ; mikem@ reinhardtconstructionllc.com Phone: 573-682-5505

SOLICITING BID

Reinhardt Construction LLC is Soliciting Bids from MBE/WBE/ DBE/Veteran/SDVE for the following:

CP222011 MU Construction Labor Blanket Contract Bids

Received until 1:00 PM March 24, 2022

Contact: Mike Murray ; mikem@ reinhardtconstructionllc.com Phone: 573-682-5505

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the Aging Ahead will release Request for Proposal (RFP) documents on March 11, 2022, for procurement of audit services under 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F. The proposal also contains additional agreed upon procedures and supplemental statements. The audit period will be July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. Qualified firms may obtain the Request for Proposal on our website at www.AgingAhead.org Proposals are due in our office no later than 2:00 p.m. on April 11, 2022. Visit our website at www.AgingAhead.org for more details.

REQUEST FOR MBE/ WBE SECURITY BIDS

ACTS-Aviation Security, Inc. is requesting proposals from Minority and Women Business Enterprises (MBE/ WBE) who are certified in Security Guards and Patrol Services with the City of St. Louis to participate as a subcontractor in the contract for Airport Landside Traffic Control Services at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL).

Interested parties should contact ACTS to schedule an introductory conversation at security@acts-sec.com or 773-234-5931.

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Sealed bids for the 2021 Accessible Ramp Improvements (2021-PW-02) will be received by the City of Chesterfield Department of Public Works, 690 Chesterfield Parkway W, Chesterfield, Missouri 63017-0760, until 10:00 a.m. (prevailing central time) on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 and will thereafter be publicly opened and read aloud.

This activity is funded in whole or in part with Community Development Block Grant funds pursuant to Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended. All applicable federal regulations shall be in full force and effect.

Plans and specifications for this project will be available after 12:00 noon on Monday, March 21, 2022 on the City of Chesterfield’s website: https://www.chesterfield.mo.us/request-forproposals.html

SEALED BIDS

Bids

INVITATION FOR EQUIPMENT BIDS

East-West Gateway Council of Governments is seeking bids for ballistic helmets, confined space rescue harnesses and tactical headsets. Bids are due 04/14/2022. Funding is provided by the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security. D/S/W/MBEs are encouraged to submit bids. Find details at www.ewgateway.org

Cahills Construction, Inc. seeks subcontract proposals from Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Women Business Enterprise (WBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and or Veteran Supplier Diversity, with Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business (SDVE) for:

Project: #RC000425

Medium Voltage Research Lab Project 500 W. 16th St. Rolla, MO 66401

• To view plans and specifications electronically at no charge from: http://www.adsplanroom.net

• To request an invite for a Link to the plans and specifications please email or call: bids@cahillsconstruction.com or 573-426-5305

Subcontractor bids are due by 1:00 p.m. on March 16, 2022 Bids can be emailed to bids@cahillsconstruction.com or faxed to 573-362-3562

If you have any questions: 573-426-5305

go to: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

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

Continued from C1

we feel about Igor Stravinsky. Adapted from music composed for a ballet that premiered in Paris in 1910, Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite” is a timeless love song to the resources of an orchestra, and Denève held a powerful orchestra lightly in his hands as he danced them through it. Though this music has been separated from its ballet, as he cued sections and guided individual players, the conductor at times seemed in a fit of interpretative dance.

This performance made plain Stravinsky’s genius for orchestration. With a very large band on stage, each distinct section always was audible in its own voice, and often individual players were: the two bassoons, most famously, but also the three frequently clownish trombones. When the harp brought its lush voice into play, each individual string could be heard in the concert hall. There were truly magic moments. In a sustained episode of hypnotic drone created by the strings, I had a hard time figuring out which strings. I could have swore no hands were moving on any stringed instrument, yet the drone was sustained, as if by magic. Then, in the closing movement, the raw fury of certain violins showed that Stravinsky anticipated punk rock by a good 65 years.

Kendrick

Continued from C1

people and it’s so much more chaotic than St.Louis, because Texas is a big powerhouse when it comes to cheerleading and that is one of the main reasons I came down, to grow in that aspect.

“The Firebird Suite” was preceded in the program by a contemporary piece also written for the dance but now orphaned from it, “La Péri” (1912) by Paul Dukas and the brass fanfare he wrote for it. If “The Firebird Suite” can be heard as a blueprint for meticulous orchestration, “La Péri” offers a clinic in dynamic range. Big, fat, vaguely dissonant brass chords give way to a handful of whispering strings which give way to bursts of action where there is not one idle hand on stage. The orchestra owned every modulation.

The first half of the program concluded with a genuine tour de force: Jean-Yves Thibaudet playing the piano lines in Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Piano Concerto No. 5 in F Major (Egyptian)” in front of an orchestra led by a conductor who was, if not born, carefully trained to manage this interplay.

To say Thibaudet “played” the piano is a gross oversimplification. Through the course of this performance, he touched the piano in every way a piano can be touched. He tickled, stroked, plinked, attacked, massaged, pounded and even tapped out a kind of Morse code on the piano. For every kind of touch there was a distinct sound, each in perfect keeping with the needs of the piece, and his mastery of tonalities evoked richer, fresher tones from the other musicians.

Thibaudet manipulated the piano, for long stretches, as if he were playing alone and no one else was on the stage, in

STLA: What do you miss most about St. Louis?

Kendrick: Honestly, I miss the food. I can’t compare St. Louis food to any other food. It’s so amazing.

STLA: How do you think the sport has changed since you started cheering?

Kendrick: I feel like cheer is [a sport] that keeps evolving. There’s always new skills being created and new aspects

the concert hall, on Earth. He would lean back, making the piano bench into a recliner. But when Saint-Saëns and Denève called him back to the orchestra, his interplay was as intense as his solitude had been. Denève led Thibaudet through intimate conversations with each and every section of the orchestra.

The first piece on the program was also the least: a world premiere of “Goddess Triptych” (2020) by Stacy Garrop, who attended the premiere and was greeted by a standing ovation when invited onstage. Putting the most favorable construction on the facts, “Goddess Triptych” must have been more pleasing to the subscriptionseries faithful than just about every world premiere ever programmed by the wildly adventurous David Robertson. On the other hand, “Goddess Triptych” says nothing musical that has not been said better before. I walked away from this intense concert slightly stunned by it all and wanting to know more about the Ukrainian state anthem. I learned that its words, which had not been sung in Powell Hall, were drawn from a poem composed in 1862 by Pavlo Chubynsky. Translated, the poem opens, “Never perished is Ukraine’s glory and freedom!” I like the sound of that as much as any of the magical music I heard from the stage on Saturday night.

Former managing editor

Chris King is now The American’s classical music reporter.

of cheer that keep growing ‘til this day [tumbling and stunts become more advanced every season]. Cheers in 2012 aren’t the same as in 2022. It grows so much and there is so much you can do in this sport.

Taylor McIntosh is a St. Louis American intern and competes nationally with Privilege of Cheer St. Louis.