May 20th, 2021 edition

St. LouiS AmericAn

Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928

Energy, spirit mark Annie Malone May Day festivities

weather, held a virtual parade at their headquarters.

Event raised more than $102K for the center

By Danielle Brown Of the St. Louis American

While virtual, the111th annual Annie Malone May Day Parade made a very real $102,000 in donations for the Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center. The center provides resources for more than 500 children and families in crisis around the region.

Annie Malone’s great-great niece Sasha Turnbo was honored to watch the event in person in 2019 and said being a relative of Malone’s “makes me feel as though anything is possible.”

“As I talk to younger kids and even older generations, I encourage them to tap into their legacy and their roots because all of us descend from empowered people.” Turnbo’s first parade experience was in 2019, calling it one of the most unforgettable experiences of her life.

“Seeing how many people came out, how hard all of the kids worked, and everyone in the St. Louis community show-

ing me love was such a humbling experience,” Turnbo said.

That was the last year the parade hit the streets, but the virtual celebration’s energy and spirit in 2021 was amazing.

Tammie Holland, media professional and host of Brown&Crouppen’s “This Week with Tammie Holland,” and Rhyan Henson, KSDK news anchor, served as the master and mistress of the ceremony. Disc jockey DJ Charlie Chan Soprano mixed classic and new school music throughout the afternoon.

Eyes were glued to the screen during the Saint Boogie Brass Band’s performance, with soulful renditions of Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Boogie Wonderland,” The Spinners “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love,” Kool & the Gang’s “Get Down On It” and Lil Duval’s “Smile.”

Young ladies from The Best Dance and Talent Center busted out their best moves, featuring a pair of wardrobe changes that included blue short overalls with bright orange

n Mayor Jones, who was 2019 grand marshal, recalled finding a picture of her 3-year-old self at the event and being enamored by it as a teen.

Bridges to helm Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas Art Museum

She plans to shine brighter light on African Art

By Kenya Vaughn Special to the American

Nichole N. Bridges has been named the Saint Louis Art Museum Morton D. May Curator of the Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas. Bridges has served the museum for nearly a decade after joining the institution in 2013 as the associate curator in charge of the Africa, Oceania and the Americas department.

“(The museum) has a world-class African Art collection that deserves more attention,” Bridges said. “And so that’s why I’m here.” In 2018, she refreshed its presentation of African artand there is more to come.

See BRIDGES, A6

Nichole N. Bridges has been promoted to the role of Morton D. May Curator of Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas for the Saint Louis Art Museum. She says the museum “has a worldclass African Art collection that deserves more attention.”

Parson vilified for abandoning Medicaid expansion

governor to uphold voters’ rights

By Dana Rieck Of The St. Louis American

Crowds gathered across the state May 14, including one in front of the State Office Building in St. Louis, to protest Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s withdrawal from expanding Medicaid on Thursday, May 13.

Organized by Jobs with Justice, speakers took to the microphone to express anger and disappointment in Parson going back on his word to fund the expansion, passed by Missouri voters in August as a constitutional amendment.

—Rev. Dr. Emmet Baker

The Rev. Dr. Emmet Baker said his daughter’s life could have been saved nine years ago by Medicaid expansion, which failed in the state 10 years ago.

“We have people all over this state who are dying simply because we don’t have Medicaid expansion,” Baker said. “It is estimated that approximately 700 people a year in Missouri die because they don’t have healthcare.” Baker asked the crowd why Parson, who has healthcare, can deny other people the same.

“Our politicians must recognize that we the people are the power,” Baker said. “It’s time for a change, it’s time for a change.” Dr. Heidi Miller has practiced internal medicine as a primary care doctor since 2013 at Family Care Health Centers, one of the Federally Qualified Health Centers in St. Louis. She also serves as Regional Health

Sen. Brian Williams says he feels fortunate to get the bill across the finish line n “We have people all over this state who are dying simply because we don’t have Medicaid expansion.”

By Dana Rieck Of The St. Louis American

Last December,

His bill, combined with another, will implement a whole list of police reforms including prohibiting law enforcement from using chokeholds unless deadly force is authorized; increasing the penalty to a Class E felony for officers and correctional staff who engage in sexual conduct with a person in their custody; and preventing officers who have been discharged from one department for wrongdoing from simply moving to See BILL, A7 State passes first

Dancers from Best Dance and Talent Center perform in the conference room of the Annie Malone Foundation during the livestream of the 111th annual Annie Malone May Day Parade on Sunday, May 16. The agency, adjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic and rainy

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

See ANNIE MALONE, A8

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Billboard crowns Drake

‘Artist of the Decade’ Drake’s name has been synonymous with consistent radioplay and mainstream media since 2010 and Billboard recently named him Artist of the Decade. Nominated also were Swift, Bruno Mars and Adele, who respectively ranked second through fifth.

He shared his excitement to Instagram Stories after joining one of his favorite artists for dinner, Ron Isley Isley Brothers In the 15-second post, he wrote “Today was one of those days that doesn’t feel real.”

He currently holds the title for most Billboard Music Awards, 27, and will soon release his sixth studio album, Lover Boy. The Toronto native

will receive his Artist of the Decade award at this year’s Billboard Music Awards, which airs at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 23 on NBC.

Kerby Jean-Raymond first Black designer to present at Paris Haute Couture Week

In July, Kerby Jean-Raymond will make history when he presents his Pyer Moss clothing during Paris Haute Couture Week, making him the first Black American designer to have that honor. The show is held on behalf of the Chambre Syndicale, a company that bridges the relationships between fashion brands to ensure creation and international development.

Jean-Raymond, global creative director of Reebok, will soon return to the runway with his ready-to-wear collection for the brand. Vice President Kamala Harris recently wore several of his designs during Inauguration Week. It will return to New York Fashion this September after having a twoyear hiatus.

Cordae launches his own label, Hi Level

Rapper Cordae, 23, recently made a guest appearance on the financial education podcast, “Earn Your Leisure,”

revealing that he has developed his own label, Hi Level Productions. He debuted his four-track EP Just Until... under the label and has been working on its creation since late-April.

He unveiled the label’s logo to Instagram on April 26, with the description “a family, a way of life, and Record Label 100 percent owned by Cordae.”

In the interview he said, “Hi Level, that’s owned 100 percent by me. This is something I’m passionate about.” He continued, “All my friends, we all on that Hi Level shit. All my fans are all on that Hi Level shit, so this is something that’s near and dear to my heart and I own it. It’s my (stuff).”

Although Cordae is currently signed to Atlantic Records, it’s unclear if Hi Level is an official subsidiary of that label.

Naomi Campbell welcomes first baby at 50

Naomi Campbell has announced the arrival of her first child, a precious baby girl. The 50-year-old legendary supermodel revealed a photo of her holding her daughter’s feet to social media.

She tweeted: “A beautiful little blessing has chosen me to be her mother. So honoured to have this gentle soul in my life there are no words to describe the lifelong bond that I now share with you my angel. There is no greater love.”

Campbell’s mother, Valerie Morris-

A+ GRADUATION CAKES

Campbell expressed her excitement about her new grandchild on Instagram, she said: “Congratulations to my daughter Naomi on the birth of her daughter, I’m beyond thrilled as I’ve waited a longtime to be a grandmother.”

Mulatto changes her name to ‘Latto’

Mulatto is currently preparing to reveal her name Latto. The Atlanta emcee hasn’t officially made announcements regarding the change. However, recently she teased a new single which drops at the end of this week. Latto now appears as her name on some streaming platforms.

She talked about changing her name last December and earlier year, because of the derogatory connotation associated with it referring to mixed race people. In an interview with Hot Freestyle, she stated that her intention was never to offend anyone, and after realizing that was occuring she was interested in the change.

“You know, you might know your intentions, but these are strangers who don’t know you, never even met you in person,” she said in the interview. “So you gotta hear each other out, and if you know those aren’t your intentions and that’s how it’s being perceived, it’s like why not make a change or alter it? For me, it was the name. So now I’m like, ‘OK, my intentions was to never glorify being mulatto.’”

Sources: HuffPost.com, TheRoot.com, ReVolt.TV, ETCanada.com, BScott.com

City, county leaders lift mask mandate for vaccinated people

Region not out of woods yet

By Dana Rieck Of The St.

Louis

American

St. Louis County and city governments rescinded their mask and social distancing ordinances last Friday morning for fully vaccinated people, in accordance with new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC’s guidance still calls for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters, but it’s a step toward reopening workplaces, schools and other venues — and removes the need for social distancing for those who are fully vaccinated.

cination status.

“While this is a welcome and exciting update, we must now more than ever be cautious about our health and the health of people around us,” Jones said.

“Let me be clear – if you are not vaccinated, going indoors or in crowded areas without a face mask covering still puts you at risk for contracting COVID-19.”

n “Let me be clear –if you are not vaccinated, going indoors or in crowded areas without a face mask covering still puts you at risk for contracting COVID-19.”

-St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones

Vaccination rates in the region are still low, Jones said, at around 38 percent. The mayor encouraged people who still need to be vaccinated to visit the Dome at America’s Center in downtown St. Louis, where appointments are not required but are recommended.

city’s director of the Department of Health. All three echoed the sentiment that personal accountability is, and always has, been essential in protecting everyone’s health.

While rescinding mask and social distancing mandates for fully vaccinated people, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones and St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page noted that everyone will be required to follow individual businesses’ mask policies, regardless of their vac-

“If you are vaccinated and still want to wear [a mask], keep wearing it — I know I will,” Jones said. “If you’re vaccinated and don’t want to wear one, please don’t pass judgment on others who do.”

Jones and Page appeared with Dr. Fredrick Echols, the

Jones said while business owners are allowed to ask about a customer’s vaccination status, she hopes it doesn’t turn into a ‘show me your papers’ moment.

“We’ll just have to trust what people tell us,” she said.

Page noted the significance of the moment by recognizing he’s appeared before the media at least 125 times since the pan-

BOLD STEPS

Maryville stands with women.

Nationwide, women are losing jobs at a higher rate than men due to COVID-19. A new partnership between Rung for Women and Maryville University provides opportunities for women in St. Louis to prepare for high-demand, middle-skill careers.

As part of the collaboration, 120 local women have access to a Customer Service credential program that enables them to quickly gain flexible, credentialed skills needed to pursue a career in customer service, as well as additional career pathways in health care and technology.

Rung’s program focuses on providing training for job-specific skills, as well as professional soft skills so women are job-ready on day one. Additional wrap-around programs are also available to help women address barriers that can hinder a career change or promotion.

To learn more about the partnership, visit maryville.edu/Rung.

While mask and social distancing ordinances have been rescinded in the city and County, Dr. Fredrick Echols, the city’s interim director of the Department of Health and St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones reminded people to remain cautious in the ongoing battle against COVID-19 last week at City Hall. The region’s 38 percent vaccination rate remains low when compared to many other metropolitan areas.

rungforwomen.org

maryville.edu

demic began giving updates.

“Oftentimes, the news was hard to deliver,” Page said.

“On March 7 of last year, I stood with Gov. Parson and announced the first case of COVID-19 in this area, [which] was in St. Louis County. Two weeks later, I announced the first death — a nurse.”

Last Thursday, those who are 12 years and older were eligible for vaccinations.

“This really is a proud moment for the St. Louis region,” Page said.

“It’s great to see more smiles, it’s great to hear the stories of family members spending more time together because they can now do so safely because they have been vaccinated. We’ve made great progress — thanks to all of you for making that happen.”

The announcement came two days after Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt sued St. Louis County in an effort to lift public COVID-19 health regulations.

While Page and Jones announced the lifting of restric-

tions, Schmitt tweeted. “3 days after I sued St. Louis County Exec Sam Page for his #ForeverLockdown, never-ending & burdensome #COVID19 restrictions — he has reversed course & they have been lifted - as they were indefensible in court. A huge win for freedom & the people & businesses of St. Louis Co.” Schmitt failed to mention that the city and County lifted the mask mandate a day after the CDC changed its guidelines, saying it was appropriate to do so.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Must be demand to bring change

“If we are to have another contest in the near future of our national existence, I predict that the dividing line will not be Mason and Dixon’s but between patriotism and intelligence on the one side, and superstition, ambition and ignorance on the other.”

-Ulysses

S. Grant 18th president of the United States (1869-1877) who created the Justice Department and worked with other then-Radical Republicans to protect African Americans during Reconstruction *quote referred to in this week’s column by Michael Jones

We are told another police killing was “justified” by the victim’s actions, according to Andrew Womble, the district attorney of Pasquotank County in North Carolina, where an unarmed Black man, Andrew J. Brown, was shot and killed by a sheriff’s deputy. Womble called Brown’s death, “while tragic, justified.” Brown was shot and fatally wounded a day after a jury found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murder in the killing of George Floyd. The Brown family’s attorneys, including Ben Crump and Baraki Sellers, promptly issued a statement saying the D.A. was trying to “white wash” the police killing and that: “To say this shooting was justified, despite the known facts, is both an insult and a slap in the face to Andrew’s family, the Elizabeth City community, and to rational people everywhere.”

Rev. William J. Barber, widely respected, prophetic Goldsboro, North Carolina pastor and co-founder of The National Poor People’s Campaign, said that while Womble’s decision was not a surprise, it “doesn’t make it acceptable to our communities.” Moreover, he said that Womble was behaving like a defense attorney for the officers involved in the shooting. In response to a comment from Womble about why the officers didn’t allow Brown to escape and then arrest him later, Rev. Barber said that Womble regards a warrant as, “a license to kill … Far too many killings of Black men and women have been ruled justifiable only to be proven later that they were not.”

Former St. Louis Comptroller Virvus Jones draws a sharp parallel with heinous past police practices in a recent tweet: “The D.A. in the

Andrew Brown case said because the police had a legal warrant, they were justified in killing him to apprehend him. This is no different than the slave patrollers who also had legal warrants and power to use deadly force to apprehend slaves.” Jones is completely correct in drawing this apt comparison.

Although Womble has declared this case closed and ignored the governor of North Carolina’s call for a special prosecutor in Brown’s death, the FBI — undoubtedly influenced by the protests against this apparently malicious police killing — has announced it will conduct a federal civil rights investigation. This shows again how important it is to have someone in charge of the Attorney General’s office who is involved in addressing this issue in a forthright, proactive way. Again, we see that the results of the last presidential election matter and so does continued resistance to the racial injustice of state-sanctioned violence inflicted on Black people during the centuries-old history of this country.

It is encouraging that Black people and many others of good will (philosopher Immanuel Kant argues that it is a good will rather than the consequences of an action that determines the ethical worth of an action) have stood up and joined the ongoing fight to finally force a reckoning in this country about the long-endured systemic injustices and their impact that remains today. There must be continuing demand if there is to be meaningful change. We have seen how there can be change if ordinary people come together to pressure the existing state of injustice and inequity in this country,

Commentary

Is a next Civil War in our future?

By Mike Jones

After Jan. 6th it would not be hyperbolic to say the United States is facing a political crisis of potentially epic proportions.

No one can question that America in 2021 is now an unstable society, which means its future is up for grabs. That means we should be giving serious thought to what it means to be Black in America. That means we think about our future in America in the context of our history, there is some reason to hope, but little cause for optimism.

As President Ulysses S. Grant considered the possibility of another Civil War, he wrote, “If we are to have another contest in the near future of our national existence, I predict that the dividing line will not be Mason and Dixon’s, but between patriotism and intelligence on the one side, and superstition, ambition and ignorance on the other.”

Now, I don’t know if America (meaning white America) is on the brink of a civil war, but white Americans are once again faced with an existential question about their identitywho are they and who are they to each other (they have never seriously considered the question about who we are or who we are to them).

The first time they were faced with the question was during the American War of Independence and the founding of the Republic, and the second time was the Civil War. To use Grant’s description, it is obvious today that the forces of superstition, ambition and ignorance are massing, and we are still waiting for the intelligent patriots to take the field. But let us be clear. Black people, People of Color (POC) and other marginalized communities, are not having a crisis. Yet we are once again potential victims of the crisis white people in America are having. What do I mean?

When white Americans resolved their first identity crisis, they didn’t include us in the constitutional solution as part

of “We the People.” After the Civil War there was passage of the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments and Reconstruction - but all that was underdone by the white Compromise of 1877 that ushered in the era of American apartheid, aka Jim Crow. No one can predict the future, but in order to prepare for the future one must spend some time thinking about it.

I’m not talking about dreaming or fantasizing about some romanticized version that has no chance of happening. I am referring to serious, empirically based speculation about future possibilities and how current events will define, impact or influence unknown future circumstances. You can put those thinking about the future into three buckets - optimists, pessimists and realists.

Usually, pessimists believe the fix is in because of some cabal somewhere pulling strings behind the curtain- think a real Wizard of Oz. Trump’s Neolithic base and their QAnon conspiracy theories are an example. Another is someone we all know, the ‘Conspiracy Brotha.’ They both believe the same thing, but each thinks the Wizard is doing something different. They are both wrong, and here is why.

The world is a complex place, and you can’t centrally manage complex systems. And even if it were possible to centrally manage complex systems, it could not happen in the United States, given the pedestrian intellect and marginal competence of the American leadership class.

Optimists are people who always see the upside because they fundamentally believe the universe is fair and just. But the optimists have a differ-

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

New hope for the wrongly convicted in Missouri

By Wesley Bell

Today, we are a little less broken.

On May 13, the Missouri legislature passed Senate Bill 53, a bipartisan law with a provision to allow prosecutors to obtain a hearing in front of a judge when they discover that they have convicted an innocent person.

This sounds like the biggest no-brainer in the criminal justice process. Innocent people should not sit in prison. Period. And yet, until now, a prosecutor had no way to present evidence of innocence to a court.

If a witness admitted that their testimony was false, there was nothing the prosecutor could do. If DNA evidence exonerated a defendant, there was nothing the prosecutor could do. If a confession was coerced, if evidence was hidden from the defense, if the conviction was based on now-discredited science: nothing, nothing, nothing.

This made Missouri an embarrassing outlier. Such statutes have been passed around the country or have been permitted under existing legal authority in deep red Texas and Utah, in deep blue Maryland, and in purple Michigan and Virginia.

That this statute was passed is a testament to legislators on both sides of the aisle who voted for it and the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, which supported it. It is also a testament to the defense attorneys and nonprofit organizations who have fought for years to bring innocence claims into the courtroom and into the public eye.

The statute is not perfect. I believe that true fairness

ent but fallacious predicate. It is their belief in the inherent goodness of mankind.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., said the moral arch of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice, but that is only true if someone bends it that way. Despite extraordinary technological advances since humans discovered fire, there is nothing preordained about human progress.

In fact, you could question the notion of human progress, because despite the extraordinary technological advances and the historic episodic outbursts of empathy and acts of kindness, Homo Sapiens remain the most pathologically violent, cruel and murderous species in the history of the planet.

Whatever progress we have made (in terms of our humanity) as a species has been despite who we are, not because of who we are.

But it is possible to remain hopeful about the future. My hopefulness stems from the random nature of the universe. I am a realist about the future. I believe at any point in time there are multiple future possibilities, and the future that emerges is always the result of decisions made or not made in the present. And whether you are an individual or a people, you get to decide every day what that future will be. That requires serious contemplation and reflection in this moment, so you won’t be reactionary in the next.

Rather than obsess about what white America will do or not do, something we have no control over, let us focus on what we should do. And it makes no difference, if for once they rise to the occasion and do the right thing, or again regress to the mean. We get to decide what happens next. As long as we understand the existential question Shakespeare had Hamlet pose when he mused, ‘to be or not to be, that is the question?” We are not always in charge of the options we get, but we’re always in charge of which options we choose.

demands a more reasonable standard of proof and less involvement from the Attorney General’s Office, which has said under the current officeholder that it will oppose any claim of innocence, even ones that are meritorious. But it is an important step.

When I created St. Louis County’s pioneering Conviction and Incident Review Unit in late 2019, we did not know how we were going to do this work without an innocence law. But it was work that we believed in— and that justice demanded.

So we got creative: we filed as a “friend of the court” in hearings where we didn’t have an established right to participate. We wrote to parole boards. We helped facilitate DNA tests.

We helped defendants shake loose evidence from dusty police basements and distant warehouses.

We had some long-overdue successes. I was proud to bring some much-needed transparency to the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office by acknowledging, years after the fact, that this office had engaged in egregious prosecutorial misconduct in the case of Larry Callanan.

The prosecutor in Mr. Callanan’s case had urged a witness to hide evidence from the grand jury. He then stood silent while

Letters to the editor

Gov. Parson needs to change his mind

Last week, Missouri Governor Mike Parson withdrew Missouri’s plan to expand Medicaid to those making up to 138 percent of the poverty level (ex. a family of 4 making a little over $36,000), despite voters approving that expansion and placing it into the state constitution. I work with many individuals and families that will qualify for Medicaid on July 1. The vast majority of them are working, in many cases multiple jobs, and are barely making ends meet. They do not receive health care benefits from work, and they are just one medical bill away from disaster.

If the Governor chooses to deny health care to these folks as the state Constitution requires, if he chooses to violate the oath he swore to uphold Missouri’s Constitution, if he chooses to reject the massive federal funding available for Missouri that Missouri taxpayers are already paying for, we will sue the state and ask a judge to order him to do his job. We hope he will change his mind.

Elad Gross Attorney at Law

that same witness, again under oath, presented false testimony at trial. Encouraging false witness testimony—otherwise known as suborning perjury—is one of the gravest sins a lawyer can commit. Helping right that wrong was one of my proudest moments in this office. We also had failures. The lack of a statute like the one that passed on May 13, combined with a recent Missouri Supreme Court ruling, meant that there were times when we saw an injustice but had no way of bringing it before a court of law. We had to tell the mothers of men imprisoned for decades that there was nothing we could do for them. This law would help fix this problem. I thank the Missouri General Assembly and the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys for being willing to work collaboratively for meaningful change. We cannot stop there. Missouri needs criminal law reform. We need a more robust victim support statute that provides meaningful protection for victims and witnesses. We need further oversight over police officers who are dismissed for misconduct, and more direct means to revoke their licenses. We need to limit pretrial detention to violent and repeat offenders. But today, let us savor the progress we have made, and let us give thanks that Missouri is a little fairer than we were yesterday.

Wesley Bell is St. Louis County prosecuting attorney.

for length and style.

We can cut child poverty in half - permanently

The Biden Administration just proposed extending support for workers and families enacted earlier this year, by making permanent both an increase to the Earned Income Tax Credit for younger workers and others not raising children and an expansion of the full Child Tax Credit to all low-income families. He also proposes extending the increased CTC amount ($3,000+ per child) until 2025. These steps are important, but Congress must make all the CTC changes permanent, including the credit increase. Columbia University estimates this new CTC will cut child poverty by 45 percent! We can pay for this by asking the wealthy and corporations to finally pay their fair share.

If you could cut child poverty in half, why would you not do it? I urge our U.S. Rep. Cori Bush to make the new CTC and EITC provisions at 2021 levels permanent in recovery legislation. We will not stop advocating until all America has a chance for success.

Ben Leigh

Guest Columnist Wesley Bell

Columnist Mike Jones

The

Cross joins Jones’ administration as director of operations

Two other appointees announced

American staff

Nancy Cross, who retired last year as Service Employees International Union Local 1 vice president and chief negotiator after more than 20 years of service, has been appointed as Mayor Tishaura Jones’ director of operations.

Cross, who was previously named to Jones’ transition team and 25-member Stimulus Advisory Board, is also active in the region’s philanthropic community.

She had served on the United Way’s board of directors since 2008 and was a member of its executive committee for a decade. She also was on finance, goal setting and nominating committees and provided mentorship for incoming new board members.

Cross also is a former vice president of St.

Louis Labor Council, Labor co-chair of Missouri Jobs with Justice, the SEIU National Racial Justice Committee.

In addition to Cross’ appointment, Jones has also announced that former 60th District state Rep. Amber Sims will serve as city register, and Alisha Sonnier will fill an open seat on the St. Louis Public Schools board.

Sonnier finished fourth in a quest for one of three open seats in the April school board race. Adam Layne’s seat on the board came open when he was named city treasurer following Jones’ election.

“I am thrilled to appoint such dynamic, hardworking women into city government,” Jones wrote in a statement.

“We all have a common goal: to make the city of St. Louis a better place to live, work and educate our children.”

Rocky road to economic recovery bumpier for Blacks

By Julianne Malveaux

While the economy generated 916,000 jobs in March, it only generated 266,000 in April, essentially slowing the previous month’s momentum.

Last month, President Joe Biden’s team was crowing about economic progress, and Republicans were suggesting that so much progress was made that we don’t need the stimulus embodied in the American Families Plan or the American Jobs plan, Biden proposals that will inject $4 trillion into the economy.

Republicans say that unemployed people won’t go back to work because they get too much money from unemployment benefits and that there is a “labor shortage.”

In June, Missouri will become the latest state under Republican control to end federal unemployment benefits. Gov. Parson’s decision will send thousands of Missourians back into poverty.

The Black unemployment rate is 9.7 percent. If there were a labor shortage it would not be that high. Almost 10 million people are officially unemployed, and many don’t get unemployment benefits, but if employers think there is a labor shortage, they ought to pay higher wages.

Too many are still paying the minimum $7.25 an hour wage, and some maneuver to pay even less. They use tactics that require workers to come to work, do some work, then punch in, work a full day, punch out, and then go back to their work station to “clean up.” The big box stores are worst at this, but they aren’t the only ones.

We have a rocky road to economic recovery. While more than half of all adults have been vaccinated against the coronavirus, many women remain homebound because more than half of all schools are not yet open. Vaccinations will likely be available for children and teens in the next few months, but until then, there are teachers who hesitate to return to the classroom. When teachers aren’t teaching, some moms aren’t working. So many women have left the labor market that participation rates are as low as they were in the 1980s. Affordable child care, which is included in Biden’s American Families Plan, would make it easier for more women to return to work. Without child care, it’s a rocky road to recovery.

Senate Republicans are treating Biden nearly as badly as they treated President Obama. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell committed to making President Barack Obama a one term president. He failed, but he behaved like the Last Obstructionist, blocking legislation, court appointments and more. Last week, he said that “100 percent of our focus is stopping this new administration.” His focus is not on economic recovery, infrastructure or health care. It’s on stopping the Biden administration. McConnell and his cronies claim that the Biden infusion of cash in the economy is inflationary, and prices are, indeed, 2.6 percent higher than they were a year ago. Many of these price hikes are the result of the pandemic, with supply chain problems part of the reason for higher prices. These issues will resolve themselves as we return to “normal” and supply chains are strengthened. Senate Republicans are using inflation as a fig leaf; both Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell are more concerned with getting people back to work.

If the road to economic recovery is rocky for most, it is even worse for African Americans who earn just two-thirds of what whites earn and have nearly twice the unemployment as whites (5.3 percent for whites, 9.7 percent for African Americans). While the Biden Administration has spoken of equity issues, there must be a race-specific plan to close these gaps.

The March job creation data was exciting, but it was also impermanent. The April data confirms that two steps forward, one step back will be the path we are on until there is meaningful structural change. That won’t happen when Republicans are 100 percent focused on opposing Biden.

Some people made money from the pandemic. Some are no worse off than they were a year ago. But many, especially those at the bottom, continue to suffer. Republican indifference to this hardship illustrates the utter callousness that McConnell and his cronies have for most of their fellow citizens.

Julianne Malveaux is a DC-based economist and author.

NAACP St. Louis County held a large food pantry event in collaboration with Miss Missouri, Shalom Church, Normandy Schools Collaborative, St. Vincent Home for Children and Operation Food Search on May 15. St. Louis County NAACP President John Bowman also presented County Executive Dr. Sam Page with its Humanitarian Award.

Food for thought

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American Juliane Malveaux

Medicaid

Continued from A1

Commission medical director.

Miller spoke about her many patients who have suffered because of the inability to afford basic, preventative care.

“By wasting time and wasting truth, we have wasted lives,” she said.

“So together I stand with you to hold the will of the voters — to honor and respect the integrity of hard working Missourians to access health care.”

Natashia Pickens, said Parson “flat out lied” to Missourians. She is president of Communications Workers of America 6355.

“He got on camera and said he would uphold the vote of the people,” Pickens said. “And as recently as yesterday he made it clear he has no plans on carrying out what the voters of Missouri said we wanted them to do.”

Pickens said Parson doesn’t have a voicemail for the public to leave him messages but encouraged people to call 1-877-311-6932 and leave a message to let him know he made a big mistake by pulling the state out of Medicaid expansion.

“This is not a contest, you can call more than once,” Pickens said to a laughing crowd.

Parson formally withdrew the state from its plan to expand Medicaid coverage on May 13, six days after the General Assembly presented him with the 2022 budget that did not include the $1.9 billion for Medicaid expansion — something he reluctantly requested be included to respect the will of the voters.

Missouri residents passed Medicaid expansion with 53.25 percent of the vote on Aug. 4. By lowering requirement thresholds for Medicaid beginning July 1, an additional 275,000 Missourians who struggle to make ends meet will have access to health coverage.

The expansion would cover working-age adults who earn

Henlay Foster, 84, graduates Wash U.

– 67 years after he was a freshman

By Sophie Hurwitz Of the St. Louis American

When Henlay Foster first enrolled at Washington University in 1954, he was one of the first Black students to seek a degree on that campus. Now, 67 years later, he has finally earned that degree after taking virtual classes at his Maryland home.

“This degree is not going to help me get another job. It’s not going to help me at all, actually,” Foster said from his home in Rockville, Md., near Washington D.C.

“I just want to finish what I started.”

He will be graduating Friday, May 21, with a degree in music.

Foster grew up in Webster Groves, where he attended Douglass High School, which at the time was a segregated school for Black students.

He chose Washington University in order to study classical piano with famed musician and conductor William Schatzkamer. When he was nine credits away from graduation, Foster chose a different path: enlisting in the U.S. Army. Foster requested an assignment in Germany, home to glorious concert halls and opera houses.

up to 138 percent of the federal poverty guideline, or $17,774 a year for a single person. That is equal to working about 33 hours a week at the state minimum wage of $10.30 per hour. For a household of four,

“I just want to finish what I started.”

“For someone who loved classical music, this was the place to be,” said Foster, who wrote a music column for a paper in Salzburg, Austria, while serving in the Army.

Then, back home in St. Louis, he met and married jazz singer Clea Bradford, and became involved in racial equity and anti-poverty work.

He was offered a job at the St. Louis Human Development Corp., which led to a position with the St. Louis’ Head Start program. After a series of promotions

the limit is $36,570, the income of one person working full time at $17.58 an hour or two people working a combined 68 hours a week at minimum wage.

Activists are likely to bring this issue to court in the coming weeks.

and a move to Washington, Foster was asked to serve as the national director of Head Start, overseeing a budget of nearly $1 billion and some 1,500 community-based organizations.

After retiring in 1994, Foster enjoyed playing piano, thoroughbred racing and traveling. He did not fret about his unfinished degree.

“And then one day, I said to myself, ‘Why not finish what you started?’” Foster said.

Initially, he thought about attending one of the schools

Bridges

Continued from A1

“The reason I do the work that I do and believe in my work so strongly is that there is really visually stunning, dramatic, beautiful artwork

in the D.C. area for his

remaining nine credits. But then, as COVID-19 arrived, Washington University moved its classes online, giving Foster the surprise opportunity to finish his degree where he’d started it.

He enrolled in two nonfiction writing classes with Professor Deanna Benjamin, where his unusual schooling experience made him a valuable contributor to the courses.

“After 84 years, he sees things differently,” Benjamin said. “It was really valuable

made by African hands,” Bridges said. Bridges recently transformed how visitors experience the museum’s rich collection of Oceanic art through a significant renovation of a suite of galleries that will reopen this week.

Henlay Foster was within nine credit hours of graduating from Washington University when he decided to join the Army. The Webster Groves native would return and work for St. Louis’ Head Start, then served in Washington as Head Start’s national director. After 67 years, the 84-year-old Foster will graduate with a music degree on May 21.

for the students to hear his perspective. And as an instructor, it was a pleasure to listen to his story.”

Foster said he will log on to the university’s website and watch the virtual graduation ceremony. He has no other plans to mark this special occasion, almost seven decades in the making.

“I don’t even celebrate my birthday,” Foster said.

“Though maybe I’ll get a good Italian dinner. Other than that, I’ll just be satisfied in my own mind.”

“Nichole has made prolific contributions to the museum,” said Brent R. Benjamin, the Barbara B. Taylor Director of the Saint Louis Art Museum.

“With this year’s Oceanic installation, she offers our visitors new ways of seeing and thinking about these important aspects of the Art Museum’s comprehensive collection.”

Bridges has curated several museum exhibitions including “Currents 109: Nick Cave” (2014) and “Adorning Self and Space: West African Textiles” (2015). She served as in-house curator for the main exhibitions “Atua: Sacred Gods from Polynesia” (2014) and “Senufo: Art and Identity in West Africa” (2015).

Bridges, an art historian of African art, also guest curated the reinstallation of the Cincinnati Art Museum’s collection galleries for African art, which reopened in 2016. When “Senufo: Art and Identity in West Africa” opened at the Saint Louis Art Museum, it was the first African art exhibition there in more than 15 years.

“I love museums and I love engaging with all types of audiences through African Art,” Bridges told The American in 2015. “And I love finding ways to introduce and make a bridge between Africa and our visitors.” She curated her latest effort in collaboration with subject expert Philippe Peltier. It opens at the same time as a special installation of Australian Aboriginal art, co-curated by Bridges and Alexander Brier Marr, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Assistant Curator for Native American Art. Bridges is a former associate curator at the Newark Museum and head of the Department of the Arts of Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific Islands at the Baltimore Museum of Art. She holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts (art history) and French from Amherst College in Amherst, Mass., and a master’s degree and doctorate in art history from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Visit The St. Louis American at stlamerican. com for daily news, sports and entertainment updates

Photo courtesy of Washington University

another department by granting immunity to departments to release that information.

In addition, it creates a statewide database to keep track of officers who have been investigated or reprimanded for using too much force, which will be run and maintained by the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission.

“I think this is something that’s going to really move our state forward and this is the first time we’ve had any progressive reform since the death of Michael Brown,” Williams said. “Today, we can actually say Black lives matter.”

Sgt. Donnell Walters, president of the Ethical Society of Police (ESOP), said the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has been proactive with some of these issues — including the fact that the organization has not supported the use of any kind of chokehold for about 15 years.

“I know ESOP is 100 percent in favor of this database being kept and we hope that the POST Commission has enough staff to maintain it so there is not a backlog before the entries are put in,” Walters said.

to give an opportunity to take care of that, but also continue to work towards building trust between police and community.” Walters echoed that sentiment, saying that arresting someone over a traffic warrant can exacerbate their situation and he’s glad officers now have some choice in certain situations.

The bill also includes a provision that would allow a prosecutor’s ability to file a motion to vacate sentences based on innocence — which could potentially change the case of Lamar Johnson.

In 2019, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner filed a motion for a new trial for Johnson, who has spent 26 years in jail. Gardner alleged former prosecutors and police fabricated evidence to get Johnson’s murder conviction in 1995. However, a circuit judge ruled Gardner didn’t have the power to file for a new trial, decades after Johnson was convicted, and dismissed the motion.

n “I think this is something that’s going to really move our state forward and this is the first time we’ve had any progressive reform since the death of Michael Brown. Today, we can actually say Black lives matter.”

– Sen. Brian Williams

Two other reforms the bills will implement is an expedited expungement process for both nonviolent felony offenses (from seven years to three years) and misdemeanor offenses (from three years to one) and modifies the state law regarding the execution of warrants — giving officers discretion on arresting someone with a warrant for a misdemeanor traffic offense, depending on the circumstances of the case.

“So now we’ve just given police officers discretion, without being worried of being reprimanded, for giving someone a second chance, you know, that’s a parent driving with their little child in the back seat or someone trying to get to work and clearly do the right thing but just wasn’t able to pay a fine or was just poor,” Williams said. “We don’t want those people being put in jail and creating a more of an uphill situation. We want

“It’s something that’s going to help local prosecutors like Kim Gardner and Wesley Bell,” Williams said. “… Basically, what that does is it allows the court to grant a motion from a prosecutor or circuit attorney to vacate or set aside a judgment when the court finds clear and convincing evidence of the defendant’s innocence or situations of prosecutorial error. So, with Lamar Johnson, we just heightened his chances of being released from prison.”

One other reform the bills implement is ensuring female inmates have access to feminine hygiene products.

“ESOP is happy that progression is being made to hold those accountable for their actions. That’s the biggest thing —ESOP has always been about fairness and accountability,” Walters said.

“There are a lot of positive, hardworking officers who work not only within our agency, but for agencies throughout the country, who do the job right. And they shouldn’t be punished or condemned because of those officers who do the job wrong.”

Williams represents District 14 and was elected to the Senate in 2018 when he ran unopposed; his current term

Executive action

ends Jan. 4, 2023. He was the only Black man serving as senator in the last session and became the first Black man in two decades to hold a leadership role in the state Senate as assistant minority floor leader.

District 14 includes University City up through Ferguson and west through Hazelwood.

“When I was elected to the Senate, I was the first Black man to go there in 20 years,” Williams said. “And

I understood immediately that George Floyd could have easily been me. And that’s never lost upon me — Brianna Taylor, Michael Brown — they all should be alive today and I truly believe

by just making that case to my Republican colleagues, clearly and very diligently and persistently through the process, we were very fortunate to get this across the finish line.”

Former St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley helps load food items into a vehicle during a food drive sponsored by the St. Louis County NAACP and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., at Shalom Church City Of Peace in North County on Saturday May 15. Lines at food drives remain lengthy throughout the region and will likely remain so after unemployment benefits in Missouri are slashed on June 15.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Annie Malone

Continued from A1 cropped hoodies, silver and orange low-top canvas sneakers. Their other outfit, complete with graffiti Timberland boots, displayed long sleeve red and black plaid shirts and blue jean Bermuda shorts.

Turnbo said during a video interview the city has been captivated and in awe of the groundbreaking work of Annie Malone since 1888, and still shares deep admiration for her. Those same feelings spawn over to her beloved family members.

U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, who served as grand marshal, and St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones joined in the celebration.

Bush remembers her church being near Natural Bridge, where the parade was held when she was a youth, and she would see participants preparing their floats.

“As soon as church let out my dad would take us to the parade and we’d go up every side street to find where to park and we’d always end up near my dad’s alma mater, Beaumont,” Bush said.

Jones, who was 2019 grand marshal, recalled finding a picture of her 3-year-old self at the event and being enamored by it as a teen.

“I found a pic of me at the parade, it was when Famous-Barr used to take pics and send them later to you; I was a little chunky thing wearing plaid pants,” Jones said. “As a teen I would go and be in awe of one of the Blackest moments in St. Louis.”

“You can’t say you offer crisis services and then shut down during the pandemic,” Sara Lahman, CEO of Annie Malone center said.

“It was very, very tough. A lot of sleepless nights, but we got through it and I’m just so proud because we pulled together as a team.”

The organization introduced a new giving club called Safe & Secure during the parade; it gives people the opportunity to be part of the organization every month by giving.

Formerly the St. Louis Colored Orphans Home, The Annie Malone Children & Family Service Center has existed since 1888.

Malone, an entrepreneur and cosmetics pioneer who established Poro College, housed her business office, a manufacturing facility and a training center there. In addition, she was president of the board of directors of the St. Louis Colored Orphans’ Home from 1919 to 1943. In honoring her legacy, the home was renamed Annie Malone Children’s Home in 1946.

Today, the organization operates as a multi-service center in the community that meets the social and educational needs of inner-city youth and families throughout the St. Louis region.

Photos by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Terry Allen, from the Allen Group, documents the Annie Malone Day parade in a virtual broadcast Sunday, May 16.

Dancers from Best Dance and Talent Center

The Saint Boogie Brass Band provided music for the party inside.

A New Season to Re-Explore St. Louis, Responsibly Be a Tourist in Your Own Town

By Jennifer Poindexter, Explore St. Louis

It’s a new season in St. Louis. And it’s not just the spring weather that is refreshing. After a most challenging year, vaccinations are on the rise, businesses are opening back up, and the City of St. Louis just made history by electing Tishaura Jones as its first-ever Black woman mayor. It’s hard not to notice a hopeful feeling in the air. These changes are peaking at a critical time to support our region’s small businesses which are the backbone of our local economy. They provide jobs for our families, friends, and neighbors and it’s up to us to re-explore the city we love. Right now, our community businesses and attractions need our support, and to do so, we need to continue getting vaccinated.

In addition to leading the way in responsibly hosting sports and trade show events, America’s Center is currently serving as a vaccination site for an eight-week effort coordinated by FEMA and state and local government ending on June 1. They are open every day from 8 AM until 6 PM and parking is free, including shuttles from designated parking to the dome and back. At the time this was written, 36% of Missouri residents have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine. With vaccination events and the right measures in place, we can get people moving again in a safe and healthy way, which will put St. Louis back to work bringing our vibrant communities, restoring the St. Louis economy, rebuilding our workforce, and reconnecting our region.

We know that adventuring back out into the economy to support our family and friends will feel unusual, but an easy transition will be dining at Prime 55. This atmosphere has a homey vibe

that stems from childhood friends and owners, Orlando Watson and Tony Davis. They made a promise to their staff to stay open during these hard times so they could still generate income for themselves and their families. Let’s show Orlando and Tony that St. Louis is in this restoring season together.

Most importantly, we need to find ways to check in with ourselves and find ways to relax and acknowledge that the past year has been tough. One option we recommend is getting a massage at Powertouch Massage. Their massage services help decrease stress and pain management by encouraging alternatives for pain management and eliminate stress on the body. In addition, Powertouch Massage provides on-site chair massage for various private and corporate events by a licensed and insured therapist bringing a personal, knowledgeable, and relaxing breath of fresh air.

After you get a vaccine shot at America’s Center, prepare yourself for entering St. Louis’ new chapter by treating yourself to a trip to The Griot Museum. Their mission statement is “to create a community of lifelong learners who explore, experience, and embrace the rich and enduring African-American heritage of the St. Louis region.” What better way to re-explore St. Louis than to learn more about art, artifacts, and memorabilia to help interpret the stories of Black people who have contributed to our country’s development.

The positivity, uniqueness, and creativity of our Black-owned businesses have brought international acclaim to our community and they are counting on us in this new season to get vaccinated and re-explore the Gateway City.

St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Orlando Watson of Prime 55.

Saturday, May 8 Marked Harris-Stowe’s first in-person commencement ceremony since Covid

More than 100 graduates walked across the stage at Harris-Stowe State University’s Spring 2021 commencement on Saturday, May 8. Held in the University’s Emerson Performance Center, the ceremony was the University’s first in-person graduation since the fall of 2019, due to the COVID-19 global health pandemic.

Graduates were presented with Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Harris-Stowe’s Anheuser Busch School of Business, College of Arts & Sciences, and College of Education.

Dr. LaTonia Collins Smith, Provost & Vice President of Academic Affair at Harris-Stowe, served as Grand Marshal of the ceremony. Dr. Corey S. Bradford Sr., President of Harris-Stowe, acknowledged and celebrated the hard work of all the graduates. Vanessa F. Cooksey, the Vice Chair of the Harris-Stowe Board of Regents and Senior Class Treasurer Caitlyn Chandler also provided inspiring remarks.

Darrin Dewitt Henson, a two-time NAACP Image Award-nominated actor, author, and choreographer known

for playing Grant in the 2007 hit movie “Stomp the Yard,” keynoted the ceremony and encouraged the graduates to seek their passion and purpose no matter the hardships.

Antwonisha Murray, a Criminal Justice graduate and Valedictorian, shared her moving story of going from the projects of East St. Louis to finding her calling at HarrisStowe.

The Spring Class of 2021 hailed from at least six states and two countries. Three of the students graduated in only three years. Harris-Stowe also recognized Maurice Bell of the Class of 1949 with a Distinguished Alumni Award, as well as the 50-year anniversary of the Class of 1971.

Harris-Stowe’s newest alumni will be taking their skills to companies like Amazon.com, Inc., The Kellogg Company, and Wells Fargo & Company. Others will be continuing their education at graduate schools such as Saint Louis University and Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville.

Harris-Stowe State University extends to each of our new graduates our very best wishes for a wonderful and prosperous future. Congratulations, Hornets!

Antwonisha Murray, Spring Class of 2021 Valedictorian and Criminal Justice graduate

Antwonisha Murray, Spring Class of 2021 Valedictorian and Criminal Justice graduate

Dr. Corey S. Bradford Sr., the 20th President of Harris-Stowe State University

Keynote speaker Darrin Dewitt Henson, two-time NAACP Image Award-nominated actor, author, and choreographer.

Mary Beth Ottinger, Transfer Services Specialist at Harris-Stowe

Left-right: Detective John W. Leggette; Vanessa F. Cooksey, Vice Chair of the Harris-Stowe Board of Regents, and Dr. Corey S. Bradford Sr., President of Harris-Stowe.

Vanessa F. Cooksey, Vice Chair of the Harris-Stowe Board of Regents

jpeg Ji’Mara Jones, Criminal Justice graduate and Miss Senior at Harris-Stowe, completed her Bachelor’s in three years.

Saywon Vowal, Biology graduate and member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Elle Berger, a Biology graduate, is starting her Master’s at Washington University in the fall.

Kambri Cymara Davison, Biology graduate and member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc

Dr. LaTonia Collins Smith, Provost & Vice President of Academic Affair at Harris-Stowe, Keynote speaker Darrin Dewitt Henson, Vanessa F. Cooksey, Vice Chair of the Harris-Stowe Board of Regents, and Dr. Corey S. Bradford Sr., President of Harris-Stowe.

Tyrone Turner, MS, Professor of Management Information Systems

Shirley A. Brown, President of the HarrisStowe Alumni Association

Mr. Fredrick Bond represented the Class of 1971, who are celebrating their 50 year graduation anniversary.

Dr. LaTonia Collins Smith, Provost & Vice President of Academic Affair at Harris-Stowe

Senior Class Treasurer Caitlyn Chandler

Maurice Bell receiving the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award. Mr. Bell graduated from Stowe Teacher College in 1949 with a bachelor’s degree in education. He is pictured with President Bradford and Regent Vanessa Cooksey.

“Taking Care of You”

People of color lag in

COVID-19 innoculation

Communication best shot at getting more Blacks vaccinated

By Sylvester Brown Jr.

Of the St. Louis American

“I want to make something very, very clear: We’re not pushing people to get vaccinated,” said Serena Muhammad, COVID-19 Regional Response Team managing director. At first, her statement seems at odds with her mission as part of a consortium of local agencies working with Washington University health officials to encourage vac-

cinations among Black people. The university was awarded $1.9 million in federal grants to monitor and respond to common myths about vaccines and inform Black residents about clinical trials.

So, if Muhammad is not pushing people to get vaccinated, doesn’t that mean she’s veering from the university’s desired outcome?

Funding for expansion failed to pass in both legislative bodies

By Dana Rieck Of The St. Louis American

In what will now most certainly play out in court, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson formally withdrew the state from its plan to expand Medicaid coverage on May 13. The move came six days after the General Assembly presented him with the 2022 budget that did not include the $1.9 billion for Medicaid expansion — something he reluctantly requested be included to respect the will of the voters. “Although I was never in support of MO HealthNet expansion, I always said that I would uphold the ballot

amendment if it passed. The majority of Missouri voters supported it, and we included funds for the expansion in our budget proposal,” Parson said in a news release. “However, without a revenue source or funding authority from the General Assembly, we are unable to proceed with the expansion at this time and must withdraw our state plan amendments to ensure Missouri’s existing MO HealthNet program remains solvent.” Missouri residents passed Medicaid expansion with 53.25 percent of the vote on Aug. 4. By lowering requirement thresholds for Medicaid beginning

Not at all, Muhammad responded. The proper way of communicating, informing and interacting with minority and marginalized individuals will not only increase minority vaccination participation but will also address healthcare disparities post COVID-19.

“COVID has given us the opportunity to fix things that have been broken for a very long time,” Muhammad said.

By Denise Hooks-Anderson, MD

As a physician, we are required to stay current on medical information by attending conferences, reading journals and obtaining continued medical education hours, CME’s. Diabetes, hypertension, and cancer are many of the topics where there seems to be a plethora of information.

However, I sometimes feel that the knowledge I obtain in these areas seems to lag behind the large amounts of material that surface on the internet, in beauty shops and in living rooms regarding health and exercise tips. My patients amaze me with their lists of new gadgets, diets and cleanses. Furthermore, I wish I could take all of the money that they spend on these things and place them in my oldest daughter’s college fund. With that amount of money, she could attend debt free! Therefore, I thought we need to get back to the basics. Just learn the ABC’s of health!

n To maintain a healthy weight, you have to move. People make exercise so complicated when it does not have to be that convoluted.

1. Always exercise. Simple as that. To maintain a healthy weight, you have to move. People make exercise so complicated when it does not have to be that convoluted. Put on music and dance for 30 minutes. Try walking around your house or walking up and down your basement steps. And whatever happened to the good-old-fashioned jump rope? There are many inexpensive ways to obtain the recommended 150 minutes of cardiovascular exercise per week.

2. Be consistent. Starting and stopping your health regimen is not what you want to do. Make incremental changes in your routine so that you are more likely to stick with it. If you were someone who skips meals, then start there. First add breakfast and then slowly add the other missing meals. After you have succeeded with this step, then you can begin with the specifics of the types of foods you are consuming.

See ANDERSON, A13

of the St. Louis Chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, expressed his support to the expansion of Medicaid at a May14 rally at the Missouri Department of Social Services in downtown St. Louis.

The COVID-19 Regional Response Team led by Serena Muhammad (center) are Katie Kaufman, RRT collaborative action network director, Tammy Laws, campaign manager support for the unhoused, Grace Kyung, RRT campaign director and Erica Henderson, RRT campaign manager for eviction prevention.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Lew Moye, president emeritus

Denise HooksAnderson, MD

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

“Taking Care of You”

Dealing with plight of pre-existing conditions during the pandemic

By Chad Davis St. Louis Public Radio

Carla Harris sent her 15-year-old daughter to stay with a family member in St. Louis County several weeks ago. Harris is a certified nurse assistant and patient care technician who works in a St. Louis-area hospital. Her husband works in a nursing facility.

Like many African Americans with pre-existing health conditions, they worry that they’re vulnerable to the coronavirus, which has disproportionately hit Black communities in the region. She lives with diabetes and takes medication for heart palpitations, and he has bronchitis. Harris said they know quite a few people who have lost a loved one to COVID-19.

“I had a friend, you know, she just lost her daughter, she tested positive,” Harris said. “Then she tested again negative, and they said she was clear, and then she had an asthma attack one day and come to find out she was positive for the COVID, still.”

Vaccinations

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“Our desired outcome is that we improve our public health infrastructure so that when the next public health crisis pops up, we’re better prepared to respond. We can’t go back to ‘normal’ or the way things were before the pandemic.”

According to a recent St. Louis Post-Dispatch article, some west St. Louis County ZIP code areas, which are predominantly white, have vaccination rates more than double those in Black-majority areas of north St. Louis and St. Louis County.

The disparaging numbers may be a result of centuries of racist health policies and clinical experiments targeted at vulnerable communities of color. A recent report from UnidosUS, NAACP

Medicaid

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July 1, an additional 275,000 Missourians who struggle to make ends meet will have access to health coverage.

Robin Rudowitz, Kaiser Family Foundation vice president and co-director for the Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured, confirmed that Missouri is the only state to withdraw plans to expand Medicaid once they had been implemented.

There are 12 states who have not moved to expand Medicaid: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

“Among the 12 that haven’t expanded there’s certainly been large party line divisions in terms of favoring versus not favoring expansion,” Rudowitz said.

The coronavirus has disproportionately affected African Americans in the St. Louis area and around the country due to health and economic disparities and inequity.

Harris and her husband live in north St. Louis. They’re worried because they know that African Americans make up more than 60 percent of all confirmed coronavirus cases in the city and about 70 percent of coronavirus deaths. They go to work every day fearful they could catch the virus.

“No one wants to quit their job, you know, these patients do have to be taken care of, regardless of what’s going on, somebody’s got to take care of them,” Harris said. “But at the same time, it’s like you’re playing Russian roulette with your own life.”

Inequality and discrimination have made Black people sick, said Rob Gatter, a St. Louis University School of Law professor who teaches at the school’s center for health law.

“It’s poverty, it’s underlying poor health,” Gatter said. “It’s living in a ZIP code that’s a bit

and COVID Collaborative revealed that just 14 percent of Black Americans and 34 percent of Latino Americans say they have trust in the safety of a new COVID-19 vaccine.

The lack of trust cannot be underestimated, Muhammad emphasized.

“Mistrust is based on real life experiences. People talk a lot about the Tuskegee experiment, but the average person can tell you something that happened to them personally in dealing with health care. They say ‘we’ve been suffering for years and there’s been no public outcry. So, why all this urgency all of a sudden?’” she said.

“For many Black people it feels transactional, as if people only want them to get their stuff together so (the country) can get back to business as usual. People won’t respond to that approach.”

to develop Type 2 diabetes. Black people are three times as likely to die from asthma-related causes as white people, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Gwenetta Dickerson lost her job in April. She was diagnosed with sickle cell disease five years ago. The disease disproportionately affects African Americans.

“They still want their rent on the first and after the fifth it’s late, so they don’t really care that COVID is happening,” Dickerson said.

Dickerson was diagnosed with the sickle cell trait at birth but learned she had the sickle cell disease five years ago. The disease, which affects many African Americans, creates abnormally shaped red blood cells in the body. That can lead to anemia and stroke, but it also damages the spleen, which can lead to a weakened immune system.

exercise.”

of a desert when it comes to transportation to get to health care services or to get to good food, to get to a safe neighborhood where you could possibly

Data from the National Institutes of Health indicate African Americans are twice as likely as white Americans

n “Our goal is related to an informed choice. It’s important that there’s equitable access to information.” –

Serena Muhammad

The COVID-19 Regional Response Team is a network of social service organizations that came together after the COVID-19 outbreak. Its mission is to coordinate a social service response to the pandemic.

Muhammad said Matthew Kreuter, a public health professor leading Washington University’s research effort, reached out to her for ideas on how to conduct outreach in marginalized communities.

“One of the things we made very clear is that we will not tell people to take the vaccine,” Muhammad explained.

“Our goal is related to an

informed choice. It’s important that there’s equitable access to information. You must respect people’s power and autonomy to make the best decisions for them and their families. We want to make sure people have accurate information and resources to support their decisions.”

Muhammad’s approach has been validated by national and local research. In March, the Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) released its study on “Attitudes and Perceptions of COVID-19 Vaccines.”

It examined how “historic, systemic, community, and

With that in mind, Dickerson said as the region begins to restart, she’ll have to stay home.

personal experiences” influenced the views of Black and Hispanic adults and how those experiences may impact perceptions of the pandemic and vaccines.

Many surveyed said “misinformation about the safety and efficacy of vaccines need to be addressed before they would feel comfortable receiving a dose.” MFH suggested that healthcare practitioners who simply remind people “that getting vaccinated is their choice,” is one way to address those concerns.

“The myths are abundant,” Muhammad added.

“With most people, if they hear something from someone they trust, they’re willing to listen. No matter what science tells you, if you don’t trust it, you’re not going to get the results you want. It’s not just about expertise, it’s about trusted, authentic relationships with the community.”

“My antibodies aren’t as prone to fight like the healthy human, you know what I mean?” Dickerson asked. “So, with just a common cold, here comes pneumonia, which it turns into for me, or something worse.”

Health officials point to how much the region needs to ensure that African Americans receive quality health care. Dr. Fred Echols, St. Louis health director, said after the crisis, leaders must address those issues.

“Heart disease, diabetes, asthma will continue to have a greater impact on these disenfranchised populations more so than others,” Echols said. “As we move forward, it’s really important for us to have the right people around the table but also engage them in a way that gives them a charge to address a lot of these issues.”

While officials consider how to put the region back on track, Harris and others who live with caution say they have to be extra careful.

Follow Chad on Twitter: @iamcdavis

Muhammad said that her network of organizations already works in marginalized Black, Latino, immigrant and refugee communities. Because they’ve already built trust in these communities, the consortium will ultimately help Washington University achieve its desired goal of reaching and influencing people who have not been vaccinated yet.

“We don’t want to lump everyone in the same category. Not every Black person is vaccine hesitant,” Muhammad said. “There are Black people who want to take it and they should have access to it.

“Getting people sound information is the best way to impact sound decision-making.”

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

Most experts agree that the expansion would cost the state almost nothing when factoring in federal monetary incentives.

Missouri Sen. Karla May, D-St. Louis, serves on the Senate’s Appropriations Committee, which was tasked with drafting the Senate’s version of the state’s multi-billion dollar operating budget for the next fiscal year.

While May disagrees with Republicans’ interpretation of the law, she believes that withdrawing from the plan may be the best course of action for those who would be eligible for coverage under the new requirements.

“Nothing is a surprise to me, but all I think this does is

Parson noted that prior to the Aug. 4 vote, the Missouri Court of Appeals Western District issued an opinion in June 2020 stating that the expansion ballot initiative did not create a revenue source or direct the General Assembly to appropriate funds, and so the General Assembly retained discretionary authority to fund or not fund MO HealthNet expansion if the ballot initiative passed.

speed up the process for a court case,” she said.

May added: “I think it gets people where they need to be because I think that people need coverage right now and I think that hurrying the process along will help them get to where they need to be.”

Amy Blouin, founder and CEO of the Missouri Budget Project, agreed, in part. She said this move by Parson will allow proponents of the expansion to bring the matter to court sooner than its July 1 implementation date — but she’s not sure the process will move any quicker.

she said. “We believe that the courts are obviously going to need to get involved and that the courts will agree that Medicaid expansion must be implemented.”

n “I think people should fight to enforce their constitutional rights and we are going to stand by them and continue to fight with them.”

—Richard von Glahn, policy director at Missouri Jobs with Justice

“The people of Missouri voted for this, and we believe that regardless of [Parson’s withdrawal] we will be implementing Medicaid expansion,”

The expansion would cover working-age adults who earn up to 138 percent of the federal poverty guideline, or $17,774 a year for a single person. That is equal to working about 33 hours a week at the state minimum wage of $10.30 per hour.

For a household of four, the limit is $36,570, the income of one person working full time at $17.58 an hour or two people working a combined 68 hours a week at minimum wage.

Richard von Glahn, policy director at Missouri Jobs with Justice, said Parson is betraying

the voters by going back on his word.

“And instead, he is attempting to hide behind politicians and keep this from moving forward,” von Glahn said. “But politicians don’t get to change the constitution, they don’t get to amend the constitution, and the voters spoke, and the constitution is still in effect.”

He also wanted people to know that Jobs with Justice and other organizations will stand behind them in order to ensure their constitutional right to Medicaid coverage is respected.

“I think people should fight to enforce their constitutional rights and we are going to stand by them and continue to fight with them,” von Glahn said.

In April, House Republicans took a stance against the expansion by removing its funding from the upcoming fiscal year’s general budget, arguing that there’s no money for it.

But that’s just not true, according to Blouin and Rudowitz — who said other states which have already

expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act have provided data on how it’s played out financially for their budgets.

In addition to the federal funds that would cover 90 percent of the expansion under the Affordable Care Act, the state should receive about $2.8 billion in American Rescue Plan Act federal funding. Essentially, Rudowitz said, Medicaid expansion is a net fiscal benefit.

Following the House’s decision, the Missouri Senate voted 14-20 to also exclude expansion funding in the budget bill presented to Parson for approval.

Without expansion, Missouri has one of the most restrictive Medicaid eligibility levels for parents in the nation and altogether excludes childress adults. As it stands, the program provides coverage for parents earning no more than $388 per month for a family of three, the lowest level allowed under federal law and the third-lowest eligibility level in the nation.

3. Choose wisely. Your body was fearfully and wonderfully made. It deserves only the best ingredients inside of it. So, Anderson

Continued from A12 to be clear, that White Castle burger is probably not what the doctor ordered. Your body is craving fresh fruit and vegetables. Believe it or not, you should aim for 5-9 servings of fruits and veggies per day. By shopping at local farmer’s markets or smaller

grocery stores, you can obtain a variety of fruits and vegetables at a fraction of the cost.

In addition, if you add up what you have been spending on fast food, you more than likely can even afford some organic options.

4. Drink water. Most people do not realize that the bulk of their calories during the day have been obtained from consuming some type of sugary drink like juice or soda. Unfortunately, marketing departments have done a disservice to the public by

making us believe that juice is better than soda. Most juices have about 30 grams of sugar per serving. Just by eliminating these types of beverages from your day could result in weight loss.

Everything I have men-

tioned above can be achieved on a modest budget and does not involve breaking the bank on the newest fad. To live a long, healthy life requires dedication, consistency and, from my point of view, simplicity. Let’s get back to the basics!

Carla Harris takes medication for diabetes and heart palpitations. Her husband has bronchitis. Like many African Americans, she worries that their pre-existing conditions make them more susceptible to COVID-19.

Photo by Chad Harris / St. Louis Public Radio

PRESENT:

PRESENT:

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.

What Is ASize?Serving

GRAINS Keep ‘em Whole!

The Smart Way!

Staying Active (Naturally) DuringSummer!the

Do This. Not That!

Warm Up & Cool Down

First Day of Spring!

Exercise Game

Smart Choices

be dangerous for several different reasons.

Tech-Neck

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 grains?

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. When reading labels on a food or drink product, you can determine the nutrients, sodium, fiber, sugar and calories of a serving size. But be careful; just because it 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 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

Let’s make a game out of exercise!

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

those leftovers for lunch the next day!

are popcorn, wheatberries, brown rice and wild rice.

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

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.

Create a Smart Summer Eating plan with your parents. Ask their help in finding nutritious snacks and meals for the summer.

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

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

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.

Cocoa Puffers Cereal

INGREDIENTS:

> Start by substituting one drink per day to water.

Delicious juicy, ripe fruits are all around and are healthy for you too! Make it your goal to come back to school in the fall healthier and happier!

Learning Standards:

As the weather gets warmer, there are many ways that we can enjoy ourselves outdoors and stay healthy over the summer. Some naturally active things you can do include:

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

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

Melissa Douglass, MSW

Weekly Newspaper in Education Program

Weekly Newspaper in Education Program

Latoya Woods, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

Deborah Edwards, School Nurse

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

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.

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

Review: What are some nutrition tips you learned by following The St. Louis American’s Healthy Kids page this school year? Send your answers to nie@stlamerican.com.

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE

> 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!

HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 3, NH 5

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.

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

Where do you work? I am the founder and distance counselor for Goal Driven Counseling, LLC.

Where do you work? I am an emergency preparedness program manager at Saint Louis County Department of Public Health – Communicable Disease Control Services.

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.

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

Staying active, getting your heart rate up and opening your lungs will help you start off next school year happier and healthier!

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.

> Help with yard work: planting, weeding, etc.

Where did you go to school? I graduated from the Academy of Mathematics and Science in St. Louis. I then earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration and a Master of Science in Biosecurity and Disaster Preparedness from Saint Louis University.

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.

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.

> Wash your parent’s car.

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

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

> Walking to the store when possible.

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

> Play, play, play outside as much as you can!

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

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

> 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.

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,

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.

Instead of watching TV — ride your bike with friends. 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!

Review: What are some exercise tips you learned by following The St. Louis American’s Healthy Kids page this school year? Send your answers to nie@ stlamerican.com.

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

Learning Standards: HPE1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5

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

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 2, HPE 5, NH 1

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 Administration from Columbia College.

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.

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.

What does a school nurse do? I assess the 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.

What does a school nurse do? I love giving students medications, so they’re able to focus on learning. I clean and bandage wounds. I use medical equipment like a stethoscope, for example, to evaluate whether or not my asthmatics are breathing well. Moreover, I teach and promote healthy habits to my students.

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 Facetime call, I support and guide my clients from the comfort of their home or private location where they are comfortable

What does an emergency preparedness program manager do? My staff and I make plans to respond and give out medication in case of a large disease outbreak (like COVID-19), a terrorist attack (like a huge explosion or someone contaminating our food or water on purpose), and other dangers that may cause a problem to people’s health. We practice in real-life, like acting out a movie, with the police, fire department, EMS, hospitals, public health, volunteer organizations, the medical examiner’s office, and others.

> What to do if you see someone else bullied.

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

Over the last 35 weeks we have discussed many smart choices that you can make to help you stay safe and healthy. Break into small groups and list as many Smart Choices that your group remembers. Now individually, choose one that you think is very important. Describe in your own words what that smart choice is, and how you can remember to make the right choice in the future. Name a new “smart choice“ that you will make this summer.

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

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 manage established health conditions. I perform physical examinations on patients, order labs, read x-rays results, and more.

Cracker-wiches

> What to do if YOU are the bully.

> 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.

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.

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

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?

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!

> 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.

Ingredients:

Gram-wich

Easy Hummus Dip

Ingredients:

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

Why did you choose this career? I am a St. 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.

Banana PB Smoothie

Ingredients:

Why did you choose this career? I chose this 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.

Why did you choose this career? I chose this career because I love to inform and educate people on how to get ready and stay ready for an emergency. I also enjoy helping others make their plans work better so that they can always know what to do and not panic or be afraid.

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.

Frozen Yogurt Blueberry Bites

8 Graham cracker squares

> How bullying hurts others.

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

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

> What to do if you are bullied.

What is your favorite part of the job you have?

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?

1 15-Oz Can Garbanzo beans

> What other ice hazards are there?

Ingredients: 1 cup blueberries

4 Tbsp Peanut butter, 1 Banana (sliced)

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

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 4

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

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

> 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:

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

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

1 cup non-fat Greek Yogurt

1 Garlic clove, crushed

4 Tsp Honey (optional)

Directions: Spread 1 tablespoon of peanut butter on four of the graham crackers. Layer banana slices on the peanut butter, drizzle with honey and top with the remaining graham crackers.

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: 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.

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.

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.

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”.

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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.

What is your favorite part of the job you have? My favorite part of the job is helping to come up with new ways of helping others in an emergency or disaster. It gives me an opportunity to make plans especially designed for them and their jobs, their schools, their churches, etc. Knowing that we have a key role in assisting in their emergency response plans, lets us know that we have helped someone to be able to recover faster.

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

Learning Standards: HPE 6, NH 3

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

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

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

Ntasiah K. Shaw, MS, CDP, CEM

Yonniece Rose, Registered Nurse

5th

American’s award winning NIE program provides newspapers and resources to more than 8,000 teachers and students each week throughout the school year, at no charge.

SCIENCE CORNER

Neurobiology is the study of the brain and nervous system of humans and animals. This study allows scientists to understand how the brain functions when it is healthy and how to cope when there are different disorders or injuries that affect brain function. MRI machines allow doctors to see the brain in action and to learn more about it.

HowAComputerMouseWorks!

Click, click, click! This may be a familiar sound as you sit at the computer using your mouse to navigate, but did you ever wonder how a mouse works? A computer mouse consists of several parts that work together to translate motions from your hands into data the computer understands.

Scientists believe that the brain is not fully developed until age 25. Different areas of the brain develop at their own pace. For young teens, the frontal lobe of the brain that impacts decision making and impulse control

Ball: Sometimes, a mouse will have a ball that rolls when moved over a surface.

Rollers: Usually a mouse has two rollers, one to detect motion on the x axis, and one to detect motion on the Y axis.

Materials Needed:

Shafts: Each roller connects to a shaft.

SCIENCE STARS

is slowly developing. That’s why many adults exclaim, “What were you thinking?” when they are frustrated with teens. Because the brain develops until the age of 25, it is especially important for young people to avoid drugs and alcohol because it is easier for this age group to get addicted and substance abuse will have a very severe and devastating impact on permanent brain development.

Processor: This will read the pulses, changing them into digital signals for the computer.

Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction text for main idea and supporting detail. I can make text-to-self and textto-world connections.

Taste vs. Smell

Infared LED sensors: These sensors are found on either side of each disk, and the LED light beam is broken by the holes to create a pulse that the sensor detects. This pulse is able to control the speed and distance the mouse is able to move.

For more information, visit: https://www.explainthatstuff.com/computermouse.html

e Blindfold the taster as the tester puts a little bit of one food on the taster’s tongue with a cotton swab.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION ENVIRONMENT PIONEER

African-American Neurobiologist Erich Jarvis

Dr. Norris L. Roberts Jr.

Boeing Senior Project Manager

Erich Jarvis was born on May 6, 1965, in Harlem. Both of his parents were musicians.

Norris L. Roberts Jr. was born in Winona, Mississippi. He graduated from Hazelwood Central High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. It was during his sophomore year that he found the technology discipline very fulfilling.

At an early age, Jarvis was interested in music, dance, and the arts. He attended the High School of Performing Arts. After graduation in 1983, he attended Hunter College. While working on his degree, Jarvis worked as a Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Fellow and studied bacteria while he earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics and biology. From 1988-1995, he attended the Rockefeller University where he earned his PhD in molecular neurobiology and animal behavior. He specialized his research in the study of songbird vocalizations.

“I am very much both right-brain (creative) and leftbrain (analytical); the technology courses enabled me to embrace both,” Dr. Roberts shared. He continued his education by earning an MA in Computer Resource Management Information Systems at Webster University at St. Louis, and a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Information Technology from Lindenwood University at St. Charles, Missouri.

Disks: The shafts connect to a disk with holes in it. These disks will spin when the rollers roll.

• Small Cups • Cotton Swabs or Q-tips • Different Foods With Similar Textures (ex: ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, sweet and sour sauce, and maple syrup)

• Pen and Paper for Charting

• Partner for the Experiment • Blindfold

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

Procedure:

In this experiment, you will determine if an optical mouse can perform on a black surface.

Materials Needed:

Optical Mouse • Computer • Black

Surface (such as a black desk or black mousepad) • Traditional Mousepad (one that is not black)

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

r The taster tries to identify which food they are tasting as well as whether it is salty, bitter, sweet or sour.

t The tester records the taster’s answers on the chart for each food they taste.

Can An Optical Mouse Work on a Black Surface?

q Draw a chart for your results. Write the name of each food you are testing in separate rows along the left side. Draw two columns for each taster. Label each column with the taster’s name and “unplugged” and “plugged.”

w Make some predictions about which foods will be easier and harder to identify by smell. Will it be easier or harder to taste the foods with your nose plugged or unplugged?

• Notebook • Pencil

Procedure:

MATH CONNECTION

y When the taster has tried all the foods blindfolded, they will taste them each again but with their nose plugged as well. (Make sure you have them taste the foods in a different order.)

w Move the optical mouse around to see how the mouse moves. Is it easy to navigate and move in the direction you want it to?

u Once the taster has tried each food with his/her nose plugged, switch who tastes and who tests and go through it all again. When you’ve both had a chance to taste, compare your results.

Learning Standards: I can follow directions to complete an experiment. I can analyze the conclusions of the experiment and make deductions.

e Next, use the optical mouse on a black surface. Try to repeat the same movements you did in step one. Observations: Does the mouse move more easily, the same, or with more difficulty on the black surface? Write your observations in your notebook.

Math in the Music!

q Use the traditional mousepad first. Using a word processing program, find the mouse’s icon on your screen.

Did you know that you can find math in music? Time signatures tell how many beats per measure. Each note has a different numerical value. Many songs involve patterns in the music or lyrics. In honor of Jarvis’ songbird research, today’s math review is musical.

MATH CONNECTION

Learning Standards: I can follow sequential directions to complete a task. I can make predictions and record my observations.

Compute these problems!

z A whole note is worth 4 beats, a half note is worth 2 beats, a quarter note is worth one beat. If a measure has 4 beats, how many different combinations can you create with these notes? ________

c In the fifth grade classroom, each student plays an instrument. 6 students play the saxophone, 8 students play the trumpet, 3 students play the drums, and 5 students play guitar. How many students are there total? ________ Write a fraction that represents the number of guitar players. ________

How quickly can you “compute” these math problems? Have a partner time you to see how long it takes.

x Janice practiced her clarinet for 20 minutes on Monday, 35 minutes Tuesday, 10 minutes Wednesday, and 60 minutes Thursday. What is the average number of minutes she practiced each night? ________

DID YOU KNOW?

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

v A popular R&B song is 3 minutes and 50 seconds long. If the chorus is 20 seconds and is played 3 times in the song, how many total minutes of the song are devoted to the chorus? ________ Write a fraction that represents the portion of the song that is the chorus? ________

Learning Standards: I can use addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to solve a problem.

“Stewardesses” is the longest word which can be typed with only the left hand. “Typewriter” is the longest word that can be made using letters on only one row of a keyboard.

Once Jarvis earned his PhD, he stayed at Rockefeller University as a professor, and he lead the Science Outreach Program of New York, going to inner-city schools to teach the students lab skills. His goal was to inspire students to pursue education, develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, and to seek a STEM-related career. In 1998, Jarvis left Rockefeller and became a professor for the Department of Neurobiology at Duke University. He also worked for the Department of Cognitive Neuroscience and the Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. In 2005, Jarvis led a team of 28 neuroscientists who proposed a new classification system for the bird brain as they researched the similarities between the brain of a bird and the brain of a mammal. Three years later, he received the honor of becoming an Investigator for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He has published more than 50 journal articles and has been a contributor to numerous books.

Dr. Roberts is currently the DFARS (Defense Federal Agency Regulatory Supplement) Cybersecurity Program Management Office Senior Manager for the Boeing Company. Because cybersecurity “touches” all facets of the aerospace industry, Dr. Roberts enjoys collaborating with individuals at various levels of the Boeing Company to problem solve. His day includes communicating, educating, and problem-solving with executives, scientists, engineers, cybersecurity professionals, lawyers, IT professionals, and manufacturing.

Dr. Roberts has written various publications and has earned multiple certifications during his career. He is a member of the Boeing Black Employee Association (BBEA), ISACA, the Alzheimer’s Association and he serves as president of the Boeing St. Louis Diversity and Inclusion Council. Dr. Roberts spearheaded a strategic technology plan that garnered federal funding (E-rate) in the amounts of $1.7 million for 2008 and $1.2 million each for 2009 and 2010, to advance the effective use of new technology. He also managed the upgrade of technology infrastructure and implemented a $500K Fiber-Optic Wide Area Network to enable better LAN capability. Professional journals and peers note Dr. Roberts as a pioneer of the Digital Transformation Environment (DTE).

Jarvis’ success in his field as a pioneer in the study of songbird neurobiology has won him many awards, including the National Science Foundation Alan T. Waterman Award, the Dominion Award, Strong Men and Women of Excellence, African American Leaders and the National Institute for the Humanities’ Director’s Pioneer Award. Also, Jarvis has served as the director of the Neuroscience Scholars Program for The Society of Neuroscience, he is a member of Duke University’s Council on Black Affairs and a founding member of the Black Collective at Duke University. Jarvis followed his passion for music and learning and it has led him to a successful career. Learning Standards: I can read a biography about a person who has made contributions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

MAP CORNER

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

Enjoy these activities that help you get to know your St. Louis American newspaper.

MAP CORNER

Activity One —

Use the newspaper to complete these activities:

Plural Words: Find 10 plural words in the newspaper and cut them out.

Glue them to a piece of paper and write the root word next to each (or circle the word in the newspaper and then write it on a piece of paper).

Activity Two —

Sports Team Travels: Keep track of a sports team’s travels. Find distances between cities on a map. Measure the distance between each city they visit. How many total miles did they travel?

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can identify root words. I can read a map and use addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to solve a problem.

Activity One: Scan the newspaper for basic science-related terms (explore, analysis, discovery, theory, experiment) and write definitions for these words based on their usage in the newspaper. Compare your definitions with the definitions in the dictionary.

Activity Two: Compute the time difference between your city and various cities featured in the main news section of the newspaper.

Learning Standards: I can locate information in nonfiction text. I can use context clues for definitions. I can add, subtract, multiply, and divide to solve problems.

The St. Louis

Students in Mrs. Collier’s

grade class at Russell Elementary School study renewable energy by designing their own blades for a wind turbine. Russell Elementary is in the Hazelwood School District.

&Sour

Ameren Corp., tops among U.S. utilities in diversity

DiversityInc. praises firm

thropy, energy assistance and sponsorships.”

This marks the 13th consecutive year that Ameren has ranked as one of the nation’s top utilities for DE&I. For the third year

in a row, Ameren was ranked among the Top 10 regional companies for DE&I, earning the second highest spot this year. Some of the initiatives that earned Ameren these top honors include: Pledging $10 million over the next five years to nonprofits working for racial equity and opportunity. Holding a DE&I summit with community leaders and Ameren co-workers and encouraging employees to volunteer with

organizations working toward equity.

Investing in a robust supplier diversity program, which resulted in a record $810 million on projects delivered by women-owned, minority-owned and veteran-owned companies in 2020.

Continuing to facilitate several types of diversity training and mentorship programs, including the Discussions Across Differences and Be Courageous conversation series, which are

available on Ameren.com.

Building a more diverse workforce through intentional recruiting, such as Ameren’s Hiring Our Heroes program to hire veterans and the Bright Return Program to give opportunities to mid-career professionals to return to a career after voluntarily leaving the workforce.

Providing resource groups for women, veterans, minority groups and LGBTQ+ employees.

“In addition to the diversity and inclusion recognition, being recognized as a Top 50 company for ESG reinforces that we are on the right path toward realizing our vision of leading the way to a sustainable energy future,” said Warner Baxter, chairman, president and chief executive officer at Ameren.

“Our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, our goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and our ongoing support of our communities are just a few of the ways Ameren is living our sustainability principles every day. It’s all part of how we provide customers with safe, reliable and affordable energy today, and transform to a smarter grid and a clean energy future.”

‘Partying with a 4.0’

Ashley-Ann Davis in the greenhouse in Butler-Carlton Hall at S&T. As part of the university’s Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience program, Davis studies how hyperspectral images of plants can be used to determine their chemical composition. The goal is to develop a technology that can be used in classrooms as early

user-friendly.

Missouri S&T graduating senior offers insight on finding balance

By Evie Hemphill

St. Louis Public Radio

On Saturday afternoon, Ashley-Ann Davis will offer some words of wisdom to her fellow graduating seniors at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla. She’s one of just four S&T students scheduled to speak at the university’s in-person commencement ceremonies. But when it comes to giving life advice, 22-year-old Davis hasn’t just written a speech, she’s also got a small book to her name: “Partying With a 4.0: Finding Balance in College.” Davis, who is completing her bachelor’s degree in engineering management this week, published the volume last summer. In it, she offers concrete suggestions for how to make the most of one’s undergraduate experience, making the case that it’s possible to find academic success while

n Davis, who is completing her bachelor’s degree in engineering management this week, published the volume last summer. In it, she offers concrete suggestions for how to make the most of one’s undergraduate experience.

also making sufficient time for other activities and sheer enjoyment.

Shortly before she began writing her now-published book, Ashley-Ann Davis’ GPA slipped ever so slightly from 4.0 to 3.9. But “I’m kind of happy that it fell,” she has said. “It was kind of liberating.” She draws on her own experiences the past four years in doing so. At Missouri S&T, she’s juggled her studies alongside internships with a construction company and service as president of the university’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, among other campus roles.

“It definitely is a battle of time management, and it gets to a point where you really have to start saying no to certain things,” Davis said. “So even though I did all those things, there’s an equal amount of things

Child tax credit payments will warm parents’ hearts

Monthly installments to begin July 15

n The credit is per child in each household, meaning a family with three children ages 4, 8 and 12, for example, could receive up to $800 on a monthly basis (A $300 credit for the 4-year-old, and $250 each for the older kids.)

Special to the American Mid-summer will bring good news for many American parents. Monthly payments through the new federal enhanced child tax credit will begin July 15, for 39 million households with about 65 million children, or 88 percent of children in the U.S., according to the IRS. This year, the maximum enhanced child tax credit is $3,600 for children younger than age six and $3,000 for those between six and 17. Those payments will be sent out as an advance on 2021 taxes in monthly installments that could be as much as $300 per month for younger children and $250 per month for older ones. The credit is per child in each household, meaning a family with three children ages 4, 8 and 12, for example, could receive up to $800 on a monthly basis ($300 credit for the 4-year-old, and $250 each for the older kids).

child tax credit. The full credit is available to married couples with children filing jointly with adjusted gross income less than $150,000, or $75,000 for individuals. The enhanced tax credit will phase out for taxpayers who make more money and cease for individuals earning $95,000 and married couples earning $170,000 filing jointly.

Taxpayers who make more than that will still be eligible for the regular child tax credit, which is $2,000 per child under age 17 for families making less than $200,000 annually, or $400,000 for married couples.

How do I make sure my family gets the payment?

Benjamin Ola. Akande

Stifel Financial Corp. announced that Dr. Benjamin Ola. Akande will join the firm as Director of Human Resources, Diversity and Inclusion. Dr. Akande most recently served as the President of Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. He was assistant vice chancellor of International Programs-Africa, director of the Africa Initiative, and associate director of the Global Health Center at Washington University in St. Louis from 2018-2020. Prior to that, he was president of Westminster College.

Levy new CEO of Saint Louis Fashion Fund

“For working families with children, this tax cut sends a clear message: Help is here,” President Joe Biden, said in a statement May 16. Who qualifies for the maximum credit? Most American families qualify for some amount of money through the

Most families eligible to receive the payments don’t have to do anything right now, according to the IRS. The agency will use the information filed on 2020 tax returns first to determine eligibility and will notify taxpayers, Ken Corbin, commissioner of the IRS’ Wage and Investment Division, said during a Friday tax conference. For those who haven’t filed 2020 taxes, the IRS will use 2019 returns. The IRS is also working to make a portal available for nonfilers to submit their information and receive the credit. The agency also plans on making an additional portal for taxpayers to submit other changes going forward, such as updating family information if there’s a change in custody, which parent is claiming the child and credit or if you have a child during the year. “Look for a suite of tools,” said Corbin.

Taylor to lead diversity efforts for IBEW

Sylvester Taylor

Sylvester Taylor, an officer with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and 31-year IBEW electrician, has been tabbed to lead diversity initiatives for the IBEW/ NECA Electrical Connection partnership. Taylor was named director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the labor-management partnership which represents more than 5,000 IBEW members and more than 150 electrical contractors signatory to the union. He serves as president of the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus which he helped found in 2004.

Wilcox named interim VP of Impact

LaunchCode has announced Jessi Wilcox’s promotion to interim vice president of impact, where she will oversee the team managing LaunchCode’s free, job-focused tech training and placement program currently being delivered in four cities. St. Louis-based LaunchCode is a nonprofit offering free tech education and job placement opportunities to bring new people from all backgrounds into the tech field and reshape the way employers think about hiring.Wilcox previously worked on the LaunchCode team as the director of program operations as well as program manager of CoderGirl. She is a 2018 Venture for America fellow.

Promotion, board appointment, new hire, award... please submit your People on the Move item (including photo) to kjones@stlamerican.com

Dr.

Monique Levy

Jessi Wilcox

Photo by Tom Wagner/Missouri S&T

Ken Corbin

Ann Marr, executive vice president of Global Human Resources for World Wide Technology Inc., was among the honorees saluted during the inaugural St. Louis Minority Business Development Agency Tribute to Women Business Leaders Brunch on May 12. Todd Gilyard, St. Louis MBDA project director, presented all the winners with a gift.

MBDA honors women business leaders

Special to the American

The St. Louis Minority Business Development Agency recently hosted its inaugural Tribute to Women Business Leaders Brunch on May 12 at the Downtown St. Louis Marriott Grand Hotel.

The organization’s mission is to “strengthen the U.S. economy by helping ethnic minority businesses create or retain jobs, and build economically vibrant, socially responsible entrepreneurs, businesses, and communities.”

Sharilyn D. Franklin, a co-founder of the marketing communications firm Fuse, Inc., who is also recognized as “The Leadership Doctor,” expressed the importance of using adaptive leadership to motivate and encourage employees to be their best, during her keynote address.

“We were very excited to host our first Tribute to Women

Tax Credit

Continued from B1

How will payments be sent?

As with the stimulus checks sent out by the IRS earlier this year and last, most of the monthly child tax credit payments will be sent by direct deposit — some 80 percent of those eligible will get the money this way, according to the agency.

If the IRS has direct deposit information on your

Davis

Continued from B1

that I turned down. … For example, my internships were during the summer times, so I wouldn’t have to balance that with schoolwork unless I did a summer class. And when I was president of NSBE, I tried as much as possible not to take on other workloads. … I’m very schedule-oriented. I plan my weeks and my days, so [it’s about] making sure I’m finding time for myself when I’m scheduling all of those things as well.”

Business Leaders Brunch and look forward to celebrating the great accomplishments of our honorees,” said Todd Gilyard, St. Louis Minority Business Development Agency project director.

The honorees included:

Ann Marr, executive vice president, Global Human Resources of World Wide Technology, Inc. Sandra Marks, executive vice president of Clayco Corporation.

Sue Bhatia, president & CEO of Rose International.

Kimberly Brown, founder and president of the Perfect Skin Code.

Leslie Gill, president & CEO of Rung for Women.

Ashley Woods, president of RioLey Enterprise & Holdings.

Anika D. Porter, president & CEO of Lifespiration LLC, who also presented the honorees as the emcee for the event.

The inaugural brunch was

tax return, it’s likely this is how you’ll receive the monthly credit. If you don’t have direct deposit, the IRS will also be sending out paper checks and debit cards to some families.

Can I opt out?

Families can opt out of receiving the monthly payments for the credit through an IRS portal. Those who do this won’t get the monthly amounts but will still receive the full credit they are eligible for when they file their 2021 taxes in 2022.

Some families may choose

In her book, Davis outlines a three-column system for figuring out priorities and defining one’s vision during college.

“You really, first of all, need to analyze where you want to go [and] where you’re at right now,” Davis explained. “And the things that don’t align with those things, you should get rid of them. If you say you want to get to destination A, but you’re playing in area B, it’s like, ‘OK, what do I need to take out of this to get to this point?’” Discipline — and how to develop it — is another theme that emerges in the pages of “Partying With a 4.0.”

sponsored by Ameren, Centene Corporation, McKinney Wealth Group, NAACP, Webster University, Salesforce, St Louis County NAACP, Washington University-in-St. Louis and Personal Touches by Jeanetta.

The St. Louis MBDA Business Center is operated by the Chicago Minority Business Development Council, Incorporated and J. Vincent Williams, president of the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council, presented awards with Gilyard. The Center is part of a national network of MBDA Business Centers funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency

The center works with minority business enterprises to generate increased financing and contract opportunities and to create and retain jobs.

this route because they don’t need the monthly payments immediately or prefer to get a large lump sum of money back from the IRS as a tax refund, said Elaine Maag, a principal research associate at the UrbanBrookings Tax Policy Center “There’s evidence that shows that some people really like getting that large tax refund and can use it as an opportunity to purchase a large household item like a refrigerator or put together first and last month’s rent so they can move,” she said.

“Essentially, when you keep trying at something, you keep showing up every day,” Davis told host Sarah Fenske, “it’s not going to work every day, but over time, it’s going to add up.” Born and raised in Jamaica, Davis moved to Jefferson City at the age of 16, which bought some challenges, including culture shock. “It kind of felt like starting kindergarten all over again,” she recalled. “You don’t really know anyone, and you’re just thrown into a completely new environment, [and] all my friends were back in Jamaica. … It was a lot of changes and challenges. But I think it really helped me to learn to adapt. So when I came to S&T, it was kind of like, ‘OK, we’re going to adapt again the same way we did when we moved here.’”

She plans to take that same perspective into her next chapter as she looks toward pursuing a doctoral degree at the university beginning this fall.

“I’m an engineering management major, but my emphasis is in civil engineering, so a lot of the things that I’ve been focusing on, especially going into my research [for the PhD], is sustainable infrastructure,” Davis said. “We all have heard about climate change and everything that’s happening, and we better make sure that our buildings and everything of that nature are in a position to deal with the changes that are happening.”

Photo courtesy St. Louis MBDA

The Missouri State High School Activities Association will hold its respective Class 1 and 2 state track and field championships this weekend (May 21-22) at Jefferson City High School. The action opens Friday with preliminary races and some field event finals. Championship races follow on Saturday. The field events will begin at 11 a.m., while running events start at 10 a.m. both days. Keep an eye on sophomore sprinter Issam Asinga from Principia. The talented speedster won the 100-, 200and 400-meter dashes at last Saturday’s Class 2 Sectional 2 meet at Monroe City. Asinga also posted impressive winning times of 10.62 in the 100, 21.55 in the 200 and 48.24 in the 400.

STEAM Academy at McCluer South-Berkeley will be the area’s top team contender for a state championship in the Class 2 girls’ competition. The Bulldogs qualified for state in six individual events along with their three sprint relay teams.

Junior Leah Thames (100, 200), senior Cheyenne Melvin (400, 800) and senior Chelby Melvin (100-meter high and 300-meter low hurdles) were all double winners at the Monroe City Sectional. The Bulldogs were also Sectional

Sports

track & FiEld NotEbook

With Earl Austin Jr.

Area track stars head to state with head of STEAM

SLU’s Ryan Wingo(center) is headed to Sectionals after dominating the Class 5, District 2 meet at Francis Howell Central. Wingo won the 100- and 200-meter events and anchored the Jr. Bill’s victorious 4x100-meter relay team. champions in the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400-meter relays.

District Highlights

Last Saturday’s Class 3, 4 and 5 district track meets saw several standout performances, and these competitors have advanced to Sectional competitions on Saturday.

Maya Anderson (MICDS): Finished first in the 100-meter high hurdles and 300-meter low hurdles at the Class 5,

District 2 girls meet at Francis Howell Central. She led the Rams to a district team championship.

Haley Bellamy (McCluer North): Finished first in the 300-meter low hurdles and the long jump with a leap of 18 feet-6 inches at the Class 4, District 2 meet at Hillsboro.

Mason Brock (Francis Howell): Finished first in the javelin, shot put and discus at the Class 5, District 3 meet at Wentzville Liberty. He won the

javelin with a throw of 192 feet 8 inches.

Aniyah Brown (Cardinal Ritter): The talented freshman won the 100- and 200meter dashes and ran legs on the Lions’ first place 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams at the Class 5, District 2 girls meet at Francis Howell Central.

Genesis Dixon (Kirkwood): Finished first in the 100-meter high hurdles, 300-meter low hurdles and long jump at Wentzville

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Liberty. Myles Norwood (Trinity): Finished first in the long jump and triple jump at the meet in Hillsboro. He helped the Titans to a district team championship.

Ryan Wingo (SLUH):

The talented freshman won the 100- and 200-meter dashes and anchored the 4x100-meter relay to a first-place finish at the Francis Howell Central meet.

Collegiate track standouts

Former John Burroughs star

Brandon Miller won the 800meter run at the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Championships last Saturday in College Station, Texas. A freshman at Texas A&M, Miller was also the champion in the 800 at the SEC Indoor Championships earlier this year. His winning time was 1 minute 45.95 seconds, fifth all-time on the United States Under-20 list. Miller also qualified for a spot at the upcoming USA Olympic Trials.

Former Parkway North sprinter Jermaine Holt won the 400-meter dash at the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships in Tampa. A senior at the University of Houston, Holt won the event in a time of 46.06 seconds. His victory also helped the Cougars take home the team conference title.

Former East St. Louis standout Willie Johnson of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale took home two gold medals from last weekend’s Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships in Carbondale. Johnson won the 400-meter dash, then anchored the Salukis’ 4x400 relay team to a conference championship.

Former Hazelwood Central standout Shauniece O’Neal of Southern Illinois won the MVC championship in the women’s hammer throw with an effort of 218-feet 2-inches. O’Neal was also a conference champion and first team AllAmerican during the indoor season for the Salukis.

Missouri college athletes can now cash in on name, image and likeness

The Missouri legislature did at least one thing right during its 2021 session.

It approved a bill that allows college student athletes in Missouri to receive compensation for their name, image and likeness starting in late August – a week before the Tigers open their football season.

“Great job by our legislation. And Great Day for our Student Athletes,” said Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz’ via Twitter. He obviously meant ‘legislature’, but you don’t expect Mark Twain from a college football coach, especially if it is on Twitter.

“(Athletes) are able to make money from third parties who want to pay them for their name, image, or likeness,” said Huma.

Ramogi Huma, who spoke on behalf of the bill in Missouri and other states as National College Players Association (NCPA) executive director, told KMOV “college athletes can have representation just like any other American, legal professional, or otherwise.”

“At this point, the NCAA has made it clear that it’s not going to act. Congress is not likely to act anytime soon. So, college athletes’ fates lie in the hands of the state lawmakers, and Missouri’s lawmakers came through today.” Missouri is now one of 15 states to have passed similar legislation, according to Huma.

“Every other American has these freedoms, every other student on campus has these freedoms and soon Missouri college athletes will have these freedoms as well.” Keeping up with other SEC schools in recruiting – especially in football and basketball was certainly important in the bill’s passage by a 145-8 margin. Kentucky is the lone state with an SEC school to not approve a similar bill. Kansas has not either, which led Hall of Fame basketball coach Bill Self to say, “I know that all the universities (in Kansas) are certainly disappointed that the name, image and likeness did not pass.”

“There’s a chance that we’ll be recruiting our athletes in all sports at a different level of playing field than what other states could be recruiting their people,” Self told the Lawrence Journal-World.

State Rep. Joe Adams (D-U. City) said he often does not agree politically with bill sponsor Rep. Nick Schroer, (R-O’Fallon) “but I agree with him wholeheartedly on this.”

Cubs call on history

I doubt the St. Louis Cardinals have ever done this, so I can’t be upset that the Chicago Cubs made team history on Monday night.

Jeremiah Paprocki, 21, made his debut as the team’s public address announcer against the Washington Nationals, making him the first Black person to ever hold that high-profile job.

“To be able to sit in that chair behind the microphone at Wrigley Field of all places, it’s truly an honor. I’m looking forward to that opportunity,”

he told the Chicago Tribune.

The lifelong Cubs’ fan is a senior at the University of Illinois-Chicago, where he also calls games for several of their teams.

“Being the first African American PA in Cubs history, it definitely means a lot,” he said.

“I hope that it inspires other African American boys and girls out there that are interested in broadcasting that opportunities are available to you if you keep going and to never stop and to never let anything discourage you from pursuing opportunities.”

Former East St. Louis Flyers quarterback Tyler Macon is headed to Missouri as part of coach Eliah Drinkwitz’ 2021 recruiting class. He will be among the first Tiger athletes who can receive compensation for use of their name, image and likeness.

The Reid Roundup David Perron, the St. Louis Blues regular season MVP and leading goal scorer, missed the first game of his team’s opening round playoff game against the Colorado Rockies because of COVID protocols. It had not been announced whether he contracted the virus, but he could miss several more games. St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright also missed time this season after being waylaid by COVID-19…The Cardinals took on a depleted San Diego Padres lineup last

weekend because several of their best players were out because of COVID-19 protocols. Superstar shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., and Will Myers contracted the virus, and Eric Hosmer is out for contract tracing protocol and further tests…All the players mentioned here, and dozens more in various sports in the U.S. and abroad have one thing in common. They are selfish. Regardless of how they feel about a vaccination, they should have been willing to put their fear/questions/ whatever aside for the sake of their respective teams… The 2020 Class of Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinees – led by the late Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett - were enshrined on May 15. Other inductees include 10-time WNBA All Star Tamika Catchings and 30-year Washington Post columnist and current ESPN NBA analyst Mike Wilbon Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry capped the 2020-21 regular season with a 46-point effort against the Minnesota Timberwolves, which secured the NBA scoring title over Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal Curry averaged 32 points per game while Beal, who scored 25 in the regular season closer against Charlotte, posted 31.3 ppg.

Alvin A. Reid

Earl Austin Jr.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Photo courtesy of gasnsports.com

U. City Schools announce executive leadership changes

The School District of University City is pleased to announce several important changes to its executive leadership structure and staffing starting July 1, 2021.

Kashina Bell, Ed.D. will become the district’s deputy superintendent, a new role in which she will direct both the Office of Human Resources and the Office of Curriculum and Instruction. Dr. Bell currently serves as the district’s assistant superintendent for people and general administration. She joined the district in the summer of 2019. Prior to joining U. City Schools, she was the assistant superintendent for student services for Clayton Schools. Bell was also a principal in the Parkway School District, and an assistant principal in the Hazelwood School District. She began her education career as a math teacher. The move consolidates two district offices under one director to better align talent acquisition and staff management with student academic instruction and performance improvement goals. Ian Buchanan, Ed.D. the district’s current assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, is stepping down from the position after five years to pursue other professional endeavors. “Dr. Buchanan embraced the opportunity to serve our school district community and worked tirelessly to support our students, staff, and

families. We wish him much success,” said Superintendent Sharonica Hardin-Bartley, Ph.D. PHR.

As part of Bell’s transition, Candice A. Wayne, currently an associate in the district’s human resources office, has been named human resource manager. Wayne will oversee daily operations of the office. A former first grade teacher in Hazelwood Schools, Wayne joined Hazelwood’s human resources department where she later became a recruitment and talent development specialist. She then worked in corporate HR at Magellan Health Services before joining the district’s human resources office in 2017. She holds a master’s degree in human resources management and is completing a year-long fellowship with the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Fellows Program.

Samuel Martin, Ed.D. currently the dean of students at University City High School, will become coordinator of student transition and strategic partnerships. Martin, UCHS Class of 2001, earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Missouri. He began his education career in

Columbia Public Schools as a school counselor. He returned home to University City High School five years ago to be the dean of students.

Lawndale Thomas has been hired as the new dean of students for University City High School. Thomas previously served as the guidance department chair/ department manager at Hazelwood East High School and has more than 20 years of experience in that district. He has a master’s degree in counseling from Lindenwood University.

“We are delighted to welcome everyone into their new roles and are further excited to have Mr. Thomas join the U. City Schools team. He stood out in the hiring process, and we know that he will connect with and rally our high schoolers in profound ways,” HardinBartley said. The decision to create a deputy superintendent role in the district was done to further align district resources and processes under the vision of Learning Reimagined. “Learning Reimagine requires us to examine our resources and existing management systems so they best serve our students. The above staffing changes more precisely align our services and programs to increase student achievement,” Hardin-Bartley said.

Keyon Harrold to serve as Jazz St. Louis’ new creative advisor

By Danielle Brown Of The St. Louis American

When Gene Dobbs Bradford, president and CEO of Jazz St. Louis, was seeking a candidate to fill the company’s new creative advisor role, he envisioned someone who could not only connect Jazz music to a broader audience, but also someone who was an effective communicator and not afraid to build strong communal relationships.

“I was interested in selecting someone who could create jazz events that would integrate other art forms including visual arts, Hip-Hop, and Blues music.” Bradford said.

He selected Keyon Harrold, Ferguson native, activist and Grammy-winning jazz trumpeter, as the best fit for the three-year appointment on behalf of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Harrold’s responsibilities will be to curate annual performances including a five-night engagement at Jazz St. Louis; involvement in the Jazz Speaks and residency programs for

Keyon Harrold has been named Jazz St.

term. He will curate annual performances, including a

St. Louis. He will also work with Jazz Speaks and other residency programs for the 2022-23 season, plus other performances, events and

the 2022-23 season; and a commissioned piece that reflects on the St. Louis community that will conclude the 2023-24 season.

Among Harrold’s goals are spreading Jazz knowledge to a younger audience and ushering

n “It really is a full circle dream where I get a chance to come home and really add to the beauty of St. Louis.”

-Keyon Harrold

in a new wave of music and musicians to seasoned JSL members to highlight jazz’s evolution. “I want to go into the schools doing outreach and mentoring kids in hope of impacting their artistic roles,” Harrold said. “I want kids to see

what it takes to be great, a musician and see how you can have a deep love for music.”

Dobbs said Harrold’s focus on social activism “proves he knows how to communicate well, listen to others, and express his own views.”

Harrold and his 14-year-old son, Keyon Harrold Jr., were put center stage as activists and everyday African-Americans in late December after a racially charged incident in New York.

Harrold Jr., was confronted at the Arlo Hotel in Manhattan by a 22-year-old white woman, Miya Ponsetto, who falsely accused him of stealing her cellphone. He recorded and posted a now viral video to social media.

In the clips, Ponsetto asked the hotel’s manager for help, while Harrold was visibly in shock. The manager asked Harrold Jr. to surrender his phone. The video concludes with Harrold and his son trying to leave the hotel when the woman tackled the teenager. The hotel later told Harrold the woman’s phone had been found.

Belonging in opera while Black

Symposium offers insight on the African American experience within the art form

By Kenya Vaughn Of the St. Louis American

While live performance at venues and arts institutions sat dark because of a global pandemic, calls for racial justice and equality thundered in response to the murder of George Floyd by a former police officer last May in Minneapolis.

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis responded with reflection that led to actionable items – in programming and in initiatives to help lay the foundation for inclusion on stage, in the audience and behind the scenes.

Last month it partnered with Washington University’s Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity to present “Belonging in Opera: Learning from Our Past, Engaging with Our Future.”

The two-day symposium made space for performers, academics, administrative professionals and composers to take part in an in-depth conversation on the Black experience within opera.

“For many of us, the last year has opened our eyes in new ways to the work that our field must undertake to realize the goal that opera can be for everyone and to ensure that every person who joins us whether on stage, back stage, in our

From makeup artist to author, Mahogani Reign releases “Saved Hot Mess”

By Danielle Brown

Of The St. Louis America

Her second book details 2019 soul search

On top of having to adjust to the coronavirus pandemic, Mahogani Reign says she faced other challenges including heartbreak from divorce, body image issues and daddy issues. She relied on her Christian faith to help her overcome those adversities. In doing so, she couldn’t find Christianiy-based books that she thought were relatable. Instead, she published her second book, “Saved Hot Mess.”

“As a Christian, while I was on my quest to find devotional content, I couldn’t find any that were relatable because they came from a stark and perfect place,” Reign said. I knew I was saved, but I was also a hot mess. I wanted to be the change I saw myself becoming and that’s how I came up with the title.” Christian Cashelle said the mission behind her Dynamic Images Publication correlates with Reign’s feelings about the diversity of Christianbased books. Cashelle, author and owner of DIP, defines

Mahogani Reign’s new book “Saved Hot Mess,” is available at dipublications.com, Amazon and ebook. It will be released to audiobooks later this month.

her company’s genre of books as inspirational fiction, which she said aligns well with Reign’s storytelling. It inspired her to publish Reign’s first book, “Puncturing the Deepest Curse,” and now “Saved Hot Mess.”

“A lot of books I came across were really preachy, filled with scriptures, and not entertaining,” Cashelle said.

“Reign’s book fits perfectly with my brand and the style of writing I like. I like how “Saved Hot Mess” is transparent but doesn’t come from a place of judgment.”

Reign wants women who read the book to know they don’t have to be perfect in their relationship with God, but they do have to try in wanting to grow with him.

“I almost feel like God was like ‘I want you to be my little Dora the Explorer’ and show people that I can help them with the things in their life they think are too messy,” Reign said.

“I also wanted the book to be attractive and provocative to people who may not feel welcome in church. I wanted them to know you can be

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Photo by Ken Howard for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

Denyce Graves performing in Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ world premiere of Terence Blanchard’s ‘Champion in 2013.’

See Harold, C6

Photo courtesy of Jazz St. Louis

Louis’ new creative advisor for a three-year

five-night engagement at Jazz

appearances.

See Opera, C6

Jakes family father-daughter team both have books on bestseller lists

Bishop T.D. Jakes warns that churches have stopped listening to congregations and become more “tribalistic,” in his newest book Don’t Drop the Mic: The Power of Words Can Change the World.

“I think that the Church has become deaf,” he said on Billy Hallowell’s “The Edifi Podcast.

“And in so doing, we’re so busy teaching and talking. And we have our lines down pat and our talking points down, [but] we’re not listening.”

America is suffering because political leaders, as with church leaders, are failing to listen.

“They’re so busy fighting between the right and the left, that they can’t hear the people they represent. It seems not to matter what the people think anymore,” he said.

Jakes noticed that people in the church are “tribalistic,” wherein they “stay on [their] tribe.”

“Tribalism always leads to war. Always. You have to

break down the wall and not build walls between us, but draw circles around us and begin to talk,” he said. “I’m talking about actually becoming friends with people. It’s hard to hate somebody you understand.”

An important lesson in Drop the Mic is that change does not come from influential people but from ordinary individuals, Jakes explained. But “a person can never be a ‘great communicator’ unless he or she is a great listener.”

This is also key to churches becoming more relevant in their respective communities.

“Before we teach them, let’s listen,” he said.

“Because I think there’s a huge disconnect between the sanctuary and the solar orbit that it encircles. And that difference makes a difference in how we approach the Great Commission.”

“I think the first thing we need to do is go on an

expedition and go beyond the borders of the safety of our sanctuaries and finally fulfill the Matthew 28:19 commission to go into all the world,” he declared.

ing one’s belief in Jesus Christ as Lord can literally be a death sentence. The Bible teaches us that eventually our belief will be put to the ultimate test. Have you ever wondered why God’s teachings are so feared by those who believe in other religions?

Dad, daughter authors

Sarah Jakes Roberts, T.D. Jakes’ daughter, also has a new book, Woman Evolve, climbing the bestseller list.

She told Essence that her work “is not just a book.”

“It’s a command that every woman will have to answer at some point in their life. Will I stay stuck, or will I dare to evolve?”

Roberts said many women, including herself, have thought that moving on from an adversity is pretending that

By James A. Washington Jr.

I recently heard Bishop T.D. Jakes of the Potters House preach a sermon that caught my attention. He reminded us that much of the Bible was written from a jail cell. I think his overall message had something to do with his prison outreach ministry, which I understand to be significant. I was so struck, however, by the reality of God’s Word and direction coming from the deep faith of those imprisoned, that the concept has never left me. What is it about being a believer, a walking, talking believer that somehow frightens those in power - so much so, that a jail cell is their answer? History suggests that profess-

I used to say Jesus’ message made so much sense that, even if He didn’t exist, we should invent Him. Now that I am saved, I guess you could say I know I’m a candidate for the worst type of persecution. My point, as I was caught by Bishop Jakes’ reference, is that I don’t view myself as a threat

something never happened.

“A lot of times we think that we are evolving because we just moved on past what happened,” she said.

“But true evolving is when we take the time to gather every piece of ourselves, shattered as it may be, broken or disappointed as it may be, hopeful as it may be, and say, ‘What do I do with what I have left?’”

Woman Evolve also explores the theme of women being open and honest about their feelings – especially with their children.

“I do feel like when we don’t see, especially as children, images of our mothers taking time to take care of themselves, then when we become adults, we have no point of reference for that,” she explained.

“And so even though it means that I have to take off a cape and let them know that I don’t have it all together all of the time.

to anyone, based upon my belief in one God, the Holy Trinity and the truth of Jesus Christ. But the world in which I live does view me in this manner. I suppose a larger issue ought to then be; have I done anything or said anything that should land me in jail? Is jail where

Sadducees and Pharisees want to send people like me?

If I have not said or done anything, then maybe I better get going, stir things up. In their day, the apostles, Paul and others were indeed looked upon as threats to the establishment.

That meant governments and principalities, as well as the church hierarchy of that day. If nothing else, I don’t think anyone would argue that on His worst day, Jesus was the quintessential revolutionary. It still amazes me how such principles of unconditional universal love for humankind got Him killed. And then it always hits me that this kind of philosophy will ultimately attack and undermine entrenched institutionalized power of all kinds, particularly political power. That is when I realized that, if you are a believer in Christ, you are most certainly a threat to some men and women. Man craves power and Christianity abdicates all power to Jehovah. We stand as rep-

“My prayer is that in doing that, it gives them permission, when they are walking in my shoes in whatever capacity, that is, to be able to choose themselves. Where they will be able to say, ‘That’s what Mommy meant when she said that she was tied. I get it now.’” And who was the first woman who could have used Woman Evolve in her life? Eve.

“Making her mistake in the Garden of Eden, Eve became the first woman to deal with rebuilding her life in the aftermath of her past and Eve knew better, but she didn’t do better,” Roberts said.

T.D. Jakes’ Dallas-based The Potter’s House church has 30,000 members and 50 ministries. The New York Times listed him as “One of the Nation’s Most Influential & Mesmerizing Preachers.”

Sarah Jakes Roberts

resentatives of that truth and stand trial everyday with the world as our judge and jury. That explains that target on the backs of believers throughout history and should remind us all of the targets on our own backs. All I can encourage you to do in the face of all this is to stay the course and know our defense attorney (Christ) is on His way. The prosecuting attorney loses this case. So, when you are alone in your jail cell remember, the war is over. You have already won. There are still

Columnist James Washington

Sarah Jakes Roberts’ Woman Evolve and father T.D. Jakes’ Don’t Drop the Mic are both climbing the religious books bestsellers lists and

bookstores.

Position: Manager of Corporate and Foundation Giving Reports To: Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving

Summary: This position will provide oversight for corporate and foundation annual giving as well as manage a portfolio of prospects. This role is also responsible for securing philanthropic gifts and sponsorships and developing prospect strategies, cultivation, solicitation, and follow-up activities with corporate and foundation major gift prospects and donors.

Interested applicants should visit the following URL for full details and to apply online: https://www.cbizems.com/extranet/ recruiting.aspx?id=2A2725CB7BD6-40E1-9E124BEC3B92A10E&src= stlamerican&rqid=9804494A-961C4D7A-903A-ACB96A5E3513

www.stlamerican.com

HOME REPAIR PROJECT COORDINATOR

Mission: St. Louis is looking for a Home Repair Project Coordinator, to coordinate and perform minor home repairs for the Energy Efficiency, Accessibility, and Weatherization Program, which serves senior citizens in the city of St. Louis. Applicants should possess at least 3 years home repair or construction experience. If interested, submit cover letter & resume to todd.martin@missionstl.org

Interviews will begin immediately.

Mission: St. Louis is an EOE

FINANCIAL REPORTING ACCOUNTANT

Complete tasks associated with the Company’s quarterly and annual statutory, hgaap and jgaap reporting requirements. Work to obtain in depth knowledge of the general ledger and Peoplesoft nVision and query reporting capabilities. To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational. com/careers-page/

BI PROGRAMMER ANALYST

Responsible for administering and maintaining SQL databases. Also responsible for database development efforts across all teams. To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational. com/careers-page/

NOW HIRING PROFESSIONAL CLEANER POSITIONS

The Clean-Tech Company continues to have a Weekly Job Event every Thursday, 1PM-4PM, at the Clean-Tech Office- located at #211 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63013!

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

ARCHS, an innovative not-for-profit funding agency, is seeking a full-time Communications Specialist with dynamic digital-age expertise to lead our fast-paced internal newsroom. Use your creative and technical skills to tell ARCHS’ amazing stories through strategic use of social media, writing, graphic design, photos, and videos. Great opportunity for news producers/ journalists. The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree (communications, journalism, marketing); 2+ years of relevant experience; be highly inquisitive, organized, and deadline focused; excel at multi-tasking and team building; and have an outgoing personality, Be prepared to provide portfolio showcasing your skills and talent. ARCHS’ benefit package includes a 401(k) match. Applicants should apply using this link: http://sgiz.mobi/s3/ARCHS-Position-Appl ication?position=Communication+ Specialist OR Fax to HR, 314-289-5670 by June 18, 2021. NO phone calls please.

HIRING FULL & PART TIME PERSONAL CARE AIDES

St. Louis & St. Charles Area Call Karen at 314-298-7002

POLICE OFFICER

The City of Richmond Heights is accepting applications for the position of Police Officer . To apply go to https:// richmondheights.applicantpro. com/jobs/ . Applications will be accepted from May 12, 2021 through May 25, 2021.

ACCOUNTING BOOKKEEPER

Network for Strong Communities seeks accounting bookkeeper. Basic accounting/bookkeeping knowledge required. Knowledge of Quickbooks or Quickbooks Online is preferred but not necessary. Send resume to wendy@nscnow.org

CLAIMS MANAGER

Responsible for handling assigned claims from initial assignment to closure, as well as provide assistance in various administrative functions associated with the Excess WC LOB.

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

MARYGROVE DIRECT CARE-RESIDENTIAL TECHNICIANS NEEDED FULL-TIME

Job Description: Implements the day to day operation of the residential service program within the particular department including supervision, transportation, medication administration, skill building, group outings, etc.

Minimum Skills / Qualifications:

· 21 years of age or older

· High School Diploma or Equivalent

· Psychology or related field or equivalent in experience

· Valid Driver’s License

· Experience with S.E.D. children preferred EOE/M/F/H/V Apply online at marygrovechildren.org or fax resume to 314-584-6105.

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CEO

An organization in the Central West-End area is looking for an Executive Assistant to the CEO join our team. The candidate should be well-organized detail-oriented, ability to multitask with great follow-up skills, strong written and verbal communication skills; and comfortable providing administrative support for the CEO and other executives (as needed). Send resume to: exec-asstjob@mail.com EOE

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING

Loyola Academy of St. Louis, a Jesuit-sponsored middle-school for boys, seeks a dynamic person to serve as the Director of Development and Marketing for the 2021-22 school year. Loyola Academy is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty by providing a rigorous education, extra-curricular programming, and an emphasis on personal and spiritual development to sixty students. The Director of Development and Marketing directs and implements a fundraising program that includes all development areas: annual giving, major gifts, donor software and cultivation, corporate and foundation grants and sponsorships, grant writing and reporting, communications, special campaigns, and events. The successful candidate will have a bachelor’s degree, CFRE or MBA preferred, have 3-5 years’ experience, possess great managerial, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills. Please submit a letter of interest and resume to Dr. H. Eric Clark, President, at eclark@loyolaacademy.org by Monday, 6/4/21. No phone inquiries, please. For additional information about the school, please visit our website www.loyolaacademy.org

RECRUITING NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Northside Youth And Senior Service Center (NSYSSC) is recruiting new board members from the St. Louis area to support our mission to meet the basic needs of vulnerable residents in the City of St. Louis.

Membership of the Board of Directors will provide you with an opportunity to impact the lives of vulnerable children and seniors by providing meals, senior transportation, academic enrichment, after school programs, housing support services and access to technology.

The Ideal Candidate must be a passionate leader, desires to make a positive impact in an underserved community of color and has the ability to serve with like-minded leaders supporting the community.

Requirements:

• Must be a Resident of St. Louis Metropolitan Area

• Serve on and participate in board committee work.

• Engage and secure fundraising for the organization to advance our mission.

• Leverage professional relationships and connections to secure partnerships.

• Help the Development Committee and staff identify and solicit potential funders.

• Directly invest in the work of Northside by making a personal contribution each year

• Attend one board meeting per month (every 4th Friday) from 7:45 am-8:45 am, CST.

To apply, please send a copy of your most current resume to careers@nsyssc.com and a link to your Linkedln profile, if you have one.

St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices

SEEKING PROPOSALS

SBC Contracting, Inc. is seeking qualified African American, Hispanic American, Asian American and Women Owned Business Proposals for the St. Louis BPS Citywide Sidewalk Project, Letting 8729. Scope of work includes concrete flatwork excavations, sawcut, backfill & seeding, asphalt and concrete speed humps and other misc. site work items.

Proposals are due via email by close of business on May 28, 2021 Attn: Annie Stika. Email: ajstika@aol.com

Plans and specs can be viewed at no charge on the St. Louis BPS website Stlouismo.gov and clicking on BPS online plan room.

SBC Contracting is committed to obtaining maximum DBE utilization on this contract and welcomes any questions by contacting Mike Woodling, Project Mgr., at (314) 503-4437.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Paric Corporation is seeking proposals for the following project: MU Middlebush Farm - NextGen Center of Excellence for Influenza Research. Proposals are due no later than June 2, 2021 02:00 PM

The project includes ground up pre-engineered 8300SF metal building on 3.55 Acres, development of land, new building, and build out. Drawings, specifications, and other related contract information may be obtained at http://operationswebapps.missouri.edu/pdc/adsite/ad.html. Electronic bid sets are available at no cost and may be printed as desired by the plan holders.

A prebid meeting will be held at 1:00 p.m., C.T., May 17, 2021 via web conference. A site walkthrough will be held at 1:00 p.m., C.T., May 18, 2021. Additional instructions regarding where to meet will be provided at the conclusion of the Zoom meeting portion of the prebid meeting. Those on site must follow the University’s Show-Me Renewal Guidelines. https://renewal.missouri.edu/safety-expectations/ Join Zoom Meeting: https://umsystem.zoom.us/j/92683524766?pwd= SHFMcnByRzVHeGhBcWlqOVpRMzRwZz09

Meeting ID: 926 8352 4766

Passcode: CP191901

Call In #: (312) 626-6799

Your proposals are due no later than June 2, 2021 02:00 PM

PARIC CORPORATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Professional Engineering & Design Services 20th Street Multimodal

Issued May 14, 2021 by St. Louis Development Corp. Responses Due: June 8, 2021

This RFQ is available at https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/ government/procurement.cfm

St. Louis Development Corp. is seeking Statements of Qualifications from qualified firms to provide professional engineering & design services for the 20th Street Multimodal Improvements Project, from Market St. to St. Louis Ave. The project includes design, engineering and ROW for a CMAQ Grant.

Respondents must take affirmative action to ensure that employees & applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, sex, religion, creed, age, familial status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Goals of 25% MBE participation and 5% WBE participation will be sought for all work proposed on the project.

Contact: Lori Goerlich, Major Project Manager GoerlichL@stlouis-mo.gov

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for CONTRACT NO. F 21 505, Renovation for Respiratory Care at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley Campus, until 2:00 p.m. local time Thursday June 3, 2021 Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 5464 Highland Park, St. Louis, MO 631101314. Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from the Manager’s office, at the above address or by calling (314) 644-9770.

An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer

PREBID: Friday, May 21, 2021 at 9:00 am at the Southeast Entrance of Emerson Center at Florissant Valley

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for Washington Terrace 14 Sewer Replacement under Letting No. 13292015.1, at this office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualified by the District’s Engineering Department for: Deep Sewer Construction St. Louis Drain Layers License Required Plans and Specifications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 2731 S. Jefferson Avenue, St.Louis, MO 63118 or at www.stlmsdplanroom.com. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid. The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

BID NOTICE

Responses for St. Louis Community College on RFP B0004077 for Management and Operation of the Mobile Enrollment Unit will be received until 3:00 PM (CST) on June 4, 2021. Go to https://stlcc.bonfirehub.com for bid document and submission.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

The St. Louis Community College invites Separate sealed bids for Housekeeping Maintenance Agreements No. M-344-Corporate College. There will be a non-mandatory walkthrough scheduled for the the Corporate College at 9am on May 18, 2021. Bids will be received by the Board of Trustees of the St. Louis Community College until 2:00pm Local time, May 27, 2021, and publicly Opened at the office of the Supervisor of Maintenance, 3221 McKelvey Rd., Bridgeton MO 63044 and read Aloud. Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from the supervisor’s office.

An Equal Opportunity and Affirmation Action Employer

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Assessment Books or Records, containing the assessments of taxable property in the City of St. Louis for the year 2021, are open for inspection in the Assessor’s Office, Real Estate Records Section, Room 114, City Hall. The 2021 values can also be viewed at https://www.stlouis-mo. gov/data/address-search/

The Board of Equalization will meet beginning on July 6, 2021, during regular business hours, and will remain in session pursuant to State Law. Any person may appeal the assessment of their property by emailing appeal@stlouis-mo.gov or writing to the Board of Equalization, 1200 Market St., Room 120, St. Louis, MO 63103.

Any appeal to the Board of Equalization is required to be filed in the Office of the Assessor on or before July 12, 2021. Michael R. Dauphin City of St. Louis Assessor https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/assessor/index.cfm

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Altman-Charter Co., requests subcontractor/supplier proposals for the construction of Preservation Square Phase 2A & 2B in St. Louis, MO. This is a new development consisting of a total of 222 New Apartment Units. Proposals are due at the office of Altman-Charter Co., 315 Consort Dr., St. Louis, MO 63011 on or before Wed., June 9, 2021 at 3:00 PM (CT). Qualified Minority, Section 3, and Women owned businesses are encouraged to submit proposals. Plans can be viewed at FW Dodge, Construct Connect, SIBA, MOKAN, and the Altman-Charter plan room in St. Louis. Bidders should contact Mr. James Geerling with any questions or to submit a proposal at jamesg@altman-charter.com. Our telephone # is (636) 207-8670, and our fax # is (636) 207-8671.

BID NOTICE

The City of Crestwood is seeking bids for the Joseph Sappington Log Cabin Transportation and Relocation Project. Qualified contractors may obtain a Project Manual online at www.cityofcrestwood.org

For questions, contact Charlie Henke at chenke@ caseengineeringinc.com Bids are due by 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 27, 2021.

LETTING NO. 8729

FY 2022 & 2023 CITYWIDE SIDEWALK CONTRACT

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 301 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on JUNE 1, 2021, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/ planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

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

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

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Wachter, inc. is soliciting, subcontractor bids for the St. Louis County Police Precinct #3 project, due on June 11, 2021, at 2:00 pm. Plans and specs are available at Cross Rhodes Reprographics (314-678-0087) or can be accessed electronically at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ 13mEEL7JfF8_RbxfYoAxixRHBgi_dQrqu? usp=sharing.

This project requires a good faith effort be made to include MBE and WBE firms on the construction team and we encourage these firms to submit bids to achieve these goals. This project is subject to the Missouri Prevailing Wage Laws and is sales tax exempt. Please send your bids to bids@wachterinc.com or call our office at (636) 464-3555 with any questions.

EOE/AA

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Paric Corporation is seeking proposals for the following project: 1717 Olive Street, St. Louis.

The project consists of renovating the Historic recognized Butler Building located on 1717 Olive Street. St Louis, MO into 384 units including amenity spaces such as a pool, walking track, fitness room and community areas. The project also includes an enclosed parking garage and retail spaces. We are currently soliciting design build bids only for the Fire Sprinkler System, Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical and Elevators. Bids will be due on June 08, 2021 at 2:00pm. A walk thru will be scheduled for May 20, 2021 at 9:00am. The remaining packages will be bid in early fall (September).

A VIRTUAL Meet and Greet for the project will be held on May 11, 2021 at 1:30pm. Please join the session by clicking the link below.

For any specific questions or if would like to find out more detailed information on this opportunity, please contact Ruben Guzman at 636-561-9563 or RMGuzman@paric.com.

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

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

State & Local Legislative Relations Consulting Services

St. Louis, Missouri

The City of St. Louis Port Authority will receive Sealed Proposals on 6/10/2021

For more Info. Visit https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/ departments/sldc/procurement/index.cfm

Curtiss-Manes-Schulte, Inc. is soliciting bids from MBE/WBE/ SDVE/DBE subcontractors and suppliers for work on the Middlebush Farm NextGen Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO. Bids are due Thursday, June 3, 2021 by 12:00 pm and can be faxed to (573) 392-4527 or emailed to bbrown@cms-gc.com For more information, call Bob @ (573) 392-6553.

Curtiss-Manes-Schulte, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

& Local

Louis, Missouri

The City of St. Louis Port Authority will receive Sealed Proposals on 6/10/2021 For more Info. Visit https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/ departments/sldc/procurement/index.cfm

St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices

CITY OF ST. LOUIS

ST. LOUIS LAMBERT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

Service: Marketing Advisory Services

Pre-Proposal Meeting Date: May 19, 2021

Meeting will be held via Zoom. See RFP for details.

Question Due Date: May 24, 2021

Proposal Due Date: June 18, 2021

M/WBE Goals & Incentives:

MBE goals: 25% WBE goal: 5%

A 15% M/WBE incentive credit shall be applied to the evaluation of professional service prime contracts who are currently certified MBE-African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, Native American and WBE-Women owned Business Enterprises.

Point of Contact: Briana Bryant– bnbryant@flystl.com

Proposal documents may be obtained at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, Airport Properties Division, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., or by calling (314) 426-8174. This RFP may also be obtained by visiting our website at www.flystl.com/business/contract-opportunites.

Robert Salarano Airport Properties Division Manager

LETTING #8731

C9 GARAGE DEMOLITION AT CERVANTES CONVENTION CENTER

PROJECT NO. 2020-31-087

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

SEALED PROPOSALS will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 301 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on June 8th, 2021, 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 May 19th, 2021 at 10:00 am at the C9 Garage, 915 North 9th Street.

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

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

REQUEST FOR BID

Electronic bids will be received by the City of Dellwood until Thursday, June 11th 2021 at 11:00am CDT for CDBG DELLWOOD DOG PARK. Electronic bids should emailed to sbabalola@cityofdellwoodmo.com and wdg@weisdesigngroup.com. A link to attend the virtual bid opening will be emailed out to all planholders at a later time at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. Bids received after said time will be unopened. The contract work in general shall include portion removal of existing asphalt trail, installation of a new asphalt trail, installation of dog park amentities (owner provided, contractor install), new ¾” waterline from recreation center and approximately 830 LF of chainlink fencing. The contractor is responsible for all items of work and testing necessary to complete the project. Additional items and estimated quantities are inclusive in the Bid Proposal.

Digital plans and specifications may be obtained starting on May 15th , 2021 from Weis Design Group at wdg@weisdesigngroup.com

Each bid must be accompanied by a cashier’s check or certified check, or a Bid Bond executed by the BIDDER and an approved surety company and payable to the CITY, in an amount not less than five percent (5%) of the sum total of the base bid. Not less than the prevailing hourly rates of wages that State/Federal Wage Rates shall prevail, or determined by court on appeal, shall be paid to all workers performing work under this Contract. The highest rate between the two (Federal and State) for each job classification shall be considered the prevailing wage.

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.

Be advised that contracts over $100,000 trigger Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968. Section 3 requires that economic opportunities generated by the expenditure of HUD funds be directed, to the greatest extent feasible, to low and moderate income persons via contracting, employment and training. All contractors and subcontractors working on this project will need to demonstrate compliance with Section 3 numeric targets and other applicable provisions. In cases where Section 3 compliance is not achieved, contractors and subcontractors must document good-faith efforts to comply.

The MBE/WBE goals for this letting are DBE 15% of the total contract amount. See CDBG requirements

All BIDDERS must meet the MoDOT requirements as a CONTRACTOR prior to bid opening in accordance with the Missouri Standard Specification Book for Highway Construction.

No trainee hours are required under this contract.

A Performance Bond and Payment and Materials Bond are required.

The City of Dellwood hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure tht in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, ancestry, or national origin in consideration for an award.”color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

In accordance with the Davis-Bacon Act, and the Missouri Prevailing Wage Law, the Contractor will be required to comply with the wage and labor requirements and to pay minimum wages in accordance with the schedule of wage rates established by the United States Department of Labor and the Missouri Division of Labor Standards, respectively. The highest rate between the two (Federal and State) for each job classification shall be considered the prevailing wage.

No bid may be withdrawn within thirty (30) days after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids. The City must first review all bids before rejecting bids and awarding the contract. The City will only concur with awarding the contract to the “lowest, responsive, responsible bidder”.

The bidder, having examined and being familiar with the local conditions affecting the work, and the contract, contract documents, including the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission’s “Missouri Standard Specification for Highway Construction, 2021” and most current supplement, and “Missouri Standard Plans for Highway Construction, 2019”, and “Standard Construction Specifications for Sewers and Drainage Facilities 2018 Metropolitan Sewer District”. Bidders are informed that pursuant to Section 285.530, RSMo, as a condition of the award of any contract in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), the successful bidder shall, by sworn affidavit and provision of documentation, affirm its enrollment and participation with respect to the employees working in connection to the contracted services.

Successful bidders shall also sign an affidavit affirming that it does not knowingly employ any person who is an unauthorized alien in connection to the contracted services (E-Verify).

Missouri law, 292.675 RSMo, requires the Contractor and its subcontractor(s) to provide a ten-hour occupational safety and health administration (OSHA) construction safety program (or a similar program approved by the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations as a qualified substitute) for their on-site employees (laborers, workmen, drivers, equipment operators and craftsmen) who have not previously completed such a program and are directly engaged in actual construction of the improvement (or working at a nearby or adjacent facility used for construction of the improvement). The Contractor and its subcontractor(s) shall require all such employees to complete this ten-hour program, pursuant to 292.675 RSMo, unless they hold documentation on their prior completion of said program. Penalties for non-compliance include Contractor forfeiture to the City of Dellwood in the amount of $2,500, plus $100 per contractor and subcontractor employee for each calendar day such employee is employed beyond the elapsed time period for required program completion under 292.675 RSMo.

SEALED BIDS

B I D

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Repair B u i l d i n g Exterior, Troop B Headquarters & Crime Lab, M a c o n , M O Project No. R2013-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, June 17, 2021 For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

OPPORTUNITY: the MO National Guard will have several projects across the state that will be open for public bid between June and September 2021. Bids will be received online through M i s s o u r i B U Y S . The projects that will be bidding are as follows: REBID T2049-01 (30-Soldier Barracks Bldg. Camp Crowder) T2101-01 (60-Soldier Barracks Bldg. Camp Crowder) T2102-01 (60-Soldier Barracks Bldg. Macon Training Site) T210301 (200-Soldier Dining Facility Camp Crowder) T2104-01 (200-Soldier Dining Facility Camp Clark) T2105-01 (St. Joseph FMS Addition) T2123-01 (Utility Main Extension Camp Crowder) T2127-01 (Utility Main Extension Macon Training Site) T2030-01 (Construct Unheated Storage Bldg. Festus FMS) T2037-01 (Flight Line & POV Parking Area Improvements Jefferson City AASF) T2039-01 (Exterior LED Roadway Lighting Ike Skelton Training Site) T204001 (Replace Roof Ike Skelton Training Site USPFO) T2043-01 (Construct Mobile Vault Pad & POV Expansion Clinton RC). To view the bidding schedule and/or the plans & specifications, go to https://oa.mo.gov/ facilities/

INVITATION TO BID - DBES HEAVY CIVIL CONSTRUCTION

Massman Construction Co. and Emery Sapp & Sons, Inc., as partners comprising the joint venture Rocheport Bridge Constructors, are soliciting proposals from Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) for the I-70 Rocheport Bridge Design-Build Project (MoDOT Project J5I3358). Proposals shall be submitted directly to Massman Construction Co. and/or Emery Sapp & Sons, Inc., depending on the scope of interest to the bidder. All proposals must be submitted by May 28, 2021

Project includes bridges, roadway, retaining walls, utilities; for additional scopes of work & other inquiries on this project, please contact Donald Nunez, Massman Construction Co., 4400 W 109th St, 3rd Floor, Overland Park, KS 66211 (913) 291-2618, or Rusty Crane, Emery Sapp & Sons, Inc., 2301 I-70 Drive NW, Columbia, MO 65202 (573) 489-9207. Non-disclosure Agreements are required prior to providing information to bidders.

We actively encourage MoDOT certified DBEs to submit proposals for a wide range of opportunities and welcome their participation on the I-70 Rocheport Bridge Design-Build Project.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Repair Stone Walkway, First State Capitol State Historic Site, Project No. X2101-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 6/3/2021 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. For specific project information, go to: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

Dick Otke Construction is seeking MBE & WBE Subcontractors/Suppliers who are interested in bidding the Freedom House I Apt. Bldg. A Single Story, 13 Unit Wood Frame Apt. in Columbia, MO. Bid Due Date is May 28th @ 4:30pm. Bidders can contact DOCC at 573.893.2299 or by email at tim. morgan@builddocc.com for more info. DOCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

BID NOTICE

Cahills Construction, Inc. seeks minority participation and bids from Minority Business Entities, Service Disabled Veteran Entities and Women Business Entities for Lighting UpgradeEnergy Loan located at Missouri University of Science and Technology. Please submit bids by 1 pm on May 24, 2021. Please call 573-426-5305 for more information or email: bids@cahillsconstruction.com

offices or in the audience really feels that this wonderful art form really belongs to them,” said Andrew Jorgensen, general director of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, as he welcomed guests to the virtual symposium.

Over the course of four-anda-half hours on two separate Tuesdays, those immersed in the art form delivered brutally honest, eye-opening and engaging conversations and presentations were held that shed light on Black people’s struggle for inclusion within the historically white art form.

“Our symposium might give you the impression that Black folks are fully integrated into the opera today,” said University of Michigan professor, opera scholar and author Dr. Naomi Andre, who provided opening remarks for the symposium and moderated day two of the programming.

“While many strides have been made, the sense of belonging is far from being achieved. From the 18th century through the middle of the 20th century, opera was officially – and legally – a segregated practice. Remember, we are still in the first generations of integrated opera.” Washington University Vice Provost Adrienne Davis represented both the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis – where she serves as a board member– as moderator for the first panel.

Davis said that the purpose of the talk was to explore a trio of questions as it relates to Blacks in opera.

The questions included, “Whose stories are we telling?

Who is empowered to tell these stories and who gets to hear these stories?”

“We should be prioritizing the voices of Black compos-

ers” said Afton Battle, recently appointed General Director of Fort Worth Opera.

“Those who are living and also those who have become our ancestors. They are telling a story from the perspective of the black experience. And that is truly the only way we should be experiencing black stories.”

In day two, renowned soprano and music professor Nicole Cabell confessed that though she had sung in opera houses around the world, she has never performed a song by a Black woman composer.

“That’s how much they don’t exist – and how much we need them,” Cabell said.

The talk illustrated that the

n “Those who are living and also those who have become our ancestors. They are telling a story from the perspective of the black experience. And that is truly the only way we should be experiencing black stories.”

-Afton Battle, General Director of Fort Worth Opera

Black experience within opera mirrors society as a whole in many forms – from respectability politics, to representation.

Quodesia “Quo” Johnson, Education and Company Culture Manager for The Dallas Opera defined respectability as “a tool for those who power hoarding and those who believe they have a right to comfort white supremacy culture norms.”

“I have a right to be comfortable, so I want your hair to only be worn a certain way. I have a right to be comfortable around you, so I need you to use a particular dialect – or get rid of your accent,” Johnson said. “I have a right to be com-

fortable around you, so I don’t want you to be so passionate about your experiences, even if they are your own lived experiences.”

Bass Morris Robinson discussed the pressures he feels as a Black man on the opera stage.

“Because of my [type of] voice I play kings, gods, devils, fathers and priests. There is a lot of authority within these roles,” Robinson said. “Not only do I have to convince people of the character, but I have to convince people to hire me, my blackness can’t be a distraction to my authority of the role.”

That’s coupled with his innate desire to prove that he does belong in opera.

“The desire to prove that I’m not a fluke. The desire to prove that I’m just as artistic. The desire to prove that I am just as good with my languages,” Robinson said.

“I take what I do very seriously because I feel like I carry the weight of everyone else on my shoulders.”

Battle said her sense of belonging comes when she knows she is not in a space just to prove how progressive something is.

“When I have the ability to be who I am,” Battle said. “When people shift, not just so that there is enough room, but an ample amount of room for us to move together.”

Marcia Sells, Chief Diversity Officer for the Metropolitan Opera, said she’s felt like she belonged in opera because someone was always telling her “these things are rightfully yours.”

“And we need to figure out how to do that with everyone else,” Sells said.

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ season opens May 22 with Puccini’s GIANNI SCHICCHI and continues with famed Black composer William Grant Still’s HIGHWAY 1, USA. For more information, visit https://opera-stl.org/2021festival-season

used by God.”

“Saved Hot Mess,” a 28-day devotional comprised of scriptures, prayers, cleansing thoughts, and space for reflection, provides deeper thinking on topics Reign said are often viewed as taboo in church settings; authenticity surrounding sexual desires, infertility complications and abandonment issues stemming from difficult father/daughter relationships. Reign decided to be unapologetic with the book’s subject matter, especially when it comes to sex because it is human nature to have specific feelings about it. She realized it was best to be open and upfront about it rather than not address it.

“I decided to put myself out there because I am saved and I’m also a sexual person,” Reign said. “I have to be honest when it comes to spirituality, I can’t speak for everybody else. If I want to stay in His good

graces, I have to keep it 100 with God.”

One of the biggest takeaways Cashelle and Reign want readers to walk away with from “Saved Hot Mess” is that it is

n “I almost feel like God was like ‘I want you to be my little Dora the Explorer’ and show people that I can help them with the things in their life they think are too messy.”

- Mahogani Reign

not a pass to be a “lukewarm Christian.” It is encouraging people to be open about issues and grow from them.

“Saved Hot Mess is one of those things where we’re not telling you this is okay; we’re telling you we understand, and

“He would take the initiative to check out other artists and introduce himself after their performance,” Dobbs said.

Continued from C1

After two separate investigations by the New York Police Department and the Manhattan district attorney’s office, she was charged with attempted assault, attempted robbery, grand larceny and acting in a manner injurious to a child.

In March, the Harrold family announced they had filed a civil lawsuit against Ponsetto and the Arlo Hotel.

Harrold’s no stranger to JSL, Bradford said. He recalls seeing him perform there as a teenager, when it carried the name Jazz at the Bistro.

“He not only had talent, but he also had some swagger, and I think that’s one of the things that’s helped him get to where he is today.”

Harrold is now working at a place he spent much of his youth learning and honing his craft full-circle. He compares it to coming home from college and introducing your school friends to your family.

“It really is a full circle dream where I get a chance to come home and really add to the beauty of St. Louis,” Harrold said.

Musically, I get an opportunity to bring amazing acts, art-

this is how we can move forward.” Cashelle said. Cashelle and Reign are interested in partnering with local churches struggling with youths in congregations, nonprofit organizations and book clubs to discuss “Saved Hot Mess.”

“I’m looking for ministries that may be struggling with their young adult population and they’re trying to find a vehicle to connect the old with the new,” Reign said.

“Saved Hot Mess,” is available at dipublications.com, Amazon and ebook. It will be released to audiobooks later this month.

Khadijah Amirah, a Benton Park resident, has written her two books under the pen name Mahogani Reign. The Vashon High School and Skin Institute graduate has worked as a makeup artist and esthetician for more than 13 years. Her clientele has included Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Debbye Turner, the second Black Miss America, Lyah Lefore, author of “Last Night a DJ Saved My Life,” and local singers ShaiLynn and Be.Be.

ists, amazing ideas and vibes to St. Louis. I’m looking forward to that.”

Harrold graduated from the School of Jazz at The New School in New York City. His first major job was working with Common, and he’s since performed with JAY-Z, Maxwell, D’Angelo, Rihanna, Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Beyoncé.

He’s appeared on dozens of albums and film projects and received acclaim for his trumpet performances in Don Cheadle’s Miles Davis biopic Miles Ahead. His solo album, “Introducing Keyon Harrold” was released in 2009, and he cut The Mugician in 2017.