The St. LouiS AmericAn
Rest well, Queen
Music icon Tina Turner, rock music goddess with St. Louis roots, passes at 83
By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American
When her bus reached its St. Louis destination from Nutbush, Tennessee in 1956, Anna Mae Bullock arrived as a shy teenager. During her time in the region, she would be primed to become one of the biggest names in music.
The icon who destroyed barriers with respect to age, race, and gender on her ascent to global superstardom passed away at her home near Zurich, Switzerland on Wednesday, May 24 after a lengthy illness. She was 83.
“With her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow,” a statement read from Turner’s official Instagram account. “Today we say goodbye to a dear friend
See TURNER, A7
Superstar Tina Turner passed away at age 83 on Wednesday, May 24.
113th
Annie Malone
By Danielle Brown St. Louis American
Unapologetic
Tragedy
May Day Parade a historic family affair healTh
Harris fatally shot 15-year-old Alexzandria Bell, and health and physical education teacher Jean Kuczka, 61. He was killed by police.
After the heartbreaking year, the school, SLPS district, community, and St. Louis watched CVPA’s band make its comeback in the parade. Its proud members showed they haven’t missed a beat.
Students dressed in the school colors yellow, black and white wore
shirts that said “CVPA Strong” and held a banner with the same phrase. The band performed a harmonious rendition of Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow’s “Industry Baby.”
“Get It CJ! That’s my cousin right there!,” shouted a parade attendee.
100.3 The Beat’s Beejay The DJ, a parade emcee, commended the students on their strength.
Honorees dedicated to improving mental health
By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American
Black adults are experiencing depression diagnoses at twice the rate of white adults, according to a Gallup study released on Monday. Depression is on the rise in the United States, and it’s affecting these groups most: women, young adults, and Black people.
Black mental health is in crisis, which makes the work of the St. Louis County Children’s Fund Dr. John Anderson Mental Health awardees even more vital.
The Excellence in Mental Health –Community Mental Health Provider awardee is LaTosha Fowlkes, The Core Collective at Saint Vincent president and CEO.
The Excellence in the Field of Mental Health awardee is Lizette Smith, Our Little Haven Clinical Programs director.
See SALUTE, A7
By Sylvester Brown Jr. The St. Louis American
In January, Dr. Masa MassenburgJohnson, along with fellow educators, parents and students at LaSalle Middle School, learned that it would close at the end of the school year.
Founded as a private Catholic school, LaSalle, a predominantly Black charter school, served about 120 6th-8th grade students. In a letter from the board, MassenburgJohnson, the school’s assistant principal and others learned that low student test scores was a reason the Missouri Public Charter School Commission had lost confidence in the institution.
“It stunned me, because LaSalle has been a haven for me, a place where I learned and was really able to connect with the community in servant leadership. It was a jolt.”
Seemingly skeptical of the stated reason for closing the school, MassenburgSee JOHNSON, A6
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
The Jennings High School marching band breaks it down for the parade goers during the 113th Annual Annie Malone May Day Parade Sunday, May 21.
LaTosha Fowlkes
Lizette Smith
The Color Purple musical to feature Halle Bailey, Fantasia, Taraji P. Henson
The trailer for the upcoming “The Color Purple” musical film features an all-star cast including Halle Bailey, Fantasia Barrino-Taylor Taraji P. Henson, and more.
The trailer shows young Celie and her sister Nettie (Phylicia Pearl Mpasi and Bailey) sisterly bond and how it breaks apart due to Mister (Colman Domingo).
Henson plays the role of Shug Avery, who provides encouragement and love for Celie as she takes her power back from Mister.
The film also stars Louis Gossett Jr. as old Mister, Ciara as older Nettie, and Taylor as older Celie. The cast also features Aunjanue Ellis David Alan Grier, Tamela Mann, Deon Cole, H.E.R., Danielle Brooks and Stephen Hill
Blitz Bazawule directed the film and Marcus Gardley wrote the film. It was adapted from the screenplay from the Broadway musical and Alice Walker’s novel of the same name. Fatima
Robinson is the choreographer. Oprah Winfrey Quincy Jones, Steven Spielberg who directed the original The Color Purple film will produce.
The Color Purple will be released in theaters on Christmas Day 2023.
Beyoncé, Jay-Z buy $200 million home in cash
Buying a $200 million house in cash isn’t a flex everyone can say they have, but Jay-Z and Beyoncé can. The couple recently bought the most expensive home in the state of California.
The contract is also said to be the second most expensive in the history of US real estate, as a New York City apartment previously sold for $238 million.
The Carters bought an all-concrete home from William Bell, one of the biggest art collectors in the world. Japanese master architect Tadao Ando designed the 30,000-square-foot property.
The Carters got a nice deal on their Malibu, CA property, which originally listed at $295 million.
They bought a Bel-Air home for $88 million in 2017.
Forbes reports Beyoncé’s net worth is $450 million, while Jay-Z’s is $2.5
billion. Sheldon Reynolds, Earth, Wind & Fire guitarist dies at 63
Sheldon Reynolds, a guitarist and singer for Earth, Wind & Fire has died. He was 63. He joined the band in 1987 and stayed until 2002. “Sheldon was an excellent addition to the band, a great writer and producer, and a kind, loving person,” current band member and singer Philip Bailey wrote on social media. “He will be missed. Our condolences to his family.” Reynolds was involved with the albums, “Heritage,” “Millennium,” and “In the Name of Love.” Earth, Wind & Fire launched in 1970 under Maurice White’ s leadership. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. They also performed in the 2005 Super Bowl halftime show.
They’ve won six Grammys including a Grammy lifetime achievement award.
Spike Lee’s father, jazz bassist Bill Lee dead at 94
Bill Lee, jazz bassist who played with Bob Dylan and Aretha Franklin, and the father of filmmaker Spike Lee, has died at age 94.
Lee died at his Brooklyn home. Spike confirmed the news to The New York Times. A cause of death hasn’t been revealed.
Lee was a longtime session musician whose work became popular in the early 1960s. His double bass can be heard on recordings by Harry Belafonte, Odetta, Duke Ellington, and more.
His most known appearances are on Dylan’s “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue,” Franklin’s debut “Aretha” and Simon and Garfunkel’s 1964 first LP, “Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.” Decades later he was a composer for his son’s films. He did the scores for Spike’s early movies
“Joe’s Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads,” “She’s Gotta Have It,” “School Daze,” “Do the Right Thing, and Mo’ Better Blues.”
Sources: ShadowandAct. com, YouTube.com, PageSix.com, Vibe.com
Sheldon Reynolds
Halle Bailey
“[I will] restore hope and pride back to our city again.”
-Cherelle Parker, Democratic nominee for Philadelphia mayor
Rosati-Kain senior headed to Harvard with historic view
She’s also a gifted artist
By Danielle Brown St. Louis American
Gabrielle Mitchell-Bonds, a senior at Rosati-Kain High School Mitchell-Bonds is headed to one of the world’s most presti-gious universities, degree in sociology and African American studies.
She’s interested in legislation and public policy and is considering attending law school after her undergraduate studies are completed.
people really inspired me. My painting was about that practice and how we can protect young girls.”
She almost didn’t enter the competition. After one of her friends sent her the competition link she held off awhile before submitting her work. After waiting until the last minute, she put herself in the running.
Harvard University n this fall to pursue a “As I got older I found ways to mature my art as I matured. That’s where that history piece and learning piece comes along and it’s something I still continue to find joy in.
Oh, she also just happened to inish third place in the 2023 Congres-sional Art Com-petition for her painting, “Why Is The Child Crying?”.
“When I first made this piece I was doing a lot of reading,” Mitchell-Bonds said.
“I read the book [“Possessing The Secret of Joy” by Alice Walker] and it discusses female genital mutilation which is a practice in Africa. Learning about the trauma that brings to young girls, and how it affects
- Gabrielle Mitchell-Bonds
“I was nervous,” she said.
“I think also there was a lot going on with school and I was just overwhelmed with work. I decided to enter finally because the piece I entered was very important to me and it had a different meaning. I wanted that to be seen.”
Mitchell-Bonds said she’s been drawing and painting since elementary school.
“I loved to draw, I loved to paint, I loved any form of art,” she said.
“As I got older I found ways to mature my art as I matured.
That’s where that history piece and learning piece comes along and it’s something I still continue to find joy in.”
“Art is more of a hobby but I also like to integrate what I learn into my art. As I learn more about sociology and African American studies that’s going to heavily influence my art. That’s how I plan to integrate those interests into my artwork.”
Mitchell-Bonds said when it comes to her art it’s very important for her to tap into her culture as a Black woman.
“I love being able to express my history and learn about my ancestors and channel that energy into the art I create,” she said.
Mitchell-Bonds’ work represents Congresswoman Cori Bush’s Missouri 1st Congressio-
Gabrielle Mitchell-Bonds, a senior at Rosati-Kain High School won third place in the 2023 Congressional Art Competition for her painting, “Why Is The Child Crying?”.
nal District.
The Congressional Art Competition showcases the artistic and creative works of young artists from across the country.
This year’s theme for Bush’s district was “It’s a STL Life.” It was optional for participants to incorporate the theme into their art. The winner from the 1st district will have their work showcased in the U.S. Capitol for one year. The Washington, D.C. exhibit will also feature artwork from other contest winners worldwide.
The criteria for the artwork was that it had to be at least 26 inches by 26 inches, up to 4 inches in depth and not weigh more than 15 pounds. The work had to be framed and measure no more than the maximum dimensions. The contest categories include paintings in oil, acrylics and watercolor; drawings that are pastel, colored pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers; two-dimensional collages; prints including lithographs, silkscreen, and block prints; mixed media such as usage of more than two mediums in pencil, ink, watercolor, etc., computer-generated art; and photography.
Photo courtesy of Gabrielle MitchellBonds
Guest Editorial
As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues Editorial/Commentary
This is bigger than Morant exercising his gun rights as an American citizen.
My son loves Ja Morant; I kinda wish he didn’t
By John Celestand
My 9-year-old son’s favorite player is Ja Morant.
I need to explain this further, so you really get it. The person writing this article, the one who contributed to giving my son life, grew up a Los Angeles Lakers fan, played for the Los Angeles Lakers, and won an NBA Championship in 2000. Yet, my son is a Memphis Grizzlies fan.
As I walked past my son on the steps a few weeks ago to plant myself on the couch and watch the NBA playoffs, I asked him, “Hey, you coming to watch the game?”
He looked at me with confusion and said, “Why? The Grizzlies are out. I don’t care anymore.”
I’m trying to explain to you. My 9-year-old son’s favorite player is Ja Morant.
Since Morant’s latest incident flashing a gun on his own Instagram page, the go-to questions from “supporters” have been, “Well, is he licensed to carry?” “Was he in a state with open carry laws?”
This is bigger than Morant exercising his gun rights as an American citizen. This is bigger than another young Black man making an immature mistake, trying to find his way as a young Black multi-millionaire with the world in the palm of his hands. According to 2022 FBI statistics on the nation’s 50 largest cities, Memphis ranked 3rd in homicide rate (45.9%) per 100,000 population trailing only Baltimore (57.8%) and Detroit (48.9%). According to PropertyClub, in 2022, the most dangerous city in America was Memphis, Tennessee, boasting a crime rate 237% higher than the national average.
a tenth of the United States.
If that is not an easy enough scapegoat for Ja Morant, he — and we — could maybe blame it on hip-hop culture and the prevalence of firearms for street credibility.
There was a time when hip-hop culture told the story of violence, guns, and poverty in America — similar to a reporter on the outside looking in, giving America a real glimpse into the issues of Black inner-city America.
Over the years, this has evolved into a plethora of hip-hop artists no longer reporting on the issues of Black America, but being a part of the issue, glamorizing their role and how they partake in the madness.
The NBA is hip-hop, and hip-hop is the NBA. If you don’t believe me, then watch the playoffs and let me know one time a playoff game goes by where there isn’t at least one hip-hop artist courtside. So yeah, let’s blame hip-hop. I need something to tell my son. My 9-year-old son’s favorite player is Ja Morant. It pains me to point the finger at a Black man very involved in his son’s life. Ja Morant’s father, Tee Morant, can be seen at a number of games, front row, engaged, loud, enjoying life, wearing dark shades, ripped up skinny jeans, chopping it up with rappers, entertainers, and the who’s who in the NBA audience. I can’t give Tee Morant, who appears to be such an involved father, a pass here with so much on the line for one of the most sensational talents in the NBA. Maybe for Tee Morant, it’s time to take off the shades, put on some Dad jeans, and focus on what is probably the most glaring weakness in Ja Morant’s game: his decision-making.
Honoring a call to action by Malcolm X
By Denise Rolark Barnes
In a nation often bent towards forgetting, 85-year-old author A. Peter Bailey speaks proudly of his relationship with Malcolm X.
And on May 19, what would have been Malcolm X’s 98th birthday, Bailey says honoring the outspoken Muslim leader’s legacy isn’t merely an act of remembrance.
Instead, it is a clarion call to action and learning from Malcolm’s unwavering insistence on justice, equality, and freedom for Black people.
A native son of the South, Bailey’s a veteran who offered three years of his life to the U.S. Army, and subsequently nurtured his intellectual capacities at Howard University. Yet, like so many of his generation, Bailey found himself indifferent about Malcolm, and ensnared by the web of misconceptions about him.
“What I had heard was, you know, he was a big believer in violence, and he hated white folks, and that kind of thing,” Bailey explains.
However, a fateful summer day in 1962 offered Bailey an unexpected revelation about Brother Malcolm.
February 21, 1965, while giving a speech at the Audobon Ballroom in Manhattan, Bailey was there. He also served as a pallbearer at Malcolm X’s funeral. Since Malcolm X’s death, Bailey has referred to May 19 as a “day of celebration.”
Bailey’s assertion that Malcolm’s teachings should be the focal point of his commemoration resonates with timely urgency. In a recent op-ed Bailey wrote for The Washington Informer, he stressed that celebrations honoring the births of Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King are important. But “equally important,” he says, “is the need for us to learn from and act on the profound, productive, and inspiring guidelines the Brothers left us on how to promote and protect our health, economic, political, educational, technological, and communications interests in a country where overt white supremacy has once again become openly hostile.”
Bailey says he traveled to New York City in search of an internship and found an apartment in Harlem. He moved in on a Friday. The following day, he needed a break from unpacking, so he and a friend decided to stroll down Lenox Avenue — now Malcolm X Boulevard — and explore.
As they continued down Lenox Avenue, Bailey says they saw a crowd gathering. Someone told them that Malcolm X would be speaking outside of Mosque #7, at 116th Street and Lennox. So they decided to go and hear what he had to say.
“He shared so much knowledge that by the time he finished speaking, nearly three-and-a-half hours later, I had already become a supporter,” Bailey says.
Memphis had 7,913 crimes per 100,000 people, with an exceptionally high violent crime rate. In 2022, there were 15,318 incidents of violent crime, including 289 counts of murder, 2,134 counts of robbery, and 12,484 incidents of assault.
My son wants to go to Memphis. He doesn’t care about the barbecue. He doesn’t care about the Blues or Beale Street. He wants to see the Memphis Grizzlies live. My 9-year-old son’s favorite player is Ja Morant.
Sometimes I think it is extremely irresponsible to single out Ja Morant. It’s so much easier to pin the blame on America’s obsession with guns and gun culture.
The United States is the only nation where civilian guns outnumber people. The U.S. is one of only three countries in the world where bearing (or keeping) arms is a constitutional right (Guatemala and Mexico are the other two), yet the ownership rate of the other two is almost
If not, the most exciting point guard and floor general in the NBA today may want to understand that his days in the greatest basketball league on Earth are numbered.
It’s not just about Ja Morant. I think back to the character Nino Brown of the movie “New Jack City,” portrayed by Wesley Snipes, when he explained to the courtroom who wanted to make him the only fall guy, “This sh*t is bigger than Nino Brown.”
It sure was. And this is even bigger than the Memphis Grizzlies’ star franchise player.
John Celestand is program director of the Knight x LMA BloomLab, an initiative that supports advancement and sustainability of local Black-owned news publications. He is a former freelance sports broadcaster and writer who covered the NBA and college basketball.
Bailey’s admiration for Malcolm X grew so strong that when Malcolm left the Nation of Islam, Bailey became a founding member of the Organization of Afro-American Unity, a Black nationalist organization launched by Malcolm himself in 1964. Bailey also served as editor of the OAAU’s newsletter, the “Blacklash.”
When Malcolm X was assassinated on
Indeed, Bailey believes that if Malcolm were alive today, he would admonish Black institutions — including churches, sororities and fraternities, social and professional organizations, and the Black Press — to establish schools to teach Black history.
“Brother Malcolm would remind us that it is our responsibility to teach our own history all across this country,” Bailey says. And he’s put that into practice by refusing to let the truth about Malcolm X be brushed aside. In 1998, he co-wrote the book “Seventh Child: A Family Memoir of Malcolm X” with Malcolm’s nephew, Rodnell Collins.
Fifteen years later, in 2013, he penned “Witnessing Brother Malcolm X: The Master Teacher,” a memoir about the man he never befriended but who influenced his beliefs in Pan-Africanism and Black unity.
And, this year, Bailey will be releasing his third book, “Brother Malcolm X’s Visionary, Strategic Pan Africanism: Why It Enraged the U.S. Government,” and hosting a book talk in Washington, D.C., where he now lives.
So in honor of Malcolm X’s birthday, Bailey encourages people to learn as much as they can about Malcolm X.
“On his birthday, we will celebrate Brother Malcolm,” Bailey says.
Denise Rolark Barnes is the publisher of The Washington Informer.
Fight for justice is a global one
By Fred Redmond
On May 1, 1886, in cities across the United States, workers from nearly every segment of the workforce didn’t show up for work. Instead, they spent that Saturday demonstrating in the streets and city squares for an eight-hour day.
The largest demonstrations took place in Chicago, where tens of thousands of workers — the majority immigrants — spilled into the streets, and by doing so, they halted the means of production and supply chains. They chanted, “Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, eight hours of what we will.”
The striking workers were optimistic. They believed this was the time they could claw back some of the considerable power held by the industrial and financial capitalists and that they could improve their dismal working conditions.
But the ruling classes did not yield to the workers’ demands, and then on the fourth day of the strike, a single bomb was thrown into the ranks of the Chicago police and set off a wave of hysteria that included police assaulting and shooting the striking workers, violations of civil liberties of immigrants and union organizers, and a sham trial and public hanging of four of the movement’s leaders.
around the world take action to show that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
It is an opportunity for workers in the United States to recommit ourselves to solidarity among all working people. All working people are entitled to living wages, basic rights, and dignity on the job — regardless of who we are, where we were born, what language we speak, and what faith we practice.
The income and racial inequality gap is the largest it has been in 50 years. The balance of power has shifted completely to corporations, and the labor laws designed to empower and protect working people have been intentionally weakened over the last 80 years.
But this isn’t just a labor issue. It’s a social and racial justice issue.
Equity and opportunity are baked in unions. Union workers earn 10% more than their nonunionized peers, and Black workers represented by a union are paid 13% more than their nonunionized peers.
The tragedy at Haymarket Square and the subsequent trial was front page news in America and around the world. And it had a chilling effect on union organizing, and on attitudes toward immigrants and the working class.
But the Haymarket massacre also ended up galvanizing the labor movement both here and globally.
That tradition of solidarity lives on, and more than 100 countries celebrate the first day of May as International Workers’ Day. Working people and their unions
But the union difference is more than higher wages. Union members are more likely to have access to employer-sponsored health care and retirement benefits. Workers covered by a collective bargaining agreement are far more likely to have a guaranteed defined benefit pension plan.
Unions advocate for a fair immigration system, and an economy that brings workers out of the shadows and protects our rights to stand up to abusive employers. The fight for justice is a global one. It touches every issue affecting working people.
Fred Redmond is secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, America’s labor federation of 60 unions comprising more than 12.5 million members.
Guest Columnist Denise Rolark Barnes Guest Columnist Fred Redmond
Guest Columnist John Celestand
Youths wanted for advice, also employment
St. Louis American
Young voices are wanted and needed in the city of St. Louis – officially.
Applications for the City Youth Council are now being accepted online and its members will meet monthly over a two-year term to advise the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen on issues impacting young residents.
The council gives young people a direct way to inform municipal policies and programs which affect their lives.
The council is made up of 21 youth members and three adult members. Fifteen of those members will be selected by the Board of Aldermen through an open application process and six will be appointed directly by the Mayor’s Office.
The first meeting will be held at City Hall at 6 p.m. July 10 and dinner will be provided. Council members will decide where and when future meetings will be scheduled.
Megan Green serves as president of the Board of Aldermen and her office will send all eligible applications from each ward to its Alderperson. An Alderperson may reach out to applicants
for additional information, to set up an interview and/or to inform them if they are selected as nominee to the Youth Council.
The council’s three adult members will include the Mayor’s Senior Advisor on Children, Youth and Families, a representative from the Health & Human Development Committee and a representative from St. Louis Public Schools or a nonprofit organization serving the City’s youth.
The application is open to city residents between 12 and 18 years of age who can fulfill a two-year term. Applications must be submitted online by 11: 59 p.m. Friday June 2, 2023. St. Louis City Youth Council Application (google.com) Applications are also open for the STL Youth Jobs summer program, for both job seekers and businesses. Last summer, the program placed nearly 500 young people in jobs.
There are job opportunities in fiends including health care, childcare, animal rescue, retail, and hospitality.
To apply: Job Seekers https://www.stlyouthjobs. org/apply. Employers https://www.stlyouthjobs.org/ hire
Tightening your grip on reality
By Wendy Gladney
You might have thought you had things under control, but the truth was you were losing control. Maybe it was losing control of your family, finances, fitness, friendships, or your faith. I admit there have been times in my life when the situation or the circumstance was in more control of me than I was in control of it.
It is both a hopeless and helpless feeling when we feel out of control, and often during this time we get an unwelcome visit from the terrible twins, drama, and trauma. Drama and trauma can cause intense emotions such as fear, anger, sadness, and guilt. These emotions can alter our beliefs and attitudes towards ourselves, others, and the world around us.
During one of his sermons, my pastor stated that now is the time we need to “tighten our grip.” The phrase is a metaphor to help us improve our situation or station in life. The more I reflected on what he was saying it resonated strongly with me based upon some of the things I was experiencing. To me, it meant that there are things loose in my life, and I need to increase my control of them.
The message made me realize that if I were to increase my financial bottom line, I needed to tighten my grip on where I was spending money. If I was going to lose weight, I had to tighten my grip on what I was eating and stay consistent with exercising. What in your life do you need to tighten your grip on?
When we do a thorough inspection and introspection on our lives, there is usually something we need to clean up, tighten up, and tighten our grip on. No matter our age, we can always pivot and tighten our grip to achieve the goals we desire.
n No matter our age, we can always pivot and tighten our grip to achieve the goals we desire.
I am in a season of life where time is most precious. I need to tighten up and get a better grip on where I allocate my time. I have a lot of things pulling at me, and all of them are important, but I know I cannot do everything or be everything to everybody, especially if I want to accomplish my desired goals.
How do you stay true to what is important, but still have compassion towards everything and everybody that needs your time and attention? It is important to talk to those who depend on you and let them know where you are and what you are trying to accomplish.
It is important to know what business is, instead of busyness. Do not confuse activity with accomplishment. Do not add more when you are trying to subtract things, it will only divide your time and multiply your problems.
Tightening your grip means we must assume responsibility for our actions, decisions, and circumstances. It means we must be proactive rather than reactive and actively make choices that shape our life. It means setting goals and developing a plan to achieve them.
To tighten our grip also involves being accountable for our mistakes and learning from them, taking steps to improve ourselves, and taking charge of our emotions and reactions to different people and situations. Sometimes if we fear failure, it can cause us to not live up to our potential. So, let us tighten our grip and get back on track.
Healing Without Hate: It’s a choice. It’s a lifestyle. Pass it on. Wendy Gladney is a Los Angeles Sentinel columnist and can be reached at www.WendyGladney.com
A group of youth gain work experience at the Paw Purfect Pet Grooming Salon in St. Louis.
Nearly 500 young people gain real on-the-job skills and compensation through the STL Youth Jobs Summer Work Experience program. It offers in-person and virtual job opportunities for workers ages 15 to 24 in the metro area.
Photo courtesy of STL Youth Jobs
Wendy Gladney
Continued from A1
“These are survivors, give it up for them, they’ve been through a lot this year,” Beejay said.
“This is what you call strength right here. Man, that’s strength right there. Man, that makes you get emotional. With everything that they’ve been through this year St. Louis yall gotta make more noise for them. Make some noise for them.”
NBA standout Ben McLemore was humbled and honored to be this year’s grand marshal.
“This was a blessing,” McLemore said.
Beejay shouted Wiley Price out for his longtime work and contributions to St. Louis.
“I gotta shout out one of the biggest photographers here in St. Louis and we never give credit to. Imma give him his flowers today, Mr. Wiley Price,” Beejay said. “Always on the scene. Thank you for everything you do brother.”
The parade was an all-ages affair and fun for the entire family. Some of the floats threw out candy, bouncy balls, sunglasses and more to the youth in attendance.
Other floats were overthe-top and extremely exciting with its visuals, making it more exciting for the kids to see up close.
put your hands up in the air and wave ‘em like you just don’t care,” Beejay added.
The 113th parade was also a time for adults to relive their childhood memories and bask in some nostalgia.
Jamie McDaniel from East St. Louis loves the Blackness and the culture of the parade.
Schnucks was represented on the route with a huge shopping cart.
A participant in Green Rivers Greenway stole the show with her impressive hula hooping skills. She had everyone in awe, even the judges.
“I’ve been coming since I was a lil boy,” Melvin Collins from South St. Louis said. “I’ll be 65 next month. I love that it’s Black-owned. My favorite memory is going down to my cousin’s house because when it went down Page it would go right past their house and I always went to her house to watch the parade.”
“All this Blackness. All this melanin. All this love,” McDaniel said. “That’s what I enjoy the most about it, us coming together and celebrating Annie Malone. I support this cause because Annie Malone helps the city and supports different organizations.”
In a phone interview the day after the parade, Keisha Lee, Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center CEO’s energy was still on a high.
“This is our parade together,” Lee said “It’s a parade where we can unapologetically be us. So many people criticize our culture, the way we do our hair, how we dance, the way we talk. When it’s time for May Day it’s us, it’s ours. Annie Malone met its goal of raising $113,000 to buy another center van. The winners from the parade will be announced next week. Malone
“This was a great opportunity in my hometown. As a young kid it was something that I always came to and to be a part of it is amazing. Thank you to Keisha for all you do for me and the city.” One of the St. Louis American’s own also received recognition.
Johnson
Continued from A1
Johnson instead only spoke to the positives of the soonto-be shuttered institution.
“I feel our teachers and our administrators, and our staff really made a concerted effort to do the best for our students-not only academically-but socially and academically as well. LaSalle has had such a great legacy over the years and the fact that it will be no more is heart-wrenching.”
Massenburg-Johnson expected this week, the last for LaSalle, to be bittersweet. She was saying “goodbye” to the last batch of LaSalle students but “hello” to new opportunities.
Last week, it was announced that
Regions Bank had a towering lime green bike, and White Castle not only had a huge burger on the float but also had one of the parade participants rock their signature slider atop their head.
Massenburg-Johnson will serve as “Principal for Academic Innovation and Student Experience” at Rosati-Kain all-girls Catholic high school for the 2023-2024 school year. The school is home to around 200 students, nearly 60 of whom are graduating seniors. More than half of its student population are Black, Hispanic or Asian and half live in St. Louis city.
When MassenburgJohnson heard Rosati-Kain was seeking a new principal at Rosati-Kain, she was somewhat shocked. Not only was LaSalle closing its doors, but the Archdiocese of St. Louis had already closed Trinity High School in Spanish Lake, a private majority-Black school and identified St. Mary’s High School in Dutchtown, which serves a sizable
Evette Reed was a proud mom while watching her sons Kaylen Reed and Mario Thurman perform with the KIPP St. Louis High School Band. “Let’s Go Kipp, those are my sons!,” she said.
The energy was explosive from several of the
Black population, as another school slated for closure.
Massenburg-Johnson initially thought RosatiKain was going to be closed as well.
Last year, the Archdiocese announced plans to close the high school along with St. Mary’s at the end of the school year. Supporters of both schools, however, scrambled to save the schools by raising funds and finding new religious sponsors. Rosati Kain received a Catholic sponsorship from St. Joseph Educational Ministries and was able to reach a lease agreement with the Archdiocese, allowing the school to remain in its current building located on Lindell Boulevard in the Central West End.
This was great news for Massenburg-Johnson.
floats and dance troupes, many of them busted out the moves to Lil Uzi Vert’s “I Just Wanna Rock” dance where you sway your hips back and forth while waving your arms side to side.
St. Louis’ pride was alive and well at the annual celebration.
“Big, Big STL Energy you know it!,” Shorty from Hot 104.1’s The Home Team radio show said.
“If you from St. Louis
Afterall, she is an alumna of Rosati Kain’s class of 1987. She said she was looking for an “assignment,” she felt drawn to and not just an opportunity to do something new.
“I just believed my new job would be something big and it is,” MassenburgJohnson laughed.
Massenburg-Johnson didn’t expect to spend her life as an educator. She was born and raised in East St. Louis. Her last name is attributed to her father who has German and African American roots. He and her mother divorced when she was still a child. She attended kindergarten through 11th grade at schools within East St. Louis School District 189. Her mother, a single parent, was an English teacher in East St. Louis for almost 30 years.
“I watched her but
Shantal Becton from South St. Louis came to the parade with her daughter Sienna Becton, 6, and their cousin, Mackenzie Green, 6.
“It’s a childhood memory,” she said. “Kids don’t really get a chance to get out and have the formations that we had when we were growing up. It takes me back to my childhood being with them [my daughter and my cousin].
wanted to carve out my own life outside of education,” Massenburg-Johnson recalled, adding: “But here I am, carrying out her legacy and walking in her footsteps.”
Unlike the stereotype of poverty and degradation usually attached to low-income East St. Louis residents, MassenburgJohnson said she was raised in a stable, middle-class neighborhood surrounded by relatives like her grandparents and aunt who encouraged her academically and spiritually.
At the urging of one of her mother’s friends, she was sent to Rosati-Kain in her sophomore year. It wasn’t exactly an easy transition.
“Rosati-Kain was a very different world than what I was used to,”
Massenburg-Johnson
recalled. “I had my glory days but there were also a lot of challenges, coming from a predominantly Black educational setting to a more diverse one. At that time, there weren’t as many African American students as there are today.”
Thankfully, the high school had a group called the Organization for the Appreciation of Black Culture (OABC) that helped MassenburgJohnson acclimate. She also found kinship with her music and theater teachers and their classes.
Massenburg-Johnson holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from DePaul University, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Webster University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership from St. Louis University.
Families turned out in large numbers for the Annie Malone May Day Parade.
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
who leaves us all her greatest work: her music.”
Bernie Hayes, an adjunct professor of music at Webster University and the emeritus executive director of the National Blues Museum in downtown St. Louis, called Turner “more than an icon.”
“She was a genre. Tina Turner was one of a kind. There will never be another.” Hayes, who was a friend of Turner’s, said that while she was “a bombshell” on stage, she was introverted.
“While she loved the fame, she loved the travel, she actually loved quietness and loved to be by herself,” he said.
Mayor Tishaura Jones said in a statement, “Long before there was Beyoncé, there was Tina.”
“From Sumner High School to Club Imperial to sold-out concerts across the globe, Tina Turner’s undeniable voice and talent brought people together. Tina was musical royalty, a trailblazer, and a force to be reckoned with - no matter the odds or obstacles in her way. She cemented St. Louis’ place in rock and
Salute
Continued from A1
LaTosha Fowlkes is transformative
In 2020, LaTosha Fowlkes joined St. Vincent Home for Children as CEO, and helped transform the 170-year-old organization into The Core Collective.
Fowlkes is a licensed clinical social worker with over 17 years of service and leadership experience. She has led in the development and implementation of an inspiring new mission, strategic plan, and brand.
She recently shared in the organization’s newslet-
roll history, and we cherish her legacy.
Turner’s music career began when she was passed the microphone during an intermission between sets of Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm. Turner heard the raspy vocals that growled into the speakers that captivated him and the rest of the club that night – a voice that seemed much too big and strong to be coming from such a tiny frame.
Ike Turner didn’t know at the time, but Anna Mae Bullock was a student at Sumner when he asked her to become his new lead singer.
In the HBO documentary Tina, she flashed her signature smile while reminiscing about playing the St. Louis and East St. Louis club circuit on weekends as the sultry lead singer for Ike Turner and the Kings of Rhythm. Monday mornings she would go back to her unassuming role as a shy student at Sumner High School.
For her senior yearbook photo as part of the class of 1958, the caption read, “Ann Bullock, Entertainer.”
She became that and so much more. She shifted the culture of popular music and entertainment. She dismissed the notions
ter, The Core Collective’s “bold new vision and strategic direction to address the growing need for housing, healthcare, and supportive services that promote overall wellbeing for youth and our community.”
“We are working to close the gap in available services for youth aging out of the foster care system.’
This includes transforming the 100,000 square foot facility into “a collaborative, holistic, and service enriched hub that provides meaningful and essential support to heal and house youth, families, and the community,” Fowlkes said.
Before joining the CC, Latosha served as the
that stardom had a set age and that sex symbols have an expiration date.
The entire entertainment industry owes a debt to the tiny girl from Nutbush, Tennessee who found her voice in St. Louis.
A star is born
Tina Turner was born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939, in Brownsville, Tennessee. She was the youngest of three daughters born to Floyd Richard Bullock and Zelma Priscilla Bullock. Her father was an overseer of sharecroppers and Turner discussed her experience of picking cotton as a young child. She and her sisters were separated from her parents when they relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee to work at a defense facility during World War II.
and her sisters behind. She joined her mother in St. Louis six years later when her grandmother passed away – and stepped into her destiny.
Anna Mae Bullock was left in the care of her paternal grandparents until the family reunited in Nutbush -where Bullock sang in the Spring Hill Baptist Church choir. Zelma Bullock relocated to St. Louis in 1950, leaving Anna Mae
executive director of The Good Samaritan House, a 30-day emergency shelter program for women with children, and Epworth Children and Family Services, where she served as vice president of Older Youth and Supportive Services.
She received a Master of Social Work from Illinois State University and is a Certified HUD Housing Compliance Manager.
Lizette Smith leads with passion
Almost two decades have passed since Lizette Smith joined Our Little Haven. It hasn’t changed her mission or her zeal to accomplish her goals.
“I grew up two houses down from where Ike met Tina,” acclaimed director and East St. Louis native Reginald Hudlin told The American in 2019. When she first saw Ike Turner perform with the Kings of Rhythm at The Manhattan Club, Bullock was blown away. “I was almost in a trance,” she recalled in her autobiography I, Tina – which was written with famed music journalist Kurt Loder. When she asked Ike if she could sing with his band. He said he would call her. According to Ike Turner’s autobiography Takin’ Back My Name: Confessions of Ike Turner, He said he would call her, but he never did. Fate intervened. She was able to get a hold of the microphone during an intermission and – in a moment made famous by the blockbuster biopic What’s Love Got
“My passion is to increase access to mental health care among underserved persons,” she said on the organization’s website.
“Our Little Haven is relentlessly committed to providing early intervention services for children and families,” Smith said.
“Our community of professional caregivers create a safe, secure, and healing environment. We make the hurting stop, the healing begin, and the love last one family at a time.”
One of Smith’s first and major accomplishments at Our Little Haven was developing Keystone Outpatient Mental Health Services. She directs oversight of other clinical programs; provides
To Do With It she belted out the popular B.B. King blues ballad “You Know I Love You.”
After hearing her voice, it was Ike Turner who did the calling. She became a featured vocalist with his band – where he helped her hone her stage presence and cultivate her “it” factor into star power. By 1960, Bullock’s high school prophecy was reality. Tina Turner had the R&B hit “Fool In Love” on her hands. Ike Turner renamed her. She then made a name for herself as Ike Turner’s frontwoman –a singing and dancing machine with unparalleled energy and stage presence. She and Ike eventually married and together they had three children. Tina had a child from a previous relationship. They were a staple of the music scene of the 1960s and 1970s – with their biggest hit, a remake of Creedence Clearwater Revival tune “Proud Mary” that became nearly as successful as the original when it peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts in 1971.
Tina’s triumphant next chapter
She ended the tumultuous personal and
clinical supervision and is responsible for coordinating accreditation and legal/ ethical practice and grant funding management and administration.
Smith received her B.A and her MA in Minority Mental Health from Washington University, and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Illinois,
professional relationship with Ike Turner and entered music history with an epic and unprecedented ascension from battered wife, to lounge singer to superstar. After more than a decade in the wilderness of the capricious music industry that worships youth, she flipped the script on agism in popular music. When “What’s Love Got to Do with It” reached the top of the Billboard “Hot 100,” Tina Turner became the oldest female solo artist to top the chart. She was 44. She became the first Black artist and woman to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone. She was twice inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame twice (as a solo artist and as part of Ike & Tina Turner). She earned eight Grammy Awards and her tours shattered box office records. Her Break Every Rule World Tour of 1988 set a then-Guinness World Record for the largest paying audience for a solo performer when she took what she learned here and shared it with 180,000 fans.
She stepped away from music in 2009 after she completed her Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour.
or visit www.stlamerican.com.
Tina Turner’s Sumner High year book photo
Gabe Gore now at helm of St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s office
By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American
Saying that he is confident he can build the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s office “into one of the highest performing in the nation,” former Dowd Bennett partner Gabe Gore has been appointed to replace the departed Kim Gardner at the helm of the beleaguered city office.
“I look forward to serving the city I love,” Gore told reporters outside the Circuit Attorney’s office on the fourth floor of the Carnahan Courts Building on Friday, May 19.
Mayor Tishaura Jones and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Tracy were among those standing with Gore and Gov. Mike Parson, who announced Gore’s appointment.
“I’m happy that the governor kept his word and listened to the community,” Jones said of Gore’s selection.
“To come in, in a week’s time and listen to so many different
constituency groups says a lot about our governor’s character.”
Gore is leaving his lucrative employment as the first African American Dowd Bennett partner.
According to his biography on the law firm’s website, Gore tried over 20 cases, including cases involving breach of contract, product liability, misappropriation of trade secrets, securities fraud, breach of trust, employment, and property damage claims.
His clients included Fortune 500 corporations, corporate executives, and high-ranking government officials.
Before joining Dowd Bennett, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable John R. Gibson of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals; an assistant U.S. attorney; an assistant special counsel for the Waco investigation; an associate at Williams & Connolly LLP; and a partner at Bryan Cave LLP.
Gore earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Missouri State University, where he was a track and cross-coun-
try athlete. He then attended the University of Chicago Law School, receiving his Juris Doctor.
While studying for his law degree, Gore and his wife, Nicole, took classes taught by Barack Obama, who would go on to become the nation’s 44th president.
“My sole focus is to begin
building a high-performing Circuit Attorney’s office that can deliver services that the city of St. Louis deserves,” Gore said.
He said the transformation of the office would begin with “building a staff of attorneys and professionals” and “building collaborations with all the parties integral to the success of this office.”
While he said, “I’m not focused on that now,” when asked if he would seek re-election in 2024, Gore did not rule a campaign for the office out.
“I can’t be distracted. It is something I will consider [in the future.]”
St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell said in a statement, “I’ve always been consistent that we stand ready to help our City of St. Louis partners. Now, with the appointment of Circuit Attorney Gore, I’ll make it plain: the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office stands ready to help in any way that we can to help stabilize
the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office.”
“Public safety in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County is invariably interconnected, and a functioning Circuit Attorney’s Office is vital to the safety of this entire region. My colleagues in prosecutor’s offices across the region have also expressed their support. I look forward to everyone pulling together during this critical transition in the Circuit Attorney’s Office.”
In one of her final official acts as Circuit Attorney, on May 12, Gardner filed a petition to vacate the conviction of Christopher Dunn.
“For the last 33 years, Mr. Dunn has been incarcerated for a crime in which there is clear and convincing evidence he did not commit,” Gardner said in a statement posted on Twitter on Monday.
Gore said as Circuit Attorney, he would “definitely look at that very seriously.”
Photo by Wiley Price
Gabe Gore
Kendall Perry back as ESL police chief
By Carolyn P. Smith St. Louis Public Radio
Kendall Perry is back as the police chief in East St. Louis after leaving the job earlier this year during the administration of former Mayor Robert Eastern III.
Perry was rehired as chief after the new mayor, Charles Powell III, took office. Powell, a city council member at the time, defeated Eastern in the April election.
“I’m back,” Perry said. “I am grateful and thankful for the overwhelming support from the community, citizens, and family.
“I am glad to be back. I have a lot of work ahead of me. I have lots to accomplish this year.”
Perry replaced Cantrell Patterson, who was appointed interim chief earlier this year by Eastern. Patterson retired after he was informed that the old chief was returning to the job.
Perry said he left his job under the Eastern administration because of politics.
Depending on who you ask, Perry either abruptly retired or was among the four city staff members fired in January for reasons they say were political.
Perry told the BND in January that he learned of his dismissal for ``insubordination’ from the photograph of a letter that he received by text on Jan. 18. He said he had not spoken to then interim City Manager Calvin Riley or Eastern about losing his job.
Perry and three other city em-
East St. Louis Police Chief Kendall Perry returned to his post in May after leaving in January.
Photo by Derick Holtmann / Belleville News-Democrat
ployees said at the time they lost their jobs because they refused to support Eastern’s re-election bid.
Eastern denied that politics played a role and called their statements a “slandering insult.”
Eastern said at the time the chief was not fired but “effectively retired.”
Perry said recently he had not planned to retire. He said he had never been written up or received negative feedback on the job.
He said that some of the people he supervised who were dis-
ciplined did not like the penalties he issued for their infractions, but as police chief, it was his job to make sure department policies were followed.
Powell, the new mayor, would not agree to an interview for this article. A spokesperson said he was not taking any interviews until further notice.
Perry background, goals for the department
Perry said he is grateful to the new administration for rehiring him as chief.
Perry has been in law enforcement for 23 years. He served a four-year term as chief under Eastern.
He said his main goal is “to work as hard as I can for the citizens of East St. Louis.”
Perry says he constantly thinks about what he can do to help make the city as safe as possible.
“We are trying our best to move this city forward,” he said.
“It will take both police officers and the community working together to make this work. It will definitely take this kind of cohesiveness, this partnership.
“If someone sees something, we want them to say something. This could stop a potential problem from happening. “
Perry said it is important for people to call police and tell them what they know when they see someone commit a crime or have information to help get a dangerous person off the street.
“This information could save a life or help to capture the person or persons committing gun violence and other crimes that make the community unsafe,” he said.
Callers can be anonymous, Perry said.
Perry said when everyone gets involved, the community is safer.
Perry said Nick Mueller, who is a lieutenant in the police department, has been promoted to assistant chief.
NFL icon, activist Jim Brown passes at age 87
“To
NNPA and St. Louis American staff
Jim Brown, the superstar Cleveland Browns running back who quit football at 30 at the very height of his NFL Hall of Fame career, died on Thursday May 18, 2023, at 87.
A spokesperson for Brown’s family said he passed away peacefully in his Los Angeles home with his wife, Monique, by his side.
“To the world, he was an activist, actor, and football star,” Monique Brown wrote in an Instagram post.
“To our family, he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Our hearts are broken.”
Brown was a noted activist in the 1960s and remained a force until his death in tackling racism, social injustice, and gang violence.
He started and helmed the Negro Industrial and Economic Union to create
- Monique Brown
jobs for Black people in Ohio. The organization also helped secure loans for Black businesses.
Brown also formed a coalition in 1967 to denounce the federal government’s role in stripping boxing legend Muhammad Ali of his title because Ali refused to fight in the Vietnam War.
The Cleveland meeting in Cleveland included Bill Russell and Lew Alcindor, who later became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Brown worked to curb gang violence in LA and founded Amer-I-Can, a program to help disadvantaged inner-city youth and ex-convicts.
“The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) is deeply saddened about the passing Jim Brown who was one of Black America’s enduring heroes on the football field and in the terrain of the Civil Rights Movement as a gallant freedom fighter
for justice and equality,” NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. stated.
“We acknowledge and salute the outstanding contributions of Jim Brown that have made our world a better place for all of humanity.”
From 1957 to 1965, the perennial all-pro helped lead a Cleveland Browns ground game that won an NFL championship in 1964.
Voted pro football’s greatest player of the 20th century, Brown earned induction into the Hall of Fame in 1971.
In 1965, Cleveland Brown’s owner, Art Modell, issued an ultimatum to the superstar, telling him that if he continued filming the hit movie, “The Dirty Dozen,” which was delayed because of technical problems, Brown would face fines for reporting late to training
camp.
Ever independent, Brown defied Modell and called a press conference to announce his retirement.
Brown’s popularity grew, and he cemented himself into film lore, becoming the first Black man to have ons creen sexual relations with a white woman, Raquel Welch, in the film “100 Rifles.”
Brown was born on St. Simons Island, off the southern coast of Georgia, where he had a difficult childhood, according to biography.com.
Brown was only two weeks old when his father abandoned the family; Brown’s mother left him alone after she took a job in New York as a maid.
While living with his grandmother, Brown’s mother sent for him when he was 8.
During his senior year at New York’s Manhasset High School, Brown played running back and recorded an overwhelming 14.9 yards per carry, more than good enough to earn him a spot at Syracuse University.
In college, Brown dominated the competition on the football field and the basketball court.
Jim Brown is introduced before the inaugural Pro Football Hall of Fame Fan Fest Friday, May 2, 2014, at the International Exposition Center in Cleveland. NFL legend, actor and social activist Jim Brown passed away peacefully in his Los Angeles home on Thursday night, May 18, 2023, with his wife, Monique, by his side, according to a spokeswoman for Brown’s family. He was 87.
He also ran track and was recognized as one of most talented lacrosse players to ever play in college. He was inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1984.
Brown also had his share of off-field incidents, including alleged violence against women as well as his embraceof some Republican presidential candidates. He was arrested in 1965 when an 18-year-old woman said he assaulted her at a Cleveland motel. A jury cleared him the following year.
In June 1999, Monique Brown called 911, saying Brown had smashed her car with a shovel and threatened to kill her. During the trial, his wife recanted. Brown was acquitted of a charge of domestic threats but convicted of misdemeanor vandalism. The Los Angeles judge sentenced Brown to six months in jail when he refused to attend domestic violence counseling.
In 1968, Brown endorsed Richard Nixon for president, and years later supported Donald Trump. Brown and Kanye West appeared with Trump at The White House in 2018.
Photo courtesy of the AP
“Receiving the toRch” celebRation honoRing Ronald l. Jones
“Receiving the toRch” celebRation honoRing Ronald l. Jones
Ronald L. Jones, founder of Ronald L. Jones Funeral Chapels, was honored and surprised by his daughter, Vanessa E. Pollard, who hosted a “Receiving the Torch” Celebration on May 20, 2023. The ceremony paid homage to her father for selflessly passing the torch to her on May 20, 2021, so the St. Louis community can continue to be serviced with no interruptions in the years to come.
“I am excited to share this remarkable milestone with our community to pay homage to my father and carry on his legacy. I want to give him his flowers while he can still smell them,” said Vanessa E. Pollard.
The “Receiving the Torch” celebration featured an honorary street naming of Fair Avenue to Ronald L. Jones Way to honor over 50 years of his service in the funeral industry to St. Louis; presenting of colors by Tom Powell Post #77 - American Legion; remarks by Anthony Chestang from Montford Point Marines Association to commemorate Jones’ mililtary service in the Vietnam War and a recipient of the Purple Heart medal; a Proclamation by Mayor Tishaura O. Jones proclaiming May 20, 2023 as “Ronald L. Jones Day “ in the City of St. Louis; and a resolution presented by Alderwoman Laura Keys - 11 Ward of behalf of the Board of Alderman.
The celebration offered the community refreshments; facility tours of the updates; gift giveaways and entertainment.
Also, there was an invite-only reception at the Liuna Event Center, where more than 350 invitees attended with complimentary food, drinks and entertainment. Mr. Jones had colleagues attending from Chicago, Atlanta, Kansas City, California, Texas, New Jersey, and North Carolina as well as colleagues from over a dozen local funeral homes and cemeteries. It was a well-deserved gesture for Mr. Ronald L. Jones. He was able to witness how much his family, friends colleagues and community loved and appreciated him. Mr. Ronald L. Jones DEFINITELY smelled his flowers!
Photo credit- Tyler Sorensen- Salt Lake City, Utah
‘Taking Care of You’
Children’s Hospital unveils nation’s first pediatric diabetes unit
‘This is truly a magical bus’
By JoAnn Weaver
The St. Louis American
STL County working to snuff out smoking
By Dr. Kanika Cunningham
St. Louis County has long been a leader in regional efforts to reduce the health threat posed by tobacco. We’ve done an excellent job prioritizing smoking prevention with the goal of decreasing the number of people who become smokers and abating the shortand long-term health effects of tobacco use.
Pediatric diabetes can affect every aspect of a child’s life, including academic performance, social interactions, and emotional well-being, according to St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
n The first-of-its-kind mobile pediatric diabetes unit provides accessible, comprehensive, and individualized health care to the most vulnerable children and adolescents in the region who are living with diabetes and diabetes risk.
Successful diabetes management requires ongoing education, support, and resources from a medical team.
The Healthy Kids Express Diabetes Mobile Unit, a collaborative effort
between St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, brings this important care directly to children who need it most.
“I want to make sure that you recognize that pediatric diabetes is actually one of the top chronic diseases affecting children nowadays [and] the
numbers are rising,” Dr. Ana María Arbeláez, chief of the Children’s Hospital division of pediatric endocrinology and diabetes, said.
“We understand as a pediatric project, and as pediatricians, that successful self-management of diabetes is critical to prevent both short and longterm life-threatening complications.”
The first-of-its-kind mobile pediatric diabetes unit provides accessible, comprehensive, and individualized health care to the most vulnerable children and adolescents in the region who are living with diabetes and diabetes risk.
“This is truly a magical bus,” Arbeláez said
“Thanks to all of our partners and friends [from] St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and to the Washington
n In recent days, the St. Louis County Department of Public Health has engaged in efforts aimed at further reducing the proliferation of tobacco and its harmful impact on our population.
Over the years, research has conclusively demonstrated the grave health consequences of smoking, particularly in youth. We also know that the tobacco industry functions to get and keep people hooked. And even though the percentage of people who smoke has gone down, it’s important to continue to combat the industry’s efforts at promoting tobacco use and developing new customers in St. Louis County. In recent days, the St. Louis County Department of Public Health has engaged in efforts aimed at further reducing the proliferation of tobacco and its harmful impact on our population. I want to take the opportunity to explain what’s at stake and describe how DPH is working to protect the health of our county’s residents. First, we are seeking to eliminate a gaping loophole in our current ordinances: the “casino exception.” While smoking in most indoor public places such as restaurants is illegal, the law does allow casino businesses to allow smoking in indoor areas. This exception does nothing to protect the health of casino visitors and, more importantly, employees who must work in an environment rife with harmful sec-
SIU-Carbondale makes student mental health a priority
By Christi Mathis For the St. Louis American
While May is Mental Health
Awareness Month, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is helping students and the community with mental health needs throughout the year, said Jaime Clark, director of Student Health Services Clark said SIU has secured funding from multiple sources to offer help, including grants and appropriations from the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
“We are taking a holistic view of mental health,” said Clark, who holds a doctorate in counseling psychology.
“There are so many factors and components that go together to make up our lives, and we are trying to address the various components in multiple ways.”
SIU is also taking extra steps to
address problems and issues that exacerbate stress in students and lead to other problems.
HEROES program established
SIU has started its multitiered HEROES program (Higher Education Resources and Opportunities for Salukis in Need), and its headquarters are on the lower level of the Student Center, near the existing Saluki Food Pantry. Students will be able to pick up a variety of essential supplies, including sheets, towels, small microwaves and refrigerators and other essentials and toiletries at no cost when it opens this summer. The HEROES Headquarters also includes a stress-free zone, where students
See SIU, A13
From left, Michelle Bockstruck, Lynnell Patton, Dr. Ana Maria Arbelaez, Melissa Sicard, Melanie Bryan, Amanda Ingram stand with the Healthy Kids Express Diabetes Mobile Unit. The medically equipped bus provides accessible, comprehensive and individualized health care to the most vulnerable children and adolescents in the region.
Courtesy photo
An SIU-Carbondale student displays food items available at the Saluki Food Pantry to help meet students’ physical and mental needs.
Dr. Kanika Cunningham
Photo courtesy of SIU
University School of Medicine, which have committed to establishing this diabetes mobile unit to provide healthcare to the most vulnerable children, and adolescents living with diabetes, pre-diabetes and obesity in a region.”
Each week, the mobile unit travels throughout the community visiting schools, including Hoech Middle School, allowing staff to provide follow-up visits as well as education about prevention, nutrition, and disease management.
“I think it’s the embodiment of partnership; St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, our department of pediatrics, have a longstanding history of working together, and so we’re definitely very used to solving for these types of clinical needs,” Tesh Jewell, Vice President of Ambulatory & Clinical Support Services at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, said.
“It’s amazing when you can really embrace our community leaders and partners, our foundation partners, and really start to say, here’s what we would like to achieve, and watch all of these different individuals contribute in such a meaningful way.”
It is vital to educate children on diabetes because its impact on the African American community is often twice that of other groups of Americans.
According to the Department of Health and Human Service Office of Minority Health:
SIU
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can relax in massage chairs and enjoy other amenities. The HEROES program also provides free housing during breaks for students with housing insecurity and special resources for “students in care” (students who have ever been in foster or state care).
“Studies consistently show that when people are stressed and worrying about having the basics of life such as food, housing and supplies, it can result in mental health concerns,” said Clark, who conceived the program as her leadership project at the HERS Leadership Institute in Boston and serves as the HEROES liaison.
Cunningham
Continued from A12
ond-hand smoke.
You may have heard about ventilation systems that casinos use in hopes of mitigating second-hand smoke. The truth is that none of these systems eliminates the health threat. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, which publishes technical standards for building safety related to ventilation, has said the following:
“The only means of avoiding health effects and eliminating indoor environmental tobacco smoke exposure is to ban all smoking activity inside and near buildings. This position is supported by the conclusions of health authorities that any level
‘Taking Care of You’
• In 2019, non-Hispanic blacks were twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to die from diabetes.
• In 2018, African American adults were 60 percent more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes by a physician.
• In 2019, non-Hispanic blacks were 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalized with diabetes and associated long-term complications than non-Hispanic whites.
• In 2019, non-Hispanic blacks were 3.2 times more likely to be diagnosed with end stage renal disease as compared to
In addition, Student Health’s Wellness and Health Promotion Services is implementing Peer HEROES, a peer support program. Student volunteers will be screened and trained, according to the Certified Peer Education Program, and they will provide support and guidance to on-campus students living with mental health conditions. They will assist with stress management and resources to help remove barriers to academic success.
Help anytime, increasing awareness
To ensure that help is available any time it is needed by any student, Health Services is budgeting funds to subsidize
of environmental tobacco smoke exposure leads to adverse health effects and therefore:
• The building and its systems can reduce only odor and discomfort but cannot eliminate exposure when smoking is allowed inside or near a building.
• Even when all practical means of separation and isolation of smoking areas are employed, adverse health effects from exposure in non-smoking spaces in the same building cannot be eliminated.
• Neither dilution ventilation, air distribution (e.g., “air curtains”) or air cleaning should be relied upon to control environmental tobacco smoke exposure.”
In short, there is no magical power inside casinos that makes second-hand smoke healthy. To pretend that ventilation removes the well-established health risks of sec-
non-Hispanic whites.
The Healthy Kids Express Diabetes team is already underway in the community. Nurses are embedded with community health workers in schools where kids have the highest diabetes risk. Also, more than 250 school nurses with advanced training in the identification and management of kids with diabetes or pre-diabetes engage in the initiative.
“For just a few minutes today, we get to pause, be present, and recognize the magnitude that we can accomplish together through our collective
counseling and psychiatry fees so financially disadvantaged students can have access to mental health care. And SIU is also contracting a mental health crisis line, so help is just a phone call away on nights, weekends and even during breaks when SIU is closed.
Clark said millions of people around the world struggle with depression, substance use issues, psychosis, and/or anxiety, bipolar or personality disorders, and suicide is a serious health concern in the United States. In 2021, the last year for which data is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 48,000 people took their lives.
Help is available on campus and in the surrounding community,
ond-hand smoke is wishful thinking.
Representatives of the casino industry recently testified that they are afraid of losing business if they ban smoking completely. But In a nationally representative survey, a large majority of respondents supported casinos being smoke free (75%). This was also true for respondents who visit casinos at least once per month (74% support).
The survey also shows that nearly half of current smokers surveyed support smoke-free policies in casinos.
Given that at least 85% of St. Louis County residents do not smoke, isn’t it likely that casinos would actually gain some customers if they banned smoking on their premises?
The second area in which we are currently
efforts through a shared vision,” Jewell said. “We are able to bring necessary diabetes care to our community’s children, significantly improving lives so that they can learn, grow, and simply be kids.”
St. Louis Children’s Hospital’s Healthy Kids Express program is part of BJC HealthCare’s commitment to community health improvement, an initiative that seeks to eliminate health disparities in the region by providing education, resources, and support to communities that have historically been under-resourced.
Dr. Chris Kilbride,
Clark said, and SIU’s Student Health Services is developing a comprehensive webpage that will include an online mental health screening tool from Mindwise Innovation and other valuable information for students and community members. The university is also establishing strategic partnerships with community mental health service providers to improve overall campus mental wellness and augment the on-campus capacity.
Other SIU initiatives include:
• Implementing annual mental health student orientation sessions in conjunction with the SIU University 101 course curriculum. In addition, faculty are encouraged to integrate mental health awareness elsewhere
working to limit tobacco exposure involves an existing prohibition on tobacco sales within 1,000 feet of a school.
The St. Louis County Council adopted such a ban in 2019. But while the measure stopped new businesses from selling tobacco near a school, it allowed existing tobacco sales establishments in those areas to continue selling tobacco. The measure specifically limited that exemption to the original owners of those businesses. If a business within a school’s boundaries were sold, the exemption would automatically disappear. The intent was to gradually phase out tobacco sales near schools.
The convenience-store industry recently asked the County Council to weaken the ban so that new owners of those busi-
Ritenour School District superintendent, said, “we have three goals in the Ritenour School district: every child meeting their personal academic goals, 100% of students being prepared for college and career, and then students meeting the 90% attendance standard.
“We know that if students are not well, if we don’t have the wraparound support, whether it be food insecurity, whether it be pediatric health, whether it be mental health, we won’t reach our district goals.”
He also spoke about the power of partnership, which is bringing resourc-
in the curricula, where applicable. Wellness and Health Promotions will provide campus training about mental health issues, campus, and community resources and how to provide support and referral for services. Additional training will also be provided through the Multicultural Resource Center specifically to address the needs of underserved student populations.
• Campus distribution of strategies, online tools, and resources via various online and outreach platforms of mental health sigma-reducing and help seeking behavior strategies. That includes distributing mental health kits, magnets, flyers, and posters.
• Adding contact infor-
nesses could keep selling tobacco products near schools. The council has voted in their favor, allowing new business owners to keep the exemption. We stand opposed to that bill because of the risk tobacco sales pose to our youth. We know that proximity to tobacco retailers and high density of tobacco-selling businesses stimulate smoking initiation. We also know that the tobacco industry focuses 90 percent of its marking budgets on promoting tobacco at “point of sales.” Our students who must walk past a tobacco retailer on their way to school are exposed to that intense marketing. Such promotions are designed to increase impulse purchases and may well lead young people to start smoking.
We also know that tobacco retailers sometimes do allow sales to
es to the community.
“This partnership is critical in our work to support every student every day, and I’m just so thankful to live and work in a community where we’re committed to meeting all those needs,” Kilbride said.
“The board has bought into serving the whole child. The district leadership has bought in to serving the whole child as we’re pushing for academic gains. If students and families cannot get to the medical services, then why not bring those services to them? I just appreciate all that you’ve done.”
mation for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (formerly the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) and SIU Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) on the back of each student ID card.
• Providing annual mental health first aid training to residential assistants, academic advisers, and campus safety officers as well as to any interested faculty and staff.
“We’re all in this together,” Clark said. “SIU is doing everything possible to provide help and resources to those who need it, but we can all make a difference. Listen, reach out to one another, stay connected. People need to be heard. And seek professional help for yourself or those you care about if needed.”
minors, despite the law banning such sales. One in three of our inspections of tobacco retail establishments results in a citation. Just in the last year, 32 establishments within 1,000 feet of a school were cited for selling tobacco to minors. At the Department of Public Health, our mission is to promote, protect and improve the health and environment of our community. Allowing businesses to expose employees and guests to second-hand smoke doesn’t accomplish that mission. Neither does weaking the ban on tobacco sales near schools. As we move forward, we will continue to find ways to limit the harmful impact smoking has on our community.
Dr. Kanika Cunningham St. Louis County Director of Public Health
The St. Louis 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.
Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 314-289-5422
CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT
Teachers Dr. Bouchard and Dr. Collier along with volunteer Shannon Hoolihan and peer leader Catherine Jackson look on as students attempt to
Preventing Disease
According to the American Heart Association, you can help prevent disease by following a healthy eating plan and adding more activity to your lifestyle. A healthy eating plan consists of lean proteins. Choosing fish as a source of protein also gives you omega 3 fatty acids to build brain cells. Consider meatless meals where your protein source comes from beans or other foods. Choose whole grains that contain a lot of fiber to help your digestive system and reduce cholesterol. Eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, and lower-fat dairy products. Add nuts and seeds to your diet to get more nutrients. Try to avoid sugary or fried foods.
SCIENCE INVESTIGATION
In this experiment, you will observe the chemical reactions of yeast.
Materials Needed:
• A Packet of Dried Yeast • 16-20 oz.
Clear Water Bottle (empty) • 1 Teaspoon
Sugar • Warm Water • Small Balloon
Procedure:
q Add 1 inch of warm water in the water bottle.
w Add the entire yeast packet to the water and gently swirl the bottle to mix.
e Add the sugar and gently swirl to combine.
r Stretch out the balloon by blowing it up a few times and letting it deflate.
t Place the neck of the balloon over the neck of the water bottle.
y Place the bottle in a warm place for 20-30 minutes.
MATH CONNECTION
z Suzanne runs 3½ miles every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. How many miles will she run in a month that has 4 Mondays, 4 Wednesdays, and 5 Fridays? ______
x If you have 4 members in your family, and each family member drinks 6 ounces of juice each morning for breakfast, how long will
Check out these fun chemistry facts.
SCIENCE STARS
African-American Chemist Jeannette Brown
Kids should get 60 minutes of activity a day. Choose activities you enjoy—playing sports, jumping rope, walking around the neighborhood. At least twice a week, you should choose an activity that works on strengthening your muscles— such as push-ups, sit-ups, etc. Get your friends and family involved, choose some fun music, and you will be surprised how much you enjoy physical activity. For more information, visit: https://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/ or http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/diseases-conditions/.
Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction text for main idea and supporting details. I can make text-to-text and text-to-self connections.
Expand a Balloon
u Watch the balloon inflate.
How does it work? Yeast is a living microorganism. As it “eats” the sugar, it releases carbon dioxide, which is a gas. This gas causes the bottle (and the balloon) to expand.
Form a hypothesis:
1. Does room temperature affect how much gas is created by the yeast?
2. Does the size of the container affect how much gas is created by the yeast?
3. Does yeast respond the same to syrup and honey as it does to sugar?
Repeat the experiment and test your hypothesis as you change these variables.
Learning Standards: I can follow sequential directions to complete an experiment. I can make observations and draw conclusions.
a 1 gallon jug of orange juice last?
(Remember: One gallon = 4 quarts, and 1 quart = 32 ounces.)
c You are trying a new recipe for muffins. It calls for 2 1/3 cups of whole wheat flour. The only measuring cup you can find holds 1/3 cup. How many times will you need to fill the measuring cup with the flour? ______
v Anthony bought 6 boxes of grapefruit for $9/box. If he has to pay 8% sales tax, what was the total he had to pay? ______
Learning Standards: I can add, subtract, multiply, and divide to solve a problem. I can make text-toworld connections.
About 78% of the average human brain consists of water. This is one of the many reasons it is important to drink plenty of water.
Water expands as it freezes. Therefore, an ice-cube takes up more space than the water that is used to create it.
Jeannette Brown was born in 1934 in New York. When she was just 6 years old, her family doctor encouraged her love of science, specifically chemistry. Brown was a dedicated student and graduated in 1952 from New Dorp High School in Staten Island. After graduating high school, she attended Hunter College to pursue a chemistry degree. Brown was one of only two African-American women in the class. In 1956, she earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Next, Brown went to the University of Minnesota and became the first AfricanAmerican woman to earn a master’s degree in organic chemistry.
Brown then went to work for CIBA Pharmaceutical Company as a research chemist. She developed drugs for diseases, such as tuberculosis and coccidiosis (coccidiosis affects chickens). In 1969, she went to work for Merck & Co. Research to continue research of new drugs to make sure they are safe and effective. In 1986, she became chairperson of the Project SEED Committee for the American Chemical Society. Seven years later, she taught chemistry at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. She also served as regional director on a committee to improve science education for local students.
In 2008, she shared the biography of seven chemists to the African American National Biography. Three years later, she published the novel “African American Women Chemists.” Hunter College and the University of Minnesota both have recognized Brown as an outstanding alumni. She has received other awards, including an Association of Women in Science fellow award in 2007. She was also recognized as an American Chemical Society fellow and a Chemical Heritage Foundation Ullyot Scholar. Brown has been active in professional organizations, such as the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) and the American Chemical Society (ACS).
Learning Standards: about a person who has made contributions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.
MAP CORNER
Enjoy these activities that help you get to know your St. Louis American newspaper.
Activities — Good Citizen: What are the qualities of a good citizen? Use the newspaper to find examples of stories of people who display good citizenship. Share your examples with your classmates.
Target Audience: Writers must appeal to their target audience. In this activity, your classmates will be your target audience.
Survey your classmates to discover their favorite sport. What is the most popular sport? Next, create a newspaper advertisement for a product that relates to that sport.
Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can write for a specific purpose and audience. I can find evidence to support my claim.
identify a footprint on Forensics Day at the 2022 St. Louis American Summer Science Academy
Photo by Cathy Sewell
Teachers, if you are using the St. Louis American’s NIE program and would like to nominate your class for a Classroom Spotlight, please email: nie@stlamerican.com.
MAY 25 – 31, 2023
Relishing its success
Pearlie’s Pickles has tasty treats on grocer’s shelves
By Ashley Winters
The St. Louis American
Pearlie’s Pickles is making its mark in St. Louis. The family-owned and operated business in Baden is bringing its popular addition to sandwiches and hamburgers to the forefront.
Pearlie’s Pickles has 50 flavors of sweetness and spice—Candy apple, Spicey Blue Raspberry, Pineapple, and Strawberry are just a few of the flavors on the menu.
“You can eat them right out of the jar, just like a bag of chips,” said Nicole Bailey, owner of the famous pickles.
The former cosmetologist of 25 years decided it was time for a career change, and she wanted to create a legacy she could pass down to her four daughters. Her goal is to create generational wealth and she launched the business that is named for her grandmother. The larger-than-life matriarch in
n “You can eat them right out of the jar, just like a bag of chips,” said Nicole Bailey, owner of the famous pickles.
Bailey’s family taught Nicole how to cook, season, and can pickles. She experimented with flavors including Jolly Rancher and Tropical Punch, which Bailey admits wasn’t the best idea. However, she finally discovered her base, and added flavors including Spicy Watermelon and Spicy Pineapple.
With a chuckle, Bailey said, “We have all flavors for all neighbors.”
And neighbors in the St. Louis region can find her pickles at Schnucks, Dierbergs, and at High-Vee grocery stores in other parts of the state. She works through their respective diversity initiatives supporting
minority and women-owned local businesses.
Pearlie’s Pickles has a permanent spot at Schnucks in their pickle aisle, and “Now my pickles are next to products I grew up loving,” said Bailey.
She threw her hands in the air and said, “Ms. Pearlie’s up in the house now.”
“I feel very blessed, I’m so grateful that the community saw fit to support me,” said Bailey.
Bailey got her start in 2012 selling her pickles at local flea markets and Soulard Farmers Market. To expand her business she invested in a property where her manufacturing shop is now housed. Bailey sells her pickles there and houses other local products such as Ghetto Sauce. Pearlie’s Pickles reminds you of the corner store back in the day. You’ll find penny candy, chips, Vess Sodas, and gifts for the holidays made by her godmother.
“We want to have everything that’s St.Louis in here,” said Bailey. “This is a
See PEARLIE’S, B2
Florida joins Missouri as states tagged with NAACP warning
Group issued travel advisory
By Alvin A. Reid The St. Louis American
The state of Missouri is no longer the only state with an NAACP travel advisory warning impacting its tourism industry.
The NAACP on Saturday issued a travel advisory for Florida over Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “aggressive attempts to erase Black history and to restrict diversity, equity and inclusion programs” in the state’s schools, the organization said in a statement
“We are witnessing firsthand how he’s governing, and he’s governing to a small vocal minority of the community, not the majority interest of Florida,” NAACP National President Derrick Johnson said on Monday.
“Nor is he governing towards a future of Florida, which will not look like the small minority that he’s speaking to in this moment.”
Johnson told The Grio on Tuesday the travel memo is an advisory, and not a Florida travel ban.
“We can’t abandon Floridians.” However, if one must visit the state, he says, “Go in mind with support of the Black community; engage civically and pass out banned books.”
PeoPle on the Move
Kelly Jackson celebrates 25 years with TEGNA
5 On Your Side’s Kelly Jackson recently celebrated 25 years with TEGNA, the parent company of KSDK. Jackson, an Emmy-award winning journalist, originally came to 5 On Your Side in 1998, and then moved to California to anchor at a 5 On Your Side sister station for a few years. She returned to St. Louis in 2010 and has anchored the weekend morning editions of Today in St. Louis at 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. ever since. Earlier in 2023 she was honored by the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, and she was part of the 5 On Your Side team that won a Gracie Award last year from the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation.
North County Inc. honors Sylvester Taylor
North County Inc. honored IBEW/ NECA Electrical Connection Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Sylvester Taylor with a 2023 Leadership Award. Taylor has had a long tenure of service to the North St. Louis County region, including treasurer of the Hazelwood School Board and he has served on the board of the Black Jack Fire Protection District. But Taylor has also been instrumental in connecting young people in the region with careers in the electrical and communication technology industry.
Young Named director of grad recruitment
Danni Young has been named the new director of graduate recruitment and admissions for the School of Social Work at Saint Louis University. Young has worked in higher education for 16 years. Before joining SLU, Young was the assistant director of recruitment at Harris-Stowe State University. A native of St. Louis, Young is a proud HBCU graduate, completing her undergraduate degree in business from Lincoln University in Jefferson City. She also holds an MBA from Washington University.
Berry receives Wash. U’s Excellence Award
and diversity manager at American
Cross, recently received the prestigious Excellence Award from Brown School of Social Work at Washington University. Berry has provided field instruction to over 100 graduate and undergraduate students during her career at the American Red Cross. In 2019, she was awarded the Outstanding Field Instructor Award by the School of Social Work at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Pearlie’s Pickles staff seated Founder Pealie Hall, Store manager Nicole Bailey, and Sandra Martin Back Row: Doris Nelson, Mya Bailey, Jordan Bailey, Skyla Bell, Alters Stevens and Brittany Williams in their Baden neighborhood of north St. Louis Tuesday, May 23.
Kelly Jackson
“Race is being used as a powerful tool” in the current political climate in Florida, Johnson said.
Missouri chapter of the NAACP
Sylvester Taylor
Derrick Johnson, National NAACP president, announced Saturday the organization has issued a travel advisory for Florida because the state “has become hostile to Black Americans.”
Danni Young
Yvonne Berry, community resilience
Red
Yvonne Berry
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Photo courtesy of Mississippi Free Press
Pearlie’s
Continued from B1
place for the community.”
Pearlie’s Pickles is a labor of love, with help from family and friends. Bailey said she wouldn’t be this far without them. They volunteered their time helping with cooking the pickles, seasoning them, and adding labels to the jars.
“When you invest in people there will always be a return,” said Bailey. Even though she
couldn’t afford to pay them then, they believed in her vision.
This summer, Bailey will be adding Pearlie’s Polish sausage and hot dogs to her menu along with ice cream, jelly beans, and peanuts. Once her backyard is renovated, Bailey plans to host community events for the youth in and near the Baden community.
She is in touch with the needs of the neighborhoods, and understands some of the struggles many face. She’s a single mom, she was a teen mom,
and she didn’t complete high school. However, she is determined to help the younger generation so they won’t have to experience some of the hardships she did.
“I think God wanted me to be here,” said Bailey.
For years to come, Bailey wants Ms. Pearlie’s Pickles to be a place where you know you can get support.
“A prayer and a pickle,” she said. Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for the St. Louis American.
Warning
Continued from B1
had issued an advisory in 2017, urging Black people “to travel with extreme CAUTION” because “race, gender and color based crimes have a long history” in the state.
The advisory came three years after the killing of Michael Brown, a Black teenager, by a white police officer sparked days of unrest in Ferguson.
“Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals,” Johnson and the NAACP said in the Saturday release.
“Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color.”
Johnson said in a statement that “failing to teach an accurate representation of the horrors and inequalities that Black Americans have faced and continue to face is a disservice to students and a dereliction of duty to all.”
Under DeSantis, “the state of Florida has become hostile to Black Americans and in direct conflict with the democratic ideals that our union was founded upon,” Johnson added.
The NAACP’s collective consideration of the advisory is a result from unrelenting attacks on fundamental freedoms from the Governor and his legislative body, the organization asserted.
Following DeSantis’ ordering the state to reject students’ access to AP African American stud-
ies course in March, the NAACP distributed 10,000 books to 25 predominantly Black communities across the state in collaboration with the American Federation of Teachers’ Reading Opens the World program.
In addition to being one of the leading voices against Critical Race Theory, DeSantis signed the Stop WOKE Act, restricting how schools and workplaces can address race, gender and sexual identity; banned an advanced placement
African American studies pilot program from running in schools; and prohibited colleges and universities from spending public funds on diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
The organization said in the release that it has encouraged all Florida residents to join the effort to defeat the “regressive policies of this Governor and this state legislature.”
“Once again, hate-inspired state leaders have chosen to put politics over people. Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state of Florida have engaged in a blatant war against principles of diversity and inclusion and rejected our shared identities to appeal to a dangerous, extremist minority,” said Chair of the NAACP Board of Directors, Leon Russell.
“We will not allow our rights and history to be held hostage for political grandstanding,” Russell stated.
“The NAACP proudly fights against the malicious attacks in Florida, against Black Americans. I encourage my fellow Floridians to join in this fight to protect ourselves and our democracy.
“Anybody that has been following what’s been happening in
Florida understands that it’s essentially become a hostile territory for Black people in the state,” said Cliff Albright, co-founder and executive director of Black Voters Matter, an organization dedicated to community organizing.
In a statement, Florida state Sen. Shevrin Jones (D) said the NAACP’s advisory was not a surprise because Black Americans are “absolutely less safe” under DeSantis’ administration.
“His dangerous agenda not only hurts people in our communities, but also harms our state’s economy, tourism, and local small businesses. When we have major employers pulling events and development out of the state in response to DeSantis’ embrace of right-wing authoritarianism, that hurts all of us.”
The national NAACP says the Missouri travel advisory was the first ever issued by the organization, at the state or national level.
Missouri’s advisory was issued after Senate Bill 43 – which makes it more difficult for employees to prove their protected class, like race or gender, directly led to unlawful discrimination – passed through the Missouri Legislature in June 2017. Then Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, who would later resign in disgrace, signed it into law soon after.
The NAACP also advocated for a boycott of South Carolina in 1999 when the state continued to fly the Confederate flag over its statehouse. It took 15 years for that boycott to be lifted.
The NNPA Newswire contributed to this report
Nimrod Chapel, Missouri NAACP president, was instrumental in the national NAACP issuing its first-ever travel advisory in 2017 following actions by a discriminatory bill passed by the Missouri legislature.
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
n “Jim’s dedication to the fight for equal rights was a lifelong effort. The world and I will miss him greatly.”
– Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the late Jim Brown
Sports
InSIdE SportS
By Earl Austin Jr.
State law
Track standouts head to championship meets
The high school track and field season closes this weekend with state championship competitions in Missouri and Illinois.
The Missouri Class 3, 4, and 5 state championships will be held this weekend at Jefferson City High. The field events will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the running events beginning at 11 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday. The IHSA Boys state championships will be held at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, beginning on Thursday, and concluding on Saturday.
Metro east powerhouse programs East St. Louis and Cahokia will be teams to watch at the Illinois Class 2 meet this weekend. Both teams will be taking a large contingent of athletes to Charleston this weekend. East St. Louis will be taking athletes in 11 individual events and all four relays to the state meet. They won the Class 2A sectional meet at Wood River last week with 156 points. Cahokia will be taking athletes in eight individual events and three relays after finishing second at the sectionals with 113 points.
East St. Louis had six sectional champions, led by Demarlynn Taylor who won the 110-meterhigh hurdles and 300meter intermediate hurdles. Keith Buchanon won the 100-meter dash and Devion Montgomery finished first in the 400. The Flyers also won the 4x100- and 4x00-meter relays. Cahokia’s lone sectional champion was field events standout Nicholas Deloach, who finished
100-meter-high hurdles and 300-
meet at Mexico
first in the long jump, triple jump, and high jump.
Highlights from last weekend’s Missouri Sectionals
• Junior Antwon McKay of Cardinal Ritter finished first in the 110-meter-high hurdles and 300-meter intermediate hurdles at the Class 4, Sectional 1 meet at Hillsboro.
• Junior A’laji Bradley of Pattonville finished first in the 100-, 200- and 400meter dashes at the Class 5, Sectional 1 meet at
• Senior Ahrmad Branch of Festus finished first in the long jump and triple jump at the Class 4, Sectional 1 meet at Hillsboro.
• Sophomore Melvin Sledge of Hazelwood East finished first in the 200 and 400 at the Class 4, Sectional 2 meet at Mexico.
• Junior Skyye Lee of Parkway Central finished first in the 100, 200, 100-meter-high hurdles and 300-meter low hurdles at the Class 4, Sectional 2
• Senior Winston Moore of MICDS finished first in the 100 and ran legs on the first place 4x100 and 4x200-meter relays at the Class 4, Sectional 1 meet at Hillsboro.
• The Cardinal Ritter girls won the 4x100 (46.95 seconds), 4x200 (1:41.82) and 4x400 (3:49.3) at the Class 5, Sectional 1 meet at Poplar Bluff
• Senior Mason Meinershagen of Oakville finished first in the high jump and pole vault at the
SportS EyE
With Alvin A. Reid
Class 5, Sectional 1 meet at Poplar Bluff.
• Sophomore Grant Stevener of Kirkwood finished first in the 800 and 1,600-meter runs at the Class 5, Sectional 1 meet at Poplar Bluff
• Senior Ladarius Williams of Hazelwood East won the 110-meterhigh hurdles and 300meter intermediate hurdles at the Class 4, Sectional 2 meet at Mexico.
• Junior Cameron Clayborn of Cardinal Ritter won the shot put and discus at the Class 4, Sectional 1 meet at Hillsboro.
Cahokia girls take third
The Cahokia Comanches brought home a third-place trophy from last weekend’s IHSA Class 2A girls state championships in Charleston. Junior sprinter Kayda Austin was one of the meet’s top individual standouts with victories in the 100 and 200. Her winning times were 11.85 seconds in the 100 and 24.23 seconds in the 200. Junior Keymora Hayes finished second in the 200, fourth in the 400 and fifth in the long jump.
The East St. Louis Flyerettes got all-state performances from Janiyah Brown, who finished sixth in the long jump and fifth in the triple jump. East Side also finished in the 4x200 and sixth in the 4x400.
Missouri Class 2 state meet highlights
The Lutheran North girls and Christian boys brought home trophies from last weekend’s Missouri Class 2 state championships in Jefferson City. Lutheran North finished tied for fourth place with 29 points. The Crusaders won the state championship in the 4x200-meter relay. Genesis Dixon finished second in the 200 and 400. Christian’s boys were led by senior Austin Ball, who won both the 110-meter-high hurdles and 300-meter intermediate hurdles. Tarrion Walker-Townsend of Valley Park brought home two all-state medals after finishing eighth in the 100 and long jump.
Porter Jr., helps propel Nuggets into NBA Finals
Michael Porter Jr., whose single season at Missouri was limited to three games, has played a pivotal role in the Denver Nuggets dominant push to the NBA Finals.
Porter scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Tuesday night’s 113-111 series-clinching victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. In Game 3, Porter netted 14 points and chipped in 10 rebounds and six assists [a career high] in Denver’s 119-108 win.
dunk that put the hosts up six, 127-121.
Porter sparked one of the series’ biggest baskets in Game 2 when he dove for a loose ball after the Lakers’ Anthony Davis missed a tip-in. Porter wrestled it away from a pair of Lakers, and made a pass to teammate Kentavius Caldwell-Pope
It led to a fast-break two-handed Aaron Gordon
“I just remember getting on the floor for it and easily could have been a jump ball,” Porter said. “I tried my hardest to look for my teammates through the crowd and found KCP. And then it started a break and (Gordon) had the big dunk.” Back injuries, surgeries, and rehabilitation time have been Porter’s partners since the 2017-18 Mizzou season when he was injured in the season’s first game against Iowa State. He returned to play in a single game in both the SEC and NCAA Tournaments, which ended in losses for the Tigers.
The possible No. 1 pick tumbled to No. 14 in the 2018 draft because of health concerns.
After signing a contract with the Nuggets on July 3, 2018, the team announced two weeks
later he had undergone another back surgery.
He would not play that season and made his NBA debut in October 2019.
He played in 55 games that 2019-2020 season and followed that up with 61 in 2020-21, which was outstanding because the season was cut short by the pandemic.
In July 2020, the unvaccinated Porter told the world COVID-19 was “overblown” and being used to “control the masses.” He failed to read the room as Colorado had one of the highest per capita
vaccination rates in the nation. It still does. 2021-22 was an injury filled disaster which saw Porter play in nine games. Nearing the end of his first contract, Porter entered this season as a mystery. Would he ever live up to his talent or would injuries send him to the sideline permanently?
He answered with a 62-game season in 22-23 and has been a force off the bench in the playoffs. He averaged 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and assists per game during the regular season. His career aver-
Michael Porter Jr. has played a pivotal role for the Denver Nuggets in the postseason.
ages are 15.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. If Porter can avoid injuries, he could find himself a highly sought free agent prospect. He could also soon find an NBA Championship ring on one of his fingers.
The Reid Roundup
Granted it is labeled as an “exhibition,” but Bubba Wallace finished second in last weekend’s NASCAR All-Star competition in North Wilkesboro, N.C., and is heading into
the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway on June 3 with a head of steam…During the race someone hacked into Wallace’s team radio and said, “Go back to where you came from. You’re not wanted in NASCAR.” According to Wallace’s racing team, 23XI Racing which is co-owned by Michael Jordan, the driver neither heard nor acknowledged the comments during the race. NASCAR is investigating…Washington Nationals pitcher Josiah Gray gave up five earned runs in five innings in his first start April 1. In his next eight starts he posted a 2.08 ERA, with 41 Ks in 47 2⁄3 innings pitched…Whether it was frustration with the umpire or himself, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jack Flaherty wasted an opportunity for a win last Sunday, lasting just 4 2/3 innings and giving up four runs. The Cardinals won 10-5.
Earl Austin Jr.
Poplar Bluff.
Junior Skyye Lee of Parkway Central finished first in the 100, 200,
meter low hurdles at the Class 4, Sectional 2 meet at Mexico.
Alvin A. Reid
Courtesy photo
Wash. U. recognized for transformative leadership in college access, success for lower-income students
Bloomberg Philanthropies recently recognized Washington University as an American Talent Initiative (ATI) High-Flier, a group of 28 high-graduationrate institutions that are national leaders in college access and success for lower-income students.
Washington University received the distinction for making the greatest gains in lower-income student enrollment since 2015-16 and innovative recruitment, enrollment, and retention practices.
An initiative led by Bloomberg Philanthropies in partnership with Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program and Ithaka S+R, ATI serves as a growing nationwide alliance of highgraduation-rate colleges and universities grounded in the belief that they can collectively expand access for tens of thousands of high-achieving, lowerincome students. By doing so, these institutions are increasing socioeconomic diversity within their respective student communities.
WashU continues to advance that commitment with the launch of its Make Way: Our Student Initiative, which is
World Wide Technology adds second New York office
Maryland Heights-based World Wide Technology continues to expand, and recently added a second New York City location.
According to WWT’s website, the location is in the One Manhattan West skyscraper in Manhattan, and takes up 38,000 square
funding programs and resources that deliver a best-in-class campus experience. And this year, the university announced the Taylor Family Center for Student Success which
feet of an entire floor. This is in addition to another WWT office at One Penn Plaza, with 12,000 square feet of office space. The global technology solutions provider has now grown to $17 billion in annual revenue, with nearly 9,000 employees in 55 locations throughout the world. In total, WWT has more than four million square feet of warehousing, distribution and integration space around the world, with
connects limited income undergraduate students to mentors, professional networks and purposedriven internships. This progress has been particularly evident
strategic integration labs in the U.S., Europe and Asia Pacific.
Goldman Sachs investing more than $2 billion into Black women-owned businesses
According to CNBC. com Goldman Sachs is
in the two years since Washington University reaffirmed its commitment to this work through ATI’s Accelerating Opportunity campaign. Along with their fellow ATI members,
investing more than $2.1 billion into Black women-owned businesses and nonprofits via the investment bank’s One Million Black Women program — and leaders say it’s only the first chapter.
“Goldman Sachs is sending a powerful signal into the marketplace around Black women and saying there has been a misalignment of capital, in terms of capital dedicated to this group. We’re
they set public, lowerincome student enrollment goals for the first time to help combat the lingering impacts of the pandemic.
Two years in, Washington University has exceeded
seeking to change that by putting our capital where our mouth is,” Asahi Pompey, global head of corporate engagement and president of the Goldman Sachs Foundation, told CNBC. One Million Black Women launched in March 2021 with the bigger goal of having a positive impact on the lives of 1 million Black women by 2030. Goldman Sachs has committed $10 billion in investment
its goal of 15 percent Pell share. They also are advancing a shared commitment among all 137 ATI members to close equity-based retention and graduation gaps.
capital and $100 million in philanthropic capital with a focus on access to capital, affordable housing, health care, education, job creation, workforce advancement, digital connectivity and financial health.
According to the firm, economists at the global investment bank have found the most efficient way to close the racial wealth gap is by investing in Black women.
Joplin’s opus
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis opened its 48th Season with Scott Joplin’s ‘Treemonisha’ on Saturday at The Loretto-Hilton. The decision to start the season with a production written by a Black composer, refreshed by a Black composer and Black woman librettist, helmed by a director of color and featuring an all-Black cast speaks to OTSL’s inclusivity efforts.
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis reimagines Treemonisha
By Kenya Vaughn
The St. Louis American
Through the world-premiere adaptation of Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha by Opera Theatre St. Louis, audiences have a rare and invaluable vantage point. They have the opportunity to experience the first and only opera of the famed Black musician with a notable St. Louis connection.
And through the collaboration of librettist Karen Chilton and composer Damien Sneed they are given a remarkable back story and post-script that speak to the importance of Joplin and his contributions to music – and ultimately the field of opera. Their updates provide a compelling vantage point that speaks to the importance of the work. Treemonisha, which is directed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj, opened
Opera Theatre’s 48th season on Saturday. The production continues through June 24 at the Loretto-Hilton. The decision to start the season with a production written by a Black composer, refreshed by a Black composer and Black woman librettist, helmed by a director of color and featuring an all-Black cast speaks to OTSL’s inclusivity efforts. This production reinforces the notion that Black people – and Black stories – belong on the opera stage. It was with this in mind that Joplin composed the original work more than a century ago.
Trailblazers have often been rewarded throughout history, but the real-time experiences of those bold enough to break new ground are often wrought with loneliness, frustration and the burden of being first. Though he had made a name for himself in popular music with his “Maple Leaf Rag” and countless other compositions, Joplin
was intent on promoting Treemonisha as a vehicle to help Black composers be seen as worthy contributors to the canon of American classical music – opera in particular. Treemonisha languished for more than 60 years before it was recognized with a Pulitzer Prize – and even after such an esteemed honor it has been a relatively unknown work within the canon of American opera.
Scott Joplin’s music came at a peculiar time in American history for Black people. Just two generations removed from bondage, it is Joplin who helps provide the blueprint for the Jazz Age –which inspired the Harlem Renaissance, a creative response to the Black experience in America with influences that continue to shape American culture in its broadest sense to this very day.
The Little Mermaid a romantic ode to love, tolerance
Dives into today’s culture wars
By Dwight Brown NNPA Film critic
“He’s a human!” Bellows Triton (Javier Bardem), an underwater sea god, who mistrusts those who live on land.
“That doesn’t make him our enemy,” exclaims Ariel (Halle Bailey), his mermaid daughter as she defends her love for a prince who is a mortal.
“Our worlds were never meant to be together!” Declares Queen Selina (Noma Dumezweni) to her open-minded son Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King). He responds to her phobia affirming his liking for “merpeople” and the need for their kingdom to be progressive: “I’m trying to reach out to other cultures, so we don’t get left behind.”
The characters, dialogue, and narrative are extensions of Disney’s brand, which champions love and inclusion, as opposed to fear and exclusion. And so, this live-action adaptation of “The Little
Rekha Allen drops a “Honey” of a first EP
Rekha Allen designed the cover art of her first EP, “Honey” herself, featuring a closeup shot of her eye. Allen, who has been a singer for years, released her first project to the world on May 5.
‘I want my music to bring people joy’
By Danielle Brown St. Louis American
Rekha Allen designed the cover art of her first EP, “Honey,” which was released on May 5, 2023, and it features a close up shot of her eye.
“With my first EP, I just wanted to get it out ‘cause it’s been so many years,” Allen said of her career.
“Over the years people would ask me, ‘When are you gonna drop your music?; Are you still singing?; Are you out of town?’”
Allen said meeting “the right people,” led to the EP release and a team that pushes her to excellence.
“Honey” is her nickname and it has been a part of her singing career. She thought it was fitting to use as her EP title.
The six-track project is produced by Samuel Lovelock, who is also Allen’s manager. She is signed to his label, Spatial Productions.
n “I want them to hear me and actually feel what I’m saying. Feel the words and take in exactly what I’m saying.”
- Rekha Allen
“The first three songs are love songs but then toward the end there are breakup songs,” she said.
“From the beginning to the end, it’s from happy to mad to upset because it’s something that happened in real life.”
Some of the songs were from four years ago, and she has had “a lot of ups and downs since then.”
“When I was in my last relationship at the time I thought ‘I ain’t gotta search no more,’” she said. “After a while it started to just dwindle down. It just got bad and it took a turn for the worse.”
She wants her EP to touch listeners’ souls.
“I want them to hear me and actually feel what I’m saying. Feel the words and take in exactly what I’m saying,” she said. “I feel like I’m a pretty relatable person, so if you can relate, we in there.”
Allen, who was born in 1993, describes her sound as “chill, laidback, calming, soothing, smooth, and nostalgic.”
Mermaid,” “1989 animated Oscar-winning film, dives into current culture wars. It encourages audiences to be accepting of people who are different from the ones they know. A fitting epilogue to Disney’s 1960s theme, “It’s a Small
After All.”
“I love how music made you feel back then and I wanna bring that back,” she said.
World
Ariel is an 18-year-old mermaid who lives under the Caribbean Sea with her
Cover art: Rekha Allen
See Opera, C8
Photo by Eric Woolsey
Photo courtesy of Walt Disney
Halle Bailey’s casting was a genius choice. Sweet voice, angelic look, loving.
Robin Allen 314 369-9549 Kim Garrett 314 604-8849
Continued from C1
In the words of Langston Hughes – one of the Harlem Renaissance’s most famous cohorts – Treemonisha was a dream deferred for Joplin. He created a work that was in direct opposition to how Black people were reflected in entertainment at the time. They were mostly seen as caricatures within minstrel show revues or by white actors in blackface – often reinforcing stereotypes, racist tropes and/or developed as propaganda to justify the racial terror Black Americans were forced to endure.
Through Treemonisha, Joplin presents Black people with their humanity, sense of community and moral compass at the forefront of their, being through the happenings of an all-black community in Arkansas twenty years after Black people were liberated from slavery. He didn’t live to see a stage production, but would
have been pleased with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ interpretation of his work.
The original Treemonisha leaves a bit to be desired with respect to storyline, but Joplin’s orchestrations are absolutely stunning. He perfectly seasons the classical music foundation with gospel, blues and ragtime undertones. Damien Sneed proves himself to be a master craftsman of a composer, creating music that is indistinguishable from Joplin’s original music. The vocal arrangements were organized and executed with the utmost care. And the context offered by Chilton as she takes audiences on a journey of love, inspiration, loss, tragedy and triumph by way of Joplin’s own story within the opera more than make up for the shortcomings within the original libretto.
Maharaj also does a solid job of being mindful to not slip into minstrel territory. Particularly with the “A Real Slow Drag” song and dance finale, which might have posed a struggle for someone
Through Treemonisha, Joplin presents Black people with their humanity, sense of community and moral compass at the forefront of their, being through the happenings of an all-black community in Arkansas twenty years after Black people were liberated from slavery.
with less experience and instinct as far as the depiction of Black people on the opera stage.
The creative team of Treemonisha were also up for the challenge –particularly the costumes of Dede Ayite, lighting designer Marcus Doshi and set design of Marsha Ginsberg. Rich voices with charm and plenty of range see the vision of the creative team to the finish line with plenty of heart and soul. And along with their vocal prowess Justin Austin and Brandie Inez Sutton are equally captivating with their organic chemistry as Scott Joplin and Freddie Alexander Joplin in the first and final act – and Remus and Treemonisha in Joplin’s original work. Norman Garrett’s booming baritone was also a standout in his role of Ned.
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ production of Treemonisha continues through June 24 at the Loretto-Hilton. For tickets or a full schedule of performance dates, visit https://opera-stl.org
Photo by Eric Woolsey
Commemorating Black service members in the Vietnam War
By Cicely Hunter, Missouri Historical Society
Each Memorial Day, Americans pay tribute to those who gave their lives in military service to our country. Stories that integrate the history of war, valor, patriotism, and race can be told through the experiences of Black St. Louisans who served on and off the battlefield. By exploring their stories, we can understand how their lives were forever changed as we keep their memory alive.
From 1965 through 1973, the US fought the Vietnam War on several fronts—ground, air, and sea. The war’s chilling reality resulted in many casualties, and tens of thousands of service members never returned home to their loved ones. Among the 58,000 service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Vietnam War were two Black St. Louisans, Staff Sergeant Dierother Brown and Private Udell Chambers.
Dierother Brown was born to Mr. and Mrs. A. James Brown on February 29, 1944. He attended Vashon High School, where he played on the basketball team and served on the school’s Red Cross committee. Brown enlisted in the US Army on June 19, 1963. Four years later he began his tour of duty in South Vietnam, serving as an armor intelligence specialist in the 1st Infantry Division, Troop B, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment.
Brown sustained multiple wound fragmentation and was killed in action in the Binh Duong region during the Tet Offensive on February 1, 1968. His body was recovered and sent home to St. Louis. Brown was interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in section H, site 234. His name appears on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, often referred to as “the Wall,” on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Brown was awarded three medals: the Bronze Star Medal, Silver Star Medal, and Purple Heart.
Udell Chambers was born to Tommie and Bettie Chambers on February 22, 1948. He lived with his family in Meacham Park and attended Kirkwood High School. A standout baseball player, Chambers was admired for his welcoming personality and skill set. After graduating in 1966, he began his promising baseball career with the Atlanta Braves organization, playing in the minor leagues for two seasons. In his 1967 season with the Lexington (North Carolina) Braves, he hit 12 home runs, stole 28 bases, and had a
.325 batting average.
Chambers’s bright future in professional baseball was cut short after he was drafted into the army in September 1967 at the height of the Vietnam War. He was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment. He was killed in action on June 21, 1968, near DaNang, South Vietnam, when hostile rocket fire struck his military base. For his sacrifice, bravery, and heroism, Chambers was awarded the Purple Heart, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Service Medal. Still beloved by his community, Chambers was inducted into Kirkwood High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.
Soldiers Memorial Military Museum in downtown St. Louis is dedicated to commemorating our region’s rich history of military service and sacrifice. In 1979, Soldiers Memorial expanded its Court of Honor to memorialize 214 local service members who died in the Vietnam War. Among the names inscribed on the Vietnam memorial are those of 96 Black service members.
This Memorial Day, May 29, Soldiers Memorial will rededicate the Vietnam memorial with the names of an additional 254 St. Louis service members—20 of whom are Black—who were identified while Soldiers Memorial staff researched the Vietnam: At War and At Home exhibit. Introductory music by the Red and Black Brass Band will begin at 9:45am, followed by the national anthem, an invocation, a POW/MIA remembrance service, and remarks by various individuals including Missouri Historical Society president Dr. Jody Sowell and St. Louis mayor Tishaura Jones. At 10:50am the Vietnam memorial will be rededicated with a reading of the names, a three-volley salute, and the playing of “Taps.” At 11:35am the Red and Black Brass Band will lead a procession to the Court of Honor. During the procession, visitors may pick up yellow carnations that represent Gold Star families and lay them at the memorial. After the ceremony concludes, visitors will be offered tours of Soldiers Memorial, where a reproduction of Staff Sergeant Brown’s Silver Star certificate can be viewed in the Vietnam exhibit.
Please visit mohistory.org/events/ memorial-day for more information about the Memorial Day Observance at Soldiers Memorial.
Let the good times roll
By Barry Draper
Festival season is fast-approaching, and St. Louis has an electrifying lineup of concerts, performances and community celebrations that will leave you with barely a moment to rest.
As summer progresses, the excitement continues. If you want to plan ahead, visit explorestlouis.com/events.
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Festival Season Until June 24
Offering its signature mix of beloved classical operas and bold contemporary works, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis will present its 48th Festival Season at the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts. Through the talents of hundreds of local, national and international artists, audiences will experience the magic of innovative storytelling as they travel between fantasy and reality, comedy and tragedy, love and revenge. The festival season begins by reimagining Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha. The new edition of the opera celebrates the strength, beauty and wisdom of Black women and brings back to light a forgotten figure of history – Freddie Alexander Joplin. All the operas will be sung in English and accompanied by the Grammy Award-winning St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
St. Louis Shakespeare Festival: Twelfth Night May 31 to June 25
Often regarded as William Shakespeare’s greatest comedy, Twelfth Night is bursting with romance, music and high times. This year’s Shakespeare in the Park sets Viola and her twin brother – shipwrecked, separated and finding their way in a strange, new land – in glamorous, celebrity-filled Miami. In a world of appearances, not everyone is who they seem, but love is love in this glorious, Latin-inflected story of longing and reinvention. Part of the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, all performances are free and open to the public, so grab a lawn chair, pack a picnic and find a spot on the grass of Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park.
Disney’s Aida June 2 to July 2
spotlight 40 breweries from the Missouri Craft Brewers Guild. Each brewery will bring at least two of its signature beers to the festival. Guests can enjoy unlimited samples, along with complementary food and live music. You also get to take home a keepsake tasting glass!
Juneteenth Celebration June 10
Head to the Delmar Loop for an epic Juneteenth celebration. Expect live art demonstrations, including a community mural painting; animated performances by the Red and Black Brass Band; bounce houses; face painting; and other activities for the whole family. Local restaurants such as AAA Fish House, Krab Kingz, Palomino Lounge and Vails Brothers will also serve delectable dishes.
Dine Around: South Grand Restaurant Crawl June 15
Dine Around, a restaurant crawl along South Grand Boulevard, gives inquisitive eaters the opportunity to sample the vast array of cuisines available on the sixblock stretch. The 2023 event will feature dishes from around the world – think Turkish kebabs, Ethiopian injera, Italian arancini, Indian curry, Cantonese steamed buns and all-beef hot dogs, just to name a few delicious bites from the diverse collection of restaurants. Vegetarians and vegans will also have plenty of yummy options. Participants will each get five tickets to “spend” any way they want, choosing between small plates, desserts and drinks.
Guest Columnist
Barry Draper
A timeless love story, Disney’s Aida tells the tale of the transcendent love triangle of Aida, a Nubian princess stolen from her country; Amneris, an Egyptian princess; and Radames, the soldier they both love. Set in a time of great turmoil in ancient Egypt, this story of forbidden love has thrilled audiences for more than 20 years. Wrapped in an electric Tony Award- and Grammy Award-winning score by Elton John and Tim Rice, Aida is both a stunning musical theater experience and an uplifting story of faith, duty and redemption. STAGES St. Louis will perform Aida at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center.
Craft Beer Hobnob June 3
Held at Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood, the Craft Beer Hobnob will
BLK Family Reunion Festival June 17
The BLK Family Reunion Festival was created to bring the St. Louis community together while highlighting our culture through music, food, activities and family. The free, one-day event will draw residents of St. Louis and surrounding cities to Harris-Stowe State University, where there will be a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the birth of hiphop, along with a host of great local talent.
PrideFest
June 24 and 25
Spotlighting the diverse and dynamic LGBTQIA+ community and bringing awareness and support to the historically marginalized group, PrideFest is one of St. Louis’ signature events. This year, the festival will take place on June 24 and 25. Local, national and international talent will grace the main stage; vendors will dot the lawn between St. Louis City Hall and Soldiers Memorial Military Museum; and The Hive will welcome people aged 25 and younger to talk, listen, dance and celebrate Pride in a safe space. The spirited celebrations will culminate in the Grand Pride Parade presented by Edward Jones on June 25. Beginning at noon, the procession will travel down Market Street from 8th to 18th streets, attracting thousands of revelers to downtown St. Louis. PrideFest events are open to the queer community and its allies. It’s an opportunity to celebrate our uniqueness and uplift each other.
Image courtesy of the Missouri Historical Society.
Soldiers Memorial Military Museum.
Religion National Prayer Day
embraced in pulpits, by politicians
“The right to pray is enshrined in our Constitution and stamped firmly in the American tradition.”
American staff
Established in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, the first Thursday in May is designated as the National Day of Prayer, and last week, from the White House, to houses of worship nationwide, pastors and people took the day to pray.
“The right to pray is enshrined in our Constitution and stamped firmly in the American tradition,” President Biden said in his proclamation. “The belief that prayer can move mountains is, at its core, a belief in making the impossible possible. There is nothing more American than believing in the endless possibilities of what we can do when we do it together.”
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, the nation’s lone African American governor, observed the National Prayer Day in Maryland with a proclamation that acknowledged the role of prayer as a valuable tool to “strengthen the bonds
of understanding, tolerance, friendship, and unity among all people.”
“Marylanders cherish our heritage of religious freedom, and throughout our state and the nation, events will take place to celebrate and honor the National Day of Prayer,” said Gov. Moore. “Let us pause for a moment and reflect on the importance and healing nature of prayer in our lives.”
The president said throughout American history “prayer has empowered moral movements.”
“It was deeply rooted in the fight to abolish slavery and the expansion of voting rights and voter access,” said Biden and the Rev. Thomas Bowen, director of the District of Columbia Mayor’s Office of Religious Affairs, agreed.
Bowen said “these are difficult days but not impossible days.”
“I hope that our thoughts will cause us to pray, and those prayers lead us to action,” Bowen added. “Frederick Dou-
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore calls prayer “a valuable tool to strengthen the bonds of understanding, tolerance, friendship, and unity among all people.”
glass said that he had prayed for freedom for a long time, and he got an answer to his prayer with his feet.”
Research from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) has found that the religious landscape of the United States has changed a lot in the last few decades.
Researchers say the United States is becoming less religious, more diverse, and politically divided, leading to significant cultural changes.
PRRI said that in 2022, 27% of Americans said they didn’t believe in any faith, up from 19% in 2012 and 16% in 2006.
According to the study, the
remaining 6% of Americans who follow other religions have stayed the same over the past few years.
Individuals who identify as Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Unitarian Universalist, or from any other world religion are a part of this group.
“The past three years were a period of great trial and
change for the United States. Understanding how these times affected Americans’ thoughts, beliefs, and opinions is critical to understanding social change,” René Bautista, director of the GSS and associate director of Methodology and Quantitative Social Sciences at NORC, related in a news release. Researchers found that many Americans practice more than one religion, and nearly one in five (19%) consider themselves “a follower of the teachings or practices of more than one religion.”
Followers of non-Christian religions (26%) are the most likely to be multi-religious, followed by Hispanic Catholics (24%), white mainline/non-evangelical Protestants (24%), and Protestants of color (16%). White evangelical Protestants (18%) and Protestants of color (16%) are the least likely to follow the teachings of multiple religions. According to a separate survey by NORC at the University of Chicago, 50% of Americans expressed uncertainty about the existence of God. That’s less than in 2008, when it was 60%.
BUILDING DEPARTMENT MANAGER
The City of Jennings is accepting applications for a Building Department Manager. Duties include administrative & professional work in planning, organizing, directing, facilitating, and supervising of the building department, including code enforcement; new construction of residential and commercial structures; building plan review; environmental, public health, and safety programs for all buildings. Bachelor’s degree in planning or related field or seven years equivalency in the field. ICC certified. Starting annual salary $61,340 (GS25). More detail description and applications available at Jennings City Hall, 2120 Hord Ave. or at www.cityofjennings. org. NO RESUMES ACCEPTED WITHOUT A COMPLETED APPLICATION. Completed applications may be mailed, emailed to jobs@cityofjennings. org or faxed to 314-388-3999. Applications accepted until the position is filled.
CAREGIVERS
Job is for 5 Days a Week –5 Hours per Day –Salary is $20 per Hour Clean record, good recommendations, mobile, with many skills For more details about the position, email (georgenicholayk0147 @gmail.com)
INSURANCE OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
In this role you will be part of our Public Entity Unit, one of the fastest growing lines of business at SN. You will work closely with others in the Account Services department as well as, the Insurance Underwriting department, including the Public Entity team.
To apply, please visit: https:// www.safetynational.com/ careers-page/
PRICING ACTUARY –REMOTE
Responsible for providing Pricing Analyses and Technical Support for Treaty Reinsurance with a focus on casualty lines including Workers’ Compensation, Commercial Umbrella, and Professional Liability.
To apply, please visit: https:// www.safetynational.com/ careers-page/
ASSTISTANT COOK POSITION
Greenwood Restaurant & Bar 1000 Sutter Ave University City Mo 63130
Asst: Cook Position Pay $10 per hour 314-333-1222
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (DV) COURT SPECIALLY APPOINTED CONTEMPT ATTORNEY
The Family Court of St. Louis County is seeking a DV Court Specially Appointed Contempt Attorney. This position requires attendance at two Friday afternoon DV Court Order of Protection (OP) contempt dockets per month, and attendance at contempt trial special settings as needed; participation in OP violation contempt trials; and collaboration with court-appointed DV Court Defense Counsel or private counsel representing Respondents. The position additionally includes conducting independent research and other necessary court/trial preparation; reviewing documents and evidence submitted by Petitioners and Respondents or their attorneys; preparing memos, pleadings and other court documents as needed; and assisting with the on-boarding of new volunteer Specially Appointed Contempt Attorneys. This position also works closely and collaborates with DV Court program staff and other court personnel. This position can reimburse for up to 15 hours of work per month, at the rate of $75.00/hour.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from an accredited law school, possession of a current license to practice law in the State of Missouri, at least three (3) years of trial experience, preferably in juvenile, family, or criminal law, and experience working with survivors of domestic or sexual violence (Note: This position is subject to continued availability of funding).
To apply, please send a current resume, along with a cover letter, to the following address (application materials must be postmarked by June 9, 2023: Attn: Human Resources Department, Family Court of St. Louis County, 105 S. Central Ave., Clayton, MO 63105. OR Email same to SLCCourtJobs@courts.mo.gov. EOE.
Please contact the Human Resources Department at 615-4471 (voice) or RelayMo 711 or 800-735-2966 if you need any accommodations in the application process, or if you would like this posting in an alternative form.
DISABILITY DETERMINATIONS COUNSELORS
Disability Determinations
EDI DATA INTAKE ANALYST I
In the role of EDI Data Intake Analyst you will be part of EDI Intake Team. You will work closely with Operations Team and Business Users. Your contributions of collaborating with external data providers to ensure the quality of incoming data, as well as resolving data issues while strategically trying to drive continuous improvement efforts to eliminate root causes. To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational.com/careers-page/
Counselor-The state of Missouri is accepting applications for a Disability Determinations Counselors in our St Louis office. Application deadline is May 29, 2023. Starting salary is $47,664$50,016. View job description and application instructions at https:// mocareers.mo.gov/hiretrue/ce3/ job-board/ 5effe9b2-4b89-494bac76-c45e25190768/38908fc4544f-4f3d-8791-bcfd07394a58?jb=true or visit mocareers.mo.gov and use keyword “counselor”. C45E25190768/38908FC4544F-4F3D-8791-BCFD07394A58?JB=TRUE OR VISIT MOCAREERS.
CITY OF ST.
LOUIS ST. LOUIS LAMBERT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Solicitation For Bids (SFB)
Service: Oxygen Inhalators Equipment and Services
Pre-Bid Meeting Date: June 6, 2023, 11:30 AM
Question Due Date: June 8, 2023
Bid Due Date: June 22, 2023
M/WBE Goals & Incentives: MBE goals:
WBE goal: 11%.
A five percent (5%) Bid discount shall be applied to construction, goods,and other services prime contracts on contracts $300,000 or less to prime African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, Native American and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Bidders.
Point of Contact: Gigi Glasper – gxglasper@flystl.com
contract-opportunites
Robert Salarano Airport Properties Division Manager
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
RFP NO:LU22032 DAWSON HALL RENOVATION CONTRACTED ABATEMENT OF HAZARDOUS MATERIAL
Lincoln University-Missouri is requesting proposals from qualified and certified Contractors to perform abatement of Asbestos remediation or encapsulation from Dawson Hall, built in 1969. Typical work to be performed consists of asbestos removal, transportation, and disposal. Although there are aspects for performance that require specialized training and certification. The awarded firm (Contractor) will be required to follow abatement and/ or industrial waste specifications, and local, State, and Federal regulations when handling these materials. Contractor will develop asbestos specification plan for the abatement. Contractor will be responsible for hiring reputable third-party environmental monitoring firm to certify contractor’s plan, monitor, test and record all work that is done according to all applicable laws and regulations; and certify that the building is free of hazardous material prior to renovation. Please visit: https://www.lincolnu.edu/about-lincoln/ vice-president-of-administration-and-finance/ facilities-and-planning.html for the complete RFP documents and drawings.
The University will be accepting bids until 2:00 p.m., May 31, 2023. To be considered, bids must be received by the date and time to: Lincoln University Facilities and Planning 309 Young Hall Jefferson City, MO 65101
A pre-bid walkthrough will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. May 24, 2023. Contractors will meet at Dawson Hall located at 711 Lee Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65101. General, Process or Technical Questions concerning this solicitation should be directed to lufacilitiesplanning@lincolnu.edu
ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
St. Louis Community College will receive Letter of Intent to Bid and Qualifications for CONTRACT NO. F23 607, Transformed Projects at the Meramec Campus for CET and FSEC, until 2:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday May 30, 2023. Letter of Intent to Bid and Qualifications will be received at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 5464 Highland Park, St. Louis, MO 63110-1314. Drawings, Specifications and bid forms and other related contract information may be obtained from S. M. Wilson’s Building Connected website using the link below: https://app.buildingconnected.com/ public/5913928fce945d0a00d28943
Documents available in Bonfire at https://stlcc.bonfirehub.com
Questions regarding the scope of work should be directed to Jere Sheehan, jere.sheehan@smwilson.com. A pre-bid meeting will be held on June 6th, 2023 at the Meramec Campus (location and time to be determined). A walk-through of the project will follow the meeting. You may schedule site visits by contacting Nathan Webb at nwebb18@stlcc.edu
The College has the proposed minority goals MBE 15% and WBE 12%
Individuals with special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act may contact: 314-984-7673
Visit our Website at www.stlamerican.com
CITY OF ST. LOUIS ST. LOUIS LAMBERT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Solicitation For Bids (SFB)
Service: AC Chiller Repair and Maintenance Services
Pre-Bid Meeting Date: June 7, 2023, 12:00 PM
Question Due Date: June 9, 2023
Bid Due Date: June 27, 2023
M/WBE Goals & Incentives:
MBE goals: 21% - African American 2% - Hispanic American .50% - Asian American .50% - Native American WBE goal: 11%.
A five percent (5%) Bid discount shall be applied to construction, goods,and other services prime contracts on contracts $300,000 or less to prime African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, Native American and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Bidders.
Point of Contact: Gigi Glasper – gxglasper@flystl.com
Bid 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) 890-1802. This SFB may also be obtained by visiting our website at www.flystl.com/business/ contract-opportunites
Robert Salarano Airport Properties Division Manager
REQUEST FOR BIDS
UMSL – College of Nursing Phase III
Color Art Construction, a general contractor is seeking competitive bids for UMSL - College of Nursing (C.O.N) is expanding upon their recently renovated Learning and Simulation labs in Seton Hall. Approximately 9,100 sqft of space on the ground level of Seton Hall will be updated to provide a state of the art (7) bed Skills Lab and (3) Simulation Rooms with associated Debrief and Control Rooms. The Skills Lab will be separated from an adjoining classroom with an operable partition to support a flexible and collaborative learning environment. Simulation labs will include millwork with medical grade sinks. Classrooms will be outfitted with new flexible furniture to further enhance the learning environment and align with the school’s curriculum. Project location is 1 University Blvd, Seton Hall, St. Louis, MO 63121
The project scope includes but is not limited to final clean, demolition, structural steel, carpentry, millwork, glass and glazing, doors/frames/hardware, drywall, ACT, painting, flooring, operable partitions, fabric panels, window shades, corner guards, fire extinguishers and cabinets, toilet accessories, toilet partitions, sprinklers, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical. A bid walk is scheduled for Tuesday, May 30th at 10:00am. Bids should be emailed to Color Art Construction no later than Friday, June 9th end of business day.
Please email your bid or any questions to bidrequestsCAC@color-art.com
SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PARTICIPATION GOALS:
The project has as a goal, subcontracting with the twenty percent (20%) combined Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Women Business Enterprise (WBE), Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE), and Veteran Supplier Diversity participation; and, three percent (3%) Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business (SDVE) participation.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Requests for Quotes, Bids and Proposals are posted online for public download. Please navigate to www.msdprojectclear.org > Doing Business With Us > View Bid Opportunities
Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
BIDS
Kadean Construction is accepting vendor bids for CP211941 - MU Research Reactor - West Building Addition at University of Missouri – Columbia. Bids are due at 12:30 p.m., C.T., June 01, 2023. Call 636.305.0099 to request Bid Documents
SEALED BIDS
Bids for Six New Full Service Cabins Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park Middle Brooke, MO Project No. X2206-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, June 22, 2023. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities
SEALED BIDS
Bids for Solar Array, Interior LED and Vehicle Exhaust System Marshall Field Maintenance Shop, Marshall, MO Project No. T2044-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, June 22, 2023. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities
BID REQUEST FOR TRESTLE REPAIRS
Great Rivers Greenway is seeking bid request for Trestle Repairs in St. Louis, Missouri. Go to www.greatriversgreenway. org/jobs-bids to apply by June 20, 2023.
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
Harris-Stowe State University, St. Louis Missouri is seeking qualifications from firms to provide Materials Testing services for the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship project. Qualified firms may obtain a copy of the RFQ documents by emailing Corey Freeman at freemanc@hssu.edu and copying Ryan Wilson at ryan@ navigatebuildingsolutions.com All questions or comments regarding this solicitation package must be submitted in writing to Ryan Wilson, by e-mail to ryan@ navigatebuildingsolutions.com no later than 5:00 p.m. C.T., on May 31, 2023. Qualifications will be accepted by email to Corey Freeman and Ryan Wilson until 12:00 p.m. C.T., on June 7, 2023.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS # 57823143, BEVERAGE VENDING SERVICES, POURING RIGHTS AND SPONSORSHIPS
Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) is requesting proposals for Furnishing and Delivery of Beverage Vending Services, Pouring Rights and Sponsorships. If interested, a copy of the request can be obtained by emailing Barbara A. Morrow at email address: morrowb@hssu.edu Proposals must be emailed no later than 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 (there will not be a public opening), and must be emailed to: morrowb@hssu.edu
The University reserves the right to accept or reject any or all responses received, or to cancel this request in part or in its entirety if it is in the best interest of the University to do so.
Solicitation For Bids (SFB)
Service: Carpet Cleaning Services
Pre-Bid Meeting Date: May 25, 2023, 2:30 PM
Question Due Date: May 30, 2023
Bid Due Date: June 15, 2023
M/WBE Goals & Incentives:
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
PARIC Corporation is requesting bids to make subcontract awards from for the new St. Louis Community College Florissant Valley Campus’ New Center for Nursing and Health Sciences Building, for all scopes of work required by the documents. Access to documents is available from our Smartbid link. If you do not receive a bid invitation please send your company information to tlalexaner@paric.com
BIDS WILL BE DUE ON JUNE 1, 2023 @ 10:00am
This is for the construction of a new 100,190 SF, four story building, including all associated site and civil work. Estimated construction value is +/- $45M.
Project is sales tax exempt and is subject to Missouri Division of Labor Standards Annual Wage Order No. 29.
The College has the proposed minority goals of MBE 15% and WBE 12%
The Owner is committed to providing minority business enterprises and women business enterprises (MBE/WBE) with an equal opportunity to do business with the Saint Louis Community College. The Owner has adopted the following to address equitable MBE/WBE involvement in the Project. The achievement by Bidders of the MBE/WBE participation and/ or the efforts to obtain MBE/WBE participation will be considered in the award of all contracts. A firm must be certified or be in the process of obtaining certification from one of the following, but not limited to:
---SLDA St. Louis Development Agency
---MDOT Missouri Department of Transportation
---IDOT Illinois Department of Transportation
---CDB Illinois Capital Development Board
---METRO
---St. Louis Airport
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
LETTING NO. 8759
TURNER PARK COMFORT STATION RENOVATIONS
Electronic bids submitted through the Bid Express Online Portal will be received by the Board of Public Service until 1:45 PM, CT, on JUNE 27, 2023, then publicly opened and read. Proposals must be submitted electronically using “Bid Express Online Portal” at https://www.bidexpress.com/ businesses/20618/home Plans, Specifications, and the Agreement may be examined and downloaded online through Bid Express.
An optional pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held June 6, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. The pre-bid conference will be held at the existing Comfort Station at Turner Park located at 4101 West Belle Place, St. Louis, MO.
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).
PARIC CORPORATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Request for Proposal
Attention:
Food Service Management Companies
City Garden Montessori School is seeking bids for food service management services. The Food Service Management Company would provide services according to the requirements of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and the Missouri Department of Secondary and Elementary Education.
To obtain a copy of the Request for Proposals, contact: Mary Swofford at (314)664-7646 x118 Food Service Management Companies may submit proposals to: City Garden Montessori School Attn: Mary Swofford 1618 Tower Grove Ave. St. Louis MO 63110
All proposals should be delivered in a sealed envelope marked Food Service Management Proposal.
Interested bidders must meet to review the specifications, to clarity any questions, and for a walk-through of the facilities with school officials on June 16 at 10 AM, at 1618 Tower Grove Ave. and 4209 Folsom Ave. City Garden Montessori School. Attendance is required.
PUBLISHER’S NOTICE:
Advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, imitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial\status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.“We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.”Call Angelita Houston at 314-289-5430 or email ahouston@stlamerican.com to place your ads today!
BID NOTICE
City of Pine Lawn
Seeking bids to demolish dangerous/ hazardous building at 2525 Kienlen Pine Lawn, Mo. 63121.
Submit bids to Pine Lawn City Hall -Attn: L. Eunice
6250 Steve Marre Ave. - Pine Lawn, Mo. 63121 by 4 pm June 12, 2023
SEALED BIDS
Bids for Replace HVAC and Controls at Shady Grove State School, Project No. E2010-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, June 22, 2023, via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities
ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for CONTRACT NO. F23-302C, Concrete Foundations and Structural Steel Bids with Company Qualifications. For the new 140,000 sq. ft., 4 story building at St Louis Community College, Wildwood Campus, 2645 Generations Drive, Wildwood Mo. Bids closing electronically at bids@bsistl.com until 2:00 p.m. local time June 12, 2023. Documents available through the construction manager representing St Louis Community College for this project.
Construction managers Kwame Building Group Inc project manager Ernie Keller, ekeller@kwamebuildinggroup.com
The College has the proposed minority goals MBE 15% and WBE 12%
The College also proposes their subcontractors employ apprentices in each of the building trades involved in this project.
Individuals with special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act may contact: 314-644-9039
BID REQUEST MISSOURI S&T WELCOME CENTER PROJECT
Crossland Construction Company, Inc. is accepting bids for the Missouri S&T Welcome Center project, located at 500 Tim Bradley Way, Rolla, MO 65409. Bids can be emailed to bid@ crossland.com or faxed to 620.429.1412. Crossland does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, or national origin and encourages and invites all DBE/ MBE/WBE/SDVE/Veteran companies to submit bids. Participation goals for this project are 10% MBE, 10% WBE/DBE, and 3% SDVE. Bids are due by 11:00 AM on 06/01/23. If you are interested in bidding on this project or would like to obtain plans & specifications, please contact Darrin Hill at dhill@crossland.com or at 620.429.1414.
BID NOTICE
Bids for the Missouri S&T Welcome Center in Rolla, Missouri are being received by Brinkmann Constructors. Bids must be turned in by Monday, May 29 - 11AM CST
Bids may be delivered to our office at 16650 Chesterfield Grove Rd Chesterfield, MO 63005 Attn Alberto Rojo, or emailed to bids@BrinkmannConstructors. com
Plans may be viewed or downloaded at https://securecc.smartinsight. co/#/PublicBidProject/702374 Contact Brinkmann Constructors for further details on the project at 636-537-9700
CITY OF ST. LOUIS BOARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE
SECTION 001113
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS-SHORT
Electronically Sealed Bids For The Hereinafter Mentioned Project Will Be Received Online By The Board Of Public Service Through Bid Express At Https:// Www.Bidexpress.Com/Businesses/20618/Home. Proposals Must Be Submitted Before 1:45 Pm, St. Louis Time, On Tuesday, June 27, 2023. The Proposals Will Then Be Publicly Opened And Read.
The Bidder must pay $40 to submit a bid through the Bid Express Service. Monthly subscriptions are available.
Project Name: Concrete & Brick Removal/Replacement and Complete Sidewalk Installation (SP-117) Letting No.: 8760
Authorizing Ordinance: 71650
Contract Time: 280 Working Days. Schedule Related Liquidated Damages Per Day: $250.00
Project Contact Person, Email: Helen Bryant, BryantH@stlouis-mo.gov
Estimated Cost: $900,000.00
Bid Deposit: $22,725.00
Bid Opening Location: Via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom. us/j/83445052494?pwd=eHZvQIRESxmxBREhJWjZFLzVBcitSUT09
The proposed Work includes: Replacement of curbs, sidewalks and other incidental construction in the public right of way related to the City’s 50/50 Sidewalk Program.
Plans, Specifications, and the Agreement may be examined online through Bid Express at https://www.bidexpress.com/ businesses20618/home and may be downloaded for free.
A MANDATORY pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held in Room 305 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103 at 10:00 AM on June 6, 2023. All bidders who did not attend the pre-bid meeting for Contract SP-116 (Letting #8758) are required to attend the pre-bid meeting in order to be eligible to bid on the project.
Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State, and Federal laws (including M/WBE policies).
The right of the Board of Public Service to reject any or all bids is expressly reserved.
Allen comes from a bloodline of musicians and singers. Her grandfather played in a band with Ike Turner. Her mother is a former singer, and several of her family members play instruments.
Allen jokes that she didn’t have a choice but to do music. She sang in elementary school plays and joined her school choir in 5th grade.
“Music gets me through a lot,” she said.
“It got me through a lot in life, especially when I felt like I was at my lowest. All I really had at that time was music.”
While she is an R&B girl, she’s interested in exploring country, pop, house music, and afrobeats.
“I have a single that I just finished that hasn’t dropped yet it’s called “Never Met You,” she said. “It’s an afrobeats
I
many sisters and widowed father King Triton. She roams the local waters with her fishy sidekick Flounder (Jason Trembly, Room), a flighty, dizzy seabird named Scuttle (Awkwafina) and a Jamaican crab named Sebastian (Daveed Diggs), who is an advisor and a spy for her father.
Up above, a ship in a storm is wrecked by winds and waves. A gallant fellow, Prince Eric, is thrown overboard. Ariel saves his life and brings him ashore. He is semiconscious but feels her presence and hears her bewitching singing. He is taken, mesmerized, and haunted by her beauty and voice. Ariel is smitten too. So much so that she makes a deal with her evil Aunt Ursula (Melissa McCarthy), a sea witch. She can become a human with legs, visit the surface land and pursue the one she loves, Prince Eric. But it’s an agreement that comes with poisonous tentacles attached from her cunning, duplicitous, octopus-looking auntie. Watch out!
Director Rob Marshall (Chicago) and the film’s producers have pulled together a stellar
tech crew that makes the “merpeople’s” swimming as thrilling as Superman flying. Speedy, graceful, and mercurial movements that capture the eye. Also, the pastel colors in Ariel’s fins are captivating and watching her swim is as thrilling as viewing Avatars in Avatar. Seamless VFX and SFX technology is on display. Anyone connected to the visuals should be proud: cinematographer Dione Beebe, production designer John Myhre, art director Lauren Briggs-Miller, costume designer Colleen Atwood and set decorators Diana Samuila and Gordon Sim. Alan Menken’s original songs and music from the animated film hold up well. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote a clever, catchy rap tune for Scuttle, called “The Scuttlebutt,” which is about hot gossip. And for 2h 15m, editor Wyatt Smith keeps your attention glued to the screen with only a few lapses. Bailey’s casting was a genius choice. Sweet voice, angelic look, loving. McCarthy dials her mean witch factor up to the max. She’s campy, hysterical, and devilish all at once. It’s fair to say that this very multiracial, multicultural version has strayed far away from its original 1837 source, a Danish fairytale written by Hans
Christian Andersen. The interracial mix of the sisters and entire cast speaks for itself. The ensemble moves around nonchalantly like having a Black queen, white prince, an Asian bird, a Spanish sea god, a Pakistani butler (Art Malik) and a crab with a thick Jamaican patois is normal. And it is. It’s the new normal.
David Magee’s (Finding Neverland) thoughtful script is filled with father/ daughter tension. Mother/ son misunderstandings. Fear of the unknown. Befriending others. Love between different people. Warnings about humans wrecking the ocean. Lots of teachable moments. Lots of things to see, discern, digest, and learn. Life lessons that entertain and may prepare kids for the new world. Cautionary tales that parents should heed if they want to stay relevant.
Families looking for a PG movie that’s as illuminating as it is fun will appreciate the joy, love, and wisdom of this parable. An enlightening exploration of what might happen if people reached out, accepted others and didn’t get left behind.
Disney’s live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid” hits theaters May 26th
Photo courtesy of Rekha Allen
Rekha Allen
Photo courtesy of Walt Disney
Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King in a scene from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.”