December 19th, 2024 edition

St. LouiS AmericAn

McKee’s troubled urgent care center shut down

‘Reckless disregard for city’

By Alvin A. Reid

St. Louis American

The Homer G. Phillips Nurses Alumni Association is steadfast in saying it never opposed the opening of an urgent care center at Jefferson and Cass.

Its trade infringement lawsuit against developer Paul McKee was filed to strip the name “Homer G. Phillips Hospital” from its walls.

Recent happenings at the facility show that the name of Homer G. Phillips is being further disgraced by what has transpired within its walls.

KSDK reported on Tuesday that the center had furloughed employees because of a blood shortage, according to a letter from its board of directors.

In addition, its staff had not been paid for their work recently.

Yvonne Jones, Homer G. Phillips Nurses Alumni, Inc., president said, “It is situations such

See McKEE, A7

‘He covered St. Louis like a blanket’

Photographer and ‘American’ contributor

Bill Greenblatt passes at 70

By Kenya Vaughn and Alvin A. Reid

St. Louis American

The

Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024.

Cream of crop

Bold Spoon wins $75K Arch Grant

By Sylvester Brown, Jr. St. Louis American

Arch Grants, a local nonprofit dedicated to attracting and retaining “extraordinary entrepreneurs” to the St. Louis region, recently announced the winners of its 2024 “Startup Competition” who were awarded a total of $1.7 million in grants.

This year’s winners represent a wide range of industries including Art Tech, medical and biochemical research,

educational innovation, AI, robotic and agricultural technology, and much more. Readers of the St. Louis American may be familiar with one $75,000 Arch Grant awardee, Rachel Burns, founder of Bold Spoon Creamery. In 2022, it chronicled Burns and her husband Corey Wilkinson’s journey from making fresh-batch ice cream for friends and family out of their University City home in 2017, to selling their products door-to-door during the

pandemic in 2020. The product is now on the respective shelves of local businesses and tourist sites including SmokeHouse Market in Chesterfield, and Fresh Thyme Market at the City foundry Straub’s, Schnucks, CITYPARK, Enterprise Center and the Dome at America’s Center. In 2021, Burns and Wilkinson sold their home and bought a 57-acre farm

If there was a moment worthy to be photographed, William “Bill” Greenblatt was there with every intention of filing. That was whether it was a protest, a celebrity first pitch at a St. Louis Cardinals game or a three-alarm fire – which was his specialty as the official photographer for the St. Louis Fire Department. Just about every major news scene over the past few decades included him on site with a camera around his neck, and another on his shoulder.

Greenblatt died on Sunday, December 15th after a battle with cancer. He was 70 years old.

“Bill will be fondly remembered for his work behind the camera lens, but even more so for his selflessness and witty sense of humor,” his family said in a statement on his passing. “A friend to anyone who has ever met him, Bill

By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American

When music superstar Metro Boomin began presenting Christmas giveaways to benefit single mothers and their children, he was hardly a household name. One of the first of them was held in the multipurpose room of the Greater Bethlehem Baptist Church, a small but mighty congregation located across from Reliable Funeral Home in Midtown.

“One day, We’re gonna do this at The Dome,” Metro said. The North County native, born Leland Tyler Wayne, was emerging as one of the hottest producers on the Atlanta hip hop scene. But he was still early in his career. In fact, Metro was barely out of his teens.

Less than a decade later, Metro presented his Single Moms Are The Real Superheroes Holiday Soiree at Stifel

Zymir Jefferson, 7, a student at Lift For Life, checks his list at the Delta’s Winter Coat Give-A-Way

Photo by Gabrielle Hays / PBS NewsHour

From left, Homer G. Phillips Nurses Alumni Inc. members Lois Collier Jackson, President Yvonne Jones and Wanda Claxton Trotter continue the legal battle to remove the name Homer G. Phillips from developer Paul McKee’s urgent care center.

William ‘Bill’ Greenblatt

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Gospel star Le’Andria Johnson arrested for public intoxication

According to Greenville.com, Grammy Award-winning gospel singer Le’Andria Johnson was arrested Monday in downtown Greenville, North Carolina. The outlet reported that documents from the Greenville Police Department’s Sgt. Diana Munoz showed Johnson was arrested and charged with public intoxication and having an open alcohol container on a public street.

Police were reportedly called to BrickTops restaurant after receiving reports that Johnson was “causing a disturbance,” including screaming at other patrons. She was said to have left the restaurant.

Officers found Johnson walking while screaming profanities at a man, not identified by police, who was with her. According to the incident report, Johnson handed a Styrofoam cup to the man and attempted to conceal it when an officer approached.

Authorities reported that Johnson smelled of alcohol, swayed while attempting to stand still and had slurred speech. They added that the cup she handed over contained an amber-col-

ored liquid that smelled strongly of an alcoholic beverage. She paid a $257.50 bond Tuesday afternoon and was released from the Greenville County Detention Center. Records did not show a court date.

Johnson, became an instant star –and ultimately the winner – for season three of the gospel music competition “BET’s Sunday Best” in 2010.

Diddy withdraws latest bail bid

People.com was the first to report that Sean “Diddy” Combs will remain in jail until his May 2025 trial after voluntarily withdrawing his latest bail appeal. The entertainment news outlet said that it obtained court documents revealing details of the bail bid dis missal.

Combs had unsuccessfully requested for bail three times. He was first denied bail during his arraignment in federal court on Sept. 17, one day after his arrest in a Manhattan hotel room on federal six crime charges.

His second bail request was denied one day later on Sept. 18 by a different judge, who cited concerns of witness tampering.

His third request for bail was denied on Wednesday, Nov. 27. At the time of the third ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Arun Subramanian for the Southern District of New York cited several reasons in the decision, noting that Combs is a danger to the community and the seriousness of the violent crimes he has been charged with.

Chance the Rapper’s ex heads to divorce court

In April, Chance the Rapper’s wife Kirsten Corley announced via Instagram that the couple was headed for divorce after a period of separation. According to TMZ.com, Corely went to court to make the split official. The celebrity news and gossip site obtained a copy of the Cook County, Illinois petition for dissolution. Corley cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the end of their fiveyear marriage. The document reportedly states that the couple has a prenuptial agreement. She’s seeking child support in an amount that’s in the best interests of the kids – and waives maintenance.

Jay-Z’s attorney slams accuser, said Diddy and his client were never friends

Last week, allegations that Sean “Diddy” Combs and rapper Jay-Z assaulted a 13-year-old girl at an MTV Video Music Awards after party 24 years ago fell apart after the accuser shared her story on NBC News with elaborate details that have since been disproven.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jay-Z’s attorney Alex Spiro ripped apart the accuser’s story, discussed his client’s anger regarding the accusations and said Combs and Jay-Z were never friends.

“He’s upset that somebody would be allowed to do this, would be allowed to make a mockery of the system like this,” Spiro said, according to entertainment news magazine’s website. Spiro also says that a friendship never existed between Combs and his client.

“Mr. Carter has nothing to do with Mr. Combs’ case or Mr. Combs,” Spiro said, according to THR.com. “They knew each other professionally for a number of years. Just like in all professions, people know each other. There is no closer association— that’s also a matter of fiction.”

Sources: Greenville.com, THR.com, TMZ.com, Instagram.com, People.

in her

A Village of support

Jamaa Birth Village holds annual baby shower

By Ashley Winters

The St. Louis American

Christmas came early for moms, soon-to-be moms, and families in the St. Louis region. The Jamaa Birth Village’s annual Mother Blessing Baby Shower and Fundraiser gave away free car seats, diapers, receiving blankets, and more.

Okunsola M. Amadou, founder, and CEO of Jamaa Birth Village, was filled with joy when she saw the smiling faces of the families she has served or is currently serving. “I truly believe the creator put me on this planet to give back and be a servant and charitable,” the CEO said.

Families and kids enjoyed a live DJ playing holiday tunes, candy canes, crafts, and a hearty breakfast. But the big bonus was having a picture with CoCo Santa. The annual event is sponsored by the St. Louis County Department of Health and the Missouri Foundation for Health, with a strong assist from local clergy members who also donated money and items needed for the community.

“It takes a village of support for us to create a village of support for our families,” Amadou said. The first mother blessing baby shower was in 2016, marking St. Louis’ first doula-led baby shower for the community at large on Church Street in Ferguson. The baby shower had gently used items, childbirth education, postpartum discussions on physical, mental and spiritual healing. Amadou wants expecting moms to be stress free,

and the mother blessing baby shower events help relieve some of that stress.

St. Louis County Department of Health purchased car seats and postpartum kits. Other sponsors and donors helped with diapers and baby wipes. Jama Village upholds the idea of centering the mother, meaning proper care for the mother can result in a healthier baby. The mother blessing kits include comforting items like essential oils, a journal, and body scrubs.

Over the years, Amadou has seen moms suffer low self-esteem after giving birth.

“We give items that will help them feel good and well,” Amadou said. Other gift items are herbal maternity pads and baby clothes. Jama Village also has a mother and baby closet where families can get free clothing at the event.

Expecting mom of two, Teiana Edwards, said she was most excited about the postpartum goodie bag. She described the event as “wonderful.”

Edwards said that Jama Birth Village gives her so much love and support she doesn’t feel alone or like she is doing this pregancy by herself. Her first two pregnancies were traumatic, she said. Finding Jama Village lets her know that there are others who are willing to help.

Jasmine Jackson, a returning mother to the village, said her family was received with warmth and intention. “I am grateful for the support from the village,” Jackson said. Her oldest son is five and a lot of the

things he had as a baby Jackson has donated. She said the rising cost of baby needs can be overwhelming. Having the opportunity to get a free car seat, baby clothes, diapers and wipes is right on time for her family.

Jamaa Birth Village was founded in 2015, in Ferguson. In 2020, Amadou opened Missouri’s First Black led Midwifery clinic. Her leadership helped grow the St. Louis Black doula community from less than

Friday, January 17, 2025 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Doors open at 10:30 a.m. Program begins at 11:00 a.m. Visit ChristianHospital.org/MLK-Celebration for details

Paul F. Detrick Building Atrium, Christian Hospital 11133 Dunn Road, St. Louis, MO 63136

10 Black practicing doulas in 2015 to certifying nearly 500 doulas in eight years through her community doula training.

“We want families to feel that abundance of love,” Amadou said.

Kamara Warner, a contracted doula with Jamaa Brith Village, enjoys being a support to the families she serves. “We are letting the community know we are in it with them,” said Warner. The doula said that is the num-

ber one goal of the village. Christmas can be a stressful time of year for some families as the cost-of-living goes higher, putting a financial strain on families already strapped for cash.

“Having this event this time of year gives our families some relief,”she added.

Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for the St. Louis American.

Christian Hospital will recognize and celebrate the 2025 Drum Major Awardees, which is the highest honor Christian Hospital Foundation bestows upon unsung individuals who have given their time, talents, treasures, and service in the name of justice, equity, and equality.

The 2025 Awardees are:

LAURNA GODWIN President Vector Communications

ASHLEY HARRIS Sr. Manager, Community & Engagement World Wide Technology

JACKIE JOYNER-KERSEE Founder & Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation

MARTEZ MOORE, CFRE Deputy Scout Executive

Greater St. Louis Area Council Boy Scouts of America

Guest Speaker LOU BROCK, JR.

Master of Ceremonies MISTER GARY, “KING OF HOSPITALITY” Host of television show Them Yo People! Music by DANITA MUMPHARD AND PREMIER PROTAINMENT BAND

Photo courtesy of Jamaa Birth Village

Jamaa Birth Village founder Okunsola M. Amadou presents a new baby car seat to Laura

Costello and family members during the annual Mother Blessings Baby Shower and Fundraiser On Sunday, December 15, 2024.

Editorial/Commentary

Guest Editorial Commentary

GOP legislators already seem lost

By Janice Ellis

Instead of focusing on esoteric and special or personal interests, there are many areas that need to be addressed in the new legislative session that begins on Jan. 8 that could improve the lives of many Missourians.

There is lots of noise indicating what pre-filed bills will likely get a lot of attention.

Republican lawmakers, of which they are the super majority, have filed at least 11 bills to curtail or outlaw abortion access. The objective of these bills is to undermine and nullify Amendment 3, which allows abortion access that the majority of Missourians just passed.

There is also a question of whether lawmakers will introduce and consider legislation to modify or repeal Proposition A which voters overwhelmingly passed by more than 57% to increase the minimum wage. The likelihood of legislation being introduced has increased since major business groups have filed a lawsuit to overturn it.

Here are some issues of importance to all Missourians.

Homelessness Irrespective of the causes — mental health, economics, substance abuse, or by choice — homelessness continues to be a major problem especially for the large urban areas in the state.

Providing temporary emergency services is the perennial practice.

Implementing needed and lasting solutions — from providing small livable houses, adequate temporary shelters, and other social and healthcare services — seem to elude lawmakers irrespective of state surplus funds that could be applied.

Children. When a society ignores or continually fails to meet the needs of the most vulnerable, its children, among them it speaks volumes. Providing adequate services and a safety net for Missouri’s children continues to be a persistent problem.

Lead. Lead is present in many schools and homes across the state. Even though there has been legislation passed requiring schools to test their water and install filters, the contamination is still widespread.

Missouri has one of the highest numbers of lead pipes — ranking sixth among states — funneling water to homes even though the federal government banned lead pipes more than 30 years ago.

Shouldn’t the legislature be doing more to address lead contamination/poisoning to reduce and eliminate the detrimental health risks for children and adults?

Housing. The state still faces a serious shortage of affordable housing for low income and middle-class working families. The crisis is more severe in Missouri’s largest metropolitan areas, Kansas City and St. Louis. But there is also a shortage of affordable housing in smaller cities and rural communities all across the state.

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Missouri has a major shortage of homes.

The Division of Children Services is plagued by a plethora of problems from managing it foster care program, child safety and abuse to retaining adequate staffing. Many have been brought to light over the years. There is acknowledgement that something desperately needs to be done. But will anything change in any meaningful and significant way?

Education. With an incoming new administration in Washington, D.C., which has declared that the U.S. Department of Education should be eliminated, what are some of the implications for the Missouri Department of Education when it comes to funding and other regulatory requirements.

Missouri K-12 schools are plagued with a number of challenges from keeping an adequate number of qualified teachers, having state of the art technology and other resources, to improving overall student preparation and performance.

Those are just a few of the areas that, if they became priority for policy and funding solutions, would be very helpful for many Missourians.

Missouri Independent columnist Janice Ellis analyzes educational, political, social and economic issues across race, ethnicity, age and socio-economic status.

(1894-1993)

(1914-2000)

(1909-2006)

Closing the vaccine gap in new year

“Americans who don’t have

can typically find no-cost vaccine options in their communities through local immunization programs.”

By Marc Morial

It is no secret how devastating the COVID-19 pandemic has been for marginalized communities in this country. The National Urban League quantified this impact in the 2020 edition of our annual capstone report, the State of Black America.

As COVID-19 swept across the country, we sprang into action through combined efforts from our affiliate movement and public/private partnerships to save lives across the country. In 2021, we launched All In, a joint effort with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to close the vaccination gap in communities of color and underserved neighborhoods with the help of our affiliates.

Even though we are past the peak of the pandemic, this is the stark reality of our present situation:

regardless of age and health status, and is linked to more than 200 symptoms, including brain fog, debilitating fatigue, and chronic pain.

COVID-19 remains a severe health threat. Over 43,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 in 2024 alone – and as we enter the colder months, flu season, and holiday season, the risk of severe infections and hospitalizations will continue to rise.

We know that those with pre-existing conditions like COPD, high blood pressure, and obesity are at greater risk of falling seriously ill.

People of color and marginalized communities are also affected by these conditions at a disproportionate rate. And beyond the risk of an acute COVID-19 infection, we cannot ignore the devastating toll of Long COVID, which has impacted roughly 18 million Americans. Long COVID can affect anyone,

Staying up to date with vaccinations to prevent and reduce the severity of new strains of the virus is the best way to protect ourselves from falling seriously ill. According to one study, the total COVID hospitalization rate is approximately 11 times higher in unvaccinated adults. At the same time, receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to fend off longer term symptoms -– studies show vaccination reduces an individual’s risk of developing Long COVID by 70%. The good news is that updated COVID-19 vaccines are available at pharmacies, doctor’s offices, and health clinics across the country. For most Americans, the COVID-19 vaccine is free because private insurance and other programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program cover the full cost. Americans who don’t have insurance can typically find no-cost options in their communities through local immunization programs. The Department of Health and Human Services also provides up to four free COVID19 tests per household.

Increasing COVID-19 vaccination rates will require the work of all of us. The same concerted efforts to fight misinformation, direct people to resources, and keep people informed of ways to stay safe are just as important as they were at the beginning of this pandemic. Let’s do our part to keep ourselves safe and protect those who are most vulnerable this holiday season.

Marc Morial is president and CEO of the National Urban League

Commentary

Lou Gossett Jr.

loved planet Earth

By Ben Jealous

It was my last year as national president of the NAACP, at the end of 2013 Image Awards.

I was with my friend Louis Gossett Jr., the actor and activist who won an Oscar for his role in the film “An Officer and a Gentleman.” Lou said to me, “You know, Ben, I’ve been in this racial justice movement my whole life, but sometimes, brother, I feel like we’re fighting over who’s in first class. What we should be doing is looking out the window, because the plane has fallen like 20,000 feet in the last two minutes.”

He saw I was a little confused. So, he continued, “The planet is dying. It doesn’t matter who’s in first class on a dead planet.”

centric circles as he thought about how people could make a difference and have an impact in their family, community, country, as well as the world. He founded the Eracism Foundation to promote cultural diversity, historical enrichment and anti-violence initiatives for young adults, teens and preteens through “Shamba Centers” throughout the country.

Lou’s words have stuck with me for over a decade. It was Lou’s voice echoing in my ear that inspired me to get back into the environmental movement and take my current job as the head of the Sierra Club.

December is the customary month of remembrance. A time of year we take stock; a moment on the calendar when we pause to reflect on the giants we have lost.

Louis Gossett Jr. is one of those giants. He died this past March.

Lou contributed one of the autobiographical essays in my book “Reach: 40 Black Men Speak on Living, Leading, and Succeeding.” In it, he wrote about meeting Nelson Mandela when the South African leader was finally released from prison after 27 years.

Lou said Mandela’s message was simple: there is no time to focus on revenge, which is a “self-inflicting disease;” the only thing we have time to focus on is “uplifting ourselves and one another for the bigger picture, which is the salvation of the planet.”

n Remembering his passion for justice and the path he forged can be a guiding light.

Lou never shied away from using his platform to fight for people and the planet. Remembering his passion for justice and the path he forged can be a guiding light.

As a child, Lou loved superheroes. When he did not see anyone who looked like him playing his favorite superhero, Superman, he decided to become one — both on and off the screen. The character he portrayed in “An Officer and a Gentleman,” Gunnery Sgt. Emil Foley, was a soldier highly decorated for his patriotism. Offscreen Lou was a true patriot himself.

Lou often spoke of the need to focus on the “bigger picture.” He pictured con-

Lou spoke of the values passed on to him and his cousins by their grandmother: “collective responsibility; empathy; being ready, willing and able to help another person when he or she is down.”

Those are values to live by. I can relate. My own grandmother’s wisdom continues to guide me. Her sage advice continues to be one of my mantras in life: “Pessimists are right more often, but optimists win more often. As for me, I’ll take winning.”

Lou’s hope was that younger generations grow up to remember that bigger picture of which he spoke. That “instead of talking about the salvation of the Irish or the Jew or the Black, they talk about the salvation of mankind and the planet. I think we can ask for and expect nothing less.”

Ben Jealous is the executive director of the Sierra Club and a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania.

Guest Columnist Janice Ellis

Columnist Marc Morial

Columnist Ben Jealous

Randy Sutton, Wounded Blue founder, presented a check to Ferguson Police Sgt. Terrence Moore on Dec. 9 for fellow officer Travis Brown and his family. Sutton announced that the organization was gifting the family with $60,000.

Wounded Blue comes through for Travis Brown

It’s been four months since Ferguson Police officer Travis Brown was assaulted during a protest in the early hours of Aug. 9 outside the Ferguson Police Station.

Videos show Brown being tackled by a protestor and struck his head on the pavement. He is recovering in Atlanta and regain some of his motor skills.

“I’ve been following this since literally the night it happened,” said Randy Sutton, founder of The Wounded Blue, a charity based out of Nevada.

Sutton made the trip from Nevada last week to bring a gift to Brown’s family.

At a Dec. 9, 2024, press conference, Sutton said to the Brown’s family spokesperson, “If you could come up here and accept this check in the amount of $5,000.”

That family spokesperson and friend, Sgt. Terrence Monroe, accepted the check.

But moments later, that gift grew into a

lifeline when Sutton approached the microphone again.

“That $5,000; that’s the first month. We are committing to 5K a month for the next years,” Sutton said.

Sutton said just hours before the event, donors with The Wounded Blue decided to increase their support to $60,000.

Monroe says this will be a much-needed bright spot for brown’s mother, Barbara, who hasn’t left her son’s bedside.

“These moments right here is how she’s able to stay strong. Knowing the community, whether the St. Louis area or nationally, is still thinking about her son,” Monroe said.

Donations can be made to https://www. gofundme.com/f/support-ferguson-officer-travis-brown.

This article was originally published on ksdk.com

STAYING HEALTHY IS

A valued Head Start in life

By Maryom McCloud

My story is a series of events and opportunities that likely would not have happened if not for Head Start.

We lived in the George Legare housing development in North Charleston, South Carolina. My mom had me while she was in high school. My grandmother became my primary caregiver as my mom continued her education by going to college.

My grandmother enrolled me in the Mamie G. Fields Head Start, which centered me in a safe and caring environment. I loved going to school. I loved that I had a book bag just like my mom. Little did I know, while she worked to fulfill her dreams, Head Start would initiate a journey leading to my dreams, too.

It’s difficult sometimes to remember last week, let alone decades ago, but I have vivid memories from my time at Head Start. I remember things like eating lunch with classmates and the school’s immaculate facilities, with different areas for toys and activities. And the books! Head Start gave me my first set of books, and I fell in love with reading.

One memory is when I had to get dressed up and take pictures for a special ceremony that included “really important people” from the town who didn’t look like me, my family, or anyone in my neighborhood. That’s how my young mind understood what I would later learn to be the vestiges of racial segregation.

When it was time to move on from Head Start, my literacy and numeracy skills were advanced. Because Head Start taught my mother how to advocate for what was in my best interest educationally, she requested a meeting with the elementary school principal to discuss my beginning kindergarten, even though my birthday was after the registration cut-off. That meeting resulted in two additional opportunities.

First, I started kindergarten at four years old.

Second, the school principal offered my mother a job as a substitute teacher, which was her first job with benefits. This opportunity was a significant boost for our family that could not have happened had she been unable to attend and finish her studies.

Throughout my school years, I excelled. I graduated high school at 16 and started college at 17, intending to pursue an electrical and chemical engineering degree. Additional encounters and opportunities along the way helped me identify a career path in accounting instead. I’ve always been skilled with numbers and learned that finance suits me well.

Not long after launching my career, I merged my aptitude for numbers with my core belief in serving others by working in the public service, governmental, and nonprofit sectors. My work is challenging and fulfilling. My first job was as a director of finance and human resources for a Community Action Agency, which served Head Start children and families.

In 2020, I joined Lutheran Family Services Florida as the director of finance — yet another opportunity to give back to Head Start. When I look at my path and my family’s, I firmly believe that Head Start had a central role in where we are today. Head Start is a catalyst for changing mindsets, leading to opportunities that change lives.

Maryom McCloud is director of finance for Lutheran Family Services Florida

Photo image courtesy of KSDK.com

Maryom McCloud

Bold Spoon

Continued from A1

surrounded by hilly terrain, the Ozark Mountains and a gushing river in Park Hills, Missouri. There, the couple planted apples, peach and pear trees, strawberries, pumpkins and herbs they use for their ice cream favors. Their eclectic menu includes Garden Mint, Brie with Spiced Honey, Goat Cheese with Fig Jam, Lavender Vanilla, Pumpkin Chi, Vanilla Crème Brûlée, Mixed Berry Brown Butter with Miso Caramel and roasted peach.

Going from what Burns described as “a hobby” in 2017 to making it a thriving business today has been an exhilarating ride. They went from three part-time employees in

Greenblatt

Continued from A1

touched the lives of so many people and his legacy will be cherished forever.”

Greenblatt wasn’t interested in getting a picture. He was determined to get the picture – by any means necessary.

“He took his job seriously,” said Wiley Price award-winning staff pho-

2021 to more than 20 full and part-time people who make, promote and sell their products throughout the region today.

Burns still stands by a quote she made to the St. Louis Magazine earlier this year about how ice cream can “bring people together.”

“Yeah, I see more evidence of that happening today,” Burns said. “For example, when we have corporate catering events…these are grownups and when we come, they’re basically sprinting out of their offices to get to our ice cream.

Burns said, “The entrepreneurial journey is not like a straight line…it can be squiggly which can be sort of anxiety-inducing.”

“But looking back at my whole adult life; I’ve been sort of interested in entrepreneurism but

tographer for The St. Louis American. “And he really tried to be everywhere.”

Watching Greenblatt work an assignment was as interesting as the story itself. Photographers typically arrive early – careful not to miss a moment –and talk shop until whatever they were there to shoot got underway.

“I can’t tell you how many shots I have with the back of Greenblatt’s head in it,” said Lawrence Bryant, another

sort of put it aside. To be honest, when I stopped thinking about it, it sort

award-winning photojournalist and longtime St. Louis American contributor with a laugh. “That was him.”

He would get the shot. And, he would also share it – with proper photo credit, of course – with outlets across the region and the nation, including The St. Louis American.

“In addition to his well-regarded ability as a photojournalist, he was respected – and appreciated – as a special friend,

of happened by mistake. I had too much mint in my garden and then started

mentor and contributor to The American over the years,” said Donald M. Suggs, publisher and executive editor of The St. Louis American. “We are saddened by his passing and send our deepest condolences to his family.”

What Greenblatt will be remembered for most within the field was his sports photography. He was so prolific that in 2021 he became the first photographer ever to be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

Greenblatt was the first photojournalist enshrined by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, recognized him in 1991 for a photo of a home plate collision between Cardinals centerfielder Ray Lankford and Darren Daulton of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Greenblatt was also a recipient of the Jim Otis Award from the Lombardo Chapter of the National Football Hall of Fame.

Rachel Burns, founder of Bold Spoon Creamery, has her ice cream products on grocery shelves throughout the area. Burns said she will use a $75,000 Arch Grant to purchase a refrigerated storage facility to serve what she defines as “multiunit retailers,” like Schnucks. She also plans to continue building Bold Spoon’s marketing and branding-awareness strategy.

making ice cream. That’s how it happened.” While acknowledging

While Greenblatt was recognizable, he never became a part of a story he was covering, according to former KMOV anchor and acclaimed journalist Julius Hunter.

“When Bill entered a room, he made a point of not lighting up the room,” Hunter said.

“Until his camera light flashed to bring us all closer to see important events and newsmakers in our city we might have otherwise missed. Bill will be missed.”

William David Greenblatt was born June 9, 1954 in St. Louis, one of two children born to Harold and the late Lois Greenblatt. He was a graduate of Ladue Horton Watkins High School. He went on to study education, music, and journalism at the University of Missouri.

Greenblatt was still a teen when he started working at OJ Photo Supply, a nationally renowned Black business that served photographers in the region and abroad. It was there

the 2024 Arch Grant recipients, Arch Grants executive director Gabe Angieri said the agency was adhering to its commitment to build “a more inclusive and equitable startup ecosystem.” As an example of that obligation he said that 80% of the new awardees’ companies were “led or co-led by underrepresented founders.” Burns said the Arch grant will help her “scale up” business. For example, she plans to purchase a refrigerated storage facility that will allow her to serve what she defines as “multi-unit retailers,” like Schnucks. She also plans to continue building Bold Spoon’s marketing and branding-awareness strategy.

Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.

that a young Fred Sweets met an even younger Greenblatt.

“I was the first Black photographer at The St. Louis Post-Dispatch,” Sweets said. “I was in my early twenties. He said, ‘Would you be willing to take me with you on some assignments so I can see how it goes?’” Greenblatt shadowing Sweets evolved into a 50-plus year friendship – and the pair ultimately became peers. “He worked so hard to get good at it,” Sweets said. “He had clients all over the place, but his primary source was UPI.” Greenblatt was inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. “He covered St. Louis like a blanket,” Sweets said. “He had a front row seat and was concerned about documenting the history of St. Louis through his lens.” He is survived by his wife Barbara and their children Mitchell, Lilly and Ethan Greenblatt.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Moms

Continued from A1

Theatre on Sunday, December 15. The goal he declared back then no longer seems so lofty.

“I was always confident that my career would grow year after year – and that meant my resources would grow year after year, and I would be able to do more,” Metro said. “I always saw this as a thing that would continually get bigger and bigger.”

Metro’s career has ascended to the point where he is in position to sweep the Rap category at the 67th Grammy Awards in February. Thanks to “We Don’t Trust You,” (his joint album with Future) Metro is up for “Best Rap Performance,” “Best Melodic Rap Performance,” “Best Rap Song” and “Best Rap Album.” And a seemingly innocuous jab by Kendrick Lamar on Future and Metro’s track “Like That” ignited the spiciest rap beef (so far) of the 21st century between Kendrick Lamar and Drake – and led to Lamar’s seven Grammy nominations this year.

Being a Christmas blessing feels greater than any gift he could receive, so much so that it was hard to find the words to describe his joy – even though it was written all over his face.

“Seeing that relief that comes over them – that same relief I saw come over my mother – knowing how that feels…man,” Metro said.

“I’m always meeting so many of these women and hearing their stories. They tell me how these things helped them in such a make or break way. It makes me want to do more.” Along with dinner and a surprise performance by Nelly and City of The St.

McKee

Continued from A1

as this that tarnish the legacy of “the Honorable Attorney Homer G. Phillips” and pride and reputation that the hospital holds so dearly.”

“Our sole goal is to remove the name of Homer G. Phillips from this building and to protect the legacy of a world-renowned hospital and keep its name in the historic “Ville” neighborhood.

Jones said her organization empathizes with the furloughed employees “and pray that you will be compensated and find employment soon.”

McKee “Northside Regeneration” project has been littered with trouble since its inception, and projects including a grocery store and retail developments near the new NGA headquarters have failed or never materialized.

“We have seen time and time again that projects initiated by Paul McKee end in disaster in St. Louis,” said Zenobia Thompson, a Change The Name Coalition co-chair.

“It is tragic that the revered name of Attorney Homer G. Phillips is associated with a controversy of this nature.”

Mayor Tishaura O. Jones said, “The closure of this hospital right before the holidays represents another failure from Bob Clark and Paul McKee, two developers whose reckless disregard for our city continues to impede needed progress on the North side.”

St. Louis Health Director Dr. Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, MPH, FIDSA, said the name Homer G. Phillips “carries profound historical significance for St. Louis and the Black community.”

Grammy nominated hip hop star Metro Boomin displays one of the purple capes that were presented to mothers in attendance at the Single Moms Are The Real Superheroes Holiday Soiree at Stifel Theatre on Sunday. The evening included a surprise performance by Nelly and City of The St. Lunatics, and the official launch of the Leslie Joanne Foundation. The foundation is named in honor of Metro’s mother, Leslie Joanne Wayne – who he lost to domestic violence two years ago.

Lunatics, a part of Sunday night’s festivities was the official launch of the Leslie Joanne Foundation. It will be facilitated by Rung for Women. The foundation is

“For decades, the original Homer G. Phillips Hospital was a beacon of health equity, training, and excellence in serving marginalized communities during a time when segregation limited access to quality care.

“It is a name that symbolizes advocacy for justice and equity in healthcare. That legacy makes today’s developments even more devastating, as they represent yet another missed opportunity to honor the name with the respect it deserves.”

Homer G. Phillips Hospital opened in 1937 following the crusading work of local Black attorney Homer G. Phillips who was also a founding investor of The St. Louis American newspaper. It closed in 1979, with city officials disregarding the pleas of the Black community.

At its peak, the 600bed facility was one of the largest hospitals in the country. It employed 1,000 Black skilled and semiskilled health care workers, including hundreds of orderlies, aides, janitors, and ambulance drivers. In addition, it provided a training facility for educating nurses and housing.

For a period of 20 years, 75% of all Black doctors in the country interned at Homer G. Phillips Hospital. By 1961, it had trained the largest number of Black doctors and nurses in the world.

Legal fight continues

The Nurses Association is appealing a Sept. 6, 2024, ruling allowing developer McKee to continue use of the Homer G. Phillips name.

Protest rallies are also continuing on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, weather permitting, and supports vow to continue the fight. Judge Heather R.

named in honor of Metro’s mother, Leslie Joanne Wayne – who he lost to domestic violence two years ago. At last year’s event, he was given the key to the city. And

Cunningham was greeted by a packed courtroom when she entered her chambers on August 8 for a hearing on the trade infringement lawsuit against McKee. Despite

December 14, 2023 was declared “Leland ‘Metro Boomin Wayne Day” and “Leslie Joanne Single Mothers and Caregivers Appreciation Day.” This year, hundreds

an impassioned legal presentation by attorney Rick Voytas, Cunningham returned less than a month later with her decision.

“We will continue to pursue, through legal

of single mothers were given purple capes to wear as they were thanked for being the backbones of their families.

“I hail from a single mother, who sacrificed so

means, our efforts to remove the name from this building,” said Jones.

“Homer G. Phillips Nurses Alumni, Inc. is the only entity in the United States that has a licensed

much to make sure that we had everything,” said Nancy Dalton, director of Amazon Access – one of the evening’s sponsors. “It was to the point where she would not eat to make sure that we all had enough. I know so many of you out there are making those same sacrifices for your children as well. We see you. We lift you up and we honor you. What we are doing tonight is only a fraction of what you deserve.”

Other sponsors included Republic Records, Bravado, St. Louis City SC, Live Nation, St. Louis Cardinals. The St. Louis Blues, Stifel.

iHeartMedia personality and program director BJ The DJ announced the winner of Metro’s “Super Single Mom of the Year,” which was orchestrated by 100.3 The Beat. Janae Phillps became overcome with emotions when she realized it was her submission BJ The DJ was reading. Phillips had to move back in with her mother due to the cost of continuing her education – and she thought finances wouldn’t allow her to give her children Christmas gifts.

“My boys are so mature and understanding to the point where it didn’t even bother them, because they know if circumstances were different, mama would make it happen,” Phillips said after Metro crowned her with a tiara

“Life is ‘lifing’ right now, but I continue to keep God first. My daughter is three, so she really don’t understand. I’ve been a single mother for 15 years and it’s by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Phillips said during her acceptance speech.

“I still wouldn’t trade my babies for the world.”

Living It content is produced in partnership with Regional Arts Commission

trademark for the name “Homer G. Phillips,” said Thompson. “Judge Cuningham’s recent decision is a flagrant violation of trademark laws.”

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

‘Taking

Care of You’

A journey from Jamaica

Dwight E. McLeod makes dental care his mission

Dwight E. McLeod DDS, dean of A.T. Still University’s Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health and professor of periodontics serves his native country of Jamaica by making a yearly trip back with third year dental students to provide free oral health care in underserved communities. During the 2024 Jamaica Dental Mission, 640 patients were treated. More than 20,000 patients have been served since McLeod’s treks began in April of 2000.

By Ashley Winters

The St. Louis American

Dwight E. McLeod accepted his mission to serve others more than two decades ago. The professor of periodontics and dean of A.T. Still University’s Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health continues to heed this call annually by returning home to Jamaica with D3 students who skillfully provide free oral health care to underserved communities.

During the 2024 Jamaica Dental Mission, 640 patients were treated. So far, a total of 20,385 patients have been served since it began in April of 2000.

“When I reflect and look back on the last 23 years I think we have done some good,” McLeod said.

“We promote oral health literacy, informing and educating patients of their oral health needs, and overall

impact on general health. Oral health awareness will help keep dental patients out of crowded hospital emergency rooms. This is also a priority at the St. Louis Dental Center because regular dental care and hygiene prevent unnecessary ER visits.”

“I’ve learned so much from Dean McLeod,” Madeline Fox said when describing her experience in Jamaica

McLEOD, A9

Teachers need holiday mental health break

By Aziah Siid Word In Black

To say that teachers deal with a lot of stress during the school year is an understatement. Stress from managing lesson plans, managing unruly students, and managing pressure from politicians, school boards, and administrators. Then there are the extras they do but don’t get paid for: tutoring a struggling student after class, looking out for a kid who shows up to class hungry, or lending an ear to a child whose home life is unstable.

Annaise Oge, a science teacher at North Miami Senior High School, has been in the classroom for over 10 years and says even though she’s doing OK, some of those around her are not.

“The profession is changing,” she says. “That kind of contributes to a lot of people leaving the profession. I think that contributes to the teacher shortage that we have now all over.” In 2022, the turnover rate for Black teachers was 22%.

The 2024 State of the American Teacher Survey said that Black teachers are more likely to say they plan to leave their jobs at the end of the year compared to white teachers.

Given that kind of stress, it’s no surprise teachers look forward to the holidays as an opportunity to unwind and reset. Experts say it’s a great time for educators to take a breath, check on their mental health, and prioritize selfcare while enjoying the holidays.

Rest and recuperation are especially important for Black teachers, experts

See SIID, A9

Black women face barriers to breastfeeding

SLU study examines experiences

By Anna Spoerre Missouri Independent

A Saint Louis University study explored the impact of COVID-19 stayat-home orders on breastfeeding practices in the U.S.

The study, recently published in the Maternal and Child Health Journal provides critical insights into how pandemic-induced changes affected breastfeeding habits.

María José Romo-Palafox, the senior author on the study and an assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics at SLU, asked women to write down their experiences nursing during COVID. She heard back from about 500 mothers across the country.

According to Romo-Palafox, 34% of mothers said stay-at-home orders facilitated easier breastfeeding at home, stronger mother-child bonding, and extended breastfeeding duration for many women.

However, the pandemic also presented significant barriers, including limited access to lactation support and heightened maternal stress.

Earlier studies on mothers’ breastfeeding habits yielded samples of a majority of White, non-Hispanic, well-educated, partnered, and employed respondents.

This study surveyed the breastfeeding practices of a large and diverse sample of U.S. mothers across various regions, income levels, and racial/ethnic backgrounds.

“As a Mexican immigrant, I am dedicated to addressing the systemic barriers that disproportionately affect breastfeeding and maternal health. Observing the pandemic’s impact on breastfeeding illuminated the urgent need for holistic, supportive work policies,” she said.

“I am passionate about contributing to solutions that support breastfeeding and

See SLU STUDY, A9

Photo courtesy of A.T. Still

Photo courtesy of Jamaa Birth Village

Okunsola Amadou, the founder and CEO of Jamaa Birth Village based in Ferguson, teaches expectant and new parents about breastfeeding through her program called First Foods.

Aziah Siid

SLU Study

provide mental health and financial stability resources for mothers, creating healthier outcomes for both mothers and children across diverse backgrounds.”

A Missouri Independent article examined the study and sought the expertise of St. Louisan Okunsola Amadou, founder and CEO of Jamaa Birth Village based in Ferguson.

She gave birth at 14 and was put under for a C-section delivery at a hospital.

When she woke up, hospital staff had already given her baby a bottle. It was assumed she’d formula feed, in part because of her age, and in part because of her race. When her second child was born, she said the hospital staff again failed to introduce her to the idea of breastfeeding.

But by the birth of her third child in 2012, after learning about doulas and midwifery, Amadou gave birth to her child at home, then breastfed him for two years and two months.

“While the rate of Black women breastfeeding is slowly increasing, there still isn’t enough normalization of Black women or minority women breastfeeding,” she told the Independent.

McLeod

Continued from A8

during the mission trip. Fox is a third-year dental student who says watching McLeod helping others from the same community he came from inspires her to do the same.

McLeod is surrounded by local faculty and students from ATSUMOSDOH and Southern Illinois University School of Pharmacy, general dentists and dental specialists from private practice, dental auxiliaries, other healthcare providers, and non-dental assistants committed to helping him carry out ‘his purpose on earth.’

Many volunteers have supported the Dental Mission Project, with many expressing a strong commitment to helping the underserved population of Jamaica gain access to dental care and understand oral health awareness.

“This is not a project done alone; I look at this as our project,” McLeod said.

McLeod lives by the mantra that no man is an island and no man stands

Siid

Continued from A8

say. Studies have shown that having a Black teacher in classrooms can significantly impact students. White kids learn how to deal with diversity, while Black kids get an educator who understands their experience and can affirm how they express their Blackness.

Yet surveys show Black teachers make up only around 7% of the profession, which is dominated by white women. As a

‘Taking Care of You’

Studies over the past decade have shown that Black infants are significantly less-likely to be breastfed than white infants

In 2018, Amadou launched a program at Jamaa Birth Village called First Foods, which walks expectant and new parents through the coordination of breastfeeding, including how a history of trauma, including sexual or generational trauma, can impact families. From there, they plan on how to move forward. Jamaa Birth Village

also runs the state’s first Black-led milk bank depot and dispensary.

Post-pandemic, most of the barriers to access she hears from women are social. Some tell stories about sagging breasts and bleeding nipples. Partners pressure others to stop breastfeeding. Some were raised in families who came from a time when breastfeeding was seen as a sign of poverty.

Others are discouraged by community elders who grew up during segregation, or who were impact-

alone. Between 70 and 80 volunteers who he says are caring give up a week every year to aid rural Jamaicans. “This is a collective effort I could have not done alone.”

Patients received teeth cleaning services,

result, Black teachers deal with the burden of being a minority in an overwhelmingly white work environment at a time when more teachers are burned out and quitting.

“They’re fewer teachers — less and less teachers,” Oge tells Word In Black.

“What does that mean or look like in your classroom? Could it mean that you might have more kids? Could it mean that you’re teaching more than one subject within your subject area? I think, in general, the kids are happy. I think teachers are a little bit more overwhelmed.”

Gregory Scott Brown,

extractions, restoration, and root canals. “My experience on the Jamaica Dental Mission was incredibly touching, from helping a 16-year-old restore his smile, working alongside skilled doctors, relieving pain, and provid-

an expert on mental health and author of The Self-Healing Mind, says teachers who are battling depression, burnout, or loneliness should make self-care a priority. That includes setting boundaries with themselves and others by limiting the commitments they might be tempted to make during their days off.

“Self-care is something that should be scheduled into our lives, ideally every day,” Brown says.

“You don’t have to spend an hour at a fancy spa getting a massage. You could go for a 15-minute walk if the weather is nice outside

the social and economic factors that shape health outcomes.

ed by the generational trauma of Black women going back to slavery who were forced to be wet nurses for white families.

All of it centers around a lack of updated information.

“This conversation of breastfeeding needs to be integrated into the culture from school to church,” Amadou said. “To all those different spaces where we’re talking about parenthood.”

The Independent spoke with several lactation consultants and breastfeeding

Dwight E. McLeod DDS, dean of A.T. Still University’s Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health and professor of periodontics serves his native country of Jamaica by making a yearly trip back with third year dental students to provide free oral health care in underserved communities. During the 2024 Jamaica Dental Mission, 640 patients were treated. More than 20,000 patients have been served since McLeod’s treks began in April of 2000.

ing preventive care to an underserved community,” said ATSU-MOSDOH student Adwar Shamuna.

“Giving back in this way is truly beautiful, and I’m committed to continuing this work.”

“The Jamaica expe-

or engage in a 10-minute meditation.”

Even adjusting the way you go about socializing or Christmas shopping can be helpful, he says.

“That’s something that could stress a lot of people out over the holidays –this pressure that we put on ourselves to give the right gift,” Brown says.

.“Something I’ve personally done over the past few years that has been really helpful for me is try to limit the amount of gifts that I’m giving and instead send out cards or really meaningful notes to people.”

In addition to putting

peer counselors around Missouri who shared some of their clients’ experiences and challenges breastfeeding.

They said an array of fixable hurdles remain:

• Mothers who collect breast milk by pumping need better workplace accommodations.

• The state’s ongoing child care crisis continues making it difficult for working parents to find and afford daycare.

• A dearth of International Board-

rience reinforced my passion for serving underserved communities and highlighted the importance of addressing oral health disparities on a global scale,” said ATSU-MOSDOH student Euslah Kigen. “Working in a resource-limited setting taught me to be creative with available tools and find efficient ways to provide care. I learned how to make the most of what we had to meet patient needs.”

Kigen grew up in Kenya and never received dental care until she came to the United States. She plans to take what she is learning at the dental school back home to Kenya. Kigen said that Dean McLeod is a great mentor who is very passionate about his craft.

McLeod believes he was born to make a difference. He said he feels blessed to have found his purpose in life.

“This clinical experience can be life-changing,” Dr. McLeod added. “The opportunity to serve this population is about dentistry and more. It’s about volunteerism, professionalism, collaboration, community relationships, and promoting educational

self-care first, Oge recommends utilizing small, affordable ways to take a breather. That can mean exercise, a hobby like knitting or yoga, and volunteering.

“I’ll do things in the community outside of work, so I think that also helps,” Brown says.

Certified Lactation Consultants, especially consultants of color to assist new mothers.

• The hyper-sexualization of breasts and the resulting stigma around nursing.

“Out of everything that makes raising a child and breastfeeding in the first year difficult,” Romo-Palafox said, “the resources and access to breastfeeding shouldn’t be one of them.”

Alvin A. Reid of the St. Louis American contributed to this report

excellence and cultural awareness.”

McLeod had identified several goals to accomplish through the Jamaica Dental Mission Trip:

• Eliminate oral health care disparities

• Get dental care access to those communities that need it

• Develop a structured and functional preventive oral health program

• Partner with more local school districts and surrounding communities to raise funds to build a dental clinic equipped to deliver comprehensive care to children and adults

• Implement an effective preventive program

• Partner with the government and other entities to improve the quality of oral health for all Jamaicans

“When those students leave Jamaica they are no longer in the bubble,” McLeod said. “I am proud that some of them have created their own oral health care mission both locally and abroad.”

Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for the St. Louis American.

“The last thing, which I’ve recommended quite a bit over the years, is making a not-to-do list,” Brown says. “Teachers in particular, I think, are really good at making a to-do list, so if you’re a good list maker, people often find that checking things off of their not-todo list gives them more time for things like selfcare.”

Aziah Siid is education reporter for Word In Black

One of Oge’s biggest recommendations is to take a break when you need it, regardless of what may be going on. And leave schoolwork at school — avoid working during the break, she says. Brown says it’s also helpful for teachers to tap into their creativity and write down what they won’t do during downtime — and be firm on it.

Photo courtesy of A.T. Still

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 618-910-9551

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT

Students Kanon Love and Exavior Harden, in Ms. Stovall’s secondgrade class at Gateway

SCIENCE CORNER

Would you like to create apps for cell phones, animate movies, design video games, or work on websites? If so, computer science is the field for you.

What is a computer scientist? Computer scientists focus on the study of computer science. Computer science includes computer theory, such as coding, programming, information theory, and graphics. (Computer engineering focuses on computer hardware.)

Important subjects related to computer science: physics, algebra, calculus, and English.

You are able to quickly find a lot of information on the internet. That definitely has a lot of advantages. However, it also has a disadvantage when it comes to privacy. In this activity, you will learn about internet privacy.

Materials Needed:

• Computer with internet access • Paper • Pencil

Procedure:

q Log on to the computer and Google your first and last name.

w If you found results, in what position was the first link with information about you?

e If you did not find results, try adding your nickname or school information.

Skills Needed: logic, analytical skills, problem solving, and good communication skills.

Education: Must have a bachelor’s, most jobs require a master’s degree or Phd.

Type of work: creating software, teaching programming, research, and development.

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

Internet Privacy

r Are there photos of you? Can you find a webpage with your personal information and photos?

t Are you able to delete the photos and information or set it “private?”

Evaluate: In your opinion, is your information on the internet private? Why or why not?

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

q A school ordered 10 Chromebooks at $399 each. If shipping and handling was $15, what was the total cost? ______

w The computer has 6 hours of battery life when fully charged. If you have 75% of charge remaining, how much time do you have left? ______

r You have the option to buy a computer making monthly payments. If you pay $39/month for 16 months, what is the total you will pay? ______

t If you buy a laptop for $350, a case for $19, and a mouse for $7, and you pay 9% sales tax, how much do you spend in all? ______

African-American Computer Science Educator James Hill

James Hill grew up in Nashville. As a child, he enjoyed playing with K’NEX and LEGOs and creating new designs. He was very competitive and would later become a track star, earning a spot in the top 8 long jumpers in the United States. However, his father was a high school math teacher, and insisted that Hill focus on academics, as well. If Hill had a C in a class, his Dad made him take a break from athletics.

After graduating from Hume Fogg Magnet High School, Hill attended Morehouse College in Atlanta. In 2004, he earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science. As he began to search for a university to earn his graduate degree, he felt uncomfortable at some of his college visits due to his race. When he arrived at Vanderbilt University, it was a natural fit. Hill earned his master’s degree there and then in 2009 he earned his doctorate degree in computer science, as well. Hill worked for eBay one summer and even turned down a job to work for Facebook because he wanted to be a professor and encourage others to seek graduate degrees in computer science. On August 25, 2015, he became one of the youngest African-American men to become a tenured computer science professor at a U.S. research university. He was 33 years old at the time. Hill is an associate professor of computer and information science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).

According to a January 2016 interview with The Indianapolis Recorder, Hill states, “There is a lot of security in the STEM area. Makers of technology are the people who are changing the world into what they want it to be.”

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

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

Learning Standards: I can add, subtract, multiply, and divide to solve a problem. 010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010

e A company sells a box of 12 computer mice for $75. What is the cost per mouse?

1964. It was made of wood.

Activities — Transition Words: words are important in writing to help your reader follow your thoughts more smoothly. Look through the newspaper for 10 minutes and circle all the transition words you can find. Challenge yourself to use some of these words in your writing.

Apartment for Rent: Find 3 apartment listings in the newspaper. What is the average monthly cost? What is the cost of rent for one year? Which apartment is the best choice and why?

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can write for a specific purpose and audience. I can add, subtract, multiply, and divide to solve a problem.

MST Elementary School, use the engineering design process to build a bridge that animals can safely use to cross over traffic.

Photo by Ms. Stovall

Doug Engelbart invented the first computer mouse in

Urban League, RBC honor fearless faith leaders

St. Louis American

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and The Regional Business Council (RBC) recently hosted the annual Faith Leaders’ Luncheon at the Missouri Athletic Club.

The event is dedicated to honoring contributions of faith leaders throughout the Greater St. Louis region and underscores the important role they play in shaping stronger and safer communities.

Since many churches are in underserved communities, their pastors and congregations also address pressing public safety challenges.

“Faith leaders are the heartbeat of our communities, providing guidance, comfort, and unwavering commitment in times of need. This luncheon is a testament to their vital role in advancing public safety and fostering a sense of unity across St. Louis,” said Michael P. McMillan, Urban League president and CEO.

The 2024 Faith Leaders Luncheon theme was “Our Service Delivery Lens: Neighborhood, Front Porch, Living Room,” and the luncheon highlighted a community-focused approach to delivering impactful services and fostering meaningful connections.

“This theme reflects our commitment to meeting people where they are—whether it’s in their neighborhoods, on their front porches, or in their living rooms—to create lasting change and promote safety and stability,” said James Clark, Urban League vice president of public safety.

St. Louis clergy and congregations collaborate with community stakeholders, like the Urban League and others, and faith-

based organizations in addressing public safety priorities which include:

Gun Violence: Developing community-led strategies to reduce violence and provide resources for at-risk individuals.

Opioid Crisis: Strengthening partnerships to combat addiction through awareness campaigns, treatment programs, and support systems.

Resource Deserts: Advocating for equitable access to essential services and infrastructure in underserved neighborhoods.

Vehicular Violence:

Promoting safety initiatives to reduce reckless driving and enhance road safety for all.

Urban League programs that put action with words to meet community needs include:

Grill to Glory: Transforming ordinary spaces into hubs for community-building and connection.

Re-Route Program: Guiding individuals to healthier, more constructive pathways in life.

Juvenile Enrichment Program: Empowering youth with tools and resources to succeed while keeping them engaged in positive activities.

Slow Down St. Louis Program: Encouraging safe driving practices to reduce traffic accidents and fatalities.

Be Men Monday at St. Peter AME Church: Assisting men in achieving realistic milestones leading to self-empowerment and personal growth.

“This luncheon is a sincere expression of gratitude for the faith leaders who have long served as pillars of strength and resilience in our community,” said McMillan.

“It is an opportunity to recognize their service and thank them for sharing their insights,

strengthening alliances, and collaborating on solutions to critical challenges. By working together, we can create a safer, stronger, and more equitable St. Louis for all.”

Gospel Hall of Fame good news

Nathan Vickers of KMOVTV reported last week that PGAV Destinations, a St. Louisbased architecture and design company, will assist Monica Butler in creating a master plan for a Gospel Music Hall of Fame at the former Second Baptist

Church building on North Kingshighway. Butler announced she wanted to transform the former church into the Hall of Fame three years ago and has continued working on the project. She grew up near the church and remembers “hearing the bells ringing on Sunday mornings.”

“I want the bells to ring again and bring the hope back to the city and our community.”

Butler’s ties to gospel music include her mother, who performed with the O’Neal Twins and the Interfaith Choir, and as a child, appeared in the doc-

umentary film, “Say Amen, Somebody.”

Diane Lochner, a PGAV vice president, said the firm would be working with Butler on a master plan for the museum over the next six months.

“We’re really trying to develop the road map for her to inspire stakeholders and funders to join in the vision,” Lochner told KMOV.

“St. Louis is the ‘Bible Belt of Gospel,’” said Butler, who wants the Hall of Fame to include a museum, recording studio and training center.

Photo courtesy of Urban League

James Clark, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis vice president of public safety, praised faith leaders because they “meet people where they are,” which is essential to creating lasting change in communities. Clark was speaking during the annual Faith Leaders’ Luncheon at the Missouri Athletic Club.

26 stores in 26 years

Estel Foods expands McDonald’s franchise portfolio to St. Charles

By Kenya Vaughn

The St. Louis American

Dignitaries from across the region shivered through an extremely brief ribbon cutting ceremony for the newest McDonald’s store to arrive in St. Charles on Thursday, December 12. Mindful of the falling temperatures, franchisee James E. “Jimmy” Williams, Jr., President and CEO of Estel Foods, Inc., kept his remarks brief. But it was clear that those who filled the parking lot of his newest

restaurant beyond capacity felt he was someone worth braving the cold.

The store, located 2321 Upper Bottom Road, is the 26th store in Williams’ portfolio. This year also marks his 26th year as a McDonald’s franchisee. “It is an amazing feeling to be in business with McDonald’s,” Williams said. “It is an amazing feeling to have the team that I have.” St. Charles Mayor Dan Borgmeyer spoke of the new store’s presence as a full circle moment. “I remember back in the early 60s,

a place called McDonald’s opened on Fifth Street and these guys were scared to death,” said Borgmeyer, referring to the McDonald brothers – and possibly Ray Kroc, who is credited as the founder of the company’s franchise business model. “They said, ‘We’ve got this new thing going with these hamburgers and we don’t know if we’re going to make it.’ They were very anxious for a couple of years,” Borgmeyer said. “Now they’ve got success stories like Jimmy.”

See McDONALD’S, B2

St. Louis among areas battling home appraisal bias

By Charlene Crowell

For most consumers, buying a home is the single-largest investment of their lifetimes. But for Black America, home equity — the increase in market value from the time of purchase — is often the dominant, if not sole source of wealth-building. Home equity represents 65% of all Black wealth, according to the nation’s oldest minority professional trade association, the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB).

Yet the unfortunate reality for Black homeowners, according to NAREB, is that systemic discrimination used in appraisals that determine home fair market values all too often perpetuates — instead of narrows — racial wealth gaps, for homeowners and buyers alike. These mandatory reports are a key factor used by lenders to reach decisions on loan applications to purchase, sell or improve homes.

“Home Appraisals in Black and White,” a new NAREB research report, examines disparities in the estimated value of homes by racial neighborhood composition. Analyzing housing data from 2021 and 2023, its two authors James H. Carr and his colleague, Michela Zonta, both housing finance and urban policy experts, reached a startling finding: Blacks have lost $150 billion in home equity due to biased home appraisals.

Metro areas where median appraised homes undervaluation gaps

Dr. Hendricks lands new role at Lincoln U.

Lincoln University has appointed Dr. Avila Hendricks as a provost fellow the Faculty Affairs unit in the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs through summer 2025.

Dr. Avila Hendricks

The program is designed to provide senior faculty members experience in academic and university administrative leadership. Hendricks, a professor in the School of Education with more than 20 years of service at Lincoln, will lead the unit and a second provost fellow will be selected to begin service in January 2025.

Anderson-Rice named Generate Health CEO

Rose AndersonRice

Generate Health STL, a maternal and child health organization, has announced the appointment of Rose AndersonRice as its new chief executive officer. She will succeed Kendra Copanas, who served in leadership roles for the past two decades. Anderson-Rice has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She is recognized for her collaborative and effective leadership style fostering meaningful engagement and driving positive change. She holds a master’s from Southern Illinois UniversityEdwardsville.

George Brown joins KAI Construction Services

George Brown

KAI 360 Construction Services (360 CS) has hired George W. Brown, Jr. as a senior construction inspector. Brown will lead daily field operations on projects to ensure adherence to schedule, quality and safety criteria. According to KAI, “his effective communication skills, code knowledge and problem resolution skills will aid in developing strategies and managing logistics on a variety of transformative community projects.” He brings 25 years of industry experience to his role at KAI and has previously worked as a construction superintendent for Vecino Group.

Morgan Cade wins oratorical competition

Morgan Cade

Morgan Cade, vice president of Jack and Jill - St. Louis Chapter’s teen group, won first place in preliminaries for the Illinois / Tri-State 11/12 Grade Oratorical Competition. Morgan is a junior at John Burroughs School and enjoys being on the school’s Mock Trial team. She plans to become a lawyer and build on a family legacy. This would make her a fifth generation scion of a family of lawyers. She looks forward to the 11/12 Grade Oratorical Competition finals, which take place in Chicago in 2025.

are larger than the national average include St. Louis Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Orlando, Richmond, and Tampa. According to Courtney Johnson

Rose, NAREB president, “For decades, the undervaluing of property in African American neighborhoods has contributed to the expansive Black-White wealth

Photo courtesy of Seattle Medium

Jimmy Williams, President and CEO of Estel Foods, Inc., his wife Janet Williams, St. Charles Mayor Dan Borgmeyer and other supporters cut the ribbon for the company’s 26th McDonald’s franchise Thursday morning in St. Charles.

Photo by Kenya Vaughn / St. Louis American

McDonald’s

Continued from B1

Williams’ success story started at McDonald’s. “I had a great mentor – Dr. Ben Davis, who owned a store in East St. Louis and gave me my first job,” Williams said. “I have ketchup in my blood.”

After graduating from Dickinson College with a degree in political science, he spent eight years as a pilot for the U.S. Navy. “I had the opportunity to come back. I leaped at it,” Williams said. “I’ve been cooking hamburgers and French fries ever since –and I love it.”

In the years since he returned, he has become one of the region’s most successful businessmen – and one of the nation’s most successful McDonald’s franchisees. Borgmeyer presented Williams with the key

Home

Continued from B1

gap in America, a spread so expansive that the 400 wealthiest Americans control the same wealth as all 48 million Blacks.”

In Black neighborhoods with large shares of homeowners, homes were undervalued by 47%, compared to similar homes in white neighborhoods with no Black borrowers. These lower property values prevent Black families from building and earning comparable wealth via home equity compared to similarly situated white neighborhood homeowners, and additionally suppress the ability of Black homeowners to develop intergenerational wealth.

to St. Charles during Thursday’s ceremony. “This key represents the key to growth, the key to opportunity and the key to success,” Borgmeyer said. Before his remarks, Williams commemorated the opening by paying his success forward. He presented Youth In Need with a $2,500 donation in honor of the organization’s 50th anniversary. The crowd

The report also pinpoints where these disparities are widest.

“The percentage difference or median Black appraisal undervaluation price gap (relative to homes in White communities) ranges from 10% in Houston to 48% in Los Angeles,” states the report.

“In Los Angeles, the median appraised value of homes in Black neighborhoods is $618,532 compared to $1,179,640 in white neighborhoods, after controlling for home and neighborhood characteristics. This translates into an appraisal value underestimation gap of $561,108 for homes in Black neighborhoods.”

In theory, home appraisals are supposed to be an objective assessment of a variety of fac-

was in awe when he told them that the store was built in less than 90 days. Only one year elapsed from his idea of expanding to the region and being open for business.

“Jimmy is a great guy,” Borgmeyer said. “He is a mover and a shaker – and we need movers and shakers in St. Charles.”

The mayor said that the importance of Williams’

tors like the number and size of rooms, quality of construction, types, and conditions of major home systems, presence of renovations or upgrades, property location, and community amenities and services.

But in reality, these reports are more likely to be developed by someone who lives in another area and is likely a different race or ethnicity.

driver

children while visiting a McDonalds owned by Jimmy Williams in East St. Louis, Illinois on Friday, June 3, 2022 prior to the Enjoy Illinois 300 on June 5.

decision to build a store where he did cannot be overstated with respect to aiding the city in its further development.

“As we grow south, this is one of the pivot points,” Borgmeyer said. “It’s very important to have this here so that we can continue the efforts to grow this borough – we now have six boroughs.”

He beamed as he

Today, the home appraisal sector in real estate remains nearly all white, despite long-standing federal laws like the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.

“Appraisal bias is an issue that has economic

implications on the generational wealth of minorities at all spectrums of the socio-economic scale,” notes Brian Cox, president of the National Society of Real Estate Appraisers (NSREA), a NAREB affiliate.

“In addition, the disproportionate minority participation in the appraisal profession is estimated at 3% of a total population of approximately 70,000 appraisers and valuation professionals.”

In direct response to these disturbing findings, a pilot program focused on transforming the appraisal market and its professionals was launched in July at Fayetteville

looked around at the cars that filled the drive-thru and the customers who packed the store.

“We need successful people like Jimmy in our community,” Borgmeyer said. “He’s been successful in a lot of places. We are trying to attract successful people [to St. Charles] –and nothing breeds success like successful people.”

In addition to his work at the helm of Estel Foods, Inc., Williams has served on the JAG-Missouri Board of Directors. He has also served on several community boards. They include Ronald McDonald House, Lessie Bates Neighborhood House, One Hundred Black Men of St. Louis, Granite City Rotary Club, Granite City Chamber of Commerce, Emma L. King Wilson Foundation, Matthew Dickey Boys and Girls Club, St. Louis Downtown Partnership, U.S. Veterans, and the Herbert Hoover

State University, a North Carolina HBCU. Drawing upon students, faculty, staff, active military, veterans and local community members, the program’s goal is to develop “a pipeline of residential and commercial appraisers.”

“We are thrilled to offer this opportunity providing a pathway for FSU students, faculty and staff, active-duty military and veterans and our local community to join a lucrative industry,” said Marcus Cox, Ph.D., dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. “This partnership doesn’t only bode well for FSU; it also enhances Fayetteville’s community and potentially our entire region.”

NAREB’s report also endorses the effort and its potential growth.

Boys and Girls Club and others.

Among his many awards include being named Entrepreneur of the Year for the 2013 Salute to Excellence in Business Awards presented by The St. Louis American Foundation and the St. Louis Commerce Businessman of the Year Award.

Wiliams, who is the son of former East St. Louis Mayor James E. Williams, Sr. and Lillian Williams, has been to 29 countries and seen the world. But for him, the greatest achievement of his professional life is his ability to live the American dream.

“For me to be able to do business all across the region – including my hometown of East St. Louis – I’m very grateful for it,” Williams said “Each and every day, I count my blessings. I really do.”

“The Black Appraisers program aims to increase the representation of Black professionals in the appraisal industry, advocate for fair appraisal practices, and enhance awareness of appraisal bias,” states the report.

“The initiative will form partnerships with and seek to attract participants from the military veterans’ community and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Appraisal mentorships and apprenticeships will be a core aspect of recruitment and training for this initiative.”

Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending. org

NASCAR

Bubba Wallace talks to

Photo by Bill Greenblatt / St. Louis American

Brian Cox

n “I really felt like I should’ve walked away with the award.”

– Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, who was second to Travis Hunter in Heisman Trophy balloting

InSIdE SportS

With

It’s showtime at Midwest Showdown Shootout

The Midwest Showdown Shootout, a top early-season high school basketball showcase, will tip off on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, at Ritenour High School.

The seven-game event, presented by Terrell Ramey of Rameybasketball, features schools from Missouri, Illinois and Oklahoma.

Here is the Shootout Schedule:

Ritenour vs. Mounds Meridian (IL), 11:30 a.m.Host Ritenour is led by 6’4” senior guard Tai-Shaun Ewing Mounds Meridian was the runner-up in the IHSA Class 1A state tournament last season. They are led by 6’4” senior A.J. Flenoid

Webster Groves vs. Kankakee (IL), 4 p.m.Webster Groves features two of the state’s top young players in 6’3” sophomore guard Scottie Adkinson and 6’5” freshman forward Miles Simpson. Kankakee is led by 6’5” junior Lincoln Williams

John Burroughs vs. Romeoville (IL), 1 p.m.John Burroughs features one of the state’s top front lines in 6’9” junior Tristan Reed, 6’11” junior Sheek Pearson and 6’6” senior DJ Johnson Romeoville is led by 6’3” senior guard Damion Porter. Montgomery County vs. University City, 2:30 p.m. - Montgomery County is a Class 3 contender, led by 6’8” senior forward Clayton Parker and 6’2” senior guard Andrew Moore University City is led by 6’6” senior forward Jayden Creighton and 6’1” senior guard Miyel Taylor

Father Tolton vs. East St. Louis, 5:30 p.m.Father Tolton features one of the top backcourt tandems in the state in 6’1” senior Zay Wilson and 6’2” senior Mizzou recruit Aaron Rowe. East St. Louis is led by 6’0” senior guard Montreal Stacker and 6’4” senior guard Arlandis Brown.

Vashon vs. Rich Central (IL), 7 p.m.Vashon is off to another great start, which includes the championship Hoops on the Hill Tournament in Arkansas. The Wolverines are led by 6’2” senior guard Trey Williams, 6’3” senior guard Dehrio McCaskill and 6’6” senior guard Terron Garrett and 6’2” sophomore guard Jimmy McKinney III. Rich Central is led by 6’7” senior Al Brooks Jr. and 6’5” 2026 guard Jamson Coulter

Cardinal Ritter vs. Douglass (OK), 8:30 p.m. - Cardinal Ritter is coming off back-to-back state championships. The Lions are paced by 6’3” junior guard Oscar

John Burroughs junior forward Tristan Reed (40) goes over Lee’s Summit’s De’Anothony Carter, left, and Conor Kiley (1) during fourth-quarter action of the championship game of the Webster Groves Basketball Tourney Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 at Webster. The Tigers of Lee’s Summit went on to defeat the Bombers of Burroughs 52-48.

Patterson and 6’0” junior guard Jaylen Edwards Douglass is a perennial state power in the state of Oklahoma. Tickets are on sale for the event for $15.

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Earl’s World

There are several former college football stand-

outs from the St. Louis metro area playing for teams in the first 12-team College Football Playoff, which begins this weekend. Oregon: Jeremiah McClellan, wide receiver (CBC), Tionne Gray, lineman (Hazelwood Central), Jay Harris, running back (Timberland)...Georgia: Dominic Lovett wide receiver (East St. Louis), Samuel M’Pemba, linebacker (Ladue/IMG)... Texas: Ryan Wingo, wide receiver (SLUH)...Notre Dame: Jeremiyah Love, running back (CBC), Christian Gray, defensive back (DeSmet), Gabriel Rubio, lineman (Lutheran St. Charles)...Ohio State: Will Kacmarek, tight end (MICDS), Jalen Pace, linebacker (MICDS)... Tennessee: Javontez Spraggins, lineman (East St. Louis)...Indiana: Lionel Carr, lineman (DeSmet)... SMU: Paris Patterson, lineman (East St. Louis)... Former St. Mary’s football standout Kevin Coleman will transfer to Missouri after playing in 2024 at Mississippi State. Coleman earned All-Southeastern Conference Third Team honors after catching 74 passes for 932 yards and six touchdowns for the Bulldogs. Coleman played at Jackson State as a freshman for then-coach Deion Sanders. He was the SWAC Freshman of the Year after catching 32 passes for 475 yards and three touchdowns. Coleman then transferred to Louisville for his sophomore year where he had 26 receptions for 362 yards and two touchdowns.

Transfer portal puts college football in predicament

Freshman running back

Kewan Lacy is the latest Missouri Tiger to enter the transfer portal, which means he will miss the team’s Music City Bowl matchup against Iowa in Nashville.

The prize of the 2024 recruiting class, fivestar defensive end Williams Nwaneri, is headed to Nebraska via the portal. Jaylen Brown, also a D-end, waved goodbye to Columbia, Mo., and is headed to Columbia, S.C. to play for the Gamecocks. Missouri also has players transferring in, but the dizzying pace of departures and arrivals is unsettling. According to ESPN, more than 1,700 FBS scholarship players have entered their names into the portal. In 2018-19, the portal’s official first year, 1,561 took advantage.

ago. For more than a century, college football programs took advantage of players. They got a fullride scholarship, a place to live, great dining facilities and other benefits – but no cash.

Meanwhile, colleges reaped hundreds of millions of dollars. I have no problem with the tide turning in players’ favor, but the current system is out of control.

Don’t take my word, listen to Penn State coach James Franklin.

“[W]e got problems in college football” Franklin said after learning that Nittany Lions backup quarterback Beau Pribula is transferring.

He leaves less than a week before Penn State plays SMU in a College Football Playoff firstround game.

The number will continue to grow because the portal remains open until Dec. 28. There is also a portal window in spring 2025. Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) dollars play a role, and that enticement was not available to lure players six seasons

Missouri has lost promising running back Kewan Lacy to the transfer portal.

“The way the portal is and the timing of it and the way our team is playing, and when you play the position of quarterback, he felt like he was put in a no-win situation,” Franklin explained.

“I don’t think it’s in the best interest of the student-athlete, I don’t think it’s in the best interest of college football.”

The NCAA got lost in its own greed and lost control of the game it ruled with an iron fist for decades. No one cares what it does or says. College football needs a CEO. Nick Saban is often mentioned for the role.

I nominate Doug Williams, former Grambling star, coach, administrator and first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl. He is a senior advisor with the Washington Commanders.

The Reid Roundup

Amber Glenn and Starr Andrews should be among the nation’s top figure skaters competing in the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center. Glenn won the 2024 Grand Prix Final, the biggest title for a U.S. women’s singles figure skater since 2010. Andrews became the second Black woman to earn a medal at the U.S. Nationals in 35 years. She also won a silver medal

at Skate Canada…St. Louisan Sean “The Sniper” Woodson scored an impressive first-round knockout over Fernando Padilla at UFC Tampa on Dec. 14 and is lobbying for a bout against featherweight champion Ilia Topuria. Woodson’s UFC record stands at 7-11, which includes seven consecutive wins…Devin Williams, who starred at Hazelwood West High School before signing with the Milwaukee Brewers, is headed to the New York

Yankees in free agency. Williams signed a oneyear, $8.4 million contract to be the Yankees’ closer…Has there been a more deserving Heisman Trophy winner than Colorado’s Travis Hunter? As a wide receiver, Hunter had 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns. As a defensive back, he tied for No. 5 nationally in passes defended with 15 and snagged four interceptions. CBS Sports named him an All-American at cornerback (first team), wide receiver (second team) and all-purpose (first team)…Former St. Louis Cardinal Jack Flaherty, who earned a World Series ring with the L.A. Dodgers after pitching for Baltimore and then Detroit, could be headed back to the Orioles in free agency…After missing two games with knee soreness, Jayson Tatum had 28 points and 12 rebounds in the Boston Celtics 112-98 victory over the Washington Wizards on Dec. 15…Several NFL mock drafts have Luther Burden III in the bottom half of the first round. The Washington Commanders reportedly want to pair him with quarterback Jayden Daniels and could trade up to land the former Missouri star.

Earl Austin Jr.

Earl Austin Jr.

Alvin A. Reid

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Photo by Jeff Blake / Imagn Images

Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers

WIC Program has received a contract continuance to provide WIC services for federal fiscal year 2025 through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is a special supplemental nutrition program providing services to pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children up to their 5th birthday based on nutritional risk and income eligibility.

The primary services provided are healthy, supplemental food, risk assessment, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding promotion and support, health screening and referrals to health care. To be eligible for WIC, applicants must have

People’s Health Centers to continue WIC service

an income of less than or equal to 185% of the poverty level and be at nutritional risk. Migrant families are also eligible.

WIC supplemental food packages are specially chosen to provide foods high in protein, iron, calcium, and vitamins A and C.

Eligible women and children receive fortified milk and cheese, eggs, whole grain bread products, hot or cold cereals, 100% fruit

Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers representatives were on hand at the 2024 Sista Strut. PHC has again been approved to provide WIC nutrition services in 2025.

juices, and fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables.

Studies confirm that pregnant women who enroll in WIC during the

early months of pregnancy have fewer low birth weight babies, experience fewer infant deaths, see the doctor earlier in pregnancy and eat healthier.

WIC is administered in St. Louis County and St. Louis City by Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers]. Persons interested in applying or who need more information should contact the Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers at 314361-5728. WIC clinics are offered at the following location(s): • 5701 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis, 63112, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. • 11642 West Florissant, Florissant, 63033, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

CMT to host online ‘Candid Conversation with Commuters’

Citizens for Modern Transit is hosting a “Candid Conversation with Commuters” in partnership with Metro Transit and the St. Clair County Transit District at noon on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, via Zoom.

It will provide a platform for transit riders, and the community, to ask questions about the new MetroBus fare system, Call-A-Ride changes, the latest devel-

opments tied to the Secure Platform Plan, transit expansion efforts, possible service changes in March 2025, and more. The virtual event is free and open to the public. Registration is required and can be completed at www.cmt-stl.org

The discussion will feature Trenise Winters, Metro Transit assistant executive director of Metro Transit; Jessica Gershman, Metro Transit

assistant executive director of planning & system development; Timothy Nittler, Metro Transit senior director of capital projects; and Tom Curran, Bi-State Development executive vice-president of administration. Kimberly Cella, Citizens for Modern Transit executive director, will moderate the event.

Those interested in submitting a question in advance of the forum

can do so via Citizens for Modern Transit’s social media channels or by emailing the advocacy organization directly at info@cmt-stl.org

Questions will also be taken through the “chat” feature on Zoom during the forum.

“There are a host of changes in store for transit in 2025, and we wanted to start off the year by providing riders, and our stakeholders, with as much

information as possible so they know what to expect,” commented Cella.

“This forum provides a platform for the public to ask questions and gain insights on Metro Transit routes, frequencies, fare policies and more.”

CMT also holds quarterly “Talking Transit” events designed to keep members, elected officials, stakeholders, transit riders and others in the loop on issues and efforts influ-

encing the local transit system.

The gatherings feature guest speakers and panel discussions that address a wide range of topics, including transit-oriented development, safety and security, best practices, service changes and more.

To learn more about these events and how CMT is working to further transit access in the St. Louis region, visit www. cmt-stl.org

Photo courtesy of PHC

Living It

A party with a purpose

“I was just like, ‘Wow, this is really gonna happen.’”

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on her Dec. 14 Broadway cameo role in the musical “& Juliet.”

Wishes

came true at Nelly’s 2024 Black & White Ball

By Zaria Mac

The St. Louis American

More important than the star power that St. Louis rap star Nelly draws each year for his Black & White Ball is the purpose behind the party. Some of the biggest names in sports and music were on deck for Black & White Ball 2024 on Sunday, Dec. 15, at The Four Seasons. The event raises funds to help wishes come true by way of The Make-A-Wish Foundation and Harris-Stowe State University.

As usual, Black & White Ball 2024 was the epitome of elegance. Guests, including So-So Def hitmaker Jermaine Dupri, NFL Hall-of-Famer Orlando Pace, former NFL player Isaac Keys, The St. Lunatics, super producer Blanco Brown, St. Louis’ own Metro Boomin and more joined some of the region’s most influential citizens in support of the event and its worthy causes. An open bar preceded the official ceremony, where Nelly took

Top:

and The

evening

the opportunity to let guests sample his MoShine crafted drinks – the music star and entrepreneur’s latest business venture. The formal program included a surprise presentation to Max DelRosario and his family. Max, who was diagnosed with

Hodgkin’s disease last year, was provided a new home theatre system thanks to proceeds raised by Nelly through The

The return of Take 6

IN UNISON

Christmas ushers in holiday spirit during sold-out show at Stifel

By Zaria Mac St. Louis American

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s IN UNISON Chorus was greeted by a soldout audience for their presentation of an IN UNISON Christmas Friday night at Stifel Theatre. The venue has played host for several SLSO programs since construction began at Powell Symphony Hall last March. Stifel was the perfect location for the performance that also featured SLSO and a special appearance by Take 6. More than 3,000 guests made their way up the grand marble staircase and into their velvet seats to help IN UNISON celebrate the season, and the choir’s 30th Anniversary. This concert took three different approaches in its interpretation of holiday favorites. First, the orchestra performed traditional songs like “Joy to the World” and “Carol of the Bells.” A stylized version of “Go Tell It on the Mountain,”

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s IN UNISON Chorus returned to Stifel Theatre on Friday, December 13 for the 30th Anniversary edition of their annual Christmas Concert. An IN UNISON Christmas featured performances from the chorus, the orchestra and special guests Grammy Award-winning vocal group Take 6.

especially resonated with listeners. IN UNISON director Kevin McBeth conducted the piece, and led the brass section in a bold and groovy rendition that resembled the sound of the 70s. The

Tis the season for Kwanzaa

The Saint Louis Art Museum and St. Louis Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will once again present their annual Kwanzaa Celebration on Saturday, December 28 at the museum. The 2024 theme is ‘Abakobwa ni Abanyembaraga: Limitless Power and Potential.’

Celebrations being held throughout the region starting this weekend

By Kenya Vaughn The

St. Louis American

The space between when Christmas ends and the new year begins includes a holiday that connects the Black community with our African heritage. For nearly 70 years, the seven days that represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa provide an opportunity to reflect, recognize and reinvigorate within the community.

Each year, the St. Louis area has a robust lineup of events that allow residents to learn more about the holiday and its significance – and connect with those who share in the cultural richness that the holiday honors.

n The free collaborative presentation between the Museum and the St. Louis Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will honor the resilience of women athletes at the Olympics –including East St. Louis’ own Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

One of the largest Kwanzaa celebrations in the St. Louis metropolitan area is held at The Saint Louis Art Museum and is a collaborative presentation between the Museum and the St. Louis Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The Deltas have partnered with the Saint Louis Art Museum to present the celebration Since the St. Louis Metropolitan Alumnae chapter was chartered in 1998. This year’s festivities take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 28. The event will feature African dance, drumming, an art-making activity, self-guided tours in the galleries from 10 am to 2 pm, and will include a performance in the Museum’s Farrell Auditorium. The 2024 theme is “Abakobwa ni Abanyembaraga: Limitless Power and Potential.” The phrase, in the Rwandan language Kinyarwanda, translates to “girls are powerful people.” The free event will honor the resilience of women athletes at the Olympics – including East St. Louis’ own Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

upbeat nature of this version encapsulated the holiday spirit and filled the audience

“The Saint Louis Art Museum loves to put on events like this because it helps the museum become more accessible to artists of all ages,” said Erica Richard, youth and family learning associate educator at the Saint Louis Art Museum. “And celebrate cultures from all around

Photo courtesy of The Saint Louis Art Museum

Photos by Taylor Marrie

Photo by Jon Gitchoff/Courtesy of Nelly’s Black & White Ball

Nelly

‘Tics brought the house down as usual during the Black & White Ball afterparty Sunday, December 15 at The Four Seasons.

Bottom: Earlier that

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones presented Nelly, Murphy Lee, City, Kyjuan and Slo Down of The St. Lunatics with the key to the city.

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

Fri., Dec. 20, 7p.m., The Final Jam: Holiday Party, The Kre8 Place, 3546 S Grand Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63118. For more information, visit www. kre8spaces.com

Dec. 20 – Dec. 21, Jazz St. Louis and Saint Louis Dance Theatre present Ellington and Strayhorn’s Nutcracker, Skip Viragh Center for the Arts, 425 S. Lindbergh, 63131. For more information, visit www.saintlouisdancetheatre.org

Through Dec. 22, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival presents Christmas Carol: The Remix, .ZACK Theatre. 3224 Locust Street. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit stlshakes.org.

Through Dec. 23, Saint Louis Ballet presents Gen Horiuchi’s The Nutcracker. Touhill Performing Arts Center. For more information, visit www. touhill.org.

Sun., Dec. 29, 7:30 p.m., An Eric Roberson Holiday Tour, City Winery STL, 3730 Foundry Way, Suite 158. For more information, visit citywinery.com.

Through Dec. 29, Commerce Bank presents Wild Lights at The St. Louis Zoo. For more information, visit stlzoo.org/ wildlights.

Tues., Dec. 31, 8 p.m., New Year’s Comedy Jam starring Cedric The Entertainer, Deon Cole, D.L. Hughley, Earthquake and Michael Blackson, Chaifetz Arena.

Through Dec. 31, Gateway Arch Park Foundation presents Winterfest, Kiener Plaza. For tickets or additional informa-

STL Sites & Sounds

tion, visit archpark.org.

CONCERTS

Thurs., Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m.,

Straight No Chaser: Top Shelf Tour, The Fox Theatre, 527 N Grand Blvd. St. Louis MO 63103. For more information, visit www.fabulousfox.com

Sat., Dec. 21, Black Promoters Collective presents Kash Doll: The Last Doll, The Hawthorn, 2231 Washington Ave. For tickets, visit BPCTickets.com

Sun., Dec. 22, 3 p.m., Funky Butt Brass Band, Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63112. For more information, visit www.thepageant.com

SPECIAL EVENTS

Fri., Dec. 20, 9 p.m., Afro Fusion Detty December St. Louis Edition, Dos Salas, 1919 Washington Avenue St. Louis, MO 63103. Free ticket with RSVP. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com

Sat., Dec. 21, 6 p.m. The MOment: Commercial Hip Hop Dance Concert and Showcase, The Grandell, 3610 Grandel Square, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com

COMEDY

Fri., Dec. 20 - Dec. 21, 7 p.m., Jess Hilarious, Helium Comedy Club, 1151 St. Louis Galleria Street, St. Louis, MO 63117. For more information, visit https:// st-louis.heliumcomedy.com

Fri., Dec. 27 - Dec. 29, 7 p.m., Chico Bean, Helium Comedy Club, 1151 St. Louis Galleria

Street, St. Louis, MO 63117. For more information, visit https:// st-louis.heliumcomedy.com

ST. LOUIS MUSIC SPOTLIGHT

Fri., Dec. 27, 7:30 p.m. City Winery St. Louis and PureSoul present A Tribute to Miles Davis: 65 Years of Kind of Blue Live featuring Danny Campbell, Phillip Graves, Jahmal Nichols and more, City Winery STL, 3730 Foundry Way, Suite 158. For more information, visit citywinery.com.

Sat., Dec. 28, 7 p.m. Jamo presents: Sir Eddie C and Friends

III, Atomic by Jamo 4140 Manchester Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit www.ticketweb.com

Sat., Dec. 28, 8 p.m., Dr. Zhivegas, performing the music of Prince and the Revolution, Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63112. For more information, visit https://explorestlouis.com

Tues. Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m., New Years Eve 2025 w/ The Dirty Muggs, Clayton Plaza Hotel, 7750 Carondelet Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com

THEATRE

Thurs., Dec. 19 - Dec. 21, 8 p.m. Stray Dog Theatre presents BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE, Stray Dog Theatre, 2348 Tennessee Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104. For more information, visit www.straydogtheatre. org

Wed., Jan, 8 - Jan. 9, 7 p.m., The Black Rep presents “Chicken and Biscuits” by Douglas Lyons, The Edison Theatre, 6445 Forsyth Blvd , Saint Louis, MO. For more information, visit www.theblackrep.org

ART

Through Feb. 9, 2025, Great Rivers Biennial featuring Saj Issa, Basil Kincaid and Ronald Young, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, 3750 Washington Blvd., St. Louis MO 63108. For more information visit www.cam-stl.org.

Through Feb. 16, 2025, Saint Louis Art Museum presents Narrative Wisdom and African Arts, Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis MO 63110. For more information, visit www.slam.org.

Through Apr. 13, 2025, Saint Louis Art Museum presents Federal Art Project 1935-1945, Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis MO 63110. For more information, visit www.slam.org.

Through Jun. 30, 2025, Pop Stars! Popular Culture and Contemporary Art, 21C Museum Hotel St. Louis, 1528 Locus Street, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit www.21cmuseumhotels. com

Quoted as “one of the freshest and most highly sought-after faces in comedy,” standup veteran and media personality Jess Hilarious will stop by Helium Comedy Club this weekend. See COMEDY for details.

Celebrate Kwanzaa at the Saint Louis Art Museum

Celebrate family, culture, and community at the Saint Louis Art Museum’s annual Kwanzaa event, one of the largest and most vibrant in St. Louis. Held in partnership with the St. Louis Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., this program celebrates the Kwanzaa principle of the day with a wide variety of African and African American activities for all.

Rooted in African agricultural “first fruits” traditions, Kwanzaa is a celebration of African American heritage, culture, and community. It is guided by seven powerful principles: unity, self-determination, cooperative economics, collective work and responsibility, purpose, creativity, and faith. Created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa is now celebrated by millions of people and is recognized as a significant winter holiday.

to celebrate your limitless potential, craft a Kwanzaa-themed photo frame to honor the season, and enjoy a memorable day of fun and inspiration with your family starting at 10 am on Saturday, December 28. Scavenger hunts will be available at the Museum’s welcome desks from December 26 through January 1, including the day of the Kwanzaa Celebration on December 28.

Kwanzaa Celebration: Abakobwa ni Abanyembaraga–Limitless Power and Potential Saturday, December 28 10 am-2 pm

Saint Louis Art Museum FREE, Limited tickets available for auditorium performances

This year, the Museum’s celebration is themed around Abakobwa ni Abanyembaraga, a phrase from the Kinyarwanda language, spoken in Rwanda. Activists, educators, and leaders often use the phrase to convey a general sense of overcoming limits and obstacles.

We invite you to connect with your creativity and explore the Museum’s collection with a self-guided scavenger hunt, design your own sculptural button

from C1

with joy. The concert progressed into selections where the orchestra and IN UNISON performed in collaboration. The holiday standard “Silent Night” was one of the standouts from these segments of the show. After the opening verse, which was a melodic symphony of instruments and voices, the audience was asked to sing along. McBeth turned to the crowd and directed them through the second verse. IN UNISON also performed “Mary Had a Baby” in honor of late famed composer William Dawson as the concert took a moment to commemorate his 125th birthday. Their voices cascaded up the walls and funneled through the gold embossments. Among the highlights of this portion of the show was a version of “Hallelujah” from the Grammy-winning 1992 album “Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration.” McBeth took a moment to pay tribute to the late Quincy Jones, who conducted the star-studded original recording that featured some of the biggest names in Black music – including IN UNISON’s guests Take 6. The soul-stirring upbeat tempo

The Museum’s Kwanzaa performance includes African dancing and drumming, a special presentation by Erin Ceesay, founder of MAYDAY Poplar Bluff, a girls empowerment mentorship group, and presentations by members of St Louis Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Visitors wishing to attend the free performance in SLAM’s Farrell Auditorium can reserve tickets at the Museum visitor information centers onsite only starting at 10 am on December 28. Tickets are limited and will be distributed while quantities last. There is a limit of six free tickets per person. For more information about the Museum’s annual Kwanzaa Celebration and other events, visit slam.org.

This program is supported by the Dana Brown Endowed Fund for Education and Community Programs.

ushered the audience into the spirit, which continued for the performance of the Black church standard “Oh What a Wonderful Child,” led by soloist Charles Stancil. The audience clapped and rocked along as Stancil sang, “Glory, glory, glory, to the newborn king.” Soloist De-Rance Blaylock kept the spirit flowing with her performance of another Black church anthem – Walter Hawkins’ “Thank You.”

“Thank you for your love, thank you for your power, thank you for your protection, every hour,” Blaylock sang. She moved herself as much as she did the audience during the selection. So much so, that the verse was given an encore. The final, and most anticipated segment of the IN UNISON Christmas format – which repeated for two parts, were songs performed by Grammywinning a cappella group Take 6. Friday night’s performance was the group’s fourth with IN UNISON. They began with “Do You Hear What I Hear” reimagined through the genres of swing and jazz. Having a large orchestra behind them intensified the excitement of this piece. They then showcased their signature doo-wop style by giving “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” the “Take 6 treatment” in the form of intricate harmonies. The claps turned to snaps as the audience

kept rhythm to this jazzy eclectic tune. Take 6 also performed one of the most recognizable tunes from Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s classic 19th century ballet “The Nutcracker.” Here, the group “put the cool on.” Instead of orchestral accompaniment, they used their voices to mimic the sound of the instruments from “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.” This left the audience in awe. “We have changed this song so much that we call it the ‘Sugar Plum Dance,’” they said ahead of selection. Take 6’s title proved fitting. The audience couldn’t help but sway as they snapped along. The audience was also invited to sing along to hits like “O Come All Ye Faithful,” which they finished with beautiful layered harmonies that rang throughout the theatre. Most of the songs IN UNISON and Take 6 performed have versions that are almost hushed and balmy – but their renditions made it clear that holiday music can be used as an opportunity to rejoice. Take 6 closed the show with a medley of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and “Carol of the Bells.” They capped the night with a final dose of holiday cheer by way of their fun and whimsical encore “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.”

A Toast to Tom Bullock

By Magdalene Linck, Missouri Historical Society

The Ideal Bartender was the first cocktail manual written and published by an African American, a St. Louisan named Tom Bullock. Published in St. Louis in 1917, this book was one of the last cocktail manuals released before Prohibition (1920–1933). As such, it offers a fascinating glimpse into cocktails and nonalcoholic drinks in the early 20th century.

A Kentucky native, Bullock was born in October 1872 to parents Thomas and Jennie Bullock. His father had been born enslaved and fought for the Union in the Civil War. An 1880 Census record shows a young Tom living with his parents and siblings, Lena and Clarence, in Louisville. There Bullock worked at the Kenton Club and alongside his brother at the Pendennis Club, an exclusive private social club for white men. Specific details of his work at the Pendennis are sparse. However, a 1904 article from Louisville’s CourierJournal noted that Clarence Bullock sued the club for $5,000 in damages after a defective corkscrew caused a bottle to break and glass to cut his knee. A follow-up article noted that the case would proceed to trial; however, the outcome is unknown. It’s possible that this incident played a part in his brother’s move to St. Louis. Jennie Bullock first appears in a 1905 St. Louis city directory, and Tom Bullock first appears in 1906.

Based on their addresses and Census records, Tom Bullock lived with his mother, by then widowed, while in St. Louis. Their first address was 1907 Lucas Avenue. Next, they lived on Finney Avenue, then Lawton Avenue, before settling at 4007 Cook Avenue. It was during this time that Bullock began working at the prestigious St. Louis Country Club in Clayton.

For well over a decade, Bullock served up both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages to the delight of club members. In September 1917, Bullock published The Ideal Bartender. The cover of the book features the logo of the St. Louis Country Club, and the introduction of the book was written by club member George Herbert Walker, a St. Louisan who was the grandfather and great-grandfather of the 41st and 43rd presidents. Walker wrote, “I have known the author of The Ideal Bartender for many years, and it is a genuine privilege to be permitted to testify to his qualifications for such a work. . . . His work is before you. It is the best to be had. Follow on, and as you sip the nectar of his schemings tell your friends, to the end that both they and he may be benefitted.”

Some of Bullock’s alcoholic recipes include the Fog Horn–Country Club Style, a mix of citrus, gin, and ginger ale; the Blue Blazer, a whiskey cocktail that requires pewter or silver mugs since

it’s served ablaze; and the Horse Thief cocktail, made with gin, absinthe, and vermouth.

In addition to some of these lesser-known drinks, Bullock published his recipes for both a Kentucky-style Mint Julep and a St. Louis–style Overall Julep made with grenadine. Among the nonalcoholic offerings are the Black Cow (cream and sarsaparilla), the Samton cocktail (orange juice and ginger ale), and the Golfer’s Delight (featuring Bevo, a nonalcoholic malt beverage produced by Anheuser-Busch).

Bullock continued to live and work in St. Louis into the early 1920s, when his occupation changed from bartender to butler and laborer. Sometime in the mid-1920s, Bullock left St. Louis. There is some evidence that he worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad and that he spent time in New York; however, there is virtually no information about his life from the late 1920s to his death in February 1964.

The Missouri Historical Society’s Library & Research Center at 225 S. Skinker Boulevard is one of only 10 libraries with an original copy of The Ideal Bartender. It can be requested by any visitor to the library. A digital edition of the book is also available on the Project Gutenberg website.

Read about the Library & Research Center staff’s taste test of Bullock’s cocktails at mohistory.org/blog/ideal-bartender-2. You might find a new recipe for your holiday festivities!

Portrait of Tom Bullock from The Ideal Bartender, 1917. Missouri Historical Society Collections.

Take 6

Continued

SLDC IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) is eagerly seeking candidates to join our team as we endeavor to bring economic justice to St. Louis City residents and communities that were disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

There are multiple 2-4-year limited term positions available, term of employment will vary for each position.

These positions will assist in the administration and implementation of various Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) Programs targeted for households, small businesses and communities adversely impacted by the pandemic.

All positions will be funded in whole or in part through an allocation of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the US Department of the Treasury and the City of St. Louis’ Community Development Administration.

To apply online and see a full job description go to https://www.developstlouis.org/careers and then click “Open Positions & Apply Online.”

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The St. Louis Housing Authority (SLHA) seeks proposals for qualified law firms to provide legal services to SLHA on an as needed basis. The purpose of this solicitation is to develop a pool of attorneys from which SLHA may choose to do business from time to time.

Offerors are invited to submit proposals to provide litigation and transactional service(s) in one or more of the following practice areas: Labor & Employment; Employee Benefits; Tax; Landlord-Tenant; Construction; Government Contracting/Procurement; Real Estate; Affordable Housing Development; Public Financing; Torts; and Bankruptcy & Creditor’s Rights.

PROPOSALS RECEIVED AFTER THE BELOW-STATED TIME AND DATE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Closing Date: Monday, January 13, 2025

Closing Time: 3:00 p.m. (CST) Where: St. Louis Housing Authority

Attn: Procurement Manager 3520 Page Boulevard St. Louis, MO 63106

Proposal documents will be available at: http://www.slha.org/for-partners/vendors/

DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Forest Park Forever has an opening for a Development Manager. This position is responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships with individual donors to secure financial support to advance the mission and objectives of Forest Park Forever. Full position details and the online application can be found at: www.forestparkforever. org/jobs.

ERP ANALYST (M3)

Weissman’s Theatrical Supplies, Inc. has an ERP Analyst (M3) position in St. Louis, MO. Analyze & resolve issues that impact business operations & goals. Research, organize, troubleshoot, & analyze Infor M3 data & problems. Telecommuting permitted under hybrid work plan. Email resume to careers@weissmans.com

HEAD CHEF WANTED AT FOOD OUTREACH, INC.

See full job description and application process at https:// foodoutreach.org/jobopenings/

The position may be financed in part through an allocation of Community Development Block Grant funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the City of St. Louis’ Community Development Administration. Food Outreach is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the County of St. Louis (the “LCRA”) has issued four separate requests for proposals for qualified contractors to perform the following services for the LCRA’s MET Center building, located at 6347 Plymouth Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63133: (1) elevator preventative maintenance and repair services, as needed, (2) HVAC system preventative maintenance and repair services, as needed, (3) janitorial services, and (4) security services. The awarded contracts shall be for a one-year period with two successive options for the LCRA to renew for terms of one year each. Copies of the four RFPs are available at https:// stlpartnership.com/rfp-rfq/ Proposals should be received no later than 3:00 PM CT on Friday, January 10, 2025.

St. Louis Economic Development Partnership Equal Opportunity Employer

CITY OF ST. LOUIS BOARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR RIVER DES PERES BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENTS – GRAVOIS TO LANSDOWNE, PROJECT NO. STBG-5401(726). Statements of Qualifications due by 5:00 PM CT, January 17, 2025 through the Bid Express online portal at https://www.bidexpress.com/ businesses/20618/home? agency=true. RFQ may be obtained from BPS website https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/ government/departments/ public-service/, under BPS RFQ and RFP Announcement, or email Board of Public Service at bryanth@stlouis-mo.gov 10% DBE participation goals.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

for General Contractor Services at 5957 and 5993 Page Boulevard in the City of St. Louis, Missouri

Foundation for Strengthening Families 5990 Page Boulevard Saint Louis, MO 63112

INTRODUCTION:

Proposals may be obtained beginning Monday, December 09, 2024, by downloading from the City of St. Louis website at https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/ health/documents/procurement/rw-medical-case-ma nagement-rfp.cfm. Contact: Sylvia JacksonBell for questions @ DOHGA @stlouis-mo.gov, or (314) 657-1581 (email preferred).

INVITATION TO BID

E.M. Harris Construction Company (EMH) seeks subcontractor bids for Parkview Place, located at 701 Westgate Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63130. Scope of work involves renovation of one 14-story building, comprising 156 apartment units, including, but not limited to, sitework, demolition, concrete, roofing and sheet metal, fire protection, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, carpentry, drywall, flooring, painting, specialties, appliances, cabinets, countertops, and window treatments. Minority and Women Business Enterprises and Section 3 Businesses are strongly encouraged to bid. All workers must be OSHA 10 certified. EMH is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Project plans & specifications are available for viewing online through an invitation to bid (email request to bidassist@emharris. com or call 314-436-4426). All bids due to EMH office by 5 pm, Friday,

The deadline for submitting proposals is Tuesday, January 21, 2025, by 4:00 pm via email at DOHGA@stlouis-mo.gov. Respondents must submit an application via one email with a clearly marked subject heading of “RFP – RYAN WHITE EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE – PRESCRIPTION EYEGLASSES” and only on a standard (8 x 11-inch letter sized) page size in both Microsoft Word and PDF formats. The Department of Health reserves the right to reject any and all responses with or without cause. ADVERTISEMENT FOR RFP EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCEPRESCRIPTION EYEGLASSES

The City of St. Louis Department of Health seeks proposals from organizations that can demonstrate expertise and capacity to provide and/or facilitate access to prescription eyeglasses and eye examinations for persons living with HIV/ AIDS. These funds are available through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009, Part A. Request for Proposals may be obtained beginning Monday, December 09, 2024, by downloading from the City of St. Louis website at https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/ health/documents/procurement/rw-efa-eyeglasses.cf m. Contact: Sylvia JacksonBell for questions at DOHGA@stlouis-mo.gov, or (314) 657-1581 (email preferred).

The deadline for submitting proposals is Tuesday, January 21, 2025, by 4:00 pm via email at DOHGA@stlouis-mo.gov. Respondents must submit an application via one email with a clearly marked subject heading of “RFP – RYAN WHITE MEDICAL CASE MANAGEMENT” and only in standard (8 x 11-inch letter sized) page size in both Microsoft Word and PDF

Foundation for Strengthening Families (FSF) is requesting proposals from qualified contractors to oversee pre-development and construction of the Good Shepherd Academy for Boys (GSAB) at 5997 and 5953 Page Boulevard in St. Louis, Missouri. The selected contractor will be responsible for managing the entire pre-development and construction process, ensuring quality, safety, and timely completion in compliance with the Neighborhood Transformation Grant and the Community Development Block Grant. We invite experienced and reputable contractors to submit proposals for this important community initiative.

CONTACT: Please contact Jordan Terry, Grant Consultant, at jordan@steadfastcity.com for the Bid Packet.

ISSUE DATE: December 19, 2024

RESPONSE DUE DATE: January 16, 2025 by 5:00 PM Central

CLARIFICATIONS, CORRECTIONS AND

ADDENDA:

Contact Jordan Terry, Grant Consultant, at jordan@steadfastcity.com. If necessary, an addendum will be issued.

LETTING NO. 8782

CONCRETE & BRICK REMOVAL/REPLACEMENT AND COMPLETE SIDEWALK REPLACEMENT; PROJECT NO. SP-123

Electronic bids submitted through the Bid Express Online Portal will be received by the Board of Public Service until 1:45 PM, CT, on January 7, 2024, then publicly opened and read. Proposals must be submitted electronically using the “Bid Express Online Portal” at https://www.bidexpress.com/businesses/20618/home. The bidder must pay $40 to submit a bid through the Bid Express service. Monthly subscriptions are available.

Plans and Specifications can also be examined using the Bid Express Online Portal and downloaded for free.

A mandatory pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held on December 17, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. The pre-bid conference will be held in Room 325 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103. NOTE: Contractors that attended the pre-bid meeting for SP-121 (Letting 8780) or SP-122 (Letting 8781) are eligible to bid without attending this meeting.

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

All bidders must consider 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).

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.

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Great Rivers Greenway is seeking Qualifications for Conservation and Stewardship Projects. Go to https:// greatriversgreenway.org/ vendors/ for details and submit by January 17, 2025.

Black & White Ball. Nelly also gifted a full ride scholarship and a new laptop to Teanna Hoye, a sophomore at Harris-Stowe State University. Nelly has raised millions for the worthy causes selected as beneficiaries of the Black & White Ball. This year, hundreds of young people across Kansas and Missouri will be impacted when their wishes are granted through Make-A-Wish.

Mayor Tishaura Jones presented Nelly and The St. Lunatics with the key to the city during the formal program. Following the ceremony, guests were ushered into party mode with a set by world-renowned DJ Charlie Chan, who had the crowd dancing to hits like “Wipe Me Down” and “Swag Surf.” The concert portion of the ball kicked off with The Dirty Muggs – a band that has become a St. Louis favorite over the past several years. Their rendition of Sexyy Red’s “Get it Sexy,” was one to remember.

Nine-time Grammy-Award winner Ne-Yo was up next. The R&B veteran blessed the crowd with old and new hits as he adorned his trademark low-brim fedora. A mashup of “She Knows” featuring Juicy J and David Banner’s “Like a Pimp,” was among the highlights of his set. He closed his portion of the

the world – specifically all of the many cultures in the St Louis area.”

The celebration will also include an opportunity to view the museum’s acclaimed exhibition “Narrative Wisdom and African Arts.” For more information, https://www.slam.org/ event/kwanzaa-celebration-2024

Celebrating self-expression at

Afro World

Another reliable source for Kwanzaa and related events is the Black culture retail haven Afro World Hair and Fashion Com-

pany. This year, they will present Voices of Kuijchagulia – an evening dedicated to self-expression – at 5 pm on Friday, December 27th at the store (located at 7276 Natural Bridge Road in Normandy).

“This event promises to be a vibrant showcase of our cultural heritage, a space for connection, and an opportunity to celebrate our shared purpose,” said Afro World President Sheila Forrest.

Hosted by celebrated business owner and community leader Nicole Adewale, Forrest says their program will also offer engagement with the community while learning, connecting and reveling in the joy that Kwanzaa brings.

“At Afro World, we are committed to fostering a sense of belonging and

show with hits that he had written and/or produced for other artists. The most notable of the night was his take on Beyonce’s “Irreplicable.” The crowd shouted the lyrics while swinging side to side. They even started an encore when the song was finished.

Following Ne-Yo’s performance, the St. Lunatics

empowerment,” Forrest said. “And we can’t wait to celebrate with you.” For more information about the event, call 314-389-5194 or visit www.afroworld. com.

First fruits at Missouri Botanical Garden

Missouri Botanical Garden has become a favorite venue to observe the holiday thanks to its Kwanzaa: Festival of First Fruits annual celebration.

Taking place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, December 28, their presentation includes a full morning of storytelling, craft and jewelry displays, and authentic African drumming and musical performances. For more information, visit https://www.missouribo-

took the stage. They dug into the crates with songs like “Tip Drill,” “Air Force Ones” and “Not a Stain” by Big Tuck featuring Murphy Lee. There was also a cameo by Grammy-winner Ashanti, who made her Black & White Ball return last year as Nelly’s date, which confirmed the reports of the couple’s

reunion. Photos from the Black & White Ball 2023 sparked new rumors – that Ashanti was pregnant with Nelly’s baby. The rumor was fueled by Nelly rubbing Ashanti’s belly during the event. It turned out to be true. This year, the couple made their Black & White Ball debut as husband and wife – and

tanicalgarden.org/

Honoring history and cultural heritage

The Missouri Historical Society will kick off a weeklong commemoration with its Thursday nights on December 26, at the Museum programming, which is presented in partnership with Washington University and the African American History Initiative. The Grand Hall of the Missouri History Museum will be transformed into a Kwanzaa celebration station that will culminate with a discussion about its principles. The program will take place at 5 p.m. (lecture begins at 6:30 p.m.) and will feature resource tables, card games and a craft opportunity. For more information, visit www.mohistory.org.

as the proud parents of a bouncing baby boy. At Black & White Ball 2024, Ashanti performed her hit, “Baby.” “We made a Baby Baby Baby Baby Baby,” Ashanti jokingly sang to Nelly.

There was plenty of St. Louis hip hop love shared during the concert/afterparty. Media personality Shorty da Prince came on stage to perform his club hit “Wah Wah Wow.” Next year the song will celebrate its 15th anniversary.

Nelly invited Grammy nominated producer and artist Metro Boomin, who is nominated in four rap categories for the 2025 Grammys, thanks to his chart-topping joint albums with Future, on stage to close the show. He played some of his biggest hits –and revealed that he and Nelly will be bringing a new music festival to St. Louis next year.

“It’s half country, and half hip-hop,” Nelly said.

Visit www.stlamerican. com for full photo coverage of Nelly’s Black & White Ball 2024.

Kwanzaa on the East Side

For those in the Metro East, The Sunshine Cultural Arts Center will present its Annual Kwanzaa Celebration on Saturday, December 21st at 4 p.m. The free event that the organization promises will be “filled with joy, unity and culture,” will Celebrate the seven principles of Kwanzaa through live performances, traditional music, dance, and delicious food. The event also includes vendors and takes place at the Center, located at 630 N. 59th Street in East St. Louis. For more information, visit Eventbrite.com.

An early start Like The Sunshine

Cultural Arts Center, the nonprofit organization A Red Circle is not waiting for the official holiday to start their Kwanzaa celebration. They will present “Kwanzaa: The Village It Takes” on Saturday, December 21. Festivities begin at 3 p.m. and include a vendor fair, where guests can browse Black-owned businesses, unique crafts, and cultural products. A soul-food inspired meal, including vegan options, is also available for those who purchase tickets – as well as live music, spoken word, dance, and a special tribute celebrating Kwanzaa’s principles. The event takes place at St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Ferguson. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.aredcircle.org/kwanzaa-celebration

Photos by Jon Gitchoff / Courtesy of The Black & White Ball

Nine-time Grammy-Award winner Ne-Yo blessed the crowd with old and new hits as he adorned his trademark low-brim fedora.

Photos by Michael Thomas / Courtesy of The Black & White Ball

Grammy winners Ashanti and Nelly made their Black & White Ball debut as husband and wife Sunday at The Four Seasons.