November 10th, 2022 edition

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SThet. LouiS AmericAn

Green makes history winning BOA presidency

She throttles Jack Coatar

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

Alderwoman Megan Green trounced Alderman Jack Coater in their race to replace convicted felon Lewis Reed as president of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen.

Green won almost 55% of the vote, recording a larger margin of victory over Coater than in their first battle during a special election in September. Her victory was city-wide, winning 24 of 28 wards, according to unofficial final results.

“The votes are in, and the people have spoken,” Green wrote on her campaign Facebook page following the victory.

“We are ready to build a St. Louis that

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

The sun shined brightly, and a warm breeze hugged all that attended the “A Family Undivided” remembrance ceremony and celebration at Central Visual Performing Arts high School on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022.

More than 100 students, staff and supporters of the school first marched a route from the high

n “We are ready to build a St. Louis that works for everyone. Big moments like our win tonight are made possible because of big movements.”

– Megan Green

works for everyone. Big moments like our win tonight are made possible because of big movements.”

Green’s numerous endorsements includ-

March, ceremony held Nov. 6

school to the school, where a 19-year-old recent graduate shot and killed 15-year-old Alexzandia Bell and physical education

teacher Jean Kuczka on Oct. 24 and injured seven others.

Some held signs saying, “How many more?” and there were shouts of “We want justice!”

While her grieving continues, Bell’s mother Keisha Acres said everything must

ed support from Mayor Tishaura Jones and Congresswoman Cori Bush. Coatar was backed by several major developers and traditional Democratic supporters including former mayors Francis Slay and Lyda Krewson.

“Today, St. Louis chose collaboration over confrontation. St. Louis chose progress over the status quo. I’ve worked alongside Megan Green for many years and appreciate her dedication to addressing the root causes of the problems facing our city, not just the symptoms,” Jones said in a statement.

“Together, we can work to reimagine public safety, invest our federal resources to make change St. Louisans can feel, and reform the

Vows focus on North County improvement

By Alvin

be done to make sure another disturbed young person does not commit a similar act.

“I want you to listen to your children. Listen with your whole body. Watch their body language. Sometimes kids aren’t just acting up. Maybe they just don’t know how to ask for help,” she pleaded.

“To young people I say, if you feel you

than 20,000 votes than Mantovani.

“We’ve brought the matter of racial equity into every conversation that government has, and they’ll continue.,” Page said.

“St. Louis cannot grow, cannot be safe until we address race, until there are enough good schools,

Martin Luther Mathews is the co-founder and emeritus president of the MathewsDickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club.

Co-founder of Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club passes at 97

St. Louis American staff

Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club co-founders Martin Mathews and Hubert “Dickey” Ballentine were sitting under a shade tree in Tandy Park in the 1950s when they decided to start a Boys club for children in North City like the ones in South St. Louis, Mathews’ biography states. Ballentine and Mathews each coached teams but decided to take a shot at uniting and creating a boys and girls club.

Within five years of its creation in 1960, Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club had expanded from five to 75 teams. Mathews sold coffee for 10 cents a cup at his day job to fund the club. In 2015, See MATHEWS, A7

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

St. Louis Public School Board member Alisha Sonnier, left, takes a victory shot with Megan Green, center, just after she won the contest for President of the Board of Alderman and 1st Dist. Congresswoman Cori Bush, right, at the Handlebar Cocktail Bar in the Grove neighborhood late Tuesday night, Nov. 8, 2022.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Lena Horne becomes first Black woman with Broadway theater named in her honor

Lena Horne’s legacy is still being cherished, this week the late actress and entertainer made history becoming the first Black woman with a Broadway theater created in her honor.

The Brooks Atkinson Theatre on West 47th Street, near Broadway in Manhattan’s Theater District is now Lena Horne Theatre. The Lena Horne Theatre, can hold more than 1,000 people, and is one of nine Broadway theaters throughout New York City associated with the Nederlander Organization.

The theater was built in 1926 and originally named Mansfield Theatre before its renaming after the New York Times drama critic Brooks Atkinson in 1960.

Horne, born in 1917 in Brooklyn, New York was a pioneering singer, dancer, actress, and civil rights activist. Horne, the daughter of an actor and a banker, was of Black, Native American, and European descent. She was a high school dropout at age 16 and began performing at the renowned Cotton Club jazz club and soon developed a career in the spotlight.

Chlöe Bailey opens up about her former relationship with Gunna

Fans no longer have to speculate over Chlöe Bailey and Gunna’s relationship. Bailey went on record in a Twitter Spaces chat admitting her new single “For the Night” is about the Atlanta rapper.

“I might regret saying this, but hey, maybe it will help [expletive] streams,” Bailey said.

“I don’t even think he knows this, I wrote ‘For the Night’ about Gunna,” she said during the chat. “I’m a songwriter, I write my own [expletive]. I get inspired by the smallest things, so kiss my [expletive].”

On the Latto-assisted track Bailey sings “I ask myself why we can’t be closer / I play those same games a thousand times over / And you crave those long nights with me, oh, don’t you?”

Bailey said she wrote the song after Gunna appeared on The Breakfast Club claiming he wasn’t ready to settle down.

Gunna is currently locked up with Young Thug and others for racketeering charges.

Many have questioned why Bailey hasn’t publicly supported the #FreeGunna” movement in wake of his incarceration, she addressed

the matter on spaces also.

“Talkin’ bout why don’t I say, ‘Free this, free that.’ Kiss my [expletive]. I support in real life, thank you,” she said.

The two first sparked romantic rumors after they were seen sitting courtside together at an Atlanta Hawks game in October 2021. Bailey played Gunna’s love interest in the video for his single “You & Me.”

Afrobeats singer Davido’s 3-year-old son drowns at family home in Lagos

10 p.m. local time on Monday.

“We are reviewing the CCTV cameras to get additional information about the circumstances of his death,” Hundeyin told BBC . “His body has been deposited in the morgue. We are in touch with his parents. In fact, they were with us last night.”

Afrobeats singer Davido’s Ifeanyi died last week after drowning in a pool at the family’s home in Lagos, Nigerian singer Davido, whose real name is David Adeleke, and his fiancee, Chioma Rowwere not at the house when the drowning happened on Monday, Oct. 31.

Davido’s home staff has been cooperative with investigators in figuring out how Ifeanyi’s drowning occurred.

Police spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin told BBC News, a house staffer contacted police at

Lagos Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu grieved over the loss on Twitter citing “death leaves a heartache no words can heal.”

“I express my deepest condolences to David and Chioma, over the death of their son, Sanwo-Olu wrote. “Ifeanyi was loved and his smile made the world smile. I pray that God grants you strength even as my thoughts and prayers are with you.”

The news arrives three weeks after celebrating Ifeanyi’s third birthday.

“I pray with all my heart that God grants you perfect health and pure happiness for as long as humanly possible,” Davido wrote alongside a snap of Ifeanyi. “You will grow to be greater than me, happy birthday, son.”

Davido also has two daughters; Aurora Imade, 7, and Hailey Veronica, 5, both from previous relationships.

Sources: NBC News, New York Post, BBC News, Twitter, Instagram, Rap-Up

Davido

By Danielle Brown St. Louis American

The St. Louis Press Club hosted

its 28th Annual Media Persons of the Year Awards Dinner last Thursday (Nov. 3), at the Edward Jones St. Louis Headquarters honoring 10 journalistic professionals.

The honorees included The St. Louis American’s photojournalist Wiley Price, KTVI Fox 2’s Elliott Davis, Kay Quinn of KSDK Newschannel

5, Debbie Monterey of KMOX, Nine PBS’ “Living St. Louis” Creative Team including Ruth Ezell, Brooke Butler, Anne Marie Berger, Jim Kirchherr, Kara Vaninger, and Joe Holleman of the St. Louis-Post Dispatch Rene Knott of KSDK served as the night’s master of ceremonies.

integrity.”

Price got his first taste of photography from the help of a friend whose friend gave him a 35 millimeter camera and lens to play around with. At the time it wasn’t a big deal to him, until he learned about the roll process and became intrigued by it.

n “It’s so easy to find us doing positive things that people just overlook as nothing,” Price said. “It’s very special for us because we need that 24/7, that look of something that’s positive happening for us. It’s not always gunfire.”

“[Wiley Price] has documented and shared Black St. Louis cultured stories for over 40 years now, he has been a central figure in the newspaper [St. Louis American]’s enormous growth as an award winning periodical,” Knott said. He has become a staple in the truest sense of journalistic doggedness and media

“I said, ‘let me keep this camera cause he never used it,’” he said.

“About six months later I had to buy one cause I was really locked and loaded by that time I was shooting anything I could.”

He immersed himself into the art of photography while he was studying music at the University of MissouriSaint Louis. He had already shot photos for the American, PostDispatch,, Kansas City Star, Detroit Free Press, The Washington Post, and Ebony

His dreams of becoming a jazz trombone player soon faded, and in his last two years at UMSL, Price became the student photographer for the college newspaper, the UMSL Current. The American hired him while he was still in college and he started freelancing for The Argus and

The Sentinel

“You wanna run to a big paper because you think you know St. Louis,” he said. “Well not only do you not know St. Louis, you don’t know your own community. Once I understood how it all works I didn’t want to leave,” he said.

Price has photographed many historics moments including street protests and marches in Ferguson and the elections of St. Louis’ first Black woman mayor Tishaura Jones and Missouri’s first Black Congresswoman Cori Bush.

He has also captured shots of hundreds of public figures including Oprah Winfrey, Janet Jackson, Harry Belafonte, Ray Charles, Sammie Davis Jr., and many others.

“It’s so easy to find us doing positive things that people just overlook as

nothing,” Price said. “It’s very special for us because we need that 24/7, that look of something that’s positive happening for us. It’s not always gunfire.”

People often tell him there’s nothing to do in the Black community in St. Louis and his response is always “follow me around for three days.”

“When you don’t pick up a publication or see the news that allows you to find what’s going on you’re missing out,” he said.

Knott asked Price how a photographer can separate a photograph from the written format of telling a story.

“For me it’s always been very difficult because reporters have a million words to choose to describe something so simple,” Price said. “The photographer is locked in this digital thing where we have to make people look at this and go, I wanna read this story now. I’ve always felt like that is the true challenge for the photojournalist.” Price has photographed nearly every U.S. President since Jimmy Carter, he’s covered state high school and NCAA sporting events in addition to the Super Bowl and two World Series. He has been inducted into the St. Louis Media Hall of Fame and the Missouri Photojournalism Hall of Fame. He gives back to the St. Louis community through lecturing to grade school and high school students and leading student tours at The American’s office. He is a graduate of University City High School. The event’s proceeds were donated to the club’s journalism/communications scholarships and internships, and the organization’s several programs for modern day issues.

Photo by Taylor McIntosh | St. Louis American

St. Louis American photojournalist Wiley Price was one of 10 honorees at The St. Louis Press Club’s 28th Annual Media Persons of the Year Awards Dinner last Thursday (Nov. 3), at the Edward Jones St. Louis Headquarters.

Editorial/Commentary

To continue any conversation about the future of this city that ignores this reality, is to compound the dire consequences of continuing to dismiss the needs of swaths of the city.

Need to act more rightly for the common good

The narrative promulgated by some in the media and encouraged by Jack Coatar’s campaign for aldermanic president implies that the city’s future would be imperiled if unrestrained progressives were in charge. Despite his record of working on behalf of shady developers, they saw him as the protector of a more “centrist” approach to governing against the extreme recklessness of the “far out progressives.”

Beside Coatar’s concession, some have not spoken since the sound defeat of Ald. Coatar by Ald. Megan Green. Her victory came despite the huge disparity in financial resources. Green’s $262,271 in campaign funds were dwarfed by Coatar’s $855,924 that was fueled largely by business interests. Her impressive victory of more than a ten point margin was propelled by a coalition of voters, racially and generationally diverse. Conversations about the impact of this election require a bit of circumspection. The inexorable decline of the city’s population and stagnate economic growth can be traced back decades when the course of the city’s affairs were dictated by the city’s civic and political leadership. As recently as 1970, the city had experienced a loss of almost 300,000 people. Since 1981, there has been an exodus of an additional 150,000 folks. There was little priority given to this steep population decline and the accompanying decline in the quality of the schools by those in charge, and who were clearly not “progressive.” This de facto benign neglect of large segments of the population as well as certain areas of the city has helped lead to some of the city’s seemingly intractable woes. They have left the city poorly prepared to compete for needed resources, fiscal and human. This has left us behind some

of our peer Midwestern cities.

There is no denying that there have been macroeconomic forces beyond the control of local government and business leaders, but there are now some new, unique opportunities for the city to take better advantage of.

Fortunately there has been some significant investment from both the health care industry and the private sector in parts of the city.

But there must be better collaboration between elected officials and business leaders about equity, social and economic. Rather than rancor and charges of blame, we need to find a better way to move collectively this city ahead.

Granted, there must be attention given to market forces in a fast changing business scenario, but we must not continue to ignore the inter connectedness of our diverse city.

We are seeing the consequences of ignoring the needs, over the years, of more marginalized and disinvested communities. To continue any conversation about the future of this city that ignores this reality, is to compound the dire consequences of continuing to dismiss the needs of swaths of the city. To use an overused witticism attributed to Albert Einstein, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”

Simple declarations of intent will not suffice. Any future collaboration will not be easy because the problems are complicated, some deeply entrenched, and there are no easy solutions.

But we do need to start in a new direction because we are what we do and not just what we say. It is urgent that we must to act more rightly for the common good.

Commentary

Musk’s Twitter now welcomes ‘worst of human nature’

By Marc Morial

In the 12 hours after Elon Musk purchased Twitter, the use of the n-word spiked by 500%.

ADL’s Center on Extremism identified a coordinated campaign to spread antisemetic content, launched by users of the largely unmoderated 4chan message board, that resulted in more than 1,200 antisemetic tweets and retweets in the 24 hours after Musk’s takeover.

Musk himself posted a conspiracy theory about the attempted murder of Paul Pelosi; the tweet was shared and liked tens of thousands of times before he deleted it. This painful and shocking increase in hate prompted me, along with NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, and National Action Network President and Founder Rev. Al Sharpton, to request a meeting with Musk to address our concerns and to understand his plan to protect our communities from abuse by those who seek not simply to express controversial views, but to harm us and undermine democracy.

In our letter to Musk, we wrote, “In flippantly declaring that, ‘the bird is freed,’ you might have unwittingly freed people to unleash the worst of human nature with communities of color and religious minorities bearing the greatest burden.”

We share Musk’s professed belief in the importance of free speech, but the fact remains that online hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation, posted by users intent on sowing social and political chaos,

have grave consequences for democracy, civil rights, and public safety.

The white supremacist who murdered 10 people in a Buffalo supermarket in May was inspired by conspiracy theories posted on 4chan. Content on white supremacist websites fueled the massacre of nine Black worshippers at Charleston’s Mother Emanuel Church in 2015. The accused attacker of Paul Pelosi, the subject of Musk’s own false tweet, had posted “a mix of bloody images and hateful screeds aimed at a variety of targeted groups including Jewish, Black and trans people, as well as Democrats,” according to The Washington Post.

“Whether you realize it or not, as the new leader of Twitter, you have new responsibilities, and one of those responsibilities is to ensure your platform is not used to harm people and the nation as a whole,” we wrote to Musk.

“Another responsibility is to ensure your own words and behavior do not cause harm, especially to the communities of color and other underserved communities who have been long time users and who have made the company what it is today. You have not shown a willingness to meet these responsibilities thus far, but we have hope and are willing to work with you do so in the future.”

Twitter needs strong content moderation standards to foster a safe and healthy online environment. Yet Musk plans to fire fully half of the platform’s workforce, according to Bloomberg.

“We strongly urge you to maintain content moderation teams that are tasked with creating and implementing policies that provide a baseline for prohibiting content designed to threaten and harass people of color and religious minorities and suppress votes,” we wrote. “Indeed, we encourage you to strengthen these policies as there has been a rise in dangerous rhetoric and violent acts that threaten our communities’ ability to vote and otherwise fully participate in our society without fear for our safety.”

Lapses in content moderation are especially concerning with the midterm elections just days away. National security officials fear misinformation campaigns could ignite violence at the polls on Election Day. Disinformation campaigns waged on Twitter and Facebook in 2016 and 2020 sought to depress Black voter turnout and sow social and political discord.

We wrote, “We implore you to show immediate leadership by directly addressing the spike in hate speech that occurred over the weekend and to discourage vigorously and clearly those who would be influenced by your voice from using such speech in the future and from engaging in violence against anyone.”

Commentary

This nation still needs affirmative action

One of the great joys of my life is teaching. I’m fortunate to teach classes on social justice at the University of Pennsylvania, one of the most respected schools in the country. Penn has a longstanding commitment to affirmative action, and I have seen first-hand how diversity in the classroom benefits all my students. There’s just no question that diversity is a core piece of a vibrant academic community and a critical part of the learning experience – for all of us. Bringing together students with different lived experiences forces students to think critically about their assumptions, which is an essential goal of a university education.

That’s why I, like so many of us, am deeply concerned about two affirmative action cases argued at the Supreme Court just a few days ago. Opponents of affirmative action have been trying to destroy it for years. And now it looks like they just might get their chance.

Two universities, Harvard and the University of North Carolina (UNC), are defending their admissions programs against opponents who want them declared unconstitutional. (The university where I teach, Penn, and the organization I lead, People For the American Way, have both joined briefs supporting the universities’ positions.) Considering race as one of many factors in admissions has been upheld by the Supreme Court for decades. The Court has said repeatedly that diversity in higher education is a “compelling interest.”

But today’s Supreme Court is different. It’s dominated by farright justices who have made it clear they don’t share this view.

Chief Justice John Roberts’s famous quote, “The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race,” sums it up: conservatives believe affirmative action is at best unnecessary and at worst just another type of discrimination. Some conservatives would like to retire affirmative action because they claim it’s accomplished everything it set out to do. But it hasn’t. Not even close.

In Texas and Michigan, applications and enrollments of Black and Latino students plunged after state politicians banned the consideration of race in admission to their public universities. That’s a huge red flag. Nationally, there’s a big gap between the percentage of White and Black students who earn a bachelor’s degree. And that perpetuates all kinds of harm and inequities in income, health, family wealth, and more. We still have a long way to go in building a fair society in which all our children can thrive.

And here’s an important point that often gets lost. All students—no matter their race or color or creed—benefit from affirmative action. Having diverse classmates promotes a stimulating exchange of ideas and viewpoints. It prepares all students for living and working in our increasingly diverse society. The Supreme Court as a whole used to understand that. Today, I worry that only a

Letter to the editor

minority of the justices do. One of those justices is Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman on the Court and a person of profound insight and wisdom. Her questions in oral arguments got to the heart of the matter. Imagine two qualified students applying to UNC, Justice Jackson suggested: a White North Carolinian student whose family members had attended the school for generations, and a Black North Carolinian whose family had historically been shut out. The White applicant might make the case that attending UNC is deeply meaningful to her because it is a family tradition. The Black applicant might make the case that it is deeply meaningful because her family was so long denied.

Jackson’s question made it clear what would happen if the Court adopts the Far Right’s position: the White student’s appeal to family history would be allowed to help their chance of acceptance, while the Black student’s would not. It would further institutionalize discrimination and the harm it has caused generations of Black Americans.

I am so grateful for Justice Jackson’s voice on the Court. I also know that the six rightwing justices expressed skepticism of affirmative action at oral arguments. Many reporters are already writing its obituary. I hope for the sake of our education system and our next generation, that they will be wrong. The “compelling interest” that led the Court to uphold affirmative action in the past still exists – in fact, it may be stronger than ever.

Ben Jealous serves as president of People For the American Way

All letters are edited for length and style

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Ben Jealous

Columnist Ben Jealous

Columnist Marc H. Morial

Artist Sage Gallon created this oil painting during the Salvation Army Reimagine fashion show and fundraiser on Oct. 15, 2022, at The Sheldon. It was auctioned, and helped the event raise more than $80,000.

Salvation Army celebrates inaugural Reimagine 75 fundraiser

Kicks off 75th Tree of Lights campaign

St. Louis American staff

As guests celebrated during the inaugural Salvation Army Reimagine 75 fashion fundraiser on Oct. 15, 2022, at The Sheldon, artist Sage Gallon was creating a painting live on site.

His work was auctioned during the evening, and helped the event raise over $80,000. The fashion show featured 12 local designers and 16 models.

“The Salvation Army concepts [and] my work, I think they are very similar. “I think both examine how we are intricately connected,” he said.

Gallon began painting in his early 20s, he spent his childhood drawing, and his works have been purchased for up to $15,000.

“Reimagine 75 has quickly become one of my favorite ways to kick off our Tree of Lights campaign,” said Major Kjell Steinsland, Divisional

General Secretary and St. Louis Area Commander.

“It’s a new concept for us locally, and it looks as though it will be a part of The Salvation Army.”

The event raised funds for The Salvation Army Midland Division’s community programs. In addition to paying homage to 1975, the event also celebrated the 75th anniversary of The Salvation Army’s Tree of Lights campaign.

The tradition rings in the Christmas season throughout the region, and the 75th anniversary “showcases the dedication and generosity of our region to create a community where everyone has opportunity and access to vital resources,” according to Steinsland.

The Salvation Army 75th Tree of Lights Christmas Tree-Lighting ceremony will be at 5 p.m. Saturday, November 19th in Kiener Plaza Park, 500 Chestnut in downtown St. Louis.

The 2022 Tree of Lights chairs are St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster Rick Horton and Martin J. Lyons Jr., president and CEO of Ameren Corporation.

Black families must prioritize vaccinations for young children

By Joan Prince

“When America gets a cold, the Black community gets pneumonia.”

This is a saying that is well known to many who pay attention to topics of health care and health equity in this health-compromised and vulnerable population in America. Yes, there have been colds, there has been pneumonia, and now there is COVID-19.

Once again, those who can least accommodate another health epidemic are the most adversely affected. As a national advocate for equity and a research consultant for the national We Can Do This COVID-19 Public Education Campaign, these are not just my musings.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black individuals are about twice as likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID infections than their white counterparts. They also reported that pregnant Black women are twice as likely to die than their white counterparts if the cause of death is by COVID.

Studies are pending regarding the effects of known variants of the virus on this same population, but there is no evidence to date to suggest that the data will positively affect the current disparate results.

However, COVID vaccination rates for the Black community still lag behind their white counterparts on all levels (primary vaccine series and additional vaccine doses). Representing nearly 13% of the U.S. population, the Black community is one of our country’s communities that was hit hardest by the COVID pandemic.

According to the CDC, as of Sept. 14, 43.3 percent of the Black population was fully vaccinated - the lowest among all races/ ethnicities. CDC’s weekly tracker on vaccine demographics also shows only 46.2% of Black Americans ages five years and older, who are eligible for a booster dose have received one booster as of Sept. 14, compared to 59.8% of white Americans ages five and older who are eligible for a booster.

Data, both primary and secondary, has disclosed several barriers viewed by the Black community as it relates to receiving the vaccine. Barriers identified were a failure to believe messaging around the benefits of the vaccines due to a reliance on sources that were not documented or researched, and a lack of trust in traditional providers and the current health care delivery system.

Simply providing the vaccine in community locations was not enough to drive individuals to the sites. Other strategies were necessary to increase engagement, decisionmaking around the virus itself and ways to attack it that include vaccination and other preventive measures.

According to research conducted as part of the We Can Do This COVID-19 Public Education Campaign, several culturally related strategies were identified to address this issue. The use of culturally linked partnerships with known entities (e.g., Black sororities, fraternities, social and fraternal organization), culturally targeted media programming where trusted messengers reflect the community of interest, and culturally targeted community outreach (activities in the community during community meeting times), rose to a priority level after the community was interviewed regarding their thoughts on the vaccines.

Data identified as barriers by other sources also indicated that hours when vaccinations were available were not conducive to access, as they impacted work hours and school activities. Other barriers included a lack of transportation to several of the vaccine sites due to public transportation interruptions.

All those involved in the vaccine rollout must respect this message and those that carry the message, with a targeted effort on increasing trust in the health delivery systems through the removal of institutional barriers that continue to exist.

There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to addressing health equity issues. We must find the size that fits this adversely affected segment of the American family if we want the outcomes to be different. We too are America.

A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Joan Prince, Ph.D., is a columnist for The Afro CMRignite Research consultant

Photo courtesy of Salvation Army Midland Division

Joan Prince

A big win for Congresswoman Bush

By Ashley Winters St. Louis American

Incumbent Congresswoman

Cori Bush handily defeated

Republican Andrew Jones to retain her District 1 seat, garnering 73% of the votes.

After becoming Missouri’s first Black congresswoman in 2020, on Tuesday she became the first to be re-elected. It seems as though she will set a new record every two years.

Bush says being the first is an honor, but being the first isn’t her only job.

“I am standing at the door holding it open for others to come and make a positive difference for St. Louis and the state of Missouri,” she said.

“That’s why we’re here; because people feel represented,” Bush said during her victory speech.

Bush and supporters watched election results at her headquarters in north St. Louis County. Her signature purple decor filled out the space as her supporters talked and congregated while dining on barbeque and

CVPA

Continued from A1

are in a dark place, reach out. Don’t wait anymore.”

Acres said she and her daughter had a relationship in which “she didn’t have to hide anything from me.”

For the parents and guardians who do not have that with children, Acres implored them to “be in their business. Be in their phone. Let them know you care.”

As the event began, CVPA Principal Kacy Seals-Shahid said, “this is about energy. This is about love.”

“This event is for the stu-

‘We gotta make St. Louis thrive’

watching MSNBC. It was a smaller crowd compared to her Democratic primary watch party in August where she celebrated a landslide win over state Sen. Steve Roberts Jr. Bush was still just as excited upon learning the race had been called in her favor.

“It’s time for change, and Cori represents the change we all need all over the state of Missouri,” said Cathy Daniels, better known as Mama Cat of the Pot Bangerz Feed The Mission community organization.

Bush’s margin of victory in the general election against a woeful GOP representative showed her voters are satisfied with her work in Washington, D.C.

“Her heart is with the people,” said Daniels.

“The harder she fights, the harder those come against her.”

Jada Aleem, a student at the University of Missouri St. Louis said attending the watch party “is very inspirational.”

1st District Cong. Cori Bush shows excitment about returns late Tuesday night Nov. 8, with campaign manager Adrastos Da Silea at their north county headquarters.

Congressional District.

“It shows her impact and her effectiveness,” he said.

“We want to do this with the entire community because it takes the entire community to make a difference,” said Bush.

“We gotta make St. Louis thrive, and St. Louis only thrives if the people are thriving.”

During her speech, Bush said it doesn’t matter if she doesn’t get corporate or political PAC money, and is proud that she would not accept it if offered.

“I won’t be accountable to anyone but the people, and that will not change,” she said.

“To see someone who looks like her doing the work that she also believes in… seeing her enables me to follow in her footsteps,” said Aleem.

Uprising after Micheal Brown was killed by a former Ferguson police officer.

Andrew Smith echoed Aleem’s sentiments saying that it’s almost surreal to be in that space seeing her success.

He said he knew Bush before she became a congresswoman. Smith lived in Ferguson and remembers the Ferguson

dents and by the students. It is theirs,” she shouted. Seals-Shahid said Kuczka had posters of Peanuts characters including Snoopy on

her classroom walls, and they carried messages of respect and “how to be a good friend.”

“I learned a lot from her and those principles that she held

“Seeing her gives me hope to keep pushing for what I believe in,” said Smith.

Smith said what impressed him the most about the congresswoman was when she camped outside the U.S. Capitol steps in hopes of extending the

Students march at the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, during a unity rally against violence in St. Louis on Sunday, November 6, 2022. On October 24, 2022, 19-yearold Orlando Harris, opened fire in the school, killing student Alexandria Bell, 15, and teacher Jean Kuczka, 61, and wounding several others.

dear,” she said. Steve Kuczka and family members attended, and he thanked people for their prayers of support for his late wife.

eviction moratorium during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Her radical love makes it possible for us to continue this fight,” he said.

Supporter Justin Raymundo says that he thinks Bush has done an amazing job in bringing in significant investment and other resources into Missouri, especially in the 1st

“She is sorely missed. I hope you keep her in your thoughts and alive in your memories.”

Corie Duncan, a CVPA senior, represented the CVPA theater department with a dramatic monologue that depicted the terrifying morning and the calls for justice and new gun laws.

Portraying a character called “Star,” while fighting back her emotion, Duncan wailed “I am the girl who saw everything. I am the witness.”

“We will not stop talking. We need justice.”

She ended saying, “this is not about how they died; this is about how they lived. They lived!”

Students invited Ms. DC of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis as a guest speaker and “this is an

Green

Continued from A1

development incentive processes [Lewis Reed] exploited for personal gain.

“Congratulations to Megan on becoming the first woman elected President of the Board of Aldermen. The city’s top three decision makers, for the first time in St. Louis history, will be women. That’s something we should celebrate, and I look forward to collaborating with President-elect Green and Comptroller Green to make St. Louis a place that works for everyone - no matter your background or the color of your skin.”

Green wrote “we didn’t have the most money in this race, but we did knock on more doors and made more calls. It showed. This was a grassroots effort and a grassroots campaign.

“It will continue to be,

“We did it without [PAC money] and we’ll continue to do without it,” said Bush. Bush might find herself in the House minority, if Republicans win the majority of seats this election. As of press time Wednesday, several races remained too close to call

“Regardless of what the playing field looks like, we’re going to fight like hell,” she said.

awesome group of people, an awesome group of students.”

“It is about unity. We are going to make it through these things together.”

In a moving call-and-response with the crowed, she said, “I am the movement. You are the movement. We are the movement!”

The event marked the first time that many CVPA students had returned to the school since Oct. 24. SLPS has announced that virtual learning for CVPA students will begin next week as the school district finds a location for in-person classes. Students will resume classes on Monday, Nov. 14. They will have a full week of classes before the district’s Thanksgiving break over the week of Nov. 21.

though my fundraiser reminded me that grassroots cost money, too. And we are going to need it. We get to do this all over again in March.” Reed’s term expired in 2023, and the primary/election process begins in March. Coater did not announce on Tuesday if he would again challenge Green.

“Tonight’s vote was loud: no more excuses, no broken promises. No more of yesterday’s solutions. I recommit myself to you, to your family, to your neighborhood, and to your dream of what this City and your life in it can be,” she wrote.

“We proved that the people who love this city outnumber those who would sell her for parts. Real progress leaves nobody out. Every person, in every corner, every ward, every zip code, every neighborhood, for everyone. That’s what we did today. And I’m so excited to get started.

Photo by Bill Greenblatt / St. Louis American

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Martin Mathews was regaled with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” performed by youth from the Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club that he co-founded during his 94th birthday celebration at Harris-Stowe State University.

Mathews

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Mathews said that the club reached an estimated two million lives over the course of 55 years.

Mathews has now joined his late co-founder Ballentine who passed away in 2000 at the age of 90. Mathews, 97, passed away on Nov. 8, 2022.

By 1982, the organization had undergone a multimillion-dollar expansion spearheaded by a partnership with the late Chuck Knight of Emerson and the late August Busch III of Anheuser-Busch.

Mathews Dickey also received a visit from then President Ronald Reagan, who declared the club “a model for the country.”

Mathews is a member of the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame and his biography said he was “a firm believer in youth employment opportunities.”

Mathews founded the Earn and Learn program to help them earn money as managers, coaches, scorekeepers, and umpires. To reduce gang violence, he collaborated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 1992 to establish Motivation, Vocation and Preparation (MVP).

In 1998, President Bill Clinton’s White House lauded

it as a 21st Century Learning Center. U.S. Vice Presidents Joe Biden and Dan Quayle recognized the Club’s “The Sky is the Limit,” “Maleness to Manhood Workshop Series,” career, leadership, and mentoring programs.

Mathews served on numerous boards and remained an involved civic leader, successfully instituting youth programming and forging corporate/ community partnerships.

“The Urban League family deeply mourns the passing of Martin L. Mathews, a trusted friend, a giant in the youth services arena, and one of the greatest community servants our region has ever known,” said Mike McMillian, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis president and CEO.

“Mr. Mathews was the epitome of selflessness; he cared deeply for our community and treated every child and every family as though they were his own. He was dedicated to taking care of the children ensuring they were exposed not only to athletics and the arts but also to caring adults who could guide them along their life journey.

“He loved St. louis. He loved being a part of this community and he loved to see the young people who participated in activities at Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club thrive. There will never be another

Martin Mathews and that is as it should be—one of a kind.”

Under his leadership with the Danforth family, City Academy was established. He also helped create the St. Louis Law Internship Program.

He valued education and was a recipient of honorary doctorate degrees from St. Louis University, Washington University, Webster University, and the University of Missouri — St. Louis.

Upon his retirement in 2014, Mathews told the St. Louis American, “It is my philosophy that talent, education and determination encourage youth to transcend less-than-stellar living situations and other obstacles.”

“Through education we can overcome hardships and difficulties and provide support systems to conquer poverty, ignorance, and hatred to become productive citizens. My lifelong mission is to educate youth on the front end to prevent them from falling through the cracks on the back end — the guiding principle of our ‘It’s Better to Educate than to Incarcerate’ Initiative.”

When the Rams were looking for a practice site and office space after relocating from Los Angeles in 1995, Mathews helped make it happen.

He oversaw the team’s transition of their administrative offices and training facil-

ity within the confines of the Mathews-Dickey facility until a new Earth City complex was completed.

Mathews collaborated with major corporate leaders and Civic Progress to solicit financial and in-kind donations to renovate the Club and broaden its services. Support has come from Ameren, Anheuser-Busch, Edward Jones, Emerson, The Catherine Manley Gaylord Foundation, the Orthwein Foundation, Enterprise Rent-ACar, Insituform Technologies, the INTERCO Charitable Trust and United Way of Greater St. Louis. Mathews also was the first African American to serve on the board and executive committee of the United Way. His awards include The A&E Biography Community Hero, Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame; President’s Council on Youth Opportunity; St. Louis Board of Education’s Outstanding Community Service; the Washington Times’ National Service and American Century; the Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. National President’s; the Missouri Athletic Club’s Jack Buck; St. Louis Olympic Festival; St. Louis Globe Democrat Humanitarian, St. Louis American Salute to Excellence Lifetime Achievement and United States Presidential Citizens.

Continued from A1

good housing, good jobs, good transportation, good child care and good retirements for everyone regardless of where they live in St. Louis County.”

Page took the stage at the Machinists Hall in Bridgeton with his family at 10:15 p.m. and said, “I would like to thank the voters of St. Louis County for choosing me as County Executive.”

Page said the past three years have been “a nonstop campaign.”

That’s what it has been like. I thank my staff and volunteers for their support through what has really been four campaigns. I would like to also thank my fellow Democratic office holders for timely counsel and for meeting the challenges of their campaigns.

Page also thanked St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones “for always picking up her phone and for calling me with support or criticism.”

Jones said in a statement following Page’s win ““Government works best when we work together. St. Louis City-County collaboration has never been stronger, and I will continue to work alongside County Executive

Page to improve our region for everyone.”

“We asked the people of St. Louis County to remember our accomplishments. Our economy is stronger and growing again. Municipalities are safer than they were two years ago. County workers are better compensated and appreciated,” Page said. Page pledged to challenge the Republican dominated state legislature and end “the unrestricted flow of guns into our community.”

“We need red flag laws and background checks for all guns purchased.”

After first losing to Steve Stenger in a primary battle and then Page, Mantovani ran as a Republican and said during his concession speech, “This was a fight worth taking on.”

So many people welcomed me into their homes and businesses. Hundreds of volunteers did an incredible amount of work in a New York minute, just eight weeks,” he said.

“I think we ran as flawless a campaign as we could. I have no regrets.”

The County Council remains in Democratic control after Lisa Clancy and Rita Heard Days won re-election. Days ran unopposed after a challenge in the Democratic primary.

Photo by Leon Algee

Both St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page and Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell were on their way to victory early on Election Night. Bell’s office said he is looking forward to building on his accomplishments during his first term in office.

Photo by Alvin A. Reid / St. Louis American

Valentine vows to keep fighting for Missouri

Eric Schmitt wins Senate battle

By Danielle Brown St. Louis American

An uphill battle for Democratic Senate candidate Trudy Busch Valentine officially became too steep when Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt registered a win in the contest to replace retiring GOP Sen. Roy Blunt on Tuesday night.

An emotional Valentine tearfully gave her concession speech expressing that this was not the result she and other Democrats expected. She said she will always be grateful for the work she and her team put into the campaign.

“Thank you for supporting me in this race and for loving Missouri as much as I do,” Valentine said.

“Tonight, did not end the way we hoped. Many of us are feeling scared right now. We’re worried about Missouri’s future and the future erosion of our rights. We feel discouraged because we worked so hard.”

“It’s easy to feel like that work didn’t matter but tonight as I look back on the [campaign] trail, I know that the work that we did matters because we reached so many Missourians in every corner of our state.”

Valentine also sent prayers of wisdom and strength to Schmitt, the presumptive winner of the U.S. Senate seat for Missouri, which opened up when Senator Roy Blunt announced in February 2022 that this term would be his last.

“To Eric Schmitt, I respect

the will of Missourians that put their support in you. I will be praying for you as you represent our state in the US Senate,” she said as her voice cracked.

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones made a stop at Valentine’s election watch party at the Sheet Metal Workers Union

“I’m radical when it comes to my city, I’m radical when it comes to caring about people, I’m radical when it comes to wanting people to thrive and I know that Trudy is too and if that makes us a radical then we’ll be that.”

Greg and Hang Bui Harley

n “It’s easy to feel like that work didn’t matter but tonight as I look back on the [campaign] trail, I know that the work that we did matters because we reached so many Missourians in every corner of our state.”

- Trudy Busch Valentine

facility in St. Louis earlier in the evening and said, “At one point during the campaign I didn’t know who [Eric Schmitt] was running against.”

“Was he running against Trudy or was he running against me? I was all over his commercials. And falsely. I think he got four Pinocchios for that crazy ad that he ran saying that I wanted to defund the police and I’m a radical.

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of South St. Louis collectively expressed their disappointment in the results.

“I’m dismayed about it, because we volunteered for her campaign and put our efforts in,” Greg said.

“One of my biggest issues has been how [Eric Schmitt] wasted a lot of our taxpayer money on frivolous lawsuits suing the schools.”

“We can’t give up because

8, 2022. Busch conceded her defeat to Attorney General Eric Schmitt for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by retiring U.S.

there is too much at stake,” Valentine said.

“Let’s keep showing up and doing the work to rebuild Missouri. Support candidates up and down the ballot fighting for our rights. Change does not happen overnight. I’m never going to give up because Missouri is my home, and you fight for your home.

“It was the honor of my life to have the privilege to meet so many of you. I will always cherish these connections and carry them with me wherever I go. I love Missouri and will continue to work every day to work for Missouri to be the best that it can be,” said Valentine. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas told the Kansas City Star that he hopes Schmitt “will get past the phoniness with which he has conducted himself in the office of attorney general for the last two years, the demagoguery with which he has approached both his campaign and his day job.”

“Instead, he decides that he wants to be a senator for all Missourians.”

Trudy Busch Valentine hugs and speaks with a supporter after giving her concession speech, on Tues., November

Senator for Missouri Roy Blunt.

Photo by Dawn Suggs | St. Louis American

A Patient Love

Portia Britt and Steven Musselwhite exchanged marital vows on Sunday, October 23 at Piazza Messina in Cottleville, MO.

Kamryn Haynes, and grandmother Frances Worthy as well as Steven’s parents Beth and Brian Musselwhite and sister Kaitlynn. Their engagement was longer than anticipated due to the pandemic, but their wedding day was worth the wait. They became husband and wife on the most beautiful of fall days in an outdoor ceremony at Piazza Messina in Cottleville, MO. The ceremony was truly a joyous occasion for the couple, the wedding party and those who witnessed the first page of Portia and Steven’s next chapter as a demonstration of enduring love and devotion.

GIRL SCOUTS BEYOND BARS

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

STL County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell breezes to win

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis

and amenities vary per branch. Offer ends November 14, 2022.

Bell told reporters at County Executive Sam Page’s election night party at the Machinists Hall in Bridgeton.

“I’ve screamed from the

mountain top from day one that we would aggressively prosecute violent offenders; for other [crimes] we look at alternative solutions [to jail time.]”

Bell said crime will always be an election issue “until there is zero crime.”

“We have a great relationship with County Executive Page, Police Chief Ken Gregory, and all our municipal police departments. Public safety is first on the agenda.”

In 2018, Bell rocked the St. Louis County legal and political scene with his comfortable win over incumbent County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch. McCulloch was a close ally of former County Executive Steve Stenger. Stenger would be indicted on a myriad of corruption charges, resign the office, plead guilty and serve a prison term. The easy win for Bell four years after beating McCulloch signals his acceptance by St. Louis County voters in all parts of Missouri’s largest county. Bell said the County’s Major Crime Task Force would be unveiled soon and was among several accomplishments during his first term. “I’m proud of what we have done. I look forward to building on what we are doing,” he said.

Page congratulated Bell on his victory, calling him “a great prosecuting attorney.”

Morning Star MB ‘Thanksgiving 2 Go’ event marks 5th year

St. Louis American staff

In an East St. Louis tradition, Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church will host its fifth annual Thanksgiving Community outreach event “Thanksgiving 2 Go” meal box distribution at 9 a.m. Saturday, November 19, 2022. The sit-down dinner was established to ensure that “no one is alone or without on Thanksgiving Day.”

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, beginning in November 2020, Morning Star began offering Thanksgiving 2 Go turkeys and meal boxes to members of the East St. Louis, St. Clair County, and surround-

ing St. Louis Metropolitan area.

This year will mark Morning Star’s third Thanksgiving 2 Go turkey and meal box community giveaway. Each box will include a turkey and all the trimmings a family needs to prepare a Thanksgiving meal.

“Last year we were blessed to provide meal boxes to more than 500 families, which included our neighbors and first responders. This year we will again conduct a contactless drive-thru distribution for 600 families, continuing to fulfill our vision that no family should be without on Thanksgiving Day,” said Darius T. Miller, Senior Pastor of Morning Star.

“Our church has been a pil-

lar in this community for more than 97 years and we see this as another small but important act of love and service to our community. The beauty of this outreach is that neighbors are feeding neighbors. Our event is 100% supported by the generous donation of individuals and businesses within the greater St. Louis metropolitan area,” Pastor Miller added. Please contact the Morning Star church office at 618-3979099 for more information.

Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church located at 616 Garfield Hubbard Blvd, East St Louis, Illinois.

What else happened in addition to election day?

This week, the EYE defers to our Editorial Page for analysis of this week’s election results, and instead looks to news you may have missed in the midst of raucus campaign manuevers.

We congratulate PresidentElect Megan Green and new St. Louis Public School Board member Emily Hubbard for their successful campaigns and we look forward to watching the influence of their future endeavors.

The road to Tuesday’s General Election took several different twists and turns in the tradition of partisan politics, pitting friend against friend and forcing strange and unexpected bedfellows.

In days leading up to the campaign, Ald. Pamela Boyd (Ward 27) announced her endorsement of aldermanic presidential loser Ald. Jack Coatar in a very underhanded way. Using her official aldermanic letterhead - which is specifically prohibited under Missouri election law - Boyd referred to herself as the “13th Ward Alderwoman” (a position to which she has not been elected) and suggests that she and the “New 13th Ward” (which does not yet exist) endorsed Coatar (again, something that is not possible).

The letter, delivered to “13th Ward Residents,” is dated September 28, but came to the EYE’s attention on Monday of this week.

The endorsement appears to be on City taxpayer-funded stationery, which is not permissible. Had Boyd used her own campaign letterhead, this situation wouldn’t warrant any

mention. An ethical line was undoubtedly crossed and a state law was broken - and to what purpose – a showcase to gain Coatar’s favor?

Unfortunately, the Missouri Ethics Commission - the state body appointed by the governor to review and investigate campaign ethics complaintshas been so understaffed that its watchdog group has effectively been rendered useless. This problem could easily be remedied by Governor Mike Parson if he fulfilled one of the duties of his elected office and completed the appointment of members to the MEC. Parson has intentionally failed to follow through with making these appointments. Even if a complaint were filed against Boyd for this blatant misuse of public resources, the likelihood of consequences is slim. Restorative justice - which would address the misrepresentations that Boyd made to voters about her ward structure and subsequent endorsements - appears to be non-existent in this case. Adding further chaos in Coatar’s collection of dubious recommendations were his repeated social media posts, touting an endorsement by the 6th Ward Democrats. There’s just one problem — the 6th Ward Democrats never actually voted to endorse Coatar. In fact, the committeeman seat has been vacant for months and the committeewoman is close to Coatar’s conqueror, President-Elect Green. The only

reason that makes sense is that Coatar received support from the former 6th Ward committeewoman - Mary Entrup, the spouse of disgraced former aldermanic president Lewis Reed. Entrup is known for her own government scandal when she served as a City housing court judge, somehow defying logic and hearing more than 26,000 housing cases from 2009 to 2011. That averages out to approximately 8,666 housing cases per year, and, if we assume that Ms. Entrup never took a day off from hearing cases, that put 23 evictions on her docket every single day. Of course, that translated to more than $450,000 in fees generated for City coffers, just through Entrup’s kangaroo court. Entrup ultimately was asked to resign by Reed himself, likely due to the perceived conflict of interest discussed when Reed challenged then-mayor, Francis G. Slay

Coatar was a staunch ally of Reed’s, and his alignment with Reed’s operative platform and donors ultimately failed to pay off for the young alderman. It makes sense that Coatar would fabricate the support of “6th Ward Democrats” in order to conceal Entrup’s support.

But it took a certain amount of chutzpah for Coatar to sneakily claim the endorsement of his federally-indicted predecessor.

The 6th Ward wasn’t the only (likely) fabricated wardwide endorsement received by Coatar. An insider told the EYE that 12th Ward Democrats were controlled by Collector of Revenue, Gregory F.X. Daly, a staunch Coatar supporter. A Republican under any other circumstances, Daly is believed to have unilaterally decided on Coatar’s ward endorsement with little to no input from other 12th Ward residents. Nevertheless, Daly represented his endorsement of Coatar as that of his ward’s, raising some red flags about Daly’s own involvement in disenfranchising, ward organization members and usurping the prerogative of those members. Speaking of allies of Reed who have had their own recent

reckonings, IAFF Local 73’s political ambitions created shame for itself after an embarrassing legal loss last week. In its lawsuit challenging the appointment of the new City Personnel Director, Sonya Jenkins-Gray, IAFF’s attorneys argued that Jenkins-Gray lacked the credentials required for her new role, including at least two years of “public personnel administration.” Somehow, Jenkins-Gray’s service to the U.S. Army was insufficient to IAFF attorneys, who then argued that the Personnel Director did not update her LinkedIn profile. That was the flimsy basis the white firefighters union relied upon to challenge the credentials of a well-qualified Black woman.

But the constant moving of the goal posts eventually caught up with IAFF, when its lawyers failed to appear for an emergency hearing - that they themselves had scheduled. In response, the City Counselor asked the Court to dismiss IAFF’s suit in its entirety, but Judge Jason Sengheiser came up with a different solution: IAFF’s lawyers were ordered to appear to answer for their absence at their own hearing and to explain why the union should not be obligated to pay the City’s legal fees. Sengheiser then denied IAFF’s request for a temporary restraining order and permanent injunction, effectively ending the union’s ability to block Jenkins-Gray from taking office.

With all of this time and money spent to lob legal challenges at Black women who are more than qualified for the jobs they hold, we wonder if IAFF Local 73 would perhaps be willing to set aside whatever their love is for Lewis Reed to consider fighting on the same side as the People’s Mayor, Tishaura Jones. After PresidentElect Green’s solid win on Tuesday, the will of City voters has clearly shifted to a more progressive, people-centered form of government.

Imagine the City we could live in if our firefighters - and police, for that matter - recognized that the tides of political change are already upon them.

“Taking Care of You”

More Missourians making Obamacare a family plan

Enrollment surges despite GOP resistance

Black and Latino families have continued to utilize Affordable Health Care act insurance and are part of a surge in enrollment in Missouri and throughout America. The open enrollment period began on Nov. 1, 2022, and ends on either Dec. 15, 2022, or Jan. 15, 2023, depending on coverage start date.

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

For all the disdain that Missouri legislative Republicans have for the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, Missourians have enrolled in large numbers in search of family health care.

According to the ACA website HealthCare.gov, 250,341 people enrolled in plans through Missouri’s marketplace during the open enrollment period for 2022 coverage. This is 35,000 enrollments higher than the 2021 enrollment period, and the highest enrollment in Missouri’s exchange since 2016. The ACA enrollment period opened on Nov. 1, 2022, and the deadlines for coverage

n The Affordable Care Act enrollment period opened on Nov. 1, 2022, and the deadlines for coverage in 2023 are Dec. 15 for coverage that starts Jan. 1, and Jan. 15, 2023, for coverage that begins Feb. 1.

in 2023 are Dec. 15 for coverage that starts Jan. 1, and Jan. 15 for coverage that begins Feb. 1. Black and Latino Americans are a major part of the surge in enrollment here, and throughout the nation, according to a recently

released Department of Health and Human Service study.

Enrollment in ACA health care marketplace plans increased around 50% for Black and Latino Americans between 2020 and 2022, according to HHS analysis.

“This report shows that our efforts are working, including among Black, Latino, and American Indian and Alaska Native consumers,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a release.

“The uninsured rate is at a record low in the country, but we know we have more to do to close gaps in coverage and increase equity.”

According to an HHS August report, open

Getting a behavioral health system we need

By Kevin Drollinger and Edward F. Lawlor

Expectations for mental health supports and responses are at an all-time high.

Awareness created by COVID, the widespread experience of trauma from natural disasters to local violence, the attribution of gun violence such as the Central Visual and Performing Arts shooting to mental illness, and the openness of celebrities and athletes (such as Simone Biles) about their struggles have all combined to raise the demand for mental health services. Implementation of the new 988 crisis and suicide prevention line is providing needed rapid response, and also generating new understanding of the need for services.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has declared a national emergency in child and youth mental health. The Surgeon General has likewise called child and adolescent mental health a national crisis. Virtually all indicators – major diagnoses, reports of depression and anxiety disorders, suicide, as well as opioid and drug addiction have shown dramatic increases in the past five years.

In general, rising awareness is a good thing. Visibility and open discussion of mental health is crucial for reducing stigma, encouraging prevention and prompt treatment, and garnering needed public and private resources.

We are fortunate to have public officials at every level who are aware of and committed to improving the mental health delivery system. We are also fortunate to have high quality providers, training institutions, and advocacy groups who are doing their best to respond to this demand in their respective lanes.

But the behavioral health system is simply not staffed, resourced, and organized to deliver on the tremendous demand we face going forward. For example, Missouri is the lowest ranked state in the country by the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration

Biden announces Covid-19 vaccine push in BIPOC communities

‘We can do this’ campaign launched

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

Following President Joe Biden’s announcement of additional efforts to get Americans updated COVID-19 vaccine ahead of the holidays, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) presented an online multicultural media briefing that included leaders of the Black Press of America, the National Association of Hispanic Publications, and other minority press.

The President had announced that more than 20 million Americans, including nearly one in five seniors, had already received updated COVID-19 vaccines. The White House noted that while COVID-19 no longer counts as the disruptive force it previously was, the virus continues to evolve. Health officials said COVID-19, flu, and other respiratory illnesses spread

n The President had announced that more than 20 million Americans, including nearly one in five seniors, had already received updated COVID-19 vaccines.

more quickly in the winter as people gather indoors. As the weather gets colder, Americans must take action to stay protected.

“We have made extraordinary progress in the past two and a half years, and now, we have more tools than ever to help us make it through this pandemic,” U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said during the briefing.

“From the beginning, we made equity the centerpiece of our approach to COVID-19, and we want people to contin-

Dr. Cameron Webb, senior advisor to the White House COVID19 Response Team, said during a White House briefing “the people from the community really are going to be the key to our success” in keeping COVI-19 cases down in coming months.

Photo courtesy of NNPA

Photo courtesy of University of Virginia Medical Center

Kevin Drollinger

Edward F. Lawlor

Obamacare

Continued from A12

enrollment period from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15, 2021 “saw an alltime high in Marketplace signups of 14.5 million.”

“In addition, recent adoption of the ACA Medicaid expansion in several states [including Missouri] has extended Medicaid coverage to low-income adults up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).”

This number was increased by administrative and legislative actions including an extended 2021 special enrollment period and implementation of expanded Marketplace subsidies under the American Rescue Plan.

It matters in Missouri

The Show Me State bucked a national trend following passage of Medicaid expansion and repeated GOP attempts to derail enrollment and state financial support.

According to health.gov, marketplace enrollment tends to drop after a state expands Medicaid because people with incomes between 100% and 138% of the poverty level shift from subsidized marketplace coverage to Medicaid. Medicaid expansion began in the fall of 2021, yet enrollment in Missouri’s marketplace plans still grew for 2022.

Again, despite Republican contempt in Jefferson City, Missouri has seen healthcare access improvements on par with the national average since the Affordable Care Act took effect.

Vaccine

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ue to benefit from the life-saving vaccines and treatments,” Murthy stated.

He said the updated vaccine is specifically tailored to the dominant variant of COVID that’s currently circulating.

“Now, and as we enter into the winter, we are at an important moment to sustain the progress we have made by making sure people utilize these life-saving tools and get vaccinated,” Murthy asserted. Dr. Cameron Webb, the senior advisor to the White House COVID-19 Response Team, implored the BIPOC community that “we know that we can do this.”

“We know there is a path to making sure equity is centered in the vaccination effort. And it starts with respecting and acknowledging the people from the community really are going to be the key to our success,” Webb insisted.

“We are excited about the progress we’ve made, but we’re more committed to the progress we will continue to make because the job is not done. And there’s still a lot at stake this fall as we move forward.”

During the briefing, HHS announced a new COVID-19 Public Education campaign called “We Can Do This.” The slogan also is translated into Spanish, “Juntos Si Podemos,” and is dedicated to increasing COVID-19 vaccine

Health System

Continued from A12

(HRSA) for its supply of mental health professionals.

Overall, HRSA estimates that Missouri has only 6 percent of the mental health workforce it needs to meet our need. Shortages exist in all the mental health disciplines: psychiatry, nursing, psychology, counseling, and social work. Long waiting lists, inappropriate emergency room use, and inability to get inpatient placements are all symptoms of

“Taking Care of You”

According to U.S. Census date, Missouri’s uninsured rate, stood at 13% in 2013. It fell gradually over the next three years, reaching 8.9% by 2016. It jumped to 9.4% in 2018 and to 10% in 2019. The HHS notes that “there was a nationwide uptick in the uninsured rate under the Trump administration.”

In 2021, before the

American Rescue Plan made premium subsidies larger and more widely available, almost 182,000 Missouri residents were receiving premium subsidies to offset the cost of their individual market health insurance coverage. The subsidies averaged $553/month, which covered much of the average pre-subsidy premium costs ($639/

month). Subsidies are larger now that the American Rescue Plan has been implemented, and are available to some people who didn’t previously qualify for them.

Through the ACA, people with pre-existing conditions no longer face exclusion riders, higher-than-standard rates, or declined applications in the individual market, nor do they

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, a staunch defender of the Affordable Care Act as a California congressman when President Barack Obama introduced the landmark legislation, said it has helped drop the uninsured rate to a record low in the country. “But we know we have more to do to close gaps in coverage and increase equity.”

face pre-existing condition waiting periods on employer-sponsored health insurance plans.

Cynthia Cox, program director for the ACA at the Kaiser Family Foundation, said “We’re already at peak enrollment.”

“It’s hard to predict how many more people might come in.”

uptake by building the public’s confidence in vaccines.

Officials also seek to educate people about the importance of getting vaccinated as soon as possible. They also hope to inform them how and where they can get vaccinated by directing

this shortage and a system overburdened.

So, what is to be done?

First, a massive and cross-cutting behavioral health workforce initiative for our region must be mounted. This will not be solved by waiting for amorphous federal intervention. In Missouri and St. Louis government, mental health providers, universities, and advocacy groups need to come together and tackle this as an urgent collective good problem, not the responsibility of any one profession or health system. The numbers needed are daunting. It is a long game to tackle

them to www.vaccines.gov.

Advocates noted that health equity was a fundamental value of the COVID-19 Public Education Campaign.

“Our newest ads this week, geared at reaching Black and Latino audiences, highlight the ‘We Can Do This’ Campaign’s

this problem, but left alone, demography and retirements will exacerbate an already-dire situation. (For instance, the State of Maine reports that half of its psychiatrists have resigned or retired in the last five years.)

commitment to health equity,”

Georgeta Dragoiu, a White House Presidential Innovation Fellow at the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, said in a statement. Dragoiu works on the COVID-19 Public Education

n “People of color experience particular disadvantages in accessing timely mental health services.”

Second, creative delivery system reforms must be implemented, especially for vulnerable populations at high risk and with little access, starting with children and youth, older

adults, veterans, the criminal justice system, and the unhoused. COVID has changed much in mental health, so new approaches like telehealth and new partners like schools will need to be leveraged to be successful. Reform of the community mental health system is necessary. People of color experience particular disadvantages in accessing timely mental health services. Blacks, Hispanics,

A Kaiser Health News podcast including Cox highlighted several 2022 ACA updates.

-The Biden administration closed the “family glitch” that had prevented many families of low- and moderate-income workers from getting subsidies to purchase insurance on healthcare.gov or state marketplaces.

-States are required to offer “standardized” plans with the same benefits so consumers can better compare them.

-For the first time, people with low incomes (under 150 percent of the federal poverty level) can enroll in ACA plans anytime, instead of only during open enrollment. “This could become particularly important in 2023, as many people are likely to lose their Medicaid coverage when the Biden administration ends the covid-related public health emergency,” according to HealthCare.gov.

-More than 14.5 million people get health insurance through the ACA. The number during the coronavirus pandemic after Congress passed subsidies to make coverage more affordable.

-Most people have three or more options, but about 8% of participants will have only two insurance carriers to choose from.

-According to the Biden administration, 80% of consumers should be able to find a plan for $10 or less a month after tax credits.

Missouri utilizes the federally facilitated marketplace which means residents enroll through HealthCare.gov (or an approved enhanced direct enrollment entity) if they want a plan through the exchange.

available on our partner website,” said Dragoiu.

Since the beginning of the Biden-Harris Administration, the campaign has partnered with more than 1,000 organizations, most of which work with minority or rural communities.

During the BIPOC briefing, officials announced that the COVID-19 Public Education Campaign launched new national and local TV, radio, and print ads geared at reaching Black and Latino audiences in more than 30 markets in English and Spanish.

“This work is ongoing, but it is imperative that we recognize the unique health disparities faced by people in minority populations and highlight the progress and importance of protecting those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19,” said Dr. José R. Romero, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director.

Campaign.

“Advancing health equity has informed every aspect of our campaign, including the decision to produce educational materials in 17 languages, including English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese – all

and Indigenous People have longer durations of disability, greater severity, and are more likely to go without treatment than Whites. A particularly worrisome trend has been the dramatic increase in suicide for Black children and youth in the past decade. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for Black youth. As in other areas of regional public policy, achieving racial equity in behavioral health services has to be a top priority. We know that mental health is a key pillar to a life well-lived, and we know that these investments will yield

“Together with important media partners like you, we can help raise awareness, increase vaccinations, protect loved ones, and reduce the impact of COVID-19 in society,” Romero asserted. The briefing took place on the BIPOCXChange, a metaverse solution created by the Multicultural Media & Correspondents to help Black, Indigenous, and People of Color media increase ownership and control.

payoffs in the labor force, in academic success, in public safety, and in the larger equity and well-being of our population. The rising expectations for behavioral health services deserve a systemic response. We need the wherewithal – people, organization, and resources – to credibly respond to this historic demand.

Kevin Drollinger is Provident Behavioral Health in St. Louis president and executive director. Edward Lawlor is Emeritus Professor and Dean at Washington University, and chair of the Provident Board.

Photo courtesy of HHS

US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said during the launch of the “We Can Do This” vaccine campaign that equity has been central to the Biden administration’s approach to COVID-19, “and we want people to continue to benefit from the life-saving vaccines and treatments.”

Photo courtesy of US Surgeon General’s office

PRESENT:

PRESENT:

Dining Out.

GRAINS

What Is ASize?Serving

Nutrition Challenge:

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

The Smart Way!

Keep ‘em Whole!

Create

an

Staying Active (Naturally)

Obstacle Course

First Day of Spring!

Summer!the Smart Summer Eating!

Once you’re out of school, many of you may have a lot of extra time on your hands to be snacking. Resist the urge to eat sweet, salty, fried and high-calorie non-nutritious snacks this summer.

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

Warm Up & Cool Down

Do This. Not That!

Exercise Game

Peer Pressure

Smart Choices

Calculate BMI

Ice can be dangerous for several different reasons.

Tech-Neck

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

In our “Super-Size” world, we can easily lose track of what an actual serving size means. When reading labels on a food or drink product, you can determine the nutrients, sodium, fiber, sugar and calories of a serving size. But be careful; just because it looks like one small

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

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

Exercise Challenge:

Let’s make a game out of exercise!

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

those leftovers for lunch the next day!

are popcorn, wheatberries, brown rice and wild rice.

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

Healthy Kids

Healthcare Careers

lifestyle. You can do this by forming new habits. For example, if you decide to eliminate sugary drinks completely, it only takes a few weeks until this becomes what you’re used to. Here are the steps to making a healthy permanent change. We‘ll use the sugary drink change as an example.

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

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

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

First, locate either a deck of cards or two dice.

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

Cocoa Puffers Cereal

INGREDIENTS:

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

Healthcare Careers

> Start by substituting one drink per day to water.

serving sizes, variety and nutrition. List all of the items for your meal and categorize by food group (dairy, protein, fruits, etc.).

Weekly Newspaper in Education Program

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

Weekly Newspaper in Education Program

Latoya Woods, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

Deborah Edwards, School Nurse

Where

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

> Walking to the store when possible.

> Wash your parent’s car.

With your parent’s help and permission, create an obstacle course or fitness trail in your own backyard. Be sure to include balance, endurance, skill and speed challenges. Activities could include standing on one foot, running around a shed, tossing a ball into a bucket,

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

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

March 20, 2021, is the first day of spring. With spring comes warmer weather and longer days (later sunset). Make it a habit to spend as much time playing outside as the weather allows.

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

Next you’ll need to make a list of different types of exercise: jumping jacks, sit-ups, lunges, etc.

What is peer pressure?

Write each exercise item on a small piece of paper or index

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

Present your “meal” to your classmates. Now, as a class, determine which meal would be the most delicious… and nutritious!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 4, HPE

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

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

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

push-ups against the side of the house and crawling under the

slowly stretch your arms and

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

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

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

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

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

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

Instead of watching TV — ride your bike with friends.

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

Break into small groups and define what it means to be a bully. Share your ideas with the class. Did you have the same things listed (as the other groups) that you would consider as bullying behavior?

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

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

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

lowest branch of a tree. Who could do the most push-ups? Who did all of the challenges the fastest? Consider holding a weekly competition to see who is the new winner.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Learning Standards:

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

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1

Over the last 35 weeks we have discussed many smart choices that you can make to help you stay safe and healthy. Break into small groups and list as many Smart Choices that your group remembers. Now individually, choose one that you think is very important.

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

Now back in your groups, create a newspaper ad that includes at least two of the following:

to do something that is dangerous, unhealthy or illegal, ask yourself, “Who is pressuring me, and why should I do something just to make that person happy?” Always make smart choices based on what you know to be right and you’ll do better in life.

> What to do if you see someone else bullied.

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

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

Cheesy Pretzels

Ingredients:

Describe in your own words what that smart choice is, and how you can remember to make the right choice in the future. Name a new “smart choice“ that you will make this summer.

> What to do if YOU are the bully.

Cracker-wiches

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

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

PRESENT: Banana PB Smoothie

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH5, NH 7

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

> How bullying hurts others.

Anytime a friend or classmate pushes you to do something that you really don’t want to do, that is considered peer pressure. Sometimes it’s just harmless fun, like daring a friend to eat a food that s/he doesn’t really like. But if you are feeling pressure

> What to do if you are bullied.

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

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

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

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

16 Mini pretzels

2 Slices Cheddar cheese

2 Tbsp Mustard (optional)

Frozen Yogurt Blueberry Bites

Ingredients:

Ingredients: 1 15-Oz Can Garbanzo beans

1 cup blueberries

> What other ice hazards are there?

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, NH 5

1 Garlic clove, crushed

1 cup non-fat Greek Yogurt

2 Tsp Cumin, 1 Tsp Olive oil, ½ Tsp Salt

Directions: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lay 8 of the pretzels onto a cookie sheet, top with a small square of the cheese and another pretzel. Heat for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Dip in mustard.

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 4

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Enjoy with baked tortilla chips or raw vegetables.

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

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

Where do you work? I am a certified pharmacy technician at Medicate Pharmacy in East St. Louis.

Where did you go to school? I graduated from Lindbergh High School. I then attended the University of Arkansas in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where I studied biology.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where did you go to school? I graduated from East St. Louis Sr. High School. I then earned an associate degree from Southwestern Illinois College and became a certified pharmacy technician.

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

What does a school nurse do? I assess the concerns of students who are ill, injured or experiencing alterations in their normal health. Nurses screen daily staff, students and visitors for safety. Monroe School is a pilot school for Covid-19 test sites in partnership with the city.

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

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

What does a certified pharmacy technician do? Some of my daily duties include filling patients’ prescriptions with accuracy, sending refill requests to physician offices and making sure our patients leave the pharmacy with smiles on their faces. Why did you choose this career? I chose to be a certified pharmacy technician simply because I love to help people. My passion is putting smiles on people’s faces and making a difference in their lives.

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

Why did you choose this career? I love nursing because there are many opportunities in hospitals, schools, clinics and offices, insurance, legal and research. My passion is working in the schools with students, parents, staff and community partners.

What does an EMT do? My day-to-day includes helping others when they aren’t feeling their best. I also assist getting them to the hospital when they can’t take themselves. Why did you choose this career? I chose this career because I enjoy helping others problem solve. Also, I have twin stepsons, one who wants to be a police officer, and the other who wants to be a doctor. I thought that being an EMT helped me to meet them in the middle. And, back in 2018, I had my own medical emergency and was transported by ambulance to a hospital. The paramedic that took care of me was so comforting and assuring that I realized that becoming an EMT is an honorable career. I now work with that same paramedic, at the same company.

Why did you choose this career? I am a St. Louis native, and was an asthmatic child who experienced frequent hospitalizations. Besides having the influence of nurses in my family, the local nurses who helped take care of me were my “angels” and always managed to nurse me back to health, thus sparking my interest.

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

What is your favorite part of the job you have? My favorite part of my job is the warm and sincere thank you’s as well as the gratefulness that our patients display. The joyous feedback we receive, validates that I made the right career decision.

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

What is your favorite part of the job you have?

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

Learning

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

What is your favorite part of the job you have? I enjoy meeting and learning about new people and cultures every day. I also like the adrenaline of driving fast with sirens going to get to an emergency quickly.

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3 Melissa Douglass, MSW

or

Learning Standards: HPE 6, NH 3

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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

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

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

Yonniece Rose, Registered Nurse

Marnay Howard, EMT - B

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

Fourth-grade students Dallas Harris, Tavon Knighten, Makhi Curtis, and Jayairra Evans in Ms. Rhonda Stovall’s class at Gateway Elementary School explore the internal and external structures of animals and plants.

Photo by Rhonda Stovall

Did you know rockets are faster and more powerful than airplanes or helicopters? In fact, they have enough power to travel through the atmosphere into outer space. When they travel at speeds of 28,000 km/h, they enter orbit.

The shape of rockets continues to change and evolve to improve their effectiveness. The shape of the fins on the bottom of the rocket have become wider to help the rocket stay on course. Fuel is burned with oxygen in a chamber. As the gases heat up, they expand and stream backwards. This creates a thrust, which launches the rocket forward. Rockets require a lot of

fuel to travel. That is why they are so big—to give them plenty of room for all of the needed fuel.

For more advanced information on rockets, visit: http://sciencelearn. org.nz/Contexts/ Rockets/Science-Ideas-and-Concepts/Rocket-aerodynamics.

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

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

Background Information:

In this experiment, you’ll create a thrust of energy that will propel a balloon forward.

Materials Needed:

• Balloon • 3 Meters Length of Kite String • Plastic Straw

• Tape Process:

q Thread one end of the string through the straw.

w Tie each end of the string between two solid supports such as a chair, table leg or door knob, making sure it is strung tightly. This creates your string track.

e Blow up the balloon but do not tie it.

MATH CONNECTION

Use your math skills to answer these questions.

z The gravity of the Moon is 17% of Earth’s gravity. To calculate your weight on the Moon, multiply your weight by 0.17. What is your weight on the Moon? ______

x Using the same formula (multiply weight by .17), if a dog weighs 35 pounds on Earth, what would it weigh on the Moon? ______

c How much would a 5 pound bag of sugar weigh on the Moon?

r Hold the opening of the balloon closed with your fingers, tape one side of the balloon to the straw so that it hangs horizontally below the string.

t Countdown to launch and let the balloon go.

y Observe as your balloon rocket travels across the string track.

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

v If you weighed 25.5 pounds on mars, what would you weigh on the Moon?

For some math activities from NASA, visit: http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/math-activities/en/.

To find your weight in different worlds, visit: http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/weight/.

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

NASA became operational on October 1, 1958 — one year after the Soviets launched Sputnik 1, the world’s first artificial satellite.

STARS

African-American Mechanical Engineer & Inventor Jerry Shelby

Jerry Shelby was born in New Orleans on June 23, 1950. When he was 18, he dropped out of high school to join the Marines and fight in the Vietnam War. During a mission, Shelby lost his left leg and suffered serious harm to his right arm: muscle loss, thick scarring, and tissue damage.

Shelby says, “At 19, I was home in New Orleans. I couldn’t walk very well with my new wooden leg and I couldn’t write very well because of the injuries to my right arm.”

To learn to reuse his arm, he took drafting classes while earning his GED. Next, he enrolled in Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA, to earn his mechanical engineering degree. He later earned his master’s degrees in management and business administration. After earning his degree, he worked for IBM in Texas, and then for General Dynamics, in California, before heading back to New Orleans to work at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.

On July 12, 1994, he received U.S. patent #5,328,132 for his engine protection system for a recoverable rocket booster invention. When rockets are propelled in to space, they will lose their boosters. Shelby’s invention allows these boosters to have extra protection so that they can be reused. This reusable device features an inflatable air bag hinged at opposite sides, with springs that force the bag open. This bag is in a “stowed” position during launch. Pressurized gas forces it open. As the bag inflates, it creates a seal. This seal prevents water from entering the engine as the booster becomes submerged in water.

Shelby was one of seven Purple Heart recipients inducted into the honor roll of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, George A. Rauh Chapter 2201.

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

MAP CORNER

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

Activity One —

Context Clues: Find 10 unfamiliar words in the newspaper. First, use your to guess what the word means. Next, use the dictionary to write the official definition. Finally, think of a synonym and antonym for the word.

Activity Two —

Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of first consonant sounds in words close to each other. For example, “The Sweet Smell of Success” Find 3 examples of alliteration in the newspaper. What is the purpose of alliteration? Choose a consonant and use it to create an alliterated headline.

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can apply context clues and use dictionary skills. I can evaluate the purpose and use of alliteration. I can create alliteration.

The St. Louis American’s award winning NIE program provides newspapers and resources to more than 8,000

Icing on the cake

Destiney, Sean Jones own family bakery in Bridgeton

Sean Jones, co-owner of Destined Indulgence, assists a customer in his Bridgeton, MO business on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022.

By Danielle Brown St. Louis American

Working for The U.S. The Department of Justice impacting troubled teens’ lives was the career path Destiney Jones thought she would pursue. Baking cakes realigned that life goal.

“Honestly, I never wanted to own a bakery,” Jones said. “I started off making cakes for my three girls [Savannah, 10, Sienna, 8, and Shia, 3]. They’re all very different from each other and I couldn’t find what they liked in the grocery stores.”

People who tasted her cakes were impressed and word spread on social media. The assurance and encouragement motivated her to make more cakes for family and friends.

Her husband Sean Jones’ suggestion, Destiney joined TikTok during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and to her amazement she gained a loyal cake following.

“That’s what pushed [the business] because I didn’t really have the desire to leave home. I was comfortable there,” Jones said. “I could control my clientele. I could control the amount of orders I wanted.”

Sean Jones said he was adamant about his wife taking baking more seriously because he knew how much she enjoyed it. He joked he also wanted his kitchen back and got tired of her “hogging it on Saturdays.”

The couple met at McCluer Senior High School and both graduated in 2011. While Destiney Jones is a self-taught baker, Sean received his culinary degree from the now-closed L’Ecole Culinaire. Destiney received her pastry chef certification under Sean’s mentorship.

See CAKE, B2

A game of life

Married entrepreneurs mix Black history, mirth on YouTube show

By Megan Sayles

The Afro

Darnell and Alyssa Gilet are not just business partners, they’re game makers. The married couple enjoyed hosting game nights at their house, and Alyssa decided to design her own Black pop culture trivia game for their friends to compete in.

n “This is a responsibility. This is a contribution that we’re able to make to our history and to educating people on our history in a way that other people might not be able to do.”

– Alyssa Gilet

Alyssa had begun to feel unfulfilled by her day job at the time, so she talked to Darnell about commercializing the game. He supported her and helped her fund the venture, and after about six months, they produced House Party: The Game in 2015.

Now, the New York natives are game show makers. In 2021, they released the first season of “Do You Know Black?” (DYKB) on YouTube under their own live event and digital media production company, House Party Entertainment. The game show is a celebration of Black history and culture, and in each episode, contestants are tested on their knowledge of Black history, art, entertainment, business, athletes, innovation, science and more. The second season of the series, which has garnered thousands See GAME, B2

PeoPle on the Move

Tolliver named director of communications

Sandi Tolliver has been named director of communications at World Wide Technology overseeing external and internal communications including the development and implementation of the communications strategy while leading a team of public relations, social media and internal communications experts. She has over 25 years of experience ranging from Fortune 100 corporations to small non-forprofits and is highly skilled in a vast range of marketing and communications areas. Tolliver holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing.

Davis receives faculty achievement award

Adrienne Davis recently received an Arthur Holly Compton Faculty Achievement Award from Washington University at the annual Founder’s Day ceremony. Davis holds a dual appointment as William M. Van Cleve Professor of Law and in the College of Arts & Sciences she holds courtesy appointments in the departments of African and African-American Studies; History; and Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies. Davis is a graduate of Yale College and Yale Law School, where she served on the Executive Committee of the Yale Law Journal.

Candace Hall, an assistant professor and graduate program director in the Department of Educational Leadership at SIU Edwardsville, received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award recently from UMSL. At SIUE, she revamped the College Student Personnel Administration Program. During her time at UMSL, Hall was an active student employee and leader, giving campus tours, mentoring students and helping lead organizations including the Student Government Association, the Associated Black Collegians and The Current Newspaper.

Michael T. Jones joins Schowalter & Jabouri

Schowalter & Jabouri, P.C., Certified Public Accountants and Advisors, recently announced that Michael T. Jones, CPA, CGMA, has joined the firm as a business services manager. His primary responsibility in this role is to work with our teams to provide exceptional, value-added services to our clients. Jones is a graduate of Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

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

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Adrienne Davis

Candace Hall

Sandi Tolliver

Photo courtesy of the Gilet family

Darnell and Alyssa Gilet enjoyed hosting game nights with friends and turned those enjoyable events in an online game show that features knowledge of Black history and other categories.

Michael T. Jones

Cake

Continued from B1

TikTok also connected Jones with investors not only interested in her business, some were offering capital.

“I had a battle going on between different investors, different landlords offering me opportunities to open a store especially since there were so many businesses closing in 2020,” she said.

“It was the kind of opportunity I couldn’t pass up, mostly because the talent was there and they saw the potential. They saw it could really be a business and all I really needed was the upfront capital. That’s how the opportunity pretty much fell in my lap.”

The kitchen bakery was transformed into Destined Indulgence, a 2,000 square foot bakery and confectionery located in the Orchard Bend Shopping Center in Bridgeton. The Joneses own and operate the business as a husband and wife team.

Destined Indulgence opened in October 2020, and the sweet tooth’s paradise now offers more than 55 daily menu items.

Cakes and assortment of sweet treats are offered including loaded milkshakes, Rice Krispie treats, cake pops, cheesecake stuffed pretzels and more. The eats are created for all events including birthday parties, weddings, sweet sixteen celebrations, memorial services and more.

One of the top sellers is the Moxii Labs -Mesmerizing Mocktails, a steamy CO2 pressurized beverage created by Savannah and Sienna. Jones said the drinks “were the girls way around her not allowing them to drink soda.”

“They realize CO2 is a naturally carbonated drink,” she said. “It’s their adventure and it’s offered every single day we’re open at Destined Indulgence. People love it.”

Mom gifted the daughters with their own LLC in July and they’re looking for space to set up shop in West County Mall in Des Peres.

Another popular favorite is lemonades. They began with three flavors and are now at six including mango, blue raspberry, strawberry, dragon fruit, kiwi, and peach.

“That’s one of the things people love about here, if you don’t find something we offer you can still build your own,” Jones said.

Game

Continued from B1

of views, aired on Juneteenth 2022.

“This is a responsibility. This is a contribution that we’re able to make to our history and to educating people on our history in a way that other people might not be able to do,” said Alyssa.

DYKB contestants compete for the All-Black Prize Pack, which is a selection of products from various Black-owned businesses. During each 90-second round, they work to unlock prizes, and one contestant is voted off by their peers.

At the end of the competition, the final contestant can choose to go home with the prizes they’ve won, or they can place an all or nothing bet for the prizes they didn’t win.

Jon “J-Hype” Hyppolite, a comedian and actor, serves as

“A customer could say they only want cheesecake with strawberries or they want a cheesecake with peanut butter.”

The shop offers gluten free options including a salted caramel cheesecake made with a roasted almond and honey crust and macarons which are made with almond flour.

The owners thought their current space was too big, but as the business began growing Jones realized they actually needed more room.

“We were supposed to have a party room in the back but we had to convert it into storage,” she said. “We had to buy three additional refrigerators and convert it into storage. We now have three storage spaces.”

She added the lobby area often gets chaotic, especially on Saturdays, which is why they’re considering expansion.

Jones does not have an entrepreneurial background and admits she assumed “you had to be rich and have it together in order to thrive as a business owner.”

the host for DYKB. The series also has a companion show called “Do You Know Black Kickback,” in which contestants reunite for conversations about the themes, like Black entrepreneurship and collective responsibility, introduced in each episode.

Darnell and Alyssa unknowingly went to the same high school together, although they were two years apart. After college, a mutual friend who was in Alyssa’s grade introduced the couple.

The pair studied marketing in college. Alyssa has worked with various entertainment, media and production companies doing marketing, public relations, and branded partnerships, while Darnell’s background is heavy in talent acquisition; human resources; employer branding; and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Entrepreneurship was a passion and interest of the couple since they met, but it was not

“When I saw the opportunity to acquire my own business space I knew I had to have it,” she said.

“It’s something I can hand off to my kids since I gave them their LLC. I want Black people to know we can do anything we don’t only have to limit ourselves to BBQ, hair shops or lawn service. We can have so much more. We can own multiple restaurants, fine dining restaurants, ice cream shops, pizza shops.”

Outside of teaching her daughters about generational wealth, Jones also mentors aspiring bakers, hosts Girl Scouts group decorating classes, and provides treats for after school programs.

Destined Indulgence is located at 11977 Saint Charles Rock Road, Suite 125 in Bridgeton, Missouri. It’s open Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Visit the website for more information https://destinedindulgence.com/

until recently that they felt ready to combine their expertise and build a business.

Both Darnell and Alyssa have continued to maintain day jobs while producing DYKB and upcoming series for House Party Entertainment. As Black entrepreneurs, Darnell said they did not have access to mentorship to help them build their brand.

Instead, Darnell and Alyssa capitalized on resources and professionals in their personal networks. They were also able to bring on Eric Sheppard to help manage the production of the project.

DYKB is filmed over the course of two and half days during the Do You Know Black Weekend that Darnell and Alyssa host in New York City. They yield 20 episodes of content, and every person on set is either Black or Brown.

Alyssa researches, verifies, and writes all the questions and answers for DYKB. She also locates Black businesses to include in the All-Black Prize Pack, while Darnell handles the casting, editing and business logistics.

Right now, Alyssa and Darnell are working on creating a new show that will have its own companion series, like DYKB.

“We know that there’s a need for a variety of types of education within the Black community that the school system does not give us,” said Darnell. “I think DYKB has an opportunity to fill a very important gap within families, within schools and within our Black community. That’s what we’re going to be doing in the future, and that’s what we’re building toward.”

This article was originally published in the Baltimore based

Destiney Jones, co-owner of Destined Indulgence, crafts a beverage in her Bridgeton, MO business on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Sports

InSIdE SportS

By Earl Austin Jr.

Women’s basketball takes center stage at Enterprise

N.D. vs. Cal features familiar names

It will be homecoming weekend for two former great women’s basketball players from the St. Louis area who now coach at the collegiate level. Notre Dame will take on California at 3 p.m. Saturday in the inaugural Citi Shamrock Classic at Enterprise Center. The main attractions of the contest will be St. Louisans Niele Ivey and Charmin Smith, respective head coaches of The Fighting Irish and Bears. Both were star high school players in St. Louis in the 1990›s. Ivey was an All-

American at Cor Jesu Academy, while Smith was a standout player at Ladue High School. Both reached the Final Four of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament and spent time in the WNBA before entering the coaching ranks.

Ivey led Cor Jesu to consecutive Final Four appearances in the state tournament, including the Class 4 state championship and an undefeated season in 1995. She was a standout player at Notre Dame and helped lead her team to a national championship game victory in 2001. The Final Four of the NCAA Tournament was held in St. Louis that year. Ivey was tabbed as Notre Dame’s head coach in 2020 to replace Hall of Fame legend Muffet McGraw. Ivey played for her and was her lead assistant before taking over the head coaching position. Last year, Ivey led Notre Dame to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament with a very young team. Smith, a 1993 graduate of Ladue, played for national power Stanford. She was a part of three Final Four teams and three Pac 10 Conference championship teams with the Cardinal. She entered the coaching ranks after spending six years in the WNBA. She was the associate head coach at Cal for more than a decade before being named the head coach in 2019.

Notre Dame is ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press preseason Top 25. Cal is unranked, but Smith says her team is pre-

pared for improvement.

“This team has more depth than last year,” she said. “We have some perimeter abilities that we didn’t have last year, some people that are more dynamic on the wing that we’re excited about.”

Winston Moore commits to Colgate

MICDS football standout Winston Moore has given a commitment to attend Colgate University. The 6’1” 185-pound Moore is a standout as a running back and receiver with big-play ability. Through 11 games, Moore has rushed for 756 yards and has caught 22 passes for 319 yards and 31 touchdowns in helping lead the Rams to a 10-1 record. Moore enjoyed a tremendous performance last Saturday with six touchdowns in a 60-46 victory over Lafayette in the Class 5, District 2 semifinals.

Last week’s Football Standouts

• Running back TaRyan Martin of East St. Louis rushed for 280 yards on 19 carries and three touchdowns in the Flyers’ 40-0 victory over Normal Community West • Wide receiver Javeion Tiller of Summit had six receptions for 174 yards and two

touchdowns in the Falcons’ 59-26 victory over Union.

• Running back Ricky Dixon of Lutheran North rushed for 204 yards on 25 carries and three touchdowns in the Crusaders’ 37-21 victory over Lutheran-St. Charles.

• Running back Quaran Williams of Parkway North rushed for 258 yards on 21 carries and three touchdowns in the Vikings 32-25 loss to Vashon.

• Running back Jeremiyah Love of CBC rushed for 119 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns in the Cadets’ 41-3 victory over Kirkwood.

• Running back DJ Burgess of Parkway Central rushed for 156 yards on 16 carries in the Colts 42-0 victory over Clayton

• Senior Amarion Oliphant of Duchesne scored three touchdowns on a 90-yard kickoff return, 35-yard blocked punt and a three-yard run in a 55-0 victory over St. Pius X.

District Football Championship Games (All games will be at 7 p.m. Friday unless noted)

Class 6 District 1: Marquette at CBC District 2: DeSmet at Rock Bridge

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Class 5 District 2: MICDS at Eureka

District 3: Fort Zumwalt North at Francis Howell

District 4: Timberland at Helias

Class 3

Class

Class 1 Brentwood at Duchesne IHSA State Quarterfinals

Class

Paralympian scores national soccer triumph

Congratulations to St. Louis native and paralympic gold medal winner David Brown for being named to the inaugural USA Blind Soccer Men’s National Tea . Before fully losing his sight, he played YMCA basketball. He attended the Missouri School for the Blind, and then Hazelwood West High School, where he participated in track, wrestling and goalball. He won a gold medal in the 100 meters at the Rio Paralympic 2016 Games and is a three-time world champion and world record holder in both the 200 meters and 100 meters. He is the first totally blind athlete to run the 100 meters in under 11 seconds. In May, Arianna Sergio reported for St. Louis magazine that Brown was introduced to soccer by sheer fortune. While preparing for the 2019 World Championships in track and field, a blind soccer team was working out at a nearby training center. A soccer team administrator thought Brown

was there for practice, and introduced himself to Brown and his wife, Rebekah. Brown called the interaction “divine purpose,” and he asked the team staff to stay in touch. He learned the game and made St. Louis soccer history by being named to the national team.

Alvin A. Reid

Too little, too late Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James is anything but bashful when it comes to discussing race and human rights matters. He was at the forefront of NBA players’ refusing to participate in respective playoff games in August 2020 to protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

He is recognized for his insight on issues and respected by those inside and outside NBA circles.

So why did it take him so long to condemn Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving for his antisemitic antics and refusal to apologize.

After repeated chances to simply say “I’m sorry,” Irving

suspended for at least five games by the NBA. After missing two game paychecks, Irving did finally apologize.

ed Adolph Hitler and contained other anti-Jewish tropes.

“I believe what Kyrie did caused some harm to a lot of people. He has since, over the last – today, or was it yesterday – he apologized. But he caused some harm,” James said on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022.

““It doesn’t matter what color your skin is, how tall you are, what position you’re in – if you are promoting or soliciting or saying harmful things to any community that harm people, then I don’t respect it. I don’t condone it.” Gosh, how harsh. Seriously LeBron, that is all you have to say on the matter? If that is a rebuke, it sure is a tepid one.

Several Black NBA players have blasted Irving for his behavior, but the game’s biggest star backed down for a fortnight. I’m sure many NBA fans and Americans are disappointed in James and the African American players who remained silent as the scandal dragged on.

The Reid Roundup

The Brooklyn Nets were in disarray before Kyrie Irving embarrassed the entire fran-

chise. Irving remained suspended this week, and trade rumors are rampant as the Nets face a full makeover. Enzo Flojo of the MSN website Clutch Points says the Washington Wizards should be willing to part with several young talented players to pair Kevin Durant with All-Str guard Bradley Beal. “Imagine a duo of Durant and Beal. That would potentially be one of the finest NBA pairings this season. A KD-Beal-led Wizards squad should be good for a strong 50 to 55-win season. Afterward, that might entice additional talent ahead of the 2023-24 campaign,” he wrote…When the Kansas City Chiefs traded wide receiver Tyreke Hill to the Miami Dolphins many NFL pundits thought Hill and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes would see their respective statistics drop significantly. Following last week’s games, Mahomes had thrown for 2,605 passing yards and is on pace for 5,536 this year. Hill had 1,104 receiving yards and is on pace for 2,085. Both would be NFL season records for passing and receiving yards for the season.

Earl Austin Jr.

David Brown celebrates after winning the 100-meter dash at the 2016 Paralympic Games at Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Photo courtesy of David Brown

Notre Dame will take on California at 3 p.m. Saturday in the inaugural Citi Shamrock Classic at Enterprise Center. The main attractions will be St. Louisans Charmin Smith (left) and Niele Ivey (right), respective head coaches of The Fighting Irish and Bears. Both were star high school players in St. Louis in the 1990›s. Ivey was an All-American at Cor Jesu Academy, while Smith was a standout player at Ladue High School.

Photo courtesy of Cal

Photo courtesy of Notre Dame

AGCMO 25th Anniversary Keystone Awards recognize excellence in construction

Recently the Associated General Contractors of Missouri (AGCMO) announced the winners of its 2022 Keystone construction industry awards at a 25th anniversary dinner event held at the River City Casino Hotel. The awards program showcased the creativity and talents of Missouri’s construction industry. AGCMO also celebrated First Place Specialty Contractors in 12 disciplines and named a Specialty Contractor of the Year.

Eight First Place Keystone Awards were presented to contractors on projects ranging from a new retail/food venue, historic renovation, park enhancement and not-for-profit housing to a major highway project, medical research facility and manufacturing plant. A major city rail/transit project and highway interchanges spanning two states, built by AGCMO members, also were honored.

Keystone Project of the Year winners for building construction included: Integrate Construction Partners for The Food Hall at City Foundry STL by New + Found; Tarlton Corporation for StarWood Group’s 900 N. Tucker Historic Renovation (former St. Louis Post-Dispatch Building) in downtown St. Louis; and PARIC Corporation’s Tenant Fit-Out Project for the Delmar DivINE Charitable Foundation in midtown St. Louis. Additional winners in the building construction category included Guarantee Electrical Company’s Nestlé Bloomfield, MO Expansion for Nestlé Purina PetCare Co. and IWR North America for its work on the NextGen Precision Health Institute at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

BofA names Great Rivers Greenway, Forest ReLeaf as 2022 Neighborhood Builders

Program provides $200,000 in funding and leadership development

Great Rivers Greenway and Forest ReLeaf of Missouri have been named as the 2022 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders® awardees for their work in the St. Louis community removing economic barriers and advancing environmental opportunity.

Each nonprofit will receive a $200,000 grant over two years, comprehensive leadership training for the executive director and an emerging leader on many topics, human capital management and strategic storytelling, joining a network of organizations across the U.S., and they will have access to capital, expanding their impact in St. Louis. The Neighborhood Builders program continues to be the nation’s largest investment into nonprofit leadership development.

“Both Great Rivers Greenway and Forest ReLeaf of

Missouri’s efforts are making St. Louis an even more beautiful place to live and visit,” said Marilyn Bush, president, Bank of America St. Louis. “Their positive environmental and community-based efforts will have lasting effects for generations to come.

Great Rivers Greenway will use their grant funding for the development of the Brickline Greenway, which will connect the St. Louis community with up to 20 miles of new greenways, bringing about opportunity for job and population growth creating more equality for current and future residents.

Teach For America receives $140,000 grant from Bayer Fund

Helps support STEM educators and their students

Teach For America (TFA) St. Louis is the recipient of a $140,000 grant from Bayer Fund which will be used to develop and support Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) educators in St. Louis city and county.

Bayer Fund’s Al Mitchell

The funding will be used to develop and support TFA teachers in STEM Professional Learning Communities in order to increase student performance within the STEM discipline. In addition, the grant will also allow TFA the funding to implement professional development for STEM educators that center on diversity and inclusion to help empower

more students of color to pursue STEM-related areas of study.

“Throughout the years, the grants given through Bayer Fund have helped strengthen our communities across the United States,” said Al Mitchell, President of Bayer Fund. “We’re proud to be able to provide support to develop programs that help combat challenges such as food insecurity, STEM education and support services to patients and families managing an illness or disease.”

Through Bayer Fund’s generosity, the grant will help support 10 educators in the STEM PLC in St. Louis this school year.

The Food Hall at City Foundry STL

Living It

‘A passion for Black fashion’ Not wild

City shows out on the hottest looks

Isaiah Peters

The St. Louis American

It is safe to say that St. Louis Black fashion community last weekend adhered to the motto “anything goes.” Around 400 fashion lovers and observers came out decked out in sophisticated, eccentric, suave, and ensembles Sunday evening, Nov. 6, 2022.

“Today is the day to take the culture to another level,” Timothy Moore, STLBFW organizer and creative director, said.

Marking St. Louis Black Fashion Week’s 8th Show for the grand finale, Moore organized a provocative and exciting show highlighting the work of seven of the city’s fashion designers at The Third Degree Glass Factory. Moore has put on the annual show of the Gateway’s city’s best since 2014.

“It’s what the city needed,” fashion designer and former model Pierre McCleary of 1026 Styles’ said. “We can stand in front of what we

Jaylien just keeps doing his thing

New album dropped in September

By Ashley Winters

St. Louis American

Jaylien Wesely, commonly known in the music industry as Jaylien, has a resume that includes performing with musical giants such as Akon, Chris Brown, T-Pain, Ty Dolla Sign, and more.

The talented artist was born into music, both his parents are musicians. Jaylien says his parents met at Mizzou where they were in the school choir, they wrote songs together and performed together. He describes them as the local BeBe and CeCe Winans. In his childhood home, Jaylien heard gospel music, and pop artists like Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston, but he says his parents would add in R&B soul and

organized a provocative and exciting

designers at The Third Degree Glass

believe in and go wherever we choose to go.”

From sleek to street the seven designers

celebrated were Jahleel Griffin of The Label 17, Maare Rashaad of Unforgettable Fittings, Pierre McCleary of 1026 Styles, Afton Johnson of Young Addy Collection, Colin Jones, Kendra Tunstall and Kisha Kandeh of “The Woke Brand.

The audience consisted of people who love all things fashion, all things St. Louis and all things Black, respectively.

“We didn’t have a Black Fashion Week, and Saint Louis Fashion Week didn’t highlight and showcase designers and models of color too often,” Moore said. “Saint Louis Black Fashion Week is more than a show. It’s Black excellence; we’re dressing to the nines, coming in our best, and presenting ourselves unapologetically.”

McCleary describes her experience with St. Louis Black Fashion week as pivotal to her growth professionally and personally.

She said she remembers walking the runway

play Sade and Anita Baker.

“Music is just a part of my life, when you grow up in a household like that you are going to catch the bug,” said the artist.

For his latest album, the rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, and composer took all of those genres of music and compiled them in his album

The Blue Project, which takes you on the emotional ride of life during and after a breakup.

The 10-song album debuted in September and it invites you into his deepest feelings after he

for Afton’s brand in 2016 and wearing a hood. As part of her walk, she unveiled her bald head due to alopecia, to the community for the first time.

“When I walked out and took the hood off, the crowd received me. I felt the positive energy from everybody, and that was the first time I revealed I had alopecia,” said McCleary.

Before first walking the runway, she said she would always wear wigs. McCleary established her craft as a celebrated favorite; the audience cheered on her styles and diverse looks.

She entered the fashion world as a model in 2000 at 35 while raising her two adolescent daughters. Moreover her insecurities due to her eczema, led her to notice that her girls were also becoming self-conscious. She thought introducing them to modeling might help them overcome their insecurities together.

See Fashion, C8

Rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, and composer Jaylien Wesley took multiple genres of music and compiled them in his album, The Blue Project, which takes you on the emotional ride of life during and after a breakup.

Wendell & Wild has its moments, but too few

By Dwight Brown NNPA Newswire film critic

Sometimes there’s too many cooks in the kitchen. Sometimes there are too many storylines in a movie. Same difference.

Thirteen-year-old Kat Elliot (Lyric Ross, TV’s This is Us) lost her parents (Gabrielle Dennis, Gary Gatewood) in a tragic car accident when she was eight. She still blames herself for their deaths, wants them to come back into her life and has been in an extended state of angst for years. This tween punk rock princess enters her town’s Rust Bank’s Catholic School for Girls with a chip on her shoulder. Her journey should be the film’s central focus, but it’s not.

As the movie’s title reveals, the main story is about two demons who are brothers, Wendell (Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (Jordan Peele). They’re trying to scheme their way out of the Underworld and slither into the Land of the Living. To fulfill their dream, they need the aid of a “Hail Maiden,” someone with magical powers who can help demons crossover. Hence their interest in Kat. She’s got that swag. Connecting the two storylines is enough of a gulp. Adding another competing plotline about a wealthy, greedy and wicked couple, Irmgard (Maxine Peake) and Lane Klaxon (David Harewood), who use intimidation, fire, and murder to buy Rust Bank properties for pennies on the dollar is overkill. This class warfare theme involving corporate greed further overshadows the kid’s soul-searching journey, the only plotline worth following.

n Mainstream audiences may wish the narrative weren’t so congested and that the footage was more arresting.

ended a six-year relationship. He says it was very therapeutic for him to be vulnerable and honest about his feelings. Jaylien describes that time as being hit by life twice. First, he broke up with his longtime girlfriend, and then a week later he was in a really bad car accident.

“I was just stuck in the house for about six months last year, and the only thing I could do was write. And that turned into the Blue Project,” said Jaylien.

He says his album takes you through the stages of a breakup, first hurt, disbelief, anger, forgiveness, and healing. The Blue Project includes a little bit of everything, rap, R&B, and rock.

His thought process included how he would convey his feelings and what he was experiencing in a song. And he went back to the music he heard growing up and found inspiration there.

Jaylien said, “My album features styles of music I love, and I listen to everything. I want my album to sound like me.”

Jaylien says each of his talents whether it’s in writing, rapping, or producing music all feed off

Writer/director Henry Selick’s jampacked storytelling is aided by cowriter Jordan Peele (Nope). They merge ghoulish fantasy with modern Black life and social issues in a way that are very contemporary. Kat’s afro-punk rocker vibe is cool as hell and her green afro puffs hairdo is so retro it’s fun. Raising her parents from the dead is her goal and a compelling quest that should retain audiences’ attention for 1h 45m. Instead, her path is so cluttered with distractions and characters it’s hard to keep track of her mission. There are plenty of gimmicks, including hair cream that brings the dead back to life and a magical toy bear. There’s a bevy of people in her life: Sister Helley (Angela Bassett), a nun at Kat’s school, is a mentor with supernatural abilities: “You’re a Hell Maiden. But it has to be our secret.” Father Bests (James Hong) runs the school, and his fundraising efforts leave him susceptible to trickery. Her fellow student Raúl Cocolotl (Sam Zelaya), an artist, is her wingman. Three clueless classmates, Siobhan (Tamara Smart), Sweetie (Ramona Young) and Sloane (Seema Virdi), are warned to be careful: “Bad things happen to people I’m close to. They die.” What’s on view is either a wealth of storylines, quirky devices and characters or a pileup. Viewers will decide. Some audiences find stop-motion animation unique, other think it’s distracting. Artists manipulate objects whose positions are changed and recorded, and on film those images often move around in a jerky fashion. Not smooth and fluid like the 3-D computer-animation in

See Wild, C8

Photos by Taylor McIntosh | The St. Louis American

Marking St. Louis Black Fashion Week’s 8th Show for the grand finale, Timothy Moore

show highlighting the work of seven of the city’s fashion

Factory.

Image courtesy of Netflix

Sam Zelaya and Lyric Ross in Wendell & Wild.

Photo courtesy of Jaylien

Vietnam: At War and At Home opens at Soldiers Memorial

By the Missouri Historical Society

101st Airborne paratrooper Specialist 4 Michael K. Goshern of Muncie, Indiana, crossing a stream near Chu Lai, Quang Nam Province, ca. 1967–1968.

ines life in pre-war Vietnam and how imperialism, rising communism, and a desire to prevent another global conflict led to America being drawn into the conflict. The roles of the military branches and major battles and offenses are explored, as well as veterans’ homecoming experiences.

The Vietnam War (1955–1975) simultaneously united and divided our nation—a fracture that can still be felt five decades later. It was a complex conflict with no clear beginning or definitive end, fought in faraway lands and in protests and political arenas at home. While American forces amassed many victories, there were also countless tragedies, and the necessity of the sacrifice of millions of men and women is still questioned today.

A new exhibit opening this week at Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, Vietnam: At War and At Home, examines the era between 1955 and 1975 through two distinct viewpoints, the war front and the home front. These separate but parallel storylines will allow visitors to experience the physical and emotional distance between Southeast Asia and St. Louis, examine the war’s impacts, and evaluate the conflict’s legacies.

Vietnam: At War and At Home shares the stories of those who fought in the war, those who actively opposed it, and the legacies of refugees who fled a war zone and settled in the St. Louis community,” said Mikall Venso, military and firearms curator and content lead on the exhibit. “As visitors walk through the exhibit their convictions may be challenged or reinforced, but the diverse array of experiences they’ll encounter in the gallery will illuminate the Vietnam era and, we hope, offer lessons from the past and connections to today.”

When visitors enter the exhibit, they will be able to follow one of two paths. The “At War” side of the exhibit exam-

Artifacts from St. Louisans who served are on display, including a fragment of the flight suit recovered from US Air Force First Lieutenant Michael Blassie’s crash site, on loan from the Blassie family. The “At Home” side of the exhibit offers a look at life in the United States in the years after World War II and how it changed over the course of the Vietnam War era. This section explores how St. Louis industry supported the war efforts, including the role of companies such as McDonnell Douglas, Monsanto, and AnheuserBusch. McDonnell Douglas manufactured thousands of F-4 Phantom II fighter jets for the US Air Force, Navy, and Marines. Monsanto was the second-largest producer of herbicides heavily utilized in Vietnam, including Agent Orange. Anheuser-Busch supplied countless cases of Budweiser for service members who appreciated even warm beer. Many of these companies and their leaders were targeted by anti-war protesters, and some were accused of war profiteering and racial discrimination in hiring.

Other topics explored in the “At Home” section include the influence of the civil rights movement, including Percy Green and Richard Daly’s protests at the Gateway Arch; anti-war protests at Washington University in St. Louis; and the experiences of Vietnamese

refugees and immigrants who fled their homeland after the fall of Saigon. Nearly 1.5 million Vietnamese refugees and immigrants have resettled in the United States, including around 4,000 Vietnamese refugees who now live in St. Louis, creating a vibrant immigrant community. The exhibit’s interactive features include a sampling of both pro- and anti-war music, two short films, interviews, a “Would You Have Been Drafted?” quiz, and a comprehensive Vietnam memorial database where visitors can find the locations of a loved one’s name on national and local memorials.

The Missouri Historical Society’s Teens Make History program reviewed dozens of Vietnam War–era high school and college yearbooks in the MHS Collections, creating a flipbook that connects the experiences of students across the generations.

The exhibit also offers increased accessibility, with five audio description sites for visitors who are blind or have low vision, captioning on all video interactives, and braille label binders. A tactile relief map of Vietnam allows visitors to examine the topography of the country. On Friday, November 11, join Soldiers Memorial for the exhibit’s opening day, sponsored by Ameren. Soldiers Memorial is open from 10am to 5pm, Wednesday through Sunday, and admission is free. The exhibit will run through May 27, 2024. Special thanks to lead sponsors Bank of America and Stephen and Camilla Brauer, and to accessibility sponsor Edward Jones.

Missouri Historical Society Collections

each other and admits he came into the music industry late but that has given him time to improve his skills in his craft. He says he can tell they have improved a lot with this album.

Just two days after he released it he received a call from one of Diddy’s representatives from A&R asking if he could come in and work on a project with the megastar. According to Jaylien, the A&R told him that Diddy and his team have been playing the Blue Project nonstop and asked if Jaylien would come into the studio and work with Diddy. Without hesitation, Jaylien said absolutely.

Jaylien says he has been around Diddy but only in passing, they had never been formally introduced until now. Gushing he said Diddy gave him his props and said his work was good.

“To get snaps from someone like Diddy is confirmation that I made the right choice to put out this album,” said Jaylien.

And confirmation is just what he needed, especially since there were times he wasn’t always supported. Some people close to him suggested he should try a different career path because his passion for music wasn’t being rewarded as fast as they had hoped. But like most artists, everything is a process including to the way art is created.

Jaylien has his little quirks in how he creates lyrics or beats. For starters, he has to be inspired, and that can be at any given moment. He says it’s always during some random time, like at a restaurant or driving in his car. Different sounds or outside noises inspire him to make those little things that we hear every day in music. For example it can be, car tire screeching, forks, or spoons clanking on a plate. He says the smallest most insignificant sound can be turned into music.

But before the mega hits and big stars, Jaylien worked closely with local rap artist

n “To get snaps from someone like Diddy is confirmation that I made the right choice to put out this album.”

- Jaylien

Huey who unfortunately was killed a few years back. But before his untimely death, Huey was something of a big deal in the early 2000s with his major hit Pop Lock and Drop It. It was 2007 and young Jaylien and Huey ran in the same circle of friends and both dreamed of one day making it to the top of the music industry. They would go to the night clubs together, shoot pool, and over time they became close friends. Jaylien describes Huey as his homie.

Huey had just signed a deal with Jive Records, and his manager suggested to Jaylien that it would be a great idea if he worked on his album. Again without hesitation Jaylien jumped on the opportunity. Huey’s first major hit topped the charts, and Jaylien couldn’t

be more proud. He was there from the beginning he experienced the song being a local hit, to national and international all at the age of 19.

Expressing gratitude Jaylien said, “It was beautiful to see somebody make it from the crib go that far.”

“Working with Huey was a pivotal moment in my career, and I will love Huey forever for that.”

He produced Huey’s second single ‘G5’ featuring T-Pain and that was his first placement as a producer. Jaylien says he received his first check as a producer and he felt rich, but he soon realized $2,500 was not that much money. Since he spent it so fast. Jaylien decided to take his career to the next level and move to Atlanta in 2008, but it wasn’t all glitz and glam that Jaylien had hoped it

would be.

As a newcomer to the booming city, Jaylien had to hustle to get his music out there. “I was a nobody,” said the artist. He had to make a name for himself, he would put CDs on car windshields with his contact information attached. However, things would turn around for the then-starving artist, for months he would designate a day of writing for a specific artist. He would create songs that fit their style and vocal ability. One day he had an ‘Akon day.’ He didn’t write these songs expecting to meet him, but he says you never know and he wanted to be prepared. Well, the stars must have been aligned for Jaylien that day because he met Akon, he told the international recording artist that he had written a few songs for him. Akon took a listen and Jaylien says he instantly gravitated toward one song that he had written for him. But at the time Akon had just finished his album and

sent it to the record label, but he liked Jaylien’s song so much he decided to open his album, increase the budget and add the song ‘Beautiful’ to his album Freedom. The single sold four million copies and ranked 19 in the top 100 in 2008.

“And that’s the song that changed my life, that song put me on the map,” said Jaylien. Jaylien said that Akon liked that he was from St. Louis and connected with him because Akon had lived in St. Louis for a little while and still has family here.

After that Jaylien started working under Akon and many chart-topping artists like Ty Dollar Sign who Jaylien describes as a musical genius. He says that he is a great collaborator and musician. He says that Ty Dollar Sign understands music on a much higher level. He says working with Chris Brown is like working with a machine, the songwriter/producer says that Brown can record five or six songs in one studio session.

Jaylien says working with a major artist is like being on a basketball team, you’re sitting on the bench waiting for your number to be called.

“When my name and number get called, I just show up and try to provide whatever they need. That’s why I wear so many hats,” said Jaylien. “I do it all”

Even though Jaylien has been living out of state for some time, he still waves his St. Louis flag very proudly. “I love St. Louis, I miss Imo’s pizza and our Chinese food,” said Jaylien

He hopes to one day create a festival here celebrating local artists and bringing in A-listers to his hometown to show them what St. Louis is all about. The festival will consist of a celebrity basketball game, a charity event, a Saturday night concert, and a Sunday gospel concert. Filled with enthusiasm Jaylien said, “I don’t know how long it is going to take, but I will make it happen.”

• $400 Annual eyewear allowance

•Additional

Photo courtesy of Jaylien

Religion

By Herb Boyd New York Amsterdam News

The death of Rev. Calvin O.

Butts III of historic Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem is still resonating through the religious world.

Rev. Butts’ death was announced on October 28, 2022. He was 73 and had been battling cancer, according to close associates.

“Rev. Butts was a major pillar in the Harlem community and is irreplaceable. He was a dominant faith and academic leader for decades. We knew each other for more than 40 years, and while we did not always agree we always came back together,” Rev. Al Sharpton, founder, and president of the National Action Network.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called Rev. Butts “a tremendous leader who served our state, our city and our nation with grace, dignity and passion.”

“[He] was a force for moral clarity, a voice for his Harlem community, a counselor to so many of us in public service and I was proud to call him a friend,” she continued.

During his remarkable tenure as the church’s leader, Rev. Butts was a tireless advocate for affordable housing through the Abyssinian Development Corporation, a non-profit organization he established in 1989.

Under his guidance the corporation raised $2.8 million to purchase and renovate property to be used as a homeless shelter. Also, he oversaw the building of a large apartment

of the Rev. Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Rev. Samuel Proctor, Butts was a true community servant.

Some of his stands were not welcomed by many in his community.

He endorsed the Republican Party’s George Pataki in his re-election campaign in 1998.

Current Councilman Charles Barron said Pataki failed to stop Mayor Rudy Giuliani from turning Harlem “into a police state.”

Rev. Butts incurred the wrath of many Harlemites again when he endorsed Michael Bloomberg over Bill Thompson in 2008.

Rev. Butts forged ahead with a sundry of community

developments and put his leadership stamp on such institutions as the State University of New York at Old Westbury, where he served as president from 1999 to 2020. Among his achievements at the college was its investment of approximately $150 million in capital projects, technological advances, residence halls, and a major academic building. He served as an adjunct professor in the African Studies Department at City College, New York, and Black Church History at Fordham University. He was sought after for appearances on the lecture circuit where his expertise on education and ethical issues earned him a national reputation.

complex for senior citizens and apartments for moderate income households. Much of this was done with the Partnership of New York City program.

Rev. Butts was born on July 19, 1949, in Bridgeport, Conn., and spent most of his lifetime in New York, beginning in early childhood. He graduated from Flushing High School in 1967, where he was a promising athlete and scholar as a member of the track team and

president of his senior class.

In 2005, he was interviewed by “HistoryMakers,” and said that in 1972 he received his B.A. degree from Morehouse College. While a student there, he pledged to the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and was active in civil rights.

After the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Rev. Butts and several other Morehouse students took to the streets in anger. After graduation, Butts returned to New

York where he earned his Master of Divinity degree in church history in 1975 from Union Theological Seminary and later his Doctor of Ministry in church and public policy from Drew University. He was still in graduate school when he was hired to work at Abyssinian Baptist Church, starting as an office assistant and worked his way up to assistant pastor, eventually being named head pastor in 1989. Following in the footprints

Photo courtesy of Abssynnian.org

The late Rev. Calvin O Butts III

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 see the full job description of positions available and to apply online go to: http:// www.stlouis-mo.gov/sldc/ and click on “Careers at SLDC.” SLDC is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity.

CITY OF CLAYTON

HIRING FOR PT AND FT POSITIONS

The City of Clayton is hiring for PT and FT positions. Apply at https://bit.ly/3pGDCgY EOE

MAPLEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT

Hiring for police officer position

Must be POST Class A certified.

$62,290 – Six year top $85,952 www.cityofmaplewood.com

PUBLIC RELATIONS CONSULTANT

The City of Jennings is seeking to engage with a Public Relations Consultant to perform the following duties: supporting the city in maintaining and improving its image; serving as a liaison between the City and the media; preparing and presenting press releases; assist with building positive relationships amongst the community, businesses, and city officials; managing the City’s social media platforms. Qualified candidates should submit their proposal to Deletra Hudson, City Clerk, at cityclerk@cityofjennings.org Include on the subject line: PUBLIC RELATIONS CONSULTANT.

INSTRUCTOR –CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

To view complete job announcement visit: https://www.schooljobs.com/ careers/semoedu/ promotionaljobs

For more information contact the Human Resources Office (573) 651-2206 or humanresources@semo.edu

ASSISTANT –ACCOUNT SERVICES – POLICY SERVICES

Responsible for monitoring and follow through of service related requests for the Policy Operations unit, and tracking all Primary Workers’ Compensation, Commercial Auto, and General Liability transactions to include: New Business, Renewals, Endorsements, Cancellations, Reinstatements and Non-renewals.

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

Ensure accuracy and timely completion of responsibilities within the financial reporting and analysis area, as well as the reporting analysis area with regard to internal management reporting. To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational.com/ careers-page/

EXECUTIVE ANALYST

Individual is primarily responsible for performing reserving analysis functions required by the Company, in addition to forecasting or analysis functions.

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

Responsible for underwriting multi-line public entity new business and

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

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

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

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Repairs to Exterior Facade, Landers State Office Bldg., Springfield, MO Project No. O1920-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, December 1, 2022. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace Rooftop Units at Parkview State School – Cape Girardeau and New Dawn State School –Sikeston, Project Nos. E1904-01 and E1905-01, respectively, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 12/15/2022 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

BID PROPOSALS

Alberici Constructors, Kwame Building Group and the Saint Louis Zoo seek bids from qualified firms to submit propos als for a project at the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park. The project consists of earthwork, roadways, utilities, and fencing for 10 barns. To request bid documents, please send an E-mail to stlzoobids@alberici.com

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

PINE LAWN HOUSING AUCTION

4 Residential Properties

2513 Crescent * 4347 Ravenwood

6100 Otto * 6706 Stratford

Auction Bid Requirements

Available at Pine Lawn City Hall

Sealed Bids Due-4:30 pm

Monday November 14, 2022

to Pine Lawn City Hall

6250 Steve Marre Ave.

Pine Lawn, Mo. 63121 Also

Pine Lawn Needs Street Sign Bids

• Bids Due by Nov. 18, 2022

• Bid Packet Required & Available

@ 6250 Steve Marre Ave. Pine Lawn, Mo. 63121

See all bid info at www.pinelawn.org

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace Kitchen Flooring at Western Reception Diagnostic Correctional Center and Replace Dry Pipe Sprinkler System (Re-Bid) at Northwest Missouri Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center, Project Nos. C200101 and M2005-01, respectively, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 12/8/2022 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

The St. Louis Economic DSealed bids for the Buckley Road Bridges No. 528 & 528-P and Hallmark-Southshire CRS Pavement Rehabilitation projects, St. Louis County Project Nos. CR-1772 and CR-1866, will be received electronically thru the County’s Vendor Self Service portal at https://stlouiscountymovendors.munisselfservice.com/Vendors/default. aspx, until 2:00 p.m. on November 30, 2022

Plans and specifications will be available on October 31, 2022 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouiscountymo.gov) or by contacting Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies, 2731 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118 (314) 678-0087. DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ST. LOUIS, COUNTY

PARIC Corporation is seeking proposals for the following project: ARCHVIEW, 200 NORTH 4TH

PARIC Corporation is soliciting bids for the ARCHVIEW located on 200 North 4th Street. St Louis, MO. The project consists of renovating the Historic recognized Archview (Previously known as City Place Tower or Mansion House South) located on 200 North 4th Street. St. Louis, MO 63102 into a 407 unit apartment building including an outdoor promenade amenity and community space. Access to documents is available from our Smartbid link, invitations to bid will be sent out on 11/3/22. If you do not received a bid invitation please send your company information to tlalexaner@paric.com.

The last day for questions is 11/21/22.

A PREBID meeting will be held on 11/10/22 at 10:00am at the project site on 200 North 4th Street.

BIDS WILL BE DUE ON DECEMBER 1, 2022 @ 2:00pm

Send all interior & exterior construction questions to Michael Skalski mskalski@paric.com

Send all fire protection, plumbing, mechanical, & electrical questions to Cory Hoke choke@paric.com.

Goals for Construction Business Enterprise

• 21% African American

• 11% Women

• .5% Asian American

• .5% Native American

• 2% Hispanic American

Goals for Workforce (field) participation

• 25% Minority

• 7% Women

• 20% Apprentice

• 23% City of St Louis Resident

All bids should be delivered to PARIC via e-mail (bids@paric.com) or fax (636-561-9501). PARIC CORPORATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

AUCTION NOTICE

The following people are in debt to Gateway Storage Mall of Belleville. The contents of their storage unit(s) will be sold at auction to compensate all or part of that debt.

Auction at the Belleville- Mascoutah Avenue & Tower Plaza location will be held online with www.storageauctions.com on December 2nd, 2022 at 10:00 AM. A cash deposit will be REQUIRED for all winning bids.

Mascoutah Avenue & Tower Plaza -- Belleville: Gloria Casole—28, Rachelle Russell—633, Michael Gonzales—14, Jennifer Allen—21, Justin Milosevich—630, Jacob Moore—220, Karl Zollner—411, Nicholas Johnson—529,

For all rules, regulations and bidding process, please contact www.storageauctions.com . All other questions, please call 618-233-8995 or mail: 17 Royal Heights Center, Belleville, IL 62226.

INVITATION TO BID

Sealed bids will be received by the Construction Manager, S. M. Wilson & Co. at Pattonville School District, 11097 St Charles Rock Rd, St Ann, MO 63074, until 2:00 p.m. local time on November 17, 2022 for the Projects and Bid Packages described herein for the Pattonville School District. Bids MUST be sealed and hand delivered to the above address no later than the date and time noted.

Pattonville School District work includes:

Bid Package #1: 03D Precast Concrete, 21A Fire Protection, 23A HVAC (High School), 23B Mechanical Equipment (Furnish Only), 26B Generator (Furnish Only)

Bidders are not allowed to visit the site unless prior arrangements are made with the Construction Manager.

The bid documents will be available for viewing after November 1st, 2022 at BuildingConnected.com. (https://app.buildingconnected.com/public/ 5913928fce945d0a00d28943)

You can view the project by logging into the BuildingConnected site by setting up a free account on their Website.

The Construction Manager for this project is S. M. Wilson & Co. and the main contact is Mr. Patrick Aylesworth, Preconstruction Manager, 314-633-9689, patrick.aylesworth@smwilson.com

This is a prevailing wage project.

S. M. Wilson & Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Pattonville School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace Fire Sprinkler System, Multiple Assets at Camp Avery Park Camp, Project No. H2001-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 12/1/2022 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Repair

Swimming Pool, Missouri School for the Blind, P r o j e c t N o . E2107-01, will be received by F M D C , S t a t e of MO, UNTIL 1 : 3 0 P M , 11/17/2022 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. For specific project information, go to: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for ReBid –Install Fire alarm System NW MO Psychiatric R e h a b i l i t a t i o n Center, St. Joseph, MO, Project No. M2001-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, November 10, 2022. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http:// oa.mo. gov/facilities

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 Non-Capital Bids (commodities and services) or >Visit Planroom (capital construction bids)

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

WEBSTER GROVES SCHOOL DISTRICT

Is soliciting “Request for Proposal”for Webster Groves High School Soccer Field Drainage

The Request for Proposal will be available on the District Website on November 7, 2022 @ www.webster.k12.mo.us front page and can be accessed under RFP/RFQ icon at bottom of page.

INVITATION TO BID: FERGUSONFLORISSANT SCHOOL DISTRICT DISTRICT WIDE TRASH DISPOSAL AND RECYCLING COLLECTION SERVICES

Sealed bids for the above project are being requested from the FFSD and will be received and publicly opened on Friday November 11th, 2022 @ 11:00am CST at the Operation and Maintenance Dept. located at 8855 Dunn Rd. (REAR) Hazelwood, MO 63042. Bid specs must be obtained at http://new.fergflor.k12.mo.us/ facilities-rfq. Contact Terry O’Neil at 314-824-2091 for further information/ questions.

BID NOTICE

Great Rivers Greenway is seeking a Major Gifts Vice President to join our Foundation team! Go to www.greatriversgreenway.org/ jobs-bids and submit by November 11, 2022.

WEBSTER GROVES SCHOOL DISTRICT SUMMER 2023 HVAC UPGRADES

Sealed bids are requested from qualified Design-Build contractors for building HVAC upgrades at the following schools: Hudson Elementary, Clark Elementary, and Edgar Rd. Elementary. Bidders must attend a mandatory pre-bid meeting on November 22, 2022, at 2:00 PM at Hudson Elementary School, 9825 Hudson Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63119, for bids to be considered. Only Design-Build contractors meeting the requirements within the specifications will be considered as qualified bidders. Bids will be received by Rob Steuber, CPM, at 2:00 P.M. on December 6, 2022, at the Webster Groves School District Service Center at 3232 S. Brentwood Blvd., Webster Groves, MO, 63119. Public bid opening will follow immediately thereafter. The projects consist of the following work: • Replacement of HVAC systems including RTUs and boilers. Contract documents are available by contacting Facility Solutions Group (Jacob Bross) at 314-705-3768. The contract documents will be available on November 21, 2022. The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids. Bidders must provide a Bid Bond in the amount of 5% of the proposed contract sum. The successful bidder will be required to provide 100% Performance and Payment Bonds, and to comply with the Missouri Department of Labor Standards Prevailing Wage Rates. www.webster.k12.mo.us

INVITATION TO BID

The Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit is currently soliciting bid proposals for replacement of doors/locks at the Juvenile Family Court, 920 N. Vandeventer, St. Louis. The request for proposal is available on the Court’s website www.stlcitycircuitcourt.com Click on General Information, Then Request for Proposals. A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on November 14, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.in the lobby, of the Juvenile Family Court located at 920 N. Vandeventer, St. Louis, MO 63108. Bids are due November 30, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. EOE

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for CONTRACT NO. F23 604, PE Building Renovations at Meramec for STLCC Transformed, until 2:00 p.m. local time on Friday, November 18th, 2022. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 5464 Highland Park, St. Louis, MO 63110-1314. Drawings, Specifications and bid forms and other related contract information may be obtained from Cross Rhodes’ Plan room at 2731 S. Jefferson, St. Louis, MO 63118 or at S. M. Wilson’s BuildingConnected website using the link below: https://app.buildingconnected.com/public/5913928fce945d0a00d28943

Electronic bid sets are available and may be printed by the plan holders and in Bonfire at https://stlcc.bonfirehub.com. This project will include the following packages: 02A Demolition, 06E Millwork, 08A Doors/Frames/Hardware, 09A Drywall & Framing, 09D Acoustical Ceilings, 09H Resilient Flooring, 09L Painting, 10A Visual Displays Board, 10L Fire Extinguisher Cabinets, 22A Plumbing, 23A HVAC, 26A Electrical.

Questions regarding the scope of work should be directed to Patrick Aylesworth, patrick.aylesworth@smwilson.com. A pre-bid meeting will be held on November 10th, 2022 at 10am CST at the Meramec Campus room BA 105. A walk-through of the project will follow the meeting. You may schedule site visits by contacting Nathan Webb at nwebb18@stlcc.edu

The College has the proposed minority goals MBE 15% and WBE 12%

Individuals with special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act may contact: 314-984-7673

Advertisement Date: November 3, 2022

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for CONTRACT NO. F 23 301, Group Study Rooms Renovation, until 2:00 p.m. local time Thursday, November 17, 2022. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 5464 Highland Park, St. Louis, MO 63110-1314. Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from the Manager’s office, at the above address or by calling (314) 644-9770.

Drawings, Specifications, bid forms and other related contract information may be obtained at ePlan. The documents will also be at The Builders Association and at the Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council. Electronic bid sets are available and may be printed by the plan holders and in https://stlcc.bonfirehub.com/ Questions regarding the scope of work should be directed to John Reynolds a John.reynolds@etegra.com

VOLUNTARY PREBID MEETING: Wednesday, November 9, 2022

10:00am, Wildwood Campus Lobby will be the meeting point. A walk-through of the project will follow the meeting. Any inquiries about the pre-bid meeting can be sent to Brandon Strauser at bstrauser1@stlcc.edu

The College has the proposed minority goals MBE 15% and WBE 12%

Individuals with special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act may contact 314-644-9039

An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer

Date: October 27, 2022

INVITATION FOR BID –CALIFORNIA GARDENS SECURITY FENCE & STAIR REPAIRS

The St. Louis Housing Authority (SLHA) seeks bids to perform the following project:

The General Scope of Work for this project will consist of, but may not be limited to, demolition of an existing masonry wall and metal fence system, including foundations; removal and installation of exterior doors; demolition of existing concrete stairs; construction of new wood/ composite and concrete stairs; installation of site lighting, electronic access controls and security cameras; and related construction. All work is at the existing California Gardens Apartments building at 2910-26 California Ave., St. Louis, MO 63118.

Bid information will be available at https://www.slha.org/ partner-with-slha/ on November 7, 2022

Pre-Bid Meeting is November 17, 2022 at 10:00 AM (CDT) at the project site, 2910-26 California Ave., St. Louis, MO 63118.

Sealed bids are due December 6, 2022 at 3:00 PM (CDT) via QuestCDN or delivered personally at SLHA Offices at 3520 Page Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63106.

Fran Bruce Acting Contracting Officer

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

INVITATION TO BID: FERGUSON-FLORISSANT SCHOOL DISTRICT

SEMI-ANNUAL KITCHEN FIRE SUPPRESSION INSPECTIONS

Sealed bids for the above project are being requested from the FFSD and will be received and publicly opened on Tuesday November 15th, 2022 @ 10:00am CST at the Operation and Maintenance Dept. located at 8855 Dunn Rd. (REAR) Hazelwood, MO 63042. Bid specs must be obtained at http://new.fergflor.k12.mo.us/facilities-rfq Contact Matt Furfaro at mfurfaro@fergflor.org for further information/questions.

BIDS

Confluence Academies is seeking bids for Bus Transportation Services beginning July 1 for our 2023-2024 school year. Interested companies should visit our website, www.confluenceacademy.org for more information and proposal requirements. A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on December 7, 2022 at 10:00 AM at our Resource Office – 611 N. 10th Street, Suite 525, St. Louis, MO 63101.

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

LU22032 Dawson Hall Project Lincoln University of Missouri will be accepting RFQ’s (Request for Qualifications) for Construction Management services to renovate the Universities largest residence facility, Dawson Hall. If interested, please submit a request for a copy of the RFQ documents to lufacilitiesplanning@lincolnu.edu, Office of Facilities and Planning, 309 Young Hall, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri. All submissions are due by noon on November 22, 2022

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Project: SLPS District Wide Flooring Repair Hankins Construction is asking for proposals to be emailed in by 11-14-2022 at 4:30 PM. Project is Tax Exempt and Prevailing Wage. Estimator working on this project is Stephen Hankins Please email all bids to office@hankinsmidwest.com

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace Ice BuildersBuilding #13 at Jefferson City Correctional Center, Project No. C2009-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 12/20/2022 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace BAS and HVAC System, Supervision Center Building at Community Supervision Center, Project No. C2010-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 12/20/2022 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

BIDS

Pine Lawn City is seeking Audit Bids

Due Wed Nov 7, 2022

To 6250 Steve Marre Ave Pine Lawn, MO 63121

Also

Pine Lawn seeks Bids for Website Update due Friday Dec 9, 2022

@ address noted above (314) 261-5500

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for North Hanley Road (A) Resurfacing, St. Louis County Project No. AR-1482, Federal Project No. STP-5613(607), will be received electronically thru the County’s Vendor Self Service portal at https://stlouiscountymovendors. munisselfservice.com/Vendors/ default.aspx, until 2:00 p.m. on December 7, 2022

Plans and specifications will be available on October 24, 2022 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouiscountymo.gov) or by contacting Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies, 2731 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118 (314) 678-0087.

DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ST. LOUIS, COUNTY

INVITATION TO BID:

E.M. Harris Construction Company (EMH) seeks subcontractor bids for Hawkins Village located at 1075 Caballo Court, Fenton, MO 63026. Scope of work involves renovation of 140 apartment units in twenty-one two and three-story buildings and renovation of community building. Renovations include, but are not limited to, demolition, flooring, carpentry, drywall, painting, electrical, mechanical, cabinets and countertops, appliances, plumbing fixtures, bathroom fixtures and accessories, light fixtures, doors, windows, blinds, roofing, gutters, sheet metal, concrete, pavement sealing and striping, fencing, and signage. Certified Minority and Women Business Enterprises 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 and at:

• MOKAN Plan Room, 4666 Natural Bridge, St. Louis, MO 63115

• EMH Plan Room, 2600 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103

All bids due to EMH office by 5 pm, Tuesday, November 15, 2022. Project contact: Vic Hoffmeister vhoffmeister@emharris.com or fax 314-436–6691.

St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for CONTRACT NO. F 23 401, Forest Park Theater Entrance Beam, until 1:00 p.m. local time Wednesday, November 16, 2022. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 5464 Highland Park, St. Louis, MO 63110-1314. Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from the Manager’s office, at the above address or by calling (314) 644-9770.

Drawings, Specifications, bid forms and other related contract information may be obtained at ePlan. The documents will also be at The Builders Association and at the Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council. Electronic bid sets are available and may be printed by the plan holders and in https://stlcc.bonfirehub.com/. Questions regarding the scope of work should be directed to Kara Marfell at kmarfell@davidmason.com

Mandatory PREBID MEETING: Tuesday, November 8, 2022 10:00am, 5464 Highland Park Drive, St. Louis, 63110 will be the meeting point. A walk-through of the project will follow the meeting. Any inquiries about the pre-bid meeting can be sent to Nathan Webb at nwebb18@stlcc.edu

The College has the proposed minority goals MBE 15% and WBE 12%

Individuals with special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act may contact 314-644-9039

An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer

Date: October 31, 2022

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE:

Advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, imitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial\status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.

“We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.”

Call Angelita Houston at 314-289-5430 or email ahouston@stlamerican.com to place your ads today!

1 BEDROOM FOR RENT Fridge, Stove, 711 Bittner 1Fl, $500/mo 314-378-6782

Fashion

Continued from C1

“It helped me understand who I am,” said McCleary. “Who cares if I don’t have hair? Who cares if someone laughs at me? Who cares if I am different? I am uniquely designed to be me.”

McCleary entered the design arena in 2012 when a friend asked her to create pieces for 20 girls for a show when the original show designer dropped out. She fell in love with the craft and slowly switched from primarily walking runway work to designing in 2019.

“I use the fashion platform to introduce alopecia into the community,” McCleary said.

Inspired by a vision of acceptance, she debuted her first fashion show in 2017, titled ‘Hats of Alopecia,’ which showcased the full spectrum of Black beauty.

“I wanted to ensure Black, and brown designers and models had a space to have a fly production, great cultural relevance and not have to squeeze into a space that was never designed for them,” Moore said.

Brandy Brown, an attendee,

Wild

Continued from C1

films like DC League of SuperPets. It’s a style the director Selick cemented back in 1993 with The Nightmare Before Christmas and further perfected as a writer/director on the Oscar-nominated Coraline. It’s an acquired taste.

The sketch comedy series “Key & Peele” brought Keegan-Michael and Jordan millions of fans. They were wry, funny, and very animated. Part of their schtick involved their very telling facial expressions. It’s a trick that doesn’t transport to the wicked cartoonish characters of Wendell &

who came out for Johnson, has loyally come to the annual show since 2018. “The unique fashion is just outstanding.”

“God told me to look in the mirror and every day find something you love more about

Wild, where their antics seem muted, and their personas can seem annoying. But the vocal performances by Ross, Bassett, Hong, and Zelaya, which perfectly convey the emotions and eccentricities of their characters, make up for what W&W lack.

The dull palette of colors (too much gray and purple) isn’t particularly eye-catching, though the cinematography (Peter Sorg) captures it all. The exteriors and interiors (production designers: Paul Harrod, Robin Joseph, Lou Ramano) do the job, but aren’t particularly evocative. Music is the film’s strongest asset, including Bruno Coulais’ (Les Choirstes) musical score and a fun playlist. Resurrecting the classic 1981 song “Ghost Town” by

yourself than you did yesterday and to stop covering up my blessing,” McCleary said. “Bless someone authentically with who you are because it can encourage someone to jump over their hurdle.”

The Specials is a stroke of otherworldly genius. Blasting “You Sexy Thing (I Believe in Miracles)” by Hot Chocolate adds spirit. And playing “Cult of Personality” by Living Colour is a well-deserved tribute to guitarist Vernon Reid, singer Corey Glover and the rest of that hard rock funk band.

Tween and teen girls and other kids may find this ghoulishly cartoonist animation a nice distraction. Mainstream audiences may wish the narrative weren’t so congested and that the footage was more arresting. Merely speculating who will and will not like this ani/hor/com/fam and its underworld shenanigans is a sign that this film’s success may vary. On Netflix now.

From sleek to street the seven designers celebrated were Jahleel Griffin of The Label 17, Maare Rashaad of Unforgettable Fittings, Pierre McCleary of 1026 Styles, Afton Johnson of Young Addy Collection, Colin Jones, Kendra Tunstall and Kisha Kandeh of “The Woke Brand.

Photo by Taylor McIntosh | The St. Louis American