November 14th, 2013 edition

District champs crowned

teams put on a scoring clinic as football playoffs

Answer demanded

Ferg-Flor school board won’t say why superintendent was suspended

By Rebecca S.Rivas

American

Of The St.Louis

St. Louis County residents, students and city officials are demanding answers as to why Superintendent Art McCoy Jr. of the Ferguson-Florissant School District was removed from his position last week.

On Nov. 6, six of the seven school board members voted to place McCoy

on administrative leave because of “differences in focus and philosophy between the board and the superintendent.” Larry Larrew, chief accountability officer, is now serving as acting superintendent.

On Friday, the Citizens’Taskforce for Excellence in Education – a coalition of citizens, clergy and community leaders –called the board’s explanation “weak” and “irresponsible” at a press conference at Shalom Church (City of Peace) in Berkeley.

COGIC ‘shows love’

106th Holy Convocation features ministry to inmates and youth

By Bridjes O’Neil

Of The St.Louis American

“The jail visitation, of course, is just a ministry to individuals who are incarcerated, to show them our love.”

– COGIC

Presiding

The Rev. Bessie M. Brown, member of the Revival Center Church of God in Christ and local jail ministry volunteer, organized the COGIC: Convocation Peace March during the Church of God in Christ’s 106th Holy Convocation, held in St. Louis November 4-12. Brown teamed up on the march and jail visits with personnel from three departments within the Church of God In Christ: COGIC Urban Initiatives, Prison Ministry and the International Department of Evangelism. They were also joined by a dozen or more members from local congregations.

“The Bible says, ‘Without a vision the people perish,’” Brown said. “And God impressed upon my heart to coordinate this march. I’m grateful to Him for using me for His service.” They gathered at Soldiers’ Memorial Park at the corner of Market and Tucker on Friday, November 8, before trekking less than a block to the St. Louis Justice Center. Police escorts halted traffic as marchers crossed Tucker Boulevard singing “I’m a Soldier in the Army of the Lord,” capturing the attention of

The Right.Rev.Lawrence M.Wooten Sr.,regional prelate for the Church of God in Christ,listens as COGIC Presiding Bishop Charles E.Blake Sr. brings his message during Sunday’s service in America’s Center at COGIC’s 106th Holy Convocation held in St.Louis.

Rev. Freddy J. Clark, pastor of Shalom Church, said McCoy is an important and beloved leader in the community, and the board cannot expect to “tamper” with McCoy without a fight from the community.

Lindenwood honors Earl Austin Jr.

By Chris King Of The St.Louis American

University is retiring Earl Austin Jr.’s basketball jersey #41 as part of “Earl Austin Jr. Night” on Tuesday, November 19 because

Can segregation make you sick?

ByRobert Joiner Of The Beacon

When June Green’s eyesight is so weak that she is unable to drive, her first thought is about the tiring uphill trek to reach a Metro stop to board a bus to shop for groceries, visit a doctor or run other errands.

“On a good day,” she says, “I can make that walk. It might take me 25 minutes, but I can make it.” During those walks, she says she also thinks about how her

Redditt Hudson of the NAACP (right) speaks with Jacque Land of the 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St.Louis,the Rev.Freddy J.Clark,pastor of Shalom Church and St.Louis County Executive Charlie A.Dooley at a meeting in support of Ferguson-Florissant Superintendent Art McCoy Jr.

Photo by Wiley Price

St.Louis American sports editor Earl Austin Jr. and Lindenwood head coach Brad Soderberg

Photo by Wiley Price

See ANSWER, A7

Photo by Wiley Price

See AUSTIN, A6

Future shares

why he put a ring on Ciara

In a recent interview with The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, rapper Future explains why he chose Ciara to be his wife.

“Man, her personality. Even with being at the concert [the other day], I had my kids, I had my kids moms and she just catered to everybody.

Just showing everyone hospitality. I mean you can’t get a girl that just get along with your kids moms and get along with your mom that can just mingle with your family and bringing everybody together and just want that to happen. Sometimes they just want to beef and bring or split everybody apart. But she’s the kind of person she want everyone in the same room.

Is Draya done with ‘Basketball Wives L.A.’?

Sources say the drama on “Basketball Wives LA” has gotten to be too much for Draya Michelle The straw that broke the camel’s back was said to be a fistfight with Jackie Christie’s bff Sundy Carter

Apparently Draya snapped on Sundy for talking trash about Draya’s boyfriend, Dallas Cowboy Orlando Scandrick, and blacked Sundy’s eye. After that, according to TMZ, Draya bailed on the cast trip to Paris and skipped filming the season finale.

That’s a real woman. You call the kids and you check up on them. We’ll bring them over and want to spend time with them. Sometimes when you already have kids before you’re in a relationship, a girl that just like despise your kids don’t even want them around. They’re jealous of your kids.”

platinum selling album Confessions.

Zach, Mitch and Vince are seeking unspecified damages.

Usher ‘Caught Up’ in copyright suit

Usher and Arista Records are being sued by three guys who claim they wrote Usher’s hit single “Caught Up.”

According to TMZ, songwriters Zacharia Edwards, Mitch Moses and Vince McClean claim they gave a song entitled ‘Caught Up’ to an A&R at Arista back in 2002 who gave the song to LA Reid.

The guys claim they were never contacted again but two years later a song with the same name and subject matter showed up on Usher’s

Kenya blasts Porscha for fueling Kordell gay rumors

In her latest blog post, “Real Housewives of Atlanta” Star Kenya Moore unleashes on co-star Porscha Stewart for kicking up questions about Kordell Stewart’s sexuality in the midst of the couple’s messy divorce.

“Even though Porsha has never apologized to me for anything she has said or done to me, including laughing, often taunting me with the fact that I wasn’t married or that my ex didn’t propose to me and reveling in my struggle, I still reached out to her when I heard the news of her divorce and wished her well. With that said, I find it quite disturbing that Porsha and her family go on and on about the fact that Kordell may be gay. After all, she told the world she had a “picture perfect life” and married the “man of her dreams.” Cut to Porsha sitting with the attorney agreeing to take him

back if he abided by a “list.” Well, a thinking person with a brain would ask the question that if the main problem was that he is possibly gay, why would you want him back? I don’t think Porsha is telling the whole truth. That’s always been my opinion of her and it remains the same after listening to her recall the “facts” about their marriage.”

Judge bounces DMX bankruptcy case from court

A federal judge tossed rapper DMX’s bankruptcy filing out of court. According to reports DMX’s filing was rejected because of too many inconsistencies in his paper work. The judge’s ruling means DMX is unprotected from creditors and faces losing his assets including a home in Mount Kisko, NY. Back in July DMX filed for bankruptcy claiming $10 million in debt, including $1.2 million in back child support for 10 children, and less than $50,000 in assets.

Student video talks the ‘WALK’

RJ Fentress, a senior at Hazelwood West High School, received first place in the Missouri School Boards’ Association’s “2013 What’s Super About Public Schools” student video contest with a video about a dropout prevention program at his school.

Hazelwood West senior awarded for promoting dropout prevention program

American staff

RJ Fentress, a senior at Hazelwood West High School, received first place and a $1,000 cash prize in the Missouri School Boards’ Association’s “2013 What’s Super About Public Schools” student video contest.

Fentress featured the Project WALK program at Hazelwood West High School. Project WALK is a dropout prevention program that focuses on increasing grades, credits, attendance and decreasing the number of referrals.

“I have seen the success of

Project WALK first-hand as a student mentor, and I thought the video would be a great way to share the success of the program and help other students,” he said.

Fentress shot the footage, wrote the script and read the voice-over for the video.

Technical production of the video was done by Josh Florida and Brendan Krause, both sophomores at West High. Fentress was encouraged to produce the video by Chris Holmes, a teacher and graduation coach at West High.

“WALK is one of the things we do that many other schools don’t do, and we have had a lot of success with it,” Fentress said. “I have been lucky to be a part of that, and I wanted to share the information. I want more people to graduate.”

Fentress credits the success of the program to the relationship-building it helps to foster.

“As a student mentor, you

go from not knowing anything about them, to them becoming like a little brother or sister. You want to see them succeed,” he said.

“When students come in they don’t want to be there. They don’t care about their grades. But with Project Walk, we talk to them and we build positive relationships. Since we are one of them, we understand what they are going through and we can talk to each other.”

Fentress hopes the video will be used to encourage other schools to start similar programs.

“It’s crazy to see the success of the program,” he said. “We really want to get more schools involved. We want to share the video with other schools and other superintendents and encourage them to use the program.”

See his winning video at http://hazelwoodschools.org/ HSDTV/Pages/Video%20 Contest%20Winner.html.

Help us save our kids

By Kelvin R. Adams For The St. Louis American

Since our school year began on August 12, we have lost two students to gun violence. A third student was shot in the back and required surgery. Each time I receive “that call,” it is a dark, dark day – a tragic reminder that violence is destroying our young people. Frankly, it hurts!

While these shootings did not occur on school property, St. Louis Public Schools understands that the students, teachers and administrators who knew these young men need counseling and support from the School District. When one of our students is the victim of violence, we provide crisis counseling. We also encourage students to talk to an adult when they hear rumors. They may be hesitant to “rat,” but we remind them that it can be a matter of life or death.

These efforts are invaluable, but so much more is needed to prevent violence, and we stand ready to help.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, homicide is the leading cause of death for African Americans ages 10 to 24. This is unacceptable. We must create viable opportunities for young people, so they do not feel pressured to destroy one another to “get ahead,” which ultimately only results in death or incarceration.

We know we can’t solve the problem alone, because it will

require the entire community. One way SLPS supports its youth is by working closely with its community partners, including Wells Fargo Advisors, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Webster University, Washington University in St. Louis, and dozens of local churches, synagogues, mosques and temples.

Events that bring together a variety of stakeholders are also a great way to brainstorm solutions. On November 8, Northwest Academy of Law held its first community peace summit at the request of the school’s students

n If you have an idea for a program, we have a school building or a community education center to house it.

who asked to focus on the positive instead of dwelling on the negative. Open to all citizens, the summit explored ways to address crime, drugs, gangs and violence. Speakers included local government leaders, agency representatives, students, and mental health professionals. We all have a stake in developing the next generation. Students who have self-esteem do not struggle to find their place in the world. They don’t feel the need to harm others or act out for attention. Self-esteem is developed through success. Whether it is gained in the classroom, on the basketball court, with a paintbrush, in the marching band or on the job, young people build self-confidence when they are given opportunities to succeed. I recently met with Police Chief Sam Dotson to discuss the youth violence in our community and how SLPS and the police can work together. I look forward to our future collaborations. I’ve also met with other community leaders, including the juvenile court judge, who knows all too well what happens to a child who does not receive adequate support. We are committed to expanding these partnerships to give young people a chance at a better life. Young people should not be hanging out in the streets during non-school hours. They need structured activities that introduce them to new interests and help them to build self-esteem and job skills. They need mentors. They need to see what life can be if they work hard and live with integrity.

We know that education is one of the primary keys to success, but young people also need to be exposed to the real world. Many of our students have grown up around violence and don’t realize that the real world doesn’t have to involve guns, drugs and turf wars. Please, join us in this commitment. If you have an idea for a program, we have a school building or a community education center to house it. If you have job opportunities for students, we want to hear from you. Help our students tap into their talents, build self-esteem, and learn just how valuable they are to themselves and to our community.

Kelvin R. Adams is superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools.

Kelvin R. Adams

School board owes us answers

On Wednesday morning, about a hundred Ferguson-Florissant students in several schools staged sit-ins to protest the school board’s decisions to place Superintendent Art J. McCoy II on administrative leave. In the afternoon, many former students were driving home from college with one purpose – to rally behind McCoy at the board meeting that night.

On Nov. 6, six of the seven school board members voted to place McCoy on administrative leave because of “differences in focus and philosophy between the board and the superintendent.”

St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, the state and local NAACP, mayors, parents and clergy have protested, calling the six school members’ decision “imprudent” and their explanation “weak.”

The school board is made up of six white members and one Latino – the lone AfricanAmerican member failed in his reelection bid last spring. If the predominately white board wanted to show that they have an understanding of their predominately black student population and community, they are failing miserably.

As Rev. Dr. Freddy J. Clark, pastor of Shalom Church (City of Peace), said McCoy is beloved by the community and students, and the board cannot expect to “tamper” with McCoy without a fight. “We will fight, and we will win,” Clark said.

Dooley – who is embattled himself these days – said McCoy has proven his dedication to every parent and child in the district. But, he asked, has the board?

“I do not know what the difference in philosophy could have been with the board,” Dooley said. “It seems to me that he is doing exactly what he should be doing and that is making sure that every child is receiving a quality education. I cannot understand their motivation. If Dr. McCoy’s philosophy is different than the

board’s, then what is the board’s philosophy?”

This is a question that must be answered –immediately – for the good of this district, its students and their families.

For one week, all of the board members have refused to speak to parents, elected officials, clergy, media and many other confused residents.

On Tuesday night, board president Paul Morris sent out a letter to the district which was meant to assuage residents’ anger, but he provided no further explanation for the board’s decision. The school board must hear and respond to these concerns. If the board feels justified in taking a committed leader like McCoy out of his leadership position in the middle of the school year, they owe the community a thorough explanation.

As of now, the school board has lost the respect and trust of many families in the district. That lost trust won’t be easy to repair. Every day that they refuse to reach out to district families, they are severing more and more ties with the families whose trust they need for their students to succeed – which we can expect to be reflected in academic achievement.

As Redditt Hudson, a district parent and NAACP Region 4 field organizer, said, the board’s decision has “put all of our children at risk of not receiving the quality public education that they deserve.”

We predict that board has only begun to see the pushback that this community is capable of.

Three of the board members – board president Paul Morris, vice president Chris Martinez and secretary Robert Chabot – are up for reelection in 2014. A threat at the ballot box should not be necessary to make these elected officials respond to the demand for public accountability in this important matter. Nevertheless, we urge the community leaders who support McCoy to think strategically to ensure more active participation in the upcoming local school board election and beyond.

Commentary

Race, income and parent engagement

By Marc H. Morial National Urban League

“Every parent wants their child to achieve, thrive and succeed. Too often though, negative perceptions of children of color and their parents can influence the ability of parents and children to get the supports they need.” –Chanelle P. Hardy, executive director, National Urban League Washington Bureau

In recent years, the debate about ways to close the achievement gap and adequately prepare primary and secondary AfricanAmerican students for success has focused on such remedies as ensuring resource equity, expanding pre-school opportunities, and raising teacher quality. While all of these are necessary, one area that is often overlooked is the importance of parental involvement.

No one disputes the fact that children are more likely to perform better, graduate from high school and be better prepared for college and the world of work when their parents are actively involved, both at home and at school, in their education. But for many low-income African-American parents who may be single and struggling to make ends meet, finding the time and energy to help with homework, volunteer at school and communicate regularly with teachers, can be

especially challenging. They need help. And schools and districts that serve low-income students and students of color must do more to overcome greater barriers to effectively engaging parents. These and other findings are revealed in a new National Urban League survey, “Engaged to Achieve: A Community Perspective on How Parents are Engaged in Their Children’s Education.” The survey solicited the views and opinions of K-12 teachers, school administrators and volunteers in communities across the country about their perceived differences in parental awareness, parental involvement and opportunities for student achievement and success based on race and economic background.

A joint effort of the National Urban League Washington Bureau and the National Voices Project with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the study shows that when there was a difference in how parents were perceived, AfricanAmerican parents were more commonly perceived as being less aware and less involved in their children’s education than white parents. Report authors suggest that when these perceived disparities are not addressed constructively, they may affect the type and depth of parent engagement efforts directed to low-income parents and parents of color.

Other key findings include: African American parents’ engagement in their children’s education was felt to be more reactive than proactive, i.e. confronting perceived racial bias or addressing discipline issues.

Parents who resided in

communities where efforts were made to address racial disparities were nearly twice as likely (45 percent vs. 82 percent) to report they felt more aware of their child’s academic progress than parents in communities where no such efforts were made.

Though most respondents felt that students and parents typically understand the connection between education and economic opportunity, they felt that race and income played a significant role in students’ access to the experiences that help to promote success.

The survey suggests ways to bridge some of the gaps in parent engagement, including: Educational requirements should be clear and easy to understand for all parents, regardless of their educational background.

Parents must be regularly updated about their children’s academic performance in a manner that provides clarity about how students are meeting, or not meeting, specific requirements.

Efforts to engage parents must take into account practical barriers to entry that parents may face and tailor such efforts accordingly.

In communities where racial and ethnic disparities are pervasive, there must be targeted investments and customized approaches to improving parent engagement. For more information on Engage to Achieve, visit: http://nulwb.iamempowered. com/newsroom/press-releases/ washington-bureau-releasesreport-showing-race-andincome-plays-significant.

Marc H. Morial is president and CEO of the National Urban League.

As

Segregation leads to health inequities

By Keon L. Gilbert and Melody S. Goodman Guest Columnists

Residential segregation results in the creation of “ghettos.” These neighborhoods exist in cities all across America and experience similar issues despite their geographic location.

Segregation contributes to deferring the American Dream by denying the opportunity for homeownership, quality education, and economic stability.

Marginalized communities are characterized further by a high concentration of AfricanAmerican residents, poor housing stock and high exposures to environmental toxins. They are also more likely to have fast food chains, liquor stores, convenience stores, and violent crime. These

Letters

neighborhoods are less likely to have supermarkets, green space for recreation, banks, or other anchor institutions to support economic stability.

The deprivation that exists in these neighborhoods leads to a cycle of poverty that is hard to break.

Where a person lives affects their health in many ways.

Segregation is one of the many causes of racial disparities in health. Research shows that segregation affects health literacy and access to health care services. Communities with high proportions of racial and ethnic minorities have less access to doctors and fewer doctors accept Medicaid in communities with higher percentages of minority residents.Segregation in St. Louis was fueled by public policy, which is why St. Louis remains one of the most segregated cities in the U.S. Restrictive deed covenants made it illegal for African Americans to buy homes in some neighborhoods.

Segregation was not limited to where people lived, but also occurred in other aspects of people’s lives, such as accessing health care services.

One example is the Homer G. Phillips Hospital, located in the Ville neighborhood. For

to the editor

Offensive misuse of authority

In a version of the movie Groundhog Day, a repeat of last session’s gun nullification bill is being proposed for 2014 by state Sen. Ron Richard (R-Joplin). Rather than addressing the rising gun violence in our communities, Sen. Richard advocates another draft of Missouri’s “worst gun bill in the country,” as referred to by national media. His proposed bill, again named the “Second Amendment Preservation Act,” further attempts to nullify all past, present and future federal firearm laws.

This is an offensive misuse of the legislature’s authority and time wasted on hours of debate at taxpayer expense. It is clear this new draft, if passed into law, will head straight to litigation and be ruled unconstitutional according to existing law. I question Sen. Richard’s motive after he defiantly voted to defeat the override attempt of the 2013 bill only to announce his intentions to sponsor a similar bill the next year. By focusing on legislation designed solely to increase firearm ownership and industry profits, Sen. Richard is flagrantly ignoring gun violence victims without regard to anyone’s safety.

I ask him to join me in sponsoring background checks for all gun sales, preventing criminals and the mentally ill from purchasing firearms. Universal background checks are supported by over 85 percent of Missourians, including gun owners and NRA members.

Our children deserve the right to grow up safely with protection. The gun industry needs no further protection.

State Rep. Stacey Newman Jefferson City

Still far, far short Missouri Jobs with Justice is happy that Missouri’s minimum wage workers will get receive another raise in 2014. In 2006, voters overwhelmingly approved, by a 3 to 1 margin, the minimum wage increase that included a cost-of-livingadjustment which causes the wage to increase with inflation. This “raise” doesn’t help our

years, this anchor institution was the only hospital that provided health care for African Americans and trained African-American physicians, dentists and nurses. The closing of Homer G. Philips is part of the history of race, class and health in St. Louis.

Segregation is one of many factors that influence social circumstances that have an impact on health, such as education and employment. Where you will live, work, and play is often a determinant of your health. Integration alone is not enough to improve health and not necessarily the only or right answer. Segregation did not just happen, it resulted from purposeful and strategic policies and practices and the development of solutions must have a sense of purpose. This will require a coordinated set of policy changes to improve the environment where people live, health and well-being. We suggest a few policy strategies in our brief see www. forthesakeofall.org.

Keon L. Gilbert, DrPH, MA, MPA, is an assistant professor at Saint Louis University and Melody S. Goodman, MS,

is an assistant professor at the Washington University School of Medicine.

workers get ahead. It only ensures our state’s lowest paid workers don’t fall further and further behind, as the cost of everyday items continue to rise.

This is good news for Missouri’s economy.

It means that our hardworking neighbors can buy as much bread and milk at the neighborhood store next year as they were able to buy this year. The cost of living adjustment in Missouri’s minimum wage keeps the lowest paid people in our economy from falling further behind. And it’s still far, far short of what family needs to get by.

Lara Granich, director Missouri Jobs with Justice

Deserved recognition

I enjoyed reading Bridjes O’Neil’s article about the National Council of Negro Women honorees. It was obvious she listened and took very good notes! Thank you for recognizing the women who serve our community. They deserve recognition. They earned it!

Shirley Washington Via email

Profoundly grateful

As founders of the North St. Louis Arts Council who are still involved after 31 years, we have stuck with it because we understand how much the arts add to the vitality of communities and the lives of their residents. We are profoundly grateful to all who came out to support our fundraising art sale last weekend. It was a great joy to see old friends and meet new ones.

One particular friend who deserves mention is John E. Rozelle, the artist whose work was available for purchase.

Although John relocated to Chicago years ago when his career led him to teach at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he remains a supporter of the North St. Louis Arts Council. Finally, thanks to The St. Louis American for the excellent coverage on John and the North St. Louis Arts Council. With our increased support, we have been able to start our programming for

the year in conjunction with the 21st Century Community Learning Centers of St. Louis Public Schools. There is still art to be purchased for holiday gift giving. If interested, contact Larry Clark at mrclark1947@yahoo.com or 636-346-3422.

Larry Clark, artistic director Mary Ferguson, administrative director North St. Louis Arts Council

Columnist Marc H. Morial

Keon L. Gilbert

Melody S. Goodman

FergusonFlorissant

Superintendent

Art J. McCoy II

Photo by Wiley Price

Riverview Gardens School hearings

State education officials will hold hearings Nov. 20 and Dec. 16 to discuss the accreditation status and options for the future regarding the Riverview Gardens School District. The hearings will be open to the public and will take place from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Riverview Gardens School District Family Community Resource Center, 1160 St. Cyr Road, St. Louis.

Persons wishing to make public comments will be asked to provide their names and addresses and limit their remarks to five minutes.

National Preservation Honorawarded to Library

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has awarded its Preservation Honor Award to the St. Louis Public Library for the restoration of Central Library. The award was presented to Library Executive Director Waller McGuire and Library Deputy Director Diane Freiermuth at the National Preservation Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, on November 1. Corecipients were Cannon Design, Frens & Frens, and William Tao & Associates.

Honoring the fallen

Deana Bell,the sister-in-law of fallen St.Louis Fireman Leonard Riggins, talked about his spiritual strength during a memorial service in his honor held recently at Emmaus Church Tabernacle of God,3524 Goodfellow. Riggins died in the line of duty on November 5,2008,when he stopped to help what he thought was a stranded motorist.The driver turned out to be a carjacker,who shot and killed Riggins.

Affordable Care Act seminar

The National Association of Black Social Workers St. Louis Chapter will host an Affordable Care Act seminar 1:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday, November 15 at the Lincoln University Cooperative Extension Urban Impact Center, 9041 Riverview Drive at Hall Street.

The Affordable Care Act provides inexpensive healthcare for underinsured and uninsured. NABSW-St. Louis chapter will provide a forum for the community to ask questions about the health insurance marketplace, how to choose the right insurance plan and how to sign up.

For additional information about the marketplace and sign up questions, contact the NABSWvia email wilsoc4444@sbcglobal.net or 314-809-3922.

Monsanto supports Kids Garden Fresh program

Gateway Greening, a St. Louis non-profit organization promoting urban gardening, has received a $205,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund to continue to support youth garden programs throughout St. Louis over the next two years.

The Kids Garden Fresh program, a partnership between Gateway Greening and the Monsanto Fund, was founded in 2011 with a grant from the Monsanto Fund, and provides students with the opportunity to grow fresh fruits and vegetables, while learning lessons in math, science and agronomy.

The Kids Garden Fresh Program has awarded a total of 18 new gardens and 13 expansion gardens over the past two years.It also is introducing a new intensive education program, with weekly and monthly visits to schools.

The Kids Garden Fresh program has only one application period annually from February 1 – June 1. Visit http://www.monsantofund.org/grants/kids-garden-fresh/.

Make good teachers great

By Esther J.Cepeda Washington Post

Considering how reluctant our public education system is to change, the swiftness with which reform has spread in teacher evaluations is nothing short of breathtaking.

According to the National Council on Teacher Quality’s “State of the States 2013” report, 35 states and the District of Columbia now require that student achievement be a significant or the most significant factor in teacher evaluations.

Additionally, 44 states and D.C. require classroom observations to be incorporated into teacher evaluations and 19 states and the federal district specifically require policies to ensure that teacher evaluation results are used to inform and shape professional development for all instructors. This is mind-blowing. I completed my last graduate-level education course in 2009, and the only evaluations anyone in my teacher-prep program cared about were those necessary for graduation and employment, along with the pretenure evaluations.

Once that last evaluation was made, the pressure was off because it was understood that when tenure was won, it would be practically impossible to be removed from the classroom. Thankfully, more school systems are instituting rigorous evaluations to understand how both students and teachers are performing.

Esther J. Cepeda

But there is also always room for improvement in evaluation methods. I want to key in on one recommendation the report makes for making the best use of teacher evaluations: evaluating all teachers.

In years past, many teachers have reacted poorly to the idea of more evaluations. Headlines about those singled out for improvement led to all teachers feeling sorely undervalued. And then there was all the news about statistics showing that only a little over a quarter of teacher-preparation programs restrict admissions to students in the top half of their class. So in return for their many selfless sacrifices – often in communities where poverty and scant parent support makes teaching more difficult –teachers felt as though they were being unfairly painted with a broad brush of underachievement.

But as the National Council on Teacher Quality suggests, there must be rigorous annual evaluations and subsequent supports for improvement for all teachers.

“Teacher evaluation policy should reflect the purpose of helping all teachers improve, not just low-performers,” the report says. “And if teacher effectiveness evaluations aim to help all teachers get better – including going from good to great – then all teachers need feedback.”

This puts a different spin on things – who wouldn’t prefer to be appraised along with peers instead of feeling like he or she has been singled out for being an “underperformer”?

But it sure won’t be easy.

Under the old standards of evaluation systems, 99 percent of teachers were routinely deemed to be “effective,” regardless of student achievement.

As the council’s report says: “Moving from a system that rates everyone as just fine to one that differentiates performance is daunting and requires a culture shift, and data from early implementers show just how hard it is. Some administrators may not yet have the skills to evaluate instruction, give constructive feedback and have hard conversations with underperformers.”

Photo by Wiley Price

Continued from A1

diabetes, hypertension and overall quality of life are affected by residing in a racially isolated community near Union Boulevard, north of Interstate 70.

“This is a segregated area that appears to have been forgotten. The closest Schnucks is 2.2 miles from my front door. That’s not a long way – if you have a car. If there is a community center around here, I don’t know where it is. There’s not only a lack of services, but a lack of information to let people know how to find services that are not here.”

Green’s experiences reinforce some of the observations in the latest in a series of briefs on the health, education and economic status of African Americans in St. Louis funded by a grant from theMissouri Foundation for Health.

Authors of thelatest brief, which looks at ways that racial segregation affects health and social and economic opportunity, are Keon Gilbert, an assistant professor in the College for Public Health and Social Justice at Saint Louis University; and Melody S.

AUSTIN

Continued from A1 and to area sports generally far exceeds his statistics as an athlete.

“Earl Austin Jr. is truly a St. Louis treasure and an ambassador of sport for the entire metro area,” said Lindenwood Head CoachBrad Soderberg.

Soderberg speaks from personal experience, as a transplant who relied on Austin to get his grounding when Soderberg was hired as Saint Louis University’s men’s basketball coach.

“When I was new to the city in 2001, as someone who

Goodman, assistant professor at the Washington University School of Medicine.

Much of the racial segregation, they say, is no accident but was spurred by public policies over time. Examples, they say, range from the U.S. Supreme Court’s separate-butequal doctrine in the Plessey vs. Ferguson decision to restrictive covenants in housing, along with segregated and frequently underfunded medical services for blacks in St. Louis.

“Segregation is one of the many causes of disparities in health,” Gilbert and Goodman write.

They say most of the effects are due to high concentrations of poverty, coupled with limited access to services resulting from being poor. The neighborhoods with high concentrations of poverty, they find, also happen to be places with “higher rates of death from heart disease and all cancers.”

The authors point to findings showing how segregation also results in disinvestments, which in turn leads to a lower quality of life of those left behind. The region should do more to reduce racial segregation, the authors say, by investing in quality neighbor-

needed to know the basketball culture and the best players, I was told to contact Earl Austin,” Soderberg said. “I was told Earl had the lowdown on every good player within a 60-mile radius. Boy, were they right.”

Soderberg considered for a moment, then added, “Actually, they were wrong. It’s more than a 60-mile radius. And he knew not only every kid, but every kid all the way down to the freshmen in high school.”

At SLU and now Lindenwood, Soderberg continued to rely upon Austin as a talent scout.

“We cover St. Louis well as far as recruiting because we

hoods for all residents, spurring more housing choices without displacing current residents and promoting the benefits of diverse neighborhoods while safeguarding fair housing laws.

Until a few years ago, Green, the city resident, did lab work and had good insurance to take care of her health needs. She quit her job to care for her seriously ill mother. Years later, she reapplied for lab work and discovered her skills were outdated. She now relies on Medicaid for health insurance.

She says, “I always say that segregation doesn’t have to be a bad thing, if we are all on an equal playing field. If I want to live around my people, that’s me.”

But she points back to the lack of information and services that can come from living in racial isolation. “That,” she says, “is the other side of me. It says that when you are segregated, you are isolated; you only get one point of view. Diversity is important because we don’t exist by ourselves.”

Will Jordan is executive director of the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing Council. One of the goals of

follow where Earl has been and take his judgment very, very seriously,” Soderberg said. “If he says someone is a serious candidate as a Division I player, he is, and if he says someone is not, he is not.”

Jordan’s organization is to try to prevent or reverse disinvestment, which he says tends to occur whenever a ZIPcode has a black population of 65 percent or more.

Over time, he says, black residents experiencing a growing level of racial isolation tend to experience a lot of adverse health consequences.

“Because there are so few places that sell fresh vegetables and fruits in racially concentrated impoverished areas, you see a direct correlation in everything from behavior of young children that have to do with nutritional deficiencies, or health issues among people who have lived most of their lives near quick stores that sell cigarettes, candy, chips and pops,” he said.

The solution for part of the impact of racial isolation, Jordan said, is to make communities viable: “Why shouldn’t good food, grocery stores, good health care, banking and hospitals exist even in those segregated communities?”

Edited for length and reprinted with permission from stlbeacon.org.

“Earl Austin Jr. is truly a St.Louis treasure and an ambassador of sport for the entire metro area.”

–Brad Soderberg

Soderberg is well aware that most sports aficionados pride themselves in being professional-grade judges of talent, and that every guy in the barber shop or calling into the talk show thinks he is an ace scout.

“I’ve known a lot of people say they know what kids can

by

play,” Soderberg said. “Earl actually does know.” His statistics, expertise and encyclopedic knowledge make Austin worthy of having his jersey retired – for the first time in program history –and his name celebrated at a home game. But Soderberg said Austin also happens to be the kind of person who is easy to honor.

“I was struck when I first met Earl that he was very warm, very engaging, not into himself, very approachable,”

Soderberg said. “I haven’t met anybody in the 12 or 13 years I have known Earl who ever said a bad word about him.”

Soderberg realizes that sports is brutally competitive and it’s rare for someone enmeshed in the industry to have no known enemies.

“When you are in contact with so many people, you’d think someone would have an axe to grind with him,”

Soderberg said. “No one does. That’s why he’s an ambassador. He’s a welcoming gentleman in love with sports in our area – as fine a person as he was a basketball player and now as a journalist doing his professional trade.”

“I am completely honored and humbled by this honor that has been bestowed on me by a school that I have loved for over 30 years. I still follow the athletic department and basketball program to this day,” Austin said.

“I would like to thank everybody who has made the man I became at Lindenwood – former coaches, players –and my family. I would like to thank the university for this honor, especially President James D. Evans,John Creer andBrad Soderberg.”

Even his own colleagues had difficulty getting Austin to talk about himself; that is not his style. But he appreciates the honor deeply.

“This is a segregated area that appears to have been forgotten,”June Green says of her North St.Louis neighborhood.

Photo

Wiley Price

COGIC

Continued from A1

passers-by.

Aceremony commenced on the Justice Center’s steps, where Chaplain Milton Rochford, executive director of Jail and Prison Ministry, COGIC Urban Initiatives, made brief remarks. He said the purpose of the event was to carry out COGIC Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr.’s “vision” to reduce recidivism

ANSWER

Continued from A1

“Anything short of Dr. McCoy being reinstated, then I, personally, will be asking for the resignation of every board member in FergusonFlorissant,” Clark said.

Students have also shown they are ready to fight back against the decision. On Wednesday morning, about 30 students at Cross Keys Middle School staged a sit-in for three class periods to support McCoy. Hundreds of McCluer North High School students also protested McCoy’s removal through a sit-in.

Faith Hudson, a Cross Keys eighth grader who participated in the action, said school administrators responded by asking students to talk about their feelings.

“They were proud that we stood up for what we believed in and did it in a respectful way,” she said.

Her father, Redditt Hudson, NAACPRegion 4 field organizer, spoke at the Friday press conference and said he is angry and disgusted by the board’s action.

“If you look at the mission

and the disproportionate incarceration rate of African Americans and Hispanics.

After the ceremony, the marchers filed into the Justice Center, where they were allowed to tour each cellblock and minister to inmates housed there.

“The jail visitation, of course, is just a ministry to individuals who are incarcerated, to show them our love, our concern and to express to them the love of God,” Blake said. The jail ministry concluded at the St. Louis City

statement of the board of education, there is nothing that Art McCoy has done that is inconsistent with the stated philosophy,” Hudson said.

“They owe us – the parents of the district – a real explanation as to why a community resource like Art McCoy has been relieved of his duty and put all of our children at risk of not receiving the quality public education that they deserve.”

St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley also demanded an answer.

“I do not know what the difference in philosophy could have been with the board. It seems to me that he is doing exactly what he should be doing and that is making sure that every child is receiving a quality education,” Dooley said.

“I cannot understand their motivation. If Dr. McCoy’s philosophy is different than the board’s, then what is the board’s philosophy?”

School board president Paul Morris sent out a letter on Tuesday night, stating that the board attempted to “resolve issues” with McCoy over the past several months. Morris stated that he could provide no further explanation.

“That’s the focal point of every preacher, to be concerned about the lost.”

–Rev.Bessie M.Brown

Workhouse, a medium-security institution located on North Hall Street. One COGIC member held during the march that read “Jesus came to seek and save the lost” from the Book of Matthew 18:11.

“That’s the focal point of every preacher, to be con-

Inspiration to students

At the Friday press conference, several students spoke in support of McCoy. Caro Brown, a senior at McCluer North High School, said McCoy has set the bar high for students and shows he has faith in them.

“He stands behind us and supports us fully,” she said. “We believe he should be reinstated as soon as possible.”

McCluer North senior Camaren Belton said McCoy has been an inspirational person. McCoy often spoke to the students about the importance of self-acceptance and aiming for their dreams, he said.

Being a majority AfricanAmerican school district, Belton said many students saw McCoy’s leadership role as symbolic.

Belton said, “If people are trying to bring him down –why bring him down if that’s going to bring all of us down?”

Lack of trust

Former school board member Charles Henson, who had been the lone African American on the board, said he

cerned about the lost,” Brown said.

World Youth Day

World Youth Day, held the following day at the America’s Center, got off to a rocking

was not surprised by the board’s move because many board members have been pushing for McCoy’s ouster for some time.

“I can assure you unequivocally that is it not a philosophical difference that put him on administrative leave,” Henson said. “We had a number of opportunities to talk about the lack of trust and the lack of respect that Dr. McCoy got as an administrator among that board.”

start. Worshippers jumped to their feet and danced in the aisles to the praise song “I’ve Come to Clap My Hands.”

“There’s no church like the Church of God In Christ,” said Pastor Benjamin Stephens III, president of the International Youth Department.

Stephens and Evangelist

Joyce L. Rodgers, chairlady of the International Youth Department, officiated the service that also featured young preachers and evangelists.

The service took on a more

Ted Hoskins, mayor of the City of Berkeley, said his entire city falls within the school district. He is concerned that the disruption will have long-lasting effects on the students.

“It will not be accepted,” Hoskins said.

The Missouri NAACPplans to file a Title 6 discrimination complaint against the Ferguson-Florissant School District with U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil

Praise dancers graced the sanctuary at America’s Center during Sunday’s service as the Church of God in Christ gathered in St.Louis for its 106th Holy Convocation.

serious overtone, at one point addressing anti-bullying, depression and suicide prevention.

“It’s not a fun topic to talk about, and it’s certainly not a church topic,” said Mark Norwine, a bullying prevention special programs coordinator with CHADS Coalition for Mental Health.

“But, I’m a Christian and I know that with most issues the church has a better chance of solving our problems.”

Rights.

One part of the complaint deals with race, said Adolphus Pruitt, first vice president of the Missouri NAACP.

“The board is predominately white,” Pruitt said. “The school district is predominately African-American. And the superintendent is AfricanAmerican. We want the justice department to take a look and make sure there aren’t any racial undercurrents in the decision made by the board.”

Photo by Wiley Price

Slay plays chicken with Judge Dierker

It’s a little spooky, but The St. Louis American’s editorial published on Halloween hinted at a nightmare that is coming true. The editorial – contrasting how Mayor Francis G. Slay and Governor Jay Nixon handled recent political defeats – opened with a quote from that jurist that the EYE loves to quote, the seldom-dull Judge Robert H. Dierker Jr “Whatever else it may be, the Charter of the City of St. Louis is undeniably a masterpiece of diffusion of power,” Dierker wrote in his 1990 ruling in the City of St. Louis vs. Virvus Jones This local landmark decision was interjected into public discourse thanks to a boneheaded legal opinion drafted by Slay’s city counselor Patricia Hageman, who seemed to be working off napkin notes made by Slay’s Chief of Staff Jeff Rainford (not a lawyer, but a broadcast journalist by trade, God help him). The Slay gang attempted to marshal Dierker’s ruling as muscle to pressure Comptroller Darlene Green into executing a $250,000 consulting contract with a French multinational that had not been approved specifically by the threemember Board of Estimate & Apportionment, which includes Slay, Green and aldermanic President Lewis Reed Rather awkwardly for Slay’s argument, Hageman cited the very ruling that required that all professional service contracts in the city go before the Board of Estimate and Apportionment (E&A). No doubt knowing the law is on her side, Green did not budge. Slay’s director of operations Eddie Roth threw a public fit. Slay then said the contractor, Veolia Water North America, had stepped away from the table. We said we thought that was a ruse, and Reed agreed.

“The Mayor’s Office is just trying to go around the process,” we reported Reed saying about Veolia reportedly withdrawing from the deal. “I don’t think they’ve given up.” He got that right.

Rainford came roaring back with the outlandish claim – reported through the Slay administration newspaper of record, the Post-Dispatch – that the mayor has been playing

Who knows more about charter law, broadcast journalist

misappropriated a $3,000 donation from Community Loans of America to the black caucus for his own use. If he in fact did that, there is no reason to pity him – only to hold him up as another example of fatally poor judgment.

There are also five misdemeanor charges against Webb, which, if true, also show poor judgment and sloppy accounting, all pertaining to sums of money not worth sullying your political career over.

But then you have House Minority Leader Jake Hummel, D-St. Louis, who seems to be auditioning for a job on the bus lines. He would be the guy who throws other people under the bus.

Bad boy from East Boogie

If I told you that an East St. Louis sports icon has penned a memoir recalling mob hits and witnessing a mother and grandfather beaten to a bloody pulp by thugs, who would you guess is the author?

Olympic champion Jackie Joyner-Kersee, NFL Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow or, perhaps, NBA star Darius Myles?

footsies with his colleagues on the Board of E&A “by practice and not by law.” In the future, the Post summarized Rainford, the administration will no longer request approval for individual contracts that are included as line items in the overall city budget, which the board approves every year.

The EYE is not sure whether Rainford is bluffing, blowing off steam to divert attention from a political loss, or possibly has been smoking some of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s stash. He is not putting his legal action where his loud mouth is, however. If Slay and Rainford really believe that contract approval by E&A is a matter of custom and not law, then why not ask the courts to issue a declaratory judgment or writ of mandamus forcing the comptroller to sign the contested contract?

Ruling out the very remote possibility that Slay and Rainford have been smoking something funny, the EYE assumes they know that taking legal action would mean going before Judge Dierker, the same judge who ruled in 1990 that city contracts require E&A approval. The same judge who described the St. Louis city charter as “a masterpiece of diffusion of power,” not a power party for the mayor.

It is extremely clear in Judge Dierker’s 1990 decision that a line item like “Professional Services” does not provide authority to enter into a specific, particular contract for water consulting services. Specific approval is required, in

writing, to authorize a specific contract and that specific approval for a particular contract can only be found in two places: ordinance or minutes of the Board of E&A.

Slay and Rainford should be focusing on investigating exactly how their Parks Department stole a half-million dollars of taxpayer funds on their watch, or whether the mayor acted out of line in trying to force another citywide elected official to violate case law and state statute by executing a contract without proper approval, or stemming civil rights violations within (and brazen escapes out of) our city jails, or scandals in the towing division. Instead, with fourth-term-induced megalomania taking the steering wheel, the mayor is focused on increasing his power at the expense of public deliberation and transparency.

Whatever. Judge Dierker is waiting with his case law, opened to his 1990 ruling. Rainford told the Post that “the buck stops” with the mayor, when it comes to the city charter. We will see if that’s really where the buck stops once it lands on Dierker’s desk.

Gas on burning Webb

If the felony charges against state Rep. Steve Webb are true, then he is a fool who forfeited his political career for very small potatoes. According to court documents, Webb

When the news broke and Webb was still consulting with an attorney, Hummel was playing a bizarre press game, making claims on Webb’s behalf that Webb later contradicted and creating an absolutely unnecessary and needlessly damaging media moment about whether or not Webb would immediately resign his office.

What was Hummel trying to protect? The Democrats’ House majority? The Democrats are a woeful minority. Or maybe the Democrat seat in Webb’s North County district? There is no way a Missouri Republican could take that seat away.

Why was Hummel pouring gasoline on the fire?

Hummel told the press, “Misappropriation of political donations for personal use cannot be tolerated, and, if guilty of the charges against him, Representative Webb will have to answer for his alleged actions.”

With a “leader” like Hummel, who needs enemies?

Also, who told the Missouri Ethics Commission to look at Webb’s handling of money? Webb’s attorney is seeking that information now.

Sorry, Jeffrey

State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed has reversed her endorsement of Alderman Jeffrey Boyd’s quest to unseat Mavis Thompson, a black female attorney (and registered nurse) appointed St. Louis city license collector by Nixon to complete the unexpired term of Michael McMillan. Word is that Nasheed gave Boyd the bad news over chicken wings at a popular St. Louis restaurant in the Central West End.

Wrong. How about tennis legend Jimmy Connors?

That’s right, even though you may have assumed that Jimmy Connors was a Belleville, IL native. Well, in his book

The Outsider (Harper Collins), Jimmy Connors dispels that myth early and often.

and how to hop the same railcars used by hobos as transportation in those days.

“Big Jim” eventually became the GM of the old Veteran’s Bridge (now the MLK Bridge). This enabled their family to move into a newly built house off of 68th and State Street (in East St. Louis), complete with a tennis court in the back yard.

In fact, Connors’ first account of ESL is that of his mother Gloria Connors (a former tennis pro) and his grandfather Al Thompson getting beaten senseless by a group of hoodlums on ESL’s Jones Park tennis courts. That traumatic event, at eight years of age, was what Connors says molded him into the renegade or bad boy of professional tennis – that, and a wealth of other typical coming-of-age experiences that came with, as he describes, growing up on the “wrong side of the tracks” in ESL.

Connors’ paternal grandfather John T. Connors had been the mayor of East St. Louis, but was later indicted in 1947 (along with 19 other officials) for malfeasance (ignoring evidence of gambling and election irregularities, etc.).

Mayor Connors was also a good friend of the notorious ESL mobster Frank “Buster” Wortman. It was at Wortman’s Paddock Lounge that a six-year-old Jimmy Connors claims to have witnessed a mob hit while dining there with his family.

Jimmy’s father “Big Jim” Connors wasn’t as involved in his sons’ upbringing as his mother/tennis coach Gloria, but he taught the boys how to drive a car at age eight

I can’t count how many times I’ve taken out-oftowners to that old house and pointed out that Jimmy Connors once lived there. Many of ESL’s senior citizens have done the same over the years and were probably called liars, as was I. And though Jimmy did, eventually, move to Belleville and then onto California and, finally, onto tennis superstardom, throughout the book Connors seems to have a chip on his shoulder as being “The Outsider” from the public tennis courts of East St. Louis. That seems to have given him the motivation to succeed in a world of spoiled country club tennis brats (like John McEnroe) who would become his competitors on the world stage.

But despite his own flaws and issues (obsessive compulsive disorder, dyslexia, addictive gambling, womanizing and obnoxious behavior), Connors always reverts back to East St. Louis as the root of his defiant, determined drive which led him to win more titles (109) and compile more wins (1,237) than any other male player in professional tennis. East Boogie created that same passion, drive and defiant spirit in the likes of a jazz musician by the name of Miles Davis and many achievers who dared to dream of success despite the negative stigma associated with being from ESL or any place that’s considered the “wrong side of the tracks”.

Email: jtingram_1960@ yahoo.com; Twitter@ JamesTIngram.

turned chief of staff Jeff Rainford (left) or Judge Robert H. Dierker Jr., author of the landmark 1990 ruling in the City of St. Louis vs. Virvus Jones?

James Ingram

ConnectCare to close its urgent care center

Missouri’s failure to expand Medicaid is hurting health providers

By Robert Joiner Of The Beacon

Only months after closing its specialty clinics, ConnectCare informed workers on Friday that it was eliminating the rest of its services on Nov. 15. The results will be a huge hole in the region’s medical safety net, officials say, noting that the urgent care center was on track to handle medical visits to about 17,000 patients.

“The failure to expand Medicaid by Jan. 1 was a key factor,” says Melody Eskridge, ConnectCare’s CEO. “The driving force is that we will be out or reserves by Dec. 15. Despite our restructuring there was still no funding sources to fill the revenue gap caused by serving uninsured and underinsured people.”

ConnectCare has 53 full-time workers, and about 60 percent of its patients didn’t have a primary care provider through a medical home. She says this means “the emergency rooms will see more non-emergency visits (from these patients) at a higher cost.”

The shutdown of the Smiley Urgent Care Center comes only weeks after the St. Louis Regional Health Commission persuaded a team of providers to step in after specialty care services were discontinued at ConnectCare, 5545 Delmar Boulevard.

The team set up to accommodate the patients consisted of providers from BJC Healthcare, BarnesJewish Hospital, Mercy Health, SSM, SLUCare, and Washington University School of Medicine.

Just as health officials were taking a breather after an intense effort to find places for these patients, the other shoe dropped with news Friday that ConnectCare will now close its

urgent care center.

Robert Fruend, CEO of the St. Louis Regional Health Commission called ConnectCare an important piece of the region’s safety net.

He echoed Eskridge’s comment that shutdowns are likely to be an ongoing pattern until Missouri faces up to the impact of refusing to expand Medicaid. Under the Affordable Care Act, states were given the option of expanding this federal/state health insurance program for the needy with the federal government picking up all of the cost for three years, starting in 2014. After that, states would have to cover up to 10 percent of the cost.

Pressure on states to expand their programs began to build because the health reform law cut back on other payments, including millions of dollars to Missouri hospitals serving a disproportionate share of poor patients lacking health insurance.

According to the Missouri Hospital Association, hospitals in the state are expected to lose $4 billion in federal

payments over the next six years. The assumption had been Medicaid expansion would offset some of this cost.

The initial ACA law required states to expand Medicaid, but the U.S. Supreme Court later ruled that states should have the option of deciding whether to expand. Missouri is among about two dozen states that chose not to expand their programs.

Specialty care facilities that ConnectCare discontinued in September and October are pulmonology, neurology, dermatology, endocrinology, hepatology, cardiology, gastroenterology and orthopedic surgery.

Fruend noted that, in addition to finding other providers to treat the displaced patients, the commission helped to protect the region’s waiver to continue getting $30 million in health center funding. That money goes to a program called Gateway to Better Health. It accommodates about 23,000 uninsured residents.

Sumiko Merritt

Sumiko Merritt, age 86, mother of Pastor Miki Merritt, and a resident of Ferguson, Missouri, passed on Tuesday, November 5, 2013. Mrs. Merritt leaves to mourn and cherish her memory: her children, Jacqueline Leslie, James Merritt, Nettie Merritt, Mary Ann Merritt, Michael Merritt, Reverend Miki Merritt, Tony Merritt, and Matsumi Merritt; a host of other relatives and friends.

In Loving Memory of Steven L. Hunt, Sr.

Although funding has been extended for another year, the program will now be limited to those earning 100 percent of poverty. The initial program covered primary care for patients earning up to 133 percent of poverty and specialty care for those with incomes up to 200 percent of poverty.

“In the urban core and rural areas, the poorest populations, it’s predictable that services will be cut until we expand Medicaid,” Freund said. “Medicaid expansion was supposed to give those providers the resources they needed to stay open.”

Fruend says this is only the beginning. “You can’t keep these cuts coming,” he said. “The providers are going to lose their capacity. CEOs are saying that unless Medicaid expands, they will run out of money, run out of resources. They are trying to hold the fort until we get Medicaid expanded, hopefully, in the next (legislative) session.”

Edited for length and reprinted with permission from stlbeacon.org.

March 4, 1966Nov 16, 2010

Dear Loved One, Another year is here since God our Father in heaven has called you home to rest. Your precious and loving memories still remain on our minds and in our hearts.

Love, The Family No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper - Isaiah 54:17

Regina Y. Williams Grady

Jan 6, 1963— Nov 17, 2002

“Gone Too Soon” My Dear Angel, You touched many hearts and always left something good. The caring, listening ear and that beautiful smile no one could ever forget. I miss you every day of my life. God chose

Flanigan-Vazquez,

Lacking the necessary working capital, many small and minority businesses in the St. Louis area are unable to bid on public and private construction projects. At Reliance Bank, we realize it’s hard to grow your business when you’re not allowed to compete. So, working with Justine PETERSEN, a leading local community development and housing organization we’ve created an innovative new program that provides much-needed working capital to businesses like Rena’s Final Cleaning Co. And, it’s allowing those businesses to do what they do best — compete.

Just one more way Reliance Bank is making money a little more available for the whole community..

Steven L. Hunt, Sr. Regina Williams Grady

ConnectCare will eliminate all services on November the 15.

Photo by Carl Bruce

Exercise

Nutrition Challenge:

For years kids were taught the proper variety of different categories of food by the use of a “Food Pyramid.” The tip of the pyramid represented the small amount of fats a child should consume and that was followed by the five food groups (Milk/Cheese, Meat, Vegetables, Fruits and Grains/Breads). Now the more common image is a plate divided up into portions, showing how much room vegetables, fruit, meats and

Exercise Challenge:

Looking for a fun, free and easy way to get exercise? With your parents’ permission, just Google “Free Kids Exercise Videos” and see what pops up! There are numerous free videos you can just download, watch and use for exercise. You can pick what kind of music you “work out” to and have fun. Be sure to keep your

Healthy Kids Kids

breads should fill. The image also includes a side of milk.

Seeing the different kinds of foods on a plate can help you see how much of each type of food you should eat. Notice that the fruits/ vegetables portion fills half of your plate. And remember to include whole grains into the “bread” section of your plate.

For more information visit: http:// kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/pyramid. html.

Learning Standards: HPE 2, NH 1, NH 5

heart rate up and have a glass of water nearby to sip while you’re sweating.

If you haven’t been doing any kind of exercise, it’s a good idea to check with your doctor to make sure it’s OK for you to start an exercise program.

November 3, Daylight Savings Time

And if you don’t have a computer at home, libraries often have free DVD rentals that could also be used!

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

Learning Standards: HPE 5, NH 5

Where do you work? I work at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Where did you go to school? I graduated from Cape Central High School and Southeast Missouri State University. My job requires a bachelor’s degree. I have a degree in health management.

What does a program specialist do? I do a lot of planning as well as answering emails and phone calls. I also get to exercise with families and teach them to be healthy, and teach kids in schools how to be safe.

Why did you choose this career? I have been an athlete since junior high, so I was interested in a job that promoted wellness for others.

What is your favorite part of the job you have? I love seeing the families each week when they come to class. Kids and teens are so interesting and full of energy.

Learning Standards: HPE 6, NH 3

Fitness Challenge: Go to http://www.stlamerican.com/newspaper_in_ education/ and download our Weekly Fitness Challenge Journal page. Keep track of your positive daily health choices and earn

CLASSOOM SPOTLIGHT

Teachers,

SCIENCE CORNER

What Is Gravity?

Gravity, also known as gravitational forces (g-force), is the force of attraction. Gravity attracts all objects toward each other. It is the pull that keeps you walking on earth, instead of floating into space. Every person has a mass, or gravitational pull, which places a force on every other mass. The bigger an item is, and the closer you are to it, the stronger the gravitational pull.

Not only does gravity keep things grounded, it also affects the ways things fall. Another important

SCIENCE EXPERIMENT

Materials Needed:

Drinking Glass • Cardboard • Water

Procedure:

q Fill the glass with water.

w Put the cardboard over the mouth of the glass, making sure that no air bubbles enter the glass as you hold onto the cardboard.

e Turn the glass upside down (over a sink or outside until you have practiced a few times).

r Take away your hand holding the cardboard.

MATH CONNECTION

“G” force is the amount of gravitational force your body feels. When you are on a roller coaster, your body will experience a strong g-force. Aircraft pilots and astronauts also experience high g-forces. If you experience 3 Gs, you experience three times your weight in gravitational pull. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds and experience 3 Gs, it is equivalent to 450 pounds.

Calculate the following problems:

q If you weigh 180 pounds and experience, 2.2 Gs, what weight do you feel in a gravitational pull? _______

w If you weigh 100 pounds and experience 3.5 Gs, what weight do you feel as a gravitational pull? ____________

SCIENCE STARS

AFRICAN

AMERICAN PHYSICIST & MATHEMATICIAN: Katherine C.G. Johnson

factor in falling is acceleration. Earth always produces the same acceleration on each item. This means that if you dropped an apple or a piano, then they would fall at the same rate due to gravity, and acceleration.

For More Information: Visit http:// idahoptv.org/dialogue4kids/season12/ gravity/facts.cfm

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

Reflect: What happens? Does the water fall from

Does it stay in the

Considering what you know about gravity, why does this happen? Learning Standards: I can follow directions to complete an experiment. I can make observations.

e If you weigh 120 pounds and feel the gravitational pull of 240 pounds, how many Gs are you experiencing?

r If you weigh 115 pounds and you feel the gravitational pull of 253 pounds, how many Gs are you experiencing?

t If you experience 4 Gs at your current weight, what is the gravitational pull? ________

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

Katherine C. G. Johnson was born on August 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Her father was a farmer and janitor, and her mother was a teacher. Because she was African American and many local schools were not available to her, Johnson had to attend West Virginia State High School 125 miles from home. Johnson developed a love for math at an early age and could solve problems that were even difficult for her teachers. Due to her advanced intellectual abilities, Johnson graduated from high school at the age of fourteen. She went to West Virginia State College and earned a bachelor’s degree in French and mathematics at the age of eighteen. Dr. W.W. Schiefflin Claytor, the third African American to earn a PhD in mathematics, was her mentor and created an analytical geometry course specifically for her.

After college, Johnson taught in elementary and high schools for seventeen years. Then, she began working at Langley Research Center (LaRC) as a research mathematician for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which later became NASA. In 1953, Johnson began her work with an all-male flight team. She was accepted because of her knowledge and confidence. Next, Johnson worked at the Spacecraft Controls Branch, calculating flight trajectory for Alan Shepard (the first American to go into space, in 1959). Also, Johnson verified the math behind John Glenn’s orbit around Earth in 1962, and calculated the flight trajectory for Apollo 11’s flight to the moon in 1969. She retired in 1986. Johnson has co-authored more than 26 scientific papers, and has received an Honorary Doctor of Laws and an Honorary Doctor of Science. In 1999, she was named as the Outstanding Alumnus of the Year by West Virginia State College. Johnson was also the recipient of NASA’s Lunar Spacecraft and Operation’s Group Achievement Award.

Discuss:

q What is the most interesting thing you learned about Dr. Johnson?

w Dr. Johnson was the sole female among male colleagues on her flight research team. Have you ever felt like the odd person out? How did it make you feel? How did you overcome it? How can you learn from Dr. Johnson’s story?

r If you were a physicist, like Dr. Johnson, what topics would you study?

Learning Standards: I can read a biography to learn about an individual who has made contributions in math, science, and technology.

MAP CORNER

Use the newspaper to complete these activities:

Activity One — Editorial Cartoons: Editorial cartoons are a powerful medium for expressing ideas. Find an editorial cartoon in an online newspaper. Who is the intended audience? What is the message? What is the theme or tone of the cartoon? What symbolism is being used? Has the author chosen an effective way to present the idea? What would you do differently?

Activity Two — Newspaper Headlines: Locate and read several newspaper headlines. Discuss how the headlines sum up the article while catching the reader’s interest. Compare headlines to story titles. Next, write a headline for a familiar fairy tale. Share the headlines with a classmate, and have them guess the fairy tale.

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can write an effective headline. I can analyze a political cartoon.

Photo courtesy of National Visionary Leadership Project

Roberts, Rafanan honored by CBTU

American staff

The St. Louis Chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) held its 27th annual Ernest and De Verne Calloway Awards Banquet on October 19 at the Renaissance Grand Hotel in downtown St. Louis. There were 300 guests in attendance including St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley, License Collector Mavis Thompson and state Representatives Karla May, Clem Smith, Sharon Pace and Tommie Pierson. Awards were given to Cecil Roberts, president of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) for his successful leadership in the fight against Patriot and Peabody coal companies on behalf of UMWA retired members, and to Rev. Martin Rafanan for his leadership in the fight to increase the minimum wage to $15 per

Lew Moye, STL-CBTU president; Cecil Roberts, president, UMWA; Rev. Martin Rafanan, director of St. Louis Organizing for Fast Food Workers; and Terry Melvin, international president of CBTU.

Poll supports Nonpartisan Court Plan

American staff

A new survey of Missouri registered voters shows that new efforts to repeal the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan and replace it with partisan elections and unlimited campaign contributions would be overwhelmingly rejected. At the time of the survey, conducted October 10-11, only 18 percent of registered voters planned to vote yes, while 58 percent planned to vote no. The poll was conducted by 20/20 Insight on behalf of Missourians for Fair and Impartial Courts. It surveyed 445 registered voters by telephone. These voters broadly represent the state demographically and regionally.

The proposed constitutional amendments, which have been approved for circulation by the Secretary of State’s office, would replace Missouri’s Nonpartisan Court Plan with partisan elections of judges for the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals of Missouri, plus increase the number of judges on the Supreme Court from seven to nine.

The poll found voters are concerned about injecting partisan politics into the courts. Fewer than one out of three voters favor the proposed amendments when they are told that the non-partisan merit selection process will be repealed and replaced by partisan elections. Plus, Missouri voters are

vastly opposed to judicial candidates soliciting campaign contributions. Of note, 85 percent of voters oppose allowing judicial candidates to solicit campaign contributions, especially from parties who may have ongoing or future business in front of the court.

According to “The New Politics of Judicial Elections 2009–2010,”election spending on state high court races has soared in recent years, more than doubling from $83.3 million in 1990-1999 to $206.9 million in 2000-2009. States that elect their judges, such as Illinois and West Virginia, highlight the conflicts of interest associated with campaign contributions. One such scandal resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court ruling

in 2009 that a West Virginia judge should have disqualified himself from an appeal of a $50 million jury verdict against Massey Energy Co. because the company’s CEO had contributed more than $3 million to the judge. Missourians have repeatedly turned back attempts to overturn Missouri’s Nonpartisan Court Plan, the most recent was the overwhelming defeat (with 76 percent voting no) of Amendment 3 in 2012. Missourians for Fair and Impartial Courts is comprised of retired judges and a broad coalition of community-based organizations that support Missouri’s Nonpartisan Court Plan, which is in its 73rd year,

Asked to do its best with less

While Superintendent Art McCoy of Ferguson-Florissant School district may be out of a job, Normandy School District seems to be rallying behind its new supe, Tyrone McNichols.

Viking Hall was full to capacity on Monday night, filled with parents, students, teachers, staff and other concerned citizens. It was the first of several hearings by the Department of Secondary and Elementary Education (DESE) for unaccredited districts in the St. Louis area. McNichols took the helm of Normandy’s sinking district back in the summer. Prior to taking on this latest challenge, McNichols was an assistant superintendent in the Hazelwood School District. Prior to that position, he had worked his way up from a classroom teacher to various positions with several different school districts.

McNichols has the credentials, and at 48 years of age he has the energy. His presentation to DESE and the public had all the right elements, the right transformational jargon. The big question is: Can McNichols turn the failing district around? Everyone wants the district to thrive because we want our children to succeed. McNichols has a three-year sentence of hard time to show DESE significant improvements in academic achievement.

McNichols presented an impressive plan of ideas and strategies but he also acknowledged the sobering demographics of the Normandy district. It has a mobility rate of nearly 60 percent, and almost

all of the students receive free or reduced lunch. With an average family income of $23,000, the district has the second-highest poverty rate among Missouri schools. These are significant hurdles to clear. Some have said that DESE is setting the Normandy district up for failure. Missouri legislators also put a nail in the district coffin when the shortsighted decision was made to allow children to leave the unaccredited district and have the dollars follow them to 14 other districts where Normandy students have landed. The decision may result in as many as 100 teachers losing their jobs and the closing of an elementary school. The new superintendent said it best when he stated that the district is being asked to do its best with much less. No child should have to go to an unaccredited school. The district has to share part of the blame. Normandy has been in a whirlwind of illogical decisions and negligent practices, internal and external, for about two decades. A parent questioned DESE’s decision to merge Wellston with Normandy instead of a stronger, more viable district. She felt that action brought Normandy to its knees. McNichols appears to have the support of his district, and that’s extremely important. I could feel the hope and optimism in the Viking Hall and look forward to it being transferred to real progress in the classroom. Said one loyal parent of three in the district, “I’m gonna ride with Normandy until the wheels fall off.”

memory of

Calloway, former director of Education for Teamsters Local

Jamala Rogers

Photo by Erica Brooks

A worker preps equipment for

One in ten

building the

BUSINESS

Kwame reports diversity goals met on main span

22.3 percent minority workforce, 15 percent DBE contracts on new bridge

American staff

The overall project provided 229 contracts worth more than $108 million to 113 certified minorityowned and women-owned companies.

Nearly one in five of the workers building the $230 million main span of the new Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Mississippi River at St. Louis are minorities, according to Kwame Building Group, the firm overseeing the project’s diversity and workforce inclusion for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). More than one in 10 workers on the bridge main span are women. As of September 2013, minority workers had performed 22.3 percent of construction work

‘Right

hours on the main span. Women workers had performed 9.9 percent of the construction work hours on the main span of the bridge. U.S. Department of Labor goals encourage at least a 14.7 percent minority workforce and 6.9 percent female workforce on any federally funded project in the region, including the new Mississippi River Bridge project.

See BRIDGE, B2

man forthe job’

Joseph Anderson is new 100 Black Men of Metro STLpresident

By Bridjes O’Neil Of The

St.Louis American

Jacque Land, executive director of 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis, said Joseph Anderson Jr. “is definitely the right man for the job” for president of the nonprofit, community-based organization.

“He was someone who came in the organization and was strategically recruited because of his background in finance,” Land said. Anderson utilized his financial skills as treasurer, his first leadership role within the organization.

“Because of his commitment, work ethic and passion to make a difference in the community, he was immediately elevated,” Land said.

Anderson’s main goal for the upcoming year as president is to expand the organization’s health and wellness outreach toward men. The organization’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for the African-American community in four key areas: mentoring,

health and wellness, and economic development. “We don’t like to do a lot of

Anderson said “other brothers”are the best change agents, if they’re willing to share their experiences with others.

we are still around for the later years.”

One of the things Anderson said he enjoys doing is educating members about health issues that directly impact African-American men, like diabetes and high blood pressure. The organization collaborates with three medical professors to ensure that the most accurate information is being passed along. One is Bettina Drake, assistant professor at Washington University School of Medicine. Drake has been an avid supporter of the organization’s Prostate Cancer

PEOPLEON THE MOVE

Ronnie L.White

Judge Ronnie L. White has been nominated to serve on the bench of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. He has been a partner in Holloran White Schwartz & Gaertner LLPsince 2007.Since 1996, he has served as adjunct professor at Washington University School of Law. He served as a judge on the Missouri Supreme Court, and he served as chief justice from 2003 to 2005. Previously he was a judge on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District.

Michael McMillan has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Reliance Bank, a subsidiary of Reliance Bancshares, Inc. He is president and chief executive officer of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. McMillan said, “I am excited about being a part of their Financial Literacy Program, which we are rolling out in conjunction with the Urban League. Our goal is to teach the importance of all aspects of financial literacy, which is very important to the growth of our community.”

Cheryl Jones, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Reliance Bank, a subsidiary of Reliance Bancshares, Inc. She is executive director of Girls Inc., a local nonprofit focused on empowering girls ages five to 17 years old. She is passionate about women and minority issues and lends her time and talent to the YWCAboard, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., The Links Incorporated and Carrousels and has served on over 15 local and national boards.

AmberGooding has joined the staff at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport as airport assistant director of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) programs. She is responsible for managing the City of St. Louis and Lambert Airport’s DBE and M/WBE certification and compliance programs. These programs promote business opportunities for disadvantaged, minority and women businesses for Airport and City departments. She was most recently the president/CEO of Diverse Resources, LLC.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Missouri minimum wage will increase to $7.50

The Missouri Department of Labor announced that the Missouri minimum wage will increase from $7.35 to $7.50 ($3.63 to $3.75 for tipped employees) based on the increase in the cost of living in the state of Missouri, effective January 1.Retail and service businesses whose annual gross sales are less than $500,000 are excepted. For more information, visit www.labor.mo.gov/DLS/MinimumWage/.

Arch Grants names exec director and directorof operations

Ginger Imster is the new executive director of Arch Grants and Ben Burke is its director of operations. For the last 13 years, Imster has served as director of development for City Academy, a social entrepreneurial model of education in north St. Louis. Burke is an MBAcandidate at the Olin School of Business at Washington University and a long time participant with Young Entrepreneurs Across America.

Arch Grants is a tax-deductible 501(c)(3) nonprofit global startup competition that provides $50,000 grants to new ventures without taking an equity stake in them. Interested applicants can visit www.archgrants.org for more information.

American hiring part-time video reporterand editor

The St. Louis American is recruiting for a parttime position as video reporter and editor. Applicants must have knowledge of HD cameras, sound equipment and Final Cut Pro video editing software. Animation skills a plus. Applicants also must be able to work well on tight deadlines and accept editing and criticism gracefully. Applicants must be able to provide recent video work and willing to shoot an interview and/or story as part of the application process. Email a resume and clips of video work to cking@stlamerican.com. No calls, please.

Michael McMillan

Cheryl Jones

Amber Gooding

Joseph Anderson Jr.,right,the new president of 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St.Louis,speaks with Tom Voss of Ameren.Anderson is senior program manager and consultant for Artech Information Systems in the St.Louis region.

Photo by Wiley Price

Photos courtesy of Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).

thenew Mississippi River Bridge.

workers

main span of the bridge is a woman.

By Jason Alderman

Choosing the right home alarm system

Although I take a certain amount of comfort from statistics that show major declines in most types of crime throughout the U.S., I also know that burglaries have increased in areas surrounding my neighborhood over the last few years.

I was finally prompted to take action was when my family returned home after being away for one night and found that someone had gotten about 90 percent through the process of unscrewing our front door handle. I figured we got lucky that time but it was a wake-up call that we needed to beef up our security measures.

I did a lot of research on home alarm systems and here’s what I learned:

There are several national players in the home security industry, as well as numerous regional and local companies. Much of the equipment used by most of them comes from the same few manufacturers, including GE and Honeywell. With larger companies like ADT(which we eventually chose), you can buy directly from them, or go through one of their authorized contractors who will sell you the equipment and install it, then turn over the ongoing monitoring to ADT. In our case, I was able to use my AAAmembership discount with a local ADT-authorized agent and bargain for a lot of additional hardware, saving considerable money on the overall deal.

Certain vendors will sell you the equipment directly to

PERSONAL FINANCE

install yourself. Some people install a security system that sounds an ear-piercing alarm if their house is broken into but doesn’t send a signal to a central monitoring station. That’ll save you from paying a monthly monitoring bill – typically $20 to $50 a month or more.

But be aware that police departments often charge a stiff fee for responding to false alarms.

Far more common is to sign a monitoring service contract –usually at least a two- or threeyear commitment. Typically, whenever your system is activated it sends a signal to a central monitoring station. The monitoring station

‘Aconsistent

American staff

generally will call you to verify it’s not a false alarm. If they can’t reach you, or whoever answers gives the wrong password, they may then contact the proper authorities (police, fire or medical services) to investigate.

Depending on how much you’re willing to spend, there’s a broad array of security equipment available, including: ï Central control unit with backup battery, keypad and siren.

ï Motion detectors, which sense changes in a room caused by human presence.

ï Magnetic door and window contacts, which form a

circuit that breaks when the door or window is opened, sounding the alarm.

ï Detectors for smoke, fire, carbon monoxide and/or broken glass. ï Panic buttons (hand-held or mounted in strategic locations).

ï Pressure mats placed under rugs to detect footsteps.

ï Closed-circuit TVsystem to allow monitoring and/or recording inside or outside your home.

ï Temperature gauges to detect if your furnace is broken and the pipes are about to freeze.

ï Water detectors to detect basement leaks.

Most homeowners and renters insurance policies provide a discount for installing an alarm system – generally between 2 and 20 percent, depending on which equipment you’ve installed. It pays to shop around. I asked friends for recommendations and did a lot of online research. Don’t fall for highpressure sales techniques or scare tactics. Once you’ve identified a few good candidates, check for customer complaints with the Better Business Bureau or other trusted reviewers. The Federal Trade Commission (www.consumer.ftc.gov) provides tips for choosing a home security system and identifying common scams. Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs. To Follow Jason Alderman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ PracticalMoney

and generous partner’ Edward Jones honored for supporting St. Louis Community College

The Missouri Community College Association (MCCA) recognized Edward Jones Inc. with a 2013 Distinguished Business/Industry Award for its support of St. Louis Community College and the STLCC Foundation.

MCCA’s Distinguished Business/Industry Award is presented annually to individuals and/or businesses that have engaged in significant partnerships with their local community college to stimulate economic activity and support community college students and programs.It is one of the most prestigious honors the association presents.

“Edward Jones has been a consistent and generous partner of the college through its support of the STLCC

“Edward Jones has been a consistent and generous partner of the college through its support of the STLCC Foundation.”

–

Jo-Ann Digman

Foundation,” said Jo-Ann Digman, the foundation’s executive director.

Edward Jones has had a

presence on the STLCC Foundation Board of Directors since 2003, and has committed to continuing that presence through a leadership succession plan. Rodney Gee, the current foundation board president, is a principal for financial advisor diversity performance for Edward Jones.

Edward Jones has supported the foundation’s signature gala, “Falling in Love…in Five Courses” since 2011, as well as other events. The company in 2012 established a paid internship program through STLCC-Forest Park’s Business Administration department. To date, all interns have received job offers from the company.

Rodney Gee, board president for the St.Louis Community College Foundation,and Kevin Gomez at STLCC’s Commencement ceremony.Gee’s company, Edward Jones Inc.,received a 2013 Distinguished Business/ Industry Award from the Missouri Community College Association. Gomez served as an intern at Edward Jones last spring.Gee is a principal for financial advisor diversity performance for Edward Jones.

In addition to the diverse labor workforce, more than 15 percent of the $700 million overall Mississippi River Bridge project cost was in contracts with disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs). The overall project, which includes roadway approaches on both the Missouri and Illinois side, provided 229 contracts worth more than $108 million to 113 certified minority-owned and women-owned companies. The new Mississippi River Bridge project involves 38 separate construction projects, including the main span and road approaches on both the Illinois and Missouri sides to move traffic to the bridge. Kwame is overseeing and monitoring the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and workforce development aspects of all MoDOTcontracts on the main span.

Kwame also provides construction management services including analysis of the main span contractor’s baseline schedule and monthly update schedules.

MoDOT’s ongoing effort to expand job access and diversity in transportation projects, first implemented on the New I-64 expansion project in St. Louis, has been named “The Missouri Model” by the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO).

The Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge is the first built in more than 40 years connecting downtown St. Louis and Southwestern Illinois. The bridge is expected to open with two lanes in each direction in February 2014.

“We are just happy to get our first win.We’re ecstatic right now.A win cures everything.”

– Darrelle Revis,after his Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated Miami for their first win of the season on Monday night

PREP FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK

With Earl Austin Jr.

District champs crowned

Many teams put on a scoring clinic

Miller Career Academy continued its magical undefeated season with a 48-21 victory over St. Mary’s to win the Class 4, District 2 championship on Monday night. The Phoenix were able to avenge its only loss in the past two seasons, that coming to St. Mary’s in last year’s district playoffs. The Phoenix actually trailed 21-0 in the first quarter before exploding for 48 consecutive points to run its

record to 11-0. Junior Marquis Stewart rushed for 249 yards and scored a touchdown while Jaylen James rushed for 189 yards and scored three touchdowns. James also had 153 yards and four touchdowns in Miller’s victory over Lutheran South in the district semifinals. Career Academy will visit Cape Girardeau Central on Saturday afternoon in the state quarterfinals. The school’s first ever berth in the state semifinals will be on the line.

The Class 3, District 5 field was supposed to be one of the toughest in the area with undefeated Christian O’Fallon and one-loss

IN THE CLUTCH

With Ishmael H.Sistrunk

Top 5 NBAsurprises

Anthony Davis, Kevin Lowe and Paul George garner early praise around the league

We’re only two weeks into this young NBAseason, but there have already been several surprising revelations at the start of the season. Let’s examine the top-five surprises:

H.

5. Paul George’s dominance – It’s hard to call it a surprise since Paul George went tit-for-tat with the game’s best, LeBron James, during the Pacers’surprising run to the Eastern Conference title last season. Still, through the first two

Anthony Davis is averaging 21.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 3.9 blocks

weeks of the 2013-14 NBA season, George is still shadowing James from afar. The 23 year-old superstar is averaging 24.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game and more importantly has led his Pacers to an 8-0 start to the season. Compare that to James’averages of 24.4 points, 8 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 0.7 steals. James’defending championship squad has also stum-

bled out of the blocks to a 4-3 start. The slow start isn’t really a reason for Miami fans to start panicking, as the team will undoubtedly take grab a hold of its spot atop the East at some point this season. However, if George continues his rapid pace of maturation as the leader of his team, King James’reign as the best player in the league may come to an end earlier than expected.

4. The Kevin Connection –Most hardcore hoop heads know the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Love is a beast on the ball court. However, after playing just 18

See CLUTCH, B5

McCluer South-Berkeley and Duchesne in the mix. Instead, McCluer South-Berkeley turned it into a romp as it clobbered Christian-O’Fallon 56-0 and Duchesne 40-13 to win the district title in dominating fashion. The Bulldogs have been on a serious roll all season with its combination of size and great speed on both sides of the ball. Quarterback LaMarko Ball passed for 242 yards and two touchdowns and added a 70yard TD run against Christian-O’Fallon. He added two more touchdown passes and two

See PREP, B5

With Maurice Scott,Jr.

Ready to rumble

East St. Louis travels North to meet Providence Catholic

The East St. Louis Flyers will make the four-hour trip North tomorrow morning to prepare for a Saturday afternoon showdown with one of the state’s top programs in the Celtics of Providence Catholic High School.

The Celtics and the Flyers have a combined 16 State Championships between them, with many in Chicago saying the winner will have the pedigree to run the table, and win the Class 6Astate crown in two weeks. However, first things first. Acrowd of 6,000 is expected to attend Saturday’s showdown in New Lennox, Ill, a suburb of Chicago. Members of the ChicagoCatholic (Blue) division, the Celtics qualified for the playoffs by receiving an at-large bid with a 5-4 record.

The Celtics and the Flyers have a combined 16 State Championships between them, with many saying the winner may have the pedigree to run the table.

But don’t let that record deceive you. The now 7-4 Celtics are in the same division with state power houses Chicago Mt. Carmel, Wilmette Loyola Academy and Chicago St. Rita. In addition, Joliet Catholic, Oak Park Fenwick, and Chicago De La Salle (all playoff teams) appeared on their schedule in 2013. Prior to last week’s 55-27 thumping at Quincy, the Celtics went on the road and beat defending 6Achampion Crete Monee to open postseason play.

Providence Catholic is by far the biggest team the Flyers have faced in this postseason. They are led by running back Dominic Lagone (5’11/190) who rushed for 229 yards and three touchdowns against Quincy. He also caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Justin Hunniford. Lagone has plenty of beef to run behind as well, led by Logan Plante (6’3 205), Dan Hermosillio,(6’3 260) Nick Barker,(6’2 302)

Ishmael

Sistrunk

Maurice Scott

See EAST SIDE, B4

Photo by Wiley Price

Earl Austin Jr.

Through seven games,Antony Davis is averaging 21.7 points,11.6 rebounds,2.3 steals and 3.9 blocks.

East St.Louis Flyer's Gregory Taylor (7) and teammate Jeff Thomas (2) hurdle over Normal Community High School's Alex Broad during Saturday's second round of the Illinois Class 6A football championships at East St.Louis.The Flyers of East St. Louis advanced with a 38-16 win over the Ironmen of Normal Community High School.

The mayhem in Miami continues with each day shedding different light on a very messy and embarrassing situation.

Rich Incognito reminds me of the kid in school where it was never really his fault. Oh, he accepts blame on certain obvious matters, only to remind all who are listening that he was not acting by himself. To hear Incognito in his FOX interview on Sunday he almost made you think that someone should be apologizing to him for what Jonathan Martin did in walking out and putting the finger on him. I say questionable, because he and Jay Glazer, the interviewer, had a prior relationship and it was all about Incognito being almost in the right with the locker room culture being the culprit. Incognito decided to return fire and make the claim that he and Mike Wallace were like brothers, only I think it was more like Cain and Abel. If this guy is claiming that they were like family, then lose my number and address for the family reunion.

The toxic toothpaste came out

Oh, yes, Incognito wanted you to know that he is not a racist. Yes, Richie, and I am not an earthling. Incognito has conned his way through life by bullying people and conning the rest in thinking he is a good guy. Funny how the so-called “good guy” was involved in another situation that he will not publicly elaborate on and the Miami Dolphins were aware of. No charges were filed against Incognito following the incident at the team’s golf tournament, which took place in Aventura, Fla.However, the police report states that the volunteer told police that Incognito “used his golf club to touch her by rubbing it up against her vagina, then up her stomach then to her chest. He then used the club to knock a pair of sunglasses off the top of her head.”

The woman, who is black, told several media outlets she has declined to talk because she had signed a confidentiality agreement. Agreement? Did the Dolphins pay her to keep

CLAIB’S CALL

With Mike Claiborne

Mayhem in Miami

to

for

quiet? The Miami Dolphins as an organization has some explaining to do, starting at the top their owner Stephen Ross, who finally came out and made it seem like he was the only one innocent here. Ross expressed his outrage in what was going on and made it clear that he was concerned about Jonathan Martin. Touching sentiment, but perhaps too late, as sources close to the team have indicated that Martin has played his last game for the Dolphins.

Who is in charge here?

How about General Manager Jeff Ireland? You may remember him from the Dez Bryant incident at the combine a few years ago when he asked if Bryant’s mother was a prostitute. When Martin’s

agent made Ireland aware of the bullying, Ireland told the agent to have his client just punch Incognito. Good way to solve it, Jeff.

Then there is Head Coach Joe Philbin, who said he had no idea that such antics were taking place on his team. There is a red flag if I ever saw one waiving. How about offensive line Coach Jim Turner? He is in a room with these offensive linemen nearly everyday, and he did not notice something may have gone awry?

Then there were the players. Surely someone on this team knew that Incognito had gone too far, and yet no one opened their mouths – and now they make it sound like Jonathan Martin was a person they barely knew. Some have gone as far as to defend Incognito.

Oh, I’m sorry, I guess Martin did not asked to be called the N-word enough or to have his family dragged into the fray, not to mention having thousands of dollars extorted from him. Yep, I guess Martin is guilty for not being able to take a joke.

These players should be ashamed of themselves for protecting the privacy of the so-called fraternity that has gone off-course. To say that is the nature of the business is no excuse.

As for the media, there are a few who have made it to the head of the class when it comes to racism, bigotry and just plain stupidity. On the national front, I get the relationship the networks have with the NFL. Therefore we have many heading for the

EAST SIDE

Continued from B3

and Tyler Martinkus(6’6 280).

Also on offense, they have a large explosive group in a duo of 6’5 wide-outs in Miles Boykin, and Nate Vejuodo. Tight end Austin Garwood(6’4 202) is a threat also on offense.

“They are a well-rounded team,” said Flyers Head coach Darren Sunkett. “They are big up front on both sides of the

hills and saying the politically correct thing on the surface and yet not demanding that Incognito should be run out of the league once and for all.

AFox analyst had the nerve to question why Martin was drafted where he was (in the second round) because there may have been some concerns. Johnson forgot to touch on Incognito’s slip to the third round because of some concerns. These concerns clarified by former Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy, who said they passed on him in the draft because of his off-field issues that had been well-documented. It will not be long now before national and local media will be ready to sweep this one under the carpet and move on to their fantasy teams and how they are faring. That

ball. They are all good teams this time of the year.

“It’s the Elite Eight, everybody who is good is still practicing. We are just glad we still got the pads on, and playing our best football. We are battle tested, and looking forward to going up North representing our community, school, and the Southwestern Conference.”

The Flyers are playing their best football of the season, riding a seven-game winning streak, and playing

is how they normally roll. They will no longer be appalled by the language or the family disrespect, because it does not directly effect them. There will be the backroom groundswell of support for Incognito as the victim. There will be every excuse known to mankind offered as to why this story will go away before justice is served. This story is a long way from being over, as an investigation is underway. There will be leaks and finger-pointing for sure, and yet no one will come up with a solution to fix a problem that has seen the toxic toothpaste come out of the tube. ABlue Ribbon committee and big names cannot fix this before next season. Having a few heads roll would be a good start.

physical like past great teams this time of year. Mizzou recruit Greg Taylor and freshmen sensation Jeff Thomas put on a show last Saturday against the states No. 3 ranked team Normal Community.

Taylor rushed 23 times for 114 yards, even after having a 99-yard TD called back on a holding call 50 yards behind the play. Thomas finished with four catches for 131 yards and three TDs in East Side’s 38-16 victory. Once again, the Flyers’ defense was as physical as I’ve seen all year, which is a must if you plan on winning a state championship in Illinois. And the Flyers were just downright nasty last Saturday, limiting the high octave attack of the Ironmen. Saturday’s quarterfinals match-up will come down to the trenches. The Celtics want to run out of the power I-formation, and move the sticks against East Side. They can be scored on, and they don’t want to get into a shoot-out with ESL. The Flyers’defensive front must play well on Saturday. If the Flyers win, they will host the semifinals at Jordan Stadium next week against the Oak Lawn Richards-Lincoln

Mike Claiborne

To hear Rich Incognito,left,in his questionable FOX interview on Sunday almost made you think that someone should be apologizing

him

what Jonathan Martin,right,did in walking out and putting the finger on him.

of the tube.

RAMS ROUNDUP

Pure domination Rams at 4-6 going into bye week

On the opening kickoff of the game against the Indianapolis Colts, Rams reserve running back Isaiah Pead was hit with a 15-yard penalty. I sat and quietly shook my head, trying not to mutter something negative. Then another penalty flag against the Rams. Eighteen seconds into the football game and the Rams already had two penalties. Now I’m standing with my arms folded giving the television the death stare, because I’ve seen this movie before. Like when the Rams started out 8-8 with Scott Linehan as head coach in 2006, only to implode the following two seasons. Same with Coach Steve Spagnuolo.

And then all of a sudden, Robert Quinn knocked the ball out of Indianapolis Colts’quarterback Andrew Luck’s throwing hand, Rams defensive lineman Chris Long picked up the loose ball and ran 45 yards the other way for a touchdown.

Just that fast, the Rams

CLUTCH

Continued from B3

With Palmer Alexander games in the 2012-13 season due to hand injuries, the oftinjured, sweet shooting, big man was slept on by many in the basketball world. Just two short weeks into the current NBAseason, it’s evident that the Minnesota monster has been awakened and is on a mission to prove that he’s the best power forward in the game. While seasoned vets such as Tim Duncan Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett have long jockeyed for the PF throne, numbers don’t lie. Love’s stat line is video game insane: 26.4 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists. By his side he has Kevin Martin, who the T-Wolves acquired via a sign and trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder brought in Martin last season after dealing away James Harden to Houston. He performed solidly in Harden’s super sixth man role but wasn’t quite the downtown assassin the Thunder needed him to be, especially once Russell

were up 7-0. They never looked back. The St. Louis Rams put together an allaround performance. Nothing but pure domination in all three phases of the game: defense, offense and special teams. On offense, the Rams had another solid game running the football with 140 total rushing yards. Zac Stacy got bottled up most of the afternoon, but Bennie Cunningham did well when Stacy had to come off the field for a breather.

Westbrook got injured. However those who thought he was on the tail end of his career have gotten a rude awakening as the chilly Minnesota air has rejuvenated Martin’s ice cold game. The starting two-guard is averaging 24.6 points and shooting 56% from three point range, up dramatically from the 14 points and 43% he shot last season.

3.Russell Westbrook’s Return – Speaking of Westbrook, the athletic freak cemented his superhuman status by returning from a serious, season-ending knee injury much earlier than expected. After requiring a second offseason surgery on his injured knee, Westbrook was expected to miss the first four-to-six weeks of the season. Instead he missed just four days. Unlike Derrick Rose an unnamed Chicago superstar guard, Westbrook returned to action as soon as he was medically cleared. He’s still in the process of shaking off some rust, but has performed admirably, posting an impressive stat line for anybody not named Westbrook of 19 points, nearly 4 assists and 3.5

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

Quarterback Kellen Clemens had a very good day, throwing for 247 yards on only 16 pass attempts. Clemens showed some touch on his throws. His 57-yard touchdown strike to Tavon Austin was right on the money. Even though the ball floated out of the screen like on Super Tecmo Bowl on the original Nintendo 16-bit gaming system, the end result was a touchdown. Most important: no flags.

The Rams were flagged eight times, but none of the

rebounds per game. Expect him to return to his normal stat-stuffing self in the coming weeks as he gets his basketball legs under him. Durant and the Thunder will need Westbrook at full strength if the team expects to regain its spot as the top team in the Western Conference.

2. MCWpockets ROY–When Michael CarterWilliams was drafted with the No. 11 overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers, no one batted an eye. After shooting an abysmal 39.3 percent during his sophomore season at Syracuse, Carter-Williams was seen by scouts as a long, athletic point guard who couldn’t hit the side of a barn with his jumper. Now it seems the basket is as big as a barn, as MCWhas led the 76ers to a fast 3-0 start over Miami, Chicago and Washington. They’ve come back down to earth at 4-4, but still lead the Atlantic Division. CarterWilliams is averaging 17.4 points, 7.6 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 2.6 steals, including a rookie record 9 in his NBAdebut. Expect CarterWilliams to be a runaway

Prep Athletes of the Week

Trey Merritt

Westminster Christian – Football

The junior running back turned in a true workhorse performance in the Wildcats 37-21 victory over Sullivan in last week’s Class 4, District 3 playoffs.

Merritt rushed for 300 yards on a whopping 46 carries and scored a touchdown on a 28-yard run. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry on the evening.

For the season, Merritt has rushed for 1,433 yards and has scored 15 touchdowns while averaging 6.3 yards per carry.

Westminster (10-2) will host defending state champion Webb City in the state quarterfinals on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

LaMarko Ball

McCluer South-Berkeley – Football

The senior quarterback enjoyed two impressive performances in leading the Bulldogs to the Class 3, District 5 championship. Ball passed for 242 yards and two touchdowns in Berkeley’s 56-0 rout of previously unbeaten Christian O’Fallon in the district semifinals. Ball also added a 70-yard touchdown run. Ball also ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more scores in the Bulldogs’40-13 victory over Duchesne in the district championship game. For the season, Ball has passed for more than 2,200 yards and 26 touchdowns. He has also scored seven rushing touchdowns. McCluer South-Berkeley (11-1) will host California in the state quarterfinals on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

penalties wiped out a score. Tavon Austin had an exciting afternoon, totaling over 300 all-purpose yards and all three of his touchdowns were for 50plus yards. One of his three scores included a 98-yard punt return for a score.

The special teams unit did a fine job tackling, and punter Johnny Hekker had a great game including a 61-yard bomb of a punt that was covered perfectly by the special team unit.

The defense forced five turnovers, including three interceptions in the red zone. The run support was phenomenal. Plus, the Colts had no choice but to abandon the run because of the lopsided score. Now the Rams are 4-6 going into the bye week, feeling good about themselves, and they should.

After the bye week, the Rams have six games remaining. But, which Rams team will we see? Will it be the team I saw dominate a good Colts team (on the road, mind you)? Or will it be the team that lost two winnable games at home in a row?

It’s compelling, no matter how you slice it.

choice for Rookie of the Year like Portland’s Damian Lillard was last season.

1. The Browed Bomber explodes – It shouldn’t be a big surprise when a former #1 overall pick dominates. It’s what should be expected. Still, we’ve seen our fair share of average play from those drafted in the top spot. Last season, Anthony Davis played well

touchdown runs against Duchesne. Those two TD passes went to athletic 6’4” junior Ryan Stokes. The Bulldogs (111) will host California on Saturday afternoon.

Lutheran North continues to be one of the area’s hottest teams after winning the Class 2, District 2 championship. The Crusaders defeated Carnahan 49-8 on Monday night to advance to Saturday’s state quarterfinals against visiting Caruthersville. The Crusaders started off the season at 0-4, but they have won nine consecutive games.

ï One of the season’s most electrifying plays was turned in by Webster Groves standout Cameron Hilton during the Statesmen’s 21-19 victory over rival Kirkwood in the Class 5, District 2 championship game. Kirkwood led 7-0 in the second quarter and appeared headed for a second score, but Hilton intercepted a pass at the goal line and returned it 99 yards for the game-tying touchdown. He ran down the left sidelines and swerved all the way across the field and dove into the corner of the end zone to complete a game-changing play that swung the momentum to Webster Groves. Here is the schedule for this weekend’s playoff action.

Missouri Football Playoffs

Class 6

(All Games on Friday at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted) Lafayette at Eureka; Lee’s Summit at Blue Springs; CBC at Hazelwood Central, (Saturday, 1 p.m.); Rock Bridge at Fort Zumwalt West

(All Class 2-5 games on Saturday start at 1:30 p.m.)

Class 5 Webster Groves at Jackson; Camdenton at Parkway C.

Class 4 Miller Career Academy

and showed flashes of greatness in his rookie campaign. Still, injuries and adjustments limited the New Orleans Pelicans’forward/center to solid, but unspectacular averages of 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in just 64 games last season. In his sophomore campaign, Davis is showing out. Through seven games, Davis is averaging 21.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.3

steals and 3.9 blocks!!! The defensive wizardry isn’t unexpected, but Davis’quick turnaround as a dominant offensive threat has his name getting throw in the way-too-early-tobe-talking-about MVPrace. Fear the Pelicans doesn’t sound so far-fetched anymore. Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @IshmaelSistrunk and on Google+

Palmer L. Alexander The St.Louis Rams’Tavon Austin celebrates one of three touchdowns that he scored against the Colts.

ANDERSON

Continued from B1

Survivors & Awareness Walk and Run and Educational Workshop Series, one of the organizations Health and Wellness initiatives.

Anderson said “other brothers” who have suffered the devastating effects of unhealthy lifestyle choices –like bad eating, drinking and exercise habits – are the best change agents, if they’re willing to share their experiences with others.

Although he said it was a bit of a stretch at first, he easily transitions between the corporate and nonprofit workforces. Aside from his duties at 100 Black Men, he currently serves as a senior program manager and consultant for Artech Information Systems in the St. Louis region. He held his first nonprofit position with the Annie Malone Children & Family Service Center as vice president of operations and administration.

“In nonprofits, most of the time, you don’t have enough resources – from funds to people – to do the projects and initiatives you want to do in the most efficient manner,” he said.

Anderson said he was groomed for his current position under the leadership of William P. Luster, during Anderson’s previous two-year term as president-elect. Luster now serves as immediate past president on the Board of Directors and acts as Anderson’s advisor.

Anderson has a master’s degree in business administration, with a concentration in computer resources and information management, from Webster University. He also has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville.

His past and present civic and community activities include serving as a mentor with the Father Support Center and Delta Sigma Theta

Sorority’s EMBODI (Empowering Males to Build Opportunities for Developing Independence) program. He was a facilitator for the University of Missouri - St. Louis’ Bridge Program from 2007 to 2009. He also received 100 Black Men’s “Trail Blazer” and “Man of the Year” awards in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Founded in 1983, 100 Black Men has 116 chapters worldwide. Its membership consists of a diverse group of men including business executives, community leaders, entrepreneurs, clergy and elected officials.

“Once you’re committed to the organization,” Anderson said, “you never really leave if you’re sincere about your service.”

100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis is located at 4631 Delmar, St. Louis, MO, 63108. Call 314-367-7778.

Photo by Carl J.Bruce

‘Major’ supporters

Elson C.Williams III,a sales representative at Major Brands,was presented with a thank-you from Community Women Against Hardship by longtime CWAH supporter Donald M.Suggs,St.Louis American publisher and executive editor,at its recent 25th anniversary celebration and fundraiser held at the Sheldon Concert Hall featuring Oleta Adams.

Holding Award is Randy Sanderson (Man of the Year),to his left is Curley Dossman (National Chairman-100 Black Men of America),second from right is Jacque Land,executive director of 100 Black Men and Joseph Anderson,president of 100 BlackMen.

Photo by Wiley Price

Heavy for the holidays

comedy

By Kenya

OTSL announces

new Artists in Training

the history of the program. The program offers nine months of college-level voice lessons on university campuses to 24 high school students in the St. Louis community. The program was recognized as one of ten outstanding programs for youth in the nation by the ‘Best Man’ sequel is more melodrama than

n Individuals with the trappings of unrealistic fame

But as they gather to spend a holiday reunion it is revealed that all is not well. Each of them are in their own respective crises as they face the fact that peaks, valleys, pitfalls and events beyond anyone’s control are part of the process.

Open house at Harris-Stowe this Saturday

By Chris King Of The St. Louis American

Ron Himes, founder and producing director of The Black Rep, issued a public call last year for a “drum major” to sustain what is widely recognized as the nation’s premier African-American theater troupe.

“Looks like we found him,” Himes said.

Himes meant David Steward, founder and chairman of World Wide Technology. WWT and Centene both have announced gifts of $100,000 to The Black Rep to produce its 37th Season.

“This support, led by David

Kenya Vaughn Of The St.

Steward, and this level of corporate commitment gives us the stimulus we need to begin our turnaround plan,” Himes said.

The turnaround begins 2-5 p.m. this Saturday, November 16 when The Black Rep will host an open house at its new theater in the Emerson Performance Center at Harris-Stowe State University.

“People can come see our new theater and buy season tickets and see a few excerpts from our season,” Himes said.

The Black Rep is still finalizing programming for its 37th season, which will include three productions at the Emerson Performance Center and one performance at The Missouri History Museum.

Nativity: A Holiday Celebration, The Meeting and The Trials of Brother Jero at Harris-Stowe and For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf at the History Museum. Himes said the Black Rep also has “an ongoing conversation” with Washington University, led by Executive Vice Chancellor Hank Webber, to address “many of The Black Rep’s auxiliary space issues.”

“We are deepening and formalizing the relationship between The Black Rep and Washington University,” Himes said. “These talks have curricular implications and ultimately residency possibilities.” As for this season, Himes will

The company will produce Black

direct Black Nativity, with Kyle Kelley serving as musical director and Heather Beal as choreographer. The cast for Black Nativity includes Leslie Johnson, Jermaine Smith, Herman Gordon, Jennifer Kelley, Roz White and Evann Debose. Looking beyond this season, though the Black Rep and HarrisStowe might look like a perfect fit to some, Himes is sure the arrangement is temporary.

“What we have now is a oneyear commitment, and certainly I hope things will work out this year and we will be able to stay there until we know where will be our permanent home,” Himes said. That “permanent home,” Himes said, is “maybe three years away.” Making a plan for those three years is his task now.

“We have begun the process of developing a three-year strategic plan,” he said. “We are looking forward to stabilizing the company by strengthening our administrative

See REP, C5

Idris Elba portrays Nelson Mandela in a scene from the

Long Walk to

Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

Brandi Harris-Stokes, a senior at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School, is a member of the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ 2013-2014 Monsanto Artists-inTraining class.

Photo by Maurice Meredith

How to place a calendar listing

1.Email your listing to calendar@stlamerican.com OR 2.Visit the calendar section on stlamerican.com and place your listing

Calendar listings are free of charge, are edited for space and run on a space-available basis.

concerts

Fri., Nov. 15, 5 p.m., The Sheldon presents Friends of the Sheldon, featuring Audra McDonald. Unparalleled in the breadth and versatility of her artistry as both singer and actress, with a record-tying five Tony Awards, most recently for Porgy and Bess, two Grammy Awards, and a long list of other accolades to her name. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Tues. Nov. 19, 8 p.m., The Scottrade Center presents The 20/20 Experience World Tour: Justin Timberlake 1401 Clark Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.scottradecenter.com or call (314) 622-5435.

Wed., Nov. 20 – Sat. Nov. 23, Jazz St. Louis welcomes The Regina CarterQuartet, Jazz at The Bistro, 3536 Washington Blvd. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com or call (314) 34-1111.

Fri., Nov. 29 – Sat., Nov. 30, Jazz St. Louis welcomes Jeremy Davenport, Jazz at The Bistro, 3536 Washington Blvd. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com or call (314) 34-1111.

Nov. 30, 13 Black Katz welcome Kindred: The Family Soul, Grand Renaissance Hotel, 800 Washington. For more information, call (314) 288-9988 or visit http://13blackkatz.com/

Wed., Dec. 4, 7 p.m., The Sheldon presents Lynne Fiddmont feat. Jazz Saxophonist Keith Fiddmont Besides touring with Stevie Wonder, Lynne has explored many musical ventures with artists such as Phil Collins, Whitney Houston, Babyface, Queen Latifah, B.B.King, Elton John, Nancy Wilson, Dave Brubeck, George Duke, Kenny Loggins, Eric Benet,

and many more. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit ww.metrotix.com.

Tues., Dec. 10 & Wed., Dec. 11, 10 a.m., Charles Glenn Holiday Concert, Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington BLVD. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com or call (314) 534-1111 or (314) 5339900.

Wed., Dec. 11, 7 p.m., The Would You Like a TourTour starring Drake with special guest Miguel, Scottrade Center. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com

Wed., Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m., Jazz St. Louis Big Band presents ELLINGTON’S NUTCRACKER SUITE, Jazz at The Bistro, 3536 Washington. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com or call (314) 534-1111.

Sat., Dec. 14, 8 p.m., The Mrs. CarterWorld Tour starring Beyoncé, Scottrade Center. For more information, visit www.livenation.com

Fri., Dec. 27, The Holiday Jam starring Kem, Faith Evans and After7, Chaifetz Arena. Formore information, visit www.ticketmaster.com

Fri., Dec. 27 – Sat., Dec. 28, Jazz St. Louis welcomes Good 4 The Soul, Jazz at The Bistro, 3536 Washington. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com or call (314) 534-1111.

Friday, Feb. 14, 8 p.m., Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly with Anthony Hamilton and Joe, Chaifetz Arena. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

local gigs

Dec. 10 – 11, The Sheldon presents Charles Glenn Holiday Concert. Vocalist

CALENDAR

Charles Glenn is a fixture on the St. Louis music scene, from opening for national acts such as Smokey Robinson to performing the National Anthem at major sporting events. Glenn will perform a heartwarming blend of holiday favorites and jazz standards, perfect for the season. Enjoy complimentary coffee and pastries at before the concert. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Fridays through December, 8 p.m., The Precinct presents R&B Saxophonist Tim Cunningham. 1900 Locust Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 588-8899 or visit www.timcunningham.com

special events

Thur., Nov. 14, 11 a.m., World Wide Technology, Inc. and the St. Louis American Newspaper present 14th Annual Salute to Excellence in Business. Awards & networking luncheon honoring Jimmie Williams, Adrian Bracy, and Rodney Gee. RitzCarlton, St. Louis, 100 Carondelet Plaza, 63105. For tickets and more information, call (314) 533-8000.

Thurs., Nov. 14, 5:30 p.m.,

Busch Stadium hosts Annual Diversity Dinner, which will feature cultural entertainment by local performers and a silent auction. Dr. Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble, President of Webster University, will present opening remarks and news anchor, Christine Buck will emcee the evening. 700 Clarks St., 63102. For more information, visit www.dapstl.org.

Fri., Nov. 15, 6 p.m., Norwood Hills Country Club hosts WINE Sip For Scholarship. The 5th Annual National Coalition of 100 Black Women – St. Louis Chapter (NCBW) wine tasting, recognizes phenomenal women in St. Louis. The proceeds from this event will be used to provide free programming to the St. Louis community and scholarships for women who return to college to complete their education. One Norwood Hills Country Club Dr., 63121. For more information, call (314) 363-6835.

Sat., Nov. 16, 10a.m.-2p.m., Pleasant Grove Church host Homeless Toiletry Drive. Eta Mu Sigma and Zeta Sigma St. Louis Alumnae Chapters of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. are requesting that you bring travel size toiletries to be donated to Homeless Ministries. 2411 Belle Glade Ave. 63113. For more information, visit www.sgrho-etamusigma.org.

after party from 7:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.

500 Pine St., 63101. For more information, visit www.christmasinstlouis.org.

Sat., Nov. 23, 9 a.m., ManchesterUnited Methodist Church host Annual FairTrade Market Market filled with Fair Trade goods, including chocolate, from all over the world! Enjoy the huge selection of home décor, holiday decorations, jewelry, clothing, toys, food, and much more. Fair trade means that artisans, farmers and producers earn a living wage for their work and much more. 129 Woods Mill Rd., 63011. For more information, visit www.manchesterumc.org/ftm.

Wed., Nov. 27 – Wed., Jan. 1, WinterWonderland in Tilles Park. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com or call (314) 534-1111.

Sat., Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m., The Washington University Black Alumni Council cordially invites you to join them in celebrating 30 years Featuring the High Velocity Band! The kickoff event will take place at the 560 Music Center Ballroom, 560 Trinity Ave., 63130. For more information call (314) 935-6543, or visit www.Edison.wustl.edu.

Sun., Nov. 17, 1 p.m., Santa’s Helpers, Inc.Warehouse hosts Santa’s Helpers annual silent auction. ASt. Louis non-profit organization that provides gifts during the holidays to under resourced and seriously ill children and their families since 1968, bid on a number of great items, including: Disney World one day park-hopper passes for family of four, Footballs signed by the St. Louis Rams, Baseballs signed by the St. Louis Cardinals, other sports memorabilia, and much more.1401 Pierce Ave., 63110. For more information, call (314) 6471800.

Fri., Nov. 22, 5 p.m., Kiener Plaza in Downtown St. Louis presents Macy’s Festival of Lights. Downtown St. Louis will hold the official start of the holiday season by turning on the Christmas lights. Special holiday activities and a fireworks display will be held. 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. with an

Thurs., Nov. 28, 8:45 a.m. Downtown St. Louis presents Ameren Missouri Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Midwest’s best holiday parade features colorful floats, bands, storybook characters, carriages, equestrian units and Santa Claus as it winds through downtown St. Louis to kick off the holiday season. The parade begins at North 4th Street and Washington Avenue, proceeds South on North 4th Street to Market Street, continues West on Market Street and ends at 10th Street. For more information, visit www.christmasinstlouis.org.

Nov.29 – Dec. 1, The America’s Centerplaza presents Holiday Magic. Celebrate the holidays at this familyfriendly weekend show that offers a variety of entertainment and shopping options, including full-scale carnival rides, trackless train rides, and a vendor district full of exhibitors and gift ideas. Photos with Santa are also available. 701 Convention Plz., 63101. For more information, visit www.stlholidaymagic.com

Sat., Nov. 30, 8 p.m., Celebrate the birthday of Ronnie Devoe of New Edition, Crowne Plaza STL Airport. For more information, call 314-456-4826.

Fri., Dec. 6, 5 p.m., Sistas Entertaining U Toy Drive Happy Hour, mark your calendars to stop by and make a donation for a child in need. MVPSports Bar & Grill at West Florissant and Lucas &

The Sheldon presents Lynne Fiddmont feat.Jazz Saxophonist Keith Fiddmont.

See CONCERTS for more information.

Hunt (formerly Northland Shopping Center)

literary

Sat., Nov. 16, 3 p.m.,Nu Art Series and The Scott Joplin House present Dream Carriers starring Marsha Cann, Scott Joplin House historic site, 2658 Delmar. For More information, call (314) 340-5790 or visit http://www.thenu-artseries.org/

Mon., Nov. 18, 7 p.m., The St. Louis County Library Foundation is pleased to present bestselling suspense authorMartin Cruz Smith for a discussion and signing of his latest thriller “Tatiana,” Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd. The program is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase at the event from Left Bank Books. Contact St. Louis County Library by phone 314994-3300 or visit www.slcl.org.

theatre

Nov. 19 – Dec. 1, The Fox Theater presents SisterAct. 527 N Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com or call (314) 534-1678.

Dec.4 – Dec. 22, The Black Rep presents Black Nativity – AHoliday Celebration, Harris-Stowe State University Emerson Performance Center. For more information, call (314) 534-3807 or visit www.theblackrep.org.

Thurs., Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m., The Fox Theater presents A Christmas Carol. 527 N Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Dec. 17 – 29, The Fox Theater presents ELFthe Musical. Ahilarious tale of Buddy a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner ELF. 527 N Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Jan 8 – Jan. 26, The Black Rep presents The Meeting, Harris-Stowe State University Emerson Performance Center. For more information, call (314) 534-3807 or visit www.theblackrep.org.

arts

Sat., Nov. 16, 9 a.m., Bridgeton Machinist Hall hosts Unique Treasures VendorShow. Gobble up some great deals from local crafters, vendors and small business owners. Get a jump on your Christmas shopping list during this holiday arts and crafts show. 12365 St. Charles Rock Road 63044. For more information, visit www.uniquetreasures.ayg2.com.

Sat., Nov. 16, 7 p.m., St. Louis Contemporary Art Museum presents Choice Art 2013. This unique social affair and art auction will include a juried selection of local and national art, hors d’oeuvres, signature drinks, and a fantastic opportunity to meet new and like-minded people.It is an evening of cocktails and conversation, but most importantly, it’s an art show and auction that supports the crucial reproductive health care and education work Planned Parenthood does in our community. 3750 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 535-4660 or visit www.choiceart.org.

December6 – 17, Framations Art Gallery invites artists to enteran exhibit called “Simple Treasures”, a celebration of giftable art forthe holidays...and the simple ways of giving back to the community. This is an exhibit with no judge, theme, or commission. It is simply an exhibit of work priced $100 and under. It does also coincide with a food drive for the St. Louis Area Foodbank. Artists who bring in items for the food drive will save $2 off their entry fee, making it only $6 for each piece. There will be a drawing for the Gift Certificates at the Opening Reception on Dec 13 from 6-8pm. Framations is located at 218 North Main Street in St. Charles. The full entry details can be found on www.framations.com.

Through Jan. 6, Rashid Johnson: Message to Our Folks. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Washington University, One Brookings Dr., 63130. For more information, call (314) 935-4523.

lectures

Thurs., Nov. 14, 8:30 a.m., 2nd Annual Public Ethics Conference: The Ethics of Politics and the Press, Century Room, Millennium Student Center, UMSLNorth Campus, Free, but registration required. For more information or to register, visit (http://e2.ma/click/x2jwc/9vaiu f/xmf64) or call (314) 5165655.

Dec. 6 – 7, The Sheldon Ballroom presents ACONVERSATION WITH EDITH HEAD. Susan Claassen stars as Edith Head in this behindthe-scenes feast of great movie lore and delicious stories. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com

Wed., Dec. 11 6:30 p.m., The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis host FAFSA Workshop. Learn about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), including the part it plays in the college application process. Why it is important to complete the form accurately and submit it as early as possible when seeking financial aid. For more information, call 314-725-7990 or visit www.sfstl.org

health

Thurs., Nov. 14, 1 p.m.

Alzheimer’s Association Celebrates National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month at Care & ConquerConference, This full-day event will provide support, education and the latest information and resources

The Sheldon presents Friends of the Sheldon, featuring Audra McDonald. See CONCERTS for details.

for people with dementia and people providing care to loved ones in all stages of the disease. DoubleTree Hotel & Conference Center, 16625 Swingley Ridge Road, Chesterfield, MO 63017. For more information visit alz.org/stl or call 800.272.3900.

Thur., Nov. 14, 6:30 p.m., Memory Care hostsannual event, Memories and Melodies Over 3,500 caregivers benefit from our programs annually. In the last 18 months, families in the lowincome bracket being seen by Memory Care Home Solutions increased to 85 percent; there has never been a greater time for your support. Starlight Room, Chase Park Plaza, 212 N. Kingshighway Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 645-6247.

November18 & November 25, 7 p.m., MONDAY NIGHTDANCE/FITNESS PARTY, Slides ( Line Dancing) ZUMBAFITNESS, KICKBOXING, LUNGES, Squats and Much More! Bring a towel. Water will be provided.North Oak Professional Bldg, 2nd floor, 23 North Oak Plaza, St. Louis,

MO 63121. For more information call 314.456.0044. (24 hr text) (508) 50 QUEEEN or visit www.zumbawithqueenb.com

Sat., Nov. 15, 1:30 p.m., The National Association of Black Social Workers St. Louis Chapterwill host an Affordable Healthcare Act seminar, Lincoln University Cooperative Extension Urban Impact Center, 9041 Riverview Drive at Hall Street. The seminar will start promptly at 1:30pm to 4:30pm. For additional information about the marketplace and sign up questions, contact the NABSWvia email wilsoc4444@sbcglobal.net or 314-809-3922.

Nov. 16, 9:30 a.m., Coventry Health Care presents HealthFest. Established in 2003, it is a one-day event featuring educational booths from a variety of area health professionals and health-related organizations. They offer free information, health screenings for all ages, giveaways, and more. 5050 Oakland Ave., 63110. For more information, call (314) 289-4400.

Sat., Nov. 16, 5:30 p.m., Friends of the Saint Louis University LiverCenter’s Eleventh Anniversary of their“Diamonds Gala” event, Chase Park Plaza’s Khorassan Room, events will include a cocktail reception, a sumptuous three-course sitdown dinner and a live and silent auction, plus dancing with live music by The Ralph Butler Band. For more information about the event or to purchase tickets for the 11th Annual “Diamonds Gala”Friends shine like Diamonds, please contact the Friends organization at 314-576-3078 or via email at lduff@friendsoftheslulc.org

Mon., Nov. 18, 1 p.m., The SBASt. Louis District Office is presenting a free Affordable Care Act (ACA) seminarin Columbia. SBA staff and others will present information specifically for

small business owners. The offices of the U. S. Small Business Administration at Regional Economic Development, Inc. (REDI), Main Conference Room, 500 E. Walnut, Suite 103, Columbia, MO, 65201. RSVP: Required to Nicki Massie at 314-539-6606 or email at nicholson.massie@sba.gov

St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Ferguson is partnering with the Muslim Community of St. Louis physicians to provide free basic healthcare to adults. The clinic is offered at the St. Peter’s UCC at no charge each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on a walk-in basis Call 314-521-5694 for more information.

Monday – Thursday, 9 – 12 a.m. & 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., Free Confidential HIVTesting. Results are available in 20 minutes. No appointments necessary. Anyone testing positive will be linked with quality HIVmedical care and there is assistance available for those who are uninsured. Washington University Infectious Disease Clinic, 4570 Childrens Place, 63110. For more information, call (314) 747-1237 or (314) 7471237.

Nov. 17, 4 p.m., 20th Anniversary Celebration forThe W.J. Ellis Morning Gospel Choir, 8645 Goodfellow Blvd., St. Louis, MO63147. For more information, call (314) 381-5730. Sat., Nov. 23 8:30 a.m., AllYou-Can Eat Pancake and Sausage fundraising Prayer Breakfast, Washington Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 3200 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, please contact: Priscilla Williams (314) 4753593 or Jeannie Robinson (314) 732-3811.

President’s Committee for the Arts and the Humanities at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Chosen through a highly competitive audition process

(with a 30 percent increase in auditions this year), these students will engage in weekly college-level vocal coaching from faculty at Southern Illinois UniversityEdwardsville, Washington University, Webster University and University of Missouri–St. Louis.

The program culminates on Sunday, April 27 in a recital and scholarship competition which will lead to awards of $11,000 in scholarship money.

The 24 students accepted into the program for the 20132014 year are:

McLaine Beeman, Junior, Triad High School

Melvin Bozeman, Jr., Junior, McCluer North High School

Ian Brinkley, Junior, McCluer North High School

Monet Britts, Junior, McCluer North High School

Michael Cogshell, Jr., Senior, McCluer North High School

Kelsey Degardin, Junior, Ritenour High School

Ben Diamond, Senior, Clayton High School

Maire Gador, Junior, McCluer High School

Christina Goetz, Senior, Westminster Christian Academy

Brandi Harris-Stokes, Senior, Central Visual & Performing Arts High School

Michael Hawkins, Junior, Belleville East High School

Natalie Hunt, Senior, Nerinx Hall High School

Quntisha Jenkins, Senior, Normandy High School

Caleb Johnson, Sophomore, Central Visual & Performing Arts High School

HOLIDAY

Continued from C1

Lee’s sharp left with respect to the direction isn’t completely unbearable –though it threatens to be with the ridiculously paced tragedy that he forces to unfold far too quickly.

The saving grace of The Best Man Holiday is the core group that brought the story to life in the first place.

Taye Diggs (Harper), Terrence Howard (Quentin), Nia Long (Jordan), Morris Chestnut (Lance), Monica Calhoun (Mia), Harold Perrineau (Julian), Sanaa Lathan (Robin), Melissa De Sousa (Shelby) and Regina Hall (Candace) blend well together, just as they did when they graced the screen 15 years before.

Hall, Lathan and De Sousa enjoy expanded roles in The Best Man Holiday and live up to the expectations of their characters and how they fit in the mix of the storyline.

absent from the film scene since not long after the original film – is graceful, even if a bit overdone, as the virtuous wife of now NFL legend Lance Sullivan. Chestnut is nothing more than chocolate eye candy, falling flat on bringing the authentic emotional vulnerability that his character demands.

Terrence Howard unabashedly snatches the film from his co-stars as a self-serving, hedonistic, inappropriate, hilarious mess of a man who still manages to charm those in his presence.

Sam Krausz, Senior, St. Louis University High School

Sarah Lally, Senior, Visitation Academy

Lauren Lundy, Sophomore, Notre Dame High School

Aileen Markovitz, Junior, Eureka High School

Anna Nielsen, Senior, Providence Christian Academy

Julia Pottinger, Junior, Cor Jesu Academy

Abigail Powers, Junior, Mehlville High School

Angel Riley, Senior, Belleville West High School

Adam Voelker, Senior, Belleville West High School

Marq Williams, Senior, McCluer North High School. Four alumni of the AIT program are in the midst of professional singing careers which have taken them to performing venues throughout the U.S. and overseas. They include tenor Jermaine Smith

(1991), mezzo-soprano Kendall Gladen (1994), baritone Robert McNichols (1995), and soprano

Jennifer Sheehan (2003).

In 2012, alumna Kendall Gladen made OTSL history by being the first AIT graduate to sing a title role on Opera Theatre’s main stage in a production of Carmen. In 2013, AIT graduate Derrell Acon, also a member of Opera Theatre’s Gerdine Young Artist Program, received a Fulbright award to pursue both performance and research in Italy.

The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Company, has been the principal underwriter of the program since its inception. In 2013, the fund gave a combined gift of $90,000 to support both the Artists-in-Training program and an opera for young people, The Very Last Green Thing

Nia Long is Jordan – the career-savvy independent woman who puts love in the backseat for the sake of her career. Monica Calhoun – who has been essentially

SLIFF

Continued from C1

Viewers are given rare insight into Mandela’s early life, coming of age and his more than a quarter-century behind bars as one of the freedom fighters who relentlessly fought to dismantle Apartheid before becoming president of South Africa.

Film and television star Idris Elba steps into the iconic shoes of Mandela for the film in a performance hailed by critics and audiences.

“Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” will screen 6 p.m. Saturday November 23 at the Tivoli Theatre.

“A Fragile Trust”

St. Louis native Gerald Boyd is among the subjects of A Fragile Trust: Plagiarism, Power, and Jayson Blair at the New York Times. At the height of his career, Boyd was arguably the highestranking African American in print media as managing editor for the New York Times. Samantha Grant’s documentary highlights the reckless professional behavior of Blair – a lowranking reporter who shook

Taye Diggs as Harper fares much better than Chestnut’s Lance, but there’s nothing particularly special about what he brings to Best Man Holiday. The remnants of depth and maturity one would expect after stepping back into a character after 15 years are not apparent over the course of the film. But while Diggs lack of growth in Harper is a bit disappointing, Terrence Howard’s refusal to evolve

journalism to his core and cost Boyd and Executive Editor Howell Raines their positions.

Boyd’s St. Louis roots are but a footnote in A Fragile Trust, but Grant provides an interesting character study of Blair and his descent into shameless plagiarism and invention of stories.

“A Fragile Trust: Plagiarism, Power, and Jayson Blair at the New York Times” screens 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 at Plaza Frontenac.

“The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne”

in his audacious, arrogant, womanizer Quentin is exactly what the film needs to lighten one of the heaviest holiday movies in a while. He unabashedly snatches the film from his co-stars as a self-serving, hedonistic, inappropriate, hilarious mess of a man who still manages to charm those in his presence. And even with a weak link or two, the group comes together to effectively pull off some downright ridiculous dramatic overtures and cohesively covey Lee’s message that relying on family and friends is essential as one rolls with life’s punches. The Best Man Holiday opens in theatres nationwide on Friday, November 15. The film is rated R with a running time of 122 minutes.

At first sight there is nothing exceptional about the silver-haired, caramelcolored woman in her golden years. But as Kirk Marcolina and Matthew Pond reveal through their film, the charm of Doris Payne gives way to a five-decade-long career as an international jewel thief. Even as the documentary chronicles her life, 80-yearold Payne faces a lengthy prison sentence for grand theft charges, though Payne proclaims her innocence. Payne proves as captivating and provocative as the crimes she claims she committed. She ascends from an impoverished colored girl in the segregated South to a sophisticated jewel thief with heists to her credit that have taken her around the world – including Paris, Tokyo, London and Milan –with unapologetic resolve.

“The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne” screens at 3:45 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17 at Plaza Frontenac.

“Jim Crow To Barack Obama” St. Louis’ own Denise Ward Brown uses the personal narratives of octogenarians to illustrate how far America has come with respect to race relations. Her subjects reveal the heartache of living through the age of segregation and the overwhelming joy of experiencing what many of them deem a miracle they thought they would never live to see – an African American being elected president of the United States. Brown’s film shares a special perspective on the leaps and bounds of the tumultuous Civil Rights Movement in a relatively short period of time, considering the years of bondage followed by separate, unequal America experienced by people of color.

“Jim Crow To Barack Obama” will screen at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15 at Washington University’s Brown Hall Auditorium.

Angel Riley, a senior at Belleville West High School and member of the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ 2013-2014 Monsanto Artists-in-Training class, with her family.

Photo by Maurice Meredith

SLPS names Music Teachers of the Year

Kimberly Payne, Veronica Simms honored by district

American staff

The St. Louis Public School

District has presented the Elementary Music Teacher of the Year Award to Kimberly Payne, a vocal music teacher at Patrick Henry Downtown Academy, and the Secondary Music Teacher of the Year Award to Veronica Simms, a vocal music instructor at McKinley Classical Leadership Academy.

“Ms. Payne uses her creativity to turn trash into music,” said Jana Haywood, principal of Patrick Henry Downtown Academy.

“She uses bucket drumming and SOLO cups to teach rhythm. She uses folk instruments and non-traditional instruments, such as spoons and washboards, as well as games and traditional dances to engage her students in learning.”

An educator with the district since 2006, Payne is a member of the Missouri Music Educators Association and regularly attends music instructors conferences and workshops. She has also cultivated community partnerships to advance the music program at Patrick Henry, securing 30 classroom guitars via a donation from the Classical Guitar Society of St. Louis. Simms, a district veteran of 35-plus years, now teaches the children of her former students. She was nominated for the award by her principal and assistant principal. “Mrs. Simms has deeply engaged our vocal music students by developing powerful and relevant lessons which advanced student learning,”

Principal Earl Williams said.

“As a music educator, I am held accountable for producing a student who recognizes the value of music as it relates to all aspects of the curriculum,” Simms said. “ I teach. I care. I model. I want to be a positive role model for my students.”

The 2013 Music Teachers of the Year were honored with an awards reception and presented with a $1,000 award from Webster University. In addition, they were presented

with a trophy, a plaque, and a $500 award for related education materials through the Parsons Blewett Memorial Fund.

To earn the Music Teacher of the Year Awards, nominees must explain their teaching philosophy and approach to teaching, be recommended by a principal and a professional colleague, and pass a classroom evaluation conducted by a team of professionals.

Incarcerate

The Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club has formed an alliance to keep children in school and out of the criminal justice system with a new program recently implemented at their North St. Louis location.

Last February MathewsDickey President, CEO & Co-Founder Martin Luther Mathews launched the “It’s Better to Educate than to Incarcerate” campaign at the club’s 53rd anniversary celebration. Fifty-three legal representatives and 53 educators inked a pledge signed, sealed and delivered by Mayor Francis G. Slay and County Executive Charlie A. Dooley supporting the club’s efforts to keep young people on the right side of the law and achieving success in the classroom.

also are a significant number of girls in the juvenile justice system. He argues this rate of incarceration is endangering children at younger and younger ages.

The pledge reads:

“As government officials, members of the St. Louis area education and legal community, we pledge our support of the Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club’s important work to educate children on the front end to prevent them from falling victim on the back end to incarceration.

“We pledge to instill within children the importance of giving respect to gain respect.

Mathews-Dickey spokesperson Barbara Washington said the club is committed to dismantling the pipeline to prison through education and by expanding programs that work in the community and galvanize youth to become peer leaders.

The ACLU, the NAACP and the Children’s Defense Fund have initiatives challenging the “School to Prison Pipeline,” or the “Cradle to Prison Pipeline,” but according to Mathews, the policies and practices that push our nation’s schoolchildren into the juvenile justice system must end and he and his staff, along with the area leaders and educators, will provide positive influences to direct them to the correct path.

We will embrace the community’s children as if they are our own so we can provide positive influences to guide them onto the right path and encourage them to respect their parents and those in positions of authority within their communities.”

Continued from C1

function and broadening our audience and donor base.”

Not that he hasn’t considered alternatives, but Himes intends for that

“permanent home” to be somewhere in St. Louis. Over years, he has had conversations with possible partners in Kansas City about finding a second home for the company there and moving Black Rep productions from St. Louis to Kansas City on a regular basis.

As the Black Rep found

itself homeless in its home city, Himes considered relocating the company to the western side of the state. He also looked into options for his freelance career, possibly leaving the Black Rep behind and striking out on his own. But he decided to stay with the company he founded and its home city.

“This city is home,” Himes said. “We have invested 36 years into this city. With the right base of support and infrastructure, we could be here another 36 years.” Those interested in working with the Black Rep should email ameerh@theblackrep. org.

Mathews noted that America now has the unsavory distinction of leading the world in prison population and on any given day, about one in every 10 young male high school dropouts is in jail or juvenile detention. This is a drag on America’s economic competitiveness, and while boys are five times as likely to be incarcerated as girls, there

The oath also encourage youth to always use restraint regardless of the situation, and to teach them the importance of being responsible to ensure peace and harmony, and to prevent violence in our society. The best way to preserve our cultural heritage is to share it with others. Sharing your cultural legacy helps to enrich the lives of others through the gift of discovering diversity so we must support this vital community resource. Become a friend now by going online to support the Club at www. mathews-dickey.com. Please watch the Bernie Hayes TV program Saturday Night at 10 p.m. and Friday Morning at 9 a.m. and Sunday Evenings at 5:30 p.m. on KNLC-TV Ch. 24, and follow me on Twitter: @berhay and view my Blog @ http:// berniehayesunderstands. blogspot.com/. I can be reached by fax at (314) 837-3369 or e-mail at: berhay@swbell.net.

Kimberly Payne, a vocal music teacher at Patrick Henry Downtown Academy, and Veronica Simms, a vocal music instructor at McKinley Classical Leadership Academy.

Bernie Hayes

Engaged

Colette McDaniel and Rodney Moss Jr. announce their engagement. The bride-tobe received her Master of Arts in Legal Studies. Her fiancé received his Bachelor of Science in Education and Training. Both are military veterans and employed at the Department of Veterans Affairs. They plan to be married on December 14, 2013.

~ CELEBRATIONS ~ Birthdays

Just married

Tonyelle Antwonette Polites and Carlos Jones were married on October 12, 2013 at St. James Bible Fellowship Church. “We would like to thank God, because without Him this love we share would not be possible. Thank you Lord for bringing us together to love and serve one another for all our days… Amen.”

Reunions

Natural Bridge to organize and plan the 46th Class Reunion Picnic. For more information email bhsco1968@att.net or call 869-8312.

Beaumont High School class of 1969 is preparing for its 45th reunion in 2014. Contact beaumontclassof1969@yahoo. com for more information.

Beaumont Class of 1968: Reunion planning meeting on December 7, 2013 at 3 pm at St. Louis County Library, 7606

beaumont_1984@yahoo.com.

McKinley High School Class of 1984 will hold a reunion meeting on Friday November 15, 2013 at Chunky Boy’s Bar and Grill, 2917 S. Jefferson Ave. from the hours 4-8 pm.

Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter Ja’Brielle K. Price who turns 3 years old on November 19! Mommy loves you!

Kendall Micaela Allen’s family would like to wish her a ”Happy 5th Birthday” on November 13. Kendall is a born actress who loves to entertain her family. Kendall has been accepted to attend Washington Montessori Magnet School in grade K for the 20142015 school year. Happy Birthday Kendall-Pooh!

Elaine Lomax (46) — November 12

Patrina Jones (40) — November 13

Deidre Johnson (28) — November 13

Nicholas Lomax (20) — November 18

Nikka Lomax (20) — November 18

classof1974@yahoo.com, 314367-3159 or Joyce BushCruesoe at cruesoe2195@att.net, 314-4841552.

FREE OF CHARGE

Do you have a celebration you’re proud of? If so we would like to share your good news with our readers. Whether it’s a birth, graduation, wedding, engagement announcement, anniversary, retirement or birthday, send your photos and a brief announcement (50 words or less) to us and we may include it in our paper and website – AT NO COST – as space is available Photos will not be returned. Send your announcements to: kdaniel@stlamerican. com or mail to: St. Louis American Celebrations c/o Kate Daniel 4242 Lindell Ave St. Louis, MO 63108

participate.

All reunion announcements can be viewed online! Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability. We prefer that notices be emailed to us! However, notices may also be sent by mail to: Kate Daniel, 4242 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108. Deadline is 10 a.m. on Friday. If you’d like your class to be featured in a reunion profile, email or mail photos to us. Our email address is: reunions@ stlamerican.com

Beaumont High School Class of 1984 is looking for participants to begin planning its 30 year class reunion. Please provide your contact information to:

SumnerClass Of 1974 has started planning its 40th class reunion. Meetings are held each third Saturday of the month from 2-4 pm at New Beginnings Missionary Baptist Church, 4055 Edmundson Rd. 63134. Please contact Marsha D. Roberts-Moore at sumner-

SumnerClass of 1979 is looking for classmates to participate in activities leading up to its 35th Class Reunion, June 20-22, 2014 in Lake Ozarks, MO. Please forward contact information to sumner1979@ymail.com or call Sara at 314-482-1558. Various activities are planned and we want as many classmates as possible to

University City Class of 1981 cordially invites you to its “Pre-Holiday Dinner Dance”, Saturday, December 14, 2013 at the Airport Hilton Hotel. Tickets are $35 per person and this event is open to All U-City Alumni and Staff. For tickets and more info contact Denise Weatherford-Bell at 314-484-6318 or msdenise38@yahoo.com. Tickets will be sold from November 4-December 2.

Divine comedy at Lane Tabernacle

Also, NCCU inducts Holy Name Jesus Catholic Church as its 23rd member

American staff

Lane Tabernacle Christian Methodist Episcopal Church will present “A Time To Laugh – An Evening of Comedy” 7 p.m. Friday, November 29.

The event will star the host, comedienne Carmen Barton, along with comedians Deandre Whitner and Jovan Bibbs.

These artists are St. Louis natives who have performed locally at a number of churches and other community venues. They have traveled nationally and they all have TV performance credits.

“These professional artists have a great evening of fun and laughter in store for this clean comedy event,” said Tony Miller of Lane Tabernacle.

Refreshments will be available. The event will take place in the D. I. Isom Community Center at Lane Tabernacle C.M.E. Church located at 910-916 North Newstead Ave.

For more information, contact the church office at 314-533-0534.

NCCU hosts Covenant Renewal Ceremony

North County Churches Uniting for Racial Harmony and Justice (NCCU) will hold will its 12th Annual General Covenant Renewal Ceremony at 3 p.m. Sunday, November

17 at St. Ferdinand Catholic Church, at 1765 Charbonier Rd., Florissant.

“We will have a total of 12 pastors participating, and for the first time over half will be Catholic priests, including two monsignors,” said NCCU President Rance Thomas.

The keynote speaker will be Archbishop of St. Louis Robert J. Carlson.

“We are delighted and honored to have Archbishop Carlson participating with us this year,” Thomas said.

“We are also delighted to have choirs from Christ Our Redeemer AME and St. Ferdinand Catholic Church singing for us this year.”

The Holy Name Jesus Catholic Church of Bellefontaine will be inducted into NCCU as its 23rd church. As a new member church, Holy Name Jesus Catholic Church will be presented with a plaque specifying that it is a member and committing its congregation to work to promote racial harmony and social justice in North County.

For the last 12 years, NCCU has held a General Covenant Renewal Ceremony at various NCCU churches. Thomas said. “We like to move around to our various churches, because this offers our churches the opportunity to come closer together and renewing their commitment to North County.”

This ceremony is open to the public both members and non-members alike are

welcomed to attend.

“Our guiding principle was and still is: ‘If God loves each person unconditionally, how can we not do the same?’” Thomas said.

NCCU was organized in 1998 “in an effort to bring people of different races together around positive activities to help them gain a better understanding of one another,” Thomas said.

“It was organized in an attempt to stabilize the community that was in a state of flux as the demographics were rapidly changing,” Thomas said. It has sponsored and cosponsored workshops, community forums, conferences, an annual health screening and health fair, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, North County Youth Task Force, Computer Academy, Oratory Essay Contest, and youth and adult awards programs.

I was trying to figure out a way to reference God’s faithfulness and found my spirit being moved by a quote I’ve used often: “God is not schizophrenic.”

Life tends to bring that uniquely human characteristic out of us, but God is consistent in His unwavering faithfulness to us. He actually keeps His promises and, believe it or not, in His unpredictability, He is predictable.

Art and Song at St. Paul’s

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church will present Art and Song Sunday, November 17 at the church, located at 12345 Manchester Road in Des Peres, at the corner of Manchester and Ballas Roads, across from West County Shopping Center. This is a unique visual and musical offering featuring original sacred art by Kelly Schumacher and a concert of traditional hymns by St. Louis-based vocalist Erin Bode. Bode and her group will be joined by several members of the St. Louis Symphony. Both Schumacher and Bode are members of St. Paul’s Des Peres. The exhibit will be open 4-6:45 p.m. and again after the concert. The concert will begin at 7 p.m., with a reception to follow.

To put it candidly, He loves us no matter what. That means you. No matter how hard we try to deny this, no matter how unworthy we believe ourselves to be, we cannot deny or change this truth because the truth never changes. Warts, flaws and faults, God loves you.

The problem we have with God’s consistency is our own inconsistency. When you come to grips with that and put it alongside God’s steadfastness, our fickleness screams at us with a bizarre kind of laughter. Our behavior might and often does become sinfully shaky, but our faith should not. Then in the context of our faith, God’s promise within His covenant with us should indeed flourish.

He is not lost. He is not moved. As a matter of fact, He is at the same place where you originally found Him. Through all your messes, look there and you will find Him again and again. My bible says faith proves itself by obedience. The more we accept this, the clearer our messes become. It becomes obvious as to how we got into them and how we can get out. Once you understand where home is and that it will always be there, you are never lost, no matter what or who you encounter. It’s the kind of knowledge that never leaves you wanting.

“Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31: 6.

So when you become erratic in your walk, your peace of mind, your order, your return to spiritual balance should come from your belief in God’s faithfulness and His unconditional love for you. People, we’re not dealing with trick questions, sleight of hand or spiritual illusions when it comes to the promise of eternal life and everlasting salvation in the kingdom. Someone once told me that in life, there should be things and people you can count on. The point was being made as we referenced the many things in life that you can’t count on. Friends will let you down. Family will let you down. You might think your fate is inconclusive, going nowhere and we all know fame is fleeting. Yet and still, God is. Being a Christian does not exempt anyone from the challenges of daily life. They can be severe. Tests and testimony are real. Yet and still, God is. He does however, demand and require the discipline of faith. Unfaithfulness, schizophrenia, relapse, backsliding is what gets all of us into trouble. Faith is what gets us out. Why? Because God is good all the time, always was always will be.

Thu, Dec 12, 7:00pm Fri, Dec 13, 7:00pm Kevin McBeth, conductor Cynthia Renee Safron, soprano La Tanya Hall, mezzo-soprano Thomas Young, tenor St. Louis

Adding a jazz and gospel twist to Handel’s Messiah, this high-energy, upbeat per with the St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON® Chorus and conductor Kevin McBeth will have you dancing in the aisles!

James A. Washington

Symphony IN UNISON® Chorus

Comedienne Carmen Barton (left) will host “A Time To Laugh – An Evening of Comedy” at Lane Tabernacle on Friday, November 29 featuring comedians Deandre Whitner (right) and Jovan Bibbs.

Celebrity Swagger Snap of the Week

Love and Hip-Hop star Erica Mena spent her birthday weekend in STL. On Friday she stepped in Kristina Owen’s La Flava Shoetique to promote her new book and on Saturday she had the Coliseum turned up as she played hostess with the most.

The never ending return of Yo Gotti. So…Yo Gotti was in St. Louis… again. Normally I wouldn’t care because when you do a concert here every 60 days it’s not really news. But the back door drama was more out of control more than the $100 folks paid to skip the line for a free party. Loose Cannon Slim apparently was feeling some kind of way that night and told Guccio to hold up on coming in. So, Guccio did what any grown man would do, he took to posting the video of the silly interaction to Instagram. Help. Who still checks for internet drama? Well me…but why did the folks feel the need to air all out on these internets? It wasn’t that serious. Plus, any time you try to come for Slim he’s just going to shut it down by using your pity party to advertise for his next show. I’m quietly thrilled from the internet accosting, because it was quietly the most memorable thing from the show. Oh well, Let me call Mona Scott-Young and let her know to start casting in STL for the new series “Laughter & Hip Hop in the Lou.” I need to know y’all’s opinion on who else should be in the mix should St. Louis get some disgraceful non reality television shine? If you give me a decent list of the who’s and the whys, I promise to give y’all credit if I decide to put together a mock cast. Getting it in with The Goods. Soho was packed early on Friday for Topher Jones’ The Goods party and I’m sure it had everything to do with Asia celebrating her 28th Birthday. Of course Kyjuan was there celebrating with his wife who, by the way, looked amazing. She and Mr. Colorful seem to be making some serious moves to become the official Power Couple of STL…I will wait to see what new venture they will be doing next. Sevvin Li and Murphy Lee were all boo’ed up and enjoying life so much so that I think he forgot he was also suppose to be at the Coliseum for his 10th release Album/ DVD party. Um yeah. Help. Mario The Great was looking slimmer and giving life on the dance floor in a circle of beauties. Next year if the Traffic Awards survive I need Soho to get an award for the most diverse group of men. If you need one with a job, one fresh out, still in school or one with money and no real job then SoHo is the place to go.

A tribe called natural. Team Natural put the word out that they all had to meet up at EXO on Saturday for the Tribe Called Quest tribute party. There were more Bantu knots, flat twists, big chops than Napps and Diversity Gallery have seen all year put together, in the club watching vintage videos of a group that I thought was about to show up after all the attempted hype. DJ G Whiz – I see you creeping all the way back on the scene – was there with Charlie Chan and DJ Nappy Needles. You ladies were really trying to get folks to join your Team Natural chapter, weren’t y’all? Anyway, back to the show. While it wasn’t a full-fledged reunion – because based on the documentary about Tribe that will NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN – but I still got my life from seeing Phife Dawg rip the mic. I wasn’t the only one either, but Mousie and Hot 104.1 FM’s Mz Janee seemed to be enjoying themselves the most. Was I the only one who noticed the girls with fresh sew-ins and the online boutique dresses standing out like a sore thumb up in the EXO Saturday night? The Team Naturals looked they were ready to kidnap and commence to doing big chops right on the patio.

Love, Hip-hop and half the club. Rich Dollaz’ former side piece Erica Mena was in the VIP booth in the Coliseum with all smiles and she loves the Lou, but the only thing I’m sure she didn’t like was that Nelly wasn’t in town to help her celebrate her birthday. I wonder if his newly tatted up boo thing knows about that one. Who am I kidding? Anyway, Erica was partying on the mic and mingling with VIPers that I’m sure she didn’t even notice that the place was only packed on one side. She was giving that “I still got paid, so why appear to be bothered” vibe, and I can’t say that I’m mad at her for it either. Thanks to Ms. Mena. I also see my boy Young Dip is making his way back on the club scene heavy. It makes me wonder if he will be on any new stations that may or may not be coming to STL.

A Foxx and a Queen Bee on Black Friday. This is just one more reason why I’m thrilled that Target and Wal-Mart have decided that the holidays and family come after their epic sale of the year! Because they are going hard on Thursday night, I can stick around to see my girl Tiffany Foxx go hard with the one and only Lil Kim for her Black Friday birthday bash (Nov. 29) at The Coliseum. Now I would be lying if I said it didn’t take me four good tries to guess who Kim was on the other side of the flyer. I had gone from Tae Heckard to KeKe Palmer before I skimmed the ad and saw it was the one and only Queen Bee herself. What? You know you were like “when did Tif and Claudette Ortiz of R&B Divas: LA get tight” until you actually read the advertisement. Anyway, identity confusion aside, nothing but death would make me miss the latest face of Lil Kim and the killer curves of Tiffany Foxx (What? I need to get my envy up so I can stick to my New Year’s resolution of becoming a Jet Beauty of The Week) when they come to town. STL hot tickets. Since I’m in the spirit of previewing, I might as well remind y’all of the busy year that we have coming up on the concert tip. Folks are clearly still salty about Kanye dusting us. But you know he is making that marital extravaganza his top priority – and everyone who knows someone who planned a wedding while working knows that the job takes a backseat. But we still have Justin Timberlake, Kindred: The Family Soul (thanks to the 13 Black Katz) Drake and my beloved Miguel, BEYONCÉ (yes, all caps), Kem and Faith Evans before this year is out to make up for it. Peep our

calendar for the deets.

Joi, Ariana, Telisa, Jamese, Shannon, were among the folks who got the party started @ The Goods Friday night @ Soho

The City’s Jason Spain celebrated his b-day with his dedicated staff and a whole crew of other folks Saturday night

Eric and Marcus among the folks enjoying the scene Saturday night @ Cuetopia II

Tracy, Birthday girl Camille and Mojo @ The Goods Friday night @ Soho

Kyjuan helping his lovely wife Asia celebrate her birthday with the good food and good folks of ‘The Goods Friday night @ Soho

Renee and Andrea came through to show love to the Leather Spikes and Studs party Saturday night @ Cuetopia II

Rapper Wacka Flocka Flame stopped through Hot 104.1 FM studios to chat with Staci Static before hitting the stage Thursday night @ The Pageant

DJ D-Lani and Darnisha kept the crowd hype for the Leather Spikes and Studs party Saturday night @ Cuetopia II

Kalifa, Tyra and Derek came through to wind it down for the weekend Friday night @ The Rustic Goat

It was all about the girls as Alexis, Jay, Teresa and Evelyn got into the good vibes and great food of The Rustic Goat Friday night

Photos by Lawrence Bryant and Arlis Davis of 6iam Photography