November 17th, 2011 edition

Having a Ball

‘Thank everybody in

AMERICA ready

Equity and inclusion will trump greed and racism – or else

By Damion Trasada For The St.Louis American

As I walked among the over 2,000 people recently gathered at the Equity Summit 2011 Conference in Detroit, I kept thinking of Sam Cooke’s classic “A Change Is Gonna Come.”

The conference was held Nov. 8-10 and organized

A6

Leaders who employ and play along with the “divide and conquer”racial tactics of the past need to be consigned to the ash heap of history.

– Damion Trasada

SLPS inks 3-year deal with teachers

Union agrees to 2 percent pay increase, no furloughs

years.

By Rebecca S.Rivas Of The St.Louis American

St. Louis Public School District employees are getting a raise for the first time in three years.

St.Louis Public Schools Superintendent Kelvin Adams and AFT St.Louis,Local 420,AFL-CIO President Mary J.Armstrong celebrated the three-year agreement the district reached with the union on Tuesday.

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St.Louis American

“I mean, you drive down Grand all the time and you see ‘Oprah Winfrey presents’and other big names,” Sunday Best winner and STLnative Amber Bullock said.

“Never in a million years did I think – you can’t even imagine –seeing your name in lights at the Fabulous Fox Theatre as an opening artist.”

up there is indeed a story that fairy tales are made of.

After earning top honors on the top-rated gospel singing competition on BETin September, her wildest dreams have come true – including billing on the iconic concert venue.

“Kirk Franklin’s Fearless Tour with special guest Sunday Best Winner Amber Bullock” is how it reads. Her rise to getting her name

“This whole experience has been absolutely amazing,” Bullock said. “I’m in awe and still taking it all in – since the beginning of Sunday Best to this very day.” Millions voted from around the world to crown her champion of

On Tuesday, the district’s Special Administrative Board voted to approve a threeyear agreement with the teachers’union, AFT Local 420, which provides a 2 percent pay increase for district teachers and staff for the 2011/12 school year.

“This agreement is a reality thanks to the partnership between the district and Local 420.” – Superintendent Kelvin Adams

The contract goes into effect immediately and covers the period of July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2014. This is the first pay raise for district employees since the 2008/09 school year.The policy also allows for opportunities to negotiate additional salary increases for the following two school

“This agreement is a reality thanks to the partnership between the district and Local 420,” said Superintendent Kelvin Adams. In addition to the salary increase, the new policy provides the continuation of current health benefits and does not include furlough days.District employees have taken seven total unpaid furlough days over the past two school years, which saved the district $3 million last year. As part of the agreement, employees will not be asked to take furloughs, or days off without pay.

“In recent years, we’ve made progress towards reaching accreditation through improved academic

Photo by Wiley Price

Photo courtesy St.Louis Public Schools

Usher’s brother caught up for beating baby mama and child

The brother of R&B singer Usher Raymond was arrested at his home when police were called following reports of a disturbance. When they arrived at the house, the police found that there was enough evidence to arrest and charge James Lackey with domestic violence, cruelty to children and reckless conduct.

Sources claim that Lackey had beaten up his girlfriend and also put hands on their baby. He was released on bail of $5,500 after spending two days in jail.

Derrick

Rose

titute and says Derrick Rose skipped the bill after receiving services from a lady of the night.

“My friend charged Derrick Rose to [expletive],” A woman calling herself BEE tweeted. “When they were done, he looked at her, laughed and said… ‘Nah, I ain’t payin.’”

“I woulda robbed him and fled the scene,” BEE continued. “But I heard that [expletive] is abusive so she did the right thing by just leaving empty handed.”

didn’t pay for play?

A woman is claiming that an NBA star committed two crimes in one while hooking up with her close friend. She is the friend of an alleged Twitter pros-

King of Pop biopic in the works

Michael Jackson’s estate is in talks with Hollywood producers about bringing the late singer’s life to the big screen, reports Variety. The project is likely to cover only certain periods of Jackson’s life, though these have not been specified. Tom Pollock of the Montecito Picture Company has confirmed he and partner

Ivan Reitman, director of “Ghostbusters,” are in early negotiations with the estate, though no deal is yet in place. Representatives of the estate are yet to confirm the report.

The prospect of a Jackson biopic has been touted ever since the singer’s death in June 2009 following an accidental overdose of the

powerful surgical anesthetic propofol. Jackson’s personal doctor, Conrad Murray, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter over the killing earlier this month and faces up to four years in prison.

Earlier reports of a biopic suggested that Johnny Depp and Jamie Foxx might play the king of pop at different stages of his life, but these went unconfirmed. Depp said in 2009 that he had “never ever thought of playing Michael Jackson in a film.”

Robinson Peete conflicted about Kim K. Tyler Perry film debut

Actress and TV personality

Robinson Peete has joined to droves of fans to offer their opinion on Kardashian making her big screen de but in Tyler Perry’s The Marriage Counselor

Fans black actresses are nonetoo-pleased how Kardashian has further entrenched herself in African-American culture.

“We can always count on Tyler Perry to give a blacktress a job. So all across the world blacktresses are upset,” Robinson Peete said. ““No, it’s [an] amazing PR move. It’s actually

pretty smart and the timing is great. Like her brand, this drama will be good for the film. So, it’s actually kind of brilliant in a way… I don’t have any problems with it.”

Heavy D autopsy inconclusive

Authorities say they still don’t know what caused the unexpected death of rapper Heavy D last week. According to the “Los Angeles Times,” the L.A. County coroner’s office announced on Monday that the results of an autopsy were inconclusive. Toxicology tests are next, but officials say it could take several weeks to determine how the rap star, born Dwight Myers died suddenly at the age of Last week, a coroner’s spokesman said no illegal drugs were found at Heavy D’s home, although he had been prescribed a drug to deal with a cough.

Sources: Eurweb.com, Access Hollywood, Variety.com, blackmediascoop.com, Los Angeles Times

Holly Robinson Peete

EDITORIAL /COMMENTARY

Lack of leadership from Green on park bonds

In response to the strong leadership of Freeman Bosley Jr., St. Louis’ irst African-American mayor, a challenging planning process for improving Forest Park was initiated and pushed through under the inclusive leadership of the late Kathryn Nelson, another African-American civic icon. In 1995, the city and Forest Park Forever inalized an imaginative, historic public/private collaboration that has brought our community tremendous beneits shared across racial and social demographics in the city and region.

Ironically, rather than offer leadership, an African-American citywide elected oficial now stands in the way of further progress with this partnership.

A proposal is being considered by the Board of Aldermen to issue $30 million in bonds for Forest Park. The purpose is to complete most of the remaining capital improvements set out in the 1995 master plan for the park. Also under consideration by the board is a $34 million bond issue to improve all of the other parks across the city, where more than $100 million of needs have been identiied.

These measures are now close to approval at the Board of Aldermen. Aldermanic President Lewis Reed, Mayor Francis G. Slay and many aldermen support them. Unfortunately, Comptroller Darlene Green is balking. Claiming to be worried about the city’s debt rating, she is seeking to impose ill-considered last-minute alternatives, such as the use of a community improvement district as a substitute for the Forest Park bond issue. Rather than engage personally in this major civic project of overriding importance earlier in what has been a prolonged process (in an effort to seek an acceptable remedy to her concerns and work to move the project forward), Green has chosen to get involved directly and to oppose the issue late in the process.

There has not been a comprehensive capital improvement bond issue to improve city parks since 1955 – more than a half-century ago.

As a result, the need for these bond issues – to improve our parks and the quality of life they provide in all our neighborhoods for all our citizens – could not be greater. These bonds will also

provide a much-needed economic boost. They’ll create construction jobs and boost property values throughout the city.

Thanks to Forest Park Forever, the risk exposure and cost to the city for these bonds will be low. As part of the bond deal, Forest Park Forever has agreed to raise $100 million to establish an endowment for the Park. That endowment will spin off $4 million a year for 30 years – a total of $120 million – all of which Forest Park Forever will use for the maintenance of the park. In addition, Forest Park Forever has agreed to raise the funds needed to purchase the $30 million in bonds for improvements to the park. Then Forest Park Forever will take the proceeds from those bonds – $60 million over 30 years – and dedicate them entirely to improvements at the park.

In other words, in exchange for the city’s borrowing of $30 million over 30 years, Forest Park Forever will spend or set aside for spending an additional $280 million for the park. That’s a match of eight private dollars for every public dollar.

Green’s position opposing this deal is neither timely nor forward-thinking. Improving the parks – especially on the inancial terms that Forest Park Forever is offering – will only strengthen the city’s iscal position. Establishing a community improvement district, meanwhile, would create a multitude of unknowns and thereby undercut the motivation for many of the essential private Forest Park Forever donors to go forward with their substantial gifts.

The comptroller is in danger of sabotaging a very good deal. We hope she realizes before it’s too late. In this case, her two colleagues on the powerful iscal body, the Board of Estimate & Apportionment, Mayor Slay and President Reed, who are often at odds, are in accord for a good reason. The bond issues for the parks are a progressive step forward for our city and will bring substantial beneits to all its residents. We don’t need leaders who will not lead. We need cando leaders, because strong leaders do the hard work, make the tough decisions and support the changes necessary to make the city a better place to live and work.

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

Shortchanged by prostate cancer report

Prostate cancer continues to remain the leading cause of cancer in men in the United States. Over 30 thousand men are estimated to die of prostate cancer this year alone. Also, for reasons that are not completely understood, African-American men are 60 percent more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 2.5 times likely to die of the disease. The PSA test is a blood test that measures prostate-speciic antigen (PSA), a protein produced by the prostate gland. An increase in the PSA level is often the only sign of early prostate cancer. The PSA test is also valuable in following patients after treatment.

A recent report published in The Annals of Internal Medicine by a U.S. Preventative Services Task Force Committee stated that PSA testing should no longer be performed routinely on men in the United States. The task force came to this decision based on studies performed in the United States and Europe suggesting that prostate cancer screening does not appear to improve survival in patients with this disease.

The two principal studies quoted in the report are the prostate, lung, colon and ovarian screening study (PLCO) and the European randomized

prostate cancer screening study.

Both studies compared men who were screened to those who were not screened over a 7-10 year period.

The European study actually revealed an improvement in survival whereas the American study did not, thus reporting conlicting results. One of the many concerns raised by prostate cancer experts and advocates is related to the fact that most of the studies sited in this report had a notable lack of representation of African-American men. Additionally, in the absence of PSA-based early detection strategies, the incidence of advanced disease would certainly increase. In the pre-PSA era, most men who presented with prostate cancer were symptomatic at diagnosis and had evidence of metastatic disease (in other words, the cancer had already spread).

Although the overall death rates associated with prostate cancer have begun to decline, African-American men still carry a disproportionately higher death rate. Those under the age of 60 are 4 times more likely to have metastatic disease at diagnosis. The report minimizes the impact of metastatic disease, stating that it is unlikely to result in death. However, metastatic disease can have tremendous impact on quality of life including chronic pain, pathologic fractures, paralysis, bleeding, and other tragic consequences.

It is also striking that none

of the task force committee members have speciic clinical expertise in treating prostate cancer. This attempt to apply a broad-sweeping policy to a very complex disease affecting populations disproportionately is very short sighted. The bottom line is that fewer men are dying of prostate cancer, and it is very likely that early detection has played a role in this outcome. Although the PSA test cannot take all the credit, it has been the cornerstone for early detection over the last 2 decades. There is ongoing research to ind better screening strategies. However, until these tests have been conirmed, PSA is an important part of early detection and should not be blatantly discarded, especially as it applies to high-risk populations such as African-American men.

Any man interested in having a PSA test should have meaningful dialog with his healthcare provider to understand the details of the test, it’s value and possible shortcomings. That should have been the message from the report. I hope that health-care providers involved in prostate cancer care will respond strongly to these recent recommendations.

For more info on prostate cancer go to http://cancer. howard.edu

Ahaghotu is Associate Professor of Surgery and Chief of Urology at Howard University Hospital and Professor and Chief of Urology at Howard University College of Medicine.

COMMENTARY

Being Not Obama is not enough

Unemployment is at 9 percent, the housing market is moribund, “consumer conidence” is an oxymoron and three-fourths of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track. So how is it that President Obama leads each of his likely Republican opponents in the polls? And why on earth is the gap widening rather than closing?

It’s simple: Voters are paying attention to what the GOP ield is saying – not just the applause-line attacks on Obama but what the candidates propose to do about the economy. This should be the Republicans’ election to lose. They seem well on their way.

An NBC-Wall Street Journal poll last week showed Obama beating Mitt Romney – his most formidable opponent – by a sixpoint margin, 49 percent to 43 percent. Last month, the same poll had the president leading Romney by just two points; in August, Obama was only one point ahead.

Surveys show Obama basically wiping the loor with anyone else. A couple of months ago, the GOP was able to take solace in the fact that in a hypothetical match-up between Obama and a generic, unnamed Republican, polls showed the president narrowly losing. But the most recent surveys show that Obama has pulled even with “Not Obama” and perhaps nosed into the lead.

What the Republican ield has utterly failed to do is develop a convincing narrative about the economy. The candidates act as if widespread disappointment with the performance of Obama and the Democrats will be enough to win the election. But voters are being given every reason to suspect that GOP policies will make things worse. Look at the crisis in the housing market. No economic blow has been felt more widely than the collapse of real estate values, with up to one-quarter of homeowners now “underwater” on their mortgages, meaning they owe more than the property is worth. Banks need to clear a huge backlog of foreclosures, meaning that downward pressure on prices will continue. Banks that once showered consumers with no-questionsasked loans have tightened lending rules to the point where upstanding citizens with only minor blemishes on their credit records are turned away.

The Obama administration’s response has been weak and ineffective. So what do the Republican candidates say? Rather than blast the president for doing too little to help beleaguered homeowners, they blast him for even trying.

This was the consensus view at the debate in Michigan. Romney said the Obama administration has tried to “hold off the foreclosure process, the normal market process,” and he promised that if elected he would do “almost the exact opposite of what President Obama has done.”

Asked if he would just let foreclosures proceed, no matter the impact, Romney answered

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Unwanted animals

I am from the Crossroads College Preparatory School Social Justice Club. We are working on animal rights, with a focus on the spaying and neutering of pets. Our purpose is to raise awareness about over population of unwanted animals. We feel that many members of the St. Louis community are not aware of the variety of free and/or discounted spay/ neuter services in the area, thus we are currently producing liers and posters to spread about surrounding neighborhoods. Would you be willing to donate a small section for information about spaying and neutering locations and options around the STL area to help reach a larger audience?

Erika Shi St. Louis

Editor’s note: We would welcome your submission on this subject and in general welcome all submissions from our readers. Send your story to cking@ stlamerican.com. It never hurts to attach a photograph of the author and of the story subject, if appropriate.

5th Ward battle lines

At irst glance, the new 5th Ward map for the City of St. Louis looks more like a creation from celebrated city illusionist Bob Cassilly than from diligent protectors of the public good. It certainly deies the mandates of the City Charter, which states as follows;

“Corrected ward boundaries shall be established by ordinance which shall comprise as nearly as practicable, compact and contiguous territory within straight lines, and contain as nearly as may be the same number of inhabitants.”

And if one highlights the areas removed from the 5th Ward 2000 map, there seems to be NO rhyme or reason for the shifting of land tracts that have no residents, if such boundary changes are to be made by population, and “compact and contiguous territory.”

No, it is only if you know the “battles” of the 5th Ward, only if you know the players that a “reason” begins to emerge. For the 5th Ward has been delivered

with a question: “Exactly what would you do instead? ... Have the federal government to go out and buy all the homes in America? That’s not going to happen in this country. Markets work.”

Obama has been criticized for being cool and unemotional, but Romney makes him seem volcanic. You can imagine the former governor putting his arm around a homeowner who has just been evicted and saying, “Don’t cry. Markets work.” Their prescription for the ailing economy is familiar: tax cuts and deregulation. Nobody likes to pay taxes, and nobody enjoys having to follow a bunch of rules, but people aren’t stupid. They do recall that we tried these measures under George W. Bush and ended up with a crisis that almost plunged us into a second Great Depression. According to polls, voters agree with the Democrats on major issues such as ending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and preserving Social Security and Medicare. They agree with Republicans that the government should spend less, but seem increasingly doubtful that any of the GOP candidates would trim the budget in an intelligent and compassionate way. Simply being Not Obama isn’t enough. The Republican candidates are trying to sell a bunch of old trickle-down economic policies without even dressing them up in new rhetoric, and it looks to me as if voters aren’t buying. Eugene Robinson’s email address is eugenerobinson@ washpost.com.

All letters are edited for length and style.

as a spoil of war, and those who dared oppose the mayor, developer Paul McKee Jr. or the Hubbard family have been removed. They will NOT be eligible to run in this completely created special election for Alderman Ward 5 on December 20 that will theoretically seat yet another Hubbard into public ofice.

The Hubbards, of Cass Square fame, are partners in Northside Regeneration, receiver of $19 million in tax credits from the state and contributor to ... all of the above. Eagan’s rats had nothing on these guys.

Mark Ogier St. Louis

Healthy alternative to the streets

As a resident of the City of St Louis and the mother of a young child, I was dismayed to learn that SLPS plans to cut funding to the Community Education Full Service Schools (CEFSS) program. These schools provide a tremendous service to our communities in offering after-school programs to young people, and opportunities to adult residents to further their education while promoting positive neighborhood relations.

I, personally, have beneited from art and itness classes offered through this program at Sigel Community Education Center, and I saw at irsthand the value of after-school programs to students. On their own website SLPS state that the CEFSS program “encourages students to build on their classroom experiences, expand their horizons, contribute to their communities, and have fun.” They further state that the “primary focus is on the promotion of high educational achievement and positive youth development.”

In a year where we have witnessed awful examples of youth violence, including the recent “knock-out” attack on Mr. Matt Quain that took place almost in front of the mayor, I am appalled that we could contemplate cutting a program that gives young people a safe and healthy alternative to the streets.

I would argue that instead of cutting the CEFSS program, we actually need to fund more

Full Service Schools so that we reach the ideal situation described on the SLPS website where “a full service school is open to the community before, during, and after normal school hours, seven days a week, all year long.”

Heather Macarthur St. Louis

Columnist

Eugene Robinson

Guest Columnist

Dr. Chiledum Ahaghotu

St. Louis County opens new animal shelter

A new St.Louis County Animal Care and Control Adoption Center opened to the public at 10521 Baur Boulevard in Olivette on November 9 with expanded space for additional animals,exercise areas and longer hours.Participating in the ribbon-cutting were County Health Director Dr.Dolores Gunn;Steve Kaufman,executive director of the Animal Protective Association;Olivette Mayor Jean Antoine;Betsy Cohen,vice president sustainability Saint Louis Petlover Coalition and Nestle Purina PetCare Co.;County Executive Charlie A.Dooley,Katherine Warnik,president,Humane Society of Missouri;and Arthur Merdinian,President Pro Tem,Olivette City Council.The $4.5 million building will replace the county’s two existing shelters.The shelter (is 314-615-0650) is open Monday through Friday;9 a.m.to 6 p.m.;and Saturday; 9 a.m.to 4 p.m.

NCBWhonors women in media

On Friday, November 18, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Metropolitan St. Louis Chapter will host their 2nd Annual NeoSoul/Jazz Wine Tasting to “Honor Women in Media.”

The event will take place in the Hotel Lumiere Atrium in Downtown St. Louis from 5:30–10 p.m. with entertainment provided by Denise Thimes.Anthony Slaughter of KSDK Channel 5 news will MC the program, which starts at 7:15 p.m.

Honorees include: Bonita Cornute, Journalist – KTVI Fox 2 News; Arika Parr, Community Affairs Director – Clear Channel Radio; Selena Johnson, Radio Personality - Majic 104.9 FM; Kenya Vaughn, Journalist - St. Louis American; Patricia Washington, Award winning Reporter.

“We are excited to honor women who represent positive images of African Americans in the media and are committed to improving the quality of life for people in the St. Louis community” states Daffney Moore, President of NCBW’s St. Louis Chapter.

Tickets for general admission are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. VIPtickets are $50 for unlimited wine/goodie bag ($60 at the door). Proceeds from the event will benefit the programs and initiatives of NCBW.

Tickets may be purchased at: http://neosoulwine2011ncbwstl.eventbrite.com/. For more information, contact Daffney Moore at 314-494-3886 or ncbwstl@ncbwstl.org.

Great American Smoke Out Nov. 17

The 34th Annual Great American Smoke Out on November 17 is an invitation to “kick the habit” for America’s 46.6 million smokers.

“Cancer, heart disease, and stroke – all of which are caused by smoking – are among the biggest killers of Americans,” said Dr. Spencer Galt of the Society for Vascular Surgery.

“Nicotine in cigarettes raises blood pressure and constricts arteries. Narrowed arteries can result inblood clots, heart attacks (narrowed coronary artery), stroke (narrowed brain or neck artery), peripheral arterial disease (PAD) leading to gangrene and amputation (narrowed leg artery) and erectile dysfunction for men in their 30s and 40s (narrowed artery to the penis).”

In addition, smokers are more likely to develop aneurysms (ballooning of an artery due to a weakness in the blood vessel wall) than non-smokers, he said.

By Nov. 19 – 48 hours after quitting smoking – the Society for Vascular Surgery says:blood pressure will decrease, pulse rate will drop, body temperature of hands and feet will increase, carbon monoxide level in the blood will return to normal, oxygen level in the blood will return to normal, chance of a heart attack will decrease, nerve endings will start to re-grow and ability to taste and smell will increase.

To learn more, visit VascularWeb.org.

Next generation needs us

By Tina E.Grimes For The St.Louis American

On my journey to empower the next generation, I come in contact with young men and women on a daily basis as I provide training and life coaching. While I do extensive training for corporations and organizations, I make sure that I spend a significant amount of time serving the next generation.

As I am in the hallways and classrooms of schools and universities, I ponder in disbelief, wondering what that child’s mother, father, grandmother or guardian would say if he/she could see this precious child right now.

“Pull up your pants, stop all of that vulgarity, get off of that boy, don’t touch that girl like that, show your teacher some respect, wake up, stop eating Chinese food in class, sit up straight, project your voice, look me in my eyes, use correct grammar, stop all of that fighting, cover up your ‘goods,’respect yourself!”

My parental hat is on my head, and I now want to love and treat each child as if he/she were my own, which includes “tough love” –telling them the truth and correcting them.

As I get into the lives of these young people, my heart goes out to them because many of them do not have role models in their lives to lead them and guide them and to correct these negative behaviors. Some of them have excellent role models in the home, but act a fool when they are away from home.

Regardless of the situation at home, the reality is that the next generation needs us. They need mentors who will step in and be that parent, or to stand with their parents/guardians to help them maneuver through this journey called “life.”

My dream is to see the professionals that I train in corporations come together with the students that I train in schools and work together to truly “make this world a better place.”

As we strive for success in life and pursue our dreams and financial goals, let’s not forget that the next generation needs us. I excelled in track and field, and anchored too many relay races to count. The success or failure of the relay race all came down to the effective passing of the baton. I liken our responsibility to the next generation to the passing of the baton. In this race, we need to carry the baton with great accuracy, respect, honor and dignity, so that we can pass it on to the next generation with precision and great confidence … whenever our leg of the race has been run.

Grimes is president of Success Academy, LLC (www.successacademyllc.com; 314-956-2618).

Tina E. Grimes

TRASADA

Continued from A1 by PolicyLink, the national research and advocacy organization that focuses on economic and social equity issues. It was encouraging to see so many young non-profit practitioners, academics, elected officials, community leaders and other individuals of all races gathered together and sharing ideas and initiatives that were working in their areas.

There were delegations from St. Louis, Kansas City, New Jersey, California and all parts in between having honest conversations about race, gender, class, income inequality and other tough issues we usually push aside in polite political circles.

The framework for many of the discussions was the emerging reality of America becoming a “majority minority” nation by the middle of this century. Half of all children born in America now are minorities, and policymakers must begin to deal with the implications of this fact in the face of our nation’s persistent disparities in health, education, income and other areas that will determine whether or not these children will grow up to participate as full citizens of their country or be relegated to its margins. The answers will be determined by the choices we will or won’t make and the voices we include or ignore today.

As America becomes a nation of racial plurality, our business and political leaders can no longer view diversity as a buzzword or superficial initiative implemented to appease customers or curry favor with voters. Anation that will go from 80 percent white in 1970 to around 50 percent in the next few decades needs to come to grips with some serious questions if it expects to achieve the greatness that is within its grasp. There is no way we can be taken seriously as a world leader or innovator if more than half of our population is left behind. Our nation’s metro areas must become regions of opportunity and places where we become stewards of the environment and take ownership of our neighborhoods. In St. Louis specifically, people of all backgrounds and income levels must get involved in crafting the social, economic, and civic agenda. An America whose economic and political institutions are places where white males are the only ones making all the important decisions is not merely exclusive or unfair, but insane for a nation that will have to deal with a new racial reality at home and a multicultural global system abroad.

Leaders who employ and play along with the “divide and conquer” racial tactics of the past need to be consigned to the ash heap of history to make room for visionary leaders who are comfortable with what America is going to look like. Equity and inclusion will have to trump exploitation, greed and racism as the model for

stability and economic growth.

We cannot assume that just because the numbers of minorities is increasing that the country of Martin Luther King Jr.’s dreams will automatically come to fruition. People of all ethnicities have to demand that current disparities in education, employment, health and wealth begin to be eliminated. Our society must decide whether we still see the future of America in our youth when the majority of them will be black, brown, yellow, red and some combination thereof. Whites in poor rural areas should realize there is more that unites them by economics with urban blacks and Latinos than divides them by color or culture.

Unfortunately, some of the movement to disinvest from public sector programs is

rooted in the context of racial fear. It’s easy to forget that big public investments helped to create the postwar, modern American middle class that benefitted large numbers of whites, while at the same time excluding many minorities. Now that efforts to provide social, educational and economic stability may help people of color (especially children) who are becoming the majority, suddenly the nation’s broke and billionaires can’t let tax their tax breaks expire. If we can get past racial pettiness and insecurity, we can forge new economic relationships and social bonds that recognize the dignity and potential of people regardless of what they look like. The fact that America is increasingly diverse should not spark fear and anxiety. It’s actually our last best chance to truly fulfill America’s promise.

High school students Ashley Pace of Cardinal Ritter,Jocelyn Redding of Hazelwood Central,Da'Vione Johnson of Soldan,and David Rivera of Brentwood were sworn in by 1st District Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay for the inaugural class of the Missouri First District CongressionalYouth Cabinet.They are among 48 area high school students who will advise Clay and his staff on local and national issues that impact young people.The cabinet provides students with a path to become advocates for issues that matter to them.

Youth Cabinet sworn in

Photo by Wiley Price

Animal shelterproposed forNorth City

Current

By Rebecca S.Rivas Of The St.Louis American

City Health Director

Pamela Walker is running out of time. If the city does not close its animal shelter at 2120

Gasconade before January 1, the city will be in violation of the new Canine Cruelty Prevention Act, the legislative result of Proposition B.

“I went to Jefferson City and met with the director of agriculture,” said Walker. “He said we do not meet the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act’s standards, and he is going to shut us down. When he walked out of the office, he looked back at me and said, ‘Tick, tock, tick, tock.’”

Walker told the Board of Aldermen on Tuesday that the city’s most pressing issues for animal control are opening a new animal shelter and con-

BULLOCK

Continued from A1

Sunday Best. She will be taking the stage for her hometown at the Fox today. Her EPwill be released in a few weeks. Bullock’s cup of blessings is currently running over, but she was in a dark place before her star began to shine on BET.

“This whole journey was really God’s design – it was indeed a God thing,” Bullock, 25, said. “Because I was really going through a lot around the time Sunday Best happened.”

Shortly after relocating to Texas for a fresh start, she was involved in a serious car accident with her daughter.

“I would have to sleep on a coworker’s couch just to get to work every day,” Bullock said. “Even through my struggle, I could have been in the dumps. But I didn’t, I chose to keep smiling. In the end, God wants to provide for you, and if you allow God to provide for you he will bring you out.”

Bullock was singing with gospel artist Myron Butler, but working as a call center representative when she heard that Sunday Best was coming to town. Her friends urged her to try out.

“I was like, ‘If you give me a ride, I’ll go try out.’”

city dog

trolling the intake of animals. She proposed that the city lease a building in North St. Louis for $50,000 a year and transform it into a new animal shelter, which would have more space than the building on Gasconade.

This week, Walker will ask the city’s Board of Estimate and Apportionment for $170,000 from City Capital Fund to retrofit a new facility for dogs. She’ll also ask to transfer about $234,000 within the health department’s budget to pay for a full-time veterinarian, two vet technicians and other animal control program support.

Currently the six animal control officers that patrol the streets are also taking care of animals in the shelter. With the new veterinary staff, the animal control officers will only issue tickets and pick up dangerous dogs.

would amaze me every single time.”

The season she participated was one of the most popular and suspenseful. Ahurricane that downed phone lines on the East Coast forced fans to wait another week.

Bullock was favored to win, and she credits the strong support of her hometown.

“If I start naming names, I will get in trouble, so thank everybody in St. Louis –period,” Bullock said.

“To all of those who supported, who voted and used their work phone to call in, I really appreciate it. I feel so much pride in my heart being from St. Louis and heading to the Fox stage. I’m just really ready to do my best, show everybody what they voted for and I don’t want to let anyone down.

‘Losing my mind’ over Kirk Franklin

Bullock always knew if she left her dreaded 9 to 5 behind and followed the music in her heart that she would sing gospel music.

“No matter what I sing, it sounds like gospel anyway,” Bullock, said laughing.

“I was like, ‘If you give me a ride, I’ll go try out.’”

The decision to do so would change her life forever. Her rich and heavy classic gospel tone, matched with the control of a classically trained vocalist, made her a standout early on in the competition. Bullock said that her faith refused to let her get caught up in hype or distracted.

– Amber Bullock, on her Sunday Best audition

“Before each performance, I would say ‘God, let your will be done,’” Bullock said. “I would say, ‘God, it’s me and you – let’s see what you were going to do this time,’and he

pound

violates state law going into effect Jan. 1

After a 2010 news report revealed the inhumane conditions at the city’s animal shelter on Gasconade, Mayor Francis G. Slay made a decision to close the facility.

In Walker’s new animal-control plan, she writes, “Gasconade was obsolete and inhumane.”

On the Stray Rescue website, Grim stated, “I live in an ignorant city. The problem is primarily in North City.”

Soon after the city closed the facility in August 2010, residents and surrounding animal shelters noticed an increase in dogs on the loose.

At that point, Walker and Slay established an unwritten partnership with the non-profit Stray Rescue, which has a mission of taking in stray dogs and finding homes for them.

Stray Rescue has taken almost 1,000 more dogs off the streets

“You would think that it is our tour and not his, the way he brings ‘us’up,” Bullock said. “Everything you see about him supporting young artists is the truth. He wants us to gain from the tour and learn from his mistakes.”

While Bullock will serve as the opening act and perform selections from her EP Thank You –which drops Dec. 6 – she will be a part of his entire set as a backup singer.

“Put on your jogging pants, your tap shoes and whatever you can move around in,” Bullock said. “The whole concert is going to be amazing, and I can’t wait to come home and see y’all.”

Amber Bullock will be a featured artist of the Kirk Franklin Fearless tour taking place tonight at the Fox Theatre (7:30 p.m. Nov. 17). Her debut EP will be released on Dec. 6 under World Music Entertainment.

Now the opportunity to work with her musical hero Kirk Franklin blows her away every day.

“When I was younger, I had this list of people I wanted to meet before I die and Kirk Franklin was number one,” Bullock said. “So when he said that he loved what I did, I was losing my mind.”

Now that her Sunday Best run has ended with her on top, she is continuing with Franklin on the tour. Bullock is eager to point out that Franklin has exceeded every expectation she had for him as a person.

than the prior year and was able to increase adoptions from 303 dogs to 1,200, she stated. Currently, the Gasconade location is not officially closed down, just closed to the public. Walker said it houses “bite” dogs and dogs the police pick up during criminal raids, evictions and other police calls. Walker said by running Gasconade as a smaller animal control facility, it allows employees to focus on enforcing the law. Since January, the number of tickets issued has gone from zero to more than 200, she said.

“The public is safer and animals are being treated better,” Walker stated.

However, many – including Slay and Walker – agree that

this is not sustainable because the Gasconade shelter will soon be violating state law.

Alderman Carter’s objections

Alderman Gregory Carter expressed two concerns with the plan.

First, the new North City shelter would be located right next to a children’s daycare center.

Alderwoman Dionne Flowers said the daycare center owners would be happy to have the animal shelter next door, rather than a noisy industrial company.

And secondly, Carter said, Randy Grim, director of Stray Rescue, has expressed some disrespectful opinions about North St. Louis City residents.

On the Stray Rescue website, Grim stated, “I live in an

Sunday Best winner and STL native Amber Bullock comes home to the Fox Theatre tonight as featured artist on the Kirk Franklin Fearless Tour.

ignorant city. The problem is primarily in North City.” Carter asked what happens when Stray Rescue starts refusing to take dogs. Walker said Stray Rescue takes in 90 percent of the dogs that the city picks up.

Aldermen will vote on Walker’s plan as a resolution after funds are secured.

Aldermen are also discussing two board bills that address animal control issues. Board Bill 44 would establish the “Pet Spay, Neuter and Microchip assistance fund.” This money comes from the residents that have checked the box for this fund on their water bill, personal property tax or real estate tax bill.

Board Bill 107, introduced by Alderwoman Lyda Krewson, would require spay/neutering and micro-chipping for all dogs and cats.a

SLPS

Continued from A1

achievement while also balancing the budget and strengthening the district’s financial position,” Adams said. “This has been accomplished thanks to the sacrifices made by all staff and done to improve the quality of education provided to our young people.”

Patrick Wallace, district spokesperson, said despite the increased costs in salaries, the district will still balance its $276.5 million budget. The salary increases for the district’s 3,200 employees will cost the district $3.3 million. And providing health insurance – at no cost to the employees – will cost $2.5 million.

AFTSt. Louis, Local 420, AFLCIO President Mary J. Armstrong said, “In my opinion, this contract represents a financially sound and prudent approach.Our vote confirms that our efforts are the shared priorities of our members.”

Armstrong stated that 92 percent of the certificated staff and 100 percent of the paraprofessional and secretary/clerical chapters voted in favor of the agreement.

2011 SALUTETO EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS AWARDS LUNCHEON

More than 500 attended the 12th annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards and Networking Luncheon last week at The Ritz Carlton,St.Louis.The special event was presented by the St. Louis American Foundation,St.Louis RCGA,and the Urban League of Metropolitan St.Louis.This year’s theme was “Get Connected,” with Centene Corporation sponsoring the Networking Reception prior to the luncheon.

Photos by Wiley Price and Maurice Meredith – View

Emcee Carol Daniel presented the 2011 Excellence in Business Performance awards to:Mark Smith,Centene Corp.;Keith Spears,Enterprise Holdings;LaVicki Hart,Citibank Retail Operations;and Ramona Dickens,Metropolitan Sewer District.

World Wide Technology Chairman David Steward presented the 2011 Non-Profit Executive of the Year award to Valerie Patton,Executive Director of the St.Louis Business Diversity Initiative.

Urban Leage president and CEO James Buford presented the 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year award to David Price,President, CEO and founder Birdet Price,LLC. Keith and Nedella Spears

Harris-Stowe Board of Regents Chairperson Thelma Cook and President Emeritus Dr.Henry Givens,Jr.,alongside St.Louis American Foundation President Donald M.Suggs presented the inaugural Dr.Donald M.Suggs Scholarship to HSSU’s Anheuser Busch School of Business to Temisha Blanchard

Geoff Green

Top 25 awardees

Darlene Davis of Davis Associates, CPAs and Roger Spearman of A-1 Private Investigations

Emcee Carol Daniel presented the inaugural MBE of the Year award to Vinet Holman of Forget Me Not Florist.

Micah Foster,Dani Taylor and Randy Weller

T.C.Slater and Heather Woodard Ebony Beattle

Entrpreneur of the Year David Price and family:wife Joyce Price,Ethel Price, Kenneth Price and Robert Smith

Awardee LaVicki Hart of Citibank Retail Operations

Top 25 awardee Solomon Akinduro of AFRAM

United Way VP Orvin Kimbrough presented the 2011 Corporate Executive of the Year award to Larry Thomas of Edward Jones.

St.Louis RCGA president and CEO Dick Fleming presented the 2011 Corporate Diversity award to Danny Ludeman, President and CEO of Wells Fargo Advisors.

Charles Walker,Mary Payne,Caiti Lace,Nichole Lyles,Heather Edwards,Odell Hendricks,Erica Frazier,and Aleshia McKay

John Shivers,Geogia Rusan,Mary Polk,and St.Louis Community College’s Anisha Morrell Charles

Ameren Missouri’s Richard Mark congratules Entrepreneur of the Year David Price.

The St.Louis American’s Pam Simmons and Barb Sills

Jamayca Smith,Arthurine Hunter,2011 MBE of the Year honoree Vinet Holman of Forget Me Not Florist,and Georgetta Vann

Top 25 awardee Tommy Davis,Sr.of TD4 Electrical, LLC and Toni Davis

Laraine Davis and Lu Reames Darcella Craven

2005 Entrepreneur of the Year Kelvin Westbrook with Valerie Bell and St.Louis Development’s Rodney Crim

Sable Campbell Jones Laurna Godwin

Associated General Contractors’Steven Lewis,World Wide Technology’s David Steward,and Enterprise Holdings’Alonzo Byrd

Harris-Stowe’s Dr.Fara Zakery,scholarship recipient Temisha Blanchard and Thomas Neely

Top 25 awardee Gloria CarterHicks of Hicks-Carter-Hicks and Kevin Cross

Alex Fennoy with Charlotte Ottley and City License Collector Michael McMillan

Dr.Henry Givens,Jr.

Chandrea Davis and Elisa Batteast

OBITUARIES

In Loving Memory

Steven L. Hunt, Sr.

March 4, 1966Nov. 16, 2010

To my dear son Steven, It has been a year since our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ called you home. Beloved and precious son, father,

brother, grandfather, uncle and friend – your beautiful precious spirit and our memories of you will always remain in our hearts and on our minds. We miss you so much son, rest in peace.

Much, much love, Mama, Family & Friends

Evelyn Glore Ashford

Evelyn Glore Ashford, 96 years old, embarked on her inal journey Monday, November 7, 2011 in Kansas City, MO, to

Evelyn Ashford

join her parents and friends in heaven. Evelyn was the only child born to the union of Malvern and Jessie Parker in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She graduated from Sumner High School in 1932 in St. Louis, Missouri and received a BA in Education from Fisk University in 1936 in Nashville, TN. On June 8, 1941, she was married to Edward Byron Glore, owner of Glore Radio and Television Store. With this union, two sons were born, Edward Byron Glore, Jr. and Gregory Malvern Glore.

She taught irst grade for more than 30 years, retiring in 1976. She was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church in St. Louis, as well as Jack

& Jill of America. Edward Glore Sr. died on September 16, 1980. Evelyn remarried on September 15, 1984 to Jesse Ashford and moved to Jefferson City, MO, where she was a member of Grace Episcopal Church and was active in various community organizations including Docent at the Cole County Historical Museum, Volunteer at the Capital Region Medical Center and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., as well as member of several Bridge Clubs. After Jesse passed away in 2000, she remained in Jefferson City until October 2002. She then moved to Kansas City to be near her family, and became a member of St. James United Methodist Church, where her son Gregory belonged. She was a member of The Brunchers, The Kansas City Birthday Club, The Saturday Night Sixteen Club and The Ivadif Bridge Club in St. Louis, Missouri.

Evelyn’s greatest delight lay in family and treasuring her friendships. She is survived by two sons, E. Byron Glore, Jr. of Los Angeles, CA and Gregory M. Glore of Overland Park, KS; two granddaughters, Gabrielle Glore of Brooklyn, New York and Angela Glore of New York, NY; two cousins Albert Hardy of New York, NY and Richard Harris of Missoula, MT; and countless friends.

Services: Saturday, November 19, 2011, 10 am at McGilley Memorial Chapels. In lieu of lowers, memorial donations to the following two Kansas City, MO organizations would be appreciated: St. James United Methodist Church (c/o Children’s Connection) and Kansas City Hospice House.

Orelia Reece Thanks for the Memories

Orelia Reece

All the fun times we shared will continue to live in our heart. They smell of your rolls, sweet potato pie, etc. will always be there. A year ago on November 18, you slipped away from us. Rest now in God’s hands.

Love, Your family

Special to The American

Robert Kamkwalala, assistant professor of inance and business administration, is the 2011 Emerson Excellence in Teaching Educator of the Year at Harris-Stowe State University. Kamkwalala teaches courses at the university’s Anheuser-Busch School of Business, located in South St. Louis.

“I am truly excited about my work here at Harris-Stowe and feel privileged to have such remarkable relationships with my students,” Kamkwalala said.

“It wasn’t too long ago that I was a student, therefore, I understand their challenges, and value the time that I have to make an impact in their lives as a professor of Business Administration.”

Kamkwalala joined HarrisStowe as a full-time faculty member in the fall of 2006 after serving as adjunct faculty since 2001. During his time at the university, Kamkwalala has taught a variety of courses including Business Finance, Budgeting and Cash Management, Financial Management in Health Care Institutions, Accounting Information Systems, Seminar in Higher Education and Topics in Higher Education. In addition to his regular HSSU teaching duties, Kamkwalala is a member of the Harris-Stowe Budgeting Committee, Business Advisory Council, Education Advisory Council and St. Louis Unbanked Task Force.

Kamkwalala holds a doctor of philosophy in management and a master’s of inance from Webster University in St. Louis. He is a graduate of HSSU, with a bachelor of science degree in business administration, with honors. He also earned an associate of arts degree in business administration from St. Louis Community College at Forest Park. Prior to becoming a professor, Kamkwalala worked as a telecommunications trafic manager in the Planning Department of Malawi Posts and Telecommunications. His academic and research interest include organizational effectiveness, organizational behavior and organizational development. His articles have been published in a variety of academic and practitioneroriented journals.

Kamkwalala, in the past, has received the HSSU Collegiate 100 Teacher of the Year award; HSSU Distinguished Alumnus award; HSSU Distinguished Pathinders Award; St. Louis Metro Sentinel “Yes I Can” award; and was named an All-American Scholar by the United States Achievement Academy, to name a few. He is a member of the Financial Management Association and the American Management

Steven L. Hunt, Sr.

Robert Kamkwalala

BUSINESS

Salute to black business leaders and entrepreneurs

African-American Leadership Society sets local and national standard reaching its goal of $2 million

behind it,” Ludeman said.

PEOPLEON THE MOVE

Karen Robinson, City Clerk of the City of Black Jack, has been awarded the designation of Certified Municipal Clerk. This certification is a combination of education and experience. With the ever-changing state statues and rules governing cities, it is vital that someone be kept current on those regulations.The Missouri City Clerks & Finance Officers Association provides education relevant to the needs and the position of City Clerk. Robinson has been with the City of Black Jack for 10 years.

Marsha Fisher, MD, has opened a new Obstetrician and Gynecologist practice, Mercy Clinic Women’s Health. Mercy Clinic is a multi-specialty physician group affiliated with Mercy Hospital. Fischer earned her M.D. at the University of Missouri School of Medicine. Additional Obstetrics & Gynecology training was conducted at Barnes Jewish Hospital. She obtained board certification from the member board for Obstetrics & Gynecology and has 19 years of experience as an M.D.

Martin Jenkins has earned the distinction of Certified Athletic Administrator from he National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association . Jenkins is in his second year as the Athletic Coordinator for St. Louis Public Schools.He previously served as athletic director at Clyde C. Miller Career Academy for six years and has eight years of experience as a girls basketball coach for SLPS. To earn the, he demonstrated the highest level of knowledge and expertise in the field of interscholastic athletic administration.

By Rebecca S.Rivas

Of the St.Louis American

The African-American business leaders were on a victory high at the Nov. 9 St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Business Networking & Awards Luncheon.

The day before, the United Way of Greater St. Louis announced that the African-American Leadership Society had reached its goal of $2 million, setting a new local and national standard for the organization’s black philanthropy. Most of the awardees and attendees are part of the society and cheered the achievement.

Danny Ludeman, CEO and president of Wells Fargo Advisors, led United Way’s

Overcoming inequalities through better choices

By Charlene Crowell Center for Responsible Lending

The agency mandated to provide Congress with impartial, non-partisan and timely analyses seldom makes headline news. But last month when the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released findings on its analysis of the nation’s income inequalities from a 30year review (1979-2007), media coverage exploded. After assessing the net income shares of people in 525 cities and towns, the agency’s top-line finding was reminiscent of lines from a Broadway production, “There’s no shame in being poor – but it’s no great honor either.”

According to CBO, the nation’s top one percent of household income more than tripled during these years, while middle class households either slipped into poverty or barely held on to their standard of living. Middle class income earners representing 60 percent of the population

See CHOICES, B2

“One of the things I absolutely cherish about this city is that whenever there is a spotlight on a need, this community rallies behind it.”

–

Danny Ludeman,

CEO

and

president

of Wells Fargo Advisors

overall campaign, which reached a regional record high of $71 million.

“One of the things I absolutely cherish about this city is that whenever there is a spotlight on a need, this community rallies

Wells Fargo Advisors received the 2011 Corporate Diversity Award. Larry Thomas, partner at Edward Jones, received the 2011 Corporate Executive Award. Valerie Patton, executive director of the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative, received the 2011 Nonprofit Executive of the Year, and David Price, founder and CEO of Birdet Price, received the 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year.

After cracking the glass ceiling at two Fortune 500 businesses and becoming a top executive at Monsanto and B.F. Goodrich, Price retired and started his own business as a consultant in the chemical industry. However, Price told the audience that what

FIRST LADYANNOUNCES COMMITMENTTO HIREVETERANS

Special to The American

Last week in her keynote address to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Business Steps Up: Hiring our Heroes event, First Lady Michelle Obama announced that the International Franchise Association (IFA), which represents 1,100 franchises, has committed to hiring 80,000 veterans and military spouses by 2014. 5,000 jobs of this commitment are promised to wounded warriors.

The Region 7 Office of the U. S. Small Business Administration and the St. Louis Veteran’s Business Resource Center will host a presentation on the International Franchise Associations’VetFran program 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Thursday, November 17 at the SBADistrict Office, 200 N. Broadway, Suite 1500.

the International Franchise Association and the Military Spouse Employment Partnership represents a commitment to hire 100,000 veterans, wounded warriors and military spouses by 2014.

Mrs. Obama also announced that the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) – which Jill Biden helped launch at the Chamber of Commerce last summer and which includes nearly 100 companies and organizations – has committed to employ 20,000 military spouses.

These organizations include companies like Microsoft, Home Depot and Citi and franchises like UPS, Guidant Financial and Data Doctors. Together, the commitment by

The IFAand MSEPare supporting Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden’s Joining Forces initiative and answering President Obama’s challenge to the private sector to offer jobs and career opportunities to veterans, wounded warriors and their families. Last month, the First Lady joined the President at Joint Base LangleyEustis in announcing that the American Logistics Association and their 270 affiliate companies committed to hiring 25,000 veterans and military spouses by 2014.

As part of the Joining Forces program’s focus on employment, the First Lady also announced a Veterans Job Bank tool, an open online resource supported by nearly a dozen technology and job search companies, including Simply Hired, Monster and others to help veterans and military spouses search job openings from committed employers based on their location and skills. The Job Bank is designed with a simple, easy to use approach which is why last

Micaela Cole of Ballwin has joined Kwame Building Group as a project administrator, working on KWAME projects at the St. Louis Public School District. Cole has 22 years of experience in administration.Kwame Building Group is a pure program and construction management firm providing estimating, scheduling, project planning, value engineering and other project management services as an independent advocate for owners and developers. Public and private sector projects include educational facilities, major airports nationwide, light-rail systems, hospitals and government facilities.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Local businesses give big to United Way campaign

The Regional Business Council, which represents more than 100 area firms, raised more than $9.9 million for the United Way of Greater St. Louis’2011 campaign.

Fourteen companies, their employees and participating labor unions raised combined team gifts of more than $1 million. Team gifts combine the gifts and pledges of employees with the company’s corporate contribution.

At the $4 million or more level in team gifts were employees of Edward Jones.

At the $3 million or more level in team gifts were employees of Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., Monsanto Company and Wells Fargo Advisors. The Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. gift also includes pledges from its labor unions and Anheuser-Busch Foundation.

The firms giving $2 million or more in team gifts were employees of Ameren, Emerson and Enterprise Holdings, Inc.

At the $1 million or more level in team gifts from employees were AT&TMissouri, BJC Health Care, The Boeing Company, MasterCard Worldwide, Nestle Purina PetCare Company, Schnuck Markets, Inc, and U.S. Bank.

Jimmy Williams opening a McDonald’s in downtown St. Louis

Local entrepreneur and franchisee Jimmy Williams will celebrate the opening of his newMcDonald’s on Tucker Blvd. 9 a.m. Thur., Dec. 1. Williams is a 47year-old African-American man taking on the challenge of opening a McDonald’s in downtown St. Louis. He asks the community to join him at the Grand Opening.

Toyota named Corporation of the Yearby minority suppliers

Toyota has been named the Corporation of the Year by the National Minority Supplier Development Council for its continued commitment to minority suppliers and diverse communities. The award recognizes the company’s leadership around supplier diversity that impacts all areas of its business operations.

Marsha Fisher

Karen Robinson

Martin Jenkins

Micaela Cole

Michelle Obama

Photo by Wiley Price

Jacqueline Vanderford,Andrea Neals,and John Abrams congratulate 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year David Price during the St.Louis American Foundation's 12th annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards and Networking Luncheon last week at The Ritz Carlton,St.Louis.

What are the different classes of assets?

When it comes to investing their money, many people are content to take a random approach.

They may have received a hot tip for a particular investment and decided to plow a large amount of money into it with no regard to the overall balance of their portfolios.

However, research has shown that it is through the careful selection of the various asset classes, rather than the individual investments themselves, that people prosper financially.

One study showed that on average, as much as 91.5 percent of an investment portfo-

lio’s overall return can be attributed to asset class selection.1

Therefore, the careful selection and distribution of your investments among the various asset classes is likely to prove crucial to the future success of your investment portfolio. There are five broad asset classes that you should take into consideration when constructing your investment portfolio.

Cash refers to the most liquid holdings in your portfolio. It includes the balance in your checking account, money market account, and certificates of deposit.

PERSONAL FINANCE

Conventional wisdom holds that you should keep three to six months’salary in cash to cover yourself in the event of an emergency.

Fixed-principal investments are those that do not put your principal at risk to market forces. Fixed annuities and trust deeds fall into this category.

By Charles Ross

Charles Ross

CHOICES

Continued from B1

accounted for only 40 percent of after-tax household income. And among America’s lowest earning workers – about 20 percent of the population – the growth in average real aftertax household income was only 18 percent.

In part the report advised, “The rapid growth in average real household income for the one percent of the population with the highest income was a major factor contributing to the growing inequality in the distribution of household income between 1979 and 2007. Shifts in government transfers and federal taxes also contributed to the increase in inequality.”

Aplain English translation of this finding seems to be that the 30-year span of trickledown economics at work has not brought a drop of prosperity to 99 percent of the nation. No wonder the nation has seen a groundswell of demonstrators referring to themselves as the “99ers.”

Debt makes up the third asset class. It includes municipal, corporate, government, and government agency bonds. It also covers other debtsecured investments such as collateralized mortgage obligations.

Equity represents an ownership interest in a business entity; this class covers any investment you might make in

For African Americans in particular, these ill-advised policies have been particularly painful – unemployment rates double that of the rest of the nation, neighborhoods dotted with foreclosures and short-sales, a lack of affordable housing for former homeowners, and for those lucky enough to still have a job –incomes trailing the rest of the nation. If there was ever a time ripe for change, it surely must be now. We cannot continue along the same 30-year path that has led to such pathetic results. The nation needs the return of a robust economy and a time when vigorous enforcement from our federal consumerwatchdog agency convinces more businesses to become consumer-respectful.

stocks. It also covers any interest you may have in a closely held corporation or partnership.

Tangibles include your holdings in real estate, art, gold, precious stones, stamps, baseball cards, or other valuable collector’s items.

How you choose to distribute your investments among the various asset classes depends on your goals, your risk tolerance, and your expected rate of return.

Keep in mind that asset allocation does not guarantee against loss; it is a method used to help manage investment risk.

We must remember that loyalty in business should be earned – not given away.

It is equally important that as consumers of color we direct our dollars to education, businesses and enterprises that value all we bring to the marketplace table. According to the Nielsen Company’s recent report, The State of the AfricanAmerican Consumers, 43 million AfricanAmerican consumers together represent nearly a trillion dollars of purchasing power each year.

VETERANS

Continued from B1

week, companies like Guidant Financial and Data Doctors learned about the tool and were able to quickly tag their postings, now part of the 550,000+ jobs available to veterans and military spouses today.

“When we think about what we’re announcing today, 100,000 new jobs committed and 550,000 searchable jobs online, those aren’t just numbers.There are millions of Americans all across this country who are working hard every day to find new ways to honor military families’service,” said First Lady Michelle Obama.

“All of this is adding up and thanks to the IFAand MSEP, they’re part of the wave of support forming that

All investments are subject to market fluctuation, risk, and loss of principal. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost.

Source: 1) Brinson, Singer, and Beebower, “Determinants of Portfolio Performance II: An Update,” Financial Analysts Journal, May-June 1991 Charles Ross is host of the syndicated radio program “Your Personal Finance.” Contact him at P.O. Box 870928; Stone Mountain, Georgia 30087; or email to charles@ charlesross.com.

Before Black Friday, the day following Thanksgiving and traditionally the busiest retail shopping day of the year, African-Americans have the opportunity to be better stewards of the purchasing power we hold in our own hands. We can and should use our economic clout to forge new awareness and respect for our economic strength. Moreover, that strength would best be shared with those that value our choices in every purchase or investment. If lenders are reluctant to offer transparent transactions that inform us before a debt is incurred, we need to walk away with our money, our credit and our self-respect. Whether the product is a new

stretches across this country.”

“Over the past year, the White House’s Joining Forces and the Chamber’s Hiring Our Heroes initiatives have been united for a common goal: to ensure our veterans and military spouses can find jobs,” said Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“Our partnership with Joining Forces will continue, as we spread this movement across the country to create an environment in which thousands of military veterans and military spouses can find meaningful employment in their local communities.”

IFAPresident & CEO Steve Caldeira said,

“Franchising, due to its structured, scalable model, is an engine of job creation and provides a tremendous opportunity for returning veterans and their families to join the

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

franchise industry and help lead the country to economic recovery.”

“Military spouses face unique challenges when pursuing careers, with time constraints and portability issues topping the list of obstacles,” said Jo Ann Rooney, Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.

“The Military Spouse Employment Partnership aims to solve these challenges by connecting military spouses to career opportunities available through MSEP’s employment partners.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has supported their initiative by conducting hiring fairs for veterans and military spouses in 100 local communities across the country and will expand that number to several hundred next year. For more information, visit JoiningForces.gov.

"You can't get a bad comment out of me about Tim Tebow.I love him."

CLAIB’S CALL

With Mike Claiborne

Passing of the torch

Mike Matheny tabbed to manage Cardinals

Now that the Tony La Russa era is over, it didn’t take long for the Cardinals to find their man. Former Cardinal Mike Matheny was tabbed to be the new manager, with a raised eyebrow by some. That contingent obviously does not know Mike Matheny. If there was ever a person who was right for this job at this time, it is Matheny. Now before you start to question what about Oquendo or Francona who were finalists, let’s talk about the guy who got the job.

Mike Matheny is a pro in everything he does on and off the field. He is an exceptional athlete who made himself into a Major League player who played for 13 years, a multiple Gold Glove winner respected by teammates and his peers around the league. Matheny reeks of leadership. The reason why this situation works is simple. His recent removal from the game still gives him cachet with this team’s veterans whom he played with or against. They know what he will be about and what will be expected. Fortunately, the Cardinals have a collection of professionals who get what it takes to be successful. To challenge authority here will not be an

See FRAZIER, B5

INSIDE SPORTS

With Earl Austin Jr.

own Montee Ball a Heisman candidate

Wisconsin running back now holds Big Ten single-season touchdown record

The college football pundits have been bouncing around all over the place in their speculation of who should win the Heisman Trophy this season. Two other candidates saw their chances take a big hit when Andrew Luck’s Stanford Cardinal and Kellen Moore’s Boise State Broncos suffered their first losses of the season. I have another player that the voters should consider. How about the STL’s own Montee Ball of Wisconsin. The former Wentzville Timberland star running back just sprinted into the Big Ten Conference record books this past weekend. Ball has enjoying a spec-

– Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller on Tebow's 3-1 record as theteam's starting quarterback See INSIDE, B5

tacular junior season in leading the Badgers to an 8-2 record. With his three touchdowns in the Badgers’victory over Minnesota, Ball became the Big Ten’s single-season record holder for touchdowns. Ball has scored 27 touchdowns and he still has two more regular-season games, a possible Big Ten championship game and a bowl game left to play. As a sophomore in 2010-11, Ball rushed for 992 yards and 18 touchdowns in helping the Badgers to the Rose Bowl. After losing 25 pounds during the off-season, Ball has taken his game to an even

The St. Louis Rams won their second game of the season in upending the Cleveland Browns 1312 last Sunday. The football game was not a thing of beauty. However, when you have more points than the team you’re up against, that’s all that matters. Just call me naïve, but when I read the message board today, I got the distinct impression that a lot of the so-called

What, would you rather be without a professional football team here? I can’t tell.

Can we just enjoy a win? Through 10 games, Ball has rushed for 1,242 yards and 23 touchdowns while averaging nearly seven yards per carry.

I’m sure Rams owner Stan Kroenke watched the game. I’m sure he saw the same game that we all watched. So, why hit the message boards with this stuff that you’re mad because the Rams won? Are the fans in this town that stupid? Really? Who roots for the home team to lose? Just to see the head coach to be fired? First off, these are not real fans of the St.Louis Rams. To be perfectly honest, I’m not a fan of this version of the Rams. But, I’m not about to sit and watch them play for three hours and hope them to lose. Never. That’s idiotic. I still feel that there should be changes all across the board. I just have a hard time coming

Mike Claiborne

New St.Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny (center) talks to reporters as general manager John Mozeliak (right) and team owner Bill Dewitt Jr. look on at Busch Stadium on Monday.Matheny becomes the team's 49th manager,succeeding Tony La Russa who retired.

Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

PREP FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK

With Earl Austin Jr.

One step away from the Dome

Semifinal matchups to decide who plays for state

By Cedric Williams Special to the American

Just one step away from reaching the ultimate dream of playing for the state championship at the Edward Jones Dome next weekend.

That’s where the 24 teams that somehow survived last weekend’s Missouri state football quarterfinals find themselves, heading into this weekend’s playoff semifinals.

The quest began, for some teams, back in May & June, with summer camps and weight-training & conditioning workouts, and progressed through preseason training camp in the hot sun of August.

And now, in the blustery cold of November, there are only 24 teams left in the six MSHSAAclassifications, all hoping to fulfill their dream of advancing to the Thanksgiving weekend Dome spectacular, known as the Show-Me Bowl State Football Championships.

But first, they’ve got to get through this weekend.

And boy, what a weekend it oughta be, with 12 sensational matchups around the state, including three magnificent contests here in the STL(one on Friday, two on Saturday), featuring the absolute best teams still questing for that trip to the Dome.

Here is a preview of the six state semifinal games involving teams from St. Louis.

Class 6 State Semifinals –Fri.,Nov.18

CBC (12-0)at SLUH (9-3),7 p.m.

The marquee matchup of the weekend is this showdown

between the area’s bes young head coach (CBC’s Scott Pingel) and the area’s best coach-yet-to-win-a-title (SLUH’s Gary Kornfeld).

The odds say one of these guys is going to get his first title this year, but first, they’ve got to get past each other.

Undefeated CBC is the No. 1-ranked team in the city and the state this season, with a high-powered offense that averages 43.1 points/game. QB Dalton Demos, a three-year varsity starter, is the leader of the Cadets wonderfully-balanced offensive unit, with 2,338 pass yards and 30 TDs this season – totals which both rank in the top 7 in the area this year.

In the backfield, CBC features two fantastic ballcarriers in senior AntonioBrown (1,174 yards & 17 TDs) and junior Jonathan Parker (806 yards & 12 TDs), while also utilizing top receiver and return man Aarion Penton(33 catches for 683 yards and 15 TDs) for big plays when needed. On defense, senior RB Darian Bass is CBC’s top playmaker. For SLUH, which began the year 1-3, after a 34-7 Week 4 loss to CBC, but has won eight straight since, is led the the STLarea’s No. 1 passer, QB Trevor McDonagh. This season, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound, gunslinger has thrown for 3,124 yards & 27 TDs, which includes the 396 yards and four TDs he put up against rival De Smet in last week’s quarterfinals.

Speedy senior Stefan Sansone is McDonagh’s top receiving target, with 54 catches for 1,009 yards & 16 TDs. But he also doubles as the area

leader with more than 800 total return yards on kickoffs, punts, and INTs. The Jr. Bills also feature a top performer at RB, in No. 1 Metro Catholic Conference rusher Terek Hawkins, who to date has totaled 1,291 yards and 19 TDs in SLUH’s versatile offense.

Class 5 State Semifinals –Sat.,Nov.19 Kirkwood(11-0) at Hazelwood East (8-4), 1:30 p.m.

This might be the most unlikely matchup of the weekend. Not so much because of Kirkwood, the Pioneers are undefeated this season, and just about everyone expected them to be in the city championship.

But who would’ve thought a youthful and rebuilding Hazelwood East team would be in the state semifinals this season. The Spartans were 3-4 heading into districts, but have somehow come alive with five

straight wins, including the upset shocker of the season, last Saturday night, 42-15 over Parkway Central. Sophomore RB Jimmy Jones had 120 yards and two TDs in that win, and is now sniffing the 1,000-yard mark, with 921 yards & 12 total TDs for the season. Senior QB Trey Hill also threw for two scores in the win over Parkway, and has 1,220 yards & 14 TDs this season. East also features a trio of other supremely talented underclassmen in junior RB Dallas Vaughn, sophomore RB Ahmad Huddleston, and sophomore DB/KR Diondre’ Worthy. Kirkwood is led by talented QB duo Jordan Bishop and B.J. Buckner. For the season, the two have combined to throw for more than 1,800 yards and 33 TDs. Buckner has also scored 10 TDs rushing and receiving for the Pioneers, whilesharing the ball with speedsters Ramon Alton (1,007 rush yards, 16 TDs) and WR Mike McHugh (941 receiving yards & 19 TDs).

Class 6 State SemifinalsFri.,Nov.18: Blue Springs South (12-1) at Francis Howell (9-3), 7 p.m.

The host Vikings are making their first ever appearance in the state semifinals after its 49-21 victory over rival Fort Zumwalt West in the quarterfinals. Howell has an excellent passing game, led by senior quarterback Eric Siebenshuh, who has passed for 2,799 yards and 30 touchdowns. He has two 1,000-yard receivers to throw to in Cory King and Alex Strong. Blue Springs South advanced to the semifinals with a convincing 28-7 victory over defending state champion Kansas City Rockhurst.

Class 4 State SemifinalsSat.,Nov.19: MICDS (13-0) at Farmington (12-1), 1:30 p.m.

The undefeated Rams are seeking their first Show-Me Bowl berth since 2007. They have a well-balanced offense, led by the powerful running of senior Michael Scheer and passing of senior Thomas Militello. Scherer has rushed for 1,179 yards and 25 touchdowns while Militello has passed for 2,794 yards and 37 touchdowns. Militello’s favorite targets are seniors Jack Howell and Foster Bundy, who have combined for 29 touchdown receptions. The defense is led by Scherer at linebacker and defensive linemen Todd

by

Hearns, Peter Schlafly, Chris Brothers and A.J. Washington. Farmington rallied from a 14-0 deficit in the fourth quarter with 31 unanswered points to defeat PHLchampion Gateway Tech in the quarterfinals. Running back Connor Devault rushed for 206 second-half yards and scored five touchdowns for Farmington.

Class 3 State Semifinal Game –Sat.,Nov.19 Osage (13-0) at John Burroughs (12-1), 1:30 p.m.

Of the 12 semifinal games around the state this weekend, this might be the best matchup of them all, with undefeated Osage bringing the entire Lake of the Ozarks community into West County to take on Burroughs Saturday afternoon. The Bombers, heartbreak losers of the Class 3 state championship game last year, are looking to finish what they started this time, with a squad that looks a whole lot different from 2010. Last year, Burroughs was all about 2010 St. Louis American Small Schools Player of the Year and star WR/KR Grant Wallace. This year though, the Bombers rely mostly on junior RB Ezekiel Elliott, who leads the Metro Football League in rushing (1,542 yards) and yards per carry (9.1 avg.), and leads the entire area in scoring with 37 TDs. At QB, senior Davey Holmes has passed for 1,997 yards and 29 TDs, throwing to a variety of receivers, led by senior Nathan Adams. Osage features one of the truly dynamic players in the state in senior RB/WR/DB/PR Jared Edwards. This season, he’s led the Indians to a perfect 13-0 record, and just last week scored five TDs and set a state record with his sixth punt return for a touchdown, to lead Osage to a 63-21 win over North Callaway.

Class 2 Semifinals: Sat.Nov.19: Maplewood (10-2) at Lamar (12-1), 1:30 p.m.

Maplewood is seeking its second consecutive berth in the state-championship game, but it must make the long trip to Lamar. Junior quarterback Kahlid Hagens is a dual-threat with 2,767 total yards and a total of 29 touchdowns. Freshman tailback Elijah Keely has rushed for 961 yards and 16 touchdowns. Juniors Antar Thompson and Aaron Spudich anchor the line play while Wes Williams is the leading tackler on defense.

Photo

Wiley Price

Maplewood quarterback Kahlid Hagens led the Blue Devils to a Class 2 quarterfinals victory over Caruthersville Saturday at Lindenwood College on Saturday.Hagens had 13 carriers for 133 yards on the day.

Biedscheid to fight for The Irish

from B3

higher level. Through 10 games, he has rushed for 1,242 yards and 23 touchdowns while averaging nearly seven yards per carry. He also has 14 receptions for 234 yards and four touchdowns.

Ball rushed for 151 yards and four touchdowns in the Badgers’48-17 destruction of Nebraska to open Big Ten conference play. He added 223 yards and three touchdowns in a 62-17 victory over Purdue. For his career, Ball has rushed for 2,629 yards and scored 49 touchdowns. In what has turned out to be a wide open race for the Heisman Trophy, it’s time to show a little love for Montee Ball. At the very least, it should get him a good head start on his senior year.

• Anotherlocal product who has enjoyed immense success in the Big Ten is for-

merHazelwood Central standout Marvin McNutt, who is a senior at Iowa. The 6’4” 215-pound McNutt is having the best year of his college career in Iowa City. Through nine games, McNutt has 65 receptions for 1,089 yards and 10 touchdowns, which are all career high totals. Last weekend, McNutt caught eight passes for 130 yards and one touchdown in a 37-21 loss to Michigan State. For his career, McNutt has 152 receptions for 2,514 yards.

• Last Wednesday night was a very special day for the STLTeam Adidas girls summer basketball program.

On the first day of the November early signing period, eight members of the STL Team Adidas 2012 team signed national letters of intent, with six of them signing with NCAADivision I schools. The eight signees were Kirkwood High guard Lianna Doty (Missouri), Miller Career Academy forward Shanity James (Arkansas-Little Rock),

McCluer forward Sherise Williams (Mississippi State), Belleville Althoff forward Alece Shumpert (Eastern Illinois), Eureka center Alex Hilyer (Missouri State), Jefferson City Helias guard Olivia Hackmann (Southeast Missouri State), Lafayette guard Kayla Hall (Rockhurst U.) and Pattonville forward Kristen Hana (Missouri Southern). The eight players signed their letters together at a special gathering held at the Shearaton Westport last Wednesday. Congratulations to all of these talented young ladies as well as the STLTeam Adidas coaches George Merritt, Tony Condra and the rest of their staff on their big day.

• FormerGateway Tech basketball standout Jesse Perry is off to an excellent start to the 2010-11 season for the University of Arizona. The 6’8” senior forward registered double-doubles for points and rebounds in the Wildcats’first two victories. Perry had 14

points and 10 rebounds in the Wildcats’opener against Valparaiso, then followed up with 11 points and 11 rebounds in a victory over Lehigh. In three games, Perry is averaging 10.7 points and 8.3 rebounds. As a junior, Perry averaged 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds as a starter for the Wildcats’2011 team that advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAATournament.

• St. Louisan Alexander Williams, a former standout basketball player at O’Fallon Tech in the early 1980’s, made national headlines last weekend with a special wedding proposal. Williams proposed to his girlfriend, Dionne Savage, on Nov. 11 at 11:11 a.m. at the counter of the LAX Airport where the two met two years ago.Williams surprised her with the wedding proposal in front of many friends and a local television camera. Williams lives in the Washington, D.C. area. Congratulations.

Jimmy Jones

Hazelwood East – Football

The sophomore running back has emerged as a top offensive threat in the postseason in leading the Spartans to the Class 5 state semifinals. Jones rushed for 110 yards and scored three touchdowns in the Spartans 42-15 victory over Parkway Central in the state quarterfinals last Saturday.

The 5’10” 180-pound Jones has rushed for 787 yards and 10 touchdowns in the Spartans’five postseason games. That includes a 247-yard, two touchdown performance against Normandy and a 172-yard, two touchdown performance against McCluer in district play. For the season, Jones has rushed for 911 yards and 12 touchdowns. Hazelwood East will host Kirkwood in the Class 5 state semifinals on Saturday afternon at 1:30 p.m.

B.J. Tucker

DeSmet – Soccer

The talented junior forward scored the game-winning goal in DeSmet’s 1-0 victory over Francis Howell to propel the Spartans’to the Final Four of the Class 3 state tournament this weekend. Tucker scored on a header with 23 minutes remaining in the state quarterfinals for the only goal of the game. Tucker also scored a goal in the Spartans’3-0 victory over Jackson in the state quarterfinals. In the Spartans’2-1 victory over CBC in the district championship game, Tucker assisted on the game-winning goal. For the season, Tucker has nine goals and five assists for a total of 23 points.

to grips with people wishing that the Rams would lose. What, would you rather be without a professional football team here? I can’t tell.

I’m satisfied that the Rams won. I wasn’t jumping for joy either. But, I did find some good things about the win that some of the so-called fans don’t know about. Steven Jackson ran over 100 yards for the third week in a row. Although Jackson had a fumble in the contest, it was only the 15th fumble in 2,300 touches. If you are doing your math at home, Steven Jackson touches the ball almost 90 percent of the time without turning the ball over. That is a very impressive stat. And another stat. Even if the Rams are 2-7 at the very moment, the Rams has won two out of there last three football games with two consecutive games at home. On Sunday, they host the Seattle Seahawks, then the following week against the Arizona Cardinals. Two divisional opponents that I think the Rams should beat. See that? They should beat. Not that I hope they lose. For more Rams talk, tune into Moses on Iwatchradio.com Keeping It 100.

Cardinal Ritter College Prep basketball standout Cameron Biedscheid signed a national letter of intent to attend Notre Dame last week at a ceremony at the high school.Biedscheid is joined by his parents Kim Singletary (left) and Dan Biedscheid (right).The 6'7" Biedscheid is ranked as one of the top seniors in the nation.

Running back Steven Jackson #39 of the St.Louis Rams runs past linebacker D'Qwell Jackson #52 of the Cleveland Browns Sunday in Cleveland,Ohio.Jackson had a big day in helping the Rams win their second game of the season.

MBE networking event with transit agencies

Thursday,Dec. 1 at Frontenac St. Louis Hilton

The Missouri Regional Certification Committee’s (MRCC) partnering agencies will hold afree networking reception next month entitled “Arming Yourself with the Right Tools for Success in 2012.” The event is open to all Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBEs), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBEs), Minority Business Enterprise (MBEs) and Women Business Enterprise (WBEs) and small business owners. The reception will be held onThursday,December 1 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Frontenac St. Louis Hilton, 1335 S. Lindbergh Blvd.

MRCC will provide access to all three St. Louis agency representatives, information on projects for 2012, a review of the business landscape during

he loves most is working with young minority businesses to grow their businesses.

“I’m not your classic entrepreneur,” Price said. “I didn’t invent anything new in 2011. I believe the reason St. Louis American Foundation chose me for this award was they recognized my genuine effort in building and creating that next generation of success minority entrepreneurs and leaders.”

Price said he is honored to say he develops young leaders. In doing this work, he’s noticed that young entrepreneurs don’t always get the financial backing they need.

“We need financial institutions in our neighborhoods who are will to put cash to work for entrepreneurs in our region,” he said, “as opposed to taking cash out of our communities to satisfy investors who are non-residents and who don’t care about our jobs or our growth plan.”

“I challenge you all to work with me,” he said. “Follow my lead because I’m going to be out front.”

Orvin Kimbrough, of the United Way, introduced the Corporate Executive of the Year award for Larry Thomas, who currently leads the diversity recruitment programs at Edward Jones. He was previously chairman of the Charmaine Chapman Society for two years.

“Larry is always very poised and very intentional with his reactions. I call it ‘cool pose,’” Kimbrough said, getting a round of laughs from the audience. “Larry is among a top tier of individuals in this community who yearn to see it better.”

Thomas said he was thankful to all the people who he leaned on throughout his career.

“What makes St. Louis great is its people, all of you in this room,” he said. David Steward, founder of World Wide Technologies, introduced Valerie Patton as one of St. Louis’true gems. Patton leads the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative, which has a yearlong fellowship program for young executives of color. Besides having many of the fellows in the audience, he noted that she had two “gunslingers” sitting on either side of her – her mother

these challenging economic times and what to expect for the coming year.

MRCC is comprised of five agencies, including, MoDOT, City of St. Louis - Lambert Airport Authority, City of Kansas City, Kansas City Area Transit Authority. Pre-registration is required, with the deadline on November 30. For more information and to RSVPfor this event, contact Rose Cooper at 573-751-6801.

Betty Patton and the legendary civil rights attorney Frankie Freeman.

“She always comes fully loaded where ever she goes,” Steward said. “She’s got two six-barrels on either side.”

Patton said she was humbled and honored to get the recognition for her work. However, the most important recognition goes to the St. Louis American Foundation for helping children to get the education to be the next leaders in our country.

Patton told the story of her father working as a mail carrier in an affluent part of St. Louis City.

“He always told me, ‘Be good to the help. Those are the people who really propel you to be successful,’” she said.

Patton continued saying that in the Metropolitan One building downtown, where her office is, there was a gentleman who shined shoes.

“One time I went down to get my shoes buffed and I was telling him, ‘Well I’ll try,’” she said. “He told me, ‘There is no such word as try. You will do your best.’So you see, your lessons come from many different places.”

Financial Focus

By Marvin Mitchell, financial advisor

Manage your money carefully this holiday season

As you know, the holiday season can be joyous, hectic, celebratory — and expensive. And while you certainly enjoy hosting family gatherings and giving presents to your loved ones, you’ll find these things even more pleasurable if they don’t add a lot more weight to your debt load. And that’s why you’ll want to follow some smart money-management techniques over the next few weeks. To begin with, try to establish realistic budgets for both your entertaining and your gift giving. When you host family and friends, don’t go overboard on your expenditures. Your guests will still appreciate your efforts, which, with a little creativity, can create a welcoming and fun experience for everyone. As a guiding principal, keep in mind these words attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the famous German poet and philosopher: “What you can do without, do without.” Set a budget and stick to it. And the same rule applies to your gifting. You don’t need to find the most expensive presents, or overwhelm recipients with the sheer volume of your gifts. This is especially true if you, like so many people, have

been affected by the tough economy. Everyone you know will understand that gifts don’t have to be lavish to be meaningful. Furthermore, by sticking to a budget, you won’t be tempted to dip into your long-term investments to pay for fabulous parties or mountains of gifts. It’s never a good idea to tap longterm investments for shortterm needs, but can be especially bad when your investment prices are down,

There goes the neighborhood

Broken promise of integration on stage at History Museum

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

What began as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream extended far beyond the realm of civil rights. He was ighting for a “beloved community” – one where the promise of our nation is personiied through the blending of black and white families in neighborhoods across the country. And through its presentation of Palmer Park, a collaborative stage production that teams St. Louis Actors’ Studio and the Black Rep,

viewers get a glimpse of the emotions that come with one Detroit community’s struggle to attract and maintain diversity.

Award-winning playwright Joanna McClelland Glass draws from her personal experience as a Palmer Park resident during its cultural crossroads as a borderline afluent community. The late 1960s were a pivotal period for Palmer Park, Detroit and America in general. Urban riots were partially responsible for a mass exodus from urban areas to the suburbs by the white population, but

Missouri History Museum’s presentation of Joanna McClelland Glass’ play “Palmer Park,” directed by Ron Himes, continues through Sunday, Nov. 20.

Dishing with JoJo

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“I started cooking at 10, and by the time I was 12 or 13 I was getting down,” JoJo Davis, owner of the Shrimp Shack soul food restaurant, said.

“I started cooking whole full-ledged meals for the entire extended family, 15 people – Turkey, dressing, greens and yams. I was in the house when everyone else would be outside. I just loved to cook. I didn’t even learn to ride a bike until two years ago.”

Davis started working for her father’s ish house at the tender age of 14, and by 19 she had a restaurant of her own. She took a hiatus to

“have some babies,” but for the past 12 years the Shrimp Shack has been dishing it.

While shrimp is on the menu, Shrimp Shack is more than the name suggests.

“They love these greens, that spaghetti, the shrimp and the ish,” Davis said. “And the fried chicken – that’s what we went to the Steve Harvey Hoodie Award s for was the chicken.”

Simply staying open is a big thing for small business, and Davis was quick to point out where her help comes from.

“Honestly, God deserves all of the credit,” Davis said. “I would tell anyone starting their own business, ‘If you believe that this is what God called you to do, he didn’t call you to close up.’”

So with the support of her husband Max and NINE children, JoJo is building her brand. In addition to her restaurant that serves nearly 1,000 each week, Davis is celebrating the one-year anniversary of her line of seasoning.

“I’m not going to say it hasn’t been challenging, but you have to take the ‘you can’t’ out of the vocabulary,” Davis said.

And she views the opportunity to serve the more than 30 items on her menu each day – and season line that includes 10 varieties – to be a blessing.

“We are not just here to feed your stomach,

St. Louis members of Beaumont High School’s Class of 1966 partied in grand old school fashion October 14, 15 and 16, 2011. Planning committee members Connie Gladney Agard and Joshua Beeks said the committee met every two weeks for over a year to plan the festive weekend.

Ninety ive of their classmates attended, many from near and far including Emily Jenkins – Nashville, TN, Romie Morgan – Columbia, MO, Mary Ann Anthony-Burton – Arlington, TX, Maria HowellJenkins –Rockledge, FL, Barbara Blaylock – Richmond, VA, John Hilton – Houston. TX, Gerald Horne – North Carolina, Donald Bramlett –Rockford, IL, Gloria Davis – Decatur, IL, Norma Conley –Dubuque, IA and Linda Lee – Los Angeles, CA. The Renaissance Airport Hotel served as reunion central. Joshua says responses from attendees have been positive. The weekend began with a casual Meet and Greet Friday evening at the hotel. Saturday night was the Gala Reunion Dinner Dance in the beautifully decorated penthouse ballroom. The weekend concluded with a tearful Sunday Brunch. The group enjoyed lots of great conversation, reminiscing, bopping, dancing, shared memories and catching up. Connie says the group is looking forward to their 2016 celebration weekend!

Generations Photomontage for the perfect Christmas gift! Dust off those vintage family photographs and get ready for the Holiday season. Photomontage Art and Photo Collage designs make great gifts; whether for birthdays, anniversaries, memorials or special occasions, your gift will be unique. Visit Andrea Haynes new website and archive your favorite memories now! http://www.genphotomontage.com

Special to The American

A a senior at Normandy High School, Daniel McRath has a feature role of the Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ production of Joshua’s Boots by acclaimed AfricanAmerican composer Adolphus Hailstork.

Set in 1878, Joshua’s Boots is the dramatic story of an African-American teenage boy named Joshua who escapes from a lynch mob to ind a new life in Kansas as one of the many black cowboys who

lourished in the Western frontier. McRath plays Natty, the best fried of Joshua. “I believe I was chosen because I was able to become Natty,” says McRath, who along with a number of other St. Louis-area students auditioned for the role. “I will give it my all!” McRath is in his second year of the prestigious Opera Theatre of St. Louis See OPERA, C4

Daniel McRath plays Natty in the Opera Theatre’s production of Adolphus Hailstork’s “Joshua’s Boots” at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center on the campus of UM-St. Louis at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18.

Newlyweds Brandon and Monita Chambers Moore

Photos by Wiley Price

1.Email

2.Visit

concerts

Thurs., Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m.

Fox Concerts presents Kirk Franklin’s Fearless Tour with special guests St. Louis’own AmberBullock and Isaac Carree, The Fox Theatre. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com or call (314) 534-1111.

Fri., Nov. 18, 8 p.m., Nurses forNewborns will host the Third Annual Notes for Newborns, an evening of music featuring award winning singer-songwriter Carrie Newcomer, Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Avenue. Tickets are available through MetroTix (314-5341111 / www.metrotix.com) or directly from Nurses for Newborns (www.nfnf.org or 314-544-3433).

Sun., Nov. 20, 7 p.m., Gateway Chapterof The Links, Inc. presents Silver Anniversary Concert feat. The Dickson String Quartet & Marsha Evans. Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. Thur., Dec. 8, 7 p.m., St. Louis Symphony presents A Gospel Christmas feat. Larnelle Harris. Powell Symphony Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more infor-

mation, call 314-534-1700 or visit stlsymphony.org.

local gigs

Nov. 20, 7 p.m. (6 p.m. doors), A-List Band Nights Concert Series, Quintessential Dining & Nightlife, 149 North Main St. St. Charles, MO 63301. For more information, call (314) 314-517-1995.

Sundays, 7 p.m., StarCity recording artist FRED WALKER performs his SAXYJAZZ music show every Sunday at: “JAZZ ON BROADWAY” 554 East Broadway, Alton, Il. 62002. Call 618-465-5299 for more information and directions.

special events

Thur., Nov. 17 8:30 a.m., MICDS hosts the Middle School Diversity Leadership Conference. This conference is open to 7th and 8th grade students from throughout the St. Louis metro area. Each participating school is being asked to send a delegation of 5 to 15 students. For more information, call 314-995-7360 or email Erica Moore at emoore@micds.org.

CALENDAR

Thur., Nov. 17, Christian Academy Open House. Developing Our Leaders of Tomorrow with Christian Values and Principles Today. Call today to schedule a tour. 8390 Latty Ave., 63042. For more information, call 314524-4272.

Sat., Nov. 19, 6 p.m., The YMCA presents Tuxedo & Tennis Gala, The Monsanto Family YMCA11th Annual Strong Community Campaign Kickoff. Millennium Hotel St. Louis, 200 South Fourth St., 63102. For more information, call 314-367-4646.

Thurs., Nov. 17, 6 p.m., The Saint Louis Crisis Nursery’s Young Professional Board will party fora purpose at Napoli’s Night forthe Nursery, Bar Napoli proceeds will support the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery Tickets can be purchased online at www.CrisisNurseryKids.org/m ake_a_donation.htm. Specify Napoli’s Night in the comments field. For more information, call (314) 292-5770 or email ebonee@crisisnurserykids.org

100 Black Women, Metropolitan St. Louis Chapterwill host their2nd Annual NeoSoul/Jazz Wine Tasting to “HonorWomen in Media” with entertainment provided by St. Louis’s own Jazz artist Denise Thimes Hotel Lumiere Atrium in Downtown St. Louis. Tickets may be purchased at: http://neosoulwine2011ncbwstl.eventbrite.com/ . For more information, call (314) 4943886 or e-mail ncbwstl@ncbwstl.org

Sat., Nov. 19, 12 p.m., St. Louis Language Immersion Schools Open House. 4011 Papin St., 63110. For more information, call 314-533-2001 or visit www.sllis.org.

Sat., Nov. 19, 6 p.m., AWay With Words, VPR Grief Support Foundation 18th Annual Dinnerand Candlelight Service Brentwood Recreation Complex, 2505 S. Brentwood Blvd, 63144. For more information, call (314) 838-8603 or (314) 681-1988.

dropped off at: SABAYET OUTREACH INC., 4000 Maffitt Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63113.

Nov. 23, Black Spade “The Sweetest Revenge” Album Release Party, The Gramophone, 4243 Manchester Ave. For more information, visit www.The GramophoneLive.com.

Fri., Nov. 25, 8 p.m. The 13 Black Katz presents 2nd Annual Bootology featuring DJ Mark Edwards and The Dirty Muggs, Grand Renaissance Hotel, 800 Washington St., St. Louis MO 63101.

Fri., Nov. 25, Cornell Boone in conjunction with Crown Royal, Heineken & Cort Furniture presents Panache Art Lounge Grand Opening hosted by Lance Gross, Inside Forest Park Golf House. For more information, e-mail, info@panacheartlounge.com or visit www.panacheartlounge.com.

Nov. 26-Dec. 10, 9 a.m., High CaliberFirearms Training, LLC presents Concealed Carry Training. Classes Taught on Saturdays. MEETS ALLTRAINING requirements for your Missouri Concealed Carry Permit. For more information, call 314-971-9737 or visit www.highcaliber.us.

Dec. 1, 5:30 p.m., St. Louis Chapterof the International Association of Administrative Professionals will host a silent auction and offBroadway production of “Holidays around the World”. In conjunction with the gala, a toy drive for Project ARK (Aids/HIVand Knowledge) organization will take place.The Crowne Plaza-Airport, 11228 Lone Eagle Drive, Bridgeton,MO 63044.To make a reservation, please contact Mary Lou Merkel, CPS at mlmerk@aol.com or go the Chapter’s website, www.iaapstl.org/stlouis .

Niecy’s Network Showcase, The showcase provides a spot for talent to shine! Fridays 8 p.m., Klimaxx Room inside the

Fri., Nov. 18, 5:30 p.m., On The National Coalition of ence Amusa’s one-of-a-kind African dance theatre and live concert surprises that willstir and wake you — and inspire you to change the world! At The Legacy, 5249 Delmar Blvd. To learn more, call (314) 458 – 4282 or visit www.AddLifeStudio.com

Through Nov. 22, SABAYET OUTREACH INC. is seeking donations for food baskets to distribute to BASIC for thanksgiving. Goods can be

Fri., Dec. 2, St. Louis Minority Supplier Development Council invites you to the Excellence Awards Gala. Four Seasons Hotel, 999 N. Second St., 63102. For more information, call 314241-1143 or visit www.stlouismsdc.com.

Sat., Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m., Platinum Group, Inc.’s 10th Annual “Have a Platinum Christmas” Celebration and Symposium, Carbriant Banquet Hall (located at 11896 Raymond Ave, St. Louis, MO 63138). For more information, call (314) 231-3500 or e-mail: platinumgroup02@cs.com

Dec. 3 & 4, Saturday (7pm) and Sunday (4pm). “Dance to Change the World!! An Interactive and Innovative African Dance Concert” presented by Malena Amusa & AddLife! Studio. For two nights only, come and experi-

Outlaws of Comedy Tour starring Katt Williams comes to Chaifetz Arena.For additional details,see COMEDY.

Nov. 4-20, Missouri History Museum presents Palmer Park. 1967 Detroit, the riots are over, residents are running for the suburbs, one integrated neighborhood fights for its life. Missouri History Museum, Lindell and DeBaliviere in Forest Park. For more information, call 314-361-9017 or visit www.mohistory.org.

Nov. 25 – Dec. 18, The Black Rep presents BLACK NATIVITY: AHOLIDAYCELEBRATION, The Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. Tickets are available from The Black Rep Box Office at (314) 5343810 or through MetroTix (314) 534-1111 or online at metrotix.com.

Dec. 1, 10a.m., Charles Jones’ delightful adaptation of Charles Dickens AChristmas Carol, The Fox Theatre. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com or call (314) 534-1111.

Dec. 6, 8 p.m., THE RAT PACK LIVE ATTHE SANDS, The Fox Theatre. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com or call (314) 534-1111.

Dec. 10, 2:30 p.m. & 7 p.m., Danse Arts Company and West County Family YMCA present WinterExtravaganza 2011, West County Family YMCA, 16464 Burkhardt Place in Chesterfield. For more information, call 636-532-6515 ext. 227 or e-mail: emarkingcamuto@ymcastlouis.org

Through November30, Portfolio Gallery presents Robert Hale’s exhibit Intimate Encounters: The African Americans, Portfolio Gallery, 3514 Delmar. For more information, call (314) 533-3323.

Through December2, The Luminary presents Recently Possible: Objects of the Future, their final exhibit of the 2011 season which explores the concept of ‘new media from a literal perspective of technological development, innovative concepts and radical consumer products primarily drawn from the past year. The Luminary Center for the Arts, 4900 Reber Place, MO 63139.

Through December5, TASK a self-generating, improvisational art-making event developed by artist OliverHerring will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 21 at Gallery 210 on the North Campus of the University of Missouri?St.

Louis. Herring will curate an exhibition from the objects created by the TASK participants as well as other artwork by him. Areception for the TASK exhibition will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28. Herring will give a gallery talk at 6:15 p.m. in the Gallery 210 auditorium. 44 Arnold B. Grobman Drive on the North Campus of the University of Missouri?St. Louis (between the MetroLink Station and the Touhill Performing Arts Center). For more information, call 314-516-5976 or email gallery@umsl.edu

December9, 6:30 p.m., A one-night art opening, Good Vibrations will feature work by twenty-one undergraduate artists majoring in sculpture at Washington University in St. Louis. Independently organized and curated by the sculpture majors. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the artists while enjoying food and drink. Lemp Brewery, 3500 Lemp Avenue.

Through January 8 PPRC Photography Project: Pais Youth Development Center, the newest exhibition for the Public Policy Research Center at the University of Missouri St. Louis. Children from the nonprofit center, which is based in the neighborhood, took to the streets to capture the more vibrant aspects of their surroundings. The colorful exhibit will be on display through Jan. 8 at the PPRC Photography Gallery in 427 Social Sciences and Business Building at UMSL, 1 University Blvd. in St. Louis County (63121). Gallery hours are from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Aduplicate of the exhibit will be on display through Jan. 8 in the northwest hallway at the Victor Roberts Building, 1354 N. Kingshighway Blvd. in St. Louis (63113). The exhibit can be viewed from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. An opening reception will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Victor Roberts Building.

lectures

Thurs., Nov. 17, 4:30 p.m., Local Business Fairpresented The Bob Virgil Centerfor Entrepreneurship in the Anheuser-Busch School of Business at Harris-Stowe State University, in conjunction with the St. Louis Development Corporation panelists for the event include: Anthony Thompson, chief executive officer of KWAME Construction; Sharilyn Franklin of Fuse Advertising; Carolyn Pryor of Serenity Women’s Health; Darlene

Davis, certified public accountant; and Steven Cousins, attorney. Participating entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to glean advice and guidance firsthand from these successful business leaders, as well as showcase their own business concepts to the public. Those interested in entrepreneurship, business start-ups and economic development within the region are encouraged to attend. South campus of Harris-Stowe State University, 5707 Wilson Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit (314) 340-3391.

Fri., Nov. 18, Saint Louis University presents Global Business Outlook Conference: Challenges and Opportunities Growing Globally. For more information, Email biib@slu.edu, call 314.977.3898 or visit http://www.slu.edu/x53220. xml.

Mondays, 6 p.m., FREE

AddLife! African Dance Class w/ Malena Amusa, Open to all levels. Presented by AddLife! Studio, this exciting class starts with rhythmic yoga, then dives into dazzling West African dance steps and exercise. At Legacy Books & Cafe, 5249 Delmar Blvd. For more info, call (314) 4584282 or visit www.AddLifeStudio.com

TMAPYouth Empowerment Sessions, Thursdays, 4:45 p.m., 5019 Alcott Walbridge C.E.C. Riverview West Florissant -TMAPmeet for Youth Empowerment Sessions facilitated by Keith Minor Nuisance Coordinator in the 27th Ward and feature a variety of positive role models from the St. Louis Metropolitan area listen to and dialogue with youth in the Walnut Park neighborhood. Topics vary and are youth driven. Call the RWF-TMAP

office at (314) 381-6999. Sundays, 6 p.m., My Business Rocks Study Group Led by founder of AddLife! Studio, Malena Amusa Imagine, strategize, and plan creative and unlimited biz success in this weekly organized study group. Open to Biz starters, leaders, and professionals. We meet at the Delmar Loop Bread Company. RSVP at (314) 458 – 4282 or visit www.AddLifeStudio.com.

Toastmasters International St. Louis presents Primary Conversations! Want to develop in Public Speaking? Visit Toastmasters Primary Conversations Club every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 6pm. Please call 314-225-9098 for more information.

health

Thur., Nov. 17, 5 p.m., St. Louis Diabetes Coalition presents Dining Out With Diabetes. Rich & Charlie’s, 9942 Watson Rd., 63126. For more information, call 314338-3460 or email stldiabetes@gmail.com.

Sat., Nov. 19, 9 a.m., St. Louis Diabetes Coalition presents Diabetes Technology Expo. The St. Louis Diabetes Technology Expo provides attendees with a look at how new technology is changing

diabetes management. Health care professionals and researchers will present information about on-the-market advances in medication, blood glucose monitoring and nutrition. Ritz Carlton, 100 Carondelet Park, 63105. For more information visit, call 314-851-1094.

Nov. 28, 6 p.m., Weight Loss Surgery information session featuring Dr. Lisa Hawyer, vonGontard Conference Center at Mercy Hospital St. Louis, 621 S. New Ballas Rd. For more information about bariatric surgery or to reserve a seat the seminar, call Cathy Hume, Bariatric Coordinator at 636-239-8878.

spiritual

Through November18, 7 p.m., Compton Hill Missionary Baptist Church invites you to “AFall Revival on the Hill.” 3141 LaSalle St., 63104. For more information, call 314-771-7971.

Through November19,New Baptist Covenant II at St. Luke Memorial Baptist Church, 3623 Finney Ave., 63113. For more information, call 314-531-1978.

Nov. 19, 12 noon, The Promise (Manifested) Matthew 9:36 will partner with New Light Missionary Baptist Church to present a holiday meal will be served, health screenings, gently used clothing/shoes/coats giveaways, referral information for various community resources, opportunity for food, fun and fellowship (additional volunteers and donations are needed to make this community event a success). New Light Missionary Baptist Church, 1478 Union Blvd.

Sun., Nov. 20, 4 p.m., Southern Mission Baptist Church-West invites you to Harvest Homecoming. 8171 Wesley Ave., 63140. For more information, call 314-5213951.

Sat., Nov. 26, 5 p.m., Silent Praise Productions invites you to “Experience the Story of Salvation like it’s never been told before.” Northside Seventh-day Adventist Church, 9001 Lucas-Hunt Rd., 63136. For more information call, 314-868-0707.

Dec. 10 (7 p.m.) – Dec. 11 (3 p.m.), The Missouri MidSouth Conference United Church of Christ, along with nationally-acclaimed musicians and locals ponsors, present Follow That Star: AJazz Nativity. These FREE concerts promise a contemporary retelling of a story that has long shaped and informed the culture. Pilgrim United Church of Christ, 826 Union Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108.

Nov. 26, 5 p.m., Northside SDApresents a holiday praise, worship and musical experience featuring Silent Praise, Courtney Loveless of the West Side Missionary Baptist Church, David Johnson of CA– well known for his Dr. Matrin Luther King Orations, Unity of Praise and the Northside SDAChoir , 9001 Lucas-Hunt Road. For more information call 314 226-4344/

Dec. 2, 7 p.m. Rhema Dance Ministry presents “Time Is of the Essence, ACinderella Story of the Ten Virgins’ Ball”, Machinist Ballroom, 12365 St. Charles Rock Rd. For more information, visit ww.rhemadanceministry.com

Through Nov. 20, Cinema St. Louis presents The 20th Annual St. Louis International Film Festival various locations. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit www.cinemastlouis.org.

Wed., Dec. 7, 6 p.m., Three Things Black People Everywhere Need to Know Schlafly Library, 225 N. Euclid St. For more information, call (314) 725-2722.

Panache Art Lounge Grand Opening hosted by Lance Gross. See SPECIAL EVENTS for more information.

Continued from C1

Wine, Dine and Dance…..

All For a Good Cause. The Mound City Medical Forum held its Annual Scholarship Banquet on Saturday October 29, 2011 at the trendy Hilton at the Ballpark Hotel in the scenic Arch Ballroom. The Mound City Medical Forum was chartered in 1920 and is the local affiliate to the National Medical Association. Members and guests enjoyed a delightful evening that included a delicious feast, dancing to the music of Jeff Hardin and Band, a historical perspective of Mound City presented by Dr. Gary Watkins and a passionate keynote speech by Dr. Otis Brawley (Chief Medical and Scientific Officer American Cancer Society). This year’s scholarship recipients were introduced by Dr. Jacqui Turner and Mrs. Mary Thomas Dr. Melvin Mackin served as Master of Ceremonies.

A few of members and guests seen on the dance floor enjoying the spectacular view included Dr. Jonathan and Bettye Reed, Joyce and David Price, Dr. Nat and Sandra Murdock, Dr. Bernard and Billie Jean Randolph, Dr. Gary and Karen Watkins Dr. Conseulo and Kenny Wilkins, Chapter President Dr. Jade James and Marva and Dr. Jerome Williams Jr. Blessings to Monita Jewel Chambers and Brandon W. Moore! The couple was married on November 5, 2011 at the Palms Hotel and Spa in Miami Beach, FL. A host of friends and family were in attendance and enjoyed the balmy Miami weather and wedding celebration. Monita, the Director of Therapy Services at Christian Care Center in Dallas is the daughter of Jewell and Annie Chambers of St. Louis. Brandon is a Global Sales

Executive in Cloud Computing for IBM. The couple resides in Dallas, TX. Brandon is the son of Wade and Betty J. Moore

PLAY

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ity” status. In their efforts in doing so, subconscious bigotry and preconceived notions as well as the struggles by the African Americans in the close circle of couples featured to move beyond the burden of success and to be judged by their transcendence instead of their skin color are exposed.

Another compelling sidebar within the production of Palmer Park is the decline of the public education system in a post-civil rights society. Nearly 15 years after Brown vs. Board of Education, urban schools seem to be no better along with respect to substandard accommodations and limited access to resources than during the “separate but unequal” era. And it is the school that actually serves as

OPERA

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The couple celebrated with local family and friends at a reception held at the Omega Center on November 12, 2011. Proud brother Christopher Chambers (St. Louis Housing Authority) recently ringed now fiancé Meredith White (Reuters) on a Caribbean cruise. Congratulations, Christopher and Meredith.

Palmer Park and the St. Louis Paupers. The St. Louis Actors Studio presentation of Palmer Park by Joanna McClelland Glass was the scene for the St. Louis Paupers outing on Sunday Nov 6, 2011, The production directed by and in collaboration with Ron Himes (St. Louis Black Rep) has been well received and runs at the Missouri Historical Society through November 20, 2011.

Members who enjoyed the Sunday afternoon performance included Judy Coleman, Albernice Fagen Mary Olivia Polk, Dana Scott Saulsberry, Wanda Ware Delores Roberts Johnni Ola Spencer Nancy Thompson, Gail Allmon Susan Arceneaux Smith Jocelyn Reed and Karen Moore.

Don’t miss The Black Rep’s Black Nativity: A Holiday Celebration, November 25 –December 18, 2011. Contact the Black Rep box office at 314.534.3810 for ticket information.

Peace and Blessings! Dana Grace dgrandolph@live.com

Artist in Training Program. During the spring Artist in Training recital, he took home one of the top prizes – the $1,750 Huber Award which covers his second year of intensive vocal training.

“Daniel McRath has been a teacher’s dream to work with over the past five years” (middle and high school), said his vocal instructor at Normandy High School, Duane Foster, founder of the Normandy High School Performing Arts Academy.

SHRIMP

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we are here to feed your soul too,” Davis said. “And hopefully when you eat the food, you can feel the love that we put into it when you put it into your mouth. I tell my staff, ‘When you are cooking, act like you are cooking for someone you love.’” It was that notion and an unusual opportunity that led her to concert catering. Davis was an extra in the movie Up in The Air that was filmed here in St. Louis and was utterly disgusted with the food being served

the climax and catalyst for the decline of the Palmer Park community. Under the direction of Ron Himes of the Black Rep, the blended theatre companies’ cast actually achieves what the characters of Palmer Park are attempting to carry out through the convincing depictions of the variety that is housed within both cultures.

While uneven comic relief in the form of off timing –and a particularly awkward minstrel-style baseball bit –detract from the production, the ensemble of Palmer Park has an unwavering determination to see the segments through with authenticity.

The racially charged scenarios of the black characters within the play felt especially contrived, but the often unspoken “black flight” phenomena among upper- and upper-middle-class residents in neighborhoods on the verge

of teetering towards becoming predominately black was one of the production’s bright spots. Palmer Park’s only connection with St. Louis is that the city is on the losing end of the 1968 World Series. But as the story progresses, the racial paradigm shift reflects what happened in North St. Louis city and county; audience members will find their own stories in the testimonies of Palmer Park And while it would have been wonderful to see a happily-ever-after united front to improve the life and education of Palmer Park’s future residents, it is obvious that America has plenty of work to do towards a revised final act.

Missouri History Museum’s presentation of Palmer Park continues through Sunday, Nov. 20. For more information, visit www.mohistory.org.

“He played my son in a feature film back in 2008 entitled Pennies for the Boatmen. Daniel embodies all the qualities that will eventually make him a true Renaissance Man.”

As a senior at Normandy High School, Daniel McRath maintains a 3.8 cumulative grade point average and is ranked second in the Class of 2012. He is an active member of the Normandy Marching Band, Normandy Chorale, and the National Honor Society. In addition to McRath’s performance in Joshua’s Boots, other leading roles have been in several high school productions including The Pajama Game and Dream Girls. He is also a former Muny Kid with the St. Louis Muny Opera.

on set.

“It was like they had dumped out the trash can and laid it on the table for us to eat,” Davis said. So she used her connections to get signed onto cater Tyler Perry’s most recent run that stopped at the Chaifetz Arena. She’s been the exclusive caterer for the urban events there ever since.

“The staff of the tour told me that Mr. Perry would stay in his dressing room,” Davis said, recalling her first gig as a concert caterer. “But after dinner he came to me and said, ‘Baby girl, you did your thing’ and gave me a high five.’ Who knows when some of these celebrities who are on the road have had their last homecooked meal? So I want them to feel like their mama made them dinner that night.”

Thanksgiving flavor

Because of her husband and nine children, Thanksgiving dinner at the Davis house resembles the menu at her restaurant. But for those taking their first stab at a holiday meal, she offers some helpful insight

“Daniel exemplifies the Performing Arts Academy’s theme of ‘Defying Gravity,’” said Foster. “He is constantly raising the bar in academic and social performance.”

The phrase is ironic, in the context of Joshua’s Boots, since no one defies gravity more than a survivor of a lynching.

The Opera Theatre’s production of Joshua’s Boots will be held at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center on the campus of UM-St. Louis at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18. Matinee performances for area schools are scheduled Nov. 16-18.

to avoid dinner disaster.

“Start with a turkey, but don’t do dressing if you are a beginner,” Davis said. “Do mashed potatoes and of sweet potatoes, do baked sweet potatoes. All you have to do is put that in the oven with brown sugar, butter and cinnamon and nutmeg and do some green beans, and you’ve got a meal.”

The Shrimp Shack will be frying and smoking turkeys this year for those culinary-challenged individuals who want a home-cooked Thanksgiving experience, but Davis says it won’t take long to catch on to cooking.

“When you graduate from your first meal, next year you can take it into your yams, instead of green beans you can make you some fried cabbage –I ain’t gonna take you to greens yet, because you’re not ready. And then you can make you some macaroni, and I’ll take you into your ham, you are steady adding – but next year you will have our cookbook to help you out.”

The Shrimp Shack is located at 8624 Natural Bridge and is open seven days a week. Call 314-426-3333 or visit www. shrimpshackgrill.com.

This Caldecott Award-winning Cinderella tale bursts with energy! Drumming, wonderful songs, majestic choreography from Dallas Children’s Theater. PreSeNTeD By

Generations Photomontage

Couple celebrates 37th anniversary

PastorArlene B.and ElderKenneth W. McClendon are celebrating their 37th wedding anniversary on November 17, 2011. Pastor and Elder are the founders of Chronicles Christian Center Church, with over seven years as Minister, Pastor andElder. The McClendons have two loving daughters, Dr. Ingrid D. McClendon and Iris K. McClendon. Elder retired from the US Navy after 20years and has also been with General Motors for 27 years. Pastor is a licensed barber and instructor for over 20 years.

~ CELEBRATIONS ~

Reunions

Beaumont High School Class of 1972 is looking for all classmates interested in celebrating our 40-year reunion.We are calling all classmates to come and celebrate this momentous occasion.Your contact information is needed as soon as possible.Please contact Linda Williams (lindawilliams1461@sbcglobal.net)

314-867-2283 or Deborah Davis (davidc1@hotmail.com) 314-453-9055.Or you can contact us on Facebookas the Beaumont Class of 72.

Forest Park Community College Men’s Basketball Reunion: Looking for all players that played for Bob Nelson at Forest Park Community College to contact Glenn Marshall (314-422-4090) Mark Beeks (314-406-2239) or Randy Reed (314-355-3670).

Hadley Tech Classes of 19621963 are preparing for our 50th reunion in October of 2012.If you are interested in participating, your contact information is needed as soon as possible.Please call Virdell Stennis at 314-773-8177, Hellon Jefferson at 314-307-

3681 (jeffersonhellon@yahoo.com) , or Wilhelmina Baker at 314-588-0779/314-630-9647.

Soldan High School Class of 1962 is in the process of planning our 50th class reunion for the second weekend in August of 2012. We are calling all classmates to come and celebrate this momentous occasion. Your contact information is urgently needed. Please call Bobbie Brooks at 314-8389207 or Hiram Wilkens at 314-803-5580. You may email Sam Harris at harrissam@hotmail.com.

Soldan International Studies High School Class of 2002 is preparing for its 10-year reunion in 2012. We

Birthdays

November 14

Happy Birthday to Rolanda Downey from her Uncle Hershel and family with lots of love!

November 14

Happy Birthday and congratulations to Kentucky State University grad Lloyd Johnson from his family with much joy and love!

November 19

Happy 21st Birthday to Isaac Johnson from his family with lots of love!

More Birthdays: Sharon Pinder— November 15

Lauren Huntspon (22) — November 18

Adrian Huntspon (17) — November 19

are looking for all classmates of 2002. We need your contact information to complete our class directory. Please email your information including mailing and email address to soldanclassof2002@yahoo.com. For more information please contact Denise Cobbs at denisecobbs83@yahoo.com. Please join the Soldan Class of 2002 group on Facebook.

SumnerClass of 1976 celebrates their Annual Christmas PartySaturday, December 10, 2011, 6 p.m.-1 a.m. at The Signature Room,9006 Overland Plaza, (Page @ I170) and is seeking all classmates. Jazz provided by Readus Millerfrom7–9 p.m.Suggested Donation $10,VIPReserved Seating,

Rolanda Downey

Semi-Dress. Contact: B. Louis 314-385-9843.

Vashon Unified Alumni Association, Holiday Skate Fundraiser, Tuesday December 27, 2011, Skate King, 7pm10pm, 6100 Natural Bridge Rd, Donation $5.00, Skate Rental $1.00, Tickets can be purchased at Vashon High School, Brenda Spain 314805-1656, Claudette Carson 314-369-6548. Please join us for a night of fun, laughter, and roller skating.

Vashon Class of 1982 is planning its 30-year reunion for August 2012 and looking for all class of 1982 graduates to participate with planning.Call Rodrick Cunningham at (314) 324-7701.

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

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

Free computeraccess, courses at SLCC

St. Louis Community College’s new public computer centers offer access to desktop and laptop computers with internet access and on-site support staff – for free.

These centers are located at the college’s new Center for Workforce Innovation, 3344 Pershall Road on the Florissant Valley campus, and the Harrison Education Center at 3140 Cass Ave. Free basic computer courses also are available to the public. Introductory courses to Google, Facebook, and Ebay, as well as beginning computer and online job assistance classes currently are available.

This Broadband Technology Opportunities program (BTOP), established through a $4.9 million grant to the Missouri Department of Higher Education, creates or expands 23 public computer centers in geographic areas that serve vulnerable populations. MDHE is collaborating with STLCC and six other Missouri community colleges to launch these expanded services. The grant was awarded as part of the $7.2 billion provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to expand access to broadband services in the United States in an effort to increase jobs, spur investments in technology and infrastructure, and

provide long-term economic benefits.

The computer centers will be one-stop technology centers for vulnerable populations such as seniors and the unemployed and underemployed in north St. Louis City and County. The courses in basic digital literacy are designed to help prepare unemployed and underemployed workers for jobs. Individuals must be at least 18 years of age to access these services and classes. For more information, contact the Center for Workforce Innovation at 314-513-4601 or the Harrison Education Center at 314-763-6000. Information also is available on the college website, http://www.stlcc.edu/Continuin g_Education/Public_Computer _Centers.html, and via e-mail, stlcc-btop@stlcc.edu.

$670K in scholarships

AXAAdvisors, LLC of St. Louis announced the 2012 AXAAchievement Scholarship, in association with U.S. News & World Report, which will award $670,000 in scholarships to students throughout the nation. Through the AXA Achievementsm Scholarship, 52 students – one from each

state, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico –will be selected to receive onetime scholarship awards of $10,000 each; from the pool of 52 state winners, 10 students will be selected as national winners, earning an additional scholarship of $15,000 and the opportunity for an internship with AXA. Qualified candidates will have demonstrated

ambition and drive, the ability to succeed in college and respect for self, family and community.

AXAAchievement is marking its milestone tenth anniversary. Since the program launched, over $20 million in scholarships has been awarded to more than 4,300 students across the country.

“We are proud to provide

support to families so that they may help their children financially prepare for, and succeed in college,” said Jim Reese, Divisional Executive Vice President and Manager of AXAAdvisors’St. Louis office. “AXAAdvisors is about investments and we consider these scholarships an investment in our students and in our community.”

Engineering field trip

City Academy students were treated to an unusual math and science lesson with an October 24 visit to a construction site at Missouri Baptist Medical Center.The tour was led by engineers from the builder,Clayco.The students had the opportunity to ask questions about how the subjects of math and science apply to the real world.City Academy is a private, independent elementary school located at 4175 N.Kingshighway,in St.Louis.

The scholarship is administered by Scholarship Management Services, a program of Scholarship America, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit private sector educational support organizations. The online scholarship application is available at www.axa-achievement.com and must be submitted by December 1, 2011.

Photo by Matthew McFarland

A celebration of dust. A girl can’t consistently win when she steps inside EXO to cover an event. Although they tolerate show me love sometimes, I never know what I’m gonna get when I arrive on Locust Street for a featured event. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love me some EXO. It is one of the few places in town that I can perch up in without it testing my gag relex. However, when I traipsed up in there on Friday for Close To Famous’s ONE NIGHT ONLY +11N11 Celebration for the St. Louis Cardinals, there was no love for Miss Shante…. period.

After contacting the club’s handlers and making an attempt to reach out to the promoters attached to the event, all efforts were given a good thumbs-down when the burly door-watcher/coin-snatcher looked at me like I had three breasts. After a demand for the requested ten dollars was barked, I tried to plead my case that I was there for work and not to get over on the door’s hustle. Much to my frustration, I got a good ‘ol eye wonder and a quiet “well-I-don’t-know-whatto-tell-you.” Then I was told that some other hag was up in there from The St. Louis American and apparently letting me in would be a clear violation of EXO or maybe Close To Famous’invisible one-broad-at-a-time clause. So I picked up the hem of my party ball gown and did a mean 180 degree pivot. To the handler’s credit, an apology was offered behind a suggestion that I text, call, e-mail, cut out a coupon, then send a smoke signal the next time I come so there won’t be any issues. (Insert side-eye)

An All-Black Birthday Blow-Out. It was a full-on birthday Bonanza going on over at the City Ultra Lounge for owner, Jason Spain and the Scorpio All Back Everything party Saturday night. While some looked sexy in the featured color of the night, others threw caution to the wind and decided to come as they are, girdle-less and all! I’m not hatin’because ya’girl been jumped off the itness bandwagon and onto a questionable yet featured fast food rib sandwich for the past few weeks now. But I digress… .it seemed like everybody from Green Lawn street hustlers to the Women of Brewster Place came out to celebrate the birthday boy as he reveled in all the glory. Another resurgence of Amber Rose’s long lost play sister was present as her honey-dipped blond low-cut, feathered earrings, and thick framed glasses took the “look-of-the-night” cake for me. Yaas girl, be bold in your bald head glory! Happy birthday to my homeboy Jason and make sure you all check out City Ultra Lounge to catch your weekend dose of life! I can’t forget a special shout-out to my homeboy, Ryan Burnett. I see you baby, you betta rock it in your turquoise!

Local rappers delight. When I walked up into Atomic Cowboy’s Foxhole for local rappers Saint Orleans and Indiana Rome’s Double Album release party Sunday night, I did not know I was going to feel like a chaperone at homecoming. I’m not hatin’ on the children, it’s just sometimes a girl doesn’t like to be reminded that she was around when the girls were rockin’Patra braids and AddA-Beads. But anyway, after spottin’ a few of St. Louis’ hip hop heavyweights: Black Spade, William H, Corey Black, just to name a few; I knew that it was going to be an event to emote a mean beatbox under my breath. A whistlin’ mic punished opening act, rap group The Gladiators throughout their set but they took it all in stride. Apparently the paid sound man did a Hamburgular stunt and bounced with money in tow, let Indiana tell it. That being said, they were left to work through the technical dificulties on their own. Luckily Saint Orleans kept the party lowing while keepin’ the crowd amped. Once the headliners took the stage, they blazed through cuts lifted on their fresh releases. One attendee was off the Richter scale of amp as he was pop-lockin’and kick-ball-changin’all over the dance loor in what seemed like his best brown Dickies short set. Long gone are the days where I tuned into 106th&Park so whatever the new dances of the day are, I would be clueless on. But whatever my boy was doin’, it sure took a contorting effort. It was so random at times it reminded me of the Robot Man that popped up in a Dave Chappelle sketch. Anyway, make sure you all cop Indiana Rome’s “WTHLTGO2”and Saint Orleans “Flawless Victory” and support our city’s hip hop scene.

A familiar soulful exchange. For it to be a hip hop/R&B duo, The Foreign Exchange’s irst visit to St. Louis at 2720 Cherokee (yes the name of the club as well as the address), you wouldn’t be able to tell because every STL underground soul head imaginable was in the place, scattered and perched. Think of Café Soul circa Lucas School House, throw in a little of Legacy Books & Café heyday, mixed with Suite Soul Spot featured nights…yeah that crowd. Accompanied with a 4-piece band and two background vocalists, lead vocalist Phonte and right hand man Nicolay quickly took the stage and took it by storm. It was easy for them to fall in love with the STL crowd because as with every song like “The Last Fall,” to “Authenticity” they sang word for word. I know some might disagree with me but Phonte gives me Black Spade tease, who was also hidden in the audience. Nicolay (with his warm vanilla sugar self) knows he does his gig because he was killin’ it on the keys and feelin’ it every way. I really caught an abundance of life during a medley that shifted from Kool and the Gang’s “Get Down on It,” to Teena Marie’s “Square Biz.” They even went on to a church-like dance break on “ComeAround” as Phonte inserted a few Kirk Franklin “GP are you with me…” as the crowd respond “Yeah we having church we ain’t goin’ nowhere!” Once “There’s Some H*** In This House” and when Crystal Waters “Gypsy Woman” was touched on, I was over the moon. If anyone sat still that night, it had to be ‘cause of arthritic pain. But even that might not have been a good enough excuse.

Lance leads of Panache premiere. For those four of you who don’t obsess of resident chocolate fantasy Lance Gross, I thought I would hip y’all to get a sip of his ineness in the lesh when he hosts the grand opening of Panache on Nov. 25 at the Forest Park Golf Clubhouse. I don’t wanna go into too much detail about him because I will get beside myself – and instantly inappropriate – so I will leave at this: he is EVEN FINER in real life than he is on TV.

Bootology is back. Hopefully the handful of y’all that froze your toes off tryin’ to pass lace-up gladiator sandals as boots learned your lesson and will properly adhere to the dress code next week when the 13 Black Kats bring their popular party back to the Grand Renaissance Hotel Friday, Nov. 25. But if not, understand that I will not be the only one catchin’ a cackle at your expense.

Nickie and Shemika Saturday Night @ Lola

Mario and Will of Day 26 showed some b-day love to Jibbs Friday night @ Amnesia

Tiffany, Quiana and Ashley live it

@ Lola

Fans like Yudelkis were on hand to help STL rap star Jibbs celebrate his big 2-1 Friday night @ Amnesia

Gia, Rachel and Brittany caught a chuckle at Darius

Bradford’s Monday Night Comedy Show @ Lola Photo by Xpressions2art

Marquis and Lasheda unwind Saturday night

Twisted Olive

Nia and Bianca ripped the runway Friday night @ Lavish

Ali and April repped for Cardinal nation with Close To Famous Friday night @ EXO

April and J. Spain did it big and in black for his bday celebration Friday night @ City

Camille Scott of Creations by Camille Carri Griffin of DELUX Magazine@ at Forever Yours Bar and Grill fight night viewing party on

Tasha, Stephanie and Jena soaked in the style shown by J. Marie at her fashion event Friday night @ Lavish

AKAs Renita Rhodes and Chantel Riley were eager to rep team pink and green Saturday night @ Lola

Photos by Lawrence Bryant

What you don’t see can harm (and possibly kill) you

By Consuelo H.Wilkins,MD

During the last few weeks, one of the biggest public health concerns in our region has been caused by one of the smallest living things in the world.

E. coli, short for Escherichia coli, is a type of bacteria commonly found in the colon (large intestine) of humans and other animals. There are different strains of E. coli. Many of which do not cause illness; however, some can cause conditions such as severe food poisoning.

One single organism of E. coli is approximately 20 times smaller than a speck of dust, so it’s impossible to see it with the naked eye. This makes it easier to spread the bacteria.

The best way to prevent the spread of infections due to E. coli is by keeping your hands clean. Unfortunately, this simple activity is often not practiced.

Hand washing has the potential to save countless lives and is one of the most effective ways to prevent illnesses due to E. coli.

Below are some tips on how to practice proper hand hygiene.

1. When should you wash your hands?

• Before, during, and after preparing food

• Before eating food

• Before and after caring for someone who is sick

• Before and after treating a cut or wound

• After using the toilet

• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet

• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste

• After touching trash

Consuelo H. Wilkins,M.D., Medical Accuracy Editor

2. What is the right way to wash your hands?

• Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.

• Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

• Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds.

Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.

• Rinse your hands well under running water.

• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry.

Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the number of germs on them. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand san-

itizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs. Hand sanitizers are not effective when hands are visibly dirty.

3. How should you use hand sanitizer?

• Apply the product to the palm of one hand.

• Rub your hands together.

• Rub the product over all surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.

For more information on handwashing, please visit www.cdc.gov/handwashing.

Consuelo H. Wilkins, M.D., is medical accuracy editor of The St. Louis American and associate professor of medicine and psychiatry, Division of Geriatrics and Nutritional Science, at Washington University – St. Louis

YourHealth Matters

Abi-monthly special supplement of the St. Louis American

November 17, 2011

YourHealth Matters provides up-to-date information, from an African-American perspective, about one of the most important subjects in evryone’s life – their personal health.

Donald M. Suggs, President and Publisher

Kevin Jones, Senior Vice President, COO

Dina M. Suggs, Senior Vice President

Chris King, Editorial Director

Consuelo Wilkins, MD, Medical Accuracy Editor

Sandra Jordan, Health Reporter

Debbie Chase, Director of Health Strategy & Outreach

Onye Ijei, Barb Sills, Pamela Simmons, Sales

Michael Terhaar, Art/Production Manager

Angelita Jackson, Cover Design

Wiley Price, Photojournalist

Asweetheart of a lady with an insatiable sweet tooth

By Sandra Jordan Of The St.Louis American

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could pull that “sweet tooth” – taking with it craving for sweets and other carbohydrates foods that can fatten you up and send your blood sugar out of control? We know there is no such thing as a real sweet tooth. But closely monitoring what you eat and drink is crucial for persons with diabetes.

King found out she was diabetic over 20 years ago while on vacation in Utah with her family. ‘Old school’family vacation travel by car was B.Y.O.B. –and other family on the trip trailed in another vehicle. When you checked into your location where you were staying, the adults would have a sip or two with family or friends before dinner.

She also remembers her last drink –Tanqueray and tonic, in Kansas.

“By the time we got to Wyoming, I knew that something was wrong – I just didn’t know what,” King said.

She even remembers having a little sip before a meal at a cafeteria in Utah before dinner.

“I remember the lady taking the order and everything, and I kept looking up at her, but then all of the sudden, I felt a dizziness coming, and I could hear her say, ‘Oh my God!’” she said.

The next thing King remembers is waking up in a hospital in Salt Lake City after a 12-hour snooze caused by a diabetic coma.

The doctor advised her that she was diabetic and sent her with a letter to give to her physician at home and a “Do Not” list to adhere to until King visited her own doctor.

“My first thought was the needle, and I was afraid of the needle,” King said. “I said, ‘This won’t be a problem and I did not drink anymore that trip; in fact, that drink was the last drink I had.”

She was already physically active, dancing, playing baseball, running in the subdivision with her late husband, Jim.

There were other behaviors that has been keeping King “tipsy” over the years – fluctuating blood sugars from too high to too low – from stress-induced inattention to self; eating whatever she wanted whenever she wanted because “this didn’t seem important because I was feeling okay,” King admits.

And there is the issue of keeping forbidden edibles uncomfortably close at hand, you know – “just in case.”

Just in case she has company visit.

Just in case they would like a piece

something sweet to eat or a sugary drink.

And, just in case her blood sugar drops too low.

“I know that’s a shame and I hope no other diabetic does that, but actually, I do a happy dance sometimes when my blood sugar gets to 80,” King admits.

“Sweet – I want something sweet.”

She’s now been on insulin injections for 13 years and in the greater scheme of things, diabetes is not a condition that

For Jerald Dean King of Florissant,Mo., it’s a constant balancing act to keep the blood sugar numbers in check, exercising, eating balanced meals and taking insulin medications on time for diabetes.

depresses this bubbly lady.

“Really, I have not let my diabetes interfere with my lifestyle,” she said.

But it has come with a price over the years – a stroke during carotid artery surgery, a heart attack last year, and diabetic neuropathy in her feet; not to mention COPD following 40 years of smoking.

She did kick this unhealthy habit, and is thankful she did.

Arefresher from a diabetes nutrition-

by

ist may soon be on the agenda for King to help her get better control blood glucose levels.

“I know if I do the right thing – and there are many things I can do to make it better – eat right, exercise, make sure I do my finger sticks every day three times a day; take this insulin on time; eat at the right time instead of waiting two hours past the time; then it’s going to drop automatically,” King said. “I’ll be okay.”

Photo

Wiley Price

HEALTH BRIEFS

Don’t lose sight of diabetic eye disease

Diabetes affects nearly 26 million people in the United States. In addition, another 79 million people are estimated to have pre-diabetes, a condition that puts people at increased risk for diabetes. All people with diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, are at risk for diabetic eye disease, a leading cause of vision loss and blindness.

“The longer a person has diabetes the greater is his or her risk of developing diabetic eye disease,” said Dr. Suber Huang, chair of the Diabetic Eye Disease Subcommittee for the National Eye Institute’s (NEI) National Eye Health Education Program. “If you have diabetes, be sure to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Diabetic eye disease often has no early warning signs, but can be detected early and treated before noticeable vision loss occurs.”

Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems that people with diabetes may face as a complication of the disease and includes diabetic retinopathy, cataract, and glaucoma. Diabetic retinopathy, the most common diabetic eye disease, is the leading cause of blindness in adults 20–74 years of age. According to NEI, 4.1 million people have diabetic eye disease and its prevalence is projected to increase to 7.2 million by 2020.

While all people with diabetes can develop diabetic eye disease, African Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Hispanics/Latinos, and older adults with diabetes are at higher risk of losing vision or going blind from it. All people with diabetes should have a dilated eye exam at least once a year to detect vision problems early. In fact, with early detection, timely laser surgery, and appropriate follow-up care, people with advanced diabetic retinopathy can reduce their risk of blindness by 90 percent.

Clinical research, supported in part by NEI, has shown that maintaining good control of blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol can slow the development and progression of diabetic eye disease. In addition to regular dilated eye exams, people with diabetes should do the following to keep their health on TRACK:

• Take your medications.

• Reach and maintain a healthy weight.

• Add physical activity to your daily routine.

• Control your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

• Kick the smoking habit.

“Don’t lose sight of diabetic eye disease,” added Dr. Huang. “Don’t wait until you notice an eye problem to have an exam because vision that is lost often cannot be restored.”

For more information on diabetic eye disease and tips on finding an eye care professional or financial assistance for eye care, visit www.nei.nih.gov/diabetes.

Newborn period may be crucial time window to prevent laterdiabetes

Pediatric researchers who tested newborn animals with an existing human drug used in adults with diabetes report that this drug, when given very early in life, prevents diabetes from developing in adult animals. If this finding can be repeated in humans, it may become a way to prevent at-risk infants from developing type 2 diabetes.

“We uncovered a novel mechanism to prevent the later development of diabetes in this animal study,” said senior author Rebecca A. Simmons, M.D., a neonatologist at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “This may indicate that there is an important developmental window, a period of time in which we can intervene to permanently protect the body’s insulin-producing cells.”

Simmons and lead author Sara E. Pinney, M.D., a pediatric endocrinologist at the same hospital, published the study in the October issue of Diabetologia.

The research may be relevant to children with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), a common complication during the mother’s pregnancy. Simmons’previous research showed that IUGR, which is associated with decreased availability of nutrients and hormones to the developing fetus, permanently alters gene expression and impairs the function of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. These defects have been shown to cause type 2 diabetes to develop in adulthood.

Increased muscle mass may lowerrisk of pre-diabetes

Arecent study accepted for publication in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM) found that the greater an individual’s total muscle mass, the lower the person’s risk of having insulin resistance, the major precursor of type 2 diabetes.

With recent dramatic increases in obesity worldwide, the prevalence of diabetes, a major source of cardiovascular morbidity, is expected to accelerate. Insulin resistance, which can raise blood glucose levels above the normal range, is a major factor that contributes to the development of diabetes. Previous studies have shown that very low muscle mass is a risk factor for insulin resistance, but until now, no study has examined whether increasing muscle mass to average and above average levels, independent of obesity levels, would lead to improved blood glucose regulation.

“Our findings represent a departure from the usual focus of clinicians, and their patients, on just losing weight to improve metabolic health,” said senior author, Preethi Srikanthan, MD, of the University of California, Los Angeles. “Instead, this research suggests a role for maintaining fitness and building muscle. This is a welcome message for many overweight patients who experience difficulty in achieving weight loss, as any effort to get moving and keep fit should be seen as laudable and contributing to metabolic change.”

In this study, researchers examined the association of skeletal muscle mass with insulin resistance and blood glucose metabolism disorders in a nationally representative sample of 13,644 individuals. Participants were older than 20 years, non-pregnant and weighed more than 35 kg (77.16 lbs). The study demonstrated that higher muscle mass (relative to body size) is associated with better insulin sensitivity and lower risk of pre- or overt diabetes.

“Our research shows that beyond monitoring changes in waist circumference or BMI, we should also be monitoring muscle mass,” Srikanthan concluded. “Further research is needed to determine the nature and duration of exercise interventions required to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism in at-risk individuals.”

High blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and obesity may shrink brain

Anew study suggests smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes and being overweight in middle age may cause brain shrinkage and lead to cognitive problems up to a decade later. The study is published in the August 2, 2011, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

“These factors appeared to cause the brain to lose volume, to develop lesions secondary to presumed vascular injury, and also appeared to affect its ability to plan and make decisions as quickly as 10 years later. Adifferent pattern of association was observed for each of the factors,” said study author Charles DeCarli, MD, with the University of California at Davis in Sacramento and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. “Our findings provide evidence that identifying these risk factors early in people of middle age could be useful in screening people for at-risk dementia and encouraging people to make changes to their lifestyle before it’s too late.”

The study involved 1,352 people without dementia from the Framingham Offspring Study with an average age of 54. Participants had body mass and waist circumference measures taken and were given blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes tests. They also underwent brain MRI scans over the span of a decade, the first starting about seven years after the initial risk factor exam. Between the first and last MRI exams, 19 people had a stroke and two developed dementia.

The study found that people with high blood pressure developed small areas of vascular brain damage, at a faster rate than those with normal blood pressure readings and had a more rapid worsening of scores on tests of executive function, or planning and decision making, corresponding to five and eight years of chronological aging respectively.

People with diabetes in middle age lost brain volume at a faster rate than those without diabetes. Smokers lost brain volume overall at a faster rate than nonsmokers.

People who were obese at middle age were more likely to be in the top 25 percent of those with the faster rate of decline in scores on tests of executive function, DeCarli said. People with a high waist-to-hip ratio were more likely to be in the top 25 percent of those with faster decrease in their brain volume.

The study was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute on Aging.

Dietary leucine may fight prediabetes, metabolic syndrome

Astudy led by researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center suggests that adding the amino acid leucine to their diets may help those with pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome.

In an animal study, published in the journal PloS One, mice who had been on a high-fat diet and who also received twice the usual intake of leucine, an amino acid found in protein, showed reductions in their prediabetic conditions with lower blood sugars and less fat in their livers, two of the collection of medical problems associated with insulin resistance that make up what is known as metabolic syndrome.

“The impact on the animals on the high-fat diet, even though it didn’t change how fat they got, was that their bodies were able to handle glucose better,” said C. Ronald Kahn, M.D., Head of the Joslin Section on Integrative Physiology and Metabolism and the Mary K. Iacocca Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

“Their glucose tolerance tests improved,” he said. “Their bodies responded to insulin better than they would have before they got the leucine. It improved their ability to metabolize sugar and fats. It markedly improved their pre-diabetic condition.”

When you have diabetes, you should also have a plan

Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes, and more than one-quarter of them do not know it. Left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and amputation. An estimated 79 million adults have pre-diabetes, a condition that places them at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Making lifestyle changes — whether to manage or prevent diabetes — is not easy. Even if you know what to do to improve your health, figuring out how to

do it and fitting it into your daily routine can be a big challenge. Making changes in how you care for your health is a matter of trying and learning.

For example, people know that being physically active can help them lose weight. But do they know how to become more active and keep it up over time?

The NDEPoffers the following tips for making a plan and taking small, but important

Griffin P Rodgers,M.D., Director,NIDDK

steps to help you reach your goal:

1. Think about what is important to you and your health.

2. What changes are you willing and able to make?

3. Decide what steps will help you reach your health goals.

4. Choose one goal to work on first. Start this week. Pick one change you can start

to make immediately.

5. Don’t give up. It’s common to run into some problems along the way. If things don’t go as planned, think about other ways to reach your goal.

The National Diabetes Education Program, or NDEP, provides videos, tips sheets, and other educational materials to help people make a plan to prevent type 2 diabetes and diabetes related complications. For more information, go online to www.YourDiabetesInfo.org/HealthSense.

Vitamin B derivative helps diabetics with mild kidney disease

Avitamin B6 derivative may help slow or prevent the progression of mild kidney disease in patients with diabetes, according to a study appearing in an issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The drug may benefit patients as the prevalence of diabetes rises.

Approximately 40 percent of all patients who need dialysis or a kidney transplant can blame diabetes for their kidney problems. Because the number of

patients with type 2 diabetes is expected to double by 2030, the prevalence of kidney failure is sure to increase. New therapies that can delay the progression of diabetic kidney disease may help prevent kidney failure and save lives.

Researchers have wondered whether the drug Pyridorin, a derivative of vitamin B6, may be such a candidate. Pyridorin targets several cellular processes that may be relevant to the progression of diabetic kidney disease.

Edmund Lewis, MD (Rush University Medical Center) and his colleagues within the Collaborative Study Group (a large clinical trial group comprised of various kidney care centers) tested the potential of Pyridorin (generic name pyridoxamine dihydrochloride) for treating patients with diabetic kidney disease.

For one year during the trial, 317 patients received placebo twice a day, Pyridorin at a dose of 150 mg twice a day, or Pyridorin at a dose of 300 mg

twice a day.

Overall, the drug did not provide any benefit over placebo for slowing or preventing the progression of diabetic kidney disease; however, Pyridorin did help patients with mild forms of the disease.

“It appears the drug may be beneficial in a sub-group of patients with only mild kidney disease but does not appear to be beneficial for patients with more advanced kidney disease,” said Dr. Lewis.

Dispelling myths about diabetes

While raising awareness during American Diabetes Month is important, focusing on proper treatment is just as important for those living with the disease.

Myths and misconceptions about diabetes often lead people to make poor care decisions based on bad information, said Dr. Anath Shalev, director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Diabetes Center.

Shalev, professor of medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, said the errors are costly: Diabetes kills more people each year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. More than 25 million American children and adults live with diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention projects that one in three Americans will have this disease by 2050.

Shalev first makes the distinction between the genetic and other factors that influence the development of the two main types of diabetes. “Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune process that destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, the hormone responsible for maintaining normal blood sugar,” she said. “Type 2 diabetes is the result of insulin resistance, which most often is caused by obesity.”

Myth 1 - Sugaroreating sweets is the cause of diabetes

It’s not the sugar; it’s the effect of too many calories of any kind, said Dr. Anath Shalev, director of the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center. Obesity is a major risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. Lack of exercise is another major contributor, especially if a sedentary lifestyle is combined with large portions of highcalorie, fatty food. However, once you develop diabetes, it is important to monitor the amount of sugar you eat.

Myth 2 - Only obese people get diabetes.

“While obesity is the strongest risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, patients with Type 1 diabetes are often lean,” Shalev said. “I have seen several triathletes who are Type 1 diabetics.” Also, if have more ‘visceral’fat, which can’t be seen because it’s around your internal organs, you are at higher risk.

Myth 3 - Type 1 diabetes, often called juvenile diabetes, only affects the very young.

Type 1 diabetes can affect people at any age, Shalev says, though it is more common in younger age groups. “Excessive thirst, urination and weight loss should always be warning signs to anyone of any age and warrant a doctor’s visit,” Shalev said.

Myth 4 -There is no treatment for Type 2 diabetes.

Some people look at their family tree and their waistline and resign themselves to becoming diabetic. “There are people who have a constellation of genes that put them at a higher risk,” Shalev said.

“But that doesn’t mean they will develop diabetes.” In most cases, Type 2 diabetes can be delayed and sometimes even pre-

vented with adequate lifestyle modifications, including exercise and healthy diet. Shalev said monitoring and early intervention also are important.

Myth 5- Starting insulin injections in Type 2 diabetes is the beginning of the end.

Not true, Shalev explained. Patients often panic and resist when told injec-

In most cases, Type 2 diabetes can be delayed and sometimes even prevented with adequate lifestyle modifications, including exercise and healthy diet.

tions are necessary, but it’s the next logical step if oral medications don’t work. Shalev saidemerging research suggests that starting insulin treatment early also can reduce strain on insulin-producing cells. And, the need for insulin injections is not always permanent; some patients with Type 2 diabetes eventually can stop taking insulin if they also make lifestyle changes.

PROFILING PEOPLE IN HEALTH

Disabled motherof Aunita Hill inspired her throughout medical school and life

Aunita M.Hill,M.D.M.P.H.

Position/Where:

Internal medicine physician at Sunset Hills Adult Medicine (BJC Medical Group),located at3844 South Lindbergh, Suite 210,St. Louis, MO63127

CareerHighlights:

Served as an attending physician andclinical instructor for the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill.

Awards:

“In Recognition of Excellence –Advocate Physician Partners Exemplary Physician” 2009 & 2010

3rd place for Clinical Vignette “Million Dollar Tattoo,” Internal Medicine Residency Program in 2005 at Advocate Christ Medical

Aunita M.Hill,M.D.M.P.H.

Center, Oak Lawn, Ill.

“50 Who Make ADifference” by MAMM Magazine, which is devoted to meeting the needs of women diagnosed with breast and reproductive cancer, 1999

Education:

University of Illinois at Chicago/Advocate Christ Medical Center

Internal Medicine Residency Program

Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School

Doctor of Medicine

North Chicago, Ill.

Master of Public HealthEpidemiology from the University of Illinois at Chicago—School of Public Heath

Bachelors of Art Degree in General Science/ Chemistry

Concentration from Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa

Personal:

Married to Samuel Jones, Jr.

5-yr-old daughter named Anna.

Attends Grace Church in Maryland Heights, Mo.

St. Louis Connection:

My husband brought my daughter and me to St. Louis. I am from the south side of Chicago.

Yourjourney to success:

It has been a long journey. From childhood I knew I wanted to be a teacher, a nurse or a doctor. After graduating college, I got the chance to work as a substitute school teacher. I had the challenge and the pleasure of substituting for a first grade teacher who was on medical leave. I absolutely fell in love with the students and the joy that came from teaching them. After that experience, I was to enroll in a special program which would award a certificate that would start me on the road of teaching. As fate would have it, plans fell through with that program and I again pursued my dream of becoming a physician. However, I would take another detour.

I had the pleasure of working with an organization called the National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer (NBLIC) – Midwest Region. Through this experience, I connected with the top African American physicians, nurses, advocates and community leaders who were in the fight to help prevent and control cancer which was devastating our community. It was truly an awesome and rewarding experience. During the time I worked at NBLIC, I was able to get my Master in Public Health in Epidemiology. This helped to solidify the importance of not just trying to practice medicine but the importance of reaching out to people and to teach them how they can help prevent and control certain diseases and their own health.

I later connected with persons of the Chicago Area Health and Medical Careers Program (CAHMCPS) which taught me how to prepare for medical school. I then got accepted into what was then known as the Chicago Medical School renamed in recent years as Rosalind Franklin University of Health Sciences.

While in medical school I was able to continue because of the inspiration of my mother. My mother had become disabled during my time in college and despite her disability, she continued to persevere. She was amazing! She had become an amputee and visually impaired – all complications from her diabetes which she probably had for years but did not find out until she suffered complications. She was too busy taking care of her children and being a wife. She also helped to manage my father’s pest control business. Her strength and attitude toward her disability and illness helped inspire me through my own trials and tribulations throughout medical school and life. My ambition is to continue to help people help themselves by learning to take control of their medical conditions to the best of their ability and to help provide the best health care to them.

HEALTH RESOURCES

Breast Cancer

Gateway to Hope offers no-charge medical and reconstructive treatment for uninsured breast cancer patients in Missouri. Contact 314-569-1113.

Behavioral

Christian Hospital offers free and confidential psychiatric and chemical dependency evaluations at the Christian Hospital Center for Mental Health. The hospital has a geriatric psychiatric unit dedicated to serving the mental health needs of geriatric patients. For more information, call 314-839-3171.

Christian Hospital Key Program is for patients with chronic mental illness. The program offers support and education to prevent increased severity of symptoms and to reduce the need for re-hospitalization. Call confidentially to 314-8393171 or 1-800-447-4301.

Crime Victim Advocacy Center provides no cost support for persons who have been affected by criminal acts. Emil peggy@supportvictims.org, visit or call the 24-hour hotline 314-OK-BE-MAD (652-3673) or visit www.supportvictims.org.

Diabetes

SSM St. Mary’s Health Center provides free, open-to-the-public Diabetes Support Group sessions the second Tuesday of every month from 6 – 7 p.m., overseen by certified diabetes educators to address health management issues. It’s located at Meeting Room 1 on the second floor, 6420 Clayton Rd. in St. Louis. To register, call toll free 866-SSM-DOCS (866-776-3627).

Free, diabetes education program held at various locations by the Diabetes Network of St. Louis. Participants will be offered testing and support for diabetes control. Six sessions will cover monitoring your blood sugar, controlling complications of diabetes, living a healthy life through diet and exercise, and personal goal setting. Call Coco Bopp 314-747-9533 for information.

Dental

Free Dental Hygiene Clinic - No charge dental exams, x-rays, cleanings and other dental services for children and adults provided by dental students at Missouri College. Patients needing more extensive dental work (like fillings, crowns, etc.) will be referred to local dentists. For an appointment, call 314-7687899.

Fitness

Coed Jazzercise - $1 per session on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Memorial Tabernacle Christian Life Center, 1350 S. Lafayette (behind Yacovelli’s). For more information, call 314-921-6825.

Information

Missouri 2-1-1 offers referral and information on a wide range of social service and helpful resources. Call 2-1-1.

Medical

St. Louis ConnectCare offers walk-in services Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and most holidays. For more information, call 314-879-6300.

Salam Free Saturday Clinic, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Isom Community Center at Lane Tabernacle CME Church, 916 N. Newstead, St. Louis, Mo. for those who are uninsured. For more information, call 314-533-0534.

Nutrition

Food Outreach provides food, meals and nutritional education/ counseling to eligible persons living with HIV/AIDS or cancer in St. Louis. For more information, call 314-652-3663 or visit www.foodoutreach.org.

Angel Food Ministries operates in hundreds of churches nationwide and offers heat and serve meals, canned and fresh food boxes at a reduced cost. Find the nearest locations by zip code at www.angelfoodministries.com.

Prostate Cancer

The Cancer Center of The Empowerment Network, located on the lower level at 6000 W. Florissant, provides information on prostate and other types of cancer. Also available are free mammogram and PSAtesting certificates, for use at any Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Center. For information, call 314-385-0998.

Ham and Lentil Stew HEALTHY RECIPE

Ingredients: 1 cup of chopped lean ham

1 cup dried lentils

5 cups, fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth

3 cups chopped greens or spinach

1 (14.5 oz) can of low-salt diced tomatoes, drained

1.5 cups diced potato

.5 cup chopped carrot

1 cup chopped onion

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp dried basil

.5 tsp black pepper

1.5 tablespoons olive oil

Preparation:

Heat olive oil in large pot over medium high heat. Add garlic and onion and sauté for approximately 5 minutes. Add chicken broth, lentils, carrot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. Add ham, potato, and greens. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer until potato is tender. Stir in diced tomatoes and seasonings. Simmer 10 minutes. Serve.

Nutrition perserving:

Calories: 320

Protein: 20.4 g

Fiber: 15.1 g

Fat: 8.6 g (Saturated fat: 2 g; Polyunsaturated fat: 1.1 g; Monounsaturated fat: 5 g)

Iron: 5.6 mg

Carbohydrate: 41.7 g

Sodium: 843 mg

Food Outreach continues to be the only nonprofit organization in the greater St. Louis area that focuses on providing critical nutritional support to individuals with a life-threatening illness.Through a combination of prepared meals, groceries and nutrition counseling, the organization is able to enhance the quality of life of low income men, women and children living with cancer or HIV/AIDS. The on-staff chef and on-staff registered dietitian work together to develop menusthat are tailored to the specific nutrition needs of Food Outreach clients. Food Outreach is on pace to provide 410,000+ nutritious meals to 1,500 clients residing in 137 Missouri and Illinois zip codes in 2009.For more information, call 314-652-3663 or visit www.foodoutreach.org

Serves 5

HEALTH Q & A

Aftereffects of gestational diabetes

S.C. wants to know:

“Is it possible for a baby who was birthed from someone that had gestational diabetes, to grow up as an adult and have a series of health issues other than diabetes and obesity?”

The answer comes from Dr. F. Sessions Cole, director of Newborn Medicine at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

“Besides increased life-long risk for obesity and diabetes, infants of diabetic mothers also carry an increased risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).This problem can manifest itself as increased risk for heart attacks or circulatory problems to the brain or extremities.”

Do you have a health-related question? Let us hear from you. Email your question to yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com.

Rather than a personal reply, a health professional will provide an answer to share with all readers in a future issue of Your Health Matters.

Natural compound helps reverse diabetes in mice

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have restored normal blood sugar metabolism in diabetic mice using a compound the body makes naturally. The finding suggests that it may one day be possible for people to take the compound much like a daily vitamin as a way to treat or even prevent type 2 diabetes.

This naturally occurring compound is called nicotinamide mononucleotide, or NMN, and it plays a vital role in how cells use energy.

“After giving NMN, glucose tolerance goes completely back to normal in female diabetic mice,” says Shin-ichiro Imai, MD, PhD, associate professor of developmental biology. “In males, we see a milder effect compared to females, but we still see an effect. These are really remarkable results. NMN improves diabetic symptoms, at least in mice.”

The research appeared online last month in Cell Metabolism

Imai says this discovery holds promise for people because the mechanisms that NMN influences are largely the same in mice and humans.

“But whether this mechanism is equally compromised in human patients with type 2 diabetes is something we have to check,” Imai says. “We have plans to do this in the very near future.”

All cells in the body make NMN in a chain of reactions leading to production of NAD, a vital molecule that harvests energy from nutrients and puts it into a form cells can use. Among other things, NAD activates a protein called SIRT1 that has been shown to promote healthy metabolism throughout the body, from the pancreas to the liver to muscle and fat tissue.

According to the study, aging and eating a high-fat diet reduce production of NMN, slowing the body’s production of NAD and leading to abnormal metabolic conditions such as diabetes. NAD cannot be given to the mice directly because of toxic effects. But after administering NMN, levels of NAD rise and the diabetic mice show dramatically improved responses to glucose. In some cases, they return to normal.

“I’m excited to see these results because the effect of NMN is much bigger than other known compounds or chemicals,” says first author Jun Yoshino, MD, PhD, postdoctoral research associate. “Plus, the fact that the body naturally makes NMN is promising for translating these findings into humans.”

CALENDAR

Thurs. Nov. 17, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. - Ribbon cutting celebration opening of the office of Dr. Marsha Fisherat Mercy Clinic Women’s Health Obstetrics & Gynecology, 8860 Ladue Road, Suite 100, Ladue, Mo. (behind Regions Bank building). For more information, call 314-802-3915.

Sat. Nov. 19, 8 a.m. – 12 Noon, Free flu shots at SSM Urgent Care at St. Joseph Medical Park, 1475 Kisker Rd, in St. Charles, Mo. Attire for easy access to injection site needed and there is a limited supply of preservative-free vaccines for pregnant women only. Call 1-866-SSM-DOCS (776-3627) to schedule an appointment.

Sat. Nov. 19, 8:45 a.m. – St. Jude Give Thanks Walk at St. Louis Mills Mall, 5555 St. Louis Mills Blvd. at Food Court Entrance 5B. Registration is free. For more information, go to www.givethankswalk.org.

Sat. Nov. 19, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – St. Louis Diabetes Technology Expo at the Ritz-Carlton St. Louis. Expo provides attendees with a look at how new technology is changing diabetes management. Health care professionals and researchers will present information about on-the-market advances in medication, blood glucose monitoring and nutrition. Register at http://www.stldiabetesexpo.com/index.html.

Sundays, 10 a.m., Alcoholics Anonymous Group 109 meets in the 11th floor conference room at

Christian Hospital, 11133 Dunn Road at I270/Hwy. 367. This is an open meeting for alcoholics, drug addicts and their family and friends.

Mondays, 7 p.m., “Tobacco Free forLife” support group – free weekly meetings at St. Peters Mo. City Hall. Supported by SSM Cancer Care; RSVPinitial participation to 636-9475304.

Tuesdays, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., Help fora drugfree life - chemical dependency information meeting. Call 314-839-3171.

Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., STEPS Schizophrenia Support Group

This nationally recognized program provides education and support for those with schizophrenia. Group is facilitated by an experienced STEPS nurse. For more information, call 314839-3171.

First Thursdays, 10 a.m. – Family Support Group by NAMI St. Louis, The Alliance on Mental Illness at the Grace Hill MurphyO’Fallon Health Center, 1717 Biddle St. No registration needed; no cost. For more information, call 314-962-4670.

Free psychiatric and chemical dependency evaluations are confidential at the Christian Hospital Center for Mental Health. Call 314839-3171.

Discovery of insulin switches in pancreas could lead to new diabetes drugs

Researchers at the Salk Institute have discovered how a hormone turns on a series of molecular switches inside the pancreas that increases production of insulin.

The finding, published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, raises the possibility that new designer drugs might be able to turn on key molecules in this pathway to help the 80 million Americans who have type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetic insulin resistance.

The molecular switches command pancreatic beta islet cells, the cells responsible for insulin, to grow and multiply. Tweaking these cells might offer a solution to type 1 diabetes, the form of diabetes caused by destruction of islet cells, and to type 2 diabetes, the form caused by insulin resistance.

“By understanding how pancreatic cells can be encouraged to produce insulin in the most efficient way possible, we may be able to manipulate those cells to treat or even prevent diabetes,” says the study’s lead author, Marc Montminy, a professor in the Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology at Salk.

Such new agents might increase the functioning of beta islet cells even in people who have not developed diabetes.

“The truth is that as we grow older, these islet cells tend to wear out,” Montminy says. “The genetic switches just don’t get turned on as efficiently as they did when we were younger, even if we don’t develop diabetes. It’s like using a garage door opener so many times, the battery wears out. We need a way to continually refresh that battery.”