LouiS AmericAn
Helping people navigate trauma and grief
Community comes together in wake of CVPA shooting
By Danielle Brown and Ashley Winters
St. Louis American
The aftermath of the Oct. 24, 2002 school shooting at Central Visual Performing Arts High School includes ongoing healing, but the grieving also continues.
A public viewing and funeral service for 15-year-old Alexzandria Bell will be held on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Faith Church in Earth City, Missouri.
Bell was shot and killed on Monday Oct. 24, 2022, at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis. Health and physical education teacher Jean Kuczka, 61, also was shot and killed.
n “It’s almost like getting news that your home got shot up and you weren’t there, that’s how I feel.”
The public viewing is from 8 to 10 a.m., and Bell’s funeral service follows. She will be interred at Friedens Cemetery in Bellefontaine Neighbors. Pastors David and Nicole Crank are hosts.
“The thought that I won’t be able to send her off to prom, I won’t see her walk the stage to grab her diploma at graduation, I won’t watch her pick a college, I won’t see her smile again and I’ll never hear her beautiful laugh and voice again will never settle with me,” Destiny Diamond wrote in a Facebook post. Diamond called Bell her “sweet little cous-
in.”
Faith Church is located at 3590 Rider Trail South, Earth City, 63045. Friedens Cemetery is at 8941 N. Broadway, St. Louis, 63137.
Kuczka was honored on Sunday night at Kutis Funeral Home in Affton. On Monday, a lengthy funeral procession traveled from the funeral home to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis where her funeral was held.
CVPA alumni members organized a candlelight vigil on Friday, Oct. 28 at the campus to honor Bell, Kuczka, and those injured by a 19-year-old gunman who was killed in the school by police.
Lauryn Brown is a 2017 CVPA graduate.
“It’s almost like getting news that your home got shot up and you weren’t there, that’s
The execuTion of Kevin Johnson ParT iii
Murder by another name
“If we believe that murder is wrong and not admissible in our society, then it has to be wrong for everyone, not just individuals but governments as well.”
– Sis. Helen Prejean, author of “Dead Man Walking”
By Sylvester Brown Jr.
The St. Louis American
In a letter to his former high school teacher, Melissa Fuoss, convicted murderer Kevin Johnson, discussed his upcoming death sentence. In it, he wondered if he would feel the chemical sedatives used for executions coursing through his veins as he lay on the gurney. He also pondered who would be in the audience watching
him die “on the other side of that two-way mirror.”
One person who has vowed to be present at Johnson’s execution is former County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch. In August, McCulloch told the Post-Dispatch that he plans to attend the execution in person.
McCulloch personally prosecuted the cases against Johnson, who at the age of
19 murdered Kirkwood Police Sgt. William McEntee. There were two murder trials. The first ended with a hung jury arguing for a lesser, non-capital, charge.
In the second trial, McCulloch sought and won a capital conviction. On Tuesday Nov. 29, Johnson is scheduled to be put to death at the state prison in Bonne Terre.
See JOHNSON, A7
‘Beyond Bars’ helps bond girls, incarcerated mothers
Girl Scouts program proves worthy
By Danielle Brown St. Louis American
“Girl Scouts Beyond Bars helped a lot with me getting to see my mom. Some people have parents in jail and don’t get to visit them at all,” Amber Rush said.
While she was in jail [my sister and I] were able to build a relationship with her.”
Beyond Bars is a free program for girls in St. Louis with mothers incarcerated at Vandalia or Chillicothe Women’s Correctional Centers. Incarcerated mothers and their daughters have been building and strengthening their relationships on behalf of Beyond Bars since 1996. The program provides transportation for monthly meetings and See GIRL SCOUTS, A6
Amber Rush and her twin sister, Autumn, posing with their mother, Mallory (center), have been part of the program since they were little.
Photo by Jennifer Sarti / St. Louis American
Luther Stewart (left) and Luther Lang (right) added flowers to the memorial in front of Central Visual & Performing Arts High School on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. Lang said that with the school shooting, St. Louis “is a member of the club that no one wants to be part of.”
Takeoff, 1/3 of Migos rap group killed at 28 in Houston bowling alley shooting
Takeoff, known for his membership in Atlanta rap group Migos, was shot and killed early Tuesday (Nov. 1) morning at a Houston, Texas bowling alley.
Takeoff, whose real name is Kirshnik Khari Ball, was killed a little after 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday. He was 28.
Reports from KPRC and TMZ, state a dice game became heated and someone at the scene began shooting, striking Ball in the neck or the head. He was declared dead at the scene.
About 40-50 were at the bowling alley at the time of the shooting. At least two others were injured in the shooting and have been transported to a local hospital. Their condition is unknown.
No information about suspects in the shooting has been released.
Migo was formed by Takeoff, his uncle Quavo, and his cousin Offset in 2008 in Georgia. The group became popular for songs “Versace,” “Bad and Boujee,” “Stir Fry,” “MotorSport,” and more. Their albums “Culture” and “Culture II” both reached platinum status and each hit the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
Most recently Quavo and Takeoff became a duo naming themselves Unc & Phew, their debut album “Only Built For Infinity Links” released early last month (October).
St. Louis rapper in Deep trouble
on gun charge
St. Louis rapper 30 Deep Grimeyy pleaded guilty in federal court to a felony charge on Tuesday (Oct. 25) for possession of a firearm.
Grimeyy, born Arthur Pressley, is a convicted felon. He and others were stopped by St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers on Jan. 5, 2021 in a 2008 Pontiac G8. The vehicle had a broken taillight, and the license plates were registered to a Jeep.
Officers found a Beretta 92FS 9mm pistol between Pressley and another suspect. Pressley admitted in his plea agreement that had the gun between Oct. 4, 2020, the day after it was purchased, and the date of the traffic stop.
Investigators also found pictures of Pressley and the gun on his social media accounts, others’ social media accounts, and in his residence, includ ing the gun’s par
tial serial number, which he explained in social media messages. As a convicted felon, he is banned from owning firearms. He was convicted twice of unlawful use of weapons charges.
Prosecutors will declare at Pressley’s sentencing hearing that, following the traffic stop, he texted the original gun owner. Pressley asked the man to forge a bill of sale to one of the other occupants of the Pontiac.
Pressley, 25, is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 1. The gun charge carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had been investigating Pressley and a gang called 30 Deep for over a year at the time of the traffic stop.
Chingy on 50 worst rappers list, and he doesn’t like it
Any “Top 50 Best Rappers of All Time” list creates a subjective debate that many hip-hop lovers love to have. What happens when a rapper finds out they made someone’s worst rapper list?
St. Louis native Chingy has been named one of the 50 Worst Rappers of All Time, and as expected he isn’t happy about it. He was placed at No. 27.
According to XXLmag. com, “On Aug. 25, [2022] Twitter user @Mrkindness7 shared with his
followers his 50 Worst Rappers of All-Time List and it has since gone viral.”
“It’s just absurd,” Chingy told VladTV. “To me, it’s invalid because it’s subjective. It’s 7 billion people in existence, when you ask each one of these people, ‘Who’s your favorite rapper?’ You’re probably gonna get a different answer.”
He added, “I’ve sold over 50 million records worldwide, I still have success, it’s people that love me,” he explained. “So, how am I one of the worst rappers? If everybody is not saying it, you [are] not the worst. That list is absurd and it needs to be done away with.”
Outside of his name being included on the list he’s shocked to see rappers of influence like Master P in the roundup.
“They got so many people on there that have been profound, that have shown leadership, that have [given] several artists a way for their dreams to come true. And they sit there and try to disrespect those people by trying to say ‘they the worst rappers.”’
The list’s creator obviously doesn’t have a lot of love for St. Louis rappers. St. Lunatics are ranked No.
HSSU celebrates legacy, history of higher education achievement
By Danielle Brown St. Louis American
Harris Stowe State University cel-
ebrated 165 years of educational excellence during a Founders Day Convocation event on Friday Oct. 28, 2002 on the HBCU’s campus.
Dr. Lynn Beckwith, Jr., retired educator, HSSU alum Class of 1961, and St. Louis American 2013 Salute to Excellence in Education Lifetime Achievement Award recipient served as the Founders Day keynote speaker.
Beckwith spoke candidly about his upbringing and his more than 50year professional career in education including his journey with the former Harris Teachers College.
“I was shocked when my guidance counselor told me she didn’t think I should go to Harris Teachers College when I told her those were my plans,” Beckwith said. “In that moment my mind said you aren’t going to stand in my way of going to the only college I can afford to go to.”
Cameron Lowery, HSSU Student Government president, is in her senior year majoring in biology and plans to pursue a medical degree or a joint medical degree MD/PHD program.
She shared similar thoughts with Beckwith about how people often overlook the university, but believes the school is still special regardless of naysayers.
“In comparison to St. Louis schools not being HBCUs, we are still the underdog,” Lowery told the St. Louis American.
“A lot of students overlook us and don’t believe in us. It feels as though everyday we are working toward gradually proving ourselves as African Americans. It feels amazing to be part of 165 years of history. I’m happy to be here and I love my university.”
Like Beckwith and Lowery, HSSU President LaTonia Collins Smith also expressed pride in the university and its illustrious 165year legacy.
“It is truly a great day to be a Hornet. We’re joyful to be together to celebrate this very special founders
day; 165 years of serving our students, and their families with a stellar education.,” Collins Smith said. “This is more than a homecoming, it is a remarkable anniversary. We are creating history today.”
She added how she has seen exponential growth and change in HSSU as a native St. Louisan and as its 21st president.
“I think we’ve accomplished just as much in this last year as we have in the first 165,” Collins Smith said. “We plan to keep going. We have big plans which I cannot wait to share. Since its historic beginning in 1857 the university has had quite a transformation—63 majors, minors, and certificates, partnership with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Saint Louis University, and more.
Congresswoman Cori Bush, once walked the halls of HSSU as an undergraduate student. She shared how she holds celebrating the university’s legacy close to her heart.
“I had no idea who I would be,
but seeds were sown, and seeds were planted that are now blossoming into who I am today,” Bush said.
Bush emphasized the important pillar HSSU is to our community and how instrumental it is in helping shape the minds and hearts of students.
“Every single student here today the sky is not even your limit, your passion and your intellect will change the world and Harris Stowe will help you do it.” Bush said.
In 1857, The St. Louis Board of Education founded St. Louis Normal School to prepare white teachers to teach in white elementary schools; it was later changed to Harris Teachers College.
The St. Louis Board of Education opened Sumner Normal School to train Black teachers in 1890; Sumner Normal School became a college in 1925 and its name was changed to Stowe Teachers College in 1929.
Both colleges reorganized themselves and formed two academic levels; junior college division and a senior
Dr. Lynn Beckwith, Jr., retired educator, HSSU alum Class of 1961, and St. Louis American 2013 Salute to Excellence in Education Lifetime Achievement Awardwee served as Harris-Stowe State University’s 165th Founders Day Convocation keynote speaker on Friday, Oct. 28.
college division in 1938.
The St. Louis Board of Education merged the two colleges and the school became Harris Teachers College in 1954. The St. Louis Board of Education changes its name to Harris-Stowe College.
In 1979, The state of Missouri passed legislation making HarrisStowe College a part of the state’s system of public higher education. The State of Missouri approved baccalaureate degree programs in Early Childhood Education, Middle School Education and Urban Education in 1981.
Harris-Stowe College became one of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities under the U.S. Department of Education in 1987. In 1993, The state of Missouri required the college to expand its mission by offering baccalaureate degree programs in Business Administration, Secondary Teacher Education and Criminal Justice, and add the word “state” to its title.
Photo courtesy of HarrisStowe State University
Guest Editorial
Since 1999, The Post found, at least 188 children, educators and other people have been killed and another 389 have been injured in assaults on schools. More than 320,000 students have experienced gun violence at school since Columbine.
St. Louis school shooting is a case study in gun-law dysfunction
Washington Post Editorial Board
Jean Kuczka, 61, was a lifelong teacher who couldn’t imagine doing anything else. “I love teaching Health and Physical Education and guiding students to make wise decisions,” reads her online biography. Alexzandria Bell, 15, was an avid dancer with an outgoing personality. “Beautiful inside and out,” said her high school principal. Both were killed in Monday’s mass school shooting in St. Louis. Seven other teenagers were injured. Countless students who fled in terror and witnessed their classmates being shot have been traumatized. This could have been much worse,” interim St. Louis Police Chief Michael Sack said about the shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School. He was right. Had it not been for the heroic, unhesitating actions of police who shot and killed the gunman within minutes of arriving at the school, more people would have been killed and injured. But make no mistake, what happened in St. Louis — a teacher killed protecting her students along with a young girl who had her whole life ahead of her — is the worst. And it happens with tragic regularity in the United States.According to a Washington Post tally, there have been at least 33 school shootings this year. Last year, there were 42 acts of gun violence on K-12 campuses during the school day, more than in any year since at least 1999, when a mass shooting occurred at Columbine High School. Since 1999, The Post found, at least 188 children, educators and other people have been killed and another 389 have been injured in assaults on schools. More than 320,000 students have experienced gun violence at school since Columbine. At Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, the terror started shortly after 9 a.m., when the gunman broke a window out of a door and entered the school firing. Students barricaded themselves behind doors, huddled in
classroom corners and jumped from windows.
One girl was eye-to-eye with the shooter when his gun apparently jammed and she was able to run. Before shooting Ms. Kuczka, the gunman was reported to have yelled, “You all are going to die.”
The shooter was 19, a former student at the school, and he came armed with an AR15-style rifle and 600 rounds of ammunition. How he obtained his weaponry could be a case study in how deficient the nation’s gun laws are. Authorities said he legally purchased the gun from a private individual after his efforts to purchase a gun from a licensed dealer were blocked by an FBI background check, apparently because of mental health issues. Nine days before the shooting, police were called to the gunman’s home, and his family, worried about those mental health issues, asked authorities to remove the gun. Police determined the gunman was lawfully permitted to have a firearm.
A third person, someone known to the family, took the rifle so it would be out of the home. Police are investigating how the gunman got the weapon back.
Missouri, notorious for having some of the weakest gun laws in the nation, doesn’t have a red-flag law that would have given the family legal recourse to confiscate the gun. The state doesn’t require background checks to buy or own guns, and anyone who is 19 or older can legally conceal or openly carry guns. Last year the state enacted a measure barring police officers from enforcing federal gun laws, subjecting them to a fine of up to $50,000.
How many more school shootings need to happen before Missouri wakes up? How many more before Congress enacts a national assault weapons ban and requires universal background checks?
This editorial is re-printed with permission from The Washington Post
American Endorsement
Trudy Busch Valentine the clear choice for Senate
It is at this inflective moment for the rule of law and social and economic justice in this country, that one of the nation’s only two major political parties is in a destructive devil’s bargain with election deniers and conspiracy theorists that has led to what the Republican party has become. Former president Donald J. Trump was a person known in New York City in the real estate developer community as a con man who seemed to always be just a step ahead of the law. Yet Trump has been able to capitalize on fear and grievance by blatantly stoking white supremacy and stirring the hatreds of racism and nativism, misogyny and homophobia along with an antiintellectualism that includes an aversion to proven facts that regards science as subversive to become the dominant force in the GOP.The party has become almost completely morally and spiritually corrupt.
A list of legal challenges against Trump has eroded his support only slightly over the past two years. Eight out of 10 Republicans still view him favorably and still deny that Biden won legitimately in 2020. One wonders what accounts for this loyalty to someone who lies all the time and behaves in what appears to be criminal ways. Nevertheless, this amoral man enjoys what seems like cult support in the Republican Party.
The current Republican Party exemplified by Trumpism has nominated many despicable, corrupt candidates for the
upcoming elections. It’s a rogue gallery of some misfits, liars, and scoundrels. Conservatives have allowed their party to be overtaken by a cult that lacks any ethically responsible barriers. Missouri Republicans have embraced demagogue Trump wholeheartedly with all the Republican U.S. Senate candidates begging in the primary to become another Trump lackey, willing to do anything to gain his blessing. Fortunately, the Democrats have nominated someone who represents the better, more moral nature of America.
Trudy Busch Valentine has stepped up to challenge Attorney General Eric Schmitt who AP reports that “in 20 months he has filed 25 lawsuits against President Joe Biden, putting Missouri behind only Louisiana in the number of lawsuits against the Biden administration.” U.S. and World News ranks Louisiana the “worst state in the nation.” In his first two years in office, Schmitt filed just one suit against the Trump administration.
Busch Valentine has rebuked this blatant pandering of the Missouri attorney general saying that he has wasted taxpayers’ resources “by filing endless publicity-seeking
American Endorsements
More experienced Sam Page deserves re-election
The record of the Republican-dominated Missouri state government is an abysmal one. Regrettably there has been no effective opposition to their extremist policies and disingenuous governance since the collapse of the once-dominant state Democratic Party. There has been a lack of any effective challenge to this one party rule that has blocked the expressed will of voters. There needs to be a re-imagined Democratic Party that can be viable in this state to slow this state’s decline and rush to the bottom. Most likely any strategy must include maintaining the existing electoral strength of the party in the city of St. Louis, St. Louis County, Kansas City, Jackson County and Columbia and Boone County.
The upcoming general election in St. Louis County sees a contest between the incumbent Dr. Sam Page and Mark Mantovani. They have faced each other in the past. Both have been opponents in a Democratic primary but not a general election. Mantovani, a businessman, has some commendable attributes and for the record this paper has endorsed him in the past. However, this time he is running in this general elec-
tion as a Republican. He was chosen by the County’s Republican Central Committee after the candidate chosen by Republican voters in the primary, Katherine Pinner, dropped out. She resigned as it became apparent that she was too far-out for even farout Republicans. Desperate for someone they considered more electable, they persuaded Mantovani to run. That means that Mantovani finds himself aligned with a party with no credibility in the Black community, a major component of the county’s electoral base.
Any fair appraisal of the incumbent’s performance has to be seen through the lens of the unwieldy governance structure of St. Louis County. There are 91 municipalities with multiple police departments and fire districts that inhibit efficient and effective governance.
Page, who was elected to complete the remaining two
years of Steve Stenger’s term in 2020, is running for a full four-year term. He has faced a great deal of criticism particularly about his handling of the pandemic. We think he acted responsibly based on the best information he had at the time. Moreover, Page has shown himself to be earnest, hardworking and a now more experienced chief executive facing the vexing problems of St. Louis County. Meanwhile, Mantovani has cast his lot with a repugnant Republican party that is rife with far-right elected officials who have brought us drastic anti-choice laws, irresponsible gun laws and a one-dimensional response to crime. Despite Mantovani’s disavowal, his alignment with the Republican Party and some disempowered Democrats whose candidate was soundly rejected in the August primary has instantly made him unacceptable. Page has been a strong, compassionate leader during very challenging times. He is the Democratic candidate in one of the state’s few strongholds for the party. He deserves reelection.
The St. Louis American endorses Dr. Sam Page.
Megan Green is best choice for all St. Louisans
lawsuits over things that do not have anything to do with the central issues facing Missouri.”
While Schmitt has used the resources of his office to serve his unprincipled pursuit of a Senate seat, Busch Valentine has stepped forward as an advocate for the causes she has supported over her lifetime as a highly privileged person who found meaning and purpose in her life by serving others. Her life choices reflect the authenticity of her claims. She has based her campaign on her experiences as a mother, nurse, and supporter of children’s causes. Her stance on the issues facing the country makes her a clear choice over a political opportunist who has joined wholeheartedly the hordes who act in lockstep with Donald J. Trump and his destructive, racist behavior.
The stakes are high in this Senate race in Missouri as well as around the country to see if this country continues to backslide on some of its promises for equal opportunity for everyone. Trudy Busch Valentine stands for fulfilling that promise to everyone. We must vote to show our solidarity with those who stand up against those who would push back against progress. It is important to support someone who cares about the same things we care about.
Amid a dramatic shift in the politics of the city of St. Louis, the outcome of the upcoming election on Tuesday, Nov. 8 for new aldermanic president will help determine the future direction of the city. The criminal indictments of three members of the Board of Aldermen, including its long time president, Lewis Reed, forced this contest between a former ally of Reed, Jack Coatar, and Ald. Megan Green. The person that wins this election will have to face voters again next March along with all of the other members of the current board when the number of aldermen will be reduced by half. There has been a lot of speculation about the impact of either outcome of this aldermanic president race. In any case, the winner will have only a single vote on the powerful three-member Board of Estimate and Apportionment. Each candidate has supporters on this current lame duck board. But importantly, both Mayor Tishaura Jones and U.S. Rep Cori Bush have endorsed Megan Green.
The predicted tirade against these popular Black women elected officials from the edi-
torial board of the region’s daily newspaper continues its embrace of anyone they feel is the more centrist politician needed to block the influence of what they characterize as “progressive extremists.”
However the value of the board’s arguments is undercut by their highly selective memory about some of their embarrassing choices in the past, whose names they don’t mention. They make only a perfunctive reference to “the corrupt machinestyle politics of the past” and certainly no mention of the deeply inefficient bureaucracy and archaic infrastructure that burdens any city administration. Their harsh subjective, even vindictive appraisal of the current mayoral administration confirms a bitterness and personal animosity. They ignore the specifics of past failures as well as the many unique challenges any
administration will face in this old river city in the new technology age.
Clearly there is a need for greater collaboration rather than single-minded rancor if there is to be enhanced success for St. Louis in the future. There are no fail safe policies and certainly no level of financial resources available at the municipal level to make a huge sustainable difference. Our problems are compounded by our location in a state with regressive policies on issues from gun control to health care, economic development and tax policy and education.
There must be more and fair balance in discussions of public policies at the local level that also address the concerns and well-being of all St. Louisans that were denied for so many years.
We urge voters to follow the example of Mayor Jones and Cong. Bush who know that Megan Green will join them in the fight for fair treatment for everyone.
We join them in their strong support for Megan Green.
Vote for Megan Green for aldermanic president.
Trudy Busch Valentine
Sam Page
Megan Green
ATM machine during an opening ceremony for a First Bank branch in “The Hub” center in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood.
‘Hub’ of activity now includes a First Bank branch
St. Louis American staff
Andre Alexander, pastor of The Tabernacle Church and president of Tabernacle Community Development Corporation [TCDC], says First Bank’s new branch in “The Hub,” at 3000 E. Prairie Street, is welcomed by Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood residents and businesses.
“Jeff-Vander-Lou faces banking challenges, and it was extremely difficult to find financial institutions that were willing to uplift this community until we met First Bank,” he said during a recent opening ceremony.
“First Bank’s presence and support, as well as the consequential ability for people to walk in and open a bank account or talk to an expert about saving and home loans, will be hugely impactful to our community.” Over a 15-month period, TCDC used $1.5 million to transform the former Farragut Branch Elementary School building into a community resource center. Named “The Hub,” the neighborhood center opened in December 2021.
“It represents a partnership of St. Louis organiza-
tions and individuals that are committed to uplifting the community through career services, healthcare, legal counsel and now banking,” said Alexander.
Its First Bank branch will provide full banking services, an ATM and an ITM, an interactive teller machine that allows clients to video conference directly with a First Bank teller. The branch will also be staffed with a banking specialist that will divide time at the branch and engaging with residents and organizations in the neighborhood.
According to Alexander, the once-vibrant JeffVander-Lou neighborhood has lost more than 30,000 residents since 1950, and its median family income is $23,000.
“We stand with Pastor Andre and The Hub to bring much-needed resources to this community,” said Stacy Clay, First Bank director of community affairs.
“We invite everyone in the community to visit our new location and talk with our local team about how we can be a resource no matter what your current financial situation is. We want to be a long-standing partner in this community.”
Addressing domestic violence in Black community
By Anissa Durham
“What happens in this house, stays in this house.”
It’s a common saying in many Black families. But when it comes to domestic violence in our community, this statement can leave family members stuck in abusive relationships.
An October 26, 2022, Twitter Space discussion, “Stop Domestic Violence in the Black Community,” addressed this stigma, the justice system, and holding the Black community accountable. Its goal was finding solutions to help end domestic violence and begin a healing process from generational wounds.
The online event included former prosecutor Christina Jones, who is now CEO of External Relations for the Battered Women’s Justice Project; Angela Lee, the director of Love is Respect, a project of The National Domestic Violence Hotline [NDVH]; and Genoa Barrow, the senior staff reporter at The Sacramento Observer Jones said adding more laws may adversely affect and impact those from historically marginalized communities. But she said the justice system can do a better job of enforcing the laws to protect women who are in domestically abusive relationships.
“It’s not all on the justice system,” Jones said.
“Our community has to do a better job of holding itself accountable, starting with the household, our family, and our friends.”
Lee said it’s crucial to recognize domestic violence can happen to anyone — and it’s happening increasingly to Black youth.
“The earlier we intervene, the earlier we can end domestic violence. I think it’s important for storytelling and to hear stories from survivors, it’s important for us to address the laws that protect (people),” Lee said.
A theme throughout the discussion was how current laws and policies do not recognize certain kinds of domestic abuse, like emotional abuse. Lee said by the time emotional abuse escalates, “someone has been killed or seriously hurt.”
“We believe what the survivor says, we believe what the caller or the contact says, and we try to offer as much support whether that shows in the form of resources,” she said.
“In the Black community, saying call the police is not always the best option — so we have to make sure we are listening and also addressing the issue … to make sure we’re fitting their needs.”
Barrow reported on a series of stories on domestic violence this summer. Her article A World Of Hurt: The Link Between Domestic Violence And Community Gun Violence, examined how abusers with domestic violence charges end up killing their partners through gun violence.
“Folks are still largely minimizing domestic violence, what it is, who is impacted by it, and oftentimes we see even when you get the folks that do these shootings, they may get them on domestic violence charges … but by the time it gets to the end of the case those charges have been dropped and pleaded away,” she said.
During our segment on solutions to end domestic violence in the Black community, all panelists acknowledged a lot of work to be done.
Some simple steps can include communicating with our loved ones, reaching out for resources, believing those in our community who are saying they are being abused, and learning healthier patterns of behavior.
In addition, Lee said education is fundamental to helping folks understand what appropriate behavior is and what is harmful.
“We need to get to the root. I think the root of it is how we view what’s wrong and what’s right,” Barrow said.
Anissa Durham is a Word in Black reporter and columnist
Pastor Andre Alexander of The Tabernacle Church uses an
Photo courtesy of First Bank
Anissa Durham
Voters
Continued from A1
or Federally issued photo ID, they can still vote at the voter’s polling place by casting a provisional ballot on Election Day. After Election Day, a bipartisan team of election judges will compare the signature on the voter’s provisional ballot envelope to their voter registration signature on file at the Election Board. If the signature matches, the vote will count.
Any voter who has any questions about their voter registration status should contact the Election Board at 314-6224336. A sample ballot, as well as other helpful information, is available on the Board’s website at www.stlouis-mo.
gov/government/departments/ board-election-commissioners/
Judges matter, don’t skip those boxes
Consider who appointed the judges on your ballot and get a snapshot of their career and campaign contributions by searching their names on Ballotpedia.org before you vote
Girl Scouts
Continued from A1
several bonding activities including arts and crafts, STEM projects, and more.
Amber and her twin sister Autumn have been part of the program since they were little. Their mother Mallory went to prison for 12 years after being caught up in a large brawl, which she contends was not her fault. She was released in 2020.
Amber, Autumn, and Mallory’s story is why LaTonya Logan, Community Troop Manager at Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri said she loves her job and what motivates her.
“I wanted to do this job because mother-daughter relationships are so important,”
- type their name and the word “Ballotpedia” for quick access. Near the end of your ballot, you will have the option to vote for or against judges seeking retention or a seat on the Missouri Supreme Court, Missouri Court of Appeals, your District Court of Appeals and Circuit Courts.
Republican voters pay close attention to the courts. All voters should because these judges serve on courts which make decisions that impact your life and the well-being of your family and your community.
“No-excuse” absentee ballots still available
In the two-week period prior to Election Day beginning October 25th, voters can now vote a “no-excuse” absentee ballot at any of the Election Board’s designated No Excuse Absentee Polling Places. To explore voting options, find the closest polling place on Election Day or locate a No Excuse Absentee Polling Place prior to Election Day voters should access the Polling Places page on the Election Board website.
Logan said. “I’m fortunate my mom has always been there. I don’t even know what that could feel like [now I’m a mom] thinking of being away from my child.”
Maya Pierce, Senior Manager of Community Troop Programs, said it is important for people to know the program exists.
“I want people to know about the program because although we partner with the Missouri Department of Corrections, the information is not always seen by the population,” she said.
“So if there is a loved one at Vandalia or Chillicothe reach out to us we would love to get them involved. We would love to work with St. Louis City and County because we could start the relationship before they get there.”
Discounted and Free Rides to vote
Lyft announced its plans for discounted trips across the country on Election Day. The company’s promise is to provide 50% off on rideshares, bikes, and scooters on November 8, 2022. Rides2Vote is another avenue. The organization allows voters to request a ride to the polls online before the election Schmitt ad challenged by Clergy Coalition Members of the St. Louis Clergy Coalition rebuked Senate candidate Eric Schmitt for “tearing down our female
The aftermath of Mallory’s imprisonment left her mother (the girl’s grandmother) and other family members to raise the twins. Her incarceration had a tremendous effect on the family’s communication.
“I struggled with parenting them and still struggle with it now because they’ve already been raised,” Mallory said.
“I’m not trying to be your sister or your friend, but I feel like their sister because my mom raised [us], she raised them.”
When the girls got in trouble Mallory’s mom would tell her to discipline them however, she didn’t feel comfortable being the disciplinarian due to her environment.
“I felt like I didn’t have a right, it wasn’t my place to say something because ‘Who am I to tell them how to act, look where I was at?,’” Mallory said.
First time voter at Peabody Elementary School about to cast her ballot on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022.
Black leaders,” in one of his political advertisements.
During an Oct. 28, 2022 press conference at the Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis, Clergy Coalition President Charles Norris said, “I think it’s important that our civic leaders exercise good judgment and not add fuel to the fire. Just tell the truth plain and simple,” said Norris. Schmitt’s latest political advertisement attacks Mayor Tishaura Jones, US Congresswoman Cori Bush, state Sen. Karla May, and Alderwoman Meghan Green. Schmitt is accused of promoting fear “by using misinforma-
Amber agreed with Mallory’s attitude toward her and her sister’s relationship with their mom having difficulties post her release.
“We are still having trouble with deciding whether we wanna be kids or adults,” Amber said. “There’s some things we wanna do that are adult things. We wanna go hangout with our friends. We want to do this, we want to do that, but at the same time we want to be kids.”
When Mallory was released from prison she said she struggled with adjusting to being back in her daughters’ lives and knowing she was no longer alone since she had been alone for 12 years.
“I felt like everybody was like ‘Okay, you’re here now. I need you to take care of them. I need you to do this, do that,”
tion and one-liners concerning the controversial topic of defunding the police.”
The rhetoric behind defunding the police began after a former Minneapolis police officer murdered George Floyd during the spring of 2020. Schmitt, other Republicans and some Democrats facing primary challenges with their own party, have used the topic as a tactic to rouse his base of voters.
Schmitt falsely accuses Democratic candidate Trudy Busch Valentine of supporting the ideology of defunding the police in a recent TV ad. Norris said he does not favor defunding police. Instead, some funds should be allocated to ease potential crises. For example, having mental health officials available when police are interacting with someone dealing with a mental illness.
“If an individual is in a mental health crisis, a gun, taser, or handcuffs won’t help them,” said Norris.
Norris called the ad “offensive” and an attack on Black female leadership.
“Playing on the emotions of Missouri residents is a very dangerous game that can only lead to destructive behavior.
she said.
“I felt like nobody understood I just spent 12 years by myself. I was surrounded by people, but I was alone. Now I need a little space to step into what their expectations are of me.”
Life is much different now for the family since Mallory’s release. Mallory received her cosmetology license in 2020 and works as a barber at Iconic Male Grooming Spa in Ballwin.
“I haven’t thought about a passion,” Mallory said. “I’m still trying to get my feet planted solidly on the ground. I’m not in the clouds right now thinking about what I wanna do. I’m thinking about what I need to do.”
Amber and Autumn are seniors at Soldan International Studies High School. Amber has applied to
This type of rhetoric fuels the fire of extremism,” Jay Ozier, Coalition of Black Trade Union president emeritus, said Schmitt is using “racist and sexist attacks on our local female leaders.”
“Eric Schmitt has no moral compass, and his only guide is to get elected. He is promoting fear, promoting fear of each other,” said Ozier.
The Schmitt campaign also used unauthorized video of a St. Louis American reporter interviewing Valentine before its Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Gala at America’s Center on Oct. 1, 2022.
Attorney General Schmitt’s office did not contact the newspaper or the St. Louis American Foundation to receive permission to use the video. Reporter Danielle Brown did not grant permission to “utilize her performance, appearance, name and/or voice and the results and proceeds thereof in connection with said video.” Schmitt’s office was contacted by email on Tuesday, Nov. 1 and as of press time on Wednesday, the American had not received a reply.
various colleges including Fontbonne University, HarrisStowe State University, Truman State University, and Missouri S&T.
“I want to major in early childhood, special education and minor in social work,” Amber said. “I have a cousin with down syndrome and an autistic brother, I like talking to them and I really want to help people.”
“I’ve always been into hair and beauty, I’ve been wanting to do it for awhile,” Autumn said. “I also like psychology, I took AP psychology my junior year.” Learn more about Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri chapter’s Beyond Bars Program, here: https://www. girlscoutsem.org/en/get-involved.html#outreach
Photo by Dawn Suggs / St. Louis American
Shooting
Continued from A1
how I feel,” Brown said.
Branden Lewis, a 2017 CVPA alum said the school has always been full of love, despite the tragedy that struck the school on Oct. 24.
“Central is a place that’s full of love, you come to Central and get loved on,” Lewis said. “If a place full of so much love can still be the victim of someone who feels like no one loves them, then maybe a lack of love ain’t the problem.”
While he didn’t know the suspect well and doesn’t justify what he did, Lewis said he feels for the people close to him, especially his parents.
“I feel for people that were close to him, the fact that they have to live with [this.] I was close to this guy and I didn’t see this coming,” Lewis said.
Johnson
Continued from A1
Advocates for Johnson, such as Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty [MADPMO] argue that “the deck was stacked against him from the outset.” The fact that McCulloch used his peremptory strikes to eliminate Black jurors to ensure a predominately white jury was only one objection. MADPMO also accused the federal judiciary of displaying “a chilling indifference to the unfairness perpetrated in state court, first by assigning a biased judge and then denying [Johnson] the right to appeal his claims to the Court of Appeals.”
According to [MADPMO,[ there have been 90 executions committed by the state of Missouri since 1976. Eighteen people, including Johnson, are currently living under death sentences in Missouri. Four have been exonerated from death row since 1989. These cases, according to the organization, include people who were wrongly convicted and later cleared of all charges based on new evidence of innocence.
“It is now clear that innocent defendants will be convicted and sentenced to death with some regularity as long as the death penalty exists,” the Death Penalty Information Center, a national anti-death penalty group, wrote on its website.
Michelle Smith, director of community engagement for MADPMO, agrees. Although Johnson is not innocent of his crime, Smith believes his trial was an example of racism, prosecutorial discrimination, and purposeful fallibility. Fixing the system, she argues, needs to begin by addressing people like Johnson’s prosecutor.
“I hope that one day this country will acknowledge and deal with the lingering atrocities of Bob McCulloch,” Smith said, adding: “the many people who are still in prison wrongly because of his prosecutorial misconduct, bias, and racism, and those who are on death row and will possibly be executed.” McCulloch was put on the trial of public opinion in 2014 regarding the case of
“I also feel for his parents because the shame he brought on himself he pretty much brought on his family.”
Alumni member Aleshia Jones says that she is feeling torn by Monday’s tragedy. Her younger sister knew the late assailant and described him “as a very quiet kid, who had some friends but preferred to be alone.”
Angelo Smiley, a CPVA graduate said, “I’m upset, I feel like this was our sanctuary and now it’s corrupted.”
The former students were gathered in a huddle that night in front of a memorial. They shared stories of their former years at the school. They spoke of finding ways to be there for the current students while keeping the positive legacy of CPVA alive.
Smiley described his school as a place where he and other students could be themselves, calling it a place of acceptance and diversity.
Darren Wilson, the Ferguson policeman who shot and killed 18-year-old Mike Brown in 2014. More than 100,000 people signed a petition that year demanding McCulloch recuse himself from the grand jury investigating the killing Those pushing for Wilson’s prosecution publicly wondered about McCulloch’s ability to fairly adjudicate evidence that implicated Wilson. After all, McCulloch’s brother Joseph was a sergeant in St. Louis’ Ninth District. His mother, Anne, was employed as a clerk in the homicide division for two decades. His father, Paul McCulloch was a police officer who was shot and killed in 1964 during a “running gun-battle” in the Pruitt-Igoe housing complex. The alleged killer, Eddie Steve Glenn, a Black man, was arrested and put on trial for the murder. On November 27, 1965, Glenn was found guilty by an all-white, all-male jury that recommended a sentence of death. Glenn’s attorneys appealed his conviction, but it was rejected by the state.
In the early 1970s, after capital punishment was temporarily ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, Glenn’s sentence was reduced to life. He died in prison in 1985. Was Justice served? Perhaps not.
Peter James Hudson, a University of California African American Studies professor and accomplished author wrote in 2014 the essay, “Who Killed Prosecutor Robert McCullough’s Father?” Hudson exhaustively dissects the crime and the inconsistencies of the prosecutor’s case. To summarize, Hudson wrote that Glenn may not have murdered McCulloch’s father. Based on evidence-gathering, differing police accounts and suspect testimonies, Hudson emphatically stated that Glenn “should have been acquitted… due to the circumstantial and doubtful nature of the evidence against him” and that McCulloch “might have been killed by either his own gun or from gunfire from a fellow officer.”
The story of Paul McCullough’s death and Glenn’s prosecution highlights two pathways pursued by the fallen officer’s son, Bob
Christian Schulte says that CPVA is like one big family.
The teachers are very supportive, many of them are like [students’] parents and grandparents. They helped them academically but also went the extra mile and helped them find jobs or supported them in areas concerning family issues, “It’s just heartbreaking,” he said.
To help cope with the tragedy, former students have created a group chat, to come up with ideas on how they can support the students of their alma mater.
Once in-person learning is available, which will not begin for at least another full week according to SLPS, they plan on going back to the school to mentor and talk with the students to let them know they are here for them.
“It’s the small things that count,” said Jones.
Jones says former students are uploading pictures from over the years when they
McCullough; One of fierce, unshakable loyalty to police officers no matter their culpability and, two, a legacy of questionable, biased prosecutions against Blacks accused of killing whites, especially white policemen.
The second pathway speaks to McCullough’s zeal to not only seek the death penalty for Kevin Johnson but to announce that he will personally attend the execution.
attended the school. She doesn’t want people to forget the good times they had there. She hopes this event doesn’t deter other students from wanting to go to CPVA. Jones says her high school “is such a beautiful and awesome place.”
Lauryn Brown, a 2017 CVPA alum, says the aftermath of the shooting has left her feeling emotionally drained because the school is her second home. Brown said it hurts to know the tragedy happened because she appreciates the love and support shown since the incident from alumni, current students, teachers, and former faculty.
“To see us come together as one and be there for each other [whether I knew you or not, still give me a hug], shows the greatness of the foundation CVPA has built,” Brown said.
Jessica Hrdlicka, a former math teacher at CVPA,
Black.”
n “It is now clear that innocent defendants will be convicted and sentenced to death with some regularity as long as the death penalty exists.”
– The Death Penalty Information Center, a national anti-death penalty group
On its “Clemency for KJ” page, MADPMO shared a portion of a “new report” by University of North Carolina political scientist Frank R. Baumgartner who wrote: “the likelihood that a death sentence would be imposed in St. Louis County was 3.5 times greater if the victim was white, as compared to cases in which the victim was
In other words, race matters. Consider the case of Trenton Forster, who shot and killed St. Louis County Police Officer Blake Snyder, 33, on Oct. 6, 2016. Forster, like Johnson, was a teenager, 18 years old when he murdered Snyder. Unlike Johnson, Forster took to social media before the murder to brag about drug use, guns, and his desire to indiscriminately kill cops.
It’s no excuse, but Johnson took McEntee’s life because he believed the officer played a part in his younger brother’s death. By police and prosecutor’s accounts, Forster killed Snyder as the officer approached his vehicle while responding to a disturbance call.
Yet, McCullough announced that after “a complete examina-
often talked to Kuczka during her time at the school six years ago. She was relieved when she first found out there were no injuries, but when the news changed and she learned Kuczka died, she said she was devastated.
“I just started crying, the tears wouldn’t stop,” Hrdlicka said.
“Although I wasn’t here when the shooting happened my heart is breaking. It’s very hard to know that my former coworkers are going through something that is unimaginable.”
Schulte says that they are going to stick together and be there for one another and most importantly get gun control in America so that this never happens again. He is hoping that the state of Missouri follows in the footsteps of Illinois and adopts the red flag law so that guns won’t end up in the wrong hands.
tion and reexamination” of all the evidence, he would not seek a death sentence for Forster. He contended that Forster was high on drugs and suicidal at the time. The announcement infuriated the officer’s widow, Elizabeth Snyder.
“What message is being sent to society, to law enforcement and criminals by not seeking the death penalty?” Snyder complained, adding: “It’s saying police officers’ lives are cheap and unimportant and don’t matter.”
On its website, MADMO also addressed the inconsistencies of the two cases:
“Trenton had an aggravating factor of having planned and plotted the crime, but since he is a white youth, there was exponentially more empathy and compassion for him from Bob McCulloch.”
The problem of the death penalty is not just about McCullough; it’s about a flawed, biased system. Recent data indicates that Black people make up more than 41 percent of death row cases even though they’re only 13.4% of the U.S. population.
Commuity event on Nov. 3
St. Louis Public Radio is organizing a community event to bring us all under the same roof and connect residents with local experts and organizations that specialize in helping people navigate trauma and grief.
The event will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3 at the St. Louis Public LibraryCarpenter Library on South Grand Boulevard. The program will begin with a Q&A session where parents and children can ask local experts about trauma symptoms to look for in themselves or loved ones in the weeks and months ahead and for other insights about the grieving process. Dr. Marva Robinson of the St. Louis Association of Black Psychologists, and Dr. Matthew Kliethermes, training director at Children’s Advocacy Services of Greater St. Louis, will lead the session.
National Geographic Magazine’s 2021 article, “Sentenced to death, but innocent…” examined the cases of 182 people who had their lives upended “by a system that nearly killed them.” Factors such as “a defendant’s or victim’s race, low income, or inability to counter overzealous police and prosecutors,” the article noted, puts the accused at risk of wrongful convictions and death sentences.
Kevin Johnson committed a horrendous crime. Vengeance is no excuse; he took a life. But is vengeance for vengeance carried out by an inherently biased, infallibly flawed judicial system a reasonable, moral, or effective response?
Not according to Sis. Helen Prejean, who was featured in the movie, “Dead Man Walking”:
“Allowing our government to kill citizens compromises the deepest moral values upon which this country was conceived: the inviolable dignity of human persons.”
Sylvester Brown Jr. is The St. Louis American’s inaugural Deaconess Fellow.
The Kevin Johnson Story In Search of Humanity
By Sylvester Brown, Jr.
The Missouri Supreme Court has set an execution date for Kevin Johnson, who killed a Kirkwood police sergeant at the age of 19. Johnson is scheduled to die by lethal injection on Nov. 29 at the state prison in Bonne Terre.
Reportedly, Johnson ambushed Kirkwood police Sgt. William McEntee on July 5, 2005. McEntee was on patrol in the Meacham Park neighborhood when Johnson approached the passenger’s side of his car, fired several shots then fired two more shots as McEntee crawled out of his police cruiser. In all, McEntee was hit seven times.
I was a Metro Columnist with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch at the time and vividly remember my reaction to the July 7, 2005, story written by Heather Ratcliffe titled “Police search for suspect, motive in officer’s killing.”
Something didn’t sit right. Ratcliffe, relying on police reports, said that Johnson was wanted by police for “violating probation in a domestic assault case…” Police, according to Ratcliffe knew of “no link” and found no connection between the killing and “the death, by natural causes of Johnson’s 12-year-old brother, Joseph “Bam-Bam” Long, who died less than two hours before he
killed McEntee.
Wait. The killer’s little brother died two hours before Johnson decided to kill a policeman and there was no connection. It made no sense. What human wouldn’t be impacted by a close relative’s death?
I called Ratcliffe, who doubled down on her account, insisting Kirkwood police “responded to a call to help paramedics” but there was no “friction with the family” and McEntee was not one of the officers at the scene of the boy’s death.
Out of curiosity, I visited the neighborhood and approached a group of teens near Alsobrook Street where McEntee was gunned down.
After identifying myself as a writer with the Post-Dispatch, the boys responded angrily:
“We ain’t talking to ya’ll ‘cause ya’ll been lying about this story. You know that cop killed that boy,” one kid said gruffly.
“What,” I answered, “I read McEntee wasn’t even on the scene.”
The teens told me where the family lived and demanded I go talk to them if I wanted “the truth.”
I did and the family was eager to share their story.
They said McEntee was indeed at the house. They knew the almost 7-foot-tall officer from the neighborhood. They even nicknamed him “Lurch,”
from the character on the old Addam’s Family TV show.
Johnson’s great-grandparents -- Henrietta and Anderson Kimble -- told me about the defect in “Bam Bam”, his little brother’s heart.
“The valves were switched,” his great-grandmother explained.
They further detailed how McEntee and another officer were outside of Patricia Ward, Johnson’s grandmother’s house looking at his white SUV. Johnson, who was watching through his great-grandmother’s window next door, gave Bam Bam the keys to his truck.
“Give these to Grandma,”
Henrietta Kimble said, recalling Johnson’s instructions to his brother, “Ask her to tell the police she was driving my truck.”
According to the family, Bam Bam’s heart seized, and he collapsed, face forward, on his grandmother’s living room floor. Ward said she then called out to the policemen for help. Family members said the police “slow-walked” toward the house then, upon entering, told everyone to leave. Ward recalled how police even made a relative stop giving CPR while they searched the residence for Johnson. Johnson’s grandmother said Bam Bam was still lying face-down when the ambulance came -- 20 minutes after the child collapsed and after they asked police for help. The 12-year-old was pronounced
dead at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur that evening.
Back at the office, I called Capt. Diane Scanga, the public information officer for the Kirkwood Police Department. She repeated what Ratcliffe reported, insisting McEntee was not one of the officers at the house where Bam Bam died. She hesitated when I told her I had just talked to the family who identified McEntee. “Oh,” Scanga responded, adding that she’d get back with me. Later that day she called to say McEntee was indeed one of the officers who visited the house.
All hell broke loose after writing my Sunday July 10, 2005, column that contradicted Ratcliffe, the newspaper’s crime reporter. The newspaper and police officials had to change the narrative of their respective stories to discount any notion of “motive” in the killing. Readers called and wrote to my bosses demanding my termination. I was a “rabble-rouser” and “spinmeister,” some said, insisting that I only defended Johnson because he is Black and defamed Sgt. McEntee because he was white.
The police and newspaper’s narrative changed after my column. To contradict the family’s story, Kirkwood police presented documents showing that paramedics arrived four minutes after they were called. I again called the family to ask about the contradictions. There were none, they countered. In another column, I shared Bam Bam’s grandmother, Patricia Ward’s thoughts:
“The ambulance service was fantastic,” Ward insisted, adding: “My problem was with the police. I didn’t have to call 911, they were right outside.”
What haunts me to this day is the fact that if I hadn’t gone to Meacham Park and talked to neighbors and family, the police department’s initial story might have been all that was reported. We may have never known that Johnson retaliated because he thought McEntee was complicit in his brother’s demise. It in no way justifies the murder but it added much-needed context to
a tragic story. The only difference between my reporting and the crime reporters was that she offered the police department’s criminalized version of Johnson while my columns, in a way, humanized him.
When reporting Johnson’ execution date recently, the PostDispatch wrote that he killed McEntee in anger “because he felt police officers hadn’t done enough to help when his brother collapsed and died…”
Our relationship ended badly so I understand the newspaper wanting nothing to do with me. But ignoring the “truth” I shared in 2005 and settling for a watered-down version of events, to me, is unforgivableespecially in the light of the fact that Johnson will be killed by the state in November.
The American has allowed me to thoroughly detail this story. This issue contains my final installment of a three-part series. To date, I’ve addressed the upcoming death sentence,
revisited the circumstances involved with the killing and, today, I’m addressing the injustice and infallibility of eath sentences too often predicated by race. I am humbled by the gravity involved with bringing awareness to this case. Afterall, a young man senselessly took the life of another. Because of his actions, a father of three is no more. Trying to weave together a life narrative that explores how “systems” – social, educational, and judicial failed a child who grew up to be a murderer was no easy task with such a sensationalized case. Yet, considering the end-of-November death sentence, it is pertinent to know the intricacies of the case.
It’s ironic that I’m ending this series where I began in 2005. I sought answers to why a teenager killed someone on the same day he lost his brother. As it was then, it is now. I’m still searching for humanity.
Kevin Johnson
Kwame Foundation golf tournament raises $75K
“For nearly 20 years, Kwame Foundation has been a catalyst for education, mentorship, and scholarship support for students within our region, and beyond. We will continue this great work in 2023.”
St. Louis American staff
The Kwame Foundation has awarded $75,000 in higher education scholarships for first-generation, college-bound students from proceeds raised at the organization’s 18th Annual golf tournament. The presenting sponsor was Maggie O’Brien’s. Since 2003, Kwame Foundation has provided multi-year endowed scholarships for students at 27 colleges or universities throughout the United States.
Scholarships funded by the golf tournament have been endowed for students to attend Fontbonne University, Lincoln University, Maryville University, Saint Louis University, Southeast Missouri State University, University of Kansas, and Washington University.
“Our Tee Off Fore Education golf tournament has annually raised substantial funds to support our partner schools and the scholars who need financial assistance to succeed and graduate,” said Kwame Foundation Executive Director Lydia
The Kwame Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization that creates opportunities for youth in underserved communities through mentorship, scholarships, and community engagement.
Founded in 2003 by Tony and Kim Thompson, it provides young people opportunities to gain experience, grow and become professionals in their chosen careers through education and professional development.
Although the foundation serves students of all races, it primarily exists to serve bright, motivated minority students who might not otherwise have an opportunity for higher education.
To date, Kwame Foundation has funded scholarships at the following educational institutions:
• Alabama A&M University*
• Barnes-Jewish Hospital
• Clark Atlanta University*
• Florida A&M University*
• Fontbonne University
Kwame founder and CEO Anthony “Tony” Thompson co-founded the Thompson Foundation with Kim Thompson in 2003. Now in its 18th year, the foundation golf tournament raised $75,000 at this year’s event.
Photo by FD Finch Photography
• Forest Park Forever
• Hampton University*
• Harris-Stowe State University*
• Howard University*
• Interdenominational Theological Center
• Jackson State University*
• Lincoln University*
• Maryville University
• Morehouse School of Medicine*
• Morgan State University*
• North Carolina A&T State University*
• Prairie View A&M University*
• Ranken Technical College
• Saint Louis Community College
• Saint Louis University*
• Saint Louis University/ Harris- Stowe State University
• Saint Louis Zoo
• Southern University*
• Tennessee State University*
• Tuskegee University*
• University of Kansas
• University of MissouriColumbia
• University of MissouriSt. Louis
• Washington University in St. Louis
• Webster University
*Denotes current or new endowed scholarship
"Something isn’t right in St. Louis County government, and it hasn’t been right for quite some time — even before the pandemic threw local politics into turmoil. Hopes were high that he demise of corrupt former County Executive Steve Stenger would fix the dysfunction, but the backroom wheeling and dealing, coupled with front-room sniping and snarling, has only helped perpetuate the divisiveness Democratic County Executive Sam Page, for all his claims to have been a victim of a crazy pandemic political culture, has been a major contributor to the dysfunction he says he’s trying to end. Mantovani oozes reasonableness. His plain-speaking, calm, pragmatic approach toissues is exactly what the county needs to restore confidence and put a stop to the ridiculous bickering between the incumbent administration and the County Council. We recommend Mantovani for St. Louis County executive."
St. Louis Post Dispatch
For By Mark Mantovani for STL, Matt Carr Treasurer
Huston.
Affinia Healthcare plans community event on Nov. 12
Also earns prestigious honor
St. Louis American staff
Affinia Healthcare will hold an Anti-Violence Block Party from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday Nov. 12, 2022, at its 4414 N. Florissant Ave. location in St. Louis. The Block Party will include free food and music, games, giveaways, and raffles, and more. Resources such as free gun locks and health information will also be available. The event will be held concurrently with Affinia’s Medical and Dental Day for Youth. Parents can schedule appointments for medical and dental services by calling (314) 814-8700.
The event is sponsored through a grant from the St. Louis Violence Prevention Commission and City of St. Louis using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
Affinia Healthcare serves over 43,700 people per year, of whom more than 90% have incomes under 100% of the federal poverty level. Approximately 70% of patients served are Black or African American, 11% are Hispanic/ Latinx, and over 4,000 are unhoused.
Affinia honored Affinia has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Ambulatory Accreditation following an unannounced onsite survey August 9-12, 2022. Held every three years, reviewers evaluated compliance
Dr. Kendra Holmes, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Affinia Healthcare speaking with the agency’s VP of HR, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Steve Harmon. Holmes was instrumental in Affinia earning The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Ambulatory Accreditation. The agency will also host an AntiViolence Block Party on Nov. 12.
with the accrediting body’s Ambulatory Care standards, including the handling of hazardous materials and waste, ongoing education and training, and infection prevention and control activities, among others. The surveyors also conducted onsite observations and interviews.
“Fewer than 1 in 5 of the 1,400 or so community health centers across the U.S. seek and maintain this prestigious accreditation,” said Dr. Alan Freeman, Affinia Healthcare president and CEO.
“The extraordinary efforts of our staff, and the high-quality
care and compassionate service provided to our patients, set Affinia Healthcare apart.”
Freeman also commended Dr. Kendra Holmes, executive vice president and COO, who led Affinia Healthcare’s preparation and response.
“This is yet another example of the exceptional nature of her leadership, as our organization strives to remain survey ready every day,” he noted.
The Joint Commission’s standards are developed in consultation with providers and other health care experts, and patients, and is informed by science and research. Affinia
Healthcare has remained accredited since 2004.
“As a private accreditor, The Joint Commission surveys health care organizations to protect the public by identify ing deficiencies in care and working with those organiza tions to correct them as quickly and sustainably as possible,” said Mark Pelletier, chief operating officer and chief nursing executive for The Joint Commission.
“We commend Affinia Healthcare for its continuous quality improvement efforts in patient safety and quality of care.”
FRIDAY,
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23
10 a.m. Dedicated Senior CareNorth Oaks 175 North Oaks Plaza St. Louis, MO 63121
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1
10:30 a.m.
Carondelet YMCA 930 Holly Hills Ave. St. Louis, MO 63111
The EYE’s Insider’s Election Guide
Next Tuesday, voters nationwide will travel to their polling places to cast their ballots and make their voices heard. Locally, the EYE is watching four races that stand to make the biggest impact on St. Louis:
Board of Aldermen President
In the battle between “a progressive” and “maintaining the status quo,” Alderwoman Megan Green (Ward 15) faces Alderman Jack Coatar (Ward 7) to replace the now-disgraced former aldermanic president, Lewis Reed, as leader of the Board of Aldermen. Reed resigned from the seat he held for a record-setting 15 years after he was indicted by a federal grand jury in May. He will be sentenced next month for taking bribes related to property tax abatements, essentially exchanging some depletion of St. Louis Public Schools funding for a few thousand dollars. Historically speaking, Reed and Coatar have endorsed each other and in practice, Coatar will be merely an extension of Reed’s reign. Green handily won the non-partisan primary in September, defeating Coatar in North and most of South City, though there has been no further (public) polling since that no-stakes special election. Green’s campaign has benefitted from the momentum of Mayor Tishaura Jones’ 2021 campaign, even adopting Jones’ unifying message of “a St. Louis for everyone.”
While Green’s platform aligns most closely with Jones’ - all but assuring advancement of the Mayor’s pro-working class policies – there has been some gentrification of Tower Grove South under Green’s leadership. But where Green does shine is
by showing up for the community and following through with her promises - she is an activist, after all.
Coatar, on the other hand, can’t be bothered to show up to vote on legislation. Maybe he’s been too busy meeting with millionaire slumlords or collecting checks from corrupt PACs, but his 46% voting rate should stand out to voters as another reason to reject his candidacy. But even Coatar’s strongest claim - his experience in development - is questionable at best, and that experience should be examined more broadly. Every dollar contributed to his campaign by wealthy, white developers who don’t live in our city should be closely scrutinized.
While downtown and Soulard neighborhoods have experienced positive population growth across the last two decades, the harsh reality has seen population stagnation in the North and South neighborhoods of the city. Coatar’s development experience has been limited to the Central Corridor, and as such, that experience cannot be replicated elsewhere. Market demand in Carondelet or the Academy neighborhood does not reflect demand in Downtown.
More recently, Coatar lost much of his remaining shred of credibility across the city when, in the wake of the tragic school shooting at Central VPA, the former prosecutor ghoulishly sought political advantage from that horrific situation to call for more cops. This tragedy ensued despite the fact that CVPA had seven SLMPD-trained security officers on-campus and SLMPD’s response within four minutes. Probably one of the very few examples where SLMPD followed every protocol and procedure appropriately. A politician through
and through, Coatar failed to read the room on whether those pro-police talking points were raised in the immediate moment after the killings. Never one to miss a dog whistle, Coatar didn’t bother to address Missouri’s rejection of “red flag” laws or the weak gun laws that allowed the shooter to buy an AR-15 from a private seller after an FBI background check rejected his application for purchase.
U.S. Senate
The race to replace outgoing U.S. Senator Roy Blunt is a bit more akin to a struggle between evil and, well, less experience. Most recently, Republican candidate and current Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt was exposed for using his elected state office to “investigate” (read: harass) a woman who appeared in a political ad to discuss being denied a medically-necessary abortion.
Just days after Democratic candidate Trudy Busch Valentine aired a political ad featuring the woman and the hospital that denied her medical care, a group of “investigators” from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services appeared at the hospital. Schmitt, who gleefully signed the nation’s first “trigger ban” following the repeal of Roe v. Wade, is believed to have initiated the state’s “investigation,” primarily because Schmitt’s campaign sent ceaseand-desist letters to television stations across the state, demanding that they stop airing the campaign ad. Democratic state lawmakers apparently are investigating Schmitt’s abuse of his elected office, although realistically, we don’t expect that to go anywhere in this state.
Schmitt’s $5.2 million, but she has yet to break Schmitt’s average lead of 10 points. From a bird’s eye view, still, Valentine’s candidacy might be seen as more of a principled effort that may boost down-ballot Democratic campaigns at the local or state level.
Valentine’s inexperience, however, may be seen as a plus compared to Schmitt’s abuse-of-power while he was “serving” as attorney general. She has no record to scrutinize, and she has no history of doing political favors for campaign donors like her opponent. In fact, one of Schmitt’s first acts as the state’s top appointed lawyer was to settle a $2.6 million tax credit fraud case against a major political donor, controversial developer Paul McKee, for less than $325,000. Prior to the favorable settlement with McKee, Schmitt had taken nearly $170,000 in campaign contributions from McKee and his affiliates in less than a decade.
Yes, that was a massive conflict of interest. Yes, Schmitt should have recused himself and his office from touching the case. And yes - the Department of Justice should be investigating this, just as they investigated former aldermen Reed, Jeffrey Boyd and John Collins Muhammad because frankly, this is the same type of behavior.
This type of political corruption should be unacceptable for all elected leaders - especially those charged with enforcing state law.
Amendment 3
Missouri’s legislative Democrats’ bark is much worse than their toothless bite.
Nevertheless Valentine has gained some momentum in the last few weeks, at one point Schmitt’s statewide lead was almost reduced to single digits. A mostly self-funded candidate, Valentine has invested more than $10 million of her own money into the campaign for U.S. Senate compared to
The St. Louis American was one of the first statewide voices to call attention to the very real dangers of Amendment 3, which has been called misleadingly the “marijuana legalization” bill. Months later, we remain firmly in the same position. To be clear, legislation cannot “legalize” something if it simultaneously criminalizes that same thing in the state constitution. Amendment 3 has a concerning amount of support from groups that should be opposed to the petition, likely
distracted by the petition’s expungement provisions for persons with convictions for non-violent marijuana offenses. The expungement component of Amendment 3 is perhaps the only positive part of this 39-page bill; the remaining 38 pages either create or perpetuate problems for those with and without cannabis convictions.
Persons who are currently incarcerated for non-violent marijuana offenses will not be automatically released - their freedom will depend on the sole discretion of a judge from the same county court that sentenced them. If a person is serving probation or parole for a non-violent marijuana offense, the remainder of that sentence must be served - unless, again, a judge decides otherwise.
Lobbyists for Legal MO have stated that automatic release of persons currently incarcerated for non-violent marijuana offenses was “not possible,” apparently according to a Mel Carnahan-era lawyer, but another citizen petition, Fair Access Missouri, was able to find a loophole for automatic release.
The Fair Access petition did not collect enough signatures to be on this year’s ballot, although to be fair - neither did Amendment 3. State Senator Shamed Dogan sponsored legislation for a constitutional amendment that included the automatic release of persons currently incarcerated on marijuana-related offenses, leaving us to wonder why Legal MO left out this vital component.
Supporters of Amendment 3 are a little too comfortable waving off the problems of this petition, which are likely to remain permanent if the Missouri legislature is successful in repealing the citizen initiative petition process this upcoming session. Legal MO also drafted the 2018 medical marijuana citizen petition, and despite having the opportunity to fix the problems created in that legislation with Amendment 3, Legal MO failed to do so. Not only would Amendment 3 amend the Missouri Constitution to make cannabis possession illegal, the bill is also written to remain in full force and effect in the event of federal legalization and/or decriminalization.
While we agree that the
citizen initiative petition is the most effective way for Missourians to enact laws that the state legislature refuses (see: medicaid expansion), we do not believe that Amendment 3 offers more good than harm. To the contrary, Amendment 3 stands to create further inequities, favoring white, wealthy industry veterans over Black and Latino entrepreneurs. Of the 338 licenses issued under the medical marijuana bill, only 3 went to Black applicants - that’s less than 1%, and that’s not a good thing. Amendment 3’s answer to this is to create a “separate-but-equal” system that limits operations for “microbusiness” licenses, which are distributed equally among congressional districts. St. Louis will only get 18 of these new licenses, leaving us to wonder who really stands to benefit from the passage of Amendment 3. It certainly doesn’t seem like consumers or minority business owners will.
Amendment 4
Last but not least, we will be hoping and praying for the failure of Amendment 4, which would force the only city in the state without local control of its police department - Kansas City - to increase its annual budget for its police department. You read that right: the entirety of the state of Missouri will be asked to decide a budgetary issue for a police department in a single city. Can you imagine the outcry if urban voters got to weigh in on the police budget for Poplar Bluff or Moberly? The state legislature would never find that appropriate, so we struggle to understand why Kansas City taxpayers would be beholden to a vote by millions who do not live or work there.
The bigger question is, when will local control of its police department be returned to Kansas City? It is not lost on us that the second-largest city in the state is still subject to a Civil War-era law, enacted by a proslavery governor who didn’t want urban police departments to fend off the Confederates. For what reason does the State of Missouri have to continue this form of oppression?
“Taking Care of You”
Partnership helps bridge gap in youth dental care
Boys and Girls Club, Care STL open clinic
By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American
Healthy smiles were shared on Monday at the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club of Greater St. Louis [BGCSTL] location at Grand and Dodier.
CareSTL Health and BGCSTL have partnered to provide dental services to members at the location, where children and teens can receive routine dental exams, cleanings, x-rays, sealants, and fillings.
State Rep. LaKeysha Bosley and Alderman Brandon Bosley, both former BGCSTL members, said the clinic will provide badly needed dental health care on the city’s northside.
“It’s a joy,” state Rep. Bosley said during
a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the clinic.
“Health is wealth. This clinic will provide dental health care where it is needed.” She added that the clinic will also provide the opportunity “to have people who look like us take care of us.”
Alderman Bosley said he had his teeth examined and cleaned as a child at the same BGCSTL site, “and I look forward to bringing my son here as well.”
Indigo Sams, BGCSTL vice president of operations, said she looks forward to the clinic “cleaning thousands of teeth.’
“This is important to health care needs of all kids in this neighborhood,” she said.
BGCSTL members can receive dental care, teeth cleanings at the Herbert Hoover
location! To make an appointment for a child or teen, visit www.bgcstl.org/dentalclinic
Once a form is completed, the CareSTL team will make contact to schedule an appointment. Missouri residents are eligible, there are no out of pocket costs to parents or guardians, and most insurance is accepted. Insurance enrollment assistance can also be provided if needed.
“We are excited about this reopening,” said Karen Jones, CareSTL board vice president.
“This partnership is very important to us. It will bring more dental health care to north St. Louis.”
According to Center for Disease Control
Shedding light on cancer risk in your family
If you ask some of your friends to name three things that increase the risk of cancer, it’d be likely that some version of “family history” would make most of their lists.
They’d be right, of course. Having a family history of cancer can increase the risk of developing the disease, sometimes very much so. At the same time, the link between the two can be more nuanced than many people may realize.
Some types of family history may not increase cancer risk at all. Some may increase risk only moderately, and others may signify a strong family history that puts people at a higher risk of cancer and may indicate a genetic risk that runs in the family.
“Red flags of a strong family history include multiple family members with the same type of cancer or family members diagnosed with cancer at a younger age than average,” said Dr. Amy Cyr, an oncologist specializing in hereditary breast cancer at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. “Other red flags include unexpected cancers, like men with breast cancer, or multiple cancers in a single person.”
n “Red flags of a strong family history include multiple family members with the same type of cancer.”
– Dr. Amy Cyr
Those who are at higher risk of cancer may need to get certain screening tests earlier and more often than most people. They may also be eligible for medications or other care that can help lower or manage their risk.
When it comes to determining risk from a family health history, cancers in parents, brothers, sisters, and children – what are known as first-degree relatives – are most important, Cyr said. But cancer history in other relatives, like grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles provide useful information as well.
The more detailed the information you have about your family history, the better. Knowing the specific type of cancer and at what age your relative was diagnosed is especially important.
Whatever the season, family gatherings
Author finds right words for Alzheimer’s care of loved one
By JoAnn Weaver
For The St. Louis American
More than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, a leading cause of death in the United States. Also, more than 11 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
In Missouri alone, there are more than 120,000 people living with the disease and 194,000 caregivers.
The Alzheimer’s Association hosted its annual Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Oct. 29, 2022, at the Chesterfield Amphitheater.
On Walk Day, participants honored those affected by Alzheimer’s with a poignant Promise Garden ceremony, a mission-focused experience that signifies our solidarity in the fight against the disease. The colors of the Promise Garden flowers represent people’s connection to
n On Walk Day, participants honored those affected by Alzheimer’s with a poignant Promise Garden ceremony, a mission-focused experience that signifies our solidarity in the fight against the disease.
Alzheimer’s and their personal reasons to help end the disease. Dollars raised support local education classes, care consultations with social workers, support groups, and helps fund research for treatments, prevention, and ultimately a cure for this disease.
Dr. Norris Roberts was a caregiver for his mother who was living with dementia. He saw her signs years before her diagnosis, but his mother was good at hiding
Norris Roberts was a caregiver for his late mother, Daisy, who was living with dementia. Roberts participated in a remembrance ceremony during the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Oct. 29, 2022 in Chesterfield, Missouri.
District 79 State Rep. LaKeySha Bosley (D), Alderman Brandon Bosley, and Brandon Bosley Jr., share smiles during the opening celebration of a Care STL Health dental clinic in the Herbert Hoover Boys and Gils Club headquarters at Grand and Dodier.
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Photo courtesy of Norris family
Dr. Graham A. Colditz
“Taking Care of You”
Dental Care
Continued from A16
and Prevention Division of Oral Health Division statistics from 2011 to 2016 there are several oral health disparities in children and teens ages 2 to 19
For children ages 2 to 5 years, about 33% of Latino and 28% of non-Hispanic Black children have had cavities in their primary teeth, compared with 18% of non-Hispanic White children.
For children ages 12 to 19, nearly 70% of Latino and Black children have had cavities in their permanent teeth, compared with 54% of non-Hispanic White children.
For children ages 2 to 5 years, 17% of children from low-income households have untreated cavities in their primary teeth, three times the percentage of children from higher-income households.
By ages 12 to 19, 23% of children from low-income families have untreated cavities in their permanent teeth, twice that of children from higher-income households.
Children aged 6 to 19 years from low-income households are about 15% less likely to get sealants and twice as likely to have untreated cavities compared with children from higher-income households.
An “insurance gap” also hinders African Americans from receiving annual dental care visits.
A Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the College of Dental Medicine study surveyed African American adults with recent oral health symptoms, including toothaches and gum disease.
The findings provide insights into why disparities persist even among those with dental insurance and suggest strategies to removing barriers to dental care.
“The lack of affordable dental care and insurance coverage lead many of our participants to postpone or do without dental
Alzheimer’s
Continued from A16
treatment, often for years. But these untreated symptoms inevitably get more severe, resulting in people requiring treatment in the emergency department at a much greater public expense than if they had been provided dental treatment when
the symptoms first occurred,” the study’s authors wrote. “Given the research evidence on the relationship between untreated oral symptoms and systemic health problems such as cardiovascular disease and stroke, providing
better oral health treatment may not only reduce suffering but also may prevent expensive physical health problems in the future.”
Flint Fowler, BGCSTL president said in a statement BGCSTL “is grateful to
CareSTL Health for ensuring the care of children in the region is a priority.”
“Regular access to oral health care is critical to the overall well-being of children. The Club is proud to be a safe place for kids to grow and
learn while providing a supportive environment to receive this dental care.” Angela Clabon, CareSTL Health president and CEO, said in a release the clinic is part of its mission “to make healthcare more accessible for families.’
Roberts was selected among many to participate in the remembrance ceremony that takes place during the Walk, and he held a purple flower in memory of his mother and others who died from Alzheimer’s.
“I am holding this flower in remembrance of my mother, Daisy Roberts, and many others who suffered and died from Alzheimer’s disease,” Roberts said.
“Holding this purple flower today symbolizes the hope, faith, and love I apply to raise money for a cure, promote awareness of Alzheimer’s dementia and advocate for caregivers of Alzheimer’s recipients.”
The author has written several books about her dementia diagnosis and his caregiving journey. The first book was published in 2012, while the second book was published in 2021. His mother passed away in March 2014 from Alzheimer’s and his father passed away three years after that time.
“Mama named the first one while dancing around the house
Colditz
Continued from A16 them.
around holidays can be great opportunities to fill in any blanks. But, admittedly, doing so isn’t always easy, or even possible, for those who’ve been adopted, don’t have contact with their families, or simply have family members that don’t like to share such things. Sometimes, the best we can do
on thanksgiving, ‘Mama is Still Here,’ so that’s why I named it that,” Roberts said. The second book was named “Daddy is Still Here” because Roberts’ father was his mother’s first caregiver.
is just piece together what we can. When should we talk to a health care professional about our family history of cancer?
“I think it’s reasonable for anyone with cancer in a firstor second-degree relative - parent, brother, sister, child, aunt, uncle, grandparent - to talk to their health care provider about how their family history impacts their risk and the need for screening. Depending on that history, the next step may
“He did the best he could,” he said. My father continued to buy her clothes because she lost 40-50 pounds.” Roberts explained his mother dropped a lot of weight because she thought she was
be referral to a cancer specialist or genetic counselor,” Cyr said.
These conversations have benefits at nearly any age but should ideally happen in early adulthood, by age 30.
Whether you have a family history or not, discussions with a provider about cancer risk may also include the importance of healthy behaviors.
“Sometimes there is so much focus on family history that we underestimate the impact of lifestyle choices on
not hungry due to the degenerative disease.
“I tell people if they’re physically mobile, socialize them,” he said.
“We took her out to eat and on a trip to Florida because she
cancer risk, “Cyr said. “Having a family history of breast cancer, for example, does impact a woman’s risk, but it is only one component of risk.” Healthy behaviors to focus on that can help lower the risk of cancer, as well as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, include not smoking, being physically active, keeping weight in check, eating a healthy plant-based diet, and avoiding alcohol. As the field rapidly advanc-
Author Robert Norris wrote a pair of books about caregiving for people with Alzheimer’s disease. The first ‘Mama Is Still Here’ was published in 2012, while the second book, “Daddy is Still Here” was published in 2021. His mother passed away in March 2014 and his father in 2017. Roberts’ father was his mother’s first caregiver.
had her lucid moments.”
According to Roberts, it helped his mother stay social longer through socializing.
‘She became immobile about a year and half before she passed away,” he said. “We
es, though, we’re learning more about the ways family history and inherited genes impact the risk of cancer – as well as the steps that can help lower or manage that risk in the future. That makes it an important part of looking after our overall health and wellness.
did a lot of things for her like feeding and dressing her.”
In his second book, Roberts framed the chapters around the six stages that caregivers go through.
“I was a caregiver for 12 years for my mother, my father and my father-in-law,” Roberts said.
According to the author, it’s the back story to the first book.
“I approached the book from a holistic standpoint from mind body and spirit,” he said. “A lot of books I found and read had a clinical approach to talking about Alzheimer’s whereas my book includes scriptures and Christian songs.”
The book also includes flash backs to show happy memories to draw strength from the good times.
“I conclude every chapter with a scripture help because it is meant to help them and a prayer for researchers to find a cure for it,” Roberts said. The walk is held every year in more than 600 communities nationwide. According to the CDC, as many as 5.8 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s disease in 2020. This number is projected to nearly triple to 14 million people by 2060. For more information on The Still Here book series, visit TheStillHereSeries.com.
“Not everyone with a family history of cancer needs extra screening or genetic testing, but it never hurts to talk to a healthcare provider for personalized recommendations,” Cyr concluded.
Dr. Graham A. Colditz, associate director of prevention and control at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is an internationally recognized leader in cancer prevention and the creator of the free prevention tool YourDiseaseRisk.com
District 79 State Rep. LaKeySha Bosley (D), Alderman Brandon Bosley, Brandon Bosley Jr., Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Clubs Vice- President of Programs/Club Services Indigo Sams, CareSTL Health Board Vice-President Karen Jones and CareSTL Health Manager of Dental Assistants Kimberly Robins snip the ribbon to open a new dental clinic in the BGCSTL headquarters.
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Dining Out.
PRESENT:
PRESENT:
PRESENT:
GRAINS Keep ‘em Whole!
What Is ASize?Serving
The Smart Way!
Warm Up & Cool Down
Do This. Not That!
Exercise Game
First Day of Spring!
Ice can be dangerous for several different reasons. Slip Sliding Away...
Tech-Neck
When we’re lucky enough to have a chance to go out for dinner, there are a few ways to stay healthy with our food
Nutrition Challenge:
Once you’re out of school, many of you may have a lot of extra time on your hands to be snacking. Resist the urge to eat sweet, salty, fried and high-calorie non-nutritious snacks this summer.
See if the restaurant will let you “share” a meal. Many meals are two, three or more times an actual serving size.
We each need at least 3 servings per day of whole grains. But what does that mean? How can we know what foods contain whole grains?
Look at the ingredients list of a package of food you are about to eat. If the word “whole” is used, then there is most likely a whole grain ingredient. A few items that don’t use the word whole
As soon as you’ve divided your plate into the right size servings, ask your server for a to-go box. Go ahead and box up what you don’t need to eat right away. You can enjoy
In our “Super-Size” world, we can easily lose track of what an actual serving size means. When reading labels on a food or drink product, you can determine the nutrients, sodium, fiber, sugar and calories of a serving size. But be careful; just because it looks like one small bottle
Healthy Kids
Healthy Kids
Healthy Kids
Healthy Kids
Healthy Kids
Healthcare Careers
those leftovers for lunch the next day!
are popcorn, wheatberries, brown rice and wild rice.
> Ask the server how the different menu items are prepared. Fried, sautéed, and
Getting plenty of whole grains in your diet can improve your health and reduce your chance for some chronic illnesses such as stroke, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Visit wholegrainscouncil.com for more information.
lifestyle. You can do this by forming new habits. For example, if you decide to eliminate sugary drinks completely, it only takes a few weeks until this becomes what you’re used to.
Create a Smart Summer Eating plan with your parents. Ask their help in finding nutritious snacks and meals for the
Here are the steps to making a healthy permanent change. We‘ll use the sugary drink change as an example.
vegetables that you have never tasted. Compare your list with those of the other groups. Now as a class, pick three of these that you would like to try.
Let’s make a game out of exercise!
> Decide you’re going to switch from soda to water.
Cocoa Puffers Cereal
INGREDIENTS:
summer. Delicious juicy, ripe fruits are all around and are healthy for you too! Make it your goal to come back to school in the fall healthier and happier!
Healthcare Careers
As the weather gets warmer, there are many ways that we can enjoy ourselves outdoors and stay healthy over the summer. Some naturally active things you can do include:
First, locate either a deck of cards or two dice.
Research to see which have some of the best nutritional content.
> Start by substituting one drink per day to water.
> Avoid gravies, cheese sauces and other kinds of toppings that often just add fat and calories.
Melissa Douglass, MSW
Weekly Newspaper in Education Program
Newspaper in Education Program
Review: What are some nutrition tips you learned by following The St. Louis American’s Healthy Kids page this school year? Send your answers to nie@stlamerican.com.
Latoya Woods, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
As spring approaches, warmer weather allows us all to get more outdoor exercise. Here are some ways to become a more active person.
> Walking to the store when possible.
of soda — it may not be considered one serving size. For example, a 20-oz bottle contains 2.5 servings. So if the bottle states “110 calories per serving,” that means the entire bottle contains a total of 275 calories! Remember to watch those serving sizes and you’ll have better control over what you’re eating and drinking.
> Stick with water to drink. Not only will you save money, but you won’t be adding in extra calories from a sugarfilled drink.
> Every few days increase the amount of water and decrease your soda intake.
> After 3-4 weeks, this change will become a habit.
Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5
Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 3, NH 5
could create another way to purchase these new foods.) If a store does donate to your class, be sure to take a picture of your class tasting the new food and send it to the store’s manager along with a thank-you letter. Adding variety to your diet helps you eat healthier. Give it a try!
Deborah Edwards, School Nurse
Charity Bean,
SRN, CBA, CLC, Doula
Write a letter to a few local grocery stores to see if one of them would be willing to donate the new, “adventure” foods for your class to try. (Or perhaps your class
> What are other ways to stay healthy while dining out?
When you automatically reach for water instead of soda, it has now become a lifestyle change!
even simmered can all mean, “cooked in oil.” Instead, choose baked or grilled options.
Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 4, HPE 5, NH 1,
Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5
Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5
Where do you work? I am a family nurse practitioner for BJC Medical Group.
Where do you work? I am an EMT – B at Abbott EMS in Belleville, Illinois.
> Help with yard work: planting, weeding, etc.
> Wash your parent’s car.
Secondly, when you are finished with any kind of strenuous (very active) exercise, take some time to cool down. You can slowly stretch your arms and
Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5
Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5 Staying Active (Naturally) DuringSummer!the Smart Summer Eating!
Staying active, getting your heart rate up and opening your lungs will help you start off next school year happier and healthier!
Where do you work? I am a school nurse with St. Louis Public Schools.
Where do you work? I am a school nurse at Monroe Elementary School.
Where do you work? I am the owner and operator of Doula Bean Maternal Care, LLC, in Belleville, Illinois, and I’m a PRN at Mercy Hospital in Women’s and Children’s education.
Where did you go to school? I graduated from Lindbergh High School. I then attended the University of Arkansas in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where I studied biology.
March 20, 2021, is the first day of spring. With spring comes warmer weather and longer days (later sunset). Make it a habit to spend as much time playing outside as the weather allows.
It’s important that before you embark on any kind of exercise to remember two things: warm up and cool down. Start with some slow stretches and movement (like walking) to increase your heart rate a little. Warm up for a good five minutes before increasing your heart rate.
Instead of playing video games — play baseball, football, badminton, or some other active game.
> Play, play, play outside as much as you can!
Exercise Challenge: Walk! Walking is one of the best forms of exercise and most of us can do it. While always keeping safety in mind, seek out opportunities to walk each day. Your goal should be to walk for at least 30 minutes, 5 days per week.
Next you’ll need to make a list of different types of exercise: jumping jacks, sit-ups, lunges, etc.
Some fun outdoor games to play include tag, kickball, basketball, Frisbee, and bicycling. Choose activities that increase your heart rate
Instead of surfing the ‘Net — go for a brisk walk around the neighborhood.
> NEVER walk on a “frozen” pond, lake, river or any other body of water. Just because it looks frozen does not mean it is safe.
Write each exercise item on a small piece of paper or index
card and fold into a small square. Put these squares into a bowl. Take turns rolling the dice (or drawing a card) and selecting an exercise from the bowl. The total number on the dice or card tells you how many of the exercise you must do. Face cards (king,
Instead of watching TV — ride your bike with friends.
Learning Standards: HPE 1, NH 1, NH 5
legs again, and continue with reduced speed movements until your heart rate begins to slow down.
Review: What are some exercise tips you learned by following The St. Louis American’s Healthy Kids page this school year? Send your answers to nie@ stlamerican.com.
and breathing. You want to have fun, but it’s also a great way to help keep your heart, lungs and body healthy.
Make a list of your favorite 10 activities to do outdoors. Compare your list with your classmates and create a chart to see what are the most popular.
As the weather starts to turn colder, flu season can hit area schools. To avoid passing/or getting someone else’s germs, remember to:
Can you think of other ways to be more active? Going outside and staying active not only increases your heart rate and burns calories, but it also helps you build friendships!
This warm-up and recovery period is important for your heart health. It also helps to reduce the amount of muscle pulls and strains.
Learning Standards: HPE1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5
Over the last 35 weeks we have discussed many smart choices that you can make to help you stay safe and healthy. Break into small groups and list as many Smart Choices that your group remembers. Now individually, choose one that you think is very important. Describe in your own words what that smart choice is, and how you can remember to make the right choice in the future. Name a new “smart choice“ that you will make this summer.
queen or jack) should all count as the number 10. Aces are “wild” and you can do as many as you want! To really challenge yourself, have one person roll the dice and the second can select the exercise. See who can complete the exercise challenge first!
Where did you go to school? I graduated from McCluer High School. I then earned a Bachelor of Nursing and a Master of Nursing Practice from the University of Missouri – St. Louis. And finally, I earned a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Maryville University.
Where did you go to school? I graduated from McCluer North High School. I earned an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing from Meramec College in Kirkwood and completing my bachelor’s degree at Webster University in Webster Groves.
Where do you work? I am the founder and distance counselor for Goal Driven Counseling, LLC. Where did you go to school? I graduated from Whitney Young Magnet High School in Chicago, IL: same as former first lady Mrs. Michelle Obama. I then earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Work, and a Master of Social Work from the University of Missouri – St. Louis. I also completed two more years of supervision and exams to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Missouri.
Where did you go to school? I graduated from Belleville East High School. I then earned a medical assistant certification from Vatterott College, and a doula certification from Jamaa Birth Village in Ferguson, Missouri. I’m currently enrolled in Kaskaskia College working towards an associates in nursing degree.
Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1
> What to do if you see someone else bullied.
Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 4, HPE 5, NH 1
Break into small groups and define what it means to be a bully. Share your ideas with the class. Did you have the same things listed (as the other groups) that you would consider as bullying behavior? Now back in your groups, create a newspaper ad that includes at least two of the following:
Banana Pops
Cracker-wiches
Where did you go to school? I graduated from Sumner High School. I then earned Associate Degree in Nursing from Forest Park College and a BS in Business Administration from Columbia College.
What does an EMT do? My day-to-day includes helping others when they aren’t feeling their best. I also assist getting them to the hospital when they can’t take themselves.
What does a Licensed Clinical Social Worker do?
What does a school nurse do? I love giving students medications, so they’re able to focus on learning. I clean and bandage wounds. I use medical equipment like a stethoscope, for example, to evaluate whether or not my asthmatics are breathing well. Moreover, I teach and promote healthy habits to my students.
What does a family nurse practitioner do? Each day I have office visits with patients to help treat new health conditions and/or manage established health conditions. I perform physical examinations on patients, order labs, read x-rays results, and more.
What does a doula do? A doula educates, advocates, supports and empowers birthing families throughout their pregnancy, childbirth and post-partum journey. I am present during the birthing process including positioning, hydrating, movement, and keeping the birth setting safe for a more positive birthing experience.
What does a school nurse do? I assess the concerns of students who are ill, injured or experiencing alterations in their normal health. Nurses screen daily staff, students and visitors for safety. Monroe School is a pilot school for Covid-19 test sites in partnership with the city.
I use technology to help teens and young adults explore their emotions, better understand their feelings, work through relationships, and address common challenges completely online through a computer, tablet, or smart phone. Similar to a Facetime call, I support and guide my clients from the comfort of their home or private location where they are comfortable
How much time do you spend each day looking down at a phone, laptop or video game?
> Sneeze into a tissue and immediately throw it away.
> What to do if YOU are the bully.
Learning Standards: HPE 3, NH 1, NH 7 Sneezing Season!
> If caught without a tissue, sneeze into your elbow (while turning away from your friends). Do not sneeze into your hands!
Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH5, NH 7
A BMI (Body Mass Index) is a generic way to calculate where your weight falls into categories (thin, average, overweight, obese). However, it’s a good idea to remember that a BMI may not take into consideration many things such as athleticism (how athletic you are), your bone density and other factors. Discuss your BMI with your
Chiropractors around the country see young patients every day suffering from back, neck and head-aches resulting from the extra strain you put on your body when you look down for long periods of time.
> If you are with someone that falls through the ice, first run (or call) for help. Do not try to go out onto the ice to help your friend. You can fall through the ice too.
Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, NH 5 Calculate
> How bullying hurts others.
> What to do if you are bullied.
> Also — remember to look up! Icicles injure numerous people every year. If you see large icicles forming over your front steps, ask your parents to use a broom handle to knock them off to the side before they break loose from your gutters.
> Wash your hands frequently throughout the day and avoid touching your face: eyes, nose, and mouth.
doctor if you have any questions. The formula to calculate your BMI is 703 X weight (lbs) ÷ height (in inches/squared) or search “BMI Calculator” to find an easy fill-in chart online. If your number is high, what are some ways to lower your BMI?
1. Most importantly — take breaks! Have a goal of a 3 minute break every 15-20 minutes. Move around, stretch your neck and relax, without looking down!
Ingredients: Small Ripe Banana, peeled, 2 Tbsp Natural Peanut Butter
Frozen Yogurt Blueberry Bites
Why did you choose this career? I chose this career to help improve the health of my community.
Look through the newspaper for examples of ad layouts and design. Discuss the words “compassion,” “empathy” and “sympathy.” How do they each play into your response to bullying at your school?
Ingredients: 1 15-Oz Can Garbanzo beans
Ingredients:
1 cup blueberries
Toppings: Coconut, Chopped Peanuts, Raisins, etc.
> What other ice hazards are there?
2. Set your tech device in a holder to keep it at eye level, reducing the need to look down.
Learning Standards: HPE 2,
1 cup non-fat Greek Yogurt
1 Garlic clove, crushed
2 Tsp Cumin, 1 Tsp Olive oil, ½ Tsp Salt
Directions: Insert a Popsicle stick into the banana. Spread peanut butter over the top 4-6 inches of the banana and dip into your favorite healthy topping.
Ingredients: 1/2 Cp Vanilla Greek yogurt, 3 Tbsp Natural peanut butter, 1 Ripe banana (sliced and frozen), Splash of vanilla (optional) 6 Ice cubes
Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 4
“Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 314-289-5422
> When walking on icecovered roadways or sidewalks, take baby steps. Walk carefully and slowly.
A couple of quick tips that will reduce that strain on your neck are:
Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, NH 1, NH 5
Directions: Blend all ingredients until Smooth. Makes 2 yummy smoothies!
Directions: Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Enjoy with baked tortilla chips or raw vegetables.
Directions: Drop each blueberry into the yogurt. Using a spoon, swirl around to coat and place each blueberry on a cookie sheet topped with parchment paper. Freeze for at least an hour.
Directions: Spread peanut butter on four of the crackers and top with sliced strawberries. Drizzle with honey and top with the other crackers to make four cracker-wiches.
“Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 314-289-5422 Easy Hummus Dip
Why did you choose this career? I love nursing because there are many opportunities in hospitals, schools, clinics and offices, insurance, legal and research. My passion is working in the schools with students, parents, staff and community partners.
Why did you choose this career? I chose this career because I enjoy helping others problem solve. Also, I have twin stepsons, one who wants to be a police officer, and the other who wants to be a doctor. I thought that being an EMT helped me to meet them both in the middle. And, back in 2018, I had my own medical emergency and was transported by ambulance to a hospital. The paramedic that took care of me was so comforting and assuring that I realized that becoming an EMT is an honorable career. I now work with that same paramedic, at the same company.
Why did you choose this career? I am a St. Louis native, and was an asthmatic child who experienced frequent hospitalizations. Besides having the influence of nurses in my family, the local nurses who helped take care of me were my “angels” and always managed to nurse me back to health, thus sparking my interest.
Why did you choose this career? I chose this career because I enjoy being a support to teens and young adults in a very challenging phase of life that can be overwhelming. I enjoy teaching them how to best take care of themselves so they can live healthy and fulfilling lives.
Why did you choose this career? I chose this career because I myself was a teen mom, and there was so much that I didn’t know during my birth experience. And when I found out later that there are other options for a better, more optimal control of your childbirth process, I wanted to spread the word to others.
What is your favorite part of the job you have? Many chronic health conditions (diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure) are preventable, and early detection is key. Thus my favorite part of the job is partnering with patients to establish and manage a plan to help them each live a long and healthy life.
What is your favorite part of the job you have? I enjoy meeting and learning about new people and cultures every day. I also like the adrenaline of driving fast with sirens going to get to an emergency quickly.
What is your favorite part of the job you have? I enjoy when a child tells you, “I want to be a nurse.” And best of all, I love the smiles, hugs and “thank-yous”.
Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3
What is your favorite part of the job you have?
What is your favorite part of the job you have? My favorite part of the job is the feedback that I receive from the families, especially the fathers. Hearing the fathers say how I helped them improve their communication and their relationship with their partner, and better prepare them to be an active support for the actual birth, is also a beautiful thing.
Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3
My childhood health challenges have given me sensitivity to children suffering with illness. After being given a new lease on life, I consider it an honor to be in a position to promote health to the children of my community, in whatever capacity I serve – in turn, being their “angel.”
What is your favorite part of the job you have? I love that my job makes talking about mental health not as scary and even makes it kind of cool. I love that I get to build valuable relationships with so many people that trust me to be there for them. I love that no matter where my clients are, we can simply connect with a video call and I can not only support them through hard times, but lots of good times as well.
Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3
Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3
Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3
“Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 618-910-9551
Learning Standards: HPE 6, NH 3
“Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 314-289-5422
“Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 314-289-5422
Yonniece Rose, Registered Nurse
Banana PB Smoothie
Marnay Howard, EMT - B
Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 618-910-9551
Students at The St. Louis American’s Summer Science Academy put the “A” into STEAM by illustrating their research findings on a poster.
Have you ever wondered what the term “software” means?
Software is defined as various kinds of programs used to operate computers and related devices. Software includes anything that runs digitally on a computer, such as word processing programs, media players, and games.
When you purchase a program, you are the only one with the right to use it. When you install the program, you must agree to the terms of purchase, which include not copying or sharing the program with anyone else. If you break this agreement, you are breaking copyright law. The person or company who created the software is the copyright owner.
SCIENCE INVESTIGATION
Background Information:
If you receive a copy of software from a friend, download it illegally from the internet, or buy an illegally made copy, you own “pirated” software. Pirated means it is created without the permission of the copyright owner. Not only is pirated software unfair to the creators, it puts computers at risk of viruses that can damage or destroy the entire computer. Using pirated software at school, which is part of a network, could affect all of the computers in that network. Be safe and be sure you are following copyright laws.
Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction text for main idea and supporting details.
FIltering Water!
In this experiment, you will evaluate how effectively water is filtered.
Materials Needed:
• 2-Liter Soda Bottle (cut in half by an adult) • Napkins or Paper
Towels • Gravel, Sand and Cotton Balls (for your filter) • Water
Pitcher • Dirty Water (you can make it by adding cooking oil, food coloring, pieces of paper, and tiny pieces of styrofoam to water)
Process:
q Put the top half of the soda bottle upside-down (like a funnel) inside the bottom half. The top half will be where you build your filter; the bottom half will hold the filtered water.
Use your math skills to answer these questions.
z Samantha purchased a book online and is waiting for it to download. If the book has been downloading for 15 minutes and is ¾ finished, approximately how much longer will she need to wait?______
x Jermaine wants to buy a new video game for his laptop. If it costs $49.95 and he has $27.00, how much money does he need to save?______ If he earns $5/week in allowance, how many weeks will it take him to earn that money?______
African-American Entrepreneur & Inventor Janet Emerson Bashen
Janet Emerson was born on February 12, 1957, in Mansfield, Ohio. She went to college at Alabama A&M. While in college, she met her husband, became Janet Emerson Bashen, and moved to Texas. In Texas, she earned a degree in legal studies and government from the University of Houston. She attended Rice University for postgraduate studies and is also a graduate of Harvard University’s “Women and Power: Leadership in a New World.” Currently, Bashen earned her master’s degree in law from Northwestern California University School of Law.
In May 2000, Bashen testified before Congress regarding the effect of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigations and was able to have the legislation changed. She became the first African-American female to hold a patent for a software invention. Her patent #6,985,922 was issued on January 10, 2006, for the software program Linkline. Linkline is used in Equal Employment Opportunity businesses to keep track of information online.
w Layer the filter materials (gravel, sand, and cotton balls) inside the top half of the bottle.
e Pour the dirty water through the filter. What does the filtered water look like?
r Take the filter apart and look at the different layers. Can you tell what each material removed from the water?
t Use the napkins or paper towels to wipe the bottle clean and try again. Try putting materials in different layers or using different amounts of materials. Evaluate the effectiveness.
Learning Standards: I can follow sequential directions to complete an experiment. I can make predictions and draw conclusions.
c If your teacher purchases a game for the classroom that is licensed for 10 users, how many licenses will they need to purchase so that every student in your room can use the program?______ (Remember there are 10 users per license. Answers will vary depending on class size.)
v You receive a $25 gift card to shop online. If you buy a book for $9.95 and a journal for $4.95, with $1.50 added for tax, and $2.50 added for shipping, how much money do you have left? ________
Learning Standards: I can add, subtract, multiply, and divide to solve a problem.
Bashen is also the founder, President and CEO of the Bashen Corporation, a human resources consulting firm named as one of America’s entrepreneurial growth leaders by Inc. Magazine in its 2002 500 ranking of the nation’s fastestgrowing private companies. This title was earned because Bashen Corporation had a 552% increase in sales. In October 2003, Bashen was given the Pinnacle Award by the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce. She has also received the Crystal Award, presented by the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. She was inducted into the Black Inventors Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2012, Bashen was on Ebony magazine’s list of the 100 most influential African Americans in entertainment, politics, sports and business.
Bashen is very devoted to helping the community. She is on the Board of Directors for the North Harris Montgomery County Community College District Foundation, and chairs the Corporate Advisory Board of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. She is also a board member of the Prep Program, a non-profit organization which focuses on preparing at-risk student athletes for college.
Learning Standards: I can read a biography about a person who has made contributions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.
MAP CORNER
Enjoy these activities that help you get to know your St. Louis American newspaper.
Activity One
Science in the News: Some of the top news stories in recent years have involved sciencerelated topics, such as the weather, natural disasters, health and medicine, and space exploration. Find a sciencerelated story about one of these topics. Identify the five Ws — who, what, when, where, and why. Complete some additional research so you can explain the “how” in writing. Share your news story with the class.
Activity Two — Bar Graph: Newspapers have local stories, stories about current events in the state, and national news. Create a bar graph that represents the number of newspaper stories that are local, state, and national.
Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can write for a specific purpose and audience. I can make text-to-world connections.
The St. Louis American’s award winning NIE program provides newspapers and resources to more than 8,000 teachers and students each week throughout the school year, at no charge.
Using fairways to find fair ways to drive opportunity
WWT Championship supports DEI strategies
By Stacy Brown NNPA Newswire
The PGA World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba on Mexico’s Riviera Maya will do more than showcase many of the world’s top golfers.
Jim Kavanaugh, CEO of sponsor WWT, calls the tournament “a platform to promote and educate the importance of a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization that fosters a sense of belonging.”
World Wide Technology (WWT), founded by chair David Steward in 1990, is the nation’s largest Black owned firm, according to FORTUNE, with $11.2 billion in annual revenue and more than 5,000 employees.
n Jim Kavanaugh, CEO of sponsor WWT, calls the tournament “a platform to promote and educate the importance of a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization that fosters a sense of belonging.”
This is WWT’s second year as title sponsor of the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba, and its support of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives is being shared with hundreds of attending partners, clients, staff and guests.
“As a global organization, it is critical for WWT to look at the world through a different view,” Kavanaugh said.
“As we continue to focus on the landscape of our global business, it is extremely important to understand the different cultures and experiences of all of our employees at WWT. Building DEI into the DNA of our company and our core values supports these efforts, but it requires vigilance.
“WWT is an organization that’s growing quickly. As a result, we must be very intentional about ensuring that DEI is embraced at every level of the organization and that we have buyin from both leadership and employees. A true DEI strategy will aim to ensure that everyone is given equitable access to opportunity.”
WWT serves as title sponsor of the Advocates Pro Golf Association (APGA) Player Development Program.
Established in 2010, the APGA Tour is a non-profit organization with the mission to prepare African Americans and other minority golfers to compete and win at the highest level of professional golf, both on tour and in the golf industry.
As part of WWT’s support, the top five eligible players from the final APGA Tour standings were brought to Mexico for the Monday Qualifier, including Trey Valentine, Kamaiu
Kamaiu Johnson, winner of the inaugural World Wide Technology
Development Program bonus pool
the WWT Championship Pro-Am tournament on Tuesday, Nov. 1 in Mexico.
Johnson, Andrew Walker, Ryan Alford, and Marcus Byrd.
These five players also played in Tuesday’s Pro-Am. In addition, former PGA TOUR pro Brad Adamonis earned an exemption into Mayakoba by winning last month’s APGA Tour’s inaugural Ascension Classic at Glen Echo Country Club in St. Louis.
Johnson became the first player to win the
World Wide Technology Player Development Program bonus pool reward with his victory in the Mastercard APGA Tour Championship at TPC San Antonio in August. He has earned a full exemption on to the PGA TOUR Latino America.
Following Tuesday’s Pro-Am, the participants
See WWT, B2
Affirmative Action supporters stage protest at Supreme Court
By Maya Pottinger Word In Black
WASHINGTON, D.C.
— Chants of “this is what democracy looks like” filled the air outside of the Supreme Court on Monday. Protestors lifted signs and donned blue shirts that read #DefendDiversity and Affirm Opportunity, Affirm Our Future. This was the scene ahead of the Supreme Court hearing arguments that aim to reverse affirmative action, or the lawful practice of considering race as a factor in college admissions decisions.
n Two separate arguments were heard, both led by Edward Blum, who is funded by conservative donors and was instrumental in the gutting of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
More than 100 protestors were gathered outside the Supreme Court by 9 a.m., more than an hour before the arguments started some local, others traveling from North Carolina and Massachusetts, to make their voices heard. Most appeared to be in support of affirmative action. Mayah Emerson, the senior higher education access coordinator at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, says she was “saddened but not disheartened” to learn that the Court was hearing new arguments See PROTEST, B2
PeoPle on the Move
Braggs named CFO at CareSTL
Damon Braggs has been named chief financial officer at CareSTL. Braggs arrives at CareSTL Health with more than 30 years of healthcare experience. He was the former business director at Washington University’s Department of Anesthesiology South Divisions. As CFO at CareSTL Health, Braggs will oversee the organization’s financial planning and accounting practices. He is responsible for implementing, reviewing, and developing fiscal protocols, performance, and productivity objectives.
Banks joins First Mid Bank & Trust
Carlos Banks
First Mid Bank & Trust recently welcomed Carlos Banks as their new mortgage loan officer serving Alton and the surrounding communities. Banks has been in the financial industry for six years and recently joined the First Mid mortgage team to achieve his passion of helping families achieve their goals of homeownership and financial freedom. He was born in Wichita, Kansas and grew up in Arlington, Texas. Banks received an associate degree from Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas, and received his BA in Hospitality Administration/ Management from Missouri State University.
LaGrone to be honored as Community Innovator
The success of Project Haki will be receiving nationally attention when Lisa LaGrone is honored as a 2022 Community Innovator at the Cities United Gala and Award Ceremony in Baltimore, MD. LaGrone is the coordinator for Project Haki, the violence prevention program of the Organization for Black Struggle. The program, which operates in the City’s 22nd Ward, is committed to breaking the cycle of community violence and reimagining public safety. She has extensive experience working with populations that have been alienated and criminalized by society.
Shawntelle Fisher honored by UMSL
Shawntelle Fisher recently received a Distinguished Alumni award from UMSL. Fisher is an influential leader, speaker and teacher. After going to prison seven times, she was inspired to go back to college and to start SoulFisher Ministries, a nonprofit she now leads under the direction of her board. The organization strives to be a center of hope for women and families impacted by incarceration, providing workforce innovation and GED programs to help those currently and formerly incarcerated make the transition to daily life while reducing recidivism.
Promotion, board appointment, new hire, award... please submit your People on the Move item (including photo) to kjones@stlamerican.com
Player
reward for his victory in the Mastercard APGA Tour Championship at TPC San Antonio in August, competed in
Photo courtesy of PGA
Lisa LaGrone
Shawntelle Fisher
Damon Braggs
Photo by Maya Pottiger / Word In Black
the University of
Protest
against affirmative action. She traveled to D.C. because her colleague was in the courtroom arguing “on behalf of students and alumni to affirm diversity, to keep affirmative action the rule of law in this country, and to ensure that we have equal access to higher education.”
“We are not tired of these fights,” Emerson says. “We are not surprised by the attacks that we get on equity in education. So, sad that we have to redo this, but in no way deterred, as you can see.”
Two separate arguments were heard, both led by Edward Blum, who is funded by conservative donors and was instrumental in the gutting of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
Blum has spent decades “scrolling the internet and looking for someone to sue” over race-based laws that try to help repair historic inequities, ranging from education to voting rights. He’s filed Students for Fair Admissions v. University of NC (21-707) and Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard (20-1199). Blum is the president of Students for Fair Admissions — SFFA
In the Harvard case, SFFA argued that Asian American applicants are held to a higher academic standard than other prospective students and are admitted at lower rates than white applicants, even though they have higher test scores. In the UNC case, SFFA said the college discriminates against white applicants.
During the arguments, justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson challenged Patrick Strawbridge, the attorney for SFFA, who seemed to be saying that affirmative action meant race could be the only factor in a student’s admission.
“They’re looking at the full person, with all these characteristics,” Jackson said during the argument.
Legacy admissions were also brought into Monday’s arguments. Though Harvard does not release official numbers of legacy admissions, a survey by the Harvard Crimson found that about 15.5% of the class of 2025 are children of alumni, which is up from 12% in the previous freshman class.
Jackson described a scenario where two applicants are asking for their family backgrounds to be taken into
WWT
Continued from B1
Continued from B1 and PGA TOUR pros will be treated to a short panel discussion with two of the APGA players, Johnson and Andrew Walker, as well as APGA CEO Ken Bentley. The Q&A is hosted by Bob Ferrell, Executive Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Public Sector Strategy at World Wide Technology. Ferrell is a retired Army Lt. General, who joined WWT in 2017 after 38 years of service, culminated by his position at the Pentagon as Chief Information Officer for the Army.
On Friday morning, WWT will host a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Panel, hosted by Michael Bush, CEO at Great Place to Work and a global chief executive with over 25 years of experience leading
consideration. One student would be a fifth-generation legacy and wanted to honor his family in that way, where the other student’s family has also lived in the state for generations, but they were slaves and did not have the opportunity to attend higher education, so he wanted to honor his family in that way.
But without race-conscious admissions rules, these applicants would have “dramatically different” chances to tell their stories, Jackson said. The first applicant’s background would be considered, but the second wouldn’t because it’s “bound up with his race and the race of his ancestors.”
“Why is telling him no not an Equal Protection violation?” Jackson asked.
A decision is not expected until next year, but the Supreme Court is expected to rule in favor of SFFA, delivering a huge blow to the country’s education system.
Reason for Concern
There is “definitely reason for concern,” says Lee
Bollinger, president of Columbia University. Bollinger was president of the University of Michigan in 2003 during the landmark Grutter v. Bollinger Supreme Court decision, which said colleges could consider race in a limited way as a factor for admissions. That case was the first time affirmative action was called a constitutional right. In addition to several justices indicating “skepticism or opposition to affirmative action in higher education,” Bollinger says, “there’s the recent decision in Dobbs overruling Roe vs. Wade, which indicates a willingness to discard prior precedents, and Grutter is really the landmark decision in this area.” In 2016, the most recent year the data is available, only 15% of the college population in this country was Black, compared to 53% white. And, in 2019, Black students made up the smallest percentage of high school graduates that were enrolled in college, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
small and mid-sized organizations through transformational growth.
The panel will consist of Dan Soto (Chief Compliance Officer, Ally Financial), Tanya Van Court (Founder & CEO, Goalsetter), Erik Moore (Managing Director, Base Ventures), and Chris Womack (President, Chairman & CEO, Georgia Power).
“Much of our DEI journey has been led in large part by our workforce and their desire for a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization that fosters a sense of belonging,” Kavanaugh emphasized. On the golf course, the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba will feature a marquee field that includes two-time defending champion Viktor Hovland of Norway; reigning Masters Tournament winner and PGA TOUR Player of the Year Scottie Scheffler; twotime major champion Collin Morikawa; last week’s PGA TOUR winner Seamus Power of Ireland; and a significant contingent of top players throughout Latin America.
Protestors from throughout the nation gathered outside the Supreme Court as it heard arguments against affirmative action on Oct. 31, 2022.
Photo by Maya Pottiger / Word In Black
David Steward, World Wide Technology founder and chair, and Jim Kavanaugh, WWT CEO, are committed to increasing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion in the corporate world, golf, soccer and other professional sports.
Photo courtesy of WWT
Sports
InSIdE SportS
By Earl Austin Jr.
Top area athletes tapping colleges of choice
The area recruiting scene has been active with three athletes from different sports giving verbal commitments to colleges.
In football, Cardinal Ritter standout Marvin Burks Jr. gave a commitment to the University of Mississippi. The 6’2” 190pound Burks is a four-star recruit, who ranks as one of the top safety prospects in the county. Burks has rushed for 939 yards and five touchdowns on offense, while amassing 50 tackles on defense in leading the Lions to a 9-0 regular season and No. 1 ranking in the Class 3 state polls.
On the basketball court, Vashon High standout Kennard Davis Jr., has committed to Southern Illinois – Carbondale. The 6’6’ Davis has played a key role in the Wolverines winning back-to-back Class 4 state championships. As a junior, Davis averaged 11.8 points and five rebounds a game to lead Vashon to a 27-4 record.
In girls’ track and field, MICDS standout Maya Anderson gave her commitment to the University of Kentucky. Anderson is one of the state’s top hurdlers and jumpers. Last season, she won the Class 5 state championship in the triple jump and the 300-meter low hurdles. She also finished second in the 100-meter-high hurdles.
Lafayette still having a ball
Last week, we featured the Lafayette High trio of Caitlyn Little and sisters Layne and Maya Witherspoon after they led the Lancers to a Class 5 district championship over rival Eureka. The Lancers are now headed to the Final Four of the state tournament this weekend in Cape Girardeau. Lafayette defeated visiting Jackson in three sets in the state quarterfinals last Saturday.
The Lancers (30-6) will take on Liberty North in the state semifinals on Thursday at 10 a.m. The winner of that match will play either St. Dominic or Kickapoo for the state championship on Friday at 10 a.m. at Southeast Missouri State.
Top Football Playoff Performers
• Quarterback Cole Ruble of Seckman rushed for 323 yards on 41 carries and seven touchdowns in the Jaguars’ 43-41 victory over SLUH.
• Running back Zyan Royal of Parkway
North rushed for 183 yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns in the Vikings 59-14 victory over Soldan.
• Quarterback Dakarri Harris of Lutheran North completed 14 of 18 passes for 206 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-0 victory over Orchard Farm.
• Quarterback Christian Cotton of DeSmet scored six rushing touchdowns and passed for another score in the Spartans’ 56-35 victory over Ritenour.
• Running back Deion Brown of Kirkwood rushed for 153 yards on 16 carries and three touchdowns in a 52-10 victory over Ladue.
• Running back Trenton Livingston of Parkway West scored three touchdowns in the Longhorns’ 44-7 victory over Ladue.
• Running back Christopher Hall of Francis Howell North scored four rushing touchdowns in the Knights’ 58-12 victory over Riverview Gardens.
• Quarterback Jake Curry of Edwardsville threw four touchdown passes in the Tigers’ 43-36 victory over O’Fallon.
Missouri District Semifinal Matchups (All games will be on Friday at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
Class 6 Kirkwood at CBC (District 1)
Seckman at Marquette (District 1) DeSmet at Troy (District 2) Troy at Rock Bridge (District 2)
Class 5 Cape Girardeau Central at Oakville (District 1) Parkway West at Eureka (District 2) Lafayette at MICDS, Saturday, 1 p.m. (District 2) Francis Howell North at Francis Howell (District 3) Fort Zumwalt North at Fort Zumwalt West (District 3) Timberland at Holt (District 4)
Class 4 Farmington at Hillsboro (District 1) Festus at North County (District 1) Gateway STEM at St. Mary’s (District 2) Union at Summit (District 2) Clayton at Parkway Central (District 3) Parkway North vs. Vashon at Gateway (District 3) McCluer at Hazelwood East, Saturday, 1 p.m. (District 4)
SportS EyE
With Alvin A. Reid
Fort Zumwalt East at St. Dominic (District 4)
Class 3 Roosevelt vs. Cardinal Ritter, (District 2) Herculaneum at University City, Saturday, 1 p.m. (District 2)
Wright City at St. Charles West (District 3)
Lutheran North at Lutheran-St. Charles (District 3)
Class 2 John Burroughs at New Madrid Central (District 1)
Priory vs. Lift for Life at Cardinal Ritter, Saturday, 1 p.m. (District 1)
Class 1 St. Pius at Duchesne (District 2) Louisiana at Brentwood (District 2)
IHSA Second Round Playoff Matchups (Times at Dates were TBD as of press time)
Class 8A: Loyola Academy at Edwardsville
Class 7A: Collinsville at Chicago Brother Rice
Class 6A: East St. Louis at Normal Community West
Class 5A: Mascoutah at Highland
Class 4A: Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin at Waterloo
Class 4A: Breese Central at Rochester
Class 3A: Prairie Central at Roxana
Class 2A: Red Bud at Althoff
Kyrie Irving should be suspended, then fired immediately
The NBA should suspend Kyrie Irving immediately and the Brooklyn Nets should release him one second later. Irving’s twisted views on race, dangerous conspiracy theories, and embracement of an antisemitic film have no place in sports at any level. It is especially true for the NBA, where 73% of its players are Black and many others are foreign born.
If a white NBA player posted on Instagram anything close to what Irving shared with the world last week, he would already be suspended and most likely looking for a new team.
played this season. Not only was I wrong, but Irving also doubled down on his lunacy.
“I’m not going to stand down on anything that I believe in,” he said. “I’m only going to get stronger because I’m not alone. I have a whole army around me.” Whose army, Kyrie? Hitler’s?
Alvin A. Reid
Rolling Stone reported on Oct. 28, that Irving promoted a movie on Instagram called “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America” that, “is stuffed with antisemitic tropes.”
The film attributes a quote to Adolph Hitler saying, “[Jews] will extort America, their plan for world domination won’t work if the Negroes know who they are.”
I thought Irving would apologize on Saturday after the Nets lost their fourth of five games
This latest controversy comes less than a month after Irving re-posted some psychotic ramblings of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Jones contends that there are secret cults in America working in government “to enslave the human population by, among other methods, releasing viruses.”
“And it’s true,” Irving said, again defending the indefensible.
“So, I wasn’t identifying with anything ... for Alex Jones, it’s just there to post.” Jones was recently ordered to pay $965 million in damages for his repeated claims that the 20 first graders and six educators murdered at Sandy Hook High School in 2012 were part of a “giant hoax” staged by
actors with an anti-gun agenda. This is who Irving identifies with. It should cost him his job. It would not be long before another team signed him, I’m not delusional.
As of Monday, this is all the
NBA had to say about this disgusting matter: “We believe we all have a role to play in ensuring such words or ideas, including antisemitic ones, are challenged and refuted and we will contin-
ue working with all members of the NBA community to ensure that everyone understands the impact of their words and actions,” the league said. Adam Silver, NBA commissioner, is Jewish. The Nets released a statement as a team, which was even less challenging than the NBA’s.
“The Brooklyn Nets strongly condemn and have no tolerance for the promotion of any form of hate speech. We believe that in these situations, our first action must be open, honest dialogue.”
Nets owner Joe Tsai said, “I’m disappointed that Kyrie appears to support a film based on a book full of antisemitic disinformation.”
“I want to sit down and make sure he understands this is hurtful to all of us, and as a man of faith, it is wrong to promote hate base, on race, ethnicity or religion.”
Oh gosh, how frightening.
The Reid Roundup
The Battlehawks will be back. The St. Louis XFL franchise will carry the same name and logo it did during the short-lived 2020 season. The new season begins in February 2023…Neither of the World Series participants, the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies, have an American born Black player on respective rosters. This is the first time it has happened since 1950. Astros outfielder Michael Brantley, a Black player, would have been on his team’ roster but he suffered a season-ending injury in September…The NHL recently released its first diversity and inclusion report. Over 83% of league employees identify as white. Asian people represented 4.17%. Black and Hispanic people make up 3.74% and 3.71%, respectively. Indigenous persons account for 0.5% of the workforce. According to a study by analytic website FiveThirtyEight, about 90% of NHL players are white.
Again, if a white player saddled up to the dogma of a rightwing conspiracy theorist who spewed filth targeting Black people that player would not have a chance to clean out his locker before he was escorted from the facility. The same should be true for Irving, a Black player.
Earl Austin Jr. n “The pride, I’m
trying to build it.” – Kenny Anderson, Fisk University coach on guiding an HBCU team
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
MICDS standout Maya Anderson will be a Wildcat after choosing to run track at the University of Kentucky. Anderson, one of the state’s top hurdlers and jumpers, won the 2022 Class 5 state championship in the triple jump and the 300-meter low hurdles.
For now, Kyrie Irving should have no place in NBA
RAC to direct $10.6 million in ARPA funds to St. Louis artists and groups
By Jeremy D. Goodwin
St. Louis Public Radio
The Regional Arts Commission
will distribute $10.6 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to artists and arts organizations in St. Louis.
The St. Louis Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to approve the funding. It is the third-highest amount of ARPA funds allocated by a U.S. city to the arts, Mayor Tishaura Jones said.
The funding will be a boost to arts organizations that have struggled financially during the coronavirus pandemic. Although many have resumed partial or full program calendars after prolonged shutdowns, they report that audiences typically are smaller than
Black woman to head
St. Louis Battlehawks team operations
St. Louis will see the return of XFL excitement in February when the Battlehawks kickoff their 2023 season.
Professional football returned to St. Louis with the XFL in 2020, generating significant fanfare and raucous crowds in their inaugural season, but the success was toppled by the COVID-19 pandemic. The season was called off in March due to the pandemic, and the XFL suspended operations and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April. Since then, a new ownership group, led by Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson and Gerry Cardinale’s RedBird Capital Partners, purchased the XFL and had announced plans to revive the league in 2022.
they were before the pandemic. “This is historic for our organization,” RAC President and CEO Vanessa Cooksey said in an interview.
RAC is primarily funded by a hotel/motel sales tax. Much of that money dried up when the region saw fewer overnight visitors during the pandemic. The commission allocated $1.1 million in grants this year, down from about twice that in 2021, Cooksey said. Before the pandemic, RAC dispersed between $3.5 million and $4.5 million each year. Its leaders intend to award about 80% of the new federal funds in 2023. Federal guidelines require recipients to use and report all ARPA funds by the end of 2026.
Now, the St. Louis football team is back, along with seven
other XFL teams: the Arlington Renegades, D.C. Defenders, Houston Roughnecks, Orlando Guardians, Seattle Sea Dragons and Vegas Vipers. Earlier this month, the league finalized the coaching and football operations staff for each of the eight teams. One of those people is Anastasia Ali, who is director of team operations. A dynamic and results-oriented marketing strategist with more than 15 years of media and entertainment experience, Ali most recently served as the vice president of marketing for Disney Studios Content. She joined the company in 2013, and has developed custom marketing campaigns for dozens of Disney films and series for theatrical and Disney+, including “Aladdin,” as well as Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther,” “What If…?,” and “Ms. Marvel.” She also led the multicultural marketing campaign for the Oscar-winning
Disney and Pixar film, “Soul.” Ali co-founded Disney’s Black Employee Resource Group, The Bond, and Studio Marketing’s inaugural Center of Excellence for multicultural marketing, rePRESENT. Additionally, for the past five years, Ali has led strategy and execution for the Studios’ sponsorship of ESSENCE Festival of Culture.
Lincoln, SLU, Harris Stowe push for national security careers
Lincoln University of Missouri has joined a consortium of universities preparing college students for careers in U.S. intelligence agencies as part of a $2.5 million grant from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The grant will fund creation of the new Midwest-Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence on the Saint Louis University campus to recruit and educate talented students interested in careers
in intelligence and national security. Students at Lincoln, Saint Louis University and Harris-Stowe State University are eligible for the program.
The Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence program began in 2005. The competitive program is designed to meet the demand for a diverse corps of professionals serving in national security. The grant will fund the design and development of intelligence-related curriculum and training opportunities in the nation’s intelligence and national security priorities and obligations. Students will partake in a variety of initiatives such as on-campus and virtual events, scholarships, travel and study abroad.
The Midwest-Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence will allow university faculty, staff, students and intelligence community members to work collaboratively in engaged learning and teaching experiences. The leadership team will focus on student success, building vital partnerships and bringing individuals
together in an active learning community. Program leaders include Joe Lyons and Steven Winton of Saint Louis University, Michael Bardot of Lincoln and Gary Higgs of Harris-Stowe State University.
David Steward named No. 155 on Forbes list of 400 Richest World Wide Technology’s David Steward was recently listed as No. 155 on Forbes list of the 400 richest people in America. Regarding recent activities, Forbes noted Steward hosted an IndyCar race at his company’s World Wide Technology Raceway and that in late October WWT sponsored a PGA golf tournament in Mexico. The magazine stated “Steward grew up on a Missouri farm with no indoor plumbing. He and his seven older siblings were some of the first Black children to integrate the local schools, public swimming
pools and restaurants.” Steward co-founded WWT in 1990 in St. Louis. It’s now the 20th biggest private company in America, with $14.5 billion in sales. As chairman of WWT, Mr. Steward emphasizes the role of strong cultural values, as well as the importance of collaboration between employees and departments, beginning with the company’s executive team. For the eleventh year in a row, Great Place to Work® and Fortune magazine have honored WWT as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For® in 2022. Forbes also named WWT one of America’s Best Employers For Diversity. These honors demonstrate that the core values on which Mr. Steward founded WWT more than 30 years ago are still alive and well today.
Regional Arts Commission President and CEO Vanessa Cooksey said the $10.6 million in federal relief marked a historic moment for the organization.
David Steward
Photo by Jeremy D. Goodwin / St. Louis Public Radio
Anastasia Ali
Living It
A legacy in music “More than
Alonzo Townsend schooled in Blues, business by famous father
By Danielle Brown St. Louis American
Alonzo Townsend’s childhood was different from his peers.
Many times while they were outside playing, he was helping his father, the late blues performer Henry “Mule” Townsend handle business affairs.
He wrote checks for his father at 9-years-old and balanced his checkbook. By 11, he read and negotiated his father’s contracts. Traveling by plane was a huge part of his childhood as he went to gigs with his iconic father and mother, Vernell Townsend, who performed with his father.
Townsend was too young to understand who his father was or why he was influential to American music history, particularly Blues. As a teenager he started to better grasp his father’s legacy and why he enlisted his help with his professional needs at a young age.
Now in his 30s, Townsend applies the same core values, lessons and knowledge his father instilled in him to his own business, The TownsendX3 Agency. Its mission is helping St. Louis artists and talent through three founding principles: heritage, preservation, and the future.
“The heritage piece is dedicated to my father, preserving what we do now in keeping St. Louis’ sound and music alive and the future is about placing future generations in places to thrive and elevate St. Louis to the next level,” Townsend said.
TownsendX3 Agency encompasses artist management, brand management and event management.
“My resume has become entrenched with a focus on brand management and enrichment services rather than telling an artist I’ll manage them because I want to equip artists with the tools they need to navigate and know the business,” he said.
“I want them to grow and thrive in the business and not feel like they have to have someone leading them when they have the tools and can sharpen their skills and have enough.”
His client list has included Tonina, LLManny, Dylan Triplett, and Zida Lioness. On the brand management side of his firm, he works with Midwest Avengers, Mvstermind, Rhoda G, The Trap Band, Denise Thimes, and DJ Nico
A real pod person
Shavanna Spratt is all that on Da Hood Podcast
By Ashley Winters St. Louis American
Shavanna Spratt, creator, and host of the Da Hood Talks Podcast which is entering its third season, is a mother of two and a community activist who doesn’t plan on slowing down.
“I needed to create a space for people who feel like me, who look like me,” said Spratt. Everything she does for the podcast has a reason, including its title. She said ‘Da Hood’ represents those who came up in the struggle, folks who are marginalized, oppressed, and folks who have not been poured into.”
She says these are the kind of people she brings onto her podcast, providing them a space where their voices count. Spratt is highlighting Black communities, the good work that is being done in them, and the people “moving that needle in the right direction.”
The podcast made its debut in December of 2020 and Spratt has interviewed 126 guests. She said there have been “some growing pains.” She has learned “to work smarter and not harder.”
Marie.
TownsendX3 Agency began seven years ago when Townsend represented LLManny and Tonina, who he met while working with them. He saw the gifts they had and felt it was important to represent them and “have them receive better opportunities and better leverage for their artistry.”
His agency was licensed in 2020, and he made the decision to take it on full-time after being unsatisfied with working for Amazon.
Her first season consisted of three live shows per month. She didn’t have a content schedule, so there were times when she felt overwhelmed.
Her podcast now has 5 segments, with each dedicated to one week per month. She has “Da Hood Needs,” which covers non-profit organizations, “Da Hood Heals,” where mental health issues are addressed, and the “Storytelling Segment,” which covers community members making a difference in the St. Louis region.
“Community Shoutout” takes the podcast to
“I told myself I’m not doing this anymore and that was the best decision I ever made,” he said.
Townsend partners with The Kranzberg Arts Foundation’s Dark Room to highlight and spotlight more diverse acts.
“I sat down with Chris Hansen [Kranzberg Arts Foundation, executive director] and Robert Harris
See Townsend, C3
Shavanna Spratt, creator, and host of the Da Hood Talks Podcast. Everything she does for the podcast has a reason, including its title. She said ‘Da Hood’ represents those who came up in the struggle, folks who are marginalized, oppressed, and folks who have not been poured into.”
Photo courtesy of dahoodtalkspodcast/instagram
local events and captures moments while she engages with people. Her “Live Community Panel,” which is the first of every month, discusses possible solutions to regional problems. Guests include professionals, activists, and others who discuss ways to help Black and brown communities in St. Louis.
Guests have included Rebeccah Bennett, Mayor Ella Jones of Ferguson, and Saul White Jr. of the Harlem Globetrotters.
“I don’t highlight famous people. What’s vital to me is talking with folks that people don’t know, but have impactful stories. The folks that many people don’t think matter”, said Spratt. And sometimes those candid conversations produce difficult moments. Spratt handles each interview with grace, engaging with her guests with a hope that some knowledge is being spread amongst her listeners, herself included. She called the podcast “very therapeutic for
just a fashion show”
Saint Louis Black Fashion Week celebrates 8th anniversary in grand style
By Danielle Brown St. Louis American
It’s been eight years that fashion collections have debuted on the runway of Saint Louis Black Fashion Week, launched by Timothy Moore, creative director, photographer, and owner of T.MOOREMEDIA and DoerHouse, patterned after his Suite 7 Fashion Show. He said Suite 7’s meaning came from Suite being the highest type of room you can get and seven being his favorite number and the number of completion according to The Bible.
“I wanted to highlight seven Black designers and have them do seven looks,” Moore said. Moore thought creating the fashion show was great, but he knew there was more he could do. After attending New York Fashion Week events with his late friend Quinton Jackson, founder and owner of BPLR clothing line, Moore was inspired to bring a similar concept to St. Louis.
n “I wanted to ensure Black and brown designers and models had a space to have a fly production, great cultural relevance and not have to squeeze into a space that was never designed for them.”
- Timothy Moore
“We didn’t have a Saint Louis Black Fashion Week and Saint Louis Fashion Week didn’t really highlight and showcase designers and models of color too often,” Moore said.
“I wanted to ensure Black and brown designers and models had a space to have a fly production, great cultural relevance and not have to squeeze into a space that was never designed for them.”
Saint Louis Black Fashion Week began Tuesday, Nov. 1, with a private dinner and an event called “Queen Talk,” at Heyday HQ, where Black women gathered for conversation and networking.
KING TALK is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 3, and Black men are invited to to network and converse at Whiskey on Washington, located at 1321 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63103. The “NEXT–GEN: A NIGHT FOR BLACK YOUTH,” a celebration where young people can learn about various careers in creative and media industries, is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 4, at Scene Event Space located at 3333 Washington Ave Suite 120, St. Saturday,
Photo by Wiley Price I St. Louis America
Alonzo Townsend, founder of The TownsendX3 Agency, and son of the great blues singer and musician Henry Townsend, holding his dad’s guitar, Thu. Sept. 15, 2022 in his West County home.
Photo courtesy of DOERHOUSETM + Studios
Timothy “T.Moore” Moore, creative director, photographer, and owner of T.MOOREMEDIA and DoerHouse celebrates his 8th Annual Saint Louis Black Fashion Week Nov. 1-6.
me,” and she often ends shows more knowledgeable than when they began. Whatever the issue - crime, Black health disparities, community policing, she is prepared.
“I’m bringing everyone to the table because we all have a part in this. Everyone includes local leadership, non-profit
organizations, and corporate businesses too,” she said. Spratt can share information that might not reach many St. Louisans, and she wants to address topics that are authentic for Black people and the Black experience. She says others can tell our stories but not in a way that speaks to us or even honors us.
“Da Hood Talks is a place where we can talk about things that are for us and by us in our own way because this is our
truth,” said Spratt. She isn’t judgemental when talking with a guest and provides a space where they can be comfortable and vulnerable in their truth. She wants guests to be relaxed enough “to know without a shadow of a doubt she isn’t trying to exploit their stories but uplift them.”
Ashley Winters is the Report for America reporter for the St. Louis American
[Kranzberg Arts Foundation, Director of
Fashion
Continued from C1
TOUR, with the Saint Louis Art Museum will be held. The museum will host two 15 person group tours through SLAM. That evening, the “PRIVÈ” Fashion Show Pre-Party will take place at The Dorsa Room located at 1101 Washington Ave.
Sunday, Nov. 6 is the grand finale with the 8th Annual Suite7TM Fashion Show hosted at The Third Degree Glass Factory Located at 5200 Delmar Blvd.
The seven designers include Colin Jones of CMJ Designs x Styles, Jahleel Griffin of The Label 17, Kendra Tunstal of West Novem, Maare Rashaad of Unforgettable Fittings, Pierre McCleary of 1026 Styles, Kisha Kandeh of The Woke Brand, and Afton Johnson of Young Addy Collection.
Moore said Saint Louis Black Fashion Week is one of those things where people will hear about it and once they see it in person they’re impressed. “We try to level this thing up every year,” Moore said.
“We always want to make sure we bring in the best of the best because if not it’ll water down the energy of what we’re trying to bring to the city.”
Moore’s father is a photographer and he’s been around a camera his whole life. He got into film and media in high school. After high school is when his passion really started to take off. He gained clients including St. Louis Cardinals, LVMH, Don Julio, Hershey’s and K.Swiss Global.
He’s transitioned from doing lifestyle content to doing storytelling and creating a lane for Black culture.
“I’m really focused on telling the narrative of Black stories because I used to sit in advertising agency boardrooms and there would only be one of three or three out of a room of 50-60 having conversations about our culture, and we weren’t even there to have a voice in it,” he said. “As I started seeing all this portrayed I would see how ads came out and I was like man these are hella inauthentic. I was like yo Imma start dedicating my content around Black brands and Black stories.“
For the last five years Moore
said he hasn’t been gungho on getting clients because of their name but because of the telling of their story.
“Now my thing is telling Black stories and telling them in excellence,” he said. “We’ve had enough oppressive conversations and movies. “What’s up with the triumph? What’s up with making it to the top? What’s up with us being named and proclaimed and getting the awards that we deserve. Those are the stories I’m trying to tell.”
Moore said he wants St. Louis to be a palace where we’re not scared to venture out of the norm.
“I’m trying to shed light on infinite possibilities in St. Louis,” Moore said. “Saint Louis Black Fashion Week is more than just a fashion show. It’s a week of Black excellence, we’re dressing to the nines coming in our best and we’re presenting ourselves unapologetically.”
For tickets and more information to Saint Louis Black Fashion Week, visit https:// www.doerhouse.com/stlbfw.
Pull-Quote:
Photo courtesy of DOERHOUSETM + Studios
Fashion enthusiasts enjoying last years Saint Louis Black Fashion Week.
Cece Winans makes history during 53rd Annual Dove Awards
St. Louis American staff
CeCe Winans made Dove Awards history during this year’s 53rd Annual celebration on Oct. 18, 2022, in Nashville when she became the first Black female solo artist to win Artist of the Year.
When accepting the award, she sang a few lines from the Andrae Crouch classic, “To God Be the Glory.” She and co-writers for “Believe for It” were also awarded Song of the Year. The wins bring Winans’ number of Dove Awards to 25. Her first was New Artist of the Year in 1988, which she shared with her brother BeBe Winans.
“It’s amazing when we come together and we love each other and we stand for righteousness, it’s amazing what God will do,” Winans said.
“It’s amazing what He’s already done. But He wants to do so much more. I’m believing for God to move in this industry greater than He ever has before. The God we serve responds to faithfulness and the testimonies I’ve heard through this song have blessed my life.”
Choirmaster Ricky Dillard won his first Dove award in the category of Traditional Gospel Album of the Year for his 12th album, Breakthrough: The Exodus (Live).
Jekalyn Carr picked up the third Dove award of her career, winning traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year for her No. 1 hit, “My Portion.”
The night also included Steven Curtis Chapman’s performing hits “The Great Adventure” and “Dive.” Phil
Biblical solutions to address criminal justice system
By Bishop Garland R. Hunt
With the Nov. 8, 20220 midterm elections less than a week away, political leaders continue to grandstand, while real families languish in a criminal justice system that often appears broken from every angle.
I view America’s justice system through several lenses. First, as a father of African American men, I am dutybound to instruct my sons on the real and perceived issues around engaging with law enforcement. As a former chair of the Georgia Parole Board and commissioner of the Georgia
Department of Juvenile Justice, I saw firsthand how the criminal justice system left the poor and undereducated, regardless of race, at a significant disadvantage. However, my most solution-driven perspective comes from my role as a pastor and my life as a follower of Christ. No matter which side of the political aisle you find yourself on, if you are a Christian, you must understand there is a Biblical explanation for the conflicts that permeate the criminal justice system and a Biblical solution. The mayhem and mistrust stirred up by pro-
fessional political agitators and the bias in our criminal justice system can both be summed up by Isaiah’s commentary in chapter 59, verse 4, “No one cares about being fair and honest.”
If Christians addressing this conflict cared about fairness and honesty, we would find solutions. A fair and honest assessment of America’s criminal justice system would require Christians on the right to admit that Black men are disproportionately arrested and charged with crimes. Further, it would require “law and order” conservatives to accept the reality that “law and order” are historically applied more severely to Black men.
Wickham and his band performed his current Top Ten single, “Hymn of Heaven.”
TobyMac thanked followers for their prayers and support following his son Truett’s unexpected death in 2020 before launching into a performance of “The Goodness” with Nigerian-born singer Blessing
A fair and honest assessment of America’s criminal justice reform would require Christians on the left to concede that African American community leaders in general, and the Black Church in particular, long ago abandoned roles as a moral authority willing to close the gap and prevent Black men from being exposed to the povertyto-prison pipeline. Far too many African American males encounter the criminal justice system early. Unfortunately, this contact puts their lives on a downward trajectory that they could have avoided if basic advocacy systems were available in the Black community. What does advocacy look like in real life
Cece Winans was flanked by members of the group Maverick City Music, and David and Tamela Mann as she accepted her 25th Dove Award. She is the first Black woman solo artist to win Artist of the Year.
Photo by Javis Dason / Gospel Music Association
Offor.
“Thank you for the kindness you showed me and my family as we walked through the deepest valley in losing my firstborn son,” he said.
“There were times I never thought I would ever write another song, much less an uptempo song or a song that felt like joy. But God is good. He might not always give us what we want, or take away the pain, but He is right here with us. He doesn’t leave. He remains.”
Other Dove winners include: Rap/Hip Hop Recorded
and in real time?
Advocacy can mean fighting for common-sense legislative solutions. For example, The Douglass Leadership Institute believes that measures including revoking driver’s licenses for minor offenses are counterproductive, creating greater hardship and reducing economic mobility.
The first goal of advocacy is always prevention. This means collaborating with school officials to recognize that Black students are often expulsions for offenses that go forgiven when committed by white students. Next, parents, community leaders and the Body of Christ must be prepared to stand in the gap and advocate for Black students.
The Church must stand with young unwed mothers as they attempt to raise young Black
men. Christian men must stand in the gap for their young brothers by volunteering to be mentors and role models for fatherless young men. Being such a mentor does not mean offering advice now and then. It means being intentional and consistent in helping young men navigate personal and professional challenges. When the Church fulfills its Biblical role to be present in the lives of young Black men, there will be fewer Black men in prison and a prison record will not mean a life is beyond hope.
Bishop Garland R. Hunt serves as the Senior Pastor of The Father ’s House in Norcross, Georgia. He is a Senior Fellow with the
Douglass Leadership Institute
Guest Columnist
Bishop Garland R. Hunt
PRODUCT MANAGER – CLAIMCENTER
Manages to the accomplishment of I.S. practices, and objectives that will achieve business goals and objectives. Supervises/ directs one or more teams of developers. Manages, leads, and serves as a mentor for others within Application Development. Demonstrates advanced working knowledge and concepts of software development. Responsible for the execution and success of the products that manage loss information.
To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational.com/ careers-page/
QUALITY ASSURANCE TEST ANALYST
Works across disciplines ensuring software meets business requirements and is thoroughly tested. Understands basic concepts of Information Technology and software testing methodologies. Follows Quality Assurance best practices. Works at the direction of the program Test Lead.
To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational. com/careers-page/
DIRECTOR –PUBLIC ENTITY UNDERWRITING
Responsible for underwriting multi-line public entity new business and renewal accounts as part of Safety National’s Public Entity vertical. Includes evaluation and development of requested forms and endorsements; consistent application of underwriting appetite, including retention levels and pricing approach, as related to public entity individual accounts and self-insured groups.
To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational.com/ careers-page/
FINANCIAL REPORTING ACCOUNTANT
Ensure accuracy and timely completion of responsibilities within the financial reporting and analysis area, as well as the reporting analysis area with regard to internal management reporting.
To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational.com/ careers-page/
SLDC IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) is eagerly seeking candidates to join our team as we endeavor to bring economic justice to St. Louis City residents and communities that were disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
There are multiple 2-4-year limited term positions available, term of employment will vary for each position.
These positions will assist in the administration and implementation of various Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) Programs targeted for households, small businesses and communities adversely impacted by the pandemic.
All positions will be funded in whole or in part through an allocation of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the US Department of the Treasury and the City of St. Louis’ Community Development Administration.
To see the full job description of positions available and to apply online go to: http:// www.stlouis-mo.gov/sldc/ and click on “Careers at SLDC.” SLDC is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity.
EXECUTIVE ANALYST
Individual is primarily responsible for performing reserving analysis functions required by the Company, in addition to forecasting or analysis functions.
To apply, please visit: https:// www.safetynational.com/ careers-page/
ASSISTANT –ACCOUNT SERVICES – POLICY SERVICES
Responsible for monitoring and follow through of service related requests for the Policy Operations unit, and tracking all Primary Workers’ Compensation, Commercial Auto, and General Liability transactions to include: New Business, Renewals, Endorsements, Cancellations, Reinstatements and Non-renewals.
To apply, please visit: https://www. safetynational.com/careers-page/
INSTRUCTOR –CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
To view complete job announcement visit: https://www.schooljobs.com/ careers/semoedu/ promotionaljobs
For more information contact the Human Resources Office (573) 651-2206 or humanresources@semo.edu
CITY OF CLAYTON HIRING FOR PT AND FT POSITIONS
The City of Clayton is hiring for PT and FT positions. Apply at https://bit.ly/3pGDCgY EOE
PUBLIC RELATIONS CONSULTANT
The City of Jennings is seeking to engage with a Public Relations Consultant to perform the following duties: supporting the city in maintaining and improving its image; serving as a liaison between the City and the media; preparing and presenting press releases; assist with building positive relationships amongst the community, businesses, and city officials; managing the City’s social media platforms. Qualified candidates should submit their proposal to Deletra Hudson, City Clerk, at cityclerk@cityofjennings.org
Include on the subject line: PUBLIC RELATIONS CONSULTANT.
PRIMARY WC CLAIMS OPERATIONS ANALYST
Responsible for various technical support tasks related to claim duties and the processing of Large Casualty Workers Compensation claim data.
To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational.com/ careers-page/
PROGRAMMER ANALYST II
Demonstrates advanced working knowledge and concepts of software development. Responsible for the internal application programming and analysis of requirements using various technologies.
To apply, please visit: https:// www.safetynational.com/ careers-page/
TREATY REINSURANCE – OPERATIONS ANALYST
Provide skilled and experienced technical support to Treaty Reinsurance (TRe) underwriters. Responsible for day-to-day operational needs, to include: booking premium-related transactions, maintaining systems data and business reports, handling contract wording approval processes, and adhering to daily and seasonal SOX compliance processes.
To apply, please visit: https:// www.safetynational.com/ careers-page/
HR SYSTEMS ANALYST
Responsible for leading, supporting, and maintaining the organization’s Human Resource systems, applications and modules under the supervision of the Director of HR Operations. Responsible for overseeing system functionality, maintenance updates and testing, and data integrity. Serves as the end user liaison to the Information Services Department.
To apply, please visit: https:// www.safetynational.com/ careers-page/
To apply, please visit: https:// www.safetynational.com/careers-
FOOD OUTREACH OPERATIONS MANAGER
The Food Outreach Operations Manager manages all aspects of operations, including emergency management planning, risk management, facilities management, vehicle maintenance, forklift maintenance, security, janitorial services, HVAC and freezer maintenance and all computer networking, hardware and software needs. In addition, this role will supervise the Nutrition Center Coordinator and the Chef. Must have excellent people skills. Great benefits. Food Outreach is a non-profit agency providing nutritional support to men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS or cancer.
This is a full-time position governed by personnel policies related to full-time staff.
COVERAGE COUNSEL
Under the direction of the Vice President and Assistant General Counsel (“VP/AGC”), provides legal guidance related to Casualty and Workers’ Compensation claims coverage issues and coverage litigation by leveraging a demonstrated ability for sound business judgment and an entrepreneurial mindset while supporting a growing Claims organization.
To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational.com/ careers-page/
Position Qualifications: Minimum of 5 years’ experience in nonprofit management. COVID vaccination required. Experience in managing staff, volunteers, and vendors. Must have facilities management experience. Must have inventory management experience. Knowledge of computer networking and hardware. Familiarity with Access software a plus. Available to work or respond to emergencies on short notice and to work some evenings and weekends.
The position may be financed (in part) (wholly) through an allocation of Community Development Block Grant funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the City of St. Louis’ Community Development Administration. Food Outreach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Email resume to kathy@foodoutreach.org
ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for CONTRACT NO. F 23 605, Renovation of SS207 Organic Chemical Prep Room at the Meramec Campus, until 2:00 p.m. local time Thursday, November 17, 2022. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 5464 Highland Park, St. Louis, MO 631101314. Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from the Manager’s office, at the above address or by calling (314) 644-9770.
Drawings, Specifications, bid forms and other related contract information may be obtained at ePlan. The documents will also be at The Builders Association and at the Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council. Electronic bid sets are available and may be printed by the plan holders and in https://stlcc.bonfirehub.com/. Questions regarding the scope of work should be directed to Mike Prost mprost@fsastl.com
VOLUNTARY PREBID MEETING: Thursday, November 10, 2022
10:00am, South-West 2nd Floor Lobby will be the meeting point. A walk-through of the project will follow the meeting. Any inquiries about the pre-bid meeting can be sent to Brandon Strauser at bstrauser1@stlcc.edu
The College has the proposed minority goals MBE 15% and WBE 12%
Individuals with special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act may contact 314-644-9039
An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer
Date: October 31, 2022
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
PARIC Corporation is seeking proposals for the following project: ARCHVIEW, 200 NORTH 4TH
PARIC Corporation is soliciting bids for the ARCHVIEW located on 200 North 4th Street. St Louis, MO. The project consists of renovating the Historic recognized Archview (Previously known as City Place Tower or Mansion House South) located on 200 North 4th Street. St. Louis, MO 63102 into a 407 unit apartment building including an outdoor promenade amenity and community space. Access to documents is available from our Smartbid link, invitations to bid will be sent out on 11/3/22. If you do not received a bid invitation please send your company information to tlalexaner@paric.com.
The last day for questions is 11/21/22.
A PREBID meeting will be held on 11/10/22 at 10:00am at the project site on 200 North 4th Street.
BIDS WILL BE DUE ON DECEMBER 1, 2022 @ 2:00pm
Send all interior & exterior construction questions to Michael Skalski mskalski@paric.com
Send all fire protection, plumbing, mechanical, & electrical questions to Cory Hoke choke@paric.com.
Goals for Construction Business Enterprise
• 21% African American
• 11% Women
• .5% Asian American
• .5% Native American
• 2% Hispanic American
Goals for Workforce (field) participation
• 25% Minority
• 7% Women
• 20% Apprentice
• 23% City of St Louis Resident
All bids should be delivered to PARIC via e-mail (bids@paric.com) or fax (636-561-9501).
PARIC CORPORATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
BIDS
Pine Lawn City is seeking Audit Bids
Due Wed Nov 7, 2022
To 6250 Steve Marre Ave
Pine Lawn, MO 63121
Also Pine Lawn seeks Bids for Website Update due Friday Dec 9, 2022
@ address noted above (314) 261-5500
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
The St. Louis Economic Development Partnership and its affiliated entities issue this open request for qualifications to provide catering services ranging from small business meetings to mid-size business development events. Responding firms will be added to a directory that will be used for catering contracts during the period ending September 30 2025, as opportunities become available. The RFQ is available at https://stlpartnership.com/rfp-rfq/ DBE, MBE, and WBE firms are encouraged to bid. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis.
St. Louis Economic Development Partnership Equal Opportunity Employer
AUCTION NOTICE
The following people are in debt to Gateway Storage Mall of Belleville. The contents of their storage unit(s) will be sold at auction to compensate all or part of that debt.
Auction at the Belleville- Mascoutah Avenue & Tower Plaza location will be held online with www.storageauctions.com on December 2nd, 2022 at 10:00 AM. A cash deposit will be REQUIRED for all winning bids. Mascoutah Avenue & Tower Plaza -- Belleville: Gloria Casole—28, Rachelle Russell—633, Michael Gonzales—14, Jennifer Allen—21, Justin Milosevich—630, Jacob Moore—220, Karl Zollner—411, Nicholas Johnson—529,
For all rules, regulations and bidding process, please contact www.storageauctions.com . All other questions, please call 618-233-8995 or mail: 17 Royal Heights Center, Belleville, IL 62226.
INVITATION TO BID
Sealed bids will be received by the Construction Manager, S. M. Wilson & Co. at Pattonville School District, 11097 St Charles Rock Rd, St Ann, MO 63074, until 2:00 p.m. local time on November 17, 2022 for the Projects and Bid Packages described herein for the Pattonville School District. Bids MUST be sealed and hand delivered to the above address no later than the date and time noted.
Pattonville School District work includes:
Bid Package #1: 03D Precast Concrete, 21A Fire Protection, 23A HVAC (High School), 23B Mechanical Equipment (Furnish Only), 26B Generator (Furnish Only)
Bidders are not allowed to visit the site unless prior arrangements are made with the Construction Manager.
The bid documents will be available for viewing after November 1st, 2022 at BuildingConnected.com. (https://app.buildingconnected.com/public/ 5913928fce945d0a00d28943)
You can view the project by logging into the BuildingConnected site by setting up a free account on their Website.
The Construction Manager for this project is S. M. Wilson & Co. and the main contact is Mr. Patrick Aylesworth, Preconstruction Manager, 314-633-9689, patrick.aylesworth@smwilson.com
This is a prevailing wage project.
S. M. Wilson & Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Pattonville School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
BID PROPOSALS
Alberici Constructors, Kwame Building Group and the Saint Louis Zoo seek bids from qualified firms to submit propos als for a project at the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park. The project consists of earthwork, roadways, utilities, and fencing for 10 barns. To request bid documents, please send an E-mail to stlzoobids@alberici.com
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
The St. Louis Economic DSealed bids for the Buckley Road Bridges No. 528 & 528-P and HallmarkSouthshire CRS Pavement Rehabilitation projects, St. Louis County Project Nos. CR-1772 and CR-1866, will be received electronically thru the County’s Vendor Self Service portal at https://stlouiscountymovendors. munisselfservice.com/Vendors/ default.aspx, until 2:00 p.m. on November 30, 2022
Plans and specifications will be available on October 31, 2022 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouiscountymo.gov) or by contacting Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies, 2731 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118 (314) 678-0087.
DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ST. LOUIS, COUNTY
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Requests for Quotes, Bids and Proposals are posted online for public download. Please navigate to www.msdprojectclear.org > Doing Business With Us > View Non-Capital Bids (commodities and services) or >Visit Planroom (capital construction bids)
Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
WEBSTER GROVES SCHOOL DISTRICT
Is soliciting “Request for Proposal”for Webster Groves High School Soccer Field Drainage
The Request for Proposal will be available on the District Website on November 7, 2022 @ www.webster.k12.mo.us front page and can be accessed under RFP/RFQ icon at bottom of page.
ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for CONTRACT NO. F 23 401, Forest Park Theater Entrance Beam, until 1:00 p.m. local time Wednesday, November 16, 2022. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 5464 Highland Park, St. Louis, MO 63110-1314. Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from the Manager’s office, at the above address or by calling (314) 644-9770. Drawings, Specifications, bid forms and other related contract information may be obtained at ePlan. The documents will also be at The Builders Association and at the Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council. Electronic bid sets are available and may be printed by the plan holders and in https://stlcc.bonfirehub.com/. Questions regarding the scope of work should be directed to Kara Marfell at kmarfell@davidmason.com
Mandatory PREBID MEETING: Tuesday, November 8, 2022 10:00am, 5464 Highland Park Drive, St. Louis, 63110 will be the meeting point. A walk-through of the project will follow the meeting. Any inquiries about the pre-bid meeting can be sent to Nathan Webb at nwebb18@stlcc.edu
The College has the proposed minority goals MBE 15% and WBE 12%
Individuals with special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act may contact 314-644-9039
An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer Date: October 31, 2022
ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for CONTRACT NO. F 23 301, Group Study Rooms Renovation, until 2:00 p.m. local time Thursday, November 17, 2022. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 5464 Highland Park, St. Louis, MO 63110-1314. Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from the Manager’s office, at the above address or by calling (314) 644-9770.
Drawings, Specifications, bid forms and other related contract information may be obtained at ePlan. The documents will also be at The Builders Association and at the Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council. Electronic bid sets are available and may be printed by the plan holders and in https://stlcc.bonfirehub.com/
Questions regarding the scope of work should be directed to John Reynolds a John.reynolds@etegra.com
VOLUNTARY PREBID MEETING: Wednesday, November 9, 2022 10:00am, Wildwood Campus Lobby will be the meeting point. A walk-through of the project will follow the meeting. Any inquiries about the pre-bid meeting can be sent to Brandon Strauser at bstrauser1@stlcc.edu
The College has the proposed minority goals MBE 15% and WBE 12% Individuals with special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act may contact 314-644-9039
An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer Date: October 27, 2022
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for CONTRACT NO. F23 604, PE Building Renovations at Meramec for STLCC Transformed, until 2:00 p.m. local time on Friday, November 18th, 2022. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 5464 Highland Park, St. Louis, MO 63110-1314. Drawings, Specifications and bid forms and other related contract information may be obtained from Cross Rhodes’ Plan room at 2731 S. Jefferson, St. Louis, MO 63118 or at S. M. Wilson’s BuildingConnected website using the link below: https://app.buildingconnected.com/public/5913928fce945d0a00d28943
Electronic bid sets are available and may be printed by the plan holders and in Bonfire at https://stlcc.bonfirehub.com. This project will include the following packages: 02A Demolition, 06E Millwork, 08A Doors/Frames/Hardware, 09A Drywall & Framing, 09D Acoustical Ceilings, 09H Resilient Flooring, 09L Painting, 10A Visual Displays Board, 10L Fire Extinguisher Cabinets, 22A Plumbing, 23A HVAC, 26A Electrical.
Questions regarding the scope of work should be directed to Patrick Aylesworth, patrick.aylesworth@smwilson.com. A pre-bid meeting will be held on November 10th, 2022 at 10am CST at the Meramec Campus room BA 105. A walk-through of the project will follow the meeting. You may schedule site visits by contacting Nathan Webb at nwebb18@stlcc.edu
The College has the proposed minority goals MBE 15% and WBE 12%
Individuals with special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act may contact: 314-984-7673
Advertisement Date: November 3, 2022
St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices St. LouiS american
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Great Rivers Greenway is seeking request for proposals for Accounting Services. Go to www.greatriversgreenway. org/jobs-bids and submit by November 18, 2022
SEALED BIDS
Bids for Repairs to Exterior Facade, Landers State Office Bldg., Springfield, MO Project No. O1920-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, December 1, 2022. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities
BID NOTICE
Great Rivers Greenway is seeking a Major Gifts Vice President to join our Foundation team! Go to www.greatriversgreenway.org/ jobs-bids and submit by November 11, 2022.
PUBLISHER’S NOTICE:
Advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, imitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial\status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.
“We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.”
Call Angelita Houston at 314-289-5430 or email ahouston@stlamerican.com to place your ads today!
SEALED BIDS
Bids for Replace Rooftop Units at Parkview State School – Cape Girardeau and New Dawn State School –Sikeston, Project Nos. E1904-01 and E1905-01, respectively, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 12/15/2022 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities
INVITATION TO BID:
SEALED BIDS
Bids for Replace Kitchen Flooring at Western Reception Diagnostic Correctional Center and Replace Dry Pipe Sprinkler System (Re-Bid) at Northwest Missouri Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center, Project Nos. C200101 and M2005-01, respectively, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 12/8/2022 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities
SEALED BIDS
Bids for Replace Fire Sprinkler System, Multiple Assets at Camp Avery Park Camp, Project No. H2001-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 12/1/2022 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities
INVITATION TO BID
Bids for ReBid –Install Fire alarm System NW MO Psychiatric R e h a b i l i t a t i o n Center, St. Joseph, MO, Project No. M2001-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, November 10, 2022. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http:// oa.mo. gov/facilities
: 3 0 P M , 11/17/2022 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. For specific project information, go to: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities
PINE LAWN HOUSING AUCTION
Sealed bids for the above project are being requested from the FFSD and will be received and publicly opened on Friday November 11th, 2022 @ 11:00am CST at the Operation and Maintenance Dept. located at 8855 Dunn Rd. (REAR) Hazelwood, MO 63042. Bid specs must be obtained at http://new.fergflor.k12.mo.us/ facilities-rfq. Contact Terry O’Neil at 314-824-2091 for further information/ questions.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
The STLVentureWorks solicits proposals for a firm to provide general maintenance, repairs, and property management services at four business centers located in St. Louis County, for up to a three-year period. A copy of the full RFP is available at https://stlpartnership.com/rfp-rfq/. A five percent bid preference may be available to certified MBE firms. Submissions should be received no later than 3 PM CST on Thursday, November 3, 2022.
St. Louis Economic Development Partnership Equal Opportunity Employer
SOLICITING BIDS
Curtiss-Manes-Schulte, Inc. is soliciting bids from MBE/WBE/ SDVE/DBE subcontractors and suppliers for work on the UPMB 4th Floor MOA Clinic Renovation, University of Missouri-Columbia. Bids are due Tuesday, November 1, 2022 by 1:00 pm and can be faxed to (573) 392-4527 or emailed to bbrown@cms-gc.com. For more information, call Bob @ (573) 392-6553. Curtiss-Manes-Schulte, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
1 BEDROOM FOR RENT Fridge, Stove, 711 Bittner 1Fl, $500/mo 314-378-6782
The Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit is currently soliciting bid proposals for replacement of doors/locks at the Juvenile Family Court, 920 N. Vandeventer, St. Louis. The request for proposal is available on the Court’s website www.stlcitycircuitcourt.com Click on General Information, Then Request for Proposals. A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on November 14, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.in the lobby, of the Juvenile Family Court located at 920 N. Vandeventer, St. Louis, MO 63108. Bids are due November 30, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. EOE
CITY OF ST. LOUIS PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE AND DRAFT 2023 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AND
COMMENT
The City of St. Louis is soliciting comments on its draft 2023 Annual Action Plan, which includes annual priorities for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) programs.
The Community Development Administration (CDA) will conduct a virtual public hearing on November 8, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. CST to solicit public comments and answer questions pertaining to the draft 2023 Annual Action Plan. Instructions for attending the Virtual Public Hearing are available on the website: http://www.stlouis-mo.gov/ cda/
The 2023 Annual Action Plan will be available in draft form for review beginning on October 7, 2022. The plan will be available at the Central Branch of the St. Louis Public Library, located at 1301 Olive Street; on the City of St. Louis website at http://www. stlouis-mo.gov/cda/ and at CDA’s office, located at 1520 Market Street, Suite 2000. The views of citizens, public agencies and other interested parties are encouraged. Written comments may be submitted to CDBG@stlouis-mo.gov and will be accepted until 12:00 p.m. CST on November 7, 2022.
Persons with special needs should contact CDA Executive Director Mr. Nahuel Fefer at FeferN@stlouis-mo.gov or (314) 657-3835 or (314) 589-6000 (TDD). Interpreting services are available upon request by calling the Office on the Disabled at (314)622-3686 (voice) or (314)622-3693 (TTY).
CDA is an equal opportunity agency (employer). Minority participation is encouraged.
Barbara Chase-Riboud Monumentale: The Bronzes
Sep 16, 2022 — Feb 5, 2023
Museum Hours
Thursday, 10am−5pm
Friday, 10am−8pm
Saturday, 10am−5pm
Sunday, 10am−5pm
Free Entry
3716
@pulitzerarts pulitzerarts.org
Portrait of the artist and installation view of
Barbara Chase-Riboud
Monumentale: The Bronzes at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation.
Photograph by Virginia Harold, 2022.