October 24th, 2019 Edition

. LouiS AmericAn

‘How

do you say goodbye to an icon?’

Urban League announces Norman R. Seay Scholarship at SLU at tearful memorial

Award for Federation of Block Units member of the year were both announced by Michael McMillan, president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, at the memorial service, held Saturday, October 19 at True Light Missionary Baptist Church. The scholarship, for $10,000, will be awarded annually to a student from North St. Louis, supported by the Urban League, Regional Business Council and SLU.

The memorial service congregation also heard remarks from Adolphus Pruitt, president of the St. Louis Branch of the NAACP, Ollie Stewart Ward of the Congress of Racial Equality, leadership from the University of Missouri St. Louis and the Charles and JoAnne Knight Alzheimer’s Research Center, and a number of senior elected and appointed

Siteman Cancer Center opens in North County on Nov. 4

Timothy Rearden, MD, medical director, Medical Oncology at Siteman Cancer Center at Christian Hospital; MacKenzie Daly, MD, medical director, Radiation Oncology, at Siteman Cancer Center at Christian Hospital; and Arnold Bullock, MD, Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Professor of Urology at Washington University School of Medicine, toasted to the new era of cancer care for patients at the new Siteman location in North County.

By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American

It was all about healing, family and community as the new Siteman Cancer Center at Northwest HealthCare in Florissant held a public open house on Tuesday, October 23 before it begins seeing patients on Monday, November 4. Siteman at Northwest Healthcare is owned by Christian Hospital and is located at 1255 Graham Rd., which is six miles west of Christian. Cancer care for its patients will include the latest technology, access to clinical

From Walnut Park to Bryan Cave

North County cop sued for 1st Amendment violation

ACLU, WUSTL First Amendment Clinic partner on case about videotaping arrest

By Rebecca Rivas

Of The St. Louis American

A Dellwood woman has filed a federal lawsuit against a North County Police Cooperative officer, after he confiscated her phone when she tried to videotape the officer arresting a man in a wheelchair at a gas station.

“Criticizing the government and recording police officers as they carry out their public duties is protected by the First Amendment,” said Tony Rothert, legal director of the ACLU of Missouri. “Effective oversight of government by the public is the very reason

Photo by Maurice Meredith

COP, A6

Reginald Harris

Photo by Wiley Price

Nicki Minaj is married now

Nicki Minaj is officially off the market. The 36-year-old rapper/singer took to Instagram to announce her nuptials to 41-year-old Kenneth “Zoo” Petty.

“Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty 10•21•19,” Minaj posted as a caption to a short video that featured Mr. and Mrs. and bride and groom coffee mugs and referencing her new official name and seemingly the day that she and Petty officially tied the knot.

A source close to the rapper told PEOPLE. com that Minaj wanted the celebration to be kept simple.

“Nicki wanted to keep her wedding lowkey,” the source said. “She’s become much more private over the last year, but she is very happy.”

Van Lathan let go from TMZ

According to Page Six, popular TMZ contributor Van Lathan was fired from the celebrity news outlet following an intense political disagreement with right wing TMZ reporter, Michael J. Babcock.

The situation reportedly became so heated that the segment had to be chopped and Lathan

reportedly told Babcock he could expect consequences if he ever spoke to him in that tone or manner again.

A Page Six source claims Lathan was sent to meet with TMZ lawyers, suspended, and later fired.

Lathan gained attention after he confronted rapper Kanye West for his “slavery was a choice” commentary when the rapper visited TMZ studios.

Lori Harvey arrested for alleged hit and run

According to OK! Magazine, socialite and famous daughter Lori Harvey was arrested for a hit and run that stemmed from distracted driving over the weekend.

According to an eyewitness, the 22-year-old crashed her Mercedes SUV into another vehicle, flipping her car while driving in Beverly Hills. The source claims that Harvey had been texting and driving.

She was reportedly arrested on two counts – a misdemeanor hit and run and delaying a police investigation.

“She was arrested for

the two charges and released on scene. Not booked,” police said, according to OK!. “She identified herself properly and signed a written promise to appear in court.”

Monica’s

divorce from Shannon Brown finalized

According to TMZ, singer Monica’s divorce from former NBA star Shannon Brown is

The divorce was said to have been granted in Fayette County, GA on Tuesday, uncontested after Shannon failed to show up in court.

Monica’s request to have her maiden name restored was also reportedly granted.

The singer filed for divorce back in March after 8 years of marriage. The couple share a six-year-old daughter.

Suge Knight letting Ray J. run Death Row

Earlier in the week, TMZ.com reported that former West Coast rap mogul Suge Knight, who is serving 28 years in prison after pleading no contest to manslaughter, entrusted singer with his life rights.

In a rare interview from the California prison where he is

currently incarcerated, Knight cleared up the rumors. He said that his Power of Attorney belongs to his fiancée, Toi-Lin Kelly, who will make decisions regarding movies, TV deals and an upcoming documentary.

Knight also claimed that Nick Cannon will be writing his life story.

Knight said that Ray J.’s role will be bringing Death Row Records back to life. Ray J will reportedly run the label that, according to Knight, will also release Ray J.’s next album.

Chrisette Michele opens up about divorce

Newly-single singer/songwriter Chrisette Michele had a moment of transparency about her recent marriage and abrupt split from her manager in a lengthy post on Instagram.

“The quickness with which I married and divorced threw me into the shocking truth of how ‘11 years old’ I still am,” Michele wrote. “Adulting was catapulted at me like a lightning bolt and I BOMBED!

I found out real quick that marriage wasn’t the end all to human completion nor development. It ended up being quite the opposite actually. Developed me… but complete me? Not a relationship’s responsibility.”

Sources: Instagram.com, People.com, TMZ.com, OK! Magazine, Page Six

Monica

Circuit attorney appoints Captain Ron Johnson as law enforcement liaison

‘He is the ideal person,’ says city police chief

By Chris King

Of The St. Louis American

If St. Louis Circuit Attorney

Kimberly M. Gardner’s primary motive in appointing retired Missouri Highway Patrol

Captain Ronald Johnson as her law enforcement liaison was to repair a fractured relationship with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, she had the right idea.

“Captain Johnson has a great reputation and a strong law enforcement background,” St. Louis Police Chief John W. Hayden stated. “He is the ideal person to serve as the liaison.” Gardner made the announcement on Wednesday, October 16. She stated that Johnson also will “lead efforts to enhance communication and collaboration” between her office and other law enforcement agencies, including the Missouri Highway Patrol, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Eastern Missouri.

ways to collaborate with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to assist in making our city safer,” Gardner stated.

“He will also assist in our efforts to develop and deploy joint community outreach initiatives with law enforcement to strengthen the relationship between the community and police and prosecutors.”

n “I am dedicated to finding innovative and effective ways to collaborate with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to assist in making our city safer.”

– Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner

Johnson, who will serve in a consulting capacity, began his work immediately. St. Louis Public Radio reported that he will be paid $50,000.

“We are all working towards the same outcome: to create a safer and healthier community. I believe the strategies the circuit attorney has deployed that focus on reducing harm and addressing the core drivers of crime are essential to making our city safer long-term,” Johnson stated.

Gardner – with felony assault for those actions, and the city and police department are defending themselves against a number of civil suits as well.

But Gardner emphasized moving past such tense incidents in bringing Johnson aboard.

“There has been far too much divisive rhetoric in the law enforcement community over the last decade,” Gardner stated. “I am confident that Captain Johnson can help foster more effective working relationships with our law enforcement partners that will make the City of St. Louis safer.”

Johnson scored high marks from his new federal law enforcement partners.

“Captain Johnson is well respected by law enforcement and the community,” Jeff Jensen, United States attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, told The American. “I look forward to working with him.”

“I am dedicated to finding innovative and effective

“At the same time, we must continue to put together the strongest cases possible to hold the most violent offenders accountable.”

This is not the first time that Johnson has been called to duty in a high-profile relief role. He became an international household name when he became the face of the Unified Command after Gov. Jay Nixon took command of Ferguson protests away from the St. Louis County Police Department in August 2014. Johnson marched

alongside protestors when he first arrived in Ferguson, becoming a national symbol for black police leadership and community policing. However, Ferguson protestors have not forgotten that some of the heaviest police use of chemical dispersants in Ferguson were authorized by the Unified Command when Johnson was its public face.

That is, in fact, something he has in common with Hayden. Hayden, then a deputy chief, was the commander on the scene of Stockley verdict protests on September 29, 2017, when he was photographed watching Police Officer William Olsten unleash pepper spray on Amir Brandy and other protestors. Olsten has since been charged – by

Richard Quinn, special agent in charge of the FBI St. Louis Division, told The American “Even before Ferguson, we recognized Captain Ron Johnson’s leadership qualities and hand-selected him to attend the FBI National Academy, an elite professional development program for law enforcement leaders worldwide. We look forward to working with Captain Johnson in his new role in the days ahead.” Johnson’s former employer, the Missouri Highway Patrol, acknowledged receipt of a request for comment but has not provided one. Jeff Roorda, business agent for the St. Louis Police Officers Association, said he would only comment after he had spoken to Johnson.

Photo by Wiley Price Retired Missouri Highway Patrol Captain Ronald Johnson was announced by St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner as her law enforcement liaison on Wednesday, October 16.

Editorial /CommEntary

‘The conscience of Congress’ challenges us to fight on without him

DNC Chair Tom Perez called powerhouse U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland) – who died Thursday, October 17 at age 68 – “the conscience of Congress” who was guided by “helping people, especially those in the shadows.” That telling image of people “in the shadows” evoked the incantatory words that Cummings spoke, over and over, at the funeral of Freddie Gray, a victim of Baltimore police violence, at a time when the hardest streets of Baltimore were floodlit by media cameras. “As I’ve thought about the cameras,” Cummings said, “I wondered: Did anybody recognize Freddie when he was alive. Did you see him? Did you see him? Did you see him?” It was an unbelievably poignant reminder of the invisibility of the people “in the shadows,” including the countless black people – so many of them, like Freddie Gray or Michael Brown, young black men – who only come to light in the aftermath of violence committed against them. Cummings marched thick in the throng of everyday people who mourned Freddie Gray on the streets of Baltimore and demanded justice for his senseless death. Michael Brown was killed when he was 18, Freddie Gray when he was 25. Even Cummings’ life span of 68 years was comparatively brief compared to the national norms of today, though not much less than the average life expectancy for non-Hispanic black males (71.5), which is five years briefer than the average life expectancy for whites in the U.S. In Baltimore as in St. Louis, Cummings’ “people in the shadows” experience the most concentrated poverty and gun violence, the greatest barriers to adequate health and education, and live the shortest lives. Cummings fought for his people low on the streets and high in the Congress. He had represented Maryland’s 7th Congressional District since 1996, serving 12 terms in the House. At the time of his death, he was at the center of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump as House Oversight Committee chairman. “As chairman of the House Oversight Committee, he showed us all not only the importance of checks and balances within

our democracy, but also the necessity of good people stewarding it,” President Barack Obama said. Cummings came up from the grass roots, “a child of southern sharecroppers who headed north as part of the Great Migrations,” as Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, wrote in a moving tribute. Morial fittingly said that Cummings’ life “represented the AfricanAmerican dream.” Morial cited a stunning list of civil rights legislation that Cummings introduced in the last year of his life alone: a proposal to facilitate partnerships between the Small Business Administration and HBCUs, his Promoting Reentry through Education in Prisons Act that would provide incarcerated individuals with educational opportunities, and the SAFE Lending Act that would crack down on the abuses of the payday lending industry.

And then, there was this, Cummings’ impassioned plea on the House floor against voter suppression on February 6: “On my mother’s dying bed – 92 years old, former sharecropper – her last words were, ‘Do not let them take our votes away from us. She had fought and seen people harmed, beaten, trying to vote. Talk about inalienable rights. Voting is crucial. And I don’t give a damn how you look at it: There are efforts to stop people from voting. That’s not right. This is not Russia. This is the United States of America.”

This great man is mourned first and foremost by his wife, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, who also chairs the Maryland Democratic Party. “He worked until his last breath because he believed our democracy was the highest and best expression of our collective humanity and that our nation’s diversity was our promise, not our problem,” Cummings’ widow said.

U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (D-Missouri) also lost a dear friend and staunch colleague. “I have lost a brother and America has lost a true hero,” Clay mourned on Twitter. Cummings left us with a challenge, best stated by President Obama: “May his example inspire more Americans to pick up the baton and carry it forward in a manner worthy of his service.”

Kurdish refugee left gasping and numb at situation in Syria

By Shawket Barwary

For The St. Louis American

It is dead near impossible for me to understand what has recently transpired in Syria. I’ve been fixated on my television screen as I watch horrors unfold before my very eyes. As a Kurd, born in Northern Iraq, fleeing for my life as Saddam Hussein tried to eliminate my family and village, I understand what plight and fear feels like. As I watched video footage of people screaming and fleeing in genuine fear, I was taken back to my youth. I can’t believe this is happening.

The Kurds are America’s greatest ally in the Middle East. As a refugee, I worked with many Americans as a native translator. I came to love the United States and saw it as a nation of unmatched potential and ideals that were seemingly only achievable in dreams. When I came as a refugee to the U.S. and settled down in St. Louis, I basked in all the opportunities that I never dreamed possible back in Kurdistan.

I obtained a degree. I got a good job. I met wonderful people and became part of an inclusive environment that respected my culture. Everyone treated me with the utmost respect and care, and I am fully indebted to this kindness – which makes it that much more painful seeing the U.S. pull out of Syria.

them have, and ISIL will only strengthen, gather forces, and continue their assailing.

Growing up, I often felt that the very fact that I was born Kurdish was in itself a crime. Iraq didn’t like us. Iran didn’t like us. Turkey. Syria. Anyone and everyone didn’t like us. We were being killed in all those countries, and the only ally we had was the U.S. I wrote a book about the Kurds detailing how the U.S. played such an important part to our survival, our attack against Islamic extremists, and how we could survive independently knowing that the U.S. helped us and showed us what an open, safe, democratic country looked like. I really felt that we were advancing rapidly towards such a reality.

Now, however, I am gasping and numb with terror at what is happening. I don’t understand it. I feel utterly betrayed, as every Kurd should. Why has the U.S. offered us protection and asked us to risk our lives fighting people that terrorize them only for them to leave us when they no longer feel they need us, allowing regional powers to do what they will regardless of human rights violations or respect for who we are? I am left perplexed.

Kurdish settlements extend from Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Iran. They are benevolent people, who have fought centuries for a chance to be free. They have worked closely with the U.S. to take out ISIL in Mosul and eradicate them wherever they occupied. We lost hundreds of thousands of lives to a group that terrorized the world. We needed strong allies to assist us. The U.S. was there to help and protect us. Now, with the pull out, it is clear what is going to happen. Turkey – which often sees us as second-class citizen, if that – wants us gone. They won’t just brush us aside, they’ll try to eliminate us by ethnic cleansing, as Saddam tried to do in Iraq. By taking us out, forcing us to flee and die trying to protect our land, Turkey will send imprisoned ISIL members free, as many of

If the governor really wants to help fight crime in St. Louis …

By Marty Joe Murray Jr. For The St. Louis American

This week marks the launch of a partnership between Governor Parson’s office and Mayor Lyda Krewson’s administration. Recently a meeting was conducted at City Hall that included Parson, Krewson, St. Louis County officials, and state agencies, yet excluded the region’s two African-American head prosecutors.

This summer in St. Louis has been extremely traumatizing and filled with violent crime that has reached national headlines for its impact on our many youth lost to gun violence. Some components of the partnership will be beneficial. But the Missouri Highway Patrol pulling over people for traffic violations will not stop youth from becoming victims of gun violence.

The 2018 Vehicle Stop report published by Attorney General Eric Schmitt shows that African Americans are significantly more likely to be pulled over than whites. In Missouri you are 91 percent more likely to be pulled over for Driving While Black. If you are an African American, you don’t need a report to tell you about your lived experience. Whether you were pulled over for a broken taillight, improper lane usage, or exceeding the posted speed limit by 5 miles per hour, you have been stopped for some small infraction. Your day is delayed, and now you can look forward to taking time away from work to attend a court date.

Another unintended outcome will be clogging our criminal justice system with minor traffic violations. The Krewson administration has rebutted that state troopers will free our St. Louis Metropolitan Police officers to focus on violent crime. When was the last time you saw St. Louis traffic police officers actively patrolling interstates?

Perhaps the plan shouldn’t be measured by how many traffic tickets are given out but rather by how many accidents are cleared. Driving down I-70 I witnessed a gentleman on the side of the road changing a flat tire by himself then noticed four to five troopers stopping drivers for speeding or other infractions. Using their time to assist the city with safety and accident clean-up could free our officers to focus on patrolling the city. If Parson wants to help our region address the issue, I recommend he earmark money in the budget to grant summer youth programs funding proportionate to the crime experienced in the different regions across Missouri. Law enforcement agencies should partner in ways that provide city officers the opportunity to engage within their districts. We must free up officers from administration so they can repair community/police relations. Lastly, our African-American prosecutors should not be left out of the discussion and offered the same assistance granted to the United States attorney’s office.

I love the U.S. I live here with pride, knowing how lucky and blessed I am to live in a place and age where my children can get a good education, have a chance to come home every day in peace, go play with friends that don’t disrespect them but appreciate their diversity, and gain a good job in the future.

I respect my country, my president and my people in what they do, but I want what is best for the Kurds, too, especially because we offer so much hope and so much good for the people in the Middle East. We are friends, military supporters and fellow countrymen, and we have done so much together to provide peace in the region. I hope that we can continue on that path and there will be a stop to this reescalation and bloodshed. What is happening is madness. Everything we all worked hard to prevent is slowly becoming undone.

Shawket Barwary is the author of “Voices over the Mountains: The Story of a Kurdish Refugee” and “Land of the Rising Sun: the Way of the Kurd.”

The partnership is a lot larger than turning state troopers into the ticket patrol. The plan also includes an ATF Strike force, U.S. marshals to curb drug crimes, two additional investigators to aid the United States attorney’s office, and funding for the victim crime fund. The plan is elaborate, but it is not complete.

When you do not have the right offices at the table, that will have counterproductive outcomes. Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner and County Prosecutor Wesley Bell should have been invited to that meeting. These are two offices that deal with violent crime day in and day out.

Letters to the editor

City Garden Montessori falsely accused

A recent letter falsely accused City Garden Montessori of racially biased admission because it has a lower proportion of AfricanAmerican (and low-income) students than Saint Louis Public Schools (SLPS). In fact, the school works hard to reflect the demographics of the local community it serves. Admission is by lottery, and outreach efforts are focused on encouraging applications from underserved groups – parents will be knocking on doors in the neighborhood in the coming weeks to explain the process. My children have had excellent experiences with both SLPS and private schools in South City, but all struggle to overcome the forces of structural inequality and selfsegregation. Addressing these challenges on a city-wide and national basis will be difficult and long-term. For its part, City Garden has managed to develop a truly diverse student (and staff) body, which is what attracted us to the school, together with the Montessori pedagogy and its active commitment to social justice.

Justin Alexander, St. Louis

Governor leaving children behind

While one death from vaping is one too many, Governor Parson has failed to take direct, meaningful action when faced with pressing and immediate concerns affecting Missourians across the state. It’s troubling that Parson has taken over $80,000 from tobacco companies, and during his time as Governor and a longtime legislator Missouri has had the lowest taxes on tobacco in the country.

When Governor Parson inherited his office after Governor Eric Greitens resigned, he promised change. Instead, we have an unelected governor who has consistently left young Missourians behind. While 100,000 children in Missouri have lost their healthcare and legislators are asking Governor Parson to help curb the historic gun violence

Further, I am calling on Parson and Krewson to publish the results of the similar 90-day pilot partnership conducted in 2017 when Eric Greitens was governor.

There is no one solution to ease the pain we have been feeling from the bloody summer. Placing a higher burden on one particular community will not ease that pain. When Missourians see red and blue lights it should give them a feeling of security that criminals will be brought justice, not because their vehicle has a chipped taillight.

Marty Joe Murray Jr. is the 7th Ward Democratic committeeman in St. Louis.

tearing through Missouri communities, killing dozens of children, Governor Parson has prioritized vaping and taxes on used cars.

Instead of providing leadership and protecting Missourians from gun violence, Parson stated, “I’ve got to be careful to stay in my lane.” Governor Parson continues to prove he isn’t working for Missouri’s youth; he’s working for the lobbyists and corporations who fund him.

Lauren Gepford, executive director, Missouri Democratic Party, Kansas City

Republicans and balanced budgets

It seemed that reactionary Republicans in Congress were obsessed with an insatiable quest for balancing the federal budget. Of course, they had ulterior motives in taking that position supposedly to accomplish a good deed for the American taxpayer. The scheme was a carefully plotted subterfuge for their desire

to eliminate people-oriented programs that provided essential services to needy citizens.

It was merely a misnomer used to cover the fraudulent intention to free up money and give huge tax reductions to the wealthiest of citizens, and also to increase the military budget that is already over-blotted. The so-called public outcry for a balanced budget easily vanished in the wind as soon as Republicans gained control of the House, the Senate, and the White House.

Where are those vociferous Republicans that had a machine recording the increase in the deficit every day of the Obama Administration? Apparently, they never had real concerned about deficits. What is needed and they are too cowardly to advocate, is a balanced economy. What the country needs is a balanced scales of justice, a balanced disparity between the rich and the poor. Above all, we must allow our families to balance their own budget

William “Bill” Clay Silver Spring, Maryland

Columnist

Marty Joe Murray Jr.

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

Guest Columnist Shawket Barwary

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland) joined protestors on the streets of Baltimore on May 4, 2015 in the aftermath of the police killing of Freddie Gray.

ESL scholarship recipient sworn into Missouri Bar

This summer Judge Donald G. Wilkerson, a native of East St. Louis, proudly handed out 33 scholarships to East St. Louis and Brooklyn residents on behalf of the Greater East St. Louis Community Fund. Then on October 8, Wilkerson swore one of the fund’s scholarship recipients, Kayla Loveless, into the Missouri Bar Association. In July, Loveless took the

Nov.

1 deadline

Bar Exam and passed it on the first try. She is a proud graduate of Washington University School of Law, the University of Missouri and East St. Louis Senior High School. She has been a recipient of the scholarship since 2012. Standing behind Loveless are Pamela Coaxum, fund executive director; Wilkerson; and Venessa Brown, fund board vice president.

for Inspiring Teachers Awards

Nominations for the Inspiring Teacher Awards are due November 1. This annual event recognizes teachers who have inspired a student to develop a passion for, pursue a degree, or obtain a career path in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, or math) field. The teachers must be nominated by a current or former student. Both the nominator

and the teacher must be able to attend the award reception 5-7 p.m. Thursday, January 30 at the Challenger Learning Center, 205 Brotherton Ln. Challenger Learning Center staff members and relatives of the nominator are ineligible. For more information, visit http://www. challengerSTL.org/inspiringteacher

We should strengthen the Community Reinvestment Act

By Charlene Crowell

For The St. Louis American

For more than 40 years, the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) has served as a mechanism for the federal government to hold banks and other depository institutions accountable for meeting the credit needs of low and moderate income (LMI) neighborhoods. Enacted in 1977, the CRA has the power to influence applications for bank mergers, charters, acquisitions, and branch openings.

On October 4, a bicameral group of Capitol Hill lawmakers wrote a letter to federal regulators, making clear the need for CRA to be strengthened – not weakened – under the guise of modernization. The letter also requests hearings on the issue in both the House Financial Services Committee and in the Senate Banking Committee.

for financial stability, wealth accumulation, and how well the credit needs, i.e. mortgages, of a community are being met. This report’s key finding was that owneroccupied homes in Black neighborhoods are undervalued by $48,000 per home on average, a cumulative loss of $156 billion.

“Laws have changed, but the value of assets – buildings, schools, leadership, and land itself – are inextricably linked to the perceptions of black people, states the Brookings report. “And those negative perceptions persist.”

Although the lawmakers acknowledged how banking, like so many other industries, has changed over several decades, the thrust of their letter was that any modernization must also reflect CRA’s original intent: to serve all communities with “the types of credit and investment those communities need.”

“Regulators cannot determine how a bank is serving the needs of its local community by relying on a simple ratio or dollar volume metric,” wrote 21 members of Congress and 8 U.S. senators. “Instead examiners should review whether banks are reaching the borrowers and neighborhoods that CRA was intended to serve.”

“While it is important that, in the face of new technologies and products, we appropriately assess lenders’ efforts to serve all communities with the types of credit and investment those communities need, it is even more essential that the original purpose of the law not be undermined,” added the lawmakers. The lawmakers’ concerns are reinforced by worsening income inequality and the growing and persistent racial wealth gap.

For example, a 2018 joint report by the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program and Gallup, found that when it comes to race, the economic playing field is far from equal. The Devaluation of Assets in Black Neighborhoods, published last November, zeroed in on homeownership, often the building block

More recently and this spring, the Roosevelt Institute (the nonprofit partner to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum) and the University of California at Berkeley’s Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society collaborated with the Ford Foundation in a multi-phased project on the nation’s nagging racial wealth gap (RWG). Their report states in part, “The research illustrated how solutions that were long assumed to lessen economic inequality—such as equalizing wages and educational opportunities and outcomes—will not actually close the RWG.”

One of the key conclusions reached in the Ford-sponsored research was “[t] he problem is structural and historical, not individual”.

In other words, systemic, long-term approaches – not quick fixes – are essential to achieving racial economic parity. Just as the full faith and credit of the United States backs deposits of these institutions, it seems fair to hold them accountable to serve the entire public – especially consumers and communities that include low-to-moderate income households.

At the same time, it is equally important that federal financial regulators speak and act with a united voice, dedicated to equity and fairness. The Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, more commonly known as FDIC, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) must speak and act in unison with financial equity as their ultimate goal. If financial policies can lay the groundwork for broad and sustained economic progress, they will well serve the nation, and begin to address the persistent racial wealth gap.

Charlene Crowell is the Center for Responsible Lending’s communications deputy director. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org

Charlene Crowell

Harris

Continued from A1

across several continents is quite a stretch for a 47-yearold black man who grew up in North St. Louis around Walnut Park and then North Point. He received all of his higher education, undergraduate and law school, at the University of Iowa before moving back home to start his legal practice at age 25.

Prosecuting Grooms at the end of his career as a federal prosecutor was a throwback to the beginning.

“Particularly early on in my career as a federal prosecutor, I handled some matters where the defendants were folks that looked like me,” Harris said. “It’s something in one’s mind. Nevertheless, if the case falls on my desk, I have the obligation to look at the case and determine whether they have broken the law and the office should be prosecuting it. That’s always the most important fact to consider: he looks like me, but this is my job.”

He understands, given the

Cop

Continued from A1

the First Amendment exists.”

The suit was filed on her behalf by the ACLU of Missouri and the First Amendment Clinic at Washington University School of Law on Friday, October 18.

In August 2018, Sarah

demographics of defendants and the reputation of criminal justice in the black community, why relatively few African Americans pursue careers as prosecutors.

“I wouldn’t discount someone’s personal concerns about this kind of work,” Harris said. “If you go into prosecution, there is a likelihood you will find defendants of AfricanAmerican descent. However, I have had the benefit in my career of working with number of African-American federal prosecutors, and they do a great job understanding that their role is to seek justice.”

He said that prosecutors learn to focus on seeking justice for the victims – and, just as tragically, many victims also are black.

“If things are happening in a community that affect the community regarding criminal law, then it’s noble for me –and I’m sure the colleagues who worked with me felt the same – to be a part of bringing some justice for folks who are affected in those communities.” He remembered in particular securing justice for the residents of Pine Lawn

Townsend went to the Mobil Gas Station on West Florissant Avenue in Dellwood to buy gas and a soda. While she was at a gas pump, a man using a manual wheelchair approached her and they started talking, according to the lawsuit. Officer T. Williams, of the North County Police Cooperative, pulled up and started to arrest the man.

Townsend began video

– 96 percent of whom were black in the 2010 Census – in successfully prosecuting its then-Mayor Sylvester Caldwell for extortion and a white cop, Steven Blakeney, for violating the civil rights of one of Caldwell’s opponents.

“Those are some proud moments,” Harris said. “At least we were able to get some justice for the folks who live in those areas who historically may have distrusted law enforcement and criminal

recording the interaction on her cell phone and told Williams that the man had not been bothering her, the video shows. When she asked Williams why he was arresting the man, Williams grabbed Townsend’s phone out of her hand and threw it into her car. Townsend, however, retrieved her phone and continued recording the arrest.

According to the lawsuit,

justice. Part of a prosecutor’s job is to convey to people that the law applies to everyone equally. I will do what I can to make sure that is a reality.”

He was speaking as if he is still a prosecutor, though he insisted that representing plaintiffs is not a fundamentally different responsibility.

“You take the same oath,” he said. “When you are an assistant U.S. attorney,

Williams then stalked across the parking lot to confiscate the phone, turn it off, pocket it, and hurl expletives at Townsend. Eventually, he returned the phone with the video preserved. The suit claims Williams told Townsend he “would be looking for her license plate and would arrest her the next time he saw it.”

The St. Louis American requested a comment from

Reginald Harris recently left his post as assistant United States attorney to join Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner as a partner within the Investigations, Financial Regulation & White Collar Practice Group in the St. Louis office.

essentially you have one client, the United States. Here, I will have a number of different clients, and mostly all of them will be private. But the job in essence is the same: to represent my client zealously, maintain client confidentiality, and comport myself within the rules of ethics and professional responsibility.”

Though he is not likely to be taking on many top-dollar white-collar clients from Walnut Park or Pine Lawn,

the North County Police Cooperative but did not receive a response by press time.

Dellwood Mayor Reggie Jones watched Townsend’s video and offered comment.

“I think it was inappropriate,” Jones said.

“From my understanding, he’s under investigation and I’m very confident that the co-op will handle it swiftly and justly.”

While the arrest was occurring, Williams told the man that the store personnel had called “the mayor” about him “begging and harassing” people, the video shows. The lawsuit alleges that Williams told the man that the mayor himself had called the police, though this statement is not heard on the video.

Jones denies this claim and said that hearing Williams talk about the mayor calling was particularly “disturbing” to him.

“I don’t even know who works in that store,” Jones said. “I’ve never communicated with the owners of that store about that individual being arrested. I think Williams was probably trying to use his leverage to let him know how serious it may be.”

Jones said that the man who was arrested has had problems for a “long time” with multiple police departments, prior to the co-op even coming to Dellwood.

he continues to dwell on the black community and its broken relationship with law enforcement.

“Unfortunately, a large segment of people have a blanket view of law enforcement as just either no good or ineffective, while I have worked with many people in law enforcement who are doing their level best trying to make progress and build trusting relationships,” Harris said.

“And I suspect a significant portion of folks in law enforcement believe that the people in these communities just don’t care enough to be a part of and effect change, and that also is so unfortunate. Having come from these neighborhoods and knowing people who live in these neighborhoods and go to church in these neighborhoods, there are many people doing their level best to build trust and make safer and stronger communities.”

He paused.

“If something can be done to bring those two together, that’s the thing to do,” he said. “But it’s such a difficult thing. It’s such a long history.”

“But that in no way justifies the officer confiscating her cell phone,” Jones said. Jones added that Williams is no longer working in Dellwood and that he is pleased with the North County Police Cooperative’s community engagement and overall policing.

“Although this is not a good moment, it doesn’t reflect how I feel about the North County Co-op,” Jones said. “They serve our community to the upmost.”

Regarding the lawsuit, Lisa Hoppenjans, director of the First Amendment Clinic at Washington University School of Law, said that Townsend acted appropriately.

“Her brave attempt to exercise her rights was met with conduct that was not just unprofessional but also unconstitutional,” Hoppenjans said. “Our Constitution does not allow this type of retaliation.”

As the suit claims,

“Confiscation of one’s personal property and threatening a person with arrest – including a continuing indefinite threat into the future – would chill a reasonable person from continuing to record and/or criticize the police.”

The suit asks for “nominal damages and declaratory and injunctive relief” and payment of costs Townsend’s court costs and attorneys’ fees.

Photo by Wiley Price

commemorated him. “How do you say good bye to an icon?” Keeton asked.

city officials.

“Talk about feeling humbled,” Ward said, regarding the high-powered speakers who preceded her. “Is this a movie, or what?”

Ironically for a lifelong activist for police accountability, Seay’s memorial was attended by the entire leadership of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department: Police Chief John Hayden, Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards, and Mayor Lyda Krewson, who appointed Edwards. Both Krewson and Edwards spoke.

Comptroller Darlene Green and aldermanic President Lewis Reed also attended and spoke, so all three members of the city’s chief fiscal body were present.

Sister Rosetta Keeton of True Life pointed out that the deceased was more powerful and historic than anyone who

Siteman

Continued from A1

Continued from A1 trials and the convenience for North County residents of receiving treatment close to home. Patients will have a direct link to proton therapy, bone marrow transplants and other highly specialized forms of treatment administered at Siteman’s main location, which is on the campus of Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine.

“It builds on the work we’ve done in this community over the last 17 years,” said Timothy J. Eberlein, M.D., Siteman director and the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Distinguished Professor at the School of Medicine. “This is the dawn of a new age, new beginning, world-class care. The physicians here are fabulous. They are handpicked, and we are looking forward to making a difference in this community.”

He said a cancer-free future

Seay’s church family at True Life struggled to say good bye to someone with whom they had worshipped for so long.

His lifelong friend Ivory Ellison, who grew up with Seay at True Life, remembered visiting with his friend shortly before he passed. “He couldn’t talk, but he reached out and touched my hand,” Ellison said. “I knew he was saying, ‘I love you, man.’” Ellison was encouraged by the congregation as he began to weep. “I love you, too,” he said to Seay.

Seay’s nephew John A. Nichols Jr. needed even more love from the congregation as he was overcome by emotion repeatedly while trying to say good bye to the uncle who had inspired and paid for his extensive professional education. “He said, ‘You’re not going into the military, you’re going to the university,’” Nichols remembered.

for our region remains the ultimate goal.

In the invocation, Bishop Courtney A. Jones, senior pastor at the Cathedral Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, offered thanks, blessings and prayers of healing and deliverance to those who will come to the facility. Jones is also on Christian Hospital’s community clergy board. Members of his church’s choir sang selections. Jade Harrel of RareGem Productions emceed the event, and attendees heard firsthand from three patients who are cancer survivors through care at Siteman: Diane Phipps, Kristen Roethemeier and Saylun Brown.

For the past two years, Siteman in North County was housed in a medical building at Christian Hospital while the new facility was constructed.

“Christian Hospital and Siteman Cancer Center have built a strong partnership founded on providing patients the very best care,” said Rick Stevens, who, as president of Christian Hospital also oversees Northwest

But even this grateful nephew knew he had only benefitted in an intimate and acute way from blessings the black community in St. Louis shared broadly. “He is the reason why a lot of us have advanced in the ways we have advanced,” Nichols said.

HealthCare. “We are pleased to continue offering that same level of exceptional care in a completely new facility.”

Siteman is the region’s only National Cancer Institutedesignated Comprehensive Cancer Center, a federal recognition of its scientific leadership and cancer research.

Stevens thanked many community partners for this North County milestone and introduced three physicians who will be practicing there. “What motivates me is you,” he said, “and we are doing everything we can to improve the lives in the communities that we serve.”

Medical oncologist

Seay’s influence was testified, often tearfully, by mourners of many generations, including McMillan, who introduced himself to Seay (“he was an icon then”) when McMillan was a high school student trying to establish a black student group.

members of the Washington University School of Medicine faculty.

n “It builds on the work we’ve done in this community over the last 17 years.”

A processional to True Life Missionary Baptist Church to Norman Seay’s memorial servicewas led by his sister Barbara Webb (center), accompanied by funeral Director Austin Layne and nephew John Nichols on Saturday, October 19.

Seay’s mentoring to younger generations was remembered as a legacy that will outlive him.

“He worked tirelessly to involve our youth in the struggle for justice,” Keeton said.

His wide range of civil rights activism, from direct

action surrounded by armed police to diversifying college campuses and university research efforts, was remembered by fellow protestors and distinguished professors of neurology.

Dr. John C. Morris, director of the Alzheimer’s Research Center at the Washington University School of Medicine, remembered how Seay challenged him that, however impressive, the people contributing to his research were “all white.” Morris then spent many years working with Seay to address that.

Comptroller Green provided an especially vivid memory of the change agent in action: “I can recall his fiery call for justice in the cold light of the day on the steps of the Old Courthouse.”

Perhaps Pruitt of the NAACP answered best the question of how a city can say good bye to an icon by issuing a challenge that remains Seay’s legacy: “If you see something wrong, stand up!”

Americans, Hispanics and others.”

– Timothy J. Eberlein, M.D.,

Siteman director

Timothy Rearden, M.D., will continue as medical director of Siteman’s North County location. Mackenzie Daly, M.D., a radiation oncologist, will continue as director of radiation oncology. Both are

Multidisciplinary care teams at Siteman include radiation oncologists, medical oncologists and surgeons, as well as dietitians, psychologists, nurses and other health-care providers. Siteman also offers more than 400 clinical trials evaluating investigational cancer therapies that are not widely available to the public, except at other Siteman locations. Siteman also has locations in St. Louis, Creve Coeur, St. Charles, South County and in Illinois, where an existing location will move from Swansea to Memorial East Hospital in Shiloh next year.

“We have all of the operational pieces in place to screen, identify patients

and put them on appropriate clinical trials and give them the best treatment, including experimental drugs,” Yi Zhang, assistant dean of Clinical Research and director of Clinical Research Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine, told The American. Zhang said the clinical trials include large pharmaceutical companies or emergent biotechnology companies that have more innovative FDA-approved compound drugs that target a patient’s cancer.

Having clinical trials take place in North County is important, Zhang said, to increase diversity in the trial sample.

“We want to get a full representation of the patients that we serve as a cancer center and have equal representations of folks from all walks of life,” Zhang said. “Industry and nationwide, there are more white people participating in clinical trials than African

The nearly 37,000-squarefoot facility was designed to be inviting. It features a family room with a fireplace, a healing garden, and paintings by noted local artists, including Cbabi Bayoc and Jessica Hitchcock. It also has a community room that will be available for use by citizen groups and nonprofit organizations.

Archimages is the architect of the $26.3 million project. Engineers include David Mason + Associates, Stock & Associates Consulting Engineers and KAI Design and Build. The construction and design project managers are from BJC Healthcare and Tarlton Corp. was the contractor.

Funding for the facility comes from Washington University School of Medicine and from BJC HealthCare, which owns and operates Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Christian Hospital.

Photo by Maurice Meredith

Does St. Louis’ Real Time Crime Center help deter and solve crimes?

Rebecca Rivas of The St. Louis American reported an investigative piece on the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center, in partnership with Type Investigations, where she is an Ida B. Wells Fellow, and data reporting by Taylor Eldridge. This is part one.

This summer, the St. Louis region made national news after more than 15 children were killed by gun violence in four months, leaving city leaders struggling to push forward preventative measures.

“This is Third World living over here,” said Alderman Samuel Moore, who represents the city’s Fourth Ward in North St. Louis. “This is horrible that we live like that with all the murders and shootings.”

Three children were killed in Moore’s ward this summer, but the violence isn’t new. The ward also had one of the city’s highest murder counts in 2018 — 24 of 187 homicides total for the city. Moore wants to put surveillance cameras on every corner because he believes they could deter crime, but he feels his hands are tied.

“We can’t afford to buy cameras and to do sidewalks and put in lights and fix up streets with that little amount of money,” said Moore, who represents one of the most impoverished areas of the city.

The Fourth Ward is a nearly two-square-mile area with about 9,000 people — 96 percent of whom are African American. But even though the Fourth

By Race

By Income

This map of city-owned surveillance camera locations and 2018 homicides offers a striking visual. Each black X marks a homicide in 2018. Most murders in the City of St. Louis that year occurred in North St. Louis. Most cameras listed on public audits from the police and streets departments are located downtown, far from where the majority of homicides took place. Cameras are clustered in business districts, where incomes tend to be higher, and where more residents are white.

Source: Cameras: 2019 video camera audits submitted by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Street Department to the city’s operations director Homicide data:

Ward has one of the highest murder rates in St. Louis, it only has 15 city-owned surveillance cameras streaming into the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), a high-tech intelligence center

and

where officers monitor nearly 550 city-owned surveillance cameras.

Further south, the Central West End, the city’s wealthiest neighborhood, is almost the exact same size as Moore’s ward and has about 14,500

residents — a majority of whom are white. It had only one homicide in 2018, yet, it has 33 city-owned cameras — more than two times as the Fourth Ward.

“There are no cameras where 80 percent of the crime has occurred,” Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards said in an interview last fall. “Never has been. It’s been totally neglected. I’m frustrated because we have no cameras in North St. Louis.”

An 18-month-long joint investigation by The St. Louis American and Type Investigations shows, for the first time, what Edwards knows to be true: the city’s cameras are not located in the neighborhoods that have the most profound problems with violent crime, specifically homicides. We created the first publicly available map of camera locations listed by the police and streets departments in public audits, which, overlaid with census race and income data, shows that there are significantly more cameras in affluent, majoritywhite areas than there are in majority-black, impoverished parts of the city. The map also shows that, although the police department has touted the center as targeting the city’s violent crimes, North St. Louis, where most murders were concentrated in 2018, is, essentially, a camera

desert. Our investigation found that the city’s reliance on private entities and taxing districts to buy cameras that feed into the RTCC has contributed to the inequity — effectively rendering the RTCC’s surveillance program a taxpayer-funded security monitoring service for parts of the city that can afford cameras.

The police department said it could not provide details on the types of crimes that the center helped to prosecute, or whether or not the number of arrests for violent crime have increased in the center’s four years of operation. Some researchers have found that surveillance cameras are more effective at combating property offenses than violent crime. Opponents, including the ACLU, believe that cameras raise concerns about the targeting or overpolicing people of color. They believe the enormous expense of the cameras take up resources that could be better used to prevent crimes.

The question remains whether the center is actually helping to decrease St. Louis’ homicide rate — which is among the highest in the country.

What does the RTCC do?

Unveiled in May 2015,

the Real Time Crime Center provides the St. Louis police with eyes and ears all over the city through cameras, as well as license plate readers (LPRs), sensors that can detect and locate gunfire, and seven surveillance trailers that move throughout the city. Streaming directly to the center are video feeds from 225 cameras that the police department owns – along with 309 of the Street Department’s and Port Authority’s cameras, according to 2019 camera audits. (City departments must submit camera audits to the operations director at the first business day of every year.) There are also 202 LPR cameras which continuously collect license plate numbers, police said, but are not included in the audits. The center also has access to private cameras throughout the city, where the owners have purchased the expensive camera platform, Genetec, required to stream directly into the RTCC. Police said they had access to 22 “private camera systems,” but did not specify the number of cameras. Edwards approximated the number at 1,300. Within the center, police officers watch a wall of screens, evaluate criminal activity and communicate with officers on the ground 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, according to the center’s webpage. During a brief media tour of the center in May 2018, the RTCC’s commander Lt. Brent Feig touted their success in achieving the center’s goals — use of the high-definition video for facial recognition and quick capture of criminals and providing more “situational awareness” for officers on the street.

The crime center assisted police officers in making 1,784 arrests, resulting in 4,348 charges from June 2015 to October 9, according to the police department. What is unclear is the kind of crime that the RTCC has been successful in deterring or solving. Police said they “do not track specific charges or break them down any further.”

As far as the RTCC’s license plate readers, police said they do not monitor for misdemeanor charges — only assaults, homicides, robberies, stolen autos, etc.

Police also said they recovered 1,064 stolen vehicles and 246 illegal firearms from June 2015 to October 9.We submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for any logs or databases that the police used to track arrests and stolen guns, cars or other property retrieved as a result of the crime center. The police replied, “No responsive records,” meaning that they

don’t exist.

Lt. Feig rejected The American’s request for a follow-up interview after the 2018 tour.

The city prosecutor’s office said that evidence from the RTCC is referenced or presented in about 25 percent of all the police’s warrant applications for violent crime charges.

Chief Warrant Officer Chris Hinckley said the RTCC information is helpful in corroborating evidence in prosecutors’ cases. The material itself is used as evidence in trial in only about 5 percent of violent crime cases, but when used in the courtroom, the evidence is “very significant.”

Hinckley said it would be useful to have more cameras in high-crime neighborhoods — specifically in the 3.5-squaremile coverage area where the ShotSpotter system locates gunshot sounds.

“The ShotSpotters are certainly helpful, but it’s almost like the potential help greatly outweighs their help right now,” Hinckley said. “The bullet casings being there is not going to bring in charges. Someone to say, ‘I saw that guy shoot that guy’ is what’s the real evidence. They need to put cameras there.”

To be continued next week.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Income

race data: US Census, Map by Kuang Keng Kuek Ser for Type Investigations.

Be a Tourist in Your Own Town

St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission

The countdown to Christmas in St. Louis starts now

Saturday, Nov. 23

By Kiara Bryant

For the St. Louis American

As Halloween approaches and temperatures drop, the holidays will soon be upon us once again, see what St. Louis has to offer during the most wonderful time of the year. This countdown to Christmas features the return of many holiday themed attractions such as Polar Express™ train rides, Six Flags’ Holiday in the Park and lighting displays. Leading up to the main event, there are several events and happenings to look forward to throughout the month of November.

Union Station is beginning a new chapter as an entertainment destination. The new St. Louis Observation Wheel and the Soda Fountain restaurant opened earlier this month. A carousel, aerial ropes course, mirror maze and 18-hole mini-golf course are also in the works. These new additions are all in advance of the much anticipated St. Louis Aquarium in December. All aboard! From now until Jan. 5, the world’s most beloved blue engine has arrived at The Magic House for exciting fun and adventure. Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails!, an interactive STEM- focused (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) exhibit features the favorite engine and destinations from the popular Nick Jr. television show. In the exhibit, children help Thomas and his friends solve a variety of challenges, from a simple sorting and shape identification activity to more complex engineering obstacles, such as completing a train track using track pieces with different levels of elevation. This exhibit seeks to engage children, ages 2 through 7. For our older audiences, comedian and actor

4:30-8 p.m.

Marlon Wayans who has graced the big screen and small screen for years throughout his career will be in St. Louis next weekend. You won’t want to miss it when he comes to perform standup at Helium Comedy Club on Nov. 1-3. So, grab your crew and buy tickets online or at the box office before the show sells out. The show is for audiences 18 and older and there is a two item per person minimum in the showroom. Arrive early and dine at the Elements Restaurant prior to the show.

n Union Station is beginning a new chapter as an entertainment destination. The new St. Louis Observation Wheel and the Soda Fountain restaurant opened earlier this month.

To get you in the holiday spirit, take part in the magic of the annual Ameren Missouri Festival of Lights on Saturday, Nov. 23 from 4:30-8 p.m. Held downtown at Kiener Plaza, the event officially kicks off the holiday season. Don’t miss out on all of the holiday fun including the Salvation Army Tree of Lights ceremony, entertainment, Christmas village activities, fireworks and the Winterfest Ice Rink in partnership with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation. The festivities continue with the 34th Annual Ameren Thanksgiving Day Parade at 8:45 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 28. More than 130 parade displays, musical floats, large balloons and local marching bands will be featured. At the end of the parade, Santa Claus will be around to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas. We encourage you to be a part of the community celebration and support all of the participants. Whether you camp out on Market Street or tune in to KMOV-TV Channel 4 at home, you’ll enjoy our most festive seasonal parade. To find more points of interest this fall, please visit www.explorestlouis.com.

The annual Ameren Missouri Festival of Lights on

from

Held downtown at Kiener Plaza, the event officially kicks off the holiday season.

Breast cancer scare for Beyoncé’s dad

Mathew Knowles reveals his symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

By Michele R. Berman, MD and Mark S. Boguski, MD, PhD

For MedPage Today

Breast cancer is not only a woman’s disease. Men can certainly get it too. Previously, “Shaft” actor Richard Roundtree and Kiss drummer Peter Criss have both publicly revealed their breast cancer diagnoses. And now, Beyoncé’s father Mathew Knowles has announced that he too has been diagnosed with

breast cancer.

Knowles, 67, a music executive and former manager of daughters Beyoncé and Solange, says he noted something was wrong in July 2019 when he found small drops of blood on his shirts. His wife also noticed blood on their bedsheets. After three days of this, Knowles tried to figure out what was going on: “I squeezed my nipple and sure enough, a little discharge came out, bloody discharge. I immediately called my doctor.” An inconclusive blood smear test lead to a mammogram, which showed that he had stage 1A breast cancer. He underwent a mastectomy and had three lymph nodes removed, which tested negative. In addition, he was found to have the BRCA2 gene mutation. He urged his daughters to undergo testing as well.

What is really needed to improve the health of black women?

By Kathleen Holmes For The St. Louis American

My mother recently passed away, and as I reflected on her life and thought about my work in women’s health, I couldn’t help but consider the impact “isms” had on her health and well-being across her 85 years.

It’s my belief that oppressive actions by individuals and societal systems has a detrimental health impact. We are seeing the evidence of this in the lives of black women, especially in the current startling rates of black maternal mortality. What will it take to change what needs to be changed?

Kathleen Holmes

As a woman of color, my mother encountered racism and sexism throughout her life. As a youth, despite excellent grades in school, she was assigned to trade classes, not college prep. As a young mother in a Southern Illinois community, she was told she would have to go around to the back door of an eating establishment to buy a cool drink for herself and her toddler.

n As a woman of color, my mother encountered racism and sexism throughout her life.

When she landed a much-desired job, she was forced to decline the offer after discovering she was pregnant with her third child. Throughout her career, she was paid significantly less than male colleagues doing the same job. In later years and with a debilitating chronic disease, she had to arm herself with medical knowledge to ensure she received appropriate care. My mother was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in her late 50s. RA is an auto-immune disease where the body’s immune system – which normally protects its health by attacking foreign substances – mistakenly attacks the joints. This attack ultimately leads to severe joint damage. Although the cause is not fully understood, factors that may trigger development of RA include the body’s response to stressful events such as physical or emotional trauma. As a black woman, my mother certainly experienced emotional trauma. I am one of my mother’s six children. All her children survived well into adulthood

State borders create Medicaid haves and have-nots

Missouri pursuing Medicaid expansion, which Illinois passed, via ballot initiative

By Laura Ungar Of Kaiser Health News

Patricia Powers went a few years without health insurance and couldn’t afford regular doctor visits. So she had no idea cancerous tumors were silently growing in both of her breasts.

If Powers lived just across the Mississippi River in Illinois, she would have qualified for Medicaid, the federal-state health insurance program for low-income residents that 36 states and the District of Columbia decided to expand under the Affordable Care Act. But Missouri politicians chose not to expand it — a decision some groups are trying to reverse by getting signatures to put the option on the 2020 ballot. Powers’ predicament reflects an odd twist in the way the health care law has played out. State borders have become arbitrary dividing lines between Medicaid’s haves and have-nots, with Americans in similar financial straits facing vastly different health

n A University of Michigan study found Medicaid expansion substantially reduced mortality rates from 2014 to 2017. Illinois averted 345 deaths annually while Missouri had 194 additional deaths each year.

care fortunes. This affects everything from whether diseases are caught early to whether people can stay well enough to work. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), passed in 2010, called for extending Medicaid to all Americans earning up to 138 percent

A few years ago, Patricia Powers briefly thought about moving from her home in St. Louis County, Mo., across the river into Illinois – for Medicaid. “You ask yourself: Where do you go? What do you do?” After years without health insurance, Powers went to a clinic for the uninsured, where she discovered she had breast cancer.

Beyoncé’s father, Mathew Knowles, has announced that he has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Mathew Knowles, 67, is a music executive and former manager of daughters Beyoncé (right) and Solange.

Photo by Laura Ungar/KHN

Breast Cancer

Continued from A10

“My two daughters have an increased chance in having breast cancer,” he told the New York Times. “They have an increased chance of ovarian cancer. And it goes down to grandkids.”

In a “Good Morning America” interview with Michael Strahan, Knowles said he learned that having the BRCA2 mutation makes him at higher risk of getting breast cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, or melanoma. But he plans on being proactive and will have frequent cancer screenings.

“I got an MRI for pancreatic cancer, and my pancreas and liver are fine,” he said. “My dermatologist removed two moles – both of which came back benign for melanoma.

I got an MRI on my prostate a week ago, but we’re still waiting on the results.”

He is also planning to get his second breast removed in January to reduce his risk of recurrence.

Unlike women, whose lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is about 1 in 8, the risk of a man getting breast cancer is only about 1 in 1000. Fewer than 1 percent of all breast carcinomas occur in men. The National Cancer Institute estimates 2,670 new cases and 500 deaths from breast cancer (men only) in the U.S. in 2019.

The anatomy of the male breast is similar in many ways to that of a woman’s; both arise from the same fetal tissues. They develop in an identical manner until the individual reaches puberty. Under the influence of estrogen, breast tissue enlarges and develops structures that will form the milk-producing lobules. As men produce very little estrogen, these lobules do not form in the male breast. Therefore, lobular carcinoma in situ is not seen in men. The pathology of male breast cancer is similar to that of female breast cancer, and infiltrating ductal cancer is the most common tumor type. Intraductal cancer, inflammatory carcinoma, and Paget disease of the nipple have also been seen in men. Predisposing risk factors for male breast cancer appear to include: radiation exposure to breast/chest; estrogen use; diseases associated with hyperestrogenism, such as cirrhosis or Klinefelter syndrome; and family health history – definite familial tendencies are evident, with an increased incidence seen in men who have a number of

Medicaid

Continued from A10 of the federal poverty level, around $17,000 annually for an individual. But the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012 let states choose whether to expand Medicaid. Illinois did, bringing an additional 650,000plus people onto its rolls. Missouri did not, and today about 200,000 of its residents are like Powers, stuck in this geographic gap. Powers briefly thought about moving to another state, just to be able to get Medicaid.

“You ask yourself: Where do you go? What do you do?” said Powers, who was in her early 60s when diagnosed. “Do I look at what’s happening in Illinois, right across the river?”

A recent University of Michigan study found Medicaid expansion substantially reduced mortality rates from 2014 to 2017. The researchers said Illinois averted 345 deaths annually while Missouri had 194 additional deaths each year. The same trends held for other side-byside states such as Kentucky (did expand) and Tennessee (did not), New Mexico (did) and Texas (did not).

Dr. Karen Joynt Maddox, co-director of the Center for Health Economics and Policy at Washington University in St. Louis, said health care providers in her border city see how the coverage differences affect people. When treating Medicaid

Holmes

Continued from A10 although she had challenging pregnancies, several difficult deliveries, and at least one episode of post-partum depression. She and my father

patients from Illinois, she said, doctors know procedures, equipment and medicines will likely be covered. With uninsured Missourians, they must consider whether patients can afford even follow-up medications after heart attacks.

Nonetheless, Medicaid expansion faces significant opposition in Missouri, a red state led by a Republican governor with GOP supermajorities in both legislative chambers. Patrick Ishmael, director of government accountability for the Show-Me Institute, a Missouri free-market think tank, said offering Medicaid to people with incomes above the poverty level would drain resources from the state’s underserved poor and push up taxpayer costs. Though the federal government pays 90 percent of the cost of the expansion coverage, he said, Missourians contribute to that through their federal taxes.

Medicaid already accounts for about one-third of the state’s budget, which he said puts pressure on other priorities, like education.

“Missouri and other states need to think about whether they are a government that provides health care or a health care provider that sometimes governs,” he said.

Powers, a minister in the St. Louis suburb of Hazelwood, used to get health insurance through her husband’s job selling lumber and hardware. After he was disabled in 2009, their coverage continued on and off for a while, and her

parented us through the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s, during a time of deep racial strife and unrest. I recall the time my brother was invited to a friend’s birthday party at a local rollerskating rink but was barred from going because they only allowed “coloreds” on a certain day and time. My mother

female relatives with breast cancer.

There also is major inheritance susceptibility – an increased risk of male breast cancer has been reported in families with BRCA mutations, although the risks appear to be higher with inherited BRCA2 than with BRCA1 mutations. Genes other than BRCA may also be involved in predisposition to male breast cancer, including mutations in the PTEN tumor suppressor gene, TP53 mutations (Li-Fraumeni syndrome), PALB2 mutations, and mismatch repair mutations associated with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome)

Signs of breast cancer in men may include: a lump or

husband eventually received Medicare, the federal insurance program for seniors and people with disabilities. But Powers had no insurance starting in 2012 as the couple struggled on, at most, $1,500 a month.

Medicaid wasn’t an option for her. Missouri could have opened the program to more adults as early as 2010, in preparation for the health care law’s expanded coverage taking effect in 2014. Without the ACA’s expansion, adults who aren’t 65 or older or disabled don’t qualify, no matter how low their income.

Missouri’s program generally covers only pregnant women and children from low-income families, parents with incomes about 22% of the federal poverty level and people who are poor and blind, disabled or 65 or older.

thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area; a change in the size or shape of the breast; a dimple or puckering in the skin of the breast; an inverted nipple; fluid from the nipple, especially if it is bloody; scaly, red, or swollen skin on the breast, nipple, or areola; and peau d’orange (a swollen, pitted skin surface covering the breast cancer).

As in women’s breast cancer, biopsy specimens in men should undergo molecular profiling (estrogenreceptor and progesteronereceptor status and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu) expression status of the tumor).

According to the National

Lexapro.

In early 2016, she discovered a place to get help when she gave her friend a ride to a St. Louis clinic for the uninsured called Casa de Salud where health services cost less than $30.

n State borders have become arbitrary dividing lines between Medicaid’s haves and have-nots, with Americans in similar financial straits facing vastly different health care fortunes.

Powers and her husband earned too little for her to qualify for subsidies on the federal ACA marketplace, so she couldn’t afford to buy her own plan. And without insurance, Powers never saw doctors for routine health visits or screenings. She stopped taking her prescribed medications for high blood pressure and anxiety — until she could no longer do without her anti-anxiety medicine,

wrote an opinion piece that ran in the town newspaper criticizing the discrimination her child experienced. Black mothers know the feeling of wanting the best for your child and the stress and pain caused when injustices are perpetrated against them.

My mother’s story is not

Powers figured she’d ask about getting back onto Lexapro there. She got a thorough checkup. The doctor found a walnut-sized lump in her right breast, and a mammogram found a tumor the size of a grain of rice in her left. A clinic caseworker helped her sign up for a Medicaid program for breast cancer patients. She underwent surgery in April 2016, then had 35 radiation treatments and took follow-up medications.

She kept thinking she could have found the cancer earlier if only she had insurance. That would have meant less treatment and lower costs for taxpayers, who ended up footing the bill anyway. Research shows breast cancer in its earliest stage can cost half as much to treat as in later stages.

“Even if you didn’t care about the human cost, you should care about the economic cost,” said Jorge Riopedre, president and CEO of Casa de Salud. “Treating a disease at its

unique. My mother’s story is my story and the story of countless others, not in the past but in the present. Racism and sexism continue to support actions like unequal opportunities in the educational system, lower wages than white and male counterparts, housing

Missouri Foundation for Health is a resource for the region, working with communities and nonprofits to generate and accelerate positive changes in health. As a catalyst for change, the Foundation improves the health of Missourians through partnership, experience, knowledge and funding.

Cancer Institute, primary standard treatment is a modified radical mastectomy with axillary dissection. Breast conservation surgery with lumpectomy and radiation therapy has also been used, and results of both protocols have been similar to those seen in women with breast cancer.

In men with node-negative tumors, adjuvant therapy should be considered on the same basis as for women with breast cancer because there is no evidence that response to therapy is different between men and women.

In men with node-positive tumors, both chemotherapy plus tamoxifen and other hormonal therapy have been used and are believed to increase survival to the same

first stage is always going to be much cheaper than treating it at its advanced stage.”

In neighboring Illinois, getting Medicaid through the expansion helped Matt Bednarowicz avoid debilitating medical debt after a motorcycle crash. He was able to go back to work after he was injured while delivering a package in mid-May 2018.

The wreck crushed his left foot, requiring doctors to insert pins in it. Without Medicaid, he would have faced thousands of dollars in medical bills.

“The debt would have been greater than I could comprehend overcoming,” said Bednarowicz, who is now 29.

His Medicaid kicked in “just in the nick of time” to cover the surgery, he said. It also allowed him to get psychiatric help for depression. More than a year later, he’s able to get around well — even jog — and works as a caretaker for an elderly man.

Having insurance helps people like Bednarowicz stay productive, said Riopedre.

“The person who gets sick can’t work, can’t support his or her family, can’t be a consumer and buy goods. If they’re not working, they can’t pay taxes,” Riopedre said. “It just is a tidal wave of downstream effects that if we can’t get it right, it’s going to have repercussions across the nation.”

As the ballot measure push continues, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, recently created a task force to look into expanding Medicaid through a waiver allowing states to skip

discrimination, criminal justice practices that disproportionally incarcerate blacks, and inferior health care to name but a few. It’s inconceivable these stressors would not have an impact on health and well-being at any point in a women’s life.

It’s unconscionable to not

extent as in women with breast cancer. Approximately 85 percent of all male breast cancers are estrogen receptor-positive, and 70% of them are progesterone receptor-positive. Response to hormone therapy correlates with the presence of these receptors. Hormonal therapy has been recommended in all patients with receptor-positive cancers. Tamoxifen use, however, is associated with a high rate of treatment-limiting symptoms, such as hot flashes and impotence, in male breast cancer patients. Responses are generally similar to those seen in women with breast cancer. Regarding endocrine therapy, tamoxifen is generally used instead of an aromatase inhibitor (AI) because the data supporting the use of an AI in men with breast cancer are limited. A retrospective analysis of 257 men with stage I to stage III breast cancer included 50 men treated with an AI and 207 men treated with tamoxifen. The researchers found that with a median follow-up of 42 months, treatment with an AI was associated with a higher risk of death compared with tamoxifen (32 percent with AI vs. 18 percent with tamoxifen). Clinical trials for breast cancer in men can be found at clinicaltrials.gov.

Michele R. Berman, MD, and Mark S. Boguski, MD, PhD, are a wife and husband team of physicians who have trained and taught at some of the top medical schools in the country, including Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and Washington University in St. Louis. Their mission is both a journalistic and educational one: to report on common diseases affecting uncommon people and summarize the evidence-based medicine behind the headlines. Reprinted with permission of MedPage Today https://bit. ly/2J4HvYz.

some federal requirements. His office referred questions to the state’s Department of Health and Senior Services, which in turn referred them to the state’s Department of Social Services. Rebecca Woelfel, a spokeswoman for that agency, said the department doesn’t typically comment on potential ballot issues.

Ishmael, of the ShowMe Institute, said he hopes expansion doesn’t happen. He said the Medicaid system overall is wasteful, with outcomes often not fully justifying the expense. The cost of an expansion would depend on how it’s structured, he said, but “it could be a real budgetbuster.”

The impact of an expansion on Missouri’s budget remains unclear. A February analysis by researchers at Washington University estimated it would be “approximately revenueneutral.” But their estimates range widely for the first year depending on enrollment and other factors, from up to $95 million in savings for Missouri’s Medicaid program to costing $42 million more than not expanding.

Powers, whose husband died last year, said she fully supports Medicaid expansion. But whatever happens, especially now that she’s suffering from heart failure, she’s grateful she won’t have to worry about being uninsured again. At 66, she’s now old enough for Medicare. Laura Ungar: lungar@kff. org, @laura_ungar.

strive to protect the health of future generations of black women through the eradication of racism and sexism in our society. Kathleen Holmes is interim vice president of programs for Missouri Foundation for Health.

Your Health Matters is provided in partnership with

c 2011 Terese Winslow LLC U.S. Govt. has certain rights

Resisting Leftover Candy

Unplug!

Halloween Safety

Now is the time to talk about staying safe during your trickor-treating. Here are a few very important things to remember.

If you have a bag FULL of Halloween candy — what can you do to help you resist over-loading on sweets? Some tricks to follow are:

Brush your teeth after you’ve had a piece of candy. Having fresh, clean teeth can help you resist eating another piece. Bonus — brushing also helps get the sticky sugar off of your teeth to help prevent cavities!

Consider “donating” your candy to a food pantry, family shelter or other

Exercise Challenge:

According to some statistics, the average American child spends as much as 4 hours a day watching TV and another 2 hours playing video games and having fun on a computer. That’s 6 hours each day!

Instead of spending so much time in front of screens… why

Walk with a parent or older sibling. Wear reflective clothing or something light/bright to be more visible to cars.

Carry a flashlight, if possible, to watch for obstacles while walking such as holes, fences, flower-pots, etc.

PRESENT:

Healthy Kids Healthy Kids

group that might appreciate your leftover treats. When you do have a treat, remember to do some extra, fun activities to burn off the extra calories.

Can you think of other uses for your bag-o-candy?

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

not go outside and get some exercise? Try reducing your TV watching by one hour each day, and spend that hour throwing a football, riding a bike, playing kickball or some other fun outdoor activity with your friends. That one hour can make a big difference in how you look and feel.

Do not eat any candy until your parent(s) have had a chance to “inspect” it. Never go inside someone’s home. Watch for cars! They might not see you in the dark.

Do you know other ways to help you stay safe?

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 5

Cracker Spiders

Ingredients: 10 Round Wheat Crackers, 40 Small Stick Pretzels, 4 Tbsp Low-Fat Cream Cheese, 10 Raisins

Directions: Spread softened cream cheese onto five of the crackers. Lay eight of the pretzels onto the cheese (like legs) and top with the second set of five crackers. Use a dab of cream cheese to add raisin eyes to the spiders. Makes 5 cracker spiders.

Valley Park High School. I am currently finishing my associate’s degree in accounting at Southern New Hampshire University. What does a customer service representative do? I talk on the phone a lot, to people who have questions or issues using their health insurance. I also work on a computer to investigate and solve their problems. I work with my team to accomplish our goals and make sure the people who call get the help they need.

Why did you choose this career? Healthcare is a strong, stable industry where I can have a long career. HealLink’s corporate mission and values, such as leadership, community service and innovation, are aligned with my personal beliefs. What is your favorite part of the job you have? I like helping people every day being empathetic to their circumstances and using technology to solve problems. I also work in a fun environment with great coworkers and leadership.

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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

Mark Randle, HealthLink CSR

Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT

At Gateway Middle School in the St. Louis Public Schools District

6th grade teacher

SCIENCE CORNER

Video games are a very big business. In 2018, consumers spent over $43 billion in video games, hardware, and accessories. You can play video games on game consoles, computers, handheld devices, and mobile phones. Different types of video games include action adventure, strategy, role playing, sports, racing, simulation and puzzle. Many people enjoy video games for the

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

World of Video Games!

mental challenge, critical thinking, and problem solving. Video games also increase hand eye coordination.

Recent video game designs have even begun to include physical activity for the user. Some video games are meant to be played individually, some are played as a group, and some video games allow you to play with other people online.

However, limits are important. First, be sure you are safe. Only play games that have an appropriate rating for

your age. Your parents need to approve of your video game choices. Be careful if you visit the chat rooms that some games include. Never share personal information. Second, be sure you have a balance. Limit the amount of time you spend online so you will have time to focus on school work, reading, exercise, and family and friends.

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

The Pixel Puzzle

In this experiment you will draw the same character at two different resolutions: 32-by-32 pixels, and 8-by-8 pixels.

Materials Needed:

• Computer With Internet Access and A Printer

• 6 Sheets Custom Graph Paper

Note: you can print graph paper for your project from Incompetech.com’s free graph paper website

• Pen or pencil • Ruler • Color pencils, crayons, or markers • Notebook

To Prepare: Print out two sheets of graph paper for your project from Incompetech.com’s free graph paper website. For the first piece of graph paper, set the “Grid Spacing” to 2 lines per cm. This paper will be for your high-resolution (32-by-32 pixels) drawing. You can leave all the other settings as they are. For the second piece of graph paper, set the “Grid Spacing” to 0.5 lines per cm. This paper has larger squares (pixels) and will be for your low-resolution (8-by-8 pixels) drawing. You can leave all the other settings as they are.

Procedure:

q Using a ruler and a pen or pencil, draw a box on the first piece of graph paper that is 32 pixels wide and 32 pixels high. Each small square on the graph paper will represent a single pixel. There will be a total of 1024 pixels within the box you drew. This will be the space where you draw your high-resolution character.

w With color pencils, crayons, or markers, draw a character inside the 32-by-32 pixels box. It can be any

MATH CONNECTION

Apply your critical thinking skills to solve these problems.

z In a classroom of 30 students, 16 had a handheld gaming system, 12 had a gaming console. How many students do not have a gaming system? ________ What percent of students have a handheld gaming system ________ What percent of students have a gaming console? ________

x Alicia spends 2.5 hours per day playing video games, Rene spends 1.75 hours per day playing video games,

character you want. You can draw something from your own imagination, or try to copy an existing character. Add as much detail as possible to your character. Each pixel can only contain a single color. The character does not have to take up all 1024 pixels; you can leave pixels blank if you want. If you are going to color in a pixel, you must color the entire pixel. Remember, because pixels are the smallest measurable unit in an image, you cannot use only part of a pixel.

e On the second piece of graph paper (the one with fewer squares) use a ruler and pen to draw a box that is 8 pixels wide and 8 pixels high. There will be a total of 64 pixels in the box you drew. This will be the space where you draw your low-resolution character. Using the colored pencils, or other drawing tools, draw your character in the 8-by-8 pixels box. Draw the same character as in step 2. Try to keep as many of the details the same between the two resolutions.

r Compare the high-resolution (32-by-32 pixels) drawing of the character with the low-resolution (8-by-8 pixels) drawing of the same character. Which drawing has more detail? Which drawing looks better?

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

Nathan spends 1.25 hours per day playing video games, and Conner spends 3 hours per day playing video games. What is the average amount of time spent playing video games? ________ Arrange the hours per day in order from least to greatest. ________ . How many hours per week does each person play? Alicia ________ Rene ________ Nathan ________ Conner ________

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

SCIENCE STARS

African-American Video Game Designer Lisette Titre-Montgomery

Lisette Titre-Montgomery is a video game designer. When she was a young child and saw “Toy Story,” she realized she could include logic and creativity to create computer animation. Her passion and interest became her career when she earned her B.F.A. in Computer Animation from Miami International University of Art and Design. Titre-Montgomery’s specialties include special effects, character modeling, and texture painting. She has contributed her talents to many games, such as Tiger Woods Golf, The Simpsons, Dante’s Inferno, Dance Central 3, SIMS 4, and Transformers Age of Extinction. Titre-Montgomery advocates for diversity and STEAM education. In an interview with the New York Times, she says, “Trigonometry is used to calculate a player’s movement around the game world. Those angry birds you fling are using physics to drive the velocity and the impact on those pigs and bricks. Geometry is used to draw the characters that your children idolize. Millions of lines of code are written by computer scientists to drive the game engines used for blockbuster video games.”

With her career, she has traveled to Japan, China, Australia, India, and the Philippines. She has been a keynote speaker at N.A.S.A., Intel, Black Girls Code, Girls Who Code, and Soledad O’Brien’s Starfish Foundation. She has also appeared on National Public Radio’s show Tell Me More and was named One of the Most Powerful Women in Tech by Business Insider. She was the cover of Black Enterprise Women in STEM in March 2011. In an interview with National Public Radio, she says, “You have to be OK with failing and failing several times until you get it right. It’s a lot of problem-solving and self-motivation.”

To See Lisette Titre-Montgomery’s National STEM Challenge Video, Visit: https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=0PnDiYkoKFI.

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

MAP CORNER

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

Activity One —

Editorials: Editorials are written to persuade the reader. The writer may use facts, personal stories, and opinions in this style of writing. Choose an editorial in your newspaper. Who is the author? What is the topic? What are they trying to persuade the reader to think or do? In the article, underline all the facts and circle all of the opinions. Was the editorial effective? Why or why not? What would you change?

Activity Two — Classified Calculation: Locate the classified section of the newspaper. What type of information is included in this section? Find the job listings for science and math careers. Calculate the average salary.

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can identify author’s purpose. I can calculate the average salary. I can make text-to-world connections.

Teachers, if you are using the St. Louis American’s NIE program and would like to nominate your class for a

Ms. Rutledge works with Treyvon Pickens, Anthony Carver, Kyle Fielder and Syncere Thomas on a STEM lesson found in the newspaper’s NIE page.

Photo by Wiley Price/St. Louis American

‘He

January 18, 1951 – October 17, 2019

was the conscience of Congress’

U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings passes at 68

By Kenya Vaughn and Chris King

Of The St. Louis American

“He was my colleague, friend and mentor. I have lost a brother and America has lost a true hero,” U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (D-Missouri) said about the passing of U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland). He died Thursday, October 17 at Gilchrist Hospice Care, an affiliate of Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins Hospital, after what his office described as “complications concerning longstanding health challenges.” He was 68. Clay offered his condolences on Twitter as a comment to a tweet by the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).

“We – the nation, the City of Baltimore, the State of Maryland, and the United States Congress – have all suffered a tremendous loss,” the CBC stated.

Cummings had represented Maryland’s 7th Congressional District since 1996, serving 12 terms in the House, and was at the center of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump in his role as House Oversight Committee chairman.

“As chairman of the House Oversight Committee, he showed us all not only the importance of checks and balances within our democracy, but also the necessity of good people stewarding it,” President Barack Obama said in a statement. “Steely yet compassionate, principled yet open to new perspectives, Chairman Cummings remained

steadfast in his pursuit of truth, justice, and reconciliation.”

The congressman hadn’t taken part in a roll call vote since September 11, failing to return for work after a medical procedure he said would only keep him away for a week, according to The Associated Press.

Maya Rockeymoore

Cummings, the chairwoman of the Maryland Democratic Party and Cummings’ wife, said in a statement that Cummings was “an honorable man who proudly served his district and the nation with dignity, integrity, compassion and humility.”

“He worked until his last breath because he believed our democracy was the highest and best expression of our collective humanity and that our nation’s diversity was our promise, not our problem,” Rockeymoore Cummings said. “I loved him deeply and will miss him dearly.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered the flags at the Capitol to be flown at half-staff in his memory. The White House, too, lowered its flag. Cummings last spoke on the House floor in late July before the House went on a six-week recess. For months, he had been seen moving around Capitol Hill on a motorized scooter.

In 2017, he was sidelined for months following heart surgery and later told his staffers his recovery renewed his focus on the importance of his work.

“It’s a tribute to his native Baltimore that one of its own brought such character, tact,

and resolve into the halls of power every day,” Obama said. “And true to the giants of progress he followed into public service, Chairman Cummings stood tallest and most resolute when our country needed him the most. May his example inspire more Americans to pick up the baton and carry it forward in a manner worthy of his service.”

Cummings was a lifetime member of the NAACP. Its leadership mourned him in similar terms.

“As a devoted statesman to Baltimore and the civil rights

Maryville

Participation in Maryville’s Multicultural Scholars program has

by

over last year. Students such as Mecca, Jason, Tiana, Dylan, Rai, Braden and Britney are just a few of the students who will power the future.

Maryville University is a 2019 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award recipient from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

Learn more at maryville.edu/inclusivemu.

movement, Rep. Cummings was among the most passionate and spirited members of congress. He demanded justice on every front and never shied away from standing up for the most vulnerable,” said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO, NAACP.

“From his days in the Maryland General Assembly to his key role in the Trump impeachment inquiry as chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, Congressman Cummings dedicated his life to combating oppression in

all its forms — and holding oppressors accountable.”

DNC Chair Tom Perez called Cummings “the conscience of Congress” who was guided by “helping people, especially those in the shadows.”

The image of people “in the shadows” evoked words Cummings spoke at the funeral of Freddie Gray, a victim of Baltimore police violence. Cummings asked

As I’ve thought about the cameras, I wondered did anybody recognize Freddie when he was alive. Did you see him? Did you see him? Did you

see him?”

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-Missouri) remembered the last time he saw Cummings in his statement.

“Elijah Cummings was a good friend and a powerful advocate for what he believed,” Blunt stated. “The last time I saw him, he thanked me again for working with his friend, Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress. He saw a lot of things change in his lifetime, but understood we weren’t where we should be yet.”

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland) joined protestors on the streets of Baltimore on May 4, 2015 in the aftermath of the police killing of Freddie Gray.

Justine Petersen to help minority-owned business

By Marissanne

The investment will continue to assist the local nonprofit in its efforts to help those small business owners with credit-building resources, as well as provide access to safe and affordable loans. Galen Gondolfi, the chief communications officer with Justine Petersen, said that is one of several obstacles minority business owners face. “Many businesses are falling prey to

n “These types of services for small businesses are in dire need, especially for those businesses operating in neighborhoods that are economically challenged.”

– Pamela Blair, EyeSeeMe African American Children’s Bookstore

rates and high interest rates [for] small business loans, which are very much prevalent on the internet, as well as in brick-and-mortar

operations throughout the St. Louis region,” Gondolfi said. A lack of access to entrepreneurial mentorship and marketplace opportunities also create barriers for entrepreneurs of color. But the nonprofit has been working to create a pathway to change with its initiative.

Gondolfi said that starts with access to capital.

Justine Petersen’s process is similar to that of banks and credit unions. Business owners can apply for a loan at the nonprofit’s office, as long as they have a business plan and financial documents like tax returns and bank statements. An underwriting committee then vets the loan,

B2

Salute to Diversity

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

Going strong for 102 years now, The Muny is a place that municipal theaters across the country look to as a model of success.

And the diversity of St. Louis’ theater is among that success, said Kwofe Coleman, The Muny’s managing director.

n “Not just in name, but also in practice, this institution is truly the municipal theatre of St. Louis – all of St. Louis.

“This job has afforded me to represent The Muny on a national level, at conferences and other events,” said Coleman, who is African American. “And it’s always a little bit surprising to walk into the room and realize that the diversity I enjoy as part of The Muny staff is not the case everywhere else. To know that those places are also looking to us and seeing what an excellent job we’re doing being representative of the community truly is something we can all be proud of.”

On Nov. 21, The Muny will receive the Corporate Diversity Award at the St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking Luncheon.

The Muny will receive 2019 Corporate Diversity Award at Business Salute for each position and to represent the diversity of the community the institution serves.

Denny Reagan, president and CEO of The Muny, believes that it is equally important for the staff to be comprised of the best possible people

Alisa Warren was elected first vice president of the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies at its recent meeting. She is executive director for the Missouri Commission on Human Rights, whose mission is to develop, recommend and implement ways to prevent and eliminate discrimination and to provide fair and timely resolutions of discrimination claims in housing, employment and places of public accommodation.

Emmanuel Balogun was awarded a Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad program grant from the U.S. Department of Education. He will lead a group of K-12 administrators, teachers, and higher education faculty to Ghana to study its history, culture, and politics through the lens of pan-Africanism. He is an assistant professor of international relations at Webster University. “I hope to help change the narrative about Africa in the classroom and in our communities,” he said.

Jessica Harris was appointed to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. She is interim assistant provost for Inclusive Academic Excellence at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The library holds an unparalleled collection of Lincoln books, documents, photographs, artifacts and art, as well as approximately 12 million items pertaining to Illinois history.

Jamal Issac was promoted to the rank of fire captain in the St. Louis Fire Department. He has been assigned to Engine Company 32, located in Tower Grove South. He is a 20-year veteran of the department. A graduate of Hazelwood East High School, he obtained a Bachelors of Education Degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and taught six years in Saint Louis Public schools before joining the fire service in 1999.

Kimberly Cole, RN, MHA will receive the Nursing Leadership Award at the Christian Hospital Foundation Gala on Saturday, November 2 at the Four Seasons Hotel in St. Louis. She is manager of the neurology and orthopedics unit at Christian Hospital. Cole earned a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration and bachelor’s degree in organizational management, and her nursing degree from Jewish Hospital School of Nursing.

Alderman

“We employ that philosophy in our casting and seasonal hiring, so that

Kimberly Cole

Emmanuel Balogun

Jamal Issac

Alisa Warren

Jessica Harris

Lewis-Thompson Of St. Louis Public Radio

Samuel Moore

Photo provided by EyeSeeMe See MUNY, B2

The Muny will receive the Corporate Diversity Award at the St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking Luncheon.

J West wins MBE Award from STL County

American staff

Sabrina Westfall’s journey from IBEW Local 1 electrician to entrepreneur has earned her the 2019 MinorityOwned Business Enterprise (MBE) Award from St. Louis County. The award honors “outstanding business acumen, industry leadership and community service.” Westfall founded J West Electrical Contracting in 2014 and is a member of the Electrical Connection, a partnership of with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and St. Louis Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

Westfall’s company J West has worked on a number of major projects including St. Louis Lambert International Airport, Washington University, Ballpark Village

Sabrina Westfall started company after certifying as master electrician

n “She is relentless about learning and improving her skills as an electrician and entrepreneur.”

– Frank Jacobs, IBEW Local 1 business manager

and Union Station. She launched her career in 2002 when she entered in the IBEW/ NECA Electrical Industry Training Center in St. Louis, graduating in 2005. Westfall worked on a number of projects, but when work dried up with the Great Recession she tapped two programs supported by the Electrical Connection partnership to not only broaden her skills, but also ultimately launch her own electrical contracting company.

“Sabrina is an inspiring entrepreneur,” said Doug Martin, executive vice president of the St. Louis

continued from page B1

and if approved, lends the money.

“Every lending activity at Justine Petersen, every loan, is also an opportunity to build credit, both personal credit for that small business owner as well as business credit,” Gondolfi said. “We look at it from an asset-building lens, and that is we’re not merely deploying capital.”

According to a 2017 Federal Reserve Bank report, more than 50 percent of black business owners were denied bank loans. That’s in comparison to nearly 25 percent of white business owners.

Erika Wright, vice president of global philanthropy at JPMorgan Chase, said those

kinds of disparities only further the racial wealth divide. A key way to address the racial wealth gap is to support minority-owned small businesses, she said.

“We’re thinking about how those communities ultimately end up benefiting from that boom in economy,” Wright said. “And we want small businesses not only to be able to open, but we want you to be able to grow and thrive.”

In a statement, Pamela Blair, co-owner of EyeSeeMe African American Children’s Bookstore, said investments like this are crucial.

“These types of services for small businesses are in dire need, especially for those businesses operating in neighborhoods that are economically challenged,” Blair stated. Prior to the partnership

NECA. “She has exceptional skills as an electrician and also the determination to grow her career as an electrical contractor.”

Certified as a master electrician in 2010, Westfall found her skills in greater demand and later launched J West Electrical Contracting. She is now one of three women-owned electrical contractors enrolled in the Regional Union Construction Center, which is supported by the Electrical Connection to help minority- and womenowned union construction companies fortify their business skills.

with JPMorgan Chase, Justine Petersen had deployed nearly $35 million to 3,000 different businesses north of Delmar over the past 10 years, Gondolfi said. For more information, visit www.justinepetersen.org. Follow Marissanne on Twitter: @Marissanne2011. Reprinted with permission from news.stlpublicradio.org.

Muny

continued from page B1

everyone that comes to this theatre sees some reflection of themselves in all aspects of The Muny,” Reagan said.

“Not just in name, but also in practice, this institution is truly the municipal theatre of St. Louis – all of St. Louis.

“What’s most impressive about Sabrina is how she is shaping her future,” said Frank Jacobs, IBEW Local 1 business manager. “She is relentless about learning and improving her skills as an electrician and entrepreneur with the goal of finding better ways to serve the buyers of construction services and other contractors.”

“Sabrina’s professionalism and her customer-focused approach to her business is invaluable as we engage business and civic leadership daily on their electrical and communication needs,” said Jim Curran, executive vice president, Electrical Connection.

“She is that next generation of highly proficient electrical contractors that reflects the growing diversity in our industry.”

For more information, visit www.jwestelectric.com.

That means from the stage to back lot to the highest levels of this organization, all St. Louisans can see reflections of themselves.”

Coleman has risen from the ranks of a teen usher to one of the top positions within the organization. A friend of the family worked there and introduced the Colemans to the organization. At 36, Coleman is extremely young for the position he assumed in December 2019 – but he has 20 years of experience in a host of capacities at the world-renowned institution under his belt.

As a black man, Coleman said that there is an additional sense of pride that comes with the notion that seeing him in the position will help everyone connect with the concept that The Muny is “everyone’s theater,’ especially in the black community.

“I hope that my role makes our efforts for diversity top-ofmind for people, but not necessarily that it’s all of sudden different – but recognize what

already exists for the AfricanAmerican community in this institution.”

Coleman said that from inside-out, The Muny represents an incredible level of diversity in all areas – from the top level and throughout the ranks – pointing to the Director of Advancement Courtney Simms as further evidence.

“I can stand at the side of that house – from the free seats to the first row of box seats – there is such a large swath of the socio-economic representation of the city in one place,” Coleman said. “And for two or three hours, or however long the show is, it doesn’t matter who you are, how you got there or whatever means you have, when you leave this place, there is a shared singular experience that everyone is having. And to play any part in that means more than anything else.”

The core of The Muny’s identity is the belief that people from various backgrounds or walks of life can come together for

a shared singular experience, Reagan said.

“And that extends beyond the audience,” Reagan said. “The best way to ensure that the product is representative to an entire community is by making sure that those behind the scenes, those driving the institution and creating the art, represent the entire community as well.”

St. Louis American reporter Kenya Vaughn contributed to this report.

The 20th annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking Luncheon will be held Thursday, November 21 at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac, with a networking reception at 11 a.m. and luncheon program at noon. Tickets are $100 for Preferred/VIP seating and $75 for general admission. Call 314-533-8000 or visit www.stlamerican.com for more information or to purchase tickets.

United starting flights to Chicago on unique 50-seat aircraft

Starting Sunday, October 27, United Airlines will offer a flight from St. Louis to Chicago O’Hare Bombardier CRJ 550, an innovative, twocabin, 50-seat aircraft that the airline claims features more legroom, storage and amenities than other regional aircraft flying today United said that

Nov. 4 deadline for Neighborhood Leadership Fellows

St. Louis Promise Zone

residents have until November 4 to apply for the 2020 Neighborhood Leadership Fellows. This nine-month fellowship provides handson workshops on policy,

research, and innovation promoting equitable neighborhood development; power trainings for boards, commissions, and public office; collaborative learning through dialogue and presentations

among fellows and experts; and mentoring from leaders and peers. For more information or to apply, visit http://cwc.umsl. edu/nlf/. For questions, contact Claire at wolffca@missouri. edu.

Sabrina Westfall, owner of J West Electrical Contracting

Sports

Athletes and students lose in coach firings

In my 34 years of covering high school sports in St. Louis, I cannot remember a more turbulent football season than the one we are experiencing this year. Last week’s events added to the turmoil as two head coaches from teams in the midst of winning seasons were relieved from their duties. Trey Porter was dismissed as head coach at Roosevelt High School just as his team was on the cusp of repeating as champions of the Public High League. Just a few days later, the entire staff at Cardinal Ritter College Prep, which included head coach Brandon Gregory, was fired just a couple of weeks before the state playoffs, where the undefeated Lions were one of the favorites to win the Class 2 state championship. The circumstances in which these two coaches lost their jobs are quite different, but there is one common denominator in both situations. The people who will be most impacted by these events are the students. As is it usually the case, the kids are the ones who will be hurt the most. And that is a shame.

The reasons for Trey Porter’s dismissal at Roosevelt haven’t been made official as it is a personnel matter in the St. Louis Public Schools. In interviews, Porter said he was let go because he violated the school’s policy of following his students on social media. With all of the bad things that have been happening to young people in our community, Porter has used social media as a way to keep in constant communica-

After a whirlwind summer that saw several stars switch area codes, the 2019-20 NBA season is finally upon us. The season kicked off Tuesday night with a double header. First, the defending champion Toronto Raptors started their title defense tour against the New Orleans Pelicans. The game lost a bit of its steam considering that Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard was one of those traveling superstars and rookie sensation Zion Williamson is sidelined for six-toeight weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus. Still, the game gave us the first glimpse of how the Raptors would look without Leonard leading the way.

Pascal Siakam proved that he’s ready to be the man The power forward put up 34 points, 18 rebounds and five assists before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.

Fred VanVleet also proved that his spectacular playoff

run was no fluke by matching Siakam’s 34 points. He also added seven assists and five rebounds en route to the Raptors’ 130-122 OT victory. The JV Lakers Pelicans team may have been without its superstar rookie but there were plenty of new faces in New Orleans. After an activity-filled offseason that includes the blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to Hollywood, the Pelicans’ roster features 11 new players this season. The Pelicans were competitive but got mixed results from its renovated roster. Josh Hart (15 points off the bench) and JJ Reddick (16 points, 4-6 shooting from 3PT) played well. Brandon Ingram (22 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists but a -19 rating) was solid, but unspectacular. Meanwhile, Lonzo Ball (eight points, five assists) and Derrick Favors (six points, seven rebounds) did not play up to expectations. It should be encouraging

Earl Austin Jr.

Ishmael H. Sistrunk

St. Mary’s DeShawn Fuller (5) rushed for for 137 yards on 16 carries during their game against Vianney Friday, Oct. 18, at St. Mary’s. The Dragons of St. Mary’s went on to defeat the Griffins of Vianney 24-14 to raise their record to 6-2 on the season.

Kawhi Leonard drives against Anthony Davis in the Los Angeles Clippers’ 112-102 victory over the Lakers in the NBA season opener. After dropping 30 points, Leonard may have established himself as the new king of L.A.

Photo by Wiley Price

— Brad Beal, after signing an extension with the Washington Wizards

SportS EyE

Reid

With Alvin A.

Cardinal Ritter football scandal orchestrators deserve no defense from community

Let’s drop the instant revisionist history that former Cardinal Ritter football head coach Brandon Gregory is some kind of “tragic hero.”

Let’s toss the “it goes on all the time,” and “the punishment doesn’t fit the crime” explanations into the nearest garbage can.

Let’s agree that the decision to fire Gregory and his coaching staff has nothing to do with race – and I know that will be difficult for many.

Let’s accept that the messenger is not the villain. St. Louis PostDispatch high school sports reporter David Kvidahl is not the devil. He’s a guy who did his job, and did it well.

Let’s quit feeling sorry for Bill Jackson.

it not been for Kvidahl, the con might have gone undiscovered. But Jackson’s forearm tattoo was a giveaway. As a result, Gregory gave away his job and his team and school’s honor.

According to Gregory, the lying and the cheating had nothing to with the winning.

“Not to go too far into it, it really didn’t have anything to do with winning — it really had something to do with the kid. It wasn’t about my ego and me winning. It was about the kid. That’s about as much as I can say about that.”

He’s not a victim of anyone’s deceitful plan, but his own. If he said, “Hey coach, I’m not doing it,” he and Cardinal Ritter would not be living this prep athletics nightmare.

Let’s not ignore that longtime Cardinal Ritter athletic director, former head basketball coach and member of the Missouri Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame, Preston Thomas, just happened to retire during one of his school’s darkest hours.

For a quick refresher, Jackson was ejected from the state championship game last year against Trinity. The pregame featured lots of on-thefield woofin’ and histrionics.

As a result of being thrown out, by rule, Jackson was ineligible for Ritter’s first game of the season at Nazarene of Chicago. The schools were nationally ranked. Well, Jackson played. Had

Gregory told P-D columnist Ben Hochman.

When in doubt – or a crap load of trouble – say “it’s about the kid(s).”

“It’s been a hard, emotional time, up and down,” he said.

“The biggest concern I have is for those kids. The seniors that didn’t get a Senior Night. I’m apologetic and you realize how many people this has hurt. You’re remorseful, you’re regretful and you’re sorry. I’m sorry.” Give it a rest, partner. I’m not buying it. The only thing you’re sorry about is getting busted.

Gregory said it was his decision, and his decision alone. Any coach or player could have stepped up blew a ref’s whistle. No one gets a pass, here. This is where Thomas comes into the picture. What did he know? When did he know it? I have trouble believing he knew nothing of this masquerade – especially if he was at the game.

Tamiko Armstead, Cardinal Ritter president, announced the team would forfeit seven games and suspend its season. It’s right and it’s proper.

“The priority right now for Ms. Armstead is to walk through this difficult time with the community and students,”

Peter Frangie, executive director of communications for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, said in a written statement. Hopefully, students and players have learned a great lesson.

As for the community – the black community that I am a proud member of – stop defending and deflecting this sorry episode. This would be bad, regardless of race. But we have to own it and make sure it never happens again.

BattleHawks fly Feb. 8

Less than a week after Super Bowl VIII, the XFL will kick off its 2020 season on Saturday, Feb. 8.

The eight-team league features two four-team divisions (East and West). The St. Louis BattleHawks are in the XFL East, along with the Washington D.C. Defenders, New York Guardians and Tampa Bay Vipers.

The Dallas Renegades, Houston Roughnecks, Los Angeles Wildcats and Seattle Dragons comprise the XFL West.

St. Louis opens at Dallas at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9 on ESPN. The team stays on the road in week two with a trip to

Houston on Sunday, Feb. 16 for a 5 p.m. kickoff (FoxSports 1).

The BattleHawks’ home opener at the Dome at America’s Center is at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23 against New York. (ESPN). The team’s first Saturday contest is Feb. 29 (Leap Year Day) and features a showdown with visiting Seattle at 4 p.m. (FOX).

The remainder of the schedule: BattleHawks at Washington, 2 p.m. Sunday, March 8 (FS1)

BattleHawks at Tampa, 4 p.m. Saturday, March 14 (FS2)

Los Angeles at BattleHawks, 4 p.m. Saturday, March 21 (FOX) BattleHawks at New York, 4 p.m. Saturday, March 28 (FOX)

Tampa Bay at BattleHawks, 11 a.m. Sunday, April 5 (ESPN)

Washington at BattleHawks, 2 p.m. Sunday, April 12 (ABC)

The top two teams in each division will play for the right to advance to the championship game at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 26 on ESPN.

The East Final is 2 p.m., Saturday, April 18 on FOX and the West Final is 2 p.m. Sunday, April 19 on ESPN). The first-place team in each division will host its respective division final.

Mizzou is KU’s shiny object

After years (seven of them) of shunning a basketball game against the Missouri Tigers, KU has agreed to play for six consecutive years, beginning in December 2020.

This is a big-time favor from coach Bill Self to coach Cuonzo Martin at Mizzou. The Tigers’ program is showing signs of progress, but remains

a bit away from being a perennial Top 25 team. The game will help Martin build lacking enthusiasm in his team and assist with recruiting.

Missouri was so proud to leave the Big 12 and join the SEC after the 2012 season. Its coaches, players and administrators taunted its former conference mates.

But that’s cool. Mizzou thought it would be a basketball power in the lackluster SEC. It hasn’t happened. Too bad for that program.

So why now, coach Self and Athletic Director Jeff Long?

KU is facing stiff sanctions for its recruiting falderal involving Adidas, and there is a good chance the NCAA can make its allegations (and punishments) stick.

Announcing the re-start of games with Missouri is aimed at getting the fan base thinking of something else other than Self’s actions and the stink that is following the program.

It smacks of the White House. KU made Mizzou the shiny object. Nothing to see over there, folks. Let’s talk about playing Missouri.

The Reid Roundup

Until dismissed Roosevelt head football coach Trey Porter discusses his termination and why it went down, I’m going to reserve judgement. If, like reported and I have been told, it involves his staying in contact with players and students via social media, something is amiss. SLPS does not have to share information because it’s a personnel matter. I’m sure Porter’s attorney will have something to say … Whatever the deal, Porter showed class by supporting his players in the stands when it defended its PHL title by

beating Miller Career Academy last Thursday … Missouri lost to Vanderbilt and immediately surrendered its place in the college football AP Top 25. The crazy thing is that the Tigers can still win the SEC East and play in the SEC Championship game … The NBA season opened Tuesday night, and Commissioner Adam Silver is happy the word “China,” is on the backburner for a while … Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards opens the season with a two-year, $72 million contract extension. He told Jabari Young of CNBC that his rash spending days are over and he’s saving money. “All the jewelry, all the cars; that (stuff) gets old.”… In the annual survey of NBA GMs, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum finished tied for second with Memphis Grizzlies’ forward Jaren Jackson Jr in the “Most Likely to Have a Breakout Season category. Sacramento point guard De’Aaron Fox was first … Speaking of SacTown, the MLS awarded it an expansion franchise this week. The franchise will join St. Louis as the newbies in 2022 … Every time Houston Astros President of Baseball Operations Jeff Luhnow does an interview, he throws off a vibe saying, “How you like me now, St. Louis?”

Alvin A. Reid was honored as the 2017 “Best Sports Columnist – Weeklies” in the Missouri Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest and is a New York Times contributor. He is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook, a weekly contributor to “The Charlie Tuna Show” on KFNS and appears monthly on “The Dave Glover Show” on 97.1 Talk.” Find him on Twitter @aareid1.

Alvin A. Reid

The decision to fire Cardinal Ritter head football coach Brandon Gregory and his coaching staff has nothing to do with race.

Clutch

Continued from B3

welcomed Davis as the Lakers franchise attempts to win its first NBA title since 2010. Surprisingly, it wasn’t James or Davis who led the team in scoring against the Clippers. Instead, it was newly-acquired Danny Green who poured in 28 points, including 7-for-9 from downtown. Green scored 18 of those points in a third quarter tear.

Davis chipped in 25 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two blocks in his Lakers’ debut. James seemed to defer to Davis for much of the contest, but still neared a triple double with 18 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Unfortunately for the Lakers, the team did not receive much production outside of those three players. By the fourth quarter, it appeared that James and Davis were fatigued and the Clippers pulled away for a 112-102 victory.

Although the Lakers and Clippers share the Staples Center, Leonard “pulled up” on the Lakers aboard his clipper ship and proved that he’s the captain now. Leonard staked his claim as an early MVP candidate by pouring in 30 points,

Continued from B3

tion with his players and make sure they stayed safe and out of harm’s way. I do not profess to know all the policies of the SLPS, but what I do know is that Trey Porter has been a godsend to the young men at Roosevelt, on and off the football field. On the football field, the Roughriders went from PHL doormats to back-to-back PHL champions in just a short period of time. That is just a small part of the story. Off the field, he has been a leader, mentor, big brother and father figure all wrapped up in one to a group of young men who have been craving

Zion Williamson will miss the first six-to-eight weeks of the season after undergoing knee surgery. That shouldn’t stop him from soaring to win the Rookie of the Year Award.

six rebounds and five assists in the victory.

We’ve known for years that Leonard is a defensive stalwart, but it was his offensive performance that spoke loudly. Throughout the game, Leonard imposed his will versus the Lakers. He got to his midrange spots seemingly whenever he wanted and knocked down jumper after jumper.

Leonard, Patrick Beverly and Montrezl Harrell also

for his leadership. A native of Southeast Missouri, I watched him impact the lives of kids in the boot heel for years before he came to St. Louis a few years back. Roosevelt students staged a walkout at the school in support of Porter on Monday morning. A few miles away, Brandon Gregory was accomplishing some tremendous things in building Cardinal Ritter into a state power in football. Cardinal Ritter had enjoyed some pretty good success over the past decade, but Gregory was taking the program to another level.

The Lions played for a Class 3 state championship last season and were a strong contender to win a Class 2 state title this season. The Lions were undefeated and

played an extremely physical brand of defense that seemingly tired out James and Davis late in the game. The Lakers’ superstars combined for a whopping two points in the fourth quarter (a layup by James with 8:51 remaining).

It is amazing that the Clippers looked so impressive without Paul George, who is expected to miss at least the first 10 games of the season after undergoing surgery on

currently ranked the No. 1 small school in the nation, according to Max Preps. The program was stocked with talented players who have already gone on to and will go to collegiate programs around the country. Ritter was set up to be a state power for years to come. Like Porter, Gregory is loved and respected by his players.

However, one bad decision made by Gregory caused everything to crumble like a house of cards. The Lions were cited for using an ineligible player in their first game of the season. Running back Bill Jackson was ejected from last year’s state-championship game against Trinity. By state rules, he must sit out the next game, which turned out to be Ritter’s opening season game

both shoulders during the offseason. Once George returns, the Clippers will boast another dynamic two-way threat in the lineup.

The Lakers played without Kyle Kuzma, who suffered a fractured foot during the offseason. Kuzma is expected to be the Lakers’ third scoring threat, after averaging 18.7 points per game during his rookie season. He should ease the offensive load for

at Chicago area power Nazareth Academy.

Not only was the decision made to play Jackson in the game, but also to put him in a different jersey number under a different name in the program. It was a high-risk, low reward move to begin with.

Once the infraction came to light, the punishments were swift and harsh. Cardinal Ritter had to forfeit all seven of its victories this season, and Jackson was ruled ineligible for the next eight games. The biggest blows came when Gregory and his entire staff were dismissed and the Lions’ season was shut down immediately. There will be no post-

James and Davis upon his return. However, the Lakers’ front office is certainly brainstorming ideas to increase the team’s depth after the 10-point loss in the season opener. The team was also without Rajon Rondo, who sat due to calf soreness.

Predictions

No early season NBA story is complete without some predictions.

MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Last season, I was proven correct that Antetokounmpo would earn his first MVP award, so why not ride the hot hand again? With Leonard out of the way in the East, the Milwaukee Bucks should repeat with the Best Record in the NBA. The only 60-win team from the 2018-19 season returns four starters. After falling to the Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals, “The Greek Freak” and Co. will be fueled by the defeat and dominate the East once again. Leonard is Antetokounmpo’s biggest threat. However, George will likely siphon votes from his teammate paving the way for a repeat.

Rookie of the Year:

Zion Williamson

season at Ritter or no possible state-championship run. Just like that. The Lions’ season is over. All because of one very risky gamble where there was so little to gain and so, so much more to lose. It was too big a risk to jeopardize what he was building at Ritter, not to mention the reputation of a great school. And the ones who lose out the most are the kids. In the case of Cardinal Ritter, there will be no Senior Night for those students. Those seniors have seen their careers come to an unexpected and abrupt end. There will be no opportunity for them to compete in the state playoffs or put together that

Yes, Williamson will miss the first 6-to-8 weeks of the NBA season, but he is by far the most dynamic rookie since James set it off in Cleveland back in 2003. Guys like Ja Morant (Grizzlies) and Rui Hachimura (Wizards) will have excellent seasons, but will ultimately be outshined by Williamson’s freakish talents and the crazy numbers to match.

Coach of the Year: Doc Rivers Rivers’ job has been made easy with the addition of Leonard and George. Not only will the Clippers take over L.A., they’ll also take over the Western Conference. In fact, why delay the major prediction any longer? The Clippers may not finish with the best record in the league but the team is built for success. I expect a Finals matchup between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Milwaukee Bucks with Leonard outdueling Antetokounmpo once again, this time for all the marbles. That would make Leonard the first star player to win backto-back championships with different teams. Be sure to check In the Clutch online and also follow Ishmael on Twitter @ishcreates.

valuable film for the college recruiters during a state playoff run. The eight games that Jackson has to sit out is basically his senior year. As for the kids at Roosevelt, they are losing much more than a football coach. Should Porter end up at another school next season, it will be a huge loss for those young men. The fact that Roosevelt’s students staged a walkout at the school on Monday morning to protest his firing gives a strong indication of the impact that he made. At this point, I really feel for those kids at Cardinal Ritter and Roosevelt.

The senior quarterback enjoyed a big game in leading the Panthers to a 42-0 victory over Timberland last Friday night.

Payne amassed 264 total yards and accounted for five touchdowns. He rushed for 204 yards on 13 carries and scored three touchdowns on runs of 57, 4 and 67 yards. He also passed for

60 yards and two touchdowns. For the season, Payne has rushed for 1,118 yards and 14 touchdowns while passing for 677 yards and 11 touchdowns in leading the Panthers to an 8-0 record. Fort Zumwalt North will host Francis Howell Central in the regular season finale on Friday night at 7 p.m.

St. Louis County Parks seeks proposals for former Dog Museum

Organizations have until Friday, November 15 to submit lease proposals for the historic Jarville House, Carriage House, and former Dog Museum, three spaces within Queeny Park.

This space was home to the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog for approximately 30 years. Now, the St. Louis County Parks is asking the community for proposals for lessees who will

provide a public benefit in its operation of this unique and historic space. The lease of all three buildings together is preferred, but the Parks Department also will consider proposals for the individual buildings.

The lessee(s) of these spaces is subject to voter approval on the April 2020 ballot. Queeny Park is home to the Greensfelder Recreation

NGA outreach event for minorityowned and womenowned businesses

McCarthy HITT will host an outreach event for small, minorityowned and women-owned businesses interested in working on the Next NGA West construction project 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 29 at COVO St. Louis, 401 Pine St. This event is only for small women- and minority-owned businesses, not for individual workers.

The program will begin with an update on the design and construction schedule, followed by information on how companies can qualify for contracting opportunities from a variety of presenters familiar with opportunities for small, minorityowned and women-owned businesses. Attendees will receive information about specific construction bidding opportunities and requirements, as well as details about capacity-building services for sitework, concrete, electrical, mechanical, and other general construction work.

Advance registration is required and can be made at https://tinyurl. com/y6f7gtxs.

Complex, the Queeny Barn Courtyard Garden, the Queeny Greenhouse, the “Tails and Trails” Dog Park, the Smith Shelter, a corporate picnic site with a year-round restroom, a playground, tennis courts, and trails.

To view photos, maps of the site, and historical information, visit www. stlouisco.com/Parks.

Maxar to staff new facility in STL with 48 employees, mostly new hires

Maxar Technologies will open a new facility in St. Louis to support growth in several U.S. National GeospatialIntelligence Agency (NGA) programs.

The company helps government and commercial customers to “monitor, understand and navigate our changing planet; deliver global broadband communications; and explore and advance the use of space,” according to a release.

Maxar expects 48 employees to initially staff the facility in the historic Globe Building in downtown St. Louis. Most of whom are new hires who will support the NGA’s Global EGD, Janus Geography and SBIR Phase III contracts.

“This new facility will provide our customers with easier access to better geospatial products and insights for success across the breadth of defense and intelligence missions,” said Tony Frazier, Maxar’s executive vice president of Global Field Operations.

For more information, visit www. maxar.com.

Simmons Bank launched a new mobile app that the banks said provides enhanced speed, bolstered security and heightened customization. Alejandro “Alex” Carriles, Simmons, its newly recruited executive vice president and chief digital officer, said these features are the first steps to future customer offerings, such as personal finance management (goal and budgeting tools, spending analysis, etc.) and credit and debit card controls.

Carriles’ “user-centered design” philosophy was developed during his years at BBVA Compass, where the app he spearheaded as head of Mobile and Online Channels won multiple industry accolades for seven consecutive years. Users will be invited to upgrade to the new app over a month-long period. The Simmons Bank Mobile App can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Support features and interactive customer demos are available on the bank’s website, while additional details are available at https:// simmonsbank.com/app.

Tony Frazier, Maxar’s executive vice president of Global Field Operations.

From the talent of ‘babies’

Youth lead stunning Black Rep and COCA co-production of ‘Four Little Girls’

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St.

Louis American

“My babies came through,” director Jacqueline Thompson said of her cast following the opening night performance of “Four Little Girls: Birmingham 1963.” She sounded like a proud mama. She helmed the co-presentation between the Black Rep and COCA that featured more than 20 AfricanAmerican girls under the age of 18 charged with adding insight to a tragic moment in American history. So, in a way, she was.

n They were girls with dreams. Girls who had crushes on boys. Girls who argued with their sisters about sharing clothes. Girls who loved their parents, church and community.

The dramatic musical that focuses on the lives of the four girls killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing – as opposed to their deaths – debuted Friday, October 18 with the distinction of being the first production staged at COCA’s new Staenberg Performance Lab studio theater. It will be a tough act to follow.

When the show was over, Jennifer Wintzer, recently appointed artistic director of Theatre for COCA, had to put her hand on her chest and take a deep breath to get her emotions in check before asking the audience to stay for a post-show discussion.

As the lights came up, audience members wiped away tears and gathered themselves enough to be able to talk about how wonderful the production was and the impact of seeing the children as the young girls they were before they became martyrs of the movement.

The production was stunning from start to finish. The audience was actually affected before the start of the play. And “Four Little Girls: Birmingham 1963” was even more awe-inspiring considering the play

See Girls, C4

Fantasia takes fans

from the club to the church

The Bonfyre, Tank and Robin Thicke round out R&B bill at Chaifetz

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

Fantasia took her time getting to the stage for her first headlining arena tour stop in St. Louis, but the performance was worth the wait.

With a packed house waiting patiently, it was nearly 10:30 p.m. when her performance commenced for a show that began at 7:30 on the dot. And yet with energy, an organic connection with fans through faith and a powerhouse voice, she managed to keep the entire crowd engaged and attentive for her whole set Sunday, October 20 at Chaifetz Arena. She delivered an hourlong show that didn’t feel particularly rushed or abbreviated.

And through a newcomer and two R&B veterans, “The Sketchbook” Tour showcased the variety within the genre.

Singer The Bonfyre, an R&B newcomer who received industry buzz thanks to a co-sign and collaboration with Raphael Saddiq, was up first.

n “I didn’t come here to be cute.” – Fantasia

The audience seemed indifferent to her performance of “All About You.” But after she called them out on their lack of engagement, she formed a connection for the rest of her brief set.

“I know y’all came to see Fantasia, Robin Thicke and Tank,” The Bonfyre told the crowd. “But I’m gonna need for y’all to [expletive] with me for 15 minutes first.”

The audience appreciated the honesty – and followed suit with her request as she covered Mary J. Blige’s “My Life,” and “You Say” before closing with her radio hit “Automatic.” Tank brought his “sex music” to the stage once again this year in St. Louis after a recent headlining performance at The Pageant.

The lyrical content of much of his later music, particularly “Sex, Love & Pain II” and “Savage,” is for mature audiences only. He balances raunchy lyrics and a sexually overt stage presence with solid musicianship.

Paired with his sex appeal are a charm and sense of humor that kept the show from

being vulgar, despite the X-rated nature of “[expletive] With Me,” “Savage,” “Dirty” and “When We.” He reserved the tender moments of the show for his final selections. The audience was given a taste of the genuine musician that is just beyond the sexy as he sang a brief snippet of Patti LaBelle’s “If Only You Knew” as family

Fantasia brought down the house for her first stop in St. Louis as an arena headliner when her ‘Sketchbook’ Tour played the Chaifetz Sunday night. The tour also featured The Bonfyre, Tank and Robin Thicke.

Channeling Harriet

Tubman biopic by STL born filmmaker Kasi Lemmons in theaters November 1

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

photos looped on a screen behind him. Then he sat down at the piano for a cover of Bonnie Rait’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” and his biggest hit, “Please Don’t Go.” Robin Thicke gave Fantasia a run for her

Photos by Phillip Hamer, courtesy of COCA

The Black Rep and COCA’s co-presentation of ‘Four Little Girls: Birmingham 1963 continues through October 27 at COCA’s new Staenberg Performance Lab.

Photos by Lawrence Bryant

How to place a calendar listing

1. Email your listing to calendar@stlamerican. com OR

2. Visit the calendar section on stlamerican.com and place your listing

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

halloween

Oct. 24 – 27, St. Louis Science Center invites you to a Science Spooktacular Make a Halloween project, see science demonstrations, unravel the unknown through science, and more. 5050 Oakland Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www. slcl.org/spooktacular.

Fri., Oct. 25, 5 p.m., Ferguson Parks & Recreation invites you to Ferguson Fall Spooktacular. Trick-or-treating, hayrides, and more. 1050 Smith Ave., 63135. For more information, visit www.facebook.com.

Fri., Oct. 25, 8 p.m., Blaze

The Stage STL presents The Black Masquerade Gala. A sophisticated evening of fashion, live music, comedy, poetry and dance. Special Tymes Banquet Hall, 5950 Natural Bridge Rd., 63120. For more information, call (314) 656-7558.

Sat., Oct. 26, 11 a.m., The Legendary CWE Halloween. Festivities kick off with fun daytime activities for the whole family. Then, as the sun sets, the party continues with an adults-only bash and costume contest. Euclid & Maryland, 63108. For more information, visit www. cwehalloween.com.

Sat., Oct. 26, 6:30 p.m., Frights & Heights at the Gateway Arch. Enjoy trick or tram, ghoulish gourds, freaky face painting, and more. Gateway Arch, 100 Washington Ave., 63102. For more information, visit www. gatewayarch.com/halloween.

Sat., Oct. 26, 8 p.m., Pangs Play Events presents Halloween-ISHHHH. Omega Center, 3900 Goodfellow Blvd., 63120. For more information, call (324) 3715585.

Sat., Oct. 27, 1 p.m., SSM

Health DePaul Hospital invites you to Safe Kids Halloween Party. Educational booths, games, fire truck and ambulance tours, and activities led by Bridgeton PD. 12303 De Paul Dr., 63044. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Through Oct. 30, 5:30 p.m., SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital presents Boo at The Zoo. For more information, visit https://www.stlzoo.org/events/ calendarofevents/booatthezoo

Thurs., Oct. 31, 4 p.m., “Creepy Crawly Courthouse,” The Circuit Attorney’s Office and Friends will host a FREE, nonscary, kid friendly, trick-ortreat event at the Carnahan Courthouse, 1114 Market St. Kids can safely trick-or-treat at Treat Stations in the Creepy Crawly Courthouse from 4-7pm.

concerts

Sat., Oct. 26, 8 p.m. A Night of Soul Searching presents The Elevation Tour with Case and Elle Varner, The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester. For more information, visit www. thereadyroom.com.

Sun., Oct. 27, 2 p.m., St. Louis Art Museum presents Almost My Last & Only feat. The Harlem Quartet 1 Fine Arts Dr., 63110. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Tues., Oct. 29, 8 p.m. Immortal Technique’s The Middle Passage Tour, The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester. For more information, visit www. thereadyroom.com.

Thur., Oct. 31, 7:45 p.m., Mildred Thimes Foundation 15th Annual Benefit Concert. Celebrating the male crooners: Tony Bennett,

Kenya Vaughn recommends

Teddy Pendergrass, and others. With comedienne Monique Marvez. Sheldon, 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Sat., Nov. 2, 7 p.m., Chaifetz

Arena presents the No Limit Reunion Tour with Master P and Mystikal. 1 S. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

Sat., Nov. 2, 8 p.m., Delmar Hall presents Skizzy Mars: The Free Skizzy Mars Tour With Yoshi Flower and Grady. 6133 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. delmarhall.com.

Sat., Nov. 2, 7 p.m., Delmar Hall presents Todrick: Haus Party Tour. 6133 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. delmarhall.com.

Fri., Nov. 8, 7 p.m., Fabulous Fox Theatre welcomes Commissioned Reunion Experience: An All White Affair, All of the original group members will be coming back together again on one stage. 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Sat., Nov. 9, 7 p.m., Delmar

Hall presents Big Freedia & Low Cut Connie: Azz Across America Tour. 6133 Delmar Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. delmarhall.com.

Sat., Nov. 9, 8 p.m., Sheldon’s Rhythm & Jazz Series presents Harlem 100 Feat. Mwenson & the Shakes with special guests Brianna Thomas, Michela Marino Lerman, and Vuyo Sotashe. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Wed., Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m., Brian McKnight. River City Casino & Hotel, 777 River City Casino Blvd., 63125. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

Sun., Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m., Black Violin: Impossible Tour. 1 University Blvd., 63121. For more information, visit www.touhill.org.

special events

Thur., Oct. 24, 6 p.m., St. Louis Housing Authority 80th Anniversary Gala. The Cedars Banquet Center, 939 Lebanon Dr., 63104. For more

A Night of Soul Searching presents The Elevation Tour with Case and Elle Varner. For more information, see CONCERTS.

information, visit www.slha. org/80th-anniversary-gala.

Through October 26, HarrisStowe State University Homecoming Festivities. For more information and a schedule of related programming, visit www.hssu. edu/

Sat., Oct. 26, 10 a.m., Restorative Justice Movement Center Fall Fair, 2707 North Taylor Avenue. For more information, email jsalzman@wustl.edu

Sun., Oct. 27, 9 a.m., St. Louis County’s 5th Annual 6K Run/Walk, Tremayne Shelter at Creve Coeur Lake Park, proceeds benefit the St. Louis County Pet Adoption Center. For more information, visit runsignup.com/Race/ MO/MarylandHeights/ StLouisCountyParkRunWalk

Mon., Oct. 28, 6:30 p.m., WWE Monday Night RAW. Feat. Seth Rollins, Bray Wyatt, and RAW Women’s Champion vs. SMACKDOWN Women’s Champion. Enterprise Center, 1401 Clark Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

Tues., Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Omicron Eta

Omega Chapter presents a Gun Violence Town Hall. With guest State Senator Brian Williams. Murchison Tabernacle CME Church, 7629 Natural Bridge Rd., 63121. For more information, visit www.ask-omicronetaomega. org.

Sat., Nov. 2, 6 p.m., The Legendary Miss Fannie’s Ball. Hosted by the Vivacious Vicky Valentino. The Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Sat., Nov. 2, 2 & 7 p.m., Enterprise Center presents The Original Harlem Globetrotters. 1401 Clark Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. enterprisecenter.com.

Sat., Nov. 2, 7 p.m., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Delta Omega Chapter presents their Annual T-Shirt Dance Madison County Fireman’s Hall, 9510 Collinsville Rd., Collinsville, IL. 62234. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Sun., Nov. 3, 5 p.m., Community Women Against Hardship 31st Annual Circle of Support Gala. CeCe Teneal pays a soul-stirring tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. For more information, visit www.cwah. org.

Thurs., Nov. 7, 5:30 p.m., The Twillman House Legacy Social, 11840 Bellefontaine Rd., in Spanish Lake, Mo. For more information go to www. spanishlakecdc.org. RSVPs are appreciated to angela@ spanishlakecdc.org or 314733-9020.

Fri., Nov. 8, 6 p.m., The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) annual Great Futures Gala, Chase Park Plaza. For more information, visit www.bgcstl.org.

Sat., Nov. 9, 9 a.m., Veterans Day 5K Run/Walk. Timef 5K, one mile fun run, kids’ dash, activities, and more to honor our nation’s heroes, and raise awareness about homelessness. Soldiers Memorial, 1315 Chestnut, 63103. For more information, visit www.stpatrickcenter.org. Sat., Nov. 9, 10 a.m., Black Business Saturday. Food, music, shopping, and guest speakers. 4240 Duncan Ave., 63110. For more information,

visit www.eventbrite.com.

Thurs., Nov. 14, Girls Inc. 13th Annual Strong, Smart and Bold Luncheon, Ritz-Carlton. For more information, To register and purchase tickets: www.2019ssb. eventbrite.com

Thurs., Nov. 21, 11 a.m., World Wide Technology and the Steward Family Foundation present The St. Louis American Foundation’s 20th Annual Salute to Excellence in Business, Hilton St. Louis Frontenac. For more information, visit www. stlamerican.com or call (314) 533-8000.

Saturdays, 8 a.m., The Ferguson Farmers Market Plaza at 501, 501 S. Florissant Rd., 63135. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

literary

Thur., Oct. 24, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Kekla Magoon, author of Light It Up. This YA novel begins when a white police officer shoots an unarmed, 13-year-old black girl, igniting controversy, grief, and rage in the community. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, visit www.leftbank.com.

Fri., Nov. 1, 7 p.m., The Power of Aesthetics. Larry Ossei-Mensah, Susanne Feld Hilberry Senior Curator at The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit and co-founder of ARTNOIR. St. Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Dr., 63110. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Nov. 9, 5 p.m., Opening reception for A Solo Exhibit of Artwork by Linda S. Wilmes (runs Nov. 3-29), The Lillian Yahn Galler, 3028 Winghaven Blvd. O’Fallon,

Kenya Vaughn recommends health

Mo. For more information, call (636) 265-1911.

comedy

Sun., Oct. 27, 6 p.m., STL Baby Boy Productions presents the St. Louis Comedy Festival ft. Marvin Dixon, Hope Flood, and Tyler Craig. Sun Theatre, 3625 Grandel Sq., 63108. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Nov. 15 – 17, Helium Comedy Club presents Arnez J. 1151 St. Louis Galleria St., 63117. For more information, visit www.heliumcomedy.com.

Nov. 22 – 23, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m., Helium Comedy Club presents Michael Blackson.

1151 St. Louis Galleria St., 63117.

theatre

Oct. 18 – 27, Variety Theatre presents Mary Poppins. Touhill Performing Arts Center, 1 University Blvd., 63121. For more information, visit www.touhill.org.

Through Oct. 27, The Black Rep and COCA present Four Little Girls: Birmingham 1963. 524 Trinity Ave., 63130. For more information, visit www.cocastl.org.

Oct. 25-Oct. 27, The Unexpected: A Stage Play That Will Heal Harts and Change Lives, 10/25 at 7 p.m., 10/26 at 1 p.m. and 10/27 at 6

p.m. Transformation Christian Church, 4140 Page Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63113.

Sat., Oct. 26, 3 & 6:30 p.m., Stifel Theatre presents Baby Shark Live. 1400 Market St., 63103.

Through Oct. 27, Variety Theatre presents Mary Poppins. Touhill Performing Arts Center, 1 University Blvd., 63121. For more information, visit www.touhill. org.

Oct. 25 – Nov. 3, Washington University Performing Arts Department presents Legally Blonde. 6465 Forsyth Blvd., 63105. For more information, visit www.edison.wustl.edu.

lectures and workshops

Sat., Nov. 2, 10 a.m., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Gamma Omega Chapter and the Ivy Alliance Foundation presents Credit Asset Seminar. In partnership with Justine Peterson. 1124 Lumiere Place Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Wed., Nov. 6, 6:30 p.m., Financial Aid Basics. A free workshop to aid students and families in navigating the financial aid process. The Scholarship Foundation, 6825 Clayton Ave., 63117. For more information, visit www.sfstl. org.

Sat., Nov. 2, 5:30 p.m., The Christian Hospital Foundation will host its Christian Hospital Foundation Gala. Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis. For reservations, sponsorship benefits and additional information, visit www. christianhospital.org/Gala.

Oct. 25 – Oct. 27, St. Matthew The Apostle Catholic Church 125th Anniversary Weekend. Events include Meet & Greet Night and Reunion Dinner Dance, Sunday Mass and Brunch. Prices & group packages run from $15-$75. Please visit stmatthewtheapostle. org for times, tickets and more information.

Fri., Oct. 26, 6 p.m., Southern Mission Baptist Church Hallelujah Night for Children and Youth, costumes can be worn, but nothing demonic or satanic. Wesley Ave. in Kinloch. For more information, call 314-521-3951 Sun., Oct. 27, 3 p.m. Galilee Baptist Church Ushers Annual Day, 4300 Delmar. Sat., Oct. 28, 9 a.m., Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church hosts Sister Strands Women’s Conference. Learn how each strand of self, sisterhood, and Savior bond together to make a better you. 1 E. 6 th St., Alton, IL. 62002. For more information, call (618) 462-0132.

Sat., Nov. 2, 11 a.m., Fashion & Faith Experience. A luncheon to honor 10 women in ministry from various faiths who impact our community. Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www. fashionandfaithexperience.com.

Sun., Nov. 3, 3 p.m., 109th WMU Annual Day, Galilee Baptist Church, 4300 Delmar.

Fabulous Fox Theatre welcomes Commissioned Reunion Experience: An All White Affair. See CONCERTS for details.

was not only led by youth on stage, but also by a host of young people behind the scenes. The production staff of young people oversaw the technical elements that included sound, lights and imagery thanks to a partnership with The Black Rep, COCA and The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis’ Teen Empowerment Center.

As the audience for the soldout opener filed in, the four girls in the four title roles sat gracefully in wooden chairs.

Nia “RJ” Hearon (as Addie Mae Collins), Gilayah Mcintosh (as Carole Robertson), Kaitlin Oliver (as Cynthia Wesley) and Lena Williams (as Denise McNair) ranged in age from high school sophomore to fifth grade. They never broke from the stoic position that had them seated with their ankles and wrists crossed for the 15 minutes from when the house opened until the show commenced.

The moment was a sign of what was to come as they – along with the invaluable assistance of two dozen young girls (and adult actors Erin Feldman and Bryce Miller) –brought the words of Christina Ham’s play to life. “Four Little Girls: Birmingham 1963” also incorporated a robust selection of gospel songs and Civil Rights Movement hymns that they sang in perfect harmony while transitioning chairs with military precision to transform them into church pews, classrooms and living rooms.

Continued from C1

OTSL and several community partners in the months leading up to the opera’s debut.

During a screening and post-film discussion for “Eve’s Bayou,” presented in partnership with Cinema St. Louis and the Webster University Film Series back in January, Lemmons discussed “Harriet” and her excitement to bring the story to the masses by way of film.

“The real gift with becoming involved with Harriet was that I was allowed to rewrite the script,” Lemmons said. That process included seven months of pure research.

and really immersed myself in the research,” said Lemmons. “A picture began to emerge quite quickly and eventually became a conversation that was very real to me. Harriet was right here” (Lemmons motioned next to her shoulder) “and she was very, very real to me.”

The next step was building a relationship with an actress. Lemmons found her Harriet in British actress Cynthia Erivo.

“Then it’s a matter of saying, ‘Okay, we are going to do this, and we are going to channel her and bring her to people,’” Lemmons said.

“Harriet” also stars Leslie Odom Jr., Clarke Peters, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Vonde Curtis Hall and Janelle Monae.

and all of the wonderful things that we do and our talents to a singular vision.”

The film is not a cradle-tograve biopic. “Harriet” focuses on the inciting incidents that compelled Tubman to escape from the Maryland plantation where she was favored, but not free – and the revolutionary act of leading her family and others from bondage.

These young girls embodied every element of the moment in 1963 Birmingham – from the ribbons in their pressed hair and starched dresses with black Mary Jane shoes and white ruffled ankle socks to the Southern accents. And they conveyed the turmoil of the movement as they discussed what was happening around them – and how their families attempted to protect them by not allowing them to join the protests.

Daughters of the segregated middle class and upper middle class of Birmingham, the girls’ parents worked to shield them from the front lines. Their tragic deaths lend truth to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s declaration that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” But through the play, the audience also experienced the added heartache that comes in

seeing the girls work diligently towards their future – and their delight and anticipation and wonder regarding growing into the women they were never allowed to become.

They were girls with dreams. Girls who had crushes on boys. Girls who argued with their sisters about sharing clothes. Girls who loved their parents, church and community. Girls already in pursuit of their professions. Girls who imagined an America beyond the racist reality of their time. They were little black girls with lives that mattered.

The Black Rep and COCA’s presentation of “Four Little Girls: Birmingham 1963” will continue October 25-27 at Staenberg Performance Lab, 524 Trinity Ave. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.cocastl.org or call (314) 561-4877.

“I read everything. Every single biography, every Underground Railroad biography, Civil War histories

Fantasia

Continued from C1

money for best in show as he warmed the stage for her. And he came back to town playing no games with a perfectly executed set that started off with “Morning Sun” and continued with “Side Step.”

With a baby grand piano on stage and a white tuxedo jacket, Thicke served up a set that seemed styled after the Rat Pack, but the music was clearly inspired by classic R&B. He got fans grooving early on with his laidback midtempo jam “Lost Without You” and then transitioned into “Dreamworld” before jumping from behind the piano – and then on top of the piano – for his upbeat “Magic.”

He slowed things back down with the heavily Marvin Gayeinfluenced “Love After War.”

“All of these artists get onboard, and it’s like we are on a mission to live this. We all want the same thing,” Lemmons said. “We are following the director’s vision, and we are bringing our own art

“I was able to work from the script and rewrite and bring my ‘Harriet’ – based on the research that I’ve done – and also what I was interested in about her and what I thought was interesting about her,” Lemmons said. “Many people think they know Harriet Tubman, but I don’t think that people really know Harriet Tubman as a human being.”

“Harriet” opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, November 1.

The pitch-perfect pristine vocals and pure falsetto that earned his endorsement from R&B lovers was in full effect as he sang his latest single, “When You Love Somebody.”

During his set, Thicke explained his recent absence from the scene.

“I’ve been going through some things – I got divorced, I got sued, my dad died, my manager died and my house burned down,” Thicke said before discussing the healing power of love as an introduction to his song “That’s What Love Can Do.”

He closed out the show by hopping back on top of the piano – and encouraging fans to get out of their seats and dance with him for his biggest hit “Blurred Lines.”

A performer of a lesser caliber would have been upstaged by Thicke, but Fantasia was true to form as a vocal powerhouse with stage

energy to be reckoned with.

“I didn’t come here to be cute,” she said early into her set that kicked off with “Heaven.” In the song, she professes to have the energy of James Brown – and uses “The Sketchbook” Tour performance to prove it true. Her all-girl band and crop of powerhouse background singers gave a show that would have easily earned a nod of approval from The Godfather of Soul. For the sake of time, she powered through the first portion of the show that included excerpts and performances of “Without Me,” “Free Yourself” and “Hood Boy.”

“Can I get ratchet real quick?” Fantasia asked before dancing along to City Girls’ hit “Act Up.”

The tour is named after her latest album, but she pulled from the entire catalog of studio albums she has released since being crowned winner of the third season of “American Idol” nearly 15 years ago. “Free Yourself,” Bittersweet,” I’m Doing Me,” “No Time For It” were among them.

Fantasia also paid tribute to the late Aretha Franklin with a performance of “Giving Him Something He Can Feel” that segued into “Collard Greens and Cornbread.”

But, as usual, what the audiences felt the most was the spiritual element she always incorporates into each show. Sunday night, St. Louis fans received an extra helping of church through her mash up of LaShun Pace’s “I Know I Been Changed” and Donnie McClurkin’s “Stand.” She thanked God for his grace – and gave Him all the glory in a touching moment of spiritual transparency before ending the show with “Lose To Win.”

Photos by Phillip Hamer, courtesy of COCA

These young girls embodied every element of the moment in 1963 Birmingham – from the ribbons in their pressed hair and starched dresses with black Mary Jane shoes and white ruffled ankle socks to the Southern accents.

Celebrations

Wedding Anniversaries

Adolphus and Learlean Watson were married on October 28, 1939 in Clarendon, Arkansas. They moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1942. This beautiful union blessed them with six children, 16 grandchildren, 12 greatgrandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. Adolphus worked for Ore & Botta Construction Company for 28 years before retiring in 1984. He also served in the United States Army for two years in World War II. Learlean worked as a nurse’s aid for 20 years at St. Mary’s Hospital and retired in 1939.

Reunions

All reunion announcements can be viewed online!

Central High School Class of 1970 is in the process of planning its 50-year reunion

in 2020. We are trying to locate former classmates. If you would like to receive additional information as we plan this momentous occasion, please provide your contact information to either Lillian McKinney at mamajoyce314@ icloud.com or (314) 335-9760, Eric Armstrong at elarmstr@ yahoo.com or (918) 6503385, Sabra Morris-Pernod at Saboots@centurytel.net or (314) 703-0812.

Calling all students of the Katherine Dunham Dance

Technique, as well as lovers of the arts. Sylvester “Sunshine” Lee and Valerie Adams will be celebrating over 40 years of working with E. St. Louis’ Youth. The Royal Wakanda Ball is Saturday, October 26, 219 at 5pm at 603 North 59th Street-E. St. Louis, IL 62208. For more information text Ms. V. Adams at 618-420-9926.

Vashon-Hadley Old School Reunion 1960-67, October 19, 2019, 2-6 pm at The Atrium in Christian Hospital. For more

PastoralAnniversary

St. Luke Memorial Missionary Baptist Church family would like to congratulate our Pastor and teacher, Rev. Dr. Jimmie L. Brown and First Lady Dyann Brown on their 43rd pastoral anniversary, which will be celebrated on Friday, October 25 at 7 pm and Sunday, October 27 at 10:30 am. To God be the glory!

details text (only) Brenda Mahr at 314-580-5155 or email at: brendamahr@att.net.

Vashon High School Class of 1969 Alumni Committee is planning its 50-year reunion: October 18 and 19, 2019 at the Renaissance Hotel, 9801 Natural Bridge Road, Berkeley, MO. Meet and Greet will take place Friday night from 6-10 p.m. Reunion Banquet is Saturday, 6-11 p.m. Contact Genies Jordan 314448-6658, Yvonne Clemons 314-620-0551 for additional

Do you have a celebration you’re proud of? If so we would like to share your good news with our readers. Whether it’s a birth, wedding, engagement announcement, anniversary, retirement or birthday, send your photos and a brief announcement (50 words or less) to us and we may include it in our paper and website – AT NO COST – as space is available Photos will not be returned. Send your announcements to: kdaniel@stlamerican. com or mail to: St. Louis American Celebrations c/o Kate Daniel 2315 Pine St. St. Louis, MO.,

information or email Liz35206@yahoo.com to register.

Vashon High School Class of 1974 is planning for its 45-year reunion. We are in the process of rounding up all classmates. To provide or update your contact information, please email ljbady@gmail.com or contact: Joe Verrie Johnson 314-640-5842, Jordan Perry 314-7244563, or LaVerne JamesBady 314-382-0890.

Happy 15th Anniversary to Terenie and Michael Winfield, who celebrated with family and friends on October 12.

Fannie May’s marvelous mix of hood and Holy Ghost. Listen, Fantasia lightweight pulled a Lauryn Hill/Erykah Badu when she brought The Bonfyre Tank and Robin Thicke to town Sunday night by stepping on stage when she got good and doggone read. But I am still thrilled with how she gave me a show that didn’t end with Chaifetz shutting the mics off and turning the lights on. I didn’t know what size crowd she was going to pull for her first arena show, but Fannie May and her R&B squad brought the folks out – and on a Sunday night. And made it worth our while! I hadn’t really checked for The Bonfyre, mainly because I don’t feature her name, before she was on the bill for this show. But I’ll have my eye on her from here on out – mainly for how she kept it real with the crowd by saying, “I know y’all came for everybody else, but groove with me for a few little minutes.” Even though folks had just seen him at The Pageant, Tank and his shirtless seduction drove the girls wild. But I want to spend my time talking about that Robin Thicke! He hopped off the R&B milk carton ready to snatch crowns with that blue-eyed soul slayage he served up. I was a nervous wreck when he hopped on that piano to scoot around to “Blurred Lines.” Fantasia is never one to be outdone, so when she finally got up on the stage, her and that all girl band got it all the way in. And you know when the shoes come off after song three that it’s going all the way down. I can’t say I expected her to get ratchet (her words, not mine) and when the beat dropped and Fantasia got “low to the flo’,” I decided that the City Girls’ “Act Up” is to 2019-2020 what Juvenile’s “Back That Thang Up” was to 1999-2000. And I know a few folks were like “How you twerking to Young Miami and ‘nem one minute and filled with the holy ghost singing LaShun Pace and Donnie McClurkin the next?” Because she is all of us – well, if we could sing the stage down to the studs. She put on a whole show and scooted out about 90 seconds before curfew without making us feel like we barely missed a thing because of time constraints.

Art, Beats (heat) Lyrics and lines. I can’t think of a time that I’ve been more wrong than when I proclaimed last week that I was so happy that I would have plenty of breathing room thanks to the relocation of Jack Daniels’ Arts, Beats & Lyrics from Ballpark Village to Chaifetz Arena. Don’t get me wrong, I had an utter blast Friday night– and caught up with folks I hadn’t seen since B2K was in style. The massive crowd that came through made me think they may need to go ahead and drop a few coins to secure America’s Center for ABL 2020. I knew when I pulled up on Market Street that it was going to be an epic crowd. I was like, “This the same sized crowd that came through for the Charlie Wilson concert – and it was sold out.” The sheer mass of folks meant the line to get in was a monster. I promise you I haven’t seen folks patiently waiting to enter an educational institution auditorium since I stood in the financial aid line at an HBCU that shall remain nameless trying to get my refund check situation together. Hopefully the folks waiting to get into ABL formed lifelong friendships from standing in line like I did back in college. Those financial aid homies are still just a call away. But back to ABL. It was cute – as always – but that stairway to heaven from the floor to the exit is no joke with a couple of Honey Jacks in your system. I lost count of the near tragic tumbles that dear friends and kind strangers averted by being a shoulder to lean on. Baby, Okay, back to ABL for real this time. The art and fellowship were everything even amongst the close quarters that had all fiftyeleven of us bumping elbows and shoulders.

Stylish 5th anniversary fun with Saint Louis Fashion Fund. I made it my business to see what the Saint Louis Fashion Fund had on deck to commemorate five years of influencing the local style scene and they did not disappoint. Things kicked off Saturday afternoon with the “Speaking of Fashion” talk with style icon Dapper Dan and Tania Beasley-Jolly. It was life! I have never seen so much swag in the audience of a midday talk. On the stage Dapper Dan was Gucci’d down – from head to toe! And Tania in that puffy sleeve print dress was slaying. She never gets it wrong. And neither did she, Dan or anyone else who glammed up for the evening’s Fashion’s Night Out extravaganza at Neiman Marcus. My favorite evening looks were the Wakanda inspired garments of Naretha Hopson and Tamyka Perine. But I can only recall one or two missteps among the guests. My only note for the evening portion would be to have the models slow down so folks could soak in all the lewks being served during the fashion show.

K.R.I.T. and Rapsody were killing it. Even though I big him up every single time he comes to town, I know there are still folks saying, “Who is that?” every time I mention a performance by Mississippi rap veteran Big K.R.I.T. so I will imagine you’ll do the same as I talk about his show at The Pageant Saturday night. Maybe y’all will get hip one of these days. In the meantime it was a night for the people who ride for those who are true to the rap game as opposed to those who follow trends and celebrity – even though Rapsody rightfully has plenty of buzz because of that masterpiece of an album “Eve,” which I will get to in a second. But let me start with saying that T.I.’s son Domani Harris kicked off K.R.I.T.’s “From the South with Love” Tour, and I can’t say that I’m mad about it. He gave just the type of show one would expect from an 18-year-old just getting started in the rap game. I had been anticipating the show mainly to catch Rapsody live for the first time, and she did not disappoint. Let me tell you, once she gets her stage presence and live energy up to where it feels like K.R.I.T.’s, she is going to be the next big thing in hip-hop. And speaking of K.R.I.T., he tore that stage all the way down with his rap style that blends ratchetry with motivational messages. And I love how he took the time to shake hands and fellowship after the show. And did anybody else catch that B&D security staff member serving “Sons of Anarchy” realness grooving to K.R.I.T.? Imagine somebody who looked like Wolverine’s daddy catching a vibe as K.R.I.T. rapped “I’m just rotating my tires.” It was everything.

Vanessa shared a moment with the personable R&B veteran Robin Thicke when came to town with Fantasia Sunday night @ Chaifetz Arena

MzPretty, Lacee and Scar LaDon looking lovely @ Beauty Meets Fashion Friday @ The Polish Heritage Center

Jasmine, Brea and Rina chilled out after getting their heartrate up at the Get Sexy Movement’s Healthy Happy Hour Saturday afternoon

Brandy, House of Soul owner Nichol and D at the Friday night grand opening weekend festivities for the House of Soul Friday night

DJ Kut celebrated his big 5-1 with a host of family and friends Saturday night @ Hollywood Casino’s Boogie Nights

Shock and D had a blast @ Art, Beats & Lyrics Friday night @ Chaifetz Arena

Fashion forward power couple Antonio and Kirven Douthit-Boyd were in the mix to toast Saint Louis Fashion Fund’s 5th anniversary Saturday @ Neiman Marcus

Beauties Beth and Michelle made sure to stop through Art, Beats & Lyrics Friday night @ Chaifetz Arena

Kira was given farewell wishes by Halima and many others as she bid the city goodbye with a gathering @ SweetArt Thursday

Tania Beasley-Jolly and icon Dapper Dan talked style @ ‘Speaking of Fashion,’ a talk held Saturday as part of Saint Louis Fashion Fund’s 5th Anniversary festivities

Dameon Christian with Grammy Award-winning soul singer Fantasia a few hours before she gave an unforgettable show when her Sketchbook Tour played Chaifetz Arena Sunday night. R&B newcomer The Bonfyre, Tank and Robin Thicke joined her as the evening’s featured performers.

Photos by V. Lang

JANITORIAL -

The External Communications Manager is responsible for creating and coordinating the development and distribution of external corporate messaging and materials in order to promote and communicate Safety National’s company initiatives, products and services. To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational.com/ careers-page/

MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY

NEW JOB OPENINGS!

The Missouri Historical Society has position openings for the following:

• Epsilon-Dalzell Premier Film Preservationist

• Objects Preservation Administrator

• Special Projects Photographer, Lindbergh 100

Please visit www.mohistory.org under the “Current Openings” tab for position details and to apply.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

DESK MANAGER

The Service Desk Manager reports

JOB VACANCY

The Board of Directors of Better Family Life, Inc. seeks a proven leader with strong management and relationship-building skills to serve as the agency’s next Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

This position leads a highly respected 37-year-old social service agency with a mission to help children and families achieve a lifetime of success.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) oversees an $11 million budget, with supervisory responsibility for five organizational Vice Presidents and support for a team of 126 FTEs.

To apply send resume to CEOJOB@betterfamilylife.org www.betterfamilylife.org NO PHONE CALLS, PLEASE Better Family Life, Inc. EOE

CITY OF JENNINGS JOB OPENINGS

The City of Jennings is accepting applications for Code Enforcement Inspectors, Correctional Officers, Public Works Street/Park Laborers, P/T Bus Driver, P/T Site Monitor, Permit Clerk, Court Clerk, & P/T Prosecuting Attorney Clerk. Please see the full job descriptions online at www.cityofjennings.org. Applications are available at the Jennings City Hall or on the website at www.cityofjennings.org.

The City of Jennings is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for  employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

ACCOUNTANT

Leveraged Resources Management, Inc. (LRM) a subsidiary of ARCHS is seeking a full- time Accountant. The ideal candidate will have experience in digital payroll processing, EFTPS and MODR on-line tax payments, and quarterly/annual payroll filings. Duties include A/P Processing, General Ledger Closes (monthly) and Payroll Processing. Experience with Abila MIP payroll software desirable. Accounting/Business degree required. No Phone Calls Please. Send resume and cover letter to careers@stlarchs.org or Fax to HR 314-289-5670. www.stlamerican.com

OFFICE MANAGER

To view current openings and to apply please visit: https://mo-stpeters.civicplushrms. com/careers/ AA/EOE

COORDINATOR –HUMAN RESOURCES

Staff level position which supports the Human Resources Department and staff with an emphasis on the recruitment function. Works under general supervision. Fully applies a working level of knowledge of clerical and administrative support concepts.

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

SAFETY ADMINISTRATOR III

East-West Gateway Council of Governments has an opening for a Public Safety Administrator III position. Starting salary is $59,316 annually. Please follow the link to view post at http://www.ewgateway.org/careers/. An

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER

Senior level professional position which contributes to the accomplishment of project/ program management practices and objectives that will achieve business goals and objectives. Works without immediate supervision and direction. Leads and mentors others within Program Management. Demonstrates advanced working knowledge and concepts of Information Technology.

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

CASE MANAGER

coordination in a manner which reflects the mission, philosophy and policies of Covenant House Missouri.

To apply, visit our website at www.covenanthousemo.org

COORDINATOR

CLAIMSCLAIMS MAINTENANCE

Responsible for various administrative tasks related to: support for the Medical Management team, reinsurance reports, location reports and claim maintenance.

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

The Office Manager is responsible for overall supervision and coordination of office operations to advance the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Missouri Chapter. Key responsibilities for all three office locations include office volunteer management, donation processing, technology operations support, landlord relations, inventory controls, and facility maintenance. Please see the link for our opening: https://workforcenow.adp. com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=161 d79b6-9781-4a1a-bb96-e700c85 ee540&ccId=19000101_000001&jobId=305177&source=CC3&lang=en_US

DIRECTOR

METROPOLITAN

SEWER DISTRICT

ST. LOUIS

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District will

NOTICE

INVITATION TO BID

FERGUSON-FLORISSANT SCHOOL DISTRICT 1005 WATERFORD DRIVE DEMOLITION (BUILDINGS B, C, D, E)

Ferguson-Florissant School District is issuing a Request for Proposal for 1005 Waterford Drive Demolition (Buildings B, C, D, E). There is a pre-bid meeting on Monday October 28, 2019 9:00 AM CST. Proposal must be submitted no later than 1:15 p.m., November 12, 2019. For additional information visit our Website at http://new.fergflor.k12.mo.us/ Facilities-rfq Matt Furfaro 314-824-2418

BIDS

Great Rivers Greenway District is soliciting proposals for Construction Management Services for bridge repairs. Check www. greatriversgreenway.org/ jobs-bids/ and submit by November 1, 2019.

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure Legal Library services from Thomson Reuters. The District is proposing a single source procurement for this service because Thomson Reuters allows the District’s General Counsel in depth legal research. Any inquiries should be sent to strenz@stlmsd.com.

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

LETTING #8705

SEALED BIDS

electronic bidsforNew OutdoorFiring Range,Missouri StateHighway Patrol,Jefferson City,Missouri, ProjectNo.R180601willbereceived byFMDC,State ofMO,UNTIL 1:30PM, 10/24/2019via MissouriBUYS. Biddersmustbe registeredtobid. Forspecificproject informationand orderingplans, goto:https:// missouribuys. mo.gov.

& TAP BUILDING DEMOLITION

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. until 1:45 PM, CT, on November 26, 2019, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps(BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

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

All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Specifications” set forth within and referenced at www.stl-bps.org (Announcements).

CITY OF ST. LOUIS BOARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR INDUSTRIAL CONTROL SYSTEMS (ICS) RISK ASSESSMENT, ST. LOUIS CITY -WATER DIVISION, ST. LOUIS, MO. Statements of Qualifications due by 5:00 PM CT, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019 at Board of Public Service, 1200 Market, Room 301 City Hall, St. Louis, MO 63103. RFQ may be obtained from website www.stl-bps.org under On Line Plan Room, Professional Services, or call Helen Bryant at 314-589-6214. 25% MBE and 5% WBE participation goals.

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS

SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is accepting proposals in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 10:00 a.m. on November 25th, 2019 to contract with a company for: Excavation Services.

Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). The bid document will be identified as 10199 RFP. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314.768.2735 to request a copy of this bid.

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

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure: FOXBORO SERVER UPGRADES. R. E. PEDROTTI CO INC is the only known available source for this service. Any inquiries should be sent to gjamison@stlmsd.com.

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

CITY OF ST. LOUIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL – VIOLENCE PREVENTION ALTERNATIVES

The City of St. Louis Department of Public Safety is seeking proposals from qualified not-for-profit providers to implement a violence prevention alternative program in the City of St. Louis. To obtain a copy of the RFP, please visit https://www. stlouis-mo.gov/government/ procurement/index.cfm . The RFP will be listed under “Active RFPs, RFQs and RFIs.” Proposals must be received by 12:00 Noon CDT on Wednesday, October 30, 2019.

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is accepting proposals in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 10:00 a.m. on November 21st, 2019 to contract with a company for: Janitorial Services for Lemay Treatment Plant.

Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). The bid document will be identified as 10181 RFP. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314.768.2735 to request a copy of this bid. Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

SEALED BIDS

electronic bidsforReplace Roofs&Renovate Building,Sheep Pavilion,Missouri StateFairgrounds, Sedalia,Missouri, ProjectNo.F190701willbereceived byFMDC,State ofMO,UNTIL 1:30PM, 11/12/2019via MissouriBUYS. Biddersmustbe registeredtobid. Forspecificproject informationand orderingplans, goto:https:// missouribuys. mo.gov.

TO ADVERTISE YOUR BIDS, PUBLIC NOTICES, PROPOSALS, RFT’S CALL ANGELITA AT 314-289-5430

BIDS

Great Rivers Greenway District is seeking qualifications for project controls consulting services in connection with the district’s design and construction of capital projects. Check www.greatriversgreenway.org/ jobs-bids/ and submit by November 8, 2019.

BIDS

Curtiss-Manes-Schulte, Inc. is soliciting bids from MBE/WBE/SDVE/ DBE subcontractors and suppliers for work on the AP Green Building MUHC Lab, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO. Bids are due Tuesday, October 22, 2019 by 1:00 pm and can be faxed to (573) 3924527 or emailed to shawn@cms-gc. com. For more information, call Shawn @ (573) 392-6553. CurtissManes-Schulte, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for TILLES PARK, LITZSINGER AND PARKRIDGE I/I REDUCTION (LITZSINGER RD AND S MCKNIGHT RD) under Letting No. 12230-015.1, at this office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Friday, November 15, 2019, at a place designated. Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualified by the District’s Engineering Department for: SEWER CONSTRUCTION – St. Louis County drainlayer’s license required Plans and Specifications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1712 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid. The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure the services of WaterISAC in an effort to support the IT Technology Plan. The District is proposing single source procurement for this service because of the recognized expertise of WaterISAC in securing the nations wastewater infrastructure. Any inquiries should be sent to strenz@stlmsd.com.

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

CITY OF ST. LOUIS

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

2020 - 2024 CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND THE 2020 ACTION PLAN DRAFT

A public hearing is scheduled to review the proposed 20202024 Consolidated Plan and 2020 Annual Action Plan 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 hearing will be held at 1:00 p.m. on November 8, 2019, at the City of St. Louis Community Development Administration (CDA), which is located at 1520 Market - Suite 2000, St. Louis, MO 63103. Interpreting services are available upon request by calling the Office on the Disabled at (314) 622-3686/voice or (314) 622 3693/TTY. The draft 2020 – 2024 Consolidated Plan and 2020 Annual Action Plan will be available on October 15, 2019, for review and comment by any interested person. The plan will be available at the Central Branch of the St. Louis Public Library, located at 1301 Olive Street and on the City of St. Louis website, http://www.stlouis-mo.gov/cda/. The plan is also available for review at CDA’s office, 1520 Market Street, Suite 2000. The views of citizens, public agencies and other interested parties are encouraged, and comments or questions with respect to the proposed Annual Action Plan should be directed via email at CDBG@stlouis-mo.gov. CDA is an equal opportunity agency (employer). Minority participation is encouraged.

PUBLIC NOTICE

U.S. Magistrate Judge vacancy, Eastern District of Missouri. Current Salary is $194,028.00 per annum and term of office is eight years. Full public notice and instructions on how to apply are posted on the court’s website at www.moed.uscourts.gov. Applications due by 11/15/2019. EOE

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure: Raingarden construction with Native Landscape Solutions, Inc. Any inquiries should be sent to ltreat@stlmsd.com.

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

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District will receive bids in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 11:00 a.m. on November 19, 2019 to contract with a company for: PARTS AND SERVICE: DEIONIZING TANKS & POINT OF USE POLISHING UNITS (ELGA).

A non-mandatory

LETTING #8706

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING DRIVE LIGHTING AND TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS NEWSTEAD AVENUE TO VANDEVENTER AVENUE

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on November 19, 2019, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps. org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

A pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held onsite at Dr. Martin Luther King Drive and North Newstead, St. Louis, MO October 29, 2019 at 10:00 A.M.

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

All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Specifications” set forth within and referenced at www.stl-bps.org (Announcements).

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

City of St. Louis Affordable Housing Report

The City of St. Louis is requesting proposals from consultants for the preparation of an Affordable Housing Report relating to work completed by the Community Development Administration (CDA). The selected consultant will be responsible for compiling a report that can be presented to CDA, City Officials as well as the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The product should consist of a Narrative Report including an Executive Summary, a PowerPoint Presentation, and a listing of the various affordable housing projects produced in the City by address. The report should also include a listing of permit data. The report should list all incentives available in each individual project, i.e. CDBG, HOME, NSP, Affordable Housing, federal and state incentives including LIHTC, historic tax credits, tax abatement, TIF, etc. The selected consultant must be conversant with and knowledgeable of local affordable housing programs and incentives.

The RFP in its entirety can be found on the Community Development Administration (CDA) website: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/cda/.

Proposals must be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m. on June 14, 2019 to Bill Rataj, Community Development Administration, 1520 Market St – Suite 2000, St. Louis, MO 63103. Questions concerning the RFP may be directed to RatajB@stlouis-mo.gov.

CDA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, familial status or sexual orientation in the administration of the program.

CDA is an Equal Opportunity Agency Minority Participation is Encouraged

INVITATION TO BID

Bids will be received by the Construction Manager, S. M. Wilson & Co. at their office at Pattonville School District Learning Center, 11097 St. Charles Rock Road, St. Ann, MO 63074, until 2:00 p.m. on November 7, 2019 for the Work Package described herein for the project known as the Pattonville School District Proposition K. Bids MUST be hand delivered to the above address no later than the date and time noted.

Pattonville School District Proposition K BID PACKAGE 3B

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

The bid package will be available for viewing after April 18, 2019 at BuildingConnected.com.

https://app.buildingconnected.com/public/ 5913928fce945d0a00d28943

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

The Construction Manager for this project is S. M. Wilson & Co. and the Project Manager is Mr. Brian Mee, Project Manager, 314-633-5756, brian.mee@smwilson.com

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

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Bids for St. Louis Community College on B0003882 for Janitorial Polyliners will be received until 2:00 P.M. (local time) on Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at the Dept. of Purchasing, 3221 McKelvey Road; Bridgeton, MO 63044, and immediately thereafter opened and read. Bid documents can be accessed on our website at www.stlcc.edu/purchasing or by calling (314) 539-5226. EOE/AA Employer.

KELLER

CONSTRUCTION INC.

Requests

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks bids from qualified contractors to install four projectors in the McDonnell Center at River Camp. Bid documents are available as of 10/24/2019 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: https://www.stlzoo.org/about/ contact/vendoropportunities

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Great Rivers Greenway is soliciting proposals for Event Services. Check https://greatriversgreenway.org/ jobs-bids and submit by November 8, 2019.

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for Contract No. F 20 603, Renovation for Nursing Simulation Lab, St. Louis Community College at Meramec, until p.m. local time, Monday, November 4, 2019. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 5464 Highland Park Drive (Plan Room). Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from the Manager’s office, at the above address or by calling (314) 644-9770.

Pre-Bid Meeting Monday, October 28, 2019, 9:00 am, Meramec Science West Building, SW108

An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer

crimes perpetrated by youth in the City of St. Louis. The Committee is seeking proposals from qualified not-forprofit organizations to serve at-risk youth in the 11 to 24 year-old demographic. For the purposes of this RFP, crime prevention programs are defined as those programs that, either on an individual or group level, work to reduce the likelihood of youth involvement in criminal activity. An award range from $15,000 to $200,000 has been established for proposals submitted pursuant to this RFP. Please note the application will be online. Applicants may find the online submission page through the following link: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/youth-at-risk/ For questions please contact Morgan Williams, Department of Public Safety, at WilliamsMor@stlouis-mo.gov . Proposals must be received by 4:00pm CST Monday, November 18, 2019.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES HOUSING RESOURCE COMMISSION FY2020 GRANT

The St. Louis County Department of Human Services - Homeless Services Program is seeking proposals for the Housing Resource Commission FY2020 Grant. The total funding available is approximately $508.995.00. Proposals are due by 11:00 a.m. on November 7, 2019. A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held on October 25, 2019 from 9:00 -10:00 a.m. @ the Department of Human Services, 500 Northwest Plaza, 1st floor training room, St. Ann, MO 63074. Request For Proposal details and specifications can be obtained at the St. Louis County Bids and RFPs webpage located at http://www.stlouisco.com/ YourGovernment/BidsandRFPs

BIDS forWater &Wastewater SystemsUpgrade, W.E.Sears Youth Center,Poplar Bluff,Missouri, ProjectNo. H1610-01will bereceivedby FMDC,Stateof MO,UNTIL 1:30PM, 11/7/2019via MissouriBUYS. Biddersmustbe registeredtobid. Forspecific project informationand orderingplans,go to:http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

Religion

Cote Brilliante presents program on 1619

Acknowledging the beginning of slavery and African-American resilience

American staff

Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church recognized the 400 hundred years of Africans in North America (1619-2019), acknowledging the beginning of slavery and African-American resilience, in solidarity with other churches and organizations across the country, on Sunday, August 25. The recognition program began during the church’s 10 a.m. worship service with a historic review presented by former 18th Ward alderman and historian Terry Kennedy, who currently serves as clerk of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. Kennedy presented a comprehensive review of world history and American history, beginning prior to the 1st century world, the Roman Empire and the Moors, who were Africans who shared physics and other sciences with the world. He presented a historical interpretation of the slave trade,

slavery in North America, into this present day of psychological enslavement with black-on-black crime and gun violence. Kennedy concluded with a message of hope and the importance of telling and interpreting African-American history.

n Rev. Clyde R. Crumpton, pastor of Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church said that knowing your history builds pride, self-esteem and value.

Rev. Clyde R. Crumpton, pastor of Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church, supported the importance, stating that knowing your history builds pride, self-esteem and value. The afternoon segment of the 400 Year recognition began with a recitation of Langston Hughes’ “Negro Mother” by Elder Rosalynde Scott, followed by a presentation from Lynn Jackson, the greatgreat-granddaughter of Dred and Harriett Scott and president and founder of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation. The foundation’s goal is to promote the commemoration, education and reconciliation of our histories and to share the impact of slavery and Dred

The afternoon segment of the 400 Year recognition included a presentation from Lynn Jackson, the great-greatgranddaughter of Dred and Harriett Scott and president and founder of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation.

Scott’s quest for freedom on the nation. There were five court trials in the case for Dred Scott, the outcome of which motivated Abraham Lincoln to run for president, fueled the Civil War and resulted in the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Included in the recognition program was a traveling exhibit of African-American

historical artifacts and historical interpretations, presented by Mack Williams and Charles Williams. Their exhibit “History To You” (www.historytoyou.org) is an extensive collection that speaks to the 1619-2019 AfricanAmerican historical narrative. Their motto, “Learning from the past, to progress into the future.” They can also be found at the Julia Davis Library, 4415

Natural Bridge Ave., every fourth Saturday of each month from 2-4 p.m.

The afternoon’s programing concluded with a handbell ringing by the Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church Hand Bell Choir, Directed by Ann Rice. There was a sequential series of bell rings for each 100 years of the 400. This coincided with a national effort for all AfricanAmerican churches to ring bells on the afternoon of August 25. In preparation for the day’s activities, Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church, 4673 Labadie Ave., studied the biblical narrative in Genesis 15, which the 1619-2019 historical narrative parallels. For more details on the biblical narrative go to www.cbpcstl.org (16192019 What Does It Mean?).