September 29th, 2022 edition

Salute to Excellence is Saturday at America’s Center!

LouiS AmericAn

Black psychologists are absent in public schools

Applied Educational Psychology program. All-in-all, Cooper has been in the profession for about 20 years.

Cooper is a rarity in her profession

According to the US Census Bureau, 82% of psychologists in the United States are white, and only 5% are Black. Cooper also has

another concern: The lack of Black male psychologists in schools locally and nationwide.

“I think some of the educators in the area should be interested and concerned for a couple reasons,” Cooper explained.

“Number one; school districts need to seek out psychologists who can attend to their student’s needs. [Psychologists) need to be in line with the demographics of their

students. Secondly, addressing the issue might make them consider going into this area themselves.”

According to the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), more than 85% of school psychologists are white, while most K-12 public school students are not. Additionally, the NASP estimates that Black male school psychologists make up fewer than 1% in U.S. public schools.

A Feb. 2022 NPR article on the topic phrased it this way:

“There are fewer Black men working as

2022 in Tower Grove Park.

St. Louis American staff

If ever there was a time to celebrate the importance of education in the African American community, it is now. Black history is under attack from the far right. School boards are banning books. Black teachers and school administrators are taking on that challenge as well as doing all they can to help Black students succeed.

The milestone 35th St. Louis American Foundation Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Gala on Oct. 1, 2022, at America’s Center downtown affords an opportunity to give a well-deserved thank you to educators and present scholarship aid to some high achieving students with financial needs.

“We are excited for everyone to join us on Saturday for an evening of celebration with a purpose,” said Raven Whitener, St. Louis American Foundation director.

“Our program will be filled with heartwarming and inspiring stories and guests are sure to have a great time at the after parties. Come ready for a grand evening of entertainment and celebration of excellence.” The 2022 Salute to Excellence in Education will be the first in-person Salute in three years, following virtual celebrations in 2020, and 2021. It promises to be a spectacu-

lar event. The full evening is devoted to a celebration of education that includes post-banquet entertainment, and includes a jazz cabaret set with the incredible celebrated vocalist, Denise Thimes, and a dance party for those who like to get their party on on the dance floor.

Several substantial scholarships will be awarded to help students as they pursue college degrees. Family members and loved ones can share in the remarkable achievements of the students.

Proceeds from the St. Louis American Foundation’s four Salute to Excellence events are used for community grants as well as scholarships for local students.

Making history

Gershom Norfleet is STL’s first Black Chief Medical Examiner

American Gershom Norfleet, MD, recently was appointed as the Chief Medical Examiner for the St. Louis County Medical Examiner’s Office, becoming the first African American to lead a regional office that conducts autopsy reports, determines cause of death, and provides expert medical testimony for the state at trial. As a University City native, he is proud to have reached this milestone in his home region. The St. Louis American spoke to Dr. Norfleet about his new appointment, why he chose his somewhat morbid medical specialty,

“Believing in this principle provides me

2014 Suggs Scholar lands her ‘dream job’

By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American

When Barack Obama was elected President of the United States in 2008, Daria Smith was so young that she couldn’t remember much about it.

n “He’s my first president. He’s my only president.”

– Daria Smith on Barack Obama

“All I knew was that it was a big thing, and I knew that I had never seen a Black man as president,” Smith said.

“I knew that. And I knew that my parents were able to vote for him – and my grandparents were able to see history being made.”

Although she was still not yet old enough to vote, him being elected for a second term was a life changing event for Smith. By 2012, she was in high school and had a much better understanding of the

See SMITH, A7

By Sylvester Brown Jr.

By Chris King For

Shekinah Brown and her daughter Ava Rose Dudley, 4, a student at Washington Montessori get ready for a picture at Frizz Fest Saturday, Sept. 17,

Daria Smith, a 2014 St. Louis American Foundation Scholar, currently works as exhibitions analyst for the forthcoming Obama Presidential Center, which is a part of the Obama Foundation.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Dr. Jameca Woody Cooper

Gershom Norfleet, MD

Nia Long releases statement in midst of cheating scandal

Nia Long has broken her silence after learning her longtime partner, Ime Udoka, Boston Celtics coach violated franchise rules by having a consensual relationship with a female staff member.

“The outpouring [of] love and sup port from family, friends and the com munity during this difficult time means so much to me,” Long said. “I ask that my privacy be respected as I process the recent events. Above all, I am a mother and will continue to focus on my children.”

The Celtics suspended Udoka for the 2022-2023 NBA season after a lengthy independent investigation. Details haven’t been revealed due to privacy concerns of the involved par ties. However, Celtics gover nor Wyc Grousbeck said the suspension is reasonable.

“This felt right, but there’s no clear guide

lines for any of this,” Grousbeck said. “This is really a conscious, gut feel, and being here for 20 years, I’m responsible for the decision, ultimately.”

Udoka released a statement, apologizing to the players, fans, Celtics organization, and his family. “I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down,” Udoka said. “I am sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation, and I accept the team’s decision. Out of respect for everyone involved, I will have no fur-

Long and Udoka began dating in 2010. They share a son together, who was born in 2011. They became engaged in 2015.

Black student criticized for starting a majorette dance team on USC’s campus

Princess Isis Lang, a sophomore at University of Southern California, became the talk of the ‘Net after co-founding a majorette dance squad on her Lang’s dance squad, The Cardinal Divas of SC, specializes in the “j-setting” dance style, credited to Jackson State Univer-

sity. Despite “j-setting” traditionally honed by Jackson State and other HBCUs, Lang saw the need to have a dance squad on her campus.

“The new majorette team kinda going crazy on the internet right now,” Lang wrote on Twitter. “This is the perfect way to showcase and uplift Black dancers, Black artists and Black joy overall.”

A video posted last week that has since gone viral shows the Cardinal Divas performing at their first home football game against Fresno State on Sept. 17.

“It really feels like a dream,” Lang said. “I did not expect all of this to happen so fast.”

Read some of the opposing views below.

“This is #HBCU appropriation! HBCU Culture is a subculture of Black Culture. Just being Black isn’t enough to justify you borrowing HBCU traditions to mimic at a PWI! Y’all want the HBCU experience without attending one and that’s insulting to our legacy!” @ hbcuhive wrote with an accompanying a clip of Southern University’s Fabulous Dancing Dolls dancing along to an instrumental of Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough.”

“It’s very rare that my Black friends that attended [predominantly white institutions] had something positive to say about HBCUs. It was usually stereotypes and assumptions that were very classist. Address that before biting off HBCU culture,” @Amb_bition wrote.

“I’m perfectly fine standing on this hill by myself. But wanting HBCU culture at white schools… instead of going to an HBCU… is

weird,” @BigHomieKODAQ wrote.

Erica Banks under fire for friendship appearance criteria

Apparently friendships are based on looks if you leave it up to Erica Banks. She’s under fire for going live and saying that her girlfriends have to dress and look a certain way in order to party with her.

“If she ain’t thick enough, no,”Banks said. “Hair not did good enough? Nope. Can’t dress? Nope. Skinny? Nope! [laughs].”

“It’s like, I don’t feel like I’m discriminating, I just want a certain type of look. She could be the sweetest girl I’ve ever met in my life, but if she don’t look the part, I don’t want her to come. It’s just not the vibe I’m on.”

Read some of the backlash below.

“Erica Banks saying she only wants to go out with women who look a certain way is not surprising to me. A lot of women feel that way. That’s why y’all don’t be having real friends just an aesthetic lol,” @nottewmuch wrote.

“Erica Banks has mental illness [crying emoji] how do you just get a BBL then say only thick bitches can party with you? [crying emoji] you was just shaped like a Maytag washing machine,” @DejaDidItFirst wrote.

Sources: Sports Illustrated, CBS News, Twitter, All Hip Hop

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An American in Africa

St. Louisan Lela Winston makes Rwanda home

Isaiah Peters

The St. Louis American

St. Louis native Lela Winston, 43, fell in love with Africa and now makes it her home.

A communications strategist and freelance journalist, Winston spent a few weeks in Accra, Ghana in 2016.

After sharing her love for life in Africa with her family and gaining its support, she decided to make the move. Winston is nearing completion of her first year in Kigali, Rwanda.

“It makes sense to be in a better place where you don’t have to experience racism,” Winston said. “I did not realize there were so many societal pressures such as banking, mass incarceration, and work, weighing on African Americans until I left, and I thought, ‘wow.’”

advanced than it is,” Winston said.

“I’m not exactly sure why.”

She worked freelance for the Ghanaian publication the African Trumpet Newspaper

While preparing for her first African venture, she became fascinated with Kwame Nkrumah.

Winston chose to visit Ghana after learning about Nkrumah’s story and his legacy as the PanAfrican revolutionary Lincoln University of Pennsylvania graduate who would become the first President of an independent Ghana.

n “Many people [in Africa] don’t meet African Americans. That was a unique experience, some would say, ‘wow, an African American came, and call you ‘brother’ and ‘sister.’”

Though her heart is in Ghana, she said she feels more secure in a more developed country like Rwanda for an extended stay. There is greater internet access, less of a “bribe system” and better infrastructure.

“I’m going to sound unique in this, but I felt like Africa was more

More than 1,500

Black Americans moved to Ghana as part of the 2018 the Year of Return, an initiative created by Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo and the U.S.-based Adinkra Group to encourage Black Americans to settle in Ghana in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first recorded enslaved Africans in Virginia.

“People [Ghanaians] were just the kindest, nicest people you ever want to meet,” Winston said. “It was just refreshing to confirm what I thought.”

“Many people [in Africa] don’t meet African Americans,” Winston said. “That was a unique experience, some would say, ‘wow, an African American came, and called you ‘brother’ and ‘sister.’”

As she has never met an African American on the continent, she hopes her story of experiencing Africa could inspire other Black Americans to take the chance to venture to the cradle of humankind.

“So, I see it as a challenge, but being an African American, always being bicultural and part of a subculture, and I had to understand living in a larger culture, so I use the same tools and mechanisms to learn as

I go.” She described Ghana as the country she felt most connected to regarding the people, the cuisine and music.

The city that captured Winston’s heart, Accra, welcomed the opening of a Webster University campus in 2013, advancing the St. Louis region’s international presence.

Nevertheless, Winston said there is light at the end of the tunnel for Ghana.

Ghana had Africa’s fastest-growing economy before the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2019.

While touring Ghana, Liberia, and Nigeria, she learned valuable lessons about equality, sexism, and neocolonialism, and that control of

less-developed countries by developed countries through indirect means, still plays a significant role.

“Wherever I went, the foreigners own the big businesses,” Winston said. She called living in Africa “a challenge” if you are a woman.

“I do think women have far fewer opportunities,” she said.

But things are looking up in gender equality as Rwanda has women hold nearly two thirds of its parliamentary seats and 52% of cabinet positions. What Winston said what she cherishes most is nature. This small Central African country emphasizes blending nature with the city more than she saw in West Africa.

“Growing up in the Midwest, we have a lot of parks and the Missouri Botanical Garden, which is my absolute favorite garden in the entire world, particularly the Japanese and the Chinese garden,” she said. Through it all, Winston said she feels both at home and amazed by Africa.

“It [her time] solidified for me that this is a lovely place, and these lovely souls will rise, through all of its beauty and inequity,” Winston said.

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Lela Winston, 43, communications strategist and freelance journalist.

(Left) Hill top in Kigali, Rwanda, on Dec. 4, 2021.

Photo courtesy of Twitter @Lela_Winton

Brown,

Guest Editorial

“The Little Rock Nine, 6-year-old Ruby Bridges in New Orleans, and children who followed them in schools across the country were the shock troops who parted the milling, jeering and threatening crowds.”

Lessons taught by the Little Rock nine

They opened doors of educational opportunity

By Marian Wright Edelman

In September 1957, nine Black teenagers started the new school year and changed history.

Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Thelma Mothershed, Melba Pattillo, Gloria Ray, Terrence Roberts, Jefferson Thomas and Carlotta Walls were all between 15 and 17 years old when they became the first Black students to enroll at Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, three years after the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision ended legal segregation in public schools.

On Sept. 4, their first day of school, instead of being welcomed by principals or teachers, the nine Black students were met by a white mob and the Arkansas National Guard, ordered there by Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus to block them from entering the school building. The brave students made national headlines as images like those of Elizabeth Eckford trying to enter the school and being surrounded and spit on by white teenagers and adults were published across the country, and they continued to make daily headlines as they refused to give up.

Ultimately President Dwight D. Eisenhower was forced to call in federal troops, who finally escorted the nine Black students into the school for their first full day of classes on Sept. 25. Even with protection they continued to endure daily harassment and physical threats, but the Little Rock Nine persisted. They helped make our nation live up to the promise of Brown v. Board of Education and helped push open doors of opportunity for generations of young people who followed them.

Historians like Taylor Branch and David Halberstam have recounted the incredible determination and grit of youths like the Little Rock Nine and the many others who subjected themselves to often violent resistance to help end discrimination in the American South. Their names were not just in the court papers filed by their brave parents in dozens of school desegregation cases. The Little Rock Nine, 6-year-old Ruby Bridges in New Orleans, and children who followed them in schools across the country were the shock troops who parted the milling, jeering and threatening crowds and weathered daily the hateful isolation and ugly epithets encouraged or ignored by some white adults who taught their children to spurn and insult Black classmates.

Outside of school, children faced fierce police dogs and fire hoses and filled the jails in Birmingham and Selma, Alabama, when most adults hesitated to respond to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s call for fear of their jobs or personal safety. Children withstood arrests and tough treatment in Jackson, Mississippi, and harsh treatment in Southern jails where they were detained. High school and college youths sat down until lunch counters were desegregated across the South. Young people were sometimes beaten by police for standing up for freedom. And four little girls had to die as a sacrifice in Birmingham before the nation assured Black citizens the right to vote.

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

The war on truth rages on

By Ben Jealous

Truth is a threat to authoritarianism. Reading is a path to truth. That’s why the freedom to read is essential to the freedom to learn. And that’s why the freedom to learn is often attacked by those who abuse power and those who cling to it.

Every year, the American Library Association and partner organizations observe Banned Books Week to highlight and push back against these threats. This year’s Banned Books Week ran from September 18-24 amidst a wave of book bans and other attempts to restrict what people can learn.

These efforts have a long and dishonorable history.

Before the Civil War, many slave states made it a crime to teach enslaved people to read. Slaveholders feared that being able to read might help enslaved people gain their freedom or organize rebellions. In Virginia, a judge could order that any slave or free person of color caught learning to read or write be whipped.

In our day, attacking the freedom to read is once again a political strategy for those seeking to take and keep power. And once again, Black people are a primary target.

State legislators and governors are making it illegal to teach honestly about the history and reality of racism in our country. Far-right activists are trying to purge schools and libraries of books that feature Black people, LGBTQ people, and others they deem unworthy of students’ attention.

The MAGA movement’s attacks on teaching about racism and sexuality have

led to what the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom has called an “astronomical” increase in challenges to books.

ooks Week is especially meaningful. In addition to the librarians, authors, booksellers, teachers, and other anticensorship activists, all of us have a role to play in ensuring the voices of our communities are not silenced.

Books by and about Black people and other people of color—and by and about LGBTQ people— dominate the ALA’s annual list of most frequently challenged books.

This year’s honorary chair, George Johnson, is an awardwinning Black author whose “All Boys Aren’t Blue” is high on the list of books most challenged last year, along with others dealing with racism, racial identity, and sexuality.

“This is a fight for the truth that has always existed even if it rarely gets told,” Johnson says. “When the youth are empowered with stories about the experiences of others, they become adults who understand the necessity for equity and equality and have the tools to build a world the likes of which we have never seen.”

But far-right activists tell parents that words like

“equity” are code for Marxism and something they should fight. Trump Republicans are encouraging MAGA activists to take over their school boards by running propaganda campaigns about “critical race theory.” Trumpish state legislators are introducing laws to make it illegal to teach anything that might make White students experience “discomfort.” One Texas lawmaker demanded information from schools on 850 books he thought were suspect; his list included works on history and human rights. In Virginia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin set up an email hotline for people to report teachers suspected of “divisive” practices.

Books targeted in the current war on truth include a memoir by Ruby Bridges, which tells the true story about her walking through angry mobs when she was a six-year-old who became the first Black student to attend a New Orleans elementary school that had previously been off-limits to non-White students.

This is an important part of our history. We cannot build a future together if we are not willing to honestly face the truth about our past and our present.

It is time to commit ourselves to defending the freedom to read, teach, and learn about our history—and to opposing those who want to make it illegal to teach about that history or make it impossible for educators to do so without being smeared and harassed.

Ben Jealous serves as president of People for the American Way

This weekend, Little Rock is hosting four days of events commemorating the 65th anniversary of the integration of Central High School, including special programs at the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, a permanent national monument to the history made there. Members of the Little Rock Nine and former President Bill Clinton will be among the weekend speakers. The anniversary’s theme is “Silence is Not an Option.”

Our nation continues to owe a debt of gratitude to the Little Rock Nine and to all those who were just children and teenagers when they became frontline soldiers in the war to end Jim Crow in American life. Children and young people in the Civil Rights Movement taught us to be courageous and stand up against injustice and showed uncommon dignity, maturity and grace that was often a direct contrast to the hate-filled adults around them.

As Taylor Branch put it, “There is no precedent that I know of in recorded history for the power balance of a great nation turning on the moral witness of schoolchildren … A movement that rode through in history on the spirit of children now looks to how we treat our children [decades] later. Now we have adults who, in effect, need to pay back children.”

How will we do that? When will we do that? Giving children fair treatment, leadership and protection today is our nation’s chance to honor the debt we owe young people. We can also use these examples from the Civil Rights Movement to keep reminding young people today that they are never too young to make a difference, and double down on efforts to empower the next generation of young Black servant leaders who will lead today’s movements and guide us toward a brighter future where children, especially our most marginalized, are provided every opportunity to thrive.

Marian Wright Edelman is the founder and president emerita of the Children’s Defense Fund

Commentary

Words are powerful. I often call them the weapons of the literate. An ever-memorable example is Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

We must reject hatred that could overwhelm us

By E. Faye Williams

I have always loved and believed in the power of words. In my youth, I was amazed at the emotional response to our (so-called) “Negro” leaders. Orators like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., my friend the late St. Louisan Dick Gregory, and a myriad of others spoke messages of practical importance, in their day, which now serve to benefit us in the present with enduring relevance. Words are powerful. I often call them the weapons of the literate. An orator’s understanding of words and the ability to communicate their true, in-depth meaning to the masses has been the origin of many historical events. An ever-memorable example is Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. A word for today’s discussion which captures the “soul” of events that are current to the U.S. experience is ANTIPATHY. It is defined as (1) a strong feeling of dislike and (2) an object of aversion. Whether expressed by a disregard for the physical and/or emotional welfare of a person or thing, or reflected by an overt assault, antipathy results in a negative outcome for the intended target. For ease of explanation of description, I have always equated antipathy with the attitude of intense dislike (hatred) in concert with conduct and behavior which clearly demonstrates that disdain. Antipathy against “The Rule of Law” is clear evidence of disdain for all of us who must live and abide by its guidance.

The recent rulings of federal Judge Aileen Cannon discredit the entire judicial system and subvert confidence in subsequent judgments. Republican and Democratic legal analysts alike have characterized her rulings as favoring Trump in his classified document scandal and contradicting the principle of “no one being above the law.”

Moreover, national security has been subordinated to the needs/ interests of a failed president. Some consider SCOTUS’ overturning Roe v. Wade as simply an attack on women. Others understand the decision as expressing antipathy for the privacy rights of all. The often-heard term “slippery slope” clearly describes what this decision has placed us on. We are well beyond an erosion of privacy rights and now face direct assaults upon them.

The lack of clean water in Jackson, Miss., clearly illustrates the antipathy which fuels the disparate funding resources for a majority-minority city.

For years, Jackson has suffered under the specter of failing (water) infrastructure. There is no justification for a state capital or a city as large as Jackson to operate under a “boil water” order since July. Instead of addressing this problem

which will only worsen with age, Jackson has been ignored while the interests of surrounding ‘white’ suburbs have been met with the use of available financial resources. An egregious demonstration of antipathy is illustrated by the actions of two southern, Republican governors — Abbott of Texas and DeSantis of Florida. Each has decided to unceremoniously ship “undesirable” economic refugees to northern jurisdictions in what has been described as a major political stunt. Stunt or not, these actions have been taken with complete disregard for the ultimate welfare of the affected men, women, and children. I can only suggest that these two Bible-thumping governors refresh their understanding of the admonition in Matthew 25:40. Even more horrifying is the fact that these two Republican governors have expressed presidential aspirations. Like the last Republican to hold the office, they each wish to bring and infect the nation with their own brand of duplicity, disorder, disruption, and antipathy. They have accepted the belief that political power and control can best be sustained in a state or country in chaos. At least for the near future, we, the people, can resist. For the remainder of our lives and for the future of our children, we must reject the hatred that will, if allowed, overwhelm us.

E. Faye Williams is an attorney and National Congress of Black Women president and CEO

Columnist E. Faye Williams

Columnist Ben Jealous

Roland Martin to keynote ESL Freedom Fund Banquet

Television and radio personality Roland Martin will speak during the East St. Louis NAACP 68th Freedom Fund Banquet at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel, 800 Washington. The 2022 theme is “This is Power: Illuminating Justice by Blazing an Equitable Path.”

Martin has served as a senior analyst for The Tom Joyner Morning Show and is a contributor for CNN.

He spent 13 years at TV One Network and from 2013 to 2017, where he was host and managing editor of NewsOneNow, the first daily morning news show targeting African Americans. Martin has also worked as a talk show host on WVIN-AM in Chicago, and written articles for Ebony and Essence magazines.

Martin was in the news this week following a Sept. 24 interview on the Steve Malzberg Show on TNT Radio in which he predicted, a major backlash by the “white minority resistance.”

“In 2043, America is going to be a majority people-of-color nation and whites are afraid they are losing

their way of life,” he said.

“We still in 2022 deal with systematic racism that has frozen people out of industries and has prevented them from being able to participate. You’re going to have to change the system.”

Robin Carey-Boyd, East St. Louis NAACP president, said in a release., “We are excited to host someone of Mr. Martin’s stature at our 68th Freedom Fund Banquet. He was our first choice as speaker, and we are looking forward to hearing what we know will be a relevant and timely speech.

The banquet will spotlight community and philanthropic work by people in the fields of community service, law enforcement, politics, and religion. Evening highlights include presentation of the “Rising Star Award” to a local youth, along with the announcement of the 2022 James Lewis, Sr. Essay Contest, and the Charles H. Lawson III Youth Award winners. Both include a scholarship and academic support.

VIP tickets are $150, and general admission is $100. Tickets can be purchased at naacpestl.org. For more information, call (618) 271-4698.

We work hard, for less money

By Gayle Guest-Brown

Recent speculation about Black women leaving the workplace in the COVID-19 Era Great Resignation is unsupported by the facts. Bottom line: we cannot afford the luxury of quitting.

That luxury became even more expensive for Black women this year. Black Women’s Equal Pay Day represents how far into the next year the average Black woman would have to work to equal the average white man’s earnings for a calendar year. In 2021, when Black women earned 63 cents on the dollar compared to White men, that date arrived in August. We have lost ground this year, earning just 58 cents on the dollar and moving Black Women’s Equal Pay Day to Sept. 21. That’s an additional 294 days of work to obtain the average white male’s annual earnings.

If it’s not us, who really is quitting? Harvard Business Review reported that resignations peaked in April and have remained abnormally high for several months, with a record-breaking 10.9 million open jobs at the end of July 2021. Following this reporting there was speculation about Black women leaving the workplace due to the inequities in the workplace, being undervalued, and burnout.

However, according to a Pew Research Center report on who quit a job in 2021, Black people (18%) and women in general (19%) were far less significant drivers of the Great Resignation than younger adults: workers ages 18-29 (37%), those without a bachelor’s degree (42%) and in lower-income brackets (25%). Of those in lower-income brackets by gender: 18% men and 19% women, By Race: White 17%, Black 18%, Hispanic 24%, and Asian 24%.

Speculation about Black women leaving the workplace just did not ring true.

Nationally, 74% of Black women are breadwinners, compared to all breadwinner households (49%) and 70% of Black single moms are breadwinners compared to all breadwinning moms (43%), according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

In California, 80% of Black women are breadwinners, including 70% of Black single moms, according to a report by the California Black Women’s Collective.

Black women have long been the heart and soul, the very engine of our community.

Here are three truths about Black women:

We work: Black women always have worked outside the home, taking care of White women’s children, homes, and the services field to “make ends meet.” We have the highest labor force participation rate of any demographic (58%). Participation rates are highest for Black Moms (75%).

We vote: We punch above our weight. While just 7% of the population, Black women vote at a 60% rate, the California Black Women’s Collective study showed. We are good citizens.

We lead: We have led through the centuries, from Nigerian Queen Amina of Zaria in the 1600s, to Harriet Tubman in the 1800s, to Mary McLeod Bethune in the 1900s, to Vice President Kamala Harris today. You can bet on Black women – because our heritage is phenomenal, and our legacy is strong. We do not quit; we work, we vote, and we lead.

For Black women’s Equal Pay Day, pay and invest in Black women! Gayle Guest-Brown is an author, speaker, executive leadership strategist and CEO of Guest Brown Impact. This commentary was originally published in the Sacramento Observer

St. Louis American staff

Roland Martin, who made news this week when he predicted, “a major backlash by the white minority resistance,” during a radio interview, will serve as keynote speaker during the 68th East St. Louis NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner.

Photo courtesy of RadioOne

Gayle GuestBrown

Norfleet

Continued from A1

the gumption to function at a high level in a perceived morbid environment but still provide the utmost care to my patients/decedents.”

St. Louis American: You have advanced to a leadership position recently. Tell us about that.

Gershom Norfleet, MD:

Yes, it is true, I have been recently appointed as the Chief Medical Examiner for the St. Louis County Medical Examiner’s Office, which is a great professional honor. This new appointment, however, comes with new responsibilities.

It is important to mention that the Office of the Medical Examiner is responsible for the investigation of all deaths which occur as a result of unusual, violent, infectious diseases or suspicious circumstances, as well as for certain deaths which by law fall under its jurisdiction. As the new duly appointed Chief Medical Examiner of St Louis County, I will be responsible for the oversight of these previously mentioned investigations and the enforcement of policy and procedure which will govern the investigations. I will also continue to participate and conduct a robust amount of autopsy examinations within our system.

St. Louis American: Are you the first Black person to hold this leadership position?

Gershom Norfleet, MD:

Yes, I am the first Black person to hold the position of Chief Medical Examiner for our region. I am honored to be a cultural pioneer in the field of Forensic Science. Growing up in University City and being able to continue to serve my community at the highest professional level to be obtained within my career path is also

Salute

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highly meaningful to me. St. Louis American: What all goes into writing your autopsy reports?

Gershom Norfleet, MD: The writing of a medico legal document (autopsy report) can take on many styles and appearances. The most critical element of every report should be the concise nature in which the cause of death and manner of death is verbalized in each and every report. The finer details of each report should be in congruence with the cause and manner of death and should at all times support these determinations. A great deal of cursory education and subsequent continued maintenance education goes into the DNA of each report in order to effectively communicate the relative details of each autopsy examination. Without effective conveyance of this autopsy “information,” the voice of my patient, the decedent, may be forever lost.

St. Louis American: People who work in criminal justice and surgery both hear from other people that it must be hard to see what they see, and your work straddles both criminal justice and surgery. How can you take seeing what you see?

Gershom Norfleet, MD: I believe we all have at least one calling in life, and sometimes you may have more than one. In regards to myself, being the voice/arbiter of my patients/ decedents gives me the unique position to speak for someone who no longer can do it for themselves and also provide closure to their living friends and family who have been left behind. Believing in this principle provides me the gumption to function at a high level in a perceived morbid environment but still provide the utmost care to my patients/decedents.

St. Louis American: With the advent of things like WebMD, it seems more people are critical consumers of healthcare and more question-

ing of their doctors, but that’s nothing compared to a medical examiner who gets picked apart by defense attorneys. What’s it like to be a surgeon who gets cross-examined – i.e., tried to make look unreliable – for a living?

Gershom Norfleet, MD: Being cross-examined during a court proceeding is one of the toughest jobs that I must perform on a regular basis. Sometimes you are asked things that have no logical answer. I take great pride in being the final physiological voice of my patients. I approach my job with intentional curiosity and sound reasoning, which typically begets results that I am comfortable with. I may not agree with all tactics that are used during cross-examination but I am satisfied with the role that I play in providing a cause and manner of death for my patients. I do not forsake the job that I must perform.

St. Louis American: At what time in your training did you choose this specialty – and why?

Gershom Norfleet, MD: I’ve always wanted to be a physician since I was around the age of six. I knew forensic pathology was the right specific career path for me after going through a tragic experience during a high school athletic contest that I was participating in. My teammate died suddenly during the game we were participating in. Going through that experience showed me the impact that a forensic pathologist can play, even in death, to gleam some sort of closure and understanding to the circumstances surrounding a tragic situation.

St. Louis American: Some lighter questions. What is some comfort music?

Gershom Norfleet, MD: Believe it or not, I play “comfort” music during my autopsy examinations. My current favorite musical genres are “New Jack Swing” music from the ‘80s and ‘90s and old-

school hip hop from the ‘80s and ‘90s.

St. Louis American: Old school hip hop – okay, let’s hear some personal favorites.

Gershom Norfleet, MD: My personal favorite oldschool hip hop joints are pretty much anything from Def Jam records, Eric B & Rakim and Big Daddy Kane. However, at the end of the day, I’m an R & B guy. If you take it one step further and give me the chopped and screwed version of any of song, I think I might be able to listen to anything.

St. Louis American: Hobbies?

My favorite hobbies include but are not limited to fishing, watching horror movies, traveling, and figuring out ways to generate passive income for myself.

St. Louis American: Figuring out ways to generate passive income for yourself –such as?

Gershom Norfleet, MD: I’ve always been a believer in working hard for your money but also making sure your money works for you. My passive income generators are nothing exotic but you can’t go wrong with them. Real estate and equity market investments are my personal favorites. I just try to remember to spend less than I bring in and then I can invest more.

St. Louis American: Favored travel destinations? My favorite travel destinations are the Caribbean and the cities of Las Vegas, Atlanta, New Orleans and Miami.

St. Louis American: Las Vegas – gaming? Shows? Both?

Gershom Norfleet, MD: Las Vegas is one of my top five favorite cities to visit. It never disappoints me. Boxing, sporting events and shows are my favorite attractions to participate in when I head out to Vegas.

St. Louis American: Recent binge watches?

Gershom Norfleet, MD: Recent series that I have binged watched are “Snowfall,” “Narcos” and “Stranger Things,” but I don’t really have a lot of time to watch shows or movies.

St. Louis American: Guilty pleasures?

Gershom Norfleet, MD: My guilty pleasures are food-related, and they are peanut butter blossom cookies and Life Saver Gummies.

Last year, the non-profit foundation distributed nearly $3 million in minority scholarships and community grants. Since its inception, the foundation and its higher education partners and individual giving, have distributed more than $11 million locally. The scholarships and grants that have been awarded since 1994 would not be possible without the generous contributions of our corporate supporters and education partners who also share our appreciation and high regard for the value and critical importance of quality education.

direction of Thomas Moore will entertain during the dinner program. The Jazz Cabaret with Denise Thimes and the “Old School Dance Party” cap the evening with Darryl Jones, DJ of Blacklight Productions, spinning records.

The Jazz Edge Orchestra, a 17-piece ensemble under the

America’s Center is not providing valet parking for the event. But there are several nearby parking garages, including one that is directly

across Washington Avenue from America’s Center. Guests can be dropped off in the circle drive at the entrances to America’s Center before their vehicle is parked.

Parking options include:

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St. Louis FC Chair Carolyn Kindle Betz, center, receives the Developer of the Year Award from Mayor Tishaura Jones and SLDC Executive Director Neal Richardson for building the expansion MLS franchise’s soccer stadium just north of Union Station on Wednesday, Sept. 28, during the Mayor’s Business Luncheon at the Marriott Grand Hotel.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Kicking in

racial complexities in the nation – and within the government. Her knowledge helped her truly grasp the magnitude of what Obama’s election and reelection symbolized.

“That energy helped me transform and focus more on the notion that there is an importance in voting – there is an importance in democracy,” Smith said. “I feel like I can relate to a lot of people who say, ‘He’s my first president. He’s my only president.’ He’s made a difference in my life, whether I was able to vote for him or not.”

Two years after Obama secured a second term in The White House, Smith was awarded a scholarship through the St. Louis American Foundation. The award provided financial support for the Metro Academic and Classical High School graduate as she pursued and obtained a degree in Digital Media and Design from the University of Kentucky. A decade later – as the St. Louis American Foundation readies for its 35th Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Gala this Saturday –she is making a difference in the lives of others through her work at the Obama Foundation. Smith, who recently earned a Master of Arts degree in Museology/Museum Studies from John Hopkins University

Schools

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Continued from A1 school psychologists than as players in the NFL.”

According to PDK International, a support organization for teachers and school leaders, Black students have been disproportionately affected by exclusionary discipline practices for decades. These practices include special education placements, suspensions, alternative learning center placement, and expulsions.

These practices, PDK wrote, are often “based on interpreting culture and behavior within a universal perspective rather than seeking to understand culture and behavior within a Black context.”

Not understanding or appreciating culture and learned behaviors, Cooper added, can have profound negative ramifications on Black students.

“The biggest problem is with assessments. [Psychologists] are testing children for learning difficulties, behavior disorders and other impairments such as ADHD…they’re assessing them for all that,” Cooper said.

“If you’re going to look at testing as a whole, it would be helpful and more effective to have people who have some knowledge of the backgrounds of the students and knowledge of how those assessment measures can deviate based on racial and cultural backgrounds.”

The lack of Black psychologists in schools was explored in a Feb. 2022 Word In Black (WIB) article titled: “Why We

Advanced Academic Programs, currently serves as exhibitions analyst for the forthcoming Obama Presidential Center.

Even though she’s been a part of the Obama Foundation for more than a year – and has already been promoted from her initial role as Exhibition Assistant – Smith still gets giddy about the life-affirming moment she accepted the job.

“I called my mom and was like, ‘I’m gonna be working for the Obamas!” Smith said. “Just imagine [working for] someone who is making history – has made history – and is still alive, a contemporary history maker. Someone who is still active in all the things that they are passionate about – whether it is art, community, or service – and having them basically be my boss.”

Her duties include logistical and administrative work across the different museum department teams. “Moving into this role, I really wanted to learn more about the museum as a whole and how the departments – such as collections, curatorial and exhibitions –really work together,” Smith said.

She hasn’t met President Obama in person yet, though they have been on a few video calls together.

“But being in that proximity around people who have been around him is so amazing,” Smith said. “And everyday I’m still like, ‘Oh my God, I’m working for the Obamas. This is crazy.’”

Need More Black Psychologists in Schools.”

“Representation matters,” the writer, Maya Pottiger, explained, noting how Black youth are grappling with some of the same “stressors” as Black adults.

The issues include the loss of more than one million Americans from COVID-19; isolation from their peers; dealing with community violence, microaggressions, fear of police violence along with transitioning from in-person classes to remote learning and then back again.

Kevin Cokley

“Black folk,” Pottiger wrote, have “taken a hit during the pandemic.”

“Someone who doesn’t have the same racial or cultural background may misdiagnose, misunderstand, and mis-assess the challenges facing Black kids,” Dr. Kevin Cokley, a professor of educational psychology and African diaspora studies at the University of Texas at Austin, told WIB.

Cooper couldn’t agree more. But she included the fact that most psychiatrists in schools –those who primarily prescribe medicine to children-are white as well.

According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), only 2% of the estimated 41,000 psychiatrists in the U.S. are Black. This number concerns Cooper.

library. It’s a center for creating change and having discourse about how to make the world a little better.”

Within the center there will be a museum, a branch of the Chicago Public Library –instead of just a Presidential Library – as well as a forum building.

“We also have a number of other amenities that are literally for the residents of the Southside of Chicago,” Smith said. “It is really going to change the whole community that’s there. And that is something that is really beautiful. It’s going to be amazing, honestly.”

As she talked about the change that she’s expecting the Obama Center to have on its surrounding community, Smith also discussed how being a St. Louis American Foundation scholarship recipient changed her life.

“It impacted me greatly,” Smith said. “I was given the recognition and acknowledgement that I am doing well, and that people trust and believe in me to continue doing good. Financially it was extremely helpful. It allowed a cushion – a pillow – for me to rest a little bit and get my bearings and know that I have support. It really invigorates you to want to continue your education and be good at what you pursue.”

A

place for change and changemakers

Smith hopes that when the center opens – which is projected to be in 2025 – it will impact visitors in the same way that

“If only 2% of the psychiatrists in schools are Black, that means that most of the psychiatrists’ Black kids see are going to be white. And, most likely, they’re going to present with certain behaviors, and they (white psychologists) are going to think it’s X, Y, or Z meaning ADHD, autism, schizophrenia, bipolar and label them with those diagnoses when in fact it may not be that at all.”

Another reason for the shortage of Black psychiatrists and psychologists in schools may have more to do with culture and exposure than outright racism or exclusion.

Cokley, speaking to WIB addressed this issue as well, saying Black people haven’t traditionally accessed professional mental health services.

“The idea was that Black people don’t go talking to strangers about their problems,” Cokley said. “We rely on religiosity and spirituality, talking to pastors and other sort of spiritual leaders, to get us through whatever emotional mental health challenges we were facing.”

Although there may be phobias in Black communities regarding seeking mental health treatment, hope is on the horizon Dr. Cokley told WIB, based on “A-listers” like Simon Biles and Kid Cudi “being more open about their mental health challenges.”

Cooper agrees with that assessment.

“The more we talk about it, the more we encourage it and support it; the more we start to recognize the full gamut of people with mental health issues,” Cooper said, adding:

working to bring the center to life has inspired her.

“It is going to be different from every other presidential library that you have. One, because we are calling it a center,” Smith said. “It’s not just a

“At least 20 years ago, when you thought about mental health issues, you thought ‘oh, this person must be crazy’ or schizophrenic. But mental health is so much more than that. It’s people with anxiety, it’s PTSD, its substance abuse, it’s people with ADHD-it runs the full gamut. So, it’s either we support and encourage them to get help, or you dismiss and ignore their problems and they go out untreated.

And we see what happens when that happens.”

Smith feels that the awardees – who have received millions in scholarship funding over the past 35 years – dispel certain misconceptions about St. Louis area students and their potential.

In her role as director of two of Webster University’s psychology programs, Cooper relishes her role as a recruiter of diverse minority students into her chosen field.

“We do a lot of minority recruitment and outreach, and we train them (students) to deal with classroom behaviors, socio/emotional issues with children and they get a good background on mental health issues tied into education and student performance.” Cooper said.

“St. Louis school districts have the kids and the talent to be able to have changemakers in the world and I am one of them,” Smith said. “I am working with a former president who is amazing and believes in the same things I believe in. There is magic in that – in seeing yourself reflected in a lot of other people. I hope that one day – I may not be president – but I get to a place where people are like, ‘wow, she is from St. Louis, she went to a St. Louis public school, she is a St. Louis American Foundation scholar and she worked to get to where she is. And she has a lot of the resources that I can have.”

She offered sound advice to this year’s cohort of scholarship recipients.

“Go after your heart. Always remember where you come from. Always remember who supported you. That will take you a lot of places,” Smith said. “Really harness on believing in yourself. Because it has already been proven that somebody else believes in you through being selected as a scholar. Trust your gut and go for your dreams.”

The 35th Annual St. Louis American Foundation Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Gala will take place at 6 p.m. (with an opening reception at 5 p.m.) on Saturday, October 1 at America’s Center. For more information, call (314) 5338000 or visit www.stlamerican. com

Even if Webster’s minority students don’t become psychologists, they will have the necessary training to help serve student’s mental health needs, Cooper argued. “If we can get them trained to work within the school systems as parent professionals, teachers, or some other specialist in those areas…well, that’s better than nothing.”

Sylvester Brown Jr. is The St. Louis American’s inaugural Deaconess Fellow.

Daria Smith recently earned her Master of Arts degree in Museology/Museum Studies from John Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs.

Roorda FIRED from SLPOA amid push to re-fund police

This week, we bring our readers good news: Jeff Roorda, the stridently racist business manager of the St. Louis Police Officers Association, has been terminated from his leadership role. The white police union reportedly severed ties with Roorda earlier this month, and Jay Schroeder, president of SLPOA, asked City officials to remove Roorda “from all bargaining related emails moving forward.” According to Roorda, his termination from the white police union was to appease Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. If so, good.

Firing Roorda means the white police union is finally willing to come to the negotiation table to discuss the City’s relationship with policing moving forward. Roorda received national attention in the wake of Michael Brown’s murder in 2014, after the former Arnold cop made countless racist statements about a city he likely

had not stepped foot in prior to Brown’s death. Considering the union has lacked a collective bargaining agreement with the City since the Krewson administration, terminating Roorda’s employment with SLPOA is long overdue. Even former mayor Lyda Krewson called for SLPOA to fire Roorda, although she continued to negotiate with the white police union with Roorda leading it. This is a victory for Mayor Jones, who has made it clear that, “if the SLPOA wants a seat at my table, they’ll get rid of Jeff Roorda.” The move comes at a time when the Mayor’s office is trying to reign in abusive private policing practices and the Comptroller is seeking pay raises for City officers. Maybe SLPOA has finally read the metaphorical writing on the wall.

Speaking of re-funding the police, the self-titled “Car Wash Daddy” Alderman Joe

Vaccaro (D-Ward 23) introduced Board Bill 82, to install and implement an “emergency vehicle traffic signal pre-emption system.” This type of system is installed at stoplights, and will turn a traffic signal red in all directions as an emergency vehicle approaches an intersection. As the emergency vehicle gets closer, all traffic hypothetically is stopped and the first responders will get a green light to proceed through. There is no data on whether or not it works. Police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances already are required to use their sirens and flashing lights when responding to an emergency.

Not only is this bill a solution in search of a problem, but the solution itself seems to be yet another mediocre police technology that fails citizens and instead lines the pockets of corporations in search of a paycheck.

We refer of course to the abysmal performance of St. Louis-area police departments’ “ShotSpotter” system, which was found by SIUE researchers to be wholly ineffective at curbing gun violence. Less than 1% of all ShotSpotter calls in the City produced enough evidence to write a police report, and the number of ShotSpotter calls resulting in an arrest amounted to less than 0.1% over a ten-year period.

But, as Board Bill 82 stood at last week’s Public Safety Committee meeting, neither Vaccaro nor his colleagues seemed to know anything about

the stop light control system that the pro-police alderman wants to implement. He doesn’t even know what the actual cost to the City would be, and he couldn’t articulate the name of the company that designed the software. All Vaccaro could do was point to St. Charles, which uses a similar system that cost around $17 million to implement. There has been no independent research to determine if this technology worksthat is, no researcher outside of companies selling this traffic light system has found that it prevents accidents.

At best, this traffic light control system is just another expensive police toy, funded by City tax dollars. At worst, Vaccaro has been horribly misguided into thinking that this system will reduce the rising number of pedestrian deaths caused by speeding vehicles.

It’s probably worth mentioning that earlier this year, Vaccaro received $500 from the St. Louis Police Officers Association (SLPOA) - at least, that’s what his campaign finance report says. SLPOA’s political action committee had actually declared that same $500 donation on November 30 - nearly two months before Vaccaro reported it to the Missouri Ethics Commission. Curiously, Vaccaro’s controversial Detention Facility Oversight Bill - which neutralized any civilian efforts to actually provide oversight to City jails - was passed exactly one week before SLPOA’s $500 contribution.

St. Charles “Mooch” Ehlmann offers unwanted advice

Speaking of St. Charles, the regional mooch County Executive Steve Ehlmann has stepped into a steaming pile of business that doesn’t belong to him, writing in the St. Louis Business Journal that St. Louis City and St. Louis County

should merge under one prosecuting attorney. Which St. Louis County prosecutor, however, was left out by Ehlmann. He must have forgotten that St. Louis County is already incredibly fractured with 91 municipalities - the vast majority of them have their own municipal court and prosecuting attorney. Maybe that’s a better starting place than finger-pointing at the City’s first Black woman mayor.

Ehlmann certainly didn’t have anything to say about rising crime in St. Louis City during the Slay and Krewson administrations, so the fact that he is now raising these issues is suspicious. Ehlmann even tries to invoke the “Great Divorce”the split between St. Louis City and County that originated in the County’s desire to continue the practice of enslaved labor and human trafficking. But the point that Ehlmann deliberately fails to raise in his heavilyopinionated piece is the ongoing racism that is inherent in the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the systemic injustices that have stood in the way of equality in its treatment of Black citizens.

ly-elected prosecuting attorney for the City of St. Louis neutralized in her ability to do her job -- but seemingly doesn’t require anyone to be subject to this law anywhere else in the state.

Why is it always Missouri Republicans advocating to take away voter power? And why does the St. Charles County Executive feel empowered to say anything about St. Louis City, when his own county prosecutor’s office is lead by an accused domestic abuser and drunk driver, Tim Lohmar? Let’s not forget that under Ehlmann’s “leadership”, St. Charles County refused to implement any measures to slow the spread of COVID and instead voted to allocate more than $1 million in federal COVID relief dollars to increase the number of police officers in schools. As research has revealed, the presence of police in schools does not deter violent crime or school shootings but does increase the number of suspensions, expulsions, and arrests of students.

Despite St. Charles County providing no tax base for Lambert International Airport, Ehlmann wants to criticize without proposing an equitable solution, other than “give more conservative white politicians more power.”

But perhaps most offensive in Ehlmann’s op-ed is his suggestion that St. Louis City voters be disregarded when police officers are prosecuted for injuring or killing a civilian. Specifically, what this personwho does not live in either the City or County - “recommends” is that the Missouri legislature pass a law to require “only the attorney general, or a prosecutor from another jurisdiction appointed by the judge, decide whether to prosecute police officers involved in the shooting of a civilian.” In other words, Ehlmann wants to see the democratical-

Maybe Ehlmann should clean up his own house, including sharing in the costs that support some of the region’s cultural amenities and initiatives that could give this region a better opportunity to compete in the new world that is coming, inexorably, into being, before looking through the windows of others. It is the backward and regressive thinking of elected officials like Ehlmann who see their power being curbed that undermines any change that could lead to a better, more equitable future for this region. While he and his colleagues gripe and seek to exploit fear and grievance, with their selfabsorbed retrograde thinking, the opportunity to move forward is ignored in favor of parochialism and divisiveness. They need to take a deep breath and gain a new more realistic perspective on what will really drive this region forward.

Receiving a flu shot helps keep you and your community healthy. Experts are predicting a more severe flu season this year, so it’s important that we work together to reduce the spread of this contagious virus. THANKS FOR DOING YOUR PART BY GETTING A FLU SHOT!

Jeff Roorda

Steve Ehlmann

Webster U. Dept. of Teacher Education garners national recognition

Earns prestigious Frank Murray Award

St. Louis American staff

Webster University has won a highly sought-after distinction for its department that teaches future teachers and administrators. The Department of Teacher Education within the School of Education at Webster University has earned a 2022 Frank Murray Award from The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Webster’s Educator

Preparedness Program is one of 33 schools out of more than 600 around the world that won the honor, and it is the lone Missouri college or university recognized.

Each year, CAEP grants the Frank Murray Award to outstanding educator preparation providers who complete a rigorous accreditation process. It is reserved for those institutions “that achieve the gold standard in teacher preparation accreditation with a clean review – meaning zero stipulations for change or improvement,” according to CAEP.

The award also specifically honors programs that are laudable for their commitment to continual improvement and ongoing innovation.

Webster School of Education Interim Dean Stephanie Mahfood, called it an “unexpected honor” and yet a fitting one.

“It affirms the depth and rigor of Webster’s educator preparedness,” she said.

Mahfood named the teaching and practice of student assessment and feedback as one of many components of continued excellence at Webster.

“As professionals who teach teachers about teaching by teaching, we teach about assessment of student learning and how data inform instructional decisions,” she said.

“We have worked deliberately to craft an assessment and feedback system for our own students that models this best practice. I’m pleased our accreditors have recognized the ongoing collaborative effort, reflection, and adjustment this requires.

“Our goal is to prepare educators who are able to do the same kind of work for the students they will teach.”

Webster profs examine ‘Colorism’

Rebecca George and

Alexanderia Smith, Webster University professors, represented Webster at the National Cross Cultural and Education Conference for Research Action and Change in Savannah, Georgia on Sept. 23.

The duo made a presentation entitled “Complicity in Colorism: Transcending the Shades of Internalized Oppression.” It provided a historical context of colorism and examined ways it remains prevalent throughout the media, the dating scene and even among friends and family.

They also discussed possible solutions, including cognitive restructuring as a means to combat the impact of colorism.

George and Smith are both full-time faculty in Webster’s Department of Professional Counseling and are based in Columbia, South Carolina.

The 2022 conference theme was “Advancing Social Justice through Systemic Change.”

“The tensions between this unrest and the activism of those fighting against it continue to reveal the need for mental health providers, educators, higher education professionals, change agents, and students to be equipped with the multicultural knowledge, awareness, skills, and professional development to meet the social justice demands of the 21st century,” according to the NCCEC.

Vaccination is the safest and most e ective way to avoid getting sick or spreading the virus to others. Everyone 5 and older can get a free vaccine at their doctor's o ce, pharmacy, or any St. Louis County health clinic.

Anyone 12 and older is eligible for a booster shot 5 months after their rst vaccination. Booster shots o er even more protection, and just like your rst vaccine, they're free and available throughout St. Louis County and City.

“Taking Care of You”

Overcoming ovarian cancer

Knowing symptoms can save your life

By JoAnn Weaver

For The St. Louis American

About 19,880 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2022, while about 374 women are diagnosed annually in Missouri, according to the American Cancer Society.

The St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness [SLOCA] organization is ramping up efforts to educate area women about ovarian cancer’s impact and promote early detection.

While September, National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, is nearing its close SLOCA’s 16th Annual Families Run for Ovarian Cancer ROC Star 5k will take place at the Soldier’s Memorial in downtown St. Louis on October 9, 2022.

In its 20th year of service to the St. Louis community, the organization will host a series of events for the public to learn more about the four most common symptoms (Watch 4 the Signs), support survivors, honor those lost, and raise funds for ovarian cancer research.

n The four most common symptoms of ovarian cancer are bloating, abdominal or pelvic pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary symptoms [urgency or frequency.]

The signs are bloating, abdominal or pelvic pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary symptoms [urgency or frequency.]

SLOCA is the lone nonprofit in Missouri devoted solely to ovarian cancer awareness and survivor support, according to a statement. It was founded in 2002 by seven women battling ovarian cancer and has since invested more than a half-million dollars in funding research for ovarian cancer and educating tens of thousands through local health fairs and community events.

“One of our greatest challenges we face here at SLOCA is that there is no early detection screening for ovarian cancer, and that symptoms are not widely known by the general public,” said Susan Robben, SLOCA executive director and an ovarian cancer survivor.

“According to the CDC [Center for Disease Control and Prevention] State Cancer Profiles from 2020, about 168 new cases are diagnosed annually in the St. Louis Metro area. 136 are diagnosed in the late stages when treatment options and survival rates are low.

“By promoting awareness of early warning signs and symptoms, we are striving to positively impact ovarian cancer survivorship.”

She has served in her role for seven years and says SLOCA’s mission is to not only provide support but “offer a community to those affected by ovarian cancer, whether they face a cancer diagnosis themselves or is standing by a loved one.”

‘Hear her’ a needed voice for women

By Dr. Wanda Barfield

During her first pregnancy, a woman named Valencia struggled with headaches and dizziness. When she reported worsening symptoms, she felt like no one took her seriously.

“I didn’t know who to talk to and wasn’t sure how to speak up for myself,” she recalled. It was her primary care provider who finally helped her get the care she needed. Valencia is among the many people who face serious health complications during and after pregnancy. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has launched its “Hear Her” campaign to raise awareness of the potentially life-threatening warning signs during and in the year after pregnancy. The campaign is working to:

• Increase awareness of serious pregnancy-related complications and their warning signs.

• Empower women to speak up and raise concerns.

• Encourage women’s support systems to engage in important conversations with her.

• Provide tools for women and providers to better engage in life-saving conversations.

n The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has launched its “Hear Her” campaign to raise awareness of the potentially life-threatening warning signs during and in the year after pregnancy.

Hear Her’s target audiences include pregnant women, women who have given birth within the last year [postpartum women], and their support network, including partners, family, and friends. Also, healthcare providers that interact with pregnant or postpartum women. Too many people die from pregnancy-related complications each year. Tragically, four in five of these deaths could be prevented. There are considerable racial disparities when it comes to pregnancy-related deaths. Black and American Indian/Alaska Native women are two to three times more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes than white women.

Several factors contribute to the maternal mortality rate among Black and American Indian/Alaska Native women.

Structural racism and implicit bias can play

Bush seeks funding for victims of police violence

By Alvin A. Reid The St. Louis American

Former Major League Baseball player

Bobby Tolan was a talented centerfielder whose defensive skills helped the St. Louis Cardinals win the World Series in 1967 and capture the National League crown the following year.

His son, Robbie, played in the Washington Nationals organization until December 31, 2008, when 10-year Bellaire, Texas police officer Jeffrey Cotton shot the unarmed 23-year-old in his parent’s driveway. Cotton said he was investigating a car theft, which Tolan had nothing to do with. Somehow, the young Black man was shot. Charges were pressed against Cotton, and the police officer was found not guilty.

Robbie Tolan is a staunch supporter of Congresswoman Cori Bush’s Helping Families Heal Act, legislation that would

n Robbie Tolan is a staunch supporter of Congresswoman Cori Bush’s Helping Families Heal Act, legislation that would fund mental health resources to support those impacted by police violence.

fund mental health resources to support those impacted by police violence. Her bill was filed on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022.

“My story, like so many others, will never stop being told in this country. Every time a person of color is executed by police, we are forced to relive our worst nightmares. We are never able to heal because it continues to happen daily,” Tolan said in a statement.

Congresswoman Cori Bush filed the Helping Families Heal Act on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2002. The legislation would fund mental health resources to support those impacted by police violence.

From left, Susan Robben, St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness executive director, ovarian cancer survivor Chontelle Wilson, and LaMonica Taylor spread awareness about the warning signs of ovarian cancer.

Photo courtesy of SLOCA

Photo courtesy of House.gov

Dr. Wanda Barfield

“Taking Care of You”

Cancer

Continued from A12

“I was diagnosed at 23 years old with ovarian cancer in the early ‘80s,” Robben said. “This is sometimes an unusual age for this kind of serious illness, but I experienced all of the classic symptoms.”

According to Robben, statistics show there are few ovarian cancer survivors and that most women with the disease

Bush

Continued from A12

“We are forced to live with physical, emotional, and psychological trauma, compounded with the financial burden of expensive surgeries, funeral arrangements, and legal fees. While long overdue, [the bill] will assist in creating a place of solace and healing for victims and families dealing with trauma from police brutality.”

Bush said she collaborated with Lezley McSpadden, mother of the late Michael Brown who was shot and killed by a former Ferguson police officer in 2014.

“As St. Louis continues to be among the top regions of police killings nationwide, it is time we center the trauma associated with state-sanctioned violence,” Bush said.

“Currently, there are no government-funded mental health programs or services targeted for victims of police brutality, leaving communities without the tools to heal and for the trauma to linger.”

McSpadden said her mental trauma following her son’s death, “has never let me leave Canfield Drive.

“Mental health therapy is a first line treatment for trauma.

Barfield

Continued from A12

a role in the disparity. For example, delayed prenatal care initiation is associated with personal experiences of bias and racism. Protective factors also do not seem to convey the same risk reduction for some minority populations. We see persistent disparities

battle it for most of their lives.

“It’s important that women know the symptoms and advocate for their own health,” Robben said. “By the time I was diagnosed, it was a critical situation where I had to get surgery and endure several rounds of intense chemotherapy. I hope my story can inspire and motivate other women going through this journey.”

Based on census data, 6,673 women in the St. Louis County area will experience ovarian cancer in their lifetime, according to Dr. Shannon Grabosch.

Being strong isn’t physical, it’s very much mental. To be equipped with a strategy on how to strengthen the mind while giving direction to your emotions and learning how to heal from your trauma will make you whole.”

According to Bush, her bill would:

-Establish a Helping Families Heal Program under the Health and Human Services to implement community-based mental health programs and services to victims and families of victims who have experienced law enforcement violence.

-Establish the Healing for Students Program under the Department of Education to increase mental health resources for students and school personnel impacted by law enforcement violence.

-Allocate $100 million to support mental health resources and improve access mental health services for communities harmed by police violence.

“When a loved one suffers at the hands of police, the entire family contends with the emotional pain, physical injuries, toxic stress, and financial burdens caused by such violence,” said Kristin Henning, director of the Georgetown Law School Juvenile Justice Initiative.

in maternal mortality, regardless of educational attainment. In addition, access to quality care can be an issue. It has been found that hospitals that disproportionately cared for Black women at delivery had increased poor outcomes for both Black and white women in those hospitals. To address racial and ethnic disparities in maternal mortality, the CDC supports the work of Maternal Mortality Review

“Women of color tend to have poorer outcomes of treatment,” Grabosch said. Additionally, the doctor talked how important it is to monitor your health and practice self-care.

“I think this is time where people are barely keeping up with their daily demands, and I think the average woman has so much on her plate that she is the last person that she is taking care of,” she said. “I say this not only as a physician but also a woman myself.”

With the strain the COVID-

19 pandemic has caused, more women are returning to the workforce and unfortunately the symptoms of ovarian cancer are incredibly vague, making it easy to brush things off, according to Grabosch.

Chontelle Wilson is another survivor and an active SLOCA volunteer. Her journey with ovarian cancer began in 2016 where proactive steps she took to investigate a strange pain saved her life.

“It was unexpected because I had good health but one night, I had pain in my abdom-

inal area and all I could do was tell my son something isn’t right and I need to go to the emergency room,” she said.

Wilson said at the ER, they found a grapefruit sized object on the right side of her pelvic area. From there, she scheduled an appointment with an oncologist, which became her surgery date.

“November 21 was the day of the surgery and once it was done, I began to recover,” Wilson said. “I was told the doctor removed everything, and the next day he explained it

[Bush’s bill] is a critical first step toward providing people impacted by police violence with the care and support they need to heal and move forward. Civil right attorney Ben Crump said, “I applaud Rep. Cori Bush for drafting this legislation in Michael Brown’s honor, and remain in awe of Lezley McSpadden, Michael’s mother –– a fierce advocate for

Committees around the country to get quality data about the circumstances surrounding a pregnancy-related death, including the documentation of bias, discrimination, and racism.

Committees use this data to make recommendations to prevent future pregnancy-related deaths and are also used by CDC to better understand maternal mortality across the nation.

her son’s legacy.”

“This first-of-its-kind bill will be critical in helping victims of police violence heal from tragedy. While we wish this bill wasn’t necessary, the fact of the matter is that police violence is a reality for far too many people of color, the effects of which can last a lifetime.”

Crump is urging Americans

A better understanding of pregnancy-related deaths can lead to identifying the initiatives that will have the most impact. Standardized quality care can ensure the right care in the right places at the right time for women. And high-quality care doesn’t end at delivery. It should extend into the postpartum period up to a year after delivery, when about a third of pregnancy-related deaths occur.

The 16th annual Families Run for Ovarian Cancer ROC Star 5k and 1-Mile Run/ Walk is on Sunday, Oct. 9, at Soldier’s Memorial in downtown St. Louis. Participants can sign up for a timed 5k or an one-mile fun run/walk. The event is dedicated to supporting women battling ovarian cancer, their families and loved ones and the medical community.

was a rare form of cancer, so it was good that you got in sooner. If you had waited any later, I would not have been able to do anything for you.” Wilson says although she is cancer free, she gets regular check-ups with the doctor who performed the surgery that saved her life. For more information to support SLOCA’s ongoing efforts or participate in their various events throughout September and October, visit their website at www.sloca. org/

Lezley McSpadden, mother of the late Michael Brown, collaborated with Congresswoman Cori Bush in crafting the Helping Families Heal Act. The unarmed Brown was shot and killed by a then Ferguson police officer in August 2014. The officer was not charged with a crime.

to contact their U.S. Representatives and request they support Bush’s bill.

“Our lives are forever shattered as we contend with the inter-generational trauma affecting every facet of our existence (spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, socially),” said Gina Best of Mothers of the Movement, a group of women whose African American children have been killed by police officers or by gun violence.

“Therefore, it is imperative that all impacted individuals and families are acknowledged and supported with the specific care and resources needed to function and reconfigure our lives as we seek justice for our loved ones.”

Many pregnant and postpartum people may feel ignored or dismissed when sharing their concerns, which may make them hesitant to ask questions or speak up. Not fully listening may cause healthcare providers to miss warning signs that require urgent care. Hear Her encourages partners, friends, family, and healthcare professionals to really listen when a person says something doesn’t feel

right. Acting quickly could save their life. For more information, visit cdc.gov/HearHer Wanda Barfield, MD, MPH, FAAP, is the director of the Division of Reproductive Health within the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Photo courtesy of SLOCA

Photo BY Wiley Price / St. Louis American

PRESENT:

PRESENT:

Dining Out.

Nutrition Challenge:

What Is ASize?Serving

GRAINS Keep ‘em Whole!

The Smart Way!

Staying Active (Naturally) DuringSummer!the Smart Summer Eating!

FruitsDay & Vegetables

Warm Up & Cool Down

Do This. Not That!

What Is A Calorie?

Exercise Game

First Day of Spring!

Choices

Wash Your Hands!

Tech-Neck

for several different reasons.

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

Nutrition Challenge:

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

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

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

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

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

One way to make sure you’re getting the nutrition your body needs is to have a goal of (at least) 5 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables — every single day! Each serving is only about ½ cup, so it’s easier than you think! Here are a few tips.

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

Cola

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

Healthy Kids

those leftovers for lunch the next day!

are popcorn, wheatberries, brown rice and wild rice.

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

lifestyle. You can do this by forming new habits. For example, if you decide to eliminate sugary drinks completely, it only takes a few weeks until this becomes what you’re used to.

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

Here are the steps to making a healthy permanent change. We‘ll use the sugary drink change as an example.

Let’s make a game out of exercise!

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

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

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

Cocoa Puffers Cereal

INGREDIENTS:

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

> Start by substituting one drink per day to water.

> Start off your day with a piece of fruit!

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

Weekly Newspaper in Education Program

> Try new fruits and vegetables each week.

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

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

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

Latoya Woods, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

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

> Why not add fruits or vegetables to your fall baking? You can boil and puree many different kinds to add to cakes, breads, etc.

> What are some other ways to add fruits/ vegetables to your diet?

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

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

Learning Standards:

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

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

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

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

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

Melissa Douglass, MSW

Aaron

Bell, EMT

Deborah Edwards, School Nurse

Where

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

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

I am an EMT – B at Abbott EMS in Belleville, Illinois.

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

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

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

> Wash your parent’s car.

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

> Walking to the store when possible.

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

> Walking = 120-150

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

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

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

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

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

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

Calories are a way to measure the amount of “energy” gained from eating something. So if you eat a medium apple (about 100 calories), that’ll provide the energy for you to do a simple physical task such as walk around the block. Calories aren’t the bad guys; extra weight happens

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

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

First, locate either a deck of cards or two dice. Next you’ll need to make a list of different types of exercise: jumping jacks, sit-ups, lunges, etc. Write each exercise item on a small piece of paper or index

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

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

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

when we consume (eat) more of them than we need. That’s why it’s important to stay physical and burn those calories throughout the day. Here are some ideas, and the calories an average 125-pound person will burn in 30 minutes (depending on speed).

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

Instead of watching TV — ride your bike with friends.

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

> Running = 180-300

> Biking = 240-300

> Mowing = 135

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

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

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

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

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5

Over the last 35 weeks we have discussed many smart choices that you can make to help you stay safe and healthy. Break into small groups and list as many Smart Choices that your group remembers. Now individually, choose one that you think is very important. Describe in your own words what that smart choice is, and how you can remember to make the right choice in the future. Name a new “smart choice“ that you will make this summer.

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

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

> Watching TV = 23 Visit http://www.calorieking. com/foods for an excellent guide to the calories in the foods you eat.

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1

Learning Standards:

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH3

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

> What to do if you see someone else bullied.

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

One of the best ways to protect yourself from getting sick is to wash your hands. Think about surfaces that are touched by many people: door handles, computer keys, telephones, stair railings and sports equipment. If the person using it before you is sick and then you touch it, you could catch their illness from the germs they leave behind. So practice washing your hands multiple times a day, especially before eating, to stay healthier!

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

Cracker-wiches

> What to do if YOU are the bully.

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

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

What does a Licensed Clinical Social Worker do?

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

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

What does an EMT do? My day-to-day includes helping others when they aren’t feeling their best. I also assist getting them to the hospital when they can’t take themselves.

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

Where do you work? I am an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) for Abbott EMS in Belleville, Illinois. Where did you go to school? I graduated from East St. Louis Senior High School. I earned an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Administration from Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, Illinois, and I then received an EMT certification from Abbott EMS. What does an EMT do? On a daily basis I help people in critical situations, to and from hospitals or other facilities. I also use lights and sirens to navigate through traffic.

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

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

Why did you choose this career? I chose this career because I love helping people and making a change in my community and field. I have family members in the medical field and I always wanted that as well.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Flav-O-Pop

Ingredients:

Ingredients: Low-Fat or Air-Popped Popcorn

Frozen Yogurt Blueberry Bites

Ingredients: 1/2 Cp

Flavorings: Taco Seasoning, Parmesan Cheese, Hot Pepper Flakes, Garlic Powder, Italian Seasoning, etc.

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 3, NH 1, NH 7

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

> How bullying hurts others.

> What to do if you are bullied.

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

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, NH 5

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

> What other ice hazards are there?

Ingredients: 1 cup blueberries 1 cup non-fat Greek Yogurt

Directions: Prepare popcorn. Sprinkle your favorite flavoring on top and shake, shake, shake! Experiment with different combinations to create a delicious snack!

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 4

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

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

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

butter, 1 Ripe banana (sliced and frozen), Splash of vanilla (optional) 6 Ice cubes

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

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

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

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

Why did you choose this career? I chose this career because I enjoy helping others problem solve. Also, I have twin stepsons, one who wants to be a police officer, and the other who wants to be a doctor. I thought that being an EMT helped me to meet them both in the middle. And, back in 2018, I had my own medical emergency and was transported by ambulance to a hospital. The paramedic that took care of me was so comforting and assuring that I realized that becoming an EMT is an honorable career. I now work with that same paramedic, at the same company.

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

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

What is your favorite part of the job you have? My favorite part of my job is putting a smile on a patient’s face during a tough time, while also comforting anxious family members.

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

What is your favorite part of the job you have?

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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

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

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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

Learning Standards: HPE 6, NH 3

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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

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

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

Yonniece Rose, Registered Nurse

Banana PB Smoothie

Vanilla Greek yogurt, 3 Tbsp Natural peanut

Marnay Howard, EMT - B

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

Science students investigate the "Scene of the Crime" created by the Illinois State Police Forensic Science Laboratory. They are learning about forensics by locating clues and solving the crime.

Diabetes is a condition where a person’s body does not use glucose (also known as sugar) properly. There are two main types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is caused by genetic factors. It is not caused by eating too much sugar. Type 2 diabetes is usually linked to being overweight, along with poor diet choices (sugar, fats, fast foods, etc.)

When a person has diabetes, their pancreas is affected. A diabetic has to maintain a very careful and balanced diet to keep their body working effectively. They are in danger of high or low blood sugar effects. Diabetics are more likely to develop heart disease

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

Background Information:

Will a marshmallow sink or float? What do you think? Do you believe it is possible to sink a marshmallow? In this activity, you will use trial and error to choose your course of action when you attempt to sink a marshmallow.

Materials Needed:

• Marshmallow • Container of Water (glass, bottle, pitcher)

Process:

q Place the marshmallow in the container of water. Does it sink or float?

MATH CONNECTION

Diabetics need to watch their carbohydrate intake. In this activity, you will focus on carbs. The American Diabetes Association suggests eating 45-60 grams of carbohydrate per meal, for a total range of approximately 150 grams of carbohydrates per day.

z If your meal consists of the following, how many grams of carbohydrates did you eat?

Baked chicken: 4 oz serving, 0 carb grams

Mashed potatoes: 4 oz serving, 25 carb grams Caesar salad with dressing: 3 oz serving, 5 carb grams

Mixed vegetables: 3 oz serving, 8 carb grams

A medium-sized roll: 2 oz serving, 22 carb grams

Total grams of carbohydrates ______

x If 1/3 cups of rice has 15 grams of carbohydrates, how many carbohydrates are in a 1 cup serving? ______

DID YOU KNOW?

According to the American Diabetes Association:

African -American Biochemist, MD, and Diabetes Expert James R. Gavin, III

and kidney disease. They are more likely to have high blood pressure and strokes. Diabetes also effects a person’s skin and the ability for wounds to heal.

Diabetes is not contagious. In order to prevent type 2 diabetes, eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, and lead an active lifestyle.

For more information, visit: http://kidshealth.org/ kid/centers/diabetes_center. html#cat20491.

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

w What can you do to make it sink? Work with a partner to create a list of 5 ideas.

e Try your five ideas from step 2. Which idea was most effective? Why?

r Compare your results with your classmates. Was anybody successful?

Learning Standards: I can follow directions to complete a prompt. I can make predictions and analyze results.

c If you eat 1/2 bagel with 30 grams of carbohydrates and 1 tablespoon of jelly with 15 grams of carbohydrates, how many grams of carbohydrates did you eat? ______ How many grams of carbohydrates do you have left for the day? ______

v A 16 ounce bottle of soda has an average of 48 grams of carbohydrates. If you drink two bottles of soda per day, how many grams of carbohydrates did you consume? ______ If you drink one bottle of soda per day, how many carbohydrates do you consume in a week? ______

Learning Standards: I can use addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to solve problems. I can make text to world and text to self connections.

healthcare dollars is spent treating diabetes and its complications, and 1 in 5 healthcare dollars is spent caring for people with diabetes.

James R. Gavin, III, was born in Mobile, Alabama, in 1945. Growing up, Gavin was very close to his grandmother whom he called “Mama Rennie,” and he looked forward to visiting her for fun adventures and story time. One particular visit, Gavin was surprised to find his energetic grandma in bed. Mama Rennie explained to Gavin that she had diabetes and had to have her leg amputated (removed) due to complications from the disease. The following summer, Mama Rennie lost her other leg and became very ill and died. Gavin was very determined to learn more about diabetes and work to find solutions.

In 1966, Gavin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Livingstone College. He graduated magna cum laude. Magna cum laude is a Latin phrase meaning with high honors. College students who maintain very high grades will earn this honor. In 1970, Gavin earned a PhD in biochemistry from Emory University. Next, he focused on his diabetes studies with the National Institutes of Health and earned a medical degree from Duke University in 1975. Gavin has worked as Senior Scientific Officer at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Maryland and Director of the National Institutes of Health Research Scholars Program. He has served as president and professor at Morehouse School of Medicine. He has also been a Professor and Chief of the Diabetes Section, Acting Chief of the Section on Endocrinology, Metabolism and Hypertension, and the William K. Warren Professor for Diabetes Studies at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

Dr. Gavin was a medical expert in the court case Kapche vs. Holder. Jeff Kapche applied to work as a special agent for the FBI, but was denied due to the fact that he treated his diabetes with an insulin injection, instead of a pump. Gavin stated that Kapche’s diabetes was considered a disability under federal law. Therefore, the FBI could not use his medical condition as a reason not to hire him. Dr. Gavin is considered a national authority on diabetes.

Gavin has written more than 180 manuscripts, book chapters and scientific abstracts and has received the following awards and honors: Banting Medal for Distinguished Service, Association's Clinician of the Year award, Association's Public Policy Leadership Award.

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

MAP CORNER

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

Activity One —

Exercise Graph: Look through the newspaper ads for sports and fitness equipment or classes. Judging from the ads, what are the most popular forms of exercise? Create a bar graph to display the results. What are the benefits of each type of exercise? Create a newspaper advertisement for the form of exercise you enjoy most. Include the benefits of that exercise in your ad (muscle tone, flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, etc.)

Activity Two — Sports Expressions: Locate final scores of various games in the newspaper. Write an expression representing the difference of two final scores. Have a friend find the difference to form a number sentence. Check your friend’s answer.

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can create a bar graph to display information. I can write to persuade. I can write for a specific person and audience. I can make text to self connections.

The St. Louis American’s award winning NIE program provides newspapers and resources to more than 8,000 teachers and students each week throughout the school year, at no charge.

Community

Working together to drive progress

At Bank of America, we continue to support diverse local communities to help fuel economic opportunity and growth. We’re inspired by the determination and passion of Hispanic-Latinos and are committed to doing more as a trusted partner. Here are some of the ways we’re helping:

Listening

Our Hispanic-Latino Business Councils across the country are focused on understanding the needs of our clients so we can better serve them.

Supporting

We’re furthering our partnership with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Inc., helping emerging leaders succeed in today’s economy.

Delivering

Our Better Money Habits® platform is available in Spanish, Mejores Hábitos Financieros,® to help people build financial know-how and make informed, confident decisions.

My teammates and I are proud of the work we’re doing in St. Louis to address the needs of our clients and the diverse communities we serve.

Marilyn Bush President, Bank of

Big Mama’s serving more than BBQ to ESL community

Helping youth is on the menu

By Ashley Winters

The St. Louis American

When you walk into Big Mama’s BBQ in East St. Louis, the first thing you’ll notice is a huge menu filled with year-round summertime style BBQ.

For starters, there is the snoot, pork ribs, hot links, and pork steak. Soul music flows through the speakers, making you feel like doing the “two-step” or “four corners” dance moves.

Craig Hunter is a 22-year veteran in the restaurant industry. He opened his first location of Big Mama’s BBQ in Belleville, Illinois, a suburb about 13 miles from East St. Louis. His second location was at Scott Air Force Base and third location was near Clinton Golf Course in Swansea Illinois.

Big Mama’s is a gem in the community. Hunter is doing more than serving good food; he is making a difference in the lives of young people in the community of East St. Louis.

“That’s one thing I’m going to do as long as

I’m here. I’m going to make sure that I instill in these kids that they have a chance because there are so many kids down here who don’t have a chance,” said Hunter.

All locations were very successful, Hunter says. But when he was catering events at golf courses he sometimes wouldn’t end a shift until 3 a.m.

With all the accolades he was receiving for his service and tasty food, the widely-acclaimed pit master felt he needed to do more in communities that are underserved, especially with kids who grow up in less appealing neighborhoods.

He closed down the other locations and moved Big Mama’s BBQ to East St. Louis in 2010. He was reminded of the stark differences between the communities he served. Poverty and crime stared him in the face, and the only thing he could think of was to fight back was to mentor youths before the streets got a hold of them.

With passion in his voice, Hunter said, “There’s poverty down here, and the kids don’t have the same opportunities as the kids in

Belleville and O’Fallon.”

According to PRB data between 2007 and 2018 over 30% of Black children in the United States live in poverty. The population of East St. Louis was nearly 30,000, Illinois demographics data show the metro-east town’s Black population is 96.1% compared to 1.4% of the white population. The average household income is just above $24,000.

However, crime has been declining since 2014. Now some may say that is because the population has been on the down tick and in 2020 the population decreased by nearly 8,000 people. Yet Hunter says that is not enough to make a difference in the neighborhoods or the lives of the kids he cares so much about.

“We need to do something about these communities down here,” said the restaurant owner.

Almost half of Big Mama’s BBQ staff are high school students or recently graduated high school students. There are also employees who have

See BIG MAMA’S, B2

A helpful Habitat

HNB provides guidance for minority-owned businesses

By Ashley Winters

The St. Louis American

Habitat for Neighborhood Business (HNB) is helping take minority-owned businesses to a new level of excellence. Since 2018, program director Gladys Smith has helped mentor, locate resources, and secure funds for Black and brown business owners in St. Louis city.

That year, the HNB decided to put more traction behind the program and hire a full-time director for the mostly volunteer-based program. When Smith joined the team there were only four entrepreneurs. Today, the program is working with 50 entrepreneurs.

“At one point we were the best-kept secret in St. Louis, and we are invested in minority-owned businesses in the city of St. Louis,” said Smith. Smith says HNB meets their mentees where they are professionally. The program helps members connect to local experts that can assist in guiding them on their entrepreneurial journey.

Everything the program offers is free of charge to the entrepreneurs, and they can be a part of HNB for as long as they want. The program accepts minority-owned businesses that are either established, struggling, or new. Smith says it doesn’t matter as they are willing to extend a helping hand.

HNB has open enrollment, and the only incentive is the business has to be in the city of St. Louis.

The Saint Louis University (SLU) program has been a part of the Chaifetz School of Business school since 2006, and was founded by alum Doug Brown. While traveling across the country for work he noticed the lack of minority-owned businesses in Black and brown communities.

Brown noticed the many disadvantages these communities faced because of a lack of businesses that reflected the community they were in. He made

See HABITAT, B2

PeoPle on the Move

Hodge named DEI director at UHSP

Harlan Hodge was selected as the director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis, where he is leading campus wide DEI efforts. His work is focused on creating a community and culture of belonging on campus, while partnering with groups on and off-campus to recruit and retain students and expand educational development opportunities. Prior to this role, Hodge served as Senior Manager of Diversity and Inclusion at BJC HealthCare. He is a 2019 recipient of a St. Louis American Foundation Salute to Young Leaders award.

Dr. Jones named Exec. VP at Concordance

Dr. Tiph Jones has been named executive vice president, head of education and employment at Concordance. At Concordance, Dr. Jones will be responsible for leading the Education & Employment team, comprised of career coaches and career educators who provide job training and education as part of the Concordance Re-Entry Model. She will also be responsible for developing strategic relationships with local and national hiring partners as part of the Concordance Employment Agency.

Joyce Glass named manager at S.M. Wilson

S. M. Wilson, a St. Louis-based construction manager and general contracting firm, has hired Joyce Glass as administrative manager. As an ambassador for S. M. Wilson, Glass provides administrative expertise and support firmwide in her role as administrative manager. She is responsible for ensuring smooth day-to-day operations and adequate flow of information across the company’s support departments. Glass brings more than 20 years of experience to S. M. Wilson. She has an extensive background in strategic human resources management, staff development, recruiting, employee relations, procedure creation and legal compliance.

Orange receives Women of Achievement Award

Cheryl Orange, a lieutenant with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department District 3 and Ethical Society of Police board member, has been named as a recipient of the 2022 St. Louis Women of Achievement Award. Orange has served as a police officer for more than 30 years. Recognized for her dedication to social responsibility, Orange dedicates her time to a range of community organizations. She founded STL’s Finest Skate Crew and Rollin’ for Backstoppers, which increases awareness and provides support to spouses and children of fallen first responders.

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

Craig Hunter in front of his well-known Big Mamma’s BBQ in East St. Louis, Ill. Monday Sept. 19.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Dr. Tiph Jones

Joyce Glass

Cheryl Orange

Harlan Hodge

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American Habitat for Neighborhood Business’ Gladys Smith in her office at the Chaifetz School of Business on the campus of St. Louis University Tuesday, Sept. 20.

Continued from B1

a vow to himself that once he retired he would start a program to help increase the number of successful Black and brown businesses. He wanted to address the lack of economic reciprocity, and the wealth gap between communities of color compared to white communities. By helping Black and brown people become their own bosses.

According to data from the Lending Tree, the U.S. Black population is 12.8%, but only 2.4% of U.S. businesses are Black owned. Moreover, 86.5% of U.S. businesses are owned by someone white, even though white people account for a lower percentage of the U.S. population which is 72%.

The report also shows St. Louis has a total of 51,852 businesses, of that number 3,112 are Black-owned. That means that only 6% of businesses in St. Louis are Blackowned. Meanwhile, the Black population is 18%.

Brown decided to collaborate with his former SLU alum, current SLU colleagues, and the SLU administration to help bring HNB to fruition.

For the last 16 years, HNB has been a major source of resources for many minority-owned local businesses.

HNB has perfected its mentor program by creating the Mentoring Forum. Ten entrepreneurs are placed in a group and partnered with an expert. The Mentoring Forum meets monthly to network, receive advice, and create mock business plans to develop their skills.

Smith said, “We are here to help these businesses not only survive but thrive.”

“We are here to help support their business and business needs.”

Travious Brooks owner of Brooks Family Entertainment has been a member of HNB since 2015 and says HNB has given him so much, connecting him to vital members of the community, and local experts that would have been out of his

Big Mama’s

Continued from B1

been with Hunter for years.

He is grateful for his staff but says that it’s unfair to area youths “when they graduate from high school and they don’t have jobs in their community they can work at.”

Some kids and adults feel trapped and Hunter said people with money and power should invest in these communities.

“Our kids are worth it, just like those kids who live out in the suburbs,” said Hunter.

Hunter teaches young people “to work as a family.”

He instructs them on financial literacy, shares life lessons about investing and saving, and tells them how important it is to give back to the communities they live in.

He teaches his employees to take pride in their work, to serve the customers as if they were long time friends or family.

Jermaryon Crogier, 16, is familiar with Hunter’s daily chats about life. The East St. Louis High School sophomore says that he grew up at the BBQ restaurant because his mom worked there for years.

reach had it not been for Smith and HNB.

“It’s been truly a blessing,” said Brooks.

“Majority of my education regarding how to own and operate a business has come from HNB.”

There have been times when Brooks called Smith in the middle of the night with questions and concerns about his family-owned business and says that she has been willing to help him through his confusion.

He credits HNB with helping him through a lot of fires that he has experienced as a Black male business owner. Brooks said, “If those blocks weren’t there, there wouldn’t be a need for HNB.”

A 2021 analysis from the Brookings Institution estimates that roughly 96% of Blackowned businesses are sole proprietorships. A sole proprietor is an unincorporated business with a single owner. It can be difficult for sole proprietors to raise capital, especially for Black business owners.

Brooks helps coach and mentor new members of the organization. He wants to be what HNB has been for him.

HNB gives members access to Quickbooks and partners them with business school graduate students as consultants for their business ventures.

Members receive guidance in marketing and finance. The organization gives the members the same access that the

It was a natural fit for him to work there too. Crogier said Hunter has always treated his mom like family. Crogier cooks on the grill, helps clean the restaurant, and trains new employees, Big Mama’s BBQ is the perfect working environment for him.

“He [Criag Hunter] has a big personality and he gives us wisdom and life lessons without being harsh,” said Crogier. “It’s always bright when Craig walks in the door, he always has a smile on his face”.

Recent high school grad Vivica Lee has been working at the restaurant since she was 15 years old. Now 19, she says she wouldn’t work under anyone but Hunter, adding that she is invested in the restaurant.

“This is family, blood couldn’t make us any closer,” said Lee.

She loves it when Hunter uses old sayings like, ‘there is more than one way to skin a cat’ when she is trying to figure out a difficult task. Lee isn’t shy saying that he taught her how to cook, along with teaching her how to be financially savvy. She takes those same lessons and shares the advice with her family and friends.

Lee is just one of the many of his staff that grew up without

students of the business school have. HNB has a 50/50 grant program initiative, where members can receive up to 4,000 dollars to help push their business forward. Those funds can go towards hiring, equipment, or marketing. Whatever the business, grant money can be used for them.

“Our goal is to make a difference in the underserved areas in the city where these Black and brown businesses are,” said Smith.

Smith is a native of the west end of St. Louis city and says that she remembers her community having thriving Blackowned businesses. Smith said, “Everything was in the community, and we want to help make that happen again.” She hopes to bring more and keep more jobs in our community, HNB is here to address the lack of Black and brown entrepreneurs, and Smith is here to make a difference because she is a part of the solution bringing employment into the community. Showing our little Black and brown kids who they can become, Smith hopes the HNB model will be replicated across the country in underserved communities.

“We want people to see vibrant minority-owned businesses thriving and serving their community,” said Smith. Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter

a dad in the house. “He is like a father figure to me” Chuckling, Lee said, “I call him ‘grand dad’”.

Hunter is training Lee to be a co-owner of a second location of Big Mama’s. They are hoping to open a location in St. Louis. He wants to share what he is doing in East St. Louis across the bridge, and not just mentoring youth, but his love for cooking. The well versed cook prides himself on his food, each meal, dessert, and appetizer are all made in house, fresh, and made with pride, respect, and dignity.

“We’re going to give our customers good food, if we don’t like it, then we’re not serving it,” said Hunter.

Big Mama’s top selling item is the snoot.

It’s grilled until crisp and a sauce is ladled on top. Hunter isn’t just cooking for kicks, it’s a passion, and he gives his all to the dishes he serves. Hunter says it’s his way of paying homage to his mom and every big mama in our communities across the country. He wants his restaurant to feel like a family reunion.

“Almost every Black neighborhood has a ‘Big Mama,’ someone in the community who will feed you, even if it’s a bologna sandwich,” said Hunter.

“We are going to feed you, but we’re also going to be a part of the community. I donate when I can, I help when I can.” Hunter has donated coats, toys, and winter clothes, to families in the area. Having Big Mama’s BBQ affords him the opportunityt to help others. And helping others includes keeping his prices at affordable rates, most of his items are under $12.

The BBQ master has multiple returning customers, a testament to his restaurant, the food, and employees.

“I’m going to change these communities that people think are not worth nothing. These are all my kids. We’re not just here making money, we’re going to make a difference in our community,” Hunter said. Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter

The Diversity Gallery is one of Black owned businesses that has collaborated with the Habitat for Neighborhood Business. Its owner is natural hair stylist and jewelry designer Leslie Christian-Wilson.

Photo courtesy of the Diversity Gallery

n “I looked at Superman— who is not real and didn’t look like me—but I just loved what [Muhammad Ali] stood for.”

– Lewis Hamilton, F1 six-time champion on his admiration for the late Ali

prEp Football NotEbook

By Earl Austin Jr.

Cardinal Ritter roaring under Spain’s reign

Cardinal Ritter College Prep started last season with a 3-6 record, then the Lions put together a hot postseason run to advance to the Class 3 state football semifinals.

Coach Brennan Spain’s Lions are looking to do bigger and better things this season, which include taking the final two steps in the state playoffs and winning a title.

So far, the Lions have looked the part as they are currently 5-0 and playing dominant football.

The Lions are led by a pair of outstanding senior two-way performers in Fredrick Moore and Marvin Burks. The 6’3” Moore is a wide receiver who’s headed to Michigan next season. He has 20 receptions for 510 yards and nine touchdowns. Burks is a punishing running back who has rushed for 710 yards and nine touchdowns.

Junior quarterback Antwon McKay has been at the helm for much of the season. He has passed for 787 yards and five touchdowns.

Sophomore Carson Boyd stepped in and passed for 170 yards and four touchdowns the Lions’ victory over Lutheran-St. Charles last Friday night.

The offensive line is huge and experienced with senior Keihlen Miller and juniors Quentin Jackson and Jayden Chambers each topping the 300-pound mark.

Ritter’s defense is also a strong point, having given up only 27 points in five games this season, including two shutouts. They feature seniors Lawrence McConnell, Malikh Riggins, juniors Cam Clayborn, Joseph Reed, and sophomore Mekhi Mixon.

Week 5 Standout Performers

• Running back Jeremiyah Love of CBC rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns in the Cadets’ 41-28 victory over DeSmet.

• Wide receiver Peter Braxton of Cahokia had five receptions for 278 yards and two touchdowns in the Comanches victory over Carbondale.

• Quarterback Byron McNair of Pattonville completed 10 of 12 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns in the Pirates’ 36-7 victory over Mehlville.

• Senior Winston Moore of MICDS scored a rushed for a touchdown, passes for a touchdown and caught a touchdown reception in the Rams’ 44-3 victory over John Burroughs.

• Running back Da’Kion Phillips of Lift for Life rushed for 247 yards and four touchdowns in the Hawks’ 61-6 victory over Brentwood.

over Duchesne.

• Running back Jareese Howard of Riverview Gardens rushed for 214 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns in the Rams’ 52-32 victory over Alton.

• Quarterback Malious Cain of Vashon completed 13 of 14 passes for 209 yards and four touchdowns in the Wolverines’ 62-0 victory over Roosevelt.

• Quarterback Robert Battle of East St. Louis completed 21 of 28 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns in the Flyers’ 60-21 victory over O’Fallon.

Highland Shootout set for Jan. 7, 2023

A top event of the high school basketball season is the Highland (Illinois) Shootout. The lineup is set for the annual prep extravaganza at Highland High School, and it features sev-

eral of the top teams from the St. Louis area, including Vashon, East St. Louis, Chaminade and CBC. Here is the lineup for the upcoming Highland Shootout. Mark your calendars down for January 7, and times are to be announced.

• Highland vs. Waterloo (Girls)

• Highland vs. Quincy Notre Dame

• Belleville East vs. Hillcrest (IL)

• Bloomington Central Catholic (IL) vs. New Madrid Central

• East St. Louis vs. Staley

• Sacred Heart Griffin (IL) vs. CBC

• Chicago St. Rita vs. Chaminade

• Imhotep (PA) vs. Chicago Simeon

• Vashon vs. Moline (IL)

What’s on Tap for Week 5 Football

(5-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

• Lindbergh (3-2) at Ritenour (4-1), Friday, 6 p.m.

• DeSmet (2-3) at SLUH (2-3), Friday, 6 p.m.

• CBC (4-1) at Indianapolis Chatard, Friday, 7 p.m.

• Parkway South (4-1) at Seckman (4-1), Friday, 7 p.m.

• Vashon (2-2) at Fort Zumwalt North (3-2), Friday, 7 p.m. • Marquette (4-1) at Kirkwood (2-2), Friday, 7 p.m. • Lutheran-St. Charles (3-2) at Columbia Rock Bridge, Friday, 7 p.m.

• Lutheran North (3-2) at MICDS (5-0), Saturday, 1 p.m. • O’Fallon (4-1) at Belleville East (3-2), Saturday, 1 p.m.

Alvin A. Reid

• Wide receiver Chase Hendricks of St. Mary’s caught six passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns in the Dragons’ 48-6 victory runs and it seemed his power was a memory. Seventeen home runs later, he is one of four players to reach the 700-home run plateau. Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Pujols are an exclusive group of guys. Say what you want about Bonds, he deserves to be there. He and Pujols always had kind things to say about one another. I’m sure the late Aaron and Ruth are pleased with Pujols as well. I have to say that I do not think Pujols is “juiced up” in any way. Sports is one of the dwindling number of places where a person can “will” something to happen. That’s when talent and determination meet and an athlete or team says, “I will do this.” I had my issues with the guy during his longtime first stint as a Cardinal. As his fame grew, he turned into a jerk. In 2006, when he was in a battle with St. Louis native Ryan Howard for the National League Most Valuable Player Award, I wrote

Earl’s Pick Game: Troy (4-1) at Timberland

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Pujols puts himself in very rare company indeed

When the St. Louis Cardinals signed free-agent Albert Pujols for a 2022 Farewell tour, my thought was, “It’s a nice gesture.” I, like most Cardinals fans, was cynical in thinking, “the team will certainly sell more tickets.” I didn’t think he had a chance of reaching 700 home runs. When the season began, he needed 21 to reach the 700 Club. I figured he might get within five – and I also noted in a column or two here that if he fell just short, he could come back in 2023. There will be no 2023 campaign for Pujols because he belted home runs 699 and 700 against the L.A. Dodgers in Dodgers Stadium on Friday night, Sept. 23, 2022. On July 1, Pujols was barely hitting .200, had just four home

the following: “Pujols has suddenly become irritating with some of his words and actions [on the field.]”

It should also be remembered that after his departure to play for the California Angels in 2012, many of the same fans that now stand and cheer, eviscerated him for being disloyal

to Cardinal Nation. Some of the comments had obvious racial overtones. Pujols was a “bad guy.” Now he is a “great guy.” He once again is “our guy.”

“When it’s really going to hit me (is) when I’m done, at the end of the season and I’m retired. Probably a month or two after that look at the num-

bers. You know, don’t get me wrong. I know where my place stands in this game,” Pujols said following the historic night. Now that 700 home runs have been reached, and I think he’ll hit at least two more, Pujols has his eyes set on a new number. That number is 14, which is how many wins the Cardinals will need to win the World Series. Two in the wild card round, four in the National League Divisional Series, four in the NL Championship Series and four in the Fall Classic.

The Reid 700 Roundup Classy of Albert Pujols to acknowledge Adrian Beltrae immediately after touching home plate following his 700th home run. He and his fellow Dominican baseball shared a high five before Pujols was mobbed by his teammates. Of the four members of MLB’s 700 home run club, Pujols is the lone LatinX player… The anonymous fan who

secured Pujols’ 700th home run says they intend to keep it. Pujols said that is fine with him. The fan has reportedly turned down multiple offers, and remember that baseball is worth more today than it was last Friday and its value will keep rising… Barry Bonds, who blasted 762 career home runs and should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame with Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714), congratulated Pujols with a pair of posts to his Instagram story, including a photo of the two on the field together, calling the accomplishment “well deserved.”… Bonds and Pujols had a pregame conversation back in the day, and I asked both what was said. Both brushed me off like lint on a suit…The MLB/Apple TV experiment had its worstcase scenario play out on Friday night. The lure of streaming dollars led MLB to partner with Apple, and the result was that most fans in St. Louis did not see Pujols’ home runs live.

Earl Austin Jr.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Cardinal Ritter wide receiver Marvin Burks (1) makes his way past Lutheran St. Charles defenders at Cardinal Ritter High School Friday, Sept. 23. Burks had 13 carries on the night for 109 yards rushing to help the Lions defeat Lutheran St. Charles 33-0.

Albert Pujols became only the fourth player in major league baseball history to hit 700 home runs.

Photo courtesy of the AP

Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis announces new deputy director Jessica Whittaker

The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (CAM) announced that Jessica Whittaker has been appointed deputy director. In this role, she will lead the financial administration of the Museum, as well as advance CAM’s business planning, human resources, and visitor experience efforts in support of

the museum’s strategic goals. Whittaker becomes the newest member of CAM’s senior leadership team when she begins her tenure as Deputy Director on October 3, 2022.

Prior to this role, Whittaker was the director of visitor services at the Cleveland Museum of Art, where she oversaw the implementation of long-term

Hardin-Tammans appointed to Court of Appeals

Judge Renee Hardin-Tammons was recently appointed to the Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District. Hardin-Tammons, of Olivette, currently serves as a Circuit Court Judge in the 21st Judicial Circuit. She obtained a bachelor of science in the administration of justice from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri–Columbia School of Law.

“Judge Hardin-Tammons brings a wealth of experience from her legal career and tenure on the circuit bench to the Court of Appeals,” Governor Parson said. “She represents the values that are important for the judiciary, including a faithful interpretation of the law, a drive for excellence, and a tireless work ethic.”

Judge Hardin-Tammons was appointed to the Circuit bench by Governor Parson in 2019. She will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Colleen Dolan.

The Appellate Judicial Commission nominated Judge Hardin-Tammons along with two other highly qualified individuals on September 8, 2022. Under the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan, the Governor has 60 days to make his selection from the three individuals nominated by the Commission.

strategic planning in the Visitor Services department. There she developed an extensive professional development program, restructured the department to optimize resource utilization, and created internship pipelines for college students to encourage a new generation of talent in the hospitality indus-

try. Throughout her career, Whittaker has developed a considerable record in hospitality operations, visitor experience management, and leadership development.

Whittaker received a BA in Accounting at Kentucky State University and an MBA in Hospitality, Tourism, and Event Management at Midway University in Midway, Kentucky. Her previous leadership experience includes more than ten years at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, where she oversaw a team of more than 50 guest experience associates as Visitor Experience Team Lead.

Fontbonne reports increases for students of color in freshman class

Fontbonne University is celebrating its 100th anniversary and a milestone increase in freshman admissions, with one of the largest freshman classes in 14 years, representing a 60 percent increase in first-year enrollment from last year.

The university’s test-blind admissions and merit scholarship policy for incoming freshmen have streamlined a

pathway for talented and hardworking students. “By focusing on a student’s performance and achievements in high school, we are better able to identify dedicated students and remove barriers to access in the admission and merit scholarship awarding process,” said Quinton Clay, vice president for enrollment management, marketing and communications.

Of special note, the number of freshmen who would be the first in their families to earn a bachelor’s degree increased to 46 percent from 27 percent last year. In addition, according to Fontbonne, students of color comprise 40 percent of this year’s freshman class, an increase from 33 percent of freshmen in 2021.

“Fontbonne is excited to welcome a large and diverse freshman class. While our university serves a wide range of students, we are pleased to be attracting many first-generation university students, including those from groups which have been underserved by higher education,” said Dr. Nancy Blattner, president of Fontbonne University.

PitchBook: St. Louis #1 in U.S. for female-founded startups

PitchBook – the leading resource for comprehensive data, research, and insights into global capital markets – has just named St. Louis

as the #1 market in the U.S. for female-founded startups, ranking us ahead of markets like San Francisco, Austin, Washington, DC, and Denver.

Their analysis looked at the capital raised since the start of 2020 and compared it against the same data for 2008-2019. In ranking St. Louis in the top

spot, PitchBook noted that female-founded startups here have seen 187% growth in capital raised since 2020, compared to 2008-2019.

St. Louis also ranks high for women-led Fortune 500 companies

PitchBook’s analysis follows recent data showing that nearly 10% of all women-led Fortune 500 companies in the U.S. are in St. Louis, making

our metro #3 nationally for women-led Fortune 500 companies, behind only New York and San Francisco. The women leading St.

Louis-based Fortune 500 companies are all executive-level founders of GSL: Anna Manning of RGA, Kathy Mazzarella of Graybar, Penny

Pennington of Edward Jones, and Sarah London of Centene.

Jessica Whitaker

Judge Renee HardinTammons

Living It

A grown up Chingy

St. Louis artist opens up with the American

By Ashley Winters

The St. Louis American

St. Louis’ own is back with a banger, Chingy dropped his latest single last month, “Can’t Blame Me,” off his upcoming album Chinglish. The former Disturbing Tha Peace (DTP) artist is sharing his testimony of trials and tribulations and the lessons he learned as a major record label artist.

“It’s about a lot of the obstacles in my career and what I’ve been through in the music industry, but also weaving those people out of my life, weaving those people out of my career and out of my energy,” said Chingy

The rap artist says the song is his way of confronting rumors about himself, and folks trying to sabotage his career. He’s telling those people don’t be mad because he decided to move forward without them so that he can better his life.

This is Chingy’s sixth album, but his fourth album as an independent artist under his label 369 Creative Minds. Most of the rapper’s songs are produced by Fresco Kane, a local songwriter, and producer from the metro-East. Chingy’s last major project was released in 2007 under the DTP label owned by early 2000s rap artist and actor Ludacris.

Chingy describes his latest single as a “personal story” because he is bringing his fans into an unknown part of his life. He says when you hear it, “You hear me, you hear the grit of Chingy.”

He is candid about the circulating rumors about his music career and a socalled falling out between himself and other artists, which he addresses in his single. He laments how young artists are mishandled in the music industry, especially those who are signed to sub-labels.

Speaking from his own experience as a former DTP artist when DTP was under the major million-dollar record label Def Jam, the local rapper says that many of the misunderstandings were over creativity and money.

It’s common in the entertainment industry, top chart artists like Drake, and Lil Wayne have gone through it, and Offset of the Migos is going through it right now. Chingy points out that this type of mishandling can make any artist uncomfortable and not want to be a part of that label.

Golden good times

Metro Theatre Company celebrates 50 years of childhood fun

By Danielle Brown The St. Louis American

“No one is exempt from it,” said Chingy. “I went through it.”

As to the social media gossip surrounding him, Nelly, and Ludacris, Chingy says he has no beef with them and that he is done talking about those situations. He states that he has good energy with them both, and the things that are in the past are just that, the past, and they are focused on moving forward.

And moving forward includes breaking away from people labeling him as an early 2000s artist.

“I hate when people label me as an early 2000s artist like (when) I’m still making current music,” said Chingy. He calls himself a universal art-

ist, he’s not tied to one style of music based on when he broke out onto the music scene or even a specific genre. He doesn’t believe in limiting himself.

“ I like all types of music, rock, country, alternative, and R&B. I like everything and I will make every type of music that I want,” said Chingy. “I don’t limit myself, that won’t get me anywhere, that type of thinking will keep me close-minded.”

The only criticism he has about ‘today’s’ rap

Stan Chisholm takes artistic expression ‘to another realm’

By Ashley Winters

The St. Louis American

Stan Chisholm, commonly known as 18&Counting, is a modern day renaissance man. The south St. Louis native is a painter, sculptor, rapper, producer, and teacher.

Teatopia in the Cherokee neighborhood is a perfect setup to talk with any artist, and it is one of his favorite hangouts. There is wall-to-wall art of local artists, and tunes of Amy Winehouse played in the background adding a mellow chill vibe as Chisholm discussed where 18&Counting has been and where he is headed.

Chisholm has five albums, with his first “Birds At This Hour” comprising a collection of songs that are raw and unpolished. Its his goal is to take hip-hop to another realm. He has collaborated with local song artists Eric Donte, Vancouver China, and Chris Burks.

The Multi-disciplinary artist doesn’t focus on one art form. He’s a free spirit waiting for the universe to guide him on his next venture. According to Chisholm, that could be anywhere doing anything.

Chisholm created 18&Counting in middle school. The Rockwood School District student was part of the voluntary transfer program, which granted him access to education and experiences that he might not have received in his south St. Louis community.

It was a different world for him, he made friends with all sorts of students and so he started counting the different personalities he came across. It’s something that he carried throughout middle school into high school. Once he reached 18, he decided that would be his “holding number to leave a mark but continue to count and notice the diverse people the universe is sending

him.” His interest peaked in expressing himself through art. He started to dabble in painting and rapping, songwriting, and graphic design. He pursued his goals in the arts by attending the Art Institute of Chicago. As a freshman, he explored

several disciplines in the arts, but never committed to one.

“None of these things is a career path I’m pursuing. This is what I’m feeling right now,

The Metro Theatre Company [MTC] is nearing its 50th year of performances and community efforts dedicated to children. Founded in 1973, the theater company explores young people’s imaginations, all while providing captivating storytelling, and promoting progressive conversations.

MTC’s 2022-23 marks its milestone 50th anniversary season and it features world premieres and award-winning productions including, Bold, Brave, Curious!, Seedfolks, Spells of the Sea,Go, Dog. Go!, Holiday Spirits: A Holiday Fundraiser, and The Second Greatest Show on Earth: After Dark 2023 – A 50th Anniversary Gala Bold, Brave, Curious spotlights nine-year-old Delilah and her friendship between Lupe and Stanley. Stanley’s foster mom falling ill causes a wedge in their friendship and deception results between him and Delilah. The audience will be riveted waiting to see if their bond will be saved. The production was written by Mariah Richardson and the production is directed by Kathryn Bentley. The world premiere continues through Oct. 16, 2022, and it is touring schools across the St. Louis region.

n MTC’s 2022-23 marks its milestone 50th anniversary season and it features world premieres and award-winning productions.

“Pay-WhatYou-Wish Performances’’ will be Oct. 15-16 at the Sun Theater. The shows provide accessibility to families for little or no cost. Ages eight and up are the recommended age group.

Seedfolks chronicles nine-year-old Kim, a Vietnamese immigrant who brings her community together in unity through the help of planting six lima beans which sprout into a widespread neighborhood garden. It runs Oct. 9 through Nov. 6 at The Grandel Theatre. Seedfolks is adapted from the Newbery Medal-winning book by Paul Fleischman and is produced in special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc., and directed by Jess Shoemaker. The recommended age group is nine and up. Spells of the Sea trails Finley Frankfurter, a 15-year-old fisherwoman, inexperienced in her favorite hobby. She meets H.S. Crank, a curmudgeon lighthouse keeper, who has lived in the dark for years.

The unexpected partners join forces to discover the Elixir of Life, an adventure filled sea creatures and the unknown that could potentially better Finley’s father’s health crisis. Along the journey they unlock a new meaning of family, friendship and belief in yourself.

The play will run Feb. 5- March 5, 2023, at The Grandel Theatre. MTC is showing the production through a special arrangement with Megan Ann Rasmussen Productions. It too is a world premiere. Guinevere Govea wrote the book, music, and lyrics with additional creative contributions

See Chingy, C8 See Metro, C8

Photo by Wiley Price | St. Louis American

Stan Chisholm aka 18 & Counting in front of his work at the Graffiti Wall just south of the Arch grounds Tues. Sept. 13, 2022.

Photo courtesy of Chingy

Rapper Chingy describes his latest single as a “personal story” because he is bringing his fans into an unknown part of his life. He says when you hear it, “You hear me, you hear the grit of Chingy.”

NAACP Youth Council

St. Louis County Branch 49A

NAACP

Youth

Mr.

Ritenour

Illinois Univ.

Cmya White

Jennings HS, Florissant Valley Community College

Each High School Graduate Will Receive A Scholarshp Check.

Murdock / Haywood Honoree Kennedy Gaskin

College Graduate

Allen Buckner - Washington University (Computer Science)

College Students

Rayfield Burch - Community College

Teayana Davis - Iowa Community College

Alexia Dukes - Harris-Stowe State Univ.

Bria Dunn - Alabama A&M

Gavin Granberry - Lincoln Univ.

Joshua Harvey - Harris-stowe State Univ.

Rebecca Harris - Stl Community College

Camille Hibbler - Missouri State Univ. Springfield Rashad Johnson - UMSL.

Kameron Moses - Kansas Univ.

Kennedy Shelton - Morgan State Univ.

Mary Towsend - Washington Univ.

Youth Awards

NAACP Black History Facts

Raven Addison - First Place

Kennedy Gaskin - Second Place

Jaycob Tatum - Third Place

Arianna Lacy - Fourth Place 1619 Essay Contest

School

Amalya Timms - First Place

School

Raven Addison - First Place

Arianna Lacy - Second Place Kennedy Gaskin - Third Place

Grant Gaskin - Fourth Place

Member Of The Year

Kennedy Gaskin - Certificate Attendance Awardees

RAVEN ADDISON High School President

First Row Sitting: Grant Gaskin, Raven Addison (Left to Right, standing): Amalya Timms, CMYA White, LaShana Simmons, Larry Johnson , Niya Johnson, Mary Katherine Townsend, Camille Hibbler, Kameron Moses, Kennedy Gaskin, Bria Dunn

KENNEDY SHELTON

HARVEY KENNEDY GASKIN CYMA WHITE

BRIA DUNN

CMYA White, Niya Johnson, Larry Johnson, Kennedy Gaskin

Kameron Moses, Camille Hibbler, Mary K. Townsend

GAVIN GRANBERRY

RAYFIELD BURCH

Exhibition showcases contemporary African artist

Join the Saint Louis Art Museum as we celebrate the opening of Currents 122: Meleko Mokgosi this Friday, September 29. Botswanaborn Meleko Mokgosi creates large-scale, figurative, and text-based paintings drawn from African traditions of history painting and cinema. The works probe systems of production and the politics of representation. His photorealistic paintings are deeply rooted in critical theory, postcolonial studies, and research-based practices.

Opening of Currents 122: Meleko Mokgosi Saint Louis Art Museum Friday, September 20

Start your evening at the Art Museum at 4 pm by raising a glass with the exhibition curators—Hannah Klemm and Molly Moog and visit Galleries 249 and 250 before hearing from Mokgosi as he discusses the exhibition and his practice. The Artist Talk is free, but tickets are required, and seating in SLAM’s Farrell Auditorium is limited. In Currents 122, Mokgosi exhibits works of art from his new project, Spaces of Subjection. This project explores what it means to be a subject. Mokgosi uses the concept of subjection to identify the processes of becoming subordinated by power and a subject. The

exhibition examines subjection and subjectivity as they pertain to his perspectives on African, African American, and Black life. The works engage with political forces and systems of power that affect people’s daily existence and contribute to how racial, gender, and other differences between identities are endowed with significance and learned from childhood.

4 – 8 pm Cocktails with Curators, Taylor Hall, (cash bar)

6 – 7 pm Artist Talk, The Farrell Auditorium (Free)

Mokgosi is an associate professor and codirector of graduate studies at the Yale School of Art Painting and Printmaking department and codirector of the Interdisciplinary Art and Theory Program. He is the recipient of the Henry L. and Natalie E. Freund Fellowship, which includes an exhibition at the Art Museum, following a residency at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis.

Currents 122: Meleko Mokgosi is curated by Hannah Klemm, associate curator of modern and contemporary art, and Molly Moog, research assistant for modern and contemporary art. The exhibition is supported in part by the Henry L. and Natalie E. Freund Endowment Fund.

An American First: The St. Louis Foil Sound Recording

By Andrew Wanko, Missouri Historical Society

St. Louis’s importance to our nation’s sound history begins with recorded sound’s earliest moments. The oldest existing American sound recording that we can hear in modern times was made right here in St. Louis on June 22, 1878.

In 1877, inventor Thomas Edison’s phonograph recorded and played back sound for the first time in human history. Just months later, one of these marvelous new machines was demonstrated at the Steinberg Hat Shop in downtown St. Louis. The fragile tinfoil recording made that day, known as the St. Louis Foil, eventually made its way into the collections of the Museum of Innovation and Science in Schenectady, New York.

The St. Louis Foil’s two-minute recording opens with a cornet solo, followed by a man’s voice reciting the nursery rhymes “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and “Old Mother Hubbard.”

The phonograph that made the St. Louis Foil most likely belonged to Thomas Mason, a “funny sketch” writer who went by the pen name I. X. Peck in the St. Louis Republican. Edison Company records show that Mason had purchased one of the first 10 phonographs ever sold, paying $95.50—an incredible sum of money in 1878.

That summer, Mason took out ads telling people to come hear the phonograph play. Exhibit notices first appeared in the St. Louis Post on May 30, 1878, and they continued to run through June 17 in the “amusements” column. The final notice read, “The phonograph now on exhibition at 309 North Fourth Street is proving to be a great attraction. I. X. Peck shows and explains the wonderful invention daily.”

Mason also worked as a clerk in a riverfront wholesale hosiery house. The month after the recording was made, he died of sunstroke in Elston, Missouri, when a heat wave swept across the state. He was 49 years old.

Because playing it back would essentially destroy it, no one knew what the St. Louis Foil contained until recently. In 2012 researchers built a digitally reconstructed model of the St. Louis Foil’s grooves and were able to play the sounds of 1878 St. Louis, 134 years after they were made. While these scratchy sounds seem ancient to our ears, they were the first small steps into the world of music we hear today.

The St. Louis Foil is on display in the Missouri History Museum’s St. Louis Sound exhibit, open through January 22, 2023. At the Twilight Thursday concert on September 29, take some time to step inside the Museum and visit St. Louis Sound, where you can hear a recording of the St. Louis Foil and music from dozens of local artists.

The theme for this Twilight Thursday—the last one of the season—is “Honoring Prince and the Music of Minneapolis–St. Paul,” with lead vocals by Jeff Mak, member of Morris Day and the Time, under the musical direction of Karynn Calvin

The concert will begin at 6:00pm. Plan to arrive early to explore the Museum’s exhibits, which will be open until 8:00pm, and to save a spot on the North Lawn, which faces Lindell Boulevard. Blankets, lawn chairs, tables smaller than 3 by 3 feet, and well-behaved dogs on leashes are permitted. Tents, large umbrellas, and barbecue grills are prohibited. Pack a picnic basket or small cooler with snacks, soft drinks, water bottles, and alcoholic beverages (no glass bottles, please), or save time and support a local small business by visiting one of the many food trucks.

Parking is available within Forest Park and on Lindell Boulevard. The Museum’s west lot is available on a first-come, first-served basis and is partially reserved for accessible parking. Nearby public transit stops provide additional options. In the event of inclement weather, call the Twilight Thursdays Information Hotline at (314) 4543199 after 2:00pm, or listen to iHeartMedia radio stations.

Next week, return to the Museum for the Henry Townsend Birthday Celebration, a tribute to the “Patriarch of St. Louis Blues,” from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. This Thursday Night at the Museum event will feature activities and a Historians’ Corner where you can learn about the rich history of Black performers in St. Louis and the Blues Highway. Head to the Lee Auditorium at 6:30pm to hear stories from Henry Townsend’s son, Alonzo Townsend, plus music from Henry’s student and godson, blues phenom Marquise Knox

For more information, visit mohistory.org/ events.

Bloating / Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly / Pelvic or abdominal pain / Urinary urgency or frequency

One woman is diagnosed with ovarian cancer every 23 minutes.

Photo courtesy of Yale School of Art

Meloko Mokgosi

Photo by Emil Boehl, 1878. Missouri Historical Society Collections.

309 N. 4th Street, where the St. Louis Foil was recorded (second building on the left).

National Association of Gospel Radio dials in

Group forms in Shreveport, La.

St. Louis American staff

A group of the most influential executives in the urban inspirational and gospel music radio industry have come together to create the National Association of Gospel Radio [NAGR].

Its mission is “to empower radio stations as they preserve, protect, and advance the format.”

Charles “Pastor CeJay” Johnson has been elected by the NAGT board to serve as its first president. Johnson is an executive with Alpha Media and community leader in Shreveport, La., where the organization’s office

is located. Alpha Media owns historic KOKA-FM, which is celebrating its 72nd year, and two other gospel stations.

The organization is operating in a limited capacity with plans to launch fully on January 1, 2023, according to Johnson.

“We are America’s only trade association for radio professionals working in the gospel/ inspirational format,” Johnson explains.

“Separately, we reach thousands of ears every day, but together we reach millions of listeners. Our membership comprises radio station programmers, management, engineers, announcers, and salespeople. We believe our existence will uphold the legacy of gospel radio and help it grow for gen-

Spiritually Speaking… Peter paid a price for denial

By James Washington

They say that ignorance of the law is not supposed to be an excuse for breaking the law. So, if you ever find yourself in court, telling the judge that you didn’t know something, this will not by and of itself get you off the hook.

However, depending on the peculiar circumstances, or the predisposition of the presiding judge, or the special talents of

trusted ally and to provide a hub of resources to stations to help them expand their listening base, increase advertising, and to support music artists within the format.”

Kyle Glover, with the Reach Gospel Radio network that includes 20 American cities and Canada, is executive vice president. Ju Joyner, from Virginia Beach’s ChesapeakePortsmouth Broadcasting, is vice president of finance, and Fred Harris of Salem Media Group, which reaches nearly 40 USA media markets, is vice president of marketing and promotions.

The leadership is rounded out by Board members: Sctonda Kelly Gordon, Eternity Media Group program director in Augusta, GA; Chris Squire, iHeart Media senior

vice president of sales, and Ron Thompson, program director with Washington D.C. based Radio One, the largest urban radio corporation in America in Washington, D.C Johnson brought gospel music to a former hip-hop radio station, which is now 980 AM / 93.3 FM - KOKA. Under his leadership, he revived the station, expanded its listener base, grew its social media following, increased its revenue, and brought a diverse talent to the station.

an astute lawyer, you might get lighter sentence, or in the case of police shootings, you might get off with an unjustified acquittal. I believe when it comes to your and my spiritual trials, Jesus represents the kind of sentencing that only occurs in Family Court. The more I read scripture, the more I understand the wonderful relationship we have with the Almighty and the extraordinary power of His love for

you and me, as demonstrated by our relationship with His only son, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It’s that blood relative thing that I’m referring to.

If you would allow me to use two examples to illustrate my point let me give for your review 1.) Christ on the cross and 2.) Simon Peter’s denial of Jesus as the cock crowed.

All of us know that Peter did in fact deny Jesus as predicted. We also know that Peter “wept bitterly” because of it. Now one very good example of God’s great capacity to love His children is that this same Peter, once afraid and fearful for his own life, came to witness for the Lord with no fear about his

new life whatsoever. It was Peter who, when the day of Pentecost came and he was filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke boldly and without fear of reprisal about the blood bought forgiveness of sins because of Christ’s death. He made us eternal members of God’s family. You see Jesus is our access. He is our spiritual emissary, our court appointed attorney, our intercessor to the Father, our ultimate Judge. Peter acknowledges this when he says, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” Acts 2:38. You

see what the Holy Spirit did for Peter is what the Holy Spirit will do for you. The key is weeping bitterly. Peter had to first accept and acknowledge his shortcomings and yes, plead guilty Those who recognize this and understand the premise, know firsthand that we are truly family members and weakly professed ignorance is but a poor excuse for one’s ultimate acceptance of Christ as Lord. You see God really does know that you know His laws. All anyone has to do is to plead honest ignorance, repent and turn to the Lord. From that point on, let Jesus plead your case. Ain’t that something? Blood bought forgiveness and no one, particularly the Judge, expects you to be perfect. The expectation is that you’ll be righteous in your acceptance of Jesus, be truth-

ful to your lawyer and sincere in your repentance. That way He can represent you to the Father. Remember, your court appointed attorney has already won your case. But you do have to show up in court, listen and acknowledge that the charges against you are indeed true. Your Honor, yes I denied Him. Yes, I committed the sin. Yes, I was wrong. Yes, I am guilty as charged. And as Jesus told the adulteress, “go and sin no more.” He tells us that each and every day The key as always is that you and I hear and obey. May you come to understand that the shedding of Christ’s blood made you His blood brother, so to speak. And yes, that means God is your Father too. That means court convenes everyday in the living room. What a blessing!

Charles “Pastor CeJay” Johnson

Columnist James Washington

THE CITY OF JENNINGS IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

The City of Jennings is accepting applications for the following positions: Deputy City Clerk; Recreation Specialist; Deputy Building Commissioner; Finance Director; Fleet Maintenance/Mechanic; Correctional Officers; Court Clerk, Public Works Laborer; F/T Accounting Clerk; P/T Accounting Clerk; P/T Assistant to the City Clerk; P/T Public Works Laborers.

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

711 or 800-735-2966 if you need any accommodations in the application process, or if you would like this posting in an alternative form.

TREATMENT COURT ADMINISTRATOR

The 22nd Judicial Circuit Court seeks applicants for a Treatment Court Administrator. Candidates must possess a Juris Doctorate or Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Public Health, Health Administration, Criminal Justice, Corrections, Sociology, Psychology or related field OR a Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of three (3) years of closely related experience in court administration. Significant knowledge of administrative management, including all aspects of fiscal management, as well as experience in writing grant proposals and monitoring grant programs preferred, contract experience, knowledge of treatment court systems and best practices. Must be at least 21 years of age. Salary range is $64,844 –$103,159. Please email resumes to: stlca.resumes@courts.mo.gov See www.stlcitycircuitcourt.com and click on Employment Opportunities for complete job description. EOE.

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.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS (FULL AND PART TIME

Cornerstone Center for Early Learning is seeking early childhood educators (full and part time).

Full description along with pay scale and benefits at the QR Code.

LOAN PROCESSOR - PROJECT MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR

Non-profit seeks applications for FT positions for grant funded Healthy Home Repair Program. (This is not a remote position.)

• Loan Processor- PM Coordinator: Knowledgeable of HUD & SLFRF guidelines, verifies data, calculates income, & determines eligibility. Computer literacy required. Process invoices, track & report data, skilled in Excel/Office, handle calls, correspondence. Minimum 2 years work experience. Valid driver’s license, reliable, insured, licensed vehicle required.

Submit cover letter & resume to hhrp. jobs@missionstl.org by 9/26/2022. Mission St. Louis is an EOE. The position(s) may be financed (in part) or (wholly) through an allocation of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the United States Department of the Treasury and the City of St. Louis Community Development Administration.

FAMILY ADVOCATE

FT position responsible for recruiting and enrolling eligible families with children into the Head Start Program and providing case management and support to families. BA/ BS plus 2 years of related experience required. $17-19/ hr. Resumes: GASA, 1127 N. Vandeventer Ave., St. Louis, MO 63113 or hr@gasastl.org EOE

SENIOR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

FINANCIAL AID

Under the supervision of the Associate Director of Student and Family Engagement, the Senior Assistant Director is responsible for providing financial aid counseling to prospective and current students and/or their parents to afford their Washington University education. Additionally, this individual is required to provide leadership, oversight, and perform critical duties in administering the financial education program. The position works in a service-oriented and fast-paced team environment that will actively support the department and the university’s student recruitment and retention goals.

To view the full job description and to apply visit jobs.wustl. edu and enter job JR69046.

RESOURCE COORDINATOR

The Housing Partnership, Inc. has an opening for a Resource Coordinator. The primary function is to serve as the initial point of contact for clients (potential/current/previous), answer questions as trained, coordinate intake/closing procedures, documents, and files, and properly connecting clients with appropriate staff when necessary. Duties include intake, file management, reporting, closeout, and follow-up for various programs. For a full job description go to www. TheHousingPartnershipSTL.org Submit resume to The Housing Partnership, Inc. P.O. Box 16356, St. Louis, MO 63125 or via email to kevin@ TheHousingPartnershipSTL.org An Equal Opportunity Employer

St. Louis Kidney Care is seeking a US BE/BC Nephrologist in St. Louis, MO. We are a collaborative, established group offering an entrepreneurial care provider the opportunity to innovate and grow with us to bring quality and compassionate care to our wonderful patient population!

• J1 and H1B Eligible

• Great Starting Salary

• Shared Call with 3 Physicians & 2 Extender

• Competitive Compensation and Benefits Package

• Health (vision, dental, life), Retirement, Malpractice

• Medical Directorship/JV/Real Estate Investment Opportunity Potential

• 6 Weeks PTO (including paid holidays)

• CME Time & Stipend Included

• Contact: 318-483-1961

PRINCIPAL

Are you a strong, faith-driven leader prepared to lead a premier Jesuit high school in its third century of excellence? St. Louis University High is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of Principal, one who will lead our academic and formational programs that challenge students to think critically, lead courageously, and transform the world as Men for Others. To learn more and apply, visit sluh.org/principal.

SLDC IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) is eagerly seeking candidates to join our team as we endeavor to bring economic justice to St. Louis City residents and communities that were disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

There are multiple 2-4-year limited term positions available, term of employment will vary for each position.

These positions will assist in the administration and implementation of various Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) Programs targeted for households, small businesses and communities adversely impacted by the pandemic.

All positions will be funded in whole or in part through an allocation of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the US Department of the Treasury and the City of St. Louis’ Community Development Administration. To see the full job description of positions available and to apply online go to: http:// www.stlouis-mo.gov/sldc/ and click on “Careers at SLDC.” SLDC is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity.

St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices St. LouiS american

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for the District 6-Northwest CRS Pavement Rehabilitation, St. Louis County Project No. CR-1867, will be received electronically thru the County’s Vendor Self Service portal at https://stlouiscountymovendors. munisselfservice.com/Vendors/ default.aspx, until 2:00 p.m. on October 26, 2022 Plans and specifications will be available on September 26, 2022, from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouiscountymo.gov) or by contacting Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies, 2731 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118 (314) 678-0087.

DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Great Rivers Greenway is seeking bids for irrigation, plumbing, and electrical services. Go to www.greatriversgreenway. org/jobs-bids and submit by October 19, 2022.

Affordable Senior Housing Waiting List Opens

Crown Center for Senior Living announces that beginning September 28, 2022, applications will be available for the waiting list to rent 1 or 2-bedroom units in the Crown Center Phase I building under construction at 8350 Delcrest Drive, University City, MO 63124. The waiting list is for both subsidized and market rate rental plans for those 62 years of age or older. Application packets may be downloaded at www.crowncenterstl.org, or requested via email at info@ crowncenterstl.org, or by calling or visiting the management office Monday through Friday, 9am-3pm, 314.991.2055. For more information call 314.991.2055 or info@crowncenterstl.org Crown Center is an equal housing opportunity community.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Requests for Quotes, Bids and Proposals are posted online for public download. Please navigate to www.msdprojectclear.org > Doing Business With Us > View Non-Capital Bids (commodities and services) or >Visit Planroom (capital construction bids)

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

INVITATION TO BID

The Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit is currently soliciting bid proposals for replacement of carpet flooring in Division 1 on the 10th Floor of the Civil Court Building and Offices 266 and 530 on the 2nd and 5th Floor of the Carnahan Courthouse.

The request for proposal is available on the Court’s website www.stlcitycircuitcourt.com Click on General Information, Then Request for Proposals. A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on October 18, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.in Room 308, 3rd Floor of the Carnahan Courthouse located at 1114 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63101. Bids are due November 9, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. EOE

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Administrative Hearing Officer

City of St. Louis Treasurer’s Office

www.stltreasurer.org/ request-for-proposals

SEALED BIDS

BID PROPOSALS

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

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) targeting community-based M/WBE developers to construct affordable for-sale housing units through the Housing Access and Neighborhood Stabilization Revolving Loan Fund. This Fund will leverage capital from Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) and New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) to finance the creation of for-sale units targeting households earning up to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). The Fund will provide low interest loans for the rehabilitation or new construction of for-sale homes in HUD designated Qualified Census Tracts in St. Louis City, prioritizing North City, in line with SLDC’s Economic Justice Plan.

INVITATION TO BID:

FERGUSON-FLORISSANT SCHOOL DISTRICT

MCCLUER SOUTH BERKELEY, ROBINWOOD & WALNUT GROVE ROOF RESTORATION/ REPLACEMENT

Sealed bids for the above projects are being requested from the FFSD and will be received and publicly opened on Tuesday, October 18th, 2022 @ 10:00am CST at the Operation and Maintenance Dept. located at 8855 Dunn Rd. (REAR) Hazelwood, MO 63042. Pre bid meeting will take place at MSB 201 Brotherton Ln Ferguson, MO 63135 on Tuesday, October 4th @ 8:00am. Bid specs must be obtained at http:// new.fergflor.k12.mo.us/facilities-rfq. Contact Matt Furfaro at mfurfaro@fergflor.org for further information/questions.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for CONTRACT NO. F23 602, Interim Renovations at Meramec for STLCC Transformed, until 2:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday October 18, 2022. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 5464 Highland Park, St. Louis, MO 63110-1314. Drawings, Specifications and bid forms and other related contract information may be obtained from Cross Rhodes’ Plan room at 2731 S. Jefferson, St. Louis, MO 63118 or at S. M. Wilson’s BuildingConnected website using the link below: https://app.buildingconnected.com/public/5913928fce945d0a00d28943. Electronic bid sets are available and may be printed by the plan holders and in Bonfire at https://stlcc.bonfirehub.com. This project will include the following Work Packages: 02A Demolition, 08A Doors / Frames / Hardware, 09A Framing & Drywall, 09D Acoustic Ceilings, 09H Resilient Flooring, 09L Painting, 10A Visual Display Boards, 10C Signage, 22A Plumbing, 23A HVAC, 26A Electrical.

This program is funded through the SLFRF allocated to SLDC, passed through the St. Louis City Community Development Administration. The RFP will be available for download on SLDC’s website at https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/SLDC on Friday, September 23, 2022. Responses are due by 4:00 pm, Friday, October 16, 2022. SLDC is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity.

SOLICITING BIDS

Reinhardt Construction LLC is Soliciting Bids from MBE/WBE/ DBE/Veteran/SDVE for the following: University of Missouri Healthcare Project CP221821: Patient Care Tower T3220C OR25 Light Boom Replacement

Contact: Mike Murray ; mikem@reinhardtconstructionllc. com

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Electrification Improvement Harry S Truman State Park – Devil’s Backbone Campground, Warsaw, MO Project No. X210701 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, October 27, 2022. The State of Missouri, OA-FMDC, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, ancestry or national origin in consideration for an award. Federal Land and Water Conservation Funds are being used in this project, and all relevant federal, state and local requirements apply. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

Bids for Pavement Overlay, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Emergency Vehicle Operations Course, Jefferson City, MO Project No. R2302-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, October 27, 2022. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities FOOD & BEVERAGE MASTER DISTRIBUTOR RFP 2022

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks bids from qualified firms to submit proposals for Food & Beverage Master Distributor RFP 2022. Bid documents are available as of 9/28/22 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor

SEALED BIDS

Questions regarding the scope of work should be directed to Patrick Aylesworth, patrick.aylesworth@smwilson.com. A pre-bid meeting will be held on October 11th, 2022 at 10am CST at the Meramec Campus room BA 105. A walk-through of the project will follow the meeting. You may schedule site visits by contacting Nathan Webb at nwebb18@stlcc.edu The College has the proposed minority goals MBE 15% and WBE 12% Individuals with special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act may contact: 314-984-7673

B i d s f o r Demolition of G y m n a s i u m , P r o j e c t N o . O2245-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, Until 1:30 PM, October 25, 2022. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities

St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices St.

CITY OF ST. LOUIS

ST. LOUIS LAMBERT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

SOLICITATION FOR BIDS (SFB)

Service: Emergency Generator Maintenance Services

Pre-Bid Meeting Date: October 10, 2022, 11:00am Meeting will be held via teleconference. See SFB for details.

Question Due Date: October 11, 2022

Bid Due Date: October 26, 2022

M/WBE Goals & Incentives:

SEALED BIDS

Point

Bids for Repair Logan Creek Slide Katy Trail State Park – MP 117.9 Portland, MO, Project No. X2120-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, October 20, 2022. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities

Notice of Public Hearing

BIDS (SFB)

Service:

Pre-Bid

Question Due Date: September 30, 2022

Bid Due Date: October 26, 2022

M/WBE

Point of Contact: Briana Bryant Bnbryant@flystl.com Bid

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace

Wo o d R o o f and Gutters, Bollinger Mill State Historic Site, Project No. X2213-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1 : 3 0 P M , 10/13/2022 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered t o b i d . F o r specific project information, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

POLICE SERVICE BIDS NEEDED FOR

City of Pine Lawn

• Bids Due by Oct. 7, 2022

• Work Details Available @ 6250 Steve Marre Ave. Pine Lawn, Mo. 63121

• Also see www.pinelawn.org

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Great Rivers Greenway is hiring for a part-time, on call Outreach Specialist. Go to www.greatriversgreenway.org/ jobs-bids to apply by October 13, 2022.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR PROPOSALS

Sealed proposals for 22-176 - Public Safety Recording System will be received by the City of St. Peters, Purchasing Department, City Hall, One St. Peters Centre Boulevard, P.O. Box 9, St. Peters, Missouri 63376 until 2:00 PM local time, October 6, 2022. This will be a non-public opening.

Contract Documents will be available on September 22, 2022, and may be obtained from the City of St. Peters, One St. Peters Centre Boulevard, St. Peters, MO 63376 or requested in writing to Bids@stpetersmo.net under the subject line “22-176 - Public Safety Recording System”.

All questions regarding this project shall be submitted to the City of St. Peters Purchasing Department in writing to Bids@stpetersmo.net under the subject line “22-176 - Public Safety Recording System” or by mail to City of St. Peters Purchasing Department, One St. Peters Centre Boulevard, P.O. Box 9, St. Peters, MO 63376 before noon local time, September 29, 2022.

The City reserves the right to waive any informality, and to accept the proposal most advantageous to the City.

CITY OF ST. LOUIS

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

The City of St. Louis Department of Human Services is soliciting Proposals for the 2022 -2023 Inclement Weather & Housing Stabilization Plan.

The City of St. Louis seeks to use Emergency Solutions Grant Coronavirus (ESG-CV), American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and City Proposition P General Use Tax funds to address the urgent needs of residents who are experiencing homelessness or are at imminent risk of homelessness during the winter months.

Beginning September 16, 2022, RFP packets will be available via pick-up at the: Department of Human Services Homeless Services Division 1520 Market, Room 4065, St. Louis, MO 63103

Or at the following website: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/ government/procurement/

The Bidder’s Conference regarding this RFP will be September 23, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. via Zoom. Email bickforda@stlouis-mo.gov to receive Zoom link.

Questions allowed by email only and must be submitted on or before September 30, 2022, to Amy Bickford, Chief Program Manager, at bickforda@stlouis-mo.gov.

All responses to the RFP shall be addressed and returned in sealed envelopes or containers to the above address. The RFP closing date is 4:00 p.m. Monday, October 10, 2022.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Paric Corporation is seeking proposals for the following project: Missouri S&T General Services Building

PARIC Corporation is soliciting bids for the Architectural Fitout, Plumbing, Fire Protection, Steel Erection, Misc Steel Fabrication for the Missouri S&T General Services Building located at 1701 Fraternity Circle, Rolla, MO. The project consists of the construction of a 1-story office with an adjoining storage and shop building. Total size of the facility is approx. 35,500 sf. Access to documents is available from our Smartbid link. If you do not received a bid invitation please send your company information to bids@paric.com.

BIDS WILL BE DUE ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 @ 5:00pm

Send all questions to Nick Lange (nlange@paric.com).

Job will have prevailing wage requirements for Phelps County.

Goals for Construction Business Enterprise

• 10% Minority (MBE)

• 10% Women (WBE), Disadvantaged (DBE), Veteran (VBE)

• 3% Service Disabled Veteran (SDVE)

All bids should be delivered to Paric via e-mail (bids@paric.com) or fax (636-561-9501).

PARIC CORPORATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

SOLICITING BID

Reinhardt Construction LLC is Soliciting Bids from MBE/WBE/DBE/Veteran/SDVE for the following: University of Missouri Project No. CP221951 University Physicians Medical BuildingGround Floor CHCC Clinic Renovation Contact: Mike Murray ; mikem@reinhardtconstructionllc.com Phone: 573-682-5505

Chisholm

it’s where the energy is at, it’s what I’m enjoying right now,” he said.

Chisholm said he has always been attracted to sketching and drawing. In high school, he began painting graffiti art, which he liked because he could be more creative with spray paint, and paint on different surfaces. He felt pencil and paper put a limit on how he could express himself and the story he wanted to tell through his art.

During his senior year, Chisholm decided that he would take the safe route and go to college and study to become a graphic design artist.

Continued from C1 by Anna Amelia Rose

Pickett.

MTC’s artistic director Julia Flood directed the production. Children eight and up are the recommended age group. Go, Dog. Go! is adapted to a musical format by Allison Gregory and Steven Dietz from the book of the same name of a Dr. Seuss published book by P.D. Eastman. Go, Dog. Go! will be showcased at The Big Top April 2-16, 2023. It tells the stories of an assortment of canines existing and living in a magical world where they can do whatever they want. In honor of MTC’s 50th anniversary, the production

Chingy

Continued from C1

That goal was deterred when his art teacher saw that her pupil was staying true to himself as an artist. She urged him to not give in to his fear of failure and to always remain true to who he is. By fall of the next school year Chisholm was a student at the Art Institute of Chicago.

“I don’t think I ever had anyone so directly define a career path for me,” said Chisholm.

He says he is grateful for her advice because it gave him the freedom to study art but also explore other artistic outlets like photography. While in college, he followed the work of Justin Tony Tino, and Cababi, and he was so proud to see them operate on a national level and he knew he was taking the right path.

He soon began sculpting, actually what he calls “relief

will premier at The Big Top, and is a reminder that the company was founded as the Metro Theater Circus. Ages three and up are recommended to attend.

Holiday Spirits: A Holiday Fundraiser on Dec. 6 and The Second Greatest Show on Earth: After Dark 2023-A 50th Anniversary Gala on April 22, 2023 are company fundraising performances.

Joe Gfaller, MTC managing director, has been with the company since 2019. He came on board and then months later the pandemic happened.

“Our 50th anniversary is a huge testament to this community, and the support this community has put into Metro,” Gfaller said. “This community has the power of the arts to make a difference in the lives of young people.”

artists is their promotion of violence and killing, murdering one another. He wants us as the Black community to break that cycle in how we create our music.

sculpting.”

He experimented with insulation foam to create his unique pieces, saying “there is a sort of power in manipulating material in shapes” that he says took him to another realm. He would take lyrics from his music and create pieces from the foam that matched the lyrics of his music.

“I always knew I wanted to do that sort of thing,” said Chisholm.

“I wanted to make something that was more defined, sophisticated but still abstract art. One of his works, a sculpted piece of the Fleur De Lis for the Mayor’s Mardi Gras Ball, hangs in City Hall.

With so many art disciplines one would guess that he has a favorite, one that he is more passionate about. He does not place one above another, nor

Flood joined MTC in 2014, she said she’s thrilled to think about the generations of kids who grew up with MTC that are now adults with their own kids and grandkids.

“The shows the company puts out feel pretty special to be a part of,” Flood said. “MTC is a creative company that’s innovative with the work we make for young people, and also respects them in the way they relate to the world.”

Both touched on how MTC continues to push for more diversity.

“Metro has been committed from the beginning in making sure the stories on our stage reflect the community we serve,” Gfaller said. “If you look at Metro’s production history, especially over the last decade or so you will see artists

does he believe in comparing his different art forms.

“In some way or another they are all related to each other,” he said.

Like using his lyrics to create his sculptures or paintings, they are all a part of him. He looks at his music the same way. He doesn’t go for “the trendy stuff.”

“Yeah, it’s rap, but I’m not trying to sound like everything else,” said Chisholm.

He says it doesn’t matter the beat, or rhythm if he’s rapping over it. He says he never knows what he’s going to rap about, or the instruments he’s going to use or the beat he will follow. He just goes to the studio and lets things flow.

“It’s about deliberately trying to make sounds and textures that sound fresh to me, and not stick close to a place of

of color telling stories that are specific to the experiences of the Black community, to the Latinx community, to any piece of our region.”

Flood, who joined MTC before Michael Brown’s killing by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, saw there was a need for And In This Corner: Cassius Clay to be presented with the company since Muhammad Ali’s relationship with an officer differed from the Ferguson scenario and showed the community a different experience of a Black man and a white male police officer interacting with each other. The production was commissioned by Idris Goodwin was in partnership with HEC Media.

“The year after we did the play, we offered young people space to have difficult conver-

familiarity for people to enjoy it,” he said.

He says making music is like putting together a puzzle, putting together assorted sounds. He’s more intrigued by styles of music that didn’t work than trends that do work.

“It’s piecing it all together and making this thing,” said Chisholm.

He’s not concerned about criticism. Naysayers have compared his style to punk rock and he says that’s OK, acknowledging that people will define his music based on their experience with music.

“One of the most important things to me as a Black man is showing possibility,” said Chisholm.

He says that throughout history, Black people “have been limited.”

“It’s extremely important to

sations with the help of Idris [Goodwin],” Flood said. “When he came in, we built a whole coalition around the production to have community conversations about what [Metro Theatre Company] has done and were focused on the fact that young people growing up in our community were in a spotlight in terms of the country talking about issues around race.

“We really wanted to make sure that the young people in our audience, which is largely kids who are growing up in the city and also the surrounding counties, were able to have these conversations, able to see those people who looked like them on the stage, able to hear about stories that they related to that were part of the daily conversations or daily wonderings

demonstrate ‘limitlessness’ and to demonstrate possibilities. I’m here to encourage it,” he said.

Chisholm stands firm on the idea that art is supposed to support the bigger ideas, adding humor to his claim he says “just don’t be whack while doing it.”

He says experimentation “is a big deal when you’re trying to figure yourself out, and you have to have a lot of bad ideas before you get to the good stuff. “

“You gotta have creative confidence,” Chisholm said. His upcoming project ‘Straight To Tape’ features rap artist Chris Burks, will be this fall.

Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter

they were having about their lives.”

According to Gfaller, last season’s productions featured three of the four productions written by women of color. MTC’s company features about 70% artists of color every season on stage.

“We want to make MTC, a home for artists, where they know that they are going to be part of a collaboration that is trying to bring the very best shows to young people allowing them to see themselves,and see a brighter future for themselves because of the magic that we can bring them on the stage,” Flood said.

For tickets and more information about this season, visit metroplays.org.

With passion in his voice, Chingy said, “ We need to give these dudes and young kids something different. They are stuck in a mindset that this type of lifestyle is the only way to live. They believe the world has nothing to offer them.” “I’m not with it, that hood mentality is a self-destructive mind frame that’s gotta go.”

Chingy grew up in north St. Louis, so he knows the struggles of a young person being in an environment that is impoverished, surrounded by gun violence, that doesn’t promote living a life beyond what

the eye can see. And that’s the hope of his upcoming album, giving his fans and newcomers a different experience with rap music that goes beyond what they have experienced. He is creating self-aware music which includes religion, astrology, astronomy, and numerology.

He raps about activating the 7 chakras through Kundalini and having spiritual currency. Chingy is on an entirely different level. He wants you to think about what he is saying in his music to give you an experience you otherwise wouldn’t have.

He says this album is “the grown Chingy.” He called it “a great project,” and his favorite album. His album is set to drop in early 2023 and his music is available on all streaming channels.

Ashey Winters is a Report for America reporter

20th Annual Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing Celebration

Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing site on the Mississippi Greenway (Riverfront Trail) Saturday, October 1st, 2022 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Where is it located?

To bike or walk to the site, you can park in North Riverfront Park and ride south on the greenway. To drive there, take Highway 70 to Adelaide Ave: Head East toward river; South on Hall to Prairie; Left on Prairie to site & parking, free shuttle the rest of the way.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

September 29, 2022

HOW TO CREATE, GROW, AND PRESERVE YOUR WEALTH

How mentoring can help women-led businesses

What to do if your mortgage application is denied

How mentoring can help women-led businesses thrive

(StatePoint) The financial disparities between male and female entrepreneurs are far-reaching. Women-led businesses receive lower valuations, less capital and fewer conventional small business loans than those led by men. Women entrepreneurs also pay themselves less than men and often take the brunt of balancing their family’s needs while growing their business. In spite of these challenges, women-led businesses of all types are thriving across the United States, thanks in part to initiatives offering tactical support and networking opportunities.

Take it from Racquel Garcia, whose substance abuse recovery and life coaching business HardBeauty had substantial outside funding but needed guidance in becoming an efficient and sustainable operation. She applied to join the Milestone Circles program offered by the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center and funded by Wells Fargo Foundation.

As part of Wells Fargo’s Connect to More program, the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center places women entrepreneurs from across the country into “circles” that receive virtual and in-person peer and professional coaching over 12 weeks, plus the support of a growing network of fellow business leaders. As of June 2022, the program has graduated more than 540 entrepreneurs in 47 states, with an aim of graduating another 1,000 women over the next 12 months. Built by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, the goal is to create space for women to step away from business pressures, identify goals and support each other’s growth.

With the assistance of her program “sisters,” Garcia built two revenue streams that were less grant-dependent, growing her income by $200,000 in 12 weeks. But the impact of this support went beyond the business. For Garcia, who is one of the only women of color in her small Colorado town, the program was a rare opportunity to share her dreams with other women she would not have crossed paths with otherwise.

“Many women entrepreneurs suffer from imposter syndrome. This confidence gap and the systemic financial barriers and pressures faced by women entrepreneurs are

just some of the reasons I saw a need for this program,” says Jenny Flores, head of Small Business Growth Philanthropy at Wells Fargo.

For Terriekka Cardenas, a sixth grade teacher, engineer and owner of Perceptive Engineering, having this support is what helped her embrace the title of CEO. “That was the first moment for me that I didn’t box myself in,” she says.

Others, such as Ruby Taylor, who graduated from the first Milestone Circle in 2021, haven’t stopped meeting with their peers after the initial 12 weeks. In 2020, Taylor created a card game, LEGACY!, to teach people how to close the racial wealth gap and have fun doing it. Being able to craft a mission statement while enrolled inspired her to amplify her vision and found Financial Joy School, which coaches Black families on building generational wealth.

“My circle is a tight-knit group that continuously supports each other when we get stuck. We’re just a telephone call away when we feel discouraged,” she said.

While founding and growing a business comes with risks, support from peers and mentors can make all the difference, say program organizers. “When you’re able to show up authentically and say what you need help with -- the real things, the hard things -- and people can come around and provide support in an environment free of competition or judgment, that’s really game-changing,” says Flores.

BUYING A HOME MAY BE MORE

Buying your first home can be exciting but will also come with many unknowns. Stifel Bank & Trust created a guide to help you navigate your path to homeownership.

The first, and arguably the most crucial, step is figuring out if homeownership is right for you. We’ve included a list of pros and cons to help make your decision a little easier.

Pros of Homeownership include:

• A Solid Investment - Unlike renting, homeownership builds equity. There is no guaranteed price appreciation due to changing market trends, yet home values historically have increased over time.

• Tax Benefits - In many cases, interest paid on a mortgage is deductible under the current tax code (Please consult a tax professional. Stifel Bank & Trust does not provide tax advice.).

• Community - Owning a home helps anchor families in a community. See what you and your neighbors can accomplish when you all have a financial stake in the neighborhood.

• Future Planning - With each mortgage payment, you build equity. Over time, that equity can be accessed and used toward purchasing another home, achieving a life goal, or home making improvements.

Cons of Homeownership include:

• Added Expenses - You will need to be prepared for home repair and maintenance costs.

• Market Variables - The future may look different when it is time to sell your home. The economy, time of the year, and the number of active listings on the market can play a factor in how quickly and at what price a home will sell if you ever choose to do so.

• Flexibility - Purchasing a home is a larger time commitment than renting. Not only are you responsible for maintenance and upkeep, including yard work and appliance repairs, but it also takes more planning to move from a place you own than a place you are renting.

When you are ready to move forward with purchasing a home, you can plan ahead by having all of your documents in order. Our handy Mortgage Loan Documentation Checklist provides the typical documentation needed from borrowers:

• Two years’ most recent W-2’s for all applicants on the loan

• Two years’ most recent Federal Tax Returns for all applicants on the loan — all pages and schedules filed, including K1s if applicable (If clients hold 25% or more ownership in a company, business tax returns are needed)

• Most recent pay stubs covering at least 30 days

• Government-issued identification, such as a driver’s license

• Most recent two months, or quarterly,

Path to homeownership

programs, tax breaks, and a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan

• VA - No down payment is required for active or retired Military personnel who meet Veteran Affair’s mortgage guidelines; however, loan amounts over $548,250 require some down payment

In addition to a down payment, you’ll need to consider closing costs and prepaid items.

Closing costs generally include:

- Origination Fee

- Appraisal

- Credit Report

- Flood Letter

- Title Insurance

- Title Transaction Fees

- Courier Fees

- Recording Fees

- Survey

Prepaid items generally include:

• First-year of home insurance premium

• Interest from your closing date through the last day of the month

• Escrow for real estate taxes and homeowners insurance*

• Flood insurance** if applicable

statements of checking, savings, investment, and retirement accounts – all pages

• Name and phone number of insurance agent

Understanding what goes into your mortgage payment is vital. The components include:

• Principal & Interest - The portion of your payment that covers loan principal and interest each month varies. As is reflected in an amortization table, as each payment is made, a larger percentage of your payment goes toward paying down your principal balance.

• Escrows - Property taxes and homeowners’ insurance are items your lender collects through your monthly mortgage payment and pays on your behalf. Each year, your escrow payment is evaluated and recalculated. Any overages are refunded to you, while shortages will be factored into your monthly payments.

• Mortgage Insurance - If you have less than 20% equity in your home, monthly payments will include mortgage insurance.

Our dedicated and experienced lenders at Stifel Bank & Trust can help you decide which loan program suits you and your unique situation. Loan programs offered include:

• Conventional – minimum down payment is 5% but can be as little as 3% in some cases

• FHA - if you qualify as a first-time homebuyer, you may have access to state

your financing availability.

Samantha Dailey, Senior Mortgage Loan Officer, enjoys helping first-time homebuyers and is dedicated to ensuring clients’ seamless experiences, from answering general lending questions to navigating the loan process. Dailey states, “I think homeownership is a goal for most Americans, and I take pride in helping people in my community bring that goal to fruition. Buying a home is not only an investment for yourself but something that can be passed along to future generations. Stifel helps make this a reality through the grant programs we partner with that help make the purchase more affordable as well as the flexibility in loan options we provide for our clients.”

Ready to make a move to your first home? Contact Samantha Dailey at daileysa@stifelbank.com or (314) 624-9139, NMLS# 1748574.

There are many factors to consider in your path to homeownership. Once you decide you’re ready, you may consider getting a preapproval letter from your lender after reviewing how much you can afford in loan payments. The letter will help you and your real estate agent shop within your budget and provide confidence to sellers of

*Escrows are collected to cover homeowners (hazard) insurance and all applicable real estate taxes, including a twomonth cushion. Escrows may be waived for eligible borrowers with conforming loans and >20% equity.

**Flood insurance escrows are required for all properties located in a flood zone. Note, if property is located in a flood zone, borrowers who waive escrows for real estate taxes and homeowners insurance are still required to escrow for flood insurance.

Bloating / Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly / Pelvic or abdominal pain / Urinary urgency or frequency

One woman is diagnosed with ovarian cancer every 23 minutes.

Samantha Dailey

Pandemic make you more concerned about finances?

(StatePoint) The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted nearly every aspect of people’s lives and, as it turns out, it also impacted their feelings about financial security and life insurance. In a national survey commissioned by Erie Insurance:

• Two-thirds of respondents (66%) said the pandemic made them more concerned about their financial security than they were before.

• Sixty-one percent said the pandemic made them more concerned about how their family would be taken care of financially if they became seriously ill or worse and could no longer provide for them.

• Half (49%) said the pandemic made them question whether they had the right type and amount of life insurance as part of their overall plan for financial security, and a quarter (25%) contacted their insurance agent about it.

If you’re among those who want to make sure your family is taken care of in the event something unexpected happens to you, but you aren’t sure where to start, here are three questions to ask your insurance agent:

1. How do I know whether I need life insurance? If you have family members or loved ones who depend on your income, it is a good idea to have life insurance

to ensure they will be taken care of. The mortgage on your house, your child’s college tuition, car loans, and funds for your final expenses are just a few things that can be paid for with money from your life insurance policy. Even if no one depends on your income, it still may make sense to get a life insurance policy to cover your final expenses and debts — including student loans.

Your journey rarely follows a straight path. But it’s those detours that make the trip worthwhile. Whatever discoveries and unexpected turns you make, it’s nice to have someone there to help navigate. At Commerce Bank, we’re built for helping you with your journey — whether you’re set on the destination or just enjoying the scenery.

2. How do I figure out how much life insurance to get? There are several factors to consider, including the needs of the people you want to protect and how long they will need financial support. Consider your income, or if you aren’t employed outside the home, what it would cost if those left behind would have to pay for services you currently provide, such as

childcare or home maintenance.

3. Which is better, term life insurance or whole life? It depends on where you are. Term life insurance protects you for a specific amount of time. An example would be while you are still paying off a mortgage or paying off your child’s college tuition. Whole life insurance accumulates cash value and allows for your loved ones to be covered throughout your lifetime.

Something else to take into account as you’re considering purchasing life insurance is the value it provides, even if you never actually need to use it. “One of the best reasons to get life insurance is that it sets your mind at ease to know that your loved ones will be taken care of,” said Louis Colaizzo, senior vice president of Erie Family Life, Erie Insurance. “In fact, 44% of those who responded to our survey said the pandemic made them appreciate the peace of mind they get from having life insurance even more now than they did before.”

To learn more about life insurance, contact your agent or visit erieinsurance.com/ life-insurance.

Amid the uncertainty created by the pandemic, consider channeling your concerns into action by creating a financial safety net for your loved ones.

What to do if your mortgage application is denied

(StatePoint) If you dream of homeownership, having your mortgage application denied can be devastating. If this does happen to you, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Thirteen percent of all purchase mortgage applications -- a total of nearly 650,000 -- were denied in 2020, according to federal government data.

Before quickly reapplying for a loan, it’s important to first understand the reasons your loan was denied. The lender is required to disclose that information to you within 30 days of its decision. You can also call your lender for further explanation. Having this knowledge will help you work toward building your eligibility for a mortgage.

In some instances, the situation involves a quick fix, such as providing missing or incomplete documentation. However, if the reasons cited for your application denial involve down payment cost, a low credit score, an adverse credit history or a high debt-to-income ratio, here are six steps you can take toward recovery:

1. Consult a Housing Counselor. Consider speaking to a community-based credit counselor or a HUD-certified housing counselor. They can help you create a plan to increase your savings, decrease your debt, improve your credit, access down payment assistance or take advantage of first-time homebuyer programs.

2. Improve Your Credit. In a 2022 Freddie Mac survey of consumers denied a mortgage application in the past four years, three in five cited debt or credit issues

as reasons given for their initial denial. If this describes you, take time to improve your credit profile before applying for another loan. Good credit demonstrates responsible money management and gives you more purchasing power, opening doors to better loan terms and products. Visit creditsmart.freddiemac.com to access Freddie Mac’s CreditSmart suite of free financial education resources that

can help you understand the fundamentals of credit and prepare you for homeownership.

3. Pay Down Debt. In the application process, lenders will look at your recurring monthly debts, such as car payments, student loans and credit card loans. By lowering or paying down monthly debts, you can build a positive credit history and lower your debt-to-income ratio. Not sure where to start? Tackle your debt with the highest interest rate first.

4. Obtain Gift Funds. If you’re short on money for your down payment, you may be able to use gift funds from a family member to decrease the amount you need to borrow.

5. Find a Co-Signer. A co-signer applies for the loan with you, agreeing to take responsibility for the loan should you default. The co-signer’s credit, income and debts will be evaluated to make sure they can assume payments if necessary. In addition to ensuring your co-signer has good credit, you should make sure they are aware of this responsibility and have sufficient income to cover the payment.

6. Look for a Lower-Cost Home. Remember, you should only borrow an amount you feel comfortable repaying. You may need to look for a lower-cost home than you’re financially prepared to purchase and maintain.

For more information and additional resources, visit myhome.freddiemac.com.

Homeownership: A key to building wealth

By Midwest BankCentre

For The St. Louis American

Most people want to own a home. They want safety, security, good schools for their children, a place to raise families, a home to call their own and to pass on to future generations.

But, beyond all the reasons why we become a homeowner, buying a home also lays the foundation for building wealth and financial security. In fact, it’s one of the most effective wealth-building tools available to individuals and families.

How does owning a home build wealth?

Buying a home is an automatic savings account. Each time you make a house payment, you are saving money. Month after month, year over year, you start to see that savings account increase as you pay down your loan balance, allowing those payments to work for you and your financial freedom. When you make a rent payment, on the other hand, all that money goes into someone else’s pocket.

A fixed rate mortgage provides stable

monthly payments. Rent payments can increase at any time. By owning, you can anticipate and budget for your living expenses and enjoy more flexibility in your financial decisions.

Homes build equity over time as you pay down your mortgage. This equity can be used to finance other expenses – like

home renovations, paying down high-interest debt, or funding a college education – using a home equity loan or home equity line of credit.

Your home can serve as a valuable asset. If a home’s value rises above the price you paid for it, you could sell it and use the difference for retirement savings,

to start a business, or buy a larger home investment and build additional wealth.

A home loan can help you build credit. Having some debt and making regular payments on it helps build and improve your credit history. A good credit score helps you get the best pricing and terms on future loans further enabling you the opportunity to make your money work for you.

Despite the surge in U.S. homeownership over the past two years, the National Association of Realtors reported that the homeownership rate for Black Americans (43.4%) is lower than it was in 2010 (44.2%), and nearly 30% less than White Americans (72.1%). While there are many reasons for this gap, one thing is clear: more than half of our Black community is missing out on building wealth by paying rent each month.

At Midwest BankCentre, we want to close this gap and help more people achieve the dream of homeownership. We understand how difficult the process of buying a home can be. So, we take the leap into homeownership and break it down into smaller, more manageable steps, and walk you through it, communicating

with you every step of the way. We take a personal approach, getting to know you and your situation, and finding a solution that works best for you. To get you there, we offer:

Personalized solutions. We get to know you and your goals and help you reach them. Everyone’s situation is different, and we want to help ensure you receive the best solution for you by listening, asking questions, and tailoring solutions based on your needs. This is a lifelong relationship, with your today and future goals in mind. You have a personal advisor for years to come.

Down payment assistance. Many banks require large sums for down payments. We work with you to make it affordable by offering 100% financing options and down payment assistance programs.

Quick local service. Our loan officers will call you back the same day. They will take the time to meet you where you want to be. Whether this is on the phone, via text, orsitting down with you, they are here to listen and advise.

Competitive rates with fixed terms. Many people are paying more in rent each month than they would pay for a mortgage payment. With a competitive rate and terms, you may find owning a home is more affordable than rent.

Ways to boost your credit score. If you’re not quite ready to buy, our loan officers can suggest ways to establish or improve your credit score to help you get the terms and rates you want in the future. We know how important owning a home is to you and your family, now and for future generations, and now is a great time to get pre-approved for a home loan. Give us a call today for a no-obligation conversation with a mortgage specialist. Bring all your questions and doubts, and we will listen, learn and decide how best to help you achieve your dream of homeownership.

When you DREAM BIG, we all RISE TOGETHER. Midwest BankCentre is one of St. Louis’s largest and oldest community banks. A values-led bank, we invest in people and their potential – not just credit scores. An investment in you and your home is an investment in the entire community.

All deposit and loan documents, contracts, and all other disclosures/notices are provided in English only. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

Alisa Vaughn Mortgage Loan Officer, NMLS# 2008136 avaughn@midwestbankcentre.com 314-544-8599

Sam Karengi

Jr. Mortgage Loan Officer, NMLS# 1146087 Skarengi@midwestbankcentre.com 314-544-7222

7 Tips for finding a medicare plan that works for you

(StatePoint) Feeling overwhelmed by your Medicare options? There’s a good reason for that. With more than 3,000 Medicare Advantage plans, over 700 Part D Prescription Plans available and an array of carriers offering Medicare Supplement plans, there’s a lot to consider.

“Whether this is your first time enrolling in Medicare or you’ve been through the process before, it’s easy to get confused by the big picture, not to mention all the details,” says Ryan Kocher, Medicare growth officer at Cigna.

This Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP), Kocher is demystifying the enrollment process by sharing the same tips he offers to his own friends and family members:

1. Don’t wait. Understanding Medicare can protect your health and finances in the years to come. If you are transitioning from a commercial plan, work with an expert with your company’s insurance plan to avoid gaps in coverage as well as late penalties.

2. Nail down the basics. There are many different plan types. Here’s a breakdown:

• Original Medicare, offered through the U.S. government, includes all providers who agree to participate in the program.

• Medicare Supplement plans are plans offered by many private insurers that complement Original Medicare. For an additional premium, these plans cover costs such as copays and coinsurance not covered by Original Medicare. There are a number of standardized options available.

• Standalone Prescription Drug Plans, offered by private

insurers for a monthly premium, provide drug coverage not covered by Original Medicare or Medicare Supplement.

• Medicare Advantage (MA) plans cover everything covered by Original Medicare, and most also include dental, vision and hearing benefits. They often include prescription drug coverage, and other extras like over-thecounter drugs, transportation to doctor’s visits and pharmacies, and fitness plans. MA plans are often available at no extra cost.

3. Review your plan annually. During the AEP (October 15-December 7), it’s important to review your current Medicare plan, even if you like it. This is because plan details are subject to change every year. Review the Annual Notice of Changes, which is mailed to you by your insurer each September. This document spells out plan changes for the upcoming year.

4. Compare all the costs. Be sure to factor in all the associated costs of a given plan, not just the monthly premium. Out-of-pocket costs, such as co-pays and deductibles, should also be considered. Additionally, note the prices and rules around the prescription drugs you take.

5. Check network requirements. Before signing up for a particular plan, check to make sure that your favorite health care providers are in its network. While you may be able to go out of network for care, be prepared to pay more if you do.

6. Ask questions. Don’t settle on a plan until you understand it. If you have questions, reach out to your broker, insurer, physician and even those friends and family members who have Medicare for help.

7. Use your plan. Now that you have a plan, make the most of its benefits. Schedule all the screenings, vaccines and other preventive health measures recommended by your doctor. Early intervention can help detect conditions early when they can be more effectively treated.

For more information about Medicare, visit Medicare. gov, Cigna’s website at www.cignamedicare.com or the state health insurance assistance program in your area.

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