2026 Reader Calendar

St. Louis American The

2026 CALENDER

St. Louis American The

Happy Holidays AND A

JOYFUL NEW YEAR

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FREE READER CALENDAR

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NEW YEAR, NEW CAREER Special Section

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SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS LUNCHEON

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Arbor Day March 2026

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MENTAL HEALTH Special Section

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Black Friday October 2026

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Christmas Eve NEW YEAR, NEW CAREER Special Section

Christmas Day November 2026

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B1

Business Business

NOVEMBER 6 – 12, 2025 A5

AUG. 28 – SEPT. 3, 2025

A scoop of Black girl magic

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • OCTOBER 9 – 15, 2025

organ donation

T

Take our short survey to help identify barriers, inform policy, and ensure our community has a fair chance at life-saving transplants

here’s a sobering inequity at the heart of organ donation in America: A federal report released earlier this year revealed that in 2024, Black Americans made up more than a quarter of the national transplant list, yet they are far less likely to receive the kidneys, livers, hearts, and other organs they need to survive. It also found that Black folks accounted for just 13% of organ donors.

Word In Black’s research division wants to know why. We’ve launched a short survey to better understand the barriers to donation — whether mistrust, misinformation, or access — and we want to hear directly from you.

C

• Elevate awareness and influence how organ-donation campaigns are designed • Inform policy changes to improve access, outreach, and trust • Spark community conversations that can ultimately save lives

Photo by Jenna Whitmore

PEOPLE

Former editor tells Missouri journalists...

free press cannot be assumed

On The Move

Marty Baron, former executive editor of The Washington Post, cautioned Missouri journalists that American democracy and the free flow of reliable information can no longer be taken for granted.

St. Louis Public Schools Interim Superintendent Dr. Myra Berry has named Dr. Joshua Henning as interim chief of staff.

Henning’s SLPS service began in 1999 as a high school history teacher. He served in various school-levDr. Joshua el administrative Henning roles, including instructional support administrator, assistant principal and principal.

Most recently, Henning was executive director of college and career readiness.

Ferrell honored as Tech Dogs Top 25 HR exec

Photo by iStock

granted,” he said. “I can’t be certain the rule of law will prevail. Can’t be confident that a free press will endure — or that free expression for all Americans will either.”

He described a political environment where leaders attack reality, undermine facts and blur the line between truth and propaganda. He warned that authoritarians first try to discredit “independent arbiters of fact,” including reporters,

As a thank you, when you complete the survey, you’ll also be entered into a drawing to win one of 20 prizes.

Your views and experiences matter. Please join us in this meaningful work.

Take the survey today. Use the QR Code below to go to the survey.

SLPS appoints Dr. Joshua Henning to key position

St. Louis American staff

judges and scholars. When that trust erodes, he said, communities become vulnerable to manipulation and silence.

Baron tied those concerns to realworld examples, noting how independent journalists in Nicaragua and Guatemala have been jailed or forced into exile. The lesson, he said, is that rights can erode “step by step” when See BARON, A6

Robert Ferrell, World Wide Technology executive vice president, global human resources, has received a Tech Dogs 2025 People Leadership Award, which recognizes Robert “the Top 25 HR Ferrell leaders who are revolutionizing talent management through data-driven insights, inclusive cultures, and digital-first thinking.”

Please submit your People on the Move item (including photo) to areid@stlamerican.com.

HealthMatters your

‘Mindset is everything’ “Cancer does not have to be your end,” said April Isaac, proudly wearing her pink survivor shirt.

“You need positivity, you need prayer and a great support system and you’ll be fine.”

was accessorized with pink pearls that delicately outlined her face. She was at the Saturday event not only as a survivor, but to show that there is light at the end of breast cancer’s frightening tunnel for Black women.

“Mindset is everything,” said survivor Janet Johnson. This was her first Sista Strut without her husband in 11 years. He See SISTA STRUT, A8

Photo by Taylor Marrie / St. Louis American

Balloons filled the sky in a touching tribute to honor and remember those we’ve lost to breast cancer. A moment of love, reflection, and unity at Sista Strut on 1/4/25.

St. Louis entrepreneurs honored for success

St. LouiS AmericAn The

A7

CAC Audited NOVEMBER 13 – 19, 2025

Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928

stlamerican.com

Vol. 97 No. 31 COMPLIMENTARY

How pollution creates a health crisis in communities of color

I

A disproportionate burden

See POLLUTION, page A8

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Homes along the 4200 block of St. Louis Avenue destroyed by the May 16 tornado that swept through north and west St. Louis neighborhoods are still in need of serious repairs. This photo was taken Nov. 10.

Society’s ongoing reliance on fossil fuels is severely damaging public health, particularly in Black and Brown communities.

Photo by Niklas Jeromin / Pexels

Genetic testing

Important tool in obtaining valuable information now and in the future

By Dr. Graham A. Colditz

Fighting hunger in America

Shutdown is over, but dark clouds remain on horizon $187 billion SNAP cuts threaten food aid for millions

By Jennifer Porter Gore Word in Black After going dark for more than 40 days, causing anti-hunger programs to run out of money, the federal government is back open, and food benefits are being reinstated nationwide for low-income families. But there are still dark clouds on the horizon for the tens of millions of Americans who rely on the government to keep from going hungry.

That’s because the bill that ended the longest government shutdown in history,

won’t stop the $187 billion in planned cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, over the next 10 years.

On Friday, nearly 1,500 national, state and community-based organizations sent a letter to Congress urging them to pass a bipartisan bill to reverse those cuts to SNAP funding. Several House and Senate Democrats are introducing the bill, which would repeal the unprecedented cuts mandated in the massive budget bill President Donald Trump See SNAP, A8

Of the many advances in science and technology over the past 25 years, genetic testing is arguably one of the most notable. Once a rare part of health care, it is now becoming much more common.

And it’s possible that someone you know — or maybe even you — has had it done. Most often, people get genetic testing to settle curiosity about which parts of the world their ancestors may have come from Genetic or to connect with relatives testing from other branches of their can eveal family tree.

But genetic testing can also important reveal important information Dr. Graham informaabout our health, including the A. Colditz tion about risk of cancer. our health, “Genetic testing for cancer risk uses a saliva sample or blood sample to look for changes in including specific genes — or pieces of DNA — that are the risk of associated with increased risk of certain types of cancer. cancers,” said Erin Linnenbringer, a board-certified genetic counselor and associate professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

There are many genes that are related to cancer. Two of the most well-known examples are BRCA1 and BRCA2, Linnenbringer added. Women with harmful changes — known as “variants” or “mutations” — in these genes have a much greater risk of developing breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancer. Men with these mutations also have a greater risk of breast and pancreatic cancer as well as prostate cancer.

While most gene mutations don’t increase cancer risk as much See COLDITZ, A8

stlamerican.com

The hunger to help

Still rebuilding

Six months later, North St. Louis coming together – one block at a time

By Sylvester Brown Jr., Zaria Mac and Ashley Winter St. Louis American

O

n May 16, 2025, a ruthless tornado tore through parts of St. Louis City, County and the Metro East. In less than 30 minutes, the storm carved a 20-mile scar across North St. Louis, flattening blocks in Fountain Park, Penrose, The Ville and Kingshighway West.

Nearly 5,000 homes, churches and businesses were destroyed, with damage estimates topping $1.6 billion.

Six months later, the city is still in the midst of healing — physically and emotionally. The most powerful storm to hit in nearly a century left some neighborhoods unrecognizable. Yet amid the devastation, St. Louisans have shown remarkable strength and generosity, with thousands pitching in to deliver food, clear debris and comfort neighbors where official help lagged.

Across North St. Louis, recovery remains slow and uncertain.

But stories of resilience and community continue to define the city’s long road home.

See TORNADO, A15

Food insecurity

Problem deepens across St. Louis region amid federal aid delays

By Nia Hightower For The St. Louis American With more families across the St. Louis region struggling to make ends meet, community groups and local governments are expanding food distributions and pantry services to meet growing demand before the holidays.

“Ever since the announcement of a reduction or pause in SNAP benefits, we’ve seen a huge increase in visits to our six food pantries across the region,” said Michael McMillan, CEO

See FOOD, A12

Larry Gray stands in front of a tornado-damaged home near Ashland and Newstead avenues.

He has provided free meals, clothing and essential items to residents for the past six months.

Photo by Sylvester Brown Jr. / St. Louis American

‘Mill Creek: Black Metropolis’ Restoring a lost legacy

By Kenya Vaughn St. Louis American

Photo courtesy of the Urban League

The Panera Pantry, at the headquarters of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, serves food to area residents.

For decades, Mill Creek Valley was dismissed in headlines as a “slum.” In truth, it was a cultural and civic powerhouse — a place where jazz, blues and ragtime thrived.

Black-owned businesses, churches, schools and social clubs flourished there, and nearly 20,000 residents built lives rooted in joy, resistance and community.

On Saturday, the Missouri History Museum will unveil “Mill Creek: Black

Metropolis,” an exhibition that resurrects the story of Mill Creek Valley — a vibrant, 454-acre African American neighborhood in mid-century St. Louis that was razed in the name of urban renewal but never erased from memory.

“For too long, Mill Creek was described by what was taken from it rather than what it gave,” said Julia Clark, African American History Initiative Programming Specialist at the Missouri History Museum. “This exhibit shifts the narrative toward the

See MILL CREEK, A12

Vol. 97 No. 33 COMPLIMENTARY

Finding food and hope Families get both at Urban League holiday drive

By Ashley Winters St. Louis American Cars wrapped around the block outside the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis headquarters this week as volunteers handed out Thanksgiving meals.

For many families, the drive-through line offered more than food — it offered reassurance. Hope. A reminder that someone still sees them.

President and CEO Michael P. McMillan stood amid the bustle, greeting volunteers who showed up in the hundreds on Tuesday.

“It always feels good to see so many people from the community come volunteer and help us,” he said, noting that the energy was as nourishing as the meals being boxed and loaded into waiting trunks.

The Urban League expects to serve more than 3,500 people this year, distributing more than $300,000 worth of food, toiletries and other resources across St.

Photos by Taylor Marrie/St. Louis American

St. Louis and national designers ripped the runway for Saint Louis Black Fashion Week’s culminating fashion show Sunday night at The Palladium.

By Zaria Mac St. Louis American Saint Louis Black Fashion Week 2025 affirmed what the style industry has always known: Black fashion doesn’t follow trends—it defines them. This year’s runway experience was a marvelous blend of culture, craftsmanship, and community.

The Palladium event space was nearly unrecognizable Sunday evening as it transformed into a glamorous, high-fashion runway for the week’s culminating show. Soaring white columns, sleek leather seating, and beams of light slicing through the air like searchlights gave the venue a Hollywood shimmer. Yet beneath the opulence, the night was rooted in something far deeper.

From the opening gospel medley that filled the room with soulful harmonies to the hip-hop and R&B beats that pulsed throughout the evening, this was more than a fashion show. It was a cultural

statement—a celebration of artistry, identity, and the creative spirit of St. Louis’ Black community.

The evening opened with BPLR (Born Poor Live Rich), led by creative director

From bomber jackets and hoodies to polos and sweatshirts, each piece radiated confidence and resilience—streetwear that speaks volumes.

Ashley Jackson, who continues the legacy of her late husband, Quinton Jackson. She keeps his mantra, “It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish,” alive.

Models strutted to Chris Brown’s “It

Depends” and Don Toliver’s “Attitude,” wearing black-and-white ensembles sparkling with diamond embellishments.

From bomber jackets and hoodies to polos and sweatshirts, each piece radiated confidence and resilience—streetwear that speaks volumes.

Darrius Whitfield, founder of Syrus Klothing, brought an urban edge to the runway. Inspired by his late brother and a mission to uplift others, Whitfield’s models marched to YC’s “Racks” and Louisiana Cash’s “Walk Wit a Dip” in oversized jackets, letterman bombers, and T-shirt dresses. Described as “up and coming, urban, and personal,” the collection was raw, authentic, and full of heart.

Designer Kasey Harvey, founder of Kyo-C—which translates to the Japanese word for “community”—took the audience on a journey of reinvention. Her

Photos by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Gibron Jones, left, co-founder of Confluence Farms in North County and executive director of the North Sarah Food Hub, prepares meals with Gina McCline Lawrence and Mike Bell.

When John Legend released his debut studio album “Get Lifted” during the last week of December of 2004, he did the impossible. With singles like “Used to Love U” and the pop-crossover ballad “Ordinary People,” Legend managed to loosen the grip Usher had on the male R&B lane — a reign that stretched from the last three years of the 20th century to the first four years of the 21st century.

And Legend had the nerve to do so from behind a piano.

“Get Lifted” wasn’t just a debut. It was a declaration — that Legend wasn’t simply releasing music, but building a legacy.

Twenty years later, that legacy speaks for itself. In 2018, he became the second-youngest artist in history to achieve EGOT status. Now, he’s returning to where it all began with the “Get Lifted” 20th Anniversary Tour, which stops at The Factory on Monday, November 17.

“I love playing in St. Louis,” Legend said. “I’m especially excited to bring this particular tour to St. Louis. St. Louis and a few other Midwestern cities (Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee) were some of the areas where I found the most love and

“I’m especially excited to bring this particular tour to St. Louis. St. Louis and a few other Midwestern cities (Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee) were some of the areas where I found the most love and excitement for my debut album, ‘Get Lifted.’”

John Legend

B

layered: Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Kanye West, Lauryn Hill. That last name holds special weight. It was on her iconic debut solo studio album that Legend earned one of his first major label writing credits.

“I was still young and shy and not sure of what mark I could leave on this industry,” Legend said. “I’m so glad I had the

Actor, director, filmmaker and producer Robert Townsend is bringing his oneman show ‘Living the Shuffle’ to the St. Louis region this weekend. The show will play Nov. 15-16 at The Kirkwood Performing Arts Center.

INSIDE BUSINESS

See TOWNSEND, B3

By Denise Clay-Murray For The St. Louis American

Houston-based healthcare company Nutex Health, Inc. says it will soon reopen the former medical facility on Jefferson that most recently operated as “Homer G. Phillips Memorial Hospital,” renaming it Archview ER and Hospital. The micro-hospital will offer 24/7 emergency and inpatient services, diagnostic imaging and clinical lab testing.

The announcement marks the second attempt in two years to run a hospital inside the long-vacant building, a site whose name and history had previously sparked deep debate among residents and alumni of the original Homer G. Phillips Hospital in The Ville.

Archview will be Nutex’s first micro-hospital in Missouri. The physician-owned, publicly traded company operates more than two dozen micro-hospitals, specialty hospitals, outpatient departments and other facilities in 11 states. Karen Johnson, the facility’s chief nursing officer and former CEO of Homer G. Phillips Hospital, is leading the project.

See HOSPITAL, A13

See EDUCATORS, A13

Gibron Jones gets help on his farm from his son at their Hazelwood facility last week.

Hospital to reopen under new name History still shadows the site

By Sylvester Brown Jr. St. Louis American

Community organizers call for mass boycott

Calling Robert Townsend an actor, director, producer, and writer is accurate. But it doesn’t feel like enough.

“Cultural architect” seems more fitting — because few figures in Black

Black male educators bond while learning how to better serve their students

When Darion Murdoch talks about the students he serves as principal of Flynn Park Elementary School in University City, his face lights up. He calls them his “babies,” and making sure they have what they need to thrive is his priority.

Murdoch grew up in the community where he now works, so he knows the value of seeing someone who shares your background in a leadership role.

He’s also part of the 1.3% of the nation’s 3.8 million public school educators who are Black men, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

That means he does not always have colleagues who can Darion Murdoch, principal of Flynn relate to his experiences, he said.

Park Elementary Last week, School in however, he was University City among more than 1,500 Black male teachers who spent three days in Philadelphia learning from one another, exchanging strategies and building community. Ian Buchanan, an educator and executive leadership coach, put the word out to Black male educators in the St. Louis region that he was organizing his annual trip to the Black Men in Education Convening, held Nov. 20-22.

See FARMERS, A12

By Kenya Vaughn St. Louis American

See LEGEND, B2

lack farming has been a way of life for Gibron Jones and his family since he was a 6-year-old boy growing up in North St. Louis. His mother and father picked and cooked food from the garden they started at their Walnut Park home near Goodfellow and Emma.

“I was blessed to have a family with humble poor beginnings,” Jones says. “The reason why we grew our food was because we couldn’t afford to spend money at the grocery store.”

Food insecurity and the lack of fresh food were struggles Jones saw his parents try to combat by giving away bags of produce to neighbors. The family’s garden included 75 tomato plants, berry bushes, lettuce, corn, squash, onions and more.

“I was out there trying to work the tiller as a kid, so to be doing this work now is a full-circle moment,” Jones says.

Across North St. Louis City and County, families face some of the most persistent food deserts in the

The shuffle continues

Black Hollywood legend Robert Townsend’s story comes to the stage in Kirkwood

Photo courtesy of John Legend

excitement for my debut album, I’m so ready to celebrate 20 years of ‘Get Lifted’ there!”

An Ohio native living in New York City, the album grew out of him writing songs that spoke to his experience.

“I was a young bachelor in my 20s,” Legend recalls. “I sang about love and loss, infidelity, reconciliation, commitment—everything in between.”

His musical inspirations were just as

Community brought them together

By Melanie Johnson For The St. Louis American

John Legend gets lifted—again Grammy winner brings his debut album’s 20th anniversary tour to The Factory

See FOOD, A12

When the pantry runs dry, these farmers step in

See FASHION, B3

Pastors, and political engagement groups are calling for a mass boycott ahead of the holiday retail season to flex Black political muscle and put economic pressure on corporations.

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Living It

NOVEMBER 20 – 26, 2025 A5

“They found a hole in my heart … so I had this surgery, and then I had to have another surgery. They say everybody has two lives, and the second life starts when you realize you have one.”

- Donald Glover on taking time off after heart surgery

B1 • ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • NOV. 27 - DEC. 3, 2025

St. Louis singers Cherise Louis Mason (below) and Tish Period tore the roof off of Live by Loews with ‘Through The Fire,’ their powerful co-headlining tribute to the one and only Chaka Khan.

Scammers don’t take holidays How to protect your money this season

By Willy Blackmore Word in Black

“Fueling Sickness” shows that fossil fuel pollution is everyone’s problem while also making it clear that it is even more of a problem for some groups, including Black Americans.

Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928

NOV. 27 – DEC. 3, 2025

Business

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A deadly inequity t’s by no means new news that there are myriad ways that extracting and burning fossil fuels — or making them into other products, like plastics — is bad for public health, and particularly so for Black and Brown Americans. But we still continue to burn methane, and gasoline, and even coal, so the point bears being made again (and again).

The latest to do so is a broad coalition of medical and health organizations that released a new report last week titled “Fueling Sickness: The Hidden Health Costs of Fossil Fuel Pollution.”

It makes the case that society’s ongoing reliance on fossil fuels is severely damaging public health already — particularly demographics overburdened by such pollutions, including Black and Brown Americans — and that it will only get worse as the effects of climate change get worse.

“Fossil fuels harm our health in more ways than most people realize,” Dr. Mark Vossler, board president at Physicians for Social Responsibility, one of the organizations that put out the report, said in a statement.

“This report makes it clear that every stage of the fossil fuel process, from extraction, to transportation, to burning for energy causes widespread damage to the heart, lungs, brain and other organs. Rapidly transitioning away from fossil fuels is not just an environmental necessity; it’s a public health imperative.”

Culture, Fashion & Community

By Kenya Vaughn St. Louis American

Faith, fun and the fight against breast cancer unite at Sista Strut Pink and yellow filled the streets of downtown St. Louis as a sea of walkers celebrated strength, sisterhood and survival at the 16th Annual Sista Strut Walk and Pep Rally.

Supporters wore bright yellow shirts featuring the silhouette of a Black woman’s bust and the words ‘Sista Strut’ in her kinky bun. Survivors proudly wore pink. The back of each shirt bore the logo of the event’s producer, iHeart Media St. Louis.

The yellow shirts were for the supporters. The pink ones were for the survivors.

The walk takes place every October to align with Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“Cancer does not have to be your end,” said April Isaac, proudly wearing her pink survivor shirt. “You need positivity, you need prayer and a great support system and you’ll be fine.”

She also wore a hot pink tulle skirt with a bow to match in her locs. Her look

The

Bodybuilding duo shows how discipline and consistency build lasting health

See AMUSA, A8

By Zaria Mac and Ashley Winters St. Louis American

St. LouiS AmericAn

- Mary J. Blige on the passing of D’Angelo and Angie Stone

Living It content is produced in partnership with Regional Arts Commission.

‘Taking Care of You’

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • NOVEMBER 20 – 26, 2025

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For Emil and Samantha Porter, health isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress.

The husband-and-wife fitness team say their secret to lasting health is simple: consistency, discipline and a focus on daily improvement. That philosophy recently carried them to the top of the 2025 St. Louis Gateway Naturals Bodybuilding and Fitness Competition, where the Porters won multiple titles while competing drug-free.

“Preparing for this competition has helped me grow in ways I never imagined,” said Samantha Samantha Porter, 43. “Through Porter hard work, consistency, and discipline, I transformed my body and my mindset. I’m beyond grateful for my husband and coach Emil Porter, the journey and the outcome.

One percent better every day is what we aim for, not perfection.”

The Porters’ story is as much about health as it is about competition. They train and coach others through LIME Fitness, their St. Louis-based program focused on strength, nutrition and confidence-building. Their philosophy — Lead, Inspire, Motivate, Empower — encourages members to see fitness as a lifelong journey rather than a quick transformation.

“Showing up for yourself, honoring your commitments, and pushing to be 1% better every day — that’s the real

Your responses will help fill a crucial gap in our national understanding and make sure every voice counts. Together we can: Reine Keis, an award-winning pastry chef and founder of SweetArt Bakeshop and Café, is among six culinary artists from across the country featured as part of Clemintine’s Ice Cream’s premiere of its Holiday Cookie Exchange Ice Cream Collection.

“I just can’t believe that both of them are gone. If they let you in, that means you were special because they didn’t mess with a lot of people.”

B1 • ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • NOVEMBER 13 - 19, 2025

By Malena Amusa For The St. Louis American

Your Voice Matters

See KEIS, A6

‘1% better every day’

We want to hear from you on

St. Louis American staff

lementine’s Ice Cream has partnered with six pastry chefs from around the country to develop flavors based on the chefs’ cookie recipes. Among them is St. Louisan Reine Keis, founder of SweetArt Bakeshop and Café.

The collection debuted this week at all Clementine’s locations and is available for nationwide shipping.

The chefs have transformed signature cookie recipes into limited-edition ice cream flavors that celebrate the creativity and comfort of the classic holiday cookie exchange.

The inspiration came from a Midwest tradition where friends and family gather to swap homemade cookies.

Living It

‘Taking Care of You’

St. Louis baker helps shape Clementine’s holiday cookie ice cream collection

Marty Baron, former executive editor of The Washington Post, cautioned Missouri journalists that American democracy and the free flow of reliable information can no longer be taken for granted and warned that the nation faces a crisis of truth that threatens press freedom and public trust.

Speaking Sunday in Frontenac Baron, who at the Gateway Journalism Review’s also held First Amendment top editoriCelebration, Baron al roles at blended alarm and The Boston determination, saying Globe and constitutional protections once seen as Miami unshakable may be at Herald, real risk. traced a The event also line from marked the 100th birthday of Holocaust historic survivor Charles press freeKlotzer, a longtime dom battles journalist, newspaper to today’s publisher and founder of the Journalism climate.

Review, created to hold those in the profession accountable for their news coverage.

Baron, who also held top editorial roles at The Boston Globe and Miami Herald, traced a line from historic press freedom battles to today’s climate. He cited the Pentagon Papers, Watergate and the Globe’s clergy-abuse investigation as proof that journalism’s “highest calling” is holding the powerful to account. But he fears that foundation has grown fragile.

“I no longer take any of that for

HealthMatters your

Courtesy photo

Nearly one in three consumers reported falling victim to an online scam during the 2024 holiday season.

T

here always seems to be a never-ending list of tasks during the holiday season, from booking flights to purchasing gifts for loved ones. As you prepare for the holidays, it’s also critical to keep an eye out for online scams that aim to steal your money and your joy.

Nationally, nearly 1 in 3 consumers reported falling victim to an online scam during the 2024 holiday season, and Missourians have lost more than $137 million to fraud and scams just last year, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Scams are becoming increasingly more sophisticated, making them more convincing and harder to detect.

“The holidays are scammers’ busy season. From fake travel websites and false package delivery messages to phony charity donations, scammers take advantage of people’s spirit of generosity and bustling holiday schedule,” said Diedra Porché, National Head of Community and Business Development at JPMorganChase. “Your best defense to protect yourself and loved ones is to stay educated on common and emerging scam tactics.”

This month, Chase will host over 20 fraud and scam education workshops across the country in coordination with local law enforcement and other local partners. These workshops, which are free and open to the public, aim to educate the public on recognizing scams and empowering individuals with the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves.

Chase hosts over 1,000 fraud and scam education workshops per year across its more than 5,000 branches.

Don’t let the threat of scams dampen your celebrations. Consider the following tips to help you celebrate safely.

Cherise Louis Mason and Tish Period honor Chaka with soul and originality

Business spotlight

By Zaria Mac St. Louis American

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

The Bullock Ballroom at Live! by Loews in Ballpark Village pulsed with funk and fire last night as fans gathered for “Through the Fire.” Two St. Louis vocal powerhouses joined forces for an electrifying tribute to the incomparable, multi-Grammy Award–winning Chaka Khan. Thanks to Tish Period and Cherise Louis Mason, the evening honored her with a blend of reverence and creativity.

Paying tribute to Chaka Khan is no small feat. Her catalogue demands soulful depth and sky-high vocal agility. Yet from the moment the lights dimmed, it was clear Period and Mason were more than ready to rise to the challenge. Rather than replicate Khan’s iconic recordings

note-for-note, the two vocalists infused their own artistry, threading Chaka’s essence through their unique styles. The result was a celebration that felt authentic, passionate, and refreshingly original.

Supporting them was a full band dressed in black ensembles—horns, guitars, drums, and “Dr. Phil Good” Graves on keys. The dynamic musicians filled the ballroom with a sound that was both polished and playful. Flashing red and purple strobe lights washed over the stage, providing the evening with a full concert atmosphere that had the crowd swaying, clapping, and recording on their phones before the night was half over.

See FIRE, B3

See SCAMMERS, A6

Photos by Taylor Marrie/ St. Louis American

From campus to careers

Mentoring program Backpack to Briefcase honored for guiding students on right path

By Zaria Mac St. Louis American A. McDonald entered the Backpack to Briefcase program as a psychology major at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville unsure of how she would bridge the gap between college and fulltime work. By graduation, she had a job lined up and, with the help of several scholarships, no student loan debt.

“It allowed “It allowed me me to form to form a conneca connection where I was tion where I able to have a job was able to right out of college, and I still work for have a job them now,” she right out of said. “In Backpack college, and to Briefcase, you I still work are getting so much information that’s for them beneficial to you. I now.” was able to gain more information that I can – A. use later in interviews McDonald and just the professional setting as a whole.”

She said she received several scholarships “and was able to leave my college journey without any student loan debt.”

McDonald’s experience is one example of how the St. Louis-based mentorship and scholarship program has supported students over the past 16 years. The initiative, co-founded by Larry Blue and Kendra Neely-Gage, was recently recognized by the NAACP St. Louis Branch with its Next Generation Trailblazer Award, honoring programs that support educational and economic

PEOPLE On The Move

Boyce honored by Black Radio Hall of Fame Robin Boyce, associate director of corporate support for WSIE 88.7 The Sound FM, recently received the African American Radio Pioneer Award and was inducted into the 2025 class of the National Black Radio Hall of Fame at the Renaissance Hotel in St. Louis.

Boyce has a Robin 45-year career Boyce working in radio for several signals in St. Louis. She has also worked in radio, television and the film industries across the country.

Williams named interim HR chief for SLPS

Photo courtesy of Backpack to Briefcase

Kendra Neely-Gage and Larry Blue are co-founders of the Backpack to Briefcase Scholarship and Mentoring Program, which helps prepare students to transition from school to their careers. advancement.

“This award comes with accountability and responsibility that I don’t take lightly,” said Neely-Gage, executive director of the program. “To be recognized by the NAACP, knowing the organization’s history and the leaders they’ve celebrated, took my breath away.”

Blue and Neely-Gage, both first-generation college graduates, say their own

experiences navigating higher education and early careers influenced how they shaped the program. “You have a walking example in both of us,” Neely-Gage said. “We figured it out the hard way, and now we’re sharing those lessons.”

Backpack to Briefcase began in 2009 as a small project aimed at helping stuSee BACKPACK, A6

St. Louis Public Schools Interim Superintendent Dr. Myra Berry has named Laterica Williams as interim executive director of human resources.

Williams brings more than a decade Laterica of progressive expeWilliams rience in human resources leadership and organizational management, eight years of which have been with SLPS. She holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in human resources management from Lindenwood U. Please submit your People on the Move item (including photo) to areid@stlamerican.com.

Sexyy Red’s four-hour frenzy

STL superstar brings surprise guests and nonstop hits to Enterprise Center

St. Louis’ own Sexyy Red brought her unique brand of joyful chaos – and plenty of special guests – to her soldout show at Enterprise Center Saturday night.

A Legend from the very start

Photo by Taylor Marrie/ St. Louis American

By Zaria Mac St. Louis American St. Louis was shaking—literally—last night as Sexyy Red returned to her hometown to headline the unapologetically ratchet Sexyy Red & Friends. For nearly four hours, the Enterprise Center thumped with heavy bass, flashing lights, and the kind of rowdy, joyful chaos only Sexyy Red can command. Fans filled the arena, draped in red braids, fresh lace fronts, and outfits ready for twerking at a moment’s notice.

Hosted by the animated and endlessly clowning Ben Da Don, the night was a rotating parade of chart-toppers, underground favorites, and surprise guests who kept the crowd buzzing with the constant anticipation of who’s coming out next.

Every seat was filled with fans cackling at Ben’s jokes while anxiously waiting for the Northside shero herself to appear.

Bursting out in a frosted black denim jacket and pants set, she launched the night with her fiery anthem “Get It Sexyy,” the title flashing in bold red graphics behind her. Before the beat even settled, she leaned into the mic and let out her signature “BOW BOW BOW BOW,” instantly detonating the arena. Phones shot up like fireworks as thousands screamed the lyrics right back at her.

Without missing a breath, Red slid straight into “Hoochie [expletive].” The song turned the floor into a sea of shaking bundles and perfectly executed angles as women recorded themselves twerking beside their friends.

Photo by Samantha Pearlman

Then came the throwback everyone was waiting for “Chicken Chicken.”

Red peeled off her jacket. She revealed glistening skin and a black bra top. She twerked under the lights as fans shouted every word. She strutted across the stage, dancing and dropping low before

For nearly four hours, the Enterprise Center thumped with heavy bass, flashing lights, and the kind of rowdy, joyful chaos only Sexyy Red can command.

welcoming her first special guest of the night: Loe Shimmy.

The crowd erupted as Shimmy stepped out performing “3 am,” shouting “put you

in your place!” to the arena of screaming fans. Meanwhile, Sexyy Red danced behind him with the kind of seduction only she can pull off. He followed with “For Me,” with Red jumping in to hype the adlibs like they were tag-teaming a house party performance.

Just as fans caught their breath, Rob49 stormed the stage to deliver a bass-booming performance of “WTHELLY.” The men in the audience nearly shook the building yelling the chorus while the women twerked in circles, letting the beat take full control of their hips.

Momentum only built from there as Sexyy Red lit up the arena with “Skee Yee.” She turned the room full of pretty girls into the most gangster choir imaginable. After tearing through “I Love My Nickel,” she brought out another queen of raw lyrics and even wilder energy: Sukihana. Together they performed See SEXYY RED, B3

Music star John Legend brought his ‘Get Lifted 20th Anniversary Tour’ to The Factory on Nov. 17.

Music star revisits his rise at The Factory

By Kenya Vaughn St. Louis American John Legend fulfilled his mission at The Factory on Monday, November 17. He gave St. Louis fans a chance to relive “Get Lifted”—the album that launched him from rising talent to R&B mainstay when his Get Lifted 20th Anniversary Tour stopped in the See LEGEND, B3

Living It content is produced in partnership with Regional Arts Commission.