April 10th, 2025 edition

St. LouiS AmericAn

– Mayor Tishaura Jones

Mayor Tishaura Jones loses re-election bid

By Sylvester Brown, Jr.

St. Louis American

“Hey, ya’ll,” a shaken Tishaura Jones said as she stepped up to deliver her concession speech on Tuesday night.

“Tonight didn’t go as we hoped. Our city has never had a Black mayor serve more than one term and I know many of you, like me, were looking to make history with me and a second term.”

Jones’ challenger Alderwoman Cara Spencer won 64% of just over 50,000 ballots, indicating a turnout of about 25.7%.

By 9 p.m., Jones officially conceded at the Omega Center on Goodfellow Blvd. Signs of sadness, frustration and even anger graced the faces of many in attendance.

“Together,” Jones continued, “we’ve accomplished so much.”

To thunderous applause she listed her many accomplishments as mayor and as a mayoral candidate.

‘Don’t let them take us back and make damn sure they know who they serve.’ See JONES, A10

Resist to Exist

Congressman Wesley Bell challenged all St. Louisans to rise up and actively protest the Trump administration for its destructive policies and demonization of Black history and culture during the “Resist To Exist” rally at St. Paul African Methodist Church on Saturday, April 5, 2025. There were several “Hands Off” protests in the St. Louis area, and rallies were held on the National Mall in Washington D.C., and throughout the nation.

‘We are morally obligated to resist’

Trump Administration: “Hands off.”

‘Hands Off Movement’ accelerates Vows

By Sylvester Brown, Jr.

St. Louis American

Hundreds of thousands of protestors took to the streets across the country Saturday with a unified message to the

The St. Louis region hosted its share of demonstrations against the administration’s plans and policies that range from the involvement of multi-billionaire Elon Musk in government matters, to the mass firing of federal workers, to the worsening economy.

Another rally that day not only called out the folly of Trump but urged attendees to fight back as if their very lives and those of others were at risk.

During the “Resist to Exist Rally” at

technologies to

St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC) on Hamilton Avenue, Congressman Wesley Bell and others challenged attendees to “fight back.”

Bell was joined by local preachers, politicians and dignitaries. Despite a steady drizzle outside, the sanctuary of the church was nearly full with an animated audience.

“If you go to a doctor and he pulls out a scalpel and starts cutting off

By Ashley Winters St. Louis American

8th

Ward

Cara Spencer

Alderwoman Cara Spencer will be sworn in as mayor of the city of St. Louis on April 15, 2025, meaning a city with a majority Black population will soon be led by three white members of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. Spencer toppled Mayor Tishaura Jones with about 64% of the vote, following up her huge advantage over the incumbent in the March municipal primary. Joining Spencer on the Board of E&A will be Board of Alderman President Megan Green and newly elected comptroller Donna Baringer. Baringer defeated longtime incumbent Darlen Green in the race for comptroller.

“This campaign was built on the simple idea that St. Louis can do better,” Spencer said to supporters during her victory speech.

She will be the city’s third consecutive female mayor, following Lyda Krewson and Jones. Jones defeated Spencer in the 2021 mayoral election to become St. Louis’ first female Black mayor. She promised to deliver “better delivery of city services that residents and

By Rachel Lippmann St. Louis Public Radio

Former Alderwoman and state Rep. Donna Baringer beat longtime St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green on Tuesday, ending Green’s nearly 30-year political career.

Baringer got 51.5% of the vote, with Green receiving 48.5% in final unofficial results. Turnout was about 25.7%.

“Even though we didn’t get the victory this time, we move forward with hope,” Green said in a statement. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to have served the people in the city that I love with integrity and dignity for the past 29 years.”

Baringer was the top vote-getter in the March primary by a narrow margin and had picked up the endorsement of Celeste Metcalf, the third candidate in that race

Mayor Tishaura Jones speaks with supporter LaToya Moore at The Omega Center after being unseated by Alderwoman Cara Spencer on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

Photo by Sylvester Brown Jr. / St. Louis American

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Terrence Howard claims to have been propositioned by ‘Diddy’

Actor Terrence Howard made some explosive claims over the weekend when he appeared on a popular podcast.

During an interview with the “PBD Podcast,” Howard claimed the embattled hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who’s currently facing several criminal charges related to sex trafficking and racketeering, attempted to make sexual advances towards him.

According to Howard, he once visited Diddy to help him with his acting skills after being “invited ... for weeks.”

Howard claimed that when the two were together, Diddy didn’t have materials to work on, and, instead, he only sat there, “looking” at Howard.

Howard revealed he was confused by Diddy’s behavior before saying his assistant alleged Combs was trying to initiate a sexual encounter.

After their alleged interaction, Howard claimed he cut off all communication with Diddy so he could protect his “man card.”

He added that he has had similar experiences with several producers in the past whom he’s threatened “to

punch” or “knock their head off.”

“When you approach a real man about his masculinity, you’re going to get a real reaction back,” Howard said. “I don’t compromise. I don’t play gay roles. I don’t kiss a man. I don’t do that [expletive] because the man card means everything.”

Judge sides with Young Thug on probation violation allegations

Attorneys for Young Thug say a judge has ruled that the rapper didn’t violate his probation with a social media post.

District Attorney Fani Willis said Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffrey Williams, reposted a social media post that included a photo of a district attorney’s office investigator that went viral.

The state’s motion says the investigator is currently testify ing in a gang murder hearing and that there is a court order for her face not to be shown on TV while testifying.

According to a copy of the court order from Judge Paige Reese Whitaker obtained by Atlanta’s WSBTV. com, the district attorney’s motion to revoke Williams’ probation was denied.

“First, there is no

suggestion that Mr. Williams knew of the Magistrate Court’s Order not to show the investigator on television while testifying. Second, the allegation asserts that Mr. Williams’ reposted an image and wrote a caption. This allegation does not violate the Magistrate Court’s Order or Mr. Williams’ conditions of probation. Third, there is no violation of Mr. Williams’ probation by reposting an image on social media and opining that the investigator is untruthful,” the motion states.

The motion goes on to say that any comments made about the investigator on social media “cannot be attributed to Mr. Williams in order to support a violation of his probationary sentence.”

Flavor Flav suffers sobriety setback

Hip hop and reality television star took to social media to share that he suffered a hiccup after nearly five years of clean and His post reads as follows: I remain authentic to who I am and a large part of the past 4.5 years for me has been my sobriety journey. I think I’ve been an inspiration to many that if I could get sober, anyone can do it.

But just when you think it’s easy, it ain’t. I briefly relapsed. I say this to admit my mistake publicly and hold myself accountable. I am a human being who makes mistakes, and it doesn’t make me a bad person. I hope those who are around me support my choice to be sober. I went back to day one again. Time didn’t stop. My journey continues.

Cardi B links up with Revolve Group

Rapper and actress Cardi B has partnered with California-based fashion and lifestyle retailer Revolve Group to expand her brand into apparel and beauty. The venture will mark Revolve’s foray into the beauty industry.

“People have been expecting both from me. My beauty line, people have been expecting that, like an album,” Cardi B told WWD.

She shared the news – as well as an image of herself gracing the cover of WWD – on Instagram.

“I’m excited to announce my business ventures! I wanted to get into something I’m very passionate about and most importantly something that I know so much about,” Cardi B said. “It has taken me years to perfect and tailor make it and here we are!

Sources: Aol.com, Instagram.com, X.com, TMZ.com, WSBTV.com

Terrance Howard

- Women’s March Executive Director Rachel Carmona during the National Mall ‘Hands Off’ rally

You cannot bloom without water

By Kenya Vaughn and Zaria Mac

The St. Louis American

This weekend’s severe weather did nothing to dampen the spirits of the 4000+ from across eight states who took part in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated’s 91st Central Regional Conference at America’s Center. Nor did it hamper the experience they were offered.

“I’m sure you can hear the rain outside,” Central Regional Director Kihana W. Davis told the hundreds who gathered for the public meeting on Friday night.

The torrential showers were accompanied by thunder and lightning –which could also be heard throughout the exhibit hall. The event had to be moved from Ferrara Theatre to an exhibit hall to accommodate the anticipated size of the audience.

“I was speaking with some of my D9 counterparts today and I thought about our theme, ‘Opulence in Bloom,’” Davis said. “You can’t bloom without water.”

Though most of the conference programming that took place from Thursday, April 3 –Sunday, April 6 was for registered conference sorors, the public meeting is one of the opportunities

to fellowship with the public.

Among the esteemed voices to address the audience was Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated International President and CEO Danette Anthony Reed.

“The service we undertake is at the very core of our sisterhood,” Reed said. “As leaders in transformational service that soars to the greatest heights, we are so proud of our international programs and that they make an impact in this region, across the country and around the world.”

Among those she pointed out were programs to combat childhood food insecurity and build generational wealth through their credit union – The first Black owned, women led sorority based digital financial institution in the history of the United States.

“We must organize. We must educate, we must advocate,” Reed said. “We must remember that the American story will be written by us – the American People.”

Part of that story includes Juliana Stratton –the first Black woman Lt. Governor in the history of Illinois – and proud Alpha Kappa Alpha woman.

“I am inspired to gather here in St. Louis to be reminded that there are still so many fierce women

Friday night at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., 91st Central Regional Conference at America’s Center. concluded with “The STEPtacular In Full Bloom.” Chicago’s Theta Omega Chapter took home first place for their creative storyline and precision. They were dressed in a historic aviator chic look, with green jumpsuits and berets with pink sequined belts. Their outfits appeared to be a tribute to Tyler Perry’s film “The Six Triple Eight,” a military film based on a true story that honored unsung Black women soldiers who served during World War II.

soaring – and standing on the shoulders who came before us,” Stratton said. “They refused to give up. They refused to be silent. They refused to be erased. They refused to operate in fear.”

The severe weather caused a change in the program. Designated keynote speaker Dr. Michael Eric Dyson was stuck in Indianapolis after the storm forced his plane to reroute.

“I’m sure there’s a bio for her, but tonight she’s my ram in the bush,” Davis said.

At the absolute last minute, Rev. Traci

Blackmon stepped in.

“I know I am not the one you came to hear tonight, but since we are all here – and because Alpha Kappa Alpha women are raised stay ready, so we don’t have to get ready – I believe I have something to say at this family meeting,” Blackmon said.

It was one of many times she brought the audience to its feet as she offered a historical context of Black women’s plight in America that spanned nearly 175 years.

“Even though the Black movement welcomed the work of women, they still

held on to their sexist, marginalizing behavior,” Blackmon said. “And even though the women’s rights movement addressed issues of gender bias, the white women still held on to their racist attitude towards blacks.”

Even if she had months to prepare, her words would have stirred souls.

But the fact that she assembled her address in mere minutes was utterly stunning.

“Not only did Black women not fully fit in either of these movements, it seemed like everywhere she turned, Black women were being told to wait

her turn and ‘stay behind me,’” Blackmon said.

“We are the most educated demographic group in America. And yet, only one percent of Fortune 500 CEOs are Black women.”

Among those blown away by Blackmon was the originally intended keynote speaker, who entered the room just as Blackmon began to speak.

“God knew who needed to be the one to speak to you this evening,” Dyson said “I could have stayed at the crib.”

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Guest Commentary

The history they fear is the truth we carry

By Ben Jealous

The last living link of my family’s story of origin in antebellum Southern Virginia died at age 105 a few years ago.

My grandmother, Mamie Todd, was born in 1916. Her grandparents were born into slavery. She fought Jim Crow. She stood up for Black teachers and students in a segregated school system in which she taught in her early career.

She supported my mom when, at 12, she signed as a named plaintiff in one of the feeder cases to Brown v. Board of Education. And she stood by mom every step of the way when three years after that, my mom helped desegregate her high school.

That’s the kind of strength I come from. That’s the kind of history it seems the Trump administration now wants to erase.

The Washington Post and other outlets are reporting that the Trump administration’s scorchedearth campaign to purge diversity, equity, and inclusion from every corner of our federal government has now spread into the heart of the National Park Service.

Web pages about slavery and the Underground Railroad have been edited to downplay the brutal reality of bondage and the contributions of Black leaders.

This is not about saving space on a government website. It is about shrinking the story of who we are as a people.

Last month, we learned that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s DEI purge at the Pentagon included deleting photos and posts about the Tuskegee Airmen. That hit home. Two of my grandfather’s first cousins were Tuskegee Airmen. Those men risked everything for a country that treated them as second-class citizens –and now this administration is reluctant to give them even a photo and a caption.

They even removed a webpage about Jackie Robinson’s military service. They later said it was a “mistake.” But when you see how wide this purge has spread, it starts to look less like a mistake and more like a mission.

The photo of Harriet Tubman that for years greeted visitors to an NPS page about the Underground Railroad has been deleted.

A webpage about the Niagara Movement – a precursor to the NAACP founded in 1905 by W.E.B. Du Bois – was rewritten. A statement about the group’s “renewed sense of resolve in the struggle for freedom and equality” was shortened simply to a “renewed sense of resolve.”

Heroic Americans gave their lives fighting for freedom and equality. Now, the Trump administration is trying to edit those very words out of the official American story.

Some say these changes are minor. I say they are surgical. They are subtle, yes – but profoundly damaging. As one historian put it, these edits suggest that racism no longer needs to be confronted in America. And that’s the point.

A recent executive order from President Trump set its sights on the Smithsonian. They are targeting the very museums created to tell the full story of our country. What does this mean for the very existence of the National Museum of African American History and Culture? Or the National Museum of the American Indian? What happens to truth when it is inconvenient to power?

We cannot rely on oral tradition alone. Our history deserves permanence. It deserves pages, plaques, national monuments and memorials. It deserves official recognition, not redaction.

The Trump administration’s attacks are not about race-blind policy. They are about race-based erasure. They support monuments to those who fought to preserve slavery while censoring stories of resistance. That’s not color-blindness. That’s complicity. We will not let them diminish our communities’ contributions or deny our place in the American story. We are still here. And like the men and women of the Niagara Movement, we renew our sense of resolve. Our resolve is real. And it is rising.

History is power. That’s why they are going after it.

Ben Jealous is the executive director of the Sierra Club and a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania.

Commentary Trump, GOP’s real problem with DEI

By Larry Smith

Incompetence is bad enough on its own; however, when married to arrogance, the pair seems predestined to give birth to unmitigated disaster.

That is precisely what happened when National Security Adviser Mike Waltz haphazardly included the editor of “The Atlantic” magazine, Jeffrey Goldberg, in a sensitive discussion of military operations on Signal. (Signal is a secureenough-for-civilians-but-not-the-government messaging app.)

As we all now know, several high-ranking members of the Trump Administration, including Vice President J.D. Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, were discussing plans to attack Houthi terrorists in Yemen.

Security breaches of this nature can compromise operational security, which could lead to injuries or deaths of our military personnel. Russia and China are constantly attempting to surveil senior American military, political, and intelligence leaders. If they had access to their phones, they certainly had access to this discussion.

ilarly downplayed the incident. Further, Hegseth has made it clear that he would rather talk about literally anything else.

In considering this unfortunate event, I can’t help but to think of the relentless attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs that Trump and his acolytes have levied. For example, Hegseth authored a book titled “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free.” In it, he questioned the bona fides of former Joint Chiefs Chair CQ Brown:

“Was (he promoted) because of his skin color? Or his skill? We’ll never know, but always doubt — which on its face seems unfair to CQ. But since he has made the race card one of his biggest calling cards, it doesn’t really much matter.”

Of course, our leaders are merely human. Mistakes, including serious ones, do happen. When they do, we expect our senior military and governmental leaders to respond with humility, transparency, and integrity. Unfortunately, those who participated in this incident have not done so.

Far from issuing mea culpas regarding this unacceptable (and utterly preventable) security lapse, President Trump’s national security team has been on the offensive — and has acted offensively. This includes not only attacking those who have sought to hold them to account; it also includes lying to Congress about whether they shared any classified information during this exchange.

What has been the president’s response? On Sunday, Trump told Kristen Welker of “Meet the Press:” “I don’t fire people because of fake news and because of witch hunts.” Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley has sim-

Brown, who is a four-star general, is universally praised by those who are qualified to assess his accomplishments. This highlights the irony and hypocrisy of Hegseth, who self-evidently was chosen for his current role based upon his race, his gender, and his unflinching fealty to Donald Trump.

DEI programs came into existence for a reason. It is unbelievably hypocritical and perverse not to recognize that they were created specifically to address the invidious discrimination that has always been visited upon the marginalized. Further, I shudder to think of how opponents of DEI would have attacked our national security leaders had they been people of color. The real problem with DEI is that it provides opportunities for members of marginalized groups — primarily people of color, women, and the LGBTQ community — to overcome historic barriers to their advancement. This has never been about “unqualified” people taking away roles from those who “deserve” them. Obviously, “diversity” isn’t what caused the largest national security blunder in recent memory. Thus, this incident should serve as a catalyst to reinstate such programs.

I am not optimistic.

Larry Smith is a political columnist for the Indianapolis Recorder

Commentary

Remembering

George Foreman’s golden moment

“Athletes are artists whose artistry dies with their youth. For fighters, it tends to be worse, as the youth is literally beaten out of them. But George Foreman — erstwhile bully, seller of grill gadgets and mufflers — did the greatest thing any athlete can do. He beat time.”

— Mark Kriegel

By Marc Morial

When former world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali tried to intimidate reigning champion George Foreman at the start of their famous “Rumble in the Jungle” in 1974, Foreman almost fell down laughing.

“Someone must have told him, ‘Tell him this to psych him out,’” Foreman said years later. “He opened his eyes just a little bit and said, ‘You were just a kid in high school when I fought Sonny Liston. You don’t deserve to be here.’”

Foreman had never spent a day in high school.

John Carlos had given days earlier. But it was about gratitude for the chance in life that Great Society programs had given him, he said.

“They were trying to say, ‘We are Americans!’” Foreman said. He held a similar view of the controversial decision by Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players to kneel during the national anthem: “If we are the country we say we are, we can handle it.”

When Liston lost the title to Ali in 1964, Foreman was a 15-year-old dropout, living in poverty, headed for a life of crime. While Ali was making a stand against racism, eventually losing his title and his boxing license in 1967 for refusing the draft, “politics didn’t even exist” for Foreman.

“I was so ignorant I thought Lyndon Johnson was President of Texas because every time I saw him he was wearing a cowboy hat,” Foreman said.

That all changed for Foreman when he joined the Job Corps, which not only led him to a career in boxing, but a lifelong love for reading and learning.

Foreman’s decision to wave a tiny American flag after his Olympic gold medal win in 1968 was seen by some as a response to the Black power salute track and field champions Tommie Smith and

The 1970s were regarded as a golden age of boxing, and the greatest era for heavyweights. Foreman was the last of the three who, along with Ali and Joe Frazier, dominated the era. It was a decade that included the most famous fights in history, beginning with 1971’s “Fight of the Century” when undefeated reigning champion Frazier defended the title from the undefeated former champion Ali.

Foreman, too, was undefeated by the time he faced Frazier in the “Sunshine Showdown” in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1973. But Frazier was so heavily favored that announcer Howard Cosell was genuinely shocked by Foreman’s dominance in the two-round fight. Cosell’s repeated cry “Down goes Frazier!” remains iconic to this day.

Even more surprising was the 45-yearold Foreman’s 1994 victory over 26-yearold Michael Moorer. With one knockout punch, Foreman set three boxing records: the oldest ever to win the heavyweight title, with the longest interval between championships, and the largest age gap between fighters.

But for Foreman, nothing ever topped winning the Olympic gold medal.

“That was the most impossible thing that could ever happen to anyone,” he said. “I had never had a dream come true.”

Marc Morial is president and CEO of the National Urban League

Brittney Brown, a Spire gas pipeline worker, gives Sarai Jefferson, 12, an opportunity to try out Spire’s training simulator. Spire and Girls in the Know partnered to offer hands-on experience with skilled trades to 30 young ladies on April 2, 2025.

Inspiring girls to consider skilled trade careers

St. Louis American

Spire and Girls in the Know partnered to introduce 30 students from the FergusonFlorissant School District to possible skilled trade careers on Wednesday April 2, 2025, at the Spire Training Center in Shrewsbury, Mo.

The students, ranging from ages 9 to 13, met with female professionals from Spire, and learned about professions at interactive stations, including pipefitting, natural gas meter building and truck and equipment displays.

“At Girls in the Know, we empower girls to embrace a strong sense of self, with a vision that every girl will know—’I am enough,”’ said Lori Lander, Girls in the Know founder.

“Our programs provide a safe space for dialogue covering key topics such as body image, puberty, peer pressure, and cyberbullying, ensuring each girl receives the support needed to thrive.

This immersive visit reinforces our commitment to empowering young girls with knowledge, confidence, and exposure to new opportunities that inspire their futures.”

Sam Wenzelburger, field operations supervisor at Spire, said the opportunity could inspire young women to consider skilled trade careers.

“I would love if each one of them walked away with a new sense of confidence, serving as a reminder that they can succeed in a handson career.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women comprise a small percentage of the workforce in skilled trades, with estimates ranging from around 4% to 10% depending on the specific trade.

People of color are underrepresented in almost all trades, with only 6% of construction workers being Black. Most skilled trade industries show similar numbers.

Revisiting a prayer for America

By Marian Wright Edelman

Now that Women’s History Month has concluded, there’s been one more broad attack on methods of sharing our nation’s history.

On March 27, President Donald Trump issued a new executive order affecting the 21 museums and 14 education and research centers that are part of the Smithsonian Institution, including the American Women’s History Museum, which is still years away from breaking ground on its official site, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the National Zoo.

According to the order, the Smithsonian Institution is “under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology,” which falls under a larger “concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation’s history, replacing objective facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth. Under this historical revision, our Nation’s unparalleled legacy of advancing liberty, individual rights, and human happiness is reconstructed as inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed.”

Five years ago on the same date, March 27, our nation lost the “Dean of the Civil Rights Movement,” the Rev. Joseph Lowery. When Joe was about 11 years old in 1930s Alabama, a policeman hit him in the stomach with a nightstick for being in a white man’s way. He responded by trying to run home to get his father’s gun.

His father stopped him from retaliating that day, but Joe made it his mission to fight back against injustice when he grew up, and he remained a courageous warrior for justice all of his life. The Rev. Lowery was a constant companion to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. who led the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the march from Selma to Montgomery, and a cofounder and later long-term president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He fought against apartheid in South Africa and for LGBTQ rights and marriage equality at home. And many Americans remember his moving benediction at the end of President Barack Obama’s first inauguration, and his prayer for our nation that day.

He acknowledged a moment of national and global financial uncertainty: “Because we know You’ve got the whole world in Your hand, we pray for not only our nation, but for the community of nations. Our faith does not shrink, though pressed by the flood of mortal ills. For we know that, Lord, You are able, and You’re willing to work through faithful leadership to restore stability, mend our brokenness, heal our wounds, and deliver us from the exploitation of the poor, of the least of these, and from favoritism toward the rich, the elite of these.”

He asked forgiveness for sowing “seeds of greed and corruption” that led to reaping “the whirlwind of social and economic disruption,” and prayed that Americans would be willing “to make sacrifices, to respect Your creation, to turn to each other and not on each other.”

“Let us take that power back to our homes, our workplaces, our churches, our temples, our mosques, or wherever we seek Your will… We go now to walk together, children, pledging that we won’t get weary in the difficult days ahead. We know You will not leave us alone.

Some Americans might see that prayer today as degrading or divisive, yet many others might still say: amen

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

Photo courtesy of Spire

Marian Wright Edelman

‘Taking Care of

A.T. Still displaying compassion in dental care

Helping special needs patients

The St. Louis Dental Center, operated by

University-Missouri

caters to patients with special needs like Carla Hardieway, 47.

By Ashley Winters

The St. Louis American

Janiece Hardieway-Muhammed has been caring for her non-verbal autistic cousin, Carla Hardieway, for many years. Her adult cousin’s condition makes everyday care like dental hygiene a challenge.

During dental visits, HardiewayMuhammad rubs her cousin’s hand to make her feel comfortable and remind her that she is safe. This type of assistance is not only a priority for Hardieway-Muhammad but also the

St. Louis Dental Center.

The Center, operated by A.T. Still University-Missouri School of Dentistry Oral Health, caters to patients with special needs like Hardieway, 47. The federally funded center offers a full range of oral healthcare services, but the waiting list can be extensive.

Before Hardieway-Muhammad became her cousin’s primary caregiver, she said Carla’s oral health had been neglected, and nearly all of her teeth had cavities. She has 27 dental fillings and two extractions.

ACS, Food Outreach partner to help cancer patients

Good nutrition can help recovery

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

The fight against cancer is mor difficult for St. Louis area residents faced with food insecurity and lack of nutritious foods, which often accompanies lack of fresh produce.

To help reduce the causes, the American Cancer Society has awarded $50,000 to Food Outreach to provide free medically tailored meals, groceries, and dietetic counseling to people with cancer during treatment.

Hardieway-Muhammed has to take extra steps to make Hardieway feel comfortable during dental visits. Helping patients like Hardieway with special needs is a priority at the St. Louis Dental Center.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists developmental disabilities as impairments in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas, and includes Autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, learning or intel-

See A.T. STILL, A7

The pain and beauty of braiding

By ReShonda Tate Word In Black

Braiding has long been more than just a hairstyle in the Black community—it is a tradition, a statement of identity and a deeply personal form of self-expression.

While braids offer beauty, convenience and protection, they can also bring pain, tension and, in some cases, irreversible hair loss.

For many Black women, braiding is a go-to protective style, offering a break from daily styling and potential heat damage. Yet, experts warn that frequent braiding, especially when done too tightly, can lead to traction alopecia—a form of hair loss caused by prolonged tension on the scalp.

n Braids are beloved for their low maintenance and versatility.

“We see this issue all the time in Black women,” said Dr. Oyetewa Oyerinde, a dermatologist and hair loss specialist at Baylor College of Medicine. “Tight braids, when worn repeatedly, can weaken hair follicles, leading to thinning edges, bald spots and even permanent hair loss if not addressed early.”

Braids are beloved for their low maintenance and versatility, allowing women to experiment with styles without the daily manipulation that often leads to breakage. However, the same style meant to protect can also cause harm when applied improperly or worn for too long.

Natasha Brooks, a Houston-based braider specializing in protective styles, acknowledges the balance between beauty and scalp health.

“Some clients want their braids tight because they think it lasts longer,” Brooks said. “But tight doesn’t mean better—it just means more tension on your scalp. A good braider should never put your hair at risk for the sake of a longer-lasting style.”

That tension can have serious conse-

See TATE,

The grant is part of the nationwide Addressing Barriers to Care (ABC) Grant Program which is designed to mitigate barriers to care and health-related social needs of cancer patients, including food security and nutrition.

Food Outreach is the sole recipient of an ABC Grant from the ACS in the Midwest, which will enhance the organization’s role in providing nutrition support to patients with cancer across the St. Louis region. A 2022 National Institutes of Health study provided evidence that Black-white racial disparities in health care utilization and health outcomes persist among cancer survivors.

See NUTRITION, A7

Food Outreach, which prepares medically tailored meals for people living with financial vulnerability and HIV or cancer in Missouri and western Illinois, has received $50,000 from the American Cancer Society to provide free meals, groceries, and dietetic counseling to people with cancer during treatment.

A.T. Still

School of Dentistry Oral Health,

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

ReShonda Tate

Photo courtesy of Food Outreach

A.T. Still

Continued from A6

lectual disabilities, hearing loss, vision impairment, and other developmental delays.

Dr. Paul Bigg, DMD, ATSU-MOSDOH assistant professor and director, Special Care UnitSpecial Needs Dentistry, is ensuring patients with disabilities and special needs receive dental care. Dr. Bigg faces significant challenges, especially with patients who refuse to open their mouths for a lengthy time. Dr. Bigg uses adaptive care for his patients and their specific care plan.

“Adaptive care is the crux of it all. With the care I give to patients with disabilities, it’s fascinating,” said Bigg. Using adaptive care allows us to connect with the family and patient to discuss what’s best for the patient. This allows the medical dentist to use different techniques for his patients, like Hardieway.

“Carla had to be surgically sedated to get to the root of all of her cavities and for the doctor to perform the rest of the dental care she needed,” said Hardieway-Muhammed.

“It took about five of us to manage her to get her sedated.”

Hardieway-Muhammed says Dr. Bigg and his team were sensitive to her cousin’s specific needs.

For example, loud machinery–Dr. Bigg has to

Nutrition

Continued from A6

The study focused on the role of food security status (FSS) and showed that a higher proportion of Black cancer survivors reported very low food security compared with Whites.

“Food insecurity, defined as the inability to acquire nutritionally adequate food for all household members consistently, has been associated with an increased prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer,” study authors wrote.

“Food insecurity could affect health outcomes and health care use through several mechanisms.”

Additionally, Black patients were almost twice as likely as white patients to report cost-related medication underuse.

“The finding is significant because food-insecure individuals tend to make trade-offs between food and medications. This trade-off could potentially be worse for Black cancer survivors, said the study authors.

Tate

Continued from A6 quences. Traction alopecia is one of the most common forms of hair loss among Black women, and it’s often caused by repeated pulling on the hair. Symptoms include thinning edges, small bumps along the hairline and tenderness in the scalp—all signs that braids may be too tight.

Traction alopecia is a progressive condition that worsens if the stress on the hair follicles continues. Over time, excessive pulling can damage the follicles so that they no longer

give Hardieway a heads up about the machine, what it’s for, and how he will use it before he turns it on. He has been applying adaptive care since 2019.

“The caregiver or the patient is the PHD of their care, I’m the PHD of dentistry,” said Dr. Bigg when talking about Hardieway’s care plan.

He plans to continue to help Hardieway become increasingly comfortable with going to the dentist. The mouthpress he describes as “A great tool

to use for patients with disabilities.”

It allows him to get a closer look inside her mouth. With each visit that Hardieway does well in, Dr. Bigg gives her a surprise to help desensitize her. Since Hardieway is non-verbal, he has to watch for her facial expressions to see where the pain is coming from.

He believes that together they can take care of the patient to a great extent.

Dr. Bigg also volunteers for the Special Smiles

Special Olympics, where he serves as clinical director, providing dental screenings for athletes with special needs.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 1.3 billion people in the world with disabilities have twice the risk of developing conditions such as depression, asthma, diabetes, stroke, or poor oral health.

On May 26, 2024, the Global Strategy and Action Plan on Oral

Sydney Gosik, director of Strategic Initiatives at Food Outreach, said the organization is grateful to the ACS for its support in helping bridge a critical funding gap for clients with cancer.

“As the demand for our medically tailored nutrition services continues to grow, so do the challenges of rising food and delivery costs,” he said.

produce hair.

“If someone notices consistent pain, small bumps, or thinning, that’s a sign they need to loosen up their style or take a break,” said Dr. Oyerinde. “The longer the pulling continues, the higher the risk of permanent damage.”

Beyond hair loss, tight braids can cause other issues, including:

• Follicle damage, making hair more prone to breakage.

• Headaches and migraines from constant tension.

• Scalp infections from bacteria entering small sores caused by too-tight braiding.

“This funding will enable us to continue providing life-saving nutritional support to more than 550 clients battling cancer, upholding our long-standing commitment to never turning away an eligible client.”

Food Outreach is the only provider of medically tailored meals and nutrition counseling for people living with finan-

Despite the risks, braids can still be a healthy styling option if done correctly. Experts recommend several strategies to minimize tension and maintain a healthy scalp:

• Choose larger, looser braids – Smaller, tighter braids put more stress on the hair follicles. Opt for knotless braids, which distribute weight more evenly.

• Use the right oils and treatments –Lightweight oils like jojoba, peppermint and tea tree oil help keep the scalp hydrated and reduce inflammation.

•£ Take breaks between styles – Avoid keeping braids in for

cial vulnerability and HIV or cancer in Missouri and western Illinois. It utilizes a “Food as Medicine” approach - nutrition as a pathway for chronic disease management and treatment- to positively affect the health challenges faced by the most vulnerable community members.

According to Food Outreach, all clients live at or below 300% of the

longer than 6-8 weeks and give the scalp at least two weeks to recover before reinstalling.

• Communicate with your braider – A professional should listen to concerns and avoid excessive pulling. “If you feel pain while getting braids, speak up,” Logan advised. “Braiding should not be painful.”

For some women, years of tension and hair loss mean braiding is no longer an option. Alicia Carter, 37, shared her experience with traction alopecia after years of wearing tight micro braids.

“I noticed my edges thinning, but I ignored

Health 2023–2030 was released to define WHO’s global oral health agenda towards 2030.

ATSU services in special care suites are equipped with a wheelchair lift and include exams, cleanings, sealants, fillings, crowns, bridges, periodontal therapy, oral surgery, and digital X-ray.

Medicaid and most dental insurance plans are accepted.

In partnership with area hospitals, Dr. Bigg can provide a higher level of

Federal Poverty Level (FPL), although most cancer clients (82%) live at or below 100% FPL (less than $15,650 per year). Food Outreach remains an integral resource in the region for meeting the nutrition needs of people battling nutrition insecurity and cancer.

Medically tailored meals support individuals undergoing cancer treatment, providing essential nutrition that enhances treatment efficacy, boosts the immune system, and improves overall well-being.

Cancer treatments often cause debilitating side effects—such as nausea, loss of appetite, and digestive issues—that make it challenging for patients to eat, absorb nutrients, and maintain their strength.

According to American Cancer Society researchers proper nutrition during treatment helps patients feel better, maintain energy, tolerate treatment and its side effects, reduce complications and infections, and recover more quickly.

“The conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age,

it because I loved my braids,” Carter said. “One day, I took them out and saw bald patches. That’s when I knew something was wrong.”

After being diagnosed with traction alopecia, Carter had to completely change her hair care routine. “I started wearing wigs and doing scalp massages with oils to try to regrow my hair,” she said.

“It’s been a journey, but I’ve learned to embrace new styles that don’t damage my scalp.”

Experts stress that education is key.

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 at AT Still University dental school.

dental care for patients with special needs by accessing a hospital operating room if a patient needs to be sedated for the required care. He has also developed a comprehensive oral health curriculum to teach the next generation of dentists to care for patients with special needs.

“This has been a dream come true to help these patients,” said Dr. Bigg. “It’s been really rewarding.”

the social drivers of health, can have an especially meaningful effect on the chances of detecting and surviving cancer,” said Elizabeth Brown, executive director of the American Cancer Society St. Louis.

“More than one in five patients with cancer in the United States struggle to meet at least one basic need. We believe no one should be disadvantaged in their fight against cancer, which is why we are so proud to partner with Food Outreach to address patients’ health-related social needs.”

Food Outreach prepares all meals in-house at its Midtown St. Louis commercial kitchen, using quality ingredients and flash-freezing them to lock in freshness and flavor. The program focuses on client choice as each participant selects their meals and grocery items from a rotating menu of seasonal, healthy, and culturally appropriate options.

Food Outreach also offers home delivery to clients unable to receive services in-person due to transportation barriers or the severity of their illness.

“The beauty industry doesn’t always warn women about the risks of constant tension,” Carter said. “We need to talk about this more, so women don’t wait until it’s too late.”

If you feel pain, experience bumps, or notice thinning edges, your braids may be too tight. Use oils, gentle shampoos and regular scalp massages to maintain health. If traction alopecia sets in, consider styles that minimize tension, like twist-outs, loose wigs, or short natural cuts. Braids should empower not harm. By prioritizing scalp health, Black women can continue embracing the beauty of braiding without the pain.

Dr. Paul Bigg, DMD, performs dental work on Carla Hardieway, a verbal autistic patient,

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 618-910-9551

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT

Students at The

Students at The American’s Summer Science Academy work in teams to discover the many different computer programming languages.

Photo by Cathy Sewell

SCIENCE STARS

SCIENCE STARS

AFRICAN AMERICAN SOCIOLOGIST, EDUCATOR AND ENVIRONMENTAL

AFRICAN-AMERICAN MYCOLOGIST AND EDUCATOR: Jeanette Jones

SCIENTIST:

Robert Doyle Bullard

Robert Doyle Bullard was born on December 21, 1946, in Elba, Alabama. He grew up in a segregated community with his four siblings. After high school, Bullard went to the Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University and graduated in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in history and government and a minor in sociology. In 1972, he earned his master’s degree in sociology from Clark Atlanta University. Bullard completed his doctorate degree in sociology at Iowa State University, and earned a degree in 1976.

Jeanette Jones was born on September 19, 1950, in Fort Valley, Georgia. Jones graduated from Fort Valley State University in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in biology education. In 1973, Jones received her master’s degree in botany and mycology (a branch of biology that studies fungi) from The Ohio State University. In 1976, she received her doctorate (Ph.D.) degree.

SCIENCE CORNER

SCIENCE CORNER

An environmental scientist uses their knowledge of science to protect nature. They work to find a balance between human needs and the needs of organisms in their environment. Their goal is to preserve nature for future generations.

What Are Fungi ?

Fungi are organisms made of filaments (called hyphe) that are stacked together. Unlike plants, fungi do not have chlorophyll, so they cannot make their own food. Some fungi are parasites, which mean they live off of other organisms. Some fungi feed off of dead and decaying matter. Fungi are everywhere in the environment, including the soil, lakes, river and seas, air, and on plants and animals. Fungi (plural of fungus) help organic matter to decay and release carbon and oxygen into the environment. Unlike plants, fungi do not have

Some environmental scientists conduct research. They may study how processes or chemicals affect the environment, or they may study endangered animals. Environmental scientists develop and enforce policies (rules) to protect the environment, and are often employed by government agencies.

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

Materials Needed:

• 3 slices of bread • Water • 3 Ziploc bags

Also, environmental scientists work as consultants and give advice to companies.

leaves, stems, or roots. Fungi use spores to reproduce. One common type of fungus is the mushrooms you find on your pizza. Mold, yeasts, and mildew are also types of fungus.

For example, they can tell architects how their buildings will affect the environment.

Bullard married an attorney and they moved to Houston, Texas, where he taught at Texas Southern University. Bullard helped his wife collect data for the trial Bean v. Southwestern Waste Corporation, which was a federal court case involving the placement of garbage facilities in Houston neighborhoods that had mostly black citizens. This was the first federal lawsuit that charged environmental discrimination. This case gave Bullard a passion for environmental science.

• 10x10 square centimeter grid • Ruler

Process:

q Wet one slice of bread enough to make it moist and place it in a bag. Seal the bag very tightly.

When many large thunderstorms come together over ocean water, they begin to swirl. This swirling motion is called a vortex. When this vortex becomes powerful enough, it is called a hurricane. You can use plastic soda bottles to create your own replica of a hurricane.

Materials Needed:

Water • Clock or Timer • Empty 2 Liter

w Place the two other slices of dry bread in two separate bags and seal them, as well.

Soda Bottle • Pitcher • Food Coloring

Procedure:

q Fill the soda bottle to the top with water.

e Place the bag with the wet slice of bread and one of the bags with a dry slice of bread in a dark place, such as a closed cabinet or closet.

r Place the third bag with a dry slice of bread in the refrigerator.

w Without squeezing the sides of the bottle, time how long it takes to empty all of the water. You might want to repeat this several times to validate your time.

MATH CONNECTION

e Fill the bottle to the top with water just as you

MATH CONNECTION

Solve these word problems about hurricanes.

q The diameter of a hurricane is 275 miles. The eye of the hurricane has a diameter of 32 miles. Find the area of the hurricane around the eye of the hurricane.

w The diameter of a hurricane is 300 miles. What is the circumference? What is the area?

For More Information, Go to: https://kids.kiddle.co/Fungus

Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction text to gain background information about fungi.

If you are interested in becoming an environmental scientist, read and learn all you can about plants, animals, and protecting the environment.

For more information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/students/.

Growing Mold!

Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction text to learn about careers in science.

Hurricane in a Bottle!

t For five days, measure the square centimeters of mold on each piece of bread through the bag. Use a grid, if possible, or a ruler. If mold covers more than half a square centimeter, it is counted as one full centimeter. If it is less, it is counted as 0 centimeters. This will give you the area of mold on each slice of bread y At the end of a week (5 days of measuring) or longer, use your final results to say what percentage of the bread was covered in mold. Make a table or graph to display the information.

did before. This time swirl the water by moving the bottle in a clockwise or counter-clockwise motion while the water is pouring out to create a vortex. Predict how creating a vortex will affect the time it takes to empty the bottle.

r Now add food coloring to the water and swirl/pour again. The food coloring will create a colored vortex.

Analyze: Were your predictions correct? What created the vortex in the soda bottle? How is this similar to the creation of a hurricane?

Discussion Questions: How much mold was on the bread? Which location had the most mold? Which had the least? What conclusions can you draw about the conditions in which mold grows? How can food manufacturers and restaurant owners use this information to help them?

Learning Standards: I can follow sequential directions to complete an experiment.

I can display my results, make observations, and draw conclusions.

Learning Standards: I can make predictions and analyze my answer. I can follow directions to complete an experiment.

Analyzing a Bar Graph

Problems with Hurricanes!

Discussion Questions: Which day had the most measured rainfall? Which day(s) had the least? Looking at the bar graph, what might you conclude about rain patterns in March/April? What other observations can you make?

Learning Standards: I can use a bar graph to display information. I can use the information to make deductions and inferences.

After leaving Texas, Bullard taught at universities in Tennessee and California before returning to Clark Atlanta University. It was here that Bullard was able to conduct research, teach, and serve in community outreach programs that combined his love of sociology and environmental science.

She also studied at the University of Nevada, the University of California Medical School, the National Center for Disease Control-Atlanta, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After graduation, Alabama A&M University hired Jones as an assistant biology professor. In 1986, she served as an adjunct professor in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Services at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and worked on a project with NASA. In 1991, Jones served as the first female vice president of research and development at Alabama A&M University. She also served as President of Alabama A&M University’s Faculty Senate from 2001 to 2006. In 1992, she was appointed to the U.S. Army Science Board by the U.S. Secretary of the Army, Togo West. Since 2004 Jones has been the director of the Center for Biomedical, Behavioral, and Environment Research at Alabama A&M University. She also worked as a consultant with federal agencies to help them develop training programs to attract women and minorities to STEM education and careers.

Bullard has been called the “Father of Environmental Justice.” In 1994, he encouraged President Clinton to sign Executive Order 12898, which called for environmental justice in the United States. Bullard has written over fifteen books and has delivered many presentations. In 2007, he received the William Foote Whyte Distinguished Career Award.

The following year, he was named one of Newsweek’s thirteen “Environmental Leaders of the Century.”

Questions:

q Dr. Bullard became interested in environmental justice after his wife introduced him to the topic. Why do you think he took a strong interest in this topic?

In 1975, Jones was listed in the World’s Women’s Who’s Who and she was named an Outstanding Young Woman of America in 1978. Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society awarded her the distinguished service award. Jones also received the Significant Service Award from the NASA Space Life Sciences Training Program and the Extramural Associate Research Development Award from the National Institute of Health. In 1990 and 2006, she was named Woman of the Year at Alabama A&M University and was given the Outstanding Leadership Award by the Faculty Senate. The U.S. Army presented Jones the Commander’s Award for Outstanding Civilian Service as a member of the Army Science Board.

w What do you think an environmental scientist does?

Discussion Questions: Dr. Jones received many awards and honors. How would you describe her achievements and her contributions to science? Dr. Jones is studying how fungi might be used as agents of war. What purpose do you think fungi serve in modern warfare? Are fungi beneficial or harmful?

e Would you like to be an environmental scientist? Why or why not?

Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction biographies to gain information about a person who has made contributions in the field of science.

Learning Standards: I can read a biography to learn about an African American who has made contributions in science, math, technology, or engineering.

Use the newspaper to complete these activities:

Activity One: Can I quote you on that?

When quoting their interviewees, reporters must think of interesting ways of saying, “said.” Use quotes in your newspaper to see how reporters quote their subjects. Make a list of at least 10 different ways that were used. Share your results with your classmates.

Use the newspaper to complete the following activities: Types of News: Use the front section of the newspaper to evaluate the types of news stories presented: local, national, and international. Sort the articles into the three categories and create a bar graph that displays the amount of coverage each type of news story received.

Mystery Story: Cut out several pictures from the newspaper without reading the caption. Place the pictures in a bag, and without looking, pick your mystery picture from the bag. That’s your stimulus for writing. Construct a graphic organizer to identify the 5Ws (who, what, when, where, and why) of your story by looking at your picture. Then, continue the writing process.

Activity Two: Students will choose a person featured in a news story to evaluate for character traits. Students will describe the featured person in a character chart. They will draw an outline of the person, write the person’s name in the head, write an inference about the personality in the body, and details that support the inference in the arms and legs.

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can categorize and summarize that information.

Learning Standards: I can use a newspaper to locate information. I can make inferences and support them with specific details.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Photo by Howard Sochurek/LIFE

Penicilllin

commonly grows on fruit

Continued from A1

who, like Green, is African American. Throughout the campaign, Baringer said the office needed a leader who would show up for work and take care of its employees.

A new political action committee that drew much of its financial support from the business and development community in the area sent out mailers on Baringer’s behalf.

Many of the new PAC’s funders were also financial backers of Cara Spencer, who was elected mayor Tuesday. That had caught the eye of some progressives in the last week of the campaign, who noted that the mayor and comptroller are two of three members of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment.

The fiscal oversight board oversees all contracting decisions, including for the new single terminal at St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

“The big money play led by a group of wealthy, white developers who don’t live in our city, but seek to profit off of it, should give us pause,” the board’s third member, aldermanic President Megan Green, wrote on Facebook on March 27.

Toni Cousins ousted from SLPS board

Brian Marston, Karen Collins-Adams and Allisa “AJ” Foster won the three seats on the St. Louis Board of Education.

Sitting board President Toni Cousins, the lone incumbent running for reelection, will not return to the board after a fourth-place finish, according to final unofficial results.

Hands off

Continued from A1

arms and legs, poking your eyes out, saying, ‘don’t worry, you gonna be better’ … well, that’s what they are doing in Washington,” Adolphus M. Pruitt, president of the St. Louis City NAACP said in regard to cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). When Bell came to the podium he shared a story about a recent visit to the Edmond Pettus Bridge. After several Black young people were arrested during the 1965 “Bloody Sunday” police assault on peaceful protestors, they repeatedly asked when lawyers

Jones

Continued from A1

“We worked as a community to reach out our hands and hearts to over 100,000 voters. We had conversations with tens of thousands of St. Louisans and earned thousands in contributions with an average amount of less than $200, all backed without the single help of any billionaires,” Jones said, referring to Spencer whose $1 million + campaign was heavily backed by wealthy developers.

“My opponent will inherit a city that is safer than it has been in decades,” Jones continued.

“They will inherit countless projects that I started. “It’s a city looking at billions in investments and hundreds of millions being spent as we speak to lift up every community in St. Louis.”

The mayor spoke of her

The closely watched race comes as district leadership has faced increased scrutiny after the board fired former Superintendent Keisha Scarlett for allegedly misusing funds and violating hiring protocols. Scarlett has denied any wrongdoing.

The newly elected members will join Tracy Hykes, Emily Hubbard, Donna Jones and Ben Conover, who was appointed in February after Sadie Weiss resigned in January, citing unethical behavior from the board.

Candidates Krystal Barnett, Zach Davis and Andre Walker, who ran together on a slate, finished well behind the winning candidates in sixth, seventh and eighth place, respectively.

STL Prop B loses big

St. Louis County voters Tuesday rejected Proposition B, which would have granted the county council the ability to fire department heads.

The countywide ballot measure failed 62% to 38%. It would have allowed the council to fire department leaders and the county counselor with five out of seven votes.

Prop B supporters contended that the measure provided a major check to the county executive’s power. But Page said it amounted to a power grab that could make it harder to attract people to work in county government.

The result is a major win for Page, whose political action committee spent $100,000 to try to defeat the proposition.

Hiba Ahmad, Lacretia Wimbley, and Jason Rosenbaum contributed to this report

would arrive with their bail money. Eventually, they were told their lawyer was locked up with them. Bell shared the tale to emphasize the importance of resistance and redemption stressing to the crowd, “we all have a role to play.”

“Today we must face some hard truths,” Bell said.

“Our democracy is under attack, and we must resist.”

Referencing the storm outside the church doors, Bell added, “It is just not a literal storm outside; it’s happening to us right now in Washington D.C and we must decide if we’re going to meet that storm together or be swept away by it.”

The congressman then took aim at billionaires who supported Trump’s

administration’s more than $2 billion in new market tax credits, business development, revitalization and incentivized projects downtown, in north St. Louis and throughout the city.

Attendees shouted, “Yes you did,” as Jones detailed programs she initiated, including those aimed at alleviating homelessness, bolstering job training and bringing financial access “to those of our city who have been left behind.”

Jones supporter Earl Bush, who walked in after the concession speech, described the future.

“Oh, it’s a downfall for the city,” Bush lamented.

“It’s a whole new startover and that’s something we were trying to avoid. We just got this far. Tishaura was just finding out how things run here in the city, well, City Hall. I just hate we have to start all over again.”

Jones’ defeat marks the

Spencer

Continued from A1 businesses rely on.”

“But this campaign and election was about so much more than potholes and trash. It was built on the idea that we can build a downtown that the St. Louis region can be proud of.”

Emphasizing the importance of productive north city neighborhoods, Spencer vowed “to work diligently to make those communities safer and more prosperous.”

However, many voters

campaign and now have influence in his administration.

“We’re living in a time where power is getting consolidated in the hands of a few billionaires who think their money gives them the right to decide what kind of country the rest of us should live in,” Bell said.

“Men like Donald Trump and Elon Musk are not hiding their intentions anymore. They are reshaping America to benefit themselves; to rig the system for the rich and powerful and roll back protections that so many have fought and bled for.”

Bell reminded the crowd of some of the damages Musk/DOGE has wrought on the country by slashing “vital programs with no warning and no

third time, in almost 40 years, a Black mayor has only served one term.

Charles Price, a county resident who supported Jones, said he’s worried about Spencer’s ability to move the city forward as President Trump and rightwing politicians are lobbing attacks against urban metropolitan areas.

“I think she’s woefully unprepared to realize that Trump is going to cut everything. I don’t think she has the ability to fight to preserve what funding the city gets from the federal government,” Price said.

“She’s been too friendly with a lot of right-leaning people who prioritize rural areas or the suburbs or where white people live. I would have rather had Mayor Jones fighting for the city because I know she loves the city.”

The St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) played a major role in the mayoral race.

were concerned about her financial support and feared she was putting St. Louis up ‘for sale.’

Spencer’s campaign raised over $1 million.

Nearly $300,000 was raised between Feb. 23 and March 27, and the mayor-elect also benefited from hundreds of thousands of dollars in PAC support.

Funds raised by PACs included sizeable donations from large developers and construction firms, including Clayco, led by Bob Clark. Clayco donated more than $130,000 and more than $12,000 came from Clark.

accountability; programs that people rely on in real life like the research into Alzheimer’s disease that affects more than 7 million Americans. It’s now on the chopping block.”

After outlining other judicial, educational and cultural attacks and drastic changes from the Trump Administration, Bell stressed: “We are morally obligated to resist!”

“The fight for justice isn’t over, it’s ongoing. This fight may outlive us!”

Bell cited James 2:14 to remind those gathered that ‘faith without works is dead.’

“It’s not enough to have faith … we must put in the work,” Bell said, reminding the audience that the church

Late last year, Spencer resigned from the SLDC launching accusations of internal dysfunction, lack of transparency and “corruption” in how it dispersed funds from a $37 million North St. Louis grant program instituted by Jones.

Spencer has intimated that, if elected, she will fire Neal Richardson, president & CEO of the agency. When asked about his and his agency’s future, Richardson replied somberly.

“I’ve lived in this city for almost 40 years, and I just want to see it move forward. I’m ready for an era where everyone has an opportunity to be successful,” he said.

“I want to see all areas of our city win, not just certain parts. I don’t want to see more of our Black kids left behind. That’s the biggest thing I’m afraid of…what will opportunity look like for young Black

But Spencer reassured voters that the large donations would not make her obligated to Clark in the future.

Spencer thanked Jones for her service as mayor and for the work she has accomplished.

“While we disagreed on many things over the campaign trail, I know that we share a deep love and a commitment to our city,” she said.

“St. Louis can be a place where everyone has the tools and the support we all need to survive and thrive,” said Spencer.

As BOA president, Megan Green issued a

“served as our own base for redemption; that gave us the strength to keep going.”

Perhaps Bell’s charismatic speech was meant as a prelude for discussions on “racial equity, voting rights and economic justice,” promoted by the organizers. He effectively provided the “why” resistance was necessary, but his presentation lacked the “how,” as in providing information on Democratic strategies or mechanisms for efficient ways to challenge and change the assaults from Trump, Musk and Washington DC.

Still, his electric speech repeatedly brought the audience to its feet with loud claps and chants of “Yes. Alright

kids or Black leaders like myself?”

As far as SLDC’s future is concerned, Richardson believes the agency is in a good place. “We’ve shined a lot of light on SLDC and the power it has when it values people, not just developers. We’ve shown that economic development isn’t just about bricks and mortar; it’s about hearts and minds, too, and I hope it will be able to impact lives forever.”

As the night wound down, Jones’ supporters lined up in a long line, somewhat like a funeral procession. Some with handkerchiefs or tears in their eyes offered words of gratitude, appreciation, support and condolences.

Koran Bolden, motivational speaker and founder of Street Dreamz, was among those praising the mayor.

“Tishaura is the greatest mayor of all time. She has done phenomenal work for people of all races, all

statement that addressed the racial makeup of the new Board of E&A.

“To those concerned that our leaders don’t reflect the diversity of our city, my promise to you is this: I will continue to use my position to represent the interests of Black and brown St. Louisans, working people and families, and those seeking to build a new life in our city,” she said in a release.

“If you feel that your voice wasn’t heard today, know that I am still listening, still advocating, and still working on your behalf.”

Now! and Preach” as he insisted that all must confront authoritarianism.

“We must resist that path. We must be stronger than the fear they try to instill in us. We must be louder than the hate they try to spread. We must be clearer than the lies they’re trying to force on all of us … lies that are spread with ease, without a second thought … lies aimed to rewrite the past, distort the present and confuse our future.” Bell ended his speech by defining the collective fight ahead.

“This cannot only be a project of resistance. It must be a project for redemption.”

Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.

colors and all economic backgrounds. And the work continues,” he said. Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, MPH, FIDSA, who was appointed the city’s director of health by Jones, offered a sad but similar response.

“This one hurts on a different level,” Dr. Davis tearfully said, referring to Jones’ defeat.

“But it tells us that the work must continue for the next four years. It must continue.”

Many in the room articulated or personified the marching orders Jones delivered when she ended her concession speech: “You have one job. Don’t let them take us back and make damn sure they know who they serve.”

Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.

Cara Spencer addresses her supporters after defeating Mayor Tishaura Jones for St. Louis mayor.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

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NAREB

ty (80%) of small business leaders are already using or are planning to implement AI.

However, almost half (46%) are cautiously optimistic about its impact on their business. This year, 48% of small business owners plan to integrate AI tools, focusing on customer-facing applications like chatbots and customer service automation. Continued investment in AI and technology to enhance efficiency and competitiveness is a priority for this year and beyond. Emerging technologies are among key considerations for small business

owners planning for the future, ensuring business continuity, fostering growth and planning for successful transitions.

The potential of AI AI offers capabilities in learning, reasoning and problem-solving. In the Survey, small business owners identified several key applications for AI, including marketing and content creation, customer service automation and data analysis. AI can also benefit payment processes and

Building Wealth Day April 12 at Harris-Stowe

missing from housing market

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

St. Louis is among the cities that will celebrate the National Association of Real Estate Brokers 2nd Annual Building Wealth Day with an event featuring Mayor Tishaura Jones and NAREB President Courtney Johnson Rose.

Free services and classes will be offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday April 12, 2025, at HarrisStowe State University in the Dr. Henry Givens Jr. Administration Building, 3026 Laclede Ave.

During the Mayor’s Celebration of Businesses Luncheon in October, Jones announced a goal to develop 5,000 affordable housing units and support the development of 5,000 market-rate housing units in the city over the next five years.

“Home is where you raise your family, create memories, and build wealth,” said Jones.

“The ability to acquire and hold

Courtney Johnson Rose, president of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, speaks during a panel at the 53rd Annual Legislative Conference on September 11, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Rose says NAREB’s national Building Wealth Day, which will be celebrated April 12 in St. Louis at Harris-Stowe State University, will emphasize the importance of home ownership.

Steward rises on Forbes billionaire list

David Steward

David Steward, 73, co-founder and chairman of Maryland Heights-based IT services provider World Wide Technology, is listed at No. 213 on the 2025 Forbes list of the world’s billionaires. According to Forbes, Steward’s net worth is $11.4 billion. He 2024 net worth was $7.6 billion and Steward rose on the list from 344th to his current ranking. Second to Steward among Black American billionaires is Robert F. Smith, the founder and CEO of Vista Equity Partners in Austin, Texas, who has a net worth of $10.8 billion, according to Forbes.

Pasley reappointed to Lincoln U board

Victor

Victor Pasley of Columbia has been reappointed to the Lincoln University Board of Curators. Pasley retired from Xerox Corporation in 2010 after a 32-year career as a member of its executive team. Prior to his corporate career, he worked as an instructor and assistant principal in Elgin Public Schools and served as a Captain in the United States Army, including a tour of duty in Vietnam. He has served on the Lincoln University Board of Curators since 2019.

Aaron, Driver elected to The Rep board

Charmian Aaron, Greater St. Louis, Inc. vice president of engagement, and Erica J. Driver, The Little Bit Foundation vice president of compliance and programs, have been elected as members of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis board. Aaron, who works with hundreds of companies and organizations to strengthen the region, foster collaboration, and drive inclusive economic growth at GLS Inc., is also serving on the board of the Global Business Travel Association. As a senior leader at The Little Bit Foundation, Driver focuses on removing barriers to learning for children in underserved communities, and also enhances service delivery, optimize resources, and foster impactful partnerships.

Sherod joins Jewish Family Services board

Michelle Sherod, a CPA, licensed attorney, and Accounting Legal & Logistics Solutions, Inc., owner and president, has been named to the Jewish Family Services board of directors.

Sherod previously served as Missouri deputy state auditor and as the regional state director for former Sen. Claire McCaskill. JFS inclusively serves all people in need, supporting the emotional and physical well-being of more than 60,000 children, families, and seniors in the St. Louis community.

Small businesses are a major employer of African Americans throughout the nation, and knowledge AI can be beneficial to established or start up entrepreneurs.

Photo courtesy of JPMorganChase

Photo by Itoro N. Umontuen / The Atlanta Voice

Pasley

Charmian Aaron

Erica Driver

Continued from B1

other operational automation.

Large Language Models, a subset of AI, excel in processing and generating human-like text, making them invaluable for content creation and customer interaction. Integrating these technologies can streamline processes and boost productivity.

Benefits for small businesses

With limited resources,

NAREB

Continued from B1

every resident has access to the opportunities they deserve.”

Seminars, workshops, and one-on-one sessions during Wealth Day will offer steps towards homeownership, property investment, starting a business, and other wealth-building opportunities. Included in the workshop schedule, with some sessions online, are: What to do with Big Momma’s House? ABCs of Homebuying; Real Estate Investing; Down Payment Assistance; and Careers in Real Estate.

Personal sessions with real estate attorneys and housing counselors, and the day will also include a career fair and free health screenings.

Rose said her grandparents overcame many obstacles to own their first home “but their determination to own a home was unwavering.”

“It was a dream shared

small business can automate routine tasks with AI, allowing employees to focus on higher-value activities. AI-driven chatbots can manage initial customer requests, reducing the workload on customer service teams and improving response times, ultimately increasing customer satisfaction. Additionally, AI can empower startups to expand operations by complementing their existing workforce. For instance, an e-commerce startup can use AI to efficiently manage inventory, process orders and assist with customer inquiries, allowing the team

by many in their generation. Families worked, prayed, and many managed to turn their dreams into reality and own a home.

“Today, too many Black families and individuals have the means to purchase homes but are discouraged by the limited inventory and high interest rates. I understand their frustration. For too many Black consumers, which has been a signal to back off, and they get stuck at that point.”

Rose acknowledges that buying a home is more complicated than it was just four years ago. However, it remains just as vital as it was 60 years ago.

“NAREB isn’t a passive observer. We are on an active mission to increase homeownership in Black communities. We are here to support the Black community, and we believe that with the right resources and knowledge, homeownership is within reach for families and individuals in our community,” said Rose. She added that “con-

to focus on strategic growth and customer engagement.

Small businesses can also develop tools tailored to their needs, rather than relying on broad third-party solutions. This approach offers greater flexibility, easier integration and tighter control over data.

Automation tools enhance efficiency, while data-driven solutions like Chase for Business’s Customer Insights – a business intelligence tool that generates actionable insights from anonymized, aggregated data – help streamline

operations and enhance the bottom line.

The path forward

As innovations continue to emerge rapidly, consider developing a blueprint to identify where AI adds value, creating a roadmap for implementation and investing in the necessary infrastructure and talent. As you plan for growth and scaling, understand transition options to ensure a successful small business future.

For informational/ educational purposes

only: Views and strategies described in this article or provided via links may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any business. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and/ or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The material is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. product or service.

vincing them of the importance of homeownership is the real challenge.”

“Our community must understand the significance of homeownership in wealth building. It’s the best way to save for retirement, the most effective savings plan you can set up, and the most efficient way to pay for your children’s college education,” Rose explained.

“If you want to start a business, the equity in your home is a quick way to become an entrepreneur. These are the many financial benefits that homeownership can bring, and

it’s crucial for our community to be aware.”

The Wealth Tour provides guidance on the journey towards homeownership for those who need assistance. Partnering with NAREB are organizations like the Divine Nine sororities and fraternities and National Baptist Convention.

We teach people how to improve their credit scores, explain how to obtain renovation loans, and help them assess their housing needs. But changing the mindset? Convincing them of the importance of homeownership is the real

challenge.

“Many of their members are millennials, the target audience we aim to reach,” said Rose.

“We want them to understand the past and open their eyes to the future. Highhomeownership communities are locations where they and their families can thrive.”

Rose offers a history lesson in reminding Black millennials, and others in the African American community of “the pain and struggle that their parents or grandparents endured in their quest for

You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of future results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services, or other content.

Deposit products provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender. © 2025 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

homeownership.”

They faced redlining, which was rampant in St. Louis and created the racial segregation in housing that still exists in many parts of the city. Also, government programs discriminated against Black consumers, including the GI Bill and the Federal Housing Administration.

When white homeowners sold a house and financed the notes, there was the pressure that a missing or late payment could jeopardize the sale, risk your investment, or lead to eviction.

“These struggles are often overlooked by younger generations. We want them to understand the past and open their eyes to the future,” said Rose.

To register for the local events around the country, visit www. narebblackwealthtour. com There will also be virtual sessions. To participate via Zoon, please visit https://nareb.zoom. us/meeting/register/ BP0IXYB0S4qHhne4G7u JLQ#/registration

“I’ll run through a wall for him. He knows that.”

– Quarterback Geno Smith on reuniting with coach Pete Carroll in Las Vegas

InSIdE SportS

With Earl Austin Jr.

St. Louis American Girls ‘Fab Five’ All-Stars

The members of the 2025 St. Louis American “Fab Five” Girls All-Stars represent a blend of talented youth and great experience. The dynamic duo of seniors Nevaeh Caffey and Peyton Hill of Incarnate Word Academy have been the leaders of the state’s top program and a national high school sports dynasty.

The trio of Amaya Manuel of Lift for Life, Dasia Scott of Principia and Jordyn Haywood of MICDS are the young stars in the St. Louis area who have led their respective programs to the Final Four of the state tournament.

Here is a look at the First Team members of the St. Louis American Girls “Fab Five” AllStars.

who has impacted play at both ends of the court throughout her career. She put together a tremendous senior year in helping lead the Red Knights to a 29-2 record and the Class 6 state title. She averaged 16 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.8 steals while blocking 28 shots. She also shot 36 percent from 3-point range. She has signed with Eastern Michigan.

Nevaeh Caffey (Incarnate Word Academy): The 5’10” senior guard is the St. Louis American Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. The talented guard has been a dominant two-way player throughout her stellar career, which has netted four state championships. She averaged 16.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.1 steals while shooting 44 percent from 3-point range in leading the Red Knights to a 29-2 record and the Class 6 state championship. She will be playing at Indiana University in the Big Ten Conference next season.

Peyton Hill (Incarnate Word Academy): The 5’10” guard is another dynamic two-way player

Jordyn Haywood (MICDS): The 6’0” freshman guard entered the season with a lot of fanfare and she delivered in a big way as she led the Rams to their first Final Four berth in nearly a decade. In her stellar debut varsity season, she averaged 21.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.4 steals while blocking 43 blocks. She led the Rams to a fourth-place finish in the Class 4 state tournament. She is also the St. Louis American Freshman of the Year. She has already received multiple scholarship offers from top college programs from around the country.

Amaya Manuel (Lift for Life): The 5’7” sophomore followed up her dominant freshman campaign by leading the Hawks to a repeat state championship. She was tremendous in the Class 5 state championship game when she had 21 points and 10 rebounds in the Hawks victory over St. Teresa’s Academy. She finished the year averaging 16.8 points, 5.7 rebounds,

2.6 assists and 2.6 steals while shooting 56 percent from the field and 46 percent from 3-point range.

Dasia Scott (Principia): The 6’2” sophomore forward enjoyed another

big year as she led the Panthers to a

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Engineering a successful NCAA basketball bracket

Of the more than 60 entrants in the Southside Ballers NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament bracket competition, I found myself in fifth place at the close of the first Thursday of action.

A last minute, impetuous decision to change an original pick from Arkansas over Kansas to KU winning cost me a vital point. It wasn’t a pick from the heart, the Razorbacks’ top scorer and rebounder was out with an injury.

By the time Florida was cutting down the nets after a dramatic comeback against Houston in the title game on Monday night, AlvinReid1 had finished a disappointing 44th

But who is this mysterious AlvinReid2 that also had a bracket?

This person wisely picked Florida to win the national title, and had more faith than me in the SEC. This bracket player survived a rough opening of the tournament to bounce back and finish near “the money.” They must be a crafty

basketball junkie, right? No, AlvinReid2 is none other than my 24-year-old daughter Blaine – who finished a very respectable 12th I call her “the brains of the outfit,” as she nears completion of her master’s degree in electrical engineering at the University of MissouriColumbia.

I inquired if she wanted to play a bracket (I could play two) with The Ballers and she accepted the invitation. Yes, I paid the entry fee. I’m a good dad. She then proceeded to do much better than me. This is not to my chagrin, but to my delight. When Blaine was in high school, I was filling out a bracket for that’s year’s tournament and I handed her one. “Hey, fill this out.” It was an experiment, of sort.

The only instruction I gave her was that the team with a lower number (seed) was predicted to win that game. She filled it out and I kept track of her performance.

She did well for a first timer. Blaine sees things we don’t; an engineer is as interested in how things work as they are in the finished product. Her first internship was at the Ameren Calloway Nuclear Power facility. Enough said. Sports are not her thing, but she gravitates to the NCAA Tournament each year. She’s got this bracket thing down to a science. I think that’s cool. I

know she’s cool.

The Reid Roundup Walter Clayton Jr., of Florida was definitely the Final Four Outstanding Player, and the best player in the entire tournament. After scoring a combined 64 points in amazing comeback wins over Texas Tech then Duke in a national semifinal, the star guard had just 11 points in the title game. But his block attempt on

Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. does the Gator chomp cheer after winning the NCAA men’s basketball title.

Houston’s Emmanuel Sharp forced a turnover and preserved the Gators’ 65-63 victory…Houston coach Kelvin Sampson as his team self-destructed in the game’s final minutes. After committing four turnovers during the first 35 minutes of the game, the Cougars had five in the waning moments of the game…Duke’s Cooper Flagg must live with the fadeaway jumper he left short in his team’s devastating semifinal

loss to Houston. He then committed a silly foul (yes, it was a foul) and the dream season ended in nightmarish fashion… Houston has the best odds to win the 2026 national championship followed by the Duke, UCONN (14-1) and Louisville. Following are BYU, Kentucky, Arkansas, Kansas and Alabama…Missouri basketball freshman guard/ forward Marcus Allen has entered the transfer portal.

A native of Florida, I could see him tormenting Mizzou in the future for another SEC team… Mizzou had previously lost forward Aidan Shaw to Boston College… Regardless of the NFL mock draft, you will find former Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membo in the Top 10 picks. Several pundits have him destined for the New York Jets, who hold the seventh pick of the first round… Jacques Bouquot, a Penn State forward, will be a player of color in the NCAA Men’s Hockey Frozen Four in St. Louis beginning Thursday night. He hails from Windsor, Conn.

Earl Austin Jr.

Alvin A. Reid

Along with being a prolific scorer, Incarnate Word’s Nevaeh Caffey is a skilled passer who often set up teammates for easy baskets.

Photo by Earl Austin Jr. / St. Louis American

Photo by Bob Donnan / Courtesy of Imagn Images

Two members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) have earned $40,000 scholarships from Best Buy and UNCF.

Murllin B. and Lauren D. were presented with scholarship checks, on April 3, 2025, at the Best Buy Teen Tech Center at BGC STL Herbert Hoover, 2901 N. Grand Blvd.

Both students excelled in the application process, achieving at least a 3.0 grade point average (GPA), submitting personal statements about their academic and career interests, and demonstrating financial need.

They are part of the Best Buy Pathways (College to Career - C2C) Program.

According to Alonzo Lee, the Pathways facilitator and Best Buy Teen Tech Center College and Programs leader, “their applications focused on academics and showcased leadership, character, and

Boys & Girls Clubs members win $40,000 scholarships

The Best Buy Tech Center at the Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Louis Herbert Hoover location opened in May 2024 and offers teens the opportunity to learn career skills used by graphic designers, music producers, directors, 3D animators, and game developers.

a passion for making an impact in the tech or business fields.”

Each recipient receives $40,000 in funding, a ded-

Saint Louis University has been awarded a $538,431 grant from Missouri Foundation for Health to research ways to improve maternal and infant health in the state of Missouri with improved access to clean diapers. The three-year grant will study ways to improve access to diaper supplies for families in

icated college/career mentor coach for four years, and an additional $1,000 emergency stipend for personal needs.

“This is a tremendous acknowledgment of their hard work, and we hope it provides other teens with an incentive to get

involved in the Pathways/ Best Buy Teen Tech program,” said BGCSTL President and CEO Brandon Williams.

SLU receives Missouri Foundation for Health grant

need across the state. The research project is led by Hisako Matsuo, Ph.D., professor of sociology and anthropology at Saint Louis University, and Jessica Barreca, Ph.D., program manager for community partnerships in interprofessional education (IPE) and adjunct faculty instructor in physical therapy at SLU.

SLU’s research team will partner with the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank (STLADB) and its partner banks around the state, as well as Kids Win Missouri to advance policies and systems changes that support the health, education, and well-being of children and families.

“Babies can use an average of 10 diapers a

day,” said Matsuo, the principal investigator on the project. “When families experience diaper shortages, it can lead to increased levels of stress for caregivers.”

In Missouri, 20% of children live in families earning below the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) and major federal assistance program funds cannot be

used to purchase diapers. Families without adequate diaper supplies have limited options for childcare as many daycares require the family to provide diapers for their child. Without a supply of diapers, children can’t be enrolled in daycare, which can limit a parent’s ability to work.

“Families need to

Last year, BGCSTL member Alexis L. became the first recipient from the BGC St. Louis family to win this scholarship. She is currently a freshman at the University of MissouriColumbia (MIZZOU).

The Pathways (C2C) program is an opportunity for local teens looking to attend college. It equips them with the tools needed to thrive in post-secondary education and their future careers.

The partners are paving the way for future leaders, according to Williams.

“I am incredibly proud of Murllin, Lauren, and all our Pathways members for their achievements. Their success is a testament to the transformative power of the BGCGSTL and the Best Buy Pathways program, and I look forward to continuing our efforts to support these young leaders,” he said.

have a consistent, sufficient set of diapers to keep their baby dry,” said Barreca, who manages SLU’s partnerships with more than 25 local non-profits in the St. Louis region and serves as a STLADB board member. “Having enough diapers allows babies to be healthy and happy.”

Photo courtesy of Boys and Girls Clubs

Living It

- Award-winning actor Edwina Findley Dickerson on her breakout role in “The Wire”

Rocking, rapping and reciting

Tank and The Bangas uplift and inspire at Delmar Hall

By Zaria Mac St. Louis American

Tank and The Bangas captivated the audience Wednesday night at Delmar Hall with their musical arrangements. They blended jazz, hip hop, and spoken word to create a unique and inspiring performance.

“I’m going to be 100 percent myself, leave nothing on the dresser…can you accept that?” lead singer Tarriona “Tank” Ball said as the show opened for the St. Louis leg of their “The Heart, The Mind, The Soul” album tour. She told no lies.

The New Orleans based music group is fresh on the heels of their first Grammy win. Earlier this year, they took home a coveted trophy for “Best Spoken Word Poetry Album.” The group has been rocking, rapping, and reciting since 2011. Throughout the band’s career, lead singer Tank has enchanted with her infectious and bubbly personality. For the tour, five members joined her on stage, two keyboard players, one backup singer, a drummer, a trumpet player and a bass guitar, all taking the stage with their funky flare to show St. Louis just how they received their Grammy award.

The group was dressed in red from head to toe, on a colorful stage with cube and spherical lights about and the band name in large bubble letters behind them. They arranged themselves in a semicircle with Tank in the middle dressed in a red asymmetrical fur fringe dress, with big, curly, Diana Ross hair that she threw around while emoting to the lyrics.

The mixed crowd of casual and earthy fans reflected the assured and laidback nature of the band’s music. The concert floor was filled with beautiful Black people in afros, headwraps, locks, twists, and several other allies who delighted in the cultural pride expressed in the band’s music.

The crowd was overcome with joy as lead singer Tank eccentrically danced around the stage. She never lost the

audience’s attention. Whether she was performing poetry, rapping or singing, the audiences followed her every word.

As she navigated through these three styles with a bright smile that showed she truly enjoys the music she performs – and that the songs come from a deep spiritual place.

The concert began with angelic chords from the keyboards over a hushed crowd. The only sound came from the soft snaps of the band members that abruptly ended by a loud blare of the trumpet and a kick from the drum as the keyboards transitioned into “Quick.” This song was performed with high energy, animated poses,

Premiering

‘Iyanu’ in fashion

Red carpet rolled out for newest Lion Forge series at Neiman Marcus

Louis. The evening commenced with island inspired drinks and music by DJ InnerGy, who brought a set list of festive Afrobeats. The event was attended by local fashion curators Dwight Carter of BrainChild Next and Dr. Chajuana Trawick, Associate professor of Fashion Design at Lindenwood University. It was also attended by Thelma and David Steward, parents of David Steward II, the founder of Lion Forge Entertainment. The Oscar and Emmy Award-winning animation studio produced the groundbreaking animat-

and quirky squeaks punctuating the line, “Hang with them girls, you pay to play.”

Tank seamlessly transitioned from spoken word, to rapping and then singing during “Remember,” which she notes as her favorite from the new album “The Heart, The Mind, The Soul”. She also displayed this talent when performing “Ants”, a poem about her home, set to music with a melodic chorus and unconventional dance moves that again displayed her big personality.

She then raised the energy again with a rock/rap performance of “Who’s In Charge of the Girls”. The band erupted with the drums taking the lead as she

sang, “I’m in charge, I’m in charge.” As she continued to repeat it, the chorus began to resemble a mantra. Though the crowd came to the concert to let loose, they unknowingly blossomed into their higher selves with every piece of poetry shared – and the uplifting messages each selection contained. Tank encouraged the audience to join in for “Little Things.” She sang the poetic versus while the audience took over the chorus singing, “Baby, don’t you worry ‘bout the little things. They turn to big

A cultural dip at CAM

Exhibitions respond creatively to area rivers, Dada Ball set for Apr. 11

By Zaria Mac The St. Louis American

The Contemporary Art Museum

St. Louis unveiled three new exhibitions, “Like Water,” “Make the River Present,” and “Confluence” as part of their spring/summer season.

“These exhibitions [take] more of an interdisciplinary approach, delving into how contemporary artists, writers, and cultural stewards are engaging with and responding to the Mississippi and Missouri river,” said Executive Director Lisa Melandri at a press and patron preview event earlier this month.

“We got water, the river [and] these ecologies all day long at the Contemporary Art Museum – and together they really do compliment one another.”

The exhibition also serves as the inspiration behind the theme of the Dada Ball & Bash, CAM’s annual fundraising gala. Dada Ball & Bash: Ripple Effect, will take place on Friday, April 11 at The Post Building (1190 Cole Street). The “Like Water” exhibition fills the main gallery and features six different artists: Jamal Cyrus, Simone Fattal, Dionne Lee, Candice Lin, Beatriz Santiago Munoz, and Vivian Suter. This suite of exhibitions includes sculpture, video, ceramics, textiles, collages, and paintings all materializing their individual relationships with water.

“The spring/summer collection at the CAM gives us the opportunity to explore themes of water,” said Melandri. “Yes, the actual element, but also ecology – the intersection of global artistic practices, and the idea of what water can mean to us emotionally and physically.”

The “Like Water” exhibition is organized by Ferring Foundation Chief Curator, Dean Daderko. He shared that “Like Water” is part of a larger series of four exhibitions called “The Weather

See CAM, C3

See Bangas, C3

Photos by Taylor Marrie/St. Louis American

Grammy Award-winning band Tank and The Bangas brought their ‘The Heart, The Mind, The Soul’ Tour to St. Louis on Wednesday, April 2nd at Delmar Hall.

By Zaria Mac The St. Louis American

The “Iyanu” world premiere festivities ended on Saturday (April 5th) with a private viewing of episode one at the luxurious Neiman Marcus St.

Images courtesy of Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis Jamal Cyrus, “Blue Alluvial Glue (Shape),” 2022, Denim, cotton thread, cotton batting, and metal, Overall: 56 × 42 inches.

Photos by Taylor Marrie/St. Louis

The Steward family meets Roye Okupe at The Iyanu Sip and Shop event and premier Saturday, April 5th at Neiman Marcus

CONCERTS

Thu., Apr. 10, 7:30 p.m. Sy Smith, City Winery, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https://citywinery.com.

Thurs., Apr. 10, 8 p.m., Big 30 Still King Tour, Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar. For More information, visit www.thepageant.com.

Fri., Apr. 11, 7:30 p.m. AJ Ghent, City Winery, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https://explorestlouis.com.

Fri., Apr. 11, 7:30 p.m. This Will Be: The Spirit and Soul of Natalie Cole, Blue Strawberry, 364 N. Boyle Ave. St. Louis, MO 63108. For more information, visit https://bluestrawberrystl.com.

Sat., Apr. 12, 8 p.m. Joe, Musiq Soulchild, & Eric

Benét: The R&B Invitation Tour, Chaifetz Arena, 1 Compton Ave. St. Louis, MO 63101. For more information, visit www.chaifetzarena.com.

Tues., Apr. 22, 7:30 p.m., Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 - Heavier Yet US Tour, City Winery, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https://citywinery.com.

Wed., Apr. 23-Apr. 25, 7:30 p.m., Chante Moore, City Winery, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https://citywinery.com.

Wed., Apr. 30, 8 p.m. The Wooten Brothers, Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63112. For more informa-

STL Sites & Sounds

‘Simply The Best – a tribute to St. Louis legend Tina Turner is coming to the City Winery next week. The evening, curated by Jayonna B. Sims, will feature dancers and artists to bring the legend’s music to life. See ST. LOUIS MUSIC SPOTLIGHT for more details.

tion, visit www.thepageant.com.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Sat., Apr. 12, 1 p.m., Photos with the Easter Bunny, Emerson YMCA, 3390 Pershall Rd., Ferguson MO 63135.

Mon., Apr. 21, 7:30 p.m., A Woman’s Words Poetry Tour featuring The Floacist and Queen Sheeba, City Winery, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https://citywinery.com.

Tues., Apr. 22, 7 p.m. (5 p.m. reception), Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis 107th Annual Dinner, Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel, 800 Washington Ave. For more information, visit www.ulstl. com.

COMEDY

Fri., Apr. 11, 8 p.m. We Them Ones Comedy Tour, Chaifetz Arena, 1 Compton Ave, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Sat., Apr. 12, 6 p.m. The Derrick Sr. All-Star Comedy Jam, The Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Rd. St. Louis, MO 63136. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sat., Apr. 26, 8 p.m. Katt Williams: Heaven on Earth Tour, Enterprise Center, 1401 Clark Ave. St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit www.enterprisecenter.com.

ST. LOUIS MUSIC SPOTLIGHT

Wed., Apr 16, 9 p.m. 18ANDCOUNTING at Sophie’s, Sophie’s Artist Lounge, 3333 Washington Avenue. For more information, visit https://kranzbergartsfoundation.org.

Thur. Apr. 17, 7:30 p.m. Samantha Clemons, Blue Strawberry, 364 N. Boyle Ave. St. Louis, MO 63108. For more information, visit https://bluestrawberrystl.com.

Thur. Apr. 17, 7:30 p.m. Simply The Best: Tina Turner Tribute, City Winery, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https://citywinery.com.

Thurs., May 1, 6 p.m. Twilight Thursdays with The Dirty Muggs, Missouri History Museum. For more information, visit www.mohistory.org.

THEATRE

Through Apr. 12, 7:30 p.m. RENT, Third Baptist Church, 620 N Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more www. taketwoproductions.org.

Through Apr. 14, 7 p.m.

Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, 130 Edgar Rd., St. Louis, MO 63119. Matinee showtimes available. For more information, visit https://www.repstl.org/.

Through Apr. 27, 8 p.m. Meet Me at Dawn, The Marcelle, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive. St. Louis, MO, 63101. Matinee showtimes available. For more information, visit www. upstreamtheater.org.

ART

Through Apr. 13, 2025, Saint Louis Art Museum presents Federal Art Project 1935-1945, Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit www.slam.org.

Through Jul. 27, Veronica Ryan: Unruly Objects, Pulitzer Arts Foundation, 3716 Washington Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63108. For more information, visit https://pulitzerarts.org.

Through Aug. 10, Like Water, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, 3750 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108. For more information https://camstl. org/.

Apr. 11 – Apr. 13, COCA presents Kaleidoscope Crown by Ashleigh Akilah Rucker, COCA, 6880 Washington Ave., St. Louis, MO 63130. For more information, visit www.cocastl. org.

Iyanu

Continued from C1

ed series for Cartoon Network.

Prior to the screening, guests had the opportunity to shop around while the children added color to the large posters of the show’s main characters. This interactive experience was provided by COCA and gave everyone a chance to reimagine the characters of the show and delve into their own creativity.

The screening was also accompanied with a Q&A where guests could dialogue directly with some of the minds – and voices – behind the series.

“I think [Iyanu] is a metaphor for girls figuring out their power and who they are in the world,” said “Iyanu” writer Kerri Grant. “Where they belong and where they fit.”

Grant won an “Outstanding Writing for a Preschool Animated Program” Children’s and Family Emmy Award for her work on “Ada Twist, Scientist” in 2022. She has been nominated for a total of 10 Emmy Awards for work on shows such as “The Back Yardigans,” “Karma’s World” and “Doc McStuffins.”

She called “Iyanu” a coming-of-age story – with a lot of action, a little bit of comedy – all in a fantasy, Afrofuturistic world.

“Her story is a classic heroine’s journey,” Grant added, “where she is learning who she is at a really

crucial time and then going on an epic journey to save her people.”

Roye Okupe, the mind behind the graphic novel that inspired the series – and series showrunner –was also in attendance.

“[Iyanu] is a love letter to my daughter,” Okupe said.

He also spoke about how he created this show out of the necessity of having something positive to watch with her. He believes that Ekun, Iyanu’s loyal companion and guardian angel will be everyone’s favorite character.

“Even though Ekun doesn’t talk, his personality shows in everything that he does,” said Okupe. “We were very proud to create a character that doesn’t talk, but I think has the most emotion to express in the show.”

Set in Nigeria, “Iyanu” follows a young girl and her trusted companions on a quest to save their community from an ancient curse.

The three main characters of the show are Iyanu, (voiced by Serah Johnson) Biyi (voiced by Okey Jude) and Toye (voiced by Samuel Kugbiyi). These three form The Chosen and are on a journey to reverse the terrible outcomes of the Divine Wars against light and Dark.

Iyanu commands with a mysterious blue force that has the power to drive evil out of the most corrupted creatures. Throughout her journey she learns how to wield this force and strug-

Actor Okey Jude, ‘Iyanu: Child of Wonder’ creator and showrunner Roye Okupe, actor Samuel Kugbiyi, Lion Forge Entertainment CEO and Founder David Steward II and ‘Iyanu’ writer Kerri Grant celebrating the Cartoon Network world premiere of their Lion Forge produced animated series Saturday, April 5th at Neiman Marcus.

gles with the decision to use her powers for good or for evil.

Johnson was not able to make Saturday’s screening, but her costars were there – and eager to sing her praises.

Kugbiyi playfully described her as “amazing and flawless.”

“She inspires me, she challenges me just as much as she annoys me,” Kugbiyi said. “Every character, every role that Sarah plays she brings in 100% for that part.”

The creation of this car-

toon was an international effort. While the writers and production staff and Lion Forge Entertainment were in the U.S, the lead

voice actors recorded their vocals in different countries. “We had a slight challenge,” said Jude. “Because [Johnson] was

in Nigeria, [Kugbiyi] was in Canada and I was in the UK, and we formed this team and we needed to bond and form chemistry which is what makes the picture so beautiful”.

Though team Chosen was able to connect and bond on their own, they give immense credit to Paula Gammon Wilson who directed their voice overs from Portugal.

“[Paula] was amazing as a director,” said Jude, “She had a way of bringing us into the zone – and bringing clarity to what she wanted from the character.”

Kugbiyi reflected on his character Toye and the connection they share.

“I relate so much to the character because he brings a lot of valor and heart to what it means to be a man and a boy,” Kugbiyi said. “That you don’t have to be aggressive to be powerful.”

“Iyanu” will air every Saturday at 9:30 am on Cartoon Network and the episode will also be available the next day for streaming on Max.

Continued from C1

Inside.”

“Think about the spaces where a physical material notion of landscape and an interior emotional notion of landscape collide with each other,” Daderko said.

For the exhibition, Daderko united the six different collections by removing all the walls –which brings the pieces together in space. He highlighted how colonial history is emphasized in their works.

In the Beatriz Santiago Munoz collection, a three-channel video installation depicts the legend of Philoctetes. After being wounded on his way to battle, Philoctetes is left behind on an island. In the video, she replaces the chiseled Greek hero with a friend – which creates a parallel between Philoctetes’ story, and the “left behind” treatment of her country, Puerto Rico.

Colonial history is also present in the works of Jamal Cyrus through the use of denim and cotton. For his central display he laid strips of denim dyed a rich indigo atop a slab of compressed soil. He also included strips of lightened and distressed denim to make the scene ripple like the waves that carried enslaved peoples to the Americas. He chose layers of indigo to dance across these waves recounting the many lives lost to this antebellum cash crop. The theme of water

Bangas

Continued from C1

things, over time.” The words blanketed them like a warm hug – and as they sang, they lifted their hands in the air and swayed to the rhythm. The audience also joined in to finish “Black Folk” cheering loudly when Tank said, “Black sound like four-hundred years, smell like Oprah… Sing like Nina, got a

continues upstairs in the Education Gallery with “Make the River Present,” which also features six different collaborators: Allena Brazier, Dail Chambers, Galen Gritts, Monique Verdin, and community organizations Native Women’s Care Circle.

“It is an exhibition and program series that is grounded by individuals whose cultural stories, knowledge, and creative efforts help us remember our vital connection to the Mississippi and Missouri rivers,” said Michelle Dezember, Director of Learning and Engagement. She co-organized the “Make the River Present” exhibition along with independent curator Allena Brazier.

Dezember – a California transplant – assumed the river would play a larger role in how she would orient herself to the region. She was almost disappointed in the effort it took to see the river. It was this feeling that gave birth to “Make the River Present” – a rediscovering of the rivers through Indigenous and African American perspectives.

It inherently addresses colonial histories with a map valiantly titled “Reindigenized 1861 Mississippi Watershed Map” created by Monique Verdin of the Houma Nation. This small form of activism reinvigorates forgotten stories, and the uncharted connections overlooked years ago by settlers. She finished the map with the help of her

[expletive] like Serena.” She ended the song with an impromptu call and response of “I love me some Black people.”

The band’s chemistry was evident throughout the emotionally stirring show. Not only were Tank and The Bangas a joy to watch, but they also provided spiritual nourishment over the course of the night. They ended the concert with an encore of “Rollercoasters,” a blend of poetry and song that recounted the feelings

artistic associate Karen Goulet (Ojibwe) as the two “wondered what the stars might see as they looked down at the Mississippi.”

The final exhibition, “ArtReach: Confluence,” was an outcome of the museum’s ArtReach Partnership program with Sumner High School and Vashon High School. Celebrating its 8th year, it was organized by Education Manager Miriam Ruiz.

The “Confluence” exhibition includes “Braid it, Weave it, Fuse it” from Vashon students with resident teaching artist (RTA) Adrienne Outlaw – a collection strengthened by recycled plastics.

“ArtReach: Confluence” also includes “Creating Flow,” a gallery of abstract paintings done with student-made brushes at Sumner with RTA Dee Lavang, and “Digital Confluence” also from students at Sumner under RTA Rodrick Whetstone.

“Digital Confluence” is a group of 3D printed objects reimagined from 2D designs.

For more information on the exhibitions currently being displayed at Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, visit https://camstl.org/.

Dada Ball & Bash: Ripple Effect will take place from 6 p.m. – midnight on Friday, April 11 at The Post Building, 1190 Cole Street. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://camstl. org/.

of being on top – and revisited the same angelic, melodic chords from the opening of the show.

Cell phone lights filled the audience and waved back and forth as she sang, “Scared to fly, fly, fly” The concert ended with a heartfelt address from the lead singer. “We are all meant to shine as children do and you shine,” Tank said. “You undoubtedly give others the permission to do the same.”

Photo by Taylor Marrie/St. Louis American

By Cicely Hunter and Franklin Morris

When Dr. Arthelda Busch Williams and Linda Nance first met, they had no idea how deeply their work and passions

intertwine. Their introduction came through a project at the Missouri History Museum in partnership with the Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center, which also brought in the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs Inc. and Youth Affiliates (NACWC) and Annie Malone Historical Society.

This was the first time Nance heard about entrepreneur and philanthropist Annie Malone’s connection to the NACWC.

“I’m thinking, how in the world can you be in St. Louis and not know of this?” Nance recalls.

That realization sparked a journey of discovery and collaboration that deepened her appreciation for the NACWC’s history and impact. Williams, on the other hand, has known about the NACWC since childhood.

“I have just been blessed to have had an opportunity to be a part of this orga-

The NACWC: A Legacy of Impact

nization and to have been introduced to it by my grandmother,” she says. The NACWC, or “Mother National,” is unique in its multigenerational structure, with clubs for children, young women, and adults. Williams was seven years old when her grandmother, Lula Freeman, invited her to form the “We Girls Club” with friends.

“She put me in poetry-reciting contests and things like that, and it began to draw out something in me that I didn’t even know was there,” Williams shares. The organization became a source of empowerment through generations, with Williams and her mother, Virgie McNeal, serving in the Harriet Tubman Literary Club. Eventually, her own daughter, Saundra Busch, joined the organization and became state president.

Williams is particularly proud of the NACWC’s mission regarding mental health. “They have such wonderful goals,” she says. “They want to do something about the trauma that people are facing in the city of St. Louis.”

Nance states that the NACWC’s rich history of

activism and service dates to its founding in 1896, when it emerged from the Colored Woman’s League and National Federation of Afro-American Women. These groups were led by prominent women like Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, Margaret Murray Washington, and Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.

Guided by the motto “Lifting as We Climb,” NACWC members established kindergartens, day nurseries, and industrial schools while advocating for social change, including anti-lynching legislation. Witnessing racial injustices at the 1904 World’s Fair, the NACWC boycotted the Fair and published their findings widely. This boycott is the focus of Nance and Williams’s essay in The Wonder and Complexity of the 1904 World’s Fair (Missouri Historical Society Press, 2024).

The NACWC’s activism extended to the suffrage movement, where members organized clubs across the country to push for voting rights and participated in the 1913 march led by Ida B. Wells and

others. Nance notes that a suffrage marker in front of the NACWC headquarters in Washington, DC, honors their contributions.

The NACWC remains a force in St. Louis and recently welcomed a new club, PHOENIX, with representatives across five local universities.

Five NACWC national youth presidents have come from St. Louis and taken their leadership skills into roles across the country: Michael Murphy, Christopher Anderson, Brittney Dickerson, Charles McNeal, and Williams’s son William F. Busch III. “We’re preparing to work with another group of younger children in the future,” Williams says.

The NACWC has played a crucial role in

historical preservation. Nance emphasizes the significance of trailblazing women like Mary McLeod Bethune, Harriet Tubman, Mary Church Terrell, and St. Louis’s own Julia Davis. “Through the years, they have contributed so much,” she says. The organization ensures that their stories are shared with new generations. Currently, the NACWC is working with children at a local school. “We know how important it is to preserve our history—and not only preserve it, but to share it with our children and the community,” Williams notes.

“That’s the importance of the word ‘climbing’ in our motto,” Williams adds. “We are about the business of being lifelong learners.” She credits Vynetta Morrow, former African American History Initiative programming specialist, who invited her and Nance to the Museum to discuss the NACWC’s involvement in the World’s Fair.

As Nance and Williams continue their work, they are ensuring that the NACWC remains visible in St. Louis and beyond. Their shared passion for education, advocacy, and empowerment embodies the spirit of the organization’s founding women.

For Williams, the mission remains clear: “We have always been about the business of preserving our history and making sure that others know we have done great things.”

For more information about the NACWC, contact nacwcstlouis@gmail.com.

Photos courtesy of the Missouri History Museum

Linda Nance and Dr. Arthelda Busch Williams.

Insurance Billing/Collection Assistant II (Hybrid) - Physicians Billing Service

WashU is actively searching for candidates for our Insurance, Billing and Collections Assistant II role. Strong candidates will have a background in healthcare settings, knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid and insurance payors, and billing and/or collections experience.

As one of the largest employers in the St. Louis metro area, the staff of WashU Medicine reflects the rich diversity of the community in which we live and serve.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Performs insurance follow-up billing and collection duties on various financial classifications to ensure timely and accurate payment of physician charges.

• Reviews patient accounts to verify the accuracy of information including insurance, eligibility, invoice resolution, correspondence, remittances, requests for additional information, or other appropriate handling.

• Utilizes Epic, system tools, and payer websites for claim submission, claim status, attachments, eligibility, and authorization/ referral inquiry.

WashU is committed to providing you with a comprehensive and competitive benefits package. You and your family have access to benefits and resources, such as health care coverage, employee wellness program, tuition assistance and help in establishing your financial future.

For the full job description and to apply, visit jobs.washu.edu, Job ID: JR88143

We seek people from diverse backgrounds to join us in a supportive environment that encourages boldness, inclusion, and creativity. EEO/AA/VET/Disability Employer

ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF STUDENT MINISTRIES For Ages K-12th Grade

CONNECT•GROW•SERVE Email us at FBCCSMPS@gmail.com 17103 Wild Horse Creek Chesterfield, MO 63005 Christopher L. Rodgers, Sr. Senior Pastor

NOTICE TO CONSULTANTS

The St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works (SLCTPW) is requesting to retain the services of a highly qualified team of consulting engineering firms to perform construction engineering services in an on-call capacity for the On-Call Construction Engineering Services project (St. Louis County Project No. TBD).

Full details for this project, including submittal requirements and deadline, will be available on April 7, 2025, from the St. Louis County Vendor Self-Service portal: https://stlouiscountymoven dors.munisselfservice.com/ Vendors/default.aspx

REEQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Hazelwood School District is seeking installation of rubber tiles in the center of ten classrooms at Twillman Elementary.

Interested parties should submit their bid proposal through Vendor Registry via the district’s website at https://www. hazelwoodschools.org/ Page/2238 on or before Wednesday, April 30, 2025 not later than 11:00 a.m.

REQUEST FOR BIDS

PARIC Corporation (GC) is requesting bids for the Relocation of Airfield Maintenance (AFM) and Snow Removal Equipment (SRE) Facilities at St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

The proposed Work includes Construction of a new 35-acre campus with (2) main buildings built upon the land totaling 230,000 sq ft of enclosed space. For mor information on this project please contact Trena Alexander (TALexander@paric.com).

Proposals are due on April 11th at 3:00pm CST. We request that you send in your scope clarification with inclusions and exclusions by April 10th at 10:00am CST.

The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation goal for this Letting is 20%. DBE firms must be certified and listed in the Missouri Regional Certification Committee (MRCC) DBE Directory as of the bid opening date and listed here: https://flystl. diversitycompliance.com.

CITY OF ST. LOUIS

BOARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR LINDBERGH TUNNEL INSPECTION AND DOCUMENTATION FOR YEAR 2025 AT ST. LOUIS LAMBERT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. Statements of Qualifications due by 5:00 PM CT, MAY 9, 2025 through the Bid Express online portal at https:// www.bidexpress.com/businesses/20618/ home?agency=true. RFQ may be obtained from BPS website https://www. stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/ public-service/, under BPS RFQ and RFP Announcement, or email Board of Public Service at bryanth@stlouis-mo.gov 25% MBE & 5% WBE participation goals.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Proposal for Parking

Facilities Justice Garage Lighting

Proposals will be received by City of St. Louis Treasurer UNTIL 3:00PM April 30, 2025

For specific project information, go to https://www.stltreasurer.org/ Request for Proposals/ 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 Bid Opportunities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace Standby Generator, Project No. R2312-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, May 1, 2025. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Improvements to Exterior, Playground & Courtyard, Project No. E2408-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, May 13, 2025. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

SOLICITING BIDS

Great Rivers Greenway is soliciting bids for Brickline Greenway: Grand and Cass Avenue Corridor Improvements. in the City of St. Louis City, Missouri. Go to https://greatriv ersgreenway.org/bids/ and submit by May 01, 2025.

NOTICE TO CONSULTANTS

The St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works (SLCTPW) is requesting the services of a highly qualified consulting engineering firm to perform construction engineering services for the West Florissant Avenue Great Streets - Segments 3, 4, 5 project (St. Louis County Project No. AR-1665), the West Florissant Avenue & Chambers Road Intersection Improvements project (St. Louis County Project No. AR-1810), and the West Florissant Avenue (A) Resurfacing project (St. Louis County Project No. AR-1827).

Full details for these projects, including submittal requirements and deadline, will be available on April 7, 2025, from the St. Louis County Vendor Self-Service portal:https:// stlouiscountymovendors. munisselfservice.com/ Vendors/default.aspx

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for the McKelvey Road Resurfacing project, St. Louis County Project No. AR-1753, Federal Project No. STP-5558(611) will be received electronically thru the County’s Vendor Self Service portal at https:// stlouiscountymovendors. munisselfservice.com/ Vendors/default.aspx, until 2:00 PM on May 7, 2025.

Plans and specifications will be available on April 7, 2025 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.

ACTING DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Sealed Proposals for B25-1234 Banking Services will be received at Lincoln University Purchasing Dept 1002 Chestnut St, RM 101 Shipping & Receiving Bldg, JCMO 65101 until 2PM CT on 09APR2025 Download Proposal Request at “https:// www.lincolnu.edu/ about-lincoln/ purchasing/bidinformation/index.html

BIDS

Great Rivers Greenway is soliciting electronic bids via Bid Express for North Connector: Fairground to Page in the City of St. Louis, Missouri. Go to https:// greatriversgreenway. org/bids/ and submit by May 01, 2025.

Washington University in St. Louis offers rewarding opportunities in

various fields at all levels, with positions in engineering, nursing and health care, research, administration, technology, security and more.

“Isaiah 40:31” inspired

Sen. Cory Booker during iconic speech

By Dorothy Boulware and Joseph Williams Word In Black

Sometimes the most powerful thing a senator can bring to the floor isn’t a list of talking points, but a Bible verse tucked in a wallet.

That’s what Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., had on hand when he took to the Senate floor Monday to begin what would become a 25-hour rebuke of the Trump administration’s policies — breaking the late segregationist Sen. Strom Thurmond’s decades-old filibuster record in the process.

The detail about the Bible verse emerged afterward as reporters asked how he spoke so long without a bathroom break. Booker, 59, said he prepared by fasting and dehydrating in advance — a tactic that caused cramping and nearly derailed his effort. But he knew he’d need more than physical stamina to make it through.

to a lectern on the Senate floor and began a marathon speech designed to disrupt the Senate’s regular order, serving notice to the White House and his legislative colleagues.

Booker said he took everything out of his wallet before he began speaking except for one prized possession he kept tucked inside: a handwritten note card with his favorite scripture written on it.

He pulled it out and read it to the reporters.

“It’s Isaiah, 40:31. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings … as eagles,” Booker recited. “They shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and they … shall not faint.”

The Bible verse, frequently referenced in speeches by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., frames endurance as active hope — not passive waiting — and divine strength as relief for human frailty.

Booker beat Thurmond’s record. It energized Booker’s beleaguered party.

ernment shutdown — cheered Booker on, calling his performance a “tour de force.”

“I will tell you something: A lot of folks prayed with me. A lot of folks prayed for me,” he said.

Booker told reporters he is “a person of faith,” so to prepare, his family and fellow Black senators — Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., and Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del. — joined him in prayer.

“Lisa Blunt Rochester prayed with me right there on the Senate floor,” he said, while Warnock prayed with him the night before.

Around 6 p.m. Monday, March 31. 2025, Booker stepped

It seems Booker’s historic feat embodied that renewal for viewers who cheered him online, prayed for his success, and praised his defiance of authoritarianism as both patriotic and faith driven.

“I just really lean on faith that we could get through this,” Booker said. “And I’m just so grateful for my colleagues who really covered me in prayer.”

The speech racked up more than 350 million likes on TikTok Live. Hundreds of thousands of viewers tuned in via livestream on YouTube and other social platforms to watch

And, as the Trump administration continues to dismantle civil rights laws and protections — and literally erase the movement from classrooms and history books — Booker delivered a powerful political victory for Black America, repeatedly invoking Lewis’s name along the way.

As Booker’s speech went deep into Tuesday afternoon, some 30 Senate and House Democrats used chamber rules to give him breathers. Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York — the minority leader and top Democrat, who had to cancel a planned book tour because of liberal anger over his decision to help Republicans dodge a gov-

“Do you know how proud your caucus is of you?” Schumer told Booker, to loud applause. “Do you know how proud America is of you?”

From the start, Booker assailed what he called Trump’s assault on democracy, his overturning of Democratic norms and his plan to slash entitlements to fund a tax cut for the rich. Over the course of the speech, his voice boomed and fell; he grew hoarse but continued.

He demanded accountability from the White House and Congress. He urged his fellow citizens to rise up and oppose the president’s agenda.

“This is the moment where our most precious ideas of

Sen. Cory Booker, (D-N.J.) said the Bible verse Isaiah 40:31 inspired him to keep going during his historic 25-hour rebuke of President Donald Trump and his policies on the Senate floor March 31, 2025.

(Sen. Cory Booker/ YouTube/screengrab)

our country are being tested,” he said. “Where does the Constitution live: On paper? Or in our hearts?” Booker even mentioned Thurmond, a South Carolina Dixiecrat-turned-Republican who likely could not have conceived of a Black senator, much less one who could challenge his record.

“To hate [Thurmond] is wrong,” Booker said, yet “maybe, just maybe, I could break this record of the man who tried to stop the rights upon which I stand. I’m not here though because of his speech. I’m here despite his speech. I’m here because as powerful as he was, the people were more powerful.”