August 22nd, 2019 Edition

15 children killed this summer

SLPS super: ‘There is a void of leadership to call people together and work on solutions’

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

Jason Eberhart, 16, was a football player – like his brother who plays for Ball State University and his father who played for the University of Illinois.

“He comes from a family of football,” said his cousin and mentor Charles Shelton. “He was the middle child of five. We were really hoping that football was going to keep his mindset, but unfortunately life in the streets got the best of him.”

On Sunday, August 18, Eberhart died from multiple gunshot wounds in the Carr Square neighborhood at 2 a.m., and the investigation is ongoing. His family is

See CHILDREN, A6

Crystal D. Ford (left), who is the mother of four children under the age of 4, walks with St. Louis firemen who rescued her children from a burning apartment in the 1300 block of Ohio Avenue. They were left alone in the apartment, and Ford has since been charged with four felony counts of endangering the welfare of children.

At a prayer vigil held on Aug. 14, Sister Janice Munier, the parish life coordinator at Most Holy Trinity Parish, told stories about 7-year-old Xavier Usanga who was shot and killed outside his home two days before. The Usanga family has been active in the parish for many years.

‘To see these small victories, it is progress’

won the Democratic nomination to succeed Bruce Franks Jr. in the 78th District House seat on Thursday, August 15.

Rasheen Aldridge nominated by Central Committee to replace Bruce Franks in the State House

By Chris King Of The St. Louis American

There is an apparent irony to Rasheen Aldridge receiving the Democratic nomination to succeed Bruce Franks Jr. as state representative in Missouri’s 78th House District. Aldridge and Franks came up together as political outsiders who disrupted the Hubbard political dynasty in North St. Louis, yet Aldridge will succeed Franks in office (after the November 5 special election) through the ultimate insider process of a vote by the city’s Central Democratic Committee.

‘You truly are the mothers of our movement’

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

When Lezley McSpadden-Head held her first Rainbow of Mothers Gala just after the first anniversary of her son Michael Brown’s death, Ron Johnson was there in uniform as a captain in the Missouri Highway Patrol working security detail for the event. As he watched the mothers, most of whom had children who lost their lives during encounters with law enforcement, he noticed that none of the women made eye contact.

“I was a black man and a father – and I did my best,” Johnson said, speaking of his time on the frontlines of the Ferguson unrest.

“Why wouldn’t they look me in the eye?” Shortly after the exchange, he realized that he didn’t have the courage to look them in the eye.

“I knew that I needed to do more,” Johnson said. “I knew that I needed to be better.”

When gathered once again at Barnett’s on Washington on the day after the 5th anniversary of Michael Brown’s death, Johnson was there not as an officer, but as the event’s keynote speaker.

“There was a little black boy who wanted to be a policeman,” Johnson told the

By

What happens to the students who are not quite ready to transition into the next phase of their lives when they

“I realized there was a gap there,” said Amber Mitchell, school counselor at Ritenour High School. “They are stuck, and they have no one to guide them through.”

Some high school seniors let college applications remain half-finished. Some miss deadlines for job applications and don’t follow through on enlisting in the military. Any momentum such students had when their

school counselor was urging them

Photo by Wiley Price

See MOTHERS, C5

Rasheen Aldridge, left,

Lezley McSpadden-Head

Rebecca Rivas Of The St.

Photo by Jason Rosenbaum / St. Louis Public Radio

Photo by Lisa Johnston/St. Louis Review

Kaepernick’s girlfriend continues to drag Jay-Z following NFL deal

Last week, Colin Kaepernick’s girlfriend Nessa Diab was among the first to rebuke Jay-Z and his company Roc Nation for making a deal with the NFL.

Diab is still dragging Jay-Z by way of her social media account. An excerpt from her latest post reads as follows:

“We will never turn our backs on Colin Kaepernick because your idols decided to work with the same organization that is actively keeping Colin unemployed all because he peacefully protested against social injustice in black and brown communities, specifically police brutality. So really, how can Jay-Z and the NFL utter social justice in their partnership while keeping Colin unemployed because of his social justice work?

it or not (I don’t doubt his intelligence-so I would think he knew) he helped the NFL bury who he said is an iconic figure, Colin Kaepernick.”

Roc Nation artist Rihanna also made it clear that she is not on board with the deal by liking a post from activist Shaun King that gives his two cents on the partnership that starts opens with “Jay-Z is wrong.”

Brian McKnight family drama plays out across the internet

Last weekend, Brian McKnight’s children took to social media with claims that he has abandoned them for his new wife.

It’s typical for the NFL to buy different PR looks to cover up their dirt-that’s nothing new. But what is disgusting and disappointing is Jay-Z let them use him. Whether Jay-Z knew

“I don’t think that there is any situation that warrants the way my father has chosen to treat me, my sister, my brother or his grandchildren – one being his first son’s first born, who bears our name,” Brian McKnight Jr. said via Instagram in a post that has since been deleted.

The rift stems from claims by from the McKnight siblings that their father has chosen his new wife over his children.

Daughter Bri McKnight added fuel to the rumor with an Instagram post of her own.

“It sucks knowing that someone else, who is not blood related to you comes before you in

every single way.”

Their father took to his own social media account with claims that their broken family is because of his children’s sense of entitlement.

In the Instagram video, titled “Today’s Nonsense,” the elder Brian McKnight calls the allegations against him “heinous” and said he has “never done anything adverse” to his children.

“I guess one of my only faults is that I gave my children everything I didn’t have in hopes that they would appreciate it because I know how much I would’ve appreciated it when I was their age,” he said in the sevenminute video.

He said his wife Leilani, he married in 2017, had even tried to help them get on their feet but their response to her was like a “spit in her face.”

Brian McKnight said Leilani offered his sons a job at a local children’s hospital where she worked, but they declined the offer because they didn’t want to stop smoking marijuana. He added that Brian Jr. had even broke into his home a few months ago and vandalized a wedding photo of him and Leilani and placed a wedding photo of his mother, Julie McKnight, and father

on Leilani’s vanity.

Battery charges dropped against Chris Brown

According to The Blast, Chris Brown is no longer being charged with battery stemming from an alleged nightclub fight in Tampa back in 2017.

“After a thorough review of the facts and information from the alleged victim, our office determined there was insufficient evidence to prosecute,” A rep for the Office of the State Attorney in Florida told The Blast on Friday. The singer was arrested in West Palm Beach in July 2018 and charged with felony battery stemming from an incident in 2017, when he allegedly punched a photographer at a nightclub.

During an appearance at Tampa’s Club Air, Brown allegedly struck a photographer in the face with a closed fist. The photographer told police he was hired to take pictures at the event and when he came in contact with Brown, the singer allegedly told him to move away. The photog claims he did and that he told Brown he was hired to take pics of the crowd.

The Blast, Instagram, YouTube, OK Magazine

Sources:

Chris Brown

Nessa Diab

Calling St. Louis to ‘raise their voices for the voiceless’

International Institute rallies opposition to Trump’s zero-refugee proposal

American staff

The International Institute of St. Louis is calling for St. Louisans to “raise their voices for the voiceless” and join the organization in opposing the Trump administration’s proposal to virtually shut down refugee resettlement in the U.S., by setting a limit of zero refugees for 2020.

Although no action has been taken, the administration reduced the annual resettlement cap from 95,000 in 2017 to 45,000 in 2018 and then to 30,000 in 2019.

“White House officials are attempting to justify this unprecedented change by suggesting that current refugee resettlement resources be allocated to the Department of Homeland Security to process asylum seekers at the southern U.S. border,” the International Institute noted in a statement. “However, the administration’s moves to bar asylum-seeker access clearly invalidates this argument.”

The International Institute cited both humanitarian and economic reasons for its opposition.

“This cut in resettlement numbers puts the lives of thousands of vulnerable people around the world at risk, including religious and ethnic minorities, Afghan and Iraqi allies, and victims of torture and gender-based violence,” the International Institute stated. “If the administration

Protestors outside the Trump Building at 40 Wall St. in March 2017. moves forward with these plans, thousands of vetted refugees, many of whom have been waiting for more than 17 years in refugee camps and are ready to begin their new lives in the U.S., will be effectively abandoned.”

The International Institute also claimed that refugees “make an enormous net contribution to the U.S. economy with a fiscal impact over a 10-year period of $63 billion.” In Missouri alone, it said, 14,101 immigrants are self-employed, 58,916 Missourians are

employed at immigrantowned firms, and immigrants contribute $518 million in state and local taxes.

The International Institute has provided resettlement and integration services for nearly every new immigrant population in the St. Louis region since 1919. Annually, more than 6,000 immigrants and refugees learn English, find jobs, become resettled and start businesses with its help.

“We hope that St. Louisans will raise their voices for the voiceless and advocate for the preservation of the U.S.’s time-

Jamala Rogers observes CURE Violence model in Kansas City

Aim4Peace-KC’s target area is the neighborhood where she grew up

American staff

tested humanitarian refugee resettlement program,” International Institute of St. Louis Vice President of Programs Blake Hamilton said in the statement.

The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants joined the International Institute in urging St. Louis-area residents to write a letter, email or call the White House and their U.S. senators and representatives urging continued support for refugee resettlement.

Rogers

Jamala Rogers of the Organization for Black Struggle recently visited Aim4Peace-Kansas City, which is based on the CURE Violence model and has been in operation since 2008. CURE Violence is a successful violence reduction program adopted by many cities in the U.S. and in several countries. The program is unique in that it views violence as a public health issue and addresses violence as an epidemic. Rogers is part of a St. Louis group bringing CURE Violence to St. Louis. Rogers was taken on a tour of the targeted area by Salahuddin AbdulWaali and Erica Taylor, Aim4Peace staffers. The targeted area where most shootings and homicides have been occurring is in East Patrol on Kansas City’s east side. She was disheartened to discover that it’s the very neighborhood where she grew up. The night before her tour of the area, the city’s 82nd homicide for 2019 had occurred in front of her alma mater, Central High School.

“It’s been painful to watch the deterioration over the years of a neighborhood that brought me so many happy memories, “ said Rogers. “Adding violence to the intentional disinvestment of this community makes for a combustible situation.”

There have been nearly 600 shootings in St. Louis this year. According to St. Louis police statistics, homicides top 200. In one week, four children were victims of gun violence.

The implementation of CURE Violence in St. Louis has been embraced by many community leaders and elected officials. Rogers and other supporters hope to learn important lessons from their Kansas City collaborators.

Jamala

Editorial /CommEntary

Our children and nation are dying at gunpoint St. Louis needs equity in how it gathers data for equitable development

We understand the cultural value, shared by many native peoples of the Americas, that the names of the dead should remain unsaid. One idea behind this belief is that saying the names of the dead calls or keeps their spirits here when they have better places to go. We certainly hope and pray that the spirits of all of the children being shot and killed in the St. Louis region have better places to go than here, where they were surrounded by so much senseless violence, and where so many of them were left tragically unprotected. We would not want to call or keep their spirits here. However, we affirm the cultural value, shared by many African peoples, of naming the dead, of speaking their names to enshrine their memory. So, let us say their names: Kennedi Powell, 3; Xavier Usanga, 7; Eddie Hill, 10; Charnija Keys, 11; Ien Coleman, 14; Jaylon McKenzie, 14; Omarion Coleman, 15; Michael Henderson, 15; Myiesha Cannon, 16; Kristina Curry, 16; Robert Dorsey, 16; Jason Eberhart, 16; Jashon Johnson, 16; Derrel Williams, 16; Davaun Winters, 17. All were young people shot and killed in St. Louis this summer – and it’s terrifying to confront the fact that this list will likely get longer before the summer is over.

We sometimes face the criticism that we don’t cover violence or street crime. Our response is twofold. Most other local media do cover violence and street crime, and newspapers like ours were founded to tell the many other stories that are important to our community but less likely to be covered by other media. And, in fact, we do cover violence and street crime in our own ways. We believe, with Aristotle, that poverty is the father of crime and revolution, and we cover efforts to help people and communities emerge from poverty alive and more intact. When we cover efforts to include more African Americans in educational and business opportunities, we are trying to diminish rampant violence and crime. In addition, we cover proactive community efforts to prevent crime and protect communities, waged by groups like Better Family Life and Cure Violence. But there are moments when we must confront the fact that what we are doing – what any of us is doing – is not enough. At such moments, like this, it is not enough to cover workforce development efforts, improvements in public education, or community-rebuilding projects. In moments like this we must pause from our positive, proactive mission to uplift our

community and take a more direct look at the wanton violence and death in our community and say the names of the dead.

Kennedi Powell, Xavier Usanga, Eddie Hill, Charnija Keys, Ien Coleman, Jaylon McKenzie, Omarion Coleman, Michael Henderson, Myiesha Cannon, Kristina Curry, Robert Dorsey, Jason Eberhart, Jashon Johnson, Derrel Williams, Davaun Winters – we fear that even more will come, that even more will go – we do not want to call your spirits back to this place of violence where we did not do enough to protect you. But we want to remember you and mourn you and express our condolences to your families and loved ones.

Like everyone else, we are unable to explain these senseless deaths or to outline a definitive strategy for preventing more. But we would like to offer a wider perspective. These children were killed in a state and nation with senselessly permissible gun laws. They were killed by people –sometimes by other young people –who do not manufacture or sell guns. They were killed on streets patrolled by police officers with guns. They were killed in a nation with borders protected at gunpoint, with immigration laws enforced by armed agents. This same nation spends $80 billion on armed detention centers known as prisons. More than half of this nation’s discretionary tax spending is devoted to war.

In 2018 there were more guns in the U.S. (393 million) than people (326 million). Currently, there are some 15 million military-style weapons in civilian hands in the U.S. We must accept the fact that these guns will be held by millions of people for years to come whatever limits to curb or ban their use may be imposed. In Missouri, which has some of the nation’s most senselessly lax gun laws, there is no hope for legislative restraint, so we have to look to national gun policy to restore some sanity – which is difficult to envision with this White House and Senate.

None of this explains the death of these children or exonerates their killers – who, we believe, should be named themselves and prosecuted (say their names, too). None of this forgives us for not doing enough to nurture and protect them. But an honest assessment of Missouri and the United States reveals them to be a state and nation settled at gunpoint by armed slave-owners, who maintained race-based slavery through armed violence for more of this land’s history than slavery has been outlawed here. The United States of America was created at gunpoint, and it is not only our children who are dying senselessly at gunpoint. This nation itself is dying senselessly at gunpoint.

Mayor Krewson must serve the public interest, not politics

By Comptroller

Darlene Green

For The St. Louis American

It is time for the mayor of St. Louis to engage in collaboration and create a constructive environment that benefits the working families who deserve to be able to count on reliable delivery of city services, safer streets and improving neighborhoods. Mayor Krewson is leaving the people she was elected to serve behind while she rushes to please special interests. Instead of keeping the streets safe, the alleys clean and the grass mowed, the mayor has enlisted her administration in a territorial fight against other offices and other elected officials.

For the past two years this political chicanery has been fomenting, and in 2019 the harm caused by this mayor’s focus on shenanigans instead of service has reached a boiling point. At the Board of Estimate & Apportionment and separately I have urged her to set politics aside; but it is clear that she has not heard the outcry. The mayor does not seem to grasp – or does not care – that playing politics with the people’s money and services is causing real harm.

For more than 20 years the fiscal policies of the City of St. Louis have served the

city well by improving the city’s credit rating, lowering the cost for borrowing, and saving the taxpayers millions of dollars. The mayor should embrace the fiscal policies of the comptroller that brought the city through a very tough economic downturn, implemented a 10-year strategic financial plan designed to improve future fiscal outcomes, and encouraged refinancing debt to provide better service delivery with the savings. Instead, she has chosen to engage in politics that do not serve the public interest. At the same time, our community has been going through a horrific wave of senseless crime this spring and summer. As I write this, 12 children have been shot this year—11 fatally. And just this past week, there were six drive-by shootings in one 24-hour period. Our community is rightly upset and deserves answers. The simplest explanation is usually correct, and the simplest explanation is that the mayor has not made preventing crime and protecting children a higher priority than her politics.

Less tragically, this same explanation applies to what residents and aldermen alike have decried: an administration that is unresponsive to their concerns and incapable of effectively managing operations.

It is not acceptable that the administration waits for crises before acting. The people of St. Louis deserve an administration that is proactive and engaged.

A proactive administration would not have sat by idly after the police department tested body cameras in 2016. And a proactive administration would not drag its feet in supporting violence reduction programs. Instead, this mayor’s administration is left scrambling, unprepared and reacting to the current crisis.

St. Louis is a city full of hope. It’s a city with promise and a bright future. What makes the city so great is the people who choose to live here. City voters are smart and deserve better than the proverbial politics-first agenda from this administration. I call on the mayor to serve the people better through collaboration instead of the proliferation of political agendas that pull the city down. Let’s uplift the city by working together. Darlene Green is comptroller of the City of St. Louis.

By Michael A. Okpara

For The St. Louis American

Over the many number of years that I have lived in North St. Louis I can’t recall seeing such a rapid decline and deterioration of neighborhoods as currently exists in Baden. The area has been neglected for far too long by the city government for any type of meaningful economic development and revitalization. Baden is dead.

It is not uncommon to travel any of the residential streets and find that only a handful of homes on that street have occupants. The area has become so blighted there appears to be no incentive for residents of this community to believe they are actually part of the City of St. Louis.

Criminals have taken over the area. Street corners are filled with vagrants. Derelict vehicles with no licensing identifications are found all over the streets. Drug dealers are running the streets unrestrained. Street traffic signs are being violated with impunity. Gun shots are keeping the few remaining residents awake all night long. The neighborhoods’ lawabiding citizens are scared to death.

The area needs heavy police presence and economic opportunities for youth in this area to stabilize the locality. I know the often-cited reasons for blight in minority neighborhoods, such as national economic downturn, unemployment, redlining, predatory lending, crime. But it is possible something else is responsible for the rapid decline of the North Side, especially the 2nd Ward. I wondered about the City of St. Louis’ capital infrastructure and other economic development resource allocations to improve communities.

I attended the St. Louis

Equitable Economic Development Strategy meeting organized recently by the St. Louis Development Corporation. It was an open event to gather input from the public on creating an environment for equal opportunity. The city’s map was broken into regional sections. Attendees were given two colored stickers and instructed to find their neighborhood on the map and to paste the stickers wherever they want to see future investment.

I located my neighborhood, the North-near-riverfront, where I pasted my two stickers. Upon looking around the other neighborhood maps, I found that those maps were almost completely covered with stickers. The only stickers on the Northnear-riverfront were the two stickers I had pasted. If the City of St. Louis should rely on data from this event to decide where improvements will be made, it would be capricious. Here is why. The event organization was too elitist. It was not organized as a proper community forum where all residents can dialogue with governmental officials, raise or ask substantive questions, offer insights on the nature of issues that affect their neighborhoods, and receive answers or assurances.

Also, the time and venue placed too many of the Northnear-riverfront residents in utter disadvantage and effectively aborted any opportunity for them to participate. The event was scheduled for 4-7 p.m. at Vashon High School for

Letters to the editor

Un-American denial of due process

The Trump administration’s expedited removal process authorizes immigration agents to engage in racial profiling and puts the nearly 2 million immigrants living in Illinois at risk of being arbitrarily interrogated and removed from our country. Authorizing immigration agents to bypass a judge and order immigrants to be deported is outrageous, and nothing could be less American than this denial of due process.

The Illinois Attorney General’s office does not request information about immigration or citizenship status from anyone who contacts the office or files a complaint. I encourage individuals to contact our office to report instances of discrimination or harassment by calling our Civil Rights Hotline at 1-877-581-3692.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul Via email

Metro turns its back to the West End

Without any community outreach MetroLink has decided to close the Hodiamont access to the Delmar Station, which is used by hundreds of commuters daily, in the pretense of being a safety measure. They have erected aluminum poles and I’m sure will throw up cyclone fencing to complete the new prison look décor to try to prevent

residents of North City as a whole. Given the public transportation challenges that exist in Baden and Ward 2 in general, where one-in- three residents lacks transportation, I don’t see how they could easily participate.

Due to the effective exclusion of most residents of the far North City area, the data generated from this event will be biased heavily in favor of other neighborhoods. The North-near riverfront area will remain neglected as it has been. In reviewing the city’s map, I found that the Northnear-riverfront residential neighborhoods were classified and buried deep into the industrial zone alongside Hall Street, which obscured the residential areas. This obscurity meant that even the neighborhood retail strip on North Broadway that previously housed a grocery store and other small retail businesses was neglected in terms of revitalization to lure back jobs in the area. The city simply repackaged this area and rented it out to companies for storage. Those containers have become a total eyesore in that stretch of North Broadway. I see no equity in the way the city has is gathering information to determine equity in resource allocations for community development. The developmental strategy should be rearticulated. Such an event should be brought much closer to the city’s neighborhoods rather than staged only in a few locations that are not easily accessible to many residents. The process also should include ways to gather input from everyday folks who might not have the elitist capacity but whose opinions are vital for equitable economic development. Otherwise, the entire exercise is fraught with inequity and suspicion.

and

access to the station. What they obviously fail to realize is that MetroLink was created to serve the neighborhood which they now are trying to wall off. They somehow think adding five minutes of walking up an incline to Delmar, walking around the old Wabash Station, then walking down 25 stairs in some way insures public safety. What they fail to realize is people from the neighborhood will adapt to the inconvenience by crossing the MetroLink tracks or walking parallel to the wall through the grass so they catch their train in time. Instead of making the stop safer, what they will actually do is put more people at risk of injury. When changes to the transportation system are made, at the very least those impacted should have been consulted. Thank you, MetroLink, for turning your back on the West End Lewis Rolen St. Louis

Guest Columnist Darlene Green

Guest Columnist Michael A. Okpara

Mike Brown forever

Michael Brown tried to cool off in the heat while visiting with former state Rep. Betty Thompson during events to commemorate the five-year anniversary of the Ferguson Police killing of his son Michael Brown and the protest movement it sparked.

Teen Center of Excellence opening in Ferguson soon

Registration will open in September for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis’ new Teen Center of Excellence in Ferguson.

CFPB should go back to protecting consumers’ finances

By Charlene Crowell For The St. Louis American

For payday loan borrowers and consumer and civil rights activists, this August 19 was supposed to be the end of payday lending’s nearly inevitable debt trap.

No longer would consumers incur seemingly endless strings of loans that lenders knew they could not afford. Nor would lenders have unlimited and automatic direct access to borrower checking accounts; only two debits could be drawn on an account with insufficient funds.

The days of unrestrained businesses recklessly selling payday and car-title loans as short-term financial fixes that grew to become long-term debt was set for a shutdown.

These borrowers were looking forward to financial freedom from the endless cycle of loan renewals and costly fees generated by triple-digit interest rates. The typical, two-week $350 payday loan winds up costing $458 in fees.

However, under a different administration, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has functioned more recently to help predatory lenders than to fulfill its statutory mission of consumer protection.

research, public comments, and a careful rulemaking process before then-Director Richard Cordray delivered a rule that would provide financial relief from one of the nation’s most heinous predatory loans.

Similar sentiments were expressed to the CFPB by 25 state attorneys general (AGs) whose jurisdictions included California, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. In written comments on CFPB’s plan to rewrite the payday rule, these state officials also expressed serious issues with the bureau’s anticonsumer shift.

Last summer, then-CFPB head Mick Mulvaney, joined the payday loan industry to challenge and win a delay in the implementation of the long-awaited payday rule. Mulvaney also withdrew a lawsuit filed by the CFPB against a payday lender.

Months later in in a West Texas federal court, U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel granted a “stay,” the legal term for a court-ordered delay, to allow the current CFPB director the chance to rewrite the rule adopted under the bureau’s first director.

In response to these and other anti-consumer developments, consumer advocates chose to observe the August 19 date in a different way: by reminding CFPB what it was supposed to do on behalf of consumers.

“The bureau’s proposed repeal of the 2017 rule would eliminate an important federal floor that would protect consumers across the country, including from interstate lending activity that is challenging for any individual state to police,” wrote the AGs. “Extending credit without reasonably assessing borrowers’ ability to repay their loans resembles the poor underwriting practices that fueled the subprime mortgage crisis, which eventually led to an economic tailspin and enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act.”

A 2019 CRL research report found that every year, payday and cartitle loans drain nearly $8 billion in fees from consumer pockets. Although 16 states and the District of Columbia have enacted rate caps that limit interest to no more than 36 percent, 34 states still allow triple-digit interest rate payday loans that together generate more than $4 billion in costly fees. Similarly, car-title loans drain more than $3.8 billion in fees annually from consumers in the 22 states where this type of loan is legal.

Texas leads the nation in costly payday loan fees at $1.2 billion per year. Overall, consumers stuck in more than 10 payday loans a year represent 75 percent of all fees charged.

Teens ages 12-18 in the North County area can join. The 26,856-square-foot, $12.4 million facility is located on West Florissant Avenue surrounded by four school districts. It will house a nutrition education center, outdoor garden, gymnasium, intellectual commons, auditorium, activity center, music and art studio, innovation center and office space. The center will offer afterschool and summer programs to teens and youth with an emphasis on health and wellness (yoga, healthy habits, open gym), education and workforce development (college tours, ACT/SAT prep, tutoring), STEAM (coding, app creation, robotics) and leadership & civic engagement (fine and performing arts, community service, applied arts).

“Building a Boys & Girls Club in the Ferguson area will produce positive outcomes in a community that has been subsumed with difficult realities and negative images,” said Flint Fowler, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis president. For more information or to register, call 314-335-8000 or visit www.bgcstl.org/teencenter.

“Since its 2017 leadership change, the CFPB has repeatedly failed to support the August 19, 2019 compliance date the agency established for these important provisions,” wrote Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund, National Consumer Law Center, Public Citizen, and the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL).

The August 12 joint letter to Director Kathleen Kraninger called for “timely implementation” of the rule’s payment protections. While the CFPB continues to push for a stay of the rule’s abilityto-repay requirements, it has failed to offer any basis for its anti-consumer effort.

It took years of multiple public hearings,

Car-title loan fees take $356 million out of the pockets of Alabama residents, and $297 million from Mississippi consumers. And among all borrowers of these loans, one out of every five loses their vehicle to repossession.

This spring before a Capitol Hill hearing, Diane Standaert, a CRL executive vice president and director of State Policy, summarized the choices now before the nation: “Policymakers have a choice: siding with the vast majority of voters who oppose the payday loan debt trap or siding with predatory lenders charging 300 percent interest rates.”

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

Charlene Crowell

Photo by Wiley Price

Children

Continued from A1

taking his death very hard, Shelton said, which is why he was speaking on their behalf.

Just on Friday, Eberhart had been at Soldan High School to complete the transfer process from his previous school, Kirkwood High, said Kelvin Adams, superintendent of the St. Louis Public School District.

Eberhart is among 15 children in the St. Louis metro area who did not return to school this semester – 15 children have been killed by gun violence since May.

Nine of these children were current or former St. Louis Public School students: Charnija Keys, a sixth grader at Yeatman Middle; Myiesha Cannon, sophomore at Sumner High; Derrel Williams, a freshman virtual student; Kristina Curry, a junior virtual student; Eddie Hill, a sixth grader at Pamoja Preparatory Academy; Xavier Usanga, a second grader at Clay Academy of Exploration and Civics; Jashon Johnson and Davaun Winters, both 16, had not been currently enrolled; and Eberhart, who was scheduled to attend Soldan on Monday as a junior.

“It’s a really sad situation that young people can’t be protected when they are being young people,” Adams said. “It’s a very difficult time for families and the community.”

The other children are: Ien Coleman, a Parkway North High School freshman; Robert “R.J.” Dorsey, a Bayless High School sophomore; Omarion D. Coleman, freshman at Granite City High School; Michael Henderson Jr., a sophomore at East St. Louis High School; Jaylon McKenzie, an eighth grader at Center Junior High in Belleville, Ill.

And, there was also threeyear-old Kennedi Powell.

“She will never go to kindergarten. She will never go to first grade. She will never have an eighth-grade

graduation,” said Philicia Burrage, a cousin who organized a vigil after Kennedi was shot and killed on June 9, according to KSDK.

James Clark, community outreach director at Better Family Life Inc., received calls and has provided resources and counseling to 10 of these grieving families.

“These families will never be the same,” Clark said. “The culture in our neighborhoods is so intense that the person who pulled the trigger, they are a victim of the same culture. I know people who have pulled the trigger who were part of this cannibalizing mentality that has gripped our neighborhood.”

Clark has spent decades trying to decrease gun violence throughout the city by addressing the “depth of dysfunction” in the areas most impacted by crime. He does this with a strong team of outreach workers, who often grew up in the area where they do outreach work and have been through the criminal justice system.

“The most important position in social service organizations moving forward is the outreach worker – the man and woman who are able to immerse themselves in the neighborhood and challenge the culture of the neighborhood,” Clark said. “And that’s why we have to empower the individuals who know this area the best.”

St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden said one of the biggest challenges that police have is the state’s loose gun laws. He explained that unless a person is a convicted felon, possessing a firearm is not a crime.

“We see guys all the time that we believe would potentially be involved in criminal activity,” Hayden said, “but for that reason alone, we can’t impede their movement because it’s not a crime to possess the gun in Missouri. That certainly hinders our ability to be more proactive with respect to intervention on gun violence.” Hayden said drugs are the cause of 50 percent of

homicides in general, and that is why the department has a robust drug taskforce. For the past couple years, Better Family Life has set up tents near open-air drug markets in North St. Louis to provide social services and health care for drug addicts. The idea is to meet people where they are and to get them help.

While each agency is doing some work to try and address gun violence, Adams said that the region overall does not see child deaths as a crisis – and it should.

“I see us commiserating and being angry or frustrated,” Adams said. “But I don’t see anyone rushing to solve the problem. When Katrina happened in 2005, I lived in New Orleans, there was a different kind of crisis and people were running to try and solve the problem. I don’t see that energy.”

St. Louis County Police Department’s Lt. Col. Troy Doyle, who is currently overseeing the county’s jail, said that all the efforts in the region are being done in isolation and at a snail’s pace. There are a lot of “meetings to have another meeting to discuss about having another meeting,” he said. And the region has all the data it needs to move forward.

“As it sits today, we have numerous drug task forces, carjacking task forces, etc., but nothing holistically to address crime as a whole,” Doyle said. “Being that crime doesn’t stop at the border of the city or county, we need an area-wide strategic plan to address crime holistically.”

Even within the City of St. Louis, Adams said that efforts are not coordinated.

“I think there is a void of leadership to call people together and work on solutions in a way that would likely happen in other places,” Adams said. “We don’t have anybody, a go-to leader, that is calling people together and saying, ‘Okay, superintendent, police chief, recreation department, what can we collectively do to try and solve this problem?’ That’s the real challenge here.”

Community members prayed during a vigil for 7-year-old Xavier Usanga.

Photo by Lisa Johnston/St. Louis Review

Salute

Continued from A1

during the school year gets lost when summer hits. It’s a phenomenon called “summer melt,” she said.

And Mitchell has spent numerous summers trying to bridge this gap for students throughout the St. Louis area. At first she volunteered with the Summer Melt program that was started by Washington University graduate students. When that dissolved, she started her own Summer Melt program at Jennings Senior High School, where she worked for five years prior to joining Ritenour.

“I made myself available all summer to help students,” Mitchell said. “I would invite college reps in the St. Louis area to help them with the college advising process, even if it wasn’t for that specific school.”

These representatives would help students navigate things such as financial aid, the acceptance process, or how to make a plan if they didn’t have enough funds to attend their top choice. She invited employers in to do mock interviews and help with resume writing. She also invited military reps to help with the enlisting process. When summer hits, “it gets real,” Mitchell said, laughing. “We’re then able to have a more serious conversation.” Mitchell was able to get a stipend for her work, but she didn’t anticipate how big the program would become. She was working evenings and weekends, as well as traveling with students to orientation.

Many of the students still keep in contact with her because the questions don’t stop after they get into college.

“They want to talk to someone who they feel more comfortable with,” Mitchell said.

She remembers that feeling, she said, and that’s why she ended up attending the University of Missouri at St. Louis (UMSL) when she graduated from Beaumont High School. She had participated in UMSL’s Bridge Program, a year-round pre-collegiate program for St. Louis-area students. While both of her parents are educators, they didn’t know much about the college-application process.

“I felt like I was going through it by myself,” she said. “It was up to me to figure out this college thing.” Mitchell ended up receiving her bachelor’s degree in psychology and two master’s degrees in Secondary School Counseling and Adult Higher

Education, all from UMSL.

When she got to the university, she decided to volunteer with the Bridge Program as a way to “give back.” That landed her a job, where she discovered her passion for advising.

“As a student worker, I was learning so much about the college process,” she said. “It was like teaching the teacher.”

That experience still informs her work today. What she feels she wasn’t trained for was the life experiences she would encounter among her students – experiences that are far more intense and traumatic than she ever had to deal with growing up, she said. Though it’s only her first year at Ritenour, she said the district’s work in trauma is one of the things she greatly respects about the schools. The district has a slogan, “You don’t know my story.”

“I thought that was very interesting because my personal slogan has always been ‘Every student has a story,’ and it is my job to learn their story,” Mitchell said. “When we learn their story, we get to know

n

“When we learn their story, we get to know what’s really going on because we have students who deal with a lot of traumatic experiences.”

– Amber Mitchell

what’s really going on because we have students who deal with a lot of traumatic experiences. When they come in the building, that doesn’t stop at the doors.”

On Saturday, September 21, Mitchell will receive

the SEMO Counselor of the Year Award at the St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Awards Gala, held at the America’s Center. Mitchell has over 14 years of experience in developing,

coordinating and implementing college and career readiness services for underserved youth and has aided in the presentation of college access workshops for high school and middle school students, parents, and professionals throughout the region, said Trent Ball, assistant vice president for academic diversity and outreach at Southeast Missouri State University. Ball said, “Amber demonstrates a great deal of passion and commitment in assisting students to achieve their goals for college and career success.”

The 2019 Salute to Excellence in Education Gala will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, September 21, 2019 at the America’s Center Ballroom, following a reception at 5 p.m. Tickets are on sale now. Individual tickets are $100 each/$1,000 table and VIP/ Corporate tickets are $1,500 table. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www. stlamerican.com and click on Salute to Excellence, or call 314-533-8000.

St. Louis firefighters Patrick Ferguson and Mike Perkins (right) work to stabilize a baby who was rescued from a burning apartment in the 1300 block of Ohio Avenue on Thursday, Aug. 15. Three children, all under age four, were found alone in the Lafayette Family apartments in the Gate neighborhood.

Photo by Wiley Price

State attorney general dismisses new evidence of innocence presented by prosecutor

Lamar Johnson’s 1994 murder conviction was allegedly steeped in corruption from both police and prosecutors, and new evidence proves that the AfricanAmerican man is innocent, said St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner in a July 19 court motion to get Johnson a new trial.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt struck back, saying that Gardner has no authority to ask the 22nd Circuit Court for a new trial, according to a motion he filed on Thursday, August 15. The reason that Schmitt is involved in this case is a bit murky. After Gardner filed the motion in July, Circuit Judge Elizabeth Hogan ordered that the attorney general’s office represent the state. The murky part is that Gardner represents the state, and the circuit attorney disputed that Hogan had authority to bring in the attorney general on a case in her jurisdiction. Now, the two offices are giving the judge two completely different opinions on what Johnson’s fate should be.

committed a malpractice that ultimately led to Johnson’s conviction. Gardner argued that every law enforcement agent who investigated corruption within their agencies would have conflicts of interest, if that were the case.

In Schmitt’s brief, he stated that Johnson shouldn’t get a new trial because he has previously “raised almost all of the same claims he presents in his latest motion for new trial. Each court to review Johnson’s claims has found that he failed to prove his innocence or any error that would justify reversing his convictions.”

Gardner’s new Conviction Integrity Unit’s investigation into Johnson’s case found “clear, convincing, and overwhelming evidence of innocence, government misconduct, and constitutional violations that deprived Mr. Johnson of a fair trial,” Gardner stated in her brief filed on August 14. Gardner also stated that the circuit court “unquestionably” has the jurisdiction to entertain her motion.

“The circuit attorney, after conducting an investigation, found that Lamar Johnson is innocent. We know that an innocent person has been in prison for 25 years,” said Tricia Bushnell, executive director of Midwest Innocence Project, the legal group representing Johnson. “It is deeply troubling that an appointed attorney general and his office would attempt to keep a duly elected prosecutor from doing her ethical and constitutional duty of correcting a manifest injustice. It is immoral and calls into question the priorities of Eric Schmitt’s office. What is the attorney general’s interest in keeping an innocent person in prison?”

Lamar Johnson Gardner’s 67-page motion

provides the following statement of fact. On October 30, 1994, Marcus Boyd was sitting on the front porch of his apartment with his co-worker Greg Elking, who had come by to repay a small debt he owed Boyd for drugs and to purchase some crack. At the time of the shooting, Leslie Williams, Boyd’s girlfriend, was inside their upstairs apartment tending to their baby. Two black men wearing ski masks – Phillip Campbell and James Howard – ran up from the side of the house without warning. The men shot and killed Boyd, but Elking escaped and ran home. At the time of the crime, Johnson and his girlfriend were at their friend’s apartment located at 3907 Lafayette Ave. in St. Louis, at least 10 minutes by car from the scene at 3910

Louisiana Ave.

Detective Joseph Nickerson

Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner

investigated Boyd’s homicide. He interviewed Ed Neiger who had purchased drugs from both Boyd and Johnson. In his report, Nickerson claimed that Neiger told him of a feud between Boyd and Johnson and that the feud might be a reason Johnson would kill Boyd. Neiger disputed this account in his June 21, 1995 deposition, where he stated that he knew of no fights between Boyd and Johnson and he did not know of anyone who would want to kill Boyd.

The police report states that Leslie Williams told Nickerson she believed Johnson was responsible for Boyd’s murder and that there had been a dispute between them about missing drugs and stolen money. On June 21, 1995, Leslie Williams gave a pretrial deposition, wherein she stated under oath that Boyd and Johnson were once very close but they had drifted apart, but she could think of no reason that Johnson would want to kill Boyd.

Years later, four witnesses total would swear under oath that they never said what Nickerson attributed to them. The two perpetrators, Campbell and Howards, have also repeatedly signed affidavits stating that Johnson was not involved in the murder.

In the report compiled by Gardner’s Conviction Integrity Unit, investigators found old files in the circuit attorney’s office where the only eyewitness, Elking, was paid more than $4,000 to pick Johnson out of a line up. However, the documentation for these payments was never provided to the defense, even though Johnson’s lawyers requested it repeatedly over the years.

In fact, Elking later wrote a letter to his pastor in which he confessed to knowing what he did was wrong and tried to atone for his sins. This letter was included in the unit’s report.

“Elking never had the ability to make an identification as is clear from the record,” states the motion. “He was paid to identify Johnson, the state concealed that information, presented an identification that was false, and then lied to the jury that Elking had no reason to testify against Johnson.” Several other instances of injustices and new evidence were outlined in the motion. The motion concludes, “The circuit attorney asks this court to take notice of ‘the perversion of justice which could occur if we were to close our eyes to the existence of newly discovered evidence’ and moves this court to grant the state’s motion for new trial because ‘in light of the State’s concession that the evidence exists, it should be heard.’”

Johnson was convicted of murdering Marcus Boyd on October 30, 1994, though evidence shows that Johnson was at a friend’s house and would not have been able to commit the crime.

On July 19, prosecutors filed a 67-page motion that attempts to prove Johnson’s innocence and grant him a new trial. It also provides evidence that the homicide detective on the case allegedly made up witness testimonies, which the witnesses only learned about years later. It also provides documentation that an assistant circuit attorney paid off the only eyewitness and cleared some of his outstanding tickets.

During an August 1 hearing Hogan said that she brought in the attorney general because she thought Gardner had a conflict of interest, seeing that she was alleging that a former assistant circuit attorney had

On August 15, 43 prosecutors around the country submitted a brief to support Gardner’s position in Johnson’s case.

“Elected prosecutors should not be expected to await or rely on the actions of others to correct legal wrongs,” they stated. “Indeed, they are ethically required to proactively address these concerns.”

Nationally, conviction integrity units have grown into a “recognized best practice” for local prosecution offices, they stated, where they review potential cases of wrongful convictions. By the end of 2018, such units operated in 44 jurisdictions across the country, producing 344 exonerations.

These prosecutors asked Hogan to vacate her order to bring in the attorney general and to hear Gardner’s motion for a new trial.

In Loving Memory Of

Betty Colbert, mother of Judge Nicole Colbert-Botchway and Dr. Susan Colbert-Threat passed away August 19, 2019.

Her funeral will be held Friday, August 23, 2019 at St. Alphonsus Liguori Rock Catholic Church, 1118 N. Grand Blvd. Visitation will be 9-11 am and the Funeral 11-1 pm. A repass will follow 2-5 pm at Better Family Life, 5415 Page Blvd.

Donations should be made in memory of Mrs. Betty Colbert, former teacher at Notre Dame Preschool, C/O Sisters of Notre Dame, Central Pacific ovince, 320 East Ripa Ave., St. Louis, MO 63125.

Mrs.

Mrs. Betty Colbert

(Above) Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt (Left) St.

Add water and lose weight

Local nurse uses six habits of health to live best life now

By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American

In the online weight loss community, there are countless pictures of the “sugar shot” – men and women in grocery store or warehouse chain isles posing with food products representing how much weight they have lost. Lynnette Moore posted her own sugar shot recently – 63 pounds off and counting.

“I got to age 43, and I said I want to live my best life now and I just didn’t want to invest in a whole year of losing weight,” Moore said. “I wasn’t at the point of surgery. As a nurse, I’ve dealt with so many patients that surgery didn’t go well.” She prayed about it. Then a woman she knows from Alton, Illinois posted a beforeand-after photo that caught her attention and changed Moore’s approach to food. This woman also became her coach.

n “Just dealing with you as a whole human being through weight loss, you learn to be a whole healthy person.”

– Lynnette Moore

“Her body transformed in just a few months, and I said, ‘I want to try this,’” she said.

The program that made a difference for her comes in a brand of products launched by Medifast in 2016 under the name Optavia. The packaged foods were developed by a doctor and promises nutrient-dense alternatives that fuel the body with good stuff four to five times a day (every two and a half hours). You add a lean protein and a green vegetable that you prepare in the evening to round out the eating plan. You also need to drink 64 to 100 ounces of water each day.

The timed meals, which they call fuelings, keep participants in a fat-burning mode.

“The whole point is to become a healthy human being,” Moore said, through the six habits of health – health weight management, healthy eating and hydration, healthy motion, healthy sleep, healthy mind, and healthy surroundings.

“Just dealing with you as a whole human being through weight loss, you learn to be a whole healthy person,” she said.

The plan also pairs people with a coach to walk them through the process, an online community of recipe-sharing supporters and

See MOORE, A13

By Eugene Robinson Washington Post

Someday, in the not-so-distant future, sealevel rise could claim Mar-a-Lago. Perhaps President Trump would still be around to see his beloved Florida resort wiped out by a “Chinese hoax.”

Of all the wrongheaded policies Trump and his Republican Party insist on pursuing, their stubborn denial of climate change is the most baffling – and the most obviously self-destructive. Everything is personal with Trump. Can’t anybody get it through his head that his own coastal properties are urgently threatened? And that he is going out of his way to hasten their demise?

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported on August 15 that July 2019 was the hottest month on planet Earth since record-keeping began in the years after the Civil War. Wherever you live, think back to all the punishing heat waves you’ve experienced. Globally, July was worse.

The month saw unprecedented tripledigit temperatures in parts of Europe where summers are usually mild at best. On July 25, thermometers in Cambridge, England, soared to 101.7 degrees – an all-time record for the United Kingdom. That same day, Paris saw a high of 108.7, which broke the previous alltime record by a full four degrees.

Meanwhile, much of the United States baked in an unrelenting heat wave, with day after day in the 90s. And earlier in the month, Alaska saw its highest temperatures since record-keeping began, with residents of Anchorage enduring a Floridian 90-degree afternoon.

July also saw the area covered by polar sea ice shrink to record lows in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions, according to NOAA. In the Arctic, there was almost 20 percent less ice than normal, or what used to be normal.

“Yes, but it snowed the other day in Australia,” denialists will say. Well, of course it did. It’s winter down there. Global warming

American Heart Association presents young women with science careers

Although women fill close to half of all the jobs in the U.S. economy, they hold less than 25 percent of jobs in science, technology, engineering & mathematics (STEM). The American Heart Association, a science-based organization, strives to make significant changes to these statistics by empowering more women to seek careers in the sciences.

To address these statistics, the American Heart Association (AHA) will host the third Go Red Goes STEM event on Wednesday, October 23 at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 N. Warson Rd. in Olivette. Approximately 200 St. Louis-area students will come together with some of St. Louis’ leading science, technology and engineering companies as they showcase their innovative work and introduce them to career paths. Amy Schwetz, CFO of Peabody Energy and 2019 Go Red Goes STEM chair, said the event

n “Some of them may end up being surgeons or neuroscientists to make the very breakthroughs the American Heart Association is currently working to find.”

– Amy Schwetz, CFO of Peabody Energy and 2019 Go Red Goes STEM chair

is about empowering women to take charge of their health, to advocate for themselves, and to take ownership of their wellbeing, Register now for October 23 event

See SCIENCE, A13

A12

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • AUGUST 22 – 28, 2019

Lynnette Moore, a nurse, holds bags of sugar representing the weight she has lost – 63 pounds off and counting.

The American Heart Association’s Go Red Goes STEM event exposes students to some of St. Louis’ leading science, technology and engineering companies as they showcase their work and introduce them to career paths.

Eugene Robinson

Barnes-Jewish Hospital opens new Neuro-Critical Care Unit

Level 1 Neuro-Critical Care Center among the largest in the country

American staff

n “As a Level 1 NeuroCritical Care Center, our hospital offers the highest level of care for the most complex neurological and neurosurgical emergencies and postsurgical care.”

– Salah G. Keyrouz, MD

Barnes-Jewish Hospital just opened its latest addition to its Neuro-Critical Care Unit, with new technologies and innovative patient care, on August 15. With a new total of 44 beds, BarnesJewish now offers one of the largest NeuroICUs in the country. The new NeuroCritical Care Unit, located on the hospital’s 9th floor, includes 24 fully equipped private ICU rooms. Each room consists of tele-ICU monitoring and built in EEG monitoring systems and a built-in fixed 128-slice CT scanner capable of performing advanced neurovascular imaging and perfusion scans. The Neuro-Critical Care Unit is combined with the 20-bed Neuro-Critical Care

ICU, which is located on the hospital’s 10th floor. The new unit offers the latest in ICU advancements to include a family zone in each patient room and portable CT scanners

on each floor.

“As a Level 1 Neuro-Critical Care Center, our hospital offers the highest level of care for the most complex neurological and neurosurgical emergencies

and post-surgical care for patients who require advanced interventions,” said Salah G. Keyrouz, MD, medical director of the neurointensive care unit. The unit has specialized

Photo by Wiley Price

staff in neurocritical care, including a dedicated on-unit neuro trained clinical pharmacist; neuro-rehab staff, including physical/ occupational/speech therapy

service; nutrition; and a specialty-trained neuro-critical care nursing team and board certified neurointensivists and neurocritical care fellows.

A common problem that is uncommonly spoken about

By Keith Pereira, M.D.

For The St. Louis American

Although uterine fibroids are not cancer, the burden of disease and its impact on quality of life are stunning.

Uterine fibroids affect 50-80 percent of women; almost two out of every three women you know maybe suffering from them. Yet, a recent Harris Poll survey indicates that nearly 28 percent of women have never heard of fibroids. It’s a common problem that is uncommonly spoken about.

Continued from A12

reading material to help individuals assess their current situation and how to proceed in their health transformation. There are food lists and serving size measurements and things to avoid, like sugar, alcohol, and all the junk you are accustomed to eating or drinking that you already know are unhealthy.

Anderson

Continued from A12 doesn’t mean the seasons no longer march through their yearly progression. It just means that, on average, the planet is warmer than it used to be. It means that heat waves are becoming worse and more frequent, it means that weather patterns are changing, and it means that anomalous phenomena are being seen in the unlikeliest places. Thunderstorms generally occur in temperate and tropical zones. One was

Fibroids commonly affect working women of child bearing age. The excessive bleeding, pain, and abdominal pressure affect their ability to work both at their jobs and to take care of their children. Fibroids have a negative effect on a woman’s self-esteem and sexuality. Worse, once these fibroids grow to a large size they can affect the heart due to anemia (low levels of iron in the blood). Lost work time due to inability to attend work as well as medical and surgical treatment of fibroids are estimated to cost billions of dollars to the economy.

Moore said that between the food fuelings and doses of water, cravings dissipate.

“From January to April, my body was completely transformed,” she said. “I’m a healthy human being, I have energy – I feel amazing, I have mental clarity. There’s no stimulants, no chemicals, no caffeine – nothing in it.”

A couple of months ago, Moore decided the plan that was working for her would also be a blessing for others and decided to become an

recently detected within 300 miles of the North Pole. There is no longer a debate among climate scientists about the cause of global warming. Since the Industrial Revolution began roughly 250 years ago, the large-scale burning of fossil fuels has increased the concentration of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by more than 40 percent. Increase any variable by 40 percent – your salary, say – and you are bound to feel an impact. If you watched any of the television specials commemorating the 50th anniversary of the moon

health. As a catalyst for change, the Foundation

And yet, even in the era of female sexual liberation, talking about sexual and reproductive health is still a taboo in many communities. Many women suffer in silence and assume the pain and heavy bleeding is something they just have to learn to live with. Their moms and aunts live with it and so did their grandmoms. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. There is fear, unawareness and

Keith Pereira, M.D.

misconception in the community about fibroids and their treatment choices, resulting in women delayed seeking treatment, sometimes too late. Not all fibroids need treatment. Medical treatment including iron supplements and hormonal medications work well for mild bleeding symptoms. In the past, a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) was the only surgical option available to offer relief

for women with severe fibroid symptoms. However, this is now often recommended as a last resort and has been replaced by minimally invasive options like and Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) and laparoscopic myomectomy. UFE stops the blood supply to the fibroid, causing it to shrink and die. UFE is a sameday procedure performed by a vascular and interventional radiologist through a tiny pinhole in the wrist that ensures faster return to work. This may be a good option for women who wish to avoid surgery

and preserve their uterus and femininity.

In 2019, it’s time to stop the shame and let women know that they are not alone when dealing with fibroids. There is a lot of help, resources and guidance. So, don’t suffer in silence. Seek help early! Be an advocate for yourself and for others. The best time to start is now.

Keith Pereira, M.D., is an interventional specialist and assistant professor of vascular and interventional radiology at Saint Louis University.

independent coach. And she changed her weight goal.

“When I first started, I was 278; my goal was just to get under 200,” she said. “Once I started to feel the way I feel and telling people about it, seeing different people, my goal changed. I went to my doctor and asked, ‘What is a healthy weight for me.’ I decided that my new goal is 150.” She said that would give her a healthy body mass index. The program recommends

landing, you saw grainy interviews with the early astronauts, who said they were struck at how thin and fragile the atmosphere looks from space. Humankind is perfectly capable of befouling it –and we’re well on the way. The warming process is proceeding more rapidly in some places than others. The Arctic, for example, is heating up so quickly that shipping lanes are

waiting two or three weeks and checking with your health care provider before beginning a slow exercise program, like walking, and gradually increasing duration and intensity. For people already engaged in regular exercise, the program suggests reducing the duration and intensity to allow your body to adjust to the new caloric intake.

For more information, email Moore at lynnettemoore3@ gmail.com or visit lynnettemoore.optavia.com.

n Steadily rising seas plus bigger, wetter storms –another result of climate change – pose a deadly threat.

being charted across the Arctic Ocean, where summer now sees open water in vast areas once covered with ice. Within the United States, according to an analysis by The Washington Post, the northeast corridor between Philadelphia and Boston has seen much more warming than inland parts of Alabama and Mississippi, which have seen very little. Sea-level rise is real, undisputed and relentless. It

Science

Continued from A12

and of their future professions.”

In the United States, cardiovascular diseases kill approximately 1 in 3 women each year. Cardiovascular diseases in the U.S. kill approximately one woman every 80 seconds. However, 80 percent of cardiac events may be prevented with education. Since 2004, cardiovascular

is also gradual, measured annually in millimeters –for now. But warming has destabilized ice shelves in Antarctica and Greenland, and some scientists worry they could give way rapidly and catastrophically. Even if this does not occur, steadily rising seas plus bigger, wetter storms – another result of climate change – pose a deadly threat to coastal communities. Like Palm Beach. When you find yourself in a hole, you need to stop digging – in this context, switch to clean energy sources and stop emitting carbon. But first you have to admit you’re

deaths in women have decreased by 30 percent.

Of those who attend the Go Red Goes STEM event, Schwetz said, “Some of them may end up being surgeons or neuroscientists to make the very breakthroughs the AHA is currently working to find; but all of them will leave this event knowing that they have the power to pursue their passions.” For more information or to register, visit www.heart.org/ STLGoRedGoesSTEM.

in a hole, and that’s what Trump and his enablers refuse to do. Trump incredibly wants to increase the burning of coal, the dirtiest fuel in terms of carbon emissions. Much of the damage this administration is doing can be repaired after Trump is gone. But we will never get back the precious time he is squandering on climate change. If he retires to Mara-Lago, he’d better be able to swim.

Eugene Robinson’s email address is eugenerobinson@ washpost.com.

Moore

Tasha Crusoe-Rogers, a tech staffer at BarnesJewish Hospital, works with a tele-ICU monitor in the hospital’s new NeuroCritical Care Unit, as Salah G. Keyrouz, MD, medical director of the unit, looks on.

Healthy Kids Kids

Color Your World!

Nutrition Challenge:

Think about how colorful your meals are. Is your plate usually filled with a lot of white and brown (e.g., breaded chicken strips, mashed potatoes and a roll)? Or do you have a rainbow of fresh, healthy vegetables?

How Healthy Are Your Lungs?

red salmon, roasted red peppers and steamed green broccoli. In general, the more colorful… the better it is for you!

Imagine a plate with grilled

One way to find out how “in shape” you are —is to see how long you can run (or hop, or skip) until you run out of breath.

If it only takes a couple of minutes before you can’t breathe well, then you probably need to make some healthy positive

Write It Out!

Mental Health Tip — If you don’t already have one, start a journal today. This is a great way to express your feelings and think about ways to change/improve your life. You can use any kind of notebook or a computer. But journaling does not mean “blogging.”

Always be cautious about revealing personal information online.

Learning Standards: HPE 2, NH 4

Try this

Make it a goal to have at least three different colors on your plate each meal.

Learning Standards:

changes in your daily activities.

Exercising regularly strengthens the muscles around your lungs. This allows you to run and play longer before you feel tired or winded and will help you feel better too!

Discuss with your classmates different kinds of activities you could do every day.

Learning Standards: HPE 1, NH 1, NH 5

Vanessa Buckner Patient Care Operations Coordinator

Where

get the emergency items/equipment to the unit in a timely manner. A lot of people depend on my knowledge and expertise to get the right staff members involved to care for our patients. My absolute favorite part of my job is saving the department money. I annually rotate supplies out that are considered slow move or no move; this saves money.

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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

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

Russell Elementary School 5th grade teacher

Georgene Collier shows students Claire

how

Power plants make energy that is sent through miles of electric power cable to the homes, offices, schools, and factories where it is used. Some power plants have large generators that are fueled by steam created by burning fossil fuels, such as coal, gas, or oil. Energy can also be created from renewable resources, such as wind mills and solar power. Solar power is used by capturing light’s energy and turning it in to electricity. Many calculators and digital watches have solar cells that allow them to operate using solar power.

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

Background Information:

In this experiment, you will see cornstarch appear to jump towards a balloon.

Materials Needed:

• Cornstarch • Vegetable Oil • Mixing Bowl • Large Spoon • Balloon

Measuring Cup Process:

q Measure ¼ cup of cornstarch and pour it into the mixing bowl.

African-American Electrical Engineer Cordell Reed

To learn more, visit: http://www.eia.gov/kids/. Teachers: You can request a visit from Ameren’s mascots, Louie the Lightning Bug and Sniffy the Sniffasaurus. Visit https://www.ameren.com/company/community to complete the application.

Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction text for main idea and supporting details.

Electrify Cornstarch!

t Hold a spoonful of the cornstarch mixture and slowly bring the charged balloon near the spoon. Once you witness the cornstarch jump towards the balloon, slowly move the balloon away. How close is the balloon

when you see the reaction?

w Measure ¼ cup vegetable oil and add it to the cornstarch. Stir the cornstarch and oil until the mixture thickens.

e Blow up a balloon and tie it closed.

r Use your hair to statically charge the balloon (rub the balloon against your hair to create static electricity).

x hours used ÷ 1000 x price per kWh (kilowatt hour) = cost of electricity. z Your Xbox 360 uses 185

of electricity. If you use your Xbox 4 hours per day, and your electricity costs 25 cents per kilowatt hour, how much does it cost to use your Xbox for one day?______ One week?______ One month?______

x Your microwave oven uses 1440 watts of electricity. If you use your microwave an average of 15 minutes a day, and your cost of electricity is 25 cents per kWh, how much does it cost to use your microwave each day?______

DID YOU KNOW?

Evaluate: How does static electricity affect this experiment? What happens if you leave the cornstarch in the bowl, does it jump towards the balloon? If you do not add oil to the cornstarch, how does it affect this experiment?

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

c The television in your living room uses 200 watts of electricity. If you use your television 6 hours a day, and your cost of electricity is 25 cents per kWh, how much does it cost to use your television for one week?______

v If your furnace uses 6000 watts of electricity, and you use your furnace for 5 hours per day, and the rate of electricity is 25 cents per kWh, how much does it cost to use your furnace for one month?________

Learning Standards: I can use addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to solve a problem.

Cordell Reed was born in Chicago on March 26, 1938. After growing up in the housing projects, Reed went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, in 1960. He attended University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), and became the third African American to earn that degree from UIUC.

After graduation, Reed went to work for Commonwealth Edison, which is an Illinois electric company and worked his way to an executive position, in 1975.

Reed was very successful at Commonwealth Edison and served as a department manager and a public spokesman for nuclear power. He served in three different departments before he earned the title of senior vice president. In 1994, Reed became their ethics officer and the chief diversity officer. He was in charge of purchasing materials for the company’s fossil fuel-fired energy-generating plants. In 1995, he even represented the company on a trade mission to South Africa. He retired in 1997.

Throughout his career, Reed earned many awards and honors. In 1988, he earned the lifetime achievement award from The Black Engineer of the Year awards. Five years later, he earned the Tommy Thompson Award from the American Nuclear Society. Reed has served on the board of directors for LaSalle bank, the Walgreen Company, Underwriters Laboratories, and Washington Group International. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, American Nuclear Society, Tau Beta Pi, the National Technical Association, and the Urban Financial Service Association. Reed has also volunteered his time and expertise for the following: John G. Shedd Aquarium, the Illinois Academic Decathlon Association, Cal-Met Village Senior Citizen Housing, the Development Fund for Black Students and the Metropolitan Family Services Advisory Board.

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

MAP CORNER

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

Activity One —

Adding Maps: Maps are very helpful tools and are often found in newspapers.

Skim your newspaper and find an article that you think would be improved with the addition of a map. Design a map that you think should accompany the article and present your map to your classmates.

Activity Two —

Ad Critique: Choose 10 advertisements to evaluate for message (what are the ads trying to say) and impact (is the strategy effective). Next, revise three of those ads to appeal to people in a certain age group (teens, senior citizens, etc.)

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can create visual representation of information. I can write for a specified purpose and audience.

Jones, Raymere Jackson, Mikhail Hendricks and Izabella Buncan

to incorporate the newspaper in their science lessons. Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American.

years impact

Join us to celebrate 25 years of African-American giving through United Way at the 2019 Charmaine Chapman Leadership Society Fundraising Kickoff.

A distinguished panel of some of St. Louis’ most influential philanthropists will participate in an engaging discussion about the founding, the legacy, and the future of the Society and its incredible impact in the St. Louis region as one of the nation’s largest African-American giving initiatives.

Date: Thursday, August 29

Time: 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Place: The Coronado

Registration Required: HelpingPeople.org/ccskickoff

Acclaimed musician Ptah Williams

Adrian Bracy: president and CEO of YWCA of St. Louis

Johnny Furr, Jr.: former corporate vice president at Anheuser-Busch

Emily Pitts: principal of diversity and inclusion at Edward Jones

Donald Suggs: St. Louis American publisher

Moderated by Andre Stevens: principal at Slalom

Charmaine Chapman Leadership Society (CCS) recognizes African-American philanthropists who generously support United Way with an annual gift of $1,000 or more. Over the last 25 years, CCS has grown into one of the top philanthropic programs for African Americans in the nation. CCS is centered around a culture of caring, a united community and a continued legacy.

Members enjoy invitations to special events, engage with the leaders shaping our region, and, most importantly, help make our community a better place for all.

To find out more about this fundraising and recognition event and how to join Charmaine Chapman Leadership Society, please contact: Joyce Bogan joyce.bogan@stl.unitedway.org

Charmaine Chapman

Inspire imagination, wonder, and curiosity through fun family programs, gallery guides, and activities at the Saint Louis Art Museum. Free admission every day.

slam.org/Families

Business

‘Faith to Rescue

Every Son from Hurt’

By Marissanne Lewis-Thompson Of St. Louis Public Radio

Joshua Danrich is like most kids his age. He’s energetic, has a big personality and loves cars.

“I always loved Hot Wheels,” Joshua said. “I love Lamborghinis, Porsches, Bugattis, Ferraris — all the sports cars.”

Last October, the 11-year-old turned his interest in cars into an air freshener and deodorizer business called Mr. Fresh. Joshua said his product can make anything fresh, including the inside of a car and fabrics at home. For $7 a pop, each portable glass spray bottle has its own unique scent and color, from Black Ice and Cool Breeze to Yellow Rose and Baby Powder. Joshua wants to help young black boys regain their confidence through entrepreneurship.

n “They need to learn, read books and do everything they’re supposed to do so they won’t go in the wrong path.”

– Joshua Danrich

That’s one of the reasons he started his company. Joshua didn’t do well in school and had to repeat the fourth grade last year. That troubled him.

Darlene Green received the 2019 Founders’ Award for Lifetime Achievement from Women in Public Finance. The lifetime recognition honors a woman involved in the field for more than 10 years who has consistently demonstrated skill, drive, integrity and vision. Green has served as the City of St. Louis’ comptroller since 1995 and was the first woman and third African American elected to the position.

Travis Brown Jr. was promoted to Lemasters Elementary School Principal in the Riverview Gardens School District. Previously he was assistant principal at Central Middle School in the district and worked as an administrator for Normandy Schools Collaborative. He has 24 years of experience in education, including roles as teacher, basketball coach and social studies department director.

Denise HooksAnderson, M.D was named president of the St. Louis Division Board of Directors for the American Heart Association for a two-year term. She is associate professor at SLUCare Family Medicine and the medical accuracy editor of The St. Louis American The American Heart Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization devoted to fighting cardiovascular disease.

grade, because you know that you need to repeat the fourth grade so you can learn from your mistakes.”

“One day I just cried a full hour nonstop,” Joshua said. “But my mom told me that it would be ok and just don’t worry about repeating the fourth grade.”

“One day I just cried just a full hour nonstop,” Joshua said. “But my mom told me that you need to just basically toughen up and just don’t worry about repeating the fourth

His mother, Shay Danrich, explained: “Because repeating the fourth grade would help him relearn the information Joshua really was struggling with during the school year. The extra help was needed so he would not continue to struggle in school going forward.”

When Shay Danrich, saw how his struggles

St. Louis youth entrepreneur wants to inspire young black boys through business See DANRICH, B6

Next NGA West construction training fair is August 27

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is hosting a Next NGA West construction training fair from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, August 27, at St. Stanislaus Heritage Center, 1413 N. 20th St. in St. Louis. Registration is not required. The construction training fair is an opportunity for the community to learn about the construction trades, apprenticeships and careers available related to the Next NGA West construction project. Unions, employers and job training organizations will be ready to meet and discuss opportunities for apprenticeships and union and trade programs in construction trades such as carpentry, electrical, fabrication, heavy equipment operation, HVAC, plumbing and more. As of August 1, unions scheduled to attend are, Bricklayers’ Local 1; Carpenters District

See NGA WEST, B2

Calvin Burks, a career specialist at Employment Connection, talks to visitors at the previous Next NGA West construction training fair hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on June 20.

Anthony W. Neal joined Normandy Schools Collaborative’s Joint Executive Governing Board. A resident of the district, Neal currently serves as the president/CEO and senior partner of St. Louis-based Educational Equity Consultants. He also works as an adjunct professor at Webster University. He is replacing Richard Ryffel, who stepped down after five years of service to the collaborative.

Nettie Collins-Hart, superintendent of Hazelwood School District, was named 2019 Superintendent of the Year by the National Association of School Superintendents. She joined the district in 2016, previously serving in similar roles in Illinois and North Carolina in a career spanning more than 40 years. She will be honored in Washington, D.C. at the NASS IgnitED Conference September 15-17.

Carlos Graham received the Certificate of Fundraising Management from the Eli Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. He chief of staff to the president at Lincoln University. The school offers professional development courses aimed at equipping fundraising professionals with innovative skills to reach donors. Graham said the school “provided us knowledge and skills that will aid us in garnering support for our university.” On the move? Congratulations! Send your good professional news and a color headshot to cking@stlamerican. com

Nettie Collins-Hart

Travis Brown Jr.

Carlos Graham

Anthony W. Neal

Darlene Green

Denise HooksAnderson

Joshua Danrich is the founder and CEO of Mr. Fresh (befreshnow.com), an air freshener and deodorizer company in St. Louis.

Photo by Marissanne Lewis-Thompson / St. Louis Public Radio

Photo by Francene Bethune

Reparations must include costs of predatory lending

New university studies track high costs of discriminatory housing

By Charlene Crowell Center for Responsible Lending

In recent years, the spate of homicides linked to questionable uses of deadly weapons and/or force, have prompted many activist organizations to call for racial reparations. From Trayvon Martin’s death in Florida, to Michael Brown’s in Missouri, Eric Garner’s in New York and many other deaths – a chorus of calls for reparations has mounted, even attracting interest among presidential candidates. While no amount of money could ever compensate for the loss of black lives to violent deaths, a growing body of research is delving into the underlying causes for high poverty, low academic performance and – lost wealth. Public policy institutes as well as universitybased research from the University of California at Berkeley and Duke University are connecting America’s racial wealth gap to remaining discriminatory policies and predatory lending.

to the findings of the nowfamous report commissioned by President Lyndon Johnson. In the summer of 1967, over 150 race-related riots occurred. After reviewing the 1968 report’s recommendations and comparing them to how few were ever enacted, the Haas Institute tracks the consequences of recommendations that were either ignored, diluted, or in a few cases pursued. Published by Berkeley’s Haas Institute for Fair and Inclusive Communities, it weaves connections between education, housing, criminal justice – or the lack thereof.

“Although in some respects racial equality has improved in the intervening years,” states the report, “in other respects today’s black citizens remain sharply disadvantaged in the criminal justice system, as well as in neighborhood resources, employment, and education, in ways that seem barely distinguishable from those of 1968.”

home’s fair market value;

This unfortunate combination has plagued Black America over multiple decades. And a large part of that financial exploitation is due to more than 70 years of documented discriminatory housing.

The Road Not Taken: Housing and Criminal Justice 50 Years After the Kerner Commission Report” returns

In 1968, the Kerner Commission report found that in cities where riots occurred, nearly 40 percent of non-white residents lived in housing that was substandard, sometimes without full plumbing. Further, because black families were not allowed to live wherever they could afford, financial exploitation occurred whether families were renting or buying a home.

As many banks and insurance companies redlined

black neighborhoods, access to federally insured mortgages were extremely limited. At the same time, few banks loaned mortgages to blacks either. This lack of access to credit created a ripe market for investors to sell or rent properties to black families, usually in need of multiple needed repairs. Even so, the costs of these homes came at highly inflated prices. In nearly all instances, home sales purchased “on contract” came with high down payments and higher interest rates than those in the general market. The result for many of these families was an eventual inability to make both the repairs and the high monthly cost of the contract. One late or missed payment led to evictions that again further drained dollars from consumers due to a lack of home equity. For the absentee owner, however, the property was free to sell again, as another round

of predatory lending. As the exploitive costs continued, the only difference in a subsequent sale would be a home in even worse physical condition.

“The Plunder of Black Wealth in Chicago: New Findings on the Lasting Toll of Predatory Housing Contracts,” also published this May, substantiates recent calls for reparations, as it focuses on predatory housing contracts in Illinois’ largest city. Published by Duke University’s Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity, this report analyzed over 50,000 documents of contract home sales on the Windy City’s South and West Sides and found disturbing costs of discriminatory housing in one of the nation’s largest cities, as well as one of the largest Black population centers in the nation. Among its key findings:

• During the 1950s and 1960s, 75-95 percent of black families bought homes on contract;

• These families paid an average contract price that was 84 percent more than the homes were worth;

• Consumers purchasing these homes paid an additional $587 each month above the

• Lost Black Chicago wealth, due to this predatory lending ranged between $3.2$4 billion.

“The curse of contract sales still reverberates through Chicago’s Black neighborhoods (and their urban counterparts nationwide,” states the Duke report, “and helps explain the vast wealth divide between Blacks and Whites.”

Now fast forward to the additional $2.2 trillion of lost wealth associated with the spillover costs from the foreclosure crisis of 20072012. During these years, 12.5 million homes went into foreclosure. Black consumers were often targeted for highcost, unsustainable mortgages even when they qualified for cheaper ones. With mortgage characteristics like prepayment penalties and low teaser interest rates that later ballooned to frequent and eventually unaffordable adjustable interest rates, a second and even worse housing financial exploitation occurred.

A 2013 policy brief by the Center for Responsible Lending, found that consumers of color – mostly black and Latinx – lost half of that

figure, $1.1 trillion in home equity during the foreclosure crisis. These monies include households who managed to keep their homes but lost value due to nearby foreclosures. Households who lost their homes to foreclosures also suffered from plummeting credit scores that made future credit more costly. And families who managed to hold on to their homes lost equity and became upside down on their mortgages – owing more than the property is worth. Both types of experiences were widespread in neighborhoods of color. In terms of lost household wealth, nationally foreclosures took $23,150. But for families of color, the household loss was nearly double – $40,297. CRL’s policy brief also states. “We do not include in our estimate the total loss in home equity that has resulted from the crisis (estimated at $7 trillion), the negative impact on local governments (in the form of lost tax revenue and increased costs of managing vacant and abandoned properties) or the non-financial spillover costs, such as increased crime, reduced school performance and neighborhood blight.”

As reparation proposals are discussed and debated, the sum of these financial tolls should rightly be a key part. While the Kerner Commission recommendations remain viable even in 2019, it will take an enormous display of public will for them to be embraced and put into action.

“The Kerner Report was the ‘road not taken’, but the road is still there,” noted John A. Powell, the Hass Institute’s Director.

Charlene Crowell is the Communications Deputy Director with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at charlene. crowell@responsiblelending. org.

Affordable Housing Trust Fund needs $10M

By Chris Willcox For The St. Louis American

This August will be the fifth year since the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson. Our community partners continue to advocate for the Ferguson Commission report’s recommendations to be a model for the nation in pursuing true justice and racial equity. This means meeting the needs of children of color to grow and lead healthy lives, enhancing opportunities for their families to thrive.

In St. Louis, investing in affordable housing that is free from contamination, turning vacant buildings into healthy homes, and giving people the means to live in every neighborhood in the city without severe cost burden are central to that promise. In 2018, the Equity Indicators Report provided many useful insights into what the city can do to meet these challenges. Building on the progress we made by fully funding the Affordable Housing Trust Fund for the first time in five years, we believe that funding it at $10 million can make up for lost ground and provide a substantial down payment to building a more equitable city. Resources are unevenly distributed between majority-white and majorityblack neighborhoods with communities of color living with the legacy of racial redlining and decades of disinvestment. This expresses itself in the reality that black residents are more than three times as likely to live in areas of concentrated poverty and live in areas with nine times as many acres with vacant land and buildings. Inequity is also

evident in the fact that there are eight times fewer home loan originations in majority-black neighborhoods than majoritywhite neighborhoods. Health indicators make an urgent case for rectifying these inequities. Black children in particular are 10 times as likely to need emergency visits to the hospital for asthma-related illness and twice as likely to test positive for elevated blood lead levels.

We cannot control what family we are born into, yet our experiences and conditions in childhood have substantial impacts on opportunities throughout our lives. We knew last year that 1 in 5 children who attended Saint Louis Public Schools were from families who were housing insecure. This causes children to endure instability in their lives such as precarious shelter and frequently changing schools, making it difficult to grow and learn.

None of these conditions are inevitable, and many of them can be addressed directly by investing in the programs supported by the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The fund invests in affordable homes in areas not fully supported by the private market and increases the ability of low-income people to live in or own a home in any neighborhood in the city.

Past research has shown that affordable housing construction can reduce crime and raise property values in low-income neighborhoods, helping to improve quality of life and attract private investment in cost-effective ways. The fund can reduce the burden of the more than 1 in 5 African American families that spend

more than half of their income on housing. These investments can also be one of many sources of funding to reverse redlining by investing in neighborhoods that otherwise lack access to traditional home loans.

The trust fund addresses vacant land and buildings by putting them to use as highquality homes. These homes can replace substandard housing with lead and other particulates that negatively impact healthy child development. The fund has also paid for lead remediation, which has profound benefits for education and opportunity. A better supply of safe and affordable homes can reduce the burden of housing instability on children and help avoid the traumas of homelessness. Finally, the fund directly supports necessary services for the many residents who are unhoused, either to provide emergency shelter or support services and subsidies to live in permanent homes. This year we are encouraged to see the Affordable Housing Trust Fund above $6 million. We have an opportunity to build on our progress to make a strong commitment to greater equity and meeting the needs of our community’s most vulnerable members. We argue for an increase to $10 million to enhance our investment in a safer, more vibrant and more equitable city. Chris Willcox is a Master of Social Work who helped start the

Charlene Crowell

n “This wasn’t no business move. This was personal. They thought they’d send me here to die.”

— Odell Beckham, Jr. on the New York Giants trading him to Cleveland

Sports

Mekenzie Rogers wins three gold medals

Area athletes net national titles in 11 events at Junior Olympics

The Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics track and field competition was held last week at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, N.C.

The St. Louis area was well represented as athletes brought home national championships in 11 different events, including a pair of double-winners. The big winner from St. Louis was Mekenzie Rogers of the St. Louis Express, who won gold medals in the 100, 200 and 400-meter dashes in the Girls 11-yearold division.

Earl Austin Jr.

Kyann Craig (unattached) was the other area athlete with multiple championships as she won the 800 and 1,500-meter runs in the Girls 8-andunder division.

Michael Phillips of the Blues Track Club won the shot put in the Boys 13-year-old division with a throw of 49 feet 4 ½ inches. He also finished second in the discus.

Javiono Howard of East St. Louis was the champion in the high jump in the Boys 13-year old division with a clearance of 5 feet 7 inches.

Trinity Catholic standout Malcolm Harvey was the champion in the javelin throw in the Boys 15-16 division. Harvey competes for the Ultimate Speed Academy Track Club.

Zoe Binion of the U City Xplosion won the shot put in the Girls 11-year-old division with a throw of 37 feet 7 ¾ inches.

Giving black

The sole connection that many black Americans have with golf, especially those under 40, can be summarized in two words: Tiger Woods If Woods is in contention in a major tournament, black folks will tune in, turn into golf experts and turn all the way up if he pulls out a victory.

Though Woods has never been one to rep for the culture (No one will ever forget the whole “Cablinasian” comment), the culture rides for him whenever he finishes atop the leaderboard. The rest of the year though, golf is like an order of fried rice made with peas and carrots or the work picnic potato salad that for some reason is filled with raisins – we’re not checking for it at all. However, the Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry is trying to change that.

This week, Curry announced that he would fund Howard

University’s Division 1 golf program for six years, starting in the 2020-21 academic year. Curry also leveraged his relationships with Under Armour and other brands to provide shoes, apparel and equipment for the program.

Curry is an avid golfer. According to ESPN, he played golf on his high school team. He has also participated in in several amateur and celebrity tournaments over the years and is co-host of the minigolf TV show “Holey Moley.”

Though the NBA star did not attend Howard University (Curry starred in basketball at Davidson University), it’s notable that he felt compelled to support an HBCU. He wanted to give black The idea was birthed after a conversation between Curry and Howard student Otis Ferguson IV. Ferguson had tried, and failed, to drum up

support for a D-1 golf team at the school. “[Otis] had sent out flyers trying to make people come to a room on Howard’s campus and just get people interested in the game, but he wanted to take See CLUTCH,

INSIDE, B5

Ishmael H. Sistrunk

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

St. Louis gets its MLS kicks; Jay-Z punts Kaepernick under NFL money bus

It’s official. St. Louis has landed an MLS franchise and the sport with a storied history here will return on a national level in 2022.

The celebration at The Palladium in the Lafayette Square neighborhood on Tuesday was about the expansion franchise. However, much of the message centered less on the game and more on what a new stadium, the team and ownership group can do to unite the region – especially the city.

Carolyn KindleBetz, leader of the ownership group and president of Enterprise Holdings Foundation, called the coming team and stadium “transformational for downtown St. Louis.”

as best we can, which will include local minority- and women-owned business on the project.”

The owners will also “strongly support hiring city residents and will work with contractors to meet all workforce goals.”

The owners have committed $100,000 to be shared equally by the Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club and St. Louis Public Schools to enhance their respective soccer programs. Kindle-Betz said support for them, and other youth organizations will continue.

As the first female majority owner in MLS history, Kindle-Betz promised the team will “bring together many segments of the city.”

“This is an important part of the city’s growth and it will continue to add to the positive momentum in the city.”

She is joined in the ownership group by six other female members of the Taylor family and Jim Kavanaugh, CEO of World Wide Technology.

According to a MLS4TheLou press release, stadium construction will create 500 jobs and 450 people will be employed permanently “working directly or indirectly with the club.”

As for the franchise meeting city MBE and WBE requirements, the release said the ownership group will “take the city’s workforce goals very seriously and will make it a priority to meet those goals

Lewis Reed, president of the city Board of Aldermen, said opportunities for youths in the city to become involved in soccer can fill idle hours when many run afoul of the law.

The stadium construction on the city’s west side and new jobs once it opens will “create more economic opportunity and help lift people out of poverty,” Reed said.

“This is a major deal for the city and a major deal for the state,” he added.

Kindle-Betz said the goal of the team is to do more than win.

“We want to bring in more tourist revenue (and) create more jobs,” she said.

Mayor Lyda Krewson said the new franchise “is a huge win for the city we all love.”

“It is a testament to the progress we are making.”

A standing room-only crowd greeted Kindle-Betz and other officials, and she said, “this excitement is what kept us motivated and focused.”

Upon officially announcing St. Louis as the 28th MLS

franchise, Commissioner Don Garber said, “this is a city that can support three professional franchises.”

“This is a really powerful moment for MLS,” he said.

What you talkin’ about Jay-Z?

How strange are the times we live in.

President Trump said something more digestible about quarterback Colin Kaepernick than entertainment entrepreneur Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter last week.

A day before the NFL announced its deal with Carter’s Roc Nation to serves as the league’s “live music entertainment strategist,” and to assist with its social justice platform, Trump was asked outside the White House if he thought a team should sign the blackballed quarterback.

“Only if he’s good enough,” Trump said.

“If he was good enough, they’d hire him. Why wouldn’t he play if he was good enough?

After bragging about knowing New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and other owners, Trump added, “I’d like to see it. Frankly, I’d love to see Kaepernick come in, if he’s good enough. But I don’t want to see him come in because somebody thinks it’s a good PR move.”

Granted, Trump just paraded a tired argument that Kaepernick has never returned to the NFL because he is no

longer talented enough. He was, is and shall be better than many quarterbacks employed by the NFL for several years.

Esquire writer Michael Arceneaux called it “selective ignorance,” when the president ignored (or is unaware of) the NFL settling a lawsuit with Kaepernick and Carolina Panthers defensive back Eric Reid after it was accused of collusion.

Yet Trump’s statement was brilliant compared to Carter’s reply when asked about Kaepernick’s status and players kneeling during the national anthem.

“I think we’ve moved past kneeling,” he said.

“There’s two parts of protest: the protest, and then there’s a company or individual saying ‘I hear you, what do we do next?’ For me it’s about actionable items, what are we gonna do about it? We get stuck on Colin not having a job, you know what I’m saying? And this is more than that.”

Carter said this with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell standing next to him at the Roc Nation offices in New York and he did so with another story percolating that he may soon gain minority ownership of an NFL franchise.

Reid, who continues to kneel during the anthem before every game, immediately ripped into Carter’s foolish talk and his crass opportunism.

“For one, when has Jay-Z ever taken a knee to come out and tell us that we’re past kneeling? Yes, he’s done a lot of great work, a lot of great social justice work,” Reid said.

“But for you to get paid to go into an NFL press conference and say that we’re past kneeling? Again, asinine. Players Coalition 2.0, he got paid to take the bullets he’s taking now because we’re not having it.

“Jay-Z is doing the work

for them. We all know that it’s unjust that Colin isn’t in an NFL locker room, the way he lost his job. But they get to pretend they care about social justice.”

Miami Dolphins receivers Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson also kneel before games, and Kaepernick said via Twitter they and Reid are heroes.

“Continue to fight for the people, even in the face of death threats. They have never moved past the people and continue to put their beliefs into action. Stay strong Brothers!!!”

Kaepernick wrote.

Stills also chastised Carter, saying “He’s talking about, ‘We’re moving past kneeling,’ like he ever protested.

“He’s not an NFL player. He’s never been on a knee. ... To say that we’re moving past something, it didn’t seem very informed.

“(The NFL has) done a good job shifting the problem to Roc Nation/Shawn Carter’s shoulders. I’m going to try to give this man the benefit of the doubt for now, but it doesn’t sit right with me. It’s not something I agree with or respect.”

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, who funds a not-forprofit devoted to social justice issues, held a private fundraiser for the president at his home earlier this month. Stills called him out for the hypocrisy.

“Someone has to have enough courage to let him know he can’t play both sides of this,” Stills said following the Dolphins first preseason game.

“It’s something that I can look back on and say I made the right decision. … If you’re going to associate yourself with bad people, then people are going to know about it. I put it out there for everybody to see it. If you say you’re going to be about something, let’s be about it.” Stills said on Twitter he is ending relationship with the

Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE) because “You can’t have a nonprofit with this mission statement then open your doors to Trump.” Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Malcolm Jenkins, who has blasted Trump in the past and said Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has a slave-owner mentality, defended Carter’s deal with the NFL.

“To sit across from billionaires and sit and talk about why they should be important is what the NFL should be highlighting,” Jenkins told reporters.

“Somebody like Jay-Z who can add to that conversation and does things, on a daily basis, and has a history of doing those things helps us as players. To have an ally like that, I’m looking forward to seeing what that turns into.” After praising Carter for his social justice and equality work in the past Arceneaux ended his Esquire article with a warning.

“Jay-Z’s choice to collaborate with the NFL is wrong. If the NFL intends to continue blackballing Kaepernick for his advocacy, nothing they do in the name of “social justice” will be an act of contrition over his unjust treatment,” he wrote.

“In 2017, when Jay-Z wore a team-less Kaepernick jersey on Saturday Night Live, he seemed to have an understanding of that. Here’s hoping in hindsight that wasn’t just a bargaining chip from a shrewd businessman.”

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

Alvin A. Reid

Four members of the new St. Louis Major League Soccer franchise ownership group, pose for photos following ceremonies that St. Louis has been awarded a franchise, in St. Louis on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019. Owners from (L to R) are Patty Taylor, Jo Ann Taylor Kindle, Carolyn Kindle Betz, and Chrissy Taylor. This group is the only all female owned franchise in Major League Soccer.

Photo by Bill Greenblatt?UPI

From The easT side

With Maurice Scott Jr.

Three schools hire black head football coaches

The upcoming football season in the Southwestern Conference will look different in many ways, especially on the sidelines.

First, it was announced that Collinsville will no longer compete in the Southwestern Conference in football. For some unknown reason, the Kahoks will be competing as an independent.

There will be a different look on the sidelines as well, as both Belleville East and O’Fallon hired black head football coaches for the first time in the history of their respective schools.

Belleville East hired former

McKendree University assistant Mike Harrison Jr. as its new head coach while O’Fallon hired Byron Gettis for its head coaching position. Former Southwestern Conference member Granite City also hired a new black head coach for the first time when Orlando Gooden was hired in January. A former prep standout at Bloomington (Illinois) High, Harrison was an All-American player at McKendree. He spent two years as an assistant coach at Lindenwood-Belleville as well as his two years at McKendree on the coaching staff.

Harrison has deep East

St. Louis family roots as his mother, Nicola, was a cheerleader at East St. Louis Assumption and his father, Mike, was a three-sport standout at Assumption, where he played football for legendary coach Jim Monken, who recently passed away. In addition, Harrison’s uncle is former Assumption football star and NFL All-Pro Eric Wright.

week in the Southwestern Conference. Our focus is to make sure that our kids are having fun and playing with a lot of enthusiasm.”

Maurice Scott Jr.

“I’m really looking forward to the upcoming season,” Harrison said. “Obviously, you have to be ready to compete every

There

I

Clutch

Continued from B3 golf program will likely inspire another athlete or wealthy benefactor to do the same for Grambling, Morehouse, HarrisStowe or Lincoln.

Secondly, it will open up interest in the sport of golf and provide additional scholarship opportunities to men and women of color.

When I began working at The American I had nearly no interest in golf, outside of Woods. However, my coworkers introduced me to the game

and now I play awfully and enjoy every minute of it. Do you know how many business dealings and networking opportunities take place on the golf course? What I once looked at as a boring sport for rich, white people has now turned into a fun and challenging game that offers amazing opportunities.

Had I been exposed to golf as a youngster, maybe I would’ve been out there with Woods. Maybe I’d be a CEO of a fortune 500 company. Curry’s support will help inspire the next generation of black golf superstars and black businessmen.

Byron Gettis took over the helm of the O’Fallon Panthers in March as he replaced Brandon Joggerst, who resigned after 12 years on the job. Gettis returns to O’Fallon, where he was an assistant coach after graduating from McKendree in 2011.

In addition, Gettis was also an assistant coach and the

Scott (From the East Side) for joining me on my latest St. Louis American Sports Break video presentation, “City of Champions,” on the great successful run of East St. Louis Senior High sports in 2018-19. Maurice and I sat down to basically talk about the great year at East Side in 2019 where the school produced three state championship teams in boys basketball, girls track and field, and boys track and field. Our little interview morphed into a 14-minute show that chronicled the history of athletics in East St. Louis. It featured some of the great athletes, team and coaches from East St. Louis

Take a look across nearly every other major sport and you’ll see black faces littered amongst the all-time and/or current greats. Even hockey boasts the likes of P.K. Subban and Wayne Simmonds (New Jersey Devils), Dustin Byfuglien (Winnipeg Jets) and Kyle Okposo (Buffalo Sabres) amongst current players. Retired players Grant Fuhr and Jarome Iginla rank amongst the all-time greats. It’s long overdue to get some more black faces in the game of golf. Glad to see Curry and Howard University teaming up to do just that.

Golfing with superheroes

Youth ages 8-18 from throughout the St. Louis region who attended the Golf Foundation of Missouri’s six-week camp received copies of the United States Golf Association’s new “Marvel Junior Golf Guide.” The comic features Marvel’s Avengers Super Heroes as they play the inaugural round at the fictional Stark Golf Club and teach juniors the basics of playing the game – including etiquette, rules and handicap. The comic unfolds into a poster where lessons on how to handle different scenarios on the course are further brought to life by the Super Heroes. The foundation’s camp is taught by certified PGA of America instructors for players of varying backgrounds and skill sets at The Highlands Golf Course in Forest Park. For more information on the Golf Foundation of Missouri, visit https://www. golffoundationofmo.com/

athletic director at Cahokia, a school where he was a two-sport star in football and baseball. He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the Major League Draft. “I’m really looking forward to running the program here at O’Fallon,” Gettis said. “It’s an established program with an awful lot of good athletes. I want to come in and put my stamp on the program.” Orlando Gooden takes over the program at Granite City after the resignation for Brad Hasquin in January. Gooden was a former standout at Cahokia High before moving on the collegiate ranks, where he played at the University of Missouri and Indiana State University.

and Lincoln High over the years. It was a pleasure to spend this time with Maurice, an East St. Louis native and product of this great city and a current coach in the school system. He did a great job of giving us a look at the past, present and future of the “City of

What’s up with AB?

Faithful readers know that I haven’t been particularly tuned into NFL news over the past several years. However, I found it amusing that amidst all the talk about social justice, silent protests, Jay-Z vs. Colin Kaepernick, etc. that the Oakland Raiders’ Antonio Brown was making a huge fuss about a football helmet.

*Cue Allen Iverson’s legendary practice rant.* “Helmets? Helmets?!?! We talking about helmets???” Brown, who started training camp on the sidelines due to frostbitten feet, decided he

wouldn’t return because he was unhappy that the NFL banned his favorite helmet model.

Several helmet models, including Brown’s, were banned last season after failing lab testing for impact protection. However, the NFL gave certain players a one-year grace period to upgrade to approved helmets.

When the league told Brown it was time to pick another brain protector, the diva wide receiver refused to practice, filed a grievance against the NFL and threatened to retire. Ultimately Brown’s grievance(s) failed,

Gooden inherits a team that made the IHSA Class 7A playoffs last season. The Warriors will feature one of the top players in the metro east in senior quarterback Freddy Edwards.

Never would I have thought that Belleville East, O’Fallon and Granite City would hire black head football coaches, let alone in the same year. I’m now waiting to see when black head coaches will get hired in other sports in the Southwestern Conference outside of East St. Louis.

Champions.”

You can check out our “East St. Louis: City of Champions” interview at stlamerican.com, on our St. Louis American Facebook page or at https:// tinyurl.com/City-Championsvideo

he returned to practice and this entire silly episode appears to be in the rearview mirror – for now.

Given Brown’s history for selfishness, I’m sure it won’t be the last time Raiders fans are scratching their heads asking what’s up with “AB.” The NFL has made a lot of boneheaded moves in recent years. Ensuring that players wear safe helmets is not one of them. Meanwhile, it’s been over 900 days since Kaepernick was employed by an NFL team.

Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch online at stlamerican. com and on Twitter @ishcreates.

September 3 deadline to apply for Venture Showcase at Startup Connection ’19

Startups interested in being a part of the Venture Showcase at Startup Connection ’19 can apply online through September 3. Startup Connection ’19, billed as the St. Louis region’s largest event celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship, returns 4:30-9 p.m. Wednesday, November 6 at The Globe Building, 710 N. Tucker in Downtown St. Louis. The evening celebrates more than 60 of St. Louis’ top startups, along with more than 40 entrepreneur support organizations. (To request to participate in the Resource Fair, support organizations can go to www. startupconnection.org/resource-fair.)

Last year’s event attracted more than 1,000 entrepreneurs, investors, business people, scientists and students who support the St. Louis innovation scene. For more information visit startupconnection.org. Apply for the Venture Showcase at www. startupconnection.org/venture-showcase.

Danrich

continued from page B1

in the classroom affected his self-esteem, she wanted to restore his confidence. The key was finding something he was passionate about.

“He was like, ‘Well, I want a dealership. I love cars. Can we do something on that level?’ And because I saw that interest, I began to cultivate that interest,” Danrich said. “And I was like, ‘We can’t do a dealership, because you’re 10. But hey, what about you love how the inside of the cars look? You like how they smell. Let’s start working on it.’ And so I said, ‘What about air fresheners?’ When I said ‘air freshener,’ it just took off.”

The math and reading skills Joshua uses in his business have helped him in the

classroom, his mother said. Joshua wants other young black boys in St. Louis to thrive, too, by thinking about starting a business. He said often black boys are encouraged to play sports like football and basketball. However, Joshua thinks having a sound backup plan is key, if things go wrong.

“What if you get injured in that sport?” Joshua asked. “What are you going to do after that? You can’t do anything else. So what you need is a business. ... Because I want to be an engineer designing cars. So if I ever get injured in a sport, then I would go straight to this. And then if I can’t go back, then I will just have my business for the rest of my life.” Joshua said a lot of his kids his age and older are inspired by his success. His business name has a

double meaning. Joshua goes by the nickname “Mr. Fresh,” because he wants to look “fresh” and “cool.” But the FRESH in “Mr. Fresh” stands for Faith to Rescue Every Son from Hurt. Joshua hopes young black boys will become leaders in their communities: “They need to learn, read books and do everything they’re supposed to do so they won’t go in the wrong path.” Joshua said his business has given him more confidence.

“I’m hatching out of my shell of what I’ve overcome,” Joshua said.

Since her son started Mr. Fresh, Danrich said, Joshua is motivated to succeed, and that’s one reason he takes pride in his business.

“It’s his ideas,” Danrich said. “His thoughts. His vision. What he wants to do. So it’s amazing. It’s an overwhelming joy to think that it’s almost a

year and to see how far he’s come. Not in just even in his demeanor – in just the way he is and just how he cares for people. I’m seeing the true Joshua of how I know my son to be.”

Joshua Danrich will officially launch Mr. Fresh (befreshnow.com) from 4-7 p.m. Sunday, September 1 at the Zuka Arts Guild, 2701 N 14th St. in St. Louis. Follow Marissanne on Twitter: @Marissanne2011. Reprinted with permission from news.stlpublicradio.org.

Danrich

continued from page B1

Council; Eastern Missouri Laborers’ District Council; Iron Workers’ Local 396; Plumbers’ & Pipefitters’

Local 562; St. Louis Roofers’ Local 2; Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 36; and Tile, Marble & Terrazzo Workers’ Local 18. Other organizations attending are the Associated General Contractors of Missouri; Building Union Diversity (BUD) program; Employment Connection; MOKAN; St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) and McCarthy HITT.

Building the Next NGA West campus will be a fiveyear, multifaceted project and hundreds of additional construction workers will be needed by the contractors.

The latest federal projection estimates that the workforce on site will be in the hundreds beginning as early as late 2019 and building to more than 1,000 workers on site every day through 2023.

“Anyone interested in learning how to begin a

construction career, or those interested in networking for apprenticeships and construction job opportunities, should attend,” said Russ Signorino, program director of the BUD program. “There are opportunities for people of all skill levels.”

Next NGA West is the largest federal investment project in the history of St. Louis. It is a megaproject jointly managed by the National GeospatialIntelligence Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Air Force. The 97-acre site is located in the historic St. Louis Place neighborhood at the intersection of Jefferson and Cass avenues. The project will feature an approximately 712,000 square foot office building, parking garages, visitor center, inspection facility and access control points.

A scene from Startup Connection ’16

Photo by Sid Hastings / WUSTL Photos

A genre for the generations

Blues at the Arch returns for 2019

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“I just want you to be true,” Annika Chambers sang into the microphone before passing it to the pint-sized blues fan she summoned from the audience. Chambers stooped down to the little girl’s level. When it was her turn, she fearlessly repeated Chambers – and waited for her turn to sing again.

The toddler caught the eye of Chambers and everyone else as she danced around to the music nonstop in front of the stage. Their exchange was one of many tender moments as the 2019 season of the Gateway Arch Park Foundation’s Blues at the Arch kicked off August 9 with ladies singing the blues.

“I just want to make love to you,” Chambers

said. “Wait, don’t say that.”

After being caught up in the routine of singing that particular lyric, the rising blues star realized the line was not appropriate for her impromptu duet partner.

“I just want to laugh with you,” Chambers said. The toddler blues singer-trainee sang the line and did everything in her power to match

A night of classy R&B

By Kenya Vaughn Of

‘She was the heart and soul of The Black Rep’

Kennedy Holmes and local music veteran Kim Massie.

Rising national blues sensation Annika Chambers headlined the first Blues at the Arch of 2019 on Friday, August 9 at Gateway Arch National Park.

Photo By Lawrence Bryant

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Jay-Z.

How to place a calendar listing

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

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

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

concerts

Fri., Aug 23, 6 pm., Gateway Arch Park Foundation presents Blues at the Arch presented by Emerson starring Johnny Rawls and featuring Big Mike Aguirre, Gateway Arch National Park. For more information, visit www. archpark.org.

Fri., Aug. 23, 8 p.m., Throwback Legends presents Young Dro. The Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, call (314) 3745565.

Fri., Aug. 23, 8 p.m., Pop’s Concert Venue presents Polo G. 1403 Mississippi Ave., Sauget, IL. 62201. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

Fri., Aug. 30, 8 p.m., River City Casino presents En Vogue. 777 River City Casino Blvd., 63125. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

Fri., Aug. 30, 10 p.m., Da Beno Nite Club presents Trina. 6830 State St., East St. Louis, IL. 62203. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Fri., Sept. 6, 7 p.m., Liberty Bank Alton Amphitheater presents Nelly. 1 Riverfront Dr., Alton, IL. 62002. For

more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Tues., Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m., Fox Theatre presents Lenny Kravitz. 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Fri., Sept. 13, 6:30 p.m., An Evening at the Opera with Morris Robinson. A benefit concert for the Biome School and the importance of music and art education. The Ethical Society, 9001 Clayton Rd., 63117. For more information, visit www.thebiomeschool.org.

Fri., Sept. 13, 7 p.m., The Ready Room presents Pink Sweat$: Pink Beginnings Tour Part 2. 4195 Manchester Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

local gigs

Aug. 30 – 31, Heal Center for the Arts presents An Evening of Jazz. Feat. Point of View Jazz Ensemble. The OC at CWE, 4436 Olive St., 63108. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sat., Aug. 31, 7 p.m., 15th Annual Smooth Jazz Concert feat. Marvin F. Cockrell & Focus. The Purser Center, Logan University, 1851 Schoettler Rd., 63017. For more information, call (314) 298-8818.

Kenya Vaughn recommends

special events

Thur., Aug. 22, 5 p.m., St. Louis Crisis Nursery Celebrity Waiters Night. 80 W County Center Dr., 63131. For more information, visit www.crisisnurserykids.org/ events.

Fri., Aug. 23, 6 p.m., The Pink Carpet Community Gala. With host Derrion Henderson and guest speaker Dr. Lannis Hall. Bold & Confident You Fashion Show. Missouri Athletic Club Downtown, 405 Washington Ave., 63102. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sat., Aug. 24, 9 a.m., Greater North County Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 Career Fair. James J. Eagan Center, 1 James J. Eagan Dr., 63033. For more information, visit www. greaternorthcountychamber. com.

Aug. 24 – 25, 10 a.m., International Institute presents the Saint Louis Festival of Nations. Tower Grove Park, 4257 Northeast Dr., 63113. For more information, visit www. festivalofnations.org.

Sat., Aug. 24, 11 a.m., Family Fun Fest. Game truck, bounce house, books through the book mobile, school supplies, snow cones, food, giveaways and so much more. New Life Empowerment Church, 6401 Stratford Ave., 63120. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sat., Aug. 24, 4 p.m., Flavors of Africa Dine + Shop Event. Networking, music, food, and vendors. Vendors include Pink Zebra, Jay Renee Candles, Refined. Men’s Club, and more. St. Ann Community Center, 1 Community Center Dr., 63074. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sun., Aug. 25, 5 p.m.,

Kris Cole presents The Black Swan: 2nd Annual Solo Fashion Show. Polish Heritage Center, 1413 N. 20th St., 63106. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Tues., Aug. 27, 4 p.m., Next NGA West Construction Training Fair. St. Stanislaus Kostka Church Community Center, 1413 N. 20th St., 63106. For more information, visit www.nextngawest.com.

Wed., Aug. 28, 6 p.m., The Zoo Young Professionals invite you to Jammin’ At The Zoo. 1 Government Dr., 63110. For more information, visit www.stlzoo.org.

Fri., Aug. 30, 6 p.m., Tees and Thank You and the Star Struck Divaz present the Young Gifted and Black Owned Pop Up Shop. 7281 Natural Bridge Rd., 63121. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sat., Aug. 31, 7 p.m., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Upsilon Omega Unincorporated Chapter presents The SmokeOwt: Stix & Stilettos Edition. Eagle Springs Golf Course, 2575 Redman, 63136. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

River City Casino presents En Vogue. For more information, see CONCERTS.

Aug. 31 – Sept. 1, Taste of Africa 2019. Come out for the food, vendors, activities, musicians, and more. O’Fallon Park, 799 E. Taylor Ave., 63147. For more information, visit www.facebook.com.

Sun., Sept. 1, 6 p.m., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., St. Louis Alumni Chapter invites you to their Annual All White Party. Dos Salas, 1919 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sept. 3 – 8, St. Louis Black Restaurant Week. Participating restaurants include River Lillie, Burger 809, Prime 55 Restaurant & Lounge, and more. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Wed., Sept. 4, 12 p.m., SMACNA St. Louis presents the Products Trade Show. Hundreds of construction contractors, engineers, building inspectors, public officials, and more will be present. Greensfelder Recreation Complex, Queeny Park, 550 Weidman Rd., 63011. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Fri., Sept. 6, 6 p.m., 6th Annual Hooray For Howl E

Woof 2019 Runway Show. Silent and live auctions, dinner and open bar, and a spectacular runway show featuring local celebrities and assistance dogs. Sheraton Westport Chalet Hotel, 191 W Port Plaza, 63146. For more information, www.champdogs.org.

Fri., Sept. 6, 8 p.m., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Omicron Theta Omega Chapter HBCU House Party. Machinists Hall, 12365 St. Charles Rock Rd., 63044. For more information, call (314) 283-8213.

Sat., Sept. 7, 10 a.m., Spirit of St. Louis Air Show & STEM Expo. Aerial demonstrations, military and civilian aircraft, and an interactive expo for children of all ages. Spirit of St. Louis Airport, 18260 Edison Ave., 63005. For more information, visit www.spirit-airshow.com.

Sat., Sept. 7, 11 a.m., 4th Annual ConsciousFest. A celebration of community, culture, vendors, performances, and more. 4057 Evans Ave., 63113. For more information, visit www.facebook.com.

Sat., Sept. 7, 11:30 a.m., Healing and Mending Ministry invites you to the 5th Annual Dine With The King Hat & Tea Party. Proceeds benefit victims of domestic violence. Hilton Garden Inn, 4450 Evans Pl., 63134. For more information, visit www. healmending.org.

Sat., Sept. 7, 1:30 p.m., Girls Circle YD, Inc. invites you to an All Girls Resource Fair. Women entrepreneurs are invited to be the examples girl entrepreneurs need to see. Center of Clayton, 50 Gay Ave., 63105. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sun., Sept. 8, 1:30 p.m., St. Peter’s Church Annual Community Picnic. We will have an inflatable obstacle course, petting zoo, photo booth, and much more. 1425 Stein Rd., 63135. For more information, visit www. stpeterschurch.org.

Sat., Sept. 14, 10 a.m., Taste of Black St. Louis. A day with food, music, shopping, and learning. Tower Grove Park Southwest Kingshighway Experience, 63110. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Thur., Sept. 19, 5 p.m., YWCA of Metro St. Louis presents the 7th Annual Walk A Mile In Her Shoes. An international men’s march to

Kenya Vaughn recommends communityresourcefinder.org.

speak out against rape, sexual assault and gender violence. Missouri Athletic Club, 405 Washington Ave., 63102. For more information, www. ywcastl.org.

literary

Sat., Aug. 24, 3 p.m., Meet, Greet, Conversation Book Signing with Author Lydia Douglas. Douglas has authored over 7 books perfect for back to school and your inner spirit. Afro World, 7276 Natural Bridge Rd., 63121. For more information, call (314) 3895194.

Wed., Sept. 4, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library hosts author Ben Westhoff, author of Fentanyl, Inc.: How Rogue Chemists Are Creating the Deadliest Wave of the Opioid Epidemic Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information, visit www. slcl.org.

Thur., Sept. 5, 6:30 p.m., St. Louis County Library hosts author Gina Whitlock Fletcher, author of Stumble to Rise: My Life Surviving and Thriving with M.S Grant’s View Branch, 9700 Musick Rd., 63123. For more information, visit www.slcl. org.

art

Aug. 30 – Sept. 1, The Greater St. Louis Art Association presents The Art Fair at Queeny Park Featuring up to 130 artists. Greensfelder Recreation Center, 550 Weidman Rd., 63011. For more information, visit www.artfairatqueenypark. com.

Sept. 6 – 8, Saint Louis Art Fair. Featuring 181 artists from around the world exhibiting their work. 225 S. Meramec Ave., 63105. For more information, visit www. saintlouisartfair.com.

comedy

Aug. 23 – 25, Helium Comedy Club presents Tony Roberts. 1151 St. Louis Galleria St., 63117.

Aug. 30 – Sept. 1, Helium Comedy Club presents Kountry Wayne. 1151 St. Louis Galleria St., 63117.

Thur., Sept. 12, 7 p.m., Focus on the Funny presents the 1Life2Live Comedy Run Feat. Marquise Moore, Jason Nelson, James “JB” Buchanan, and Nicholas Cuvar. Dink’s Bar, 521 S. Vandeventer Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sept. 19 – 21, 8th Annual Compass Improv Festival. See local and national performers including local improv troupe, U People. The Improv Shop, 3960 Chouteau Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www. compassimprov.org.

theatre

Through August 24, 8 p.m., Union Avenue Opera presents Glory Denied Follow the life of a long held POW after he returns home. 733 N. Union Blvd., 63108. For more information, www. unionavenueopera.org.

Aug. 30 – Sept. 8, Karmatic The Play. The Marcelle, 3310 Samuel Shepard Dr., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

lectures and workshops

Thur., Aug. 22, 8 p.m., An Evening With Iyanla Vanzant: Acts of Faith Remix Tour. Touhill Performing Arts Center, 1 Touhill Circle, 63121. For more information, visit www. iyanlavanzantlive.com.

Sat., Aug. 24, 10 a.m., All

The King’s Men Restorative Justice Clinic, Co-Sponsored by Sen. Jamilah Nasheed featuring Sen. Brian Williams, Alderman Brandon Bosley and Rep. Wiley Price, Mission St. Louis, 3108 N. Grand. For more information, call (314) 690-8373.

Sat., Aug. 24, 12 p.m., Yes Youth Empowerment Workshop. A collaboration of St. Louis youth organizations invites teens (13-19 years old) to learn the skills and confidence to make positive change. Bellerive Hall, UMSL, One University Blvd., 63121. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Tues., Aug. 27, 4 p.m., Small Business Round Table. Small business owners will hear from speakers who will help expand their skill set. 1 N. Brentwood Blvd., 63105. For more information, visit www.unitedpartnership.net/ roundtable.

Wed., Aug.28, 8 a.m., License Collector’s Office Forum on Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Women Business Enterprise (WBE) & Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) with featured speaker is Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay. Harris-Stowe State University, William Clay Center, 10 North Compton Ave.

Wed., Aug. 28, 6:30 p.m., City-Wide Town Hall on Gun Violence. Harris Stowe, 3026 Laclede Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Thur., Aug. 29, 7:30 p.m., COCA presents Speak Now: Marcus Jarrell Williams. An intimate conversation with the former Alvin Ailey dancer. 524 Trinity Ave., 63130. For more information, visit www. cocastl.org.

Thur., Sept. 5, 5:30 p.m., What’s Next? The CityCounty Merger. Three experts on regional governance discuss next steps now that plans for a City/County merger have collapsed. Hillman Hall, Washington University, 1 Brookings Dr., 63130. For more information, visit www. JFedSTL.org/events.

Sat., Sept. 7, 9 a.m., The Alzheimer’s Association presents Aging-Friendly Congregations Workshop.

St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 3975 N. Highway 67, 63034. For more information, visit www.

Thur., Sept. 12, 11 a.m., Making Your Money Work for You: The Keys to Understanding Your Financial Statements. St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, 6439 Plymouth Ave., 63133. For more information, visit www. missouri.ecenterdirect.com.

Sat., Sept. 14, 8:30 a.m., SistaKeeper Empowerment Center presents the Be A Keeper! Teen Girl Summit 2.0. For girls 7-12th grade. Washington University, 1 Brookings Dr., 63130. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Aug. 22 – 25, United in Faith presents the Refreshed by Fire Conference. Holiday Inn Downtown Convention Center, 811 N. 9th St., 63101. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Sat., Aug. 24, 12 p.m., Temple of Praise Ministries Empowerment Day. Empowerment seminars, activities, vendors, trivia, and more. O’Fallon Park, 799 E. Taylor Ave., 63115. For more information, visit www. topministriesstl.org.

Sat., Aug. 24, 12 p.m., Apostolic Women St. Louis presents On Purpose for a Purpose. Keynote speakers Shalia Ford & Amber Price. Ferguson Empowerment Center, 9420 W. Florissant Ave., 63136. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sun., Aug. 25, 10 a.m., The Cathedral at St. Paul AME Church 88th Annual Usher Day Celebration and Worship Service, St. Paul AME Church, 1260 Hamilton Ave. St. Louis, MO. For more information, call (314) 3858900.

Sun., Aug. 25, 3 p.m., True Light Missionary Baptist Church 110th Church Anniversary: We’re Better Together Women in White Service. Feat. St. Louis Finest Women in Christ. 2838 James Cool Papa Bell, 63106. For more information, call (314) 707-5608.

Aug. 28 – 30, YFC Ministries presents We Are Overcomers Conference 2019. Chase Park Plaza, 212 Kingshighway Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Helium Comedy Club presents Kountry Wayne. See COMEDY for details.

that about Kaep? I’m gonna see what comes of this whole thing, but I just feel like if he was going to make a deal like that, then he should have kept quiet about Kaepernick. I mean, how do you go from refusing to perform at the Superbowl in solidarity with him to saying that? If you’re willing to pimp the movement, at least be quiet about it. Hopefully, whatever he does with the deal will help him redeem himself and make good with Kaepernick. Because, after all, he has Kaep’s bended knee to thank for his seat at the table in the first place.”

Those were my sincere feelings until a wise man said something that was my “aha” moment.

“If he wasn’t willing to make that statement, there would have been no deal,” this man said. “A quiet Jay-Z is of no use to these awful owners.”

This man wouldn’t dare want to be mentioned. But trust he is a Civil Rights Movement OG – like rolling with Dr. King OG – and has seen folks claiming to make deals in the name of moving the issues facing our community get bought and sold like penny candy. He believes that the whole point of Jay-Z being at the table is to use him as a prop as owners continue to downplay their unwillingness to stand up for the black lives that make them even richer –

and endorse the punishment of those players who are. I am so hoping to be wrong about Jay – and will be the first to admit it if I am – but considering the folks he’s co-signing with by way of the deal that we don’t have many details on, I’m siding with my Civil Rights OG.

“We can’t have the inmates running the prison.” This was Texans owner Bob McNair’s response to the players who protested the death of unarmed black men, women and children at the hands of law enforcement.

McNair’s views are not the exception to the rule among

n Kaepernick had no knowledge of the deal. Jay-Z wasn’t obligated to tell him, but still. So, you tell us Jay, “who you wit?”

NFL owners. They are the rule. I thought Jay-Z was aware of this. I thought that this is why he said, “no thank you” to performing at the Super Bowl, and then patted himself on the back about it later in one of his rhymes.

Here we are two years later, watching money apparently edge him out of the movement. He was named hip-hop’s first billionaire months before this deal. He didn’t need the money. And even if he secretly uses a

portion of it to pour into social justice initiatives, it comes at a heavy price.

I had to ask myself a question as I tried with all of my might to give Jay-Z the benefit of the doubt. How on earth will he get the type of people who refer to millionaire athletes who work for them as inmates and attempt to block them taking a knee for injustice to put resources into an effort to end what compelled their players to kneel in the first place?

His remarks made me think long and hard about his “4:44” track, “The Story of OJ,” which is essentially a cautionary tale for the sellouts of our community.

In the song he proclaims that he rides with the folks in the field and tells the house “negroes” to fall back.

Kaep was on the field – so basically, in the field. Jay-Z’s deal is with the owners of the team. Not the house “negroes,” but the individuals whose names are listed on the deed of the “house.”

Help.

Kaepernick had no knowledge of the deal. Jay-Z wasn’t obligated to tell him, but still. So, you tell us Jay, “who you wit?”

That’s not to say he hasn’t given back – a lot – for the culture. He has. A whole lot –both individually and with his wife Beyonce. But this ain’t it. And whatever this is, I just can’t let that statement slide, mainly because we cannot “get past kneeling” until there is no longer a reason to kneel.

Continued from C1

concert series that takes place each Friday in August. The 2019 season is presented by Emerson and once again includes the no-brainer partnership with The National Blues Museum.

“This year is phenomenal. We are excited to showcase and bridge the legacy and future of Blues in St. Louis at the centerpiece of our city – the newly renovated Gateway Arch National Park!” said Erin Mahony, deputy director of the National Blues Museum.

Much like the lineup of talent, the audience is a splendid mix that reflects the region – and parties together on the riverfront that in a manner that pays tribute to the city’s rich musical legacy.

The blues music woman power went on for another week, thanks to St. Louis based Ms. Hy-C & Fresh Start on August 16. The blues band played for their largest crowd since winning the International World Series of Blues in Memphis.

“Last year, we welcomed more than 18,000 people to Gateway Arch National Park to relax, unwind and enjoy top-notch blues entertainment in the shadow of the Gateway Arch,” said Samantha Fisher, director of communications for the Gateway Arch Park Foundation.

For the remaining two weeks, the men will have their time in the spotlight. In addition to the gender equity, the series also provides a platform for local and national blues acts.

St. Louis’ Big Mike Aguirre will be paired with Johnny Rawls out of Mississippi for the August 23 show. Marquise Knox and Brandon “Taz” Niederauer will close out the 2019 installment of Blues at the Arch on August 30. All shows take place from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. in the North Gateway (the north

end of Gateway Arch National Park, near Laclede’s Landing).

“We are excited to partner with the National Blues Museum for a third year and continue to celebrate St. Louis with blues music and the Arch.” Blues at the Arch continues each Friday through August 30 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. at North Gateway portion of Gateway Arch National Park, near Laclede’s Landing. For more information about Blues at the Arch, visit archpark.org/blues.

Local diva Kim Massie and Kennedy Holmes, the 14-year-old St. Louis native and finalist from NBC’s ‘The Voice,’ were the featured entertainers for the 2019 opener of Blues at the Arch on Friday, August 9.

I recently viewed the site at 4521 Natural Bridge, now a vacant lot that was once Archway Recording Studio and the residence of the late Oliver Sain. I was saddened and depressed. St. Louis and the world lost a place that created and housed music and fine art.

In an interview with St. Louis Blues Net, Sain said, “I began Archway in 1965. When I began recording, we recorded lots of blues and gospel. Ike and Tina cut in here! Cleophus Robinson, the O’Neal twins, Zella Jackson Price – lots of gospel. David Dee recorded his hit, ‘Goin’ Fishing’ here, and I recorded two hits of mine here, ‘Bus Stop’ and ‘Feel Like Dancing.’ The studio used to be in the storefront of my building.” Andre Malraux wrote:

Oliver Sain’s former home and studio now a vacant lot

“Culture is the sum of all the forms of art, of love, and of thought, which, in the course of centuries, have enabled man to be less enslaved.”

Insha Farid reminds us that when change comes at the cost of the culture, the society, instead of progressing, moves backwards. It is only a matter of time before we completely lose our culture and traditions. Our culture is something we should take pride in. We should cherish and celebrate our culture rather than forgetting it completely. In my St. Louis American column of August 9, 2001, I wrote, “Although we no longer

have a black mayor or police chief, I think conditions for African Americans in this area are worse than most other cities. I remember Mill Creek, The Ville, Easton Avenue, Franklin Avenue, Wellston and other neighborhood and communities where black pride flourished. What is also troubling to me is that when neighborhoods are destroyed, historical landmarks and memories also are shattered.”

Oliver’s widow, Ruby Sain, and several groups made numerous efforts to preserve the studio. They envisioned a museum and a school to teach students the music business and train musi-

Aldridge

Continued from A1

However, Aldridge, 25, said the irony is only apparent. In fact, he is simply benefitting personally from the success of an intentional collective effort.

“Now, the insider game has a lot of outsiders at the table,” Aldridge told The American – but only because they organized and worked for it.

“In 2016, Bruce and I ran as outsiders coming on the inside,” Aldridge said, with Franks running for state representative and Aldridge (then only 22) running for Democratic committeeman in the 5th Ward. Outsider candidates also ran for committeepeople in the 7th and 9th wards, Aldridge pointed out, bringing new, grassroots energy to the city’s Democratic Party at the cellular level.

“We won as outsider committeepeople, understanding that the committee role is really important,” Aldridge said. “It’s unpaid, but it’s a party position where you can give good service to the community and give outsiders more say on the way the inside game is played, so it can be more fair, more transparent, more just.”

Mothers

Continued from A1

audience. “He got his wish. He ascended to the top. One day a life was lost that brought him to his knees. It brought him deep into his faith and brought tears to his eyes. That man has changed. And that man is me. Michael Brown changed me.” Michael Brown changed Johnson so much, he said, that he was compelled to retire from the Missouri Highway Patrol. His career ended October 31 of last year.

“My job said, ‘Captain Johnson, you are going to have to choose,’” Johnson said. “Are you going to be a captain on the Highway Patrol, or are you going to be on a mission talking about those people?” Johnson said his new purpose and journey are “bigger than the Highway Patrol.”

“I will stand for what is good with law enforcement, and I am proud of that,” Johnson said. “But I must stand up and speak against what is wrong. I need to turn on the TV set and not see a mother with tears in her face, crying for justice.”

Several of those mothers who have graced screens across the nation were now looking Johnson directly in the face as he delivered the evening’s keynote address.

“We represent thousands,” Lezley McSpadden-Head said as she offered closing remarks for her Annual Rainbow of Mothers Gala presented by her Michael OD Brown We Love Our Sons and Daughters Foundation.

Indeed, for the nomination to replace the outsider Franks, Aldridge ran against another outsider committeeman who was elected in 2016, Marty Murray of the 7th Ward. Never was the insider process of the party nominating a candidate to replace a Democrat who resigned handled in a more transparent manner. “This was not the typical insider game of people calling each other, already knowing who the nominee would be,” Aldridge said. “Marty and I both did community events to get input from the community instead of just the committeepeople making the decision.”

Aldridge did have the benefit of the endorsement of Franks. Franks, who stepped down to deal with mental health issues, remains popular and influential in the district and the city.

In the end, the contest was not close. On August 15, Aldridge received 101 votes to Murray’s 82. The winning margin would have been even higher had Marie Celeski, Murray’s counterpart in the 7th Ward as committeewoman, attended. The number of votes each committeeperson wields is weighted according to voter turnout in the ward during the previous gubernatorial election. Celeski was busy out-state in

Henry County attending to family matters or she would have thrown her 31 votes to Aldridge, making the vote 13282 (62/38 percent).

Celeski told The American she had polled her colleagues and knew her candidate would win “or I’d have been at Nadine’s to deliver another 31 votes to Rasheen, come hell or high water.”

Once Aldridge gets past the formality of the special election on November 5 and is sworn in next year, he intends to use his organizing skills and insideroutsider game to deliver more community impact for the kinds of progressive legislation that Franks fought for.

“The district covers almost all of downtown, so I will make sure all of those businesses down there have bought into legislation to make it more effective,” Aldridge said. “The Cardinals, Blues, Peabody, Bank America, the casinos will all be hearing from me.”

He also plans to use the broader platform of a state House seat to leverage the kinds of community organizing he has done for years, but now playing more from the inside.

“These businesses downtown have a lot of great community programs where they give to non-profits, but I am going to look at where that money is going and how

cians. All of the attempts failed for many different reasons.

Wikipedia refers to Oliver Sain Jr. as “an American saxophonist, songwriter, bandleader, drummer and record producer, who was an important figure in the development of rhythm and blues music, notably in St Louis, Missouri.”

The publication All Music defined him as a performer and as a producer who exerted an influence on the evolution of St. Louis soul and R&B that is rivaled only by that of his close friend and infrequent collaborator, Ike Turner. Discogs lists many works recorded at Archway at https://www.discogs.com/label/293164-Archway-Studios.

I wonder what will be the next historical site that will be lost? Do we have any power?

much of it is coming back to the neighborhood they are currently sitting in,” Aldridge said. “We can work together to put more back into the community.”

Aldridge is no stranger to fighting for dramatic change. He organized for a $15 minimum wage in Missouri, protested the police in Ferguson and even was appointed to the Ferguson Commission as its youngest member by then-Gov. Jay Nixon. Now he is pleased to see the tedious process of winning votes to be elected committeeman and then winning votes among his fellow committeepeople to move up to the state House pay off.

“To see these small victories, it is progress,” Aldridge said. “There are now enough of us inside the Central Committee who want to see

What does it take to preserve and protect our monuments?

watch the Bernie Hayes TV program Saturday night at 10 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 5:30 p.m. on

something more just than the current system we got.”

Michael Person wins Democratic nomination in 74th District

Also, on August 14 Michael Person received the Democratic Party nomination to succeed Cora Faith Walker, who resigned to work for St. Louis County Executive Sam Page as director of policy, in the 74th House District. No other candidate sought the party’s endorsement. Person previously served on the Riverview Gardens School Board and lost a bid for Ferguson City Council earlier this year. According to St. Louis Public Radio, he works for Ameren on diversity and

inclusion issues and has been active in Democratic politics and campaigns for 30 years.

“I’ve always been part of the public service machinery. It’s just now, here is an opportunity to be one of the main cogs in the machinery,” Person told St. Louis Public Radio.

Two House Democrats – state Rep. Kevin Windham Jr. and state Rep. Raychel Proudie – raised questions about Person hosting the nomination meeting at his own home, according to St. Louis Public Radio.

“Wow,” Windham posted on the St. Louis County Democratic Central Committee’s Facebook page. “Is there a precedent of public nominating meetings being held in a committeeperson’s home?”

Attorney Benjamin Crump, who represented McSpaddenHead and accepted the award given to Rev. Al Sharpton at the gala, told the crowd that more than 2,000 lives had been taken as a result of the broken relationship between black people and police in the five years since Michael Brown was killed in Ferguson.

“That was shocking to me,” Crump said. He told the audience how

n “I must stand up and speak against what is wrong. I need to turn on the TV set and not see a mother with tears in her face, crying for justice.”

– Ron Johnson

McSpadden-Head advocates for those mothers who reach out to him because of his history of representing the families of black men and women who tragically lost their lives at the hands of law enforcement

“Every time that I call Lezley, she takes time out to talk to them,” Crump said. “She keeps it real. She tells them, ‘You are the voice for your child.’” Crump also gave the region praise for standing up and fighting back – not only in the streets with protests, but at the polls with voting power.

One day after the fifth anniversary of her son’s death, she reminded the audience of the invitation-only event that the black mothers who sat at the table represent only a small fraction of those mourning children lost to police violence.

“The only way we can win these battles is if we do

what you all did in St. Louis,” Crump said. “And that is, if they don’t convict these killer cops, just vote them out of office like y’all did McCulloch. That’s what we have to continue to do. If we don’t have the right people in office, we won’t have anybody to pick up the fight.”

Several of those on the frontline of the fight in Ferguson were honored for their efforts with special awards for their service to the movement. Honorees included St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones; Justin Hansford, Howard University associate law professor and executive director of the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center; state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, Action St. Louis founder Kayla Reed and Sharpton.

“Mike Brown is the reason why we have the movement that we have,” Reed said. “In St. Louis we really tried to carry that torch in his name and his legacy. I’m honored to stand in the legacy of your son. So many of us, our lives are so much different because of what happened five years ago. All of the work that we do is for you.”

She gave the same acknowledgement to the other mothers in the room who share McSpadden-Head’s pain because of their children’s own tragic encounters with law enforcement.

“You truly are the mothers of our movement,” Reed said. “You’ve not only mourned in front of us – but stood beside us and fought to decriminalize us when they sought to tear protestors down. We drew our strength from you and, whenever you need me, however you need me, I will always be there.”

Bernie Hayes

Michael Person

black theater.

“Her first season with The Black Rep was in 1981 and I honestly don’t know where the company would have been or what we would have achieved without her,” said Ron Himes, The Black Rep’s founder and producing director. “She was my right hand, my left hand…. my everything. She was the heart and soul of The Black Rep.” She worked for The Black Rep on stage and in array of administrative and artistic capacities.

“She was phenomenal in everything she did. She was perhaps the greatest Black Rep ambassador and the greatest Black Rep artistic associate,” Himes said. “She was everything. For me it has been an honor and a privilege to have known her as an artist and as a person.”

Himes and Kennedy played opposite each other on stage nearly a dozen times, most recently in the company’s 2018 production of August Wilson’s “Fences.”

There is a generation of young artists in town who Linda trained with her as she administered the organization’s summer camps. Two generations of audiences saw her portray Rose Maxon – the role that earned Viola Davis a Tony and an Academy Award for the film adaptation.

“Looking at this woman –looking at this black woman in St. Louis making a career in the arts let me know that I can do it,” Jacqueline Thompson said in her speech as she accepted her Emerging Artist honors at the 2019 St. Louis Visionary Awards.

Kennedy was Esther, the 30-year-old spinster in The Black Rep presentation of Lynn Nottage’s “Intimate Apparel.”

A dozen or so years later, she played Mrs. Dickson, the play’s matriarch of sorts, for The New Jewish Theatre. She also played sassy senior citizen Fonsia Dorsey in St. Louis Actor’s Studio production of Donald L. Coburn’s “The Gin Game.”

“I’m just so grateful to be embraced, loved and supported within the St. Louis theater community,” Kennedy told the American ahead of her starring role in the one-woman show “Chef” for Upstream Theater back in 2018. “Embraced and supported enough that I’ve been able to make a living, and a life, doing what I love and I’m passionate about. Not many artists, in St. Louis or anyplace else, can say that.”

Very few people knew it, but she was suffering with

Linda Kennedy as Mrs. Dickson and Jacqueline Thompson as Esther in New Jewish Theatre’s 2017 production of Lynn Nottage’s ‘Intimate Apparel.’

cancer as she met the physical and emotional demands of her performance in “Chef.”

“She was in tremendous pain,” Himes said. “It was just amazing that she could make it through that one-woman show every night for two to three weeks.”

She was tiny, both in height and stature. But the largest stages were barely big enough to hold her presence once she stepped on and got about the business of bringing a character to life. Kennedy was fearless when it came to her art. Whatever the role required – a song, a dance, a joke – she would become the de facto singer, dancer or comedian.

“She was a master of her craft and an inspiration to all those blessed to witness her amazing work,” said actress, singer and writer Roz White via Facebook.

Kennedy managed to be the definitive leading lady and a walking defiance of the stage diva stereotype at the same time. She spent as much time pouring into others as she did showcasing her own talent. On

stage, she had a way of making sure her co-stars were along with her for every dramatic exchange. Behind the scenes, her motherly love an instinct was applied to fellow artists.

“Before I would go on stage, she would check my elbows and put lotion on them,” actress, singer, theater producer and educator Lisa Harris Hampton said.

She had a strut that would let anyone who saw her walking by that she was a performer of some sort – and a laugh that made anyone who heard it, chime in.

She had a huge heart and made inspiring those who came behind her to have the audacity to discover, master and share their creative talents within the arena of theater her ministry.

“She was a true representative of the arts,” said playwright and director Mariah Richardson via Facebook. “And a mentor to many of us.”

She is survived by her mother Lucille Alton, son Terell Randall Sr. and two grandchildren.

‘We are not broken’

Soldiers Memorial hosts forum on ‘Veterans, Race, and PTSD’

By Ellen Kunkelmann

For The St. Louis American

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, affects 11 to 20 percent of U.S. military veterans. On Sunday, August 25, the Soldiers Memorial Military Museum will host “Painting Pictures in Flashback Form: Veterans, Race, and PTSD.” The program includes a screening of “Mudbound,” a World War II period drama, followed by a discussion with Sgt. Angela Peacock, MSW, a Ferguson native and PTSD survivor.

Sgt. Peacock spoke to the Missouri Historical Society about PTSD in veterans.

Missouri Historical Society: What are some common misconceptions about veterans with PTSD?

Sgt. Angela Peacock: There is a narrative that veterans who struggle with mental health issues are “crazy” or unhinged, or that PTSD only happens to infantry soldiers who kick doors down or have killed someone. Both are false. Trauma comes in many forms – witnessing violence, being sexually assaulted, domestic violence, and war, among many other causes. It can happen to anyone, veteran or not. But we are not broken. We can even have what’s called “post-traumatic growth,” where we can grow, heal, and learn to live a new normal after something traumatic has happened to us.

MHS: How do race and gender affect diagnosis and treatment?

Sgt. Angela Peacock: African Americans are at higher risk of struggling with serious mental health issues due to intersecting social conditions like poverty, exposure to violence, and toxic stress. Both female and male veterans may experience military sexual trauma (MST), which can include rape, sexual harassment, or other unsolicited acts. Many African Americans are skeptical of mental health services, and culturally it can be difficult to ask for help. Males with MST, especially black males, may have even more difficulty talking about their experiences with someone they can trust.

MHS: How did World War II veterans, like those in “Mudbound,” cope with PTSD that was unrecognized or stigmatized?

Sgt. Angela Peacock: Many never talked about their experiences, but it didn’t mean they weren’t suffering. Some veterans struggled with night terrors, survivor’s guilt, depression, heavy drinking, and exaggerated startle responses, which mirror what veterans suffer from today. African-American veterans came home to racist policies and Jim Crow laws, which added to their silent suffering. They weren’t able to use home loan or GI Bill education benefits like white veterans, and they were on the receiving end of racism, redlining, and other oppressive policy in addition to the PTSD they likely returned with.

MHS: How can families help a returning veteran?

Sgt. Angela Peacock: I think the most important thing is to just listen. It’s hard to see

our loved ones struggling, and we might not know what to say when they come home and seem different. Be open and nonjudgmental, and try to leave any biases about mental health by the wayside. If they seem distant and disconnected, let them know that you see that they are struggling with something and that you are here for them. Let them know that if they don’t feel comfortable talking with you about it, you’ll help them find someone they can talk to. They can feel your unconditional love and support when you are open to helping, listening to, and not trying to fix them. We are all capable of helping, not just “professionals,” and we have the power to help.

MHS: What resources are available to veterans and their families?

Sgt. Angela Peacock: Asking for help or finding someone trustworthy to talk to about your struggles doesn’t have to mean going to the veterans’ hospital. Helpful organizations include the Minority Veterans of America, Service Women’s Action Network, Wounded Warrior Project, and Grace After Fire. Veterans and families can learn about PTSD, download apps, and make informed treatment choices at ptsd.va.gov. Mental health podcasts for people of color can be found at redefineenough.com.

MHS: What lessons do you hope the audience will take away from “Mudbound”?

Sgt. Angela Peacock: I hope to have an engaging, thoughtful conversation with friends and neighbors of Soldiers Memorial and to have military and civilians alike come together to support St. Louis veterans, of all eras, with or without PTSD. My hope is that we all leave with a little more knowledge and compassion for those who have served this country and we find new ways to engage with this topic after we leave.

Veterans and families can learn about PTSD, download apps, and make informed treatment choices at ptsd.va.gov. Mental health podcasts for people of color can be found at redefineenough.com.

“Painting Pictures in Flashback Form: Veterans, Race, and PTSD,” featuring “Mudbound” and a discussion with Sgt. Angela Peacock, will be presented in the Jack C. Taylor Assembly Hall at Soldiers Memorial, 1315 Chestnut St., on Sunday, August 25, at 2 p.m. This free program is open to all. Ellen Kunkelmann is associate editor at the Missouri Historical Society

The August 25 program on “Veterans, Race, and PTSD” at the Soldiers Memorial Military Museum will include a discussion with Sgt. Angela Peacock, MSW, a Ferguson native and PTSD survivor. This free program.

Photo by Eric Woolsey

Celebrations

Birthdays

Happy birthday to Donna Marie Farrar-Conner on August 22! Donna’s “birthday twin” is her cousin, Artist (Keith) Turner. Her husband, best friend and partner-incrime, Rufus W. Conner Jr. (Mainboy) celebrates his birthday just two days later on August 24.

Reunions

Beaumont High Class Of 1969 will celebrate its 50-year reunion Sept 20-22, 2019 at Embassy Suites St. Charles. Come join us as we celebrate these golden years, “Living Life Like It’s Golden.” For more information contact Dennis Hayden 314 276-6188

or beaumontclassof1969@ yahoo.com or send your questions to P.O. Box 155, Florissant, MO 63032.

Beaumont High Class of 1979 is planning its 40-year reunion. All activities are scheduled for the weekend of September 27-29. The location is The Airport Marriot at 10700 Pear Tree Drive, St. Louis 63134. For more information, contact Milton Jackson at 314-2764392 or Yolanda Lockhart at lockhartyo08@gmail.com.

Soldan High Class of 1970 “Reunion Committee” is sponsoring a “Bazaar” Saturday, September 14, 2019 from 7 am-12 noon at The

Giving a shout out to my very much-loved #1 grandson Mr. Jason! Happy blessed 8th birthday, Jason Holman on August 19, from Meemaw, Mommy and Susie.

Happy birthday to our baby girl, Amirah Muhammad, who turns 11 on August 21.We hope you have the most amazing day ever! Love, Mommy & Daddy

Congratulations to Alice K. Wilson who recently celebrated her 100th birthday with her family, including her children Alma Austin and Edward Wilson, Jr., her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and her Galilee Baptist Church family, where she is the longest-living member.

Heritage House Apts. 2800 Olive Street, St. Louis, Mo 63103 (between Harris Stowe College and Wells Fargo). Plenty of parking in back of building. “Stop on by, surely you will find something you like.” For more information please call (314) 707-9221.

Soldan High Class of 1974 Alumni Association is planning its 45-year reunion. Please get your contact information to dhblackjack@ charter.net or call 314-7493803.

Sumner High Class of 1957 Annual Dinner Buffet, September 21, 2019 at 5pm, Lombardo’s Restaurant,

10488 Natural Bridge Rd. (next to Drury Inn) For more information call Martha Ballentine at 314-456-2051.

Vashon-Hadley Old School Reunion 1960-67, October 19, 2019, 2-6 pm at The Atrium in Christian Hospital. For more details text (only) Brenda Mahr at 314-580-5155 or email at: brendamahr@att.net.

Vashon High Class of 1969 Alumni committee is planning it’s 50-year Reunion: October 18 and 19, 2019, at the Renaissance Hotel, 9801 Natural Bridge Road, Berkeley, MO. Meet and Greet will take place Friday night from 6-10 p.m. Reunion

Banquet is Saturday night from 6-11 p.m. Contact Genies Jordan 314-4486658, Yvonne Clemons 314-620-0551 for additional information or email Liz35206@yahoo.com to register.

Vashon High Class of 1974 is planning for its 45th reunion. We are in the process of rounding up all classmates. To provide or update your contact information, please email ljbady@gmail.com or contact: Joe Verrie Johnson 314-640-5842, Jordan Perry 314-724-4563, or LaVerne James-Bady 314-382-0890.

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

Deadline is

a.m. on Friday. If you’d like your class to be featured in a reunion profile, email or mail photos to us. Our email address is: reunions@stlamerican.com

Shelby was one of the many Afrocentric beau-

RIP to a true leading lady. I am sincerely hoping that one of these weeks, I won’t have to use this top spot to remember people who have gone on to a better place. But I absolutely could not move forward without taking a moment to cherish the memory of the true leading lady that was Linda Kennedy. She played everybody’s mama, auntie wife and wise woman for as long as I can remember, and not only inspired the generations of artists who followed her, but gave them the tools they needed to pursue their own craft – both on stage and behind the scenes. The St. Louis theater community as a whole suffered a major loss with Linda’s passing on Friday, but The Black Rep lost a matriarch. Let’s send love, light, prayers and condolences to her son and grandchildren, and the artistic children and grandchildren she nurtured and compelled to live out loud.

Jammin’ with Stephen Marley. I have been waiting for months to see Stephen Marley, my favorite Marley of the whole gang, do his thing under the stars at Atomic Cowboy Pavilion Thursday night. I am so glad it was outdoors since he has a sizable hippie fan base. And let’s face it, deodorant is not a priority for them. Stephen and his family of opening acts tore it all the way up. I’m so glad that he didn’t shy away from covering his dad’s music – and his take on Stevie Wonder’s “Master Blaster” that led into “Jammin’” was utterly epic. I can hear him a thousand times and never get over how much he sounds like his daddy. Neither could the guests. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a diverse crowd. You had the hippies, the Rasta folks, the regular black and white folks – and then you had that elderly couple that was karate dance-fighting for Stephen’s whole set. Those two were so free and loose that everyone around them gave them their own circle so they could keep the kick/chop innocent concert collateral damage to a minimum.

African arts, fun and fellowship. Saturday afternoon, the space directly across from Crown Candy became a Babylon for the black to the basic community, thanks to the 6th Annual Saint Louis African American Artifacts Festival and Bazaar. Listen, it was like an all ages, friendly Afropunk, where black folks were selling everything from shea butter, black soap to barbecue and African arts. I was so glad I remembered to stop through. The natural hair and dashiki game of this event was undefeated – mainly because some of the folks got into their blackness during the original Black Power movement. The performance stage was nice too. It featured African dancers, poets, bands and more. Justin Hoskin and his crew got it in. As did a gentleman whose name I didn’t get, who performed Musiq Soulchild’s “Just Friends” in the manner that Musiq surely wishes he could have done on the original track. Because I was peeping the vendors when he started, I didn’t hear him get introduced. But he was playing the saxophone and singing. And his fade into “Sunny,” the song Musiq sampled from, was absolutely everything.

Dionne and friends. After fellowshipping with my Afrocentric folks, I made my way to the A Night of Class show at Stifel Theatre Saturday night. I got my life, mainly because I felt like I was watching a concert version of a “Body & Soul” box set. Remember those infomercials? “Deniece Williams was up first. She looked good in her fashion interpretation of a toned down “Solid Gold” dancer of a certain age – kitten heels and all. Those were some sleeves, honey. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that much material devoted to the wrist area of a blouse in all my life. She could have swaddled a plus-sized toddler in each arm. And while her voice was more warbly than in years past, she still has the range. I got my whole entire life from “Let’s Hear it For The Boy” and “Silly.” But I was a bit sick that she did so much talking that there was no time for “Black Butterfly.” Peabo Bryson looked great – especially considering his recent health scare. He sounded even better than he looked. I mean those velvety vocals sound twice as good as they did on my “Body & Soul” cassettes. I found it utterly hilarious that a music legend like Dionne Warwick didn’t want to be bothered with any introduction. She casually walked out, did one of those “Here I am” body gesture movements, perched up on a stool and got right into it. She was kind enough to offer explanation about a sore foot of sorts. As a music great and grandmother of grown children, I feel like she’s earned the right to wear house shoes to work, whatever the reason. Let me go ahead and say right now that if I’m still clocking in for y’all at 78, I will be unapologetically out in these streets with a pair of Isotoner memory foam slippers with faux fur lining to match every one of my pants suits. Speaking of grannies, she sounded so much like my Grandma Mae Ola when she yelled out “Hush, gal!” to that unruly audience member, that I thought the next words out of her mouth were going to be “Since you don’t think fat meat is greasy, go out in them woods and get me a switch,” when the woman kept on shouting. On stage, she gave a “normally I would be in the bed watching the news by now, but I’m going to go ahead and perch on this stool and sing these little songs,” energy level. She sounded great. But trust that aside from gathering a couple feral fans, she didn’t raise that voice one decibel above what was required of her. That look she shot the woman who yelled out “Dianne,” reminded me that she is the last of the living legendary shade queens. Perhaps that’s how she has managed to preserve it for 60 years. Super Ego’s big 4-0. I almost called it a night after hitting up the African Arts Bazaar and Dionne and ‘nem in the same day, but I’m so glad I stopped through Dos Salas to fellowship with Damion “Super Ego” Mitchell for his 40th birthday bash. I ran into folks I hadn’t seen in ages – like my faves Natalie of the Lash Loft, and Ashley and Tierha who stopped through to kick it while at home visiting from Texas. It was quite the cute gathering of folks, although the dress code for the ladies seemed to be custom home -made chiffon and sequins.

Power couple Seviin Lee and Murphy Lee showed their support to the Herb Middleton and Friends Comedy Blast Peace Tour @ Casa Loma Ballrooom

Andrea and Lois represented for the Saint Louis Art Museum @ the African American Artifacts Festival and Bazaar Saturday @ Crown Square Plaza

Raphael was on deck as Damion Mitchell partied like a rock star for this 40th birthday Saturday @ Dos Salas

Erica Reed joined Miss Robbie of Sweetie Pie’s for a relaxing night of R&B Saturday @ Stifel Theatre

Fridaouss and Kennedy soaked up some sun @ the 6th Annual African American Artifacts Festival and Bazaar Saturday @ Crown Square Plaza

DJ Willpower sat back and chilled as Afro. Sexy.Cool was underway Friday @ .Zack

Shannon and Kim helped Super Ego celebrate his big 4-0 Saturday night @ Dos Salas

DJ Hoodbunny and Cameron came through to kick it with James Biko @ Afro. Sexy.Cool Friday @ .Zack

Star Ellis and Love at Starfire Productions presentation of her stage play ‘Not My Sons’ Saturday afternoon @ The Center for Divine Love

Mousie happened to catch Marlon Wayans at The Four Seasons when the film, television and comedy star Marlon Wayans was stopped through the STL to promote his new movie “Sextuplets,” which debuted last week on Netflix.

CIVIL/GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER

Marino Engineering Associates, Inc.

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

PARAMEDICS

ARCHS, a highly respected not-forprofit funding agency, is seeking a full-time Communications Specialist with dynamic digital-age expertise. Use creative and technical skills to convey ARCHS’ story through strategic use of social media, writing, graphic design, photos, and videos. Requirements: Minimum of a bachelor’s degree; 1-2 years of digital media experience; highly organized; deadline focused; multi-tasker; outgoing; inquisitive; have reliable transportation/ able to travel locally. ARCHS’ benefit package includes a 401(k) match. Be prepared to provide portfolio of work upon request. EMAIL initial letter of application and resume by August 30, 2019 to careers@stlarchs.org or FAX to ARCHS’ HR, 314-289-5670. No Phone Calls Please.

VIRTUALIZATION

SYSTEMS ENGINEER II

Responsible for building, maintaining and proactive management of a stable and secure virtualization infrastructure, providing Tier 2 and 3 technical support, administering VMware vSphere Infrastructure, Cisco UCS infrastructure and VMware SRM with some knowledge of NetApp’s cDOT Infrastructure for related backup and DR functions. To apply, please visit: https://www. safetynational.com/careers-page/

FILINGS COMPLIANCE

ANALYST I

To be responsible for preparation and submission of insurance carrier rate, rule, and form filings to insurance departments for assigned products. Inclusive within such responsibility are communication with state regulators, documentation of filing communications and dissemination of filing status reports to various personnel and various corporate departments. This position involves moderately complex assignments, problem solving and decision making. To apply, please visit: https://www. safetynational.com/careers-page/

(MEA) seeks Civil/Geotechnical Engineer in St. Louis, MO to perform engineering duties in planning, designing and overseeing construction and maintenance of geotechnical and subsidence services, including shallow and deep foundation systems, retaining structure, underground excavations, numerical 2D and 3D seepage, soil structure interaction analyses, slope stability analyses and rock engineering. Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and 1 yr. employment exp. in Geotechnical Eng. required. Send resume, cover letter and salary req. to:

Human Resources Director

Marino Engineering Associates, Inc, 1370 McCausland Ave. St. Louis, MO 63117

FIREMEDIC

Pattonville Fire Protection District is accepting applications for a FIREMEDIC position. Must meet minimum qualification, please see website www.pattonvillefd.com for details. Apply at 13900 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, Missouri, 63044; from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., August 13th, through August 28th, 2019.

COORDINATOR

ACCOUNT SERVICES

POLICY OPERATIONS

Responsible for providing client / customer support for the department’s operational functions to include the production of Excess Workers’ Compensation transactions (New Business, Renewals, Endorsements, Cancellations, Reinstatements, Notices and Nonrenewals). This position includes the accuracy in which transactions are issued, correct billing and proper distribution of final product to our customers. To apply, please visit: https://www. safetynational.com/careers-page/

CLAIMS MANAGER LIABILITY

ASSISTANT CLAIMS-LARGE CASUALTY MAIL

Responsible for various tasks related to: categorizing, imaging and processing incoming mail

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

TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST

The St. Louis Housing Authority is seeking a highly qualified and experienced individual to serve as its Director of Operations – HCV and Public Housing. The Director of Operations is responsible for the coordination and management of the daily operations of the Housing Choice Voucher and Public Housing Programs. The selected candidate will be responsible for ensuring that admissions and occupancy are performed in accordance with HUD guidelines and SLHA policies and procedures, monitoring the HCV and Public Housing budgets, monitoring the private management agents to ensure compliance with security, safety and regulatory contract provisions, monitoring and analyzing market trends to ensure the housing programs are competitive, supervising the daily activities of departmental personnel and ensuring high performance on the PHAS and SEMAP indicators. The ideal candidate must have a minimum of a 4-year college degree from an accredited college or university and ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in property management or managing public housing programs. Must be certified as a Public Housing Manager within six (6) months of employment. Apply via website https://slha. aaimtrack.com or by mail to St. Louis Housing Authority, Attention: Althelia Thomas, 3520 Page Blvd., St. Louis MO 63106 or via email to athomas@slha.org on or before 5pm September 18, 2019. A Drug Free Work Place/EOE. FULL-TIME SALES ASSOCIATE

Saint Louis Art Museum. Full-Time Sales Associate. Apply online at www.slam.org/careers

Responsible for handling assigned claims from initial assignment to closure as well as provide assistance in various administrative functions associated with the large casualty lines of business. To apply, please visit: https:// www.safetynational.com/ careers-page/

Troubleshoot hardware and software problems. Install computers, peripherals, and software. Associate degree, technical school diploma, or equivalent experience in computing, networking, information technology.

Posting closes 8/28. Apply at www.fergflor.org

SENIOR PRICING ACTUARY – WORKERS COMPENSATION TREATY REINSURANCE

Responsible for providing Pricing Analyses and Technical Support for Treaty Reinsurance with a focus on Workers Compensation.

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

LOAN PROCESSOR/ HOMEOWNERSHIP ADVISOR

The Housing Partnership, Inc., a nonprofit organization, has an immediate opening for a full-time employee. Responsible for client file management for participants in the Homebuyer Services program. Establish and maintain records of client files and ensure conformity to HUD guidelines and funder requirements. Looking for individual with experience in real estate, mortgage lending or housing counseling. Aptitude with numbers and excel spreadsheets important. For more information go to www.thehousingpartnershipstl.org

Please submit a resume and cover letter to The Housing Partnership, Inc., P.O. Box 16356 St. Louis, Missouri 63125 or via email to kate@thehousingpartnershipstl.org. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

Mehlville Fire Protection District is accepting applications for the position of 12 HOUR CRITICAL CARE PARAMEDIC

Annualized wage of $59,488; $63,488 w/CCP-C

Benefits include health insurance, pension, tuition reimbursement, sick leave, attendance bonus, vacation, life & disability, holiday pay, uniform allowance, wellness benefits

REQUIRED: EMT-P certification through the State of Missouri

PREFERRED: CCP-C or FP-C certification Applications accepted at www.mehlvillefire. com from August 15 – September 18, 2019. Applicant must include copies of required and relevant certifications and follow the instructions on the website under Hiring Opportunities. Equal Opportunity Employer.

SOFTWARE QUALITY

ASSURANCE ANALYST I

Perform thorough inspection and methodical examination of all applications and systems under test. Ensures proper operation of software and freedom from defects. Understands basic concepts of Information Technology and software testing methodologies. Follows Quality Assurance best practices. Works at the direction of the program Test Lead.

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

QUALITY ASSURANCE ARCHITECT

Responsible for the development and delivery of the automated testing roadmap and pipeline. The QA Architect is a thought leader and change agent who will provide cross platform, cross tooling automation solutions that span delivery models (agile/DevOps) at different maturities. Has expertise in a broad range of solutions, tools and architectures. Ability to perform assessments, create proposals and lead the strategy, development and implementation of automated testing on a wide variety of projects. Demonstrates advanced working knowledge of automated software testing. Reports directly to the Quality Assurance manager.

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

ASSISTANT CLAIMS-MAIL OPERATIONS

Responsible for various tasks related to: categorizing and imaging incoming mail, processing corporate mail, and storage duties.

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

ASSISTANT- CLAIMS CALL CENTER

Responsible for various support tasks related to: providing phone support for claimants and providers for the Large Casualty unit.

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

GROUNDSKEEPER SEASONAL

De Smet Jesuit High School seeks groundskeeper full-time from April until November each year. HS diploma or equivalent and at least one year grounds’ experience or work requiring similar skill. CDL or heavy equipment operator training a plus. Visit our website: https://www.desmet.org/about/ careers to apply. EOE M/F/D/V – Committed to Diversity and Inclusion

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Responsible for the analysis, implementation and oversight of claims administrative functions for new and renewal Large Casualty accounts.

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

PRIMATE UNIT KEEPER (TEMPORARY SEASONAL)

The Saint Louis Zoo is seeking a temporary seasonal keeper to join the Primate Unit. Primary placement will be in the Primate House, although the successful candidate may assist at the Jungle of the Apes and may be assigned there depending on the needs of the unit. The position will have roughly 450-500 hours spread during the period from approximately mid-September 2019 to mid-February 2020, generally working two to three days per week. The successful candidate must be available to work weekends and during the holiday periods including potential scheduling on the holidays themselves.

Responsibilities: Successful candidates will be adaptable and flexible, able to manage a wide array of duties and responsibilities, follow all protocols, foster a safe working environment, and possess strong communication and teamwork skills. Keepers will perform a wide variety of specialized work including daily animal care, exhibit/area cleaning, enrichment, behavioral training, animal observations, animal health care, documentation and record-keeping, minor exhibit maintenance, public presentations and tours, and other related duties as needed.

Qualifications: Some college classes/credits are preferred, previous animal care experience is a plus. A strong focus on safety and attention to detail are essential. A successful candidate will bring a strong focus on teamwork and positivity to the position. Good observation skills are important, and a strong interest in animal welfare is required. Candidates must have the physical ability to perform required duties as assigned, including standing for long periods of time, lifting, bending, climbing, and working in all types of weather. A competitive candidate will actively support and embody the Saint Louis Zoo’s core values of community, creativity, openness, integrity and life-work balance; and will be passionate about providing the highest quality of life for the animals in his/her charge. All successful candidates for this position will be required to submit to a criminal background check and drug test.

Position closes on September 5, 2019

To apply, please go to http://www.stlzoo.org/about/contact/ employment/currentjobopenings/

Attention: MBE/WBE contractors and non-minority contractors

Insituform Technologies USA, LLC, 17988 Edison Ave. Chesterfield, MO 63005, is seeking subcontractor quotes for The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, Re-Bid Gravois Trunk (Whitecliff to RDP) Sanitary Rehabilitation (Fannie Ave to Pardee Lane), Letting No. 10496-015.1, Bidding Thursday, September 5, 2019 at 2:00pm. Potential subcontracting opportunities available for consideration on these projects include: Lab testing services, Closed-circuit TV inspection & cleaning of existing sewer lines including heavy cleaning, interstate hauling with a reefer truck, Manhole construction, cover locate, adjustment, lid replacement, repairs, Cementitious manhole rehabilitation, Chimney Liners, Cured-in Place Chimney Liners, Rock lining and rock toe protection, and site protection and restoration; all in accordance with project specifications.

IMPORTANT: QUOTE LINE ITEMS ON A TURNKEY BASIS AND INCLUDE PERMITS, TRAFFIC CONTROL, SEWER BY-PASSING, ETC, IF REQUIRED.

All M/WBE and non-minority contractors should contact Greg Patton or Mark Reeves in writing (certified letter, return receipt requested) to discuss bid opportunities. In lieu of a certified letter, contact can be made by e-mail to gpatton@aegion.com and mwreeves@aegion.com. Acknowledge in your quote your company will meet the workforce per trade minority requirements per the project specifications.

A pre-bid conference for any potentially interested subcontractors will be held at Insituform Technologies USA, LLC’s Training Center, 580 Goddard Avenue, Chesterfield, MO 63005 on Monday, August 26, 2019 at 9:00 AM.

All quotations will be evaluated for overall compliance with the project specifications, scheduling availability and pricing. Subcontractors should review and meet the Work Force Utilization requirements of the project. All subcontractors are expected to self-perform all work quoted. If this is not the case, you must note this in your quote.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

SEALED BIDS

for RepairS

m Damage& Replace Roof, Jackson ReadinessCenter, Jackson,Mo, Project No.T1931-01 willbe receivedby FMDC, StateofMO, UNTIL 1:30PM, 9/12/2019

Forspecific project informationand orderingplans,go to:http://oa.mo. gov/ facilities

SLPS – Gateway Elem. Ext. Arch. Structure Repair

RFP# OP002-1920 and McKinley HS Restroom Upgrade RFP#OP001-1920. Due 09.04.19 by 4 PM. Demien Const. 636.332.5500 / 636.332.5465 Fax / Call for Email

ST. LOUIS UNION STATION TUNNEL REHABILITATION

PROJECT

Kiewit Infrastructure Co. will be hosting an outreach event for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises who are interested in the St. Louis Union Station Tunnel Rehabilitation Project on September 4, 2019 from 5:30 to 7:00pm at the Indian Trails Branch of the St. Louis County Library (8400 Delport Dr, St. Louis, MO 63114). For more information and to RSVP please email STLUnionStation@kiewit.com

Kiewit Infrastructure Co. is An Equal Opportunity Employer.

City of St. Louis Public Hearing Notice

2020 - 2024 Consolidated Plan and the 2020 Action Plan Development

The Community Development Administration (CDA) will hold a public hearing to discuss the development of the 2020 - 2024 Consolidated Plan and 2020 Annual Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) programs. The hearing will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, August 26, 2019 at CDA, which is located at 1520 Market Street - Suite 2000, St. Louis, MO 63103. The views of citizens, public agencies and other interested parties are encouraged. Interpreting services are available upon request by calling the Office on the Disabled at (314) 622-3686/voice or (314) 622 3693/TTY.

The City of St. Louis will continue to accept Request for Proposals (RFP) for 2020 CDBG funding up until 4:00 p.m. CST on August 30, 2019. The RFP and related forms can be found on the CDA website at https://www. stlouis-mo.gov/cda/. Questions concerning the proposal process may be submitted via email at CDBG@stlouis-mo.gov. CDA is an equal opportunity agency (employer). Minority participation is encouraged.

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for Contract No. F 20 602, New Flooring in Continuing Education Building, St. Louis Community College at Meramec, until 2:00 p.m. local time, Thursday, September 5, 2019. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 5464 Highland Park Drive (Plan Room). Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from the Manager’s office, at the above address or by calling (314) 644-9770.

PREBID Meeting: By Appointment

An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for Contract No. F 20 402, Library Renovations for Study Rooms, St. Louis Community College at Forest Park, until 2:00 p.m. local time, Thursday, September 5, 2019. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 5464 Highland Park Drive (Plan Room). Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from the Manager’s office, at the above address or by calling (314) 644-9770

PREBID Meeting: Voluntary August 26, 2019, 10:00 am., Front Lobby of the Library building An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer

INVITATION FOR DBE SUBCONTRACTOR BID

Millstone Weber, LLC is requesting bids for the MoDOT I-270 North Design-Build project in St. Louis County, MO from MRCC certified DBE firms.This four-year project may include engineering support, public relations, earthwork, drainage, MSE Walls, concrete flatwork, landscaping, traffic control, rebar, onsite hauling, material delivery, fencing, guardrail, signals, lighting, sweeping, material testing, Girders, geotechnical services, asphalt paving, striping, erosion control, seed, sod and other work. DBE goals are 22% for Design and 18% for Construction. Interviews will be scheduled as needed. Please contact the DBE Workforce Coordinator, Vivian Martain, at vivian.martain@millstoneweber.com or call at 636-688-8833 to make an appointment. Bids should be sent to bids@millstoneweber.com by September 17, 2019.

Millstone Weber, LLC 601 Fountain Lakes Blvd., St. Charles MO, 63301. 636-949-0038

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for the Berry Road Sidewalk project, St. Louis County Project No. AR-1679, will be received at the Office of the Director of Procurement for the County of St. Louis, County Government Center Administration Building, 41 South Central Avenue, 8th Floor, Clayton, Missouri 63105, until 11:00 a.m. on September 4, 2019, and at that time will be publicly opened and read.

Plans and specifications will be available on August 12, 2019 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouisco.com), or by contacting County Blue Reprographics, Inc., 1449 Strassner Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63144, (314) 961-3800.

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for Contract No. F 20 403, Substation Replacement, St. Louis Community College at Forest Park, until 2:00 p.m. local time, Tuesday, September 10, 2019. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 5464 Highland Park Drive (Plan Room). Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from the Manager’s office, at the above address or by calling (314) 644-9770.

MANDATORY Pre-bid Meeting: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 1:30 p.m. at 5464 Highland Park Drive 63110

An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College will receive separate sealed bids for Contract No. F 20 501, Drainage Improvements, St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley, until 2:00 p.m. local time, Thursday, September 5, 2019. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the office of the Manager of Engineering and Design, 5464 Highland Park Drive (Plan Room). Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from the Manager’s office, at the above address or by calling (314) 644-9770.

Pre-bid Meeting: By Appointment Only 5464 Highland Park Drive 63110

An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer

LETTING #8703

SLMP PROPERTY CUSTODY / TACTICAL RELOCATION

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on September 24, 2019, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

A pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held onsite at 2150 S. 59th Street, St. Louis, MO 63110 on September 3, 2019 at 10:00 A.M.

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

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

THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI LOWER MERAMEC WWTF FITTING REPLACEMENT CONTRACT LETTING NO. 13082‐015.1

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for Lower Meramec WWTF Fitting Replacement under Letting No. 13082-015.1, at this office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Thursday, September 19, 2019. All bids are to be deposited in the bid box located on the First Floor of the District’s Headquarters located at 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, prior to the 2:00 p.m. bid deadline.

The work to be done under these contract documents consists of:

• Replacement of 20-inch, 42-inch, and 48-inch butterfly valves with compact knife gate valves. Work requires Contractor to perform limited bypass pumping and significant dewatering of piping and process equipment. Knife gate valves and actuators have been pre-procured for assignment to the Contractor.

• Replacement of several sections of 48-inch and 60-inch ductile iron piping with steel piping segments containing flexible differential settlement joints to relieve pipe strain caused by settlement of a soil supported piping gallery and two pile supported build ings. Work requires Contractor to utilize new knife gate valves installed as part of this contract to isolate piping segments for replacement of piping,joints, and fittings (see following bullet item). Steel piping segments and flexible differential settlement joints have been purchased directly from Victaulic by the Owner.

• Replacement of one 48-inch and one 60-inch ductile iron 90-degree elbows with new fittings previously procured and stored onsite within piping gallery adjacent to PIF and PEF piping.

• Replacement of various small diameter piping connections to PIF and PEF piping systems.

• All associated structural improvements to pipe supports, electrical improvements, and miscellaneous improvements as required for implementation of the dewatering plans.

• All associated demolitions.

The Engineer’s Opinion of Probable Construction Cost is $2,323,000.

Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualified by the District’s Engineering Department for: Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing or Building Contractors.

Plans and Specifications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 2731 S. Jefferson. St. Louis, MO 63118. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid. The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

A non-mandatory Pre-Bid conference will be held in accordance with Article 6 of the Instructions to Bidders.

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure: General Electric Switchgear for Bissell Treatment Plant. The District is proposing single source procurement to Powell Industries, Inc. for this service because Powell Industries provides complete design, manufacturing, and testing in one facility decreasing cost and time. Any inquiries should be sent to ameyer@stlmsd.com.

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

CITY OF JENNINGS REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS PROFESSIONAL DESIGN SERVICES FOR MUNICIPAL FACILITIES – RFQ #01-19

The City of Jennings (“City”) is currently seeking a design consultant (“Firm”) to provide the professional design services required to plan, design and construct a new city hall and recreational center. Bid specifications may be obtained from Jennings City Hall, 2120 Hord Avenue, Jennings, Mo., 63136 on or after August 21, 2019, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (CST) or via the City’s website (www.cityofjennings.org).

Sealed bids proposals shall be delivered to the above address no later than 11:00 a.m. CST, September 12, 2019. The “Firm” interviews will be conducted starting at 12:00 p.m. in the Council Room at City Hall.

Passenger.

Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). The bid document will be identified as 10122 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314.768.2735 to request a copy of this bid.

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

that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure: Flygt Impeller Kit. The District is proposing single source procurement to Vandevanter Engineering for this equipment. Any inquiries should be sent to ameyer@stlmsd.com. Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

BIDS

Rubicon Corporation 17452

Orrville Rd, Wildwood, MO 63005 is seeking Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) for the construction of 30 single family homes. Project bids are due on Thursday, September 5, 2019 at 2:00 PM local time. Subcontracting opportunities are in the following areas: Framing; Roofing; Siding; Foundation; Flatwork; HVAC; Plumbing; Electric; Grading; and Landscaping.

All disadvantaged businesses interested in bidding any subcontract opportunities should contact Rick or Mathew at sales.rubiconcorp@ gmail.com with questions. All bids must be submitted prior to, or on due date by 2 pm. Pricing must include all taxes, fees, and permits and held for 90 days. Plans and specifications are available for free electronic download, contact estimating at the email above.

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS

SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District will receive RFQ’s in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 11:00 a.m. on September 19, 2019 to contract with a company for: READY MIX CONCRETE.

Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). The bid document will be identified as 10128 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314-768-6254 to request a copy of this bid.

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

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure record keeping services from the Vanguard Group. The District is proposing a single source procurement for this service because the District has a longstanding trust agreement with Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company for their deferred compensation and defined contribution plans. Any inquiries should be sent to strenz@stlmsd.com.

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

CITY OF ST. LOUIS BOARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for PROFESSIONAL

ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING SERVICES, ST. LOUIS LAMBERT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. Statements of Qualifications due by 5:00 PM CT, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 at Board of Public Service, 1200 Market, Room 301 City Hall, St. Louis, MO 63103. RFQ may be obtained from BPS website www.stl-bps.org, under On Line Plan Room-Plan Room, or call Board of Public Service at 314-622-3535. 25% MBE and 5% WBE participation goals.

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District will receive sealed bids in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 10:00am September 19, 2019 for: VOLT SWITCHGEAR UPGRADE

Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com - click on “MSD At Work”,

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure: FOXBORO SYSTEMS SUPPORT SERVICES: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SYSTEMS USA was used for this service. Any inquiries should be sent to gjamison@stlmsd.com.

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

ST. LOUIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES HOUSING URBAN DEVELOPMENT CONTINUUM OF CARE FY19 GRANT

The St. Louis County Department of Human Services - Homeless Services Program is seeking proposals for the Housing Urban Development Continuum of Care FY19 Grant. The total funding available is approximately $4,173.034. 00. Proposals are due by 11:00 a.m. on September 9, 2019. A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held on August 29, 2019 from 10:00 -11:30 a.m. @ the Department of Human Services, 500 Northwest Plaza, 1st floor training room, St. Ann, MO 63074. Request For Proposal details and specifications can be obtained at the St. Louis County Bids and RFPs webpage located at http://www.stlouisco.com/ YourGovernment/BidsandRFPs

bidsforReplace Roofs& Renovate Exterior,Multiple Assets,Missouri StateFairgrounds, Sedalia,Missouri, ProjectNo. F190601willbe received byFMDC, Stateof MO,UNTIL 1:30PM, 9/19/2019via MissouriBUYS. Biddersmustbe registeredtobid. Forspecific project informationand orderingplans, goto:https:// missouribuys.

SEALED BIDS

Roof,Cremer

Center,Fulton, Missouri,Project No.C1915-01 willbereceived byFMDC,State ofMO,UNTIL 1:30PM, 9/10/2019via MissouriBUYS. Biddersmustbe registeredtobid. Forspecificprojectinformation andordering plans,goto: https:// missouribuys. mo.gov.

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure temporary help services from Aarkay Technologies in an effort to support the IT Technology Plan. The District is proposing single source procurement

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice

an Equal Opportunity Employer.

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Bids for St. Louis Community College on B0003850 for Scientific Laboratory Supply Items will be received until 2:00 P.M. (local time) on Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at the Dept. of Purchasing, 3221 McKelvey Road; Bridgeton, MO 63044, and immediately thereafter opened and read. Bid documents can be accessed on our website at www.stlcc.edu/purchasing or by calling (314) 539-5226. EOE/AA Employer.

PUBLIC NOTICE

This letter is to anyone whom may have ownership of the property at 5540-2 Hodiamont Ave, St Louis, MO 63136. Wishes to contest and say that they owned the property please say so now. Francine Jones 678-858-4626 Public

www.stlamerican.com

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure: FAIRBANKS PUMP PARTS. The District is proposing single source procurement for this equipment because HYDROKINETICS CORPORATION is the only known available source for the equipment. Any inquiries should be sent to gjamison@stlmsd.com.

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

Saint Louis Zoo Facilities Management Administration Building

Description: The Saint Louis Zoo is accepting bids from general contractors for the construction of an 850 square foot addition to our Facilities Management Administration Building, the installation of a new rooftop HVAC unit and the associated mechanical work, as well as the replacement of an existing flat roof. Drawings, bid documents and dates can be found on our website. https:// www.stlzoo.org/about/contact/vendoropportunities

Religion

Arts & Faith St. Louis to present free interfaith concert

Arts & Faith St. Louis will present “Songs of Hope,” its free annual interfaith concert at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, September 15 at The Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd.

This year’s concert, “Songs of Hope,” will feature both adult and young singers and musicians from six faith communities - including Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist vocal ensembles from across the metropolitan area who will share their songs and music of hope.

Also featured will be celebrated soprano Christine Brewer, performing new music by composer and clarinetist Stephanie Berg that was recently premiered at Powell Symphony Hall, and a specially-assembled Interfaith Youth Chorus led by Maria Ellis.

New this year will be a storyteller chosen in collaboration with the MU Extension Division Storytelling Festival. After the concert, the audience will be invited to mingle outside on Washington Boulevard with the artists and faith ensembles and participate in creating “#HopeMural” developed by an interfaith group of teens through Interfaith Quest led by Beth Damsgaard-Rodriguez. This is the ninth year that Arts & Faith St. Louis has presented a free concert at the Sheldon Concert Hall with the mission “to build a harmonious St. Louis.” In recent years Arts & Faith St. Louis expanded its reach beyond its annual concert to further community and interfaith connections through new collaborations. In 2018, Arts & Faith St. Louis began a partnership with the Saint Louis Art Museum and Interfaith Partnership on Faith and the Visual Arts, creating interfaith tours that use the museum’s collection to build understanding among religions. Arts & Faith St. Louis continues to collaborate with the Saint Louis Art Museum and is working on additional projects that will take place in the coming year.

STL sailor sings the gospel at sea

Boatswain’s Mate Seaman Jarvis Mcintire from St. Louis sang in the choir group during a Protestant Worship Service aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20). Green Bay, part of the Wasp Expeditionary Strike Group, with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is currently participating in Talisman Sabre 2019 off the coast of Northern Australia. A bilateral, biennial event, Talisman Sabre is designed to improve U.S. and Australian combat training, readiness and interoperability through realistic, relevant training necessary to maintain regional security, peace and stability.

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anaid Banuelos Rodriguez

Arts & Faith St. Louis began in 2011 on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and continues to bring together the faith and arts communities by using the unique power of the arts to create shared experiences and inspire thoughtful discussion among diverse audiences. Tickets are free and are available for pickup at the performance. Doors open 4:30 p.m. For more information about

the concert or other programs of Arts & Faith St. Louis, contact Barbara Murray at: bmurray@thesheldon.org or 314-5539900.

The Message

God is not schizophrenic

I heard something recently that has stayed with me and has rapidly become embedded in my spirit, so I thought it was worthy to again pass along to you: “God is not schizophrenic.” It sounds simple enough, but, at closer inspection, you might want to seriously consider it implications.

When I looked for a biblical reference point, there were actually too many to quote. The Bible is full of confirmation regarding God’s consistency, His unwavering faithfulness to us. God does indeed keep His promises and, in His unpredictability, He is predictable. God loves us no matter how hard we try to deny this. We can never remove ourselves from this truth. It never changes.

Warts and flaws and faults, God loves us. That means you and all your hidden secrets too. Deal with it.

The problem with God’s consistency is our inconsistency. When put into that perspective alongside God’s steadfastness, our fickleness screams out almost as some kind of bizarre trick. Our behavior can become unsteady and sinfully shaky. But our faith should not. In the context of our faith, the consistency of God’s promise and His covenant with us should flourish. It should provide us with that proverbial rock that we need to lean on. After all, we’re not dealing with trick questions, sleight of hand or spiritual illusions when it comes to God’s promise of eternal life and everlasting salvation. With faith comes the understanding that God is not schizophrenic.

Someone once told me that there should be some things and people in life you can always count on. The reason we can relate to this is we know so many things and people in our lives that we cannot count on. So-called friends will let you down. Family will fail you. Circumstances will change. Results are inconclusive and fame is fleeting.

Being a Christian does not exempt us from everyday challenges. They can be severe and debilitating. Tests and testimonies are real. Yet God is steadfast.

Unfaithfulness, schizophrenia, relapses, backsliding all combine to get us into spiritual trouble. Faith, fortunately, always gets us out. That’s because God is good all the time. And God is God all the time, always was, always will be. He is not lost. He has not moved and left no forwarding address. He’s at the same place where you originally found Him and blessedly for you, he’s patiently waiting for you to acknowledge His presence there again and again and if needed, again. My Bible says faith proves itself by its obedience to the Lord. The more we accept His steadfastness, the clearer our paths become.

When all is said and done, once you know where home is, you’re never lost. Because when we acknowledge the Almighty and who we are in relation to Him, we too, will never be lost or forsaken.

Columnist James Washington