LouiS AmericAn
WEPOWER Weekend supports minority vendors
By Sylvester Brown Jr.
St. Louis American
There was a magnetic, culturally cool vibe at WEPOWER’s annual garden party held at the Missouri Botanical Garden Friday, August 18, 2023.
It wasn’t just the colorful, hip, and elegant summer colors worn by many of the youthful attendees. Nor could the eclectic atmosphere be attributed solely to the sense of genuine glee as staff members, supporters, and friends greeted one another or first-timers.
WEPOWER is a community of change makers and entrepreneurs determined to build political and economic power in the region.
The St. Louis-based nonprofit is committed to transforming early childcare systems, building wealth across all neighborhoods, and investing in Black and Latinx entrepreneurs.
Friday’s event kicked off the three-day “WEPOWER Weekend” which supports more than 20 Black and Brown business vendors.
The nonprofit’s “Accelerator” program provides coaching, connections and capital to
See WEPOWER, A6
WEPOWER is a community of change makers and entrepreneurs determined to build political and economic power in the region. Friday’s event kicked off the three-day “WEPOWER Weekend” which supports more than 20 Black and Brown business vendors.
SLPS opens school year on summer’s
District’s
By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis
new
superintendent was prepared
Monday, August 21 – SLPS’ first day of classes. A National Weather Service heat warning continued through the week and was not expected to expire until Friday evening.
The torrid weather did not stop Scarlett from visiting several schools, and greeting students, faculty and staff with smiles and encouragement.
In preparation for Monday’s and the continuing heat indices over 110 degrees, SLPS took the following
actions:
•Air conditioning began running 24/7 over the weekend make sure all buildings are pre-cooled.
•Outdoor activities at all schools are limited throughout the week.
•Athletic events and practices are impacted, with some being rescheduled to early mornings or late evenings.
•Extra bottled water is being
Pursuit of justice for Mike Brown
Criminal defense attorney takes international path
By Ashley Winters
Louis American
St.
Nine years have passed since the death of Mike Brown changed his family’s life, the St. Louis region, and beyond.
Former Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson shot and killed the unarmed Brown, and the teenager’s death sparked the Black Lives Matter Movement Wilson was not charged with a crime by then St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch, whose presentation of the case to a grand jury remains questionable.
Delia Addo-Yobo, a criminal defense attorney with the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization, is in search of justice for the Brown family. She has been working on the case for nearly a year. Mike Brown’s death changed the
See BROWN, A7
State AG will challenge
By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American
St. Louis could soon join Kansas City in passing gun control legislation that would outlaw possession of assault weapons and take other actions to stem gun violence.
“In the coming days, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office, aldermen are ready to introduce commonsense gun safety legislation,” said Mayor Tishaura O.Jones following a listening session that included gun violence survivors and gun control advocates and Friendly Temple in north St. Louis.
“We come together around a shared vision: a safer, stronger St. Louis, ready to stand up for our values. We know
See GUN LAWS, A6
St. Louis Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Keisha Scarlett visited students early Monday morning Aug. 21, 2023 on the first day of school. Dr. Scarlett greets 8-year old third grader Savannah Carter with her parents Latosha and Chris Carter Jr.
Delia AddoYobo
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, Police Chief Robert Tracy and other city leaders attended a listening session discussing gun violence on Aug. 22, 2023.
Photo courtesy of KSDK
St. Louis helps Beyonce give Taylor a Swift kick
FORBES predicts Beyonce’s “Renaissance” tour, which electrified STL’s Dome of America on Monday night, could reach $2.1 billion in earnings, topping Taylor Swift’s current tour by $500,000.
That’s right, and that’s what Swift gets for skipping St. Louis with her “Eras” tour.
Beyonce’s European circuit of shows generated more than $154 million - over just 21 dates. Those cities also snagged huge economic impacts, including hotel rooms, restaurants, and event bookings.
Beyoncé’s has already bettered her own record for the highest grossing tour by a Black artist. Her 2016 “The For mation World Tour,” earned $256 million, and her 2013-2014 “The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour,” made $229 million.
Doja Cat said she is unfazed on losing 1 million followers
The self-proclaimed controversial rapper Doja Cat [Amala Dlamini] claims she is ‘more free’ after losing nearly 1 million Instagram followers in August, according to an Instagram post on Wednesday, August 16. Doja Cat previously had more than 26m followers and now sits at 25m.
The backlash follows her mocking her fans for creating a fandom name with Doja Cat’s explicit permission. The name many Doja Cat fans wanted was ‘kittenz.’ When Doja Cat became aware of the fans’ efforts, she deemed it ‘jobless behavior’ and to not proceed with the name.
“My fans don’t name themselves s**t,” she wrote on July 23. “If you call yourself a ‘kitten’ or f**ing ‘kittenz,’ that means you need to get off your phone and get a job and help your parents with the house.”
The follower loss comes as she is promoting her upcoming album. “Seeing all these people unfollow makes me feel like I’ve defeated a large beast holding me down for so long,” Doja Cat said. “It feels like I can reconnect with the people who matter and love me for
who I am and not for who I was.”
Jordan & Pippen a modern-day Romeo & Juliet?
TMZ reports a wedding date is “in the works” for Marcus Jordan and Larsa Pippen. Yes, that’s Michael Jordan’s son and Scottie Pippen’s ex-wife.
It’s well documented that Michael and Scottie’s friendship ended poorly and this probably ain’t helpin’ things. Last time we heard from Scottie was after Michael’s docuseries “The Last Dance” aired, and he stated “They glorified Michael Jordan while not giving nearly enough praise to me and my proud teammates.”
While leaving a restaurant in Paris last month, a reporter asked Michael if he approved of the relationship of Marcus and Larsa…to which Michael simply said “No.”
Apparently after hearing that news, Larsa said she was “embarrassed” and “traumatized.”
Scottie and Larsa tied the knot in 1997 before welcoming sons Scotty Jr. in 2000, Preston in 2002, Justin in 2005, and daughter Sophia in 2008. After nearly two decades together, the pair split in 2018 before briefly reconciling.
King of Pop’s companies headed back to court
Various news outlets including the L.A. Times are reporting that a California court has revived lawsuits from two men who claim that pop icon Micheal Jackson sexually abused them when they were children. The legal documents claim that Jackson’s companies had a legal duty to protect the two boys from the star’s alleged abuse. The lawsuit was originally filed in 2013, and then dismissed in 2017 due to expiration of a statute of limitations.
The California Court of Appeal for Second District wrote, “A corporation that facilitates the sexual abuse of children by one of its employees is not excused from an affirmative duty to protect those children merely because it is solely owned by the ‘perpetrator of the abuse.”
Sources: Forbes, Instagram, TMZ, L.A. Times Larsa Pippen
“It would be perverse to find no duty based on the corporate defendant having only one shareholder. And so we reverse the judgments entered for the corporations.”
“I think we get real inspiration to see that one march can do so much.”
- Eleanor Holmes Norton, D.C. delegate, reflecting on August 28, 1963 March on Washington
Go
with the Flo
STLCC breaks ground for Advanced Manufacturing Center
By Alvin A. Reid
St. Louis American
Authors
Bob Schwartz, a Harvard Graduate School of Education professor emeritus, and Rachel Lipson, executive director of the Project on Workforce at Harvard University, call community colleges “the workhorses of the American economy,” in a recent Barron’s commentary.
“Community colleges are responsible for the largest share of college graduates who move from poverty to wealth in a generation [and] play a critical role in driving regional economies and expanding access to jobs.”
St. Louis Community College continued its quest to uphold that standard when it broke ground for its Advanced Manufacturing Center on Friday August 18, 2023.
Bulldozers, construction trucks, and earth movers are now working on the project at STLCCFlorissant Valley, 3400
Pershall Road in Ferguson. It is one of six planned as part of the STLCC Transformed initiative.
The initiative’s goal is to bring the STLCC into “a more modern standing by providing facilities and programming for the growth and competitiveness of the region,” according to Elizabeth Gassel Perkins, Ed.D., campus president and chief academic officer of STLCC-Florissant.
“The Advanced Manufacturing Center features spaces that will galvanize workers interested in mastering engineering technology, biomedical electronic technology, precision machining, and other programs on specialized equipment and machinery,” she said.
“We are especially excited for our new geospatial technology courses, including drone flight, which will be housed in this new building.”
STLCC will purchase $3 million in advanced manufacturing equipment
From
Williams; Julie Massey, STLCC-Florissant Valley Student Success vice president; Elizabeth Perkins, STLCC-Florissant Valley president and chief academic officer; Jeff Pittman, STLCC chancellor; Dr. Sam Page, St. Louis County Executive; Hart Nelson, STLCC COO; Rodney Gee, STLCC board trustee; Mary Luebke, STLCC board Trustee; and Craig Larson, STLCC Board of Trustees chair, broke ground for the Advance manufacturing Center on the STLCC Flo-Valley campus.
for the center’s classrooms and lab spaces by using funds it acquired through a regional coalition that won a U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant.
The St. Louis Tech Triangle won the $25-million grant in September 2022. A cornerstone of several projects is construction of a 130,000 square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center (AMICSTL) in the Vandeventer neighborhood in North St. Louis, adjacent to Ranken Technical College.
Eyen Hoffman, who is working toward an associate degree in engineering science, said the
center will provide STLCC students with additional opportunities and improved access to needed items.
“It could be set up to organize workflow and have different storage compartments, cabinets, and various tools. Being able to navigate through the shop floor without having to duck around different parts of the machinery would be nice,” Hoffman said.
Tom McGovern, STEM dean, said STLCCFlorissant Valley has been involved in manufacturing and industry training since it was founded in the late 1960s.
“I had students who hung the wires on the [Stan] Musial bridge, placed the steel ani-
mals out front at the [St. Louis] Zoo; cut parts for the Georgia Dome [in Atlanta]; programmed rides at Six Flags over Mid-America, and [worked] so many other places,” he said.
“STLCC has continued to supply employees to Boeing, its parts suppliers, and other industries. Now more than ever, the skills we will provide are in demand, and the opportunity is now. These careers are open to everyone no matter your current skill set. I encourage people to embrace the new technology and take advantage of the opportunities around them.”
The 96,000 square feet Advanced Manufacturing Center’s projected completion date is in December
2024, and the estimated cost is $61.1 million.
Among its key features are:
• Hands-on training to prepare students for high-demand careers in manufacturing, engineering, technology, and technical trades.
• An expanded Boeing pre-employment training program with dedicated sheet metal and fabrication classrooms.
• An area for Early College students (high schoolers) to take classes and study.
• Program visibility through large picture windows and glass walls to encourage safe and engaging tours for prospective students and the community.
Food for thought on your next trip to the grocery store.
Every item that winds up in your paper – or plastic – bag wouldn’t make it home if some of your favorite grocery store workers didn’t make it to work by riding Metro.
The more you look around, the more you’ll see. We all need Metro, whether we ride or not. RIDE ON to grocery store runs
RideOnMetro.org
Photo courtesy of STLCC
left, Dr. Andrew Langrehr, STLCC Academic Affairs vice chancellor; state Sen. Brian
Guest Editorial
Defend Democracy, demand diversity, defeat poverty
By Marc Morial
For more than 100 years, this organization has worked to bring our country together in coalition in the collective fight for the freedom, rights, and justice for all people. … we know we have more work to do, being clear-eyed about the moment we are in – a moment when state by state in places like Texas and Florida, extremist so-called leaders attack hard-won rights and freedoms.” — Vice President Kamala Harris, National Urban League 2023 Conference
At my first National Urban League Conference in Pittsburgh in 2003, just weeks after I became President and CEO, I outlined a five-point Empowerment Agenda that evolved into the Five Pillars of our movement: Employment, Education, Housing, Health care, and Justice.
Inclusion in all aspects of American life, from our courtrooms to our classrooms and campuses, from our factory floors and construction sites our C-suites and every workplace in America. We must level the playing field, so our children and children’s children have an equal opportunity to succeed.
The third D is Defeat Poverty. To close all racial income and wealth gaps, we will focus on closing gaps in education, health care, housing, and justice. For a nation with a $23 trillion economy, the largest national economy in history, to have double digit levels of poverty and even more people living on the brink, is unacceptable.
Twenty years later to the day, at our Conference in Houston, I introduced a new phase of advocacy and activism — Empowerment 2.0 — that builds upon the foundation of the Five Pillars through what I call the Three Ds.
The first D is Defend Democracy.
We will, and we must, demand the full restoration of the Voting Rights Act. We demand fair representation in Congress and state legislatures and an end to racially based gerrymandering. We demand freedom of expression and freedom of speech, and we will not comply with book bans and warped lesson plans designed to erase us from history and force our LGBTQ brethren back into the closet. With 2024 around the corner, and states purging their voting rolls and putting up barriers to the ballot box, we are going to need an effort like never before.
The second D is Demand Diversity. We insist on Diversity, Equity, and
The 20th-century civil rights movement of our fathers and grandfathers was a movement to defeat the white supremacist terrorism of Jim Crow. When I came to the Urban League in 2003, we were facing a new villain: James Crow, esquire, who wore a suit and a tie instead of a robe and hood and spoke of “states’ rights” and “welfare queens” instead of the N-word.
Twenty years later, we are facing the son of James and the grandson of Jim: Jimmy Crow. Not content with suppressing Black votes, he seeks the power to ignore election results altogether. He rants about “replacement theory” and “Critical Race Theory.”
We are engaged in a battle for the future of this nation. With the Three Ds as our battle cry and our clarion call, this generation of Urban League leaders, partners, and supporters is prepared to face the headwinds that lie before us.
Marc Morial is president and CEO of the National Urban League.
Commentary
Right to vote always contested in America
By Jesse Jackson
America was founded on an idea — that all people had the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — and if that right was to flourish, it must be grounded in democracy — in the basic right of all to choose their own leaders, to vote and have their votes counted. It was a revolutionary idea at the time and remains so today. Yet today across America — and in the past across American history — the right to vote is and has always been contested.
In Ohio, voters recently rejected Issue 1, a ballot initiative invented by Republicans in the state legislature to make it harder and more expensive for voters to pass ballot initiatives in the future. It would’ve doubled the number of counties needed for signatures to get an initiative on the ballot — and it required approval of 60% of the public for an initiative to pass, instead of the simple majority required now.
The goal — publicly admitted by the initiators — is to try to block the Reproductive Freedom Amendment, which will be on the ballot in November. It will also make it harder to pass an initiative raising the minimum wage that young people are trying to get on the ballot.
a July election reform act that aims at making it harder to vote. It would overturn executive orders encouraging federal agencies to promote voter registration, require stricter voter ID and mail-in voting rules. In intervening in the D.C. laws on voting, it provides a model for the states that would ban same-day voter registration, require annual purging of the voting lists, ban community ballot collection, restrict drop boxes, ban universal mail-in voting, and more.
Ohio is a perfect example of how democracy can be suppressed. Having gained majorities in the state legislature, Republicans drew gerrymandered political districts to entrench their majorities. They packed the courts with partisan jurists. That left the ballot initiative as one of the only ways meaningful changes supported by a majority of voters can be achieved.
Now Republican legislators want to make that process less accessible, scheduling the election in August when turnout is historically abysmally low. From Arizona to Florida, other Republican-dominated states are doing the same, while passing a range of measures to make it harder for college students, poor people, African Americans, and offenders who have served their time to vote. At the national level, the new Republican majority in the House has followed suit, introducing
Democrats in the House and Senate in contrast reintroduced the Freedom to Vote Act, that would end partisan gerrymandering, curb dark money in elections, protect state and local election officials from threats, encourage same-day voter registration, mail-in voting and more. Lurking beneath this partisan divide is racial division. Blacks and Latinos (as well as the young) tend to vote Democratic by large margins. So, Republicans peddle fantasies about voting fraud in order to justify making it harder to vote. Donald Trump’s effort to overturn his 2020 election defeat was grounded on the racist assumption that voting in urban areas — Philadelphia, Atlanta, Detroit, Phoenix — was corrupt and fraudulent.
The right to vote has always been contested in America. When the nation was founded, only white male property owners enjoyed the right. It took decades of struggle for working people, African Americans, women, and the young to gain that right. Again and again, an entrenched minority threatened by a growing majority imposes measures to constrict the right to vote.
That happened after the Civil War, as segregation and terror negated the right of former slaves to vote. It is happening now once more as the Republican Party seeks to consolidate its grasp against a growing, diverse majority. Democracy and the right to vote will always be challenged by those who fear the majority.
Jesse Jackson is founder and retired president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Kamala Harris comeback
could be too late
By Roger House
Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged from obscurity to attempt a political comeback. Facing low poll numbers, she has barnstormed political events around the country to carry the message of the Democratic Party — and attempt to recapture the luster that made her a historic candidate in 2020.
Notably, she has visited Black events to tout the Biden administration and condemn Republican efforts to suppress voting rights. It’s fair to say that Harris has used such gatherings to stir up anxiety when they might have been better used to promote constructive ideas for the development of the Black community.
On July 29, at the 114th annual NAACP convention in Boston, Harris highlighted aspects of the Biden agenda — such as maternal mortality and prescription medications for seniors — before calling on attendees to mobilize voter turnout.
On Aug. 1, in a speech to a women’s convention of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Orlando, Florida, Harris spoke out against the state’s controversial standards for teaching Black history in public schools. She used the occasion to stir voter anxiety, saying, “In states across our nation, extremists attack the freedom to vote. They pass laws to ban drop boxes, to limit early voting, to make it illegal to offer food and water to people who are standing in line for hours to simply cast their ballot.”
addressing predominantly white audiences in Wisconsin a few days later. Then she talked up policies on gun violence prevention to a predominantly Black audience in Chicago the next day.
The policies she marketed to Black audiences seemed designed to benefit the party without committing significant resources to the development of the people — and especially to young men. For years now, the party has distanced itself from the economic and cultural investments that Stacy Abrams once called the “Black Men’s Agenda.” Instead, it has offered the drumbeat of important but ultimately low-investment criminal justice reform.
As such, the political value of Harris in Black history may be reaching an endpoint. And looking ahead, Democratic leaders — and the national Black political class — may want to begin the process of considering replacements for Biden’s second term.
The Democratic Bench of Veep Alternatives
Who would be the potential alternative candidates on the Democratic bench? Here are four party stalwarts with backgrounds — either institutional or political — to serve as a stabilizing or inspiring vice-presidential presence.
But even now, as she bemoans the need to protect voting rights, she offers no practical ideas for how the community can proceed under the current climate. The options she publicizes rely on corralling the Black community to vote for the Democratic agenda. As such, there are real questions as to whether she is the best person to rally the Black community for the challenges ahead.
Harris’s campaign for renewed political relevance admits to a disconnect between core voting blocs in the Black community and Democratic Party. Most distressing, she has missed opportunities to call for a much-needed Black political unity summit.
The challenges ahead require more than the old “March on Washington” rituals of the past, however helpful these events have been.
Instead, we must encourage political and organizational leaders to explore new ideas of development. What are the benefits of encouraging migration that builds political influence in targeted states? What are practical ways to make gains in the labor market and self-employment, or to leverage our numbers in small businesses and community cooperatives?
Unfortunately, what Harris offers are the targeted talking points of the Democratic Party. After speaking about voting rights at predominantly Black events, for instance, she shifted to touting investments in broadband expansion when
Michelle Obama: As the only Black American first lady, Michelle Obama fostered one of the most welcoming and inclusive White House cultures in history. She initiated the “Let’s Move” program to combat childhood obesity, “Joining Forces” to rally support for military families, and “Reach Higher,” an initiative to encourage young people to pursue vocational and college education.
Keisha Lance Bottoms: Keisha Lance Bottoms worked in the three branches of Atlanta government, including as a prosecutor, judge, city councilor, and mayor. As the city’s 60th mayor, between 2018 and 2022, she worked to make Atlanta a more affordable, resilient, and equitable city. Her political organization helped to make Georgia a critical swing state in the Deep South. Gretchen Whitmer: Michigan Gov. Whitmer would bring the experience of a former state legislator and executive of a Midwest swing state. She would appeal to moderate suburban women voters valuable to the party. She has strong support within the state’s Black community. Deval Patrick: Patrick went from the South Side of Chicago to becoming a graduate of Harvard College and Law School. He was an attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and then Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the Clinton administration. He oversaw the Department of Justice investigation of Black church burnings. From 2006-2015, he was governor of Massachusetts, the state’s first Black executive.
Roger House is associate professor of American Studies at Emerson College
Guest Columnist Roger House
Columnist Jesse Jackson
Columnist
Marc H. Morial
Betty Jean Kerr Foundation Scholarship winners were recently honored as they prepared to begin the 2023 Fall semester. The recipients include: Autumn Blue, Jessica Boyer, Qui’Arian Crayton, Alicia Douglas, Kellie Fields, Blair Graham, Xzariya Graham, Darnell Hill, LaTavia Jones, Xavier Perkins (accepted by Tammy Bickley), LaKisha Sabino, and Brittany Smith. Foundation board members Dawn Butler, scholarship foundation chair; Monica McClendon, Madison Fuller, Kathleen Shaw, and Jared Odum, attended the celebration.
Betty Jean Kerr Foundation scholars honored
St. Louis American staff
People’s Health Centers was founded as a free clinic in 1972 by community activists and medical students in a storefront at Kingsbury and Des Peres in University City.
The late Betty Jean Kerr joined them in 1975 and would become Kerr People’s Health Centers CEO and a civic stalwart in healthcare. She helped the provider grow to over 200 staffers, including doctors, dentists, nurse practitioners, and mental health counselors, at three sites.
The Betty Jean Kerr Scholarship was established in 2007 to support People’s Health Centers employees, and immediate
family members, who are pursuing degrees in health care.
Awards are made to undergraduate and graduate students in an amount of $1,000 per academic year. Past Scholars who received funding have pursued education in nursing, pharmacy, dental, social work, and human services.
Twelve recipients for the 2023 Fall semester were honored at a recent scholarship awards ceremony. Kerr passed away in September 2020, and the collegiate financial support continues her legacy in supporting the aspirations and educational dreams of future advocates for health care equity in our underserved communities.
We must be examples for children
By Marian Wright Edelman
When our children see the news right now, what are they thinking? We are at a moment where adults everywhere are reminded once again that we must all continue to strive to be the examples we want our children to emulate. We must teach them to value the truth and to know right from wrong. We cannot depend on anyone else.
I believe all great faiths, history, moral decency, and common sense beckon us anew to examine as individuals and as a people what we are to live by and teach our children by precept and example.
I urge adults in America of all races, faiths, and political persuasions to make a difference by teaching our children to love themselves and others as God loves us. We must teach our children at every age how we expect them to treat themselves and others respectfully and fairly and then struggle to model that behavior daily no matter what people in power, public figures, or role models are doing or how often we fail to meet our own standards, get up, and try again.
To our children, I hope they will make a difference as they grow by being courageous, aiming high, and holding on to ideals of mutual respect; by caring and serving; by being honest and telling the truth; by persevering and not giving up no matter how difficult the challenge; by being determined and resourceful; by being grateful for the gift and wonders of life; by working together with others; by being compassionate and kind; by being nonviolent and working for justice and peace in their communities, nation, and world; and by being faithful and struggling for what they believe.
The arc of the moral universe is long, but it still bends towards justice. It is so important for adults not to let ourselves off the hook or to become apathetic or cynical by telling ourselves that nothing we do can make a difference. Every day, light your small candle. It just might be the one that sparks the movement to save our children’s and our nation’s future.
Lord, You told us, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”
The world says, “Blessed are those high on spirits.”
You said, “Blessed are those who mourn.”
The world says, “Blessed are those who maim and torture.”
You said, “Blessed are the meek.”
The world says, “Blessed are the arrogant and the strong.”
You said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”
The world says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for fleeting power and fame.”
You said, “Blessed are the merciful.”
The world says, “Blessed are the mercenary and punitive.”
You said, “Blessed are the pure in heart.”
The world says, “Blessed are the hard of heart.”
You said, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”
The world says, “Blessed are the weapon makers.”
You said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.”
The world says, “Blessed are those who persecute for the sake of riches and race.”
You said, “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil about you falsely on my account.”
The world says, “Blessed are you when people applaud you and praise you for your own sake.”
Help us, Lord, to find our way to You
Marian Wright Edelman is Children’s Defense Fund founder and president emerita
Photo courtesy of Kerr Foundation Marian Wright Edelman
Continued from A1
St. Louis-based Black and Latinx founders and neighborhoods to help close the racial wealth gap and build an economy that centers on “collective wellbeing.”
The event exhibited a shared sense of collective change and a refreshing rebuke to a post-pandemic era where coming “outside” was much more than a literal statement. It was a predictive assertion of community transformation.
The “outside” theme was explored further when WEPOWER member Nyara Williams kicked off the ceremony with a documentary, “WEOUTSIDE,” the agency produced, and Williams directed.
Opening words of the film read:
“After two years of physically being inside, trying to make sense of the COVID-19 pandemic and all the injustice happening in our world via television screens, cellphones and laptops, WEPOWER returned to being outside with the launch of WEPOWER Weekend.”
Valaria Rodriguez, a WEPOWER Accelerator program alumni elaborated on the topic:
“Being outside to me means, exploring, overcoming our insecurities,
Gun laws
Continued from A1
Missourians are demanding state-level action to pass measures like redflag laws and background checks, but we are ready to try every tool available to us to protect families from gun violence.”
In Kansas City, an ordinance was passed to ban certain weapons, including machine guns, firearm silencers, and guns that are
our fears and being intentional about how we move in our communities,” she said speaking to the camera.
Marie Franklin, a WEPOWER “change-maker” referenced her childhood in East St. Louis and the amenities residents had “outside” their doors.
“When I moved here in ’71 we had everything in this neighborhood that you could need. We had a cleaners, a grocery store, a gas station, restaurant and pharmacy. I didn’t have to go outside my neighborhood…now we have nothing.”
Franklin, a former East St. Louis mayoral candidate said “true economic development means there are jobs, grocery stores services and pharmacies available for its citizens.
“We Outside means that we are outside for ourselves, for our liberation, for our children, our grandchildren and for our community.” Franklin continued.
“Building,” was the word Charli Cooksey, WEPOWER’s founder, used for her definition.
“Our definition of ‘WEOUTSIDE’ is building community; building political power and economic powder that allows us to have a future where our babies are cared for and have the resources they need; where our com-
turned into fully automatic weapons. A second ordinance makes it illegal to transfer weapons, including ammunition, to minors.
Mayor Quinton Lucas and city officials say the ordinances would target an increase in fatal shootings caused by the proliferation of automatic weapons and an increase in violence impacting young people.
The St. Louis Board of Aldermen recently passed Board Bill 29, which regulates the open carry of firearms in St. Louis.
munities are communities of care, full of resources and opportunities and where our futures are ones where Black and Brown folk are able to have our full humanity recognized, celebrated and affirmed by all these social systems that are, unfortunately, doing harm to us right now.”
Although “WEOUTSIDE” is a WEPOWER campaign, “#imagineif” was the
According to the mayor’s office, aldermanic bills will address prohibition of military-grade weapons and prevent the transfer or sale of guns to minors.
Jones also expects action “to prepare St. Louis for the passage of Blair’s Law.”
“Blair’s Law was passed by the state legislature in May 2023, but was vetoed by Gov. Mike Parson.
The law aims to make firing a gun within city
theme for Friday evening’s event. The organization presented the bodacious request to imagine “the future we know is possible for our region.”
Imagining, however, is backed up by programs aimed at fostering reality.
For example, WEPOWER’s “PowerBuilding Academy” is a seven-month program where future community leaders learn collaborative action for sustainable
limits a felony, with some exceptions, including self-defense and shooting weapons at gun ranges. It is named for Blair Shanahanlane, who was killed when a stray bullet struck her in the neck in her backyard on the Fourth of July in 2011 in Kansas City. She was 11.
Attorney General Andrew Bailey has already sent a letter to Jones challenging the city, complete with threats to file suits and take other actions.
“We’re ready to fight
change. Its “Chisholm’s Chair Fellowship (CCF)” offers training and support for Black and Latinx women considering careers as publicly elected and/or appointed officials.
Putting money behind its mission, the agency launched a $1.5 Million Fund to Invest in Black and Latinx Entrepreneurs in North St. Louis.
WEPOWER’s multifaceted “Theory of Change” includes increas-
like hell at the local level to prevent gun violence, protect our babies and keep our community safe,” said Mayor Jones.
“The [proposed] legislation are things not currently covered in the state legislature. The state legislature has us fighting crime with our hands tied behind our backs.”
Board of Aldermen President Megan Green said she stands with the mayor and her collegues on the pursuit of gun control laws.
ing the wealth of Black and Latinx households in historically high poverty communities; Increasing the living wages of that demographic; Increasing access to “high quality, equitably resourced, K12 public schools that cultivate critical and liberatory thinking for Black and Latinx children living in historically high poverty communities. Other “change” issues include “Health, Wealth, Positional Power, Entrepreneurship, Basic Well-Being and so much more.
“At WEPOWER, we’re thinking about the intersection between economic power and political power,” Cooksey stressed on the “WEOUTSIDE” documentary. “Often those are built in silos, so we have to build the political power, the organized people power, the electoral power and the policy power in lockstep with the economic power. In order to really hit a tipping point, we have to resource our own movement.”
Cooksey’s words, the entire documentary, participants and the eclectic, youthful atmosphere of the event all contributed to Friday’s positive vibe. It wasn’t just a celebration, it was a testimonial to the imagination and collective power of “We.”
“State-level preemption undermines local decision makers—namely residents who want their neighborhoods to be safe from gun violence. As elected officials, it is our responsibility to prioritize the lives of residents over unregulated access to firearms,” Green said.
“We are confident in the legal analysis that led to Tuesday’s announcement and believe these measures will make our city safer for visitors and residents.”
People enjoyed taking part in yoga sessions during the three-day “WEPOWER Weekend.”
brought in to all SLPS buildings.
In an interview with KSDK at Clyde C. Miller Academy, Scarlett said teachers “want support in mental health, to make sure they’re staying above the line so that they can really give to students as well.
“Also, career advancement opportunities and ways they’ll be able to be retained within the organization.”
Scarlett said an important part of school safety and children feeling safe is “having adults who care for them, and are connected with them, who know them by their name, their story and their need is very important. That’s the first step to making sure we have safe schools.”
“The safety issues we have in the city are citywide issues. The school district plays their part. We’re looking forward to working with [Mayor Tishaura Jones] and the rest of our city leaders and having safe spaces for students even after school will be important as well.”
“We will do indoor recess through the duration of the heat advisories, especially given how hot and also how humid it is outside,” said Nance Elementary Principal Tyler Archer.
“Within our schools, we often have kids with severe asthma and other medical conditions. Knowing who those kids are, monitoring
Brown
Continued from A1
nations, and it galvanized the Black Lives Matter movement,” said AddoYobo
Addo-Yobo works on the RFKHR US Litigation Advocacy Team, which partnered with the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center in the continuing pursuit of civil liability. According to AddoYobo, the families of Mike Brown have filed several unsuccessful civil suits. The request that Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell reopen the case was also tuned down.
She says a last resort is an international court. Over the past 7 years, several petitions have reached the Inter-American Commission on Human
to make sure that teachers know [and] bus drivers know [is] how to keep those kids safe, and to know signs of if a child is in distress.”
Another unforeseen circumstance occurred at Busch Middle School when a tree limb fell and snapped a power line.
The students were moved to nearby
Rights. In this commission’s judgment, the petitions should be admissible in an American courtroom.
The plaintiffs contend that local and national governments violated multiple human rights and international laws in connection with the killing and its legal aftermath.
Addo-Yobo says McCulloch’s case that was presented to the grand jury “raised some eyebrows,” especially the fact that Wilson was allowed to testify during the process.
“This typically is not how the proceeding goes. I think there has been a lot of pushback within the community about what happened with this case,” said the attorney. Addo-Yobo stated that in 2022 the U.S. had its highest number of police killings on record - and something must be done.
She said Brown’s fami-
Nottingham Community Access and Job Training High School for the day.
“Once attendance was taken first period [and] the lights weren’t back on, we went ahead and bussed them all over to Nottingham High School,” SLPS spokesman George Sells said.
Students were transferred by 9 a.m. and
ly isn’t asking for “overtop things,” just justice for the death of their son.
[A]public apology, acknowledgment of wrongdoing by the US officials, free and subsidized mental health services for family members, and adoption of legislation that will stop and deter future police killings, were noted as possible remedies for the family by AddoYobo.
“What the family is seeking is a real effort to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” said Addo-
parents got notified by phone, email, or social media.
As the week opened, Sells said anyone who can transport their child to or from school might want to consider that option on the hottest days.
SLPS Missouri Central School Bus Company is encouraging
Yobo.
She noted there are several stalled bills in Congress that could assist. They include, ‘The Breathe Act’, legislation where the government invests in restorative justice. The ‘End Religion and Race Profile Act,’ and the ‘Helping Families Heal Act’.
“No family should be left to defend themselves against the mishandled case of a police officer,” said the criminal defense attorney.
“They want restorative
students to bring water bottles on the bus each day for hydration, drivers are being instructed to pay careful attention for any signs of heat-related distress, and coolers of water and ice containing microfiber towels will be on all emergency/safety vehicles.
“We are doing everything we can to
justice for what happened”
Addo-Yobo said it is rare for a police officer to be charged in cases like Wilson’s. If so, they receive a “slap on the wrist,” or have the opportunity to work in law enforcement in another city.
Addo-Yobo said Brown’s case and the murder of George Floyd by a former Minneapolis police officer are part of American history - and that police killings in the U.S. have reached international stages for decades.
mitigate any complications the extreme heat will cause,” said Scott Allen, MCSB regional operations manager. “We are on full alert and are asking parents to make sure their children have full water bottles to keep them hydrated.”
KSDK and St. Louis Public Radio contributed to this report
In 1951, the Civil Rights Congress presented the United Nations with a petition entitled, “‘We Change Genocide.” The peition labeled police killings between 1945-1951 as genocide.
“The United States has a problem and it has been a problem for decades,” said Addo-Yobo
“This is a human rights violation that we all should be concerned with” Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for the St. Louis American.
St. Louis Public Schools
Superintendent Dr. Keisha Scarlett greets students as they exit the bus on the first day back to school.
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Cara’s gun control bill fires blanks
Gun violence in St. Louis seems undeterred in recent weeks, especially in the face of a toothless ordinance pushed by Alderwoman Cara Spencer (Ward 8).
Since Spencer’s Board Bill 29 passed on July 20, 2023, the City has experienced an increase in gun violence. The literal day after Spencer’s bill passed at the Board of Aldermen, two teenagers were shot and injured on the same block in LaSalle Park at different times of the day. Both of these shootings took place in Spencer’s ward.
A few weeks ago, a woman was shot in the southside neighborhood of Mt. Pleasant - in Spencer’s ward. Only a few days later in Spencer’s ward, gunshots were reported outside of Ball Park Village after a fight inside the Shark Bar spilled outside. On a recent weekend, four young people were shot in two separate incidents downtown, although outside of Spencer’s ward but inside a neighborhood that overlaps with hers.
policing, where law enforcement concentrates efforts in one specific block or neighborhood for a short period of time.
Board Bill 29 hasn’t been Spencer’s only piece of legislation of dubious value this session before the start of the aldermanic summer recess, the 8th Ward representative introduced her Board Bill 81, which would allow senior residents to freeze real estate property tax rates at the expense of public services like schools, fire departments, library districts, and other municipal services.
We understand the desire to legislate something to rein in gun violence, but our leaders cannot be so quick and willing to trade weak policy at the expense of civil liberties. Spencer’s answer to these shootings was to bring stop-and-frisk to St. Louis - a policy that even our police department seems reluctant to enforce.
The EYE has yet to see an instance where Spencer’s legislation would have prevented a gun-related death or injury from occurring. What has been effective, according to St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department leadership, is the implementation of the “SkyCop” mobile real-time cameras and “hot spot”
In July, the St. Louis County Council rejected a law similar to Spencer’s. A fiscal note prepared for St. Louis County determined the amount of lost revenue to be around $30 million, using the last five years’ tax records to estimate the deficit. Now, the St. Charles County Council is raising additional issues that seemingly weren’t addressed in the foundational state law – and the questions they have raised should be incredibly concerning to all of us.
Specifically, St. Charles leadership is asking the state legislature to clarify if Senate Bill 190 - which authorizes counties to allow the property tax freezeauthorizes counties to freeze tax rates for other taxing districts, like the aforementioned public schools and other vital municipal services that are non-negotiable for city residents.
In short, our neighbors to the northwest want to know if they can slowly and painfully defund public services under the guise of helping senior citizens – and Alderwoman Spencer is along for the ride.
It’s bad enough that rightwing billionaire Rex Sinquefield is actively chipping away at the
city’s 1% Earnings Tax, but to have one of our own elected officials - who chairs the Budget Committee - pursue legislation that would harm St. Louis Public Schools’ funding substantially and, possibly, the St. Louis Fire Department and the St. Louis Public Library’s operations as well - is an uncomfortable truth. What is Spencer trying to achieve by attacking our essential municipal services?
During this past week’s council meeting, St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann said some of the most prudent words we’re even heard from him:
“Courts are a terrible place for laws to be made — which is why the legislature should have written a better bill.”
If St. Louis County rejected this property tax freeze program because of the generational damage issues it creates for schools, fire departments, libraries, and other vital civic services, then Alderwoman Spencer would be wise to consider tabling her bill for the City of St. Louis. If even St. Charles County refuses to pass this legislation because of crucial details that are missing, then Alderwoman Spencer should pay attention to those
notes. The underlying state law originated from a legislative body that has shown little but contempt for and vitriol toward our City. Why would our leaders open our gates to the wolf (defunding critical public services) arriving at our doorstep in sheep’s clothing (reckless promises to seniors)?
• • • • •
Perhaps in an attempt to remind us of how far they’ve come since the Ferguson Uprising, the St. Louis County Police Department and its Jennings Precinct took a step back from any progress made in community relations last week with a photo of some Jennings police officers “enjoying the stardom at the 3rd Annual Jayson Tatum Charity Golf Tournament,” which took place at the Norwood Hills Country Club.
While the Jennings Precinct merely acknowledged the charity golf tournament hosted by St. Louis native and NBA superstar Jayson Tatum, the St. Louis County Police Department took the post a step further and wrote their own (uncalled for) commentary: “What a nice photo with hometown hero, Jayson Tatum! Good morning, St. Louis County.”
Except, the photo isn’t with the St. Louis NBA phenom but instead was taken of Tatum’s teammate (and Oklahoma City native) Blake Griffin. The police department’s post was left up for several hours before someone corrected the miscue.
The social media response was expectedly swift and ruthless. Most responses noted the police misidentification or expressed hope that police used better observational skills in their interactions with the public. “Not the police blaming the ‘they all look alike’ on a typo error,” one Facebook commenter said. But a Reddit poster said it best:
“I think it’s laudable that Tatum remembers us back here in St. Louis. We should probably do the same.”
This photo isn’t with the St. Louis NBA phenom but instead was taken of Jayson Tatum’s teammate (and Oklahoma City native) Blake Griffin.
The stolen cells that keep on giving
By Jamala Rogers
I would say Henrietta Lacks’ family finally got some measure of justice - but I’m not certain.
I don’t know if the financial compensation they received is fair because the recent settlement reached is not being disclosed. I can say that what happened to Lacks in 1951 was unjust, unfair, unethical and racist.
The news of a financial settlement came on Henrietta’s birthday; she would have been 103 years old on August 1, 2023. Her descendants traveled a long, rocky journey to attain the recognition and compensation she deserves for the illegal sale of her cells, branded as HeLa cells.
Over the years, some Lacks family members experienced health issues while having no health insurance. They would have benefitted from a swift and just settlement.
cells.
The stolen cells and their commercialization raise ethical concerns. The events also expose issues related to Black and poor people’s treatment in the U.S. medical industrial complex. Horror stories about experimentation on Black bodies are not a secret.
They’ve been passed down by African American families and communities for generations. They are documented in journals and books including Harriet Washington’s Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present, which was published in 2007. It is also documented how HeLa cells have made life-saving differences in medicine.
The biotech giant Thermo Fisher Scientific had the audacity to ask previous courts to dismiss the case. It argued that the family’s claim was outdated. No, TFS, what’s outdated is racism that continues to perpetuate health disparities and inequities in this country.
Henrietta Lacks was a poor, Black tobacco farmer in Virginia when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cervical cancer. Doctors at Johns Hopkin Hospital removed cells from her body without her knowledge or her permission. Amazingly, her cells lived outside of her body and reproduced—the only human cells of their kind to do so. She died after a few radiation treatments at 34 years old. Her family didn’t learn her cells were being used and sold until decades later. It is estimated that billions of dollars have been made off the HeLa
The genetic marvels have been included in 111,000 scientific publications and led to over 17,000 patents. Richard Axel and Harald zur Hausen received Nobel prizes for their research related to these cells.
The HeLa cells have resulted in countless medical and scientific breakthroughs including research about the human genome, HIV/AIDS and the development of the polio and COVID-19 vaccines. Henrietta’s were the first human cells to go into space in 1960.
Yet, there has been resistance to admitting the theft and repairing the wrongdoing from Johns Hopkins Hospital and Thermo Fischer Scientific. The ruthless and inhumane way that Black and poor people have been exploited in this country, particularly in the medical and judicial systems, must be addressed.
Henrietta Lacks should be a household name and her story should be well known. This is not just Black herstory. This is global history.
St. Louis has bridged jazz sound, artists for generations
Engagement is essential
By Victor Goines
The history of jazz has been traced back to the beginning of the twentieth century and agreed upon by most to have been seeded, or at least grew up in its infancy, in New Orleans. And while this agreed-upon location has been important to the early developments of this music, there has been a multitude of cities that have raised the flag and made contributions since jazz’s origins. Some cities include Chicago, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Detroit, Washington D.C., and New York, to name a few. The city that has been most important for bridging the coastal divide between the east coast and the west coast of the United States is the great city of St. Louis.
St. Louis’ location in the center of the United States, and its proximity to the Mississippi River – a major mode of transportation in the early 1900s, allowed its residents the opportunity to experience, interact and contribute to jazz like few cities. The city, with its plethora of arts organizations, has enriched its community for more than a century by exposing people from all over the world and all walks of life to the music. Today, one of the great signs of wealth for jazz in the city of St. Louis is Jazz St. Louis.
Project, Kara Baldus-Mehrmann, Reggie Thomas, Dawn Weber, Montez Coleman, and Jeremy Davenport, as well as a host of others.
The level of music that has been presented under the banner of Jazz St. Louis has been world-class since its inception in 1995 by founders Barbara Rose and Peter Bunce. With the mention of the robust list of talent that has appeared on the stages of Jazz St. Louis, it is only the tip of this phenomenal organization. The jewels exist in its Education and Community Engagement programs.
Jazz St. Louis is in the heart of the Grand Center Arts District and is one of the most in-demand jazz venues in the country featuring world-renowned artists. It has presented jazz legends such as Ahmad Jamal, Houston Person, Lonnie Smith, and Louis Donaldson; Grammy award winners such as Terence Blanchard, Samara Joy, Christian McBride, Diana Krall, Harry Connick, Jr, Al Jarreau, and Cecil McLorin Salvant; NEA Jazz Masters such as Wynton Marsalis, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Marcus Miller.
Most importantly, the list includes St. Louisans David Sanborn, Jazz St. Louis Creative Advisor Keyon Harrold, Jacob Melsha, Adaron “Pops” Jackson, Peter Martin, Christian McGhee, The Baylor
The two tenants of the Education program are the Jazz Academy and JazzU. Jazz Academy, in strategic partnership with select area middle schools, teaches music fundamentals through jazz, accelerating student development and empowering students to be leaders in their schools and band programs. Jazz Academy fosters a sense of community by creating a safe environment that encourages creative risk-taking and personal investment in jazz. JazzU is a program that places talented middle and high school musicians in small jazz combos, which meet weekly between September and May. Students work with JazzU faculty and can meet, work with, and perform with world-renowned musicians participating in the Jazz St. Louis Artist Residency Program. Both programs offer accepted student scholarships that cover the cost of participation in the program.
Community Engagement speaks to the heart of Jazz St. Louis. Under the banner of Community Engagement, programs include the Jazz St. Louis Book Club, Whitaker Jazz Speaks, Music Heals, courses with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), Donuts and Jazz with St. Louis jazz musicians, Swing for Scholars, and The Next Set: From Jazz St. Louis. Jazz St. Louis is an organization that has been dedicated to its mission: To lead our community in advancing the uniquely American art of jazz through performance, education, and community engagement. It is still dedicated to that mission and will forever be committed to that mission.
Victor Goines is Jazz St. Louis president & CEO
Columnist Jamala Rogers
Guest Columnist Victor Goines
Festival of Nations celebration set for Aug. 26-27
By Osama Ayyad KSDK
The Festival of Nations at Tower Grove Park returns August 26-27 and will feature performers and vendors representing more than 75 countries and their cultures. The celebration will also be greeted with cooler temperatures after a week of torrid, humid weather.
Organizers were determined to “grow” this year’s festival, specifically with performers, according to Arrey Obenson, president and CEO of the International Institute of St. Louis.
“While we are excited to see the return of many multicultural performances that St. Louis knows and loves, we are thrilled to welcome some internationally recognized names who are traveling to St. Louis from countries around the world for an unforgettable Festival of Nations,” Obenson said.
Each year more than 100,000 people attend the Festival of Nations, and they can enjoy “a cornucopia of culture and cuisine, including food and crafts from over 100 different food and retail vendors. Over 50 artists will bring live performances to two stages.
Here’s a list of some of the artists scheduled to perform, serve food, or offer retail items during this year’s festival. Follow @festofnations for
the latest information.
Local cultural performance groups Alma de Mexico
Samanvita Kasthuri Spirit of Angela Deepshikha Banerjee Dizzy Atmosphere
Internationally known performers Pink Sweat$ Tennille Amor Ricky Kej Walshy Fire Shacko Akim Logan Mize
Market vendors
Ecuadorian Handcrafts Illari Peru Plant Betch Ousmane Thiam The Seny Collection Wei Dance
Food and beverage vendors Tiger Street Food Tee Rak Thai Rockwell Beer Company Balkan Treasure Bread & Bake FUFU n’ Sauce
The festival is free to attend but proceeds from ticket purchases support the International Institute of St. Louis.
“Tickets and passes provide you the opportunity to enjoy an elevated Festival of Nations experience,” the festival’s website said.
For additional ticket information, please visit https://www.festofnations. com/tickets
Mental Health Matters: Linking Education and Behavioral Health
Of the multiple factors contributing to positive, equitable health outcomes for children, education is in the top tier. In the years during and following the pandemic, educators and health providers have seen even more clearly the impacts of behavioral and mental health and wellness on children’s educational success.
According to the Children’s Hospital Association, from April to October of 2020 mental health emergency department visits increased 24% for children ages 5-11 and 31% for those ages 12-17 compared to the same period in 2019. These statistics show the need for expanded behavioral health services for children and families while school is both in and out of session.
It’s a key focus area for BJC HealthCare. Teams throughout the health system already work in local schools to provide mental health services for children during and beyond the school year. These include efforts like BJC Behavioral Health’s Embedded School program, a partnership with St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund and various St. Louis County school districts. Through the program, a team of educational support counselors are embedded in certain schools to support short-term mental health needs of students from preschool through grade 12.
Additionally, community support specialists work yearround to support behavioral and mental health needs for children and families, both in schools and in home and family settings.
“These services are prevention and early intervention efforts,” said Candace Hamell, associate director of child and young adult services at BJC Behavioral Health.
Beyond the classroom: community efforts to sustain mental health
Additionally, BJC School Outreach and Youth Development provides programs for youth and adults that promote mental and physical wellness both in schools and communities. The school-based programs are designed to meet Missouri and Illinois academic health guidelines, while the communitybased programs are co-created and co-designed to support “out of school time” learning.
And efforts to expand behavioral health services across the community have become paramount for the health system. BJC has partnered with community-based organizations to develop wellness hubs to ensure equitable access to behavioral health support year-round. These community wellness hubs can serve as central locations for holistic — mental, physical and spiritual — wellness, offering crucial wraparound services and meeting people in already trusted community organizations and institutions while prioritizing overall well-being.
“We are highly focused on increasing the community behavioral health programs year-round,” said Doneisha Bohannon, director of community health partnerships and collaboration for BJC HealthCare.
Her team is collaborating with St. Louis County libraries as well as some of the city recreation centers to bring behavioral health wellness programs on-site in underserved neighborhoods. Topics offered in the hubs include yoga, stress management, meditation, self-care, food and nutrition and bullying prevention. Programs are designed based on insights from community residents and community organizations.
“We are intent on meeting people where they are and delivering programs that they want to see,” Bohannon said, adding that they are working with schools to identify other areas of need.
Over the past year, three community wellness hubs were established at the St. Louis County Library’s three North County locations — Lewis & Clark, Parkview and Natural Bridge — as well as two additional locations at Wohl Recreation Center and Marquette Recreation Center. The partnerships allow BJC and its community partners to enhance the work that’s already in progress through each organization.
“Tons of kids are coming through recreation centers, so we want to build on what they’re already doing,” said Denise Strehlow, a manager on BJC’s Community Health Improvement team.
Best of all, the hubs are for anyone in the community — and the response has been positive, Strehlow said. “The feedback is helpful — we’re getting direct input from the community so we’re creating what people want.”
Hamell said her team at BJC Behavioral Health acts as a liaison to the Community Health Improvement team to organize, design and implement the programs. They are also able to tell their clients about the hubs so they can get that extra support outside of the services the clinicians provide.
“We can provide helpful input on where and how to provide community-based services where people naturally go,” she said. “It’s a nice continuum of care through the BJC system of programs that fit in different departments and reach people through different channels.”
Contact CHI@bjc.org to learn more about BJC’s community wellness hubs and its commitment to community health improvement.
Photo courtesy of International Institute of St. Louis Festival of nations in Tower Grove Park August 26-27 will feature performers and vendors representing more than 75 countries.
‘Taking Care of You’
Remembering Dr. Mary Tillman
She was a trailblazer in support of Black physicians
By Dr. Denise Hooks-Anderson
For the St. Louis American
Relationships, in my opinion, are not by accident. Every individual in my past or present is there for a particular reason and that part of my life has a purpose, whether I understand it or not.
I have had the great fortune of meeting some dynamic people who supported me, mentored me, or who provided comedic relief when I needed it most. Dr. Mary Tillman was an example of a person who made an indelible impression upon me and helped shape me into the medical professional that I am today.
I did not have Black female physician role models growing up. To be honest, I don’t think I met a Black female doctor until I was in medical
Denise HooksAnderson
school, but they were nothing like Dr. Tillman, a proud graduate of Howard University.
Dr. Tillman and I had a lot in common. We both attended an HBCU, we both married our college sweethearts, and we both were members of a sorority. After meeting Dr. Tillman, I knew after whom I wanted to emulate my career.
Dr. Tillman had a lot of firsts in her career. She was the first female president of Mound City Medical Forum, the local affiliate of the National
Medical Association. I had the honor of also serving as president and would often call upon Dr. Tillman for support and advice. She was always willing to assist with her time, talent, and treasure.
Dr. Kanika Cunningham, director of the St. Louis County Department of Public Health also shared her thoughts on Dr. Tillman’s legacy.
“Dr. Mary Tillman was a trailblazer, a phenomenal pediatrician for the St. Louis region,” Dr. Cunningham said.
“I met her at a women’s luncheon at Cardinal Ritter College prep in October of 2021 in which she provided a wealth of knowledge to the younger Black female physicians in the audience. I admired her legacy,
Healing
By Joseph Williams
Not long after starting work as a practicing physician, Dr. Paula Braveman reached an important diagnosis: many of the Black patients she treated for things like hypertension or diabetes had something in common. She later confirmed the observation as a public health researcher in San Francisco.
Being Black in America, she concluded, is hazardous to your health
Joseph Williams
n Factors driving health inequity are “disparities in the conditions that people experience, including racism in its many forms.”
“Once you are sick, you definitely want medical care, but it is the conditions of your life that largely determine whether you get sick in the first place,” says Braveman, founding director of the Center for Health Equity and professor of family and community medicine at the University of California-San Francisco. “Structural racism systematically exposes Black people to healthharming conditions and obstructs their progress to health-promoting conditions,” Braveman says. “These factors did not just suddenly emerge. They have always been there, from slavery on.” There is, however, an interim prescription, Braveman says: Black people connecting to talk about their experiences in an atmosphere designed to heal, not hurt.
“I think that seeking opportunities for Black people to come together and discuss with each other their experiences of racism, and how they deal with it, could have healing effects, but only
Measles making comeback, local cases reported
Affinia enlisted to assist with vaccines
By JoAnn Weaver St. Louis American
Measles is still a health danger, and parts of the St. Louis region have confirmed cases of the disease.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the St. Louis County Department of Public Health, and the St. Charles County Department of Public Health have been notified of an internationally imported confirmed case of measles on August 7.
The departments are waiting for the completion of tests to determine the strain of disease from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a statement.
Exposures were recorded at Fitness
n As of June 8, 2023, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention had been notified of 16 confirmed U.S. cases of measles.
Edge in Creve Coeur, Total Access Urgent Care in St Charles, and the emergency department at BarnesJewish Hospital St. St. Peters in late July, according to a statement from the city and county public health departments.
See MEASLES, A15
Measles cases have been reported in the St. Louis area and throughout America in increasing number. Most cases were among children who had not received a measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination.
Dr. Mary Tillman shared advice with three Black women doctors during an inaugural brunch at Cardinal Ritter College Prep on Oct. 31, 2021. The event brought Black female physicians together from St. Louis and Metro East.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Denise Hooks-Anderson
See TILLMAN, A15
See WILLIAMS, A15
Photo courtesy of Missouri University Health
Tillman
Continued from A14
her deep understanding of the history of medicine in St. Louis and her ongoing struggle on behalf of Black physicians during that time.
“I am grateful for her laying the foundation for future Black physicians like me in St. Louis. She will be missed but her legacy will continue to flourish.”
Dr. Tillman trained at the famous Homer G. Phillips Hospital here in St. Louis. She, along with Dr. Garey Watkins, Dr. Nathaniel Murdoch, and several former nurses, would often participate in a panel I hosted for Saint Louis University School of Medicine students.
The stories she would tell were vivid and sincere. She often talked about the atmosphere of excellence at the hospital and the high level of expertise of the staff. After the presentations, the female students would run up and request a picture with Dr. Tillman and she would graciously oblige.
Dr. Tillman, and the late Dr. Leslie F. (Les) Bond Sr., were honored as Lifetime Achievers during the 7th Annual Salute to Excellence in Health Care Luncheon on May 12, 2007.
A native of Bristow, Oklahoma, Dr. Tillman was a past president of the board of directors of the Annie Malone Children & Family Service Center and local chapter of her sorority, Zeta Phi Beta. She was an active
Measles
Continued from A14
Public health officials from all three agencies have been working to notify individuals who may have been exposed to measles. The public should also be aware of measles symptoms and know how to reach out to their physician if they experience symptoms, specifically a rash.
As of June 8, 2023, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention had been notified of 16 confirmed U.S. cases of measles across 11 jurisdictions, with 14 (88%) linked to international travel.
The United States has seen an increase in measles cases during the first 5 months of 2023, with 16 reported cases compared to three in 2022 during the same period, according to the CDC. Most of these cases were among children who had not received a measles-mumps-rubella
Williams
Continued from A14 if sustained over time,” Braveman says.
“Racial healing is absolutely part of the equation.” Until recently, the notion that things as disparate as housing or education can influence a person’s health outcomes was a radical idea with little scientific support. But researchers like Braverman and others found solid evidence that social determinants — the conditions and circumstances in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age — can shape their well-being.
‘Taking Care of You’
member of the American Medical Association, American Medical Women’s Association, and many other Professional Organizations. She was also a member of the White House Conference on Children and Youth, the Committee on Adoptions for the American Academy of Pediatrics, and a consulting member of the National Advisory Health Council to Secretary United States Department
(MMR) vaccine. People who may have been exposed to measles should contact their health care provider if they develop cold-like symptoms with a fever and/or rash as described. Those who have been exposed to measles and have symptoms, which consists of a rash that appears 7-21 days after exposure, should not go to any health care facility without calling first.
Measles is a highly contagious, acute viral illness that is transmitted by contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing. Measles typically begins with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes.
Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash starts to appear. Rashes usually begin as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet.
of Health, Education and Welfare. Dr. Tillman was an author and contributed to several medical articles. My heart was broken when I found out that Dr. Tillman had passed away. She had recently been on my mind and was on my “to-do-list” to give her a call. I would randomly call her at times just to chat. She always asked about my family and particularly my daughters. Having served as a pediatrician
for decades, Dr. Tillman always provided me with great parenting advice. I recall when my oldest daughter was a teenager, I was complaining to Dr. Tillman that I could not get her to wear dresses and it was always a fight on Sunday mornings prior to church. Dr. Tillman, with her quick wit, told me to pick my battles.
She said, “Let her wear her jeans. She’s
in church, isn’t she?
Let it go! It’s not worth the fight.” I chuckled to myself. At the time, I did not realize this petite, welldressed doctor was so cool and laid back. Lesson one she taught me: don’t take yourself so seriously!
Serving as a physician is an honor and a privilege that I do not take lightly.
I also recognize that I would not have had this opportunity if it were not for people like Dr. Mary
Affinia Healthcare possession of immunoglobulin (IG) in the event of a hepatitis A or measles outbreak earlier this summer, according to a statement.
Affinia Healthcare will be responsible for the ordering, storage, transfer, and administration of immunoglobulin (IG) on behalf of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services for the FQHCs and underserved community.
The state is requesting Affinia Healthcare have after-hours availability to distribute the immunoglobulin if needed.
Tillman paving the way for me. I am eternally grateful that our paths crossed. Dr. Tillman was a brilliant woman who understood social determinants of health before it even became the new buzz phrase. Her grace, her style, and her love for her patients, friends, and family are the memories we shall hold near and dear to our hearts. Rest in peace Dr. Tillman!
(antibodies) against certain virus infections (hepatitis A, measles, chickenpox, rubella) in people who have not been vaccinated or have not had the infection before. It is also used to strengthen the body’s natural defense system (immune system) to lower the risk of infection in people with a certain immune system problem (immunoglobulin deficiency).
Patients are contagious from four days before until four days after the rash appears. The measles virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease.
Factors driving health inequity are “disparities in the conditions that people experience, including racism in its many forms,” such as economic insecurity, unsafe or insecure housing, and poor nutrition, to name a few, Braveman says. “It’s important to understand that for Black people, racism, particularly structural and systemic racism, is actually the cause of almost all the other causes on this list and longer lists.”
Those conditions, she says, confirmed what she’d seen when she was a young doctor.
“So many of my patients needed changes in the circumstances of
Individuals can check with their health care provider to make sure you and your family are up to date on vaccines.
Residents with ques-
their lives that could only be accomplished through broad societal changes and public policy,” Braveman says. “I see it all the time in my and others’ research findings.”
For example, a study Braveman did with colleagues, she says, found that “among Black women, those who often or very often worried about being treated unfairly because of their race, were far more likely to give birth prematurely than Black women who were comparable in many other ways but who did not often worry about being treated unfairly because of their race.”
While it wasn’t until the last decade that social determinants of health
tions should contact their local health department.
Affinia Healthcare is supporting local federally-qualified health centers (FQHC) and underserved communities in response to a measles outbreak in the St. Louis metro area.
The Missouri Department of Health and Human Services granted
became a field of study, “a light is at last being shone on them, with an understanding that they are direct products of racism,” Braveman says. “They operate whether or not any particular individual is identified who intends to discriminate; they operate because they are built into structures and systems, e.g., policies, laws, entrenched practices.”
For solutions, however, Braveman believes there must be racial healing on a broad scale.
“I think that seeking opportunities for Black people to come together and discuss with each other their experiences of racism (and how they deal with it) could have
Affinia Healthcare President & CEO Dr. Kendra Holmes and Pharmacy Director Kenyatta Johnson will manage distribution.
“The medical community has seen a steady increase in the numbers of cases of measles worldwide, so it is wise to prepare and focus on those most vulnerable,” Holmes said.
This medication is used to provide protection
healing effects, but only if sustained over time,” she says. “At least in the beginning, a skilled facilitator is probably needed, so this is not a super-cheap intervention.”
Braveman also points to the California Department of Public Health’s Black Infant Health Program, a series of classes specifically designed to address racial trauma among pregnant and parenting Black women.
Along with providing long-term planning and a support network of other Black birthing people, the BIH program addresses internalized racism “by including a discussion of a ‘Black icon’—a Black individual who has made
“The trust the state has placed in us is humbling yet speaks to the quality of care we provide daily, as well as the level of expertise of our staff. We take this responsibility extremely seriously,” Holmes said. Affinia Healthcare is one of five FQHCs in Missouri to be selected for this important project.
To prevent the spread of measles infection from importation, all U.S. residents should be up to date on their MMR vaccinations, especially prior to international travel regardless of the destination, according to the CDC.
significant contributions to society,” according to a program description. While support for new parents and racial healing can help, reversing social determinants of health and creating health equity must happen at a higher level, Braveman says. “The primary focus needs to be on changing the laws and policies (voter suppression; funding for schools; environmental injustice) that are the fundamental instruments for racism’s effects,” she says.
Joseph Williams is a freelance columnist. This commentary was produced in partnership with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Retired KMOX anchor Carol Daniel (left) and Dr. Mary Tillman. Dr. Tillman was honored as a lifetime achiever during the 2007 Salute to Excellence in Health Care.
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
PeoPle on the Move
Sandi Tolliver named to board at SLOCA
Sales at the Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood location Tuesday, Aug. 16.
St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness (SLOCA) welcomes Sandi Tolliver as the president of the Board of Directors. Tolliver has been a dedicated board member and SLOCA volunteer, and as a survivor, has shared her story helping to spread ovarian cancer awareness. She serves as the director of communications within the marketing department at World Wide Technology. Tolliver holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in marketing and volunteers her time serving on the board of directors for St. Louis area non-forprofit organizations.
Arrindell named to Challenge Unlimited board
By Sylvester Brown Jr. St. Louis American
The popular diner, “Goody Goody” on Natural Bridge near Goodfellow closed in 2019 after a fire. The establishment was a gathering place known for its hearty breakfasts and lunches and its menu of down-home “goodies” like pancakes, waffles, grits, salmon croquettes and its golden fried and honey-glazed chicken.
A smaller establishment, Ari’s Ice Cream Parlor & Café at 5572 Natural Bridge Ave., is starting to fill the communal void left by the more famous restaurant. Soon to celebrate its fifth anniversary, partners Allen Sales and Nelda Granderson are grappling with the business’ increasing popularity and possible need to expand.
n Right now, there are five employees, consisting of family members and friends. What was meant to be a neighborhood ice cream parlor quickly morphed into a full-service restaurant and not necessarily by intention.
Right now, there are five employees consisting of family members and friends. What was meant to be a neighborhood ice cream parlor quickly morphed into a full-service restaurant and not necessarily by intention.
“My daughter Arianna (the cafe is named after her) and I used to make ice cream at the house,” Sales explained. “We had a residential ice cream-maker and made ice cream with milk, whipping cream, sugar, and our own flavors. After some experimenting, I talked to her about selling our product, maybe door-to-door.”
That idea changed after Sales, a professional plumber and owner of several
properties, saw a discreet, brown and red brick building for sale on Natural Bridge Avenue. Sales recruited Granderson who had lost her job of 16 years at Scottrade after TD Ameritrade Holding Corp acquired the company in 2016.
Granderson brought much-needed operating experience to the new venture. Her grandparents, Jo Alma & Herman Houston, founded and operated Diner’s Delight on the corners of Compton and Park Avenues in 1969. Granderson worked on and off at the buffet style restaurant throughout her youth and young adulthood.
There were certain basic principles Granderson borrowed from her grandparents.
“Treat people like they deserve to be treated; serve good food; have a nice, clean place and make sure customers feel welcome when they come through the door,” Granderson said, adding: “Do all that and the word will spread.”
CDC announces affordable housing project grants
More than $20M to be awarded
St. Louis American staff
More than 900 future affordable housing units are planned through the opening round of Neighborhood Transformation Grant awards, the St. Louis Community Development Administration [CDA] has announced.
housing will benefit St. Louis working families for years to come.”
According to the CDA, the grants are designed to “catalyze over $200 million in housing development.” Included are: • $5.3 million to eight developers See GRANTS, B2
Geri Lynn Arrindell, a licensed attorney in Illinois and Missouri with the law firm Mickes O’Toole, joined Challenge Unlimited’s board of directors in May for a three-year term. A resident of University City, she is also general counsel for the organization. Arrindell’s legal experience includes serving as litigation counsel to various entities including nonprofit organizations. Her background also includes arbitrations and administrative proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board and the Illinois Labor Relations Board.
Alovor becomes director of civic engagement
FOCUS St. Louis announced the addition of Dr. Yolanda (Yoli) Alovor to its full-time staff as director of civic engagement. Her academic journey includes a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where she specialized in creating initiatives and interventions aimed at enhancing educational outcomes for diverse populations. She also holds a M.A. in Education degree from Wayne State University and a B.A. in Political Science degree from Texas Southern University. Dr. Alovor serves on the boards of Girls Inc. St. Louis and Guardian Angel Settlement Association.
The team at Ari’s Ice Cream Parlor & Cafe are Nelda Granderson, Damanda Vaughn, Arianna Sales, Allen Sales, Alyssa January and Roger
See ARI’S, B2
Sandi Tolliver
Dr. Yolanda Alovor
Chris Draper was recently named project engineer and construction manager at Kwame Building Group. Draper brings more than seven
struction. He is currently working on renovation projects
McDonald’s
Harris Stowe State University. Draper holds a Master of Science in Construction Management from New School of Architecture
Design
Bachelor
Graphic Communications from the University of Missouri St. Louis.
Chris Draper joins Kwame
Chris Draper
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Photo courtesy of Tabernacle CDC
Gery Lynn Arrindell
Ari’s
Continued from B1
An ice cream parlor in North St. Louis has exciting potential, Sales explained, but it also came with the downside of being a seasonal business.
“In response to that, we opened the café part thinking we’d sell coffee, tea, muffins and things like that, but customers started asking for breakfast, so we added a breakfast and lunch menu.”
After Goody Goody closed a year after Ari’s opened, Sales said more people started frequenting his place asking for breakfast. Granderson expanded the menu with reasonably priced items. For example, their breakfast burrito with eggs, turkey bacon, or turkey sausage- is only $6. Breakfast plates with two eggs, potatoes, toast, turkey, or bacon sausage cost $8.
Ari’s doesn’t sell pork products, but that’s not for religious reasons, Sales said. It’s because North St. Louis is saturated with unhealthy pork products and he simply wanted his Ari’s “to be different.”
Other items on the daily menu include French toast, waffles, salmon croquettes, steak melts, turkey burgers and soul food desserts like 7up Pound Cake, “Pineapple Delight” and banana pudding. Like Goody Goody
Diner used to be, Ari’s is becoming the new gathering place for St. Louisans of all stripes.
“We get policemen, firemen, city workers, people from the Pepsi plant, utility workers, neighborhood folk, teachers, principals,” Granderson said, adding that St. Louis public school’s new superintendent, Dr. Keisha Scarlett and her family visited the cafe recently.
Drop in any morning (Tues-Sat from 7am-5pm) and you’re liable to see people huddled in the small eatery having robust conversations and owners and workers greeting customers by their first names.
Sales, who blanketed the surrounding neighborhood with flyers and door-hangers before opening Ari’s, said he’s not surprised by the steady flow of customers. But, he added, he wishes he’d initially planned better.
“It’s still a challenge,” he explained. “The majority of people think we’re just an ice cream parlor. Even though ‘café’ is in our title, most people driving by only focus on the ice cream parlor part of our name.”
That “challenge” aside, Sales worries that he might not be able to manage Ari’s quick-growing traffic as more people realize they can come in and eat breakfast or lunch at the restaurant.
“We’re really not big
A smaller establishment, Ari’s Ice Cream Parlor & Café at 5572 Natural Bridge Ave., is starting to fill the communal void left by the more famous restaurant, Goody Goody.
enough to go out with a full-fledged restaurant,” Sales said. “So, we’re caught in a place where we don’t want to advertise too much and get to a place where we won’t be able to serve our existing customers well.”
He’s holding out hope that the city can help with his expansion plans.
Through its Community Development Administration, the City has allocated $37 Million in Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) for the administration of a North St. Louis Small Business & Non-Profit Grant Program. Administered through the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC), North St. Louis small business-owners and nonprofits can apply for the city grants. Sales said he’s already applied.
If they are awarded a grant, Sales and Granderson said they have no intention of trying to replicate Goody Goody as far as size or scope.
“We want it to remain a neighborhood place,” Granderson explained. “We still want it to be a place where we can talk to our customers-which a lot of people aren’t used to. We don’t want to rush your order or push people out the door to get more customers in.
“We want to continue to show love, continue to be that unique and special ‘neighborhood place.’”
Following a ribbon-cutting for the Northside Economic Empowerment Center at Sumner High School in January, St. Louis Mayor Tishara Jones announced $93 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act would be directed to the city’s northside through the Economic Justice Act. ARPA and HUD funds are backing new Neighborhood Transformation Grants. From left are Economic Empowerment Center manager Nicole Dotson, Mayor Jones, Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier, then an SLPS school board member, and St. Louis Development Corporation President and CEO Neal Richardson.
Grants
Continued from B1
building 20 single-family homes. Awards include construction financing and over $750K in downpayment assistance.
• $10.9 million to 12 multifamily projects producing and preserving 866 rental units. Three projects were previously awarded low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC). The remainder are seeking LIHTC allocations.
• $3 million to six rental rehab projects to create 37 affordable units and bring over a dozen vacant buildings to occupancy.
• $900,000 to a motel acquisition and rehab project which will create 20 units of Permanent Supportive Housing.
“Generations of racial segregation, restrictive
covenants, redlining and discriminatory appraisal practices have left scars like the Delmar Divide, collapsed homes and vacant lots etched into the fabric of St. Louis,” said CDA Executive Director Nahuel Fefer.
“[The awards] dramatically expand and diversify the city’s portfolio of housing investments, reflect commitment to reversing decades of disinvestment in marginalized communities, and [help] build housing as diverse as our city.”
As part of the City of St. Louis Economic Justice Action Plan, projects in the city’s most distressed communities were prioritized. In addition, projects near public transit, schools, and other community assets were a priority.
The list of projects also includes rehabilitation of vacant buildings, develop-
ment of city vacant lots, and efforts to demonstrate commitment to universal design and quality durable construction. Projects demonstrating alignment with the city’s sustainability plan and neighborhood plans were also prioritized.
The CDA will host a future public hearing to collect community input on proposals, and applications that were not selected are invited to debrief with CDA staff to discuss how they might strengthen their proposal in future funding rounds.
The Affordable Housing Commission’s annual housing production funding cycle will open in September, and CDA anticipates opening another cycle in early 2024 including uncommitted HOME-ARP, Community Development Block Grants, HOME & ARPA funds.
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
n “At this point, I think I’m definitely ready for Week 1.”
– Green Bay Packers
quarterback Jordan Love
InSIdE SportS
By Earl Austin Jr.
Just in time!
Justin
St. Louisan Justin Robinson became a world champion and a world record holder in just over three minutes.
The former Hazelwood West track star was a member of the USA’s mixed 4x400-meter relay team that won a gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on August 19, 2023.
Robinson ran the opening leg of the relay and turned in a split of 44.47 seconds, which was the second fastest in the field. It helped the USA team triumph and set a world record time of 3 minutes 08.8 seconds. Robinson was joined on the relay by Rosey Effiong, Matthew Boling and Alexis Holmes.
A 2019 graduate of Hazelwood West, Robinson powered the Wildcats to a Class 5 state championship as a senior. For college, he took his talents West to Arizona State University, where he has been a standout performer for the Sun Devils.
The 44.47 opening leg that he ran on Saturday equaled his personal best performance, which he ran in finishing fourth at the recent USA Track and Field Championships.
The world championship is another big moment in Robinson’s stellar 2023 season. He was the national champion at the USATF
Robinson races to relay gold at World Championships
Indoor Championships in the 400-meter dash and he ran a leg on the Sun Devils’ 4x400-meter relay team that won the Pac 12 championship. Robinson also won gold medals at the Pan American U20 Championships in 2019 in the 400-meter dash and USA’s 4x400-meter relay.
Demetrius Jones commits to Lindenwood Standout defensive
tackle Demetrius Jones of Lutheran North has given a commitment to Lindenwood University. A three-star recruit, the 6’3” 265-pound Jones made his official announcement last week. As a junior, Jones earned All-Metro League and All-State recognition after registering 94 tackles, including 44 solos and 15 quarterback sacks.
High School Football is back As we begin the high
school season this week, here is a short list of teams to watch in the St. Louis area.
East St. Louis - The Flyers have another strong unit ready to compete for another Illinois Class 6 state championship.
CBC - The Cadets are the two-time Missouri Class 6 state champions.
Cardinal Ritter - The Lions are a powerful team coming off a Missouri
EyE
With Alvin A. Reid
O’Fallon - The Panthers were 8-2 last season and qualified for the Illinois Class 8A playoffs.
Marquette - The Mustangs were 10-2 last season and played for a Class 6 district championship
What’s On Tap for Week 1
Friday, August 25
SLUH at St. Mary’s, 6 p.m.
Class 3 state championship.
Francis Howell - The Vikings are coming off a Class 5 state championship, the first in their school’s history in football.
St. Mary’s - The Dragons are coming off back to back state championship seasons.
DeSmet - The Spartans advanced to the Class 6 semifinals a year ago.
It’s a Winn now situation for St. Louis Cardinals shortstop prospect SportS
Masyn Winn made his St. Louis Cardinals debut at shortstop on Friday, August 18, 2023, to the delight of a sparse crowd which included his mother Tiffany Rawson, stepfather Earl Luckett and about 15 members of his family.
He called his parents at 10:30 p.m. Thursday to give them the good news – and give them time to make flight arrangements from Houston.
“Walking out there and seeing the fans, I was a little bit nervous at first. But it was a lot of fun, and I’m really excited for the future.”
While the 2023 campaign has been a disappointment, the Cardinals now field two of the game’s most-talented Black rookies.
Winn belted a home run for Triple-A Memphis, the Redbirds won, and he received word of his promotion after the game. His minor league teammates mobbed him in the clubhouse, expressing their joy for the 21-yearold prospect.
Winn stopped by his residence, loaded up his car, and made the fourhour drive to St. Louis that night. He was in the starting lineup in the second game of a fourgame series against the New York Mets.
“Man, it was fantastic,” Winn said when asked about his first game, which included his first Major League hit.
Jordan Walker, who was on the Cardinals Opening Day roster, and Winn became close friends while both played at Memphis, and he could not wait for Winn to join him in St. Louis.
“He’s pretty much my brother — about as close as we can be without being blood-related,” Walker told mlb.com’s John Denton.
“He’s always been so supportive of me. I’m excited to start playing with him again, for sure.”
Winn displayed his stellar defense on several plays during the Mets series and recorded three hits in 11 at-bats (.273). He earned his promotion by hitting .288 with 18 home runs, 61 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases with Memphis.
After Winn beat out a ground ball to secure his first Major League hit, New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonzo threw the ball into the stands.
The first base umpire told Alonzo the ball had to be taken out of play. He usually throws those balls into the crowd but this time he failed to realize Winn’s achievement. With the crowd chanting ‘give it back, give it back,’ a woman who retrieved the ball gave it to Busch Stadium security
and it was returned to Winn’s family. After twice apologizing to Winn for his gaffe during the game, on Saturday Alonzo sent him a bottle of Don Julio 1942 Tequila and an autographed bat, Mets beat writer Tim Healey reported.
The Reid Roundup
Masyn Winn became the youngest Cardinal to make his MLB debut at as starting shortstop since Garry Templeton
(20 years, 138 days) on Aug. 9, 1976…Jordan Walker has continued his impressive rookie season.
As of August 21, 2023, he was batting .260 with 11 home runs, 35 RBIs, and six stolen bases... After an outstanding first start which resulted in a Baltimore Orioles victory, Jack Flaherty has struggled since the St. Louis Cardinals traded him. He is 1-2 with a 7.07 ERA and has pitched just 14 innings…Toronto acquired reliever Jordan Hicks from the Cardinals in July, and he threw the two fastest pitches in Blue Jays’ history on August 19 – 103 mph. Hicks is 1-2 record with an ERA of 4.50, eight strikeouts, and three saves in nine appearances as a Blue Jay…Coco Gauff, ranked No. 7 in the world, beat No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the semifinals of the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati and won the prestigious tournament’s title with a win over Karolina Muchova Gauff enters the U.S. Open, which runs August 28-September 10 in Flushing Meadows, New York, as the No. 6 seed and a favorite to win the championship… Ronald Acuna Jr of the Atlanta Braves remains the favorite to win the 2023 National League Most Valuable Player award, but L.A. Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts has surged into contention. Following a two-home run performance in a win on August 19 that earned a tip-of-the-cap from Lebron James in a VIP suite, Betts was batting .298 with 34 home runs, 32 doubles and 86 RBIs in 117 games.
Earl Austin Jr.
Alvin A. Reid
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn swings for his first Major League hit in his debut game at Busch Stadium on Friday, August 18.
Photo courtesy of USA Track
Justin Robinson (center) celebrates with Matthew Boling and Alexis Holmes after they and teammate Rosey Effiong won the mixed 4x400-meter relay gold medal at the World Athletic Championships in Budapest, Hungary in record time.
Photo by Bill Greenblatt / St. Louis American
Philadelphia Zoo hires a Saint Louis Zoo leader as its next president and CEO
Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman currently serves as director of Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park
Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman was recently named the 15th president of Philadelphia Zoo, the first zoo in the United States. She has been serving as director of the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park since 2019 and will remain until the end of October.
Prior to serving as director in St. Louis, Dr. Mogerman was the vice president of learning and community at the Shedd Aquarium and spent nearly 14 years in leadership roles at the Brookfield Zoo, both in the Chicago metro area. After obtaining her bach-
elor’s degree in biology from Macalester College, Dr. Mogerman attained a master’s degree in conservation biology from the University of Minnesota as well as a doctorate in biology from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
As director of
the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park , which is set to open to the public in 2027, Dr. Mogerman has been responsible for leading and planning the development of the 425-acre destination located in north St. Louis County, less than
30 minutes from Saint Louis Zoo. Her commitment to connecting people with animals and inspiring action for wildlife has been at the center of her efforts to build an impressive team and spearhead this $230 million wildlife project. Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman
TopGolf location in Midtown nearing completion
TopGolf St. Louis –Midtown continues on its progress towards an opening date at its facility on Chouteau Ave. on the edge of the SLU campus.
Drivers on Highway 40 and nearby can see that its towering golf nets are in place and the facility continues its construction work. The facility will have more than 100 climate-controlled bays on three levels, where visitors can hit golf balls with
their own clubs or the facility’s clubs. High tech golf balls used literally track the score themselves, while visitors can play a variety of scoring games.
The facility will have a bar and restaurant with a 28-foot wall video displays, as well as more than 200 HD TVs. Its capacity includes working with small and large parties, corporate parties, youth parties, field trips, and tournaments and fundraisers.
Mike Hayes named vice president at BJC
Mike Hayes will be returning to BJC HealthCare at the end of August as the next vice president of Planning, Design and Construction (PD&C). Hayes currently serves as the healthcare market leader for PARIC Corporation overseeing the health care construction market portfolio, leading project teams from inception to completion of numerous health care specific projects. Prior to that role, Hayes spent 10 years at BJC leading high-profile construction projects including medical
equipment replacements (MRIs, linear accelerators, CTs, cath labs, etc.), operating room renovations, and lab and pharmacy buildouts. Hayes was also the key lead for the
Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital replacement project. With more than 15 years of professional experience, Hayes also serves as a member of the American
Society for Healthcare Engineering, the Project Management Institute, the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Development board, and the Missouri University of Science and Technology MO-CCI board. He is a certified healthcare constructor (CHC) and has earned
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Hayes earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla and a master’s degree in business administration from Webster University.
Mike Hayes
House of Beyoncé at America’s Center
Fans thrilled with Renaissance Tour’s live visual album effect
By Kenya Vaughn
The St. Louis American
For the not-so-silent minority who “don’t see what the fuss is about” and question the unwavering devotion of “The Beyhive,” attending a Beyoncé concert provides the best form of context. This was particularly true Monday night, when her Renaissance Tour played before a sold-out crowd at the Dome at America’s Center.
As per Beyoncé’s request that they wear silver, tens of thousands converged on downtown as local temperatures gave any sturdy air fryer a run for its money. They baked with barely a complaint in head-turning ensembles that appeared to have been planned since it was announced that her Renaissance Tour would stop in St. Louis last winter. The outfits are the unofficial opening act of The Renaissance Tour. And St. Louis did not disappoint as they swarmed from every direction – to the beat of “Get Me Bodied” – serving up head-turning looks. On a day that Mayor Tishaura Jones proclaimed as “Bey Day,” entering The Dome felt as much like a Beyoncé convention as it did a concert.
Better yet, as Renaissance offers deference to the ballroom scene, The Dome was filed with the House of Beyoncé. And “Mother Queen Bey” made it clear from the moment she emerged on stage that her relationship with her Beyhive “children” is rooted in mutual adoration, as opposed to the assumed blind devotion.
While the tour – as the title suggests – is designed around her multiple Grammy Award winning dance album of the same name, she opened the show with a crop of love ballads from earlier records that felt as if they were dedicated to the fans who have fueled her ascension to cultural force status.
“This is a gratitude tour,” Beyoncé
“It’s because of you, I have been able to do what I love for 25 years.”
- Beyoncé
tribute to the late Tina Turner, specifically because she was in the city that laid the foundation for Turner’s iconic career.
The abbreviated, re-imagined take on “River Deep – Mountain High” was an emotional moment for Beyoncé, who has spoken of Turner’s influence on her as an artist. She was the featured performer when Turner was celebrated among the 2005 cohort of Kennedy Center Honors recipients by President George W. Bush. After the tender moment, it was time for the turn up. Her extravagant set transitioned into a lunar eclipse – which signaled a shift to “Beyonce after dark” and the grown and sexy homage to Black queer culture that best describes her latest album.
“Welcome to The Renaissance,” she said before jumping into “I’m That Girl” and segueing into “Cozy,” which was co-written by St. Louis native Cor.Ece.
The stunning production quality and visual aesthetic elevated the vibe and intention of what Renaissance provides musically. Beyoncé – who has spoken of the album as a tribute to her late uncle Johnny –and her robust squad of dancers that understood the assignment of giving due to a community of trendsetters who define “what’s next” in music, fashion and slang who are commonly overlooked when it is time for proper credit.
said after opening with “Dangerously in Love,” the title track from her debut solo album.
“I love you deep, deep, deep,” she said before jumping into “Flaws and All.” “You catch me when I fall, accept my flaws and
all. And that’s why I love you,” she sang. “It’s because of you, I have been able to do what I love for 25 years,” she told the crowd.
Knuckle up
North St. Louis rapper draws inspirations from 80s sitcoms and movies
for “Raytown” album
By Danielle Brown St. Louis American
Growing up as a north St. Louis city kid raised in the 80s, Rockwell Knuckles remembers watching reruns of the classic sitcom “Mama’s Family” set in Raytown, Missouri, a suburb of Kansas City following the adventures of The Harper Family and their zany shenanigans and mishaps.
The series was inspired by sketches featured on “The Carol Burnett Show” and “Carol Burnett & Company”. Prior to the sketches was a made-for-TV movie called “Eunice” that was also the precursor to “Mama’s Family.”
The formatting of “Mama’s Family” and “Eunice” inspired Knuckles to create his newly released 10-track album “Raytown.”
“It was a bunch of people in each other’s business,” he said. “Everybody knows everybody and everybody thinks they’re gonna be the next big star. The show has a beautiful, silly, fun energy.”
While Raytown in both shows is viewed as a fictitious small town, Knuckles draws parallels to the city to his hometown and its entertainment scene.
“I thought about the hip hop scene in my own hometown and thought about how Raytown is,” he said. “How everyone is a beautiful, brilliant person that has something amazing to offer and share. We’re all together here doing what
The two-and-a-half-hour performance felt specific to Renaissance, but not exclusive to the album. She offered plenty to enjoy for “Hive” members who didn’t check for the record beyond the hits and viral sensation that came via “Break My Soul,” “Cuff It” and “Alien Superstar.” But even as she dipped into other albums from her catalog during the set of nearly three-dozen songs, she didn’t seem particularly beholden to her biggest hits. She opted to pass on selections such as “Drunk in Love” and “Single Ladies” –
The formatting of “Mama’s Family” and “Eunice” inspired rapper Rockwell Knuckles to create his newly released 10-track album “Raytown.”
we do in the best way that we can.”
Knuckles expanded his thoughts about the similarities between the two cities stating how both have “good people with great senses of humor, there’s a bunch of talented people appreciated in their own circles, and everyone gets their great ideas out in different ways.”
For Raytown’s production Knuckles enlisted Trifeckta, his main producing partner, and Jackpot Hitz, who produces a lot of The Knuckles’ music. Knuckles is in a hip hop rock band with St. Louis singer Aloha Mischeaux.
“Trifeckta’s sound and production is as clean as it is dirty, its very crisp and to the point but it also does what it needs to do to give you that real hip hop feel,” he said. “Jackpot has fantastic drums and marvelous placement when it comes to sampling. I think it’s sonically pleasing.
I think it all meshes and works well together.”
Knuckles has several favorite songs on his new release including “Like A Try,” “Granny’s Couch,” and the album’s opening track “The Return of Leonard Oates”.
“[Like A Try], I’m not exactly rapping on there. It’s more of a mantra, a chant. I think it’s interesting, catchy, and has a great repeat factor,” he said. “I like ‘Granny’s Couch’ because it’s a good honest rap song. It’s clean to the point.
“The Return of Leonard Oates,” that’s a really cool song, is me saying ‘Hey, I’m back rapping officially. Sorry guys for the wait.”
Knuckles explained the track is
She closed the ballad section – which included “I Care” and “1+1” – with a See
Rockwell, C8
See Beyoncé, C8
Beyoncé did not disappoint for her sold-out St. Louis stop of The Renaissance Tour Monday night at The Dome at America’s Center
Photo by Julian Dakdouk
Derrick Adams, American, born 1970; “Heir to the Throne”, 2021; Private Collection; © Derrick Adams, Courtesy of the Artist
Photo courtesy of Rockwell Knuckles
Hip Hop
Hip Hop & Contemporary Art in the 21st Century Thanks to Chan and his hype man for the evening, Rhashad “Shadzilla” Whittier, Panorama felt more like the late great Club Monastery than a restaurant housed within the walls of a worldclass arts institution. “It’s the ten-minute countdown,” Shadzilla said as Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” became a part of Chan’s mix. “You got 10 more minutes to get it in,” he told the packed dance floor.
It was an especially long day for Chan, a St. Louis native who is known worldwide for his skills on the wheels of steel. He also had a headlining set as part of SLAM’s historic hip hop block party that drew hundreds and served as a community welcome to the exhibition earlier in the afternoon. Normally quiet – at least while he’s in public – Chan was moved to use the microphone after everything he had experienced over the past 10 hours during the opening day programming for The Culture
where he DJ’d for hip hop icons Run DMC during a 50th Anniversary of hip hop celebration that also featured Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, and Lil Wayne to name a few. Chan wore a St. Louis Cardinals hat during his set in New York City.
“I try to represent home in everything I do so that everybody can know,” Chan said.
Those who visit the exhibition will also know that St. Louis hip hop is well-represented on the contemporary arts scene.
As she approached the podium for the Thursday press preview in a power suit, co-curator and SLAM Audience Development Manager Andrea Purnell made it clear.
“Who said “St. Louis ain’t hip-hop, we hop to what’s hip,” Purnell said, quoting the flow of St. Louis hip hop veteran Murphy Lee.
The lyrics of Lee, his brother Kyjuan and St. Louis rap superstar (and fellow St. Lunatic) Nelly are the inspiration behind St. Louis native Aaron Fowler’s ‘Live Culture Force 1’s’ sculpture –which recreates the classic St. Louis hip hop footwear on a scale so massive that tires were used to make the sole, and they feature a Missouri license plate at the front of the shoe.
“I’m from here – and St. Louis is a part of this too,” Chan told the crowd in a brief break from the music. He pointed out the fact that it was WESL 1490 that was responsible for hip hop hitting radio airwaves for the first time thanks to “Gentleman” Jim Gates giving Edie B the greenlight to play The Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” back in 1979.
It had only been a week since he returned from Madison Square Garden,
Fowler’s piece is one of more than 90 works by artists of color included in the exhibition, which is a collaborative exhibition by SLAM and the Baltimore Museum of Art and shows both the local and global influence of hip hop within visual arts.
The St. Louis curatorial team included Hannah Klemm, former Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art and Audience Development Manager Andrea Purnell.
St. Louis native Rikki Byrd also provided research and administrative support during her tenure as a Curatorial Research Assistant for BMA.
“The works of this show were made primarily within the past 23 years,” Klemm said. “We hope that you will see how they showcase the myriad of ways in which hip-hop as a phenomenon has truly transformed the world in which we live in.”
Those who showed up –and showed out – at some point during the opening festivities already know, from the broad spectrum of audience engagement that they saw taking place.
Chan summed it all up best with his final track.
“This is the only song we can close this thing out with,” Chan said. “This the one right here.”
As he twisted the knob on his turntable and the beat and guitar combo revealed the instantly identifiable Isley Brothers “Footsteps in the Dark” sample. The crowd erupted. They sang the lyrics all the way through the first verse.
“Today was a good day,” those who knew it sang in unison with staccato in their voice, emulating the vibe of Ice Cube’s signature West Coast vocals on his all is well in the world kickback anthem. It was a good day indeed – for art and for hip hop.
The Culture: Hip Hop & Contemporary Arts in the 21st Century will continue through January 1, 2024, at The Saint Louis Art Museum. For tickets, additional information, and related programming from community partners, visit www.slam.org.
STL Sites & Sounds
St. Louis American Calendar
Charity:
Hatz4Hearts presents Annual Pink Carpet Community Gala
8/25/2023 6:30pm
The 2023 Pink Carpet Community Gala & Cancer Survivor Fashion Show will honor the courage and resilience of cancer patients and survivors with an evening filled with food, a silent auction, and live entertainment. Hatz4Hearts is dedicated to raising awareness about breast cancer through education and providing mammogram screenings as well as supportive services to those undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Honorees this year include: Tammie Holland, Vetta L. Sanders Thompson, Ph, and Melvia A. Shahid. Special guest will be Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Derrion Henderson will host. For more information call 314-231-7220. Tickets: $75+. Missouri Athletic Club, 405 Washington Ave., St. Louis, MO Community:
SLATE’s Find a Job Friday Series 8/25/2023 10:00am
Alternatively, follow SLATE on social media for timely announcements and updates. Go to: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/ events/eventdetails.cfm?Event_ID=36687. On Facebook at @SLATEMCC and Twitter @SLATE_MCC. Virtual Job Center, St. Louis, MO.
Jennings City Council Meeting
8/28/2023 7:00pm. For more information, go to https://www.cityofjennings. org/vcalendar/?Org_ID[]=1&keyword=&submit=Go&Ctype=monthly&D=1663909200. Contact: 314.388.1164. Virtual meeting, Jennings, MO.
Ferguson Library Board Meetings
8/28/2023 7:00pm. For more information, go to: https://www.fergusoncity.com/calendar.aspx?EID=4347. Virtual Meeting, Ferguson, MO.
Southwest Neighborhood Meeting 8/28/2023 6:00pm, For more information, go to: https://www.fergusoncity.com/calendar.aspx?EID=4324. Virtual Meeting, Ferguson, MO.
Concerts and Live Music:
Moneybagg Yo - Larger Than Life Tour 8/25/2023 7:00pm
PLEASE NOTE: This venue has a
AWARD® nominee), The Black Crowes, Brittany Howard, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Ice Cube, Morgan Wade, Cautious Clay, Michigander, Modern English, Nikki Lane, The Sugarhill Gang, The Nude Party and many more…With next-level barbeque offerings ever-growing list including: Sugar Fire Smoke House, Pappy’s Smoke House, Beast Craft BBQ, Gobble Stop Smoke House, Heavy Smoke BBQ, Treaux’s Cajun BBQ, and specialty cocktails, tastings, and demonstrations. $89.50+ Forest Park, 5595 Grand Dr., St. Louis, MO. For more information, go to https://www. evolutionfestival.com/tickets.html.
Elemental DJ Workshops
8/30/2023 6:00pm
Event Details: In celebration and recognition of the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop and its influence on contemporary music, art, fashion, and culture, Kranzberg Arts Center in conjunction with Walls Off Washington will present 50 community facing events, workshops, demonstrations, installations, and parties that celebrate and elevate Hip Hop in 2023. Series continues…FREE. August 30, 2023 6:00 pm. Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO.
Lafayette Square Summer Concerts
8/26/2023 6:00pm Website: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/ events/eventdetails.cfm?Event_ID=36227.
Lafayette Square Summer Concerts, St. Louis, MO.
Fairs, Festivals and Markets:
Festival of Nations
8/26/2023 10:00am
Mark your calendars for August 26, 10 am - 8 pm and August 27, 10 am - 6 pm. We are returning in full force at Tower Grove Park, and we will be back with some of our favorite performers and food vendors, as well as amazing talented individuals that are new to the festival. Follow along from now until the Festival to hear about what is coming! Tower Grove Park, 4257 Northeast Drive, St. Louis, MO.
Festival of Nations
8/27/2023 10:00am
Mark your calendars for August 27, 10 am - 6 pm. Returning in full force to Tower Grove Park, Festival of Nations is back with favorite performers and food vendors, as well as amazing talented individuals that are new to the festival. Follow along from now until the Festival to hear
Festival of Nations
8/26/2023, Tower Grove Park
newly commissioned paintings, ceramics, and flags. The indoor and outdoor works will be presented in the Aronson Fine Arts Center’s Whitaker Foundation Gallery and in the Park’s Northern Grove. Vaughn Davis Jr. rips, tears, and drapes pigmented canvases to transcend traditional notions of painting and push them into the realm of shape-shifting objects. His distress of materials refers to daily struggles and social protest, especially for Black and Brown communities. Davis applies a similar tactile approach in his ceramic works, folding and splitting clay and using expressive glaze techniques. For more information, call: 314.615.5278. Aronson Fine Arts Center, 12580 Rott Road, St. Louis, MO.
DISCOVER LAUMEIER
8/27/2023 11:00am
Discover-or re-discover-Laumeier through an interactive day for all ages! Discover Laumeier features hands-on activities focused on: Discovering connections between art and the natural environment Exploring unique artworks by renowned artists Creating your own art Details coming soon! Laumeier Sculpture Park, 12580 Rott Road, St. Louis, MO.
Talks & Lectures
Author Talk: “Enslavement and the Underground Railroad in MO and IL” 8/25/2023 1:00pm About the Program:
The Field House Museum is pleased to welcome local historian and author Julie Nicolai on August 25, 2023 to discuss her new book, Enslavement and the Underground in Missouri and Illinois. The book, out July 31, details stories of the courage and perseverance of the enslaved and the abolitionists who helped them on their path to freedom. This program is free with limited availability in person and on Zoom. The Field Hous is located at 634 S Broadway, St. Louis, MO. Reservations must be made in advance through Eventbrite, by calling the Museum at 314-421-4689, or by emailing info@ fieldhousemuseum.org.
Market Street Stomp: An Exploration of St. Louis Jazz in the 1920’s 8/30/2023 7:00pm Join T.J. Muller, local musician, bandleader, and radio D.J. for a journey back to St. Louis’ Roaring Twenties. T.J. will guide you through the popular music venues of the time and introduce you to the local bands that were getting your grandparents up on the dance floor and doing the Charleston! The lecture will be accompanied with historical images and recorded musical examples, as well as some items from T.J. Muller’s own collection. Registration required. For more information, call: 314-994-3300, Mid-County BranchSt. Louis County Library, 7821 Maryland Ave., St. Louis, MO.
festival experience, live music producers Contemporary Presentations and The Just Listen Company are proud to announce the inaugural EVOLUTION FESTIVAL in St. Louis, a modern festival concept that will celebrate the soul of the city in a forward-thinking way with a diverse music lineup, featuring: 2023 GRAMMY AWARD® winner Brandi Carlile, The Black Keys (a 2023 GRAMMY
The public is invited to celebrate the opening of St. Louis-based artist Vaughn Davis Jr.’s exhibition, The Fabric of Our Time. The opening includes a conversation between Vaughn Davis Jr. and Curator Dana Turkovic at noon in the Aronson Fine Arts Center. Free to attend. ABOUT THE EXHIBITION The Fabric of Our Time will be on view August 26 - December 17, 2023 and will feature recent and
Head West
St. Louis American staff
Stellar Award nominee
Demetrius West and Jesus Promoters are celebrating another gospel victory as Great God, the current single from their latest CD Old Fellowship Hour, hit Number one on the Gospel Airplay Radio Charts.
“We couldn’t be happier,” said West, who works with Blacksmoke Music Worldwide.
“Great God has become a part of us to the point we sing it in our sleep. This road was long and winding as radio is ever evolving. I am grateful for an enduring spirit among the members of Jesus Promoters to persevere and continue on.”
“I couldn’t have a better group of committed and dedicated singers and musicians. It’s a sweeter victory because we made this journey together.”
West thanked the “JP friends and family who support us unconditionally, the city of Indianapolis, who loves great gospel music and the people who sing it.”
Demetrius West and Jesus Promoters made their Blacksmoke Music Worldwide debut with Choirology, which produced the number-one radio hit Open the Floodgates and the ever-popular Choir Medley
That was followed by Do It Again, which featured the top 20 radio hit, I’m Next, a tribute to Walter Hawkins Just in the Nick of Time featuring Denise Tichenor and the worship ballad Before You Old Fellowship Hour was recorded live in Indianapolis
and was one of the most highly anticipated albums of 2022. The disc produced the top 40 charting Your Name and garnered another Stellar Award nomination for West and Jesus Promoters.
According to his biography, West began his gospel music career after being inspired by his great-grandmother who directed gospel music choirs.
As he reached for stardom, West assisted with many choirs, groups, soloist, and musicians and traveled throughout America and Canada conducting workshops and seminars to help other ministries.
West has worked with and shared the stage with many gospel and Christian artists including Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp, Chris Tomlin, Byron Cage and Bishop William Murphy.
Isaac Koby is “So Blessed”
Isaac Koby is not your average gospel music performer.
He blends Afro-house, Amapiano, and gospel funk in his solo track titled So Blessed creating a song that not only uplifts but also inspires, resonating deeply with listeners and offering a message of hope and faith,” according to the artist.
Koby says So Blessed delivers an empowering message, and serves as a reminder of God’s unwavering faithfulness, even in the darkest moments of life.
“Through the lyrics and melodies, [So Blessed] encourages listeners to find solace and
strength in their faith, inspiring them to rise above challenges and celebrate the blessings that surround them.
Koby’s musical journey began at an early age when he took on the role of lead soloist for the children’s group of renowned gospel artist Frank Edwards. This pivotal experience, at the age of 10, displayed his talent and vocal prowess.
Raised in a clergy family that
• Certified event planner recognized for seamless organizing and spotting even the smallest details
• Highly experienced consulting services cover countless details including: table arrangements, seating charts, budgeting, etiquette, logistics, crisis management, and so much more!
• Creates a “day of” master timeline to ensure the seamless flow of each special moment
•
•
•
deeply embraced music, Koby’s roots in music grew stronger. He became an integral part of the family’s acapella group, a foundation that paved the way for his journey into the children’s choir.
Koby’s musical style is a blend of gospel, R&B, Afrohouse, and contemporary influences. His expressive and soulful voice, combined with his natural ability to seamlessly navigate different genres, enables him to
craft a sound that is undeniably distinctive.
His lyrics, often rooted in faith and spirituality, delve into themes of love, hope, and personal growth, resonating deeply with his audience. Through his artistry, Koby says he connects with others on a profound level, creating music that is both uplifting and transformative.
Economic Empowerment
Newly
Demetrius West and Jesus Promoters are celebrating another gospel victory as “Great God,” the current single from their latest CD Old Fellowship Hour, hit Number one on the Gospel Airplay Radio Charts.
LEGAL COUNSEL (CLERK’S OFFICE –21ST CIRCUIT)
The St. Louis County Circuit Clerk’s Office (21st Circuit) is seeking a professional individual to provide legal research, analysis, technical support, representation in hearings, and interpretation of law to Judges, Commissioners, Circuit Clerks, or other administrators, in one of the largest judicial circuits within the Missouri State Court System. Work involves the performance of a variety of legal services and technical research duties in facilitating the smooth operation of a large circuit court or division thereof. Work includes preparation of memoranda or orders for Judges or Commissioners concerning cases before them or review of court procedures, rules, or statutes for a Circuit Clerk or other administrator. Work is performed under the general supervision of a Judge, Commissioner, Circuit Clerk or administrator and is reviewed through conferences and written reports. Note: All selected individuals will be required to submit to a background check. To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume, Attention: Human Resources (Legal Counsel), Circuit Court of St. Louis County, 105 S. Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105 or apply online at: https://mocareers.mo.gov/hiretrue/mo/osca/index.html. EOE. Please contact the Human Resources Department at 314-615-4471 (voice) or RelayMO 711 or 800-735-2966 if you need any accommodations in the application process, or if you would like this posting in an alternative format
The
and agencies. This position will partner with internal and external data providers to ensure the quality of incoming and outgoing data, as well as will work to resolve data issues and the elimination of root causes giving rise to such issues. To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational.com/ careers-page/
UNITED STATES PROBATION OFFICER CAREER OPPORTUNITY #2023-16ILSP
Location: East St. Louis or Benton, Illinois Closing Date: August 25, 2023
The United States Probation Office for the Southern District of Illinois has a full-time vacancy for a United States Probation Officer. Please visit the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office website at http://www.ilsp.uscourts.gov and access the Human Resources tab for complete details of the position announcement and how to apply.
Bible Way Baptist Church, would like to hire a part time Christian musician to play the keyboard. The hours will be Sunday mornings and Thursday evenings. If interested please contact (217)-502-2205 or (314)-496-9616
SLDC IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) is eagerly seeking candidates to join our team as we endeavor to bring economic justice to St. Louis City residents and communities that were disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
There are multiple 2-4-year limited term positions available, term of employment will vary for each position.
These positions will assist in the administration and implementation of various Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) Programs targeted for households, small businesses and communities adversely impacted by the pandemic.
All positions will be funded in whole or in part through an allocation of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the US Department of the Treasury and the City of St. Louis’ Community Development Administration.
To see the full job description of positions available and to apply online go to: http://www.stlouis-mo.gov/sldc/ and click on “Careers at SLDC.” SLDC is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity.
Aclara Technologies seeks Sr Validation EngineerFirmware (St Louis, MO; may work from home 2 days/ wk). Design, develop & maintain test cases, plans, procedures & scripts for integration, verification, validation, functional, stress & scalability testing, for NPI & field issue resolution. Provideend customer perspective in developing product test plans. Must have bachelor’s or equiv in Comp/ Electrical Eng’g, Comp Sci or a related field & 5 yrs progressive experience in software test development or related. Must have 5 yrs exp w/: test automation & tools such as .NET, C/C++, C# Java, Python, VB, XML, scripting; & SW dev methods such as Scrum, Azure Dev Ops, Modern Reqs; testing products based on embedded microprocessors. Must have 3 yrs exp w/: quality mgmt systems such as ISO; MSSQL Server; & Excel analyzing complex test data. Apply at careers.hubbell.com (Job ID # 91465
SEEKING EMPLOYMENT IN EDUCATION?
Cornerstone Center for Early Learning looking for lead educators. Good pay, benefits, and so much more. Additional information at https://www.cornerstonecenterstl.org/ employment-opportunities/
Manager Patient Accounts
Position manages account posting and/or receivable and collection activities of department to maximize income from services rendered. Provides reporting on accounts reimbursement and/or accounts receivable activity, income budget forecasting and implements service orientation for patient accounts office. Required qualifications include: Equivalent of Bachelor’s degree in related field with five or more years of experience in supervision. To apply, visit: Join WashU! (myworkdayjobs.com)
JR76711 Research Lab Supervisor - Neurology
Dr. Randall Bateman seeks a Research Lab Supervisor to oversee the Bateman Lab and SILQ Center’s lab and staff. Dr. Bateman’s laboratory focuses on the causes, diagnosis and future treatments of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and directly measures the pathology and pathophysiology of AD in humans using multiple techniques. The lab discovered and developed the first blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease now being used in the clinic and is helping to develop the next generation of treatments for AD by measuring the effects on the biology of the disease. This position encompasses multiple supervisory responsibilities including oversight of laboratory personnel, research projects, equipment and laboratory processes.
JR76589 Senior Manager Medical Education Programs - Orthopedic Surgery Manages department’s educational activities in conjunction with department administrative leadership, Program Director and/or Vice Chair for Education to advance the department’s strategic goals regarding clinical and scientific education. Provides oversight, training and education of administrative team which may include managers, residency /fellowship coordinators, assistants, etc. Ensures departmental coordination with institutional resources/stakeholders (GME Office, DBBS, etc.). Participates in professional education societies, identifies trends in educational programming and provides subject matter expertise to leadership.
JR76354 Privacy Compliance Educator - Faculty Practice Plan
The position is responsible for the development and implementation of a compliance education program which fosters privacy awareness and compliance with applicable regulations, standards and policies. Position also facilitates privacy incident reporting and investigation and assists in the prevention of breaches. Oversees, develops and delivers initial and ongoing privacy education and training to the workforce. Facilitates and promotes activities to foster privacy awareness and compliance. Provides compliance advice and guidance to all departments on privacy matters to ensure compliance with applicable regulations, standards and policies. Manages privacy incident reporting, response, mitigation and investigation processes; prevents breaches of protected health information.
JR76286 Director of Business Operations (Finance) - Pediatric Central Administration Position is responsible for managing and directing the financial affairs of all financial and system support activities within the Department of Pediatrics including management of accounting and finance personnel. Also oversees payroll operations. Prepares, creates, coordinates and prioritizes financial operations for the entire Department operating budget. Oversees the process for annual budget preparation as well as monthly and quarterly financial reporting. Compiles annual Operating and Maintenance Expense Report. Develops standard practices and procedures for finance. For
St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices St. LouiS
ADVERTISEMENT FOR PROPOSALS
Sealed Proposals regarding 23-162 Transportation Assistance Services which is to provide transportation assistance services to low and moderate income households (80% AMI) in St. Peters, Missouri are being solicited by the St. Peters Office of Community Services. The organization should have the capacity to provide round-trip transportation within St. Charles County and outside the County for medical purposes. Transportation should be provided to any person without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin.
Proposals will be received by the City of St. Peters, City Hall, One St. Peters Centre Blvd., P.O. Box 9, St. Peters, Missouri 63376 until 2:00 PM local time, Thursday, September 7, 2023. This will be a non-public opening.
Proposal documents will be available on Thursday, August 24, 2023 and may be obtained from the City of St. Peters website https://mo-stpeters.civicplus.com/Bids.aspx
All questions regarding this project shall be submitted to the City of St. Peters Purchasing Department in writing to Bids@stpetersmo.net under the subject line “23-162; Transportation Assistance Services” before noon local time, Thursday, August 31, 2023.
The City reserves the right to waive any informality, and to accept the proposal most advantageous to the City.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Requests for Quotes, Bids and Proposals are posted online for public download. Please navigate to www.msdprojectclear.org > Doing Business With Us > View Bid Opportunities
Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
PARIC Corporation is seeking proposals for the following project: BADEN SCHOOL APARTMENTS located at 8724 Halls Ferry Rd. St. Louis, MO
The project consists of the renovation of the historic building into 50 Apartments. We are currently soliciting bids for the following scopes: DEMOLITION, CONCRETE, CEMENTITIOUS FILL, MASONRY RESTORATION, STONE, STRUCTURAL STEEL, WATERPROOFING, ROOFING, SHINGLES, FIRESTOPPING, SHEET METAL FLASHING AND TRIM, LATH AND PLASTER, INTERIOR FINISHES, EARTHWORK, PAVING, FENCES AND GATES, PLANTS / LANDSCAPING, SITE UTILITIES. Access to documents is available from our Smartbid link. If you do not received a bid invitation please send your company information to tlalexander@paric.com.
A PREBID meeting will be held on 8/8/23 at 1:00pm at the project site
Questions / RFI’s are due to Paric by August 25th, 2023
BIDS WILL BE DUE ON September 6th, 2023 @ 11:00am
Send all questions to Andrew Kalicak (AKalicak@paric.com) or Michael Skalski (MSkalski@paric.com)
Job will have prevailing wage requirements
Goals for Construction Business Enterprise
• 21% African American
• 11% Women
• .5% Asian American
• .5 2% Hispanic American
Goals for Workforce (field) participation
• 25% Minority
• 7% Women
• 20% Apprentice
• 23% City of St Louis Resident
All bids should be delivered to PARIC via e-mail (bids@paric.com) or fax (636-561-9501).
PARIC CORPORATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
SEALED BIDS
Bids for Replace HVAC System, Project No. E2319-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, September 21, 2023. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities
SEALED BIDS
Bids for Install Emergency Generator at Langsford House Youth Center, Project No. H2303-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, September 14, 2023, via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities
REQUEST FOR BIDS
The Webster Groves School District is seeking bids for Legal Service. Bid documents are posted. For more information please visit: https://www. bidnetdirect.com/ missouri/ webstergrovesschool district.
CITY OF ST. LOUIS BOARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR ARCHITECTURAL/ ENGINEERING ANALYSIS OF FAÇADE AND STRUCTURE OF THE COMPTON HILL WATER TOWER. Statements of Qualifications due by 5:00 PM CT, SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 through the Bid Express online portal at: https://www.bidexpress.com/ businesses/20618/home? agency=true. Request for Qualifications (RFQ) may be obtained from BPS website https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/ government/departments/ public-service/, under BPS RFQ and RFP Announcement, or email Board of Public Service at bryanth@stlouis-mo.gov
25% MBE and 5% WBE participation goals.
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Sealed bids for the Mason Road Resurfacing and Multi-Use Trail project, St. Louis County Project No. AR-1746, Federal Project No. STP-5574(606) will be received electronically thru the County’s Vendor Self Service portal at https://stlouiscountymovendors.munisselfservice.com/Vendors/default. aspx, until 2:00 PM on August 30, 2023
Plans and specifications will be available on July 31, 2023 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouiscountymo. gov) or by contacting Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies, 2731 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118 (314) 6780087.
DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
ST. LOUIS, COUNTY
Interface Construction Corporation is seeking Subcontractor/Supplier bid proposals for UMSL Project Number SC008238, Welcome & Alumni Center. The project consists of extensive renovations and an addition to the existing building as well as enhanced parking, landscape and site amenities. Bids for this work are due to Interface Construction by 12:00 noon on September 20, 2023. For further information or to receive an electronic version of the bidding documents please contact Mr. Jim Quindry of Interface at 314/522-1011 or email (preferred) at jimq@interfacestl.com There is a Supplier Diversity Participation goal of 25% MBE; 10% WBE,DBE and Veteran; 3% SDVE for this project.
To Advertise your Bids or Job Opportunity in the newspaper ad online please email Angelita Houston at ahouston@stlamerican.com
St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices St.
RESIDING IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI
The Circuit Court of St. Louis County, Missouri, announces that it is soliciting candidates for the position of Family Court Commissioner of the Circuit Court of St. Louis County.
Pursuant to section 487.080, RSMo., the Family Court has exclusive original jurisdiction to hear the following matters including but not limited to proceedings governed by Chapter 452, Chapter 453, Chapter 455, Chapter 210 and Chapter 211. Applicants must be willing to serve in a domestic relations assignment and/or a juvenile court assignment.
The Circuit and Associate Circuit Judges en banc will make the appointment for a term of (4) years at an annual salary of an associate circuit judge, payable by the State of Missouri.
Missouri law requires the Family Court Commissioner(s) to possess the same qualifications as a circuit judge, including those set forth in the Missouri Constitution, Article V, Section 21, to wit, they must be qualified voters of the state for the three years preceding their selection, residents of St. Louis County, Missouri for at least one year, at least thirty years old, licensed to practice law in Missouri; and possess all other qualifications as required by law. (See Chapter 487 R S Mo.)
Questionnaires and Candidate Instructions may be obtained by sending a resume and cover letter to St. Louis County Family Court, ATTN: Human Resources, 105 S. Central Avenue, Clayton, Missouri, 63105, or via email to SLCCourtJobs@courts.mo.gov. Completed questionnaires must be submitted in writing to St. Louis County Family Court, ATTN: Human Resources, 105 S. Central Avenue, Clayton, Missouri 63105, or via email to SLCCourtJobs@courts.mo.gov on or before August 31, 2023. The appointment is scheduled to take place upon a vote of the Court en banc on or about September 13, 2023. EOE. Please contact the Human Resources Department at 615-4471 (voice) or RelayMo 711 or 800-735-2966 if you need any accommodations in the application process, or if you would like this posting in an alternative form.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
PARIC Corporation is requesting proposals for the Geothermal wellfields on Missouri University of Science and Technology’s new Protoplex Research Facility located in Rolla, Missouri. The scope of work we are seeking proposals for include well drilling of 200 plus wells, piping, header work and stub up into the main building, with minor site prep work including SWPPP plan. You can find additional design guidelines on UM system website here: https://www.umsystem.edu/ums/fa/facilities/ guidelines/ (Click on Section 3 Design Guidelines and then click on Division Guidelines hyperlink). If you have questions or would like further information on this project, please contact Chris Lucas (clucas@paric.com) at 816-534-4678.
Construction is slated to start October 2023 and be substantially complete by June 18, 2025.
Bids are due 8-25-23 at 10:00am
PreBid meeting will be held on 8-11-23 at 10:00am
The project is tax exempt, and has MBE and WBE goals according to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 11.4% Minority participation and 6.9% Female participation in each trade.
The Project will be subject to prevailing wages per Missouri Division of Labor Standards Annual Wage Order for Phelps County.
All bids should be delivered to Paric via e-mail (bids@paric.com) or fax (636-561-9501).
PARIC CORPORATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center requests proposals from qualified and experienced firms to perform Project Management Services for Pre-Construction Study and Planning. The project will include assessing three buildings within 39 North AgTech Innovation District for use as “graduate” space in the ag-tech sector. A copy of the complete RFP is available at: https://39northstl.org/careers/. To be considered, proposals must be received no later than 4pm CT on Friday, September 1, 2023.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE STLCC MERAMEC MO PROJECT
Clayco, Inc. is seeking bids for the MECHANICAL / ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT BID PACKAGE (this is for equipment only)
Please contact John Sabo, saboj@claycorp.com to request a set of plans/ specifications and/or more information about this project.
BIDS DUE ON 08/31/23 @ 10:00 AM.
SEALED BIDS
Bids for Paved Trail Repair, Weston Bend State Park, Weston, MO, Project No. X211701 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/14/23 Bidders must be registered to bid. This is an equal opportunity bidding event and MBE/ WBE firms are encouraged to respond. Federal funds are being used in the project, and all relevant federal, state and local requirements apply. Projectinformation available at: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities
SEALED BIDS
Bronze Door Restoration, MO State Capitol Building, Project No. O2203-01. Statements of Qualifications by firms specializing in bronze door restoration will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, Sept. 22, 2023
Pre-qualification is required prior to bidding. Pre-qualified restoration specialists may bid the project as a General Contractor if able to perform the work of a General Contractor. General Contractors must subcontract with a pre-qualified restoration specialist. Bids will be received UNTIL 1:30 PM, Oct. 10, 2023. Specific pre-qualification and bidding documents and information regarding mandatory pre-qualification/ pre-bid meeting available at: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities
ROOMS FOR RENT $400-$440/mo Utilities, Cable, Internet Included, Near Busline 314-327-3042
Advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, imitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial\status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.“We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.”Call Angelita Houston at 314-289-5430 or email ahouston@stlamerican.com to place your ads today!
Beyoncé fans Monica, Constance and Renee understood the Renaissance Tour attire assignment and served the perfect blend of “Alien Superstar” and “Club Renaissance” Monday night at The Dome at America’s Center.
Beyoncé
Continued from C1
although the latter was one of several additional tracks to be included in the transitional interlude music.
Her 11-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter joined the party on stage as a featured dancer for the African American affirmation tracks “My Power” and “Black Parade.” While the St. Louis audience won’t win any awards for its participation in the
Knuckles
Continued from C1
named after a character from “Mama’s Family” who is the second husband of another character on the show “Naomi” and begged for her to take him back.
“In hip hop I am Leonard Oates and hip hop is my Naomi,” he said. “I’m saying ‘Hey, sorry I got busy doing other stuff. You have my full attention
viral “Mute Challenge” that calls for six seconds of silence during her performance of “Energy,” Beyoncé declared our city the undisputed “Love on Top” champions. The goal is to see how many times the crowd can sing along to a loop of the song’s chorus without getting out of sync or completely off key. They might still be in the Dome singing along three days later if Beyonce hadn’t gracefully encouraged them to bring the challenge to a close.
The final portion of the show offered an in-per-
now’.”
Raytown features Knuckles’ fellow bandmate and friend, Mischeuax, longtime collaborators and friends Tef Poe and Indiana Rome, his cousin T-DUBB-O, and newcomer MAXA. His intention behind the chosen features was to have the people he’s closest with and has a lot of fun being around.
“They always have something special to add like Robert Townsend’s Players or the cast of “In Living Color,” we’re an
son sensory stimulation for Renaissance that fans were waiting to see via screen, such as with visual albums Beyoncé, Lemonade and Black is King. About every audio-visual augmentation imaginable was incorporated – from mechanical to pyrotechnical – and culminated with her flying off into the night on a silver horse as she closed the show with “Summer Renaissance.”
For more photos from Beyoncés’s St. Louis concert go to the photo gallery at stlamerican.com
all-star team,” he said. Knuckles wants people to take a fun little story away from his Raytown album.
“A good feeling, nothing bad,” he said. “A nice breath of release much like a Netflix show after giving it all at once. I want them to anticipate the next thing I put out.”
Find Rockwell Knuckles and his music across all platforms.
Photo by American Staff