August 25th, 2022 edition

2022 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion special

SThet. LouiS AmericAn

Defying the odds

By Sylvester Brown Jr.

St. Louis American

The year was 1979. President Jimmy Carter was in the White House, Sony had just released the Walkman, The Sugar Hill Gang released their first commercial rap hit, “Rapper’s Delight” and Stephen King’s “The Dead Zone” was on the “best-sellers” list.

In St. Louis, there was a less heralded phenomenon being birthed on the educational front. The St. Louis Archdiocese’s Board of Catholic Education established a community representative task force to conduct a survey.

For two years, they asked Black North St. Louis residents and parents what they wanted from a Catholic school in their

Cardinal Ritter College Prep President Tamico Armstead with social studies teacher Randy Reed in his classroom Tuesday, Aug.23.

the

day

The word most often used to describe Billie Jean Randolph was “delightful.” She was equally known for her wisdom, gracious manner, and love-tinged candor. She packed a lot into a petite, beautiful package.

Becoming Billie Jean

Billie Jean Coleman was born April 1, 1930, in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was the only child of Nicodemus (Demus) Coleman, a railroad worker and electrical lineman working for the WPA in Alaska as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, and Grace Gardner Coleman. Grace Coleman passed when Billie Jean was a toddler. Shortly after her mother’s

death, the family moved from her grandparents working farm in Arkansas to Kansas City, Missouri. There, Billie Jean was raised by her grandparents, her widowed father, and her loving, attentive aunts. Billie Jean joined Paseo Baptist Church at an early age. There she sang in the choir and played on the church’s basketball team. She attended Lincoln High School, still known as “The Castle on the Hill.” Lincoln was the first school for Black

teens on the Missouri side of Kansas City. In addition to her studies, Billie Jean enjoyed extracurricular activities. Her beautiful voice earned her a coveted spot in the school choir. She was also on the majorette and cheerleading squads. After graduating from Lincoln, Billie Jean earned a BA degree from West Virginia State College. She also earned a certificate in medical records at Homer G. Phillips Hospital in St. Louis.

In 1956, after a summer romance and courtship, Billie Jean Coleman married Dr. Bernard C. Randolph at the home of her aunt and uncle, Dr. and Mrs. Newton M. Jenkins

NAACP sues over voting rights

Joins with other organizations

St. Louis American staff

Imagine going to jail because you bought volunteers registering people to vote a pizza.

The Missouri NAACP and League of Women Voters have filed a pair of lawsuits against the state of Missouri alleging that new restrictions violate the fundamental right to vote and equal protection under the Missouri Constitution.

n The Missouri NAACP and League of Women Voters have filed a pair of lawsuits against the state of Missouri alleging that new restrictions violate the fundamental right to vote.

The first suit challenges voter identification requirements under recently passed House Bill 1878. The second, filed on Monday, block provisions restricting voter registration activity and distribution of absentee ballot applications.

“We will do everything in our power to make sure the rights of Missouri voters are restored, and everyone can have their vote counted,” Nimrod Chapel, Jr., president of the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP said in a release.

“The NAACP has long raised concerns about Missouri’s efforts to implement a discriminatory voter ID law, and it is one of the reasons we have issued a travel advisory for the state. Democracy in Missouri is not a safe place for Black voters.”

The National NAACP is also involved in protection of voting rights in Missouri.

“Missouri’s new voter ID law would prevent some people from using identification that they have used for decades when voting,” said Janette McCarthy Wallace, NAACP general counsel.

“It would disproportionately affect people of color and prevent lawfully registered voters from casting ballots. The nonpartisan NAACP has always existed, in part, to challenge such attempts to disenfranchise Black voters.”

See NAACP, A6

Passion for teaching and students drives Salute to Excellence in Education awardees

By

Gilchrist

The

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Kiana Henderson takes a picture of her children Malaysia Roberts, 3, a pre-K student, and her brother Marsean Roberts, 4, who was starting kindergarten on

first

of school at Stix Early Childhood Center Monday, Aug. 22.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Billie Jean Randolph

Notorious B.I.G.’s daughter posts $1 million bond for boyfriend, father’s daughter

T’yanna Wallace, daughter of the late Notorious B.I.G., posted her boyfriend Tyshawn Baldwin’s $1 million bond after he was arrested in an alleged hit-and-run accident which left three people injured, including a mother and her toddler.

Baldwin, the father of Wallace’s infant daughter, allegedly fled police during a traffic stop in Queens, New York, and then crashed into a group of pedestrians. He surrendered to police six days later and was arrested.

Baldwin was arraigned on 17 counts including first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and endangering the welfare of a child

He could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

Wallace is one of B.IG.’s two children. The late rapper’s other child is Chris Wallace, also known as C.J. Wallace. Read the full story on New York Post’s website.

A $1 million bond was ordered for Baldwin by Judge Scott Dunn. Paperwork reportedly shows Wallace placed her $1.5 million Brooklyn home as bond to obtain Baldwin’s release.

Solange commissions original score for New York City Ballet

Solange Knowles taking her musical talent to the New York City Ballet as composer of an original piece for a Sept. 28, 2022, performance.

She said the work will feature choreography by Gianna Reisen, 18, who first choreographed for the ballet in 2017.

The composition will premiere at the ballet’s Fall Fashion Gala at Lincoln

Center, and will also be performed at four shows in October and five in May. Chairs for the event include St. Louis native Andy Cohen, and Laverne Cox. The ballet’s vice chair, actress Sarah Jessica Parker, will be honored.

“I am beyond proud of Solange,” Knowles’ mother, Tina Knowles, wrote on Instagram Monday. “She is always kicking down doors and opening doors for other artists of color.”

NeNe Leakes drops racial discrimination lawsuit against Bravo

the 54-year-old “dismisses this action and all claims asserted by Leakes without prejudice.” Leakes will be able to re-file the lawsuit if she wishes.

NeNe Leakes

Speaking of Andy Cohen, the executive producer of Real Housewives of Atlanta is relieved that former cast member NeNe Leakes has dropped her racial discrimination lawsuit against him, Bravo, and other executives. According to People

In April, Leakes filed a lawsuit against Bravo, NBCUniversal, production companies True Entertainment and Truly Original, executives from the companies, and Cohen. She alleged that they allowed a racist and hostile work environment.

Radar Online reported that court documents detailed a cast trip to Spain during the 10th season where family members or husbands were not invited. The suit claimed exceptions were made for the more “favorable” cast members.

“These were the rules, and they were supposed to apply to everyone,” the suit read.

“But, as often happened, a second set of more favorable rules seemed to apply to white [cast member] Kim Zolciak-Biermann.”

Sources: That Grape Juice, New York Post, CBS News, People, Radar Online

Solange knowles

T’yanna Wallace

The Reason “Y”

Metro St. Louis YWCA receives national honors

By Ashley Winters

The St. Louis American

The Young Women’s Christian Association [YWCA] of Metro St. Louis has received the organization’s highest honor, the National Program of Excellence given by the National Head Start Association. It is the lone program in the state and one of only 13 programs in the United States to receive the accreditation, which continues through 2027.

“It’s good for our community to know that we’re offering quality childcare. This is not a drop-in center, our kids are learning. It’s great for the community to understand the work we are doing, and how important that work is,” said Cheryl Watkins, YWCA Metro St. Louis president and CEO.

Watkins recently celebrated her first anniversary with the ‘Y’ and said, “I am so proud of where our journey this year has taken us.”

Head Start Administrator of the Year by the Missouri Head Start Association.

“We are proud we are able to bring this to our region, I hope it can be seen as just another part of the great things that are happening in our city,” said Johnson, a 17-year veteran of the YWCA.

To be named a National Program of Excellence, the YWCA had to meet 41 “Indicators of Excellence.” Its staff demonstrated excellence in leadership, effective and efficient management, sound fiscal stewardship and other categories.

n “It’s good for our community to know that we’re offering quality childcare. This is not a drop-in center, our kids are learning. It’s great for the community to understand the work we are doing, and how important that work is.”

- Cheryl Watkins YWCA Metro St. Louis president and CEO.

The St. Louis’ YWCA is the largest provider of Head Start and Early Head Start direct service in the region and the second largest grantee across four states.

Stacy Johnson, Early Education Program director and chief program officer, was recently recognized as 2021

.“We have a lot of hidden jewels in St. Louis, [and it] doesn’t always get noticed on a national level. It’s about the people who work here, live here, and their commitment to the children in our area,” said Johnson. Watkins said it’s rare for a first-time applicant to receive the National Program of Excellence Award, which her YWCA accomplished.“This shows the impact we are having is huge,” she said.

“Our program is intended for these kids to be in a learning environment. Our curriculum is focused on STREAM [Science, Technology, Read-

ing, Engineering, Art, and Math].”

The YWCA announced earlier this year that it plans to open an early childhood education center in the 39 North Innovation District with partners including the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 39 North, Miriam Foundation and the City of Olivette.

“That’s one example of the power of innovative partnerships and of expanding our skills into new arenas. Access to childcare is the single most limiting factor for women in the workforce. I’m

also delighted that YWCA Metro St. Louis is becoming the go-to resource for community leaders and media on the topics of sexual and domestic violence, economic inequity, racial justice, and early childhood development,” Watkins said.

“We have amassed a remarkable list of achievements in the past 12 months. I’m excited to see where we’ll be this time next year.”

“It’s affordable, quality education,” said Johnson.

Other achievements during Watkins’ tenure include implementing a revenue growth strategy, and increasing the number of clients served from 8,000 to 11,000 annually. There is still an urgent need for teachers and hiring incentives are being offered. Visit YWCA’s employment page, www.ywcastlouis.aaimtrack.com for more information.

Ashley Winters is The St. Louis American Report for America reporter.

Photo by Wiley Price | The St. Louis American

Cheryl Watkins [right], YWCA Metro St. Louis president and CEO, credits her staff which include Leslie Holloway, chief development officer, with helping the local branch become Missouri’s lone recipient of National Program of Excellence recognition.

Guest Editorial

First, we need to decide whether loyalty to a person or party should be maintained when it has been clearly demonstrated that there is no respect for truth or the rule of law, and when there is no sense of honor and patriotism for this country, its institutions, and its democratic form of government.

Using lies to undermine law, freedom, and democracy

By Janice Ellis

There is a common belief that all politicians lie to some extent. There is also a school of thought that withholding or modifying the truth, given a particular circumstance, might be the better option or the most expedient thing to do.

However, today, too many politicians are taking it to a new level.

Spewing lies, distortions, conspiracy theories and baseless claims is becoming the norm for many who are seeking to lead us, and they are attracting large contingents of supporters.

This multi-faceted and dangerous trend has taken root and escalated with the perpetuation of the Big Lie that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent.

As bad as the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol was, because of the Big Lie, increasingly it appears it was just the tip of deeper political unrest and festering mistrust of the current governmental system.

That unrest and mistrust have become weaponized with those baseless claims, conspiracy theories and lies. Many aspiring candidates seeking different state and federal offices are using a combination of these tactics to get elected.

What good can be expected when politicians choose lies over truth to the detriment of the Republic?

We have grave reasons to be very concerned with the increasing irrational behavior from some of our elected officials with the loudest bullhorns.

Did you ever think you would hear Congressional leaders calling to defund the FBI or impeach the Attorney General as they carried out their authorized duties in accordance with the rule of law?

election was stolen.

What does that mean for the results of future elections?

In addition to the violent insurrection on the

U.S. Capitol, domestic political violence is on the rise. Many current office holders who are trying to uphold the rule of law are receiving threats, requiring law enforcement protection for themselves and family members.

What’s worse, politicians that peddle in lies, false narratives and conspiracy theories only encourage and give license to others to do the same — provoking disinformation and fueling political instability and unrest.

Without the rule of law, there is no freedom. Without freedom, there is no democracy.

What are we, the people, to do?

First, we need to decide whether loyalty to a person or party should be maintained when it has been clearly demonstrated that there is no respect for truth or the rule of law, and when there is no sense of honor and patriotism for this country, its institutions, and its democratic form of government.

We need to determine how long we will tolerate someone who assumes we have no integrity, that we accept lies and misrepresentation of facts and truths or that we have no moral character.

We must decide how long will we allow others to think and treat us as if we are stupid or gullible.

Unfortunately, most of the public does not have a front row seat to witness an event or have direct access to all available information needed about an issue or incident.

But there are things we can do to be better informed, and not so easily misled.

Such recklessness has been clarion calls to those who are willing to pick up guns and bombs and try to harm FBI agents. Other law enforcement officers, e.g., judges, are also put at risk. Where is the respect and support for law enforcement agencies and those responsible for upholding the very laws that protect us?

As a nation that values the rule of law, are we increasingly becoming more tolerant of lawlessness?

How can such irresponsible behavior from those in public leadership positions be acceptable?

Look at some of the other detrimental things that have happened since the weaponization of the stolen 2020 election lie.

More voter suppression laws have been adopted in many states, and the efforts to make it more difficult for legal citizens to participate in our democracy continue.

Many election deniers are seeking key offices in states that often determine the outcome of close presidential elections. Many are in good positions to win because a majority of Republicans believe that the 2020 presidential

We can make a concerted effort to seek out multiple news sources and talk shows — not just the ones we like or agree with. Read multiple print and online publications for accurate information.

There are proven and reliable news sources at the national level and local level dedicated to keeping the public informed. No doubt, there are very trustworthy news sources where you live. Consult them.

Recognize social media platforms for what they are. Social, often promoting personal agendas, whether based in truth or not.

Perhaps the greatest thing we can do is to take seriously what elected officials say and do. They tell us and show us who they are, what they are about, and on whose behalf and interest they are working.

What are the words and actions of elected officials, or those seeking support, telling you?

What good can be expected when politicians choose lies over truth?

Janice Ellis has lived and worked in Missouri for more than three decades, analyzing educational, political, social, and economic issues

Commentary

Americans must vote, protect democracy

By Jesse L. Jackson

While the United States champions democracy across the world, our own democracy is under siege. Nothing is more fundamental to democracy than the right to vote, yet there is no explicit guarantee of the right to vote in the U.S. Constitution.

The U.S. ranks near the bottom of industrial democracies in voter turnout. This isn’t accidental — many states purposefully create barriers that make it difficult to register to vote or to cast a ballot. The sensible answer to this is to create — and enforce — the right to vote for every citizen.

The 2020 presidential election witnessed the highest turnout in recent history. Eighty million people voted for Joe Biden, 74 million for Donald Trump. Yet another 80 million who were eligible by age and citizenship did not vote. In midterm elections voting turnout plummets to an average of about 40% of eligible voters casting ballots.

Part of this low turnout comes from neglect: campaigns focus their resources and attention on targeted segments of the population. Too often poor and working people get no attention. Part of this comes from intent — the purposeful suppression of the vote.

At the founding of the nation, U.S. leaders purposefully limited the right to vote. Initially only white, male landowners could vote. After the Civil War, the 15th Amendment outlawed discrimination on the basis of race in the right to vote, yet across the South, that right was systematically suppressed, through organized terror, poll taxes, literacy tests or ridiculous hurdles like correctly guessing the number of beans in a jar. After much struggle, the Voting Rights Act, the centerpiece of the civil rights struggle, outlawed those tactics. and Black turnout surged across the South.

n After Donald Trump’s defeat and the Republican embrace of his Big Lie that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, Republicans in various states have launched a concerted drive to restrict voting and to give Republican partisans more power over the casting and counting of votes.

In the wake of Barack Obama’s victorious presidential campaigns, however, the Republican Party became ever more intent on making voting more difficult, particularly for Blacks and Latinos

and the young. And after Donald Trump’s defeat and the Republican embrace of his Big Lie that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, Republicans in various states have launched a concerted drive to restrict voting and to give Republican partisans more power over the casting and counting of votes. Over 400 bills have been introduced to make registration and voting more difficult. In 2020, a presidential election held in the midst of the pandemic, record numbers of voters — particularly people of color — elected to vote by mail or to vote early, in order to avoid crowds and lines on Election Day. Forty-three percent of voters cast a ballot by mail; only 21% cast their ballot on Election Day. So Republicans have passed measures to make voting by mail more difficult, to make it easier to disqualify such votes, to cut early voting days, to cut back on the number of polling stations particularly in urban areas. In all, the Voting Rights Alliance lists 61 different measures created to make voting more difficult. These measures — pushed particularly in the so-called swing states — are given greater power because of the structural impediments to democracy in the U.S. For example, Democrats have won the popular vote in seven of eight presidential elections since 1992, but because of the Electoral College, have won the presidency only five times. Add to that the obscene role of big money and increasingly dark money in politics, unleashed by decisions of the activist right-wing judges on the Supreme Court, and the principle of one person, one vote is eviscerated.

Voting should be grounded on the right of citizenship, not the interests of politicians. Eligible voters should be registered automatically. Election Day should not only be a national holiday, but early voting days should be extended, not constricted. Voting sites should be convenient, not distant. Election management should be nonpartisan, not subverted.

One thing is clear. Our democracy won’t survive for long unless the people demand it — and vote to remove those who are subverting it.

The Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr., is founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

Redistricting is voter suppression too

By Ben Jealous

When Charles Diggs, Jr., won election to Congress in Michigan’s 13th District in 1954, he launched nearly seven decades in which the city of Detroit had at least one Black member of Congress. That’s likely to change this year. Because of redistricting, Detroit no longer has majority-Black congressional districts

And in the first primary election with newly drawn district lines, a Black candidate did not win the Democratic contest in the heavily Democratic 13th. That means the city is likely to lack Black representation in Congress for the first time in decades.

Redistricting is robbing Black candidates and voters of hard fought for opportunities they have had for years. In Detroit, new districts merged Black areas of the city with white neighborhoods across 8 Mile Road.

The city stands to lose Black representation in Congress and have less representation in the state legislature. Knowing what the impact could be, voters have spoken out forcefully against the new redistricting maps from pulpits to street corners to the state capitol and even before the state courts.

weapon being used to intimidate voters and keep us from exercising our constitutional rights. It is erasing us from Congress and state legislatures. We need to call it out and challenge it where we see it. Calling out and challenging means organizing, litigating, and legislating. It means supporting national and local organizations that unite communities against racist gerrymandering and seek justice in the courts. They might not win every case, but advocacy and activism are essential to righting this wrong.

We must also keep voting, running for office, and educating. People For the American Way, houses an African American Religious Affairs network that has reaffirmed for more than a decade that “every election matters and every vote counts” --and that includes primaries. For Black ministers in our network, voting and civic participation are acts of faith and so much more.

As Reverend Dr. Steve Bland, Jr., pastor of Liberty Temple Baptist Church in Detroit said, “It’s not about left or right. Splitting Detroit into two districts was an insult. But we have faith and must “deal with our self-interest by voting in every election.”

Sadly, Michigan is not alone. The New York Times reported in August that this year, “judges in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Ohio have found that Republican legislators illegally drew those states’ congressional maps along racial or partisan lines, or that a trial very likely would conclude that they did.” But elections are moving forward anyway.

We’ve all heard about the restrictive voter suppression laws that far-right state legislatures are passing. We’ve heard about the crackdowns on voting hours and mail-in voting, and even on giving food and water to voters in long lines. But we don’t hear enough about redistricting as another

I know that a lot of media coverage of this summer’s primaries has focused on one big question: will Trump-style, MAGA candidates win or lose? But there’s another question that needs to be asked: how harmful are the impacts of redistricting on our communities in this year’s elections and those to come? The current reality dictates that we do not sit out any election. We need to resolutely register, educate, motivate, and turn out voters. In every election. Every time.

Ben Jealous serves as president of People For the American Way

Guest Columnist Janice Ellis

Columnist Ben Jealous

Columnist Jesse L. Jackson

Stepping up for students

Young at heart

Robinson named senior advisor for Children, Youth, and Families office

St. Louis American staff

Calling it “an amazing opportunity,” Lakesha Robinson has been appointed as Mayor Tishaura O. Jones’ Senior Advisor for Children, Youth, and Families.

“I look forward to working with Mayor Jones to make St. Louis a place where all our youth can succeed and thrive.”

A St. Louis native, Robinson most recently served as Horizons St. Louis executive director, as United 4 Children community engagement director.

She has worked in the field of education for 15 years, promoting youth development and “advocating for innovative new strategies to improve outcomes for youth,” she said.

Robinson holds a Master’s in Social Work from Saint Louis University, and a Bachelor of Science in Human Environmental Studies from Southeast Missouri State University. Robinson will assume her new role on August 29. Her headshot is attached.

“As a mom, I understand firsthand how important it is we offer our children every chance to succeed, and we need a proven leader who can help advocate for our

babies at the highest levels,” Jones said in a release.

“I am excited to welcome Lakesha Robinson into my administration to help make St. Louis safer and stronger for children and their families.

Robinson is filling the role of Wilford Pinkney, who recently became the city Director of the Office of Violence Prevention. In addition, Policy Director Nahuel Fefer will be moving to the Community Development Administration (CDA) as its new executive director.

Fefer has been drafting the administration’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) spending priorities. In his new role he will help implement those priorities at CDA with a focus on equitable neighborhood development.

Special Projects Manager Angela Pearson is shifting from communications to operations, with a focus on cross-departmental collaboration and supporting department performance.

The Mayor’s Office is accepting applications for Policy Director and Community Communications and Engagement Assistant on the City’s website, www. stlouis-mo.gov/government.

It’s never ‘too early,’ so let’s not be late

By E. Faye Williams

We’ve all heard “Early to bed early to rise…?”

Accordingly, the first requirement of successful employment is to “show up to work on time.” My military friends have even explained to me that, “If you are just on time, you’re late!”

We are less than 100 days from midterm elections, and we don’t have time to waste! We must consider the ramifications of the coming election before it’s too late. It’s been said more times than necessary, but I will say it once more, “The outcomes of the next election will determine the future of our personal rights and exactly how ‘real’ our “democracy” is.

We don’t have the luxury of equivocation. We cannot spend time debating the duplicities of our adversaries or the severity of potential outcomes. The threats we face have been presented dramatically and we must respond accordingly. We cannot view our circumstance myopically or selfishly. The threat to any freedom is an ultimate threat to all freedoms.

The autonomy of women to make independent health and reproductive decisions is under an increasing risk. Against the majority opinion of Americans, the Supreme Court’s rejection of Roe threw the issue of reproductive rights back to individual states, which many immediately established draconian, absolute restrictions against medically supervised abortions. Under the premise of recognizing personal rights traditionally enumerated in the Constitution, the validity of Roe was rejected.

Although Justice Alito, who wrote the majority decision, expressed that it had limited applicability to Roe, Clarence Thomas opened the door to reexamining SCOTUS decisions that related to unenumerated rights. Decisions which he [Thomas] identified as deserving additional review are contraception, marriage equality, and LGBTQ rights. That thought process opens other personal rights which are not “deeply rooted in history” to judicial review.

Extremist Republicans, who constitute the majority are most outspoken of their party, have telegraphed and sometimes bull-horned their desired outcomes for the future of the nation. The “deeply rooted in history” criterion affords subjective judgments limited only by SCOTUS’ willingness to entertain challenges to established law.

Their targets could be any unenumerated right. Those additionally include voting rights (both of women and Black people); school integration; interracial marriage; and any right adjudicated after an undetermined date designated as “post-deeply rooted history.” I make no claims of this happening, but we potentially stand at the mercy of radical reactionaries.

More frequently than ever, I hear television commentators suggest that the 2022 mid-terms have the potential to be the last fair elections of our nation. Republican efforts to erode public confidence in election integrity support that assessment. I do not question the autocratic intent of the ‘new Republican party,’ I reject and resist it. With little subtlety, they have shown their willingness to control our society with a dystopian authority of law or the suggestion of violence.

Our imperative is to be proactive. Waiting to react is too great a risk. Consequently, our only viable and legal option is to vote – with a purpose. We must recognize and resist real threats to our existence and those of our progeny. We can no longer sacrifice the good for the perfect but must select and support candidates who are not dedicated to authoritarian principles. We must act in concert with like-minded individuals and groups and use that strength to spread the message of resistance. We must start now – it’s never too early!

E. Faye Williams is a UN Peace Ambassador and host of “Wake Up and Stay Woke” on WPFW-FM-89.3 radio in Washington, D.C.

The Prince Hall Shriners Annual Parade was held Wednesday Aug. 17, 2022 in downtown St. Louis. The Shriners also collected bookbags and school supplies that are being donated to Lift for Life Academy and Jury Elementary School.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

E. Faye Williams

Continued from A1

(Sadie) on October 31. Her aunt and uncle served as cupid in their relationship by setting them up on a blind date when Bernard’s sister Jean and her husband came to visit. Bernard was on his way to becoming one of St. Louis’s most treasured family physicians. They were married on Halloween because it was his day off.

Billie Jean was working as a medical records librarian at Barnes Hospital and eventually assumed managerial duties, a fact that never secured her the title of manager. After training two newly hired managers in her department, she realized she had hit the proverbial glass ceiling. After the birth of their first child, Billie Jean left Barnes. She and Bernard took the first of an annual month-long summer visit to his parent’s home in New York City (Harlem).

June Cleaver Only Wishes

Billie Jean later taught grade school part-time in the St. Louis Public School system. She eventually left teaching for her permanent, full-time job: homemaker. Billie Jean was no June Cleaver; she was better. She elegantly and enthusiastically defined the roles of wife and mother. She eagerly added professional volunteer to her weekly responsibilities while caring for her husband and three children.

NAACP

Continued from A1 Marilyn McLeod, president of the League of Women Voters of Missouri, said “The League believes the state should be making it easier, not harder, for Missourians to exercise their fundamental right to vote.”

Salute

Continued from A1

Leah Crawford, Instructional Coach, Ladue School District

In Leah Crawford’s first year teaching in Ladue, a parent asked for her son to be transferred to another class. She was the only Black teacher in the building. At 32, she felt like a late arrival to the profession, and she struggled to pick up on the culture and curriculum at the school. However that early experience laid the seeds for growth, Crawford says. Fifteen years later, she’s still teaching in the same school. And she’s settled into her role as an advocate for students and racial equity in the school district. When it comes to doing the right thing for our kids, “we should all be a little uncomfortable,” she says. And while teaching students foundational skills is important, Crawford believes educators are also entrusted with teaching life skills, “so we talk about the racial upheaval happening because many parents don’t know how to talk about it.”

Her colleagues have rallied around her. Crawford was nominated an Excellence in Education award by her fellow teachers in Ladue School District.

Ashley Ellis, Career Coach, Special School District

“Teachers need to be dedicated to survive in education,” said Ashley Ellis. In her 10 years teaching in public and private schools, she’s said the work has gotten more difficult. “Teachers have to have a heart for what you do. You have to be a team player. You might start off the year as a first-grade teacher and you might end up as a fifth-grade teacher, and maybe the secretary too.” Ellis faced that scenario after a teacher walked off the job—and never returned—in the middle of the school year.

She loved her church, Pilgrim Congregational Church UCC. Billie Jean and Bernard were active members for over sixty years. There she volunteered in the library, office, soup kitchen, food pantry and neighborhood outreach. All three of their children accepted Christ and were confirmed at Pilgrim. Active memberships included Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, National Smart Set, Inc., Girl Friends, Inc., Links, Inc., Mound City Medical Auxiliary, the St. Louis Council on Environmental Health and Safety (founded by Bernard Randolph Sr. in the early seventies) and the NAACP. She was a charter member of the Tally-Ho Bridge Club (60 years) and a lifetime member of the National Council of Negro Women.

Billie Jean and Bernard loved to travel. Annual family vacations with the children, and as a couple later in life, sometimes with a daughter, son, or grandchild provided them with many memorable experiences. They both enjoyed going to conventions including the NAACP National Convention, the National Medical Association Annual Scientific Assembly and Smart Set Conclaves.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Billie Jean enjoyed needlepointing while frequently focusing on the “special human” in the family, their dog Wendy. Billie Jean possessed a vibrant sense of humor and a laugh to match. During the 1990s and early 2000s, and before Paul, her

“There’s no evidence of voter impersonation in Missouri, so these extreme restrictions don’t make our elections any safer or more secure.”

According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Missouri, “The law is so vague that simply offering reimbursement for parking or pizza to volunteers could put

younger son, moved back to St. Louis in 2004, she and Bernard frequently visited his family and him (then-spouse, Rochelle, and daughter, Dana G. Randolph II) in Scottsdale and Chandler, Arizona. Billie Jean and Bernard loved the beauty and illuminating sunlight of the desert, the area’s rich history, museums, variety of shops and great restaurants.

Billie Jean loved God, her family, and her countless number of friends.

Farewell

Billie Jean transitioned peacefully on July 5, 2022, of complications following cardiac arrest at Mercy Hospital in St.

organizations at risk of violating the law.”

The law also prohibits “soliciting” a voter into obtaining an absentee ballot application, which denies eligible Missourians the help they need to vote in a secure and convenient way.

“These new restrictions limiting voter registration and absentee ballot assistance

Louis. Her immediate family was at her side. She was 92. Her husband, Bernard C.Randolph Sr., MD. died in 2018. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Nicodemus and Grace Coleman; parents-in-law, William and Jessie Randolph; brother and sister-in-law Bessie and Howard V. Randolph Sr.; sister and brother-in-law, Jean Randolph Linzey and Cameron Theodore Linzey, Sr.; beloved Aunts and Uncles: Sadie and Newton, Ida, Georgia, Cora, Percy, Julian, Jasper, Jimmy, Dorothy, and cousins Joan Andrews, M. Bert Coleman, and Patricia E. Jenkins

Billie Jean will be lovingly remembered by her three

will add further detriment to Missouri’s election process which is already ripe with deeply rooted systemic barriers that impede access to the ballot of marginalized communities,” said Luz María Henríquez, Executive Director of the ACLU of Missouri.

“Registering voters, at its core, is political speech and therefore protected by the

In a single day, she went from being the school’s behavioral interventionist to serving as an interim fifth grade teacher. “I appreciate her stepping into that role and she quickly went in and added structure to that class,” said Jade Scott, an administrative assistant who works with Ellis. “I believe she did a wonderful job in that class with the students, she even purchased her own books for them.” Ellis’ colleagues nominated her for an Excellence in Education Award for the work, love and care she extends to everyone around her. “I’ve seen her give her all to kids and co-workers and whenever staff or children need her, she’s going over and beyond,” said Monica Wright, a teacher who has worked with Ellis in two elementary schools. “That’s just the type of person she is.”

Starlett Frenchie, Principal, Hamilton Elementary

Starlett Frenchie is well known for her chicken noodle soup. And apparently, everyone on her staff at Hamilton Elementary has tasted her delicious meals. “In order to build community with her staff, she cooks for them on a regular basis,” said Dr. Alice Roach, a former colleague and current administrator for the Parsons Blewett Memorial Fund. Frenchie confirmed her habit of bringing to school an air fryer, several George Foreman Grills and crockpots full of soup for her teachers and staff. “It’s nice to do something to make people feel special and it doesn’t cost a lot.” During her 21 years in education, and 13 years as the principal at Hamilton, Frenchie said she’s learned what it takes to bring people together and make a difference. “You have to be a servant leader and work

alongside people, especially at a time when educators are feeling devalued.”

Ashley LeRue Gerald, Behavioral Interventionist, Hazelwood School District

Every student at Lusher Elementary is part of Lusher Loved Ones, a program that matches students with staff members and fun activities every month, so that students feel supported in the school community beyond their classroom teacher. Another group, Lusher Leadership Academy, grooms fourth and fifth graders to be role models.

Both programs were founded by Ashley LeRue Gerald, the school’s behavioral interventionist. She’s worked in education for 15 years, but the last few years have been the most challenging. “There was a need to improve the school’s sense of community and culture and work on leadership skills with students,” Gerald said.

The programs have won Gerald accolades throughout the Hazelwood School District and beyond, and her colleagues nominated her for an Excellence in Education award. However, Gerald said the real award goes to her fellow teachers who make her work possible. “This is not a profession that you do in isolation. Whether it’s a mentor or a team or you’re vertically planning, everyone has something to bring to the table.”

Dr. Brittany Green, Principal, Wyvetter Younge School of Excellence, East St. Louis School District 189

Gordon Bush Elementary was one of the worst performing schools in Illinois before Dr. Brittany Green became principal in 2016. The school had “one of the highest suspension rates in the state for elementary, high staff turnover, low enrollment and attendance, climate and culture issues and academic struggles as it relates

Billie Jean Randolph with her husband and three children (clockwise, far right): Billie Jean Randolph, Dr. Bernard C.Randolph, Dr. Bernard C.Randolph, Jr., Dana Grace Randolph and Paul Allen Randolph, Esq. around 2015.

children, Bernard C. Randolph Jr., M.D. (Kathleen F. Smith and daughter Paula Francis), Dana Grace Randolph and Paul Allen Randolph, Esq., all of St. Louis, and four grandchil-dren, Arielle Vivian Randolph, M.D. (Cincinnati, OH), Camille Nia Randolph, Naima Nicole Randolph (New York, NY) (and mother, Andrea V. Haynes, (Houston, TX), Dana Grace Randolph II, (Kansas City, MO), (and mother, Rochelle Winters Randolph). nephew Cameron T. Linzey Jr., niece Donna Linzey Johns (Robert), niece Emily Jenkins, niece Adrienne Jenkins Patel (Hasmukh), niece Jina Haynes, Esq., nephew Joseph Jones (Margaret), Goddaughters Tiffany Kanion Simpson MD.,

First Amendment. Rather than enacting legislation to encourage and increase participation in the democratic process, the politicians in Jefferson City pass laws that criminalize voter engagement and mobilization efforts.”

(Kenneth), Constance Gladney Agard, Judith Gladney, Caregiver and beloved friend, Delores Price and many other extended family members, friends, and loved ones. In lieu of flowers, donations to the following will be appreciated:

Pilgrim Congregational Church UCC Seeds of Hope Food Insecurity Fund In Memory of Mrs. Billie Jean Randolph 826 Union Boulevard St. Louis, Missouri 63112

The Dorothy I. Height Education Foundation In Memory of Mrs. Billie Jean Randolph DIHEF Scholarship Fund 633 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 3rd Floor Washington, DC 20004

Celebration of life for Billie Jean Randolph (Masks and Covid-19 vaccinations required) Saturday, August 27, 2022 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority -Gamma Omega – Tribute: 11:15 AM St. Louis Chapter Links Inc. –Tribute: 11:30 AM Family Visitation: 10:3011:15 AM Memorial Service: 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM Pilgrim Congregational Church UCC 826 Union Boulevard St. Louis, MO 63112

Absent court action, H.B. 1878’s changes to Missouri’s election laws will be in effect for the November 8 general election, creating barriers to voter registration and absentee voting which will be most acute in communities of color. The restrictions on civic engagement organizations threaten their ability to hold community-based voter engagement events, obtain and retain volunteers to assist voters and chill their constitutionally protected political speech.

to ELA and math,” Dr. Green said.

Under her leadership, the school began a dramatic turnaround. Suspension rates declined to zero from 17-18 percent—and stayed that way for four years. Academics, student behavior and the overall community regard for the school improved. In 2019, the school received a “commendable” designation, the second highest ranking for schools, from the Illinois State Board of Education.

“Dr. Green consistently goes the extra mile to lead her students to success,” said East St. Louis Schools Superintendent Arthur R. Culver. “She is outstanding because of her commitment to excellence, courage to make difficult decisions, compassion for her students, as well as her strong intellectual capacity.”

Dr. Green is now principal of Wyvetter Younge School of Excellence in East St. Louis. She’s also a finalist for the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership, an Illinois state teaching award.

Linda Wells-Glover, Teaching Professor, School of Social Work, University of Missouri-St. Louis

Students at University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) can expect a rich, immersive experience in Linda Wells-Glover’s Introduction to Diversity classes that includes exposure to activists and presentations from the area’s vibrant social justice movement.

“We’ve brought in speakers like STL Action, The Bail Bond Project, and Forward in Ferguson. There’s a lot of passion here in St. Louis and we’ve seen the difference social justice action can make,” she

said. Wells-Glover is now one of the region’s most prominent scholars leading conversations about race, diversity and social justice issues in university classrooms. Her impact resonates across the city—she was the first administrator for Fontbonne University’s multicultural affairs program. She’s also taught at Washington University’s School of Social Work, Webster University and at St. Louis Community College. For Wells-Glover, the roles allow her to pursue her highest calling to teach and mentor students. “It’s a passion that burns deep inside of my soul,” she said. “I take pride in connecting with students, helping them grow from the strengths they have and giving them direction to move forward.”

Roosevelt Mitchell, Special Education Teacher, Lincoln Middle School, East St. Louis School District 189

Several years ago, a parent at a high school graduation thanked Roosevelt Mitchell for saving her son. “This student was like 21 years old, and he was the first one to graduate in his family,” Mitchell said, “and his mother was crying and she said, ‘If it wasn’t for you, he would have never graduated.’ And that was one of the first times I felt like, wow, I’m really supposed to be in education.” From the beginning, Mitchell had a knack for connecting with students. As a special education teacher at Lincoln Middle School, he identifies with students who are different. Mitchell was born with seven fingers, and has partial use of his right arm. He embraces his role as an advocate for students with disabilities, and he’s known as “The Disability Scholar” in books, media interviews and on social media. Mitchell is also the author of Kayden is Different, a children’s book about anti-bullying that is used in school districts

across the country. Danny Farmer, Mitchell’s high school basketball coach, is not surprised when he hears about the impact his former student is making in the community. “He was always a smart kid and he understood humble beginnings. We had that in common,” Farmer said. “He understood the kids he worked with and he’s become a great educator.”

Dr. Regina Ware, Facilitator of Education, Hazelwood School District

Dr. Regina Ware is known for treating her students like her own children. From her classroom parties to the tutoring sessions for students during summer break, Dr. Ware, an educator in Hazelwood School District for 26 years, is known for making an impact on the students, staff and school communities she serves.

“As an educator, I called her ‘the mama,’” said Yolander Pittman, a former colleague and current principal of North County Christian School. Pittman recalls many heated academic discussions with Dr. Ware when they worked together. “You had to prove to her that what you’re saying is best for the child, and she doesn’t give in when she thinks something is the best.”

For Dr. Ware, knowing what’s best for a child sometimes means diving beneath the surface to find out what else is going on in their lives. “I can’t teach a child if they are worried about where they’re going to sleep tonight,” she said. “We have to ask questions like ‘what can I do to help you and to help you learn’…before I can reach them in the classroom.”

For tickets and information on the Milestone 35th anniversary Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship & Awards Gala, visit stlamerican. com. All net proceeds from this annual non-profit (501c3) event go towards scholarships for local, high potential students

Ritter

Continued from A1

neighborhood. The community’s response led to the founding of Cardinal Ritter, a co-educational college preparatory high school. Named in honor of Cardinal Joseph Ritter, the school opened, in August of 1979, in the Walnut Park neighborhood.

“We were the only school that began based on ‘what black kids need.’” said Tamiko Armstead, President of Cardinal Ritter. “They went to the community to get those answers and that’s where our mission of ‘Faith, Academic Excellence and Leadership’ came from.

Today 43 years after its founding, Cardinal Ritter celebrates astonishing accomplishments that include a 100%Graduation Rate, 100%College Acceptance Rate, 30+Extra-Curricular Activities and $5.6 million in College Scholarships last year.

Recently Armstead recognized the school had achieved and surpassed another important recommendation from the late 1970s survey. Defying national trends of only 2% Black males in teaching institutions, she realized that 40% of Cardinal Ritter’s faculty, staff and administrators are comprised of Black men.

“I’ve always put the statistics out there saying things like, ‘hey Cardinal Ritter has 32% black males and so forth,” Armstead recalled. “But, as they say, ‘a picture speaks a thousand words.’ When we took a staff photo, it hit me… almost 40% of our faculty and staff are black men. That was like “wow!”

“Wow” indeed. According to the Stanford Graduate School of Education, only 2 percent of America’s teachers are Black men. Not having Black men in classrooms has an adverse effect on all students but it disproportionately impacts Black boys who do not interact with educators who look like them or may have shared their environments or

experiences.

According to the National Education Association, as a group, “Black boys are usually at the bottom of statistical categories that measure educational attainment. This educational crisis starts the moment Black boys are born into a racist American society that applauds their athletic abilities yet shuns their intellectual capabilities.”

Dr. Craige Edwards, principal at Cardinal Ritter has been in education for almost 30 years, teaching at schools in the region. He said that being in an educational environment where Black men are the majority is an anomaly.

“I’ve been in situations where I was the only black person in the building other than cafeteria staff. When I taught at Rockwood, there weren’t even any black custodians in the building,” Edwards remembered. “So, I can say with absolute certainty that the kids respond positively. You’re in a very powerful position to mold the minds of kids who may not look like you but it’s even more powerful when they do.”

The Black male staffers interviewed for this article, share Edwards’ zeal in their “powerful” role in molding young black minds.

Randy Reed, a Hall of Fame

basketball coach, was hired as the school’s basketball coach and athletic director in 2015.

But throughout his 30 years, Reed said he always thought of himself as a teacher first. “Teaching is my passion,” he stressed.

In 2018, Reed said he walked away from teaching sports now serves as a Black studies teacher at Cardinal Ritter. He credits Armstead for realizing that “young Black males, in particular, need to see positive, Black male role models in school buildings.

“The fact that these young Black males can see educated Black men; men who know how to treat Black women; Black men who talk about their families; who aren’t out here leading negative lifestyles… they see all that up close and personal,” Reed elaborated. “Every day they’re making contact with them, seeing them, playing sports with them, hearing their lessons, seeing how they dress, walk and talk. When you consider some of the issues in the community these kids face, it’s just imperative that they have these black male figures-probably now more than ever.”

Reed added that having Black male teachers even benefits Black female students.

“The effects of having strong men, family men, dressed nice, looking nice every day in the building…they (female students) see how a man should treat a woman; He’s not calling her out of her name or being disrespectful. They come to realize that the way Mr. Reed treats Mrs. Whoever, is how a man is supposed to treat a woman. It will mean a lot going forward in their lives.”

Reed, who attended Vashon High School, remembers the influence of the school’s legendary basketball coach, Floyd Irons.

“Just watching Floyd Irons, I saw how black men should walk and talk; how you should treat women, the family…just in how he interacted with us. He was that type of figure that molded, for me, how black men should behave and also how we should always give back and never, ever forget where we came from.”

Eric Cooper who’s serves as Cardinal Ritter’s director of enrollment for the past six years, said that the Black, male staffers all realize and appreciate their significance

“We love Cardinal Ritter, the mission, the kids…everything about it.” Cooper said. “When you realize that only 2% of African American men are

in education, we must celebrate our numbers because it’s an anomaly. When you realize our 40% rate and start looking at the impact we’re having on our kids, it’s simply amazing!

The significance of their numbers is not overwhelming, Cooper added.

“It’s only heavy when it seems like a burden. If it’s something you’re passionate about then it’s never heavy. When you wake up every morning knowing you have almost 400 kids that’s going to look to you for guidance or structure or just to help them meet their purpose; that makes you smile, man!”

Ryan Johnson, who’s in his third year as Dean of students at Cardinal Ritter relishes the role he describes as “the bridge between students, teachers and parents.” His black male co-workers, Johnson added, revel in their sense of shared responsibility.

“We use the term “Guiding 100.” It’s like back in the ‘60s when the mail man, the guy who owns the corner store saw a kid who wasn’t doing right… they were able to step out and say, ‘hey, you know what you’re doing is wrong.”

Johnson said the men at Ritter practice the ancient South African phrase, “Ubuntu”

which means “humanity” or “I am because we are.”

“We try to make sure we implement, talk about, and embody that every day. I always tell kids: ‘here, we are extensions of your parents. We’re your parents at school.’ We look at it like that and want to give them that positive feedback daily and the same teachings that they may get at home.

All the Cardinal Ritter Black staffers acknowledged that they work in an oasis of sorts surrounded by an environment of negativity and death that impacts, mostly, the young male demographic they serve. They agree with Armstead who opined in a recent press release that more schools could see a decrease in all-around negativity if they followed Cardinal Ritter’s example.

“When we look at all this gun violence,” Armstead said, “I have to ask, ‘where would we be if all schools had such a strong presence of Black men?”

Principal Edwards believes it’s well past time to go beyond wishes for more Black teachers to effective recruiting strategies.

“There needs to be more college partnerships with high schools to attract more black males into education. There needs to be some sort of pipeline at the sophomore and junior levels to do that. They need to put boots on the ground to make sure they show their faces at these schools and have conversations with these black males and say, ‘hey, these are the benefits of education, and this is the prestige associated with education.’

The St. Louis community, Edwards added, must also do its part.

“Our community can do a lot more to celebrate black males in education. Maybe just a spotlight on a black male educator in our community, in the area. We need to get the word that says:

“Hey, we are out here and we’re doing everything we can to make a difference in our student’s lives.’”

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

Photo courtesy of Cardinal Ritter

Where

isn’t always a fire

Alan Zagier, the principal at Tightline Public Affairs, and communications director for Legal Missouri 2022, contacted the Political Eye regarding last week’s column and the ballot initiative Missourians will be voting on about recreational use of marijuana in this state. Here are his concerns as received in an email, and the EYE’s response to his stated concerns.

Zagier felt it was in error to say, “signatures collected for a constitutional amendment as submitted by an organization called “legal Missouri.” The campaign’s actual name is Legal Missouri 2022.”

The EYE: Several news outlets have referred to by that name, including a KCUR.org article published August 15, 2022 https://www.kcur.org/ news/2022-08-15/recreationalcannabis-is-on-the-ballot-in-november-but-critics-are-urgingvoters-to-read-the-fine-print)

Zagier writes it was incorrect to write, “After competing with two other ballot initiative signature collecting drives all summer. “The only other active “ballot initiative signature collecting drive” that was happening simultaneously to ours was the Better Elections campaign for ranked-choice voting. Entirely different, not “competing.”

The EYE: There was no attempt to be “disingenuous,” as stated by Zagier. If one, two or three entities are working toward a goal, one hopes to prevail. Thus, the use of the word competition.

Zagier questioned scrutiny of the signature count. “We actually submitted more than 400,000 voter signatures, of which approximately 215,000 were deemed valid.

The EYE: There is a link in the web article to the SOS website which certifies the specific numbers that were deemed valid by the state. Link is here: https://www.sos. mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/ Petitions/059WebSufficiency. pdf

Zagier wrote, “There aren’t any license caps in this amendment, nor under the medical cannabis law. Rather, there is a minimum number of licenses the state is required to issue - nothing prevents it from adding more, based on population growth/market/consumer demand, as DHSS has already done so.

The EYE: The reference to license caps is in both legislative testimony linked in the

Alan Zagier

story and in court filings, where the state has already declared that it will not be issuing more licenses. Rebecca Rivas of the Missouri Independent also wrote about this issue back in March.

Zagier wrote there is no “predetermined limit of marijuana licenses,” and the 192-figure cited refers to the initial dispensary count, which now exceeds 200. If you include cultivation and manufacturing licensees, as well as certified transportation and testing facilities, the number of state-approved Missouri marijuana businesses approaches 400. Compare that number to neighboring Illinois, which has double the population and less than half the number of retail outlets, or Florida, where patient access is truly limited by actual monopolies.

The EYE: Again, this reference was in legislative testimony, and can be found at the aforementioned links.

Zagier states, the EYE errored in stating that Amendment 3 expungements are only automatic for certain misdemeanor possessions - not for A, B, C, and D felonies...He said all non-violent marijuana offenses will be automatically expunged. Misdemeanors are first, followed by E, D, and C felonies involving up to three pounds next, and all the others are expunged upon completion of the sentence. Plenty of A and B marijuana felons will have their offenses expunged within months of Amendment 3 approval because their sentences are completed.”

The EYE: Per state charging data available on MSHP’s website, the “non-violent marijuana offenses” are a small amount of the offenses charged, and more serious crimes (A, B, C felonies) typically have multiple charges attached to them, so this really doesn’t help anyone. The petition states

that you must complete your sentence and/or probation or parole before being eligible for an expungement. Folks currently incarcerated will not be automatically released for marijuana-related crimes. And judges still have the discretion to grant expungements for these offenses so it’s not really automatic when there is still a gatekeeper with final authority.

Zagier took issue with the statement, “Public consumption of cannabis is still barred under Amendment 3.” False. The proposed amendment DOES add employment protections.

The EYE: The bill literally adds several iterations of public consumption crimes into the state constitution; Page 21, Paragraph 3 lists all the ways cities and counties can continue to criminalize marijuana within their respective jurisdictions (including public consumption); also, worth noting that this bill also loops edibles into the same category as smoking under “consumption.”

Lastly, Zagier thinks it is incorrect to state “Still no employment protections for persons who medically or recreationally use cannabis outside of work and on their own time.” He said the proposed amendment does add employment protections.

The EYE: Would like to know where this statement can be verified. There are no additions beyond certain protections in the MMJ petition from 2018.

Mayor endorses Green in BOA president race

Primary is Sept. 13

St. Louis American staff

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones wrote Tuesday on Twitter she is “proud” to endorse Alderwoman Megan Green in the race to replace former Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed.

Reed, who is scheduled to plead guilty on Friday, August 26, 2022. resigned after being indicted on a series of federal corruption charges.

“St. Louis now has the opportunity to elect a Board President who supports working families - not wealthy developers and special interests,” Jones stated.

“Since 2014, @MeganEllyia has shown up for everyday St. Louisans time and time again, fighting to raise the minimum wage, protect reproductive freedom, and promote equitable development.

“Together, we can usher in a new era in city government, focusing on neighborhoodcentered services and reversing decades of disinvestment in communities across St. Louis.”

Green is taking on Alderman Jack Coater, who endorsed the disgraced Reed over Jones for mayor in 2021.

A guilty plea

John Collins-Muhammad, 31, became the first of three

former members of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen to plead guilty to a series of corruption charges before U.S. District Judge Stephen Clark on Tuesday.

He admitted to bribery and racketeering charges that were spelled out in an indictment in July. He accepted campaign contributions, cash, and other gifts, including cell phones, for giving a ‘yes’ vote to tax abatement for a proposed gas station in his ward.

Sentencing is scheduled for Collins-Muhammad on Dec. 6, 2022, and he was released until that date. He is facing three to six years in prison, based on federal sentencing guidelines.

Former Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed and former Alderman Jeffrey Boyd were caught in the same FBI “sting.”

After professing their innocence and vowing to fight the

charges, both also resigned and then reached plea agreements. They are scheduled to enter their guilty pleas on Friday in the same courtroom.

“When politicians break the law to serve themselves instead of the people they were elected to serve, everyone loses,” Jones said in a statement.

“The federal corruption charges against Lewis Reed, John Collins-Muhammad, and Jeffrey Boyd have further shaken the faith St. Louisans have in their government. It’s time to turn the page on the past and move on from the failed status quo.

“I am ready to work with the Board of Aldermen in the coming legislative session to help rebuild trust by enacting development incentive reform that improves transparency, promotes community involvement, and eliminates conflicts of interest.”

Mayor Tishaura Jones Alderwoman Megan Green

“Taking Care of You”

Like COVID-19, monkeypox rate higher for Black people

Limited number of cases in region

By Sylvester Brown Jr.

The St. Louis American

The federal government has declared monkeypox a public health emergency, and Missouri raised its threat level rating on August 18, 2022.

Both actions are applauded by Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, director of the city’s health department.

“Usually, such declarations have meant that additional resources will be available to help with an outbreak,” Hlatshwayo

Davis said in a release. “Vaccine demand for the virus has significantly outpaced current supplies and the Department of Health is hoping [the] declaration is a signal that more help is on the way to state and local governments.”

Monkeypox is a rare illness caused by infection with the monkeypox virus, which is part of the family of viruses which includes smallpox. Because vaccine supplies are limited, health officials have taken precautionary steps to fend off the spread of monkeypox across Missouri.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], monkeypox usually appears one to two weeks after infection, but sometimes this can extend to three weeks. It often begins with flu-like symptoms and swollen lymph nodes, then progresses to a rash. It can spread through intimate physical contact; touching personal items such as clothing or linens; skin-to-skin contact with rash, scabs, or bodily fluids; or respiratory

See MONKEYPOX, A11

Breastfeeding benefits

By Denise Hooks-Anderson

n Breastfeeding is not some new health trend. There was a time when breastfeeding was the norm.

When I was young, I thought it very strange to see women in public nursing their babies. I now look back on my ignorance and wish I had received better education regarding the benefits of breastfeeding and how important breastfeeding was for the development of babies. During my first pregnancy I decided to nurse my baby but did not produce much milk. Furthermore, some of my maintenance medications for lupus were not recommended during breastfeeding. Therefore, I could not nurse for very long. However, I learned from that experience and was able to nurse a little longer with my second child and produced a lot more breast milk. My second experience with breastfeeding was more successful because our health systems had evolved and provided more assistance to new mothers. I utilized a lactation consultant who helped me learn techniques to get my baby to latch on, different styles of holding my baby while nursing, and the consultant encouraged me to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. That education and guidance made a difference in my confidence. I was also comfortable nursing my baby anywhere and was able to pump when I returned to work. Breastfeeding is not some new health trend. There was a time when breastfeeding was the norm. I’m sure we are all aware of how slave mothers were often required to also nurse the “master’s” children. These women were known as wet nurses. There is evidence of wet nursing as early as 2000 BC and it extended well into the 20th century. In certain cultures, women of a certain status would demand wet nurses. During the Renaissance Period, history records reveal that some wet nurses had contracts and were actually paid. During the mid-19th century, bottles and nipples were refined and a transition from breastfeeding to infant feeding using animal’s milk was seen. Present day formulas are much safer than the substances used decades ago but breast milk is still considered the best source of infant nutrition for most babies. Breast milk antibodies help protect babies from illnesses. The antibodies help strengthen the baby’s immune

Skin cancer is risk no matter skin color, tone

Black people should be aware of danger

By Sandy West Kaiser Health News

Brykyta Shelton found herself

standing in a checkout line of a big-box retailer, uncomfortably aware as a woman ahead of her stared at her sandaled feet. Shelton had been taking medication for months for what her doctor said was toenail fungus, but one nail still looked gross.

checked out by someone else,’” said Shelton, who lives in a Maryland suburb of Washington, D.C. Shelton, now 42, took the advice.

n Researchers do not understand what causes acral lentiginous melanoma, and they don’t know how to prevent it.

After Shelton completed her purchase, the woman pulled her aside and said that, while she wasn’t a doctor, she thought Shelton was dealing with something more serious than fungus.

“She’s like: ‘I know I’m just a random stranger, but please, go get it

The initial lab work didn’t give a clear diagnosis, but her new doctor said he was confident she had acral lentiginous melanoma, a form of skin cancer. Additional testing proved him right. While rare, it is the most common subtype of melanoma in Black people, like Shelton. It is the disease that killed reggae star Bob Marley at age 36, and is most often found on skin less frequently exposed to the sun, such as the hands, the soles of the feet, and under nails. Researchers do not understand what

See SKIN CANCER, A11

Americans

and other precautions are warranted when doing

African

can become skin cancer patients, regardless of the tone of their skin. Sun screen

activities in the sun.

Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, St. Louis Health Department director, hopes the federal government’s decision to declare monkeypox a public health emergency will lead to more vaccine access. The spread of the virus, so far, has been slow in the St. Louis area.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Photo courtesy of KHN

See ANDERSON, A11

Denise HooksAnderson

“Taking Care of You”

Monkeypox

Continued from A10

droplets spread through kissing or coughing. Illness typically lasts two to four weeks.

The outbreak has predominantly impacted men who have sex with men and its spread has mostly been found to be transmitted during sex. Health officials have said that those who participate in high-risk sexual behaviors such as multiple partners and transactional sex should be prioritized for the vaccine.

As with COVID-19 and other treatable illnesses, the monkeypox virus impacts minority populations disproportionately.

The (CDC) released data from 43 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, revealing that African Americans comprise 26% of all monkeypox cases compared to 12% of the American population.

The CDC also noted that Hispanic people accounted for 28% of cases while comprising 19% of the population.

The virus, however, doesn’t seem to be spreading widely in the St. Louis region, yet. As of August 18, the CDC reported 24 cases in Missouri, up from 18 the previous week. There were eight confirmed cases in St. Louis County and 11 in St. Louis city according to the city and county health departments.

Dr. Joseph Cherabie is a Barnes-Jewish Hospital doctor who specializes in sexual health care with a focus on the LGBTQIA community.

Last week Cherabie told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that more people are coming into area emergency rooms or clinics with the painful lesions associated with monkeypox, or concerns they were exposed.

This week, the BidenHarris administration announced it would increase America’s supply of monkeypox vaccine by making an additional 1.8 million doses of Bavarian Nordic’s Jynneos vaccine available for ordering beginning Monday, Aug. 22. With news of additional doses of the vaccine, Administration officials stated:

“Since the first case was confirmed in the United States, the Administration has led a whole-of-government response to make tests, vaccines, and treatments more widely available to communities across the country and has worked with the LGBTQI+ community to provide information and resources directly to

n As with COVID-19 and other treatable illnesses, the monkeypox virus impacts minority populations disproportionately. According to the CDC African Americans who comprise 12% of the US population, comprise 26% of all monkeypox cases.

communities most at risk of contracting the virus.”

Davis expressed cautious optimism about the government’s release of additional monkeypox vaccines:

“Without a formative plan from DHSS (Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services) it makes me hopeful, but we won’t be

Skin Cancer

Continued from A10

able to definitely plan for or announce expansion until that time,” she said.

“My hope is that, that announcement translates quickly into available doses to DHSS and subsequently to us.”

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

To be sure, skin cancer rates are lower for people with dark skin tones. Melanoma is more than 20 times as common in white people as in African Americans, with an overall lifetime risk of 1 in 38 for white people compared with 1 in 1,000 for Black people. Melanin does provide some protection against sun damage, so those with more of it — those with darker skin — are better protected than those with fairer skin.

Anderson

Continued from A10 causes acral lentiginous melanoma, and they don’t know how to prevent it. It is often overlooked in skin checks or misdiagnosed. Skin cancer, in general, is often missed or misdiagnosed in Black patients. Historically, Black people and those with dark skin have been left out of efforts to combat skin cancer. Long neglected by sunscreen manufacturers and a medical community lagging in diversity and cultural competency — the acknowledgment of a patient’s heritage, beliefs, and values — many have not been informed about sun safety or how to check their skin for signs of damage or cancer.

But overall, Black patients are more likely to be diagnosed with various forms of skin cancer at more advanced stages, said Dr. Janiene Luke, with the Skin of Color Society a nonprofit that works to educate doctors and the public on skin health.

The five-year melanoma survival rate among nonHispanic Black people is 66%, compared with 90% for non-Hispanic white people, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And 1 in 3 Black men or women diagnosed with melanoma in the U.S. die of the disease, compared with at least 1 in 7 for non-Hispanic white people, says the American Cancer Society

Given the known disparities in outcomes, Dr. Valerie Harvey, president of the Skin of Color Society, said two areas of research are needed: studying educational initiatives to see if awareness might lead to earlier diagnosis and improved survival; and determining risk factors in patients with dark skin, especially factors leading to the occurrence of melanoma in places less exposed to the sun.

Improving cultural competency and diversity within dermatology is just one step toward improving

diagnosis and outcomes.

According to the most recent data, fewer than 3% of dermatologists nationwide are Black. Orthopedics is the only medical specialty with a smaller share.

Dermatology has traditionally been one of the most competitive specialties in medicine, said Dr. Michelle Henry, a clinical instructor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine. In addition to stiff academic requirements, admission to dermatology programs also depends on connecting with mentors and extensive networking, which can be expensive. And that, Henry said, has traditionally created barriers for Black

as we saw these past several months, there is also potential for formula shortages. Mothers also reap breastfeeding benefits such as weight loss and risk reduction from breast and ovarian cancer, diabetes, and hypertension. There is research to support the strengthening of mother-baby

Dr. Janiene Luke, a board-certified dermatologist and associate professor, at the Loma Linda University Department of Dermatology in California, warns that Black patients are more likely to be diagnosed with various forms of skin cancer at more advanced stages.

medical students who want to pursue dermatology.

“There are so many hurdles that make it difficult for a lot of students of color to do the things that they need to do in such an uber-exclusive and small space,” she said. Recent initiatives to help students overcome those barriers are beginning to work, said Dr. Susan Taylor, vice chair for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the dermatology department at the University of Pennsylvania and founder of the Skin of Color Society. Initiatives from the American Academy of Dermatology include holistic reviews of residency applications, mentorships, and

programs to increase interest among and prepare high school students for college and medical school.

Medical app company VisualDX is working to reduce disparities in medicine through Project Impact by creating a catalog of images reflecting various diseases in different skin colors. Skin cancers may appear different on fairer skin than on darker skin, and because doctors may have been trained only with fairskin depictions, the chance for misdiagnosis in people with dark skin increases.

Change has also come to the sunscreen industry.

Jorge Martínez-Bonilla, senior vice president and partner with Chicago market research company C + R Research, said failures within the medical community to provide adequate skin care for people with dark skin mirror the lack of availability of sunscreens to meet patients’ needs, especially for Black people.

“What that has done is that it has pushed Black entrepreneurs, from one day to the next, to come up with their own solutions and their own products,” Martínez-Bonilla said. “Not only from the lack of availability, but because these are the people who know their needs best.”

Tips for Avoiding Skin Cancer for All Skin Tones

• Avoid direct sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Keep babies out of the sun entirely.

• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day. Reapply every two hours or after swimming or activity/sweating.

• Don’t leave sunscreen in the car, because temperature fluctuations can cause it to break down and become less effective.

• Wear clothing that covers arms and legs.

• Wear a broad-brimmed hat to protect the face, ears, and neck.

• Wear UV-blocking sunglasses.

• Avoid indoor tanning beds.

• Examine skin from head to toe every month. Look for dark spots or patches, or growths that are growing, bleeding, or changing; sores that are slow to heal, or heal and return; patches of skin that feel rough and dry; and dark lines underneath or around fingernails or toenails.

Sources: Skin Cancer Foundation, American Academy of Dermatology, Dr. Janiene Luke, Dr. Michelle Henry, Katonya Breaux

bonds with breastfeeding as well. Some of my patients view breastfeeding as a gift that they are providing their babies to improve their futures. Research suggests that breastfed babies have fewer ear infections, less obesity, fewer lower respiratory infections, and a host of other benefits as well.

Working in partnership with communities and nonprofits, MFH is transforming systems to eliminate inequities within all aspects of health and addressing the social and economic factors that shape health outcomes. system. As the infant develops, breast milk changes to meet the needs of the growing infant. Breastfeeding is also very convenient. With nursing, there is no need to get up in the middle of the night to mix formulas. Mothers can nurse their infants anywhere and anytime. Breastfeeding can also help soothe infants when traveling which often disrupts an infant’s routine. Not to mention that breastfeeding is cheaper. Infant formula can be expensive and

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first 6 months of life and can be continued in conjunction with food once food is introduced into the diet. Advocating for breastfeeding is not an indictment against women who may not be able to breastfeed due to other reasons. Infant formula is a good alternative for infant nutrition. If you are experiencing any nursing difficulties, please contact your local lactation specialist. Your family doctor, Denise Hooks-Anderson, MD, FAAFP

Missouri Foundation for Health is building a more equitable future through collaboration, convening, knowledge sharing, and strategic investment.

Your Health Matters is provided in partnership with

Health care workers in New York register people receiving the monkeypox vaccine. Nationally, Black and LatinX Americans are contracting the virus at a higher rate than whites.

Photo courtesy of Kaiser Health News

Photo courtesy of Loma Linda University

Tila Neguse is living version of diversity

WashU Center for Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity ‘speaks to urgency of our times’

By Sylvester Brown Jr.

The St. Louis American

Tila Neguse is a personification of the word “diversity.” An eclectic mixture of backgrounds and experiences, Neguse is Eritrean but also, a Memphisonian [born and raised in Memphis Tennessee]. She’s an activist, a poet and the associate director of Washington University’s new Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity {CRE2)].

Neguse’s father is from Eritrea. Her mother is from Memphis. She and her little sister were raised immersed in both African and American cultures. On special occasions they wore the traditional lush and flowing gowns, zuriyas as well as the bobby socks and jumpers, popular in the South.

n “It not only changed my perspective, but it also made me step into my identity and realize the type of work I would like to be doing out in the world.”

– Tila Neguse, associate director of Washington University’s Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity on her undergraduate experience and education in Ghana

The family ate Eritrean cuisine such as tsebhi, flatbreads and stews made from lentils and fava beans as well as barbecue, fried chicken, and other soul food delicacies. Neguse grew up listening to traditional Eritrean music as well as southern Blues, gospel, jazz, R&B and Hip-hop.

It’s little wonder that the word “diversity” has a multitude of meanings for Neguse.

“I understand diversity as a range of differences within a given setting. An individual cannot be diverse but a team, or an experience, can be. A lot of times people think diversity in action only means bringing Black or brown people into white spaces. That, to me, is not true diversity.”

Neguse is excited to be part of a center where academics are dedicated to studying how race and ethnicity are integral to the most complex and challenging issues of our time. Washington University recently announced CRE2 creates opportunities for campus-wide projects that collates “field-defining research, innovative learning, and strategic engagement” aimed at transforming scholarship, policy, and clinical interventions centered around race and ethnicity.

“This is a centralized place at Wash. U. for research on race & ethnicity,” Neguse explained. “Which means we’ll have an academic center where all the work being done by those studying

Tila Neguse, WashU Center for Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity associate director, says it “serves as a valuable resource to combat ignorance and hatred.”

race and ethnicity is collated in one place.”

As a one stop information center, CRE2 provides faculty, students, local and national media outlets, global citizens, and world leaders the ability to access pertinent race-related information. Considering we live in an environment where “race” has become a politicized weapon to beat back immigration, Black studies, voting rights and much more, CRE2 will serve as a valuable resource to combat ignorance and hatred.

The center will “speak to the urgency of our times,” Neguse said. “It’s a way for the university to acknowledge the political landscape of these times.” In a way, CRE2 was born out of social justice. Campus activism and robust dialogue

Big dreams

after the 2014 police killing of Michael Brown led to the formation of Washington University’s Commission on Diversity and Inclusion. The committee produced 19 reports containing recommendations for improving diversity and inclusion at the university. One of the directives from the commission led to the creation of a center dedicated to providing academic research on race, ethnicity, and equity. The 2022 academic goals of CRE2 are categorized as “themes.” They include Innovations in Understanding & Improving Health Equity; Race and the Future of Democracy; Global Migratory Representations, Histories, and Crises; Visualizing Race and Ethnicity: Algorithms,

See NEGUSE, B2

PeoPle on the Move

Tommye Austin to join BJC

Tommye Austin, PhD will join BJC HealthCare as the new senior vice president and system chief nurse executive, effective October 3. In this role, Austin will be accountable for developing and implementing targeted system-wide initiatives to improve patient outcomes, standardize care, and enhance effectiveness of the clinical workforce. Austin brings more than 30 years’ experience in the nursing field, having most recently served as the senior vice president and chief nursing executive for University Health, a health system in San Antonio, Texas.

Places of People appoints Kiesha Davis

Places for People announced that Kiesha Davis MSW has been appointed the president of the board of directors. Her experience and passion for helping St. Louis find hope, health, and healing is invaluable. Davis is director of partnership and capacity building at the Deaconess Foundation. She leads strategy development for change making investments to improve the lives of children and families in our region. A native of North St. Louis with experience working in philanthropy, she has dedicated her career to creating equitable opportunities and interventions for underserved communities.

Andrea

CareSTL Health welcomed Andrea Spates as the director of operations. Spates has been a healthcare leader in the industry for more than ten years. As a nurse, she has worked in inpatient and outpatient settings, specializing in medical-surgical and ambulatory care. She has worked as an inpatient house supervisor/charge nurse and most recently as an outpatient leader working as a nurse administrator with the Division of Physical Medicine RehabilitationNeurological at Washington University School of Medicine. Spates holds a master’s of nursing in healthcare administration from SIU Edwardsville.

By Alvin A. Reid

Representation of Black Employer Business.” The region had 3,112 Black business when the survey was completed, and the ratio of Black business to the Black population stood at 30.8%. The 3,112 Black owned business ranked ninth in the nation in total number of Black owned firms. That number is 6% of all the region’s business, which ranks second only to Atlanta. St. Louis’ achievement will be on display during the Think Big Shop Small Delmar Black Business Expo from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday August 27, 2022. More than 90 businesses will be represented, and hundreds of products and services will be available to shoppers, all in celebration of Black Business Month. The expo will take place both indoors See EXPO, B2

Sandra Morton named principal

Marian Middle School announced the appointment of Sandra Morton, MEd., MBA, as the school’s new principal. Marian is a Catholic middle school with a focus on breaking the cycle of poverty through exceptional education. Morton is pursuing a master’s in education leadership from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She previously served as principal at St. Louis Catholic Academy.

Photo courtesy ofTila Neguse

Kiesha Davis

Andrea Spates

Sandra Morton

Tommy Austin, PhD

Tiffany Wesley, founder and owner of Pure Vibes, was named a 2021 Forbes Next

recipient. She will share her story of small business success during a panel discussion at the Delmar Black Business Expo.

Photo courtesy of WePowerSTL

Neguse

Continued from B1

Discourses, and Design and Legal, Spatial, and Political Justice.

The center, Neguse stressed, is still in its infancy but she’s excited about the “themes” her colleagues will pursue. While elaborating on “diversity,” Neguse said the CRE2 theme, “Global Migratory Representations, Histories, and Crises” speaks to the true meaning of the word.

“Our center has a global perspective, beyond a St. Louis or United States-only focused lens.”

To emphasize the importance of perspective and accurate, enlightening, and in-depth information, Neguse recalled an experience she had studying abroad in Ghana for a semester as an undergraduate student.

“While there, I realized how I was denied access to so much information because of my Eurocentric education. The program I attended focused on the Atlantic slave trade, and I was learning things that I never learned in my US primary, secondary and post-secondary education. It was just so eye-opening…it was like hearing the real story for the first time. It not only changed my perspective, but it also made me step into my identity and realize the type of work I would like to be doing out in the world.”

Neguse has worked in the arena of “race” since coming to St. Louis in 2010. Her first job after graduating from Kenyon College in Ohio, was as an educational interpreter at the Missouri History Museum for the American Anthropological

Expo

Continued from B1

and outdoors along Delmar Boulevard, beginning at AAA Fish House at 5816 Delmar.

In addition, Black Business Bus tours organized by Oh Buy The Way will transport visitors to other Black owned businesses located Downtown and in Dutchtown.

The Expo will present the “Starting and Sustaining Your Black Business” panel discussion at STL Artworks, 5959 Delmar Blvd at 1 p.m.

Association’s exhibit, “Race: Why are we so Different.” She then became a Washington DC lobbyist advocating for funds for anti-poverty programs and efforts aimed at reducing mass incarceration. In 2015, she was hired as project coordinator for Washington University’s “Divided City: An Urban Humanities Initiative,” a fouryear project that analyzed how segregation continues to impact individuals, cities, neighborhoods and much more.

When I think about it, I really have always been an administrator working either directly or tangentially on social justice issues,” Neguse said. “I consider myself an activist, so I am attracted to this type of work.”

In addition to her CRE2 duties, Neguse, just started a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing at the Warren Wilson College, MFA Program for Writers. She’s also an accomplished poet. Poetry has served as a cathartic means to give voice, retrospect, and balance to Neguse’s unique past and current passions.

“Simply put, my poetry often deals with what it’s like to be a Black woman in the diaspora,” Neguse said. “In my work, that surfaces via experiences from a multiplicity of angles: being both a Black American and African.

Neguse relishes her role in helping aggregate information that dissects the “multiplicity of angles” inherent in race and ethnicity work now and in the future. For example, she mentioned the CRE2 programmatic theme of Visualizing Race and Ethnicity and how artificial intelligence (A.I.) can inform bias.

“One area of research and programming you will see

The session will feature leaders and mentors from the St. Louis business community, including Tiffaney Wesley, founder of Pure Vibes, an artisanal skincare business, Wesley was also a 2021 Forbes Next 1000 recipient, which recognizing emerging small businesses.

Wesley recently told VayageLA.com she created Pure Vibes in 2013 “out of personal necessity.”

“I was 23 and just beginning to master my adult life somewhat and needed to take control of my health,” she said.

“I was diagnosed with PCOS [polycystic ovarian syndrome]

highlighted this year at CRE2 is on A.I. and Bias,” Neguse said. “How can algorithms, whether that’s facial recognition software or a chat box on a healthcare site, contribute to bias? It’s a whole new frontier and we hope we can call attention to some of the exciting research being done in this area.”

Last year, the ACLU released a report detailing how Al can deepen racial and economic inequities, noting how the data used to train AI technicians “is often discriminatory or unrepresentative for people of color, women, or other marginalized groups and is inherent throughout “AI’s design, development, implementation, and use.”

In addition to CRE2 as a valuable local resource, Neguse sees the center as a way to cement an even more valuable relationship between the university and the community.

“I see the center as extremely important to not only Wash U but also to the broader St. Louis community. It’s a way to establish trust between the university and the St. Louis community” Neguse elaborated, adding: “CRE2 is a university wide center, across all seven campuses and we have an amazing community of faculty, graduates and other scholars working on research that examines race and ethnicity.

“This, I believe, shows a commitment from the university to the study of race and ethnicity and to diversity and inclusion.”

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

a hormonal condition that required that I adapt a dairy & gluten-free lifestyle. I began to search for gluten-free and vegan skincare and lifestyle products and at that time there were very few products in the market.” She added that “the Pure Vibes journey was not an easy one for sure.”

“I went through several variations of the company trying to perfect my business model. There were also times in which My PCOS would get the best of me and not to mention the difficulty in trying to fund the business and not always having the means to do so.

“I eventually gained the courage to continue when I saw that the products were helping with my two years old eczema and hearing the feedback of other women suffering with PCOS.”

Maureen Brinkley, St. Louis Small Business Administration district director, is also a panel member. The event is organized by Delmar Main Street and presented by Mastercard. Delmar Main Street provides educational and charitable resources to “promote, strengthen and revitalize a diverse commercial and housing corridor on Delmar Boulevard in the city of St. Louis, from Rosedale Avenue to Taylor Avenue, while preserving its historic character,” according to its website.

More info can be found on their website delmarmainstreetstl.com.

Washington University Chancellor Andrew D. Martin with Adrienne Davis, vice pro-

vost, the William M. Van Cleve Professor of Law and founding director of the university’s Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity, which provides faculty, students, local and national media outlets, global citizens, and world leaders the ability to access pertinent race-related information.

Photo by Joe Angeles / Washington University

n “Seeing them celebrate on our floor; that is an image, a memory, a feeling, I’ll probably never ever forget.”

– Jayson Tatum on watching Golden State celebrate its NBA

Sports

AUGUST 25 – 31, 2022

InSIdE SportS

By Earl Austin Jr.

Canton calling

CBC, ESL take on opponents in Freedom Bowl

Vashon travels to Kirkwood

Excitement abounds as area high school football teams kick off the season, including a pair of power houses being showcased in Canton, Ohio.

CBC and East St. Louis will play bookend games of the NFL Academy Freedom Bowl at the 20,000-seat Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and site of the annual Hall of Fame preseason game.

CBC will open the event at 4:30 p.m. Friday, August 26, 2022, against nationally ranked Georgia Milton. East St. Louis takes on Baltimore St. Francis at 7 p.m. Saturday in the finale of the six-game, two-day package.

Both CBC and East St. Louis are expected to challenge for state championships once again this season.

CBC rolled to the Class 6 state championship last season, its third in six seasons.

The Cadets have a strong crew of returning players, including junior running back Jeremiyah Love, All-State defensive tackle Tyler Gant and junior wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan.

East St. Louis will also take a loaded team to Canton as the Flyers try to return to the Illinois High School Association state championship game after finishing as runners-up last season.

The Flyers return most of its massive offensive line, which is led by 6’7” 350pound senior Miles McVay, who has committed to Alabama. Junior quarterback Robert “Pop” Battle threw 30 touchdown passes last season while seniors Antwan and Keyshawn Hayden return as defensive stalwarts.

The St. Louis area produced three state championship teams in 2021, CBC, St. Mary’s, and Lutheran-St. Charles. We also saw bonafide star power with incredible talents including Luther Burden of East St. Louis, who will play for Missouri this year, and Kevin Coleman of St. Mary’s.

Top Week 1 matchups

St. Mary’s at SLUH, Friday, 6 p.m. - The St. Mary’s Dragons rolled to the Class 3 state championship last season and look to be loaded again with offensive firepower, led by wide receiver Chase Hendricks, running back Jamal Roberts along with Kansas State recruit Donovan McIntosh at defensive back. SLUH features one of the state’s top junior prospects in receiver Ryan Wingo along with senior tight end Zach Orthwerth, an Illinois recruit.

Vashon at Kirkwood, Friday, 7 p.m. - In an intriguing matchup, Vashon visits the Pioneers in a non-conference game. Vashon had a breakthrough season in advancing to a Class 4 state quarterfinal in 2021. The Wolverines are a talented unit, led by sophomore running back Dierre Hill. Kirkwood has a top-flight running back as well in senior Deion Brown.

Troy at Holt, Friday, 7 p.m. - There has been tremendous football being played in St. Charles in the Gateway Athletic Conference and these were two of the top teams last season. Troy made a surprise run to the Class 6 state semifinals while Wentzville Holt advanced all the way to the Class 5 Show-Me Bowl for the first time in school history.

Francis Howell at Fort Zumwalt North Friday, 7 p.m. - Another game featuring two excellent large school programs in St. Charles County, Howell and Fort Zumwalt North have staged some excellent opening-season contests in recent years. One of the featured players in this game will be Francis Howell’s Brett Norfleet, a 6’8” senior tight end who’s committed to Mizzou.

MICDS at Harrisonville, Friday, 7 p.m.The Rams will travel across the state to take on Harrisonville in a battle of two tradition-rich programs. These two programs met for the state championship on a regular basis many years ago. The common thread in this game is MICDS coach Fred Buchard, who was once formerly the coach at Harrisonville during his stellar career.

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

features a

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in

Edwardsville at Jackson, Friday, 7 p.m. - Metro east area power Edwardsville will travel down to the boot heel to take on Jackson, a SEMO area dynasty that has won two state championships and made the state semifinals during the past three seasons while losing only one game.

McCluer at Cardinal Ritter, Friday, 7 p.m.Cardinal Ritter is looking to advance once again after reaching the Class 3 state semifinals last season. They will host a McCluer squad that finished with a 7-3 record last season.

Do not take Ernie Francis Jr lightly on racetrack

Alvin A. Reid

Ernie Francis Jr., a Haitian American, wants to be a driving force in Indy Car racing and is in gear to do so with the Force Indy racing team. Francis, 24, is a rookie driver on the Indy Lights circuit, and drove in the Lights Series race on Saturday, August 20, 2022, before the NTT Indy Car Series Bommarito 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois.

He qualified in the 12th and final position of his race but paced his No. 99 car to a ninthplace finish.

“It has been a season of learning, a big learning curve,” Francis Jr., said before his 75-lap race.

“Everything we do on the track is about getting better and trying to improve for the next track we go to. We are trying

to be more competitive and get to podiums [top three finishes] and wins.” Francis Jr., made the move to Indy Lights after three wins in his lone season in the Formula Regional Americas Championship in 2020 and a second-place finish in the inaugural season of the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX), with a win at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in July 2021. During a heat race before the SRX main event in Boston on June 25, 2022, Francis Jr., and SRX Series owner and NASCAR Hall of Fame member Tony Stewart made serious contact. Stewart, who competes in the series, grabbed the shoulder of Francis Jr,’s fire suit and the two had a heated exchange of words.

“I’m not going to take that from him. I know he’s the boss, but rubbing is racing out there,” Francis said after the altercation.

“He got up on my inside, I didn’t see him. I turned down

and didn’t see his car in there at the last second.

“For him to hit me under caution, that’s kind of a dirty move there. For him to come in after me and push me around, after, I’m not going to take that from him. It is what it is.”

While an Indy Lights rookie and driving in just his second SRX season, Francis Jr., knows his way around a racetrack. He

is a seven-time class champion in the Trans Am Series (20142020), and his 47 career victories are the most of any driver in Trans Am history. In December 2020, African American business leader and former racing team manager Rod Reid formed Force Indy, which is mentored through the acclaimed Roger Penske and his team’s “Race for Equality &

Change” initiative. The team hires men and women of color, including mechanics, engineers, staffers and drivers, and Penske told the Indianapolis Star in January he wants to have a Black driver race for his team in the Indianapolis 500.

Francis Jr., said he realizes

“I represent,” just as Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton and NASCAR’s Bubba Wallace do on their respective circuits.

“Our team is about change. But when I put on the helmet, I’m the same as everyone else on the track,” he said. His father, who also drove competitively in Florida in the 1980s, introduced Francis Jr., to go karts when he was 4. He obviously took to the sport, and his early years have been successful, but there have been setbacks.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to do this and there have been a lot of hard times where I thought it may not happen, but you just keep pushing after it and here we are now and one

step closer to racing in the [Indy Car Series,]” he said.

The Reid Racing Roundup Bubba Wallace recently signed a multi-year contract extension with the 23XI NASCAR racing team, which is owned by Michael Jordan Charlotte Bobcats owner and NBA Hall of Fame member, and NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin. “Thanks to M.J. and Denny for continuing to believe in me. We’ve come a long way together in less than two years and we’ve checked off some major goals along the wayincluding the team’s first win and first pole…F1 champion Lewis Hamilton traveled to Africa during the series’ summer break and said touring Namibia, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania, “These past two weeks have been some of the best days of my entire life. I’m not the same man I was before this trip, all the beauty, love and peacefulness I experienced has me feeling fully transformed.”

MICDS

pair of big-play seniors

Winston Moore

Steve Hall, who are fouryear starters.

Earl Austin Jr.

Finals title in Boston

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

East St. Louis quarterback Robert “Pop” Battle threw 30 touchdown passes last season, and will lead the Flyers against Baltimore St. Francis at 7 p.m. Saturday in the finale of the six-game, two-day NFL Academy Freedom Bowl in Canton, Ohio.

Ernie Francis Jr., with his No. 99 Indy Lights race car at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Photo by Alvin A. Reid / St. Louis American

Jazz St. Louis picks jazz musician Victor Goines as its president and CEO

By Jeremy D. Goodwin

St. Louis Public Radio

Victor Goines, an acclaimed musician and educator, will become president and CEO of Jazz St. Louis on on Sept. 19.

Goines’ tenure succeeds that of Gene Dobbs Bradford, who led the Grand Center-based organization for 23 years before leaving in December to lead the Savannah Music Festival in Georgia..

Goines said he remembers when Jazz St. Louis got its start in the Willard Hotel. He said the city has a vibrant jazz scene he is eager to promote.

“Jazz is alive and everywhere, and we want people to see this city for what it is,” Gaines said in a statement. “It’s up to us to push the boundaries by listening to the various communities and meet them where they are with music.”

Goines brings with him impressive credits both onstage and in the classroom.

He’s played clarinet with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra since 1993, under the leadership of trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, who recommended him for the St. Louis job. Goines also led the Jazz Studies department at Northwestern University for 14 years, after seven years building the Juilliard School’s jazz studies program. He has been an education consultant to Jazz at Lincoln Center since 1995.

Bradford led Jazz St. Louis through a period of growth, including a $10 million renovation and expansion of the club known as Jazz at the Bistro into the Harold and Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz, complete with education and rehearsal studios and an onstage sound system considered perhaps the finest in St. Louis.

“As we look to the future of Jazz St. Louis, we are thrilled to have Victor at the helm with his extensive knowledge and connections to the jazz world,” Bill Higley, chair of the Jazz St. Louis board of directors, said in a statement.

Goines was born in New Orleans. He will continue his career as a live performer and recording artist while leading Jazz St. Louis.

Tech company Scale, which provides data infrastructure for AI, recently announced that it will open a new office in Downtown St. Louis, bringing hundreds of jobs to the Downtown neighborhood with plans for future expansion. Scale said that it is building its workforce from the ground up and

Tony Thompson creates HSSU scholarship

Honors the late Betty Thompson

St. Louis American staff

Anthony “Tony” Thompson was taught at a very early age by his parents, Jack and Betty Thompson, a former state representative and community activist who served her community for more than 40 years, about the importance and value of education, family, and community service.

As chairman and CEO of Kwame Building Group, Inc., the first African American ESOP corporation in Missouri, Thompson provides young professionals with growth, development, and leadership opportunities. In addition, through the Kwame Foundation, he endows scholarships at various institutions of higher learning across the country to assist in removing the financial barrier that exists for many minorities and first-generation college students.

“Giving back has always been a core family value,” Thompson said.

“My mom helped everybody. I remember as a kid going with her to pass out cheese and coats to needy families at Pruitt-Igoe. She taught my siblings and me that nothing was impossible; and that even though we came from humble beginnings and lived in a St. Louis housing project, we could do anything. I feel blessed to be in the position I am in today to help these kids and give back, too.”

Mrs. Thompson, who passed away in July 2021, was born in Mississippi and later moved to St. Louis, Missouri. She was educated in St. Louis Public Schools, graduating from Sumner High School. She attended Harris-Stowe State University and Washington University in St. Louis, earning certificates in business and management.

Thompson said his mother’s example inspired him, and her love for Harris-Stowe and the community led him to create the scholarship.

“My mother loved Harris-Stowe and this community. She would be pleased to know that a scholarship established in her honor will assist many students, who are also first-generation college students, and help them pursue their dreams,” Thompson said.

The $100,000 Betty L. Thompson Endowed Scholarship will benefit full-time students in good academic standing at the university.

Scale announces new office downtown, bringing 200+ tech jobs

investing resources to hire local talent who come from different career paths.

In a press release announcing the new Downtown office, Scale noted that it is bringing 215 new jobs Downtown –with plans to add hundreds more – “to support local economic growth and create

job opportunities outside of the country’s traditional tech hubs.” Scale is a member of the GeoFutures Coalition, which coordinates the implementation of the GeoFutures Strategic Roadmap. Today’s announcement continues the rapid expansion of St. Louis’ geospatial sector – which earlier

this year saw the launch of the Taylor Geospatial Institute and the inaugural HBCU GEOINT Undergraduate Research Experience Summer Immersion Program at Harris-Stowe State University, held in collaboration with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

The office’s location is near

the Next NGA West campus as well as NGA’s geospatial accelerator, Moonshot Labs. Scale also plans to open an office at the nearby Globe Building in the near future.

“The work St. Louis’ geospatial ecosystem has done to create a pathway for companies like Scale to grow and thrive here is a testament to the commitment of our business, civic, academic, and government leaders,” Greater St. Louis’ Jason Hall added. “And in choosing to expand Downtown they are advancing our efforts to restore the core of St. Louis.”

Victor Goines will continue to perform and record as he leads the Grand Center-based organization.

Photo provided by Sarah Escarraz / Jazz St. Louis

Community pride

Living It Still reppin’

Neighborhood banner project remembers St. Louis Black heroes

By Danielle Brown

The St. Louis American

Seeing successful people who look like them and hail from the same neighborhood can play a pivotal role in Black youths’ lives.

A collaboration between The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis Learning and Engagement department and GatewayGIS titled Neighborhood Banner Project: Learning St. Louis History Through Design, honors present and past historic Black icons from north St. Louis communities.

Its mission is to educate North St. Louis students about significant Black figures, community monuments, and digital graphic design. Eight banners are featured in the exhibition, which faces the museum’s west corridor.

Entertainer and activist Josephine Baker, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Griot Museum of Black History Founder Lois Conley and Negro League Baseball star and Baseball

hall of Fame member James “Cool Papa” Bell are representatives of three north St. Louis city neighborhoods: Carr Square, Covenant Blu Grand Center, and JeffVanderLou (JVL).

n Neighborhood Banner Project: Learning St. Louis History Through Design, honors living and deceased historic Black icons from north St. Louis communities.

Local middle school and high school students designed and created the banners with the assistance of resident teaching artists with connections to their selected neighborhoods.

Rosalind “Roz” Norman, the founder of

GatewayGIS, an organization that exposes marginalized communities to STEAM education, said inspiration for the project came from a short video documentary about the 1999 opening of the then-new Vashon High School. She said the video displayed community pride and quoted late activist and educator Norman Seay.

“I remember Norman talking about our children needing to develop a sense of belonging to community pride in knowing there have been many outstanding leaders from JeffVanderLou and other nearby predominantly Black neighborhoods in north St. Louis,” Norman said.

Norman, who was born in Homer G. Phillips Hospital and raised in The Ville and the JVL, said her labor of love for GatewayGIS comes from aspirations of making emerging and geospatial technology, resources, and education

The Rep’s 56th season offers something for most theater fans

By Danielle Brown The St. Louis American

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis returns for its 56th Season with a 2022-2023 showcase featuring the mystical and riveting production of Madhuri Shekar’s “House Of Joy,” August 28-September 18 at the Loretto-Hilton Center in Webster Groves.

“As I programmed the 2022-23 season, I was inspired by the blossoming life of spring,” said Hana Sharif, artistic director of The Rep.

“From our reinvestment in the arts to the renewal of our commitment to the St. Louis community, my goal was to provide an array of productions that align with our mission of sharing entertaining and thought-provoking world-class art.”

“House of Joy is set in a Mughal Empire harem, and it’s in this mystical Southeast Asian world,” Sharif said. “It’s a world that deals with magic and is a world driven by energies. It appears as a glittering utopia, and I love its magical realism.”

Although the story centers on an emperor, a concubine, his daughter, and female guards, Sharif said “House of Joy” ‘s theme analyzes the dynamics of power and love beyond just focusing on the women entering the utopia and prohibition from exiting it.

“I love that this play looks at love in every aspect, the love between partners, love between mother and child, love between a leader and their most trusted confidant,” she said.

“Private Lives,” the second show of The Rep’s mainstage full season, runs Sept. 30-Oct. 23 at the Catherine B. Berges Theatre at COCA.

It’s a hilarious, unexpected story about former married couple Amanda and Elyot, who ironically run into each other while vacationing in the French Riviera on their honeymoon with their new spouses. During the discovery, the two reflect on why they fell in love with each other and why they divorced each other.

n “As I programmed the 2022-23 season, I was inspired by the blossoming life of spring.”

- Hana Sharif, artistic director of The Rep.

“It’s a Noel Coward classic comedy that takes you on a funny, dysfunctional wild ride,” Sharif said.

“The Rep has produced the production over the last 56 years. This is the third time it’s been produced here. It’s been at least 20 years since it was last produced.”

The Rep’s “A Christmas Carol” tradition returns Nov. 18- Dec. 30 at Loretto-Hilton. The Sharif-directed production starring a BIPOC cast and some actors with visible and invisible disabilities, chronicles the journey of Ebenezer Scrooge (played by a Black male actor)’s ghosts of his past, present, and future finally catching up with him.

“It features flying, ghosts, choreography, lots of music, traditional carols, and rapping,” Sharif said. “It’s my love letter to St. Louis because it reflects what regional theater can be at its best.”

Keeping the holiday spirit, “The Glowy Snowy Day,” opens the new year Jan. 6-9, 2023, at Missouri History Museum.

It’s a free outdoor, socially distanced drive-thru illuminated puppeteer show and podcast that narrates the story of a young boy named Peter who plays outside with his friends during the season’s first snowstorm.

“The site-specific drive-thru experience for families is based on Ezra Jack Keats’ book, The Snowy Day,” Sharif said. “The production is phenomenal. More than 60 puppeteers are participating in it.” “Putting It Together: A Musical Review” runs Jan. 27-Feb. 19 at The Berges Theatre with a walk

By Isaiah Peters The St. Louis American

birthday.

See Travel, C8

Photo by Sérgio Perreira

Assistant Digital Editor Isaiah Peters experienced his first Portuguese sunset in Lisbon, Portugal at Praça do Comércio on August 7, 2022.

Courtesy the artists of Cardinal Ritter College Prep & Jaryn Blackshear-Bryant Josephine Baker, 2022. Vinyl, 60 x 30 inches

Courtesy the artists of Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club and Kevin McCoy James “Cool Papa” Bell, 2021. Vinyl, 60 x 30 inches

Courtesy the artists of Carr Lane Middle School and L.M. Flowers Lois Conley, 2022. Vinyl, 60 x 30 inches

APGA members pictured (clockwise from top right): St. Louis native Christian Heavens, Willie Mack and Marcus Byrd.

Oscar Murillo Exhibition at Art Museum Closes August 28

Beckmann during his exile in the 1930s.

Currents 121: Oscar Murillo, on view at the Saint Louis Art Museum through August 28, is an exhibition of large-scale paintings sure to get your attention with bold lines and deep colors. Oscar Murillo examines notions of cultural exchange, globalization, labor, and action through monumental paintings that reflect the processes of how they are created.

During the initial spread of the COVID-19 virus in 2020, the world was suddenly ordered to stay in one space, stripped from daily routines. Spending the lockdown in his hometown of La Paila, Columbia, Murillo channeled his artistic energy into his creative process. For him, the pandemic aligned with the history of global relocation, exile, and migration.

Murillo created seven works with an obvious energetic mark-making but also with an underlying physical quality. On view in Currents 121, these works are part of an ongoing 2018 series of large-scale paintings titled manifestation characterized by bold, forceful strokes of bright blue and deep red paint obliterated by black marks. His large-scale, gestural paintings fill the galleries at every angle. Up close, you can see the mix of materials: oil, spray paint, and oil stick on canvas and linen. His stylistic application of the black oil stick was inspired by German artist Max

Contributing to cultural exchange and globalization through the act of painting and markmaking, Oscar Murillo was joined by St. Louis metro area students for the Museum’s annual Exploring with the Artist program. Students and Murillo gathered to create hands-on art projects inspired by his mark-making artistic practice and ongoing project Frequencies

Since 2013 Murillo has sent pieces of blank canvas to schools around the world, requiring that the canvas be affixed to classroom desks through the school year. Local high school students were then encouraged to mark, draw, scribble or write on them as they pleased. Frequencies has grown into a global community exhibition involving 350 schools across 34 countries, producing over 4,00 canvases. Canvases from the Frequencies project are currently exhibited in a group setting and individually throughout the Museum. We invite you to come to discover the canvases—two in the student galleries and eight throughout the permanent galleries.

Oscar Murillo has developed not only an innovative art practice that is fundamentally connected to the qualities of different materials, but his ongoing manifestation series functions as an expressive record of art created throughout this historic global pandemic. Visit the Art Museum to experience Currents 21: Oscar Murillo, on view in Galleries 249 and 250 through August 28.

By Shaka Myrick, 2022 – 24 Romare Bearden Graduate Museum Fellow

Courtesy of Saint Louis Art Museum

Oscar Murillo visiting his exhibition at the Saint Louis Art Museum.

COGIC Pastor

It was instantly apparent to all that Pastor Melvin E. Moore was a man who put his faith, his family, and his community first.

He learned by example from his parents Edward and Katherine Moore (nee Fleming), who welcomed Melvin as the fifth of seven children born to their union on May 5, 1941. in St. Louis.

The family relocated to Pacific, Missouri during his childhood. Melvin’s intellectual gifts were recognized early. Also apparent in his youth was his love for learning and teaching the gospel – and compelling others to live and operate within the will of God.

A 1960 graduate of Pacific High School and barber school, he pursued higher education at Webster University, Concordia Bible College, Covenant Christian College, and Eden Seminary.

On December 8, 1962, He married the love of his life, Carol Jeanette Moore. Out of their union came four beautiful children: Laurie, Carol, Nicole, and Melvin II.

Saved and filled with the Holy Ghost as a young man, Pastor Moore was a prolific Bible scholar, teacher, and fiery

of 1967 under the leadership of Bishop M H Norman and Senior Bishop O.T. Jones, Sr.

He was elevated to Pastor of Gospel Temple Church of God In Christ in April of 1970, where he served and was respected until his death. The Lord instructed Pastor Moore to make Gospel Temple a ministry of reconciliation.

The cornerstone of the church’s mission can be found in Roman 5:10: “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”

Pastor Moore faithfully served the Eastern Missouri 1st Jurisdiction in various leadership positions: State Sunday School Superintendent, Chairman of USAC and Chairman of the Board of Elders. In 1989 he was elevated to 1st Administrative Assistant to Bishop R.J. Ward. Pastor Moore served Bishop Ward until the Bishop passed away in September of 2018. Administrative Moore was given the honored distinction of being named 1st Administrative Assistant Emeritus under the leadership of Bishop

spectfully known as Reverend Moore – was an entrepreneur by profession. He owned two of the few African American businesses in Webster Groves. Moore’s Barbershop and Moore & Moore Construction Company served the community for two generations. Reverend Moore was also a prominent and outspoken member of the Webster Groves/ Rock Hill communities. His list of contributions to his beloved Webster Groves – and work to ensure that its Black community had a voice – is extensive. He will be remembered as a Civil Rights advocate, a

North Webster Black Coalition, a member of the Ministerial Alliance of Webster Groves, a member of the North Webster Improvement Association and an affiliate of the Webster Groves Rock Hill Ministries. These are just a few examples of his dedication to the community where he lived, worked, and served through ministry by way of Gospel Temple. He provided mentorship, work, resources, and guidance to countless young Black males in the Webster Groves and Rock Hill regions.

Reverend Moore went to be with the Lord on August 14, 2022. He was a faithful soldier in Christ’s army and a prominent leader in his community, but he will be remembered by

Reverend Moore went to be with the Lord on August 14, 2022. He was a faithful soldier in Christ’s army and a prominent leader in his community, but he will be remembered by his family as an awesome husband, committed father, brother, hilarious uncle, loving cousin, and dedicated friend.

John (Emma) Moore, David Moore; one brother in law: Pete (Sandy) Hulsey; two sisters in law: JoAnn Moore and Judith Moore; his best friend and brother in the Gospel: Bishop Nathaniel Johnson; his beloved Gospel Temple Church family, a host of beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends as well as the entire Webster Groves and Rock Hill communities.

Rev, Moore’s parents, siblings and siblings-in-love Edward and Katherine Moore, James Moore, Mary and Roy Hinkle Sr, Harriet Moore, Allen and Margaret Hinkle and Joseph Moore, all preceded him in death.

his family as an awesome husband, committed father, brother, hilarious uncle, loving cousin, and dedicated friend.

Pastor Moore leaves to mourn and cherish his memory his loving wife of 59 years, Missionary Carol J. Moore; his children: Laurie (Jeremiah) Grimes, Carol (Kenneth) Goolsby, Katherine Nicole (Rick) Vaughn and Melvin II (Melva) Moore; seven Grandchildren: Lauren Marie, Kamaya Marie, Madison Elise, Thomas, Shala, Kayla, and Ruthie Goolsby of Houston Texas; two nephew-sons: Roy Jones Jr and Minister Daniel Yokley; a special niece-daughter: Mrs. Faye McKinley; three Godchildren: Elder Stephen Cooper Jr, Lady Belinda Lassiter and Angela Norman; two beloved brothers: Pastor

A wake for Pastor Moore will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, August 26, 2022, at Gospel Temple COGIC, 113 Thornton Avenue, Webster Groves, Missouri, 63119. A viewing will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, August 27, 2022, at Kennerly Temple COGIC, 4307 Kennerly Avenue, St. Louis, 63113. Internment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, 10305 Big Bend Boulevard, Kirkwood, Missouri, 63122.

The family of Pastor Melvin E. Moore Sr. wishes to express our sincerest gratitude and appreciation for all the flowers, cards, food, and sympathetic expressions of love. “Your prayers and presence have been much comfort during our time of bereavement. Thank you for extending your loving kindness. May God bless you richly.”

Memorialize and celebrate your loved ones in The St. Louis American! For more info contact Angelita Houston

or call

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.

Springboard to Learning is hiring. To apply send a cover letter, resume and references to HR@springboardstl.org

FULL-TIME FACILITIES MANAGER

Full-time Facilities Manager needed to supervise the operation, maintenance & cleanliness of property grounds; to schedule and supervise safety and security of church property.

• Maintain building supply inventory

• To supervise, schedule, and evaluate custodial staff in cleaning and maintaining building.

• Interact with vendor/contractors, church business administrator, and pastoral staff to assure needs of the church are met.

• Responsible for upkeep of all tools, equipment, church vehicles, and baptismal pool.

• Supervise building availability and set up for all programs, activities, and church events

• Handle all building emergencies.

• To serve as resource personnel and church liaison regarding risk management property issues.

• To administer church policies and procedures concerning use of church property and facilities.

• To carry out other duties as assigned.

• Salary range 35,000-41,000 depending on experience.

To apply for the position call Sister Donna Toles at 314-535-9002 x204.

For questions regarding this position call Rev. Angela Tate at 314

MANAGER, ACCOUNTING

The St. Louis County Library is seeking applicants for a Manager, Accounting. This position will supervise Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable functions and will perform accounting services for the Library’s Foundation and Pension Plan. A Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in accounting, 4-5 years of accounting experience with an emphasis in Government or Non-Profit entities preferred, plus 2+ years of supervisory experience is required. Must possess excellent communication and organizational skills. Salary: $69K plus paid health insurance and other benefits. Apply online at https://www.slcl.org/content/ employment. Equal Opportunity Employer.

AVP & SENIOR COUNSEL

Under the direction of the Vice President & Assistant General Counsel (“VP & AGC”), manages business transactional support for the Company’s various business units, select corporate (non-Claims) litigation, and other legal affairs of the Company.

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

SUPERVISING REGISTERED NURSE

The 22nd Judicial Circuit-Juvenile Division seeks applicants for a Supervising Registered Nurse. Candidates must be a graduate of an accredited nursing program and a registered nurse in the State of Missouri.

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing is preferred. A minimum of 3 years of nursing experience preferred. Experience in supervision of medical staff preferred. Must wear and provide a medical uniform. Candidates must be at least 21 years of age. Salary range is $60,866-$88,478. Please email resumes to: stl.resumes@courts.mo.gov

See www.stlcitycircuitcourt.com and click on Employment Opportunities for complete job description. EOE.

FRONT DESK RECEPTIONIST/ CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

We are looking to hire a front desk receptionist/customer service representative, the successful candidate should be outgoing and friendly with a gregarious personality and a natural talent for customer service to join our Purpose-Driven team immediately. If interested contact : zlee5349@gmail.com

of St. Louis County is seeking an attorney to serve as guardian ad litem (GAL) in the Family Court to handle juvenile matters/parent attorney. A GAL who serves the Court must commit to serve on various Family Court (Juvenile) cases on an as needed basis for a monthly retainer to be paid by public funds. The current retainer is in the amount of $2,300.00 per month. Payments for time expended in adoption, guardianship of minor, and termination of parental rights matters may be made over and above the retainer fee.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from an accredited law school, possession of a current license to practice law in the State of Missouri, up to three (3) years of trial experience preferred; preferably in juvenile or family law (additional years of trial experience and guardian ad litem experience are highly preferred), and completion of necessary guardian ad litem training as required by the Supreme Court of Missouri. Note: This position is subject to continued availability of funding.

To apply, please send a current resume, along with a cover letter, to SLCCourtJobs@courts.mo.gov or to the following address (application materials must be postmarked by September 30, 2022): Family Court of St. Louis County, Attn: Human Resources Department, 105 S. Central Ave., Clayton, MO 63105. 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.

FOOD OUTREACH MANAGER

PRINCIPAL

Are you a strong, faith-driven leader prepared to lead a premier Jesuit high school in its third century of

St. Louis University High is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of Principal, one who will lead our academic and formational programs that challenge students to think critically, lead courageously, and transform the world as Men for Others. To learn more and apply, visit sluh.org/principal.

THE CITY OF JENNINGS IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS:

The City of Jennings is accepting applications for the following positions: Recreation Specialist; Deputy Building Commissioner; Finance Director; Correctional Officers, Seasonal Parks Crew Laborer; Court Clerk, Public Works Laborer; F/T Accounting Clerk; P/T Accounting Clerk; P/T Assistant to the City Clerk; P/T Public Works Laborers; P/T Site Monitor; P/T Concession P/T Stand workers; P/T Umpire; P/T Scorekeeper; P/T Economic Development Assistant. Please see the full job descriptions online at www.cityofjennings.org. Applications are available at the Jennings City Hall or on the website at www.cityofjennings.org. The City of Jennings is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices

INVITATION TO BID

The Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit is currently soliciting bid proposals for plaster repairs at the Civil Court Building. The request for proposal is available on the Court’s website

www.stlcitycircuitcourt.com

Click on General Information, Then Request for Proposals. A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on September 28, 2022 at 9:30 a.m.in the lobby at the Civil Court Building, located at 10 N. Tucker, St. Louis, MO 63101. Bids are due October 13, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. EOE

INVITATION TO BID

The Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit is currently soliciting bid proposals for repair of revolving door at the Civil Court Building. The request for proposal is available on the Court’s website www.stlcitycircuitcourt.com Click on General Information, Then Request for Proposals. A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on October 13, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. in the lobby at the Civil Court Building, located at 10 N. Tucker, St. Louis, MO 63101. Bids are due October 25, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. EOE

INVITATION TO BID

The Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit is currently soliciting bid proposals for replacement of deteriorated caulk at the Carnahan Courthouse and the Civil Court Building. The request for proposal is available on the Court’s website www.stlcitycircuitcourt.com. Click on General Information, Then Request for Proposals. A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on September 15, 2022 at 8:30 a.m.in Room 308 at the Carnahan Courthouse, located at 1114 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63101. Bids are due September 27, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. EOE

Notice To Small (SBE), Disadvantaged (DBE), Minority (MBE), Women’s (WBE), Service Disabled Veteran Owned (SDVOB) & Veteran Owned (VOB) Businesses Advertisement River City Construction, L.L.C., 6640 American Setter Drive, Ashland, Missouri 65010, (573) 657-7380 (Phone), (573) 657-7381 (Fax) Is Seeking Qualified Small, Disadvantaged, Minority, Women’s, Service Disabled Veteran Owned & Veteran Owned Businesses For The University of Missouri – (CP222221) – 4230 PHILLIPS FARM ROAD – DISCOVERY PARK DERMATOLOGY BUILD OUT, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, COLUMBIA, MISSOURI: for subcontracting opportunities in the following areas: Demolition, Asbestos Removal, Paving, Landscape, Earthwork, Drilled Piers, Concrete, Masonry, Metals, Rough Carpentry, Roofing, Doors, Glazing, Painting, Drywall, Flooring, Specialties, Equipment, Furnishings, Cold Storage Rooms, Conveying, Fire Protection, HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, Communications, Electronic Safety, Utilities. All interested and qualified SBE, DBE, WBE, SDVOB, AND VOB businesses should contact, in writing, (certified letter, return receipt requested) Jacob Pettit or Joe Seymour to discuss the subcontracting opportunities. All negotiations must be completed prior to the bid opening date 8/30/2022 @ 1:30 P.M. Proposals will be evaluated in order on the basis of low responsive bid received. CERTIFICATION OF DBE/WBE/MBE/SDVOB/VOB STATUS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH BID. BID DOCUMENTS MAY BE OBTAINED BY:

1) Email your company name, contact name and phone number, as well as the project you are interested in to bid@rccllc.com

2) You will then receive an email invitation for that project with a link to our SmartBidNet system.

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace HVAC System, Administration

U2002-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1 : 3 0 P M , 9/27/2022 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered t o b i d . F o r specific project information, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

INVITATION TO BID

The Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit is currently soliciting bid proposals for replacement of ceiling tile in Divisions 3 and 5 on the 5th Floor of the Civil Court Building. The request for proposal is available on the Court’s website www.stlcitycircuitcourt.com Click on General Information, Then Request for Proposals. A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on September 12, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. in Division 3 at the Civil Court Building, located at 10 N. Tucker, St. Louis, MO 63101. Bids are due September 26, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. EOE

ADVERTISEMENT FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Sealed qualifications for 22-170 - Water Interconnect Booster Pump Station will be received by the City of St. Peters, Purchasing Department, One St. Peters Centre Boulevard, P.O. Box 9, St. Peters, Missouri, 63376 until 2:00 PM local time, September 22, 2022. This is a non-public opening.

Qualification requirements will be available August 25, 2022 and may be obtained from the City of St. Peters, One St. Peters Centre Boulevard, St. Peters, MO 63376 or requested in writing to Bids@stpetersmo.net under the subject line 22-170 - Water Interconnect Booster Pump Station.

All questions regarding this project shall be submitted to the City of St. Peters Purchasing Department in writing to Bids@stpetersmo.net under the subject line 22-170 - Water Interconnect Booster Pump Station or by mail One St. Peters Centre Boulevard, St. Peters, MO 63376 before noon local time, September 15, 2022.

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

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

ADVERTISE

YOUR BIDS, PUBLIC NOTICES, AUCTIONS, AUDITS, SUMMARY & LEGAL NOTICES

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

NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS

Date of First Publication: 8/25/22

City of St. Louis: Community Development Administration (CDA) 1520 Market Street, Suite 2000 St. Louis, Missouri 63103 314-657-3700 / 314-589-6000 (TTY)

On or after 9/2/22, the City of St. Louis (“the City”) will submit a request to the U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) for the release of the following funds, under Title I of the Housing & Community Development Act of 1974, PL93-383, as amended, 42 U.S.C.-5301 et seq., to undertake the following Public Improvement, within the City:

Choice Neighborhoods: Loretta Hall Park Renewal

Purpose: The renovation and improvement of the park

Location: 1000 Selby Place, St. Louis, MO 63106

Estimated Cost: Total development cost of this project is approximately $1,105,000, with $475,000 of funding coming from St. Louis City’s CHOICE Neighborhood Implementation Grant Funds— Grant # MO7E527CNG116.

The activity proposed is categorically excluded subject to under HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58 from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for these projects is can be found online by visiting https://www.onecpd.info/ environmental-review/environmental-review-records or on file at the City’s CDA, at the address listed above, and may be examined or copied weekdays 8 A.M to 4 P.M, by contacting Rashonda Alexander, CDA, Special Assistant for Development, at (314) 314-657-3803.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to Rashonda Alexander, CDA, Special Assistant for Development, at the address listed above. Comments and questions pertaining to these programs can also be directed to Justin Jackson, CDA, Executive Director, at the address listed above. All comments received by 9/2/22 will be considered by the City prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which notice they are addressing. Visit https://www.onecpd.info/environmental-review/environmental-review-records to review HUD ERR.

RELEASE OF FUNDS

The Certifying Officer of the City of St. Louis, Justin Jackson, in his capacity as Executive Director of CDA, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the City to use these program funds.

OBJECTION TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City’s certification for a period of 15 days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City; b) the City has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD/State; or d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58.76) and shall be addressed to Dana Buckner, U.S. Department of HUD, Office of Community Planning and Development, 1222 Spruce Street, Suite 3.203, St. Louis, MO 63103. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Justin Jackson, Executive Director Certifying Officer

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Hankins Construction is Requesting Proposals for the following project:

Project: Central Transportation Facility for Special School District

Project Location: 5500 North Hanley Road, Kinloch, MO 63134

This project is Tax Exempt and Prevailing Wage. It also has a combined M/WBE Goal of 15%.

Bid Date: September 8th, 2022 @ 2:00 PM

The estimator working on this project is Erik Hankins. Please send all proposals to office@ hankinsmidwest.com. If you have any questions, please call our office at 314-426-7030.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Requests for Quotes, Bids and Proposals are posted online for public download. Please navigate to www.msdprojectclear.org

> Doing Business With Us

> View Non-Capital Bids (commodities and services) or >Visit Planroom (capital construction bids)

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

SOLICITING BID

Reinhardt Construction LLC is Soliciting Bids from MBE/WBE/ DBE/Veteran/SDVE for the following:

CP220981 Virginia Ave. Parking

Structure- Relocate C- Store from Pershing Hall

Contact: Mike Murray ; mikem@ reinhardtconstructionllc.com

Phone: 573-682-5505

REHAB CONTRACTORS NEEDED IN DECATUR

Multi-million-dollar rehabilitation projects available for contractors in Decatur, IL. City of Decatur seeks pre-qualified, qualified, and lead-abatement contractors to help meet this demand. The goal is to rehab 150-300 homes over the next two years. Bids will require prevailing wage, excluding any lead-abatement work. A Contractor’s Loan Fund is available to provide additional cash flow if needed. Visit www.decaturil.gov/ contractors-manual to view the Contractor’s Manual and be added to our list, or contact Connie Hamilton at 217-4502350, cfarrar@decaturil.gov

PUBLIC NOTICE

Nadeynne Washington is Deyna Mazique

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace E m e r g e n c y G e n e r a t o r , Infrastructure, St. Louis Forensic Treatment Center - South, Project No. M1908-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/15/2022 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. For specific project information, go to: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

VIRTUAL OUTREACH EVENT

The Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park and Alberici Construction invite St. Louis metropolitan area vendors in the construction fields to come to a Virtual Outreach Event at 10:00 AM on August 26, 2022. Diversified vendors are strongly encouraged to attend. Visit stlzoo.org/vendor for more details. www.adsplanroom.net

SOLICITING BID

Reinhardt Construction LLC is Soliciting Bids from MBE/WBE/ DBE/Veteran/SDVE for the following:

CP222221 4230 Phillips Farm Road- Discovery Park Dermatology Build Out

Contact: Mike Murray ; mikem@ reinhardtconstructionllc.com

Phone: 573-682-5505

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

> Proposal for City Block 177 Geotechnical Services

> Proposals will be received by City of St. Louis Treasurer UNTIL 3:00PM 8/23/2022

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

St. Louis County Department of Human Services Housing Urban Development Continuum of Care FY22 Notice of Fund Opportunity

The St. Louis County Department of Human Services - Homeless Services Program is seeking proposals for the Housing Urban Development Continuum of Care FY22 Grant. The Preliminary Pro Rata Need amount is $4,611.680.00. Proposals are due by 11:00 a.m. on August 30, 2022 central time. Please email completed proposals to Christeena Curtner @ ccurtner@ stlouiscountymo.gov

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on August 15, 2022 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. via Zoom @ https://us06web.zoom. us/j/84382093314?pwd=bFo1MlhYNzRFYlk0TmtJNTI3d3RGZz09 Meeting

ID: 843 8209 3314 Passcode: 004639

Proposal details and specifications can be obtained at the St. Louis County Continuum of Care webpage located at http://www.stlcountycoc.com

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

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

NOTICE REGARDING TRAFFIC COURT COMMISSIONER VACANCY TO ALL ATTORNEYS RESIDING IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI

The Circuit Court of St. Louis County, Missouri, announces that it is soliciting candidates for the position of Traffic Court Commissioner of the Circuit Court of St. Louis County.

The Circuit Judges and Associate Judges will make the appointment for a term of (4) years, at an annual salary of (1/3) of an associate circuit judge and (1/3) the approximate time commitment, payable by the State of Missouri, pursuant to RSMo §479.500

Missouri law requires the Traffic Court Commissioner(s) to possess the same qualifications as an associate circuit judge, including those set forth in the Missouri Constitution, Article V, Section 21, to wit, they must be qualified voters of the state, residents of St. Louis County, Missouri, at least twenty-five years old, licensed to practice law in Missouri; and possess all other qualifications as required by law. (See RSMo §479.500).

Questionnaires and Candidate Instructions may be obtained by sending a resume and cover letter to St. Louis County Circuit 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 Circuit Court, ATTN: Human Resources, 105 S. Central Avenue, Clayton, Missouri 63105, or via email to SLCCourtJobs@courts.mo.gov on or before August 31, 2022

The appointment is scheduled to take place upon a vote of the Court en Banc on or about September 7, 2022 or at such time as announced by the Presiding Judge. 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.

PUBLIC NOTICE REQUEST FOR BIDS

IMPACT Strategies, Inc., as the selected Construction Manager, is requesting Subcontractor proposals for the SIHF/TRH Urgent Care - East St. Louis project, Bid Package #2 - Site & Building Trades. This is a tax-exempt project.

Scope of work on the new SIHF/TRH Urgent Care project includes site work, building construction, and interior finishes required to complete the 5,000 SF addition to the existing Health Center located at 2001 State Street, East St. Louis, IL 62205. The listing of subcontractor bid packages is included within the Instructions to Bidders document provided with the full set of bidding documents.

Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation and IMPACT Strategies encourage participation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) for their construction projects. A goal of 24% diverse (MBE/WBE/VBE/DBE) business utilization has been set for this project. Participation from vendors/subcontractors that are certified with the Illinois Business Program is highly encouraged, as is participation from additional local certifying agencies including, but not limited to: Missouri State Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program, City of St. Louis M/WBE Programs, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport Authority, St. Louis Development Corporation, IDOT, MODOT, St. Louis Minority Business Council, and Missouri Regional Certification Committee among others.

There will be a Pre-Bid Meeting held on August 23rd at 8:00 AM to provide all subcontractors access to the space and to discuss details of the project and bid submittal process. Please meet representatives of IMPACT at the project location for the start of the meeting. Please confirm pre-bid attendance, along with any questions regarding this walk-through, with Emily Yost. EYost@buildwithimpact.com

Project Documents, as well as samples of IMPACT’s subcontract documents and insurance requirements have been posted to Building Connected, and the following direct link. Documents are also available through SIBA’s online plan room, MOKAN online plan room, McGraw Hill Dodge and Cross Rhodes Reprographics.

https://buildwithimpact.exavault.com/share/view/33bxb-gjt43g0r

Subcontractor proposals are due to IMPACT Strategies, Inc. by August 30, 2022, at 9:00 AM and should be emailed to Emily Yost. eyost@buildwithimpact.com

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

> Proposal for Repair & Preventative Maintenance of Parking Garages & Parking Lot Repairs

> Proposals will be received by City of St. Louis Treasurer UNTIL 3:00PM 9/2/2022

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

$100/dep

The City of Maplewood is accepting bids for installing a drinking fountain at Greenwood Park, 3600 Commonwealth Ave. Bids must be received in a sealed envelope, marked “GREENWOOD FOUNTAIN INSTALLATION” at Maplewood City Hall no later than 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 16, 2022. Specifications can be found at www.cityofmaplewood.com or contact the City of Maplewood at 314-645-3600. The City of Maplewood reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids.

accessible to Black youth.

“I love providing a backdrop of career education efforts to engage our children, their parents, and families in north St. Louis,” she said.

LM Flowers, a resident teaching assistant helped Carr Lane Middle School students with their Conley banner, which will be displayed in the St. Louis Place Neighborhood. Flowers wasn’t knowledgeable about the chosen hero, but is glad she was selected for their involvement.

“It was pretty cool to learn more about Conely’s life,

her aspirations, and why she opened the Griot Museum,” Flowers said. Flowers said she enjoys teaching art and connecting young people to the creative form.

“Seeing the students’ aspirations for art is exhilarating for me because I have a profound love for art,” Flowers said.

Kevin McCoy assisted students from Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club in the creation of designing Bell for the JeffVanderLou neighborhood.

“So many times in the past we’ve seen things that don’t reflect people that look like us, our past, our history, and our heritage,” McCoy said.

“There has been whitewashed history, redacted history, and buried history.

The Banner Project helps to eliminate those biases by us all working together in collaboration celebrating people that look like us from our backyards in our city.”

The designs are the aftermath of two years of planning, teaching, and collaboration with local organizations and schools near the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency west campus. The students’ work will display on the outside of the museum, facing North Spring Avenue, through September 18, 2022.

At the end of the exhibition, a set of the banners will be distributed to classrooms, and another will be gifted to St. Louis 3rd Ward Alderman Brandon Bosley for future public display.

down memory lane featuring legendary composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim’s greatest songs. African American director Tiffany Nichole Greene uses a multi-ethnic cast to uncover the complex relationships of two couples out for an extravagant evening.

“I love his [Sondheim’s] work and I would say his work is part of why I do theater now,” Sharif said. “His work is beloved by many people in the community and the musical reviews pull the songs we all love from many of his musicals.”

Produced in association with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, “Confederates’’ runs from Feb. 10-March 5, 2023, at Loretto-Hilton Center. It showcases the meeting of an enslaved woman and a tenured professor living more than 100 years apart, who both dealt with institutionalized racism. The Rep is one of three theaters in the country that can produce the show this year.

“We journey the women in real-time and see how the overlapping of their lives has its challenges,” Sharif said. “The characters reversing in time and this continuum of time is interesting. I thought it was incredibly compelling when I read it.”

“Murder on the Orient Express” will be staged from March 17- April 16 at the Loretto-Hilton Center. Starring a diverse cast, the production is a classic murder mystery set in 1934 after midnight a snowstorm halts the Orient Express train.

A wealthy American businessman is found dead, and Hercule Poirot must find out who has done it before the killer finds another victim. It’s presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.

“Historic patrons love Christie’s work,” said Sharif who is directing the production.

“It’s interesting and filled with amusing actors. It’s a great way to close our mainstage season.

Part of The Rep’s Steeple Studio Season, “Gruesome Playground Injuries” runs April 14- May 7, at Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. It is the

story of two childhood friends who share injuries they have both visible and invisible, and whose lives intersect over the next three decades. As they bask in adulthood they share the different adversities and positives they’ve experienced since childhood.

“It’s a story about friendship, love, and encountering the world of Marxists as they survive and thrive and reinvents themselves through traumas and joys they have in life,” Sharif said.

This is The Rep’s managing director Danny Williams’ first full season with the company and he’s excited about it.

“I am immensely excited to be at the helm of The Rep for my first full season with such a thrilling lineup of shows,” Williams said. “It’s been a true joy to watch this season come together, and we can’t wait to share with everyone St. Louis.”

For more information about the 2022-2023 season, visit repstl.org or call the Box Office at (314) 968-4925. The Rep Box Office at the Loretto-Hilton Center will be open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM.

to the world’s oldest bookstore, Livraria Bertrand.

“If Lisbon and Portugal were a person in a group, with other southern European countries, it would be the quiet one listening to slow music,” said Sergio Perreira, a Portuguese native, who aptly described the city’s tranquil ambiance.

The navigable centralized Portuguese capital is a maritime city with a population of about 3 million, which is about the size of the Minneapolis metro area.

Arriving is a breeze with a reasonable two euro, 20-minute clean and comfortable underground transit from the airport into the city. A majority of Portuguese people speak fairly understandable English.

Portugal’s story is complex

One of Europe’s longest reigning empires was the Portuguese Empire. Portugal once held Brazil, the largest piece of land to become a single country after Canada. Today Brazilians comprise about 211,000 of Portugal’s 10 million person population. It is evident in street performances and music that there is much cultural exchange and migration between the two countries.

A fascinating observation became apparent on my first day. There are substantial similarities between Lisbon and San

Francisco.

I first noticed when the hills of Lisbon’s streets would abruptly get extremely steep.

During a 1755 earthquake, 85% of Lisbon’s buildings were destroyed, and in 1906 an earthquake destroyed more than 80% of San Francisco’s. The cities are built on seven hills,

Portugal Highlights:

A must-eat:

Pastéis de Belém is a todie-for pastry; a crunchy, sweet, rich mixture of custard, egg and sugar.

Must-sees:

Visually, the city hosts some of the finest architecture the world can offer.

Also check out: Belém Tower, Sintra Palácios, Praça do Comércio, and Jerónimos Monastery.

and both have the iconic city symbols of cable cars to deal with the steep hills. Both cities also have impres-

sive massive dark red suspension bridges gracing their skylines facing mammoth oceans.

A notorious colonial power for more than six centuries, Portugal is comparable to the much larger and more populated empires of Great Britain, France, and Spain. Portugal ruled over parts of Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America.

I was curious about how diverse Portuguese culture is when visiting the presidential residence of Palácio Nacional de Belémother.

Despite Black Portuguese people making up less than 2% of the country’s population, within the national sport of soccer, don’t be surprised to see a quarter of a team’s players being Black. There have been four Black representatives since Portugal became a republic in 1974, with the most recent being elected in 2019.

The city is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. iVisa ranked Lisbon the happiest city in 2022. Lisbon has a range of interests that not many cities can match, including endless preserved history through museums, galleries, and the streets with beach activities. Castles and palaces still dot several city corners.

The atmosphere is unique with seafood serving as a staple, that is accompanied with nostalgia driven Fado music complimenting sunsets and an exciting nightlife in Bairro Alto.

Photo by Isaiah Peters | The St. Louis American

Assistant Digital Editor Isaiah Peters, and friend Sérgio Perreira, a Master ’s Student at the University of Lisbon, at Praça do Comércio on August, 7, 2022.