St. LouiS AmericAn
‘Very disrespectful’
for
wages and more vacation time.
By Ashley Winters St. Louis American
Kiefer Been believes he deserves more pay for the work he does at Boeing, and that the company can easily afford it. Yet, Boeing and thousands of its workers in Berkeley, Missouri, are locked in a labor dispute.
“This whole thing just feels very disrespectful,” Been said.
“Especially to the workers who put in the time and effort to grow this billion-dollar corporation.”
Been, an operator on the F-15 final assembly line in Berkeley, is one of more than 3,000 defense workers in the St.
Earl’s 30 for 30 at the St. Louis American
This has been an exciting year for me because it is my 30th year of covering sports for the St. Louis American. ~ Page B3 ~ SPORTS
18. ~ Page B1 ~
Low pay, burnout fuels teacher shortage
By Ashley Winters St. Louis American
Louis area represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 837. They voted overwhelmingly to reject Boeing’s latest contract offer and walked off the job Monday. He says workers were clear about what they wanted: competitive pay, a faster path to top wages, a better 401(k) and a fair sign-on bonus. “We have guys who have been here 15 years and still haven’t reached their top salary,” he said.
The striking workers, represented by the International
Faith, joy and longevity
Edna Fletcher, Gloria Sanders and Opal Green were among those who honored Mother Illaree Triplet (seated) as she celebrated her 105th birthday last month at Christ Community Temple Church of God in Christ.
Mother Triplet continues to serve Christ at 105
By Zaria Mac St. Louis
Community Temple Church of God in Christ. She sits on the Mothers Board of the church, on Norwood Avenue, and took pride in saving souls during revival services in her younger years. “When the Lord saved me, he made a new person out of me,” Mother Triplet said. “Jesus is in you, and you in him when you get the Holy Ghost. Where he See TRIPLET, A7
n “Lots of teachers work multiple jobs and are struggling to make ends meet.”
– Corrie Hamilton
Interest in becoming a teacher has plummeted to historic lows over the past decade, and Missouri is feeling the impact. With the state ranking near the bottom nationally for teacher pay and grappling with rising living costs, nearly one in four Missouri teachers works a second job just to get by, according to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Nationwide, the story is similar: One in five public school teachers — about 20% — work a second job during the school year, often outside the education field, according to the U.S. Department of Education and Education Week.
Towina Jones left the classroom in 2020 after 21 years as an educator in Missouri. “The ever-increasing demands put on
See TEACHERS, A6
and
Spencer pauses minority contracting program
By Sylvester Brown, Jr. St. Louis American
St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer announced last week that the city has paused its certification programs for women- and minority-owned businesses “to assess next steps.” She also said city departments will not issue “any new non-emergency contracts” for construction projects that fall under the city’s Minority and/or Women-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) goals.
City officials have already halted the certification of new businesses under the current program, shifting instead toward what some have quietly called a “race-neutral” small business approach. While acknowledging that the city’s
See SPENCER, A7
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Terrell Polk (left) assembly mechanic for Boeing in Berkley, MO. is striking
higher
Photo courtesy of Mother Illaree Triplet
St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer announced last week that the city has paused its certification programs for women-
minority-owned businesses.
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Hitman Howie Tee passes at 61
Legendary music producer Howard Thompson, known to hip-hop fans as Hitman Howie Tee, passed away on August 2. He was 61. No details were revealed with respect to cause of death.
Thompson was born in England to Jamaican parents who relocated to Brooklyn. Raised in the epicenter of hip hop, he became a legend in his own right through collaborations with the likes of other pioneers, including Special Ed, Chubb Rock, The Real Roxanne, and U.T.F.O.
Some of his classic tracks include Chubb Rock’s “Treat ‘Em Right,” Special Ed’s “I Got It Made,” and Color Me Badd’s “I Wanna Sex You Up.”
Diddy denied bail again
Sean “Diddy” Combs was refused bail in a new ruling on Monday, Aug. 4. Combs has been denied release a total of five times from the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center, where he has been held since he was taken into custody last September.
In court documents obtained by PEOPLE, Judge Arun Subramanian wrote that the court must “Find by clear and convincing evidence that the person is not likely to flee or pose a danger to the safety of any other person or the community if released,” and that Combs posed a risk of “flight or danger.”
July 2, Combs was acquitted of more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy and his attorneys asked for his immediate release, which was also denied.
Combs was denied bail three times before his sex crimes trial began in May. He will be sentenced on Oct. 3 for his conviction of transportation to engage in prostitution.
By the sentencing date, Combs will have spent more than a year in jail, which will be credited to his ultimate sentence. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Sha’Carri Richardson arrested for domestic violence
Reigning world
100-meter sprint champion
Sha’Carri Richardson was arrested
last weekend for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
According to a police report obtained by The Associated Press, Richardson was arrested Sunday on a fourth-degree domestic violence offense
Richardson, 25, was booked into the South Correctional Entity in Des Moines, Washington at 6:54 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 3 and released Monday at 1:13 p.m.
The police report said an officer at the airport was notified by a Transportation Security Administration supervisor of a disturbance between Richardson and her boyfriend, sprinter Christian Coleman.
the investigation and declined to be a victim.”
The officer reviewed camera footage and observed Richardson reach out with her left arm and yank away Coleman’s backpack. Richardson then appeared to get in Coleman’s way, and Coleman tried to step around her. Coleman was shoved into
The report claims that the officer said: “I was told Coleman did not want to participate any further in
ESPN cuts ties with Shannon Sharpe Over the weekend, it was revealed that former NFL star-turned-media personality Shannon Sharpe would not be returning to ESPN after settling a $50 million sexual battery lawsuit filed by a former girlfriend. Sharpe expressed his disappointment with how the network handled the announcement of his departure on one of his other media platforms.
“I found out this information a little earlier in the week, and really the only thing that I really asked is like, ‘Guys, could we wait until Monday? My brother’s going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I really want it to be about him, and I want it to be about my family,’” Sharpe explained on the “Nightcap” podcast, which he cohosts with former NFL player Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson.”
Sharpe also hosts the “Club Shay Shay” podcast where he interviews celebrities and pop culture figures.
Sources: The Associated Press, Complex.com, TMZ.com, Allhip.com, PEOPLE.com
Sha’Carri Richardson
Shannon Sharpe
Sumner High School celebrates 150 years
Alumni fight to save historic legacy of treasured institution
By Andrea Y. Henderson
St. Louis Public Radio
Verbena Wright-Reed remembers walking a few miles to catch both bus and trolley to get from Overland to St. Louis to attend Sumner High School in the mid-1930s. At the time, Wright-Reed could not attend school in Overland because she is Black.
The 105-year-old did not think she would live long enough to see the day when nearly a thousand people would be celebrating the sesquicentennial anniversary of her former high school.
“Being here, I’m just so full of happiness,” she said with a closed-mouth smile.
Wright-Reed was the guest of honor at Sumner High School’s annual alumni celebration on Saturday, July 26. She is the oldest-known alumna. While at the all-Black high school, she was a member of the girls basketball team, the sewing club, the hiking club, the typewriting club and the golf team. The retired educator graduated in 1939 and attended Stowe Teachers College shortly after.
“I was flying high as a child,” she said. “(Sumner High School) is No. 1, and they have given us the best.”
The centenarian was not the only one beaming with joy at the high school’s yearly celebration. Women and men were giving minute-long hugs, kissing cheeks, roaring with laughter and reminiscing about their time at Sumner while celebrating at the Hyatt Regency in downtown St. Louis. Alumni representing the class-
es of 1939 through 2025 showed their pride and school spirit by wearing Sumner’s school colors of maroon and white. There were maroon sequin dresses, white and maroon suits and other shades of red.
This reunion is a way to preserve African American history and culture, said 1972 graduate E.W. Clay.
“We have to organize the youth in the whole region and let them know about this jewel that they have that has this fire, this ember that hasn’t gone out, because the alumni are making sure that that doesn’t happen,” Clay said.
For Clay, the fire was instilled in him decades ago by his former teachers, who he said left lasting impressions on him as a young Black teenager.
“I was introduced to W.E.B.
Du Bois, and there was a famous music teacher, Kenneth Brown Billups, anybody from probably (the classes of) 1952 to about 1978 will tell you about Kenneth Brown Billups,” he said ecstatically. “He was a personal friend of Paul Leroy Robeson, the famous concert singer, activist and linguist.”
The retired public policy administrator said Sumner gave him a unique experience because his teachers taught him how to be an activist in addition to being an expert in whatever field he chose.
“Our teachers were so excellent, and they usually came from very established schools,” he said. “A lot of our teachers had advanced degrees, but they were prohibited from teaching at some of the schools that they graduated from because of their
skin color, so they had to come to Sumner and teach below what their training was, but they still delivered that advanced training to the students.”
Clay came to the gala to meet up with former classmates, but his mission was to better understand what he can do to help protect the legacy of Sumner High School.
A historic Black school
Charles Sumner High School opened in 1875 at 11th and Spruce streets. The building was an old all-white school in downtown St. Louis. Sumner became the first high school west of the Mississippi River to graduate African American students. The school was a response to an increase in the African American population in St. Louis during the mid-to-late 1800s and the difficulty Black people had attending school because of
racism. Toward the end of slavery, the area was home to about 4,000 Black people, but by 1880, there were about 41,000 living in the city.
Twenty years later, the school moved to a larger building downtown, and in 1910, the St. Louis Board of Education moved the school to 4248 Cottage Ave. in the former bustling Ville neighborhood. The school was in the center of a Black universe for St. Louisans who faced racism, segregation and discrimination. The Ville neighborhood had Black colleges and trade schools, churches, Black-owned businesses and health care systems and was the epicenter to the city’s Black entertainment district.
Over the years, the school produced locally known educators, entertainers, athletes, medical professionals, scientists, artists, entrepreneurs and activists. As well as greats such as Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Tina Turner and Chuck Berry,
actor and activist Dick Gregory, famed tennis star Arthur Ashe, and founder of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, a number of Tuskegee Airmen and opera singer Grace Bumbry walked through the halls of Sumner over the past century.
But to alumni, the school’s legacy is more than the celebrities who graduated from the school.
The everyday people who contributed to the students and the community makes Sumner great, said alumna Warice Blackmon-Davis.
“I had a history teacher, his name was Mr. Blaylock … he would walk around the classroom, and he’s just doing all these historical milestones, and his eyes would be closed,” she said. “I said (to myself), ‘He’s got stuff written in his eyelids or something,’ because he never had the book, and I’m thinking, ‘Well, I want to be like that.’”
Blackmon-Davis dedicated herself to follow in the footsteps of St Louis educator Julia Davis.
She works in St. Louis Public School’s compliance department, and the 1980 graduate refers to herself as Sumner’s historian. She can rattle off the history of the school in one full breath.
She also works with the alumni association to make students aware of the school’s history.
“In my volunteer time at Sumner, I try to create events that are tied to Sumner’s history to give them that little edge. We adopted four schools and their second grade would come down and do Chuck Berry performances, Tina Turner performances,” she said. “Just before COVID, I also served them snacks that would be comparable to what they had in 1885 for the first graduation.”
See Sumner, A10
Photo by Andrea Y. Henderson, St. Louis Public Radio
Sumner High School alumni gather on July 26 in downtown St. Louis to celebrate their high school’s 150th anniversary.
Editorial/Commentary
Guest Editorial Commentary
Missouri AG wants a more white and male workforce
By Bridgette Dunlap
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey may have a bad track record in court, but he’s winning anyway. This is especially true of his crusade to make the workforce and higher education less diverse.
He’s had success using losing lawsuits, investigations that do nothing but burn Missouri taxpayer dollars and threatening letters that misstate the law.
On the day the U.S. Supreme Court ruled traditional affirmative action programs in higher education unconstitutional, Bailey sent threatening letters to Missouri universities and municipalities overstating what the ruling did and implied that all efforts at fostering diversity and inclusion in Missouri must be halted.
In April, Bailey excoriated the Business Roundtable for having “racist DEI initiatives.” He is suing IBM, alleging the company did too much to recruit non-white and female hires.
Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts (the “DEI” much-maligned by the farright) help companies hire and retain qualified people who they wouldn’t easily find through traditional white male networks. Many studies and companies have explained that diversity is good for profits and innovation, and that you don’t get a diverse workforce without making an effort to recruit one.
Bailey’s court filings come shockingly close to outright stating his contrary premise: Women and non-white people are inherently inferior so any increase in their representation is bad.
season.
The market has spoken. So Bailey’s latest ploy is to punish free speech in the market.
Bailey filed lawsuits against two firms that give shareholders advice on how to vote. He claims they have engaged in “deceptive practices” by recommending inclusive policies. But frivolous lawsuits against out-of-state corporations are not the only way to light taxpayer dollars on fire.
Bailey can burn up twice the Missouri tax dollars by having Missouri wage legal warfare against itself. See for example, Bailey’s investigation of the Hazelwood School District over an off-campus fight between students of different races, the three-year lawsuit against the Springfield School District over demands to search thousands of documents for a list of possibly DEI-related terms that the District estimated would cost $170,000, or his new investigation of Columbia over whether it might be trying to advance diversity and equity.
How does a successful, powerful white man come to have such resentment toward women and people of color for the modest gains we have made that he treats it as Missouri’s biggest problem? What could compel him to regularly use dehumanizing language about diversity proponents who merely want more people to have opportunities?
Diversity is still a permissible goal under Supreme Court precedent. And it is typical for companies to reward executives for advancing corporate goals.
But the IBM lawsuit looks like another one where Bailey could win with a loser of a case. IBM has long been known for being a model for inclusive policies and a great place to work. We’ll see whether IBM continues to fight back against Bailey.
Whatever happens, say goodbye to IBM and similarly situated companies employing more people here.
Bailey has also sued Starbucks. His brief argues that the Starbucks workforce has become “more female and less white” — and that this is unacceptable. Starbucks appears to be defending the values that the company professes. The company is also likely aware that if it were to abandon its reasonable efforts to have a workforce more representative of its customer base, it could lead to a boycott and a massive stock hit like Target experienced.
Shareholders have realized that reversing inclusive policies is bad for business. Shareholders voted down anti-diversity proposals overwhelmingly this proxy
One possibility is that this is how Republicans feel they need to make a name and impress Trump and MAGA. Still, I just can’t muster the cynicism to make it make sense.
Sometimes I wonder what Bailey’s mom thinks.
Dr. Jessica Bailey was the first female dean of the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s School of Health Related Professions and a revered and beloved leader there — and a champion of diversity efforts.
A 2022 article about her retirement describes Dr. Bailey’s mentorship and recruitment of the school’s then-chief diversity and inclusion officer. In an earlier article, Dr. Bailey extolls that colleague for being “committed to providing opportunities for students who might otherwise not imagine themselves in a health care profession.”
These are views that her son claims are unconstitutional and racist.
Bailey is not just disavowing the work of his highly accomplished mother, who has referenced the barriers she overcame as a woman in a male dominated field and who worked to help others up the ladder. He is twisting the law to claim all such efforts are illegal.
Bridgette Dunlap is a lawyer and writer living in St. Louis County. This column was first published in the Missouri Independent.
Our Democracy belongs to everyone
By Marcus Anthony Hunter
An untrue hierarchy of human value has long organized our experience as a nation. This false belief in human hierarchy promotes preferences in worthiness, including who gets access to education, housing, healthcare, wealth accumulation, and fundamental civil rights.
The right to vote, integral to democracy, was then weaponized as a tool to reinforce this hierarchy of human value. Those deemed worthy were given an unimpeded right to vote. Those deemed unworthy — at least by a white patriarchal power structure — were denied the right to vote.
The right to vote then was a sledgehammer used to cement power among a few, at the expense of everyone else — namely Black people, women, other people of color, and persons in poverty. Indeed, the Civil Rights Movement was about opening the door of opportunity, as evidenced by access to the right to vote and the right to live with dignity. Despite the relentless barriers, Black communities have always shown resilience in their fight for the ballot box. The white patriarchal power structure’s struggle to share power and the right to vote has been met with unwavering determination employing cruel tactics from the era of racial terror lynchings to the imposition of poll taxes and literacy tests, to the ongoing harassment and debasement.
The June 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby v. Holder meant that Sections 4 and 5 of the landmark legislation were no longer available for civil rights litigants to use. It also meant that states with histories of discrimination no longer had to get federal preclearance for voting rights changes.
As we mark the 60th anniversary of the VRA, we must recognize the active attacks on democracy and continued voter suppression tactics — felony disenfranchisement, gerrymandering, limited polling place resources in predominantly Black communities, polling place closures, reductions in early voting, and Sunday voting, etc. When you add to this combination of coordinated voter suppression tactics, the active resistance to the John Lewis Voting Rights Bill, the fragility of our voting rights and democracy is ever-clear.
Laws designed to silence dissent have spread fear and anxiety, even as our nation has historically built upon responding to injustice through protests.
This moment calls for creativity, coordination, and intergenerational learning. Most of all, it calls for hope. If we believe that our best days are behind us, we are less likely to organize and struggle for the future.
Sixty years after its passage, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is both bedrock and a target requiring vigilance and renewed commitment to defending and ensuring voting rights for all Americans.
This history of cruelty and dehumanization is critical as the right to vote influences everything from the services available to our communities to the people who represent us. While our foremothers and forefathers organized and struggled for the right to vote, the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) was one battle amid a series of battles for our democracy. What many didn’t realize, at least until it was much too late, was that the Voting Rights Act was under attack from the moment of its inception to the present day.
Today, we uplift and venerate the legacy of all of the courageous people who marched from Selma to Montgomery and remind ourselves that democracy belongs to every citizen. We must be prudent enough to remember that democracy requires voice, and our votes are our voice.
Therefore, a threat to voting rights anywhere is a threat to voters everywhere.
Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter is the Scott Waugh Endowed chair and professor in the Departments of Sociology & African American Studies at UCLA.
Commentary
Jasmine Crockett a voice of new generation
By Marc Morial
“When you have people that are this extreme, they will do anything and everything to maintain power. The only thing that will stop them is us.”
–Rep. Jasmine Crockett
We are living through a moment that demands clarity, resolve and truth. Across this country, communities are calling for leadership that understands the stakes, challenges the status quo and delivers for those most often left behind.
In Texas, that leadership has a name: Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett. Since stepping onto the national stage, Rep. Crockett has made it clear that she is not in Washington to warm a seat. She is there to fight for justice, for access, and for the voices too often silenced in our democracy. She speaks not for spectacle, but for substance. She represents a new generation of Black leaders who combine deep community roots with legislative rigor and moral clarity.
hearings, Rep. Crockett has brought facts, law and moral urgency. Her lines go viral, yes, but her purpose is deeper. She challenges misinformation with precision. She demands answers on behalf of those who do not get a seat at the table. And she reminds the nation that Black women are not only the backbone of our democracy; they are its future.
But her work is not only about rhetoric. It is about results.
In the tradition of mayors like Brandon Scott in Baltimore and Justin Bibb in Cleveland, Rep. Crockett reflects a growing movement of bold and accountable public servants who are shifting the center of gravity in American politics. They understand that justice is not an abstract idea. It is measured in policies, in budgets, and in how power is distributed and shared.
Rep. Crockett is a native of the St. Louis area and it was here that she began her journey to becoming an accomplished civil rights attorney and savvy politician. Her experience in the Texas House of Representatives, and now her sharp, principled voice in Congress all point to one truth. She is ready. And she is meeting the moment.
In recent months, as political theater has taken center stage in Congressional
She is a consistent advocate for protecting voting rights, advancing economic equity and defending public education from coordinated attacks. She is raising the alarm about housing, healthcare and the wealth gap, all while staying rooted in the needs of her district. She listens. She shows up. She leads with authenticity. At the National Urban League, we believe in building pipelines of transformative leadership. We invest in civic engagement, economic opportunity, and the power of Black communities to drive change from the ground up. Rep. Crockett embodies those same values in Congress, a fierce advocate who knows the law, knows the people and knows how to move policy forward. As we continue to confront challenges to civil rights, reproductive freedom, and democratic norms, we must also lift up the leaders who are lighting the path forward. Jasmine Crockett is one of them. She reminds us that democracy is not a spectator sport. It requires participation, vigilance and voices like hers; clear, courageous and committed. To be equal, we must not only defend the progress we have made. We must expand it and invest in leaders who carry the struggle forward with
and action. Marc Morial is
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has held 10 large-scale distribution events following the May 16, 2025, tornado, including this one on Aug. 2. On Aug. 9 and 16, the organization will host back-to-school events.
STL Urban League hosting back-to-school events
In its continued community service following the May 16 tornado, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis will host back-to-school events on Aug. 9 and Aug. 16, one to distribute school supplies and the other to offer health services, such as physical exams and immunizations.
The Saturday, Aug. 9 event will be from noon to 3 p.m., and families can receive bookbags, school supplies, food and groceries, health and safety items and tornado disaster relief resources. On Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the organization will offer school students free health services, including physical exams and immunizations, health screenings, dental services and vision and hearing exams.
Both events will be held at the Urban League headquarters, 1408 N. Kingshighway. Sponsors include Nike, Ameren, the Regional Business Council, Emerson, Schnucks, SSM Health, the Collaboration for Regional Health, Prairie Farms, Edward Jones, BJC Healthcare,
Heartland Coca-Cola, Scott Credit Union, Mercy and Clayco.
“We could not serve the many families preparing for a challenging school year without our partners on this event,” said Urban League President and CEO Michael P. McMillan.
The Urban League has hosted 10 largescale distribution events at its headquarters since the tornado, including three Food Truck Saturdays.
McMillan said it was important for the organization to host the back-to-school events, as St. Louis public schools are set to begin Monday, Aug. 18.
In partnership with the Regional Business Council, the Urban League’s Save Our Sons and Save Our Sisters programs scheduled a job fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, also at the Urban League headquarters.
The job fair includes onsite hiring and job placement opportunities. Resume assistance, business attire and other supportive services are available. Over 60 companies are scheduled to participate.
Trump’s fraud, waste and abuse
By Julianne Malveaux
The dystopian man who lives in the House that Enslaved People Built campaigned that he would reduce inflation (not), eliminate “fraud waste and abuse” and address immigration issues through mass deportations. He can’t fix inflation by attempting to bully Fed chairman Jerome Powell, who is justifiably standing his ground until his term ends as Chairman of the Fed in May 2026. If he chooses to be a thorn in the side of the man who appointed him, he can stay on the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors until January of 2028.
The President’s promise to end “fraud, waste and abuse” meant that he had his chainsaw carrying toady, Elon Musk, slash his way through government agencies, laying off or firing thousands, eliminating critical programs and generally creating havoc until the bromance ended badly. Hell has no fury like a billionaire scorned.
Children are starving all over the world, but especially in Gaza where the evil annihilator, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is limiting food aid to Gaza and denying that children are starving there. The media visuals of little children with ribs protruding, young boys scrambling to collect flour, and mothers crying with anguish as their children languish in their arms would touch even the hardest of hearts, except for Mr. Netanyahu, who declares that there is no starvation in Gaza.
Even our President, not well known for his tender heart, has challenged his crony on this matter. If our President is so concerned, though, why has he authorized the destruction of life-saving food because, thanks to cuts in USAID, there was no way to distribute the food before its expiration date in late July.
About 500 tons of food, valued at $793,000, would have fed at least 30,000 children. Instead, US taxpayer dollar funded food was either used as landfill or incinerated, costing another $100,000 in disposal costs. Fraud, waste and abuse, anyone?
A month or so ago, the State Department destroyed $10 million worth of birth control supplies purchased by USAID for women in developing countries. The supplies included birth control pills, injectable contraceptives, IUDs and other forms of birth control. Stored in warehouses in Belgium, the January 2025 foreign aid freeze included this birth control, valued at nearly $10 million. Several global agencies, including Planned Parenthood International, offered to pay for the distribution of these products, but our government refused, choosing to incinerate the items instead, at a cost of $167,000.
Some had a shelf life of several years, possibly good until 2027 or later. This administration would rather light a match to useful birth control supplies, incinerating the hopes and dreams of women internationally. This administration embraces and, instead celebrates fraud, waste and abuse when it fits their ideological purposes. A bipartisan group of legislators, including Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski (R), and New Hampshire’s Jean Shaheen ID) opposed the wasteful destruction, but it happened anyway! More fraud, waste and abuse from an administration that promised to eliminate it.
Food and birth control products incinerated. Valuable research halted. The very administration that says they want to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse is causing it, lighting a fire to taxpayer dollars, golfing through crises, as myopic as Nero, fiddling while Rome burned.
Dr. Julianne Malveaux is a DC-based economist and author.
St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Julianne Malveaux
Teachers
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the plate of educators can be extremely overwhelming,” Jones said, describing a workload that grew heavier over time. As her students’ needs increased and collaboration with parents became less consistent, the job became more difficult.
Burnout was inevitable, Jones said. She noted the lack of support for teachers and salaries that do little to encourage teachers to stay or attract new ones.
“Teachers are the professionals who touch the lives of all other professionals,” Jones said. “More respect and value definitely needs to be put back in the profession.”
Corrie Hamilton, who was named her district’s Teacher of the Year in 2012-2013, echoed Jones’ concerns. The 20-year veteran of the University City School District said the teaching environment has changed dramatically since the pandemic.
“Teaching has always been hard, but the expectations shifted,” Hamilton said, adding that burnout can feel unreal sometimes.
“It’s physically, mentally and emotionally draining,” she said.
Hamilton said she still has confidence in her school district and believes it is committed to teaching kids in ways that honor everyone.
“The umbrella ideas of what has caused the hardships, in my opinion, are far outside of their control.” she said. “They’re doing the best they can while trying to navigate new challenges.”
Both Jones, a former teacher in rural Missouri, and Hamilton, who teaches in a suburban school district, share a passion for
Strike
Continued from A1
Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
educating young minds. For Jones, teaching was never just a job — it was personal. She entered the profession with a deep desire to make the same kind of intentional, meaningful impact on other children that she was striving to make in her own son’s life as he started school. Hamilton, too, always knew she wanted to teach — ever since she played school with her stuffed animals. “It’s something that’s been deep inside of me forever,” she said.
But for many teachers like Jones, the fire that once fueled their passion to prepare future generations has slowly burned out. “They just need more undergirding,” she said, referring to the support systems teachers need, along with “increased pay.”
Jones now works as a consultant on a project called SchoolLink, which aims to provide educators with the support and resources she once found lacking.
Missouri teachers remain among the lowest-paid in the country — a fact that’s hard to ignore.
The state ranks 50th out of 51 (including Washington, D.C.) for average starting salary at just $36,829, and 47th for average teacher pay overall at $53,999, according to the National Education Association.
“Lots of teachers work multiple jobs and are struggling to make ends meet,” said Hamilton. Across the river in Illinois, the picture is dramatically different: Starting salaries there average $43,515, ranking 24th, while veteran educators earn $73,916 on average, placing them 12th in the nation.
And with 94% of public school teachers dipping
District 837, are primarily based in the St. Louis area and are responsible for assembling and maintaining F-15 fighter jets, F/A18s and missile systems. At the heart of the
into their own pockets to pay for classroom supplies,the paycheck gap is more than a statistic — it’s a daily burden.
In May, Senate Bill 727 bumped the starting salary to $40,000 — still $10,000 less than in neighboring states like Arkansas and Illinois. According to a new report from St. Louis University’s PRiME Center, more than 15% of educators are either switching school districts, leaving for private or outof-state public schools, or exiting the profession entirely.
The exodus isn’t evenly distributed. Teachers of color are leaving at disproportionately higher rates than their white counterparts, even as the state has made notable strides in diversifying its teaching ranks—doubling the proportion of first-year teachers who are non-white.
The instability is especially acute in urban and rural schools, with educators in St. Louis and Kansas City significantly
strike are disputes over pay, vacation time, retirement benefits and what workers say is a lack of respect from one of the country’s largest defense contractors.
more likely to leave than those in suburban or other urban districts. Turnover is also hitting schools serving high concentrations of low-income students the hardest, as educators increasingly transfer to schools with more affluent student bodies, deepening inequities in staffing across the state.
While overall teacher retention has improved since the onset of the pandemic, retaining early-career educators remains a challenge. During the 2023-24 school year, 88.7% of Missouri teachers remained in the profession, according to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. However, schools struggled to hold on to firstyear teachers.
Yet, Missouri continues to grapple with a critical teacher shortage, particularly in foundational subjects such as math, science, and social studies, as well as in elementary education. DESE data shows that Missouri’s
Terrell Polk, an assembly mechanic for the past five and a half years, says the contract doesn’t reflect the value of the work employees do.
“Boeing’s idea of
Corrie Hamilton, a longtime teacher in the University City School District, says the job can be physically, mentally and emotionally draining at times.
college graduates was 5.8%, notably higher than the national average of 4%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In an effort to address the state’s ongoing teacher shortage, DESE has released a “Teacher Recruitment and Retention Playbook” to give school districts a clear framework for building a stronger educator workforce. The guide, based on three years of research, offers practical strategies to attract and retain qualified teachers and ensure more consistent access to quality education statewide.
public education system serves more than 870,000 students and employs over 72,000 teachers.
Teach For America, a national nonprofit that recruits and trains recent college graduates to teach in high-need schools, is working to rebuild its presence in the teacher-preparation space after a sharp decline in participation over the past decade. The organization welcomed nearly 6,000 new corps members in 2013, but by 2022, that number had dropped to around 1,600, according to TFA data.
Missouri has seen an increase in teacher retention, but why? Some education experts point to broader economic factors, noting that during periods of economic uncertainty, recent graduates may be more likely to consider teaching as a stable career option. Another factor to consider is that the job market for young adults has tightened significantly.
In March 2024, the unemployment rate for recent
vacation time or work-life balance was to offer us an AWS (alternative work schedule)” Polk said, referring to the company’s proposal to shift employees to either four 10-hour days or three 12-hour shifts instead of the traditional five-day workweek.
“We didn’t ask for that, we asked for more vacation time.”
Employees were offered a $5,000 ratification bonus as part of the contract, but Been says it was taken off the table after the union voted down the proposal. He and others point to discrepancies between what’s offered in St. Louis versus what Boeing workers receive at other sites.
“Seattle gets $12,000, and we get $5,000,” said Scott Tumbarello, a Boeing mechanic.
“We feel like a lot of our asks were kind of thrown to the wind,” Been added. “Can they just please address the other things we want?”
Tumbarello, who says he hasn’t received a pay raise in seven years, is especially critical of how Boeing’s much-touted 20% wage increase was structured.
“It’s not what people think,” he said. “I’m at the top of the pay scale. … We’re only getting 12%. Now, they want us to go two more years without a raise.”
Another point of frustration is the proposed pay bump for new hires. According to Been, recent graduates from Boeing’s training partnership with St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley are being offered up to $26 an hour, while long-time workers with two to three years on the job are earning just $21 an hour.
“Anyone who’s worked past nine months doesn’t receive that pay increase,”
The paybook outlines a comprehensive strategy to tackle Missouri’s educator workforce challenges, anchored by eight core pillars. At its foundation is a call for strong, state-level systems to deliver consistent support across districts. It pushes for bold, statewide campaigns to elevate the image of teaching and attract new talent.
Collaboration is key — encouraging partnerships among districts, schools and community stakeholders to create a unified support network for educators. Recognizing that solutions require resources, the playbook emphasizes the need for targeted funding to fuel recruitment, development, and retention initiatives. It urges policymakers to use public policy to address teacher shortages and improve working conditions.
Central to these efforts is ensuring that teachers themselves have a voice in shaping the strategies that affect their careers.
Ultimately, the playbook presents a holistic, aligned approach to recruitment, development and compensation practices aimed not just at attracting teachers, but keeping them.
Been said.
Tumbarello said it’s disheartening to see newer employees earning nearly the same, if not more, than those who have been with the company for years.
Dan Gillian, Boeing vice president and senior site executive in St. Louis, said in a statement that the company is prepared for a strike.
“We … have fully implemented our contingency plan to ensure our non-striking workforce can continue supporting our customers,” Gillian said. The company says the proposed contract included a 20% general wage increase, a $5,000 ratification bonus, enhanced retirement benefits and other improvements.
Polk and others say they’re asking Boeing executives to match the stronger contract won by workers at the company’s Seattle site.
“We just want a fair contract,” Polk said. “We are trying to make it fair for everyone.”
IAM International President Brian Bryant echoed those sentiments in a statement:
“Our union is built on democracy, and our members have every right to demand a contract worthy of their contributions,” Bryant said. “We will be there on the picket lines, ensuring Boeing hears the collective power of working people.”
Boeing’s defense unit remains a major driver of the company’s earnings, generating nearly 30% of Boeing’s $42 billion in total revenue during the first half of 2025 alone.
Yet, for workers like Polk, Been and Tumbarello, the numbers don’t match what they’re seeing in their paychecks, or their schedules.
Photo courtesy of Washington University in St. Louis
leads you is where you go. It might seem rough, but be obedient. I guess that’s why I’m living so long.”
Along with saving souls, Mother Triplet is proud of her God-given ability to draw others to the wisdom found within the Word.
“I didn’t get a good seventh grade education, but the Lord told me he wanted me to teach his people,” said Mother Triplet. “I would say, ‘Lord, I’m not a educated person.’ He said three times, ‘I want you to teach my people’ and he put my head in the book.”
She “followed the sound of her shepherd’s voice” and became known for her ability to provide essential lessons drawn from the Bible. She taught the most popular class and was eventually promoted to superintendent of Sunday School for her beloved church.
She counts her devotion and obedience as keys to her longevity.
“You need to know the Lord, and let the Lord lead you — don’t you try to lead Him,” Mother Triplet said. “I tell anybody, obey. If you obey, God will carry you through.”
God carried her to St. Louis as part of the Great Migration. Born in Arkansas on July 16, 1920, she came to the region in the 1940s.
Married at the young age of 15, she was left to raise seven children on her own when her first husband died in 1953. At the time, her youngest child was only 4 days old.
Spencer
Continued from A1
MWBE ordinance may need to be updated “to reflect the latest disparity study,” Board of Aldermen President Megan Green said it should not be replaced “with a race- and gender-neutral program.”
The decision, Spencer wrote, was due to threats from the Trump administration and “escalating changes in guidance from the federal government,” adding that “non-compliance would be severe and not limited to the city.”
Federal grants, the mayor said, now require local governments applying for funding to certify that “they do not operate programs advancing or promoting DEI programs” that violate any federal anti-discrimination laws.
The mayor’s letter was issued after days of intense conversations with contractors, minority hiring advocates and the St. Louis Development Corp. Adolphus Pruitt, president of the St. Louis City NAACP, attended some of those meetings. The city’s decision, he insists, isn’t as catastrophic as it may appear.
“The strategy is to come up with a way to not impact the city’s ability to get FEMA and other federal dollars but at the same time address the issue in front of us,” Pruitt said. All “non-emergency” contracts, he added, are “on hold,” which will impact Black as well as white contractors.
Additionally, he said the city has agreed to hire Rodney K. Strong, the noted CEO of the Atlantabased public policy law firm Griffin & Strong, P.C., who will, over the next 30 days, work with the city to help “shape legislation that creates a supportive City construction contract framework adaptive to the changed federal landscape,” as Spencer said in her letter.
Pruitt agrees with Spencer, who said “the legislation will be ready to file on the first day of the Board of Aldermen’s legislative session,” adding that she will work
“When my father died, she took money and bought a four-family flat,” her son Cullen Reed said. “She knew people wasn’t gonna rent to her easy with seven children, so she bought a place of her own over on Kennerly.”
The family stayed there until they moved to the Penrose area in 1982. In the wake of her husband’s death, she was forced to instantly transition from homemaker to provider. She found work cooking her mother’s recipes for white families.
“What was important
“to ensure its expeditious passage.”
Most of Trump’s directives targeting diversity, equity and inclusion have been erroneously based on the Supreme Court’s ban on race-conscious college admissions, which doesn’t “legally” apply to minority participation goals.
Last week, The American quoted the American Civil Liberties Union, which urged governors and mayors to use their own executive powers to push back against Trump’s radical, “unconstitutional anti-DEI agenda.”
Pruitt doesn’t see that as a prudent option for St. Louis at this time.
“Why risk having the city thumb its nose at the administration and have them come in and shut down all our federal funding?” Pruitt asked. “Yeah, we can take ’em to court, but who knows how long that’ll take or if we’d even be successful. So why not do what we’re doing now to accomplish our goals?”
Civil rights activist and construction industry consultant Walle A. Amusa, who also attended the meetings with city officials, couldn’t disagree with Pruitt more.
“The (Spencer) administration is making a great mistake, a great error. The decision the city has made is quite unfortunate,” Amusa said. “What President Trump is doing is illegal; it is based on poor reasoning and an illusion that we live in a color-blind society when the fact remains that we don’t.”
Disputing Pruitt’s claim that all other major cities have “shut down” their minority participation programs in response to Trump’s threats, Amusa noted that at least 18 states — including California, Washington, Colorado, Illinois and Maryland — have filed or joined lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s policies concerning DEI initiatives.
“It’s unfortunate that the city is negotiating against itself by trying to eliminate programs that were put in place to address disparities that have been proven.”
Making back to school fun
to me than anything is my children,” Mother Triplet said. “I tried to make not me comfortable, but my children. I tried my best, trained them, and I never had no jailbirds.”
Her determination to see her children thrive led them to be a part of history. In the 1940s, she and her husband made a way for four of their children to attend St. Nicholas. It was an effort to provide them with an opportunity to thrive.
“I managed to get them in Catholic school,” Mother Triplet said. “They wasn’t letting colored kids in Catholic school at that
Citing St. Louis’ history, Amusa recalled how the lawsuit filed by minority contractors in 1990 accusing the city of racial discrimination led to its 25% minority and 5% M/WBE participation goals. To maintain those goals, Amusa added, each participating city must conduct a disparity study every five years.
With attorney Strong’s help, Pruitt believes the city will be able to present “a good, solid argument based on a qualified disparity study” that will help it continue its M/WBE goals while complying with the changed federal framework.
St. Louis, Amusa added, completed its disparity study last year and is already following federal law. To capitulate now, he added, is a sign of timidity.
“To just arbitrarily eliminate legislation passed based on disparity studies is a violation of the democratic rights of the people of this city,” Amusa stressed. “It is cowardly to compromise the rights of people just because someone has threatened you.”
In a letter Monday to Casey Millburg, Mayor Spencer’s policy director, Board President Green, noted that the city’s M/ WBE program is “grounded in the findings of a disparity study” and urged the office to “reconsider its current course and reaffirm the legality and integrity” of the program.
“We should continue to move forward, with confidence in our legal standing and commitment to remedying historical inequities, while also preparing for any necessary clarifications that may be required,” Green wrote.
Spencer lauded “the policies and programs designed to overcome systemic discrimination, lift communities, create opportunity and right past wrongs (that) have driven our city forward.”
Her words, to Amusa’s ears, ring hollow and irresponsible.
“Voters in the city of St. Louis elect mayors and aldermen who’ve passed legislation that says ‘because of disparities that
time, but I was blessed to get mine in.”
Her children were a part of the first generation of Black students to attend St. Louis area parochial schools.
“My children were so nice they thought that they might could let more of the children come in, and they did!” Mother Triplet said.
Upon the arrival of Archbishop Joseph Ritter in 1946, the opportunity was further extended with his decision to fully integrate in 1947 — nearly a decade before the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education U.S. Supreme
have been proven, there should be minority and female participation on city projects.’
Court ruling made segregated public schools unconstitutional.
More than 70 years since she was part of the fight for equality in education for the sake of her children, Mother Triplet is still here to offer the experience as a praise report.
Although she uses a walker and her hearing has declined, she speaks coherently and has sharp vision. She credits her balance and patience for helping her avoid falls and broken bones.
She still combs her own hair, cleans her home, washes her own dishes and even washes some of her clothes by hand. And she maintains her weekly church schedule — all at 105 years old.
She fills her days watching faith-based programming from the late Jimmy Swaggart. And she still cooks the sacred recipes that supported her family.
“I didn’t know how long I was gonna live, but God knew,” Mother Triplet said. “And if I hadn’t obeyed the voice of the Lord, I wouldn’t be as happy as I am now. I don’t have a care at all. And as long as I am a proper child and obedient servant, I will be rewarded.”
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Patrons attending the annual Back to School Fair hosted by St. Louis Public Schools enjoy the festivities Saturday, Aug. 5, 2025 at the Convention Center.
“In my view, to do anything in opposition of that is an abdication of responsibility.”
Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.
HealthMattersHealthMattersHealthMatters
Black overdose death rates are high
They just might get worse
Opioid overdoses among Black Americans exploded 44% from 2019 to 2020 alone. That year, for the first time ever, more Black Americans died from opioid overdoses than white Americans.
By Jennifer Porter Gore Word in Black
Black communities facing a spiraling opioid crisis are now in the crosshairs of drastic federal cuts to a life-saving initiative to combat drug overdoses.
Last week, President Donald Trump delayed funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s critical Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program — a $140 million initiative proven to combat drug deaths. This move, part of sweeping cuts to over 2,600 federal programs, comes via executive order and targets drug harm reduction and safety services vital to saving lives.
The timing couldn’t be more devastating for Black America. While recent CDC data offered a glimmer of hope — showing the first significant nation-
n The crisis is worst among Black youth ages 15-24, who saw overdose deaths surge by a horrifying 86% in 2020.
al drop in overdose deaths since 2019, with a nearly 27% reduction in opioid fatalities in 2024 — Black death rates are still higher than whites.
Opioid overdoses among Black Americans exploded 44% from 2019 to 2020 alone. That year, for the first time ever, more Black Americans died from opioid overdoses than white Americans. The crisis is worst among Black youth ages 15-24, who saw overdose deaths surge by a horrifying 86% in 2020.
Now public health experts are sounding the alarm over the Trump
administration’s decision to jeopardize the OD2A program, which launched in 2019 during Trump’s first term. Freezing the initiative, which helps distribute anti-overdose drugs like naloxone and provides funds for harm-reduction and treatment outreach, could trigger a deadly reversal of progress in the fight against opioid-related deaths.
“This deadly executive order threatens the safety and civil rights of millions of people with mental health and/or substance use disorders and other people who use drugs, as well as unhoused folks who already face many dangers,” says Laura Guzman, executive director of the National Harm Reduction Coalition. “What we need to save lives, improve public health and make entire communities safer is (to) focus on and invest in evidence-based solutions, including housing and health care — not handcuffs and budget cuts.”
See OPIOIDS, A9
How does your favorite summer drink rate?
By Dr. Graham A. Colditz Siteman Cancer Center
For something so simple, there can be something surprisingly enjoyable about a cold drink on a hot day. It can quench our thirst, cool us down and just taste great.
During these warm months when we need to drink more than usual to stay hydrated, it’s important to choose drinks we like, but it’s also important to choose drinks on the healthier side.
Figuring out which drinks hit that sweet spot, though, isn’t always easy. To help with that, I spoke with Yikyung Park, a nutrition researcher and professor in the Division of Public Health Sciences at WashU Medicine, for her insight on which popular summer drinks are easy to say “yes” to — and which ones we should try to limit.
Plain water. “The best choice!” she said. Zero calories and refreshing, with nothing extra. From the kitchen tap or bottle filling station, it’s basically free — and easy to find. Keep a reusable, plastic-free bottle in your pack or on your desk, so water is always in easy reach.
Fizzy water. “As good as plain water.” It can cost more but also be a nice twist on plain water. Choose unsweetened versions.
Iced tea and iced coffee. “A good choice, but avoid drinking too much.” There can be some health benefits from drinking coffee, but caffeine can be a problem with both tea and coffee. And try to keep milk, cream and sugar to a minimum. The calories and saturated fat can add up quickly.
Not all heroes wear confidence
Captain Zero breaks new ground in animated mental health narratives
By Andrew S. Jacobson Washington Informer
In a cultural moment saturated with multiverses, CGI battles and mythic origin stories, “Captain Zero: Into the Abyss Part II” dares to tell a different kind of superhero story—one that trades invincibility for introspection.
Premiering Aug. 8 at Angelika PopUp in Union Market, this animated short by writer-director Z Cher-Aimé centers not on saving the world, but on surviving one’s own mind. At its heart is Xerxes Hughes, a high school senior who moonlights as a masked hero but finds his greatest battle lies within. Behind the cape, he is not just fighting crime — he’s fighting depression, self-doubt, and the crushing pressure to be everything to everyone.
n Premiering Aug. 8 at Angelika Pop-Up in Union Market, this animated short by writer-director Z Cher-Aimé centers not on saving the world, but on surviving one’s own mind.
Told through therapy sessions and internal monologues, the film reveals how even the strongest among us can feel like they’re falling apart.
“We all want to be the hero of our own story,” said Cher-Aimé, “but what do we do when we’re also the villain? When
See CAPTAIN ZERO, A9
See COLDITZ, A9
Photo courtesy of Javier Zayas Photography
Your Health Matters is provided in partnership with
Photo courtesy of Z Cher-Aime Zero: Into the Abyss Part II” dares to tell a different kind of superhero story — one that trades invincibility for introspection.
Dr. Graham A. Colditz
Captain Zero
Continued from A8
our greatest enemy is ourselves?”
In a moment of unraveling, Xerxes Hughes — Captain Zero — stands frozen in anguish amid the sterile order of the classroom. (Courtesy of Z Cher-Aimé)
That question places “Captain Zero” within a growing canon of genre-bending narratives that explore mental health.
Tony Stark’s panic attacks in “Iron Man 3” reflected a rare moment of emotional transparency in the Marvel universe, where PTSD briefly pierced through the armor. Similarly, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” transformed anxiety, regret and generational trauma into a multiversal odyssey, using absurdist sci-fi to grapple with the weight of simply existing.
And “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” gave us Miles Morales — a teenage superhero struggling with identity, grief and the expectations of heroism in a world that doesn’t always reflect who he is.
But while each of these stories innovated the form, “Captain Zero” distinguishes itself by doing something they do not: placing the mental health of a young Black protagonist at the very center, not the margins, of its narrative.
In doing so, the film upends longstanding cultural tropes. Black superheroes are often portrayed as hyper-resilient, stoic or emotionally impenetrable.
“Captain Zero” shatters that mold.
Xerxes Hughes is allowed to be tender, afraid, overwhelmed —
Opioids
Continued from A8
An unclear future
Public health officials nationwide say many programs have been paused ahead of the Sept. 1 deadline when current program funding runs out. CDC staff says it’s unclear how local public health and addiction programs will continue operating when roughly half their funding is up in the air.
“The announcement (of delays) alone could trigger layoffs and program shutdowns,” one CDC staffer told NPR. “It could really start a chain reaction that’s hard to come back from.”
More than 320 scientists, drug policy experts and academics raised that point in a letter sent to House and Senate leaders in May, when rumors circulated that Trump was about to take action that
Colditz
Continued from A8
Coconut water. “It has electrolytes, which can be helpful when we’re sweating a lot, but choose those with no added sugar.”
Fruit juice. “Good option, but be sure to choose 100% fruit juice, not a fruit-flavored drink.” And even for 100% juice, it’s best to drink it only once in a while. While 100% juice has some vitamins and minerals, it also has about as much sugar as soda.
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and still powerful. This is a narrative that the broader Black community has confronted to varying degrees.
Paralyzed by terror, Captain Zero lies on the floor. (Courtesy of Z Cher-Aimé)
“Captain Zero is a project that is needed for this society and world as a whole,” said Kathy Cher-Aimé, project manager at Cutting Edge Animation. “We all want
to be bigger than life — famous, loved, unstoppable — but many of us are also living with anxiety and the quiet crush of depression. This movie shows that you can be both.”
Produced by the independent studio Cutting Edge Animation, “Captain Zero” has already made waves at the Tribeca Festival, DreamCon and the Smithsonian. Its creators are not just crafting a film — they’re cultivating
a movement.
“My favorite part of this production has been the community we’ve built,” said Andre “AC” Engco, VP of Cutting Edge Animation. “To see our work at Tribeca, to have panels at places like DreamCon — it shows people believe in this story and this message.”
With a striking visual style, emotionally grounded script and a powerful voice cast including Keith
would affect the program.
“Overdose has touched every corner of the country; more than 40% of Americans have lost someone to a drug overdose,” the scientists wrote, stressing that, despite the declines, substance use disorder still grips millions of Americans.
Lemonade. “Very refreshing — and a summer classic — but watch out for sugar content.” Like juice, it can have as much or more than soda. So, it’s best to have it only sometimes.
Sugary soda, energy drinks and sports drinks
“These types of sugary beverages are not a good option. They’ve been linked to an increased risk of weight gain, diabetes and other chronic diseases. Many sodas and energy and sports drinks also contain a high amount of caffeine, which can be problematic for many peo-
“In 2023, 48.5 million teenagers and adults struggled with SUD, and 58.7 million adults experienced a mental health condition,” the experts wrote. “Now is not the time to reduce these investments in effective SUD and mental health care.”
Counselors who work
ple, especially children.”
Combined with the warm temperatures of summer, the caffeine can also lead to dehydration. Sugary drinks are popular, but they’re best to avoid, particularly for kids.
Diet soda. “Since there’s no sugar in diet soda, it seems a better option than sugary drinks, but that’s not the case.”
It’s best to limit them as well. Diet sodas contain caffeine and artificial sweeteners, which have been linked to poor health outcomes in some studies.
Blended coffee drinks
directly with substance use disorder patients also point out that cutting these programs will harm those who need them most.
“The biggest thing about [treating] addiction is being able to admit it and having a safe space within the treatment facility, with a trusted profes-
“These are an unhealthy combination of sugar and caffeine, plus they can be very high in calories!” Iced coffee or cold brew with just a splash of milk is a healthier alternative.
Bubble tea. “A fun drink for summer, but best to limit. It contains a high amount of caffeine and calories.”
Beer, hard seltzers and other alcohol.
“Alcoholic beverages can lead to dehydration — and they have other well-known, serious health effects.” Alcohol increases the risk of cancer as
David, Zolee Griggs, and Angelica Ross, “Captain Zero” offers audiences a new kind of hero — one who doesn’t overcome vulnerability, but moves through it.
A full-length feature, “Captain Zero: The Movie,” is already in development, promising deeper emotional arcs and wider reach. But even in short form, “Captain Zero: Into the Abyss Part II” makes a bold and
sional, to make the admission is imperative,” says Chardé Hollins, an Ohiobased licensed clinical social worker. “If you cut the funding that allows for those relationships to be established and nurtured, then it will undoubtedly impact those who seek, and ultimately go into, treatment.”
The impact of Medicaid cuts
The administration says it will continue funding the OD2A program, for now.
necessary statement: The interior life of a Black teen is as worthy of exploration as any galaxy or villain — and that heroism begins not when the fight is over, but when the mask comes off.
“‘Captain Zero’ will challenge how we see ourselves and each other,” said Cher-Aimé. “It’s a mirror for the battles we don’t speak about — but need to.”
But NPR reports that payment will be made “in increments” instead of the usual single annual payment, according to a White House statement. NPR reports it received a separate statement from the Department of Health and Human Services saying the CDC “remains committed” to OD2A funding because it “directly aligns with administration priorities.”
well as injury, suicide, liver disease, mental illness and even infectious disease. As much as beer and other drinks can be a traditional part of summer celebrations, the healthiest approach is not to drink. Try nonalcoholic beer for a better option that tastes like the real thing.
Enjoying our favorite drinks with family and friends — or in a quiet moment alone — can be a special part of summer. Day-to-day, though, try to choose healthier drinks overall. It’s the best way to stay hydrated and can give a real boost to our
But the tax and spending plan Trump recently signed into law — the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” which includes deep cuts to Medicaid and other government programs that provide drug treatment — is expected to cause even more harm. In 2021, 2% of Medicaid enrollees were being treated for opioid use disorder, which equals just over 1 million adults. In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a panel of addiction specialists at the Boston University School of Medicine wrote that the bill “will cause approximately 156,000 people to lose access to treatment for opioid use disorder.” They also projected that approximately 1,000 additional overdose deaths could occur each year because of the cuts to Medicaid.
long-term health. “Except for plain water, it’s best to drink all other beverages in moderation or less,” Park concluded. “Most we shouldn’t drink every day.” It’s your health. Take control.
Dr. Graham A. Colditz, associate director of prevention and control at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine in St. Louis, is an internationally recognized leader in cancer prevention and the creator of the 8ightWays® to Prevent Cancer series.
Screenshot via Harvard Health Publishing / H Warraich. Source CDC Wonder
In a moment of unraveling, Xerxes Hughes (Captain Zero) stands frozen in anguish amid the sterile order of the classroom.
Photo courtesy of Z Cher-Aime
Continued from A3
Challenges ahead
Although the occasion was a joyous one, some alumni say it might be the last anniversary celebration.
“This might be sort of the last supper … there’s been an effort to close the high school for a very long time,” 1973 graduate Pierre Blaine said. “Here we are now in a situation where we had the horrific tornado situation, and so now it’s possible that could be back on the table again.”
On May 16, an EF3 tornado significantly damaged several schools in north St. Louis, including Sumner. The damage forced school officials to send students to other schools in the district this fall. Because of the damage to Sumner’s roof, students will attend Stevens Middle School.
The district has already spent $96,000 on debris cleanup and $1.2 million to stabilize the schools that were damaged by the tornado. SLPS did not respond to a request for the total amount of damage Sumner suffered.
Blaine said the students, alumni and community have a serious fight ahead to keep its doors open.
“We see an erosion of … understanding what the historical significance has been of individuals and of institutions like Sumner High School, and so it kind of gives you a view of why it’s important that we understand the historical context,” he said. “When you lack the historical context, then you don’t see what’s happening right before you, and right now we have to fight against people trying to erase history.”
But Blackmon-Davis looks at the change in
plays, fashion, where I was a model and designed a few things, and living arts, where I was able to go to competition … and go to nationals and Washington, D.C., to perform,” she said.
school location as a blessing in disguise.
“This is what I call the ancestral cradling. George Edward Stevens, whom the middle school is named after, was one of the men who fought for Sumner to have the building that we have now.” she said. “So here it is, our building is falling apart, and we are landing in a space that was named after this man because of his contributions to the community, so how iconic is that?”
Superintendent Millicent Borishade said in a statement to St. Louis Public Radio earlier this summer that the district
plans to reopen the school as soon as the building is deemed safe for reentry.
“Our teams are working diligently to assess the damage, plan the repairs, and ensure that when Sumner reopens, it will continue to provide the high-quality educational environment our students and families deserve,” she said.
Greater challenges have occurred over the years. In 2020, the district announced that officials were planning on closing 10 schools to save money, including Sumner. The school has been battling low enrollment and declin-
ing grade-point averages. In 2020, there were about 200 students enrolled, and that number recently doubled. In 2021, the district voted to save the historic school through Arts Pathways, a program at the school that partners with various community artists to help students learn more about the arts.
Class of 2025 graduate Dakota Scott credits her zeal for academia and the arts to the newly implemented arts program.
“While at Sumner, I was included in a lot of stuff, like drama, where we made movies, musical theater, where we did
Scott said she is proud of the recent graduates because they overcame so many challenges, like attending school in an older building, lacking resources for the teachers and attending school in a dilapidated community.
But she has faith that the district will keep Sumner around for the long run.
More recently, a new report presented by architecture firm Cordogan, Clark and Associates was released last month that suggests the district should close 37 schools. It included 27 elementary schools, five middle schools
and five high schools. However, the report did not specify which schools should be closed. It suggested closing down schools as the area’s population went down and because of the projected decrease in childbirth rates.
“I hope that they do not close my school down, because we are currently thriving, but I hope that with the funding that they’re allegedly supposed to get from closing these schools down, that they will actually give us better-quality education,” Scott said.
Published with permission as part of a content sharing partnership with St. Louis Public Radio. To view the original story, visit www.stlpr.org.
Photo by Lylee Gibbs, St. Louis Public Radio
Sumner High School is celebrating its 150th anniversary. Though the school is historic, alumni are fighting to keep it open. They say its closure due to the tornado is concerning, but they are optimistic it will be fully restored.
Verbena Wright-Reed, 105, was the Sumner High School guest of honor on July 26, at its 150th anniversary in downtown St. Louis.
Photo by Andrea Y. Henderson, St. Louis Public Radio
Photo courtesy of St. Louis Public Radio
Broken promises and unpaid debt
The deeply sad, disrespectful legacy of Homer G. Phillips Memorial Hospital
By Sylvester Brown, Jr.
St. Louis American
What started with a bang ended with an expensive whimper.
Former vendors of the now-closed
Homer G. Phillips Memorial Hospital are seeking millions of dollars for services provided during the emergency clinic’s brief operation.
In 2020, developer Paul McKee of NorthSide Regeneration announced he had secured financing for a $20 million urgent care facility to be built on the former Pruitt-Igoe public
housing site, across from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency headquarters, then under construction.
At the time, McKee was pursuing more than $6 million in tax subsidies and had secured financing from the St. Louis-Kansas City Carpenters Regional Council, which had financed other NorthSide projects. The city had already approved a massive tax increment financing district in 2009 to support McKee’s broader vision of redeveloped land, new businesses and new homes in the area.
The decision to name the clinic after
Homer G. Phillips Hospital — a historic institution in north St. Louis that trained generations of Black doctors and nurses from around the world — angered many Black residents. Some felt McKee was capitalizing on the legacy of a legendary civil rights attorney and equally famous hospital. By 2020, many had already soured on the developer, who had spent two decades acquiring hundreds of acres north of downtown, only to leave much of it vacant and crumbling — visible contributors to urban decay.
‘This
is what community support looks like’
STL Public Radio raises $800K, helps offset funding cuts
By American Staff
Last week, St. Louis Public Radio received an outpouring of support in the wake of federal public media funding cuts imposed by President Donald Trump. The local National Public Radio affiliate embarked on a one-week fundraising campaign to offset a $575,000 loss in annual funding –which was revoked by Congress on July 18, when it rescinded previously approved funding for public media over the next two years as per Trump’s request.
In seven days, nearly 2,500 donors raised more than $800,000.
Farrington appointed to board of curators
Belinda Farrington of St. Charles, Mo., has been appointed to the Lincoln University Board of Curators.
Belinda Farrington
Farrington is a human resources leader at Friendly Temple Church in St. Louis and has served several St. Louis County departments and divisions during a 30-year career. She sits on several boards, including Friendly Village Senior Housing, Robert Fulton Development Corporation, and the Lincoln University Alumni Association.
Farrington earned her master’s degree in human resources development from Webster University.
UMSL’s Nnanna elected ABET commissioner
George Nnanna
George Nnanna, founding director of the University of Missouri–St. Louis School of Engineering, has been elected as an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology commissioner and team chair for the Engineering Accreditation Commission. His five-year term began August 1. More than 4,700 programs across nearly 1,000 institutions worldwide currently hold ABET accreditation. Among its four commissions, the EAC is responsible for evaluating undergraduate engineering programs to ensure they meet rigorous standards for academic quality and professional preparation. Nnanna will lead accreditation reviews for mechanical and related engineering programs. He will help select, mentor and oversee more than 150 program evaluators who conduct over 100 on-campus accreditation visits annually.
Gates of KHS studied Arabic in Morocco
“This campaign wasn’t just about filling a funding gap,” said St. Louis Public Radio interim general manager Jess Luther in their report about the outcome of the campaign. “It was about showing that public media still has many people in its corner – people who believe that accurate journalism is a public good and that news from the St. Louis region should not be commodified.”
St. Louis Public Radio’s success story was a bright spot as woe and uncertainty loomed with respect to public media due to the cuts that compelled them to orchestrate the flash campaign.
Les Johnson to lead ARCHS as its new president and CEO
By Wendy Todd St. Louis American
Les Johnson, a vice president at Area Resources for Community and Human Service, has been selected to lead the nonprofit that supports human service agencies as its president and CEO, effective Oct. 1. Johnson currently is vice president for grant initiatives at ARCHS, a nonprofit focused on improving the lives of families and children in St. Louis communities that have limited resources. In his new position, Johnson said he wants to ensure residents
“have an opportunity to leverage the resources that are made available through the funding investments ARCHS makes through the partners we support by providing grant dollars.”
“ARCHS has had a twenty-year run of unprecedented growth,” Johnson said. “That growth represents the ability to deliver vital individual and family resources to the most vulnerable populations in Metro St. Louis. My vision, integrity and collaborative spirit will continue to elevate ARCHS’ mis-
Kirkwood High School student Alec Gates was a recipient of a National Security Language Initiative Alec Gates
for Youth scholarship, which offered an opportunity to study Arabic this summer in Morocco.
While in Morocco, Gates lived with a host family, was immersed in the local culture and community, and engaged with local peers to enhance language learning.
NSLI–Y, a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), promotes the study of Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Persian (Tajiki), Russian or Turkish.
NSLI–Y increases the number of young Americans with the critical language skills necessary to contribute to U.S national security and economic competitiveness.
Promotion, board appointment, new hire, award... please submit your People on the Move item (including photo) to areid@stlamerican.com.
Photo by David Kovaluk / St. Louis Public Radio
Leslie A. Johnson, Jr.
St. Louis Public Radio afternoon newscaster Marissanne Lewis-Thompson in studio. The organization raised more than $800,000 in a one-week fundraising campaign after it was announced they would lose $575,000 in annual funding due to federal cuts.
Hospital
Continued from B1
late 2022, but it didn’t officially open until January 2024.
“We’re very proud,” McKee told KMOX that year. “(We’ve) worked over 10 years to get it to this point.”
The hospital closed just 11 months later. It surrendered its state license
Public Radio
Continued from B1
Less than 48 hours after the organization shared the news of their awe-inspiring results, The Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced on Friday (Aug. 1) that it was shutting down due to Congress and the Trump administration eliminating its federal funding. CPB was a key subsidy for PBS and NPR. Audiences expressed concerns about what CPB’s closing will mean for beloved programming such as PBS’s Sesame Street and NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series.
“I’ve heard from many friends, family and audience members who are worried that NPR/Tiny Desk is shutting down.
Johnson
Continued from B1
sion and impact across the St. Louis region.”
Jacquline Wellington, who has served on ARCHS’ board of directors for 15 years and is interim chair, said she’s confident in Johnson’s ability to lead
after failing to submit a thorough correction plan for deficiencies. More than 80 employees were terminated.
“It saddens our heart that our legacy has been damaged, yet we are empathetic towards the employees that have lost their jobs,” Lois Collier Jackson, president of Homer G. Phillips Nurses Alumni, Inc., told The American in March.
Some former employ-
It is not,” Bobby Carter said via Instagram. The St. Louis native hosts and produces the recurring live performance program presented by NPR that became a global phenomenon soon after its inception in 2008. Carter has been a part of the Tiny Desk team since 2014. “Unfortunately, CPB is shutting down,” Carter added. “I encourage everyone to support Public Media and donate.” St. Louis Public Radio has been a staple in the region for more than a half-century. It first arrived on the airwaves via 90.7 KWMU FM in 1972 as a licensee of the University of Missouri Curators. Programming includes locally produced shows and original podcasts, NPR content and live broadcasts. The station –as well as Jazz KWMU-2
the organization. He was chosen from among 400 applicants who applied for the position, according to ARCHS.
“I’ve always found Les to be very professional, knowledgeable and committed to the mission of ARCHS,” Wellington said.
“He has always worked very diligently to support all of the partner organiza-
ees sued the hospital and McKee for back pay and financial and emotional pain and suffering.
Financial problems at the hospital began weeks after its opening, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. Since last December, medical providers and one construction contractor have filed eight lawsuits seeking more than $3.5 million.
California-based Vituity filed the largest
and Classical KWMU-3 – is also available online via streaming. In 2013, KWMU merged with The St. Louis Beacon, a fellow non-profit news organization that expanded its digital content footprint. They are also a St. Louis American content partner.
For more than a decade, St. Louis Public Radio has been a leading news source thanks to strong and balanced reporting via audio and multimedia journalism. They cover everything from business and politics to arts and culture. In recent years, they’ve had a key presence in an array of St. Louis stories that struck a chord with the nation – and the world. They were on the frontlines of the Ferguson uprising in 2014. More than ten years later, St. Louis Public Radio illus-
tions, as well as interface with the leadership of the organization. I anticipate that he will be an excellent new CEO for ARCHS.”
In addition to helping guide ARCHS through an operational and cultural shift, Johnson has led initiatives totaling more than $200 million, addressing community and workforce development, food inse-
lawsuit, seeking nearly $2.8 million for physician staffing, according to the Post-Dispatch. Additional companies are owed hundreds of thousands of dollars for medical services, supplies and construction work.
Following the closure, Dr. Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis, former director of health for the city, told The American the hospital served as “a beacon of health equity, training
trated the devastation from the tornado that touched down in the region two months ago. They saw the recent campaign support as the region’s way of thanking them for their service.
“What an incredible week for St. Louis Public Radio,” said Jeremy Goldberg, Associate Development Director –Major Gifts. “This grassroots response, including 750 new supporters, demonstrates how much St. Louisans value trusted, local journalism. We’re deeply grateful to our listeners and this entire community for stepping up when it mattered most. This is what community support looks like.”
The $575,000 annual revenue once provided through federal funding will need to be replenished annually. But the success of the campaign provides
curity, housing and local justice issues.
Johnson holds a master’s degree in social work, with a focus on nonprofit management and social and economic development, as well as a graduate certificate in urban family and community development from Washington University’s Brown School of Social Work. He also
and excellence in serving marginalized communities during a time when segregation limited access to quality care.”
“It is a name that symbolizes advocacy for justice and equity in healthcare,” Hlatshwayo Davis continued. “That legacy makes (these) developments even more devastating, as they represent yet another missed opportunity to honor the name with the respect it deserves.”
optimism and a sense of promise.
“This wasn’t a topdown rescue mission,” said David Hutchison, Chief Development Officer at St. Louis Public Radio. “This was the people of St. Louis making it clear what kind of future they want — one where their story isn’t just preserved, but propelled forward. We’re not here to retreat or shrink. We’re here to grow, to innovate, and to show what’s possible when a public media organization is truly powered by the public.”
The campaign came months after The University of Missouri–St. Louis announced that the governance of St. Louis Public Radio will transition to an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. There will
earned a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from CulverStockton College.
“The St. Louis region has always been very supportive of ARCHS, and we hope to be able to continue that relationship for the sole purpose of expanding the number of services we can bring to the community,”
Nearly 50 years after the original Homer G. Phillips Hospital closed in 1979, many believe its proud legacy of equity and excellence has been tarnished — this time by false promises, administrative failures and millions of dollars of unsatisfied debt.
Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.
be a need to lean more heavily on donors as a support system for the organization, but they see the campaign as evidence that our region will rise to the challenge.
“In just one week, thousands of people raised their hands to say that local journalism matters — not just as a news source, but as a public service, a community service,” Hutchison said. “The overwhelmingly grassroots nature of the campaign — with gifts ranging from a few dollars to a few thousand — underscores just how deeply St. Louisans value access to independent, fact-based reporting rooted in their own communities.”
For more information about St. Louis Public Radio, visit https://www. stlpr.org/.
Johnson said. He succeeds Wendell E. Kimbrough, who is retiring in September after leading the organization for more than two decades.
Wendy Todd is a member of Report for America, which supports local journalists who report on under-covered issues and communities.
n “It’s a bad situation, and I don’t know if money is going to fix the relationship.”
– ESPN’s Marcus Spears, a former Dallas Cowboy, on the Micah ParsonsJerry Jones feud
InSIdE SportS
With Earl Austin Jr.
Earl’s 30 for 30 at the St. Louis American
This has been an exciting year for me because it is my 30th year of covering sports for the St. Louis American.
It has been a pleasure and an honor to cover these magnificent young athletes in the St. Louis metro area. To celebrate my 30 years at the American, I have a special project in store for all of you which will be featured on our website.
If you watch ESPN, you know that part of its programming is its great 30 for 30 documentaries on sports history. Well, I’ve come up with my own 30 for 30 presentation for our www.stlamerican. com website.
In the coming weeks, I will be chronicling my own list of top 30 high school events that I have covered in my 30 years at the paper. It is a chance to re-live some of the greatest moments in St. Louis high school sports history. The stories will be in chronological order from my first year in 1995 to the present day. One of those great memories was when St. Louis was the host of the prestigious McDonald’s All-American Basketball Game in 1995. A few more great memories include the great and still controversial goal line stand by Hazelwood East in 1995, the “Miracle at Moss Field at Webster Groves in 2009 as well as the famous “Midnight Special” football game between East St. Louis and Trinity Catholic in 2017. This is just a small taste of what you can look forward
to in this special series.
Over the years, I have been able to save many of the photos from our great Hall of Fame photographer Wiley Price to accompany the stories.
Make sure to go to our website to take this great walk down memory lane with me. I cannot wait to get it all started.
St. Louis Slam wins WFA championship
Congratulations to the St. Louis Slam on winning the championship of the Women’s Football Alliance last week.
The Slam defeated the D.C. Divas 26-14 to win the WFA Pro National Championship at Canton, Ohio. The Slam has won back-to-back WFA championships and six titles overall in its history.
Several players played a big role in the Slam’s victory, including running back Jada Humphrey, who was named Most Valuable Player of the championship game. Her 50-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter put the game away.
Wide receiver Kerri McMahan scored two touchdowns, including a tremendous 35-yard catch and run effort in the second quarter. McMahan was a former college basketball standout at Saint Louis University. On defense, Keyonna Smith scored on a 52-yard interception return to give the Slam a 19-14 lead in the third quarter. Defensive back Kaylee Neutzling also had a big game with an interception
in 1998. The Rams’ run to the championship is a part of Sports Editor Earl Austin Jr.’s look back at his 30 years at the American.
and a fumble recovery.
Myrle Mensey brings home more gold
St. Louisan Myrle Mensey capped off a dominant summer of track and field by being named the USA Track and Field (USATF) Athlete of the Year in the Masters Womens-75 Division. Mensey, 75, won three gold medals at the recent USATF Masters Championships in Florida. She won gold in the hammer throw, weight throw in the shot put. She set a new world record in the weight throw. It was her own world record that she broke.
Mensey has competed in Masters track and field
for more than 20 years. In that span, she has been consistently winning gold medals and breaking world records in each age group that she competes in.
East Side gains big transfer from Lone Star State
The East St. Louis Flyers’ football program got a little stronger last week with the addition of transfer Myson-Johnson Cook. He is a five-star prospect who comes to the Flyers from DeSoto (Texas). A 6’3” 220-pound junior running back, Cook rushed for 911 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 10 yards a carry as a sophomore in Texas. Cook is being recruit-
SportS EyE
With Alvin A. Reid
ed by the Who’s Who of collegiate football programs around the country. He has already received offers from schools such as Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, LSU, Georgia, Florida, Missouri, Oregon, Colorado, Baylor and many others.
RIP Annitre Edison
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of former basketball coach Annitre Edison, who passed away last week.
Edison was a former standout prep player at Hazelwood East who went on to have a collegiate career at Washington University in the mid1990s. She was part of
head coach Nancy Fahey’s powerhouse Bears program that won three NCAA Division III national championships during her career. Edison then joined Fahey’s staff as an assistant coach, where she spent 20 years on the bench for the Bears. Annitre also spent many summers coaching boys basketball with the Ramey Basketball AAU program on the grassroots circuit. This is a big loss for our basketball community. Annitre was a nice lady and an excellent basketball coach.
*Brandon Miller finishes fifth at the USA Outdoor Nationals in the 800
St. Louisan Brandon Miller finished in fifth place in the 800-meter run at last weekend’s USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, OR. The former John Burroughs star ran a personal best time of 1 minute 43.14 seconds.
Despite running the best time of his career, Miller just missed qualifying for the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo as it was one of the fastest 800-meter races ever run in the United States. The top three finishers and qualifiers all ran 1:42, including 16-year old high school standout Cooper Lutkenhaus, who ran 1:42.27 to set a world record for in the U18 division. He finished second behind national champion Donovan Brazier, who won with a personal best time of 1:42.16. That 800 race was one of the big highlights of the entire competition.
Sanders makes the best play of his career
Last season, I witnessed the impact that Deion Sanders has on Colorado football when his team played Kansas at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. I shared in a SportsEye, that “Coach Prime” fans had traveled from Arkansas, Illinois, and other states to be part of the phenomenon. Several weren’t Colorado fans. Instead, they were Deion Sanders fans. They support his message to Black players, and more importantly, Black people.
I’m not just talking to the brothers. I’m talking to my Caucasian brothers, my Hispanic brothers, my Asian brothers, my everybody, and my sisters. And that’s all y’all, get checked out.”
This is why Sanders’ press conference last week, when he shared his battle with bladder cancer, was the most important of his Pro Football Hall of Fame and college coaching careers.
“Please get yourself checked out, especially African American men,” Sanders said as he sat in overalls with a cowboy hat atop his head.
“We don’t like going to the doctors. We don’t like nothing to do with a doctor. You know that.
I have a yearly doctor’s visit, but I skipped the requested follow-up blood work this year. I’ve never had a colonoscopy. I’ll be 65 on Sept. 6, 2025. Sanders was talking to millions of Blak men – and me. He reached me. I must do better for my wife of 42 years and my daughters. Sanders had his bladder removed in May, which was the choice of two options, he said His other choice was a “minor surgery” that would have required weekly doctors’ visits over a “multitude of months” and “wouldn’t promise me the outcome I desired.” He chose the more invasive surgery and, with his humor and laughter, again had an impact on me.
“I can’t pee like I used to. I depend on Depends.
I’m making a joke out of it, but it is real. If you see a port-a-potty on the sideline, it is real, I’m just telling you. You’re going to see one at practice, on the sideline [in games].”
The fear of an outcome such as this keeps many Black men from seeing the doctor. Maybe it’s why I see a doctor but then don’t do all I can to ensure everything is OK inside me.
I realize not having health care benefits keeps many Black people from seeing a doctor. My annual visit is in
mid-September. It is usually in August but I’m awaiting the beginning of Medicare coverage. For the next few weeks, I’m without healthcare coverage. Shame on me. I filled my prescriptions for blood pressure medication last week without the benefit of health benefits. Together, they cost about $17 over the past two years. Without health benefits, I paid $145.18. I’m going to get that colonoscopy, and the blood work. A brave and brash football coach has convinced me to do better.
Deion Sanders’ message to Black men last week was the most important of his career.
The Reid Roundup Of 64 ranked MLB shortstops, Masyn Winn ranked 12th following the San Diego Padres series according to a daily FantasyPros tabulation.
The St. Louis Cardinals shortstop was hitting .270 with seven home runs, 41 RBIs and seven stolen bases…Bleacher Report NFL writer David Kenyon has former St. Louis Rams receiver Torry Holt among the best former NFL players awaiting induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Holt recorded 13,382 yards and 74 touchdowns during his 10-year-career…Former Kansas point guard Dajuan Harris Jr., a native of Columbia, Mo., with relatives in Kirkwood, has signed with the Kortrijk Spurs of the BNXT League, the best in Belgium and the Netherlands ….The NFL Players Association has named David White interim executive director. White is a former national executive director and chief negotiator of the Screen Actors Guild and served as board chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco…In 2023, the NFLPA selected Lloyd Howell over White for the position. Howell resigned last month after it was disclosed that he helped the league bury an arbitrator’s ruling on owner collusion and had charged over $2,500 for strip club visits…The MEAC, SWAC, CIAA and SIAC have announced the “HBCU4Us” initiative. Student athlete leadership and development, preservation of cultural heritage, and competitive excellence are its focus.
Earl Austin Jr.
Alvin A. Reid
The late Damien Nash was a star running back on Riverview Gardens’ state title team
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Photo by Derek Marckel / University of Colorado
Library also helps avoid tech scams
St. Louis County Library (SLCL) and Operation Food Search (OFS) will partner to provide after school meals to children at four SLCL branches beginning August 19, 2025. The four branches will serve a healthy, light meal along with activities for kids and teens Monday–Friday during the school year. Meals must be eaten on-site and will be available free of charge for children ages 5-18. The After School Meals program will be offered at the following branches starting Monday, August 19: Lewis & Clark Branch, 9909 Lewis-Clark Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63136 Monday-Friday, 3:304:30 p.m. Natural Bridge Branch, 7606 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO
SLCL, Operation Food Search partner to feed kids
63121
Monday-Friday, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Prairie Commons Branch, 915 Utz Lane,
Hazelwood, MO 63042
Monday-Friday, 3:00-4:30 p.m. Weber Road Branch 4444 Weber Road, St.
Louis, MO 63123
Monday-Friday, 2:45-4:00 p.m.
SLCL and Operation Food Search have part-
nered for several years to address food insecurity in the region. In 2024, SLCL and OFS distributed over 50,000 meals.
Taking on tech scammers
Beginning August 19, four St. Louis County library branches will serve light meals and provide activities for kids and teens Monday–Friday during the school year.
For additional information, please visit www.slcl. org/after-school-meals
SCLC will host a Tech
Talks: Scams and Shams session at 10 a.m. Monday August 11 at the Weber Road Branch.
The class will focus on typical scam emails and phone calls and include ways to identify a scam and ways to avoid them.
The event is being held following a Pew Research
report released on July 31, 2025, that shows African Americans and other minority groups are not as alert to possible phone, email and other scams as white Americans. According to the Pew survey, 75% of white adults say they know a great deal or fair amount about how to avoid falling for one. The respective percentages for Hispanic Americans (59%), Black Americans (66%), and Asian Americans (66%) adults.
less likely to say this. For example, Americans ages 65 and older are less likely than 18- to 29-yearolds to say this (64% vs. 78%).
Majorities across age groups say they know at least a fair amount about how to avoid falling for an online scam or attack, but older Americans are
The report says there are no differences between racial and ethnic groups in experiencing “at least one” of the scams or attacks, Black,
Hispanic and Asian adults are more likely than white adults to have had multiple forms of these frauds happen to them.
About 30% of Black or Hispanic adults have faced three or more types of online scams or attacks, compared with 18% of white adults.
Americans in households across income levels are about as likely to say they’ve ever experienced at least one of the online scams. But those in households with lower incomes are more likely to say at least three have happened. To register, please visit sclc.org/events
Photo courtesy of St. Louis County Library
Living It
Four decades in the mix
Veteran
radio personality
BJ the DJ celebrates career milestone
By Zaria Mac
The St. Louis American
In the “here today, gone today” climate of radio, hometown legend BJ “The DJ” Holiday is an anomaly.
A river runs through
Relationship between East St. Louis and STL explored through CAM event
By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American
When the then emerging businessman Andrew Carnegie ordered the construction of the man-made wonder The Eads Bridge more than 150 years ago, his intention was to bring the country together. The first bridge across the Mississippi River south of the Missouri River is also the oldest bridge on the river. It connects East St. Louis to St. Louis.
This successful completion was a
The city showed up for veteran radio personality
he celebrated his 40th anniversary Sunday afternoon
This year marks his 40th anniversary of dominating the airwaves on radio stations like Majic 104.9, Hallelujah 1600, and Z107.7. He has come a long way from his humble beginnings as a mix DJ on Majic 108 way back in 1985. He’s currently a weekend host for the top rated hip hop and R&B station 100.3 The Beat. Family, friends and fans joined past and present colleagues at luxurious
Live by Loews rooftop to celebrate this accomplishment Sunday afternoon. DJ Stew.Net on the turntables and fellow 100.3 The Beat personality, Y.O.M.P hosted the event that brought the city out to show BJ love for his longevity. The celebration started with specialty
“I’m just dad, not so much Babyface. I’m Babyface to other people sometimes...”
- Babyface on his kids still discovering his music
‘It’s a homecoming’
Webster University grad Michael James Scott returns to the Muny in their monumental staging of the musical theater staple ‘‘La Cage aux Folles.” The production opens August 8 and continues through August 14.
Webster alum Michael James Scott costars in Muny’s historic ‘La Cage aux Folles’
symbol of strength and possibility. With it Carnegie was launched into the stratosphere as an industrialist whose groundbreaking mass production of steel helped modernize skylines of metropolitan areas – and made him one of the wealthiest men in history.
As part of its culminating complimentary programming for “Like
Water” which closes on August 10, the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (CAM) brought a group together to meditate on the bridge’s role in a tragic moment in American history. The last installment of the Make the River Present
By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American
Michael James Scott is perfect for the role of Albin in the Muny’s upcoming production of “La Cage aux Folles.” This became instantly and abundantly clear without hearing him deliver one line.
A trail of happiness followed him down the halls of the company’s administrative offices as he made his way to chat about the production – which is believed to be the first to have Black actors in all of the principal roles. When he greeted the people he passed, their already upbeat moods were elevated.
n “It will be like nothing anyone has seen before. We are making history in St. Louis. And it feels like such an honor on so many levels.”
- Michael James Scott
“What I love is that this is a universal story,” Scott said.
“The fact that we happen to be Black and it happens to be a queer couple, it just happens to be that way. This can be any family. The story is relatable and promotes unity – and it is just us being us.”
Scott’s personality is naturally aligned with the intention of those tasked with portraying the iconic stage musical role
Photos by Taylor Marrie/St. Louis American
BJ “The DJ” Holiday as
at Live by Loews.
Photo courtesy of
Photo by Kenya Vaughn/St. Louis American
Assata Johnson and Cookie Jordan took part in the final event for ‘Make The River Present,’ which offered remembrance for the victims of the 1917 East St. Louis race massacre and the silent march to protest the national tragedy that drew thousands in New York City.
CONCERTS
Thurs., Aug 7, 6 p.m., Elle Varner, City Winery St. Louis, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110. Also showing at 9:30 p.m. For more information, visit https://citywinery.com.
Thurs., Aug. 7, 7:30 p.m.
(6:30 p.m. doors) The Factory at The District welcomes K. Michelle, 17105 North Outer 40 Road Chesterfield, MO 63005. For more information, visit www.thefactorystl.com.
Fri., Aug. 8, 8 p.m. Jeezy with Color of Noize Orchestra, Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit https://gotickets.com.
Sat., Aug. 9, 7:30 p.m. (6 p.m. doors), John Violinist Live, City Winery St. Louis, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https://citywinery.com.
Sun., Aug. 10 5 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. Big Daddy Kane, City Winery St. Louis, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https:// citywinery.com.
Sat., Aug. 16, 2 p.m., Tacos & Tequila Festival with T.I., Lil Jon, Chingy, Chamillionaire, Ying Yang Twins, Petey Pablo, Mike Jones and DJ Ashton Martin, Carshield Field, 900 TR Hughes Blvd., O’Fallon MO 63366. For more information, visit tacosandtequilafestival.com.
Mon., Aug. 18, The Factory welcomes Clipse, Factory at The District, 17105 North Outer 40 Road Chesterfield, MO 63005. For more information, visit www.thefactorystl.com.
STL Sites & Sounds
SPECIAL EVENTS
Fri., Aug. 8 – Sat., Aug. 9, Forward Through Ferguson presents the St. Louis Racial Equity Summit, Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center, UMSL. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ stlchange
Sat., Aug. 9, 2 p.m., Soft & Sexy Saturday, Get Sexy Movement Fitness Studio, 62 Grandview Plaza Shopping Center, Florissant, MO 63033https://www.getsexymovementfitness.com/
Mon., Aug.11 – Sun., Aug. 17, STLFringeFEST 2025 featuring theater, musicals, dance and more. Various artists. For full schedule of events, visit stlfringe.org.
Tues., Aug. 12, 6 p.m., The Bourbonaire presents The Yellowstone Roundup, Randall’s Wines & Spirits, 4925 Southwest Avenue St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com
Thurs., Aug. 14, 6 p.m. Movie Night: The Wiz, Kiener Plaza, 500 Chestnut Street, St. Louis, MO 63101. For more information, visit www.stlsummernights.com.
Fri., Aug. 29-31, 8 a.m. Paint Louis: The World’s Largest Graffiti Festival, The Mural Mile, 1000 South Wharf Street, St. Louis, MO, 63104. For more information https:// paintlouis.com.
Fri., Sept. 5, 3 p.m., Future Focus by TEDxStLouis Women, Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center, UMSL. For more information, visit btpac.vbotickets. com/event/Future_Focus_by_
TEDxStLouis_Women/164514
COMEDY
Fri., Aug. 8 – Sun., Aug. 10, Tony Rock, Helium Comedy Club,1 St. Louis Galleria St, St. Louis, MO 63117. Various showtimes available. For more information, visit https://st-louis. heliumcomedy.com.
Wed., Aug. 13 – Thurs., Aug. 14, 7 p.m., City Winery St. Louis welcomes Luenell, City Winery St. Louis, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https:// citywinery.com.
Wed., Aug. 27, 7:30 p.m., Tee Sanders, Helium Comedy Club,1 St. Louis Galleria St, St. Louis, MO 63117. For more information, visit https://st-louis.
heliumcomedy.com.
ST. LOUIS MUSIC SPOTLIGHT
Thurs., Aug. 7, 8 p.m., Album release party for Enoch Raavi and the Indigenous Groove’s “Cinemajik,” Sophie’s Artist Lounge, 3333 Washington Avenue. For more information, visit Facebook.com/enoch.i.ravvi
Sat., Aug. 9, 9 p.m., LAMAR HARRIS PRESENTS: GO! A Genre Overload, Sophie’s Artist Lounge, 3333 Washington Avenue. For more information, visit kranzbergartsfoundation. org/calendar.
Sun., Sept. 21, 3 p.m., The summer Starlight Concert Series returns with the Coleman Hughes Project featuring
Adrianne Felton-King. Heman Park Miracle Playground, University City. For more information, visit www.ucitymo.org/ calendar THEATRE
Fri., Aug. 8 – Aug. 14, The Muny presents La Cage aux Folles, The Muny at Forest Park. For more information, visit muny.org.
Through Sun., Aug. 10, Steel Magnolias a Tesseract Theatre Production, The Marcelle Theatre, 3310 Samuel Shepard Dr, St. Louis, MO 63103, For more information, visit https:// kranzbergartsfoundation.org.
Through Sun., Aug. 17, 7:30 p.m., Saint Louis Zoo and St. Louis Shakespeare Festival presents Romeo and Zooliet St. Louis Zoo, for more information, visit stlzoo.org.
ART
Through Sun., Aug. 10, Like Water, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, 3750 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108. For more information https://camstl.org/.
Through Aug. 30, A Quiet Composition, Saint Louis Artists’ Guild, 12 N Jackson Ave, St. Louis, MO 63105. For more information, visit www. stlouisartistsguild.org.
Through Sept. 27, The Gallery at The Kranzberg presents a new exhibition, Nyuso: A Celebration of African Artistry & Afrofuturism, by Kranzberg Arts Foundation Resident Artist Moraa Nyaribo. 501 N. Grand Blvd. For more information, visit kranzbergartsfoundation.org
Comedy veteran Luenell will play a special two-night engagement at City Winery St. Louis. See COMEDY for more information.
drinks and “Just in Time,” a live band that brought new life to Mystikal’s “The Man Right Chea.” Guests danced and socialized. They smoked cigars and shopped with the local vendors that sold bespoke men’s hats in various colors, women’s accessories, and even whipped body butters. Once they received their drinks and goodies, guests made their way to the dance floor in anticipation of the man of the hour’s arrival.
For his entrance, BJ strolled through the party as Rich Homie Quan’s “Walk Thru” blared through the speakers. Guests cheered and cameras flashed when he made his way to the stage.
“I want to thank everyone for allowing me to be a voice and personality on the radio for 40 years,” BJ said. “A lot of times when you’re in this business you don’t know the impact that you are making on people. But today I get to see it, and I thank God for that.”
In a touching and vulnerable moment, BJ opened up about recent struggles concerning his eyesight. “Two years ago, I had major eye surgery.”
He took a pause to clear his throat as he shared details of his health challenge.
“I went to the doctor and the pressure in your eye is supposed to be between 11 and 15,” BJ said. “The pressure in my eye was 32, if I had got to 40 I wouldn’t be able to see today.”
BJ thanked God for the challenge that evolved into his testimony.
“He took away a lot of my natural sight so that my spiritual sight could open up, some of y’all don’t know what I’m talking about,” BJ said. He has since been fitted with special lenses that allow him to see better than he did before he
n “I want to thank everyone for allowing me to be a voice and personality on the radio for 40 years.”
- BJ “The DJ” Holiday
found that his vision was in jeopardy.
“So, you might look different if I haven’t seen you in a lot of years,” BJ said. “Now that could be a good thing or…” He paused and the crowd laughed. He gave thanks to everyone who has supported him over the course of his 40-year journey in radio. Two in particular received extra special thanks – his daughters Bianca and Tina James.
“There are two reasons why I do what I do, these young ladies were right by my side during the surgery and the recovery,” BJ said. “These young
reminder,” Scott said.
Continued from C1
that was made popular in mainstream entertainment through the film adaptation “The Birdcage” starring Nathan Lane, Robin Williams and Gene Hackman. The story is centered around a gay couple who owns a nightclub. Georges handles the production and business side, while Albin a.k.a. Zsa Zsa is the main attraction of the club’s drag show. The couple takes drastic measures in their effort to leave a positive impression on their son’s future in-laws.
“Get ready to be joy bombed,” Scott said. “It will be like nothing anyone has seen before. We are making history in St. Louis. And it feels like such an honor on so many levels.” Scott plays opposite Broadway veteran Norman Lewis’ Georges. Albin is the joy – and the soul – of the ensemble for the production that runs August 8 through August 14. The cast also includes Mason Reeves, Cameron Anika Hill, Terence Archie, Allison Blackwell, Troy Iwata, Michael Hartung and Meghan Murphy.
The moment is made more special for Scott because of his personal connection to St. Louis –and the Muny.
“The minute I stepped off the plane and felt that heat, that was the first
“This is where my foundation happened. I began to find myself as a person here in St. Louis.”
The Floridian is a graduate of Webster University’s famed performing arts conservatory. He completed his undergraduate degree and earned his MFA from the highly competitive school that has produced the likes of Jenifer Lewis, Rocky Carroll and Nathan Lee Graham and so many others.
While in college he appeared in ensembles of Muny productions –including “Cinderella” and “South Pacific.”
The relentless pace of the Muny’s season prepared him for his future – which has included roles on Broadway, London’s West End and in Australia.
“It was a beautiful time of growth, a beautiful time of challenge and a beautiful time of inspiration looking up to the artists who were ahead of me,” said Scott.
One of his most treasured moments was sharing the stage with the late Muny icon Ken Page in one of their many stagings of “Aida.” That production was Scott’s first major role on the Muny’s stage. “I had his guidance on so many things,” Scott said. “There were private conversations that I will always keep near and dear to my heart. I really got to see someone who walked the walk. That happened in St. Louis for me – and
gatherings which included a Native Women’s Circle blessing and a trip along the Black Heritage Water Trail, also demonstrated how the bridge has come to represent the opposite of its original intention.
On Saturday, August 2 – just days after the anniversary of the silent march in New York City to protest the East St. Louis race massacre of 1917 – about 20 people gathered just below the Metrolink station directly across from the Casino Queen.
Like the thousands who marched down Fifth Avenue at the behest of Marcus Garvey and the NAACP, most of them wore white. They carried big pieces of cardboard that replicated the original signage from what came to be known as “The Silent Parade.”
“The bridge carried people to safety and it was a place to hold people back from enacting more violence,” said Michelle Dezember, Director of Learning & Engagement for CAM. “Keep that in mind as you go across today.”
ladies, along with my three other kids have been my rock through the 40 years I have been on the radio. There was a lot of times when I was busy, and we didn’t get to spend a lot of time together, but God has a way of allowing your kids to see you and what you’re trying to do for them.”
Sunday’s gathering demonstrated a mutual endearment that extends beyond his family.
“God has blessed me to serve a city that has so much love for me,” BJ said. “This is only the beginning.”
is something I will never forget – so this is a home coming for me.”
More than two decades after his Muny debut, Scott returns for what he has proclaimed as “the crown jewel” of the 2025 season – a season made all the more special because of the global attention brought by their recent Regional Theatre Tony Award.
“We have a brilliant director, Marcia Milgrom Dodge, who is a Muny legend,” Scott said. “It’s a version of the show that literally no one has ever seen. And how inspiring is it that in this world –that is polarizing, that is so divided – that you can come to a place where 11,000 people can sit down together and watch a show that is universal. Come and get this histo ry.”
For him to be a part of history at the place that played such a crucial role in the launch of his musi cal theater career is yet another cherished Muny –and St. Louis – memory.
“I stand on the shoul ders of so many people before me who have dreamt of this moment,” Scott said. “And others who would have never even dared to dream of this moment.”
The Muny’s upcoming production of “La Cage aux Folles” will open August 8 and continue through August 14. For tickets and additional information, visit muny.org
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The idea of running for one’s life towards St. Louis with domestic terrorists on one side and the murky, unknown depths of the Mississippi river below was a reminder of the type
“It needs to be written about,” she said at the end of her poem. “More people need to know about what happened.”
The excursion was organized by Dezember and independent curator – and East St. Louis native –Allena Brazier. The experience connected those who attended to the CAM exhibition, even though it took place miles away from the museum.
“[‘Like Water’] came as an intention to learn from artists and cultural stewards and reconnect ourselves to the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers,” Dezember said. “I was really surprised when I moved here how separate I felt from the river. Right now, we are on the riverfront and we can’t see the water.”
After traveling the four flights up to the Metrolink platform, the view of the murky Mississippi became clear.
The mere thought of following the narrow walkway – which was probably much narrower more than a century ago –with loved ones, including small children, in tow was enough to induce anxiety.
Decades later, Dr. Tandra Taylor – assistant professor of history at Southern University Edwardsville and director of the SIUE Freedom School – crossed the Eads Bridge for different reasons.
“I am a fourth genera
foods, to food shop, to get clothes for work?’”
The 1917 East St. Louis Race Riot Tour begins at the top of the Metrolink platform as well.
“You can see the skyline in St. Louis and the underdeveloped skyline in East St. Louis,” Taylor said.
She says the spot gives a sense of what the fathers of East St. Louis imagined for the city.
“They imagined that it would be much more fluid relations between the growing wealth, the growing opportunity and the growing industries of St. Louis,” Taylor said. “The hope was for a very fluid relationship that’s separated by the river, but connected in every other way.”
Growing up in the 1980s, Taylor bore witness to the divestment that followed the white flight.
“I would think, ‘Why do I have to leave my community for every single thing that is good in terms of material,” Taylor said. “Everything good comes from East St. Louis in terms of people capital.” Taylor said it will take work from both sides to fulfill the vision of what the Eads Bridge represents with respect to community building.
“I would not like us to see it as way over here – and for St. Louis to see East St. Louis as someplace undesirable,” said Taylor. “I want to set
Photos by Taylor Marrie/St. Louis American
Muscle cars and motivation
Hundreds attend 7th Annual Rides N’ School Supplies back-to-school fair
By Kenya Vaughn
The St. Louis American
Derrick Walker had an epiphany while participating in a mentorship program through the 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis. He would go to the juvenile detention center to inspire and encourage incarcerated youth.
“Something inside me felt as if I was giving them that motivation too late,” Walker said. “I was like, ‘How can I do something before they get down this road?’”
He found his lane when he created Rides N’ School Supplies (RNSS) –a back-to-school fair and car/bike show hybrid. On Saturday, they returned for a seventh year of providing a host of resources, scholarships, activities and more. Since its inception, RNSS has provided nearly $60,000 in scholarships to students with the longterm target of sending awarded scholars off with full rides.
“That’s the goal,” Walker said, with his wife Taylor by his side. “We’re going 20 for twenty,” he said, proclaiming to the universe that for the 20th anniversary milestone they will provide one full scholarship for each year of their operation.
But on this day, the focus was on “lucky number seven.” NASCAR served as the 2025 title sponsor. A total of $10,000 in scholarships were awarded. Free lap-
tops were distributed to select students and more than 1,000 East Pak backpacks and JanSport lunchboxes were distributed.
Rides ‘N School Supplies occupied the parking area of the O’Fallon Park Rec Plex YMCA – and a multi-purpose space inside to provide complimentary haircuts for young people so they can start the school year off with a fresh, crisp look. By its noon start time, there was no room for parking due to the size of the crowd. Cars lined up along West Florissant, and families hiked up the hill to attend. Upon entry, guests stopped for photo opportunities alongside the custom designed NASCAR vehicle that bore the number seven and had “Rides N’ School Supplies” painted on the hood.
After admiring the car, they visited booths – which included Sam’s Club, Annie Malone Children’s Service Center, WorldWide Technology Raceway and more. They perused food trucks and took advantage of other resources – and featured STEM related activities for young people.
“I really have to give it to God – I never imagined it being this big,” Walker said. “The people that motivate need motivation too. When people support what you are doing like this, it’s thrilling and its energizing.”
The event was a mutual exchange of energy thanks
to DJ Climate’s skills on the turntables and the revving engines.
“The Jeeps are making their way,” Climate announced just after the vrooms of the bikes.
Jasmine Riley didn’t know what to expect when she received the flyer for the event from her stepmother. She brought her two children along in search of additional supplies– particularly for her oldest son, Harlem, who is preparing to enter kindergarten.
“This is my first time coming to something like this,” Riley said. “With daycare and pre-k, you don’t really have to worry about major supplies like we have to do this year.”
She felt blessed to have the opportunity to lean on RNSS to cut down on some of her back to school
expenses. She was thrilled that Harlem – and his little sister Harmony – had the chance to take in their first car and bike show.
“They’ve never seen anything like this before,” said Riley. “Normally the car shows and motorcycle shows are for the adults. They don’t really bring them out for the kids like it is here.”
Whenever an engine roared, Harlem returned his attention to where the action was happening.
“It has been a great experience,” Riley said as she waited in line to get Kona Ice snow cones for herself and her children. “It feels like we are a part of the family.”
Dressed in scrubs, grandmother Mona Lisa Bester stopped by to support RNSS on her way to work.
“I think this is a beautiful thing,” said Bester. “Especially after the tornado, but not even dealing with the tornado, we needed to bring everybody together.”
As she talked, she walked her grandchildren over in the direction of the car and bike show. “We especially need events like this in North St. Louis, because we are always overlooked. I’ve been a North St. Louis resident for 54 years, and this is excellent.”
Walker was filled with gratitude for the guests who chose his event over countless other back-toschool events happening that day, and for the resource partners who helped make the event possible.
“I feel like people really have a grasp of what we
are trying to do here, and have just wrapped their arms around what we have going on,” Walker said.
When RNSS reaches its 20th year, Harlem will either be preparing for or attending college. Walker’s mission was to make sure that Harlem, and the hundreds of other young people who attended, took something away from the experience beyond the supplies, resources and the excitement of the car show.
“I hope the young people here today can look back at this moment and be inspired and motivated,” Walker said. “I want them to know that inspiration can take you far. If you put hard work and dedication behind it, your opportunities are limitless.”
Photo by Kenya Vaughn/St. Louis American
Derrick Walker, his wife Taylor Walker and their seven-month-old son Avalon Michael Walker posed alongside the custom vehicle created by NASCAR. The famed auto racing company served as title sponsor for the 7th Annual Rides N’ School Supplies event, which took place on Saturday, August 2 at the O’Fallon Park Rec Plex YMCA.
FULL-TIME MARKETING STRATEGIST
Heritage Hardwood Floors Inc in Fenton, MO seeks full-time Marketing Strategist for online marketing for social media. Req Bachelor’s degree in any major. $45,302/year. Mail resume to M. Evering, 1505 Oakglen Drive, Fenton, MO 63026.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Requests for Quotes, Bids and Proposals are posted online for public download. Please navigate to www.msdprojectclear.org > Doing Business With Us > View Bid Opportunities
Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS MO GREAT STREETS
East-West Gateway is seeking submittals from consultants to develop a detailed vision and conceptual plan for the Route N Corridor Great Streets project in St. Charles County, MO. Submittals are due no later than 1:00 p.m. on September 2, 2025.
Submittal details and specifications can be obtained at www.ewgateway.org.
REQUEST FOR BIDS
The Dome at The America’s Center is seeking bids from qualified companies to “Dryfall Paint” the ceiling of the Concourse level, approximately 150,000 sq. feet. Interested bidders must attend a pre-bid meeting and walk through which will be held at The Dome at Americas Center conference room on Wednesday August 20th at 10AM. Park off Broadway across from the park in front of The Broadway Central entrance. The facility reserves the right to reject any or all bids. EOE.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
Proposal for Elevator Services
Proposals will be received by City of St. Louis Treasurer UNTIL 3:00PM August 26, 2025 For specific project information, go to https://www.stltreasurer.org/ Request for Proposals/
SEALED BIDS
REQUEST
FOR PROPOSALS FOR SECURITY SERVICES AT THE RAILWAY EXCHANGE BUILDING & CITY BLOCK 129
Issued July 29, 2025
Responses Due August 19, 2025
The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the City of St. Louis, Missouri (“LCRA”) will receive sealed bids for Security Services at 615 Olive Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63101, and for City Block 129.
The selected firm will be responsible for providing 24/7 security services for the vacant Railway Exchange Building and the condemned parking garage located on City Block 129 in Downtown St. Louis. Responses will be received at 1520 Market Street, Suite 2000, St. Louis, Missouri 63103 (Attention: Security Services Proposal, Railway Exchange) until 3:00 PM on August 19, 2025.
The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) allocated to SLDC, passed through the St. Louis City Community Development Administration, may provide funding for certain projects. SLDC is an equal opportunity employer.
The full invitation and all other documents may be downloaded at: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/ procurement.cfm
NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT
SOLICITATION RD25-24
ST. LOUIS HOUSING AUTHORITY ROOF & HVAC REPLACEMENTS
AL CHAPPELLE COMMUNITY CENTER 1401 LASALLE LANE, ST. LOUIS, MO 63104
INVITATION TO BID
E.M. Harris Construction Company (EMH) seeks subcontractor and supplier bids for the renovation of Winston Churchill Apartments, located at 5475 Cabanne Ave., St. Louis, MO 63112. The project consists of one 8-story building, comprising 102 apartment units. The work includes, but is not limited to, sitework, selective demolition, concrete, masonry restoration, roofing and sheet metal, fire protection, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, carpentry, drywall, flooring, painting, specialties, appliances, cabinets, countertops, and window treatments. Minority and Women Business Enterprises and Section 3 Businesses are strongly encouraged to bid. All workers must be OSHA 10 certified. EMH is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Project plans and specifications are available for viewing online through an invitation to bid (email request to bidassist@emharris. com or call 314-436-4426). All bids due to EMH office by 5 P.M., Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR SECURITY SERVICES AT THE MONARCH
Issued July 29, 2025
Responses Due August 19, 2025
The Land Clearance for Redevelopment
The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the City of St. Louis, Missouri (“LCRA”) will receive sealed bids for Security Services at 3940 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, St. Louis, MO 63113.
Electronic bids submitted through the Bid Express Online Portal will be received by the Board of Public Service until 1:45 PM, CT, on AUGUST 26, 2025, then publicly opened and read. Proposals must be submitted electronically using “Bid Express Online Portal” at https://www.bidexpress.com/ businesses/20618/home.
The bidder must pay $50 to submit a bid through the Bid Express service. Monthly subscriptions are available.
Plans, Specifications, and the Agreement may be examined online through Bid Express at https://www.bidexpress.com/ businesses/20618/home?agency=true and may be downloaded for free.
An optional pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held Tuesday August 5, 2025 in the Ozark Conference Room at 10:00 am in the Airport Office Building (AOB) located at 11495 Navaid Road – 4th Floor, Bridgeton, MO 63044. All bidders are strongly encouraged to attend the pre-bid meeting.
Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State and Federal laws (including DBE policies).
All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Specifications” set forth within and referenced at www. stl-bps.org (Announcements).
Bids for New Premium 63 Site Loop Campground at St. Francois State Park, Project No. X2317-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, August 28, 2025. The State of Missouri, OA-FMDC, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, ancestry or national origin in consideration for an award. Federal Land and Water Conservation Funds are being used in this project, and all relevant federal, state and local requirements apply. Project information available at: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities
The St. Louis Housing Authority (SLHA) seeks bids to perform the following project: The removal and replacement of existing roofing system, drip edges, ridge vents, and HVAC units, and repairs to existing toilet rooms at the Al Chappelle Community Center located at 1401 LaSalle Ln., St. Louis, MO 63104, inside the Clinton Peabody Development. Performance period to be 180 days.
An additional site visit will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at the project site.
Sealed bids are due at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 via QuestCDN or delivered personally to SLHA Offices at 3520 Page Blvd, Saint Louis, MO 63106.
Latasha Barnes Contracting Officer
The selected firm will be responsible for providing 24/7 Security Services at the Monarch Building, located at 3940 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, St. Louis, MO 63113. Responses will be received at 1520 Market Street, Suite 2000, St. Louis, Missouri 63103 (Attention: Security Services Proposal, The Monarch) until 3:00 PM on August 19, 2025.
The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) allocated to SLDC, passed through the St. Louis City Community Development Administration, may provide funding for certain projects. SLDC is an equal opportunity employer.
The full invitation and all other documents may be downloaded at: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/ procurement.cfm
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Bids for Replace Roofs, Multiple Sites and Assets, St. Louis Region, St. Louis, Missouri Project No. O2513-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, September 9, 2025. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities 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.,
Listening to the ‘Sacred Voices’ of Black Women Preachers
By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware Word in Black
It’s been a stubborn reality for women in the Black church: Men who are called to preach are readily accepted, but women struggle to have their call even acknowledged, much less get encouragement to preach their interpretation of the Gospel.
So in 2006, Rev. Dr. Valerie Bridgeman, then a teacher at Memphis Theological Seminary, created a course to elevate women in the Black church. It was such a hit that she took the course — “The Sacred Voices of Black Women” — condensed it to one week and took it to the Cathedral College of Preachers in Washington, D.C.
the women who were involved in that said, ‘We need this and we need you to do it.’ And I was like, ‘No, not gonna.’”
Her fans persisted, and Bridgeman finally gave in. With a small grant in hand, “we imagined that we would do this one event with this $10,000 and call it done,” she says. “And 15 years later, here we are.”
Her organization, WomenPreach!, is a nonprofit that helps support Black women of the cloth. It is now celebrating 15 years of facilitating and instructing the art of preaching.
Her Poetry Preaches
The course gave women seminarians historical and literary references to use in sermons while arming them with strategies to handle sexism in the church. It was so popular that attendees told Bridgeman it should be permanent — even if Bridgeman herself wasn’t quite sure what it was, or if she wanted to do it.
“We didn’t even have a ministry or a name for a ministry or anything,” Bridgeman says. “I had just done some work at the National Cathedral on preaching, and at that time, several of
While WomenPreach! focuses on helping women succeed in ministry and church leadership, the organization goes beyond traditional ministry. The current cohort includes a poet, Jaha Zainabu.
“We have an artist in residence, a laywoman who represents that outside voice preachers often ignore,” says Bridgeman, who now teaches at Methodist Theological School in Ohio. “And her poetry is raw and it’s intimate and it’s nonchurchy. And it’s designed to make preachers break out of their ‘preacherly’ thinking and remember who’s sitting in the pew, who’s out in the streets.”
“What’s interesting about (her) is she was only going to be our artist-in-residence for the first two years, and then we were going to rotate and get a new one,” Bridgeman says. “But she endeared herself to the program because she understood the assignment and lived it out.”
Jarena K. Lee Preaching Academy
One of the cornerstones of WomenPreach! is the Jarena K. Lee Preaching Academy. Named for the nation’s first Black woman preacher, who was also the first woman evangelist in the African Methodist Episcopal
Church, the academy is held every other year, and cohorts are intentionally kept small, to around 25 women.
“It’s the only one of our events that is competitive,” Bridgeman says. “It’s the only thing you have to apply for.” The results, however, can be profound.
Bridgeman tells the story of a recent academy attendee who couldn’t say enough about her experience. At the conference, she was sought out by a woman she hadn’t met, but insisted on taking her to lunch.
“And she said to me, ‘I came because I felt pulled to come. I didn’t even want to come. I
Leadership Isn’t About Doing Everything — It’s About Knowing Yourself
“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members… we have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” Romans 12:3–6 (NIV)
A few years ago, my executive team gave me feedback that landed like a punch wrapped in love. They said: “You’ve got so many ideas. You move so fast. Sometimes we’re still catching our breath while you’re already planning the next sprint.” They were right. I have a bias for action, a drive to build, and a deep well of vision. But sometimes that momentum can blur communication or leave people trying to catch up. It reminded me of what Paul wrote in Romans. Leadership starts with knowing yourself — your wiring, your weaknesses, your lane. Because your gift, unchecked, can become a liability. But your weakness, rightly supported, doesn’t have to limit you. What limits us is the absence of self-awareness — and the failure to build the right systems and people around us.
In a world full of noise, fire drills, and never-ending expectations, clarity isn’t a luxury — it’s the difference between effective leadership and slow burnout.
I’m wired to chase what’s possible. I come alive in new relationships, fresh ideas, and blank canvases. That’s where I do my best work — when I focus on what only I can do. That means I have to get honest, too, about what drains me: maintenance, repetition, and lack of purpose.
If I’m not careful, I’ll stretch too far, move too fast, and leave the important behind for the exciting.
That’s why I’ve built systems — and more importantly, relationships — around me. People who see what
never preached at all, but I was leading Bible studies and whatever.’ And she said she was getting ordained that week.”
“She said the preaching academy she’d previously attended had allowed her to accept her call,” Bridgeman says.
Sophie’s Table
While its agenda is spelled out in its title, WomenPreach! does speak to men through Sophie’s Table, a branch established to help men see preaching from a womanist, Black feminist point of view. While it’s been somewhat of a challenge to attract attendees, Bridgeman says, those who have attended have had their perspectives altered.
“All of them were like, ‘Oh my God, I’m changed. I will never look at that text like that again. I will never call women that word again. I’ll never use those kinds of examples again,’” Bridgeman says. “And then when I have seen some of those men later, seen their sermons later, they did change.”
Last word
Reaching 15 years is a remarkable milestone for many reasons, among them the number of women who proudly proclaim the gospel with great joy.
“We are not a brick and mortar. We are a movable feast,” Bridgeman says. “We do nothing without collaboration. That’s our highest ethic. No matter what we’re doing, we collaborate with someone else because it’s part of what we are trying to model — I don’t know that we pull it off — is that we can do this work together.”
Though it’s been challenging, “I wouldn’t take anything for the journey,” she says. “It’s been amazing to watch God work, even when we didn’t have what we thought we needed.
I might miss. People who manage what I’m likely to neglect. People who hold me steady when I start to sprint.
I think deeply about my team. I study each of my executive leaders: Where are they brilliant? Where are they blind? How do we complement one another? But I don’t stop there. Every year, I ask them to assess me — directly. Where do they see weaknesses in my leadership? Where do I have blind spots? Where am I limiting my own growth?
That’s what it means to lead with clarity: Clarity about who I am. Clarity about what only I can do. Clarity about how to protect my energy and attention for what matters most. When leaders get this right, teams flourish. Trust deepens. Energy returns. Vision becomes execution — not just intention.
If you’re in a season where you’re leading hard but feeling stretched thin, I offer two questions:
1. What’s your greatest weakness as a leader? Have you built the right system or relationships around it so it no longer shrinks your leadership impact?
2. What are the three or four tasks that are absolutely essential for you to perform at your best? Are you giving those few, vital tasks the time, energy, and focus they deserve? Or are they being drowned out by noise, distractions, or someone else’s priorities?
Right now might be the perfect moment to step back — not to do more, but to realign with what God uniquely gifted you to do.
Here’s a simple challenge: Before the week is over, write down your essential tasks to excel at your current function. Block time for them. Then ask someone you trust: Where am I drifting? What do I need to see?
You don’t have to do it all. You just have to do what only you can do — and protect it like your leadership depends on it. Because it does. And because someone is waiting on the fruit of your obedience to the gift God placed in you.
ORVIN T. KIMBROUGH Chairman and CEO, Midwest BankCentre
The Next MOVE
Photo courtesy of blackwomensreligiousactivism.org
Jarena K. Lee, the nation’s first Black woman preacher, was also the first woman evangelist in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.