February 23rd, 2017 Edition

More major progressive endorsements for Tishaura

By Chris King Of The

n “Tishaura Jones is exactly the kind of courageous progressive we need leading a great American city like St. Louis.”

– Jim Dean, chair of Democracy for America

doing a fundraising mailing to its 7 million-plus national membership, according to the Jones campaign.

“Jones is an exciting candidate who represents the future of the Democratic

Power of Passage

Marcus Porter, Terrell Shampert, Titus Piphus and Marcus White showed spirit during the Rites of Passage ceremony celebrated by Bertha Knox Gilkey Pamoja Preparatory Academy @ Cole School on Thursday, February 16. The ceremony was facilitated by Mwalimu Mary Ann Dunlap, director of the Imani rites of Passage. School Principal Sean Nichols said, “With an African theme, our school has had the opportunity to blend a lot of traditional concepts from Africa and experiences in public school settings that promote alternative learning styles for learning new things.” The academy, located at 3935 Enright Ave., is in the St. Louis Public School District.

Muslim Americans raise funds for vandalized Jewish cemetery

Nearly 200 headstones damaged and toppled in University City

By Alexandra Larkin Of CNN

was launched this week to fund the repairs of nearly 200 headstones that were damaged and toppled in the Chesed Shel Emeth Society cemetery in University City. The fundraiser exceeded its goal of $20,000

Volunteers helped to right one of nearly 200 headstones that were damaged over the weekend at Chesed Shel Emeth Society Cemetery in University City.

‘We already have a problem’

Stadium funding would cut into underfunded Affordable Housing Trust Fund

Krewson, Reed voted to put public funding for stadium on April 4 ballot

By Rebecca Rivas Of

n “Even before this proposition of the soccer stadium, we aren’t fully funding the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. We already have a problem.”

– Molly Metzger, Washington University

townhomes and apartments at that location – a $9.5 million project. Jessica Eiland, president of Northside, said the development will have a “huge psychological and financial impact” on the neighborhood.

“When you start fixing things up, it really means something for the community members,” Eiland said. “And it shows that the city is willing to make it a priority to invest in this community.”

While the project is largely made possible by state tax credits, the money from the Affordable Housing Commission was able to fill the gap in the project funding.

“Those little amounts can make or break a project,” Eiland said.

However, Missouri Senate Bill 285, sponsored by state Senator Andrew Koenig (R-Manchester), proposes to cut state tax credits that make projects like Eiland’s possible. Now the Affordable Housing Commission’s funding has “become more important than ever,” said Karl Guenther, a community development specialist at University of Missouri St. Louis.

“The Affordable Housing Trust Fund is a tool the city has to improve neighborhoods, households and the families that reside in them,” Guenther

Photo by Wiley Price

Photo by Wiley Price

Tishaura O. Jones filing for St. Louis mayor on November 25.

Photo by Wiley Price

Mike Epps arrested for assault during All-Star weekend

Actor and comedian Mike Epps was arrested along with another man for allegedly attacking a tourist at Harrah’s Casino early Saturday, New Orleans police said.

According to The Advocate, court records show that both failed to appear for an arraignment in Municipal Court on Tuesday.

Epps is accused of striking a Virginia man who was visiting town for the NBA All-Star Game. Police allege that he was joined in the attack by Thomas Cobb

Epps and Cobb were both booked on municipal counts of battery and released on $1,000 bail each.

Migos jump Sean Kingston

According to TMZ, rap group Migos were involved in a physical altercation with rapper/singer Sean Kingston Tuesday afternoon in Las Vegas.

“Law enforcement sources tell us it went down late afternoon at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Vegas,”

PD. By the time cops arrived, both

Kingston and Migos had left. Kingston was reportedly pulled over for a traffic stop and became “semi-cooperative,” though he did not name names.

Karrueche makes abuse claims in restraining order against Chris Brown

Though the relationship between Chris Brown and Karrueche Tran ended in 2015, the drama between the ex-couple appears to be anything but over.

TMZ.com said. “We’re told Kingston and the guys from Migos got into it over an argument involving Soulja Boy –and the three members of Migos beat Sean badly, allegedly kicking him and stomping on his head.”

TMZ said someone from Kingston’s camp pulled out a gun and fired once, but didn’t hit anyone. That person was detained by security and turned over to the Vegas

Tran has filed legal restraining documents against the singer to stay away from her— for fear of her life.

TMZ.com was first to report the restraining order that was filed last week – and leaked online Wednesday, Feb. 22. According to TMZ, a court has ordered Brown to steer clear of his ex-girlfriend. She reportedly told a judge, via a sworn statement, that Brown “told a few people that he was going to kill me” earlier this month. She also claims that Brown has told friends that no one can have her if he can’t and he’s threatened to “take me out” and “threatened to shoot” her.

The model/actress also accuses Brown of being physically abusive – claiming the singer “punched me in my stomach twice,” and “pushed me down the stairs.”

TMZ says the alleged abuse took place around the time the singer was on probation for attacking Rihanna.

The domestic violence restraining order ensures that Brown remains 100 yards away from Tran, her mother, and her brother.

Nick Cannon threatens to sue ‘National Enquirer’

Nick Cannon took to Instagram yesterday to let the National Enquirer know that they should prepare to see him in court if they move forward with a story that claims the actor/host/producer suffered a nervous breakdown and that his erratic behavior has his ex-wife Mariah Carey considering amending their custody situation for the sake of their two children.

“More lies! So the Enquirer wants to play around with my children,” Cannon posted as a caption for the post that gives background

on the tabloid’s plans for the story. “Only evil operates in this manner. What is the purpose? If you ‘report’ these lies, prepare for a slander and defamation lawsuit.”

The alleged article also says that Cannon ruined his relationship with NBC execs – which led to his departure from “America’s Got Talent.”

DNA proves Ed Hartwell is the daddy

Last year, former NFL player and reality television star Ed Hartwell shocked fans after filing for divorce and demanding a DNA test just days after his wife, actress Keshia KnightPulliam, announced her pregnancy.

According to reports, Ed has filed a motion acknowledging his paternity but accusing his estranged wife of lying about her dire financial need.

Last month, she filed for emergency financial support from Ed claiming she had to put her career on hold to care for their daughter.

Sources: TMZ.com, The Advocate.com, Eurweb.com, Instagram.com

Mike Epps

From foster care to flying copters

Lt. La’Shanda Holmes defied odds to break barriers in Coast Guard

By Rushawn Walters, Howard University News Service

WASHINGTON – Growing up poor and abandoned in Fayetteville, North Carolina, La’Shanda Holmes had no idea where her life would take her, certainly not to a career as a helicopter pilot for the U.S. Coast Guard and a position with NASA.

After losing her mother to suicide at age two, Holmes was adopted by her aunt who would later remarry to an abusive man. Due to turmoil within the household, Holmes was put into foster care, only to face more depression, loneliness, abuse and instability. Between her junior and senior year of high school, Holmes said she stayed in a total five homes. Holmes was in the program from 16-years-old until 21 when she aged out.

“My greatest comfort was prayer. My situation had become pretty depressing, and the isolation was overwhelming. So, I turned to God,” Holmes said.

“I felt like I had nowhere else to go and that all of these things had to be happening for a reason. I refused to think that God allowed me to endure tragedy, pain, abuse or neglect for it to just end with depression and isolation.”

Holmes was a junior in high school when she decided to turn her life around. One of the keys to her success was Linda and Edward Brown, who adopted her at age 17. She still calls them her parents.

Lt. La’Shanda Holmes, the first African-American female helicopter pilot for the Coast Guard, is now working in Washington, D.C. working as a special assistant to the administrator of NASA.

She graduated from high school at the top of her class and enrolled in 2003 in her dream school, Spelman College.

crossed my mind as an option of what I could do in life,” she said. “It wasn’t until I met Jeanine, a brown girl

n “Flying had never even crossed my mind as an option. It wasn’t until I met Jeanine, a brown girl like me, that I considered it.”

– Lt. La’Shanda Holmes

Candidate School in 2008 and at the age of 25, completed flight school in 2010.

“The Coast Guard offered me the opportunity of a lifetime,” she said. “It’s the first time I felt that I had a sense of power to do something with my life.”

Once graduating from her aviation program, Holmes became the first AfricanAmerican female helicopter pilot for the Coast Guard.

Raining bricks in East St. Louis

Not that you’d want to, but if you happen to take a stroll in downtown East St. Louis, especially near Collinsville and Missouri avenues, you might want to wear a hardhat. Literally.

While volunteering at career fair, she spoke to a U.S. Coast Guard recruiter and met Lt. Jeanie Menze, the first AfricanAmerican female aviator in the Coast Guard. Holmes decided then she wanted to fly.

“Flying had never even

like me, that I considered it. Jeanine completely changed the perception of what a pilot was in my mind. So, I knew I could at least give it a shot.”

She joined the Coast Guard in 2003, graduated Spelman in 2007, graduated from Officer

Today, Holmes, 31, is a lieutenant and in Washington, D.C. working as a special assistant to the administrator of NASA in a White House fellowship program. She said the sky’s the limit – pun intended. Holmes is currently finishing up a master’s degree in administrative leadership and plans to write a book.

James Ingram

That’s right, taking a stroll to a downtown bank, nightclub or local business could be hazardous to your health, particularly if you’re anywhere near the 90-yearold Spivey Building, a skyscraper that has been raining bricks, masonry and debris for well over a decade. I’ve often wondered what it would take for ESL’s elected officials to get a clue relative to the hideous, bombed-out, crumbling downtown area, which has become nothing more than an eyesore and landmark for MetroLink passengers and symbolic of East St. Louis’ governmental ineptitude. Maybe a brick to the head, followed by a costly lawsuit, would be a wakeup call, but don’t count on it. It’s become so bad that the Spivey Building now has barriers surrounding it as a heads-up to drivers and pedestrians. Why not just implode or demolish the damned thing? That’s a logical and common sense-based question. However, logic and common sense have not, historically, been common among many ESL officials, even when the public’s safety are at risk.

Years ago, despite a climate of violence and, in some cases, murder in ESL night spots, then Mayor Alvin Parks failed to get tough with nightclub owners and took a lackadaisical approach to the problem, infuriating U.S. Senator Dick Durbin to the point of publicly excoriating Parks.

Fast forward to 2017 and ESL Mayor Emeka JacksonHicks is mute and City Manager Courtney Logan has taken a passive posture relative to addressing the increasing public safety issues surrounding the Spivey Building. The owner of the building, St. Louis businessman Stacy Hastie, received ownership of the building back in 2006, the result of an illegal asbestos removal settlement. Logan has stated that his hands are tied, saying that, “There is only so much the city can do legally when it involves a privately owned building.” Logan also has stated that he has been unsuccessful in reaching Hastie. Really?

Can you imagine a derelict, decaying, brick-shedding skyscraper being allowed to just endanger the public in downtown St. Louis with no consequences? No, because it wouldn’t happen. I would suggest to Logan that if Hastie chooses to be a slumlord, then he should summarily be fined and sued and that his building should be scheduled for emergency demolition.

Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com; Twitter@ JamesTIngram.

STLCC Career and Internship Fairs

St. Louis Community College is hosting three career fairs and a student internship expo. At the events, you will be able to speak to employers and apply for current full-, part-time and internship positions.

For more information, visit stlcc.edu/careerfairs

Forest Park Career Fair Tuesday, February 28 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Meramec Career Fair Thursday, March 9 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

STLCC Student Internship Expo Wildwood Tuesday, March 28 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Florissant Valley Career Fair Wednesday, March 29 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Columnist

Editorial /CommEntary

The St. Louis American endorses Tishaura Jones for St. Louis mayor

St. Louis desperately needs to change. Fortunately, it has a unique opportunity to do just that. For the first time since the very beginning of this century, St. Louis will elect a new mayor this spring. Almost certainly, the winner of the Democratic primary on March 7 will be that new mayor. We must be wise and strategic in how we vote on March 7 if we are to elect a trusted change agent.

That change agent is not Lyda Krewson. Krewson, 64, has held elected office longer than anyone else on the ballot. She was first elected to the Board of Aldermen in 1997, and in the past 20 years she has done almost nothing to oppose the racially divisive politics practiced during that time (and long before). Her 28th Ward has been developed, with the abundant help of tax incentives she fought for, while areas of greater need in the city decayed without her complaint. The most racially divisive and developer-subservient person from Mayor Francis G. Slay’s administration, Jeff Rainford, has her ear. She co-owns the entrenched racial disparities in this city that she suddenly claims – including in an opinion column in our paper this week – that she wants to undo. Further, Jeff Roorda and the St. Louis Police Officers Association have decided hers is the administration they want to negotiate with. Let’s make sure that does not happen. That change agent is not Lewis Reed either. Reed, 52, has held elected office nearly as long as Krewson – since 1999 – and held one of the three most powerful seats in city government as president of the Board of Aldermen for the past decade. If Reed were a change agent, St. Louis would have more to show for his 10 years at the Board of Estimate & Apportionment than we do. For all that time, he and Comptroller Darlene Green formed an African-American majority on the city’s chief fiscal body, yet policies that deepened racial divisions and disparities continued on their watch. Like Krewson, Reed has been developer-compliant, including during this current mayoral campaign, when progressive opposition to public incentives to build and improve sports facilities that he had been advocating has tied Reed in knots. Further, we have not been impressed with his organizing skill and competence in his current position. We would not endorse his promotion to Room 200 on the basis of his performance as aldermanic president.

Antonio French could be a change agent as mayor. French, 39, has been the Slay administration’s most vocal and persistent critic at the Board of Aldermen, where he was first elected in 2009. Yet when Rainford left and Slay became more cooperative, French was willing to work with the mayor to improve the city’s crime-fighting strategy, which all candidates agree is critical. However, we have serious concerns about his management skills, which are so critical to a chief executive position. We see this in his struggles to keep viable the initiatives he has started in his 21st Ward and in Ferguson. Of more immediate concern is his electability in

this field. With one status quo white candidate and three competitive black candidates on the ballot, the only path to victory for a black candidate is overwhelming support from white and diverse progressives. French has been passed over for the endorsement from every major progressive organization – and a long list of prominent progressive individuals –making it very difficult to project a victory for him.

Those progressive organizations and individuals did almost unanimously support one candidate, and she is the only change agent who can win on March 7. That change agent – the candidate who deserves and needs the vote of everyone who wants St. Louis to change – is Tishaura O. Jones.

The progressive organizations that have endorsed Jones, 44, and pledged money and/or volunteers to her campaign – a mix of national, state and local – include MoveOn.org Political Action, Democracy for America, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Missouri State Council, the St. Louis Young Democrats, Mobilize Missouri, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri and the Missouri National Organization for Women. These organizations are comprised of creative people from a new generation who want like-minded, forward-thinking leadership –and they identified it in Jones. Democracy for America, which was founded by Howard Dean, cited both Jones’ current performance in her citywide elected position as treasurer, which she has held since 2009, and her platform for future change. The group lauded her creation of a program that grants each Saint Louis Public Schools kindergarten student $50 in a college savings account. Equally important are her creation of a Financial Empowerment Center, leadership on the St. Louis Unbanked Task Force (which has shown real improvement in steering vulnerable citizens to better financial services), and professional turnaround of what had been one of the city’s most inefficient, if not corrupt, offices. Democracy for America also praised her for the national attention she received for her letter to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s editorial board

calling it out for perpetuating the city’s systemic racism, which went viral after it was published by The American

We were equally impressed with the list of more than 50 prominent local progressive activists and organizers who endorsed Jones and their reasons for doing so. They embody the energy and ideas needed to help the city reverse its past decline, and they think Jones is the leader who can catalyze that change. They include activist attorneys Thomas Harvey, Brendan Roediger and Blake Strode; education advocates Brittany Packnett and Faith Sandler; activist clergy Rev. Mike Kinman and Rev. Cassandra Gould; community organizers and activists Kayla Reed, Kristian Blackmon, John Chasnoff and Brittany Ferrell; 15th Ward Alderwoman Megan Ellyia Green; and 5th Ward Committeeman Rasheen Aldridge.

“At a time of dangerously regressive trends on the state and national level, St. Louis cannot afford to engage in business as usual,” they said in a collective statement. “Jones’ bold vision and moral clarity speak to the urgency of this moment and offer precisely the type of leadership that our city needs to embark on a path toward equity, justice and opportunity for all of St. Louis’s residents.”

We agree. St. Louis desperately needs to change – and has the potential to do so. While the city has fiscal problems, it also has the ingredients to foster greater economic revival. To achieve this will require greater racial equity to free up the vast, undeveloped potential in the African-American community. The city needs change that uplifts all neighborhoods and communities. Jones is being resisted by those who fear her demonstrated leadership and management skills and fearless determination to bring innovative, progressive, progrowth policies and leadership to City Hall. Only Tishaura O. Jones can win this election and bring St. Louis the change it desperately needs. We strongly and unequivocally endorse TISHAURA O. JONES FOR ST. LOUIS MAYOR.

The municipal primary election is Tuesday, March 7. Absentee voting is underway.

By Lyda Krewson Guest columnist

First, I want to say thank you to The St. Louis American for the opportunity to communicate directly with readers throughout this campaign.

I am running for mayor because I want our city to grow and to change and to modernize in ways that are progressive, just and fair for all St. Louisans. The same reasons led me to be on the frontlines of neighborhood issues for 30 years in this city – and I’ve never been more optimistic about the future of St. Louis.

As I have knocked on doors and talked with citizens in neighborhoods from Baden to Carondelet, it has been inspiring to meet so many St. Louis families with hope for their kids and grandkids. They know – as I do – there is hope in every neighborhood in our city.

Yet, the challenges so many St. Louisans continue to face, remain great. Too many live in neighborhoods where they do not feel safe or where their kids don’t get the quality education they deserve. Others struggle with limited economic opportunities and don’t feel they have been given a fair chance. Underlying all this is a long history of inequity that

L

needs to be addressed with urgency. During my 20 years as an alderman, I passed the city’s smoking ban to protect the air our children breathe. I worked with St. Louis County to create the Prescription Drug Monitoring Database so we can begin to chisel away at the more than 250 overdose deaths we suffered in 2016. I even mortgaged my own home to fight the NRA all the way to the Missouri Supreme Court to combat the scourge of gun violence in our city that ripped apart 376 families in the last

n Under my administration, St. Louis government will stop paying lip service to our racial divide and begin crafting solutions to address it.

two years alone. I have taken on the tough fights. As mayor, I will use that same tenacity to make sure that pursuing racial equity is elevated as the top priority issue for St. Louis because I believe it permeates all other problems. For St. Louis to achieve outcomes that are no longer predictable by race we must begin to align and allocate resources in a way that is reflective of the magnitude of its problems.

etters to the editor

Clay endorsed mediocrity for mayor

While the overwhelming majority of progressive organizations and individuals in St. Louis and the country are endorsing and rallying around the candidacy of Tishaura Jones for mayor of St. Louis, Congressman Lacy Clay has decided to support a candidate who represents the mediocre, establishment head-in-the-sand politics that has resulted in vast parts of the his congressional district looking like a bombedout war zone.

By endorsing Lewis Reed, Clay is endorsing mediocrity and cronyism over real progressive leadership. Instead of pushing for change, Clay is promoting a former Francis Slay ally who represents a 5th term for Slay. Remember, four years ago, Clay endorsed Slay over Reed. Clay said of Slay in a radio ad that Slay “cares about our entire city and his strong leadership is making St. Louis a better place to live.”

Being out of touch with his constituents is not new to Clay. When the whole world was watching Ferguson unfold and become the epic center of a new civil rights movement, Clay was AWOL. While the West Lake Landfill was spewing out who knows what in the air that thousands of his constituents breathed, Clay was AWOL.

Now two weeks before the most important municipal election of this new century, Clay has endorsed a candidate who supports giving millions to the greedy and crumbs to the needy. The St. Louis community deserves better.

Instead of hiding in his Washington, D.C. office and home, Clay needs to come home and explain his decision.

Michael Green, St. Louis

St. Louis as it truly is

I am writing to say thank you for publishing Tishaura Jones’s response to the PostDispatch editorial board. My husband and I are in our mid60s, white and own property near the CWE. We value Ms. Jones’s honesty and ability to describe St. Louis as it truly is. We have lived here all our lives and could not have outlined our city’s primary concerns better. We all need to recognize the racism and poverty which has plagued our city, roll up our sleeves and dig in to change it. Thank you for sharing her response.

Cathy Vierse St. Louis

Consumer protection is not partisan

I am ecstatic that those who were wrongly scammed by TransUnion and Equifax will get over $17 million in restitution (re: “Consumers to receive over $17M thanks to CFPB”)! This is just one example of the great work that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau does on behalf of hardworking Americans.

Consumer protection is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue. It is an issue

My approach to everything from neighborhood safety and poverty relief to housing and education will consider the needs of each neighborhood and offer solutions that are relevant and sufficient to that place. One size fits all approaches in the name of equality will no longer be our city’s default. As mayor, I commit to being a leading voice for equity and ensuring our city’s resources are utilized to best address our deepest problems.

To succeed, it will require that we be intentional in our efforts to question every decision, outcome and initiative on how it might affect those most disenfranchised throughout our city. Under my administration, St. Louis government will stop paying lip service to our racial divide and begin crafting solutions to address it by inserting considerations of racial equity into our decision-making processes.

Being mayor is a tough job. And we should elect someone who has a history of taking on challenging issues and making a difference for St. Louis. That’s what I’ve done throughout my career in public service. In the mayor’s office, I will work to create better opportunities for every single one of us.

I humbly ask for your vote on March 7. Thank you. Lyda Krewson, alderman for the 28th Ward, is a Democratic candidate for mayor in the March 7 primary election

that impacts all of us who work hard and pay our dues. We rely on financial services to help us build and maintain credit, borrow money when we need it, help us obtain a home of our own and pay it all back. When companies start to exploit the financial stability of their customers, I think we can all agree that they need to be held accountable. We deserve to be safeguarded from scams. The one agency dedicated to doing just that is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. I believe that we can come together across party lines and ensure that this agency continues its efforts to fight for all Americans. Whether its regulating big banks or predatory loan providers, the CFPB works for all of us.

Erin Goodyear St. Louis

Deeply disappointed

I was deeply disappointed to see state Rep. Bill Lant, chairman of the House Special Committee on Litigation Reform, silence Nimrod Chapel, Jr., president of the NAACP for the state of Missouri, shortly after he began testimony on three bills tonight. Many believe House Bills 552, 676 and 550, as well as Senate Bill 43, weaken protections against discrimination in the workplace, so the president of the NAACP certainly should not have been cut off as he stated the position of his organization on these bills.

Jeanette Mott Oxford, executive director Empower Missouri

Guest Columnist

Lyda Krewson

Tishaura O. Jones

State seeks organizations to serve meals to children during summer

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is looking for organizations throughout the state to help feed thousands of children who would otherwise go without meals during the summer months when school is not in session.

The Summer Food Service Program reimburses organizations for meals they serve to children who are at risk of not having enough to eat. The summer food program provides nutritious meals to children under age 18 during the summer months when school breakfast and lunch programs are not operating.

Organizations eligible to participate in the program include schools, faith-based organizations, camps, private nonprofit agencies and local governments. The sites are required to be located in areas where at least half of the children are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals.

The federally funded program is administered by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. The department will accept applications March 1 through May 15 to participate in the program. Organizations interested in becoming sponsors are required to attend training.

More information about the Summer Food Service Program is available online at www. health.mo.gov/sfsp, by telephone at 888-435-1464 (toll-free) or through RELAY MISSOURI for the Hearing and Speech Impaired at 1-800-735-2966. Potential sponsors may also write to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Summer Food Service Program, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102.

Lant is unfit to chair legislative committees

By Gail McCann Beatty Guest columnist

This letter was addressed to state Rep. Todd Richardson, speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives.

As you are aware, during a February 13 hearing of the House Special Committee on Litigation Reform, Chairman Bill Lant cut off Missouri NAACP President Nimrod Chapel as he attempted to testify against legislation that seeks to severely weaken the Missouri Human Rights Act and refused to allow Chapel to finish his testimony.

Gail

Northside/Southside MetroLink discussion Feb. 24

Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT) and the St. Louis Regional Chamber will host informational discussion of the Northside/Southside MetroLink study currently underway in St. Louis at 9 a.m. Friday, February 24 at the St. Louis Regional Collaboration Center, 1 Metropolitan Square, Suite 1300. The discussion will be led by Dan Meyers, project manager from AECOM, the consulting firm leading the study. The cost to attend is $10 for CMT members and $20 for non-members, with advance registration available online at www. cmt-stl.org. To learn more about the event, or for more information on CMT, call (314) 231-7272, find the organization on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @ cmt_stl.

Video of the incident is posted online and clearly shows Chapel acted appropriately at all times and provided no cause to justify Lant’s shameful behavior. Based on the video, it seems the trigger that set Lant off was that Chapel simply said things Lant didn’t want to hear.

Put another way, a white man abused his power to stop a black man from expressing a contrary view – and on legislation that seeks to turn back the clock on Missouri’s antidiscrimination laws, no less. This situation is simply dripping in irony. In his silencing of the NAACP president, Lant proved that discrimination continues to thrive in our state and demonstrated the need for strong laws protecting our civil rights.

n We now have two incidents in which Lant has abused his authority as committee chairman to silence black men.

As unfortunate as this incident was, it was not Lant’s first offense. As you may recall, during a February 1, 2016, hearing of the House Workforce Standards and Development Committee, of which Lant was then chairman, he contemptuously refused to allow state Rep. Clem Smith, the committee’s ranking Democrat and only black member, to question a witness. This incident was also captured on video and posted online. So, we now have two incidents in which Lant has abused his authority as committee chairman to silence black men. It does not appear that Lant has a similar history of treating white witness and committee members with contempt or disrespect.

A pattern seems to be forming, and it is not one you can allow to continue. In demonstrating that he is incapable of treating all people with respect, Lant has proven himself unworthy of the privilege of a chairmanship. Therefore, I respectfully request that you replace him as chairman of the Special Committee on Litigation Reform.

State Rep. Gail McCann Beatty (D-Kansas City) is the Missouri House Minority Leader.

McCann Beatty

Charlene Riley and her grandson Kemet White, 8, a student at Walker Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District, sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at New Horizon Christian Church in Cool Valley on February 11 as part of the church’s 19th anniversary celebration.

Grandma and grandson lift voices and sing

Photo by Wiley Price

Party,” Ilya Sheyman, executive director of MoveOn. org Political Action, said in a statement.

“MoveOn members are impressed by Jones’ powerful campaign fighting for all the people of St. Louis. We know that we can trust Tishaura Jones to be on the frontlines in resisting Donald Trump’s agenda. We are proud to endorse Jones for mayor and will work to make her campaign successful.”

“I welcome its formidable foot presence to my campaign team,” Jones said of the MoveOn endorsement in a statement.

Democracy for America –which has 25,782 members in Missouri – is a people-powered political action committee founded by former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean with 1 million members nationwide.

“As the St. Louis treasurer, Tishaura Jones has created innovative solutions to empower residents who have too long been neglected by their city. Right now, our country desperately needs leaders in our cities who will fearlessly speak truth to power and ensure it’s not just the wealthy and powerful who have access to justice,” Jim Dean, chair of Democracy for America, said in a statement.

“Tishaura Jones is exactly the kind of courageous progressive we need leading a great American city like St. Louis, and we couldn’t be more excited to be supporting her campaign for mayor.”

Democracy of America cited Jones’ creation of a program that grants each Saint Louis Public Schools kindergarten student $50 in a college savings account, as well as the national attention she received for her letter to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s

CEMETERY

Continued from A1

Continued from A1 so fast, it has expanded into an effort to support Jewish community centers that have been targets of anti-Semitism.

The vandal or vandals destroyed more than 170 headstones at the cemetery, according Anita Feigenbaum, the cemetery’s executive director.

editorial board calling it out for perpetuating the city’s systemic racism, which was published by The American

“I am tired of hearing that problems other cities are successfully addressing are intractable in St. Louis, or that the best way to solve them is to do more of what we have always done,” Jones said of the Democracy of America endorsement in a statement.

“And I am past tired of hearing that building stadiums for billionaires is the only economic activity that can get a majority at City Hall.

Democracy for America’s endorsement represents thousands of grassroots leaders determined to bring change, and I am proud to have them fight alongside me.”

Jones was Democracy for America’s first mayoral endorsement of the year.

Previously it helped elect progressive leaders to municipal leadership across the country, including Mayor Michael Tubbs of Stockton, Vice Mayor Regina Romero of Tucson and City Councillor Helen Gym of Philadelphia. Since its 2004 founding, its members have raised and contributed nearly $36.6 million and made more than 11.1 million volunteer calls to help successfully elect 843 progressive candidates nationwide.

Then on Tuesday, March 21, SEIU Missouri State Council, which represents more than 4,000 workers in St. Louis, endorsed Jones.

“Tishaura Jones is the only candidate in the race for mayor who’s committed to achieving economic and racial justice for working families in St. Louis,” SEIU janitor Roy Miller said in a statement.

Blanket and a prayer from COGIC

Clergy and volunteers from the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) prayed over a woman who came to accept a free blanket on Thursday, February 9; the temperature dipped below freezing that night. COGIC donated 4,000 blankets to area organizations that provide assistance to St. Louis’ homeless population. The blankets were distributed at the Life Center Church of God in Christ, 8500 Halls Ferry Rd. in North St. Louis, where Bishop Elijah Hankerson is pastor.

n “We know that we can trust Tishaura Jones to be on the frontlines in resisting Donald Trump’s agenda.”

– Ilya Sheyman, executive director of MoveOn. org Political Action

community organizers and activists Kayla Reed, Kristian Blackmon, John Chasnoff, Mustafa Abdullah and Brittany Ferrell; 15th Ward Alderwoman Megan Ellyia Green; and 5th Ward Committeeman Rasheen Aldridge.

“The janitors, homecare and health care workers, higher education faculty and public sector workers of SEIU look forward to working with her in the fight for a $15 minimum wage, increased police accountability and an inclusive St. Louis that works for everyone, not just the wealthy and well-connected.”

Members of the community have been left rattled. “A lot of people are coming out (to the cemetery) – they’re just interested to see, ‘Was their loved one’s monument affected by this?’” Phillip Weiss, owner of a monument company helping the cemetery lift the downed stones, told CNN affiliate KTVI on Tuesday.

This year alone, 54 Jewish community centers in 27 states and one Canadian province received dozens of bomb threats, according to

In a statement, SEIU said it will use direct mail and implement a get-outthe-vote program “to help working families educate their communities on the importance of supporting Jones in this crucial election.”

Also on Tuesday, the Jones

campaign released a list of more than 50 local progressive activists and organizers that endorsed Jones. They include activist attorneys Thomas Harvey, Brendan Roediger, Blake Strode and Maggie Ellinger-Locke; education advocates Brittany Packnett and Faith Sandler; activist clergy Rev. Mike Kinman and Rev. Cassandra Gould;

n Muslim-American activists Linda Sarsour and Tarek El-Messidi launched a fund to repair nearly 200 headstones that were damaged and toppled in the Chesed Shel Emeth Society cemetery.

the Jewish Community Center Association.

“All bomb threats this year proved to be hoaxes, and all JCCs impacted have returned to regular operations,” the association said in a statement.

Sarsour of MPower Change and El-Messidi of CelebrateMercy organized the crowdfunding campaign to support the vandalized cemetery.

Their goal of reaching

$20,000 by the end of March was surpassed in three hours, with donations at nearly $60,000 and rising early Wednesday.

American Muslim communities and organizations have also stepped up to support Jewish community centers that have targets of bomb threats. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization,

“At a time of dangerously regressive trends on the state and national level, St. Louis cannot afford to engage in business as usual,” they said in a collective statement.

“Jones’s bold vision and moral clarity speak to the urgency of this moment and offer precisely the type of leadership that our city needs to embark on a path toward equity, justice and opportunity for all of St. Louis’s residents.”

is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those who made the false bomb threats.

Muslim Americans’ efforts to support the Jewish community centers are in contrast to Rick Santorum’s accusations Tuesday.

“If you look at the fact, the people who are responsible for a lot of this anti-Semitism that we’re seeing, I hate to say it, a lot of it is coming from the pro-Palestinian or Muslim communities,” Santorum told CNN’s Chris Cuomo.

Santorum did not provide details or examples to support his assertion.

Police are reviewing security camera tapes from the cemetery, but its director,

These endorsements follows a series of major endorsements for Jones. Previously she was endorsed by the St. Louis Young Democrats, Mobilize Missouri, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri and the Missouri National Organization for Women. She also has been endorsed by Jason Kander, state Senator Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis), St. Louis County Assessor Jake Zimmerman, St. Louis Sheriff Vernon Betts, Alderman Chris Carter, Alderman Frank Williamson and St. Louis County Councilwoman Rochelle Walton Gray. The municipal primary election is Tuesday, March 7. Absentee voting is underway.

Feigenbaum, said the footage has not provided any clues on who was behind the attack. Crews are cleaning up the cemetery, straightening the headstones and assessing the damage.

The White House has denounced the spate of threats made against Jewish community centers around the country. The response followed weeks of criticism that the Trump administration has not been forceful enough in denouncing the anti-Semitism that has occurred since his election.

CNN’s Faith Karimi contributed to this report. The St. Louis American is a CNN-Wire affiliate.

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

STADIUM

Continued from A1

said.

In 2002, city voters approved a proposition to allocate tax revenue generated from a local use tax – or business tax – to affordable housing, public health, public safety and neighborhood preservation. The Board of Aldermen established that $5 million would go towards for affordable housing, $5 million to public health and $3 million for building demolition. The remaining amount could be used as the aldermen see fit.

In fact, since 2013, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has received about $10 million of the use tax revenue every year, while the Affordable Housing Trust Fund has received between $4 and $4.5 million every year since 2011.

Advocates say that this April election will be critical for the future of affordable housing. On April 4, voters will decide whether or not they want to use $60 million in taxpayer dollars to build a 20,000-seat Major League soccer stadium just west of Union Station – a $155 million project. Part of the stadium’s funding source dips from the same tax revenue used to fund the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Advocates say that if the stadium initiative passes, there is no chance that the funding for affordable housing will increase – or ever be funded at its minimum level.

“When you look at the special use tax, even before this proposition of the soccer stadium, we aren’t fully funding the Affordable Housing Trust Fund,” said Molly Metzger, assistant professor at the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University. “We already have a problem.”

Proponents say that funding for the stadium will come from an estimated $4 million that’s generated annually from an increase in the local

use tax. This increase would only be available if voters also approve a 0.5 percent retailsales tax increase meant to fund public safety cameras, neighborhood development and MetroLink expansion. The use tax automatically increases when the sales tax does. And if the sales tax is not approved, then the public funding for the stadium is automatically dead.

Proponents also tout that it will create 428 permanent jobs from team and stadium operations and fill 21 acres of vacant land.

About 24 percent of African Americans spend more than half of their monthly income on rent and utilities, according to the Equal Housing and Opportunity Council. The waiting list for Section 8 housing in St. Louis is years long. And for every 100 extremely low-income families, there are only 21 housing units that are in their price range in St. Louis city, according to the Forward Through Ferguson report. This means that these families can easily become homeless at any time.

Even if the trust fund had been receiving the full $5 million per year since 2011, it still wouldn’t be enough to transform the city’s problems with affordable housing, Metzger said.

“But it’s enough to transform the lives of many families,” Metzger said. “We can’t have strong communities without affordable housing.”

If the sales tax proposition passes and the stadium fails, then there is a chance that affordable housing could receive more funding, advocates believe.

So where does the money from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund go?

In 2016, the trust fund received $4.4 million, according to the comptroller’s financial annual report. About $1.2 million went to homeless prevention and shelters, and another $790,000 went to transitional housing.

About $1.3 million went to new building developments for affordable housing. And the remainder went to home

Stadium funding ballot language

This is the language that will appear on the April 4 ballot in the city.

Shall the use tax paid by businesses on out-of-state purchases and derived from the one half of one percent increased use tax, which corresponds to approval and levy of an Economic Development Sales Tax in the City of St. Louis, be used for the purposes of minority job training and business development programs, and a portion of construction costs, but not construction cost overruns, of a multipurpose stadium for soccer, local amateur sports, concerts and community events? A use tax is the equivalent of a sales tax on purchases from out-of-state sellers by in-state buyers and on certain taxable business transactions for which a sales tax is not levied. No taxpayer is subject to a sales tax and a use tax on the same transaction. The City shall be required to make available to the public an audited comprehensive financial report detailing the management and use of the portion of the funds each year.

repairs, rent and utility assistance and other programs to keep people from foreclosing on their homes.

Mayoral candidates and stadium

On February 4, the Board of Aldermen passed a board bill establishing that taxpayers will pay for $60 million of the

soccer stadium’s construction if they approve the proposition on April 4. The St. Louis Development Corporation will issue $50 million in bonds, which will be paid for with the use tax revenue. And remaining $10 million of the city’s investment will come from sales taxes at the stadium.

Four of the candidates running for mayor this spring are aldermen. Alderwoman

Lyda Krewson of the 28th Ward and Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed voted in favor for the bill.

Krewson did not return The St. Louis American’s request for comment regarding her vote.

Reed said that if voters approve the stadium proposal, it doesn’t mean affordable housing funding is at a loss –that is, if they elect him mayor.

“Affordable housing is a department under the mayor’s office, and it is up to the mayor, not the Board of Aldermen, to instruct the budget director to include the full $5 million (not $4.5 million) for affordable housing at the very beginning of

St. Louis

Protestors shouted truth to power at St. Louis City Hall on Friday, February 17, participating in a National Day of Action in protest of the Trump administration and systemic issues of injustice in the United States.

the budget process,” Reed said. “When I become mayor, I will direct the budget director to do just that.” Alderman Antonio French of the 21st Ward, who is also running for mayor, voted against the bill.

French said, “The soccer stadium would use funds that would otherwise go towards funding the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, demolition of unsafe vacant buildings and funding the police department. That’s why I opposed this bill and will urge voters to vote ‘no’ in April.”

Tishaura Jones, currently St. Louis treasurer and also a mayoral candidate, said she opposes the proposition for the soccer stadium.

“Funding a new soccer stadium with money intended by voters to pay for affordable housing in city neighborhoods is the last cynical gasp of an administration that has spent 16 years robbing Peter to pay Paul and, sometimes, Paul’s rich friends,” Jones said. “It is why I cannot support the scheme as it appears on the April ballot.”

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

The NRA should also be worried about stolen guns

By Bruce Franks Jr. Guest columnist

I support our Second Amendment, and I proudly exercise mine, but we have

a serious problem with gun violence in our state and country. I think that fact is not disputed. Senate Bill 181 and House Bill 185 would protect gun owners and law-

enforcement officers from circumstances beyond their control — circumstances that would put gun owners and others at risk when individuals do not report their guns as lost or stolen. These bills are not attacks on gun owners. Rather these bills would provide the armor to protect gun owners — and others — from firearms that have gotten in the hands of dangerous individuals. Moreover, these bills’ provisions would protect gun owners from crimes committed by their lost or stolen firearms. I believe it is essential for the National Rifle Association to protect its members by supporting these bills and prioritizing our duty to protect not only ourselves but also our fellow citizens.

n These bills would protect gun owners — and others — from firearms that have gotten in the hands of dangerous individuals.

In the United States, more than one gun is stolen every minute — more than 600,000 stolen guns annually. This alarming number of stolen firearms puts everyone in danger, including responsible gun owners like myself. The purpose of this legislation is to stop people from negligent gun storage and to discontinue promoting the illegal sale of guns. Gun safety and negligent gun use must be addressed, and I believe this bill will do that while still keeping Missourian’s Second Amendment rights intact. As a legislator, It is my obligation to protect the people and I would hope that your association would share this priority. My hope is that through these bills I can bridge the gap between your association and my community’s goals to protect the victims of crimes committed with lost and stolen firearms, and the safety and integrity of all gun owners. Stolen guns disproportionately affect my district in so many ways, from those who use them to those who are victims. We need to address the underlining issues of gunviolence, but this isn’t an issue that can be fixed with a silver bullet. I am both proud and excited to have created a piece of legislation that truly works to dually promote gun safety and gun rights of Missourians. I came to the Missouri House to build bridges and create unlikely relationships, because those relationships develop the strongest legislation. I pre-filed this bill long before being held at gunpoint, because I truly believe that it is an important piece of legislation that will make Missourians safer while guaranteeing them their due rights. As I continue my time here in the Missouri House, I welcome groups like the NRA and other gun rights activists to come talk to me about my legislation. It is important that we communicate about the best way to improve Missouri, while still securing the rights of its citizens.

State Rep. Bruce Franks Jr. (D-St. Louis) represents the 78th House District in the Missouri Legislature.

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Guest Columnist State Rep. Bruce Franks

Real estate and racism in St. Louis

How my grandfather contributed to racial segregation with the help of federal incentives

By Aimee VonBokel

For The St. Louis American

One day last summer, I took my Washington University students to see an abandoned brick duplex on Wells Avenue on St. Louis’s near-north side. Built in 1907, the two-story building looked like a bomb had exploded inside. Its walls were crumbling. Daylight streamed through a cavedin section of the roof. Not a shard of glass remained in the rotting window frames. A large piece of plywood covered the front doorway, announcing the address – 5117 – in red spray paint.

“What do you think happened here?” I asked my students. I knew part of the answer. The house once belonged to my greatgrandparents, Margaret and Leo J. Reid, who moved there in 1922 with their five-year-old son, Leo Jr., my grandpa. It was a nice area for a young family back then, populated by lower-middle and working-class people: a baker, an electrician, several chauffeurs and hairdressers.

Two of St. Louis’s most prestigious schools were within walking distance – Christian Brothers College, a Catholic all-boys high school, and its allgirls companion, the Academy of the Visitation – their castlelike architecture and sprawling manicured grounds suggesting a civilized life of the mind far removed from the city’s gritty industrial core. At the time, the neighborhood was exclusively white. Leo Sr., my greatgrandfather, lived in the house for 31 years, until 1953.

My students considered the question. The house looked

like it had not been occupied in years, at least since the 1990s. There were half a dozen similarly dilapidated houses on the block, along with a few overgrown vacant lots and, incongruously, a meticulously landscaped Pentecostal church a few doors away. This was a case of white flight, they said with certainty, since we were standing in what was now an entirely African-American neighborhood.

Indeed, property records show that the last person to live in this house was Claudia Sholar, a black woman who had been born in Greenville, Mississippi, and migrated to St. Louis with her family when she was young. Claudia and her sister moved into the Wells Avenue house in 1966. Cleopatra lived on the first floor while Claudia took the first floor apartment. The two sisters arrived amid an influx of nearly seven thousand African Americans who moved into the neighborhood after 1948, according to census records. Most of them were escaping from a burstingat-the-seams section of the city near downtown that was officially designated as the “Negro Housing Area.” The Wells Avenue neighborhood completely transitioned from all white to nearly all black in a little more than a decade. So, what caused the Sholar family and thousands of others to migrate from one part of town to the other? To find the answer, my students and I took a bus twenty blocks northeast, to another duplex at 4600 Labadie Avenue. This house was occupied, with new front porch railings, flowers in the windows and a small, neatly trimmed front yard that featured a block of pink granite with a copper plaque. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic

Places in recognition of a 1948 court battle, Shelley v. Kraemer, a “famous equal protection case.”

Like Claudia and her family, Ethel and J.D. Shelley moved to St. Louis from the South, then lived in the cramped “Negro Housing District” for a few years while they saved to buy a home. The Shelleys bought this house on Labadie in 1945, but had barely finished hauling their furniture up the front steps when they received an eviction notice from the city. It wasn’t just that they were unwelcome in the neighborhood, it turned out the Labadie property deed contained a “covenant,” which “restricted the use of the property ... against the occupancy as owners or tenants … by people of the Negro or Mongolian Race.”

Common in the early twentieth century, covenants usually enforced innocuous community rules, such as: houses had to be set back 58 feet from the street, or coal-fire stoves were not allowed. Over time, neighborhood associations and real estate developers increasingly used covenants to keep neighborhoods all white, supposedly to protect property values. So the Shelleys may have bought the house, but according to the covenants attached to deeds on neighboring houses, they couldn’t live in it.

The Shelleys filed a lawsuit with the help of the NAACP, took the case all the way to the Supreme Court, and in 1948, they won the right to

live in the neighborhood. The decision had a dramatic effect back on Wells Avenue. After the federal courts invalidated race-restrictive covenants, black families began moving in. Over the next decade nearly eight thousand white people left the area, including my greatgrandfather Leo Sr. Leo Sr. moved to Texas to live with his daughter after my great-grandmother died. He turned over the care of the duplex to his 31-year-old son, Leo Jr. who had left the neighborhood years before to serve as a naval officer during World War II. Now married with four young children, Leo Jr. could have moved his family into the duplex. Instead, he used the G.I. Bill to buy a parcel of land in a new suburban development, where he planned to build his own house.

But he didn’t sell the Wells Avenue property, most likely because he couldn’t find a buyer. As soon as the neighborhood became racially mixed, local real estate developers would have redlined the area, literally outlined the area in red on a map, and labeled it unsafe for investment due to an “infiltration of a lower grade population.” These so-called “security maps,” were created locally, but formalized federally, under Roosevelt’s New Deal via the Home Owner’s Loan Corporation. If Leo wanted to sell, he’d have had to find someone to pay all cash, because the banks wouldn’t lend in redlined areas. The banks’ decisions were based upon a simple calculation – it was better to lend money in the suburbs where the federal government guaranteed a full reimbursement if the buyers defaulted. Why take the risk of lending where there is no guarantee? As a result, it was almost impossible for black people – or white people, for that matter – to obtain mortgages in a redlined area. That left Leo Jr. with only two options: he could either abandon the house, or rent it out. He chose the latter.

My grandfather and his tenant, Claudia, had a number of things in common. They were about the same age, and

though Claudia’s ex-husband Odell had passed away in 1950, he too, had served in the second-world war, so both men were eligible for the GI bill, at least in theory

My grandfather used his GI bill to build a two-story brick colonial perched on an expansive, grassy lot at 760 Glenvista Place in Glendale, a suburb of St. Louis. Even with his G.I. Bill benefits, however, Odell wouldn’t have been able to buy a house in Glendale, because the neighborhood association had restrictive covenants barring black ownership. As a condition of buying the house, Leo had signed one, just like all his neighbors. The covenant was attached to the deed; part of the fine print. “No lot in this subdivision shall be used or occupied by anyone who is not of the Caucasian race (except where they may be employed as servants or domestics on said lot or residence thereon.)”

Claudia couldn’t buy the home on Wells Avenue either, so the Sholar sisters were forced to rent, sending their money across the county line every month – to Leo in Glendale, where he poured it into his suburban home.

Between 1966 and 1997, he built an in-ground pool in the backyard and several additions that were eventually absorbed into the expanding house: a back porch became a dining and living room; an attached garage was converted into bedrooms for the youngest of the family’s eventual eleven children. He built a playhouse, which later became a doghouse for Chipper, the family’s German Shepherd.

To hear his tenants tell it, my grandfather was apparently a great landlord. Every time Claudia called him about the boiler or tuckpointing or the plumbing in the old Wells Avenue place, he would drive to the city, make the repairs himself or hire someone to do it – and drive home again to the suburbs. Claudia and her sister were fond of him. He always came when they called, and he brought chocolates on Valentine’s Day. But eventually, the maintenance grew difficult.

He was getting on in years and couldn’t make the repairs himself. The cost of keeping the place properly maintained outstripped the rental income. Maybe he could have sold it, but finding a buyer would have been near impossible because of the compounding effects of redlining. So he gave the Sholars the house, explaining that they’d basically paid for it in rent over the years. Claudia lived in the house until 2005, when she moved into the Homer G. Phillips Apartments, an elegant senior living community in the Ville neighborhood of St. Louis. When Claudia died in 2009, she left the Wells Avenue duplex to her daughter Brenda. The old house cost Brenda money from the minute it dropped into her life. The city assessed property taxes and issued tickets when the grass grew too high or when the snow wasn’t shoveled. The half-abandoned block would not attract renters – at least not those who could pay enough rent to offset maintenance expenses. Whereas Leo had inherited an asset, a rental property that generated income for him, Brenda inherited a burden. She couldn’t sell it; she couldn’t rent it, so just as Leo gave the duplex to her mother, ten years earlier, Brenda turned it over to the city’s land bank (an entity that takes properties no one else wants). My students and I stood on the sidewalk last summer, puzzling over the crumbling home on Wells Avenue. White flight, the students said at first. But did my white grandfather really flee? He did, of course, but not out of fear or hatred as the term “white flight” suggests. The story we uncovered was not a story of emotion, but rather, a story about money, and the rational, logical choices he made under circumstances that were beyond his immediate control. This is not to excuse him, or any of us, but to consider that, at every single turn, these sensible decisions resulted in more wealth for Leo’s white family and less wealth for Claudia’s black neighborhood. If we multiply the story of Leo and Claudia by say, sixty houses per block, and maybe forty blocks per square mile, a bigger picture emerges. After local real estate dealers redlined urban neighborhoods, the federal government standardized the local practices and, in an instant, the value of city properties changed. They could no longer be sold, only rented. And one by one, after Shelley v. Kraemer, thousands and thousands of homes became miniature financial instruments. The homes transferred money – in the form of rent payments – from black, working-class neighborhoods to white homeowners in the St. Louis suburbs. As a result, today we live in deeply divided metropolitan areas; white suburban neighborhoods are not only segregated, but they are wealthier, better maintained, the schools are better, and the homes are worth more. Through the Wells Avenue property, we can see the decisions these two families made, the context in which they made those decisions, and the long term results. White people like my grandfather acted under powerful federal incentives, and without meaning to, cannibalized the city of St. Louis, extracting what wealth they could, sadly leaving people of color to manage in the urban aftermath.

Assessed at $10,000, the Wells Avenue house is basically worth nothing. It’s a ward of the state. The Glendale property — where my grandfather raised his children — recently sold for $379,000, nearly forty times the assessed value of the duplex in front of us. Had Leo J. Reid Jr. seen the eventual outcome of these individual decisions, might he have acted differently? Probably not. We’ll never know for sure. What my students and I began to see that summer is this: Racism is not just about individual decisions or hateful feelings. Racism is about financial incentives that are built into policy, and thus, invisible. What remain visible are only the effects.

Aimee VonBokel is Lynette S. Autrey Rice Seminar Visiting Professor at the Rice Humanities Research Center.

Guest Columnist

Aimee VonBokel

Tishaura Jones on TIF, gentrification and public education

Clark Randall, a former St. Louis American editorial intern and activist on Tax Increment

Financing (TIF) issues, talked with mayoral candidate

Tishaura O. Jones about TIF and other concerns. He was so impressed by her answers that he submitted the entire interview as a Q&A.

The American: By now all the candidates have conceded to a similar rhetoric – that we must expand our use of TIF and tax abatements, North and South. But how will you be accountable to that statement if elected mayor?

Tishaura Jones: I think we’ve gone TIF and tax abatement crazy. I’ve said this before – we give out tax abatements like Halloween candy. In the last 15 years, we’ve given out $700 million in TIF and tax abatement to the detriment of our schools and funding city services – and we haven’t asked for anything in return. I do agree that some subsidies are necessary, but now developers come to you with [incentives] already baked into their projects as an assumption, where it should be a bonus.

I’m an old finance person. I look at return on investment. For example, the new tower going up on Kingshighway and West Pine. We could have things included to benefit lowor moderate-income families. Inclusionary zoning. Let’s put aside a certain percentage of the units for affordable housing or multi-bedroom apartments.

See, I’m looking at that janitor or that nurse that works at Barnes-Jewish and wants to live closer – because the doctor can afford to, but most of the other staff cannot. We have to look at the original reason for tax abatements, which was for blighted areas. As far as I’m concerned, the place where they put the new Whole Foods is not blighted. Those are projects that would have happened anyway. And we need to be more creative with our financing and make sure we are getting a return on our investment. We cannot be afraid to use “clawback” provisions if we don’t get what we want.

The American: Could you briefly explain what a clawback provision means?

Tishaura Jones: A clawback is a provision that says we have the right to discontinue a TIF project, take back revenues and start redirecting them. Or we have the right to stop the project, period – we’ll cut it off at said date, if necessary. But we’ve been afraid to use that provision.

The American: One problem is “blight” and the way its definition is abused. How would you stop that if elected?

Tishaura Jones: Well, we need a more objective way of evaluating our projects. And if they don’t meet a certain criteria within a scoring method, than we should not approve that project, and I’m not scared to use a veto pen to get us back to the

Education and economic development go hand-in-hand, and our population loss as well. We get young people that start families and then leave when their children reach school age.

The American: Now our new governor is cutting the budget by hundreds of millions. How do you stand up for the city, or do you just have to work with what you’re given?

Tishaura: You kind of have to work with what you’re given. But it’s the responsibility of whoever is the next mayor to have relationships at the state level to go and fight for funds. To say, “Hey, this is the effect you will have on the 36,000 children currently in our public schools, district and charter.” I have those relationships, and I feel comfortable going to Jefferson City and saying, “Where is the compromise here?” We may not be able to stop anything, but we can make it less hurtful.

The American: On lead poisoning in St. Louis: Why is it such an ongoing issue? And if elected, can you put that to rest finally?

drawing board. I just think the community deserves more.

The American: In terms of understanding blight and development incentives that are often exploited, how would you create a more informed city on those issues?

Tishaura Jones: I’m pushing for participatory budgeting; for the parts of the budget that are discretionary, I think we need more input from the public for how those dollars are spent.

One example: the thing I hear most from residents in North City is that trash doesn’t get picked up. So if I’m a resident there and my trash is not getting picked up, I need to know what the trash department’s budget is and how are they spending it. Our citizens deserve more details on how and where our dollars are spent.

The American: On the subject of gentrification: How do you ensure that people who are already in St. Louis will have access to a better city without fear of removal from

that city or being at the expense of the development?

Tishaura Jones: You have to really pay attention to neighborhoods as they develop. Unfortunately, right now in St. Louis we only have two [city] planners. We have to get more community involvement and make sure things are happening in an equitable fashion. You have to be intentional about the development; I think we need a city-wide plan with community input. The development that happens here right now is pretty much top-down.

I think we need more tools in our toolbox, not just TIFs and tax abatements. I would use TIFs, tax abatements, inclusionary zoning, building up your affordable housing trust fund, and removing the barriers for small developers to do work. It’s a huge juggling job, but you have to be intentional. It can be done.

The American: Shifting gears: Is the Ferguson Commission report an elephant in the room? What’s the importance of that report and, if elected, how would you implement the report?

Tishaura Jones: I often say it in my platform, but I don’t want that report to sit on a shelf and collect dust. We need to implement those calls to action. I’ve done work so far on three:

financial empowerment centers, access to children savings accounts, and putting in $2 million to update the MetroLink study so we can get back in the pipeline for federal funding to expand public transit in the region. I’ve always thought the mark of any firstclass city is its opportunities for public transit.

The American: It seems the very idea of public education is at risk with the new administration. What would you do to address the crisis playing out with Betsy DeVos being nominated?

Tishaura: From my time spent in the House on the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee, I think I understand the Education Foundation Formula more than any other mayoral candidate. The driver of our public education dollars is property taxes, so we can see a direct correlation between too many TIF projects in the last 15 years that come at the detriment of our public schools. So now it’s incumbent upon whoever is in Room 200 going forward to remove or reduce the barriers to education for our children. You know, even though the mayor doesn’t have direct authority to the school district, that doesn’t mean we can’t be a better partner.

Tishaura: That’s what I mean by wrapping our arms around all of the children. We should be meeting with the principals of each school and asking the question: What do your kids need? What are the barriers to education? What do the teachers need? What do the families need? Then we can partner with organizations to abate the lead from these schools.

The American: There is a project to create a map that traces where campaign funds are coming from for each candidate. What are your thoughts on fundraising and conflicts of interest?

Tishaura: I’ll be honest, it hasn’t been covered in part because the media has been focused on me for some time. But I know I’ve seen some clear examples of conflicts of interest from other candidates with who they accepted money from and how they voted on certain bills. But I’ll be totally honest with you: I hate fundraising. I wish there was a way that I could run this race with a pot of funds for everyone to share and we could all be on the same level playing field. And we need to remember, just because a candidate has a lot of money, it does not mean they are the automatic front runner.

Photo by Wiley Price

Tishaura O. Jones in a meeting in the St. Louis Treasurer’s Office with a team from the

Common Cents Lab at Duke University on Tuesday, February 7.

Trump makes false and dangerous claims

By Cornell William Brooks Guest columnist

President Donald Trump called for the federal government to spend resources investigating alleged “voter fraud” in the 2016 elections. Unable to accept the fact that he lost the popular vote by some 2.8 million votes, President Trump has repeated his naked and reckless claim that 3 to 5 million illegal votes were cast in the 2016 election by “illegal immigrants.” However, this notion of widespread voter fraud in the 2016 election, or any other American election cycle for that matter, is false and dangerous. Voter fraud has been proven virtually non-existent through studies conducted by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, Arizona State University, and the Washington Post, among others. The Washington Post’s 2015 study showed that between 2000

and 2014 there were only 31 alleged cases of in-person voter fraud among the over 1 billion votes cast in the United States during that time period. Yet, this supposed widespread voter fraud is consistently used as justification for voting restrictions that suppress the votes of African Americans and Latinos. While reasonable people can debate many issues regarding the operation of our electoral process, one thing is clearwidespread voter fraud such as that alleged by President Trump is a complete myth. In stark contrast to the myth of widespread voter

fraud is the proven reality of voter suppression. A number of federal courts across the country have determined that certain states enacted voting restrictions that discriminated against black and Latino Americans, as in Texas, or, worse yet, were written with the specific intent to suppress the Black vote, as in North Carolina. In fact, a federal appellate court held that North Carolina’s law targeted African-American voters with “almost surgical precision.” Voting restrictions such as those recently struck down in Texas, North Carolina and elsewhere weaken our democ-

In stark contrast to the myth of widespread voter fraud is the proven reality of voter suppression.

racy and themselves cast serious doubt on the legitimacy of our electoral processes. If President Trump is serious about strengthening our democracy, he should demand that Congress send him a bill to restore Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, such as the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015. He should also withdraw the nomination of U.S. Senator Jefferson Sessions for Attorney General and put forth a nominee with a record of supporting voting rights for all Americans. And he should acknowledge the widespread voter suppression taking place in this country while rejecting the myth that “voter fraud” justifies blocking access to the ballot box for millions of black and Latino voters.

Cornell William Brooks is president and CEO of the NAACP.

Community Brief Supreme Court Commission holds hearings on racial and ethnic fairness

The Supreme Court of Missouri Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness will hold four public feedback sessions in February and March. These meetings are designed to provide a forum for the public to learn about and provide feedback for the commission’s recommendations to the Court.

The meetings will be held as follows:

• 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, February 28, University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School, Thompson Courtroom, 500 East 52nd Street, Kansas City, MO 64110

• 5:30 – 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, Saint Louis University School of Law, 100 North Tucker Street, St. Louis, MO 63101

• 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, Missouri State University, Plaster Student Union, Traywick Parliamentary Room, 1110 East Madison Street, Springfield, MO 65897.

All interested Missouri residents are invited to attend. For questions or further information please contact Julie Lawson, executive director, Supreme Court of Missouri Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness, at (314) 657-4033 or e-mail juliel@ focus-stl.org.

Guest Columnist Cornell

William Brooks

NEWSPAPER IN EDUCATION

GRAINS

Keep‘em Whole!

Nutrition Challenge:

We each need at least 3 servings per day of whole grains. But what does that mean? How can we know what foods contain whole grains?

Look at the ingredients list of a package of food you are about to eat. If the word “whole” is used, then there is most likely a whole grain ingredient. A few items that don’t use the word whole

Do This. Not That!

As spring approaches, warmer weather allows us all to get more outdoor exercise. Here are some ways to become a more active person.

PRESENT:

Healthy Kids Kids

are popcorn, wheatberries, brown rice and wild rice.

Getting plenty of whole grains in your diet can improve your health and reduce your chance for some chronic illnesses such as stroke, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Visit wholegrainscouncil.com for more information.

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 3, NH 5

Instead of playing video games — play baseball, football, badminton, or some other active game.

Instead of surfing the ‘Net — go for a brisk walk around the neighborhood.

Break into small groups and define what it means to be a bully. Share your ideas with the class. Did you have the same things listed (as the other groups) that you would consider as bullying behavior? Now back in your groups, create a newspaper ad that includes at least two of the following:

> How bullying hurts others.

> What to do if you are bullied.

Cocoa

Puffers Cereal

INGREDIENTS:Whole Grain Corn,Sugar,Corn Meal,Corn Syrup,Canola and/or Rice Bran Oil,Cocoa Processed withAlkali,ColorAdded,Salt,Fructose,Natural andArtificial Flavor,Trisodium Phosphate,BHTAdded to Preserve Freshness.

Vitamins and Minerals: Tricalcium Phosphate,Calcium Carbonate,Zinc and Iron (mineral nutrients), Vitamin C (sodium ascorbate), A B Vitamin (niacinamide), Vitamin

(riboflavin),

(pyridoxine hydrochloride),

(thiamin

,Vitamin

Instead of watching TV — ride your bike with friends. Can you think of other ways to be more active? Going outside and staying active not only increases your heart rate and burns calories, but it also helps you build friendships!

Learning Standards:

HPE1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5

> What to do if you see someone else bullied.

> What to do if YOU are the bully.

Look through the newspaper for examples of ad layouts and design. Discuss the words “compassion,” “empathy” and “sympathy.” How do they each play into your response to bullying at your school?

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 4

Easy Hummus Dip

Ingredients: 1 15-Oz

Sophia (Pennie) Ledet, Supervisor and Teacher

Where do you work? I work at the Christian Hospital Child Development Center. Where did you go to school? I graduated from West Side High School in Gary, Indiana. I then earned an associate’s degree in early childhood from Forest Park Community College.

What does a supervisor and teacher at a hospital child development center do? As a supervisor, I support and provide guidance to all of the staff. As a teacher, I have the privilege of being a mentor and an example in each child’s life that I touch. We teach the pre-school children of hospital employees and others in the community.

Why did you choose this career? As a very young child, I had no women in my life to provide guidance. When I was in 7th grade, my father remarried, and I understood what it means to have a real mentor. I chose this career because I wanted to make a difference in the lives of children by filling that role for those in my care.

What is your favorite part of the job you have? I enjoy being surrounded by beautiful children who are eager to learn, with the eyes of love and trust. And when these kids grow into adults and become parents themselves, they come back to visit. I am able to see how well they are doing and what great parents they are, and I feel that in many ways I have impacted the next generation.

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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

The St. Louis American’s award winning NIE program provides newspapers and resources to more than 7,000 teachers and students each week throughout the school year, at no charge.

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

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT

Boys and Girls

Club of St. Louis Youth Development

Professional Sharae

Jones, uses The St. Louis American as part of the afterschool tutoring program with Laila Joshua of Laramie Elementary and Makenzie King of Grannemann Elementary School. Grannemann Elementary School is part of the Hazelwood School District. Photo by

St. Louis American

SCIENCE CORNER

A N I M AT I O N

Animation is the process of creating a video or moving picture from a series of images. It is created by an animator. Animators create video game graphics, television program animation, online simulations, and virtual reality games. There are three main ways to create animation: 1. Draw frames by hand, 2. Stop motion—a moveable model is changed for each image to create a moving scene, 3. Computer graphics—3D software is used to create animated characters and settings. Animation can be created by individuals and there are many well-known animation studios, such as DreamWorks, Pixar, Cartoon Network, Disney, and Warner Brothers. Animation is usually filmed at 12-24 moving frames per second.

expensive to pay the animator for all of the time involved. Older Disney movies were created by hand drawn animation. Stop motion uses moveable models or clay. The animator takes a picture of each scene and uses computer software (such as Movie Maker) to make the scenes move and animate. The original Rudolph movie uses clay animation. Modern computer animation uses 3D software to control the characters and settings. Movies such as Toy Story use this animation.

Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction text for main idea and supporting details. I can make text-to-text and text-to-world connections.

Hand drawn animation takes a lot of time to create and is

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

In this activity, you will use logic to form and test a hypothesis to solve the problem.

Materials Needed: 12 toothpicks

Process:

q Create three triangles of the same size using only 7 toothpicks. How many tries did it take before you were successful? What helped you solve the challenge?

w Next, use 10 toothpicks to create 6 triangles of the same size.

Toothpick Challenge

e Finally, use 12 toothpicks to create your own challenge for a friend to solve.

Evaluate: What was difficult about this challenge? What method helped you solve the problem?

Learning Standards: I can follow directions to complete an experiment. I can analyze results and draw conclusions. I can make text-to-world connections.

Movie Math

q If the movie starts at 7:15 p.m. and you need to leave the house 45 minutes in advance, what time do you need to leave? _________

w You purchase 2 adults tickets at $8.00 each and 3 children’s tickets at $6.50 each, how much money do you spend in tickets? _________

e The concession stand sells small popcorn for $3.00 and a medium for $4.50. Small drinks are $2.50 each and medium drinks are $3.50 each. Which is the better deal: to buy two small drinks and two small popcorns OR to buy one medium popcorn and 2 medium drinks? Why? _________

DID YOU KNOW?

SCIENCE STARS

African American Computer Scientist

Marlon West

Marlon West grew up in St. Louis and he loved drawing. After he graduated from University City High School in 1981, he attended Columbia College in Chicago where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in film and video animation in 1985. Upon graduation, West began creating educational videos for Encyclopedia Britannica. In 1989, he moved to Los Angeles where he created music videos and television commercials— including Michael Jackson’s commercial for California Raisins. In 1993, he was hired by Walt Disney Animation Studios. The first film that he worked on animating was Lion King.

West assisted in animating many more films for Disney, including Pocahontas, Mulan, Princess and the Frog, Tarzan, Chicken Little, Hercules, and Frozen. His latest project was the movie Moana where he was the head of effects animator. West enjoys researching the background of the characters and bringing their traditions to life. West wants the animations to be accurate and to honor the culture. He wants the story lines to encourage and inspire audiences. The biggest challenge in Moana was all of the ocean scenes. It took a lot of physics to get the depth of the water to look realistic. West recently visited St. Louis where he completed numerous interviews and spoke at Webster University. He was awarded the SLIFF (St. Louis International Film Festival) Cinema St. Louis Award. For more information about computer animation, visit: http:// thekidshouldseethis.com/ post/17452504790.

Learning Standards: I can read about a person who has made contributions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. I can make text-to-text connections.

r The movie starts at 7:15 and the running time is 113 minutes. What time does it end? _________

Challenge question: 500 tickets are sold for a Sunday movie matinee. Tickets are $7.50 for adults and $4.00 per child. The theater collected $3,312.50 in ticket sales. How many adult tickets were sold? 375, 200, 125, or 500

Learning Standards: I can add, subtract, multiply, and divide to solve a problem.

MAP CORNER

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

Activities —

Computer Usage: newspaper to find examples of ways that people use computers to communicate— websites, blogs, email, social network. How do computers help people communicate with each other?

Research a Sports Star:

Read an article in the sports section. Choose a sports star to research. Enter their name in a search engine. How many hits did you get? How can you tell which sites are reliable?

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can evaluate information and draw conclusions. I can make text-to-world connections.

Wiley Price /

Supporting youth, honoring veterans

AMVETS invites public to support JROTC competition at Vashon on Feb. 25

By Sylvester Brown, Jr. For The St. Louis American

In a small, white, shotgun-style building

tucked discreetly off Kingshighway Boulevard near Natural Bridge, a group of elderly veterans meets regularly. These are the men and women of Amvets Post #67. They have served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and other far-away

skirmishes. They meet to play cards, share war stories and discuss who’s still alive, who’s ailing, who’s spending their last days in convalescent homes.

AMVETS (American Veterans) was Congressionally chartered in 1947. There are chapters all over the world. At the end of World War II, the veteran’s club was established to provide camaraderie and service for returning vets and their families, who need help navigating the system – buying homes, accessing benefits, finding jobs.

The veterans at Post #67 may gather to comfort and support one another, but they also share two missions: getting the community to support local high school students and to acknowledge the service of local veterans.

Black History aboard the USS Bonhomme

Capt. Jeffrey Ward, (center) commanding officer of amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), and representatives of the ship’s Heritage Committee participate in a cake cutting following an African American/Black History Month celebration on the ship’s mess decks. Bonhomme Richard, forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan, is serving forward to provide a rapid-response capability in the event of a regional contingency or natural disaster.

Little Caesars founder quietly paid Rosa Parks’ rent for years

Mike Ilitch, also Detroit Tigers owner, passed Feb. 10 at age 81

By Eric Levenson Of CNN

Those who knew Mike Ilitch, the Little Caesars founder and Detroit Tigers owner who died on February 10, have been fondly remembering his impact on friends, on Detroit residents and on the sports community.

Ilitch also had an impact on the daily life of one of the most iconic figures from the Civil Rights Movement.

For more than a decade, Ilitch had quietly paid for Rosa Parks’ apartment in downtown Detroit, according to CNN affiliate WXYZ. That story came to light thanks to Damon Keith, a Detroit native and federal judge.

“They don’t go around saying it, but I want to, at this point, let them know, how much the

Ilitches not only meant to the city, but they meant so much for Rosa Parks, who was the mother of the Civil Rights Movement,” Keith told WXYZ.

Shortly after her famed defiance of segregation sparked the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott, Parks moved to Detroit and became an important presence in the city for years afterward. But in 1994, Parks was robbed and assaulted in her home at the age of 81. Keith, himself an important legal figure in the movement, worked to find Parks a new, safer apartment at the Riverfront Apartments in Detroit, according to the Sports Business Daily Ilitch read the story in the newspaper and called Keith, offering to pay for Parks’ housing indefinitely. With no fanfare, Ilitch continued

paying for the apartment until Parks died in 2005, Keith said.

See ILITCH, A15

From basic training to Oklahoma to Korea A

black man in the U.S. Air Force in the 1950s

By Roland Bob Harris For The St. Louis American

On January 2, 1957, I was escorted by my mother and her friend Robert to Union Station to catch the train for Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas to begin my basic training. It was a cold, dark night. I boarded the train with a number of other recruits. I was filled with a lot of anxiety. The trip seemed to take forever. But finally, we arrived in San Antonio.

As I got off the train, the first thing that struck me was a group of training instructors screaming instructions and blowing whistles. We were placed on buses and transported to the base. Most of what happened in these early days completely escapes me. I do remember getting my head shaved, being given uniforms for all occasions. We were taken to the dispensary for exams and immunization shots. The one important stop was our trip to the personnel office where I filled out a host of papers. One document that I filled out was for my mother to receive half of my pay. By doing so the U.S. Air Force added an additional equal amount to her check. As we were assigned to our barracks and bunks, for some ungodly reason my instructors assigned me the task of being barracks chief. Are they kidding? What the hell are they smoking? Here I am 16 years old and in the Air Force under a fraudulent enlistment. It wasn’t long before I demonstrated my ineptness. Within a few days, I worked my all the way down to latrine helper.

There were two phases to basic training. Each phase ran for four weeks. The first phase was like football practice, the difference being football practice lasts for a few hours a day. Basic training was 20 hours a day and seven days a week. Often times I thought I wasn’t going to make it.

After the first four weeks, some of my fellow trainees went to technical schools. The rest of us went on to the second phase of basic training. First phase of basic was the hardest. When I got into second phase of basic, it got a little easier.

While in basic training, I became good friends with a recruit from Chicago named Earl J. Dudley. He was a very nice young man. He was the kind of airman I wish I could have been. We were well liked by our fellow recruits. The training instructors rarely had cause to discipline Earl. On the other hand, I was always in hot water for one infraction or another.

But somehow I made it through basic training and was assigned to Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma. Earl was also

Mike Ilitch Rosa Parks

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeanette Mullinax

Roland Bob Harris grew up in St. Louis then went on to act in 38 motion pictures, 18 national commercials, perform at the Muny for 20 years and become a successful singer.

The entire episode was made public in 2014 in

Edward Brown and Lee Perry of AMVETS Post #67.

See AMVETS, A15

AMVETS

Continued from A14

One of the programs Post #67 members have supported for more than 55 years is the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC). On Saturday, February 25, the veterans want the community to come out in full force to support inner-city youth involved with JROTC’s annual Drill Team Competition at Vashon High School.

JROTC teaches character education, scholastic achievement and leadership and helps prepare students for careers in the military. “We try to get them prepared for life itself, which may or may not include the military,” said Lee Perry, public relations officer for Amvets Missouri.

Sheldon Hartsfeld, the state’s ROTC chairman, said the program teaches discipline.

“We have a lot of problems with our youth, but they’re not all out there causing problems,” Hartsfield said. “If you attend one of our programs, you’ll find kids who still say ‘yes, sir’ and ‘yes ma’am.’”

The military competition at Vashon on February 25 will include a series of routines based on military drill and ceremony. Generally referred to as “drill meets,” the rivalries are held all over the world. Top-performing high school teams earn the chance to compete in the National High School Drill Team Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida.

If people come out for the local drill competition, Hartsfield said, they will have the opportunity to pay homage to veterans in St. Louis who are still dedicated to serving their communities.

“We want the community to know there are black veterans who still serve without fanfare or recognition,” Hartsfeld said.

Amvets #67, the first integrated post in the state, was founded in 1960 at West Side Baptist Church in St. Louis.

Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) teaches character education, scholastic achievement and leadership and helps prepare students for careers in the military.

It was a time when AfricanAmerican soldiers fighting tyranny overseas returned to the states, where Jim Crow laws and racial oppression stomped on their rights and the “freedoms” of those who shared their hue.

Missouri has the nation’s 15th-largest population of veterans and has more retirement homes than nearly all other states. The North St. Louis unit maintains regular visits to the Veterans Home on Lewis & Clark Boulevard in St. Louis County.

James McKay, commander of Amvets #67, said its members do their part to carry out the organization’s mission to perpetuate “the friendship and associations” of veterans and to “the cause of mutual assistance.”

“We help them and their families navigate the system by assisting them in getting their benefits and making sure their lives are less stressful,” McKay said.

AMVETS National

Commander Jerry Hotop and a past national commander, Harold Chapman, are scheduled to attend the drill meet on February 25. Unit 67 members are working to have as many vets, especially elderly black retirees, attend the competition. Filling the bleachers would be a big boost for city kids doing their very best against great odds, Hartsfeld said, and give the community an opportunity to acknowledge the services of local vets.

“We need to recognize how much local veterans give back to communities,” Hartsfeld said. “In a time where our youth have very few heroes, the community needs to know the positive things veterans do each and every day.”

Saint Louis Public Schools’ JROTC Drill competitions will be held 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, February 25 at Vashon High School, 3035 Cass Ave. For more information, call Sheldon Hartsfeld at 314-791211.

HARRIS

Continued from A14

assigned to Vance A.F.B.,

and we both were assigned to work at the base supply. We were assigned to the shipping and receiving department. It was a great job. I learned a lot and was very good at my job. Later I worked my way into the office receiving phone calls processing aircraft parts from the various repair hangers. Oklahoma at that time was a dry state. It was illegal to sell alcohol. That law must not have reached the residents of Oklahoma. Bootleggers were doing land office business. In Enid there was one little dinky joint were the black residents would go drink under cover and socialize.

Segregation reigned supreme. The blacks in Enid literally lived on the other side of the tracks. There were only two black policemen. They could only patrol in the black section of Enid. Enid was a very dismal assignment.

On the base we had service club were we could go shoot pool, play cards, etc. The service club even had musical instruments that we could use there on the premises. I hooked

IILTCH

Continued from A14

a story from Sports Business Daily. Keith even showed the reporter a copy of a 1994 check for $2,000 from Little Caesars Enterprises to Riverfront Apartments. It has taken on a new life in light of Ilitch’s death at the age of 87.

Michigan Lt. Gov. Brian Calley posted on Facebook a link to an article on the subject on Friday. “It will give you a sense of the kind of man Mike

up with a Mexican kid who played piano, a white guy that played saxophone and I played trumpet. I had learned to play the trumpet while attending Washington Tech. High School here in St. Louis. We would practice two or three times a week. After a lot of practice we got to be pretty good.

Just as I found a reason to be content at Vance, I received orders to ship out to Osan Air Base Korea. At this time I had been station at Vance A.F.B. for a year and a half. I was looking forward to going overseas. But I knew I would miss the good friends that I was leaving behind and thought I would never see any of them again. Wrong. Life is often stranger than fiction.

I was given a week’s leave prior to leaving for Korea. Upon my return to St. Louis I was never so pleasantly surprised. My mother had all but stopped drinking. She got a job as a maid for a very nice family that took great care of her. It seemed my little money she received every month gave her the motivation to improve her life.

After a week in St. Louis, I flew to Osan A.B, Korea. En route I had a stopover at Tachikawa, Japan. During my three day layover in Japan, I met a Japanese girl named

n “I want to let them know how much the Ilitches meant so for Rosa Parks, who was the mother of the Civil Rights Movement.”

– Damon Keith

Ilitch was,” he wrote. The Parks’ donation further shows Ilitch’s commitment to Detroit, where he was born and raised. Ilitch established Little

Kimiko. We hung out one evening and had a great time. Shortly thereafter, I left for Korea. I truly enjoyed being stationed in Korea. Six months later, I was given what was called R&R (Rest & Recuperation). For my R&R I opted to go back to Tachikawa, Japan and look up Kimiko, as if she had been awaiting with bated breath for my return. Somehow I was able to remember how to get to her pad. I knocked on her door and she came down from the second floor and opened the door.

She gave me a strange look. As I looked up the stairs, I observed a male figure coming down the stairs. I swear to God, the man coming down the stairs was my best friend from basic training and Vance A.F.B., Earl J. Dudley. He and Kimiko were living together. He and I embraced and started yelling. Kimiko thought we were fighting. It took us a few minutes to calm her down. I still have trouble believing this really and truly happened. In my finally offering next week, I will share with you another unbelievable encounter I had as I pursued my career as a movie actor. You’ll never guess who I met. Feel free to email me at rolandharris242@ yahoo.com.

Caesars headquarters there, owned the Detroit Tigers and Red Wings, and helped usher in a new era for the city, Keith told WXYZ.

“You’ll never discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. Mike and (his wife) Marian had the courage to lose sight of the shore and discover new oceans,” Keith said. “They kept pushing Detroit, and had it not been for them, I am saying, Detroit would not be in the renaissance that they’re in now.” The St. Louis American is a CNNWire affiliate.

Business

Diversifying Lewis Rice

Ronald A. Norwood is a 29-year litigation partner at Lewis Rice in St. Louis who chairs the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. He also chairs the Harris-Stowe State University Board of Regents.

Ronald A. Norwood works to boost presence of women and people of color at law firm

By Pat Matreci

For The St. Louis American

Ronald A. Norwood, a 29-year litigation partner at Lewis Rice in St. Louis, has devoted his career to practicing law in a way that connects with all types of people and businesses.

Norwood also serves as chair of Lewis Rice’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. In that role, he proactively promotes legal diversity and inclusion not only within the firm, but also within the community by mentoring law students and young attorneys.

“Lewis Rice is proud of the efforts of its Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and is constantly seeking ways to enhance its diversity initiatives and expand diversity at all levels of

n “Disparities exist when one looks at the percentages of women and people of color in the legal profession.”

– Ronald A. Norwood

the firm,” Norwood said.

A native of Chicago, Norwood joined Lewis Rice after serving as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Scott O. Wright in Kansas City from 1986 to 1988. Lewis Rice’s firm-wide efforts,

and those programs implemented through its Diversity and Inclusion Committee, are designed to proactively promote legal diversity by using a multifaceted approach, both within the firm and outside of it in the greater St. Louis community.

Norwood said the committee’s efforts center around four key initiatives:

• proactive, diverse recruiting to ensure the firm hires the best and brightest legal talent that will provide the firm, and ultimately its clients, with a rich diversity of perspectives.

• proactive mentorship to ensure that young associates from all backgrounds have a path to success in the firm.

• proactive community involvement with

See RICE, B6

Couple opens new ‘incubator space for underrepresented entrepreneurs’

James and Kristy Jackson – who call themselves “serial entrepreneurs” – have opened DK Annex in St. Louis’ Benton Park West neighborhood, which they describe as “an incubator space for underrepresented entrepreneurs and leaders.”

“The historic DK Annex loft venue, a former streetcar repair station on the National Historic Registry, is the perfect location to host a wide range of corporate and social events,” they said in a statement.

The annex is an outgrowth of their business DK Solutions, a creative consulting and event-planning company.

Kristy Jackson, a recent graduate of the Grace Hill Women In Business Opportunities program, serves as lead consultant and event planner. She is also the founder of GLAMM-Girls Lead And Make Moves and Girlfriends & God.

James Jackson II is CEO of JAJ2 Music and a professional jazz musician using his 20 years of experience to promote, manage and develop artists through the incubator and Gator Media.

Together they are founders of the Social Synergy Project Network that facilitates Master Mind groups and business connection events.

“We are committed to the process and the outcomes that help make your good ideas great!” they said.

For more information, call 314-200-4456, email dksolutions2015@outlook.com or visit http:// dksolutionsevents.com.

Maureen E. Brinkley is the new district director of the St. Louis District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration, which serves the eastern half of Missouri. A St. Louis native, she has held a wide variety of positions with the SBA, including economic development specialist, business opportunity specialist and most recently deputy district director.

Aaron Banks was nominated to St. Louis’ Civilian Oversight Board by Mayor Francis G. Slay, representing Wards 7, 8, 9 and 17. The board is responsible for independently receiving and reviewing complaints regarding the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. A resident of the 8th Ward, Banks works as an associate attorney at Thompson Coburn.

Chelsea Watson is the new deputy superintendent of the Parkway School District. She is a lifelong Parkway student, alumnus and educator. She has been the assistant superintendent of student services in Parkway since 2012. Before that, she was at Parkway Southwest Middle School for 15 years, nine as principal. Watson started her career in 1992 as a teacher at Wren Hollow Elementary.

Will Robinson Sr. was honored as an Unsung Hero in the City of East St. Louis, Illinois. He is chairperson for the Project Manhood Program, a group mentoring program designed to assist young men in learning life skills, building character and realizing a sense of citizenship that will inspire them to become leaders. It is run by the Nu Chi Foundation and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Nu Chi Chapter.

James and Kristy Jackson – who call themselves “serial entrepreneurs” –have opened DK Annex in St. Louis’ Benton Park West neighborhood, which they describe as “an incubator space for underrepresented entrepreneurs and leaders.”

Morgan Hill received the 2017 Katherine Dunham Internship at the Regional Arts Commission. The internship is intended to increase the diversity of professionals working within museums, theatres, dance companies and other arts organizations throughout the region and beyond. Hill is a recent graduate from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a BFA in Textile and Fiber Arts.

Edward E. “Ed” Hightower was elected to the board of the Saint Louis Zoo Association. He is retired as superintendent of Edwardsville School District No. 7. The Saint Louis Zoo Association provides leadership for fundraising, conservation education, programming,

and special events.

Maureen E. Brinkley

Will Robinson Sr.

Morgan Hill

Aaron Banks

Edward E. “Ed” Hightower

Photo by Wiley Price

Chelsea Watson

Having trouble paying your heating bill? LIHEAP could help

By Nathaniel Sillin

The chill of winter can be offset with the pleasure of curling up inside a warm home. Turning on the heat and settling into your favorite chair to open a new book or watch a movie feels even better when snow falls or rain patters against the windows. Unfortunately, some families have to choose between paying high winter utility bills and buying groceries or gas for their cars. The necessity of food and transportation often wins. Fortunately, there are assistance programs. One such program, the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), helps low-income households with heating or cooling costs, during an energy-related crisis (such as a shutoff notice from your utility) and with weatherization improvements.

If you, a parent or a friend are struggling to make ends meet this winter, LIHEAP and similar programs might be able to help keep your home warm.

Apply as soon as you can if you think you’ll

need assistance. The federal government provides the funding for LIHEAP, but the programs are run at the state level. The money gets distributed on a first-comefirst-served basis and states give priority to households with children, elderly or disabled members. Often the largest benefits are awarded to the homes with the most need. States open their winter applications at different times, and you should apply for LIHEAP right away if you think you’ll have trouble paying for heating.

LIHEAP won’t cover your entire utility bill, but it can help keep your home warm. LIHEAP’s heating benefit is only intended to help you pay to heat your home. For example, if you’re heating unit runs on gas, the program will contribute towards your gas bill, but not your electricity bill. You might only be able to receive a benefit once every 12 months, but it can make a big difference for your finances.

For the fiscal year 2014, the most recent data available, over 5.7 million households received heating assistance

and it offset an average 45.9 percent of recipients’ annual heating costs.

Qualifying for LIHEAP assistance. States, tribes and territories have some control over the services, qualifications, aid limits and application process for the LIHEAP program in their area. You can review each state’s income eligibility for the fiscal

year 2017 on this table. The state or local organizations that distribute funds also consider applicants’ utility costs, family size and location. Renters and homeowners could be eligible for LIHEAP assistance, but you might not qualify if you have subsidized housing. Being qualified doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get assistance. Each state receives a set amount of funds for the

year, and on average only 20 percent of qualified household receive benefits.

How to apply for LIHEAP. Often you’ll apply for LIHEAP at a Community Action Agency (CAA), local nonprofit organizations that help administer federal, state and local grant programs. Some states let you complete the application online, otherwise you may need to mail, fax or hand in an application.

The Office of Community Service’s website has contact information for each state and territory, including a link to a website where you’ll find statespecific eligibility guidelines and program information.

As part of the application process, you may need to share identifying and financial information, including:

• Recent utility bills.

• Recent pay stubs, or a profit-and-loss statement if you’re self-employed.

• Documentation for other income, such as Social Security benefits.

• A lease or property tax bill as proof of your address.

• Your Social Security number.

• A copy of a utility termination notice, if you received one.

By Esther J. Cepeda Washington Post

My students know I care deeply about them. They know I love to joke around and keep things interesting as we investigate topics they might find dry. But they also know I am waging a one-woman crusade against “fun.” It’s not that I don’t like

to have fun, it’s just that young people moving from high school to college and, ultimately, into adult life have to understand that achievement – be it academic or career-

• A list of people living in your home, their relation to you, dates of birth and incomes.

• Your energy provider’s information. If you’re having trouble with your state’s website, or want to help someone who isn’t computer savvy, you can call the LIHEAP Clearinghouse’s National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) at 1-866-674-6327 (TTY: 1-866-367-6228).

Bottom line: When the temperature drops, heating costs can quickly rise. You shouldn’t have to suffer, and LIHEAP could help provide much-needed financial aid. You can look for additional assistance programs using the Benefits.gov search tool Also look into state-based programs and payment plans or assistance from your local utility.

Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www. twitter.com/PracticalMoney.

Meaningful work need not be ‘fun’

related – is hard work. And hard work is many things, like character-building, but rarely is it giggles-all-day fun.

All year I’ve been going on about how, despite the so-called information economy’s promise of fun workplaces that ensconce computer scientists and coders in the Silicon Valley ethos of foosball tables and beer on tap in the company kitchenette, most jobs are just work.

I have to reinforce this idea because, contrary to what you’ll read in the business press, it’s not all drone piloting, start-up IPO-ing and app development.

Snagging a decent-paying job as an accountant, lawyer, engineer, doctor or any sort of analyst takes an awful lot of time and intellectual effort, none of which could accurately be described as “fun.”

Yet we, as a society, keep pushing this idea of enjoyment as the be-all, end-all of both education and work.

Ayelet Fishbach, a professor of behavioral science and marketing at the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago, recently wrote in The New York Times: “To identify a satisfying job, people should be thinking about office morale and doing work that is interesting and fun. ... Add present benefits to your working hours. Listen to music, make friends and break the routine with social activities. Do whatever makes you happy at work; you can stick to your career goals longer if your work is enjoyable in the moment.”

We have got to get over this idea that work must be entertaining in order for it to have meaning.

As author and computer scientist Cal Newport writes in his book “Deep Work:

Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World,” the winners in our new knowledge economy will be the workers who can learn complex systems quickly and then make smart decisions as those systems change rapidly.

The winners will be those who can perform professional activities in a state of sustained, distraction-free concentration that pushes cognitive capabilities to their limit, creating new value that is hard to replicate. And yet, Newport says that in an age of “network tools” (which he describes as a broad category that includes email, texts, social media networks like Twitter and Facebook, and infotainment sites like BuzzFeed and Reddit), “knowledge workers increasingly replace deep work

n Hard work is many things, like characterbuilding, but rarely is it giggles-all-day fun.

with the shallow alternative – constantly sending and receiving email messages like human network routers, with frequent breaks for quick hits of distraction. ... It’s as if our species has evolved into one that flourishes in depth and wallows in shallowness.”

Newport notes that society has sold us on the flawed idea that what matters most for career satisfaction is the specifics of the jobs we choose.

“In this way of thinking, there

are some rarified jobs that can be a source of satisfaction –perhaps working in a nonprofit or starting a software company – while all others are soulless and bland.”

But, he concludes, treating even non-rarified work as an exercise of craftsmanship can yield a sense of accomplishment and personal and professional satisfaction.

“Whether you’re a writer, marketer, consultant or lawyer: Your work is craft, and if you hone your ability and apply it with respect and care, then like the skilled wheelwright you can generate meaning in the daily efforts of your professional life.”

To extract such meaning from what would otherwise be drudgery, however, you need the ability to do hard things consistently – which calls for sacrifice, focus and determination.

The challenge here, really, is not to make the sustained effort somehow palatable with beanbag chairs, free snacks and high-speed Wi-Fi, but rather to find joy in accomplishing something.

“A commitment to deep work is not a moral stance and it’s not a philosophical statement – it is instead a pragmatic recognition that the ability to concentrate is a skill that gets valuable things done,” Newport concludes. “Deep work is important, in other words, not because distraction is evil, but because it enabled Bill Gates to start a billiondollar industry in less than a semester.”

You can call that satisfying, rewarding or fulfilling. Just don’t call it “fun.”

Esther Cepeda’s email address is estherjcepeda@ washpost.com. Follow her on Twitter, @estherjcepeda.

Esther J. Cepeda

n “I know this is going to sound absolutely crazy, but athletes are humans, and not properties of the team they work for.”

– Dexter Fowler

Many Cardinals fans show Dexter Fowler St. Louis’

Big schools take center stage

PreP BasketBall NoteBook

With the small schools completing their district playoffs this week, the bigger schools will take center stage when district competition begins this weekend moves full steam into next week.

Here is a preview of the upcoming Class 4 and 5 district playoffs involving St. Louis area teams. To see the full playoff brackets for both boys and girls, visit the website www.mshsaa.org.

Class 5

District 2 (at Timberland)

Dates: Feb. 27-March 3. Championship Game, March 3, 7

p.m.

Outlook: Host Timberland draws the top seed with challenges coming from Fort Zumwalt West and Fort Zumwalt South in this competitive district.

District 3 (at McCluer North)

Dates: Feb. 25-March 3. Championship Game, March 3, 6 p.m.

Outlook: Pattonville gets the top seed behind its inside-outside duo of Richard Henderson and Destan Williams. A good challenge will come from Hazelwood Central or McCluer North, who will meet each other in the semifinals.

District 4 (at SLUH)

Dates: Feb. 26-March 3. Championship Game, March 3, 7 p.m.

Outlook: A loaded district featuring the defending state champions in Chaminade and two-time Final Four participant SLUH. Ladue and Ritenour have also enjoyed very productive seasons.

District 5 (at Eureka)

Dates: Feb. 25-March 3. Championship Game, March 3, 7 p.m.

Outlook: Francis Howell drew the top seed after winning the GAC South title and getting 20 victories. No. 2 seed Lafayette is also capable of pulling off a surprise while Eureka and Marquette bear watching.

District 6 (at Parkway South)

Dates: Feb. 25-March 2. Championship Game, March 2, 7:45 p.m.

Outlook: CBC is the No. 1 seed after experiencing

For the past four seasons, the Lakers have been the laughingstock of Los Angeles the NBA. It’s been so bad that the team might as well have changed its iconic logo with a simple “L.” Tuesday, the Lakers finally came to the realization that if the franchise was ever to return to the glory days of “Showtime” or when Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant dominated opposing defenses, it was time to make a change at the top. After being named president of basketball operations, Magic Johnson, the man with the million-dollar smile, intends to turn the Lakers from a joke into a serious contender. Of course, success is the goal of everybody who’s ever been hired to do a job. We all know Johnson wants to win. The question is, can he?

ever lace up a pair of kicks doesn’t mean he’ll automatically have success in the front office. Before there was Magic Johnson the president, there was Magic Johnson the coach.

In 1994, Johnson replaced Randy Pfund as the Lakers’ head coach, inheriting a team with a 28-38 record. Johnson’s team quickly won five of its first six games. However, the ship sank quickly and the Lakers lost 11-straight games to end the season.

The losing streak wasn’t Johnson’s fault. He inherited a bad team and didn’t have much time to turn it around before the season’s end. Realizing that he was in over his head as coach, Johnson decided to call it quits at the end of the season, after just 16 games.

Just because Johnson is one of the greatest players to

The fact that Johnson walked away from coaching so soon is precisely why he can

Earl Austin Jr.

With Earl Austin Jr.

Ishmael H. Sistrunk

Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Missouri Tigers K.J. Walton (L) and Kentucky Wildcats Malik Monk battle for control of the ball during first-half action on Tuesday night at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri. Kentucky went on to win 72-62.

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Many Cardinals fans show Dexter Fowler St. Louis’ ugly side

The second I read Dexter Fowler’s comment on President Donald Trump’s proposed travel ban, I knew he would get his first real taste of his new town.

Fowler’s wife, Aliya, is from Iran and moved here with her parents at the age of 5. She is an American citizen, just as American as Trump.

Fowler was asked about a travel ban on select nations by ESPN’s Mark Saxon, who knew Fowler’s wife is from Iran. His answer was honest and gentle – and met with many racist, ridiculous remarks from Cardinals fans.

“It’s huge. Especially any time you’re not able to see family, it’s unfortunate,” he said of the ban.

After the disgusting reaction from more than a few fans, Fowler told Post-Dispatch sports columnist Jose de Jesus Ortiz on Monday, “The question was asked out of empathy toward my family. I appreciate that. If anybody is asking about my family, then I’m going to let them know. Obviously, it affected my family. My wife’s Iranian.”

“I can’t go over there. My daughter is half Iranian and half black. She wouldn’t be able to see her cousins or whatever. They’re still over there.” Ortiz mentions that some of the worst comments were on the “St. Louis Cardinals True Fans” Facebook page. He included a post from Linda Bausch that read, “Just play ball and do your best on and off the field.

“Dar-ren Wil-son. Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap.”

I’ll lend Linda a pick-ax so she can dig up the President George W. Bush honor embedded in the ground outside Busch Stadium, too. Fowler now knows how fickle – and flat-out hypocritical – some members of Cardinal Nation can be. St. Louis likes to say it has baseball’s best fans. It sure didn’t display it to Fowler.

Braves honoring Bill Lucas

Ted Turner, former owner of the Atlanta Braves and founder of CNN and Turner Broadcasting System (TBS), never shied away from what he thought was right for his business interests and his National League franchise. In fact, he named himself manager of the team for one game in May 1977 – without the blessing of Major League Baseball, which forbid anyone who owned stock in a team from managing it,

n Dexter Fowler’s wife, Aliya, is from Iran and moved here with her parents at the age of 5. She is an American citizen, just as American as Trump.

We don’t want political protesting from our Cardinals, regardless of our personal politics. You won’t be a good fit or be here long in St Louis.”

My guess is that Linda had no problem with former manager Tony La Russa and Albert Pujols attending a Glenn Beck rally on August 28, 2010. You can save the “it wasn’t a political rally” nonsense. I also assume that Linda and others critical of Fowler had no problem with fellow Cardinal fans taunting protesters outside of Busch Stadium in September 2014 following the police shooting death of unarmed Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson.

Of his many success stories, one of Turner’s greatest came in spring of 1976 when he named Bill Lucas as the Braves’ vice president of player personnel. Lucas became the first black man to run a MLB franchise player-personnel department, making him the game’s first black GM. Lucas worked for the team for more than 20 years, beginning in 1956 when he played minor league baseball with the franchise. After his playing career ended, Lucas served in several roles, including being a key member of the transition staff that oversaw the team’s move from Milwaukee to Atlanta in 1966.

A decade later, Turner broke yet another color barrier in baseball by naming Lucas as the man in charge of player development, acquisitions and contracts. In other words, the GM.

Tragically, on May 5, 1979, Lucas suffered a cerebral hemorrhage that took his life.

Forty years after his historic promotion, the Braves are honoring Lucas at their new SunTrust Park in suburban Atlanta.

The state-of-art conference center in the baseball

operations department is named the Bill Lucas Conference Room, and the street from which Braves players and executives will enter the stadium is Bill Lucas Way.

The Braves have also created the Bill Lucas Apprenticeship program, which will offer year-long apprentice positions in baseball operations to candidates of diverse backgrounds.

The Braves unveiled the Lucas Conference Room earlier this month and it features a photo of Lucas with the caption, “In recognition of his contributions to the Atlanta Braves and pioneering the transformation of Baseball’s front office.”

“Let me tell you, there are

not many organizations in this country who would take a family and continue to take care of them and to love them and make them a part of their life for (almost) 40-something years after someone passes,” Lucas’ widow Rubye Lucas said. “The Atlanta Braves have been our life.”

His daughter, Wonya Lucas, said the apprenticeship program is the greatest honor the Braves have bestowed on her late father.

“I want to thank you all for remembering him and for carrying on his legacy through the apprenticeship. That would have meant so much to him. It’s about reaching back and helping others and paying it forward,” she said.

The Braves will open SunTrust Park on April 14 against the San Diego Padres, and Lucas’ legacy will again be honored during pregame ceremonies.

Aaron Donald impressive

The one player fans of the L.A. Rams should miss here in St. Louis is defensive tackle Aaron Donald Donald graded out as the 2nd-best NFL player in 2016, according to the respected Pro Football Focus. The lone player that was better? Tom Brady of the New England Patriots. Donald registered 36 tackles, 31 hits on the quarterback, two forced

Jerricah Butler

Fowler’s wife,

fumbles and a league-leading 17 tackles-for-loss. He had 82 quarterback pressures, which was five more than any other interior defensive lineman

The 24-year-old Donald was earlier named the Defensive Player of the Year and best pass rusher by Pro Football Focus, topping Oakland’s Khalil Mack and Denver’s Von Miller

Alvin A. Reid is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook and appears on ABC’s The Allman Report and several sports radio shows, including Frank Cusumano’s “The Press Box” on KFNS. His Twitter handle is @aareid1.

Lindenwood University – Women’ Basketball

The 5’7” junior guard from St. Louis enjoyed a career night in leading the Lions to an upset victory over nationally-ranked Central Missouri last Saturday in Warrensburg, Mo.

Butler converted a three-point play with two seconds left to give the Lions a 69-67 victory over the Jennies. Trailing 67-66, the Incarnate Word graduate scored on a layup and was fouled on the play in the dramatic final seconds to give LU its biggest victory of the season.

Butler finished the game with a team-high 17 points, three rebounds and two steals. For the season, she is averaging seven points and four rebounds a game.

Evan Milligan

Webster University – Men’s Basketball

The 6’6” sophomore forward from Evansville, IN led the Gorloks to a pair of impressive victories last week.

Milligan had 18 points, four rebounds, four assists and four blocks in a 93-70 victory over Fontbonne. He also had 21 points to lead Webster U. to a 68-47 victory over MacMurray. Milligan scored all 21 of his points in the first half.

Milligan has been the Gorloks leader in several categories throughout the season. He is averaging 14.7 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting 60 percent from the field in leading Webster U. to a 14-11 record.

Alvin A. Reid

Aliya, is from Iran and moved here with her parents at the age of 5.

Charles Willis Jr. honored as Dragplex champion

By John Bisci

For The St. Louis American

Charles Willis Jr. and six fellow drag racers were honored Saturday, February 11 as Gateway Motorsports Park’s 2016 Dragplex champions. When the 2017 season begins on April 1, Willis will be set to defend his Super Pro Motorcycle class title.

“This is my first Gateway Motorcycle championship. My father won it in 2015. It feels really good to finally see your hard work paying off and know that you’re going somewhere,” Willis said.

Gateway Motorsports Park recognizes U.S. Army veteran drag racer

9/11. I saw what was going on. Everybody needs to do their part so I figured I’d do my part. I got out in 2012,” Willis said.

“My father got me started in motorcycle drag racing. When I came back from the military I needed something to do, and bikes were it. I had never raced before. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to try for a championship, but he stayed on me and showed me I could do it.”

In fact, the son faced the father at least once during 2016 season eliminations – and the kid put dad on the trailer as they say in drag racing.

“I served in the U.S. Army for 12 years. I joined right after

CLUTCH

Continued from B3

pionship is if neither team makes the finals,” Johnson tweeted.

Duh. The Twitterverse has also questioned his scouting credentials due to some major praise that in hindsight appears pretty foolish.

“For all of you out there questioning Jimmer Fredette of BYU, he is the real deal. #MenCare”

“If Brandon Knight were to come out, I would take him number 1 in the draft.”

However, if you search long enough through someone’s history, you’re bound to find poor predictions. Heck, look no further than my All-Star Weekend selections just a week ago to see that nobody gets it right all the time. Johnson needs to ensure that he puts together a great staff of people around him. He’s expected to make Rob Pelinka, Bryant’s longtime agent, as general manager. Choosing an agent with deep player connections and a great

PREP

Continued from B3 the ups and downs of being a young team. The Cadets must look out for No. 2 seed Parkway South, who has been surging as of late.

District 7 (at Lindbergh)

Dates: Feb. 25-March 3. Championship Game, March 3, 6 p.m.

Outlook: State contender Webster Groves is the big favorite in this district with the combination of Courtney Ramey and Carte’are Gordon. Lindbergh and Vianney will try to pull the upset.

District 8 (at Jefferson City)

Dates: Feb. 28-March 2. Championship Game, March 2, 7 p.m.

Outlook: This district has only four teams and Troy, Jefferson City, Holt and Battle are all capable of winning the championship.

Class 4

District 3 (at Lutheran South)

Championship Game: March

3, 7 p.m. – St. Mary’s is the top seed after enjoying an excellent regular season as the AAA championships. The top challengers are host Lutheran South and Confluence.

District 4 (at Clayton)

Championship Game: March

“The first two years of racing were hard. I was constantly losing, not understanding, having to constantly go to my father to see how to read a time slip to see what I was doing wrong. After the second year I could figure out what was going on – how to read the bike, read the time slip. That’s when I finally started coming into my own, and this year it finally paid off.”

Willis scored seven wins during GMP’s 2016 bracket racing series at GMP and also won a few more special events.

“These days I’m retired and I race and build motorcycles,” Willis said. “I sell them to my competitors, no problem. If someone needs help and I assist help them, I will gladly share knowledge with them – because I want to keep the competition stiff.”

John Bisci is director of Public Relations at Gateway Motorsports Park.

understanding of the league’s financial structure is a solid move. It certainly worked for the Golden State Warriors, who’s GM Bob Myers has a similar pedigree. Part of the reason the Lakers have fallen so far is because former president Jim Buss and former GM Mitch Kupchak

started to believe that they were smarter than everybody else. The duo made silly moves like choosing Mike D’Antoni over Phil Jackson as head coach in 2012. They also reportedly failed to maintain good relationships with players and agents across the league. As the Lakers president,

Johnson should be able to flash his famous smile and use his charm and charisma to woo superstars back to Tinseltown. Los Angeles is the easiest sell in the league, but Buss and Kupchak had simply fallen out of touch.

The Lakers’ first big move with Johnson behind the wheel

Magic Johnson’s tweets and NBA analyses have earned him the nickname ‘Captain Obvious’ on the Internet. However, the obvious moves are precisely the ones he needs to make as the Lakers chief.

was to move Lou Williams to the Rockets for Corey Brewer and an unprotected first-round pick. Turning Williams into a first-round pick was brilliant, even though they took on Brewer’s bogus contract. As bad as they are though, money isn’t a problem for the Lakers.

By moving their leading scorer,

the Lakers also virtually guaranteed themselves a high pick with the team’s own selection in the lottery this season. It means they’re very likely to land a stud in this year’s deep and talented draft, or they will have a very valuable trading chip going into the draft. Whether by draft or by trade, Johnson just needs to live up to his ‘Captain Obvious’ moniker and play the safest hand to bring a bona fide superstar to Los Angeles. Before his ouster, Kupchak gave Johnson an assist by hiring Luke Walton as head coach. Walton has a bright future ahead. He just needs a superstar to help lead the team out of the doldrums. Lakers fans can gush about Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram and D’Angelo Russell all they want, but none of those guys are the transcendent superstars the Lakers organization is used to building around. They are talented, but Johnson needs to reel in a big fish if he wants the Lakers to be kings of the sea once again.

Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @ IshmaelSistrunk

District 5 (at Parkway Central) Championship Game: March 3, 8 p.m. – A very competitive district that features three teams in Parkway Central, MICDS and Westminster who are all capable of winning the top prize.

District 6 (at St. Clair)

2, 5 p.m. – Defending state champion Vashon is the big favorite in this district as well as the state tournament with talented and veteran crew. No. 2 seed Miller Career Academy is a worthy challenger.

Championship Game: March 3, 7 p.m. – Another wide open district featuring four capable contenders in Sullivan, Parkway West, Borgia and Pacific. A team will have to win two tough games to advance.

District 7 (at St. Charles)

Championship Game: March 4, 7 p.m. – No. 2 seed McCluer is one of the hottest teams in town, but No. 1 seed Jennings has beaten McCluer twice. Both are excellent contenders to advance. Also, watch for host St. Charles.

District 8 (at Wentzville Liberty)

Championship Game, March 3, 6 p.m. – Host Liberty gets the No. 1 seed after winning a conference championship. Fulton and Warrenton will provide solid challenges.

Dasia Batteast

at the Class, 2, District 5 tournament at New Haven. She had 20 points, eight rebounds and made four 3-pointers in a 47-25 victory For the season, Batteast is averaging 16.7 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.7 steals a game in leading the

which are school records for McKinley Classical, which reopened its doors in 2010.

Charles Willis Jr.

When the 2017 season begins on April 1, Charles Willis Jr. will be set to defend his Super Pro Motorcycle class title.

Photo by John Bisci

continued from page B1

organizations that promote diversity in the legal profession and programs that attempt to address the needs of those less fortunate in the community.

฀ proactive retention efforts, including flexible work arrangements to accommodate the family needs of attorneys as they arise during their professional careers.

“The data indicates that the legal profession as a whole is not reflective of the diversity of society at large, either on the national level or the local level,” Norwood said. “Disparities exist when one looks at the percentages of women and people of color in the legal profession.

Some of the reasons for those disparities include historical discrimination, lack of equal educational and employment opportunities, socio-economic hurdles, implicit biases, lack of legal role models, and insufficient legal pipeline programs.”

Norwood said that Lewis Rice and its Diversity and Inclusion Committee are committed to creating programs that will help eliminate such disparities.

Some of Lewis Rice’s most successful internal diversity efforts, Norwood said, include proactively hiring a number

of new African-American attorneys within the last three years, most of whom transitioned laterally from other legal positions.

Lewis Rice also significantly increased the number of women partners during this three-year timeframe. It recently created a Women to Women (W2W) Forum Initiative designed to support, nurture and facilitate the professional development of women through various internal and external programming activities.

Norwood said one of

Lewis Rice’s most successful community outreach efforts has been its sponsorship of the newly formed Heartland St. Louis Black Chamber of Commerce, for which Norwood serves as board vice president. Norwood’s law partner, Apollo Carey, also serves as a board member. Lewis Rice provides pro bono legal corporate formation and tax work, hosts monthly board meetings, and offers conference space for chamber networking events.

Lewis Rice recognizes the historical challenges confronted by women and people of

color in gaining entry into and achieving success in the legal profession.

“That is why we have committed to redoubling efforts in identifying, recruiting, training and promoting promisingly diverse attorneys, and in expanding its community outreach efforts, in recognition of the fact that hiring and promoting diverse legal talent, and working with organizations that enhance and promote diversity, benefit our firm, our clients and the society at large,” Norwood said.

The market for top-

A native of Chicago, Ronald A. Norwood joined Lewis Rice after serving as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Scott O. Wright in Kansas City from 1986 to 1988.

quality legal talent is highly competitive, with all major firms looking to hire the “best of the best.” Norwood said Lewis Rice selectively hires law students – only the top 2 percent of all applicants – as part of its Summer Associate program. The firm’s summer hiring includes active participation in the St. Louis Area Minority Clerkship program.

“Both during the summer program, and after law student graduates have joined the firm as associates, we provide mentorship programs, associate

development programming and client development training,” Norwood said.

“These students are bright, and due to our proactive diversity recruiting efforts, we are proud to bring in students from a wide variety backgrounds. The firm benefits from their fresh perspectives, and we hope that after completing the program, our summer associates are encouraged and motivated to pursue a successful career in law at our firm.”

Norwood, who also serves as chair of the Harris-Stowe State University Board of Regents, personally has mentored dozens of high school, college and law students. A graduate of the University of MissouriColumbia School of Law, Norwood has worked with the students on moot court presentations, and has tutored on law school exam writing, job search skills training and law school survival skills. Lewis Rice also actively supports various law school and professional affinity groups, including the Black Law Students Association, the Hispanic Bar Association, the Mound City Bar Association, the Diversity Awareness Partnership, various LGBTQ organizations and the Women’s Lawyers Association.

Money Smart Essay Contest deadline approaching

Essays and applications due February 24

The Greater St. Louis Financial Education Collaborative, in partnership with United Way of Greater St. Louis, is sponsoring a Money Smart Kid Essay Contest for sixth through eighth grade students in the St. Louis area. To enter the contest, students must be in grades sixth through eighth in a school in one of the following counties: Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe and St. Clair Counties in Illinois; Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, St. Louis, Warren and Washington Counties and the City of St. Louis in Missouri. Students must demonstrate their knowledge of good money management skills by submitting a 300 words or less essay answering: Do you think there is a connection between financial health and physical health? Please explain your

answer. And what can a city, state or national policymaker do to help promote financially healthier citizens? Three winners will be selected to receive scholarships, with a grand prize of $2,000. The second place winner will receive $1,000 and a third place finalist will receive $500. The full application and contest guidelines can be downloaded at www. moneysmartstlouis.org. Applications and essays can be submitted via email to

moneysmart@umsl.edu; fax to 314-516-5354 Attention Money Smart Kid; or mail to Money Smart Kid Essay Contest, Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Education, 607 Tower, 1 University Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63121. Essay submissions are due Friday, February 24 by 5 p.m.

Photo by Wiley Price

Living It

‘Soul of Ferguson’ set for release

Brian Owens relays Motown groove with STL flavor

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

The title is a nod to his hometown, but in listening to Brian Owens sing his heart out on “Soul of Ferguson,” it is clear that he’s also paying homage to the early days of Motown. Owens has a knack for reinventing the frame within the legendary label just as they were crossing over into pop culture – right before the sound got funky.

With a sound that still manages to be uniquely his own, Owens and his Deacons of Soul backing band pay tribute to the music with catchy choruses and beats made famous by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, The Temptations and pre-“What’s Going On” Marvin Gaye – and that’s a good thing. “I wanted this album to feel like a live show,

See SOUL, C4

‘Uncle’ Charlie Wilson returns

Beloved R&B veteran set to play the Chaifetz on Friday

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

“I love St. Louis – it was the funk city,”

Charlie Wilson told The American back in 2013.

“This city was there for me all the time, so as long as y’all will have me, I’m going to keep coming back.”

He kept his word. After experiencing one of the most storied comebacks in music history, Wilson has always kept St. Louis top of mind and included the city on his roster of stops for his tours – which have become an annual thing. It’s the least he could do after St. Louis threw their support behind him and his brothers during his days in The Gap Band.

Wilson said, “We used to play there all the time back in the day when Dr. Jockenstein was the jock of the whole city, and we had such a good time.”

The venues sizes have grown since he burst back onto the music scene more than a decade ago to become a mainstay at the top of the R&B charts and a beloved touring artist. First it was The Ambassador – then he moved on to the Fox. When he comes to town Friday (Feb. 24), he’ll be at Chaifetz Arena with Fantasia and Johnny Gill for his “In It To Win It Tour.”

“As usual, folks should come prepared for a party,” Wilson said.

The tour is named after Wilson’s new album of the same name – which dropped last Friday. The album features Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Robin Thicke, Lalah Hathaway, Pitbull and T.I. – who joined Charlie on the first single, “I’m Blessed.”

Wilson blessings are a recurring theme in his

After experiencing one of the most storied comebacks in music history, Charlie Wilson has always kept St. Louis top of mind and included the city on his roster of stops for his tours – which have become an annual thing.

live performances as well. He always takes time to thank God not only for his comeback, but his health and his sobriety.

He’s a prostate cancer survivor and it’s been more than twenty years since a drug addiction sent his career – and life – into a downward

spiral. But his struggles have now become his testimony to fans that anything is possible to

See WILSON, C4

Clay files suit over Ferguson painting

American Staff

U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri went to federal court Tuesday morning to protect the 1st Amendment rights of a young constituent and to defend the Constitution.

Clay, Missouri’s senior Democrat in Congress, filed a lawsuit alleging that Stephen Ayers, the architect of the U.S. Capitol, had arbitrarily and unconstitutionally suppressed, and retroactively censored, the award-winning painting entitled Untitled #1, created by young St. Louis artist David Pulphus. The painting earned 1st place honors in the 2016 Congressional Art Competition in Missouri’s 1st congressional district. “David’s remarkable painting Untitled #1 …

Congressman takes legal action against removal of David Pulphus art from Capitol

had been on peaceful public display for seven months in the Cannon tunnel of the U.S. Capitol complex along with all the other winning entries from across the nation,” Clay said outside

‘Get Out’ goes in

Jordan Peele relies on fear and funny for racially motivated horror flick

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

There was a collective gasp across various social media channels when the trailer for Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” dropped this past fall. Tens of millions engaged with the clip –mainly because they had never seen anything quite like it. A horror/comedy hybrid that plays on racism and implicit bias as a premise to invoke fear with laughter mixed in is as ambitious as it is audacious.

The teaser for “Get Out” resonated for the questions and intrigue the film posed, more than anything else. Will it be a parody? Will it really be scary? Can it be scary and funny at the same time? Will it be corny? Will it scare everybody or just black people? Will white people get it –or be offended? How will people feel watching a horror flick where the brother doesn’t get killed off in the opening frame? Wait, will the brother be killed off in the opening frame? If cleverly done, “Get Out” could be a springboard for dialogue at a time when racial tensions seem to be boiling over in wake of Trump and the rise of the Alt Right’s unveiled white supremacy movement.

n Strong performances aid Peele tremendously in successfully executing his intention for the film.

the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse in Washington, D.C.

“His artwork was initially reviewed, accepted and approved for public display under the very same standards and criteria that apply to all student entries in this prestigious, annual competition.”

Clay said that while the painting was viewed repeatedly by Members of Congress, congressional staffers, and thousands of visitors without incident or concern, the work was wrongly disqualified and removed from the public exhibit at the direction of the architect of the Capitol, who “shamefully chose to retroactively censor and

See ART, C4

The topic is sensitive – and the territory is unchartered. A movie presented for mainstream appeal, while addressing the anxieties that come with both subtle and overt racism with a side of humor seemed destined to fail, even if the clip had viewers hoping with all of their might that Peele got it right. It’s been several months, but now fans can see for themselves when “Get Out” opens in theatres nationwide on Friday (Feb. 24). Best known as half of the creative duo behind Comedy Central’s Emmy Award-winning sketch comedy series, “Key & Peele,” Peele uses his directorial debut to deliver a hard hit to Hollywood that will probably send his stock soaring. So much so, that he’ll be forgiven for co-starring (with Keegan Michael Key) in “Keanu” – the attempted slapstick about a kitten who moonlights as a gang leader/drug lord.

“Get Out” begins with the “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” premise as college student Rose prepares to bring her black boyfriend Chris to her family’s upstate New York estate to meet them for the first time. Chris is anxious, because he has a feeling that Rose hasn’t told them he is black. And that’s where the similarities between the films end. Chris arrives to become the catalyst for a bone-chilling experience that personifies his worst nightmare and then some. To say anymore would surely deliver spoilers. So that’s where the synopsis will end, except to say that Peele gets it mostly right – especially in his decision to highlight the danger of the nuances of progressives so comfortable in their assumed space as “well meaning” that they don’t recognize their own role in perpetuating bigotry. Strong performances aid Peele tremendously in successfully executing his intention for the film.

“Get Out” stars Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford, Betty Gabriel, comedian Lil Rel Howery and

C4

Inside the

Brian Owens

How to place a calendar listing

1. Email your listing to calendar@stlamerican. com

OR

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

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

black history activities

Thur., Feb. 23, 5:30 p.m., The Lawyers’ Association Black History Month Dinner. Westin Hotel, 811 Spruce St., 63102. For more information, call (314) 454-6543.

Thur., Feb. 23, 6:30 p.m., Conversations with a King: The Life and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. Gregory Carr will perform four of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s greatest speeches, Ferguson Municipal Public Library, 35 N. Florissant Rd., 63135. For more information, visit www. ferguson.lib.mo.us.

Thur., Feb. 23, 6:30 p.m., Maplewood Public Library presents St. Louis Freedom Struggle, 1821-1968. The program will focus on St. Louis’ role during the periods before Brown v. Board of Education and the modern Civil Rights Movement. 7550 Lohmeyer, 63143. For more information, call (314) 781-2174 or visit www. maplewood.lib.mo.us.

Thur., Feb. 23, 6:30 p.m., St. Louis County Library presents The Black Experience: Specializing in the Art of the Impossible Dr. Stefan Bradley and De Nichols discuss unlikely victories and impossible odds that face African Americans. Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information, call (314) 994-3300 or visit www.slcl. org.

Sat., Feb. 25, 1 p.m., Black History Month Cinema: Coach Carter. St. Louis Public Library, Buder Branch, 4401 Hampton Ave., 63109. For more information, call (314) 352-2900 or visit www. slpl.org.

Sat., Feb. 25, 1 p.m., Nightjohn Film Screening.

Sarny, a 12-year-old slave girl faces a relatively hopeless life. Then Nightjohn arrives. A former runaway slave who bears telltale scars on his back, he takes Sarny under his wing and secretly begins to teach her to read and write. St. Louis Public Library, Julia Davis Branch, 4415 Natural Bridge Ave., 63110. For more information, call (314) 3833021 or visit www.slpl.org.

Sat., Feb. 25, 2:30 p.m., True Light Missionary Baptist Church Progressive League hosts its Annual Black History Program featuring The Dynamic Silver Wings, 2838 James “Cool Papa” Bell Ave., 63106 at Glasgow Ave. For more information, call (314) 531-1801.

Tues., Feb. 28, 6:15 p.m., Westminster Christian Academy presents Night of the Arts: a Celebration of Black History Month

Featuring performances from all of our performing arts groups: choir, band, jazz band, orchestra, drama, and dance. 800 Maryville Centre Dr., 63017. For more information, call (314) 997-2900 or visit www.wcastl.org.

Through Feb. 28, African American Inventors Exhibit St. Louis County Library, St. Louis County Library – Thornhill Branch, 12863 Willowyck Drive. For more information, visit www.slcl. org.

concerts

Fri., Feb. 24, 7 p.m., National Blues Museum presents The Great Migration Tour feat. Fernando Jones, Marquise Knox, and Vasti Jackson. 615 Washington Ave., 63101.

Fri., Feb. 24, 8 p.m. Charlie Wilson’s In it to Win It Tour featuring special guests Fantasia and Johnny Gill, Chaifetz Arena. For more information, visit www.

Featured Event

Tues., Feb. 28, 11 a.m., St. Louis Community College Career Fair. Ninety companies looking to fill fulland part-time positions, as well as offer internship opportunities, will be on campus. Forest Park Campus, Cafeteria, 5600 Oakland Ave., 63110. For more information, call (314) 984-7611 or visit www.stlcc.edu.

ticketmaster.com.

Fri., Mar. 3, 8 p.m. doors, The Lox, Pops in Sauget, IL. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Sat., Mar. 4, 8 p.m., Loyal Family presents Lee Fields & The Expressions. 2720 Cherokee St., 63118. For more information, call (314) 8750233 or visit www.ticketfly. com.

special events

Thur., Feb. 23, 5:30 p.m., The St. Louis American Foundation’s 7th Annual Salute to Young Leaders Networking & Awards Reception. Four Seasons Hotel, 999 N. 2nd St., 63102. For more information, call (314) 533-8000 or visit www. stlamerican.com.

Fri., Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m., Vote

Woke: A rally for Tishaura O. Jones for Mayor. A free musical event for a progressive & equitable city with a speech from mayoral candidate Tishaura Jones. Foam Coffee & Beer, 3359 S. Jefferson Ave., 63118. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Sat., Feb. 25, 6:30 p.m., The Young Friends of the Missouri History Museum present the 3rd Annual Trivia Night and Silent Auction. Hosted by Phil Donato of St. Louis Public Radio with cash prizes awarded to the 1st-3rd place tables. 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For more information, call (314) 3619017 or visit www.mohistory. org/TriviaNight2017.

Sat., Feb. 25, 7 p.m., Africa: We Love to Dance - Mega Concert. Star dancer Malena Amusa & Co. take you on a rare journey into African

The Center Stage Comedy Tour starring Sommore (left), Arnez J, Tommy Davidson and John Witherspoon. See COMEDY for additional details.

dance, from the Congo, Guinea, South Africa, and urban Black America. The Lux Theater, 2619 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 458-4282 or visit www. africawelovetodance.com.

Feb. 25 – 26, Peabody Opera House presents Shen Yun. A wondrous tapestry of heavenly realms, ancient legends, and modern heroic tales, taking you on a journey through 5,000 years of genuine Chinese culture. 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, call (858) 405-1261 or visit www.tickets.shenyun.com.

Tues., Feb. 28, 11 a.m., St. Louis Community College Career Fair. Ninety companies looking to fill full- and part-time positions, as well as offer internship opportunities, will be on campus during the events. Forest Park Campus, Cafeteria, 5600 Oakland Ave., 63110. For more information, call (314) 984-7611 or visit www. stlcc.edu.

Mar. 1 – 2, Webster University presents the 2nd Annual Embracing Diversity and Awareness Summit. A summit to address the issues of diversity and inclusion on college campuses. Luhr Building, 475 E. Lockwood Ave., 63119. For more information, call (314) 2468250.

Fri., Mar. 3, 6 p.m., University City Chamber of Commerce hosts Lucky U City Casino Night. Featuring a variety of casino-style games, great prizes, raffles and silent auctions, drinks and complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Mandarin House Banquet Center, 8004 Olive Blvd.,

63130. For more information, call (314) 337-2489 or visit www.ucitychamber.com.

Mar. 3 – 4, PNC and Dance St. Louis present Arts Alive New Dance Horizons V: Women Who Inspire Three nationally reputed female choreographers will set original dance pieces with three local companies –MADCO, Saint Louis Ballet, and The Big Muddy Dance Company. Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center, 1 University Blvd., 63121. For more information, call (314) 534-6622 or visit www. dancestlouis.org.

Sat., Mar. 4, 12 p.m., 2017 Diversity Teacher Job Fair. Designed to advance individuals of color within St. Louis Independent Schools. Meet and Interview with 22 Local Private Independent Schools. MICDS, 101 N. Warson Rd., 63124. For more information, call (314) 567-9229 or visit www. independentschools.org/2017teacher-job-fair.

Sat., Mar. 4, 6:30 p.m., SouthSide Early Childhood Center invites you to Discover the Possibilities Gala and Auction. Come celebrate our mission and vision, and discover how you can help us make the impossible - possible for the children and families we serve. Ritz Carlton St. Louis, 100 Carondelet Plaza, 63105. For more information, call (618) 655-0425 or visit www.southside-ecc.org.

Thur., Mar. 9, 6 p.m., Kingdom House presents the Fifth Annual Spring Bling Party & Auction. Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres while bidding on a variety of items donated by local gift shops, artisans and individuals. Proceeds will fund programs that support local underresourced women. Boo Cat Club, 812 Union Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 260-6369 or visit www. kingdomhouse.org.

comedy

Fri., Feb. 24, 8 p.m., Maryville African Students Organization invites you to African Comedy Night Featuring Africa’s finest, IamDulo. Buder Commons, 650 Maryville University Dr., 63141. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sat., Mar. 4, 8 p.m., The Center Stage Comedy Tour starring Sommore, Arnez J, Tommy Davidson and John Witherspoon, Chaifetz Arena. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Sat., Feb. 25, 1 p.m., Sunni Hutton’s “The Art of

Hurting” Book Release. Mesa Home, 2519 Cherokee St., 63118. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Tues., Feb. 28, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Rajiv Surendra, author of Elephants in My Backyard: A Memoir. When Surendra (Mean Girls) read Life of Pi and discovered it was being adapted into a major motion picture, he embarked on a ten-year quest to land the lead role—then didn’t get the part. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 367-6731 or visit www. left-bank.com.

Through February 28, St. Louis County Library’s Winter Reading Club. All ages are invited to participate. For more information please call 314 994-3300 or visit www.slcl.org/winter-readingclub.

Wed., Mar. 1, 7 p.m., St. Louis Public Library presents Read It Forward with Lamar Giles, author of Fake ID. Central Branch, 1301 Olive St., 63103. For more information, call (314) 2412288 or visit www.slpl.org.

Fri., Mar. 3, 7 p.m., Pulitzer Arts Foundation presents the 100 Boots Poetry Series feat. Rae Armantrout & Evie Shockley. Armantrout will discuss her most recent collection, Partly: New and Selected Poems. Shockley will discuss her collection, the new black, and her study Renegade Poetics: Black Aesthetics and Formal Innovation in African American Poetry. 3716 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 754-1850 or visit www. pulitzerarts.org.

Mon., Mar. 13, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library hosts author Beth Kobliner author of Make Your Kid a Money Genius. The key to raising a money genius is instilling values that make people successful—not just financially, but in life: delaying gratification, working hard, living within your means

and getting a good education. Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information, call (314) 994-3300 or visit www.slcl. org.

lectures and workshops

Fri., Feb. 24, 11 a.m., St. Louis Public Library invites you to Crisis in Education for Children in AfricanAmerican High Schools: 101 A history lesson about the education of African-American children in St. Louis. Followed by a panel discussion on the disparate treatment of AfricanAmerican students. Carondelet Branch, 6800 Michigan Ave., 63111. For more information, call (314) 725-9224 or visit www.slpl.org.

Sat., Feb. 25, 12 p.m., Cultivate Community Masterclass: Social Media Strategies to Save Time & Money. This interactive class helps entrepreneurs design an effective social media strategy and explores tools that make maintaining a social media presence easier. CIC@CET, 20 S. Sarah St., 63108. For more information, call (314) 8840762 or visit www.brandofstl. eventbrite.com.

Wed., Mar. 8, 6:30 p.m., The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis invites you to Decision-Making: Using Award Letters to Assess Affordability. Students will get help with understanding award letters, comparing financial aid packages, and determining next steps as they prepare to attend college. 8215 Clayton Road, 63117. For more information or to RSVP, call (314) 725-7990.

art

Mon., Feb. 27, 7 p.m., Citizen Artist St. Louis invites you to a Mayoral Town Hall on Arts and Culture. Topics

will focus on leadership and policy development for the arts. Confirmed candidates are Jeffrey Boyd, Antonio French, William Haas, Tishaura Jones, Lyda Krewson, Jonathan McFarland, and Lewis Reed. The Luminary, 2701 Cherokee St., 63118. For more information, visit www. citizenartstl.com.

Through Mar. 31, National Blues Museum presents Women of the Blues: A Coast-to-Coast Collection 615 Washington Ave., 63101. For more information, call (314) 925-0016 or visit www. womenoftheblues.com.

theatre

Through Mar. 5, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents To Kill a Mockingbird. Scout Finch is growing up in Depression-era

Sat., Feb. 27, 8 a.m., Youth Mental Health First Aid. Designed for adults who work with youth to help them identify and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders and focuses on early intervention. Behavioral Health Response, 12647 Olive Blvd., Ste. 200, 63141. For more information or to register, visit www. mhfamissouri.org/projectaware-training-schedule.

Sat., Feb. 27, 6:30 p.m., Sickle Cell Association Support Group. We provide educational, emotional, and social support to caregivers and individuals living with Sickle Cell Disease and other related disorders. Meetings are every fourth Monday of the month. 5615 Pershing Avenue, Ste. 29, 63112. For more information, call (314) 833-6751 or visit www. sicklecellassociation.org.

University, investigates the phenomena of visual word recognition, memory and attention systems and their effect on individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. 50 Gay Ave., 63105. For more information, call (314) 8624859 or visit http://bit.ly/ STLOasisCI.

Mondays, 6:30 p.m., Yoga & Chill. A beginner-friendly, all levels (75 minute) class that spends time working through fundamental yoga postures and shapes while exploring alignment, breathing, relaxation techniques, and a good time. Modern Healer Studio, 1908 Cherokee St., 63118. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

spiritual

Alabama, where poverty and prejudice dominate daily life. With the guidance of her wise father, Atticus, the rebellious Scout discovers her own path. 130 Edgar Rd., 63119. For more information, visit www. repstl.org call (314) 968-4925.

Through Mar. 14, Max & Louie Productions’ presents “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” The Kranzberg Arts Center. For more information, visit http:// maxandlouie.com/

health

Sat., Feb. 25, 12 p.m., Back Trap Yoga - 90’s Edition. An hour long, all levels yoga class with music as its backbone. 2720 Cherokee Performing Arts Center, 63118. For more information, call (314) 750-3887 or visit www. backtrapyoga.eventbrite.com.

Tues., Feb. 28, 2 p.m., Seniors Home Care presents Family Caregiver Training This free training opportunity provides tools to use when caring for a parent or loved one in multiple settings. Topics include monitoring and handling medications, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia awareness, stress and much more. For more information or to reserve a spot, call (314) 962-2666 or visit www.seniorshomecare. com.

Wed., Mar. 1, 9 a.m., The Sickle Cell Association invites you to join them for Sickle Cell Advocacy Day. Meet Missouri legislators and law markers to discuss important issues facing individuals living with Sickle Cell Disease as well as their caretakers and families. 201 West Capitol Ave., Jefferson City, 65101. For more information, call (314) 833-6751 or visit www. sicklecellassociation.org.

Tues., Mar. 7, 1 p.m., St. Louis Oasis presents the Contemporary Issues Series: Attention and Memory in Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr. David Balota, Washington

Fri., Feb. 24, 7 p.m., Believer’s Temple Word Fellowship Men’s Ministry invites you to Swag with a Purpose: Faith, Family, Finance. Calling all men to come out and experience a word that is needed to uplift our men and support them through new thought processes and most importantly showing strength in numbers. 2115 Chambers Rd., 63136. For more information, call (314) 3880801 or visit www.eventbrite. com.

Sat., Feb. 25, 5 p.m., Jubilee World hosts a Christian Open Mic Night. 5341 Emerson Ave., 63120. For more information, visit www. jubileeworld.org.

Sat., Feb. 25, St. Louis County Library presents the Gift of Gospel Celebration Featuring Eneazer Blissett Layne, Pastor David Catron, and the New Mount Zion choir. Lewis & Clark Branch, 9909 Lewis-Clark Blvd., 63136.

Sat., Feb. 25, 5 p.m., Jubilee World hosts a Christian Open Mic Night. 5341 Emerson Ave., 63120. For more information, visit www. jubileeworld.org.

Loyal Family presents Lee Fields & The Expressions. For more information, see CONCERTS.

LaKeith Stanfield of “Atlanta” fame. Also among the costars is Jennings native and Yale School of Drama graduate Marcus Henderson.

As an ensemble, each actor is concise in his or her respective role. Together they present a cohesive unit to bring all of the elements of “Get Out” together – from the fear factor to the funny.

The film drags as the buildups for suspense labor far too long, but in just about every instance the wasted time is redeemed when the action hits and the thrills kick in.

And while more punchlines would’ve been welcome, Peele knew he was skirting tricky territory and didn’t want to push “Get Out” into farce mode, which was very much apprecithose who believe.

of life. That’s where we get to ‘Beautiful Day,’ which has my kids on it, ‘When a Grown Man Cries,’ and ‘Prayer for My Children.’”

He gives God all of the glory for the career resurgence he’s enjoyed since the 2004 release of “Charlie Last Name Wilson.” And he makes sure to give his fans a live show they will never forget.

“Every night I go on stage, I act like it’s going to be my last performance – so I try to give the show of my life every time I come out on that stage,” Wilson said.

When people come to a Charlie Wilson show, I want them to leave saying, ‘I’ve never seen anybody work so hard’ – and to see that I did it

from the bottom of my heart.” Charlie Wilson’s latest album “In It To Win It” is now available at music outlets. For more information on the album, visit www.charliewilsonmusic. com. His tour will stop at Chaifetz arena at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, February 24. For more information on the tour, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

like you’re experiencing it with us right there in the moment,” Owens said.

His record that drops on Friday (Feb. 24) does not disappoint – especially for connoisseurs of classic R&B and soul. The album is a joint effort between his own indie label, Ada Cole Records and The Purpose Music Group. It will be distributed worldwide at all digital music outlets including iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, Apple Music, Google Play and Rhapsody.

“This album kind of led me into what it was. It ended up coming together like an oldschool LP, with a Side A and a Side B,” Owens said. “Side A represents love songs, whether it be for God and humanity, in ‘For You,’ or for my wife, in ‘Pretty Fine Thing,’ and ‘She’s Mine.’ Side B is what I call life songs, about how love is translated into other areas

Through the ‘Soul of Ferguson’ Owens expresses love and hope – and how he was able to find inspiration in one of the region’s darkest hours.

“I wrote ‘Prayer’ after that tragic moment that happened in my hometown in 2014,” Owens said.

He was referring to the unrest sparked by the death of Michael Brown Jr. on August 9, 2014.

“I was thinking about how I’m raising my kids at a time when things like this are happening,” Owens said. “If anything happens to me, I want them to know exactly how I feel about God and exactly how I feel about their mother. That song is very specific about these things: Color and country don’t define who you are.

God’s love is the only thing that sets each one of us apart, but binds us together. The last

track, “Benediction,” is not so much a conclusion as a new beginning.”

Owens was fortunate enough to snag a feature with a fellow Ferguson native, Grammy Award-winner Michael McDonald.

They belt out their unique brand of soul on the track “For You.”

The upbeat ode to love, written by Owens is a perfect for the pair to join forces.

“I find great inspiration in getting to collaborate with amazing young talent,” McDonald said in a statement announcing the single’s release.

“This young man is from my hometown of Ferguson. Obviously, I’m not the only one who thinks he’s worldclass. His collaborations are becoming many – and it’s just the beginning.”

“The Soul of Ferguson” by Brian Owens and The Deacons of Soul will be available for download on Friday, Feb. 24. For more information on Brian Owens, visit www.brianowenssoul.com.

suppress Mr. Pulphus artwork in response to the enormous political pressure he experienced from the Speaker of the House and certain right-wing media outlets.”

He called the action unfair, arbitrary and unconstitutional.

“And beyond that injustice this intolerable and unprecedented action by the Architect of the Capitol has not only deprived my constituent of his 1st Amendment rights, it has also sent a chilling message

to young Americans that their voices are not respected; their views are not valued; and their freedom of expression is no longer protected in the U.S. Capitol.”

For Clay, the case is bigger than a student’s painting.

“This is about defending our fundamental 1st Amendment freedoms which are currently under assault in this country,” Clay said. “And that includes the right to artistic expression – even when that creativity is considered objectionable by some, and applauded by others. That right is strongly protected by Supreme Court precedent.”

He is seeking an appropri-

ate remedy through this federal litigation and is proud to defend both the fundamental rights of his constituent and the 1st Amendment.

The case’s pro bono legal team includes: Leah Tulin, of Jenner & Block, a former Federal District court law clerk; James Williams, of Chehardy, Sherman, Williams ,who is a former civil court district judge; and Kymberly Everson, of the Pacifica Law Group.

“As a Member of Congress who reveres the Constitution, I am confident that justice will prevail,” said Clay.

Brian Owens and fellow Ferguson native, Grammy Award-winner Michael McDonald, collaborated on the soulful track “For You.”

“Get Out” starring Daniel Kaluuya, opens in theaters nation wide on Friday, February 24th.

Be a Tourist in Your Own Town

St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission

Winter and spring fun in St. Louis

Mardi Gras, Arch Madness, Broadway shows and more

By Kiara Bryant

For the St. Louis American

If you’re feeling the wintertime blues, there’s no need to worry because spring is right around the corner. But in the meantime we suggest that you explore St. Louis with one of the following entertainment options. We are certain there’s an event here that’s bound to put a smile on everyone’s face.

St. Louis boasts one of the largest Mardi Gras celebrations outside of New Orleans including The Bud Light Grand Parade on Saturday, February 25. If you haven’t already, make plans to attend the popular parade in Soulard this weekend.

March means hosting our very own March Madness as the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness Basketball Tournament takes over the Scottrade Center, March 2-5. Get ready to be amazed as four nights of fast-paced college basketball begins. Please visit www.archmadness.com for more information about purchasing tickets.

Have you heard of Dirty Muggs? This local band is no stranger to the St. Louis stage. Their wide variety of music will make you dance, as they know how to put on a concert full of their high energy sound. Catch them live at Lumiere

Place on March 11 with shows at 7 and 9:30 p.m.

At The Fabulous Fox Theatre, don’t miss the story of music mogul, Berry Gordy and Motown when the Broadway musical “Motown the Musical” comes to town, Mar. 21-26, featuring the classic hits “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “My Girl” and more. Motown is where the careers of Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson and so many other talented individuals began.

The highly anticipated Disney’s “The Lion King” also arrives at The Fabulous Fox Theatre on April 19- May 7. More than 85 million people worldwide who have seen this musical will agree that it is one of the most incredible productions on the Broadway stage. Journey to the Serengeti’s Pride Rock for the iconic tale of adventure and hope with unforgettable music and visual art and you’ll see why “The Lion King” is the winner of six Tony Awards including Best Musical.

Stay tuned for the latest from the African cinema screen at the 2017 African Film Festival on March 31-April 2 at Washington University. This event is free, open to the public and you don’t need a ticket to attend. Celebrating its 12th year, the film festival features a diverse array of screenings from African countries and even offers films for younger audiences. Mark your calendars for this cultural celebration of African film in the St. Louis area and visit www. africanfilm.wustl.edu for more information. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to great ideas of things to see and do in St. Louis.

Please visit www.explorestlouis.com for more exciting happenings in the St. Louis region and check out our calendar of events for upcoming entertainment that may peak your interest.

Photo by Matthew Murphy

Disney’s “The Lion King” plays at The Fabulous Fox Theatre April 19- May 7.

Art Museum Welcomes Women to Discuss the Body and Fashion in Art

By Yvonne Osei, 2016-17 Romare Bearden Graduate Fellow

In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Saint Louis Art Museum will present, If It Wasn’t for the Women, a program dedicated to honoring women of color making signiicant strides in the arts. Please join us on Saturday, March 4 at 11:00 am for this free annual presentation in The Farrell Auditorium.

This year, the theme of the program is centered on the body, fashion and art, and focuses on emerging African and African-American professionals in the art world who pay particular attention to black representation. If It Wasn’t for the Women: The Body, Fashion and Art highlights the achievements and contributions of Aviana Brown, Kat Reynolds, and Lina Iris Viktor. These three women will speak about their creative research, which relects an in-depth investigation of the black body, its representation across various historical trajectories and its continued symbolic relevance in the fashion and art worlds.

by various inluences of Egyptian culture.

Kat Reyonlds, a St. Louis based artist collaborates with individuals she comes into contact with by happenstance or through friendship. In her work, Reynolds emphasizes the humanness of the black body that too often has been exploited over history. She also addresses black mental health through form, gesture, gaze and a calculated sensitivity to emotions of her subject as well as herself.

If It Wasn’t For the Women: The Body, Fashion and Art

Saint Louis Art Museum Farrell Auditorium Saturday, March 4, 2017, 11am – 12.30pm

Aviana Brown, a native of St. Louis, is a fashion and visual cultural historian whose research investigates the representation of women in Ancient Egyptian civilization. Her work also highlights how the modern woman has been fashioned

Lina Iris Viktor is a conceptual artist born in London to Liberian parents. She lives and works in New York and London and she frames her own body as visual content for her works, which is characterized by relationships between contemporary and ancient art.

The Art Museum hopes that you join for If It Wasn’t For the Women: The Body, Fashion, and Art on Saturday, March 4 at 11:00 am in The Farrell Auditorium. The program is free, but tickets are required. Tickets may be reserved in person at the Museum’s Information Centers or through MetroTix at metrotix.com or 314.534.1111. All tickets reserved through MetroTix incur a service charge; the service charge is waived for tickets picked up at the Museum. Same day tickets can be obtained on-site,

History Museum receives deputy fire chief’s uniform jacket

Stanley Newsome blazed trails in the St. Louis Fire Department

By Christopher Gordon For The St. Louis American

The Missouri History Museum has made an important new addition to its clothing and textile collection with retired St. Louis deputy fire chief Stanley Newsome’s uniform jacket. During his 38 years with the St. Louis Fire Department, Newsome witnessed many changes in both the makeup and the practices of the department. A number of those changes were a direct result of his efforts to create a more equitable system for AfricanAmerican firefighters.

Newsome, who found himself searching for the right career path after he finished high school, had no intention of becoming a firefighter until a friend encouraged him to take the firemen’s entrance exam. He passed the test in 1961 and entered the fire academy as one of only six black cadets out of a class of 47. He soon experienced the discriminatory environment firsthand.

When this approach failed, the black firefighters paired with attorney

Elliott of the NAACP to sue the city of

In 1976, F.I.R.E. won a civil discrimination lawsuit against the St. Louis Fire Department. The case marked the first time in history that a court had ordered a consent decree that resulted in a 50/50 hiring and promotions ratio. It was hailed nationwide as a landmark case for African-American firefighters, and soon black firefighters in several other U.S. cities used it as precedent to establish similar policies in their own departments.

Newsome joined the fire department at a pivotal time in its history. Fire Chief Robert Olson had just desegregated St. Louis’s firehouses when Newsome was accepted into the academy. Olson eliminated black engine companies 10 and 28, as well as Hook and Ladder Company 9, which had existed since the 1920s. Newly hired black firefighters were assigned to work in previously all-white firehouses where they encountered a culture of racism and ostracism.

These working conditions propelled Newsome and other black firemen, such as George Baker and Wendell Goans, to band together and advocate for improvements. The three men went on to found the Firefighters Institute for Racial Equality (F.I.R.E.), an organization dedicated to advancing fair and equal treatment of personnel within the St. Louis Fire Department.

Balancing their desire to force change with the desire to preserve their jobs was tricky for members of F.I.R.E. They brought attention to their cause through picketing and other acts.

Newsome took the organization’s demands directly to the department’s leadership; they dismissed his concerns as unfair and unfounded.

Besides his work supporting AfricanAmerican firefighters, Newsome was an active voice in the city’s black community for many important issues. Joining African-American officials and leaders, in 1989 he served on Police Commissioner Nesby Moore Jr.’s blue-ribbon commission analyzing black-onblack crime in St. Louis. Newsome was also critical of a series of commercials paid for by the U.S. Census Bureau. The advertisements were created to encourage African Americans to participate in the 1990 census, but they instead portrayed blacks as break-dancing “boogalooers” and welfare mothers. Newsome told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that many would find the commercials offensive. He was right. Shortly after the consent decree was in place, Newsome was among 12 black firefighters who were promoted to captain all on the same day in 1976. The group was dubbed the “Dirty Dozen” by the firemen’s union, revealing the tensions that still existed within the department. Nevertheless, Newsome continued to move forward in his career. His dedication to the St. Louis Fire Department was rewarded in 1986 when he was promoted to battalion chief after a 10-year post as captain. He became a deputy fire chief in 1990. Newsome’s distinguished career established a tradition in his family: He and his son Stanley Newsome Jr. became the first black father-and-son firefighter team in the city’s history.

The Missouri History Museum is honored to receive the uniform jacket Deputy Chief Newsome wore during his years in that position. You can see this jacket in the Museum’s exhibit #1 in Civil Rights: The African American Freedom Struggle in St. Louis, which opens Saturday, March 11.

Forriss

St. Louis.

Aviana BrownKat ReynoldsLina Iris Viktor

Retired St. Louis deputy fire chief Stanley Newsome

Stanley Newsome’s graduating class

Happy Anniversary wishes to Lemont and Theresa Mitchell, who will celebrate their first wedding anniversary on February 28.

Reunions

Beaumont Class of 1967, if you have not received a letter or e-mail, call 314-533-6087 or Beaumontclassof67@ sbcglobal.net with your contact information. Several activities are planned for the week of June 6-11, 2017. Meet & greet on 6-9-17, banquet on 6-1017, church services 6-11-17 at Greater Mt. Carmel and

a brunch after services. Our scheduled meetings are 3-1817, 4-15-17 and 5-20-17 at the Normandy library at 1:30 p.m.

Beaumont Alumni Class 1968 meetings in preparation for their 50th Class Reunion will be held at STL County Library, 7606 Natural Bridge, St. Louis MO, 63121 on Saturdays, 1-4 p.m. on Feb. 25, March 25, April 22, May 20 and June 24. For more information email bhsco1968@ att.net or call 314 869-8312.

Beaumont High School, Class of 1978 will celebrate its 40-year reunion in 2018. For further information, please contact: Marietta Shegog Shelby, 314-799-5296, madeshe@sbcglobal.net.

Celebrations

Birthdays

Happy 40th Birthday to Paul J. Simpson on February 24! Our prayer is that God will continually crown your life with His goodness. We love you, Mom and Dad.

Mrs. Cleo Vanderford celebrated her 98th birthday on February 12 at the Hazelwood Civic Center with friends and family.

On February 27, Willie James Minton will celebrate his 90th birthday. Happy Birthday and God bless you!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful niece, Chermeka Jones on February 25! Love, Tracy Neal

Sumner Class of 1965 is planning a “70th” Birthday Cruise for October 2017. If you’re interested and want to receive more information, please contact Luther Maufas (314) 541-4556, Brenda Smith Randall (314)382-1528, or Laura Young (314) 328-3512 with name, address so the info can be mailed to you.

Sumner Class of 1967 is planning its 50-year reunion. Please contact Carlotte Algee Stancil at algee1999@ yahoo.com; DonnaYoung Rycraw at donnarycraw@ aol.com or Stella Smith Hunt at stellalhunt58@sbcglobal. net, 314-381-5104 with email, address and phone number. Sumner Alumni Association

hosts its 14th Annual Membership Round-Up Sunday, February 26, 2017, 1-4 pm at Sumner High School. Events: Reception 12:45-1:45 pm (gym) with displays, souvenirs and more; New/renewal alumni memberships (vestibule); Program 2 pm (auditorium) with a great line-up of entertainment. Canned goods accepted for Ville church food pantry. Contact: J. House at 314.420.3442. Vendors contact B. Louis at 314.385.9843 (fee $50 in advance) or email: sumneralumniassn@yahoo. com.

Vashon Class of 1957 is having its 60-year reunion on May 20, 2017 at the Atrium at the rear of Christian

N.E. Hospital on Dunn Road. Classes 1955-1959 are welcomed. For more information, please contact Lovely (Green) Deloch at 314867-1470, Marlene (Randall) Porter at 314-653-0107, Mae (Simmons) Mahone at 314653-0818 or Phyllis (Bolden) Washington at 314-531-9925.

Vashon Class of 1967 is planning its 50-year reunion and is need of contact information for all interested alumni. Please contact JoAnn Alvoid at alvoidjoe8@gmail. com; Sarah (Taylor) Robinson at srobinson647@hotmail. com; or Sonya (Walker) Smith at 314.381.8221, with your address, email and phone number.

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

MO 63103 FREE OF

Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability. We prefer that notices be emailed to us! However, notices may also be sent by mail to: Kate Daniel, 2315 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103

Deadline is 10 a.m. on Friday. If you’d like your class to be featured in a reunion profile, email or mail photos to us. Our email address is: reunions@ stlamerican.com

Paul J. Simpson

Cleo Vanderford

Willie James Minton

Chermeka Jones

Photos by John Scott

Swag Snap of the Week

Young leaders…stand up! I have not taken the dry cleaning plastic off of my power suit, because I want it to be fresh and crisp as we toast the newest class of future leaders at The St. Louis American Foundation’s 7th Annual Salute to Young Leaders Awards and Networking Reception TONIGHT at The Four Seasons. I’ve been saying it for weeks and now, I’m issuing the absolute last reminder. If you are reading this between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 on Thursday, put the paper down (who am I kidding … put your phone down or log off), throw on your freshest “I’m too fly for them not to give me this job” interview outfit and get down to the Four Seasons so you can help me say “I told you so.” If you’re reading this any time after, you missed the professional networking opportunity of the year and will have to read up on it in the recap. Listen, y’all should trust me by now when I tell you something is a “can’t miss.” So don’t get caught slipping on the chance to praise young people making power moves while getting your professional networking on at the same doggone time. If you don’t have your tickets, visit www.stlamerican.com or call (314) 5338000.

Young M.A.’s makeup date. She would have a fit with me calling it that because she was technically never supposed to be at The Marquee in the first place, but that’s what it felt like – mainly because she kept apologizing about the mix-up. Nelly Da Celeb (not to be confused with Mr. Country Grammar) should be thrilled to know that rising rapper Young M.A. did everything in her power to let everyone that it wasn’t his fault. She blamed scam artists “who don’t want to see me win” for the whole situation. The bad news is that most of the folks who had the Marquee bursting at the seams – and threatened a melee because she wasn’t in the building – didn’t show up to actually see her in the flesh. But there was a silver lining to the whole thing, because the folks who came through were clearly ride or die and knew every word to all of her songs. There are only about five of them, but she’s fresh in the game, so I can’t roast her for the limited library of selections. Her performance was cute. I wish I could say the same about the never-ending rotation that hit the stage before her. The night wasn’t as long I expected, but still labored on like you wouldn’t believe for a Thursday. And the transitions between the acts until she got on stage were quietly a mess. I’m hoping to bypass the excessive lag time between when the show starts and the main attraction takes the stage from this point forward – at least when I’m at a concert venue as opposed to a club – or I might have to stop bothering. Saturday night live. I was expecting bye week of sorts with the nightlife scene as the folks geared up for Mardi Gras weekend and Art, Beats and Lyrics. But let me tell y’all, Saturday night was quietly lit. MOOD had the dial on doing the absolute most (in a good way, of course) for Style Code Saturdays. Anytime the bartenders were taking the host (whoever he was) up on the offer for a twerk break, you know the party was all the way live. It was the same story when I scooted over to the Marquee.

The Animal House in Delmar Hall. Since I’m already talking about live parties, I might as well tell y’all how your aunties and quietly elderly play cousins were Sunday night, in case they didn’t text you back or purse dialed you with loud music when you were in search of a babysitter to keep your weekend going up through President’s Day. When I tell you the Delmar Hall was all the way live like the good old days, know that I’m talking Used Jeans, Cross Colours and Jeans West (the one in the late, great River Roads Mall) days. Some of them apparently hadn’t been out since the Animal House was open, which made the night even more fun, because they never got the memo that people don’t dance at the club anymore for real. Baby, some of the ladies were giving Oaktown 357 choreography when Charlie Chan Soprano brought that heat on the turntables. The woman in head-to-toe Fila – body dress, footies and tennis shoes – was probably my favorite reveler of the night. And then Dirty Muggs had the nerve to play “The Cupid Shuffle” and “The Wobble” during their set. Listen – and this is no diss to the millennials and ‘nem – but I know now more than ever that the throwbacks do it best when it comes to kickin’ it. If I start naming folks, I will leave somebody off. So just know that all your favorite folks had the Delmar Hall buzzing for their stroll down memory lane. Mocha’s Mardi Gras b-day bash. She’s been pretty chill on the scene lately, but my girl Mocha Latte is coming back with a bang for her birthday Saturday night at The OBar. In related news – girl – can you get whoever did your makeup for that promo flyer to be on call for me when I feel like getting glamourous to beat these streets? That face is everything. But anyway, back to the party. Y’all know Mocha and the folks get it in when she has a set. And I’m certain that Saturday will be no different. The party starts at 10 p.m.

8Ball & MJG at ABL. There are a few performers who can never come to St. Louis too many times in my book. Beyoncé and 8Ball & MJG are at probably at the top of my list. Hey, everybody has their guilty pleasure. Mine happens to be two gold-grill-wearing trap pioneers from Memphis – get on or get over it. Anyway, when I heard that they would be back in St. Louis for a third time in about six months as the rap veteran headliner for the return of Arts, Beats and Lyrics tomorrow (Friday Feb. 24) at NEO, needless to say I was over the moon. Now I know that they show up to the stage when they feel like it, but ABL ends at midnight. So I wouldn’t dillydally around thinking they won’t hit the stage until 2 a.m. As per usual, I’m pretty sure that this ABL is going to be one of my highlights of the year.

Monica, Bre and Sam Saturday night @ MOOD

Cardio Queen D and Derrick Plair kept it old school Sunday night

Kelly Chapman, Vernice Hill and Cher Phillips were part of the house party vibe Sunday night @ Delmar Hall

Erica, Tiffany, Kim and Sydney were part of the turn up Saturday @ MOOD

Eddie Holman, Dione Neal, Yemi Adewunmi and Kayla came through to represent for the National Sales Network Thursday @ The UBar

Shelia and Kayln Jones mingled with the National Sales Network event Thursday night @ The Ubar

Bre and Amber perched in VIP Saturday @ HG

Debbie, Mika and Pam were dressed to impressed @ The Marquee Saturday night

Vee, Latrice and Sabrina started their weekend @ MOOD Friday night

Bianca and Kara headed over to HG Friday night

Michelle, Hyde and Orlando pose with rising rap star Young M.A. just before she hit the stage Thursday night at The Pageant.

SALARY STUDY

Great Rivers Greenway is seeking qualiications from interest and qualiied irm(s), organization(s) and nonproit(s) to complete a salary study and provide analysis of the research. Check www.GreatRiversGreenway.org/jobs and submit by March 6.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Great Rivers Greenway is seeking an enthusiastic and customer service-oriented candidate to join our team as an Administrative Assistant. Check www.GreatRiversGreenway.org/jobs and submit by March 15. EOE

COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSE

Position available immediately

Seeking experienced RN/BSN for clinical and community outreach assignments. Forward resume to info@chipsstl.org

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS MANAGER

Webster University has an opening for a full-time Emergency Operations Manager. Please apply online at http://webster. peopleadmin.com/postings/2243. No phone calls please. Webster University provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, ethnicity, age, protected veteran or disabled status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

ASSESSMENT LIBRARIAN

& COMM. LIBRARIAN

he Instruction and Liaison Services Department of Webster University Library is seeking an Assessment Librarian and a Communications & Outreach Librarian. Please apply online at https://webster.peopleadmin.com/. No phone calls please. Webster University provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender

national origin, ethnicity, age, protected veteran or disabled status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

CODE ENFORCEMENT INSPECTOR

he City of Jennings is accepting applications for a code enforcement inspector. Duties include conducting interior and exterior inspections, writing reports, issuing citations and testifying in court. Must be familiar with ICC codes and have current valid drivers license. hree years experience as an inspector and ICC certiication preferred. Starting annual salary $31,590. Applications available at Jennings City Hall, 2120 Hord Ave. or at www. cityojennings.org. All applications must be returned to Jennings City Hall by Friday, March 3, 2017 at 5 p.m.

NO RESUMES ACCEPTED WITHOUT COMPLETION OF OUR APPLICATION! Completed applications may be mailed, emailed to jobs@cityojennings.org or faxed

Part - Time

CODE ENFORCEMENT INSPECTOR

he

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

he Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis seeks an outgoing Director of Strategic Partnerships to solicit and build relationships with area corporate, foundation and organizations in the bi-state region. For complete position description and information on how to apply, visit KeepArtHappening.org/makeyour-impact/jobs-internships. No phone calls please

WANTED POLICE OFFICERS CITY

OF PAGEDALE

Starting salary $43,680 with beneits. New academy graduate, no experience necessary, must be P.O.S.T. certiied. Application on line at cityofpagedale.com.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Notice is hereby given that he Metropolitan St. Louis

NOTICE TO

Public Works

SEASONAL POSITIONS

(BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made. A pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held on March 7, 2017 at 9:00 a.m., Room 305, City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri.

Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State and Federal laws (including MBE/WBE policies). All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Airmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Speciications” set forth within and referenced at www.stl-bps.org (Announcements).

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Corporation, on behalf of Wexford, will be accepting bids from qualiied contractors and speciically qualiied MBE/WBE Subcontractors & Suppliers that are currently certiied with the

of

Louis’ DBE Program Oice for the following Project: 4220 Duncan Ave located at 4220 Duncan Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108.

A prebid meeting and walk through to be held on hursday, March 2, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. Meet at the Tarlton construction trailer located at 401 South Sarah, St. Louis, MO 63108.

• Bid Due Date and Time: March 10, 2017 at 10 a.m.

• Deliver Bids to:

• Email to JLHutchison@tarltoncorp.com

• For questions, contact: Jill Hutchison at 314-633-3327 (email: JLHutchison@tarltoncorp.com)

Bid Documents explaining the requirements for bidding and performing the work will be made available at the following locations ater 2/20/17:

• Tarlton’s website: www.tarltoncorp.com Under “Subcontractor” link, click on Plan Room to view this project in “Bid Opportunities”

• Cross Rhodes Print and Technologies located at 1712 Mack lind, St. Louis, MO 63110

• Tarlton’s oice trailer at 401 South Sarah, St. Louis MO 63108

Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Tuesday, April 04, 2017, at a place designated. Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualiied by the District’s Engineering Department for: DEMOLITION – CITY OF St. Louis Class I & II license required Plans and Speciications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Speciications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1710 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and speciications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid. he Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on MARCH 21, 2017, then publicly opened and read. Drawings and Speciications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

he prime contractor must have a fully responsive contractor questionnaire on ile with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission at least 7 days prior to bid opening date in order for MODOT to concur with the award of this project. Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State and Federal laws (including DBE policies).

here will be a pre-bid conference for this contract on March 1, 2017, 10:00 a.m., City Hall, 1200 Market Street, Room 305. All bidders are encouraged to attend the pre-bid meeting.

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

he City of St. Louis hereby notiies all bidders that it will airmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals will be aforded 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. Contractors and sub-contractors who sign a contract to work on public works project provide a 10-Hour OSHA construction safety program, or similar program approved by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, to be completed by their on-site employees within sixty (60) days of beginning work on the construction project. he DBE Goal for this project is 13%

Notice to MBE Businesses

Nooter Construction Company 1500 S Second Street St Louis, MO 63141

Is seeking (African American and Hispanic American) businesses for the MSD Lemay Treatment Plant - Bid 8789 Move Chiller project for Union Subcontracting & Supply opportunities in the following areas:

Pipeitter, Painter, and Masonry.

All interested and qualiied business should contact Darin Harper or Chris Gee in writing or via email to discuss these opportunities. All quotes must be received one day prior to the bid opening date of March 1, 2017.

All proposals will be reviewed for lowest and responsible quote. Nooter Construction will be conducting a pre-bid meeting at the Lemay Wastewater Treatment Facility located at 201 E Hofmeister, St Louis, MO 63124 at XXX on February XX, 2017 for all interested bidders.

Plans and speciications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website www.stlmsd.com/msd-work/ bidding-projects/bid-opportunities and search for RFQ 8789 or contact Darin Harper or Chris Gee at 314-421-7600 or email them at dkharper@nooter.com or cagee@nooter.com.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID

Sealed Bids for the construction of the BOYNTON- PURDUE AVE. PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, PAGEDALE, MISSOURI, will be received by the City Clerk at the oice of City Clerk until 1:00 P.M.(Local Time) on March 14, 2017 at which time the received bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Bids received ater that time will be returned unopened. Copies of the Bid Documents, Contract Drawings, and Speciications may be examined at the following locations:

Palladian Consulting Engr.s City of Pagedale 8706 Gravois Road 1420 Ferguson, Ave. St. Louis, MO 63123 Pagedale, MO 63133 Phone (314) 638-9998

McGraw-Hill Dodge www.construction.com

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

BSI Constructors Inc., 6767 Southwest Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63l43

(3l4-781-7820), is bidding as a General Contractor on the Washington University School of Medicine, 4480 Clayton Avenue, Oice Building Addition & Renovation and is interested in receiving subcontract bids and/or material quotations from qualiied subcontractors and qualifying Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises on any or all portions of the contractual work scopes. It is the intent of BSI and the Owner to encourage qualiied Minority and Women owned irms to participate in the execution of the work.

Project Name _____

Washington University School of Medicine 4480 Clayton Ave. Oice Building Addition & Renovations

BID DATE: Tuesday, March 21, 2017 TIME: 10:00AM

Architect: OWH, Inc.

BSI IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Phone: 314-781-7820 Fax: 314-781-1354 i square foot Plan Room www.isqt.com eplan room www.eplanbidding.com

BID NOTICE

E.M. Harris Construction Company (EMH), 2600 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63103 is seeking subcontractor bids for construction of the Pine Lawn Manor located in Pine Lawn, MO. Scopes of work include, but are not limited to: New construction of 41 single family residences on individual lots. NOTE: his invitation is for 29 of the houses involved in the project. Plans for the remaining houses as well as site plans will be forthcoming in the near future.

Section 3, Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises are strongly encouraged to bid.

Project plans & speciications are available for viewing online through an Invitation to Bid and at: · MOKAN Planroom – 4666 Natural Bridge, 63115 – 314-5659675 · SLDC Planroom - 1712 Macklind Ave., 63110 – 314-678-0087

· EMH Planroom – 2600 Delmar, 63103 – 314-436-4426

All bids are due to EMH oice by Mon., March 13, 2017 by 5pm, fax: (314) 436 – 6691.

PREVAILING WAGES (as set by US Department of Labor and Missouri Housing Development Commission immediately prior to start of construction) MUST BE PAID TO ALL WORKERS; CERTIFIED PAYROLL REPORTS REQUIRED.

For questions or additional information, please contact Vic Hofmeister at: vic@emharris.com.

EMH is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

LETTING #8637

LIBERAL ARTS BRIDGE AND MUNY TRIBUTARY IMPROVEMENTS, IN FOREST PARK

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on March 14, 2017, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Speciications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

A pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held on February 21, 2017 at 3:00 P.M. in Room 305, City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri.

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

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

#8636

LETTING

LORETTA HALL & FRANZ PARKS ADA UPGRADE TO COMFORT STATION

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on March 14, 2017, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Speciications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

A mandatory pre-bid walk thru for all contractors bidding on this project will be held on February 21, 2017 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at LORETTA HALL COMFORT STATION and February 22, 2017 from 1:00 P.M. UNTIL 3:00 P.M. AT FRANZ PARK Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State and Federal laws (including MBE/WBE policies).

All bidders must

PUBLIC NOTICE

ST. LOUIS WHARF VENDING DISTRICT

he Riverfront Vending Committee, pursuant to Ordinance 70313, is seeking vendors for the St. Louis Wharf Vending District. he permits will expire December 31, 2017. he minimum annual fee is $1,000 for a non-electric site, $1,200 for a 110V electric site and $1,500 for a 208V electric site. Vendors shall be selected based upon the criteria set forth in the Information For Bidders, which may be obtained from the Street Department at 1900 Hampton Avenue, 314-647-3111, or from the CityArchRiver Foundation at 1 S. Memorial Drive, Suite 700, 314-8813542, or downloaded from the City’s website at http://stlouis-mo.gov/government/ streets. he last day for iling applications for the Vending District is Friday, March 10, 2017.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Notice is hereby given that he Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for Seneca Private I/I Reduction under Letting No. 11059-015.1, at this oice, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at a place designated.

Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualiied by the District’s Engineering Department for:

SEWER CONSTRUCTION – St. Louis County drainlayer’s license required Plans and Speciications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Speciications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1710 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and speciications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid. he Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

LETTING NO. 8640

NORTH BROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS

THRUSH AVENUE TO WALTER AVENUE FEDERAL PROJECT NO STP-9900(665)

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on MARCH 21, 2017, then publicly opened and read. Drawings and Speciications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

he prime contractor must have a fully responsive contractor questionnaire on ile with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission at least 7 days prior to bid opening date in order for MODOT to concur with the award of this project. Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State and Federal laws (including DBE policies).

here will be a pre-bid conference for this contract on March 1, 2017, 10:00 a.m., City Hall, 1200 Market Street, Room 305. All bidders are encouraged to attend the pre-bid meeting.

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

he City of St. Louis hereby notiies all bidders that it will airmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals will be aforded 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.

Contractors and sub-contractors who sign a contract to work on public works project provide a 10-Hour OSHA construction safety program, or similar program approved by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, to be completed by their on-site employees within sixty (60) days of beginning work on the construction project.

he DBE Goal for this project is 13%

LETTING #8638 NORTH RIVERFRONT PARK IMPROVEMENTS

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on March 14, 2017, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Speciications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made. A pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held on February 21, 2017 at 2:00 P.M. in Room 305, City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri.

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

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

CITY OF ST. LOUIS BOARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for Professional Engineering Services for the Traic Management Enhancement Project at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, Federal Project CMAQ9901(644), St. Louis, MO. Statements of Qualiications due by 5:00 P.M., CT, March 2, 2017 at Board of Public Service, 1200 Market, Room 301 City Hall, St. Louis, MO 63103. RFQ may be obtained from website www.stl-bps.org, under On Line Plan Room, or call Board of Public Service 314-622-3535. 16% DBE participation goal.

Altman-Charter Co., requests subcontractor/supplier proposals for the construction of Nathaniel Rivers Place in St. Louis, MO. his is a new development consisting of a 24 Unit Apartment Building & 8 Townhomes. Proposals are due at the oice of Altman-Charter Co., 315 Consort Dr., St. Louis, MO 63011 on or before Wed., March 1, 2017 at 2:00 PM (CT). Qualiied Minority, Section 3, and Women owned businesses are encouraged to submit proposals. Plans can be viewed at FW Dodge, Construct Connect, SIBA, MOKAN, Cross Rhodes Reprographics, and the Altman-Charter plan room in St. Louis. Bidders should contact Mr. Greg Mehrmann with any questions or to submit a proposal at gmehrmann@ altman-charter.com. Our telephone # is (636) 207-8670, and our fax # is (636) 207-8671.

BID NOTICE

Construction Inc. Requests subcontractor and or material supplier quotations from Illinois Department of Transportation Certiied subcontractors, suppliers and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises for the letting to be held March 3, 2017. Interested parties should contact Keller Construction at (618) 656-0033. All quotations must be submitted by 4:30 PM hurs March 2, 2017. Keller Construction is an equal opportunity employer.

Notice to contractors, Special School District is accepting bids for Welding/HVAC labs and Restroom Renovations. For

INVITATION TO BID

Sealed bids will be received by the Construction Manager, S. M. Wilson & Co. for the Work Packages described herein at S. M. Wilson & Company Jobsite Trailer, 1201 Warson Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63124 until 2:00 p.m. on March 09, 2017 (Work Packages #01, #02, #04, #05, #07, #09, #10, & #11) and 2:00 p.m. on March 16, 2017 (Work Packages #03, #06, #08, & #12). Bids will be opened publicly and read aloud at that time. Bids must be hand delivered to the above address. If you elect to mail your bid, it must be mailed to S. M. Wilson & Company Jobsite Trailer, 1201 Warson Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63124.

Attention: Mr. Vernon Pfeil

Subject: Bid Package #07 – West Wing and Music Addition Building Skin

• Work Package #01 – TPO Rooing

• Work Package #02 – Asphalt Shingles

• Work Package #03 – General Trades

• Work Package #04 – Sheetmetal & Flashing

• Work Package #05 – Terrazzo Flooring

• Work Package #06 – Flooring & Tiling

• Work Package #07 – Suspended Acoustical Ceilings

• Work Package #08 – Painting & Intumescent Mastic Fireprooing

• Work Package #09 – Applied Fireprooing

• Work Package #10 – Traic Bearing Waterprooing

• Work Package #11 – Greenhouse

• Work Package #12 – Glass & Glazing

• Work Package #13 – Food Service Equip & Stainless Steel Casework here will be a Pre-bid Site Walk-through Meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 1, 2017. he meeting will be held at Ladue High School, 1201 Warson Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63124 - We will meet in the South parking lot at the S.M. Wilson JOB-SITE TRAILER. he purpose of this meeting is to observe current existing conditions and to address any technical questions concerning the project from prospective bidders. All Contractors are highly encouraged to attend this meeting. hose Contractors who do not attend the Pre-Bid Meeting but wish to schedule a site visit must contact Vernon Pfeil, Project Manager at S. M. Wilson & Co at 314/791-0870. Contractors are not allowed to visit the site unless prior arrangements are made with the Construction Manager. he bid package will be available for viewing ater February 21, 2017 at the following locations:

Smartbidnet: https://secure.smartbidnet.com/External/PublicPlanRoom.aspx ?Id=285908&i=1

PlanGrid: www.plangrid.com

he Bid Package may be reviewed at those locations or may be ordered from Hampton Printing Services (2185 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63139) Contact Hampton Printing Services to order a set of documents. (Keith Tegeler, 314/6339623 phone, keith.tegeler@smwilson.com e-mail, or 314/644-0390 fax.)

he Construction Manager for this project is S. M. Wilson & Co. and the Project Manager is Vernon Pfeil, 314/791-0870 phone, vernon.pfeil@smwilson.com email.

S. M. Wilson & Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer he Ladue School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer

(Announcements).

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Copies of the bid documents may be obtained on or ater 1:00 PM, February 10, 2017, from WEIS DESIGN GROUP, located at 16296 Westwoods Business Park Drive, Ellisville, Mo. 63021. Contact Weis Design Group at wdg@weisdesigngroup.com, to obtain a Bid Document Request Form.

• Hard Copies: A non-refundable deposit of Fity Dollars ($50.00) is required for each set. Please make checks payable to WEIS DESIGN GROUP. No bid documents may be obtained without a deposit.

• Digital Copies: No deposit is required to obtain a digital copy of bid documents.

No bid may be withdrawn within thirty (30) days ater the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids. he City of Dellwood reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any irregularities therein. he work in general shall include tear of and replace shingled rooing, tear of of sheet rooing and replacement with PVC / TPA rooing, lashing repairs, and sheet metal capping of overhang roof edge. Additional items and estimated quantities are inclusive in the Bid Proposal.

Bidders are informed that the DBE goal for this letting is a minimum 15% of the total contract amount. Also, in accordance with the Missouri Prevailing Wage Law, the Contractor will be required to comply with the wage and labor requirements and to pay minimum wages in accordance with the schedule of wage rates established by the Missouri Division of Labor Standards.

Bidders are informed that pursuant to Section 285.530, RSMo, as a condition of the award of any contract in excess of ive thousand dollars ($5,000.00), the successful bidder shall, by sworn aidavit and provision of documentation, airm its enrollment and participation in a federal work authorization program with respect to the employees working in connection to the contracted services. Successful bidders shall also sign an aidavit airming that it does not knowingly employ any person who is an unauthorized alien in connection to the contracted services.

Bidders are informed that the Project is subject to the requirements of Section 292.675, RSMo, which requires all contractors or subcontractors doing work on the Project to provide, and require its on-site employees to complete, a ten (10) hour course in construction safety and health approved by the Occupational

‘You

are lambs in the midst of wolves’

U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry Black preaches on Trump administration at New Horizon

By Chris King Of The St. Louis American

Barry C. Black, the chaplain of the U.S. Senate, had very pointed words for congregants of New Horizon Christian Church in Cool Valley when he spoke there on Saturday, February 11 as part of the church’s 19th anniversary celebration.

“You are lambs in the midst of wolves,” Black said. “Notice I said ‘wolves.’ You’re not dealing with just one wolf.”

In case there was any doubt that Black was talking about the Trump administration, host pastor Rev. B.T. Rice made that plain.

“When you see President Trump, let him know that he does not have to appoint Chaplain Black,” Rice said. “He has a lifetime appointment.”

In fact, the office is not an appointment, but rather an election by majority vote of the members of the U.S. Senate. Black, a retired rear admiral in the U.S. Navy who grew up “in Freddie Gray’s neighborhood” in Baltimore, was elected Senate chaplain on June 27, 2003. At the time, Republicans had a slight majority in the Senate, with 51 senators to the Democrats’ 48; U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords of Vermont was an independent who caucused with the Democrats. George W. Bush was U.S. president.

Black is no stranger to seeing Republicans try to remake (or undo) the federal government, as the Trump administration seems determined to do in its cabinet appointments and an early wave of disruptive executive orders.

Black was a voice of reason and protest during the 16-day federal government shutdown of 2013. “Deliver us from the hypocrisy of attempting to sound reasonable while being unreasonable,” he prayed on the third day of the shutdown. On day 11, he prayed of the senators, “Give them a

Senate, preached at New Horizon Christian Church in Cool Valley on Saturday, February 11 as part of the church’s 19th anniversary celebration. He is longtime friends with host

Rice.

n “You are lambs in the midst of wolves. Notice I said ‘wolves.’ You’re not dealing with just one wolf.”

– Chaplain Barry C. Black

hatred of all hypocrisy, deceit and shame as they seek to replace them with gentleness, patience and truth.”

In his sermon at New Horizon, Black found biblical precedent for God using even a brutal, powerful slave-driver to bring about good on earth.

“If God could take crazy pharaoh, who said, ‘Kill every first-born male son,’ this man who had given a genocidal decree,” Black said, then drew just short of making a

direct comparison to the new U.S. president.

“That’s all the further I’m going. I know B.T. said I’ve got a lifetime appointment, but I’m not going there. Fill in the blanks.” Black’s primary message was directed to the people at the pews, not the president. He reminded them, whatever the political reality that they face, to seek strength and joy in faith.

“Do you know how you misrepresent God,” Black said, “when you don’t manifest joy?”

Nichole Bell attended the service to hear Black preach, though she worships at Way of Life Outreach Ministry in St. Louis, where Bishop Anita W. Kelley is pastor. She said she finds him to be “divinely inspired” and hears a similar message in her home church, where the Trump administration also is dealt with from the pulpit. Bell said of Trump, “Our pastor prays that God puts a bit in his mouth and turns him around.”

A lot of us have an unspoken perspective when it comes to tithing. We don’t always see it the way the pastor explains it. It sounds a little like a “here we go again thing” rather than a “here’s our chance to give back thing.”

My point of reference on this one is not the Old Testament’s edict of offering to the Almighty one tenth (a tithe) of everything God has blessed us with. We all know Mosaic Law required this as an act of gratitude, allegiance and obedience.

I am compelled at this moment to refer to Paul’s letter to Timothy, “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6: 18-19.

Tithes and offerings include the kind of life we lead as believers. I clearly understand the money issue, but I also believe it’s about the behavior, the lifestyle, our attitude reflected in the living principle commanded or demanded of us by Christ. Paul’s charge to Timothy says it best. It points to the “tithe and offering” that has nothing to do with money: “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith.” 1 Timothy 6: 11-12.

Can you imagine what life would be like if you tithed your life’s work? That would mean during the course of a day approximately an hour and a half would be spent in the practice of the aforementioned areas. Can you see yourself deliberately practicing godliness, love and righteousness for at least an hour and a half every day? That would be a real example of faith and belief in Christ demonstrated as He intended.

Paul says you live your life so that when you die, no one will be able to talk ill of you. Yeah, right! But, if during the course of a day, any day, you rendered to God a spirit of faith reflected in an hour and a half of Godly activity in the name of Christ, then maybe everyone could see, touch and feel what it actually means to be Christlike.

An hour and a half is really not that much time. But if I thought more about this kind of tithe and offering, then maybe I could see more of more of my fellow man as being made in the image of the Almighty. Maybe, just maybe, I could possibly see myself that way too. How

Columnist

James Washington

Photo by Wiley Price

Barry C. Black, the chaplain of the U.S.

Pastor B.T.