February 6th, 2025 edition

Celebrating Black History Month

St. LouiS AmericAn

2025 Salute to Business Networking and Awards Luncheon

Uniting the region

Michelle Tucker a true community servant

By Alvin A. Reid

St. Louis American

Few non-profit leaders touch as many lives as Michelle D. Tucker, United Way of Greater St. Louis president and CEO.

The United Way, which just completed another milestone Capital Campaign which raised more than $58 million, currently helps more than one million people each year throughout 16 counties in Missouri and Illinois, which is 1 in 3 residents in its service area.

It provides funding and training resources to over 160 local nonprofit partner agencies. The need is great because now 43% of all households in St. Louis region do not have the monthly income to meet their basic needs.

“Through United Way, our staff, donors and volunteers have had a profound impact on the lives of millions of local individuals and families, raising nearly $3 billion overall to invest back into these communities we call home,” says Tucker.

See TUCKER, A6

Helping shelter St. Louisans

By Sylvester Brown, Jr. St. Louis American

Chris Krehmeyer, CEO of the nonprofit Beyond Housing, wasn’t sure what is his future career would be when a young man - but he knew it would be based in an urban core.

Born in Staten Island, New York, Krehmeyer traveled the globe with his father, who was in the Coast Guard and his mother. His parents, native St. Louisans, moved back to the area when Krehmeyer was in the fourth grade. He was raised in University City and attended Washington University. Krehmeyer wasn’t exactly sure of what he wanted to pursue so he took courses in business and law before taking an urban studies class that piqued his interest.

“I figured if I was going to do something for the rest of my life, I wanted it to be something I was interested in, so I got an undergraduate’s degree in urban studies,” Krehmeyer recalled.

The degree ultimately helped him land a position at Beyond Housing, a nationally recognized community development organization “dedicated to strengthening families and transforming ‘under-re-

Rams Settlement talks silenced

By Alvin A. Reid

St. Louis American

While Mayor Tishaura Jones hopes “cooler heads” at the Board of Aldermen will soon lead to passage of Rams Settlement legislation, she and Greater St. Louis Inc., are steamed that

two critical bills were passed to BOA’s informal calendar, which ended all debate.

“After almost a year and a half of public input and months of debate and compromise among city leaders, the public, and other stakeholders, it’s clear that there are a number of projects and programs this money could have supported that would result directly in notable quality-of-life improvements for everyone in St. Louis,” Jones said in a

Urban League event showcases

release.

“When cooler heads prevail, my hope is that the Board of Aldermen will bring a bill to my desk that directs these historic funds to benefit all of St. Louis in ways that our residents can see and feel.”

In December 2024, Jones, President of the Board of Aldermen Megan Green, and Alderwoman Alisha

By Sylvester

Rep. Ayanna Pressley D-Mass., accompanied by other members of congress including from left, Rep. Maxwell Frost D-FL, Rep Maxine Waters D-CA, and Rep Joyce Beatty, D-OH, speaks during a rally against Elon Musk outside the Treasury Department in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.

Photo courtesy of United Way of Greater St. Louis

Michelle Tucker, United Way of Greater St. Louis president and CEO is the Non-Profit Executive of the Year.

Photo courtesy of the AP

Janelle Monae

flamed Nelly during Grammy afterparty freestyle

When singer and actress Janelle Monae hopped on the microphone as a live band played STL rap star Nelly’s iconic club hit “Hot In Herre,” paying homage was the last thing on her mind.

In the video clip released on TMZ. com, Monae sang the song’s hook without incident at an afterparty for the 67th Annual Grammy Awards Sunday night. She then blurted out “[expletive] you Nelly!” Monae proceeded with a freestyle rap that slammed him for his performance at Trump’s inaugura tion.

“You sold out, I used to think you was cool,” Monae rapped. “Now you look like a [expletive] fool.”

Original $71M judgement awarded to T.I. and Tiny

In a lawsuit that concluded last fall, Rapper/comedian Tip Harris and his wife, Tameka “Tiny” Harris, won all of the $17.8 million in profits from seven MGA dolls. The Harris family successfully made the case that the LOL Surprise dolls were a copy of its OMG Girlz, a former group that included one of Tiny’s daughters and her daughter’s friends. They were also awarded punitive damages of $53.6

Last month, U.S. District Judge James Selna handed down a tentative ruling that there was not enough evidence to show MGA acted in a way that would legally warrant the punitive damages. Selna reversed the decision last week, reinstating the full $71.3 award.

Marcus Jordan arrested for DUI in Florida

Marcus Jordan, son of NBA icon Michael Jordan, was arrested Tuesday and charged with

cocaine possession, driving under intoxication and resisting arrest. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by WESH 2, Marcus Jordan was arrested by the Maitland Police Department after fleeing a traffic stop initiated by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. The car was positioned over the railroad tracks with the tires halfway buried in the dirt and rocks. Additionally, officials say the front of the car was covered in rocks and had damage to the back bumper.

When talking to Marcus, an officer said he had slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, smelled of alcohol and didn’t seem to know where he was.

Dwyane Wade revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer last year. He also shared that he lost nearly half of his right kidney as a result of the disease. He first disclosed the news on his “The WY Network” podcast.

“Because I did the full-body scan, they were able to see my entire body, my entire inside,” Wade said. “And they were able to see something that was on my kidney — on my right kidney.”

The reality star and former college basketball player, 34, was booked in Orange County, Florida on Tuesday, Feb. 4, according to jail records. Marcus was set on a $4,000 bond for his release.

Dwyane

Wade reveals kidney cancer battle

Over the weekend, retired NBA star

Wade said on the podcast that he decided to go for a checkup and asked the doctor to investigate everything he was feeling and experiencing — in particular slow and weak urination.

He had 40% of his right kidney removed in the surgery. Wade, 43, said that after he retired from the NBA he was no longer getting regular physicals as he had in his playing days.

As he discussed his cancer journey, Wade emphasized the need for men in particular to be vigilant about their health.

Sources: TMZ.com, LA Daily News, WESH.com, People.com, YouTube.com

Janelle Monae

Dwayne Wade

Marcus Jordan

“We are going to push back

- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries

A FLARE for teaching

Pilot program assists Urban Teachers

By Sylvester Brown, Jr.

St. Louis American

On an early Saturday morn-

ing, at the nonprofit Legacy Center in North County, a group of about eight educators sat attentively in a classroom.

On a whiteboard before them is an assignment requiring them to answer questions like “What is a teacher; What is a student; What do students need to learn and What are the responsibilities of a teacher?”

What seemed like rudimentary queries were in fact part of an 8-week comprehensive classroom management program aimed at helping educators develop “practical, implementable strategies” to achieve impactful goals in urban classrooms.

The FLARES (Fundamental Life and Relationship Efficacy System) is a pilot program that began in January specifically for educators from the Bertha Knox Gilkey Pamoja Preparatory Academy @ Cole which serves pre-K through 8th grade students.

FLARES is the result of a multi-year collaboration between Bolanle Ambonisye, founder of U&I-RISE, an adult education and training company, and Rashida Chatman, a math curriculum specialist with the St. Louis Public School District (SLPS). FLARES is currently marketed to urban schoolteachers, administrators and principals.

Chatman said the seemingly basic questions for the teachers

were designed to “see where they’re coming from and what their perspective of what those things are and then help them structure them in their classrooms.”

Lawreacia Tettekpoe, a native of Ghana and a 5th and 6th-grade teacher at Pamoja said the program has helped her “manage my class, manage my strengths and helped me learn how to meet the needs of my kids.”

Ambonisye said her parent company, U&I-RISE, is dedicated to addressing the unique challenges Black Americans face in schools, workplaces, and communities.

She added that Pamoja Academy, which promotes an “African-centered” education process, was the perfect place to launch the FLARES program. Meeting and collaborating with Chatman was an additional blessing, Ambonisye said.

Chatman, a proud product of North St. Louis, describes herself as a “rebel.” She recalled her first days at Pamoja and her less than gracious reception.

“People would come into my classroom and be like, ‘Oh my God, you’re doing this wrong, you’re not teaching the way the book says.’ But, for me, I had to adapt to a way that was ideal for my students. I had to accommodate them based on their baselines.

“I used to get written up a lot at the beginning, but after my (student’s) scores came back the following year, administrators came back and said: ‘Oh, you

do know what you’re talking about. You had the most growth in math testing, your kids performed the best.’ I was responded; ‘Thank you but I already knew that.’”

Before joining Pamoja’s staff, Ambonisye facilitated programs at several schools and school districts. However, parent participation was always a challenge. In 2012, she welcomed the opportunity to join Pamoja as a “family community specialist.”

At Pamoja, Ambonisye met and observed Chatman.

“She reminded me of me,” she chuckled. “She (Chatman) did things that a conscious teacher would do. But I noticed that when she tried to share her methods with coworkers, they wouldn’t listen or try it. So, I told her, ‘We need to create a classroom management (course). It took several years but we

finally finalized it.”

Once the pilot program was finalized Pamoja’s principal, Angel Nave, encouraged her teachers to take the course. Each week teachers are given specific assignments designed to help with their interactions and instructions with their students.

Both Ambonisye and Chatman’s approaches are designed to combat negative statistics related to Black children. For example, according to a 2024 Equal Justic Society report: Black students are 3.8 times more likely to be suspended than White students.

“The way our society is set up and with other distractions, parents don’t get a real sense of what children need,” Ambonisye stressed. “Unless you’re lucky enough to have been parented really well or you were just born with that instinct, a lot of us miss

Rashida Chatman, a math curriculum specialist with the St. Louis Public School District (SLPS), explained the positive impact of the FLARES (Fundamental Life and Relationship Efficacy System) pilot program at Legacy Center in north St. Louis County during a discussion with teachers.

the mark because there’s just no process to equip us with that information.”

During Saturday’s programs the teachers excitedly shared strategies and successes they’ve learned about structuring classrooms for optimal results, mitigating confrontations, choosing class leaders and focusing on their student’s “superpowers” and much more.”

Kindergarten teacher, Tonya Hall said she loves the fact the program is African-centered. “That’s important to me that we get to teach our children about ourselves along with education.”

Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow. U&IRise website: https://uandirise.com/

Photo by Sylvester Brown / St. Louis American

By Keith Boykin

Editorial/Commentary

Guest Editorial Commentary

10 action steps for the next four years Unlike Trump, Biden’s commutations were acts of grace

There’s so much going on right now that it’s impossible to keep track of it all, and that’s the point. They want us to be overwhelmed so we can’t keep up or fight back, but today, I want to give you 10 action steps you can take to stay engaged, make a difference, and protect your peace.

I spent four years covering the previous Trump administration as a political commentator for CNN, and it was exhausting. Nearly every day, there was a reckless tweet, an unvetted announcement, or a new law or norm broken. What I learned is that Trump is a chaos agent who needs as many distractions as possible to stay in power.

So here are 10 action steps we can take to stay focused, not just to survive the next four years, but to win the future.

1. Stay informed but not overwhelmed

We cannot tune out and sleepwalk into fascism, but neither can we allow ourselves to become depressed by the enormity of the challenge. So don’t try to do everything. Start by following your expertise and interests. Focus on issues important to you.

2. Share truthful, factual information

practicing attorney, you’ve probably already thought of this. But even if you’re a government worker, a federal contractor, or a private citizen adversely affected by right-wing MAGA policies, call a lawyer, and sue for your rights.

6. Reward the good.

We have economic power in where we spend our dollars. In the face of the current anti-Black assault, some companies, like Costco Delta Airlines, Patagonia, Apple, Pinterest, and even JPMorganChase are standing behind their DEI programs. Support Black-owned businesses that are down for the cause and businesses that support you. And donate to nonprofits and organizations that work on issues important to you. If you’re not ready to boycott, try a “buycott” or a “buy-in.”

7. Punish the bad.

Part of the reason Trump is in office today is because the right wing built a media infrastructure to serve as an echo chamber of lies and misinformation. It’s your job not to recirculate that propaganda. Instead, seek out reliable truthtellers and factual posts. Share them regularly and widely with your friends, family, and social media followers.

3. Raise your voice to elected officials. I know it’s old-fashioned but visit the offices of the people representing you or write a letter. A study by the OpenGov Foundation during the first Trump administration found that in-person visits, personal letters, and social media were the best tools for being heard by members of Congress. Share a personal story of how an issue affects you.

4. Run for office.

The people in Congress, your state legislature, and city council are no smarter than you. So launch your campaign. Talk about the issues that resonate with you and your community. Raise some money. And run for office.

5. Go to court.

If you’re a state attorney general or

The list of companies capitulating to MAGA’s anti-DEI threats is long. Target, Walmart, Meta, McDonald’s, Ford, Coors, Amazon, Lowe’s, Harley-Davidson, and others are rolling back their DEI programs. Some are easy to quit, but others are integrated into our lives, making it difficult to cut them off completely.

8. Create a conscious culture. Now more than ever, we need music, film, art, TV, culture, and institutions that reflect and protect us. If you have that platform, don’t be afraid to use it to tell our stories. And if you’re not an artist or a content creator, support those who are.

9. Organize for the short term.

We have special elections, gubernatorial elections, and mayoral elections taking place this year, midterm elections in 2026, and another presidential election in 2028. We can’t wait until the last minute to organize, so let’s get busy now with voter registration and education campaigns instead of scrambling to pull it together in the final few months of the next election.

10. Plan for the long game.

The crisis we’re in right now didn’t happen overnight. Right-wing conservatives have spent the past century slowly plotting to roll back the workers’ rights gains of the 1930s, the civil rights gains of the 1960s, the women’s rights gains of the 1970s, and the LGBT rights gains of the 2000s.

“Black Vote, Black Power,” a collaboration between St. Louis native Keith Boykin and Word In Black, examines the issues and what’s at stake for Black America.

EMERITUS LEADERSHIP

Nathan B. Young (1894-1993) Founder

N.A. Sweets (1901-1988) Publisher

Bennie G. Rodgers (1914-2000) Executive Editor Melba Sweets (1909-2006)

“American communities, disproportionately Black and brown, have long borne the scars of the drug war. Extreme and racist sentences for crack cocaine offenses tore apart families. Children grew up visiting their parents behind bars. Those parents are now elders, yearning to hold their grandchildren. Justice is served by allowing these individuals to return home. Their debt to society was long ago paid.”

— Kara Gotsch, executive director of

The Sentencing Project

By Marc Morial

Chief Justice John Marshall described a presidential grant of clemency as an “act of grace.” The president’s constitutional power to grant pardons and reprieves descends from the “prerogative of mercy” of English law.

Few acts of clemency exemplify the ideals of grace and mercy more fully than President Biden’s historic commutation of the sentences of almost 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses.

organizations wrote a letter to President Biden asking to remedy the extensive harm done to Black and brown communities caused by the war on drugs through commutations, and he delivered.

Further, the death penalty has ensnared hundreds of innocent defendants. The National Urban League has long opposed the death penalty in all cases. The death penalty has proven to be wildly discriminatory in every aspect. This is true in the federal system, just as in the states.

In his commutation order, President Biden acknowledged the racially disparate impact of the death penalty and committed to ending it on the federal level. His Department of Justice paused executions, a welcome reprieve after the Trump administration’s gruesome execution spree.

It was the largest single-day commutation in U.S. history, coming less than a month after another historic act of clemency, sparing the lives of 37 people sentenced to death in federal courts.

Together, these commutations have cemented President Biden’s legacy as a champion of justice, civil rights and racial reconciliation.

The commutations of drug sentences address a shortcoming in the First Step Act which the National Urban League has advocated for years to repair. Too many people have been incarcerated for too long based on outdated and racist sentencing laws. Black men especially have suffered under our current sentencing regime that still charges crack cocaine offenses 18 times more harshly than powder cocaine at the federal level.

The National Urban League and our partners in the civil rights community have worked tirelessly to close the gaps in our drug sentencing laws. In November, the leaders of the eight legacy civil rights

The cases of the 37 men whose lives were spared manifest all the profound flaws that inevitably mar the death penalty, including significant racial disparities. Black Americans are seven times more likely to be falsely convicted of serious crimes compared to white Americans.

Among the 37 were those prosecuted by almost exclusively white attorneys and convicted by all-white juries, the intellectually disabled, seriously mentally ill or brain damaged, those who faced execution though they did not personally kill anyone, and those whose convictions or death sentences were secured through the use of misleading or unreliable scientific evidence.

President Biden is a man of faith, courage and principle. His historic acts of grace and mercy manifest all of those qualities.

He has demonstrated one of the strongest commitments to racial justice in U.S. history. His historic decision will allow people to come home to their families sooner and give communities the opportunity to reunite and rebuild.

The National Urban League commends President Biden for his commitment to justice and equality even in his last days in office.

Marc Morial is president and CEO of the National Urban League

Commentary

Community comes together

“As we address the aftermath of the wildfires, let us resolve not just to build back better but also smarter, with a commitment to the environment and future generations. As a pastor, I am guided by the principle that caring for creation is an integral part of our faith. Without a shadow of a doubt, community solidarity is crucial in the fight against climate change.”

Those are the words of Rev. Dr. Larry E. Campbell, Senior Pastor of Pasadena, California’s historic First African Methodist Episcopal Church. Forty-nine members of his congregation lost their homes to the Eaton Fire last month.

The Eaton Fire raged through the Pasadena area hitting the neighborhoods of Altadena especially hard. Altadena, where many of Pastor Campell’s congregants live, is an unincorporated part of Los Angeles County just north of Pasadena, nestled in the foothills up against Angeles National Forest.

Thanks to extreme drought, climate whiplash, and the other effects of the climate crisis, the people in these communities now need to grapple increased firestorm threats in their towns and cities.

Those of us who grew up in the Black Church understand Adam’s commandment was to defend the Garden, protect the Garden, nurture the Garden. And the Garden right now is out of balance in a profound way. We should all take inspiration from how communities like Pasadena and Altadena are coming together to care for the Garden and take a stand for their future and ours.

This sort of resilience is a familiar part of Altadena’s rich history – and its Black history, in particular.

Altadena was one of the first places in Southern California where a thriving Black middle class took root in the last century.

Altadena lost at least 17 lives and thousands of homes to the flames – many more than the City of Pasadena which, while also devastated, lost just under 200 homes. And the city leaders and community activists of Pasadena have stepped up in a big way to help their neighbors.

“In this community we don’t make very large distinctions between Altadena and Pasadena. We all grew up together, we all went to school together, and when families who lost their homes in Altadena reached out to family members for shelter it was their family and friends in Pasadena who opened their doors and welcomed them in. We really are one big community,” Pasadena Councilmember Tyron Hampton told the Los Angeles Sentinel.

It was home to such luminaries as: Octavia Estelle Butler, the celebrated African American author and first science fiction writer to receive a MacArthur Fellowship (also known as the “Genius Grant”); the writer, activist, and early Black Panther leader Eldridge Cleaver; Sidney Poitier, the Hollywood and civil rights pathbreaker who was the first Black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor; and Charles W. White, a local artist famous for his depictions of Black history.

A UCLA study found Altadena’s Black residents suffered disproportionately in the recent fires, due to past policies like redlining. 61% of Black households were inside the Eaton Fire perimeter versus 50% of non-Black households. Nearly half of Altadena’s Black residents had their homes destroyed or severely damaged.

As Black History Month continues, let us resolve not to let the climate crisis take away our history. It should be a priority to prevent future disasters that would lay waste not only to homes and buildings but to rich local histories and precious generational wealth. The people of Altadena and Pasadena are showing us what that path forward looks like.

Ben Jealous is the executive director of the Sierra Club and a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

Guest Columnist Keith Boykin

Columnist Ben Jealous

Columnist Marc Morial

Urban League, RBC launch ‘Public Safety Initiative’

St. Louis American

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and Regional Business Council are partnering with Home Depot on a “Neighborhood Public Safety Upgrade Initiative.”

The program will help bring advanced technology to the community to address public safety, according to James Clark, Urban League vice president of public safety.

During each quarter of 2025, 100 residents in areas identified as high crime sectors will get Ring doorbell cameras as well as motion sensory lights, adding an extra layer of protection.

The home security program spans St. Louis, St. Louis County, East St. Louis, and Cahokia Heights.

“Law enforcement plays an especially important role. Now, we’re looking at how do we empower neighborhood residents, and asking, ‘what can we do to pull neighbor-

hood residents in?”’ said Clark during a press conference at the Urban League headquarters.

Alandon Pitts, RBC senior manager of workforce and community development, emphasized the importance of corporate partnerships in community safety.

“Investments like this from organizations such as Home Depot demonstrate the power of the business community to step up and create lasting change in neighborhoods facing challenges. We’re proud to be part of this effort to uplift and protect families,” he said.

According to the RBC, its top policy priority is public safety because it is fundamental to improving quality of life, talent retention, and growing the region’s economy.

Clark added, “This program reflects the Urban League’s ongoing commitment to public safety and collaboration, aiming to build stronger, safer communities through innovation and partnership.”

Setting goals and being satisfied

By Regina Sloan

We are naturally driven to want more.

We set goals, achieve them, and then immediately aim for the next milestone.

There is a problem, though. It is false to believe that achieving a goal creates joy, gratitude, or worthiness. This can lead to a life filled with hustle and exhaustion, only to “arrive” and feel the same, or worse, because of unmet expectations. Here’s the truth: 99% of the time, we are on the journey. Only 1% of the time we will actually be at the destination. That means most of your life is spent in the pursuit — not the achievement. If you don’t learn how to enjoy the now, you’ll miss the beauty of your current life.

Your feelings don’t come from the goal or the “thing.” They come from your thoughts about what you’ve accomplished. For example, someone working hard to pay off their home might think, “Once I’ve paid it off, I’ll feel proud and at peace.” But peace and pride aren’t tied to the goal — they come from thoughts like, “I did it” or “It’s officially mine.”

As you set your goals, try this:

1. Write a list of 10 things you really want to create or achieve.

2. If you could make one of those things happen now, which one would make the biggest difference in your life?

We can pursue many goals, but focusing on one main goal keeps us organized and aware when we’re off track.

To reach your goals, start by answering these questions:

• How will you feel when you’ve achieved this goal? What emotion will it create? Practice feeling that emotion now.

• What will you need to think about yourself to take the consistent action required? Be intentional with how you think about your goal and your ability to achieve it.

• What obstacles are standing in your way right now?

Turn those obstacles into your strategy for the year. Each one becomes part of your to-do list. For example, if “not enough time” is an obstacle, your strategy might include carving out an hour each morning for focused work.

Take time to think of solutions for each obstacle. Remember, you don’t have to be perfect. Perfectionism only holds you back. You won’t know if every action will work — but taking action leads to more data and brings you closer to what does work. Trial and error, combined with consistent effort, is how we create real change.

Pursuing goals is about balance — working toward what you want while staying present in the life you’re living now. The future you’re striving for only matters in the present moment. When you “arrive” at your goal, the only time you’ll experience it is in the now.

This balance allows us to push ourselves toward aspirations while appreciating our current relationships, experiences and gifts. It creates a richer, more fulfilling life.

If you’re setting goals, remember to remain in constant gratitude for the present. Without this balance, we risk looking back on life wondering what happened — waiting on something external to bring us the joy and peace we had the power to create all along.

Regina Sloan is a life coach who assists women in their personal and professional lives. She can be reached at info@reginasloancoaching.com

This commentary was originally published by the Indianapolis Recorder.

Through a trio of partners, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Regional Business Council and Home Depot, 100 residents in areas identified as high crime sectors will get Ring doorbell cameras and motion sensory lights during each quarter of 2025.

Photo courtesy of Home Depot

Regina Sloan

Continued from A1

sourced’ communities to create a stronger, more equitable and prosperous St. Louis, once and for all,” according to its website.

Krehmeyer will be honored with the “Excellence in Community Impact” award from the St. Louis American Foundation during its 23rd Annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards and Networking Luncheon at 11 a.m., Thursday, February 20, 2025 at The Ritz-Carlton St. Louis.

He remembered his father’s reaction after he told him about his career choice in urban planning.

“My dad asked, ‘What the hell is that and what kind of job are you going to get?’”

While still a college student, Krehmeyer was awarded an internship in the Jeff-Vander-Lou (JVL) neighborhood in North St. Louis. There he had the privilege to work with the late Macler Shepard, a champion of neighborhood organizing. He was impressed with Shepard’s work and inspired by his

Tucker

Continued from A1

For her outstanding leadership and tireless work to improves lives throughout the St. Louis region, Michelle Tucker has been named the St. Louis American Foundation Non-Profit Executive of the Year.

She will be honored during the 23rd Annual Salute To Excellence in Business Networking and Awards Luncheon at 11 a.m. Thursday Feb. 20, 2025, at the Ritz-Carlton St. Louis.

mantra: “From the house comes everything.”

Confirming his father’s concern, Krehmeyer had trouble finding a job after graduating college. He gave no thought to working in the nonprofit arena, thinking he was better suited for urban planning or city management-related work.

Although he had to endure his father’s “I told you so” look for a while, Krehmeyer landed a job with the St. Louis County Housing Authority in 1986. While there he learned about the work of the Ecumenical Housing Production Corporation (renamed Beyond Housing in 1997) which served families primarily living in housing units.

Krehmeyer said he was impressed with not only how the agency served families but how it “helped them move along in the economic continuum.”

When he heard the organization was looking for a new director, he threw his hat in the ring even though he considered himself “terribly unqualified.”

But, Krehmeyer added, “I knew I had some skills that would be of value to the organization and the

Chris Krehmeyer, Beyond Housing CEO, believes that “Thriving communities need an adequate supply of housing that people can afford, economic development to provide jobs and access to essential goods and services.”

board gave me a chance.”

His hiring was the beginning of Beyond Housing’s evolution from scattered site rental family housing in different areas of the region to getting more into “community work” in the late 1990s before expanding into the 2-I footprint in the 2000s.

Krehmeyer credits the idea of transforming under-resourced communities to his upbringing

in University City with its artificial, but very real neighborhoods segregated by streets and income levels.

“I lived right across the street from U City High School, and I had friends who lived north of Olive and south of Delmar,” Krehmeyer said. “So, I was able to see how different communities operate and function. I knew there were certain parts

of the region which were struggling so I became interested and fascinated with how we do a better job working within communities, having neighborhoods that work and giving families the opportunities to achieve their dreams.”

Beyond Housing works under the premise that “Thriving communities need an adequate supply of housing that people can afford, economic development to provide jobs and access to essential goods and services.”

His ongoing goals, Krehmeyer said, include trying to create a ‘placebased’ model with a strategy that can turn communities, with a host of problems such as disinvestment, completely around. Can we change communities impacted by poverty and systemic racism; can we do that without gentrifying neighborhoods; can we listen to the voices of the people who live here to make their homes everything they want them to be; can we find the right resources, deliver the right partners to turn the place around and show this is the power of what’s possible.”

Krehmeyer responded gracefully to the news that he’ll receive the “Excellence in Community Impact” award from the St. Louis American.

“It’s an absolute honor. I’m humbled to receive such a great acknowledgement with other folks who are being recognized. It’s just a great recognition.”

Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.

Louis interview.

“Being recognized as the 2025 Nonprofit Executive of the Year by the St. Louis American Foundation is an absolute honor. The award is not simply a personal one, but one that is truly a testament to the hard work and dedication of every single person involved in our mission,” Tucker told The American.

An East St. Louis native, Tucker grew up admiring the historic athletic exploits of Jackie Joyner-Kersee and noted her post-career dedication to education and public service.

“Receiving this award serves as a reminder of the vital role United Way of Greater St. Louis plays by serving as a catalyst for the nonprofit sector and for countless neighbors helped across our region. It makes me proud to know that together we are making a collective difference for so many. I consider this award one of the highest compliments from our community.”

Education, Tucker explains, was the key to her success and the same is true for young people throughout the region.

“Make certain education and skill development are both at the top of your priority list. Whether it’s through traditional college, vocational training, or developing knowledge on your own. Broadening your learning opportunities and perspective will help place you in the best position to open doors,”

Tucker advises. Stay informed and keep up with industry trends and news as much as possible. Understanding the business landscape will not only enhance your knowledge, but help you engage in meaningful conversations with professionals. Look for internships, summer jobs, or volunteer positions that can give you exposure to the corporate world.

Tucker’s service is not limited to her own non-profit organization. She is a dedicated civic and nonprofit volunteer, and has served on the boards of Downtown STL, Inc., the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Christian Hospital, FOCUS St. Louis and many more.

While she is a non-profit dynamo now, she

entered a new world when she retired from Bank of America after a 20-year career there to become Epworth Children & Family Services president & CEO. She took the United Way helm two years later in 2019.

While managing the bank’s community outreach and philanthropic giving efforts, Tucker saw the importance that financial resources have on dealing with challenges faced by the region’s most vulnerable populations.

“When asked to take on the role of President & CEO at Epworth, I knew the time was right to connect closer to a mission and to continue making an impact by positioning my experience inside a nonprofit I believe in,” Tucker said in a recent FOCUS St.

Tucker has had many mentors and learned how to deal with many people and situations during her career. She recommends finding any opportunity to excel and then going for it.

“Real-world experience is invaluable and can help you build your resume. Equally important is networking. Build a key network of mentors and professionals in your desired field,” she said.

“Attend local events, join clubs, and seek internships that allow you to meet people who can provide guidance and ultimately opportunities for you to apply and showcase your skills. Most importantly, set your goals high and continuously compete against yourself to grow personally.”

Photo courtesy of Chris Krehmeyer

East Boogie’s son comes home

East St. Louis’ Phil Perry returns for Valentine’s Day Lovefest

By James T. Ingram

For the St. Louis American

When the late diva Aretha Franklin compliments you after covering her classic hit “Call Me,” by telling you that “You’re a singing child” is followed by the late James Ingram, after a studio session, telling you that “You ain’t from this planet,” you’d think that would be validation enough for singer, songwriter and musician Phil Perry.

However, as I interviewed Perry on the eve of his 73rd birthday with wildfires raging 20 miles from his LA home, he was more reflective and appreciative of a Catholic nun stumbling upon his talent at his parochial school. That chance encounter led to his singing midnight masses, where his 80-yearold grandmother listened in awe and, pinching his cheek, told him, “I’m more proud of you than I can utter.” That was his validation.

This later inspired Perry’s co-founding of

Bell

Continued from A1

So, what can Democrats, locally and nationally, do to combat Trumpism?

To address that question, St. Louis County Democrats kicked off the “Day of Community Action” on February 1, 2025, the first day of Black History Month.

Joining to respond to the impacts of the newly elected Republican administration on our local communities were Congressman Wesley Bell, County Executive Sam Page and other speakers. Jessica LaBozzette, chair of the St. Louis County Democrat Central Committee, said the day of action was all about “reinforcing connections.”

“We’re going to do some canvassing, knock on doors, and ask people things like ‘Do you know our townships are active? Do you know we meet on the third Thursday of the month?’ It’s building community and making sure we’re taking it off the

Rams

Continued from A1

Sonnier introduced the Transform STL Act. It divided the Rams Settlement Funds into categories including infrastructure, development and families and children.

Infrastructure ($100 million) - Citywide Water Infrastructure Fund - $40 million; Citywide Mobility Infrastructure Fund - $60 million Development ($100 million) -Citywide Housing Fund - $70 million; Citywide Neighborhood Development Fund - $30 million People ($77.2 million)Citywide Workforce Fund - $20 million.

There will also be a new endowment fund containing two accounts, held and invested by the city Treasurer’s Office.

Account 1: Affordable Child Care - $37.2 million; Account 2: Affordable Postsecondary Opportunities - $20 million

On January 23, 2025, Jones, Sonnier,

the 1970’s group The Montclairs at Rock Jr. High School in East St. Louis. They went on to record with Archway Records, disbanding in 1975, when Perry moved to California. There he eventually signed with Capitol Records and embarked upon a stellar 52-year career in which he has numerous solo successes, as well as collaborations with such industry giants such as Chaka Khan, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, George Duke, Quincy Jones, Dave Koz, Will Downing and Gerald Albright. In 2025, he looks forward to bringing his Valentine’s Day show to Harris-Stowe State University because he says his heart is here. “It’s home and these are the people that gave me a chance to have a career and it gives me a chance to see some of the faces of my youth and to thank those who made me try to be the best that I can be.”

His references to God (during our chat) were numerous, describing his

silly social media (sites) and meeting face-to-face,” LaBozzette said. Bell added: “We must be deliberate; we’ve got to be coordinated. That means I need to hear from y’all. If there’s an issue in your community, call me. If you need me to be there, I’ll be there. Because I need to know what’s going on from your vantage point so I can take that back to DC and advocate for the resources we need at home.”

Page expressed gratitude that Bell “is representing us, fighting for St. Louis County and city in Congress,” but he added a sense of urgency in pushing “Democratic values.”

“We can’t wait to see what Trump does next. We gotta get out there and tell our story. We saw what he will do if he’s unopposed. We saw what he will do if we’re not out there talking about Democratic values and what we’re for and what we want to do with our elected Democratic officials and our folks in office.”

Since his election to Congress, Bell said he’s “encouraged” by the

Alderwoman Pamela Boyd, and Greater St. Louis Inc., announced an agreement for the investment of funds from the Rams settlement. The TRANSFORM ACT compromise combined components of Board Bill 153, sponsored by Sonnier, and Board Bill 131, sponsored by Boyd – which was favored by GSL Inc. Green shut down debate during last Friday’s BOA meeting, and on Tuesday the bill was delayed indefinitely.

“St. Louis has pressing needs that require bold action and major investment. [Tuesday’s] lack of action by the Board of Aldermen means those urgent needs continue to go unmet,” Dustin Allison, GSL Inc. interim CEO said.

“Waiting doesn’t get St. Louis growing again, and we continue our call for the city to use Rams settlement funds to address depopulation in North St. Louis and revitalizing Downtown so that the city can expand its population and grow its tax base.”

The Rams Settlement money remains in an

style and talents as “God given and real; and that’s the best I can describe what I do. There’s no freedom I get anywhere else like I get when I’m singing.”

And unlike his other shows, he has taken to his Facebook page to ask his St. Louis-area audience for suggestions of songs for his show set list.

That could be an extensive list, given the 2019 R&B Hall of Fame inductee’s body of work goes back to the 1970’s.

Surprisingly, when asked about his reputation as a balladeer, Perry expressed in a pastoral tone, that “Actually, I love singing sad songs because it lifts the sadness off of individuals; and what’s more noble than that?”

As far as his longevity in a fickle business like the recording industry, Perry quickly says that “It’s because of what I do, not because of who I am.” He attributes it to the lyrical content of songs that he has written or covered, adding that good lyrical content makes all the difference.

Finally, Perry wants his East St. Louis and St. Louis audience to know

Democratic Caucus in DC and its leader, Hakeem Jeffries.

“We’ve been very deliberate and coordinated in responding to the new administration,” said Bell, adding that Democrats “will be responsive, coordinated and “focus[ed] on our message not just in reaction to Trump’s rhetoric but on what our values are, what our priorities are,” said Bell.

“Only the majority speaker of the House has standing to sue presidential administrations, not the minority caucus.”

Bell explained why it is necessary for the Democratic Caucus to coordinate with other organizations that have standing to file suits, such as those immediately affected after Trump froze all government spending and grants in a crazed effort to eliminate funding of “woke” programs.

“That’s what we did, and [the Trump administration] walked it back,” Bell stressed.

“But I want y’all to be clear. We may have won the first round, but this will be a 15-round fight.

investment account, which according to the mayor’s office, increased the amount $26,101,958 over roughly 24 months.

Jones added that it was “initial inclination” to keep the bulk of the settlement money in interest bearing accounts “due to the uncertainty of federal elections and how the economy would react.”

“I was proud of the compromise legislation that was reached with Alderwomen Boyd and Sonnier, and I’m grateful to the members of my staff who helped broker that compromise,” said Jones.

“In the coming weeks, my office will provide guidance on the impact of the new presidential administration and the effects that Project 2025 will have on our community and our budget.

GSL’s Allison said, “We will continue our work to get St. Louis growing again and bring investment to disinvested neighborhoods and Downtown when the next session of the BOA begins.”

that “Without you, there is no me.” So, whether it’s smooth jazz, ballads or sad songs, Phil Perry’s “Glow of Love” show promises to be a homecoming for a

What they did the other day on a whim, they’ll continue to do tomorrow and they’re going to continue doing it.

“We’ve [heard] this broken record over and over, so we have to stand together, push together because we go further when we work together.”

Both Page and Bell lamented the chaos that has already ensued under Trump, such as his executive order that required all federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to…disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities.”

Legal challenges swiftly caused the administration to rescind its order. But damage, according to the congressman and county executive, was already done.

“What it has done is root uncertainty about what organizations can and cannot do,” Bell said.

“There was no guidance that came down with that memo to tell organizations what was and was not included. It was just a sweeping memo that left

native son and proof that home is where the heart is this Valentine’s Day.

For more information and tickets go to: https://

organizations all over the country wondering if they would have federal funding or not.”

Page said the executive order, “Injected chaos and uncertainty into our routine work.”

“That uncertainty is causing folk who are already struggling to scramble trying to figure out ‘How am I going to live?, What am I going to do next?’ It’s an assault on the daily living of people who are already struggling.”

Bell said he and the Democratic Caucus plan to pushback on Trump’s efforts to defund DEI programs.

“I don’t care that some folks are trying to make diversity and our accomplishments some kind of four-letter word. No, we’re going to lean into it. Diversity is our superpower,” said Bell.

“What makes this country so strong is that we have so many folks with so many backgrounds that contribute to this country being the greatest country in the world. Inclusion doesn’t mean just certain groups;

www.reverbnation.com/ show/26252541

Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com X@JamesTIngram

it means everybody. We’re going to continue to come together, pull together and move this region and this country forward.”

Page spoke similarly.

“In St. Louis County we believe in diversity, equity and inclusion. We love that everything that we do is through the lens of equity. Despite this narrative on the national landscape, in St. Louis County we will celebrate Black History month, we will celebrate Pride Month because we see the value of respecting and recognizing our communities… we’ll be there.”

Trump’s measures and executive orders are already impacting people in St. Louis City and County, the politicians stressed. That’s why, Bell said, there was a need to expand the St. Louis County Democrats’ theme of the day.

“We call it a ‘day of action’ but we’re really focusing on days of action.”

Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.

James T. Ingram

“When I’m not on stage I’m loving on the little ones in the family, “says Perry, “Pop pop” to his granddaughter Selah.

Photo from Phil Perry The Singer’s Instagram

Chamberlain U. Nursing offers diverse healthcare opportunities

Scholarships available to help fray expenses

By Ashley Winters

The St. Louis American

Chamberlain University St. Louis “High School to BSN” program is helping to address the nursing shortage in the St. Louis region and nationally.

A new grant is available for local high school graduates interested in nursing school, and applications are being accepted for the next term, which begins in March. Future nursing students, Ka’Nya

Bailey and Damiyah Coates said the grant assistance program will help them achieve their future career goals.

Bailey was inspired to start planning a career as a nurse in middle school after she saw her mom, grandmother, and aunt pursue nursing.

“I would sometimes go to work with my mom saw the ins and outs of her job, and I loved every minute of it,” said Bailey.

Nursing was a major part of Coates’ childhood too. Her mom

attended Chamberlain University, and she remembers watching her doing homework. Now, her mom has a local home health care business in St. Louis.

“She encouraged me to apply and seeing her succeed pushed and motivated me to want to do it. She said everyone was so welcoming and nice and that Chamberlain’s program was great,’” said Coates

The grant offers a 40% tuition sav-

See CHAMBERLAIN, A9

An x-ray that changed everything

By Jasmine Smith

According to new data from the American Cancer Society, lung cancer incidence in women younger than 65 has surpassed the rates it appears in men. Additionally, lung cancer is ranked as the number one cancer killer in the U.S.

More than 84% of women and 90% of men with a new diagnosis of lung cancer either smoke or used to smoke. However, lung cancer in those who have never smoked is on the rise. According to the American Cancer Society, almost 16% of women and almost 10% of men with a new diagnosis of lung cancer had never smoked.

I recently interviewed a woman named Devonne whose lung cancer diagnosis came as a complete shock. She had never smoked a day in her life, yet she found herself on an unexpected and life-changing journey.

Devonne’s story began with something seemingly minor—a persistent cough.

n Devonne’s story began with something seemingly minor—a persistent cough.

“Honestly, I didn’t feel like anything was wrong at the time. I had a persistent cough, and I was just ignoring it. It was just a cough to me,” Devonne told BlackDoctor. org. It wasn’t until a concerned friend stepped in that Devonne sought medical attention.

“A friend of mine noticed and was like, ‘It’s been well over a week. I’m coming to pick you up and taking you to the hospital.’ If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be in the position I am now, and I’m grateful to her,” Devonne adds. At the hospital, doctors diagnosed Devonne with pneumonia, but an X-ray revealed something more concerning—a spot on her lung.

This discovery set off a chain of medical evaluations at City of Hope that ultimately led to her lung cancer

See SMITH, A9

Report reveals inequities in heart health

Race, income deepen the divide

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

The American Heart Associa-

tion’s 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update shows that glaring racial and gender disparities in cardiovascular health continue to grow, illustrating the toll heart disease takes on the African American community.

According to the report, non-Hispanic Black adults experience an age-adjusted mortality rate of 379.7 per 100,000 due to cardiovascular disease (CVD), compared to just 104.9 per 100,000 among non-Hispanic Asian females. Researchers asserted that such inequities reflect the disproportionate burden underrepresented communities bear in accessing equitable healthcare and prevention.

Women also face significant challenges in cardiovascular health, particularly during and after pregnancy. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy doubled from

n According to the report, non-Hispanic Black adults experience an age-adjusted mortality rate of 379.7 per 100,000 due to cardiovascular disease (CVD), compared to just 104.9 per 100,000 among non-Hispanic Asian females.

2007 to 2019, with preeclampsia and gestational hypertension contributing to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Black women are disproportionately affected, experiencing higher rates of these conditions, which often lead to long-term cardiovascular complications. Additionally, gestational diabetes

See HEART HEALTH, A9

disparities in cardiovascular

could be

if systemic approaches were used to counter the impacts of social determinants and structural inequities.

Ka’Nya Bailey and Damiyah Coates talk during a break in classes at the Chamberlain University School of Nursing Monday, Feb. 3, 2025.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Photo courtesy of Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Yvonne CommodoreMensah of Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing said

health

reduced

Jasmine Smith

Heart health

Continued from A8

increased by 38% between 2016 and 2021, with older mothers facing nearly six times the risk compared to younger mothers.

According to the study, social determinants of health, such as poverty, education, and geographic location, also exacerbate these disparities. Individuals in rural areas or neighborhoods with fewer healthcare resources face limited access to screenings, healthy food options, and consistent medical care.

For instance, peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients living in zip codes with a median household income of less than $40,000 are at a significantly higher risk of undergoing amputations.

Chamberlain

Continued from A8

ings that is up to $34,000 in value to support recent high school graduates pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The grant is open to applicants within two years of their high school graduation or GED certification date.

The resource is also helping to address the projected shortage of half a million nurses in the U.S. by 2030, and the cost of higher education. It also gives younger students an additional avenue to enter the nursing field. The grant also expands access to education to ease the nursing pipeline issue.

The nationwide nursing shortage is impacting every state and community, and St. Louis is no exception,” said Chamberlain President Tammy Keesey, DNP, RN, CENP, NE-BC, FACHE.

“The nation’s largest nursing school (with locations across America) is doing its part to help fill the pipeline of practice-ready nurses by making obtaining a degree more accessible and easing the financial burden on students.”

There is also an acute shortage of African American nurses.

According to data from the US Chamber of

Smith

Continued from A8 diagnosis.

“I met with a specialist, and that’s when things started to become clearer. They wanted to do a robotic-assisted biopsy to get a better look at what was going on,” Devonne says.

“When the oncologist mentioned that cancer was a possibility, I was in complete shock. I was like,

‘Wait… me? Cancer? Especially lung cancer?’”

Jae Kim, M.D., associate professor and chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at City of Hope, who treated Devonne, emphasizes that while lung cancer is most common in older individuals, there has been a troubling increase in cases among younger non-smokers, especially women.

“The reasons for this are not entirely clear,” Dr. Kim explains.

“About 20% of lung

The report also noted that racial inequities extend to emergency care.

Black individuals experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are 27% less likely to receive bystander CPR at home and 37% less likely in public locations than White individuals. These disparities persist even when income levels are accounted for.

“We have the tools to address these inequities, but they require a commitment to prioritizing the health of all communities,” stated Dr. Seth Martin, who chaired the report.

Officials said the AHA’s “Life’s Essential 8” framework is a guideline for improving cardiovascular health. This model includes recommendations for healthier diets, consistent physical activity, and better cho-

lesterol and glucose management.

However, the report indicates that over 80% of U.S. adults fail to meet these criteria. Average diet quality sacores are just 59 out of 100, and disparities are evident across race, income, and education levels.

Researchers insisted that improving these metrics could reduce major cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes.

n Black individuals experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are 27% less likely to receive bystander CPR at home and 37% less likely in public locations than White individuals.

Community health initiatives play a critical role in addressing these disparities. Expanding access to nutritious food, exercise

facilities, and education can help reduce risk factors. For example, studies have shown that reallocating just seven minutes of sedentary behavior daily to moderate or vigorous physical activity can significantly improve cardiometabolic health, including reductions in body mass index (BMI) and blood sugar levels. Another critical area of focus is maternal health. Programs that emphasize early intervention and monitoring for pregnant women—especially those at high risk—can reduce complications such as preeclampsia and gesta-

tional diabetes. Lifestyle interventions, including weight management and exercise, have been shown to cut the risk of hypertensive pregnancy disorders nearly in half.

Dr. Yvonne

Commodore-Mensah, a Johns Hopkins School of Nursing associate professor, associate dean of research and director for Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity Local/Global Reciprocal Innovation, was a contributor to the report.

“When we examine cardiovascular health, it’s clear that social determinants and structural inequities remain significant barriers. Improving health equity means removing these barriers,” she said.

Additionally, the report spelled out the economic burden of cardiovascular disease, which totaled $417.9 billion in

Commerce, there are only nine registered nurses on average for every 1,000 people. Only 6.7% of registered nurses are Black, even though Black people comprise around 13% of the U.S. population.

Research shows that patients who are of the same race as their healthcare provider have better outcomes. These improvements range from significant declines in Black

cancers in the U.S. occur in women who’ve never smoked, while for men, it’s only about 10%.

Factors like air pollution, genetic predisposition, and secondhand smoke exposure could all play a role.”

Fortunately, Devonne’s cancer was caught at an early stage.

“If I had not gone in when I did, who knows what stage it would have been at? A lot of times, people don’t get diagnosed until it’s stage 4,” Devonne notes.

Devonne underwent a robotic-assisted surgical procedure to remove the cancerous tissue.

“Anytime you hear the word ‘surgery,’ it’s scary,” she admits. “But this was robotic assisted, which was much less invasive. There was a small camera that went in, and they could see exactly where the problem was.”

“Her tumor was in a location that was relatively difficult to biopsy using traditional methods. We used a robotic bron-

infant mortality and an approximately 19% drop in mortality rates for Black men.

Black patients and patients of color also were more likely to get preventative care when their clinician shares their racial background. And 83% of Black mental health providers believe racial concordance is important to patient outcomes, according to the Journal of

choscopy, where a small, flexible camera—about the width of a pen—is inserted through the mouth. This allows us to precisely locate and biopsy the tumor without puncturing the lung from the outside, significantly reducing risks,” Dr. Kim says.

Robotic surgery also made Devonne’s recovery much smoother.

“Most of our lung surgeries are now robotic,” Dr. Kim adds. “It allows us to make small incisions, avoiding the need to break or spread the ribs. This speeds up recovery, reduces pain, and helps patients return to their normal lives faster.”

For Devonne, that meant going home just a few days after surgery and starting chemotherapy soon after.

“I was in the hospital for maybe two or three days. Everything went well. I honestly didn’t even need any pain medication afterward,” she shares. Her chemotherapy

Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.

The nursing school offers many scholarships and tuition aid programs, and more than 90% of Chamberlain students receive some form of financial assistance.

Chamberlain’s offers online and flexible programs to attract more working adults who are balancing work life and academics.

experience, while challenging, was made easier by the compassionate medical team at City of Hope.

“I was scared at first, not knowing what to expect. But they treated me like family. That made all the difference,” Devonne adds.

Today, Devonne is cancer-free and passionate about spreading awareness.

“I’m living my life, doing everything I did before. But now, I tell my story because I know how important early detection is,” she says.

She hopes to break the misconception that lung cancer only affects smokers.

“People think, ‘Oh, I don’t smoke, so I won’t get lung cancer.’ That’s not true. I never smoked, and yet I got it. You just never know,” Devonne adds.

Jasmine Smith is Blackdoctor.org associate editor, where this commentary was originally published

2021 alone. Prescription medications and office visits represent the largest cost drivers, but inequities in care access often led to more severe and costly outcomes for marginalized groups.

The report concluded that addressing the various issues would require a collective effort from policymakers, healthcare providers, and community leaders.

Expanding Medicaid, funding local health initiatives, and ensuring equitable resource distribution are steps that can help bridge these gaps.

“Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death globally,” said Dr. Mitchell Elkind, another key contributor to the report.

“Progress is possible, but it demands both innovation in healthcare and a commitment to equity.”

their communities.”

Bailey knew nursing was something that she aspired to.

“There are so many different avenues to take with nursing and it’s such a broad field, I want to learn as much as I can about my career and what’s possible,” she said.

She describes the campus as a tight-knit community, which she appreciates.

“The professors know you and give you that one-on-one attention, there are plenty of opportunities to be successful at Chamberlain and the faculty and staff put the care of their students,” said Bailey.

Bailey’s family has limited financial access, and she knew investing in her education would put her in a position to one day help improve her family’s financial status.

“We are hoping that by introducing this scholarship, more students will find attending nursing school right out of high school to be a more attainable option,” said Keesey “Especially given the nursing shortage, we hope students will realize that nursing is a very in-demand and stable profession where they can also find personal fulfillment and an opportunity to give back to

“There are a lot of students like me who want to attend college right out of high school and may not have the funds, so scholarships are really helpful,” said Coates.

Like Bailey, the grant has aided her during her academic college years. She was afraid that she wouldn’t be able to attend her school of choice because her family didn’t have the money.

“This scholarship takes a financial load off me,” she said.

Photo courtesy of Chamberlain University

Lung cancer survivor Devonne has traveled the world and remained healthy throughout her life. Her diagnosis “was a complete shock,” she says because she has never smoked.

Photo courtesy of Devone / Blackdoctor.org

Students at Chamberlain University College of Nursing in St. Louis can earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in as few as three years of year-round study. The degree program consists of a minimum of 122 credit hours: 56 credit hours in general education and 66 credit hours in the nursing major.

The St. Louis American’s award winning NIE program offers newspapers and resources to St. Louis area teachers and students each week throughout the school year, at no charge.

Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 618-910-9551

CLASSOOM SPOTLIGHT

Students from the St. Louis American Summer Science Academy learn and practice how to use a compass to navigate and investigate locations. Photo by Cathy

Teachers, if you are using the St. Louis American’s NIE program and would like to nominate your class for a Classroom Spotlight, please email: csewell@stlamerican.com

SCIENCE CORNER

What Is Chemical Engineering?

Imagine you have the best chocolate chip cookie recipe that you like to make for family and friends. Imagine you sold this recipe to a company. Now, they need to produce thousands of cookies each day. Each cookie must be the same size and have the same taste. What kind of equipment would they use? How would the recipe change? How could they produce the cookies at a low cost? These are the questions for a chemical engineer. Chemical engineers use math, chemistry, and physics to solve problems, such as pollution. They design equipment and find ways to make chemicals. Chemical engineers work in labs, factories, or testing

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

As you know, chemical engineers are good problem solvers.

One method of problem solving is trial and error. That means, you try your idea and learn from any errors you make.

Sometimes your ideas work well, sometimes they might need some revising. In this experiment, you are going to use your problem solving skills to create square bubbles.

Materials Needed:

• 1 Cup Liquid Dishwashing

Soap • 4 Teaspoons Sugar • 2 ½

Cups of Water • Mixing bowl • Spoon

• Straws

• Wire Coat Hanger • Paper • Pencil

Directions:

q Mix the soap, sugar, and water in the mixing bowl to create a bubble solution.

MATH CONNECTION

sites. In order to become a chemical engineer, you will need to earn your bachelor’s degree, taking courses in math, English, chemistry, biology, physics, social studies, and computers. Engineering majors often do projects as teams, so cooperation skills are very important. If you are a creative and curious person who loves math, logic, and solving problems, this is a good career for you.

For More Information and Interactive Games, Visit: www.discoverengineering.org.

Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction text to gain information about careers in math, science, and technology.

SCIENCE STARS

1ST FEMALE AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO RECEIVE A DOCTORATE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING: Lilia Ann Abron

Lilia Ann Abron was born on March 8, 1945, in Memphis, Tennessee, and was the first African-American woman in the nation to receive her doctorate degree in chemical engineering. Abron’s father was a principal and her mother was a school teacher who taught art and geography. Her parents and three siblings encouraged her interest in science and encouraged her education. Abron earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1966 from Lemoyne College, her master’s degree in 1968 from Washington University, and her doctorate degree in 1972 from the University of Iowa.

Abron worked for the Kansas City Water Department and went on to become a research engineer for the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Chicago. She taught sanitary engineering at Tennessee State University, Vanderbilt University, and Howard University. Abron founded PEER Consultants, an environmental engineering consulting firm. PEER provides solutions to contamination problems to government and private industry clients. Some of Abron’s clients included the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy. Abron’s firm was active in the Boston Harbor cleanup and worked in South Africa to build energyefficient homes.

w Working with a group, brainstorm ideas of how to create a device that will create square bubbles.

e Use trial and error to evaluate your ideas.

r Record your results on paper, noting what worked and what didn’t work. What changes did your group make?

t Discuss results as a class.

Discussion Questions: Did your group work well together? Were you able to create square bubbles? What method was the most effective?

Learning Standards: I can follow directions to complete an experiment. I can use trial and error to evaluate my ideas. I can work cooperatively with a group. Can You Recognize the pattern? Square Bubbles!

Calling all problem solvers! Put your skills to the test as you find the pattern in the following problems.

2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16

40, 36, 32, 28, 24, 20

3, 9, 15, 21, 27, 33, 39

24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84

Describe the pattern

Describe the pattern

Describe the pattern

Describe the pattern 3, 3, 9, 27, 243

Describe the pattern

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

Abron is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the International Women’s Forum, the Water Environment Federation, American Water Works Association, and American Society of Civil Engineers. Abron has been active in the community, serving as the president of the Washington, D.C., chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and as a board member of the Baptist Home for Children. She has received numerous awards, including the Hancher-Finkbine Alumni Medallion from the University of Iowa, the Magic Hands Award by Lemoyne-Owen College, and she was elected to the National Academy of Arts and Sciences. She has three sons and five grandchildren.

The water was so dirty in Boston Harbor that a song was written about it in 1966 by the Standells, called “Dirty Water.” In 1985, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) was created to clean up Boston’s Harbor. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calls Boston Harbor a “great American jewel.”

Discussion Questions: Dr. Abron’s consulting firm helps companies use resources to be less harmful to the environment. What are ways you can help the environment every day? What kind of city departments do you think need engineers? Why? Why is sanitary engineering important? Dr. Abron is active in many organizations to help her community. In what ways can you help your community?

Learning Standards: I can read a biography to learn about an African-American who has made strides in the fields of math, science, and/or technology.

MAP CORNER

Science involves identifying a problem and finding a solution. Find a newspaper story about a problem and a solution. Summarize the problem and solution in a paragraph.

In addition to natural hazards, there are also chemical hazards (such as pollution), biological hazards (such as pollen and viruses), safety hazards (such as workplace safety, transportation), and personal hazards (such as smoking and drinking). Discuss the risk of these hazards, then find newspaper stories or pictures and identify the type of hazard that is illustrated.

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to find information. I can locate a problem and solution. I can categorize.

Sewell

Andrew Grove, the founder of Intel, majored in Chemical Engineering.

Photo/Technology Association of Iowa

Urban League event showcases women owned businesses

Search for unique opportunities for success

By Namratha Prasad St. Louis American

Entrepreneurs Shontay Lunday and April Showers shared with a group of more than 50 women on the first day of Black History Month, Feb. 1, that the path to a successful business has its bumps.

But they aren’t mountains that cannot be overcome with perseverance and self-belief.

Showers, creator of the Afro Unicorn, and Shontay Lundy, the founder of Black Girl Sunscreen, spoke during an Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Save our Sisters event and sought to inspire other Black women to follow their dreams and create multi-million dollar enterprises.

Showers said she knew as soon as she saw a gap in the stuffed animal market, that she had a successful enterprise on her hands. After success

n Showers, creator of the Afro Unicorn, and Shontay Lundy, the founder of Black Girl Sunscreen, spoke during an Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Save our Sisters event and sought to inspire other Black women to follow their dreams and create multi-million dollar enterprises.

as a realtor, her friends called her “a unicorn.”

But, when she wanted to purchase a unicorn of her own, she didn’t see one that looked like her amongst the white ‘My Little Ponies’ on store shelves. That sparked her idea for the Afro Unicorn, which is now available at

major retailers across the nation.

“Y’all keep playing on those gifts and talents. They already exist,” she said to the audience. “It’s already going to happen with or without you, so we have to get out of our own way to make sure that we’re there to see the fruits of our labor.”

When she realized there was no sunscreen that did not leave a white residue on her skin, Lunday knew she wasn’t the only one who experienced the situation. She founded Black Girl Sunscreen, a Los Angeles based company with 25 employees, mostly women of color. The sunscreen is available in 20,000 retail stores across the county.

“I feel honored to be here at the Urban League because, you know, their mission is to empower and educate, you know, underserved communities, and that’s literally what Black Girls sunscreen does, but in a sun safety environment,” she said.

According to the American Cancer

See WOMEN, B2

No ‘End’ to success in sight for Robert Steward

By Namratha Prasad St. Louis American

Robert Steward didn’t recycle an old idea to create his successful tech company.

After graduating from MidAmerica Nazarene Univ. with a degree in business mgmt Steward became a consultant for a California firm that recycled copper. He returned to his native Missouri, and founded End2End Solutions in Creve Coeur.

He has learned that companies struggle with recycling and selling old equipment, and he had the inspiration for success.

Steward and his team developed a mechanism that helped solve the problem with a reverse tracking system.

His effort has drawn national attention,

Robert Steward, founder and CEO of End2End Solution, recently received the Morehouse Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award. From left are Tiffany Rogers Bussey, executive director of the Morehouse Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, Steward, and Danita Harris, Small Business Executive Program director.

Dean named to MFH board of directors

Consortium has worked with the Foundation to address infant and maternal vitality in the Bootheel region of the state. She is a former president of the National Healthy Start Association. She was also named a 2023 Difference Maker by B. Magazine.

Andre Grinston joins Safe Connections

Andre Grinston

André Grinston, MBA, CFRM, has joined Safe Connections as the chief development and marketing officer. Grinston has expertise in higher education fundraising, university administration, marketing, business and economic development, as well as executive leadership development and coaching. Grinston, who earned an MBA from William Woods University, and a B.S. degree in marketing from Lincoln University, will lead Safe Connections’ development and marketing efforts to build awareness and marshal financial support.

Delta Dental adds Tamara Sheffield to board Tamara Sheffield

Delta Dental of Missouri, a non-profit dental insurance organization, has elected Tamara Sheffield to its board of directors. Sheffield, chief financial officer and senior vice president of human resources at Forest Park Forever, Inc., will each serve a threeyear term. Sheffield joined Forest Park Forever in 2011 and leads its finance and administrative services functions. She is a certified public accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Society for Human Resource Management. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with a concentration in accounting from Saint Louis University.

Shields Ryan named a St. Louis Titan

Shuntae Shields Ryan

Shuntae Shields Ryan, United Way of Greater St. Louis chief marketing and communications officer has been named a member of the 2025 St. Louis Titan 100 class. The Titan 100 program recognizes St. Louis’s Top 100 CEOs & C-level executives. They are among the area’s most accomplished business leaders in their industry using criteria that include demonstrating exceptional leadership, vision, and passion.

Steward’s company provides updated equipment for data centers at telecommunications companies, including T-Mobile,

Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) has named Cynthia Dean to its board of directors. Dean serves as CEO of the Missouri Bootheel Regional Consortium, Inc., a nonprofit based in Sikeston, Missouri. The

Cybthia Dean

Photo courtesy of MIEC

Dr. Lannis Hall, center, makes remarks during a health Summit on breast cancer at the Save Our Sisters event hosted by the Urban League Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 at Centenne. (At right is workshop moderator and Save Our Sisters Director Carol Daniel.)

Photo by Wiley Price | The St. Louis American

Shuntae

Robert Steward

Women

Continued from B1

Society, many dermatologists struggle to diagnose skin cancer in patients of color. In fact, the CDC said that Black patients often get diagnosed later than their white counterparts, and in some cases the delayed diagnosis can be fatal.

But Lunday said she hopes putting a sun protection product marketed for people of color might encourage people to protect themselves and prevent future complications.

“It plays into health, because Black people are susceptible to sunburns, melanoma, melasma, hyperpigmentation, all things that are health risk,” she said.

“And wearing sunscreen products, not just Black Girl Sunscreen, could prevent that.”

When she first started the business, Lunday said a lot of people questioned marketing the sunscreen for only Black women.

Steward

Continued from B1

AT&T, and Verizon.

The most difficult part of the process, Steward said, was his lack of knowledge about the industry.

“It’s not something that you get taught in school, all the details and the components of finance, operations and sales when it comes to opening and running your own company,” said Steward.

Steward grew up as the youngest of eight children in Clinton, Missouri, and is a brother of World Wide Technology Founder and

Lunday stood her ground, and now plans to expand the brand to Canada and in Europe.

“I just wasn’t taken seriously,” she said.

“You start off with, you know, smaller, like, you know, order amounts, you just, kind of like, you’re just used to small fish in a really big pond. But by not changing your name and standing firm and saying, Hey, this is for melanated folks and it’s really making us a priority.”

The biggest challenge facing her company right now is the boycott of popular retailers such as Target and Walmart, who have recently pulled back on DEI initiatives. Lunday said the retailers are some of her biggest customers.

“That’s scary, because you don’t know where it’s really going to go. There are challenges with personnel. There are many things that you know come your way, and I think the strongest survive, and you have to have an optimistic mindset,” she said.

Showers said the best way to support diversity

Chair David Steward. He hauled hay which inspired his technique for standardizing processes. He said he is humbled to be honored by Morehouse.

“I was surprised,” he said.

“I think it’s my own desire to make sure that we help those that are starting new businesses and really want to understand how not to step on the bottle. Show them where the rocks are so they can cross over this very raging river that is filled with pitfalls and sweep you away in a split second.”

But it’s not easy to gain entry into the industry as a person of color.

“They get on the phone real quick.” What started as an e-commerce business selling plush unicorns, became a $20 million company selling bedsheets, Build-ABear plush toys, children’s books, and soon a featured film and animated series, all with one goal: encouraging young Black girls to believe in themselves.

“The most rewarding part is the foundation of where the brand was started, which is to empower other women and the representation for young children,” she said.

“So when I get the stories, the messages, the calls, how people tell me that the brand has inspired them to do X, Y, Z. That’s what keeps me going.”

April are amazing inspirations to me. I have followed both of their journeys as entrepreneurs, as Black Business Women, for years,” she said.

“And so I made sure that I was able to secure sitters so that I could be in the room and be led, inspired and encouraged, and that’s exactly what I got.”

The event was part of the Urban League’s Save our Sisters initiative to help Black women find economic opportunity and be inspired by other successful Black women. Showers ended the event by telling the audience to let go of their fear and start innovating and creating.

is to show up and buy products made by Black businesses. She said boycotting the entire market only hurts businesses like hers and other Black entrepreneurs.

Steward said networking in the industry is the most important way to get a job and learn from others in the industry. However, he said some people at the top of the game only recruit people they are familiar with, primarily other white people.

“If you look at our team now, you’ll find a diverse group of people, and you’ll find that those that we’re adding on, they’re also diverse, but not singularly diverse, but because the network was heavily ladened with people that we know, like and trust, so that we can deliver a predictable outcome,” Steward said.

“And I think the more

“You do what you want to do. I’m just telling you the impact that it’s going to have on both Target and Black brands. Once you affect the larger brands, they feel it,” Showers said.

we promote and engage small businesses and we understand that there is an entry point that maybe is not as accessible to allow people to gain tribal knowledge and an understanding of industry standards that is not necessarily taught in school.”

In addition to diversifying people’s networks in the technology sector, Steward’s company also helped AT&T with their ongoing efforts to bridge the digital divide.

“You’ll find that there are dollars that follow the optical network. It’s kind of a crazy phenomenon, which came first, the chicken or the egg, I can’t tell you, but I can

Amber T. Bogan of East St. Louis said she is inspired by Showers’ brand, and started self-publishing her own line of children’s books that celebrate Black joy. Her brand Little Bogan Books, was inspired by the work of trailblazers before her.

“Both Shantae and

tell you that that’s an issue,” Steward said.

Steward said his work with AT&T helped them secure a high-fiber optic network and access systems in libraries and central locations, including the St. Louis Urban League.

“That doesn’t necessarily mean that every household can plug in,” Steward said. “That means you’re going to more of a centralized location, but that’s a start.”

Inspired by his brother’s success in the tech sector, Steward decided to put his management and business skills to use to help revolutionize the

“You gotta keep going. Because what happens is we get bumped. We get bumped in the head so much that we’re just like, I’m not even going to try it anymore,” Showers said. “And that’s when that limited belief starts to stay.”

Namratha Prasad is the St. Louis American Comcast NBC-Universal Fellow/Reporter

industry for generations to come.

“It’s important that we keep our eyes open, because things are changing so fast right now that I believe the rural and urban American digital deserts will soon catch up,” Steward said.

“I also believe that that means that there’s tons of opportunity for companies like mine and others and those that are starting to find ways to bring value when we see change, change equals opportunity, and we just have to recognize it.”

Namratha Prasad is the St. Louis American Comcast NBC-Universal Fellow/Reporter.

Carol Daniel, (left) host of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Save Our Sisters event in North St. Louis County on Saturday, Feb.1, 2025, thanked April Showers, creator of the Afro Unicorn, for sharing her wisdom with a group of more than 50 women.

Photo by ShaTonya McClain

n “We think defense wins championships.”

– Dallas GM Nico Harrison on the Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis trade

InSIdE SportS

With Earl Austin Jr.

Lift for Life Hawks’ wings are arising

The girls basketball program at Lift for Life Academy has established itself as one of the best in the state of Missouri.

The Hawks have won two state championships in the past five seasons, including the Class 4 state title last year. They are currently flying high at No. 1 in the state Class 5 poll at 15-4. The impressive record includes challenges against top teams from Missouri and outside of the state. Lift for Life advanced to the championship game of the prestigious Visitation Tournament before losing to nationally-ranked Incarnate Word Academy. The squad then bounced back to defeat Cardinal Ritter 54-51 in a possible district championship game rematch coming up in March.

Junior guard Zha Harris is currently averaging 13.8 points, three rebounds and a team-high four steals a game. Junior Diamond Polk averages close to 10 points a game while sophomore guard Cara Manuel averages 9.2 points while shooting 39 percent from 3-point range. She is the twin sister of Amaya Manuel.

The Hawks also have some young and developing players along the front line, led by 5’9” sophomore forward Rian Lenox who averages 6.2 points and a team-high 8.2 rebounds a game.

Kah’myla Bell is a 6’0” junior and Saudia Brock is a 5’10” sophomore who are also strong up front.

Earl’s World

The hallmark of Lift for Life’s success is its tremendous backcourt play, which is arguably the best in the state.. The Hawks start four guards, all of whom are Division I college prospects with scholarship offers.

Lift for Life’s leading scorer is 5’7” sophomore Amaya Manuel, who is one of the top guards in the country in the Class of 2027. She is averaging 16.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, three assists and three steals a game while making 50 percent of her 3-point attempts.

Good things are happening with the women’s basketball program at Lindenwood University. The Lions are in their third year as a Division I program, and second-year head coach Amy Eagan has the Lions rolling this season. Lindenwood defeated Eastern Illinois last Saturday to grab a share of the lead in the Ohio Valley Conference. Both Lindenwood and EIU are currently 10-2 in OVC play. The well-balanced team is led by sophomore guard Ellie Brueggeman, who averages 11.7 points a game. Brooke Coffey, a former standout at

Lift for Life Academy after winning the Class 4

Incarnate Word Academy, averages 10 points a game. Senior Justis Odom and sophomores Gracy Wernli, Mya Skoff and Mykayla Cunningham are also excellent young contributors…The Bank of O’Fallon Shootout is an excellent two-day event that will take place on Friday and Saturday at O’Fallon High. There

will be two games on Friday with O’Fallon vs. Nashville (girls) at 6 p.m. followed by O’Fallon vs. Columbia (boys) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday’s fourgame schedule includes: O’Fallon vs. Vianney, 3:30 p.m., Webster Groves vs. Chicago Whitney Young, 5 p.m.; Peoria Manual vs. Fishers (IN), 6:30 p.m.,

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

North Carolina got blasted on the road by rival Duke 87-70 last Saturday, and coach Hubert Davis is feeling the heat. Don’t let the final score fool you, this game was a blowout from the tip off. It is almost certain that this is coach Mike Woodson’s last season at Indiana if the Hoosiers don’t turn things around, and quickly. Woodson’s team fell to 14-8 with a 5-6 Big Ten record after squandering a lead during the final minute of an 81-76 road loss to No. 10 Purdue. Miami, which reached the Final Four just three seasons ago, has seen longtime coach Jim Larranaga retire during the season and has tumbled to 5-17 overall and a pathetic 1-10 ACC Conference record.

guidance of Dennis Gates, a national and SEC coach of the year contender.

The Tigers moved to No. 15 in the AP Top 25 after thumping No. 14 Mississippi State last Saturday 88-61. It is the most lopsided Mizzou win on the road against a ranked team in the team’s history and the victory was No. 100 for Gates including his time with Cleveland State.

“I told everybody that would listen to me,” Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans said in a press conference after the game, “They’re [Missouri] the best team in the country, not just the SEC, that nobody’s talking about.”

UCLA’s abrasive coach Mick Cronin called his players “delusional” following a January loss, refusing to accept responsibility for the Bruins’ lackluster play. UCLA sits at 16-6 overall and 7-4 in the Big Ten, but Cronin has quickly worn out his welcome.

These teams, and many others, are aware of what is happening with the Missouri Tigers under the

The Tigers moved to 17-4 overall and 6-2 in SEC play. The SEC is currently the nation’s toughest contest. Auburn is No. 1, followed by No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 Tennessee, No. 6 Florida, No. 10 Texas A&M, and No. 14 Kentucky.

Mizzou will play Alabama and Kentucky later this year. If the wins continue, the Tigers could reach the Top 10 before the regular season ends. Take a bow, Coach Gates. Your team was picked to finish 12th in the

Vashon vs. Bolingbrook (IL), 8 p.m…The Webster Winter Classic, one of the top in-season girls’ basketball tournaments in the state is also on tap. The tournament features Incarnate Word, Columbia Rock Bridge, John Burroughs and Cor Jesu, who were all in the Final Four of the state tournament last season. Also in the field at Cardinal Ritter, St. Joseph’s, Webster Groves and Pattonville. The semifinals will be held on Friday night at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The championship game will be held on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The thirdplace game is scheduled for 3 p.m.

conference following a dismal 2023-24 season that closed with an 8-24 overall record and 0-18 conference record mark.

The Tigers also boast respective blowout victories over then No. 2 Kansas at home and No. 5 Florida on the road. Missouri is fifth in SEC scoring offense (83.2 PPG) and its pressure defense is in the SEC’s Top 10,

allowing just 69 points per game.

Gates offered this frightening thought, too.

“We’ve yet to reach our full potential,” Gates said following the Mississippi State win.

“I’m excited to see the day when we do, but I think we’re trending in the right direction. I’m just thankful these guys are playing hard for us.”

Gates received a contract extension in March 2023 that runs through the 2028-2029 season.

Earl Austin Jr.

Alvin A. Reid

state championship last season.

Photo courtesy of Lift for Life Academy

Missouri Tigers head coach Dennis Gates calls a play during the first half against the Mississippi Rebels at Mizzou Arena.

Photo by Jay Biggerstaff / Imagn Images

United Way Campaign raises nearly $58 million

United Way of Greater St. Louis has announced it reached a lifetime milestone of over $3 billion invested in the local community, and the 2024 community campaign raised nearly $58 million of United Way’s overall $67 million investment last year.

Dollars raised from their campaign help provide funding and support to a safety net of over 160 local nonprofits that help people with basic needs, early childhood and youth success, jobs and financial mobility, health and wellness, community stability and crisis response.

The 2024 campaign was led by Campaign Chairs Nina Leigh Krueger, CEO of Nestlé Purina Petcare, and Mike Dierberg, Chair of First Bank, as well as Campaign Vice Chair, SiSi Beltrán Martí, vice president & executive director of Build-ABear Foundation and Cause Marketing.

“We are grateful to have so many people committed to strengthening the stability of our community through their support of United Way’s community campaign,” said Michelle D. Tucker, president and CEO of United Way of Greater St. Louis.

“The Power of collective impact fuels our ability to empower over 1 million

of our neighbors annually.

Working together, we can continue to build a strong foundation for our region, now and for generations to come.”

Of the 1,000+ companies participating in the community campaign, more than 400 of them increased their giving this year, and over 100 increased their participation by more than 3%.

Additionally, several companies, their employees and participating labor unions were recognized for combined team gifts, including corporate and employee contributions of $1 million or more.

At the $6 million or more level was Edward Jones; $5 million or more level was World Wide Technology; $3 million or more level was Enterprise Mobility; $2 million or more level were Ameren and Bayer U.S. LLC.; $1 million or more level were Schnuck Markets, Inc., BJC Healthcare, Emerson, Nestlé Purina Petcare Company, and Hunter Engineering Company.

The St. Louis Regional Business Council, which represents over 70 area firms participating in the campaign, raised more than $21 million this year.

Metro completes security gates at Union Station, Civic Center

Security gates have now been installed at the platforms of the Union Station and Civic Center stations.

The St. Louis city stations are the most recent to complete the installation of new security gates, fenc-

ing, and real-time surveillance cameras as part of the Secure Platform Plan. Members of the Metro Transit Public Safety team will be on location to assist customers through the security gates until a new fare collection

system is installed and integrated with the gating system.

MetroLink customers must show the security officer their valid pass or transit ticket to have them activate the gate so the customer can proceed to

the MetroLink platform. Customers should allow extra time for their commutes when first navigating the new gate procedure to access the MetroLink platform.

Union Station and Civic Center join Emerson Park,

Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center, Washington Park, College, Cortex, and Delmar Loop as stations with the new security measures. Installation of security gates and fencing is nearing completion at the

Forest Park-DeBaliviere, Central West End, and Grand stations. The initial implementation of the Secure Platform Plan (SPP) will be finished by early 2026 at all 39 MetroLink stations

From left, Thompson Cobern Chair Roman Wuller, United Way of Greater St. Louis board

chair; Michelle Tucker, United Way president and CEO; Campaign Chair Mike Dierberg,

Campaign Chair Nina Leigh Krueger, and Campaign Vice Chair SiSi Beltran Marti.

Photo courtesy of the United Way

Living It

A proud lineage of Blackness

“That [MAGA] hat must be too tight on your head.”

Don Lemon firing back after Kanye West called him a ‘goofball’

New Works Collective continues to amplify diversity in Opera

By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American

Tim Amukele was eager to share the little known Black history fact that is directly linked to the name Candice – or Candace. The spelling is beside the point.

The popular name is beloved by Black culture, but not specific to it.

Amukele said that the name is a contemporary derivative of Kandake – the title of the composer’s contribution to Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ 2025 New Works Collective.

“It means queen,” Amukele said with pride. But not just any queen, his Kandake is the African warrior queen who was able

to stave off The Roman Empire at the height of its power.

“It’s just an amazing story,” said Amukele. “I learned about it from Henry Louis Gates Jr. You know he is the Ken Burns for our community. He kind of mentioned it in passing during one of his documentaries – and I went down a rabbit hole.”

Audiences will see an abbreviated version of the captivating moment of ancient African history this weekend at COCA’s Berges Theatre New Works Collective returns to the Berges Theatre stage.

“It’s Kandake, a queen pushing back on Augustus Caesar, because there is no part of him that is coming to make peace,” said soprano Cierra Byrd, who sings in the production. “He’s coming to wipe out an entire culture and she put a stop to it. Because of what she did, that culture is preserved to this very day.”

The opera is on brand New Works Collective, the groundbreaking initiative

that has given agency to underrepresented voices within the genre of opera for the past three years.

“It sounds like Africa from the very first note – and that was on purpose,” said Amukele. “I wanted people to hear it and say, ‘that’s us.’

He told the story he needed to hear. And he felt that if he needed to hear it, so many others probably did too.

“There are so many stories about Black distress,” Amukele said. “I felt we just needed more black joy, black accomplishments and more stories that show our victories within Black history. Queen is not just a term of endearment. It’s not even just in bloodline. It’s on the battlefield. We need to know this story, and others like it, so we can walk a little taller – and know where we come from.”

“Kandake” is one of three ideas that were chosen to be developed into twentyminute operas. More than 150 artists

Showcasing Black style

By Zaria Mac The St. Louis American

Jewelry designer Yolanda “Yoro” Newson provided a spotlight for 25 talented Black designers in an establishment that has symbolized luxury for generations at her 4th Annual Black History Month Fashion Showcase. Neiman Marcus at Plaza Frontenac gave space to established and emerging designers –spotlighting the talent found within our community.

“Sometimes you are not able to get into places and spaces – and you don’t know how to break that seam and get in there,” Yoro said as she thanked the retailer for hosting the event and providing opportunities for her Black Creatives in the Lou. “Well, I believe in busting up the ceiling – Amen.” She also believes in staying busy.

In addition to her jewelry design, she has produced films, styled celebrities and she even created an in-store shopping

experience. Fashion Friendzy has partnered with local boutiques and department stores to assist shoppers with their styling needs.

The “Black History Month Fashion Showcase” was produced by Yoro’s latest creation Black Creatives in the Lou, a platform for Black creators of all types to share their art and designs to a wider audience.

She has opened the platform to fashion designers, stylists, jewelry designers,

Grammy spotlight

Beyoncé

makes history, Doechii wins ‘Best Rap Album’

By Kenya Vaughn

St. Louis American

The

Beyoncé was all of us – with surprise written all over her face – when she made history as the first Black woman to win “Best Country Album” at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards Sunday night in Los Angeles. But by then it was already established that the Black Girl Magic would be dialed up to the point where it was impossible to diminish.

n “Don’t allow anybody to project any stereotypes on you that you tell you that you can’t be here.”

- Doechii

Neiman Marcus St. Louis hosted the 4th Annual Black History Month Fashion Showcase presented by Yolanda “Yoro” Newson and her Black Creatives in the Lou on Saturday, Feb. 1.

Florida rapper Doechii set the tone when she became only the third Black woman to win “Best Rap Album for “Alligator Bites Never Heal” since the category was established in 1989. She was presented with the award by the second recipient – Cardi B. – and Ms. Lauryn Hill was the first for her culture shifting project “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.”

“I know that there is some Black girl out there – so many Black women out there watching me right now,” Doechii said as she stood next to her mother and accepted the award. “I want to tell you –you can do it. Anything is possible.”

A few categories later, Doechii’s remarks proved prophetic.

Twenty-four hours after Beyoncé announced the tour to support her first country album, the groundbreaking win “Cowboy Carter” had Beyonce at a loss for words.

“I’m still in shock,” Beyoncé said as she took her seat. She had more awards than anyone in the arena, and yet it was as if the win was her first ever.

She hardly spoke any words, but a few from Doechii during her speech could definitely apply.

“Don’t allow anybody to project any stereotypes on you that you tell you that you can’t be here,” Doechii said just minutes earlier.

also the creator of a vegan nail lacquer, a home interior designer and even a baker. Her event showed that there is room for all creators – and everyone has their own niche and a role to play in setting the standard of Black luxury and design. Tiffany Glasco’s Nahla Madison Home and a piece from the Young Addy Collection set the tone for the showcase.

See Style, C6

Trevor Noah hosted, but support for Los Angeles loomed large in the wake of the tragic fires. The vibe was similar to 2002, when New York was declared the host city for the first major pop culture event in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy.

And while Los Angeles love was the common thread for Sunday’s awards. The hope and defiant optimism within the tapestry of the evening was curated by

Photos by Macy White/Courtesy of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis OTSL’s presentation of New Works Collective 2025 will take place From Feb.6 – Feb. 8 at COCA’s Berges Theatre.

Photo by Tim Breitbach

From Instagram

Photo courtesy of CBS

Beyoncé made history as the first Black woman to win “Best Country Album” at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards Sunday night in Los Angeles.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH ACTIVITIES

Thurs., Feb. 6, 6 p.m., St. Louis County Library Black History Celebration with keynote speaker Victoria Christopher Murray, Author of “Harlem Rhapsody.” Tamia Coleman-Hawkins will receive the Frankie Freeman Inspirational Award during the program, St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch, 1640 St. Lindbergh. For more

STL Sites & Sounds

Valentine’s Love Jam featuring Keith Sweat, Kem, Carl Thomas and Mya, Chaiftez Arena, 1 Compton Ave. St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Fri., Feb. 21, MC Lyte at City Winery St. Louis, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https://citywinery.com.

Fri., Feb 28, p.m. Lil Wayne

Through Feb. 9, 8 p.m.

Pictures of a Revolution, Marcelle, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive, Saint Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit www.upstreamtheater.org.

Through March 2, The Black Rep presents the rolling world premiere of “Coconut Cake,” A.E. Hotchner Studio Theater, Edison Theatre. For more information, visit www.theblackrep. org.

‘History Exploration Days’ will continue at the History Museum this month with ‘Black Missourians in STEM,’ an interactive exhibit that shares the contributions these men and women made to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. See BLACK HISTORY MONTH ACTIVITIES for more information.

St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https://citywinery.com/st-louis.

Fri., Feb. 14, 6 p.m. Sapphira Cristal Presents: One Slue Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, City Winery St. Louis, 2730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https:// citywinery.com/st-louis.

Sat., Fed 22, 11:00 a.m. Soul Tribute To Sam Cooke And The Birth Of Soul, City Winery St. Louis, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https:// citywinery.com/st-louis

Sat., Feb. 22, 6 p.m. 4th Annual Brass Band Blowout, The Golden Record, 2720 Cherokee Street. For more information, visit https://do314.com.

THEATRE

Through March 6, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the St. Louis premiere of “Clyde’s,” the Tony-nominated play by twotime Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage. The Loretto-Hilton on the campus of Webster University. For more information, visit repstl.org.

ART

Through Feb. 9, 2025, Great Rivers Biennial featuring Saj Issa, Basil Kincaid and Ronald Young, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, 3750 Washington Blvd., St. Louis MO 63108. For more information, visit www.cam-stl.org.

Through Feb. 16, 2025, Saint Louis Art Museum presents Narrative Wisdom and African Arts, Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis MO 63110. For more information, visit www.slam.org.

Through Apr. 13, 2025, Saint Louis Art Museum presents Federal Art Project 1935-1945, Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis MO 63110. For more information, visit www.slam.org.

Through Jun. 30, 2025, Pop Stars! Popular Culture and Contemporary Art, 21C Museum Hotel St. Louis, 1528 Locus Street, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit www.21cmuseumhotels.

OTSL

Continued from C1

applied for the 2025 cohort.

“I’m very grateful to be telling this story – and I hope it hits audiences the way it hit me,” Amukele said. “I just want Black people to know a great story about Black people – especially about Black women. It’s a beautiful story and it’s real.”

Byrd will be singing in Kandake as well as “Black Coffee” another opera that is featured in the 2025 program.

“It feels liberating,” Byrd said. “I trust the colors that I’m making with my voice, because they come from my lived experience. It’s so special because there have been so many times where I’m trying to hop into the mindset of a European princess or queen. I’m a Nubian queen.”

The three multi-genre teams for the 2025 cohort were selected by a panel of St. Louis artists, advocates and community leaders.

“They handed over the decision making to

the community – that’s power,” said Amukele. “What OTSL is doing is unique to just about every other opera house. We don’t usually have these kinds of stories in opera. I am so proud and so happy to have the opportunity to contribute to it.”

It is a sentiment echoed by Alicia Revé Like, librettist for “Black Coffee,” a story about building friendships in the present day.

“All of the creatives involved with New Works Collective are a part of a once in a lifetime, paradigm shifting opportunity,” Like said.

Like Byrd, Tenor Martin Luther Clark sings in both “Black Coffee” and “Kandake.” From a vocal standpoint, the opportunity to do so is very satisfying for him.

“We get to tell our own stories,” Clark said. The two productions that are a part of this year’s New Works Collective are a reminder that the Diaspora is not a monolith.

“There is so much variety within Black culture,” Clark said. “You get the African rhythms of ‘Kandake.’ But we also get to show Black joy

and Black humanity in ‘Black Coffee.’ It is not foreign or stereotypical. We are a people with our own culture, our own bloodlines and our own way of communicating with one another.”

They all sang the praises of OTSL for giving them a platform to tell these stories within an art form that has for centuries been associated with whiteness, despite the countless names who have worked tirelessly to amplify Black voices.

“It’s an honor to have Black representation on stage in a field where that hasn’t always been the case,” Byrd said. “You are not only encouraging yourself with this character. You are encouraging a whole new generation of Black children in whatever they are going to do in life.”

OTSL’s presentation of New Works Collective 2025 will take place From Feb.6 – Feb. 8 at COCA’s Berges Theatre, 6880 Washington Avenue, St. Louis MO 63130. For tickets or additional information, visit https:// opera-stl.org/.

Continued from C1

Black women. There was Cynthia Erivo’s stunning take on Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon,” during an all-star tribute to Quincy Jones. There were also Doechii and Raye’s show stopping performances among the “Best New Artist” nominees.

Presented with the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award by Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys reminded the millions who tuned in of Black women’s ability to say the brave – and right – thing when the world is watching.

“This is not the time to shut down the diversity of voices,” Keys said. “We’ve seen on this stage talented, hardworking people from different backgrounds with different points of view, and it changes the game. DEI is not a threat, it’s a gift.”

And when pop music icon Diana Ross stepped on stage to present “Record of the Year” honors, she inspired awe before she opened her mouth to announce the nominees.

Pop starlet Sabrina Carpenter was as moved as when she won her first Grammy earlier in the evening when expressing her fandom for Ross. Tears filled her eyes and her face flushed with red.

And before he accepted his award for “Not Like Us,” which swept its categories at this year’s awards, Kendrick Lamar took a moment to bow down to Ross.

The final award of the night elicited a similar reaction.

Florida rapper Doechii set the tone when she became only the third Black woman to win “Best Rap Album for “Alligator Bites Never Heal” since the category was established in 1989.

With the win, Beyoncé is one of only four Black women to take home

“Album of the Year” honors – a distinction she shares with Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole and Lauryn Hill.

When the Los Angeles Fire Department announced that “Cowboy Carter” had earned Beyoncé her first ever album of the year Grammy, a wave of emotions followed. Cynthia Erivo burst into tears as if her name had been called. Tears streamed down Lady Gaga’s face. Fellow nominees Carpenter and Billie Eilish fought back tears of joy. Taylor Swift – another nominee in the category, and last year’s winner,jumped and shouted as if she were a co-producer of “Cowboy Carter.”

woman who paved the way for “Cowboy Carter” to exist.

“Thank you, Linda Martell,” Beyoncé said.

“You are exactly who you need to be.” Grammy

In her remarks, Beyoncé spoke praises of the Black

The vitriolic racism Beyoncé faced in response to entering the country music space last year paled in comparison to Martell’s experience as the first commercially successful Black female country artist and the first Black woman to play The Grand Ole Opry in the 1960s.

Martell, who Beyoncé featured on “Cowboy Carter,” is yet another testament to Doechii’s affirmation to Black women during her speech at the Crypto.com Arena.

Photo courtesy of CBS

CONTRACT ATTORNEY

FAMILY ADVOCATE

Guardian Angel Settlement Association invites applicants to apply for our Family Advocate position. This candidate will assist with the daily operations of GASA’s Early Childhood Center.

· Valid driver’s license required, must have Social Work experience and be able to pass background check

· 40hrs/wk, Mon-Fri, 25% travel required, BA required

· $42k - $48k/ annual Interested applicants can apply on Indeed or email your resume to hr@gasastl.org

The position is financed through CDBG funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the City of St. Louis Community Development Administration. GASA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

AGING AHEAD CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Manchester, MO 63011

Administers policies set by the Board of Directors. Advises the Board regarding funding sources, laws, regulations, and the possible impact of these on current and future agency activities. Must have a Master’s in social work, business administration or related field from an accredited university plus 10-15yrs exp. in position(s) with increasing responsibility in supervisory & organizational development. Exp in the field of aging preferred. Full Benefits, Annual Salary Range: $135,000$150,000. See Agency Website www.agingahead. org or Indeed for full position details & application requirements. Application deadline: Feb 28, 2025

SENIOR DATA ENGINEER. SAFETY NATIONAL CASUALTY CORP. ST. LOUIS, MO.

Responsible for contributing to development, architecture, & design of Safety National Casualty Corp’s Next Generation Data Warehouse. $139,942-190,000/yr. Requires: Bachelor’s deg. in Comp. Sci., Info. Sys. or related technical or eng. degree. 5 years exp. in any info. tech. position. 2 years exp. in Data Warehousing; Snowflake; & Qlik Replicate & Qlik Compose. Demonstrated ANSI SQL skills. Demonstrated knowledge of Guidewire tools, Claim Center & Policy Center, with knowledge of underlying database structures. Demonstrated Python skills. Demonstrated exp. with Git. Demonstrated exp. with Star, Data Vault, & 3NF data modeling techniques. Demonstrated knowledge of database arch. & Microsoft SQL Server. Demonstrated understanding of cloud technologies & implementations of cloud capabilities. Work from home avail. 2 days per week w/in commuting distance to office. Send résumés to Hima Kuppa, Safety National Casualty Corp., 1832 Schuetz Rd, St. Louis, MO 63146 or SNRecruiting@safetynational.com.

DEVELOPMENT POSITION

The Gateway Arch Park Foundation is seeking to fill the following open, full-time position. Development Coordinator, Membership: Opportunity to work with a diverse, collaborative team in fundraising. Position requires a bachelor’s degree and 1-3 years of relevant experience. View full job description and application process at www.archpark.org/ foundation/careers

ADVERTISEMENT/ NOTICE

McCownGordon Construction is soliciting bids for the Missouri S&T –Advance Research Center (ARC) Addition and Renovation project, located at 500 St. Patrick’s Ln., Rolla, MO 65409. The scopes of work include General Requirements and Asphalt. The bids will be submitted electronically through Building Connected by 2:00pm February 14th, 2025. If the bid date extends, an announcement will be made through Building Connected.

Contractors and sub-contractors may obtain bid documents and information about pre-bid events on or after January 24th, 2025, by emailing Kyle Pryor, kpryor@mccowngordon.com

Missouri University of Science & Technology reserves the right to reject any or all bids and reserve the right to be the sole judge of what it considers the lowest responsible bid. McCownGordon Construction and Missouri University of Science & Technology are Equal Opportunity Employers.

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Interior Remodel at St. Louis County Regional State Office Building, Project No. O252101, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, March 4, 2024. Project information available at: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities

Family Court of St. Louis County is seeking to enter into a professional service agreement with an attorney to provide assistance to Family Court judges who handle domestic cases filed by unrepresented individuals. These services are funded by special monies received from the Family Services and Justice Fund and are subject to continued availability of these monies. Primary responsibility will be to assist with management of the pro se docket including legal analysis, notifying litigants of requirements to revise legal documents and providing notices of court hearings and other correspondence. The professional service agreement is funded at $30.00/hour working up to 28 hours/week. A one+ year commitment to the position is highly preferred. Qualification: Licensed to practice law in the State of Missouri. Requirement: Maintenance of professional liability insurance.

NOTE: All selected individuals will be required to submit to a background check. To apply (position open until filled), please send a resume, along with a cover letter to the following address on or before March 7, 2025:

Contract Attorney, Attn: Human Resources Department, Family Court of St. Louis County, 105 S. Central., Clayton, MO 63105. OR Email same to SLCCourtJobs@courts. mo.gov. EOE. Please contact the Human Resources Department at 615-4471 (voice) or RelayMO 711 or 800 735-2966 if you need any accommodations in the application process, or if you would like this posting in an alternative format.

LEGAL NOTICE

Bobbie S. Jones is the legal and equitable owner of the property known as 3905 McCarren Ct. Florissant, MO 63034. All Sales of this property is null and void. Contact Bobbie in writing at 3905 McCarren Ct. Florissant, MO 63034.

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks bids from qualified firms to submit proposals. Bid documents are available as of 2/5/25 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor.

Electronically sealed bids will be received by the Board of Public Service through the Bid Express Online Portal at https://www. bidexpress.com/businesses/20618/home?agency=true. Proposals must be submitted before 1:45 PM, St. Louis Time, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The proposals will then be publicly opened and read.

The bidder must pay $50 to submit a bid through the Bid Express service. Monthly subscriptions are available.

Plans, Specifications, and the Agreement may be examined online through Bid Express at https://www.bidexpress.com/businesses/20618/home?agency=true and may be downloaded for free.

An optional pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held at the Compton Hill Reservoir Park Maintenance Building 1700 S. Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63104 on February 18th at 10:00 AM. All bidders are strongly encouraged to attend the pre-bid meeting.

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

The right of the Board of Public Service to reject any or all bids is expressly reserved.

St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices St. LouiS

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Requests for Quotes, Bids and Proposals are posted online for public download. Please navigate to www.msdprojectclear.org > Doing Business With Us > View Bid Opportunities

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

WAITING LIST

WOODLAND TOWERS APARTMENTS

306 PINE LAKE ROAD

COLLINSVILLE, IL, 62234

Seniors 62 and older Apply now for an affordable 1-bedroom unit. Stop by the office or Call: (618) 345-7240 for an application Applications may be returned in person or by ManagedMonday-Fridaymail.8-5 by Related CompanyManagement

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Family Sub-Contracted Services

The St. Louis City Family Court is seeking proposals from service providers to address behaviors that have resulted in referrals to the Family Court. Proposals should be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m. on March 7, 2025. Interested service providers may obtain the Proposal Specifications by accessing www.stlcitycircuitcourt.com and selecting Courts & Services, Court Administration, then Requests For Proposals.

January 9, 2025

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION FILE NO.: 23 CV034229-590 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF MECKLENBURG Laura R chimene KODJO,Plaintiff VS. Ezechiel Esther BOTEWA ,Defendant: TAKE NOTICE that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed 09/16/2024, in the above-entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: ABSOLUTE DIVORCE. You are required to make defense to such pleading no later than at least 40 days from the first publication of this notice.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Altman-Charter Co., requests subcontractor/supplier proposals for the construction of University Crossing Apartments in St. Louis, MO. This is a new 3 & 4-Story, 60 unit apartment building. Proposals are due at the office of Altman-Charter Co., 315 Consort Dr., St. Louis, MO 63011 on or before Tues., February 25, 2025 at 3:00 PM (CT). Qualified 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, ePlan and the Altman-Charter online plan room. Bidders should contact Mr. Greg Mehrmann with any questions or to submit a proposal at gregm@altman-charter. com. Our telephone # is (636) 207-8670.

CITY OF ST. LOUIS BOARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF RUNWAY 12L-30R FROM TAXIWAY SIERRA TO TAXIWAY LIMA; RECONSTRUCTION OF RUNWAY 6-24-PROJECTS 1 and 2 AT ST. LOUIS LAMBERT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. Statements of Qualifications due by 5:00 PM CT, FEBRUARY 27, 2025, through the Bid Express online portal at https://www.bidexpress.com/ businesses/20618/home. RFQ may be obtained from BPS website, https://www. stlouis-mo.gov/government/ departments/ public-service/ announcements/index.cfm, under On Line Plan Room-Plan Room, or email Board of Public Service at bryanth@stlouis-mo.gov. DBE participation goal is 17.00%

SEALED BIDS

The City of Crestwood, Missouri Department of Parks and Recreation is requesting sealed bids for our Quarry Fence Panel Replacement at the Quarry boardwalk in Whitecliff Park. Sealed bid proposals are due Friday February 14, 2025, at 10:00 am CST. For more information and the complete RFB package please see the Bids and RFP’s section of the City of Crestwood website (https://www.cityofcrestwood.org/Bids.aspx).

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Hankins Construction Co. is requesting bids from MBE/WBE/SDVE/DBE Subcontractors and Suppliers for our proposal on the SSD Neuwoehner School Interior Renovation project. A combined diversity goal of 15% has been established for this project. To access the bid documents, or if you have any questions, please email/call Nicole at Office@HankinsMidwest. com /314-426-7030 Please submit bids to Bids@HankinsMidwest. com by 10:00 AM on 2/18/2025. Hankins Construction Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

ASBESTOS

ABATEMENT

ROOM AT THE INN, a 501(c) (3) located in St. Louis County, requests proposals from qualified firms and individuals to perform ASBESTOS ABATEMENT in accordance with all current HUD regulations. Bid documents will be available as of 2/4/25 under News and Events at www.roomstl.org for the asbestos abatement request for proposal.

Religion

Sign of the times

How Black churches bring message to deaf parishioners

By Rev. Dorothy Boulware Word in Black

When Justina Taylor

Miles broke the internet

signing Rihanna’s 2023 Super Bowl performance last year, she wasn’t just interpreting — she was continuing a tradition of Black American Sign Language.

On Sunday mornings, during worship at a Black church, the sign language interpreter is often the most animated person in the room. Their spirited efforts include hands flying, bodies swaying, and faces expressing every emotion — joy, sorrow, and conviction.

interpreter.

“You’d also need experience worshiping in a Black church, listening to different preachers and singing the songs traditionally sung in churches. That can give you a good background for interpreting or facilitating in that setting,” she says.

There is, no doubt, a difference in the way Black interpreters sign and those of other cultures.

But Black American Sign Language isn’t a performance. For deaf congregants, it’s a lifeline to the sermon, the songs, and the spirit of the service. And for hearing worshippers, it’s a reminder of the power of inclusion.

“Of course, it helps if you have some experience being around deaf people in informal situations or having deaf friends so you can pick up signs that may be unique to them,” says Felecia Diggs, a retired Baltimore librarian who became a sign language

Style

Continued from C1

Nahla Madison’s display featured a statue of a black woman’s face and neck. Her hair was an afro of countless black butterflies. Next to it was Addy’s piece – a gold, floor length beaded gown with ostrich feathers lining the off-the-shoulder neckline. There were six designers featured in the center of the store, each with their own signature style. The first was a design from Shamaica Chanel. The floor length gown with a halter neckline appeared to be one long braid. It wrapped around the neck and flowed the length of the dress until it reached a mermaid bottom. This dress is for the woman who loves to adorn herself in avant garde art pieces. Next to it was a wom-

“I can see their attitude or their personality, their culture, their swag. Also, their body language and how they express what they want to say,” Wade Green, a BASL user featured in the documentary “Signing Black in America,” says of Black ASL interpreters.

The exclusion of Black deaf folks by family members and friends who lacked understanding and attached superstition to the difference was compounded by exclusion from the community and even education opportunities.

Indeed, racial segregation made the development of the distinctly different Black ASL a necessity.

The National Association for the Deaf

an’s two piece pants set created by Roi + Rik Designs. It had a corset top with a Royal Blue geometric design and a dramatic cape with a semi-train to match. The display continued with two designs by LAHA Clothing. The first look was a black satin gown with a scoop neck. The ankle length gown also had a beaded waist and a dramatic bow draped across the shoulder. The other was a sophisticated kids look that featured a white button up and black tie layered underneath a black knee length gown. On the back side of the central display was a look from Designs by J. Stockings, a grey plunge neck dress with ruched sleeves and an asymmetrical waist cape covering the left side.

For her contribution to the showcase, Denise Li included a sheer grey floor length gown with

by Kris Craig/Courtesy

An Alpha & Omega Deaf

Island displays the ASL word for Jesus as she follows along, signing to hymns being played and words displayed on video screens, with fellow parishioners who are deaf or hard of hearing during a recent service.

did not admit Black people until 1965, a year after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. (Yes, even deaf people had segregation.)

William Cooper Reid served as a Missouri School for the Deaf teacher from 1902 until his death in 1945. As an African American, his entire teaching career was spent under the segregation system of that era, and he was only allowed to teach and serve as superintendent for Black students.

Reid is the great grandfather of Alvin Reid, St. Louis American city editor.

Gallaudet College, now Gallaudet University,

layered voile fabric fashioned in a way that made the one piece appear to be two. The final look on the central display was from Aileen Woods of Rustik Rich Living, which is an eco-design company specializing in handcrafted statement accessories.

Her portion of the display featured an Afrocentric art piece – a mix of wood and textiles that would make a great addition to someone’s personal collection or the centerpiece of an eclectic cafe. Yoro is actively making a way for black creatives and businesses alike with Black Creatives in the Lou. Her “Black History Month Fashion Showcase” will be on display the entire month at Neiman Marcus. Make time to stop by and support the greatness and creativity in our own backyards.

did not admit Black deaf students until 1950, 86 years after its founding as an institution to educate the deaf and hard of hearing. In the South, deaf students were segregated at school.

In 2011, former Black deaf students at the Kentucky School for the Deaf received diplomas denied to them 60 years earlier. The separation made the development of the distinctly different Black ASL a necessity.

Depending on the preaching style, it can be difficult to interpret in Black churches because there may be more than one thing happening simultaneously — someone may be

preaching, and there may be responses from the audience — and you need to interpret all of what’s going on.

“Sometimes idioms or sayings used in the culture might be used that are foreign to some deaf persons, and if you are not familiar with it, you cannot interpret it,” Diggs explains.

One example? The saying that you should be thankful that last night’s bed was not your cooling board — meaning you slept last night and weren’t taken to the morgue or morticians before waking up.

Diggs says there’s a method to interpret the sermons.

“You don’t want to interpret a preacher’s sermon word for word because the individual words may not have the same meaning when grouped with other words,” she says. “You first want to understand the concept or main points yourself and then transfer that information with as accurate signs as possible.”

Diggs also says there are signs specific to the Black church setting: for church, Jesus Christ, crucifixion, heaven, Holy Spirit, sins, mercy, and forgiveness. There’s also the need for an understanding of some of the rituals or sacraments such as the symbolism of bread, wine, and juice, or whatever elements are used for communion.

“The meaning of certain words, such as the summary of the ‘decalogue,’ is meaningless unless you can interpret that you are talking about the Ten Commandments. A popular gospel song that mentioned ‘calling him (God) up,’ but signing it literally means phoning God,” Diggs says, adding meanings are more important most times than words.

In some Black spirituals, words can’t always be interpreted, or they won’t have meaning to the person listening, such as I’ve been buked, and I’ve been scorned — which could be interpreted I’ve been rebuked and criticized.

Photo

of The Providence Journal

church parishioner in Providence, Rhode

Celebrating Black History

Ed Dwight sculpted a historic path to space

The oldest person to reach that height

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

In 1961, Ed Dwight was a decorated Air Force pilot with a dream of traveling into space. He was nominated as a candidate for NASA’s early astronaut corps in 1961, just as NASA’s Project Mercury crewed flights were beginning. Much of the Mercury technology was crafted by McDonnell Corp., in St. Louis, and astronauts were carried into space on six flights between 1961 and ’63. While qualified, NASA did not select Dwight for the astronaut class of 1963. The agency did not choose a Black astronaut until 1978, and a Black Astronaut would not venture into space until Guion Bluford made history in 1983. Dwight, if chosen, would have been

in the 1963 astronaut class that included Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and Michael Collins.

On July 16, 1969, as Apollo 11 roared into space, Dwight could only look at the moon and wonder “what if?”

Apollo 11 astronauts Niel Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin were the first men to walk on the moon on July 20, 1969. Collins orbited the moon in the command module during the historic trip.

Dwight, an aeronautical engineer, Air Force captain and test pilot told BBC in England in 2019 that he received a letter from the Pentagon, authorized by President John F Kennedy, gauging his interest in becoming the first Black astronaut.

Above: Ed Dwight’s “Soldiers’ Memorial on the Lincoln University campus in Jefferson City, Mo., depicts the members of the 62nd and 65th United States Colored Infantry who, in 1866, founded Lincoln University. The work includes two soldiers and Capt. Foster, their white commander, who all are shown atop a pedestal. Another soldier, placed behind the main sculptural group, assists other soldiers as they ascend the pedestal. On the base of the pedestal is a bas relief group of soldiers.

Left: Ed Dwight could have been the only Black astronaut in the 1960s –but racial politics ended his dream of reaching space. On May 19, 2024, at the age of 90, he got his chance to go into orbit on Blue Origin Mission NS-25, taking off from the Blue Origin base near Van Horn, Texas.

Black history is being made each day throughout the St. Louis region by accomplished African Americans in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields. During Black History Month, the St. Louis American will be featuring individuals who are following the historic paths of great Black scientists, engineers, and educators and also paving a way for others with STEM interests who are destined for future accomplishments

Tiffanie Toles has engineered a STEM success story

‘Believe in yourself’

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

Tiffanie Toles, a project manager with Kwame Building Group, learned early in her life she liked “how to go about doing things.”

It was the first of many steps that led her into the field of engineering where she earned several degrees before launching an impressive career that has brought her accolades and honors from throughout the nation.

While in elementary school in the Riverview Gardens School District, she had strong grades in math and science, and she participated in its REACH program.

“It’s where I found out I liked engineering,” Toles said.

She would attend Westview Middle School, which offered Project Lead the Way, and had her first experiences using Auto Cad, which helped students design their “dream car.”

“We built that vision,” Toles explained.

Describing herself as “a small young woman with a small amount of resources,” Toles began her high school educa-

tion at Lutheran North.

“My mom worked two jobs so I could go there. She gave so much of her life for my education,” she said.

Toles’ mom would lose one of her jobs and the decision was made for Toles to transfer to Hazelwood Central, which did not derail her journey to a future engineering degree.

“They understood my predicament and vowed to get me where I wanted to go,” she explained.

Knowing she would need scholarships to attend college, Toles and her mom feverishly researched and applied for numerous financial assistance opportunities. Before she knew what colleges to apply for, she realized that funding was the first priority. The Gates Millenium Scholarship, which offered a four-year full ride to

2025 BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS CALENDAR

Thurs., Feb. 6, 5:30 p.m., St. Louis Public Library Black History Month Film Series, “Hidden Figures,” Auditorium, St. Louis Public Library –Central Branch, 1301 Olive St. For more information, visit www.slpl.org.

Thurs., Feb. 6, 6 p.m., St. Louis County Library Black History Celebration with keynote speaker Victoria Christopher Murray, Author of “Harlem Rhapsody.” Tamia Coleman-Hawkins will receive the Frankie Freeman Inspirational Award during the program, St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch, 1640 St. Lindbergh. For more information, visit www.slcl.org.

Sat., Feb. 8, 10 a.m., The Black Rep presents Jabari Dreams of Freedom. Follow Jabari through a world of rap and sketch as he dreams of Civil Rights leaders and role models that help him ace his social studies test at school. St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch, 1640 St. Lindbergh. For more information, visit www.slcl.org.

Sat., Feb. 8, 1 p.m. Freedom Crossroads: The Importance of Cemeteries, Churches & Schools Featuring the expert panel of: Jeff Smith – Fr. Dickson Cemetery, Reverend Edmund Lowe - Churches, and Dr. Erma Reid – Schools., Chapel Hill Mortuary, 10301 Big Bend Rd. At the Big Bend and Highway 44 intersection. Across from Sam’s. Tickets: Free, Reservations Required. https://shorturl. at/n3qwc

Sat., Feb. 8, 1 p.m., St. Louis Public Library presents The African American Experience at the 1904

See Astronaut, D2

See Toles, D2

Photo courtesy of Blue Origin

Photo by Taylor Marriee/St. Louis American

Tiffanie Toles

Continued from D1

World’s Fair, St. Louis Public Library – Central Branch, 1301 Olive St. For more information, visit www.slpl.org.

Mon., Feb. 10, 6 p.m. Baseball & Black History (for kids), Learn about influential African American Baseball players through history and decorate your own baseball cap and personalized pennant. Supplies are limited, St. Louis Public Library –Cabanne Branch, 1106 N. Union. For more information, visit www.slpl.org.

Thurs., Feb. 13, 5:30 p.m., St. Louis Public Library Black History Month Film Series, “10,000 Black Men Named George,” Auditorium, St. Louis Public Library – Central Branch, 1301 Olive St. For more information, visit www.slpl.org.

Thurs., Feb. 13, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library welcomes bestselling author Walter Mosley to sign and discuss “Been Wrong So Long It Feels Right: A King Oliver Novel,” St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch, 1640 St. Lindbergh. For more information, visit www.slcl.org.

Fri., Feb. 14, 10:30 a.m. West African Dance and

Dwight

Continued from D1

He thought it was a joke but later accepted the offer.

Dwight would later call it “a political move.”

Drumming with Afriky Lolo, St. Louis Public Library – Central Branch, 1301 Olive St. For more information, visit www. slpl.org.

Fri., 15, 10 a.m., West African Dance and Drumming with Afriky Lolo, St. Louis Public Library – Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid. For more information, visit www. slpl.org.

Sat., Feb. 15, 10 a.m. Black Missourians in STEM interactive exhibit. Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd. St, Louis, MO 63112. For more information, visit https://mohistory.org.

Sun., Feb. 16, 1 p.m.

Family Sunday – We the People: A Black History Month Celebration, St. Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit www.stlouis-mo. gov.

Sun., Feb. 16, 3 p.m. African American History Month Concert – Gateway Music Outreach, Olivet Missionary Baptist Church, 12200 New Halls Ferry Rd. Florissant, MO 63033. For more information, visit www.eventbrite. com.

Tues., Feb. 18, 6 p.m., “Eliza” Screening & Filmmaker Q&A, “Eliza” is a film based on the true story of Eliza Rone, an enslaved woman in

Thurs., Feb. 13, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library will welcome bestselling author Walter Mosley. He will discuss his latest book, ‘Been Wrong So Long It Feels Right: A King Oliver Novel.’

1856, who worked for the Campbells, the richest family in St. Louis. The viewing will be followed by a Q&A with director, writer and actor Delisa Richardson. St. Louis Public Library – Central Branch, 1301 Olive St. For more information, visit www.slpl.org.

Tues., Feb. 18, 7 p.m.

Emerson History & Genealogy Center presents Judith Giesberg, author of “Last Seen: The Enduring Search by Formerly Enslaved People to Find Their Lost Families,” St. Louis

County Library – Clark Family Branch, 1640 St. Lindbergh. For more information, visit www.slcl.org.

Thurs., Feb. 20, 5:30 p.m., St. Louis Public Library Black History Month Film Series, Fences, Auditorium, St. Louis Public Library –Central Branch, 1301 Olive St. For more information, visit www.slpl.org.

Thurs., Feb. 20, 6 p.m.

Histories Unbound: A Roundtable Discussion on Slavery In St. Louis Exhibit, St. Louis Public Library – Schlafly Branch,

225 N. Euclid. For more information, visit www. slpl.org.

Thurs., Feb. 20, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library welcomes Orvin Kimbrough, author of “Twice Over a Man: A Fierce Memoir of an Orphan Boy Who Doggedly Determined a Finer Life,” St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch, 1640 St. Lindbergh. For more information, visit www.slcl.org.

Fri., Feb. 21, 7 p.m. St. Louis County Library welcomes Jennifer Jones,

author of “Becoming Spectacular: The Rhythm of Resilience from the First African American Rockette,” St. Louis County Library –Clark Family Branch, 1640 St. Lindbergh. For more information, visit www. slcl.org.

Sat., Feb.,22, 9 a.m. –5:30 p.m., Motorcoach Tours (5) and Mudd’s Grove Open House. Wallace Ward narrates five tours of cemeteries, churches and schools that represent Kirkwood Black History. Kirkwood Community Center and Mudd’s Grove Tickets: Free Reservations Required for the historical bus tour due to limited capacity. https://tinyurl. com/4te89zya or by calling the Kirkwood Historical Society at (314) 965-5151. Wed., Feb. 26, 7 p.m. St. Louis County Library welcomes Bestselling Young Adult author Ibi Zoboi, author of (S)kin,” St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch, 1640 St. Lindbergh. For more information, visit www.slcl.org.

Thurs., Feb. 27, 5:30 p.m., St. Louis Public Library Black History Month Film Series, “Sorry to Bother You,” Auditorium, St. Louis Public Library – Central Branch, 1301 Olive St. For more information, visit www.slpl.org.

“The president went to NASA and said, ‘Would you train this guy?’ NASA says, ‘No, because you’ll destroy our program, you’ll destroy our tax base, and we’ll never get another dime from the public if you put a Black in this program right now.”

Seven selected in 1958 and featured in the movie “The Right Stuff.”

“The reputation of the first seven astronauts was that these guys were superheroes,” he said, referring to the famous Mercury

“If you would’ve placed a Black or a woman in the middle of this mix too soon these guys would be ordinary people again in the eyes of the world, especially the tax-paying public. So, the president had to invent another space program – a military

space program.”

Whether Dwight would have reached space through Kennedy’s military space program remains unknown.

Kennedy was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963, one month after Dwight ended astronaut training.

“The day the president got killed, my life changed,” said Dwight. “22 November 1963 was literally the end of our project.”

A Kansas City, Kansas native, Dwight graduated from Kansas City Junior College with an engineering degree in 1953. He rose to the rank of captain in the Air Force before retiring. He joined IBM and started a construction company before earning a master’s degree in sculpture in the late 1970s.

display at the Quincy Jones Sculpture Park in Chicago, the Texas African American History Memorial in Austin, Texas, and the Tower of Freedom International Memorial to the Underground Railroad in Windsor, Ontario, Canada

In 2005, Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo., commissioned Dwight to create the Soldiers’ Memorial Plaza, which was completed by 2007.

The 18-foot tall, the sculpture captures the transformation of soldiers from the 62nd and 65th regiments into students, the first at Lincoln.

While chances of his traveling to space seemed to face astronomical odds, his dream came true more than 60 years after his NASA racial snub.

ing experience,” he said, moments after leaving the capsule.

“I thought I really didn’t need this in my life. But now, I need it in my life. I am ecstatic.

“Every time I started a project; I’ve got it finished. And here this thing came along, and it was a great big mysterious question mark sitting there. And so, the tendency for human beings in a situation like that is to blow it off and say you don’t need it.”

Dwight also said that every member of Congress should be required to travel to space and view the earth from that viewpoint. Age should not be a factor, Dwight proved it.

While he was not allowed to make history in the 1960s, Dwight accomplished something historic during his flight.

Just as with his military career and pursuit of being an astronaut, Dwight excelled as an artist. His works, which included sculptures of Black historical figures of Frederick Douglass, Denmark Vesey and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., were nationally acclaimed.

His works are on

the college of choice, was among the many that Toles applied for.

“They choose one person per state; and I actually won,” Toles said.

With the glee of landing the illustrious scholarship came the realization that Toles was late in the college application process. Her perseverance paid off when the University of Missouri – Science and Technology in Rolla, recognized as one of the leading engineering schools in the nation, accepted her.

“Blessed with the Gates Scholarship, I now have three degrees, all from S&T,” said Toles.

In May of 2016, she received her bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering. Two years later, she earned a master’s degree in engineering management with a project management certificate. She received a doctoral

On May 19, 2024, traveling in a Blue Origin spacecraft, Dwight finally realized his dream of space travel. He and five other passengers skimmed into space on a roughly 10-minute flight, which included moments of weightlessness.

“It was a life-chang-

degree in engineering management with an emphasis in system engineering in May of 2023.

After securing her undergraduate degree and pursuing her master’s, Toles worked at Ameren as a reservoir gas engineer at the Johnston City (Illinois) Gas Storage Facility.

During her time researching her thesis, Tiffanie realized she could help small businesses increase sustainability efforts.

In Fall of 2018, she founded a catering business, Catering To A T LLC, alongside her family “to help build entrepreneurial skills for future generations.”

Now serving as a Kwame Group project manager, Toles says it is his responsibility “to make sure everything is buttoned up.”

“This is from concept to realization; from design to build up.”

Among the “cool projects” she is currently managing is the MetroLink

At 90, Dwight became the oldest person to ever travel to space. When he took his flight, he was two months older than actor 90-year-old William Shatner when he traveled on Blue Origin.

Green Line.

“It is going to bring so much to St. Louis. We have so much diversity here, and the (future) Green Line will help bring it to the forefront.”

Toles enjoys meeting and networking with new people who share the same interests in the industry.

“It is an honor to work with colleagues and professionals who have seen our city continually change with the new developments that are happening,” she said in a recent AEC magazine interview.

For young people, especially Black women, who seek a career in engineering, Toles offers this advice:

“Believe in your potential and embrace unique perspectives. We are considered to be underdogs, and that’s just the way of the world. We know better. The thing is to believe that we belong.

“STEM fields thrive on diverse perspectives. Tackle challenges every day. You will succeed!”

The 10 Black Commandments: A blueprint for shared economic power

By Orvin Kimbrough Chairman and CEO of Midwest BankCentre

Each year, I write or release thoughts on what Black history means. Occasionally, I find myself a guest at an organization, speaking on the topic. But this year, I want to take a step back—not just to reflect, but to refocus.

For the last ten years, I’ve been writing about shared economic progress—a simple yet powerful idea. If our cities, regions, and states are growing, if our

rience, from lived history, from what was passed down to me and so many others.

Think about it—what was the focus of Black people during slavery? They wanted to be seen. They wanted dignity. They wanted freedom. After slavery, during Reconstruction, what did Black people demand? They wanted land. They wanted equal protection under the law. They wanted the right to vote. Black leaders of the time debated fundamental strategies,

Guest Columnist Orvin Kimbrough

BL ACK HISTORY MON TH

Make some history of your own! Check out the Missouri History Museum’s website for Black History programming throughout the month. Take a winter stroll through the beautiful George Washington Carver Garden at Missouri Botanical Garden, an ode to the acclaimed scientist and inventor. Head to the National Blues Museum, where you can view artifacts and enjoy interactive exhibits that bring the blues music experience to life.

To plan your historic experience, visit www.explorestlouis.com

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