July 17th, 2025 edition by The St. Louis American

St. LouiS AmericAn

H.G. Phillips home lost

By Ashley Winters St. Louis American

Eighty-six-year-old Rita Henderson can’t forget May 16, 2025, because that was the day a vicious tornado roared through the historic Ville neighborhood, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, including the house she called home for 52 years.

The famed structure on Cottage Avenue was once home to Homer G. Phillips, lawyer and civil rights advocate and co-founder of Homer G. Phillips Hospital.

“The storm took my whole roof off,” Henderson said. Thankfully, she wasn’t home but was visiting her daughter in Florissant when the tornado hit. She still can’t believe that it was only a couple of months ago that her roof was lying in an open field across the street. Her home, where 11 of her children once lived, remains covered with a blue tarp.

Her son, Don Thorton, who lives just a few houses away, lost his home, too. Her daughter, Bernetta Thorton, who lives next door to Don, was also severe-

Rita Henderson sitting in front of her Ville neighborhood home Thursday, July 10, 2025, that is still in need of repairs from the May 16 tornado that struck the St. Louis area.

St. Louis firefighters work to free pasengers from a vehicle involved in a three-car collision that sent six people to the hospital Tuesday afternoon. The accident was near the intersection of West Florissant and Thrush in the city’s Walnut Park East neighborhood.

From ice cream parlor to executive suite

By Wendy Todd St. Louis American

From the age of 5, when he was shelving bottles in his dad’s store, Charles A. Stewart knew he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and become an entrepreneur. He quickly graduated from stocking shelves to ringing up his friends’ purchases of chips, candy and ice cream — standing on a box behind the register after school. As he got older, Stewart’s father gave him more responsibility. “He taught me everything about running the businesses — bank deposits, inventory, everything,” Stewart said.

(YDP)

Although he never planned to lead in the corporate world, Stewart’s strong analytical skills caught the attention of those who could support his rise. He eventually became the only Black executive at Bi-State Development, where he spent nearly 14 years before retiring this month as chief operating officer and executive vice president of Metro Transit. In that role, he oversaw day-to-day operations of the 46-mile MetroLink light rail system, a 308-vehicle MetroBus fleet and the Metro Call-ARide paratransit service with 123 vans. Stewart, a St. Louis native, didn’t know what he

Dr. Alice Roach passes at 75

By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American

Anyone who had experienced Dr. Alice Roach in her host of capacities over the more than five decades she devoted to the field knows she was born to be an educator.

She planted seeds of creativity in the students of Carr Lane Middle School, the performing arts feeder school for Central Visual and Performing Arts High School.

“The arts invoke a passion in us that causes us to be better people, more rounded people and to be more compassionate towards others,” Roach said.

She transformed minds – and the processes of those who poured into them – as the founding principal of Carnahan High School of the Future. She created pathways for educational and professional development as administrative director of The Parsons Blewett Fund. Roach passed away on Friday, July 11, 2025. She was 75.

“Rest well, Mommy,” Roach’s daughter Kimberly posted via Facebook. “Thy good and faithful servant, well done!” Roach was more than a teacher, principal and administrator. She was a moral compass, guiding light and a support sys-

By Ashley Winters St. Louis American

As families across St. Louis pick up the pieces after the May 16 tornado, the urgency for stable housing and student support is reaching a breaking point. In response, six local organizations have been awarded a combined $27,000 in microgrants from The Opportunity Trust’s Reinvention by Community (RBC) initiative to help youth facing housing instability and support families in need.

“We can strengthen the responsiveness and effectiveness of our C3RT and CARE teams in the areas most impacted,” said Larry Davis, Director of Business Development at Behavioral Health Response. BHR is a grantee of the RBC. The $2,500 grant will be used to support mobile crisis services, allowing BHR to reach more people who need mental

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Dr. Alice Roach

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Tyler Perry accuser gives first interview since he filed $260M lawsuit

Actor Derek Dixon gave his first interview since he filed his $260M lawsuit against entertainment mogul Tyler Perry in Los Angeles Superior Court on June 13.

Dixon spoke with entertainment news outlet The Hollywood Reporter on his decision to speak out.

“Everyone deserves to go to work and do their job without their boss trying to have sex with them,” Dixon said in an interview conducted via email.

Dixon said he first met Perry in Atlanta in September of 2019 when he was working as an event coordinator for a company, Legendary Events. During the meeting he was invited to audition for Perry. Dixon appeared in 85 episodes of Perry’s BET series “The Oval” that aired between 2021 and 2025. He alleges in the lawsuit that Perry made several unwanted sexual advances toward him, including one in which the producer pinned him against a wall and groped him and another in which Perry snuck into his bed.

“My goal is to help ensure that the

next generation of actors and creatives don’t have to choose between their dreams and their dignity.”

Perry’s attorney, Matthew Boyd released a statement, denying the allegations against his client. “This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,” Boyd said. “But Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”

Chris Brown pleads not guilty in London

Chris Brown appeared in a London court to enter a plea of not guilty to a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm by allegedly attacking a music producer with a bottle in a London nightclub two years ago.

Last month, Brown denied a more serious charge of attempt ing to inflict grievous bodily harm in what prosecutors said was an “unprovoked attack” on Abraham Diaw in a London nightclub in 2023.

According to NBCnews. com, the 36-year-old music star appeared at London’s Southwark Crown Court on Friday, where he spoke only to confirm his name and enter his pleas of not guilty to

causing actual bodily harm – and a further charge of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

Brown’s co-defendant, Omololu Akinlolu, 38, also pleaded not guilty to the charge of causing actual bodily harm, having previously denied attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm.

Nicki Minaj cooks beef with SZA Rap diva Nicki Minaj took to social media Tuesday night to initiate a beef with Grammy-winning, STL born music star SZA.

Minaj insulted SZA’s music and physical appearance in the thread of commentary that appeared on Instagram.

The tirade began when she claimed that she was being “bullied” by SZA’s manager and Top Dawg Entertainment label president, Terrence “Punch” Henderson SZA, 35, seemingly indirectly addressed the claims with the subliminal tweet, “Don’t take the bait lol silly goose.”

The comment ignited a barrage of personal digs from “Go draw your freckles back on bookie,” Minaj said. She also accused SZA of “looking and sounding like she got stung by a bee” and compared her voice to a “[expletive] dead dog.”

“Like what in the insecure lack of morals & integrity you doing,” Minaj said.

“I don’t give a [expletive] bout none of that weird [expletive] you popping,” SZA replied. The shots towards SZA came just days after Minaj taunted rapper Megan Thee Stallion when a judge denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against Megan and her management team.

Eddie Levert mourns loss of youngest child

O’Jays singer and R&B great Eddie Levert’s youngest child, daughter Ryan Levert, passed away over the weekend.

Carlysia Levert – daughter of the late Gerald Levert – confirmed the news via social media.

“Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers for my family,” Carlysia posted on Instagram. “Please send extra love up for my papa and nana.”

Ryan’s death was the result of a battle with lupus. She was 22.

Gerald, also a beloved R&B crooner, passed away suddenly at the age of 40 in 2006.

Sean Levert, who was in the group Levert with his older brother Gerald, passed away in 2008. He was 39.

Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, NBC News, Instagram.com, pagesix.com, Essence.com

Nicki Minaj

“This conference brings together a new generation of leaders rising to defend gains we’ve made and push for progress still to come.”

-Marc Morial, National Urban League president, at the 2025 conference in Cleveland

Frizz Fest celebrates the beauty

By Sylvester Brown, Jr.

St. Louis American

African American hairstyles are inventive, eclectic, stylish and ever-escalating. Likewise, Leslie and Valerie Hughes, founders of Frizzy by Nature, the nonprofit that hosts Frizz Fest, the annual natural beauty festival, are creatively expanding their portfolio.

Last week the sisters-in-law hosted the “Blooming Business Training,” event designed to empower St. Louis entrepreneurs. A press release for the event simply defined it as a way “to help local entrepreneurs thrive.”

Inside the midtown CIC building on S. Sarah Street, impeccably dressed, actively engaged participants occupied all tables and chairs of the spacious exposed brick room. Backed by a host of sponsors including Square, the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) and US Bank, the event provided vital resources and economic opportunities for over 50 small businesses in the region.

Refreshingly, the event seemed to celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion, the antithesis of a politicized society seemingly retreating from such values.

Valerie happily acknowledged the sponsor’s contributions: “They’re putting action behind their missions. They’re “amplifying these folk and providing resources for them.”

The inspiration for the business event is embedded in Frizz Fest’s 8-year relationship with its small business vendors.

“Our vendors are such a big part of Frizz Fest, so we wanted

to amplify that. So, Blooming Business is tailored specifically for the entrepreneurs who have grown with us, really putting the work in and making the world a better place. Because honestly; small businesses and business ownership make a big difference in our communities.”

Leslie and Valerie are both native St. Louisans. Black hair, as a real-life issue, has always been a figurative, literal and sometimes challenging part of most Black women’s lives, Hughes said.

“It’s always been a part of our journey growing up; just being Black women, Black girls navigating through America with Black hair. Then, as youth, there’s the possibility of harmful chemicals like relaxers that many Black women and girls use to make our hair more ‘manageable.’”

“It wasn’t until our late teens, early 20s that Hughes got really interested in the natural hair movement and cut all her relaxed hair off, rocked her ‘Fro,’ moved to LA, a place that was much more vibrant and accepting of people who looked different, if you will. That’s when natural hair became more prominent in our lives.”

Inspired by the AfroPunk and CURLFEST festivals on the East Coast, Leslie said their goal was to put “St. Louis brag” on it. The objective, she said, was to create “safe and free spaces in the city. Over the years, she added, they’ve been able “to bring artists, entrepreneurs and the community along with us to grow all the pieces together.”

When about six hundred people came out for the first Frizz Fest in 2017, Hughes said she

and Leslie knew they were on to something big. Today, Frizz Fest has earned the moniker of the “largest Black beauty festival” in the Midwest.

This year’s festival will be held on September 20 at Tower

Grove Park on S. Grand Blvd.

The outdoor, colorful, vibrant spectacle will feature a vendor’s market, food trucks, live performers like Canadian singer Melanie Fiona, a farmer’s market, hair shows, kids rides

and games, health and well-being programs, and much, much more.

The annual event draws a widely diverse crowd, which doesn’t surprise Valerie at all.

“Black folk have always been the most loving and welcoming people on earth. If you come to Frizz Fest with the right intentions, the right love, spirit, and joy, this is the space for you.”

No matter what happens in the world politically or socially, Valerie said, diversity, culture and “being” will always be a mainstay of Frizz Fest.

“This year our theme is ‘Black Joy,’ and we are celebrating that; we’re not running away from that. Ya’ll can get rid of DEI if you want to, but that’s not going to stop us,” she said.

“We understand how important our culture is and that our history cannot be erased. We know Black entrepreneurs are vital. We understand how important it is for us to be safe, seen and celebrated. We don’t get the privilege of walking into every space and feeling like that. So, when you walk into Frizz Fest as a Black person, you come as you are, and you feel welcomed.

“We are all-inclusive, all-encompassing; you’re going to see people of all different shapes, sizes, shades, hair textures… it’s just a melting pot of Black beauty.”

To learn more about Frizzy by Nature, Frizz Fest, or the host of events they offer throughout the year visit: https://frizzybynature. com/

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

Photo by Wiley Price I St. Louis American

Frizzy By Nature Executive Director Valerie Hughes speaking to a packed room during the Thurs. July 10, 2025 event meeting.

Editorial/Commentary

Guest Editorial Commentary

The crisis of Job Corps suspension

By Kanika Cousine

In underserved communities across America, including those in the St. Louis area, opportunity is not just a path to success but a lifeline.

For countless at-risk youth, access to vocational training, stable housing and mentorship can mean the difference between building a future and falling through the cracks.

Many young people enter programs like Job Corps because they already feel discarded. They come from homes marked by instability, foster care, or homelessness – environments that offer few chances and even fewer champions.

For them, Job Corps was never just a program, it was an anchor of hope. It was a second chance they did not believe they would get.

Too often, our society tells youth to “stay out of trouble” while offering no roadmap forward. Programs like Job Corps provided a rare and powerful alternative in communities where the school-to-prison pipeline is more visible than the path to higher education or employment. They reminded youth that they are not destined to fail and that something is still worth fighting for.

continuity, it reinforces a dangerous message: that they are disposable. That their lives, dreams, and futures do not matter.

The truth is that these young people already come from systems that have failed them. From underfunded schools to racialized discipline practices, from unstable housing to juvenile detention, the road from the classroom to incarceration is well-worn and difficult to escape. For many, Job Corps was the first time anyone told them, “You matter. You can build a life.” Losing that is not just unfortunate. It is devastating.

That is why the abrupt suspension of all 121 Job Corps centers in May 2025, including one in St. Louis, was more than a bureaucratic decision. It was a betrayal. The U.S. Department of Labor cited financial constraints and restructuring goals, but the message was clear for over 25,000 low-income youth. Even systems designed to help them can disappear.

Students were displaced without notice, left scrambling for housing, and disconnected from vital support networks. In New Haven, Connecticut, 149 students lost access to critical services. In Texas, the Gary Job Corps Center, the largest in the nation, shut down, displacing 1,400 students and 500 staff. For many, it was not just the loss of a program, it was the loss of safety, stability, and belief in possibility.

This is not just a policy failure. It is a trauma. When youth are abandoned midstream, without housing, guidance, or

If we genuinely care about youth resilience, we cannot keep placing it on the shaky ground of unreliable federal programs. We must invest in community-rooted infrastructure. Local, trusted hubs should offer trade skills, trauma-informed care, housing support, therapy, mentorship, and consistent relationships. These must not be temporary solutions. They should be permanent pillars, protected and supported by the people they serve. We can no longer wait for government systems to remember these youth exist. We need systems that will never forget them. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, over 1.3 million public school students experienced homelessness in the 2020 to 2021 school year. Millions more live unstably, surviving without the scaffolding that helps most young people grow into secure adulthood. These youth do not just need programs, they need commitments. They need community. They need the dignity of stability. Providing youth with training, housing, mentorship and emotional support is not charity. It is justice. And justice, especially for our most vulnerable, must never be conditional.

Opportunity must not be a luxury. It is a right we must fiercely protect and intentionally extend to every young person, especially those who have already been left behind.

Kanika Cousine is founder of Journey of A Dreamer INC, an organization that works to empower youth in underserved communities. This commentary was originally published by The Afro.

Commentary

‘We

the People’ must rise, act

By Janice Ellis

In this toxic political environment, it may seem like we, the people of the state of Missouri and the United States, do not have the power to control the policies that determine what the “Show Me” state and the “Land of the Free” become.

We do.

But only if we are willing to take a stand and exercise it. There is power in numbers.

The Preamble to the Constitution is worth revisiting as frequently as necessary during these political times as we witness and become recipients of what our government is doing that will negatively impact our lives.

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

selves or a family member when sick?

The Missouri governor with a stroke of pen cancelled paid sick leave, a measure that was passed overwhelming by 58% of voters. If that was not bad enough, the same bill signed into law also repeals the annual inflation adjustment to the minimum wage —something that has been done since 2006.

Many Missourians, like many in other states, are at risk of losing their needed Medicaid benefits because the senators and representatives in Congress went along with the passage of future cuts.

We need to pay close attention to the actions of elected officials in Jefferson City and Washington and invest the time to determine how “we the people” can exercise the power we have to preserve our individual rights and our way of life as American citizens.

Before it is too late.

We seem to be under a cloud of discordant lies and deception, incivility, meanness, and retribution - all while those very perpetrators are trying to convince us that such behavior is necessary to pass and implement policies for our own good.

Does our silence indicate we believe it, that we buy that the outcomes are in our best interest?

In Missouri, do you believe that denying workers family leave is good for lowor moderate-income employees? Do they not deserve time off to take care of them-

By Benjamin Chavis Jr.

President Donald Trump’s housing policy is shaping up to be both an economic and humanitarian disaster and if leaders across the political spectrum don’t act soon, the damage may be irreversible.

To be clear, housing policy was already broken long before Trump returned to office. But instead of tackling the root causes — like the chronic shortage of Section 8 vouchers and affordable units — some policymakers chose to blame tools like rent-pricing software, which simply reflect the market’s conditions.

Rather than confront the real barriers to affordability, politicians have chosen to target the messenger. That never made sense, and it still doesn’t a point that Democratic Governor Jared Polis made clear last week by vetoing a bill to ban such technology. If we want lower rents, we don’t need to ban software that reports current prices. We need to build enough housing so the data reflects abundance, not scarcity.

comes, everyday Americans, and especially Americans in underserved communities, will be the ones paying the price. And it doesn’t stop there. Trump’s proposed budget would cut federal rental assistance by about 40% at a time when nearly half of renters are spending more than a third of their income on housing. “We would see, I think, homelessness escalate in a way that has been really unprecedented,” warned Kim Johnson of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Remaining funds would be handed to states as “block grants,” echoing past efforts to gut safety net programs through decentralization and attrition. This is not a serious answer to the housing crisis. It’s an ideological move that risks deepening inequality and instability that will result in a type of “housing apartheid.”

Unfortunately, President Trump has not gotten this memo, and he is making our broken housing system worse. He has already driven up lumber prices with protectionist trade wars and targeted immigrant communities who make up a vital part of the construction workforce. Now, the president is laying the groundwork for another housing crisis that could rival 2008.

In late May, Trump announced he is “giving very serious consideration” to taking Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public again. These government-backed mortgage giants were central players in the last financial collapse. Under pressure to expand homeownership without oversight, they helped inflate the subprime mortgage bubble. Ten million Americans lost their homes. The institutions got bailed out. Families didn’t.

To prevent that kind of disaster from recurring, the government placed both firms under conservatorship. Releasing them now would create the same reckless incentives that crashed the global economy, and it would benefit deep-pocketed investors just in time for the 2026 elections. When the next economic crash

Policymakers from both parties should reject this approach and unite around a new vision: one that builds. Writers Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson call this the “abundance agenda.” In their book “Abundance,” they challenge local, state, and federal leaders to confront the self-imposed zoning restrictions and regulatory delays that have made it almost impossible to build enough housing.

“You cannot be the party of working families when the places you govern are places working families can no longer afford to live,” Klein wrote. That means reforming exclusionary zoning, streamlining permitting, and shifting the political culture that demonizes developers while ignoring demand. It means prioritizing supply, not just subsidies. Because if we don’t solve the housing crisis ourselves, voters will turn to anyone who claims they will, even if the solutions are fake or destructive. The values are already there. What we need now is strategy and action. Increasing housing affordability and availability isn’t just good policy. It’s the only way to keep working Americans housed, the economy stable, and America’s future secure and inclusive.

Benjamin Chavis Jr., is president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association

STAFF

You are probably thinking: If the elected officials we sent to Jefferson City and Washington are not functioning in our best interests, what can we do?

A lot. Prepare to vote: There is more power in the number of voters that go to the polls and vote than the money that may be infused in a campaign. Money cannot vote.

Log what elected officials do: Just as important is to log what they fail to say or do when they have an opportunity. Did they go along to get along? Whose interests did they represent or fight for, if not yours?

Contact your elected officials: Taking time to write letters and make phone calls at a minimum. Meet with them at every opportunity. Encourage others in your orbit of influence and who share your concerns to join you.

Organize. Discover whether there are eligible voters who are not voting for one reason or the other. The greatest power that resides in the people is the “We.” Will enough of us do what it takes to exercise that power and put it into action to make Missouri and America what they can be?

For the people.

Janice Ellis is a Missouri Independent columnist

Columnist Kanika Cousine

Guest Columnist Janice Ellis

Guest Columnist

Benjamin Chavis Jr.

SIUE prepares new Cougars for future success

St. Louis Americcan

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is welcoming its newest Cougars during the 2025 Summer Success Program (SSP), which runs through August 8.

“The five-week residential initiative is designed to help incoming first-year students make a smooth transition from high school to college,” said SSP Director Kelly Atkins, EdD. The program includes time management and writing workshops and service projects in the Metro East community. Faculty, staff, and peer mentors help students develop academic skills and a deeper understanding of their role as responsible and informed community members.

Assisting the newcomers were student leaders from SIUE’s Collegiate 100 and the Freedom School Program at the Southwestern Illinois Justice & Workforce Development Campus in

Belleville. They helped with unloading cars, welcoming students, and offered advice from their own college experiences.

“Their support demonstrated SIUE’s inclusive and service-oriented culture, where students lift each other up and success is a collective effort,” said Atkins.

The program’s curriculum includes collegelevel courses, developmental workshops, and weekly reflections to promote self-awareness and intentional learning, all of which are rooted in the SIUE value of wisdom, as students begin shaping their personal and academic paths.

“As these first-year students begin their Cougar journey, the energy on campus is electric,” noted Atkins. “They are not only gaining a head start academically, but they are also forming lifelong friendships and learning what it means to be part of the SIUE family.”

A reign of terror

By Julianne Malveaux

They came to MacArthur Park on horseback and in riot gear, their faces covered and their weapons out. They were part of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) and the California National Guard.

They came with more than a dozen military vehicles, as helicopters swarmed overhead. They came heavily armed with rifles and other weapons. They came, clearly, ready to rumble, armed to excess. Why?

Local Angelenos, who might ordinarily be hanging out, selling food and toys, or simply enjoying the day, were warned that immigration might be out. Many are too fearful to go out, but a summer day camp for children was operational.

Many of the young people attending the camp had parents who were working – camp was summer childcare. Camp counselors took the children inside to shield them from the chaos. Still, many of the children were frightened.

LA Mayor Karen Bass described the military action as “outrageous and un-American”.

It doesn’t matter whether residents are legal (which most are) or not. These Gestapo-like “law enforcement” officers can stop anyone who they suspect of being illegal.

If the person is not carrying the appropriate identification, they may be taken to a temporary holding facility. You might be fingerprinted, interviewed, or detained. Your belongings (including your telephone) may be confiscated. You will be forced to prove that you are legal – guilty until proven innocent.

This is fearful for both legal and illegal migrants, but it ought to be an occasion of fear for all of us. Lots of Black people could be mistaken as Latino and held. Who really carries their passport with them? (I just put a picture of mine on my phone. One can never be too careful).

What is most outrageous is the differential application of law, and the uneven compassion that is offered to victims of this nonsense. More than a hundred people are dead, and another 160, at least, missing, including girls and their counselors who attended “Camp Mystic at the Guadalupe River.

The President has offered the appropriate condolences and pledged support from FEMA to rebuild the area. The media has talked about the missing little girls in ways that tug at the heartstrings. All the condolences and support are appropriate. But what about the little boys and girls who went to MacArthur Park for their summer camp? Is there support for them? And what about those affected by floods in Kentucky and Virginia, who have not curried favor with this President.

Compassion should not be partisan. Traumatized children, regardless of race or immigrant status, must be managed compassionately. In a reign of terror, though, some children are cherished and others are terrorized. The armed raid of MacArther Park, which yielded not a single arrest, was nothing more than intimidation. Kudos to Mayor Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsome for resisting this nonsense. Caution to all of us. We are living in a reign of terror, and the mentally impaired are now in charge of our country.

The SIUE Summer Success Program, which continues through August 8, introduces first-year students to the campus and includes workshops and community service projects.

Photo courtesy of SIUE

Julianne Malveaux

Roach

Continued from A1

tem to students and fellow educators who were blessed to cross her path.

“She was my principal when my mother passed away,” said Rhoda Graham, a saxophonist and mainstay on the St. Louis music scene — and graduate of Carr Lane.

Alice Faye Moore Roach was born on November 19, 1949 to Lee and Rosie Moore.

It was her father that planted the seed for her to become an educator.

“He said, ‘You know Faye, I want you to be a teacher just like Miss Dora Randall,’” Roach told The American in 2015. She was being honored as the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient for the St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Gala.

“Folks don’t realize how powerful their words are — the words of parents and teachers,” Roach said. “Those words stayed with me always.”

It was a professional goal further fueled by her guidance counselor at Beaumont High School — who encouraged Roach

Stewart

to attend Southeastern Missouri State University, where she received her undergraduate degree. She earned her master’s degree in guidance counseling at University of Missouri-St. Louis and her doctorate in education from Saint Louis University in 2005.

Building minds, lives Roach came into SLPS as a classroom teacher. When she finally retired from there — after being called back countless times — she was chief of staff for the superintendent.

“She has given her life for the school district, and not only in the sense of just time but she gives much more than that,” then superintendent Dr. Kelvin Adams told The American in 2015. “She gives who she is, her whole being, to making sure young people in the district are successful.”

Her leadership revealed the transformational power of education. This was evident when she was appointed the founding principal of Carnahan.

When she arrived in 2006, the attendance rate was 55% and academic test scores were in the single digits.

By the time she left in 2009, attendance was

95%, parents were highly involved and the school was meeting the state’s annual progress goals.

“What she brings to the table is a real belief and high expectations of students,” said the district’s superintendent Kelvin Adams. “She believes anything is possible for our students.”

That same year, Adams handpicked Roach to be his chief of staff.

In 2013, she left SLPS to become the administrative director of the Parsons Blewett Memorial Fund. The organization assists teachers and administrators within SLPS with financial support for educational and professional development.

“My philosophy has always been to treat the children as if they were my own–and to know whatever I wanted for my children, every parent wants for their children also,” Roach said.

Roach is survived by her daughter Kimberly Reneè, son Brian, granddaughter Mya and godchild Jordan.

Final services for Dr. Roach are as follows:

A visitation will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, July 25 and from 9 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. on Saturday, July

26 at Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church, 5515 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. A celebration of life will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, also at Friendly Temple.

Additional reporting for this story was provided by Rebecca S. Rivas.

Home

Continued from A1

ly impacted by the epic storm.

The tornado tore the roof from her home, allowing rain to pour in and cause extensive water damage. Her front porch collapsed, a couple of windows were shattered and the back porch caved in. Now, the once-pristine furniture she had just purchased is covered in mold.

“I have sentimental value in my house — pictures and such — and the tornado tore that up,” Henderson said. Despite the losses, she is grateful she and her children are alive. Shaking her head, she said it could have been worse. “But I know there is a God,” she said. And she believes God showed up through all the community support.

“Quite a few people come by every day,” she said. “They stepped up,” Henderson and her daughter Bernetta Thornton said in unison. “To see the babies passing out water, some just 5 or 6 years old, volunteering just made me feel so happy,” Thornton said.

A time to heal, rebuild

Since May 16, the local organization Where You Are We Are At has been delivering food and other much-needed essentials.

Despite the outpouring of support, rebuilding communities north of Delmar will take time.

Henderson’s insurance covers only her personal belongings — not the structure of her home.

Don Thornton once had home insurance, but after losing his job, he could no longer afford the premiums. In a cruel twist of fate, his policy lapsed just one month before the tornado struck. His sister said her neighborhood is valuable and she is determined to stay. Their homes are surrounded by historical Black neighborhoods, Westside Missionary Baptist Church and Friendly Temple Church. “Looking at what this storm did to my neigh-

borhood, I feel like I want to cry,” the Thorntons’ mother said.

The wonder years

Henderson’s neighborhood was once a vibrant, tightly knit community that was home to professionals like nurses, teachers and even a doctor.

The home she lost was a historic two-bedroom brick house with a cozy living room and formal dining room.

“Our family get-togethers weren’t just us,” referring to her siblings and their children. “Oh no, our family stretched from St. Louis Avenue to Delmar.” Affectionately known as “OG,” Henderson was the heart of her block, caring for generations of children.

“I fed every kid around here,” Henderson said. “My house was the place where, if a child was hungry, they knew they could get fed.” In addition to her own 11 children, Henderson said she raised many other neighborhood kids. On the day the storm hit, several of them drove down to Cottage Avenue to make sure she was safe.

“I guess they remembered all those cakes and cupcakes I used to bring home,” she said with a laugh.

would be doing after graduating from Dartmouth College with a degree in economics. He got a lucky break and was recruited by Arthur Young & Co. — now known as Ernst and Young and recognized as EY — in New York for an apprenticeship working as a CPA while also taking accounting courses in the summer.

Stewart’s father, his namesake, died six months after he graduated. In addition to Stewart wanting a more convenient and comfortable lifestyle, he became homesick and also wanted to continue the legacy of the family store. It had turned into an

Grant

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Continued from A1 health support following the tornado.

According to Davis, the C3RT (Crisis Care Rapid Response Teams) focuses on rapid deployment to assist individuals experiencing acute emotional distress, offering immediate mental health interventions on-site. The CARE teams help connect residents to ongoing mental health services, housing stabilization and other critical resources. Expanding these teams ensures that

ice cream parlor, Velvet Freeze, in north St. Louis on Newstead and Kossuth. He transferred home to St. Louis with Arthur Young & Co. to continue his apprenticeship while still running the ice cream store.

Balancing both worlds wasn’t easy, but Stewart made it work. By day, he honed his skills as a young accountant; by night and on weekends, he managed the operations of Velvet Freeze.

Stewart kept the store open for 10 years after his father’s death.

Following his time at Arthur Young & Co., he held several positions, including director of internal audit for the City of St. Louis and chief of staff for the license collector. In 2010, eager to satisfy

more affected individuals receive timely, trauma-informed care.

This will allow BHR to expand its outreach initiatives, especially targeting youth and their families affected by the tornado.

The organization plans to continue sending outreach teams to neighborhoods and community resource centers, offering immediate emotional support, and distributing resources, such as hygiene kits, food and crisis information.

“Housing stability is a critical part of the recovery process,” Davis said, speaking about youth affected by the storm.

his entrepreneurial drive, Stewart launched his own accounting firm while continuing his corporate work. He joined Bi-State Development in 2011 as vice president of pension and insurance.

After seven years in that role, he was promoted to executive vice president of organizational effectiveness, where he oversaw recruitment, hiring and developing a diverse workforce. Diversity has always been a priority for Stewart. He made it a point to hire people of color and prioritize untapped potential over an impressive resume.

Three years later, Stewart stepped into the role of executive vice president and chief operating officer — a position he inadvertently pitched himself for.

“Allocating a portion of the funding to support displaced residents will help ensure they have safe, secure environments where they can begin to heal and rebuild.”

Selected by a committee of St. Louis parents, educators and community members, the 2025 RBC grantees were chosen for their ability to take swift, targeted action on behalf of area children. From expanding access to health care and crisis response to providing school-based essentials and housing support, each project meets a critical need. The Opportunity Trust is a

When the previous executive VP left, Stewart mapped out what the company should look for in the ideal candidate. When he presented his vision to his boss, Taulby Roach, he said, “Why don’t you take the job?”

Accepting this role was a pivotal moment for Stewart. He recognized that the organization needed change and he knew implementing those changes would be his greatest challenge

Bi-State Development was founded in the 1950s with employees who worked at the company for decades. Many were accustomed to doing things the way they’d always been done. Stewart set out to improve operations and help the staff develop a broader understanding of

nonprofit dedicated to advancing educational equity and excellence through strategic investments, policy advocacy and innovative programs.

This year’s grant cycle highlights the power of trusting community members to lead change. By putting resources directly into the hands of those closest to the challenges, Reinvention by Community is funding innovative ideas while shifting who holds the power to shape public education. Since its launch, the initiative has invested nearly $300,000 in local leaders and organizations working to reimagine what education can look like in St. Louis, according to a statement from The Opportunity Trust.

IMF Community Medicine, another grantee, is helping youth navigate the aftermath of the storm. “Our grant from the Opportunity Trust is specifically targeted at unhoused youth. Unfortunately, the recent tornado has increased this target audience,” said Carrie Warren, director of mission advancement at IFM Community Medicine.

IFM is providing primary health care services at no out-of-pocket cost (no insurance or proof of residency required) at its community clinic at Youth & Family Center, 818 Cass Ave. The site also provides supportive services, including transportation to and from appointments, assistance with prescription medications and access to a food pantry operated in partnership with the Center. Staff can also offer

how the organization functioned. He also aimed to shift the culture.

“I think that I’ve done more for that cultural change than I was able to achieve in terms of the efficiency change,” Stewart said. “We had to look at things differently. It was a very siloed kind of company. Nobody knew what everybody else did.

“And frankly, there is a lot of racism. People don’t think they’re racist, you know? They just gravitate to the people that are like them, and that’s who they look for in terms of replacements. … So, I think the change element is the hardest thing.”

Being promoted to COO made Stewart feel seen and valued by the organization. Bi-State Development, in Stewart’s

referrals to other agencies for help with necessities, financial assistance and housing support.

After the tornado, the Covenant House Missouri experienced an influx of calls for emergency shelter and vital resources, ranging from food and comfort items to showers and charging stations.

“Our community outreach services are needed more than ever, and our supply distribution has increased as well. The funding granted by The Opportunity Trust ensures that whenever a youth comes seeking our help, we can always say yes, even when our beds are full,” said Taylor Cook, Director of Development at Covenant House Missouri.

2025 RBC Grantees

Covenant House Missouri – $10,000

Covenant House Missouri will expand its education-focused services, such as HiSET prep, college advising and school enrollment support for unhoused youth. The grant will also support the new Center for Economic Advancement, which connects young people with career credentials and post-secondary opportunities.

IFM Community Medicine – $5,000

IFM will provide no-cost primary care to housing-insecure youth at school and shelter-based sites. The grant enables IFM to pair medical services with community health workers who connect youth to food, housing, and transportation resources.

words, “saw the leadership I had and that I could be a utility player. I could do anything.”

This confidence came from his parents, Dorothi Jones Stewart, who was a grade school teacher, and Charles H. Stewart, the entrepreneur who armed him with the belief that he was capable of high achievement. He carried this belief with him every day and into every scenario.

“Charles’ leadership has been instrumental to Metro Transit’s growth and transformation,” said Roach, president and CEO of Bi-State Development. “His dedication to public service and future-focused vision have strengthened our transit system and enriched the communities we serve.”

Lafayette Preparatory Academy – $5,000

LPA will grow its Family Support Program, which covers basic needs like food, uniforms, utility assistance and extracurricular scholarships. The program reduces non-academic barriers so students can remain focused and engaged in school.

KIPP St. Louis Public Schools – $2,500

KIPP will launch a Wellness Center initiative offering rental support, emergency supplies, and transportation to stabilize families facing homelessness. The program will pair direct assistance with case management to support long-term student attendance and success.

Behavioral Health Response (BHR) – $2,500

BHR will strengthen mobile crisis services for unhoused youth through its C3RT and CARE teams. Funds will help expand mobile unit hours and provide trauma-informed outreach, connecting youth to mental health support and housing stabilization services.

Gateway Science Academy (GSA) – $2,500 GSA will expand its backpack food program and install additional washers and dryers to serve students experiencing homelessness. The school also will provide transportation assistance and fund a staff coordinator to oversee and sustain these initiatives.

To learn more about Reinvention by Community, visit theopportunitytrust.org/rbc.

HealthMattersHealthMattersHealthMatters

Young Doctors Project a ‘pipeline’ to careers in health care

Goal is to inspire Black youths

Founded in 2012, the Young Doctors Project was created out of a concern about health disparities and a vested interest in mentoring young Black men, according to its founders.

By Julian B. Kiganda Washington Informer

This summer on Howard University’s campus, a group of high school-aged Black youth from the Washington D.C. area, Roanoke, VA, and New York City settled into a dorm and prepared to spend six weeks learning, serving, and bonding as part of a very special brotherhood.

n Founded in 2012 by Dr. Malcolm Woodland and Dr. Torian Easterling, the Young Doctors Project (YDP) was born out of a concern about health disparities in their communities.

While the program they are part of introduces these young men to careers in health and medicine, many will also pursue paths outside the medical field. What brought them all here is a vision that was set in motion 13 years ago.

SSM, Chamberlain partner to produce more nurses

Only 6.7% of RNs are Black

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

The nation continues to deal with a shortage of nurses that began before the pandemic and still plagues the healthcare industry.

The number of African American nurses has also continued to slide downward, widening the gap in diversity on hospital and physician nursing staffs.

SSM Health and Chamberlain University, a part of Adtalem Global Education Inc., have partnered to launch the Aspiring Nurse Program—an initiative designed to fund nursing edu-

Founded in 2012 in Washington, D.C., by Dr. Malcolm Woodland and Dr. Torian Easterling, the Young Doctors Project (YDP) was born out of a concern about health disparities in their communities, as well as a vested interest in mentoring young Black men.

The doctors understood the importance of having role models to show these youth pathways to futures they may have never considered.

See DOCTORS, A9

Where to find reliable vaccine info

By Jennifer Porter Gore

Infectious diseases that the U.S. had conquered decades ago — thanks to highly effective vaccines — are surging again, due to an uptick in vaccine avoidance.

In 2025, three people have died and 162 have been hospitalized in the nation’s worst measles outbreak in over 30 years. Public health departments are reporting alarming surges in old-fashioned diseases like mumps and rubella. Others, like diphtheria, pertussis (also called whooping cough), and polio, are on track to infect more Americans than they have in decades.

n Since the COVID-19 pandemic, childhood immunization rates for key vaccines have declined across more than 30 U.S. states.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, childhood immunization rates for key vaccines have declined across more than 30 U.S. states, fueled by misinformation and government policy. And experts say, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F.Kennedy, Jr., is a major culprit: in May, he replaced an expert, 17-member government vaccine advisory panel with eight lessercredentialed individuals, including several known anti-vaxxers like himself.

Former St. Louis Health Director Mati Hlatshwayo Davis warned during the spring that vaccination rates among Missouri kindergarteners had fallen many percentage points in the past five years. She said a lack of immunizations could lead to rising cases of measles

See GORE, A9

cation, enhance clinical readiness, and create a pathway to employment across SSM Health’s care sites in Missouri, Oklahoma, Illinois and Wisconsin, according to the partners.

“The nursing shortage demands bold, scalable solutions,” Laura S. Kaiser, FACHE, president & CEO of SSM Health, said in a release.

“The Aspiring Nurse Program is a strategic long-term investment in our people and our mission. It’s designed to meet today’s workforce challenges while building a stronger, more resilient future for

See NURSES, A9

Photo by Julian B. Kiganda / The Washington Informer

Your Health Matters is provided in partnership with

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Ka’Nya Coates and Damiyah Coates, who share several nursing classes at the Chamberlain University School of Nursing, discussed a previous session in February 2025 at the school. SSM Health and Chamberlain have partnered to create the Aspiring Nurse Program, which funds nursing education and increases access to nursing jobs at SSM.

Jennifer Porter Gore

Doctors

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“Did you know that the number one predictor of whether someone gets into medical school is if their parents are doctors? So for us, this program is about having someone in your corner who’s walked that walk,” said Woodland, a licensed psychologist and graduate of Howard University.

“When you have someone who has done it and can show you the pathway, life becomes so much easier. We want to expand that access for our young people and be a part of their community.”

Woodland was inspired to start the program after seeing how connected the children and youth in his Anacostia community were to their elders.

“I got to thinking, our greatest asset is these children that everybody loves and knows, right? What if we turn them into health ambassadors in their neighborhoods?” he questioned.

His mission: instead of a school-to-prison pipeline, Young Doctors is creating a pipeline to education, a pipeline to medicine, a pipeline for these young people to give back to the community. Medicine is the hook, but brotherhood and service are at the heart of the mission.

“I certainly know that we can put hundreds of millions of dollars into the juvenile legal system

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nursing.”

According to data from the US Chamber of Commerce, there are only nine registered nurses on average for every 1,000 people, - And only 6.7% of registered nurses are Black, even though Black people make up around 13% of the U.S. population.

A 2022 national workforce survey of almost 335,000 registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and licensed vocational nurses found that more than 25% of them were planning to leave the profession by 2027, through retirements as well as resignations, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that between 2022 and 2032 the country will see 193,100 openings for registered nurses each year.

The program’s goal is to “create a sustainable tal-

Gore

Continued from A8 and other preventable diseases

“We are seeing trusted places that the community leans into already making adjustments,” she said.

“And now is the time for us to have more information that is standardized and clear when things like this occur.”

According to the most recent data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu vaccination coverage among children has reached its lowest point since the 2011–2012 season, a 12-year low that

HealthMattersHealthMattersHealthMatters

Care of You’

and the criminal justice system,” he continued. “I think that money would be much better spent on organizations like the Young Doctors Project, organizations that are out here doing the work.”

Supported by Howard University’s Department of Psychology and its Colleges of Dentistry and Medicine—along with other key partners. The program includes a sixweek summer institute,

Saturday academies during the school year, community health clinics led by YDP doctors, and college tours that expose students to medical schools and other educational pathways.

Kasein Tate, a graduating senior from D.C. who is headed to Morehouse College in Atlanta in the fall to fulfill his dream of becoming a cardiologist, joined the program his freshman year of high

school. His journey is a reflection of exactly what YDP was designed to do.

“I found out about the program when Dr. Woodland visited my school,” he told The Informer. “At the time, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do after high school. So I was like, medicine: that’s a good idea because I always liked science and math.”

Although Kasein joined the program, he was ini-

ent pipeline that is projected to produce more than 400 new nurses annually.”

Hailed as a “first-ofits-kind in the nation” the Aspiring Nurse program offers a direct, employment-focused pathway for aspiring nurses by combining tuition support with immersive clinical experience.

Students commit to joining SSM Health’s workforce and have the opportunity for job placement within SSM Health facilities after graduation.

This partnership is also an advancement in

signals waning public engagement with routine vaccines.

The data shows that 127,000 kindergartners were exempt from one or more required vaccines, and 280,000 children started school without documented MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccination, raising red flags for potential outbreaks of preventable diseases.

Fourteen states reported vaccination exemption rates exceeding 5%, further threatening community immunity levels. With a new school year and flu season fast approaching, knowing which official vaccine schedule to follow — and whom to trust — will

Adtalem’s strategy to become the clinical workforce partner of choice for providers nationwide, according to Steve Beard, chair, and CEO of Adtalem Global Education.

“This partnership with SSM Health demonstrates the transformative power of large-scale collaboration between education and healthcare,” said Beard.

“When forward-thinking health systems invest in comprehensive workforce partnerships—combining funding, hands-on facility training and a direct line to employ-

be critical for everyone in general and the Black community in particular.

That’s because Black Americans tend to have lower vaccination rates. Lack of health insurance and concerns about the medical profession’s racist history are major causes

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which Kennedy overhauled, approved the current child and adolescent immunization schedule in November. But that list, previously published on the CDC’s website, has been removed and updated as of May 29.

Here is a list of trusted, nonprofit health organizations that have current

ment—we create sustainable pipelines that scale with provider needs.

“We’re building the foundation for long-term workforce stability while ensuring graduates are day-one ready. This is the future of strategic healthcare workforce development.”

The Aspiring Nurse Program launches in Oklahoma this fall through Chamberlain’s online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, with additional cohorts to follow in St. Louis and Jefferson City, Missouri,

information about which vaccines are safe, when they should be taken, and who should take them.

For parents of young children, the American Academy of Pediatrics has a website, HealthyChildren. org, that is “committed to the physical, mental, and social health and well-being of all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.” Its vaccine page includes an overview of vaccines for children, along with a more detailed schedule and a Q-and-A that addresses parents’ concerns.

For expectant parents, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has

Medical Colleges DC headquarters, where he was honored with the “Young Doc of the Year” award—an accolade voted on by both his peers and mentors. As YDP co-founder and director of education, Easterling said his commitment to the organization is renewed and deepened by what he sees during the White Coat Ceremony.

“The ceremony sells the program for everyone who comes. When we are donning the white coat on our Young Docs, folks see it. The students see it and are like ‘Oh wow. I’m going to sit up a little taller, my shoulders a bit higher,’” Easterling said.

“You see the parents as tears run down their faces,” Easterling told The Informer. “And then people will ask, ‘How do I get connected to the program? How can I be a part of it? I love what you all are doing.’”

tially hesitant to open up to the other young men and mentors—something he attributes to lingering post-COVID anxiety. He credits the care, love, and support of everyone in the program with helping to bring him out of his shell and build his confidence.

That transformation came full circle on June 23 at the organization’s 13th Annual White Coat Ceremony, held at the Association of American

as well as in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Students will train directly within SSM Health facilities—where they may eventually work—gaining firsthand experience with the health system’s work culture, care practices, and technology systems before starting their professional careers.

“This program is more than a solution to the nursing shortage—it’s a bold reimagining of how we grow and support the next generation of nurses,” said Amy Wilson, DNP, chief nurse executive for SSM Health.

“By investing in education and clinical experience from day one, we’re not only preparing students for success—we’re strengthening the future of patient care across our communities.”

Founded as Deaconess College of Nursing, Chamberlain’s legacy is rooted in a mission to serve communities through care and education.

This alignment fosters a values-driven learning environment that not

a vaccination page, the centerpiece of which is a video generally explaining the vaccines recommended during pregnancy, why they are safe and how they protect mother and child, both before and after birth But it also has more detailed information and recommendations for the flu vaccine and the Tdap vaccine — a combination jab that protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough.

As the program continues to build up the next generation of Black male health professionals and changemakers, Woodland said he still has major dreams for the Young Doctors Project. “I want it to be an institution. I want it to be a true pipeline. I want it to operate without me when I’m long gone. I want there to be a Young Doctors Project in multiple cities,” Woodland said. “It’s about brotherhood. It’s about support. It’s about creating spaces for the safe intellectual development of Black boys.”

only prepares students clinically, but also instills a deep commitment to service, empathy, and holistic care—qualities essential to delivering exceptional patient outcomes within SSM Health.

“We are excited to partner with SSM Health to place future nurses where they’re needed most across multiple states,” said Karen Cox, PhD, RN, FACHE, FAAN, Chamberlain University president.

“Nurses are essential to community health, and expanding the workforce supports both patients and current caregivers. As the nation’s largest School of Nursing, we’re eager to create innovative and immediate opportunities for our graduates in communities where they’ll make a real impact.”

For more information on the Aspiring Nurse Program or to apply for the inaugural cohort starting September 2025, please visit chamberlain. edu/aspiring-nurseprogram-oklahoma

The American Academy of Family Physicians publishes a complete childhood vaccine schedule at its site, Familydoctor. org. updated as of May 2025. It also includes a convincing, pro-vaccine argument: “Following the right schedule ensures you or your child gets the best protection at the right time—whether it’s a routine childhood shot, a booster, or a vaccine needed later in life. The website Guideline Central provides healthcare professionals with evidence-based clinical decision-support tools that are current, practical, and easily accessible. Its vaccine page lays out a complete schedule, along with updated and detailed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention information about who is recommended for each specific vaccine and why. Jennifer Porter Gore is a health reporter and columnist for Word In Black.

By Andrew Wanko, Missouri Historical Society

Victoria Spivey was just 19 years old as she sat alone and nervous on a 600-mile, one-way train ride bound for St. Louis. It was a city bigger than any she’d ever seen, and a place where she knew no one. “St. Louis was a long way off,” she later recalled. “While on the St. Louis train I read the popular dime novels warning girls to be careful of city slickers. . . . The books scared me to death.”

She had spent her Texas childhood as a performer, first in her family’s string band and then as opening entertainment for silent films. She became a blues singer, working Dallas nightclubs with fellow rising blues star Blind Lemon Jefferson. With an animated and expressive presence and a distinct nasal moan she nicknamed her “tiger squall,” she captivated local audiences.

But more than anything, Spivey wanted to make a hit blues record, and St. Louis was where to do it. Disembarking beneath Union Station’s cavernous train shed, she wasted no time, walking west down Market Street and into the famous DeLuxe Music Shoppe. She introduced herself to manager Edith Johnson, sat down at the store’s piano, and belted out her chilling original song “Black Snake Blues.” Within a week, the record was being pressed in New York City—the first of more than 50 songs she would release over the next four years.

Released in early 1926, “Black Snake Blues” sold more than 150,000 copies within its first year. “They couldn’t press the record fast enough,” she reminisced. “I recall walking around St. Louis and every place I heard myself moaning. I could see those snakes flying as they used so much publicity.”

Spivey became a staff songwriter for the St. Louis Publishing

Victoria Spivey

Company and scored her next smash hit in 1927. “T.B. Blues” chronicled the discrimination faced by victims of tuberculosis, a disease that disproportionately affected Black people. Her subsequent songs dealt with contemporary problems like drug addiction (“Dope Head Blues”), the prison system (“Murder in the First Degree”), and domestic violence (“Blood Thirsty Blues”). Often filling her compositions with sexual overtones and double entendres, Spivey knew how to write sellable records that would be both socially relevant and enticingly risqué.

During the Great Depression Spivey pivoted toward stage and film work, starring as Missy Rose in King Vidor’s 1929 film, “Hallelujah!,” among the earliest major studio “talkie” films to feature an all-Black cast. The following April she appeared on the front cover of the NAACP’s The Crisis. In the early 1940s, she toured with the Hellzapoppin’ musical revue, taking

the Broadway show’s music, comedy sketches, and suggestive performances on the road.

By the 1950s Spivey had retired from show business to lead a church choir in Brooklyn, New York, but she would soon be busier than ever. As the folk revival of the 1960s took hold, a new generation of musicians, fans, and researchers were seeking out the performers who had laid the groundwork of the recorded blues, now more widely recognized by white Americans as a cornerstone of American culture. Spivey was suddenly recording again and performing for new devoted fans.

She was interviewed in 1960 by folk historian Paul Oliver for his unique book Conversations with the Blues and married blues scholar Len Kunstadt, publisher of the major folk revival periodical Record Research. Together they founded Spivey Records in 1962. The label became a vehicle for Spivey to get old friends—including former St. Louisans Lonnie Johnson and Big Joe Williams—recording again for new audiences, as well as introduce new artists like Lucille Spann and Luther Johnson. Spivey toured the US and European festival circuits; made television appearances in Europe; and became friends with Bob Dylan, appearing on the back cover of his “New Morning” album in 1970.

When asked by Oliver about auditioning her first song all alone as a teenager in St. Louis, three words summed up why she was able to do it: “I was daring.” During her various stretches as a businesswoman, blues singer, touring artist, songwriter, choir leader, stage performer, movie star, record label owner, mentor to young artists, and more, that characteristic never left her. Spivey passed away in New York City in 1976.

Victoria Spivey, ca. late 1920s. Wikimedia Commons.

Students enjoy feeding the animals located at Little Creek Nature Area.

Saint Louis Science Center’s YES (Youth Exploring Science) Program participants lead students in the study of endangered animals.

COMTO engineers discuss engineering careers with participants.

Trace chemist forensic scientist James Riggins discusses evidence collection methods with students on Forensics Day

Saint Louis Zoo outreach educator Lia Reilly demonstrates unique animal adaptation strategies.

Summer Science Academy students collaborate on an energy-themed poster.

Boeing engineer Travion Crutcher oversees students using the engineering design process to create stable towers with marshmallows and spaghetti.

Students study animal survival skills by creating camouflaged butterflies, an activity lead by the Saint Louis Science Center’s YES Program participants.

Matt Barton, of the St. Louis Audubon Society, teaches students how to locate and identify song birds at Little Creek Nature Area.

Photos by Cathy Sewell / St. Louis American

World Bird Sanctuary lower site manager Paige Schneider introduces students to raptors housed at their facilities.

Vacation planning? Keep these travel budget tips in mind

JPMorgan

Continued from B1

or at certain times of the day. Ticket and booking deals are often available for members of certain professions, such as education, health care and the military. Other cities offer museum passes that allow you to visit multiple museums for a flat rate.

Know what to skip

Once you’re at your destination, consider passing on expensive guided tours or private transit like taxis or ride shares. Instead, create your own city tour, look online for

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music, dance, and visual arts.

“RAC is a vibrant organization that connects and nurtures the arts in St. Louis, enabling many arts groups and artists to flourish and serve our community through programming and community engagement efforts,” said Zackary Petot, executive and artistic director for the St. Louis Artists’ Guild, another 2025 grant recipient.

“We are honored to receive this grant. RAC allows us to continue offering free exhibitions, public programs, youth and senior art classes, and community partnerships that make the arts more inclusive and impactful for all.”

Other grantee organizations and programs include Better Family Life Inc., COCA, St. Louis Black Gay and

free walking tours or get around on public transportation.

If you’re visiting a popular monument or famous street, pass the “tourist trap” stores and restaurants and do your shopping and dining a few blocks away where prices are likely to be lower.

Broaden your horizons

Sometimes, you can have more fun at a lesser-known destination. Try some smaller towns over big cities, which can offer better prices on your hotel and dining experiences. Additionally, if you’re within driving distance of a big city, you can still go and enjoy it for a day.

If you are staying in a larger area, find a hotel outside of the most expensive part of the city but close enough that you’re not spending much getting to the sights.

Plan a staycation

If a big trip still isn’t in your budget, that’s OK. There are still plenty of ways to get away, even if you stay in the comfort of your own home. Take a day trip to a nearby town or plan a longer road trip through your state. You’ll still get to see new places and try new hotels. If you’re planning to visit a friend or family member, explore a new venue while you’re in

that town. Exploring lesser-known destinations can offer unique charm without the usual crowds and costs.

The U.S. also has extensive state and national park systems with a reasonable per-car entrance price. To save even more money, bring a picnic!

The bottom line

Travel enriches our lives, and with some creative planning, you can enjoy memorable adventures without overspending. Using budget travel tips can help you add adventure to your life this summer without breaking the bank. Have fun finding strategic ways to cut costs while still having an enjoy-

Lesbian Pride Committee Inc., Prison Performing Arts, and St. Louis Rhythm Collaborative. Applications for RAC’s 2025 artist support grants, which benefit individual artists, closed in May. Awardees for those grants will be announced later this sum-

mer. The RAC’s Artist INC program begins Sept. 16, 2025 and will be held at CIC @ CET, 20 South Sarah Street, St. Louis, MO 63108 Artist selected earlier this year from 60-mile radius of St. Louis will gather for one evening a

week for eight weeks to learn strategic business skills specific to their art practice and how to apply those skills cooperatively with their peers.

Artist INC Live guides artists as they learn and grow together through artist facilitator mentoring, small group appli-

able and fulfilling trip. For more financial health tips, visit chase. com/financialgoals.

For informational/ educational purposes only: Views and strategies described on this article or provided via links may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any business. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and/or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The material is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availabil-

Miiyaya Adero stands with her mural at Bustani Ya Upenda garden in August 2024 in the Academy/ Sherman Park neighborhood in August 2024. The mural is one of 28, two in each city ward, managed by the Regional Arts Commission.

ity or suitability of any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. product or service. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of future results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services, or other content. Deposit products provided JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender. © 2025 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

city and county.

Since its beginning, RAC has provided nearly 7,500 grants totaling over $118 million, including the most recent allocation in 2025.

Calling it “a legendary party,” RAC will present its 40th Birthday Bash from 5-8 p.m. August 28, 2025 at Midway West in St. Louis Union Station.

“This party is the place to experience joy in STL’s talented performers, embrace your creative spirit, and find unity in community,” RAC said.

cation activities, as well as large group discussion and multimedia lecture.

Currently celebrating 40 years in operation, RAC is the leading public investor in arts and culture experiences in the St. Louis region, funded primarily through a hotel and motel tax in St. Louis

“Whether you’re a longtime grantee, a local creative looking to connect, or someone who never likes to miss a memorable moment, all are welcome to celebrate. This milestone belongs to you as much as it does to us. This is OUR story of creating together.”

For the full list of awardees, please visit www.racstl.org/grants/ awarded-grants

Photo by Sophie Proe / St. Louis Public Radio

“Breaking up your entire core for a single player rarely works.”

–Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama on his team’s rumored pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant.

Sports

InSIdE SportS

With Earl Austin Jr.

Basketball roses bloom in July in Louisville

Billed as the largest girls’ basketball showcase in the world, the annual Run 4 Roses event last week in Louisville, Ky., featured more than 2,000 teams from several different countries – and unfortunately a frightening afternoon.

Spread over 100 courts at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center and Freedom Hall, this year’s Run 4 Roses included the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League.

More than 2,000 coaches from each collegiate level attended with Dawn Staley of South Carolina, Kim Mulkey of LSU, Geno Auriemma of national champion UConn and others watching the action.

changed on Sunday during the first day of Session No. 2.

I had already returned to St. Louis when my phone began blowing up. Utter chaos had broken out back in Louisville as there were reports of an “active shooter” or “active aggressor” in the building.

Nobody was sure what was happening, but it sounded bad - really bad. People thought I was still in Louisville and were checking on me, but I was already back home. I started working the phones to check on folks.

What attracts me to the event are the grassroots clubs from St. Louis. Most of our area players play for either Napheesa Collier Elite, Lady Brad Beal Elite or Missouri Phenom.

The Missouri Phenom 17U EYBL team features a pair of St. Louis’ top players in junior Amaya Manuel of Lift for Life and sophomore Jordyn Haywood of MICDS.

During the summer, Amaya and her twin sister Cara Manuel have become celebrities. After each game, young girls wait to have photos taken with them. The same scene takes place in the team hotel or out in public places. The first session of the event went off without a hitch as the quality of play was excellent and several area teams won bracket championships. However, the tenor of the event

Naturally, I went on to social media and some people had taken video of the scene. What I saw was shocking and downright scary. There were hundreds of people sprinting in all directions. Outside, a helicopter circled the area and police advanced to the building armed with long rifles. It was a frightening scene. I was shaken because there were hundreds of people from St. Louis and around the state in that building, with many of them being children, from high school age down to elementary school.

“It was just crazy,” said Lift for Life Athletic Director Chandra Palmer, who was there to watch the Manuel twins along with several other Hawks players in the event.

“Everybody was running everywhere. When we got closer to the door, we saw police officers outside with their [weapons.] They asked us if we saw anything. And I saw the helicopter flying around. It really freaked me out.”

Example Sports at the Run 4

An official statement from the Run 4 Roses social media account reported there was no active threat and play resumed on Monday. Several of the participating teams, along with college coaches and recruiters, decided not to return to the event. It was difficult to see so many young people experiencing such a traumatic situation at an event that is celebrating their talent.

Earl’s World Four-star football high school football standout Jacob Eberhart of Kirkwood High School has given a commitment to the University of Illinois. A 6’3” 210pound wide receiver/ safety Eberhart chose Illinois over Oklahoma, Missouri, and Nebraska. He will be continuing a family tra-dition as he is the son of

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

the late Jason Eberhart, a former Mehlville High football star in the mid-1990’s who also played at Illinois… Former Missouri basketball stars Tamar Bates and Caleb Grill saw respective NBA Summer League action last weekend in Las Vegas. Grill scored eight points as his Chicago Bulls lost 109-92 to the Sacramento Kings in an early game Saturday in

Las Vegas. Bates tallied13 points in Denver’s 94-83 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves…17-yearold Australian sprinter Gout Gout is being hailed as “a young Usain Bolt,” and American sprinter Noah Lyles is calling him “Little Bro.” Gout won the Monaco Diamond League 200-meter event on July 11 with a 20.10 second time – while running into a strong headwind.

How have Cards’ stars aligned at All Star break?

The St. Louis Cardinals’ trio of potential Black stars has gone twofor-three in 2025.

Shortstop Masyn Winn and centerfielder Victor Scott II have continued to improve during their sophomore seasons.

Right fielder Jordan Walker has not proven he can excel in the Majors. Winn, who overcame an injured wrist and balking back, has played in 85 of the team’s 97 games and posted a .255 batting average with seven home runs, 32 RBIs, and five stolen bases. The injuries led to early-season errors, which have left him out of the NL’s top 20 defensive shortstops. However, he has been a catalyst for many Redbirds’ rallies and continues to show star potential.

sixth in defense among MLB centerfielders with a .995 fielding percentage and several highlight reel catches. If Scott can consistently hit .250, his value will skyrocket. Walker, who is rehabbing at Double A Springfield after an appendectomy, might not return to the Majors unless he gets his act together.

Playing in just 55 games, Walker hit just .210 with three homes runs and 27 RBIs before his surgery. Shockingly, Walker struck out 63 times in just 176 at bats. His two-season-long search for power has continued.

Scott is among the team’s most pleasant surprises. While his batting average has slipped to .235, he has contributed four home runs, 32 RBIs, and a team-leading 24 stolen bases. He ranks an outstanding

The Cardinals could consider throwing Walker into a prospective deal to make a package sweeter. His contract cost is just as low as his statistical profile, so there might be a team willing to take a risk on him.

Halfway home

At the proverbial halfway point of the Major

League Baseball season, the St. Louis Cardinals’ brass must determine if the glass is half-full or half-empty.

While the All-Star Game signals a midpoint, the Cardinals have played 96 of their 162 games. While time is not running out on the Redbirds, the clock is ticking, and major decisions loom.

With a 51-46 record, St. Louis finds itself in third place in the National

League Central Division, 6 ½ games behind the Chicago Cubs. They trail Milwaukee by 5 ½ and the Cincinnati Reds lurk just a game behind them.

St. Louis is 1 ½ games out of the third NL Wild Card slot behind the San Francisco Giants. While the postseason is within promising reach, the Cardinals should send a few players packing.

Closer Ryan Helsley has 19 saves, but his 3.27

ERA and five blown saves have his trade value down. Hey Cardinals, trade him now. Do not risk his being a free agent following the season and signing elsewhere. Other than draft compensation, you get nothing.

The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are among the reportedly interested teams. If Houston is still interested in Nolan Arenado, I’d try to resurrect that deal. The AllStar third baseman had no interest in the Astros before the season, but the AL West leader is a potential World Series winner. Right now, the Cardinals can’t offer that opportunity.

The L.A. Dodgers are being patient with the injured Max Muncy at third base and reportedly have no interest in taking on the 34-year-old Arenado’s contract. In addition, the perennial Gold Glove candidate has a sprained finger.

St. Louis could deal top starter Sonny Gray if the return is of seismic proportion, which I doubt would happen.

Apologies for being pessimistic. The Cards’ glass is half-empty, and I’d make deals before the franchise hits low tide.

The Reid Roundup

Myles Rowe won his first Indy NXT race last Saturday at Iowa Speedway. Rowe became the first Black driver to win an Indy NXT race as his quest to drive in the Indianapolis 500 continues. Rowe’s best performance before the Iowa win was a second-place podium fishing in the St. Louis Grand Prix…St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Tink Hence’s nightmare season continued this week when he was placed back on the injured list at Double A Springfield because of shoulder inflammation. He has appeared in just eight games and recorded only 21 1/3 innings… Kyson Witherspoon, a right-handed pitcher with Oklahoma, was the first Black player selected in the 2025 MLB Draft. Boston took him with the 15th pick.

Earl Austin Jr.

Alvin A. Reid

Jayce Green of Lady Brad Beal Elite (University City High) dribbles against Jimara Combs of

Roses Classic in Louisville, KY.

Photo by Earl Austin Jr.

St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn has solid first half of 2025 season.

Photo courtesy of mlb.com

Spencer pledges $19M in additional tornado recovery funds

Mayor Cara Spencer announced on July 11 that $19.2 million will be invested into the next phase of recovery from the May 16 tornado. The total includes $18 million in allocated Rams funds and $1.2 million in Community Development Block Grant funds. Those funds will support efforts in the following areas:

• $2.5 million for resource hubs needs such as meals and supplies, including coolers, porta-potties, dumpsters, and more.

• $2.2 million for unmet needs such as storage of personal belongings, rental assistance, and non-congregate temporary housing.

• $5 million for home repairs for uninsured and underinsured.

• $3.5 million for case management, mental health, and legal services.

• $1 million to provide cooling through water stations and water sprinklers.

• Up to $5 million for non-profit support, including for resource hub and

distribution staffing.

“The need is urgent, and we have been working hard over the past few weeks to put this package together,” said Spencer. “These investments are designed to meet the most pressing needs while ensuring programs we are investing in do not overlap with FEMA’s.”

With the Board of Alderman’s approval, these funds will go to city departments and service providers, and St. Louisans could see some of effects of the plan in the community during July.

The city Recovery Office has also been established through the Mayor’s Office. It is led by Julian Nicks, who served as interim deputy chief operating officer in the Mayor’s office and has led the operations’ side of the tornado response. Nicks will serve as the chief recovery and neighborhood transformation officer.

“I am grateful that Julian has agreed to step up his role with the city and take on this challenge,” Spencer said. Nicks’ office will now

lead the city’s recovery efforts, continuing the efforts that have begun out of the Emergency Operations Center and developing the long-

term plans to restore and rebuild. The office will also lead the city’s community engagement efforts. Spencer said announce-

and

ments on how residents “can take a central role in developing the vision for how we restore and rebuild” will be made in the coming weeks.

Application for FEMA rent assistance deadline is August 11

St. Louis American

Residents who still do not have a safe place to live because of the May 16, 2025 tornado which ripped through the St. Louis area can apply for FEMA Assistance to help pay for alternate temporary housing.

To request assistance to help with rent, homeowners and renters must contact FEMA and let them know before an August 11 deadline. There are several ways to request assistance:

• Applying for FEMA Assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Initial award to pay up to two months of rent

• Visiting a Disaster Recovery Center. For locations, visit: FEMA. gov/DRC.

• Calling the FEMA Helpline at (800) 6213362. If you use a relay service such as VRS, give FEMA your number for that service.

• Sending a request in

writing to FEMA: P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055. FEMA is required to do a home inspection to verify damage reported on your application.

If approved, residents will receive an initial rental award of up to two months of rent. Rental

Assistance may help cover your monthly rent amount, which may include a security deposit. It might not cover all rental expenses.

Homeowners and renters affected by the May 16 disaster in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and Scott County may also be eligible.

The deadline to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance is August 11, 2025. Residents can still ask for additional assistance, as long as an initial application has been completed before the deadline. The fastest way to apply is at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Julian Nicks has been tapped by Mayor Cara Spencer to lead the city’s new Recovery Office. He served as interim deputy chief operating officer in the Mayor’s Office

has led the operations’ side of the tornado response.

Voices and vibes

“Truth is, shortly after my

- Stevie Wonder addressing rumors he has some

6th annual WerQfest was centered by Black queer creative expression

By Zaria Mac The St. Louis American

Fresh from Broadway in the highly anticipated revival of The Wiz, Avery Wilson was the icing on the cake for the 6th Annual WerQfest on Saturday at Atomic by Jamo.

He lived up to the hype of the vocal abilities that made him an internet sensation, a top contender on the hit NBC vocal competition show “The Voice” and a go-to vocalist for R&B tributes. But the art and soul of creatives within the Black queer community was the cake – which was the point when Tre’von Griffith and Shelton Boyd-Griffith created the festival in 2019.The high energy festival captures the music and creative expression of St. Louis artists.

This year’s WerQfest took place at the Atomic Pavilion with a two stage set up, one indoor with a large open dance floor that led to the main stage outside under a grand pavilion. Bridged between the

n Avery Wilson lived up to the hype of the vocal abilities that made him an internet sensation, a top contender on the hit NBC vocal competition show “The Voice” and a go-to vocalist for R&B tributes.

stages were photo opportunities, a bar with specialty drinks and ample seating. Patrons dressed in casual and custom couture who danced and fellowshipped into the night The afternoon kicked off with a sneak peak of “Keenelan” courtesy of the Queer Voices NYC Film Festival. The film was written and directed by St. Louis’

own Camara “Cami” Cruz-Thomas and was centered around chance encounters, queer love, and art that perfectly reflected the spirit of WerQfest.

The live music started with a singer named S.A.Y. – an acronym for “Someone Appreciates You”. Her androgynous appearance was juxtaposed by her poetic sound that was similar to Erykah Badu. Her fan favorites include raps with a Jill Scott cadence and lyrics inspired by Lauryn Hill over smooth jazz.

On the outside main stage was rising EDM star Soumir – who brought her eccentric dance moves dressed in purple chrome cargo pants and 70’s chainmail halter top to match, which created a monotone look. She performed songs like “Beat Is Mine” as she hit poses throughout her set. She closed the show with “RAM,” and its captivating poetic outro.

Hometown R&B diva Golliday took the stage in a hooded lace jumpsuit and dark shades to match just before sunset.

See WerQfest, C3

Ride with him

St. Louis’ own rap star and newest National Thoroughbred League owner will be hosting The Nelly Cup on Saturday, July 19.

By American staff

The St. Louis region is getting its own National Thoroughbred League team thanks to rap superstar Nelly. The Grammy winner has taken significant ownership in the league’s Seattle franchise. The team will move to St. Louis and be renamed the Nellies, after the famous horse term (“Whoa Nellie”) and in honor of its newest owner.

“Nelly was an early investor in the National Thoroughbred League and his expanded ownership role is a testament to the momentum and success we’ve built so far,” said Randall Lane, See Nelly, C3

Stacey Abrams to talk Avery Keene in STL

Political strategist and bestselling author will discuss latest novel ‘Coded Justice’

By American Staff

Stacey Abrams is spellbinding. Her ability to articulate the war on democracy that she is willfully – and defiantly – determined to win is downright captivating. So much so that she recently went viral for a commentary where she unfolded the “ten steps to autocracy.” She expounded on them, and the necessary ammunition in the battle against the system that is working towards completing the checklist, during an appearance on “The Jimmy Kimmel Show” guest hosted by Anthony Anderson last week.

“We can fight back. We can remember that we do have power,” Abrams told Anderson. “They don’t want dissent, so protest. They want us to forget that before we had power, we had each other.”

Her words are reinforced by action. She spent more than a decade in the Georgia House of Representatives. She fought back with a valiant run for

Political activist and bestselling author Stacey Abrams will be in conversation with LaParis Hawkins on Tuesday, July 22 at Clayton High School. The main topic will be Abrams latest novel ‘Coded Justice,’ which was released on July 15.

Photo courtesy of Instagram/ StaceyAbrams

LaParis Hawkins, CEO and founder of Tailored Pieces and founder of Books and Bonnets Book Club at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22nd at Clayton High School.

Keene is a former Supreme Court Clerk who goes on quests to get to the bottom of cracks in government – and society.

“She’s part detective, part lawyer –and way too nosy for her own good,” Abrams said of her heroine.

In “Coded Justice,” Keene is hired by a well-intentioned tech company with the goal of getting veterans acclimated with AI healthcare.

The book is the third in her Avery Keene series, which includes the New York Times bestseller “While Justice Sleeps.”

Outside of her writing, Abrams wakes up marginalized communities regarding what’s at stake for them politically.

“As a Black woman, I have the affirmative responsibility to speak up on behalf of everyone else,” Abrams said. “Because they are coming for me first –and they are coming for me next.”

She describes herself as a “civic strategist, storyteller and problem solver.”

In her chat with Anderson, she gave two critical solutions that should be in the arsenal of those committed to

See Abrams, C3

Photo courtesy

Instagram/Nelly

Photos by Taylor Marrie/St. Louis American

Grammy nominated R&B vocalist Avery Wilson joined STL favorites for the 6th Annual WerQfest on Saturday, July 12 at Atomic By Jamo.

CONCERTS

Fri., July 18, 8 p.m. (7 p.m.

doors) Jamo Presents X MATI with DJ Jazzy Jeff with DJ Mahf, Rockwell Knuckles and more, Atomic Pavilion, 4140 Manchester. For more information, visit www. jamopresents.com

Mon., July 21, 6:30 p.m. Wiz Khalifa & Sean Paul - Good Vibes Only Tour w/ Special Guest DaBaby, Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, 14141 Riverport Dr, Maryland Heights, MO 63043. For more information, visit https://www.ticketmaster.com.

Tues., July 22, 7:30 p.m., Earth Wind & Fire, Saint Louis Music Park, 750 Casino Center Dr, Maryland Heights, MO 63043. For more information, visit www.livenation.com.

Fri., July 25, 7 p.m. Macy Gray On How Life Is 25th Anniversary Tour, The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd, Saint Louis, MO 63112. For more information, visit https:// www.thepageant.com.

Fri., Aug. 1, 8 p.m. (7 p.m. doors) Demola Live!, The Pageant, 6161 Delmar. For more information, visit www.thepageant.com.

Thurs., Aug. 7, 7:30 p.m.

The Factory at The District welcomes K. Michelle, 17105 North Outer 40 Road Chesterfield, MO 63005. For more information, visit www. thefactorystl.com.

Fri., Aug. 8, 8 p.m. Jeezy with Color of Noize Orchestra, Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit https://gotickets.com.

STL Sites & Sounds

SPECIAL EVENTS

Sat., July 19, 8 p.m. Art, Mimosas, & Pancakes, The Hawthorn, 2231 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit https:// ampexhibit.com/.

Sun., July 20, 5 p.m. SWEAT Tschuss, 2847 Cherokee Street. St. Louis, MO 63118 For more information, visit https://posh. vip.

Sat., July 19, 3 p.m., National Thoroughbred League’s Nelly Cup at Fairmount Park, Collinsville, IL. For tickets or more information, visit www.NTL.Racing.

Sun., July 27, 5 p.m. I Don’t Give A Fashion, The Fabulous Fox, 527 North Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit https://www. eventbrite.com.

COMEDY

Fri., July 18, 7:30 p.m. George Willborn, City Winery, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https://citywinery.com/ st-louis.

Thur., July 24, 7:30 p.m. Nurses Night Out with Greg “G” Williams, City Winery, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https://citywinery.com

Sat., July 26, 10 p.m. Josh Johnson: The Flowers Tour, The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63112. For more information, visit https://www. ticketmaster.com.

ST. LOUIS MUSIC

SPOTLIGHT

Sat., July 19, 7:30 p.m. Soul Cafe, Blue Strawberry, 364 N. Boyle Ave St. Louis, Missouri 63108. For more info, visit https://bluestrawberrystl.com.

Sat., Jul. 19, 9:30 p.m. Florie

Presents: “On One”, The Dark Room, 3610 Grandel Square, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit https://kranzbergartsfoundation.org.

Sat., July 26, 9 p.m. Let’s

[EXPLETIVE] Dance, Atomic Lounge, 4140 Manchester Ave St. Louis, MO 63110. For tickets, visit www.ticketweb.com.

THEATRE

Fri., Jul. 18- 19, 7 p.m. Beetlejuice Jr., .ZACK Theatre, 3224 Locust Street, St. Louis, MO 63103. Matinee showtime on second day. For more information, visit https://kranzbergartsfoundation.org.

Fri., July 18 – July 24, The

Muny presents Evita, The Muny at Forest Park. For more information, visit muny.org.

Sat., July 19, 7 p.m. Nuit d’Afrique - Afriky Lolo’s 19th Annual Dance Celebration, The Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit www.afrikylolo.org.

Through Aug. 17, 7:30 p.m., Saint Louis Zoo and St. Louis Shakespeare Festival presents Romeo and Zooliet, St. Louis Zoo, for more information, visit stlzoo.org.

ART

July 18 through Sept. 27, The Gallery at The Kranzberg presents a new exhibition, Nyuso: A Celebration of African Artistry & Afrofuturism, by Kranzberg Arts Foundation Resident Artist Moraa Nyaribo. An opening reception will take place from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, July 18. 501 N. Grand Blvd. For more information, visit kranzbergartsfoundation.org

Through July 27, Roaring: Art, Fashion and the Automobile in France, 1918–1939, Saint Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Dr, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit www.slam.org.

Through July 27, Veronica Ryan: Unruly Objects, Pulitzer Arts Foundation, 3716 Washington Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63108. For more information, visit https://pulitzerarts.org.

Through Aug. 10, Like Water, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, 3750 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108. For more information https://camstl. org/.

Wiz Khalifa and Sean Paul are bringing their Good Vibes Only Tour to Hollywood Casino Amphitheater with special guest DaBaby. See CONCERTS for details.

co-founder of the NTL.

He will also serve as host of the National Thoroughbred League’s Nelly Cup at Collinsville’s Fairmount Park, which takes place from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 19th.

“I’m excited to be part of bringing a new professional sports team to the city that means so much to me…” Nelly said in a statement to FOX Business. “I can’t wait to hit the track and celebrate with our incredible St. Louis fans.”

Part of his hosting duties will include a welcome for the fans and being at the helm of the trophy presentation.

The event will feature team horse racing and a musical experience headlined by Jarobi White, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member of A Tribe Called Quest.

“I thought it was a brilliant idea to take one of the oldest sports and give it a new spin,” said White, who is also an NTL investor. “Making the sport more accessible, so everyone from kings to commoners can enjoy.”

The Nelly Cup will also include food/drinks and a Nelly-inspired fashion show. The NTL also will celebrate the centennial of Fairmount Park during the event.

“The NTL is the first team-based professional league in horse racing, giving fans recurring favorites and rivalries,

Abrams

Continued from C1

ensure that democracy is victorious over autocratic ambitions.

“We have to stop believing that we are in this alone,” Abrams said. “When they break democracy, when they break the social security system, when they slash SNAP benefits and Medicaid, make sure you’re checking on your neighbors. Make sure we are using mutual aid.” Her other essential ingredient should go without saying, but must be stated plainly due to the tactics of the opposition within the current political climate.

“Tell the truth. Do not let the propaganda win,” Abrams said. “Too often, they tell a lie so often that it sounds like the truth. We say the truth one time and when people don’t applaud, we stop talking. We have to keep telling the truth – not only to push back against them, but to remind us that we are entitled to the truth.” At the core of Abrams’ work is the belief that we are also entitled to democracy – and equity.

“If you are truly a Christian, the Bible tells us to take care of the poor, and the needy, and the stranger – not to round them up and kidnap them,” Abrams said. “When we believe in democracy as something that must deliver, that’s when we start to fight back – and that’s when they lose. They win when we are too numb or too afraid to act.”

Left Bank Books and The Left Banks Books Foundation’s presentation of Stacey Abrams in conversation with LaParis Hawkins will take place at 7 p.m. (doors

while turning race weekends into full-blown lifestyle experiences and opportunities to support the community — think Kentucky Derby meets Formula 1,” the team said in a statement. “The National Thoroughbred League (NTL) is a firstof-its-kind racing league reimagining America’s oldest spectator sport by creating a team-based professional sports league.”

NTL has 10 teams and celebrity backers like Nelly, Lamar Jackson, Julius Erving, Tanya Tucker and Rick Ross in addition to White.

“Our mission is rooted in creating authentic connections and fan bases in every city we’re in” Lane said. “Which is why each team’s ownership group includes individuals who have strong, personal ties to their local communities.”

“We like going where there’s investment. We like going where there’s a century-old tradition of horse racing,” Lane told Fox Business.

“But we wouldn’t have done this without Nelly spearheading it. Because having local ownership, having somebody that’s so synonymous with the city to the point of even the name is so fun.”

The National Thoroughbred League’s Nelly Cup will take place at Collinsville’s Fairmount Park from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 19th. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.NTL.Racing.

He opened with a cover of Frank Ocean’s “Forest Gump” under soft purple lights. He refused to move forward until the volume on his background singers’ microphones were properly adjusted.

He transitioned to original music with “Head” and “Dallas.” His clear vocals, relatable lyrics, and dance moves that matched the percussion created a performance that left the audience hungry for more. Between each performer were popular St. Louis DJs who took the stage and allowed each

set to breathe. They maintained the vibes with hip hop, dance, and vogue inspired sets. Masc_Error brought a hip-hop house mix that featured artists like Normani and Megan Thee Stallion. Anansi Spins merged vogue and Jersey club sounds. DJ Naybahood played radio hits and mixed 90s R&B over bounce music. DJ PBNJEFFY – the final DJ between performances –introduced their set with Beyonce tribute before he transitioned into his own original house music. The sounds layered hip hop, R&B, and even gospel. By the end of the session, everyone was on their feet and primed for Avery Wilson to take the stage.

The lights overhead transformed the stage into a green oasis. Wilson emerged in a graphic muscle top that read “MIXED EMOTION” that matched his red jeans. His vocal range and signature runs were on full display from the very beginning of his set. He performed “Kiss The Sky” and “ATM.” They carried the tone of Musiq Soulchild and sensuality of Trey Songz. He shared with the audience that WerQfest was his first time performing at a queer music festival. He paused to relish in the experience.

“I am as free as I’ve ever been,” Wilson said. “And because of that, I’ve been able to become

WerQfest is an arts and entertainment festival dedicated to highlighting the black queer, trans, and non-binary community and was held at Atomic by Jamo on 7/12/25.

Grammy nominated.” Wilson’s set continued with R&B classics such as Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You” and Tevin Campbell’s “Can We Talk.” The latter of the songs made him a social media sensation in 20232024 when the “Can We Talk” challenge dominated Facebook and Instagram. TreHitz closed the festival with Strawberry Bounce, an emerging dance party curated by KVthe Writer with Nyara TreHitz. Their original bounce mixes created a high energy hip hop dance party that lasted into the night.

Photos by Taylor Marrie/St. Louis American

SLDC IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) is eagerly seeking candidates to join our team as we endeavor to bring economic justice to St. Louis City residents and communities that were disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

There are multiple 2-4-year limited term positions available, term of employment will vary for each position.

These positions will assist in the administration and implementation of various Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) Programs targeted for households, small businesses and communities adversely impacted by the pandemic.

All positions will be funded in whole or in part through an allocation of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the US Department of the Treasury and the City of St. Louis’ Community Development Administration.

To apply online and see a full job description go to https://www.developstlouis.org/careers and then click “Open Positions & Apply Online.”

SOLICITING BIDS

Great Rivers Greenway is soliciting bids for Deer Creek Greenway: Deer Creek Center to Big Bend Blvd in City of Webster Groves, Missouri. Go to www.greatriversgreenway.org/bids/ submit by August 07, 2025.

basis for a monthly retainer to be paid by public funds. The current retainer is in the amount of $2,500.00 per month. Payments for time expended in adoption, guardianship of minor, and termination of parental rights matters may be made over and above the retainer fee.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

(3) years of

experience

nile or family law (additional years of

and guardian ad litem experience are highly preferred), and completion of necessary guardian ad litem training as required by the Supreme Court of Missouri. Note: This position is subject to continued availability of funding.

To apply, please send a current resume, along with a cover letter, to SLCCourtJobs@courts.mo.gov or to the following address (application materials must be postmarked by July 30, 2025): Family Court of St. Louis County, Attn: Human Resources Department, 105 S. Central Ave., Clayton, MO 63105. EOE. Please contact the Human Resources Department at 615-4471 (voice) or RelayMo 711 or 800-735-2966 if you need any accommodations in the application process, or if you would like this posting in an alternative form.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS RESIDENTIAL REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the County of St. Louis (“LCRA”) requests proposals to purchase and complete a residential redevelopment of the property located at the 6300 block of Wagner Avenue in the City of Wellston, St. Louis County, Missouri 63133. The property contains approximately 2.8 acres on either side of Wagner Avenue, consisting of more than 20 residential lots. Further information, including the complete RFP and informational packet, is available at https:// stlpartnership.com/rfp-rfq/ or upon request at LCRA’s offices. Proposals must be received no later than 3 PM CT on Monday, August 4, 2025.

SEALED BIDS

Service: Fleet Maintenance and Auto Body Repair Services

Pre-Bid Meeting: July 24, 2025 10:30 A.M. Meeting will be held via Zoom. See SFB for details.

Question Due Date: July 28, 2025, close of business.

Bid Due Date: August 6, 2025 at 2:00 P.M., local time.

Point of Contact: Gin Nelson –gmnelson@flystl.com

Bid documents may be obtained at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, Airport Properties Division, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or by calling (314)426-8033. This SFB may also be obtained by visiting our website at www.flystl.com/ civil-rights/business/contract-opportunities

Robert Salarano Airport Properties Division Manager

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Hankins Construction Co. is requesting bids from MBE/WBE/SDVE/DBE Subcontractors and Suppliers for our proposal on the Saint Louis Public Schools Central Visual Performing Arts / Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience. A diversity goal of 25% MBE and 5% WBE 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 3:00 PM on 8/5/2025. Hankins Construction Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

& WOMEN’S (WBE), SERVICE DISABLED VETERAN OWNED (SDVOB) & VETERAN OWNED (VOB) BUSINESSES ADVERTISEMENT

CITY CONSTRUCTION, L.L.C., 6640 AMERICAN SETTER DRIVE, A SHLAND, MISSOURI 65010, (573) 657-7380 (PHONE) (573) 657-7381 (FAX) IS SEEKING QUALIFIED SMALL, DISADVATANGED, MINORITY, & WOMEN’S BUSINESSES FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI MEDICAL SCIENCE BUILDING 7TH FLOOR RENOVATION FOR THE SUBCONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: CONCRETE, MASONRY, METALS, WOOD, PLASTICS, AND COMPOSITES, THERMAL AND MOISTURE PROTECTION, OPENINGS, FINISHES, SPECIALTIES, EQUIPMENT, FURNISHINGS, FIRE SUPPRESSION, PLUMBING, HVAC, ELECTRICAL, COMMUNICATIONS, AND ELECTRONIC SAFETY AND SECURITY. ALL INTERESTED AND QUALIFIED SMALL, DISADVANTAGED, MINORITY AND WOMEN’S BUSINESSES SHOULD CONTACT, IN WRITING, (CERTIFIED LETTER, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED) JORDAN WAGENBACH, TO DISCUSS THE SUBCONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES. ALL NEGOTIATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE BID OPENING BID DATE OF 7/29/2025 @ 1:30 PM. PROPOSALS WILL BE EVALUATED IN ORDER ON THE BASIS OF LOW RESPONSIVE BID RECEIVED. CERTIFICATION OF DBE/ WBE/MBE/SDVOB/VOB STATUS MUST BE SUBMITTED

Construction,

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Interior Renovation, Project No. U1503-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 8/12/25. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

Bids for Replace Multiple Electronic Systems at George Washington Carver State Office Building, Project No. O2427-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, August 19, 2025. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

TECHNICIAN (Part-Time)

JOB SUMMARY

Join the maintenance team at County Housing, where duties include managing daily grounds and building upkeep, responding to routine and emergency work orders, completing unit turnovers, and maintaining all County Housing properties. This position will work and communicate with people from a broad range of socio-economic backgrounds. Additional duties may be assigned as needed, even if not explicitly mentioned.

PRINCIPAL ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

•Performs preventive, corrective, and emergency maintenance requirements as required at assigned sites.

•Recommends maintenance and facility polices to their maintenance supervisor, as needed.

•Contributes to departmental plans related to safety, continuity of operations, and emergency management.

•Follows all policies and procedures for working safely and maintaining company equipment and tools in a safe working condition.

•Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE

•High school diploma or equivalent

•Professional or technical Certifications preferred.

•Must possess a valid state-issued driver’s license and be insurable.

•1-2 years of related experience preferred.

•Thorough knowledge of general plumbing, electrical, and HVAC repair.

To apply, go to Countyhousing.org County Housing is an equal employment opportunity employer.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING POSTED JULY 10, 2025

MEETING DATE: THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2025 3:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is holding a public meeting on Thursday, July 24, 2025, relating to the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) 6 Comprehensive Guide as required by Section 161.092 (14) RSMo. This meeting will be conducted at the Missouri Research and Education Network, (MOREnet), 221 North Stadium Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65203. The meeting is from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The meeting room will open for public seating at 2:30 p.m.

A tentative agenda is as follows:

1.Summary of changes to the Comprehensive Guide used for the 2025 MSIP 6 Annual Performance Report (APR) and classification of school districts

2.Receipt of public comment

Individuals who are unable to provide testimony at the public meeting may submit comment to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in writing to P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480 or by email at msip@dese.mo.gov by close of business on July 24, 2025.

Anyone attending the meeting who requires auxiliary aids or services should request such services by contacting the Executive Assistant to the Office of Quality Schools, telephone 573-751-4234, or Relay Missouri, 800-735-2966, no later than 48 hours before the meeting.

The news media may obtain copies of this notice by contacting DESE Communications P.O. Box 480 Jefferson City, MO 65102 573-751-3469 communications@dese.mo.gov

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Hazelwood School District is seeking bids for installing a new concrete pad for a future Greenhouse at Hazelwood Central High School. A mandatory pre-bid meeting will take place on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Proposals are due by August 5, 2025 at 10:00 am via the district’s online submission portal. For access to bid specifications, please visit the district’s online portal accessible at https://www. bidnetdirect.com/private/ buyer/solicitations?target= clear or contact the Director of Purchasing and Supplier Diversity at 314-953-5050.

Questions regarding proposals or the process must be submitted through the online portal.

The Hazelwood School District reserves the right to reject any or all proposals.

SOLICITING BIDS

Great Rivers Greenway is soliciting bids for: Hodiamont Greenway: Gwen Giles Park Trailhead. Go to www.greatriv ersgreenway.org/bids/ submit by August 07, 2025.

PUBLIC NOTICE

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

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

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Ladue School District Board of Education is requesting proposals for a search firm or individuals with proven experience in the recruitment of a Superintendent of Schools. Interested parties should review the RFP details at the district’s website www.ladueschools.net/ Aboutus Final RFP submission due on or before Friday, August 1, 2025 not later than 4:00 p.m.

INVITATION TO BID

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. requests bids from qualified contractors for:

Phelps Health Emergency Department Addition Bid Package 2 – Shell & Interior Build-out which includes the following scopes of work: Earth Retention System, Concrete/ Flatwork, Structural Steel, Fireproofing, Waterproofing, Masonry, Metal Panel, Glazing, Roofing, Drywall, Ceilings, General Works, Flooring, Painting, Pneumatic Tube, Elevators, Asphalt Paving

The new addition is approximately 80,000 SF and includes a fully fit-out Emergency Department, shelled spaces and support areas.

BID DATE:

August 12 by 2:00 PM CDT

Bid Documents will be available by 7/21/25. All contractors interested in this project must contact Mary Peterein via email at: mpeterein@mccarthy.com

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. 12851 Manchester Road | St. Louis, MO 63131

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

POSTED: JULY 2, 2025

ST. LOUIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT REQUESTED

SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE 2019 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN

SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE 2023 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN

DRAFT 2025 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN

AGENCIES: St. Louis County is the “Lead Agency” for the St. Louis County HOME Consortium. The St. Louis County HOME Consortium is a group of contiguous units of local government that have joined together for the purpose of receiving HOME funds and administering a HOME Program as a single grantee. The members of the St. Louis County HOME Consortium include St. Louis County, the City of Florissant, Jefferson County, St. Charles County, and the City of O’Fallon.

ACTION: Notice is hereby given that the 2019 Annual Action Plan has been amended, the 2023 Annual Action Plan has been amended, and the 2025 Annual Action Plan has been drafted by the St. Louis County HOME Consortium. The draft 2025 Annual Action Plan may receive several updates prior to submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

SUMMARY: The 2019 Annual Action Plan has been amended to reduce CDBG-CV3 funding previously allocated and reallocate additional CV-1 funding to an active homeless services project intended to improve access to medical and mental wellness care for unhoused individuals within St. Louis County. And the 2023 Annual Action Plan has been amended to reduce CDBG funding previously allocated and reallocate those funds to other projects in the program such as youth homelessness and other construction projects within St. Louis County.

The draft 2025 Annual Action Plan summarizes the proposed actions of the St. Louis County HOME Consortium. The document includes the following programs funded by HUD: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) programs. This document provides information on how funding received through the CDBG and ESG programs will be spent in St. Louis County as well as information on how HOME funds will be spent in St. Louis County and in the jurisdictions of the members of the St. Louis County HOME Consortium.

AVAILABILITY OF REVIEW MATERIALS: The amendments to the 2019 and 2023 Annual Action Plans and the draft 2025 Annual Action Plan can be found at the three St. Louis County government centers and are available on the County’s website. Those wishing to provide comments for consideration at the public hearing will need to register by emailing their full name, city of residence in St. Louis County, and their complete comment on the amendment or annual action plan to the Office of Community Development at OCD@stlouiscountymo.gov prior to 2:00PM on July 21, 2025. If you would like to review the amendments or draft plan before the hearing, please send a request to OCD@stlouiscountymo.gov Public comments on the plan will also be accepted in writing via mail

PUBLIC HEARING: A public hearing will be held to accept com ment on the amended 2019 and 2023 Annual Action Plans and the draft 2025 Annual Action Plan starting at 4:30PM on July 21, 2025. The hearing is open to the public and will take place at 500 Northwest Plaza Drive, St. Ann, MO 63074. Persons with disabilities or who otherwise need assistance, including those with limited English proficiency, should send a request to OCD@stlouiscountymo.gov at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing.

COMMENT PERIOD: Public comments on the amended 2019 and 2023

Annual Action Plans and the draft 2025 Annual Action Plan will also be accepted in writing via mail or email by 5:00PM on August 1, 2025. Written comments should be addressed to the attention of Ms. Amy Ellis, address below. Comments may also be submitted via email to OCD@stlouiscountymo.gov

St. Louis County Department of Human Services Office of Community Development 500 Northwest Plaza Drive, Suite 801 St. Ann, Missouri 63074 Phone: (314) 615- 4592 (voice) (314) 615-5889 (TTY) 1-800-735-2466 (Relay MO) Office Hours M – F 8am – 5pm EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

SEALED BIDS

Bids for MO State Fairgrounds 600 Site Campground Project No. F2307-01 and Fire Station Expansion Project No. F2405-01 will be available for public bid through August 2025. When released, bid documents will be available at: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for the Castle Point Improvements project, St. Louis County Project No. CR-1847, will be received electronically thru the County’s Vendor Self Service portal at https:// stlouiscountymovendors. munisselfservice.com/ Vendors/default.aspx, until 2:00 PM on August 13, 2025

Plans and specifications will be available on July 14, 2025, from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouiscounty mo.gov) or by contacting Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies, 2731 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118 (314) 678-0087.

ACTING DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

ST. LOUIS COUNTY

BID NOTICE

Bids for installation of city street lighting in the Grand Center Arts District. ‘Grand Center Arts District Lighting Upgrades – Project number 165000.000’. Bids will be received on August 6th, 2025, until 3:30pm CST. Full project information package available by contacting McClure Engineering, Steve Dietiker. 314-806-0236 or https://www. grandcenterinc.org/ or https://mcclureeng.com/

At 94, AME trailblazer Rev. Vivian Baker Castain still going strong

By Dorothy Boulware Word In Black

Rev. Vivian Baker Castain

didn’t set out to make history.

But when she became the first woman to serve as pastor in the Second Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church — spanning the District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia — she stepped into a role few women before her had been allowed to imagine. The “call” to ministry came later in life, but once it did, she didn’t hesitate. It wasn’t about courage, she says. It was just something I knew.

She grew up in Columbia, South Carolina, where then-Charity Edna Adams, now known as the first Black woman officer and leader of the 6888 Battalion in World War II, was one of her junior high school teachers.

active in ministry, travels regularly, and has recently decided to stop driving as she approaches 95.

Rev. Vivian Baker

Castain: I really had no thought of preaching at that time because we attended a Baptist Church, and women weren’t accepted as preachers. This lady, who was a Baptist, the wife of a Baptist preacher, would tell me all the time, ‘Vivian, you will make a good pastor’s wife,’ because I could play the piano and all of this. We really weren’t Baptist. I’ve always been Methodist.

WIB: So where’d you settle after that?

And it was when now Bishop John Richard Bryant returned from his pastorate in Boston to assume leadership at the renowned Bethel AME Church in Baltimore that her ministry officially began. His celebrated ministry style includes the birthing of sons and daughters, of which she is the first, and her favorite name for him is “Daddy Bishop.”

Her years in ministry have not been without conflict, but she speaks her mind and continues to move with whatever she feels is right in the moment.

She retired in 2000, as the church requires, at the age of 70, but she remains unofficially

VBC: Daddy took us to an AME Church, and I ended up at Bethel AME around the same time Bishop Bryant came with his new Pentecostalism, and a lot of people moved from Boston University to Baltimore following him. And the spirit was so high, I got the call to preach. Well, mostly I got the call to give my life to Christ and to preach at the same time. And one of my aunts in South Carolina, the Baptist side of the family, wrote me that I did not have the call to preach. But I didn’t pay her any attention. That was in 1976. In February 1978, I preached my first sermon.

WIB: What was the next step?

VBC: And then right after that, I was in an

Rev. Vivian Baker Castain, the first woman to serve as a pastor in the Second Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, keeps living her faith.

interdenominational meeting and somebody asked me, how did I feel going into ministry when women are not allowed to preach? And that I had not even considered. In fact, I wasn’t even that familiar with the Bible. And I told Reverend Bryant that, and he told me, well, you get familiar with it. You do chapter

book by book as you go along. And so, the fact of women not preaching didn’t bother me. The first woman I heard preach after I got the call was Rev. Alfreda Wiggins. Her scripture was, How can you sing the Lord’s song in a strange land? Her title was, ‘But sing you must. I didn’t even know any-

Breaking the Invisible Barriers Holding

Even after nearly 30 years in leadership, one question still catches me off guard — not just from newcomers, but from people who have lived here their entire lives: “Are you from St. Louis?”

At first glance, it sounds innocent. And let me be clear — I know most people don’t ask it with bad intent. It’s a natural question. But in St. Louis, it can carry more weight than people realize. If you sit with it long enough, it reveals something deeper — and more troubling — about our city.

In St. Louis, especially among Black and White communities, there’s an invisible system at work. A quiet, unspoken code that says: everyone has a place. A station. A role. A boundary. And more importantly: you’re expected to stay there. When someone moves too freely, dreams too boldly, or crosses social lines too easily, it unsettles people. It shakes the system they’ve been taught to accept. And instead of questioning the system, they question the person: “Are you really from here?”

I’ve heard that question more times than I can count — even in my own home, where the extension to the question becomes: “Who owns this home?” Well, it says “Hosted by Orvin Kimbrough,” and I am Orvin Kimbrough — so by reason, I own the home.

Sometimes it’s asked with curiosity. Sometimes it’s asked as a challenge. This “stay in your place” mindset isn’t written down anywhere. But it silently shapes our leadership, our neighborhoods, our economy, and our future. And the cost is greater than we often admit.

The Cost of Staying in Place

When I look at Black leadership across St. Louis, a pattern emerges: Many of the leaders driving change — or sitting in the C-Suite — aren’t originally from here. That’s no accident.

thing about what preachers were supposed to wear, so Rev. Agnes Alston from Gillis was teaching my daughter, and I talked to her about what to wear. She told me black, long sleeves, suits, and dresses. That’s all I knew.

WIB: So tell me about your first assignment?

VBC: My first church was Mount Joy AME in Monkton, Maryland. It was 20 miles from Baltimore, and the roads had a whole lot of curves and all of that going on. But I drove it. It didn’t even bother me at night. Last time I was there, about three years ago in the daytime, I was crying, I was so scared. I was the first woman to pastor there, but that was never an issue out there. I was sent as an itinerant deacon, but I had been well trained by Rev. Bryant, who had us sit in his meetings. When I had to make a decision, I’d ask myself, ‘What would John do?’ We called him John then.

WIB: You mentioned Reverends Agnes Alston and Alfreda Wiggins earlier. Who are some of the other women who helped you in ministry?

VBC: Of course, Rev. Cecelia Williams Bryant. Rev. Sarah Francis Davis, an awesome prayer warrior, episcopal daughter of Bishop Bryant, who died too soon. Rev. Joanne Browning, recently retired, who served as co-pastor with her husband, the Rev. Dr. Grainger Browning, at the Ebenezer AME Church in Fort Washington.

People raised inside these invisible barriers — these mental fences — often struggle to imagine another way. Conditioned by the system, it becomes harder to see a different path, much less take it.

Outsiders weren’t brought up inside these lines. They move differently, lead differently, believe differently. And in doing so, they show us what’s possible when you refuse to be confined. This isn’t about blaming individuals. It’s about recognizing how all of us — often unknowingly — can become stewards of an outdated system. And that system limits all of us.

Every leader who feels forced to dim their light is a spark our city loses.

Every new idea suppressed is a future opportunity we never see.

Every time we clip someone’s wings, we weaken our own ability to rise.

A Call to Conscience — and a Challenge to Move

If we want St. Louis to move forward, we have to name this dynamic. We have to see it. We have to speak it. Not to shame or blame. But to liberate We can build a St. Louis where:

– Leaders aren’t questioned for dreaming differently.

Movement across race, class, and neighborhood lines is the norm, not the exception.

Every child believes they can rise — and knows the city will cheer them on, not hold them back.

That’s the St. Louis worth fighting for.

But first, we must be willing to break the silence. To tear down the invisible fences — inside us, around us, between us. Staying in our place may have been the old St. Louis way. But it cannot — it must not — be the future of a city that truly wants to thrive.

So here’s the challenge for all of us: Where in your life have you stayed in place too long? What boundary — of comfort, culture, class, or race — are you being called to cross?

The future of St. Louis doesn’t belong to those who stay behind the lines. It belongs to those brave enough to move beyond them — and invite others to join them.

Photo courtesy of Rev. Castain

The Next MOVE