September 5th, 2024 edition

St. LouiS AmericAn

Honoring a beloved icon’s work in education

Stewards to co-chair 37th Education Salute

By Kenya Vaughn

The St. Louis American

If the phrase “never forget where you come from” was a person, her name would be Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

Hailing from the “City of Champions,” Joyner-Kersee has become an indisputable icon. For three generations and counting she has served as the standard for excellence in sports –particularly for Black women. And when the Olympic gold medalist hung up her cleats as the one of the most celebrated athletes in history, Joyner-Kersee came back home, rolled up her sleeves and got about the business of pouring back into underprivileged youth in the community where it all began for her.

STL American Foundation honors Young Leaders

‘Thank you for being the change we want to see’

By Kenya Vaughn St. Louis American

There’s an energy permeating through the room that words can’t quite define when honorees and supporters gather each year for the St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Young Leaders Networking Awards Reception at The Four Seasons. The closest one can get is to liken the experience to a bite-sized HBCU graduation. Family, friends, coworkers,

wows in return to the Fox

at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. Page C1 LIVING IT

frat brothers and sorors raise the roof to support the awardees and their accomplishments – and their service to the St. Louis region. There is also the pride of answered prayers.

“You are truly living out your ancestors’ wildest dreams,” said KMOV-TV 4 reporter/anchor and 2023 Young Leader honoree Melanie Johnson. She served as mistress of ceremonies for this year’s program. “We are sitting where Dred Scott was declared property. But if you look around this

By Laura Onyeneho Word in Black

Healthcare affordability and equity top a list of Black voter concerns, according to the organization Black Voters Matter (BVM), which has introduced a plan to counter ongoing attacks on voting rights and mobilize Black communities ahead of the 2024 elections.

BVM leaders recently announced the launch of the “We Fight Back” campaign and bus tour, which will traverse the nation to educate, mobilize, and empower Black voters.

“We have recently joined the Harris campaign to lead their Black polling,” said Terrance Woodbury, co-founder of HIT Strategies and BVM member.

“We’ve heard a lot about how Black voters are showing up, who Black voters are supporting, and how much support has increased with Donald Trump.”

The other issues of concerns for Black voters include inflation/cost of living, anti-Blackness/racism/discrimination, and crime/violence.

Kristen Powell, principal for Black Futures Lab, said getting Black people to the polls is a path to a Harris victory, and there must be a Black economic agenda.

“We know that rural Black voters and Black voters in the Midwest are typically

By Sarah Fentem St. Louis Public Radio

Pregnancy-related mortality for Black women in Missouri is 2.5 times the ratio of their white counterparts, according to a report by the Department of Health and Senior Services.

n People with higher education degrees were less likely to die than those without college diplomas.

Hypertension and cardiovascular ailments were the most common cause of pregnancy-related deaths in Missouri between 2017 and 2021. African Americans have higher rates of both those issues than white Americans, and the mortality rate is also higher. The report outlined class and race disparities. People with higher education degrees were less likely to die than those without college diplomas. Those on Medicaid were also more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes. During that period, for every 100,000 births in the state, more than 32 people died because of pregnancy-related com-

cosmic boom of American History and hip-hop culture that is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” made its St. Louis return on Wednesday night

Jackie Joyner-Kersee will receive the 37th Lifetime Achievement Award.

Photo by Taylor Marrie / St. Louis American

Kayla Kemp adds details to a collaborative mural at Paintlouis, a graffiti festival established in 1997, in downtown St. Louis on August 31, 2024.

Photo courtesy of JJK

Painting The Lou

Thelma and David Steward have agreed to serve as co-chairs for the 2024 Education Salute.

Photo courtesy of the Steward Family

Bianka Bryant, family have a ball at Dodgers game

Bianka Bryant, the daughter of the late Kobe Bryant, threw the ceremonial first pitch at a Los Angeles Dodgers game on August 24, 2024 in honor of her father and Los Angeles Lakers star. BET reports that the seven-year-old attended the game with her mother, Vanessa Bryant, and her sisters, Natalia and Capri, wearing matching Dodgers jerseys with Kobe’s No. 24 on the back. The touching moment marks the continuation of a family tradition, as her sister Natalia and Kobe himself have previously thrown first pitches at Dodgers games.

Rapper Lil Baby arrested in Las Vegas

Popular rapper Lil Baby [Dominique Jones] was arrested at a Las Vegas casino after being seen with a gun in his waistband on Aug. 26. Wynn Las Vegas security suspected Lil Baby was carrying a concealed weapon without a permit while gambling on the casino floor of Encore and informed the police.

Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on January 20, 2020. BET

Lil Baby’s attorneys claim he has a concealed carry permit from Georgia. News3lv

Lil Baby put the firearm into a duffel bag and handed it to another person, who was apprehended, and the gun was later impounded. In speaking with law enforcement, Lil Baby said he had forgotten he had taken a gun with him and eventually said, “just to arrest him for the charge and let’s go as he wanted to get the charge over with,” according to an initial police report.

Steve Harvey says he’s ready to declaw Kat Williams

Aside from not revealing the identity of an alleged hater, Steve Harvey did not mince his aggressive words. However, it is widely believed that Harvey has heard enough from and he is letting it be known. Williams has stoked several recent fires after denouncing Michael Blackson, and and Harvey.

A Williams’ barb was tar geted at Harvey when he said, “There are 30,000 new scripts in Holly wood every year. Not one of them asked for a country-bumpkin Black dude that can’t talk good

and look like Mr. Potato Head.” Harvey waited a bit but clapped back with force.

“Somebody asked me, ‘Steve, why don’t you respond?’” Harvey said. “I said, ‘Because lions don’t turn around when small dogs (are) barking.’”

“I’m a human being. And hood. And I used to be a fighter, and I still got hands. They slow, but if you get up on me real close, I can still knock your monkey ass out. I still know how to turn my hip and shift that weight, and I will knock your short ass out. I will shoot your perm straight

-

Esprit de Corps

Core Collective works to divert youth from justice system

St. Louis American

Breaking the foster care-toprison cycle is a goal of a multiagency effort led by The Core Collective at Saint Vincent and its Youth Assessment Center.

The center helps divert youth from the juvenile justice system by providing supportive services to aid children and families dealing with problem behaviors or delinquency before those issues escalate and hit a crisis point.

“This year, we moved beyond short-term fixes to enhance our programs for longer, more impactful support,” said Latosha Fowlkes, The Core Collective president and CEO.

“By expanding our partnerships with diverse experts, we now deliver comprehensive, quality-based services that holistically meet our youth’s needs.”

Rick Gaines, chief juvenile officer of the 21st Judicial Circuit in St. Louis County said it is vital to keep young people out of the criminal justice system.

“When a kid hits my system, the likelihood of them being in the adult justice system is greater,” he said.

According to a state study, there are 13,194 children in the foster care system in Missouri.

By age 17, over 50% of foster children will have an encounter with the juvenile legal system through arrest, conviction or detention, according to a

Georgetown University study. In addition, 25% of youth in foster care will be involved with the criminal legal system within two years of leaving foster care.

If a child has moved to five or more placements, they are at a 90% risk of being involved with the criminal legal system. However, research indicates that if a youth can be successfully diverted from the court system and into treatment, there is a high probability that the child will not return to the court system later.

“Our new initiative aligns with The Core Collective’s collaborative strategy of working together across systems under one roof, and is an opportunity to have multiple agencies that are all collectively working together to serve young people and their families,” said Tymesha Buckner-Dobynes, St. Louis County Juvenile Office director of Delinquency Services

The Collective brings together the services of the St. Louis County Juvenile Office, St. Louis County Children Services Fund, Normandy Schools Collaborative and North County Police Cooperative, and other agencies to provide access for children, youth and families to comprehensive child welfare and juvenile justice services in one location.

“The health and welfare of our children and their families is our highest priority,” said Fowlkes.

“In working together with agencies involved in providing services to children and families in need, we stand a much better chance of reducing juvenile crime and delinquency.”

Dr. Michael D. Triplett, Normandy Schools Collaborative superintendent, said the collaborative effort is needed because “our kids are growing up too fast.”

“School provides an opportunity for learning and education. The Core Collective delivers supportive services that nurture youths’ social and emotional well-being.”

The Youth Assessment Center at The Core Collective equips

youth with essential tools, life skills, and support systems. By addressing diverse needs such as education, mental health, and employment, its approach empowers youth to become conscious leaders.

“Racial and ethnic minority youth are disproportionally represented in our child welfare and juvenile justice systems,” said Paulette Foerster, St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund chief program officer.

“Early intervention is critical for positive youth development. Though our strategic funding, CSF hopes to connect youth with collaborative and comprehensive community services for their continued well-being.”

Fowlkes said the region, “desperately needs a onestop shop location centered around investing in the transformational power of youth.

“We are grateful to our partners for their support in making this initiative an integral part of our ongoing work in strengthening families.

“With the partnerships we have gained and our connections to the community, the future of our region is bright. We are invested.”

To learn more about how you can get involved and support this vital work, please visit thecorecollectivestl.org.

Gloria James, Lebron’s mother and LeBron James Family Foundation board member

Photo by Mark Gilliland

The Core Collective at Saint Vincent and its Youth Assessment Center are collaborating with several agencies to divert youths from the criminal justice system. From left are Lt. Dawain Wallace, North County Police Collaborative; Paulette Foerster, Children Service Fund chief program officer; Rick Gaines, chief juvenile officer of the 21st Judicial Circuit; Latosha Fowlkes, The Core Collective president and CEO; Chief John Buchannan, North County Police Collaborative; Hannah Sherrard, Children Service Fund program officer; and Chief Tameika, Normandy Police Department.

Guest Commentary

Leadership

needed now more than ever

By Larry Smith

What is leadership?

Leadership is a testament to one’s ability to navigate through the murky or even dangerous waters, and for the common good rather than personal gain. Given that our world is one in which political rhetoric is often reduced to sound bites and leadership itself is often conflated with celebrity status, many people find themselves asking: What does it mean to truly lead? And why does it matter?

Leadership isn’t about popularity or poll numbers; it’s about principles. It has been said that, if you consider yourself to be a leader, but nobody is following you, you’re not a leader. That isn’t always true. A leader must be willing to stand alone if necessary. That is precisely what Martin Luther King, Jr. did when he strongly opposed the Vietnam War long before doing so was popular.

front; they lead from within, demonstrating empathy, courage, and a willingness to make tough calls, even when those calls come at a personal or political cost. This matters because the challenges that we face today are not going to be solved by slogans or sound bites.

Environmental degradation won’t pause for a more convenient political moment. Economic inequality won’t fix itself if we just look the other way.

Leadership is the ability to stand firmly on one’s principles when the winds of political convenience blow hardest. This is what distinguishes a true leader from a mere politician. Anyone can play to a crowd — Huey Long certainly mastered that art with his populist flair — but a true leader, like Harriet Tubman inspires people to think beyond short-term political expediency; true leaders inspire us to do more and to be more. When leaders abandon principle for power, they don’t just fail themselves; they fail the people who they should be serving. Leadership isn’t just a position — it’s a posture. You either stand for something, or you stand for nothing. And when a leader stands for nothing, they fall — and they can take down an entire nation with them.

Our societal divisions won’t heal because we pretend that they don’t exist. We need leaders who are willing to take risks for the right reasons, who are more interested in doing what is necessary than in doing what is easy or expedient.

The stakes are high. Leaders like Sojourner Truth, who tirelessly fought for abolition and women’s suffrage, understood that social change doesn’t happen by itself; it must be demanded. Truth, much like Frederick Douglass before her, demonstrated that leadership is about persistence, about fighting for a more just and equitable future, irrespective of the odds. Truth spoke to power, and power had to listen. We must demand more from those who claim to lead us. We must ask not just what they stand for, but who they stand with. Do they have the courage to stand against injustice, even when it comes at a personal cost? Are they prepared to lead not just in title but in spirit?

n Leadership isn’t for the faint of heart. It is not for those who wilt under pressure or flee from challenges. It is for those who are willing to put themselves on the line.

Leadership is not a popularity contest; it is a profound responsibility. It is about doing what is right, especially when it is hard to do so. When it comes down to it, leadership is not just about guiding others; it is about showing the way forward with clarity, with courage, and with conviction.

Leadership isn’t for the faint of heart. It is not for those who wilt under pressure or flee from challenges. It is for those who are willing to put themselves on the line. Great leaders don’t just lead from the

Leadership matters — now, more than ever.

Larry Smith is a political columnist for the Indianapolis Recorder

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Commentary

Examining the Georgia grand jury report

By Marc Morial

“While we don’t know what crimes Trump and his allies will be charged with, the expected indictments will bring desperately needed accountability and demonstrate that no one – not even the former president – is above the law.” – Brie Sparkman, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

The American people got a brief glimpse this week into the conclusions of a grand jury that spent a year investigating “possible attempts” by Donald Trump and his allies “to disrupt the lawful administration of the 2020 presidential elections in the State of Georgia.”

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who convened the grand jury, also referred to “future defendants,” in her argument against releasing the full report.

We learned that the grand jurors recommended perjury charges against “one or more of the witnesses” who testified before them. But it’s what that glimpse doesn’t reveal that is perhaps most revealing.

The judge who ordered that most of the report be withheld – “for now” – made it clear that his decision was based on protecting the dueprocess rights of “who might now be named as indictment worthy.” It is only because the report does not identify those who may have lied to the grand jury that Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney allowed that conclusion to be publicly disclosed.

McBurney’s decision explicitly refers to “potential future defendants.”

Simply put, a grand jury report that recommended no charges against anyone could not possibly be considered a threat to the rights of future defendants. If the grand jury had concluded that no crimes – other than perjury by unnamed witnesses -- were committed, we’d be reading the full report right now. It’s not clear whether those named in the report as potential future defendants were among those who testified – truthfully or untruthfully.

McBurney’s order alludes both to those “not afforded the opportunity to appear before the grand jury” and to “those who did appear -- willingly or not.”

Speculation about the identity of those singled out for indictment, however, should not overshadow the enormity of the misdeeds at the center of the investigation. In his January 2, 2021, call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger, Trump recited a litany of falsehoods about the presidential election.

Trump knew at the time that these were lies. Emails show Trump knew the claims were untrue even as he swore to their truth under oath

The grand jury confirmed that Trump’s claims were baseless after hearing “extensive testimony” from Georgia poll workers, investigators,

technical experts, state employees and elected officials – even those who continued to promote conspiracy theories. Their conclusion establishes for the record that Trump’s coercion of Raffensberger to announce a “recalculation” that found exactly one more vote for Trump than his margin of loss was, in fact, an attempt to overturn the results of a lawful, legitimate election.

The investigation also examined false claims of election fraud to state lawmakers, the fake elector scheme, efforts by unauthorized individuals to access voting machines, and threats and harassment against election workers.

We do know Trump is not one of those accused of committing perjury because he didn’t testify. At least one member of Trump’s inner circle who did appear, his former personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, also is a target of the investigation along with 16 people including former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, and Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Absurdly, Trump called the revelation that one or more of his close associates likely lied under oath a “total exoneration,” somehow missing the implication that indictments are imminent. Will he continue to praise the jurors’ “Patriotism & Courage” after those indictments finally are announced?

Marc Morial is National Urban League president and CEO

By Aswad Walker

The fact that Vice President Kamala Harris is the Democratic Party’s nominee to run for President of the United States is history-making. The fact that she is on the precipice of becoming the nation’s 47th POTUS is mind-blowing.

Harris would be this land’s first woman Commander-inChief and first with an Asian American Pacific Islander heritage. Her possible ascendancy to the Oval Office continues to grow larger in both contemporary and historic relevance.

to have to vote.”

Observers point to the 70-plus pro-Trump election conspiracists currently working as county election officials in several key swing states. Their stated game plan is to refuse to certify the results of the Nov. 5 Presidential Election… in essence, doing the work of the Jan. 6 coup from the comfort of their elected county seats.

But if “We the People” who are called to go to the polls and vote on Nov. 5, 2024, are inspired to do so solely on this history-making moment, we will miss the boat. We’ll miss a vital chance to save the sliver of democracy that is still barely hanging on. Democracy is literally on the ballot. On July 26, Donald Trump told a campaign rally audience words that should chill your spine if you believe in fairness, equality, democracy, and the rule of law. He said, “Get out and vote, just this time. You won’t have to do it anymore… In four years, you don’t have to vote again. We’ll have it fixed so good you’re not going

Trump has already promised, dictator-style, to “punish” his political opponents and anyone who he deems to be an “enemy.” While president, wanted to order police and military to shoot peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters but was advised against it by his less crazy white nationalist advisors because it was against the law.

But with Trump in office come November, and Project 2025 set in motion, along with the MAGA Supreme Court ruling that whatever Trump does while president (no matter how criminal or illegal) cannot be prosecuted, what will stop him from sending militias to gun down whoever the hell he chooses?

The police officer who killed Sonya Massey, the 36-year-old Black woman who called the cops to protect her, only to have one of them shoot her in

the face, would face no criminal charges whatsoever under another Donald administration. He has bragged about his willingness to give all police total immunity. That means, the cops who already arrest and beat and shoot and harass and murder Black people at alarmingly disproportionate rates now, even with local and national scrutiny over their actions, will be free to kill us, beat us, torture, maim and falsely arrest us at rates not seen since the Slave Patrols. Under Trump, racial violence and hate crimes rose at rates this nation has never seen before. And as crimes against Black humanity went up, our mental health went down. These realities only stand to get much worse with a second Orange go-round in the White House. So, sure it would be great if a sister, a Black woman, won the presidency. It’d be cool for a woman to be Commander-in-Chief. It would be wonderful for girl members of the AAPI community, and Black folk to look at the Oval Office and see themselves reflected. All that’s well and good. But there’s so much more on the line come this Nov. 5.

Aswad Walker is associate editor of the Houston Defender Network

Columnist

Marc Morial

FamFun3K Walk steps into action on Sept. 14

St. Louis American

The 8th Annual FamFun3K Walk, which raises awareness on childhood obesity is set for 10 a.m. Saturday Sept. 14, 2024, at Lincoln Park, 605 South 15th Street in East St. Louis, Ill.

Sponsored by Unwrap You, more than 4,000 people have participated in the FamFun3K Walk since its inception and raised over $30,000 for programs in Illinois and Missouri.

“St. Clair County has the highest obesity rates in the state,” said Melody McClellan FamFun3KWalk founder.

“Although other organizations held walks to raise awareness about the issue, there were none hosted in East St. Louis, so I decided to change the narrative. As a health and wellness consultant, I’ve been an advocate for

more education and resources that can help raise awareness about this chronic condition.”

Besides East St. Louis, there are walkers in 25 states including Missouri, Alabama, and Georgia and four continents, where walkers are participating in satellite events.

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and the American Medical Association (AMA) confirmed in 2023 that obesity is a chronic disease.

“This event is testament to a collective effort that continues to unite the community by raising funds and providing health and wellness resources to fight against childhood obesity,” said McClellan.

The FamFun3k Walk is also sponsored by the I AM ESTL Foundation, the City of East St. Louis, Vituity Healthcare, Mark Kern, St. Clair County Board chair, and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

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Roses for Rev. Jesse Jackson

By Julianne Malveaux

During the Democratc National Convention in Chicago, the Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson was lifted and celebrated on the convention floor.

The wheelchair-bound civil rights leader and former presidential candidate whose once-rousing rhetoric energized the Democratic Party in 1984 was present to receive his flowers from his many friends and admirers in the party. The Monday event followed a Sunday evening celebration at the Rainbow PUSH headquarters on Chicago’s South Side where Rev. Jackson’s storied history was reviewed and revered by friends and colleagues including Kinloch native Congresswoman Maxine Waters (Calif.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.), Rev. Al Sharpton and others. Hosted by the Nation magazine’s John Nicols, the two-hour celebration was a reminder of Rev. Jackson’s political history.

Rev. Jackson’s impact on the Democratic Party is undeniable. First, he challenged the status quo by running for President without having been elected to political office. People, including establishment Black elected public officials actively discouraged him and even ridiculed his attempt. He ran anyway and based on the number of electoral votes he amassed, became a powerful influence in the Democratic Party.

From that perch, he was entitled to representation on party committees including Rules, Platform, and Credentials. The Rules committee changed the way Electoral votes are divided, shifting from a winnertake-all system to a proportional distribution of votes.

Given that altered formula, Democratic party candidates were able to amass delegates to the convention more fairly. This rules change has helped every candidate, winner, or loser, in their race and made the party both more diverse and more competitive.

Jackson’s legacy is his Rainbow Coalition, his method of bringing people together whose similarities dwarf their differences. The Rainbow principles are those of social, political, and economic justice, and justice includes voting justice. His voter registration efforts were game-changing, and his line “The same hands that picked peaches can pick presidents” continues to inspire, spawning organizations like The National Coalition for Black Civic Participation, Black Votes Matter, and others.

The voter registration and participation may be more important now than ever, with Republican nation-wide aggressive efforts to suppress the vote. According to Barbara Arnwine, founder and president of the Transformative Justice Coalition, there have been 291 voter suppression laws in 40 states passed in the past four years, with six states passing seven additional restrictive laws just this year. On the positive side, 11 states have passed 14 laws that protect the right to vote. Arnwine, who is part of the Rainbow Coalition’s leadership, is passionate about election protection and is among the many who have benefitted from Rev. Jackson’s mentorship.

The Chicago convention is focused on the future, and it was delightful to see the future highlighted with speeches from under-40 congressional stars like AOC of New York and Jasmine Crockett of Texas. The Sankofa symbol means “go back and get it.” In giving Rev. Jackson his flowers, we’ve gone back to get elements of his leadership, fire, and focus. Democrats will move forward with Kamala Harris, but we’ve also got to go back to our basics.

Julianne Malveaux, a former college president, is an economist, author and commentator based in Washington, D.C.

Coach Melody McClellan led walkers of all ages as they stepped off at the start of the 2023 FamFun3k in East St. Louis. The walk is held to raise awareness of childhood obesity and its impact on the Black community.

Photo courtesy of UnWrap You / FamFun3k Walk

Julianne Malveaux

under-engaged. That will be the key to flipping the balance of power in cities and states,” she said.

“And so we’re talking to 250,000 Black voters ourselves around this agenda and are excited to partner with many of the organizations on this call to make that agenda happen.”

Andrea Haley, CEO of Vote.Org, shared that they’ve registered over 700,000 voters and hit the 1 million mark on people checking their voter registration through the site. The site allows people to look at all 50 states to see the voting rules in those states. And to do things like request absentee forms, find polling locations, and a one-stop shop for everything you need to vote.

“One of the exciting things that we’re seeing, trends that we’re seeing right now, is that more 18-year-olds have registered to vote than at this time in 2020. Most people who are registering right now are younger and more diverse. We’ve registered over 300,000 [of them],”

Leaders

Continued from A1 room, you will see that everyone is a change-maker and a change agent. Thank you for being the change we want to see.”

Twenty individuals under the age of 40 were recognized for their contributions in an array of fields and concentrations.

“They represent a diverse cross-section from the worlds of business, nonprofit, education, entrepreneurship, media, technology, politics, and so much more,” Johnson said. “They have chosen to be a part of the fabric of St. Louis. Anyone that has spent time in St. Louis can tell this city is powered by optimism, tenacity and support.”

The 2024 cohort of Young Leaders include: Maurice Allen, Regional Community Development Relationship Manager for Midland States Bank; Priestess Okunsola M. Amadou, President and CEO, Jamaa Birth Village & Okunsola’s School of Traditional Midwifery; Trish Boyle, CEO Sophia’s Crowns Flower Shop; Richard Keith Davis, II, Director of Multimedia Marketing & Design, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis; Daysha R. Gathing, Project Cost Analyst, Ameren; Talana Hardin, Business Development Leader, Midwest BankCentre; Jazminique Holley, Head of Schools, St. Louis Voices Academy of Media Arts; Aaron A. Hollis,

she said. “We’re overall in the battleground states also seeing huge spikes. When the vice president became the presumptive nominee, we saw over a 700% spike across the nation and in several key states.”

Cliff Albright, co-founder and executive director of BVM, said Speaker 8: They have programs that invest in local groups that specialize in Black male voter outreach, and not solely for voting purposes.

BVM is launching a national bus tour, affectionately dubbed “the Blackest bus in America.”

The tour will visit communities nationwide to spread awareness and build grassroots support, and it will stop in Texas from Sept. 6-7. This tour is not just a temporary push; it’s an extension of BVM’s year-round commitment to voter education and mobilization.

They are also working with students at HBCUs through its program called “Take the Field,” an initiative that aims to engage, excite, and prepare Black college students for acts of civil disobedience that can have a significant impact on their campus and community.

Junior Credit Analyst, Royal Banks of Missouri; Rodney Humphries, Communications Specialist, United Way of Greater St. Louis; Lea Johnson, MD, Family Medicine Physician, BJC Medical Group, Jonathan Lee, Senior Vice President, Senior Portfolio Manager, U.S. Bank Private Wealth Management; Tanisha Luckett, Senior Application Analyst, St. Charles Health System and Founder, HenRose Cares; Robert Terry Mason II, Founder and CEO DoubleWolf Enterprises LLC; Fredrecka S. McGlown, Executive Director, St. Louis

Agency on Training and Employment (City of St. Louis SLATE); Rosetta Okohson Murray, CEO and Managing Partner, Meyers Okohson Political Consulting; Joshua Peters, Senior Manager, Social and Community Impact –North Central Americas, Nike, Inc.; Kiland Sampa, Peer Service Specialist, Paraquad; Dr. Justavian D. Tillman, Senior Manager, Medical Education Programs and Director DEI Programs, Washington University in St. Louis; Dr. Cierra M. Wourman, Lead College and Career Counselor, Confluence Preparatory Academy.

“We are putting our

Black excellence on display tonight,” said St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “I want to thank the St. Louis American Foundation for recognizing that we have people in our midst every year who deserve their flowers.”

Ashley O’Neal, a 2020 awardee, echoed Jones’ sentiments when she delivered remarks on behalf of title sponsor Midwest BankCentre.

“After tonight, there will be 275 individuals who bear the title of young leader,” said O’Neal, who serves as Midwest BankCentre’s Senior Vice President of Retail Banking. “Do you know how powerful that is? Your leadership is key to ensuring that we attract, grow and retain talent in the St. Louis market.”

In addition to Midwest BankCentre, event sponsors for the 2024 Salute to Young Leaders included Webster University, Benjamin F. Edwards, Regional Business Council, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and Edward Jones.

“Your voice matters as a leader in this community. Use it. You have a platform,” O’Neal said. “Don’t let anyone take that away from you. Use it wisely – and use it to make us all better. Someone saw potential in you, and there are those who see your success. Be sure to pass your knowledge on to others. Serve as their mentor. Answer the phone when they call. Respond to that email.”

She challenged them with the responsibility of

developing the next generation of young leaders.

“We must set an example for the future leaders in our community,” O’Neal said. Johnson, who came to St. Louis in 2022 to report and anchor for KMOV, told the packed ballroom that becoming a young leader motivated her to broaden her horizons.

“Being a recipient last year fueled me to do better,” Johnson said. After being recognized with the 2023 cohort, Johnson said she was compelled to expand her media footprint to also include radio.

“This is not the end of your journey,” Johnson said. “This is only the beginning.”

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris greets Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and his daughter Harper, as she arrives for campaign events, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Pittsburgh.

Photo courtesy of the AP

At left and above, attendees to the Salute to Young Leaders Networking and Awards Reception conversed and celebrated the awardees. The Salute was held at the Four Seasons Hotel on August 29, 2024.

Photo by Taylor Marrie / St. Louis American

Photo by Taylor Marrie / St. Louis American

Because of her relentless work in helping create a brighter future for our region’s children – particularly those in her hometown – Jackie Joyner-Kersee has been named the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient for the St. Louis American Foundation’s 37th Annual Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Gala. This year’s Education Salute will be held on Saturday, October 12th at America’s Center.

“During her athletic career, she provided a blueprint for grace, dignity and true sportsmanship while representing our region on sports’ biggest global stage,” said Donald M. Suggs, publisher of The St. Louis American and founder and president emeritus of the St. Louis American Foundation. “And in her evolution from Olympic gold medalist to full-time world-class humanitarian, Jackie Joyner-Kersee serves as a guiding light for those seeking to use their respective platforms for the highest possible good.

“Moreover, as we honor Joyner-Kersee, we also acknowledge her roots in East St. Louis that were part of her upbringing and development.”

David and Thelma Steward have agreed to serve as co-chairs for the 2024 Education Salute.

“Our parents were committed to educating their children and we inherited that from them,” said David Steward, Founder and Chairman of the Board for World Wide Technology. “Education is the ‘great equalizer’ –the way to make talent and opportunity equal for all, across our great nation, in our cities as well as in our rural communities.

“The positive impact on the region by the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation and its namesake founder cannot be overstated.”

The organizational slogan for the JJK Foundation is ‘There is gold in all of us.’ Steward added, “She has been mining to find more gold and hidden gems with the same commitment, drive and passion that led her to become one of the greatest athletes of our time.”

“This is especially rewarding because of The St. Louis American’s vision with respect to community building,” Joyner-Kersee said in a statement. “The St. Louis American Foundation’s focus on education is in direct alignment with the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation and everything we do to accomplish our mission.”

Full event details are forthcoming, but JoynerKersee will get the well-deserved treatment

Mortality

Continued from A1 plications within one year — an average of 70 deaths annually.

Many of the 115 new mothers in that five-year period who died of pregnancy-related causes did so more than 43 days after giving birth, said Ashlie Otto, a registered nurse specialist at the DHSS Department of Women’s Health.

That could be because a patient may not go to the doctor as frequently after she stops visiting an OB-GYN or loses her insurance coverage, she said.

“A lot of these conditions don’t just stop at that six-week mark. Some cardiovascular conditions can take up to six months to kind of go back to baseline or to resolve,” she said.

“We do have a gap in connecting those individuals back to a primary care

of one of East St. Louis’ most beloved daughters at the Salute and programming leading up to the gala.

“It is very special for me that David and Thelma Steward will Co-chair this event,” Joyner-Kersee said. “I am looking forward to what I’m sure will be a wonderful experience.”

The program will also honor some others who have invested in the region’s future through their chosen career paths and high-potential students who have demonstrated academic excellence and promise as future leaders.

“Education shapes our collective future. It is where we learn who we are through the arts and what we are through science,” Steward said.

“Consider World Wide Technology, which I founded just three years after Dr. Suggs’ first Salute to Excellence [in education]. WWT is now the largest Blackowned company in North America. We would not be where we are without education. We owe a great debt to the teachers and scholars who commit themselves every day to making our world a better place.”

At last year’s Salute to Excellence in Education, more than $2.8 million in scholarships were awarded – bringing the grand total to over $15 million in scholarships granted to worthy and exceptional students since the program’s inception.

A purpose driven athlete

Decades before First Lady Michelle Obama said, “when they go low, you go high,” JoynerKersee embodied the statement each time she stepped foot on the track.

provider or family physician to continue ongoing care.”

Missouri legislators in 2023 passed a law that extended the state’s postpartum Medicaid coverage from its previous 60 days to a year. Otto hopes that change will result in fewer mothers dying.

The latest report is the first that includes the year after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the three-year period of a previous report that included the pandemic’s first year, mental health problems became the top cause of pregnancy-related deaths, as more new mothers died of substance use disorder and suicide. Forty-four percent of pregnancyrelated suicides over the five-year period covered by the report happened in 2020.

The report was also the first to reflect deaths related to the coronavirus, with a half-dozen new mothers dying from the infection.

She was inspired to compete in multi-disciplinary track & field events after seeing a movie about Babe Didrikson Zaharias. The track star, basketball player, and pro golfer, was celebrated as the “Greatest Female Athlete of the First Half of the 20th Century.” Zaharias and JoynerKersee’s backgrounds couldn’t have been more different. Zaharias was born to Norwegian immigrants in Port Arthur, Texas. But Joyner-Kersee did what so many East St. Louisans, including her brother and fellow Olympic gold medalist Al Joyner are known for – overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Asthma couldn’t stop her. Neither could the limited access to resources due to the constant divestment in her community.

She was still a student at East St. Louis Senior High School when she qualified for the finals in the long jump at the 1980 Olympic Trials, where she finished in eighth place.

Four years later, she was an Olympic silver medalist in the heptathlon at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. At the time she was a student at UCLA –which hosted one of the Olympic Villages. She also excelled on the basketball court.

She later won a gold medal in the heptathlon at the 1988 games in Seoul –along with a gold medal in the long jump. She earned another heptathlon gold in Barcelona and a bronze in the long jump. She secured gold medals in the World Championships as well as the Goodwill Games and the Pan American Games for several years between 1986-1998. Her successful fight for long jump bronze during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta played out like an inspirational sports film.

The new report shows cardiovascular issues have again overtaken mental health problems as the leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality, Otto said.

“We still had an increased number [of mental health-related deaths] in 2021 than what we had in years past, but we are slowly seeing that number coming down to where we were before the pandemic hit,” she said.

The review also tabulated pregnancy-associated deaths, which happen in a year after a person gives birth but aren’t directly related to pregnancy.

More than 200 mothers died in the five-year period covered by the report of pregnancy-associated causes. Reviewers could not determine whether 31 deaths were directly related.

More than 200 new mothers died in the year after giving birth due to causes not directly related to their pregnancies.

Fifteen years after Joyner-Kersee’s inspiration Zaharias received her aforementioned distinction, Sports Illustrated for Women magazine voted Joyner-Kersee the greatest female athlete of all time, just ahead of Zaharias.

She was honored on February 21, 1998 as one of the 15 greatest players in UCLA women’s basketball. In April 2001, Joyner-Kersee was voted the “Top Woman Collegiate Athlete of the Past 25 Years.” The vote was conducted among the 976 NCAA member schools.

Some of her countless awards include back to back Jesse Owens Awards, Missouri Athletic Club Jack Buck Awards, an honorary doctorate from Webster University and she was enshrined on the St. Louis Walk of Fame in 2000.

Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Joyner-Kersee holds the world record in heptathlon along with the top six all-time best results and remains an inspiration.

When Anna Hall was preparing to compete in the heptathlon in the 2024 Paris Olympics, she cited Joyner-Kersee as her sports hero.

“The athlete that has been my biggest inspiration is definitely Jackie Joyner-Kersee,” Hall said in a segment that appeared as part of the Olympics official content that also included an announcer which proclaimed that Joyner-Kersee was, “the greatest female athlete in the world – perhaps that we have ever seen.”

“Who better to look up to in the sport,” Hall said. “There was nothing she couldn’t compete in if she put her mind to that – and that’s something that I have tried to follow…”

Joyner-Kersee surprised

Olympic track and field medal winner Jackie Joyner-Kersee, walks the track of Francis Field on the campus of Washington University, site of the 1904 Olympics, with children from the Jacki JoynerKersee Boys and Girls Club, celebrating Olympic & Paralympic Day in St. Louis on Friday, June 21, 2024.

her from the other side of the camera and Hall was moved beyond words.

“Jackie is a model for all of us,” Steward said. “With all her success, she could have settled anywhere, but chose to come home to East St. Louis to serve and uplift families and communities. She brings incredible energy, intellect, and commitment to everything she does. Her life and spirit are a beacon of hope. All of us can look to her as someone who can guide and lead us to better lives and a better community.”

The St. Louis American Foundation’s 37th Annual Salute to Excellence in Education will take place on Saturday, October 12th at America’s center. Stay tuned to stlamerican. com for future details on the event as more honorees will be announced online and in print in the coming weeks.

‘Taking Care of You’

TIME for Black teen genius

Heman Bekele’s soap helps fight skin cancer

Heman Bekele of Fairfax County, Virginia used his chemistry set to create a soap that could help fight skin cancer and it earned him $25,000 as winner of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge and recognition as the 2024 TIME Kid of the Year.

By Jennifer Porter Gore Word in Black

Before he was old enough to start kindergarten, Heman Bekele began using dishwashing liquid and other household chemicals to see what concoctions he could whip up.

The critical importance of Black men’s health

By Kenny Hampton

The health and well-being of Black men is a topic of paramount importance that demands our collective attention and action. Black men face significant health disparities that not only affect their individual lives but also have profound impacts on their families, communities, and the broader society.

Addressing these disparities and promoting the health of Black men is not merely a matter of individual well-being; it is a crucial step toward fostering stronger, more resilient communities. The health disparities faced by Black men are well-documented. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black men have higher rates of chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease compared to their white counterparts. They are also more likely to die from these conditions.

n Black men experience higher rates of certain cancers, including prostate and colorectal cancer.

Additionally, Black men experience higher rates of certain cancers, including prostate and colorectal cancer, and have lower survival rates for these diseases. These disparities are not solely due to genetic factors but are deeply rooted in social determinants of health, including access to healthcare, socioeconomic status, education, and environmental factors.

“I thought that this could be a solution to energy, to making an unlimited supply,” he told TIME magazine.

His curiosity and desire to make the world a better place through chemistry

At age 7, Heman’s parents gave him a chemistry set for his birthday — and things got a bit more serious. He’d already started learning about chemical reactions online, so he got inventive and mixed the kit’s sodium hydroxide with aluminum to produce heat.

resulted in a first-place finish in the 3M Company’s 2023 Young Scientist Challenge — and made him the winner of TIME magazine’s 2024 Kid of the Year. The rising 10th grader created a compound-based soap to treat skin cancer.

“I’m really passionate about

See BEKELE, A9

One of the most striking health disparities is the significantly shorter life expectancy of Black men. On average, Black men live about six years less than white men. This gap is a stark reminder of the systemic inequities that continue to plague our healthcare system.

See HAMPTON, A9

Reproductive healthcare is cancer care

By Dineo Khabele MD and Lannis Hall MD, MPH For

the St. Louis American

Access to obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) and reproductive health care is essential for women’s overall health and well-being. Where does a woman go for care in the state of Missouri? Where does a woman go who has postmenopausal bleeding and abdominal pain? Where does a woman go if she has choriocarcinoma, a cancer associated with a nonviable pregnancy that is curable but can be fatal, if not recognized and treated in time? Where does a woman go if she is pregnant and is also diagnosed with breast cancer? In Missouri, women face significant challenges in obtaining the care they need for a range of health issues, including reproductive services, cancer

The crisis for women in Missouri

screening, and timely treatment.

Crisis of women’s healthcare

Missouri currently enforces some of the strictest abortion limitations in the United States. These restrictions have eliminated access to safe and legal abortions and led to the closure of clinics that provide vital services such as family planning, contraception, primary care, and cancer screenings. Tragically, women are now left with fewer options for care, and mortality rates are rising.

Dineo Khabele

Making matters worse

Missouri has witnessed a severe shortage of OBGYN physicians for years.

common cancers such as breast, cervical, and colon cancer. Without adequate access to these specialists, cancers will go undetected until they reach advanced, less treatable stages.

Missouri’s healthcare deficiencies are reflected in the persistently higher than national cancer mortality rates. Missouri ranks 42nd out of 50 in deaths related to breast and cervical cancers, according to a report from the Commonwealth Fund.

Unintended consequences

The restrictive abortion laws have consequences beyond limiting termination services. The impact of these health care restrictions negatively affect care for miscarriage management, ectopic pregnancies, in vitro fertilization, and Lannis Hall

With approximately 42% of Missouri counties classified as OBGYN deserts (March of Dimes’ Report), many women lack access to essential reproductive health services. This shortage adversely affects maternal and infant health outcomes and hinders early detection and treatment of various cancers. OBGYNs are essential for comprehensive health care. They are often the primary healthcare providers for women ages 18-49, providing risk assessments and facilitating timely screenings for

Photo by Dina Litovsky / TIME

Kenny Hampton

Bekele

Continued from A8

skin-cancer research,” Heman told TIME. “It’s absolutely incredible to think that one day my bar of soap will be able to make a direct impact on somebody else’s life.”

Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Heman and his

Cancer

Continued from A8 access to contraception. The dwindling OBGYN workforce raises pressing questions about who will provide comprehensive care for women throughout their lives and how many families will be devastated by this shortage.

Hampton

Continued from A8

These inequities are compounded by factors such as racial bias in medical treatment, lack of access to preventive care, and socioeconomic challenges that limit opportunities for healthy lifestyles. The impact of poor health on Black men extends beyond the individual to the entire community. When Black men are healthy and thriving, their families are stronger and more stable. Children benefit from having healthy, active fathers and role models who can fully participate in their lives. Healthy Black men contribute to the economic

family emigrated to the U.S. when he was 4 years old. Even at that youthful age, the budding scientist remembers seeing laborers working in the hot African sun without skin protection. In the U.S., Heman began hearing about the dangers of the sun’s ultraviolet rays and the damage it can cause — including skin cancer.

Disproportionate effects on Black women

As two cancer specialists who are also Black women in Missouri, we witness firsthand the impact of inadequate healthcare access on communities of color. Black women in Missouri have higher mortality rates of breast, endometrial, cervical, and colon cancers and

stability of their families and communities, as they are better able to work, provide, and participate in community activities. Moreover, the health of Black men is linked to the overall health and well-being of the Black community. When Black men face significant health challenges, it places a strain on community resources and social structures. Healthcare costs rise, and the burden of care often falls on family members, who may themselves face health challenges and economic hardships. By contrast, when Black men are healthy, they can contribute to community resilience, leadership, and economic prosperity. Promoting the health

It is the most common cancer in the United States, but the disease is treatable, especially if it’s caught early. A few years ago, Heman read about imiquimod — a multiuse drug approved to treat one type of skin cancer — and wondered if it could be an effective, simple treatment for early-stage patients.

often face worse outcomes due to delayed diagnoses and treatments. The disparity in mortality rates is greatest for younger Black women, who select more often OBGYN specialists as their only primary health care provider.

A call to action

We need a collective effort to address Missouri’s healthcare cri-

of Black men requires a multifaceted approach that addresses both individual and systemic factors. It begins with raising awareness about the importance of preventive care and encouraging regular health screenings.

Education and outreach efforts must be culturally tailored and accessible, addressing the unique needs and concerns of Black men. This includes dispelling myths and misconceptions about healthcare and promoting positive health behaviors.

Access to quality healthcare is another critical component. This means not only increasing the availability of healthcare services in underserved communities but also ensuring that these services

His logic was simple: “Almost everyone uses soap and water.” So, he got to work, developing an imiquimod soap, winning the 3M Young Scientist Challenge (and a $25,000 prize) in the process. This summer Heman worked part-time in a lab at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in

sis. We must amplify the message that reproductive health care is intrinsically linked to cancer care and overall health. We urge everyone to use their voice and join us in spreading awareness about the essential role of reproductive healthcare and OBGYNs in providing comprehensive healthcare. Together, we can work towards a healthcare system that supports and sustains the

are culturally competent and responsive to the needs of Black men.

Healthcare providers must be trained to recognize and address implicit biases that can affect the quality of care. Policies that expand healthcare coverage and reduce economic barriers to accessing care are essential. Community engagement and support are also vital. Black men need safe spaces where they can discuss their health concerns, share experiences, and receive support. Community organizations, faith-based groups, and social networks play a crucial role in providing this support and fostering a culture of health.

At the African American Male Wellness

Baltimore to refine the product. Over the next five years, he hopes to create a nonprofit organization that can distribute the soap to communities in need.

Deboarh Isabelle, a 3M engineer and Heman’s mentor during the Young Scientist Challenge competition, said the TIME Kid of the Year honor is well

health of all women in Missouri.

Dineo Khabele, MD is a board certified gynecologic oncologist and Lannis Hall MD, MPH, is a radiation oncologist, Both are leading specialists in cancer care in the St. Louis region.

For additional information, please visit https:// www.marchofdimes.org/

Agency, we are dedicated to saving Black men’s lives and promoting their health through comprehensive programs and initiatives. Our mission is to eliminate health disparities and improve the quality of life for Black men. Addressing the social determinants of health is essential for creating lasting change. This includes efforts to improve education, economic opportunities, and housing conditions in Black communities. It also means advocating for policies that address systemic racism and promote equity in all areas of society. When we address these root causes, we create conditions where Black men can achieve optimal health and well-being.

Heman Bekele is Time’s “2024 Kid of the Year,” honored for his work on a cancer-fighting soap. Last year he won a $25,000 prize from 3M for his research. He’s pictured with 3M mentor, Deborah Isabelle, who’s said of Bekele, “he’s going to continue to inspire other young people to realize that science can make a positive difference.”

deserved. “Heman is an incredibly charismatic, curious, intelligent, articulate young man,” Isabelle said. “But more than that, he’s compassionate and has a heart for people. He’s created an invention that has the potential to make the world better for so many people.”

https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/scorecard/2024/ jul/2024-state-scorecardwomens-health-and-reproductive-care

https://interactives.commonwealthfund.org/2024/ Womens+health+ scorecard/Missouri.pdf

Health of Black men is a critical issue that has far-reaching implications for individuals, families, and communities. By addressing health disparities and promoting the well-being of Black men, we can build stronger, more resilient communities where everyone could thrive. It is a collective responsibility that requires commitment, action, and a vision for a healthier future for all.

Kenny Hampton is the president of The African American Male Wellness Agency. Based in Columbus, Ohio, the agency promotes the health and well-being of Black men through education, advocacy, and community engagement.

Photo courtesy of 3M

Religion

More African Americans opting for online worship

By Dorothy Boulware Word In Black

In March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced houses of worship nationwide to shut down, both the ministry and congregants adapted to a new, “temporary” reality. Like schools and offices, church services would be conducted remotely, streamed over the internet into homes on pandemic lockdown.

When asked, around 9 in 10 parishioners insisted they would return to in-person worship as soon as the pandemic ended. They missed the handshakes and hugs of in-person fellowship, the resonant sound of the choir, the feel and smell of hymnals.

“Pastoring the virtual church creates an accountability and connection challenge,” says Rev. Jamal Brown, pastor of Family Restoration Worship Center in Philadelphia. “It’s not dissimilar from the traditional congregation challenges,” but the church as well as the individual bears responsibility for the decline of in-person worship.

Virtual worship “offered people an opportunity to hide from the responsibility of giving time, talent and tenth,” he says, referring to donations and tithing. “However, embracing the virtual church also exposed deficits in the church systems. What existed pre-pandemic was enhanced in the post virtual church.”

More than three years after the official end of the pandemic, however, about a third of regular churchgoers haven’t returned to the pews — and only about 2 in 5 Americans regularly participate in church services at all.

A survey shows the situation is a bit more acute when it comes to the Black church, according to Pew Research Center.

“While 13% of Protestants who belong to historically Black churches say they attend church in person and don’t regularly watch services virtually, most say they join services both in person and virtually (37%) or only watch remotely on screens (20%),” according to the Pew report, issued last June.

The data illustrates a conundrum for faith leaders struggling to meet the new reality of a hybrid method of

Jason E. Shelton, a sociologist and professor and director of the Center for African American Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington, put a finer point on it in a February interview with Christianity Today.

“The future does not look good for organized religion in Black America, especially the historic traditions,” he said. “The Baptists are still the largest, but they’re losing people,” he said. “The Methodists are down small. The Pentecostals are losing, but they’re not losing as many since they’ve always been small.”

The numbers are part of an overall trend of declining church worship in the U.S. According

attendance vary, according to a Pew Research Center poll. Some former churchgoers are still worried about contracting COVID-19; others say they’re facing new physical challenges that keep them from going to church in person; still others say they prefer worshiping from the comfort of home.

One can hardly argue with the modern comfort and convenience of watching Sunday home worship services, streaming live over a platform like Zoom or Facebook. Yet data from Lifeway Research found that 91% of those polled not

said they would return to the pews when the pandemic was no longer a problem.

But “as of the fall of 2022, the average church had 85% of its pre-COVID attendance numbers,” according to the study. A year later, Pew reported 27% of U.S. adults faithfully watch services online, compared with roughly a third who regularly attend church in person.

worrisome trend for the Black church, an institution with a long, storied history in the community.

“The church has always been the vessel that we as Black people have used to have community and solidarity,” he said. “It’s the church that connects [Black society].

Among Black parishioners, 2 in 10 prefer to watch worship services online at home, according to Pew.

For Shelton, the decline in in-person worship is a

“[If Black people aren’t attending a church] what does that mean for Black music? What does that mean for Black politics? And what does that mean for the long-standing legacy of racial discrimination in this country?”

Photo courtesy of UT-Arlington

Dr. Jason E. Shelton, director of the Center for African American Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington and chair of the Arlington Unity Council, says the decline in in-person worship at Black churches could negatively impact the African American community.

First Bank, Girls Inc. celebrate Business Academy program

Preparing future entrepreneurs

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

Whenever you speak with Girls Inc., St. Louis CEO Cheryl Jones, you know she means business.

Whether it’s developing a Saturday session on the importance of voting and understanding the legislative process or finding ways to enhance young women’s exposure to financial planning and entrepreneurship, Jones is always looking for new educational opportunities. When the opportunity to partner

with First Bank to launch the Girls Inc. Entrepreneurship and Business Academy (GEBA), Jones quickly took advantage.

“This is right in our wheelhouse,” Jones said of the program which will introduce young women in grades 8 through 15, primarily of color, to business and entrepreneurial professionals, curriculum, and opportunities.

It will engage with a small cohort of young women (12 to 15) for five years with programming, hands-on-learning, internships, and college-preparation workshops.

“We want to start and maintain generational wealth and reach back into the community,” Jones said.

“These girls can take it and make the next girl better.’

GEBA is modeled after the successful Eureka! Program which exposes and engages young women to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers and fields.

Ellen Dierberg Milne, a First Bank board member, wanted to create a way to get young women who might not be

See PROGRAM, B2

An examination of Black America’s wallet

By Dedrick AsanteMuhammad and Algernon Austin For Word In Black

As the country moves rapidly toward our 2024 presidential election, Black Americans are experiencing the most positive economic conditions in generations.

Record low unemployment rates, record low poverty rates, record high-income levels, and new heights of wealth paint a picture of prosperity.

One could easily think that this data means Black people are experiencing broad prosperity. Despite these record-breaking economic numbers, many Black Americans are still faced with great economic insecurity. This ongoing economic challenge is reflected in low opinions in polls of the economy, widespread asset

poverty, and ongoing Black/white economic inequality. The best Black economy in generations isn’t enough when near-never-ending inequality and insecurity loom on the horizon. As the nation goes through a historic election that could have long-term ramifications on its political direction, for Black voters, economic concerns remain front and center, even as social issues dominate the headlines.

From 1972 to 2022, the average annual Black unemployment rate was 11.6%.

In July of 2024, it was at 6.3%, nearing historic lows. But those figures look dif-

ferent in context; in 2023, for instance, the annual Black unemployment rate was nearly 1.7 times the white rate. On average, the Black unemployment rate between 1972 and 2022 was 2.1 times that of whites, showing that bridging the Black/white unemployment gap remains a work in progress.

Other indicators tell us a similar story. The annual Black prime-age employment rate is at a record high: For the first half of 2024, it has averaged 78%, slightly above where it stood the previous year. Black median household income is also

STLMPD Officer

Darnell Willis honored

Darnell Willis

Officer Darnell Willis (2nd District) is recipient of the 2024 Rotary Club Police Officer Achievement Award. Willis, who has served as a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Officer for 15 years, has received three STLMPD Awards of Excellence, one of which was for his service during the school shooting in October 2022 at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School. Rotary Club of St. Louis presents the award each year to recognize outstanding service by a St. Louis Police officer, including service above and beyond the call of duty, dedicated community service, a special project and/or acts of heroism.

Mitchell new SLPS brand strategy manager

Carl B. Mitchell

Carl B. Mitchell has joined St. Louis Public Schools as brand strategy manager. Mitchell works in the Office of Institutional Advancement to develop, grow and protect the brand of Saint Louis Public Schools through marketing strategies, website management and multimedia solutions.

Smith of HSSU wins national recruiter award

Lance Smith, the assistant director of recruitment at Harris-Stowe State University, was recently honored with the “HBCU Recruiter of the Year” award during the HBCU Honors Awards ceremony in San Diego, California.

This recognition highlights Smith’s dedication to fostering a sense of community and belonging for prospective students while promoting HSSU’s unique appeal as an HBCU in the Midwest. This includes targeted outreach efforts and development of new recruitment programs designed to highlight HBCU’s unique opportunities.

Humphries featured in ‘Webster Spotlight’

Rodney Humphries

Rodney Humphries, who earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Webster Groves campus in 2019 and currently works for United Way of Greater St. Louis as a communication specialist, was recently featured as an outstanding alumnus by Webster University News. Humphries was also honored during the St. Louis American Charitable Foundation Salute to Young Leaders on August 29, 2024, at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Participants in the Girls Inc. business and entrepreneurship program discuss career opportunities and entrepreneurship with Ellen Dierberg Milne of First Bank during a session earlier this summer.

Photo by Derik Holtmann

Lance Smith

Program

Continued from B1

exposed to business and entrepreneurship a chance to learn about it, meet women in these fields, and help them gain reallife work experience.

Dierberg Milne discussed her ideas with Stacy Clay, Midwest retail lead/director of community affairs, First Bank.

“When we met with Cheryl Jones we knew we had found the right partner,” said Clay.

Beginning to educate girls in the ways of business and entrepreneurship at an early age will help them for years to come, according to Dierberg Milne.

“If we can reach the girls before they start high school, we can give them the skills to become leaders in entrepreneurship,” she said.

“We ask them to not only pay attention to the world around them, but to also do research on women in business around the world [and] find women in careers

Wealth

Continued from B1 at its highest point in a generation, growing from about $41,000 in 2011 to nearly $53,000 in 2022 — a nearly 30% increase. That same year, median Black wealth or net worth (assets minus debts) also reached a new high of nearly $45,000, more than double the post-Great Recession low of about $17,000 seen in 2013. Despite these positive trends, the economic

that would excite them.

“We want them to find a goal for themselves and use that as they go on the path to adulthood.”

Jones said the program emphasizes self-reliance and confidence that the girls can overcome “pitfalls” that may come their way.

“Don’t let [lack of] money or contacts limit you. Continue to build dreams. Use critical think-

reality for many African Americans remains precarious. In 2023, there would have needed to be over 1.4 million more Black people working to reach the same employment rates as white people. This joblessness cost Black America roughly $60 billion. And while Black median income has risen, it is still nearly $30,000 lower than the white median — and still even below the white median income of 1972. The average Black median wealth of approximately $45,000 keeps a majority of Black people

ing skills to open doors. Don’t allow yourself to be put in a box.”

First Bank has committed $25,000 per year for a three-year commitment. The partnership was announced on Nov. 9, 2023, at the Girls Inc. Strong, Smart, and Bold Luncheon.

“We actually began thinking about adding a business component two years ago,” Jones

distant from the $190,000 to $570,000 estimated as the wealth necessary to reach middle-class status. As noted in the 2023 report “Still A Dream,” with all of the advances made since 1960, the nation is still moving at a glacial pace in bridging Black/white economic inequality. If the country continues at the rate it has been moving since about the 1960s, it will take over 500 years to bridge Black/white income inequality, and nearly 800 years to bridge Black/

explained.

“That’s when we began having conversations with members, parents and the board.”

Jones contacted Perry Drake , chair of the University of Missouri St. Louis Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship, who has often worked with Girls Inc. It was one of the youth groups that Drake invited to his

white wealth inequality. These statistics underline a crucial point: while Black Americans are experiencing significant economic gains, these advances are insufficient to overcome the entrenched inequalities that persist. The economic progress we see today is a foundation, not a finish line. It speaks to the need for comprehensive policies that address ongoing barriers to economic security and wealth-building. Investment in quality education, access to

annual Midwest Digital Marketing Conference in May.

Drake brought in Carla Jordan, the director of undergraduate advising and student services for UMSL’s College of Business Administration and Corlia (Lia) Spears, the recruitment coordinator at UMSL’s College of Business Administration.

Drake told UMSL Daily the girls would be

affordable healthcare, affordable housing, job creation targeted to high-unemployment communities, and new means of government financing of asset-building opportunities like Baby Bonds are essential. These measures can help ensure that the economic gains of today translate into sustained prosperity and security for future generations. As the 2024 presidential election nears, let us not make it a contest between individuals, but one of policies that could be a salve for the foundational wound of race and

given a budget of about $100,000 “and they will figure out how to utilize that to promote their businesses.”

“We’re talking about artificial intelligence, software, cloud computing, marketing, developing a marketing plan, working with accounting ledger sheets, all of that. It’s a heavy workload, but it’s exciting,” he said.

economic inequality. Addressing these issues with urgency and commitment will not only improve the economic outlook for Black Americans but also create a new foundation of great equality, creating a firm base for a more unified nation.

Algernon Austin is the director of Race and Economic Justice at the Center for Economic and Policy Research. Dedrick Asante-Muhammad is the president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.

Get Cer tified DBE/ACDBE

If you are currently certified as a DBE and/or ACDBE, submit your annual

and supporting documentation to BDD on or before your anniversary date at https://flystl.diversitycompliance.com/.

If you are performing work in additional NAICS codes related to your DBE or ACDBE certification, submit your DBE/ACDBE NAICS Expansion application to BDD for processing at https://flystl.diversitycompliance.com/.

If you have questions regarding federal certification, contact BDD at 314.426.8111.

Members of the Girls Inc. Entrepreneurship and Business Academy, a partnership between Girls Inc. and First Bank, pose with Ellen Dierberg Milne (left middle) and Cheryl Jones (right middle).

Photo by Derik Holtmann

n “I remember just how fun this game is.”

– Jordan Walker on his 5-for-5 performance in Cardinals win over N.Y. Yankees

InSIdE SportS

With Earl Austin Jr.

Get ready for Gateway Scholars football tripleheader

Clyde C. Jordan

Stadium in East St. Louis will be the place to be on Saturday Sept. 7, 2024, for the annual Gateway Scholars Football Classic.

The triple-header will feature schools from three different states. In the featured contest, host East St. Louis will take on Newton High, a powerhouse program from Covington, GA. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. East Side opened its season with an impressive 34-7 victory over Wilmette Loyola Academy, the two-time defending Illinois Class 8A state champions last weekend in Normal.

In the opening game, Lift for Life will take on St. Francis from Wheaton, IL. Lift for Life opened its season with a 73-0 victory over Duchesne last Friday night.

The second game will feature Cahokia vs. Jackson High from Southeast Missouri. Cahokia defeated Lutheran St. Charles 50-0 in its opening game while St. Louis area power Cardinal Ritter defeated Jackson last Friday night. Admission for the Gateway Scholars Classic will be $10 for the threeday event.

STL’s first week college standouts

Former St. Louis area football standouts were brilliant during the opening weekend of college

12-6 win over Confluence Academy on Saturday, August 31, 2024. The game was part of a packed Week 1 of area high school football.

football. Former CBC standout Jeremiyah Love of Notre Dame rushed for 91 yards and scored the winning touchdown in the Irish’ 23-13 victory at Texas A&M. Christian Gray (DeSmet) sealed Notre Dame’s victory by breaking up a pass on fourth down. In the same game, former Kirkwood High standout Will Lee of Texas A&M had a teamhigh eight solo tackles. Former SLUH standout Ryan Wingo of Texas caught four passes for 70 yards in the Longhorns

50-0 victory over Colorado State. In Missouri’s 51-0 victory over Murray State, All-American receiver Luther Burden opened the scoring with an 18-yard touchdown reception. Toriano Pride (Cardinal Ritter) scored on a touchdown interception return. Quarterback Brady Cook (Chaminade) threw a touchdown pass and rushed for another score. Running back Jamal Roberts (St. Mary’s) scored his first touchdown.

Some Week 1 prep standouts

• Quarterback Kendrick Lyons of East St. Louis threw four touchdown passes in the Flyers’ 34-7 victory over Wilmette Loyola Academy.

• Running back Dierre Hill of Althoff scored four rushing touchdowns in the Crusaders’ 41-14 victory over Alton.

• Wide receiver Corey Simms of CBC had four receptions for 122 yards

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

I’m one of those Virgos interested in the who, what and where of my birthday, which is September 6. For the record, I joined this mad, mad world at 10:26 a.m. Tuesday Sept. 6, 1960. My mom went into labor the previous day – Labor Day. Among those sharing a birthday with me on Friday is actor Idris Elba, who was born Sept. 6, 1972. He would be a great James Bond but that now seems unlikely to happen. Too bad. Bond has Elba and Virgo written all over him.

and three touchdowns in the Cadets 45-0 victory over Sacred Heart Griffin

• Quarterback Zion Taylor of Cahokia completed 14 of 16 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns in the Comanches’ 50-0 victory over Lutheran-St. Charles.

• Running back Madden Irving of Chaminade rushed for 155 yards on 22 carries and three touchdowns in the Red Devils 27-0 victory over McCluer North.

Rafer Johnson had his golden moment on my

There might not be a United States of America if not for Marquis de Lafayette, a French general who brought troops and battlefield knowledge to the Revolutionary War –in a nick of time – to help the Colonists prevail. He is buried in Paris with some dirt from Bunker Hill tossed atop him.

Other celebrity birthdays on Sept. 6, and their age before Friday, include rapper Foxy Brown (45), singer Macy Gray (51), actor and comedian Jane Curtin (76), Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters (80), actor Rosie Perez (59), and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (61.)

Two shout outs to a couple of folks who have passed but were born on Sept. 6.

The musician and recording star Sylvester died at age 41 in 1988. A disco/funk star, his music was a staple at house parties and discos. While his “You Make Me Feel,” was his biggest hit, “Do You Want to Funk with Me?” is the song blaring when Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) brings friends and acquaintances to a party at his residence in “Trading Places.’ Last year’s birthday column shared the story of the 1972 Munich Olympics and the hostage situation that left 11 Israeli athletes dead, killed by members of the Palestinian

• Running back Jaylen Mack of Wentzville Liberty rushed for 124 yards and caught three passes for 63 yards and scored three touchdowns in a 35-19 victory over Francis Howell Central.

• Running back Devin Hollins of Marquette rushed for 153 yards on 31 carries and one touchdown in the Mustangs’ 31-21 victory over Hickman.

• Running back Robert Eatherton rushed for 176 yards on 25 carries and a touchdown in the Golden Griffins 49-26 victory over Webster Groves.

• Running back Jayden McCaster of DeSmet had 102 yards rushing and 78 yards receiving and two touchdowns in the Spartans 48-7 victory over Creighton Prep. What’s on tap Week 2

Thursday, September 5 Blair Oaks at Lutheran North, 6 p.m. Hazelwood East at Parkway Central, 6 p.m. John Burroughs at Jennings, 6 p.m.

Friday, September 6 Hillsboro at SLUH, 6 p.m. Troy at O’Fallon, 7 p.m. Cardinal Ritter at Rochester (IL), 7 p.m. Bryant (AR) at CBC Marquette at Eureka, 7 p.m. Pattonville at Kirkwood, 7 p.m.

Saturday, September 7 DeSmet at MICDS, 7 p.m.

day of birth

His total of 8,392 points was an Olympic record, and it was accomplished in the final track competition of Johnson’s career. Johnson would become an actor, playing roles in several hit movies including “Spartacus.” He was also a civil rights and social justice advocate, who was instrumental in creation of Special Olympics in the United States, which has now spread internationally.

Liberation Organization on Sept. 5-6. I was 12. Let’s revisit the Olympics. The year was 1960. The day was Tuesday, Sept. 6. The place was Rome, Italy. After winning a silver medal in the 1956 Olympics decathlon in Melbourne, Australia, Rafer Johnson returned in 1960 determined to win the competition. His closest rival was C.K Yang, a UCLA track teammate and

close friend who was from Taiwan (now China.) Johnson held a slim lead over Yang heading into the final event, the 1500-meter run.

The 1,500 meters was Yang’s strongest event, and one of Johnson’s least accomplished. While Yang would top Johnson by 1.2 seconds, Johnson recorded the fastest time of his career to finish second in the race and top Yang by 58 points.

On June 5, 1968, Johnson and NFL Hall of Fame member Rosie Grier tackled Sirhan Sirhan seconds after Sirhan had shot Robert Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Kennedy died the following day.

The Reid Roundup

Rafer Johnson was not the first Black American to win the Olympics decathlon. That honor went to Milt G. Campbell Sr., who won the gold medal over Johnson in 1956… Johnson’s brother Jimmy Johnson, a great defensive

back, is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Rafer Johnson’s daughter Jennifer competed in beach volleyball at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia…The day before I was born, Sept. 5, 1960, 18-yearold Cassius Clay won the heavyweight boxing gold medal by defeating Zbigniew Pietrzykowski of Poland…The St. Louis Cardinals did not play the day I was born because the team was traveling by train from Chicago to Pittsburgh…The Pirates did play and their shortstop Dick Groat who would win the National League MVP award, broke his wrist… Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles broke Lou Gehrig’s record by playing in his 2,131 consecutive games on Sept. 6, 1995. A year later Sept. 6, 1996, Orioles great Eddie Murray hit his 500th career home run.

Earl Austin Jr.

Alvin A. Reid

Roosevelt’s Jordan Walters picks up yardage on a sweep during the Roughriders’

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Photo by Cory Hansen / Special Olympics

Rafer Johnson walks with athletes at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2015 Special Olympics in Los Angeles.

Ameren Missouri has announced

an additional $1 million in weatherization assistance, a program that provides energy-saving home improvements at no cost for qualifying homeowners and renters.

In 2024, the company has provided over $2 million to support weatherization improvements, including caulking, weather stripping, water heater jackets, insulation and more, which includes labor and materials.

Guidelines for eligibility include household incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level. For example, a four-person household with income up to $5,200 monthly is eligible to apply.

“Customers in need of assistance can take advantage of these funds right away to upgrade their living spaces and start saving on their energy costs,” said Page Selby, manager of customer advocacy for Ameren Missouri.

“We also encourage customers to apply for our energy assistance programs for additional support.”

“Keeping Current” is a payment assistance program offered

Ameren Missouri bolsters weatherization program

by Ameren Missouri that helps make paying your energy bill more affordable. It includes a monthly bill credit between $35 and $90 along with help to reduce the total amount owed. Eligibility guidelines are the same as weatherization so customers can participate in both.

Participants, along with elderly and disabled persons, are given preference for the company’s weatherization assistance program. The maximum assistance, including labor and materials, varies depending on the project

Customers can also visit their online account at Ameren.com to access personalized solutions to make it easier to manage monthly energy costs. New features make it easy for customers to pay their bill, view usage, enroll in alerts and access a range of tools to help save time, energy and money. Visit AmerenMissouri. com/Weatherization and AmerenMissouri.com/ EnergyAssistance for more information and participating agencies.

Ameren, which donated 800 air conditioners to Cool Down St. Louis and partners with the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis energy assistance program, has added $1 million to its weatherization assistance programs as summer now turns to fall and winter.

Deaconess Foundation offering $450K in loans to nonprofits

Application deadline Sept. 13

Deaconess Foundation is inviting Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois nonprofit organizations to apply for up to $450,000 in loans to strengthen programs and further their respective missions.

By providing below-market rate loan opportunities to nonprofits

in the St. Louis metropolitan area, Deaconess Foundation seeks to expand community access to financial capital and subsequently build local capacity to achieve positive health outcomes.

“We are privileged to use a portion of our investment portfolio in a way that improves access to capital,” said Bethany Johnson-Javois, president and CEO of Deaconess Foundation.

“We believe that by investing in ways that allow for nonprofits in our community to bridge a gap, we are reducing organizational stress and enhancing their work which we hope will provide greater outcomes for all.”

With these loans, the Foundation seeks to invest responsibly and to leverage its investment portfolio for greater social impact as a part of

Deaconess Foundation’s mission to create conditions where liberation is the lived reality within seven generations. Since 2017, Deaconess has dispersed more than $1.4M in total funding through this initiative.

To apply for a loan, non-profit organizations working to improve conditions for community level well-being must be in the Eastern Region of Missouri (St. Louis City,

St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin, and Jefferson Counties) and Southern Illinois (St. Clair, Madison, and Monroe Counties).

Prospective partners may include, but are not limited to, nonprofits pursuing change through coalition and base-building, grassroots advocacy, community organizing or public policy development, community development including community

development financial institutions or a community development corporation, intermediaries, and non-profits with revolving loan funds. The deadline for loan applications is 5:00 p.m. Friday, September 13, 2024. Learn more about Deaconess Foundation’s nonprofit loans at https:// deaconess.org/funding-opportunities/#nonprofit-loans.

Photo courtesy of Ameren

n “I might be one of them. I already put in my bid.”

– Flavor Flav on applying to be a USA torchbearer at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

Living It

An American History mixtape Cooking culture

Hip-hop infused ‘Hamilton’ wows with its return to the Fox

By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American

The cosmic boom of American History and hip-hop culture that is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” made its St. Louis return on Wednesday night at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. Mouths whispered along to every lyric. Bodies leaned forward in anticipation of memorable scenes. It was safe to assume that many in the audience had either seen the production before, or had the original Broadway cast recording on repeat. Whether the acquaintance with the musical was casual, or on the verge of

obsession – like the group of young girls in matching custom-made costumes that resembled 18th century men’s fashion –the feedback in response to this current production was mutual. To borrow from the words of Aaron Burr in “Dear Theodosia,” it blew us all away.

The biographical sketch of an oftenunsung hero in America’s origin story might seem like an unlikely topic to build a musical that resonates enough to become a cultural phenomenon. With the Ron Chernow biography as his road map, Miranda brilliantly taps into the elements of Hamilton’s life that mirror the nation he helped to build – and the dream that has lived in the hearts of so many who have stepped foot on its soil in search of a

better life.

In a second stroke of paradoxical ingenuity, Miranda relies on another origin story with humble American beginnings that would influence the world – hip hop. Like Hamilton, hip hop had to claw its way from the bottom using an iron will, grit and creative resourcefulness for its power and influence to be recognized.

In “Hamilton,” Founding fathers and other historical figures are remixed from unrelatable faces on American currency and names used to fill answer slots in grade school pop quizzes. The individuals featured are complicated beings who See Hamilton, C3

Dealing in art and truth

‘Alchemical Abstractions’

by De’Joneiro Jones on view at The Griot through September 28

By Kenya Vaughn

The St. Louis American

De’Joneiro Jones is involved in the St. Louis arts scene in several capacities. He is an artist. He buys and sells art. He connects other St. Louis artists to opportunities and institutions. But if I were to label him, I would call him a truth dealer.

“One of the key things about me is that I was a business person before I was an artist,” Jones said. “I don’t have all of these dysfunctional hang ups, because I am self-made.”

His latest exhibition entitled “Alchemical Abstractions” opened last week at the Griot Museum of Black History and will continue through September 28.

“My intention is to get people familiar and to let them know that abstraction is something you don’t have to be afraid of,” Jones said. “People will say, ‘Oh, I don’t get it.’ Everything ain’t gonna be for you to get. But we can talk about it. You don’t know what you might get if you’re not exposed to it – and I’m not hiding behind broad and ambiguous terms.”

Jones found his way to art through mentorship. He was a part of a program that was then called St. Paul Saturdays –now known as Saturday Boys Academy. The program was founded by renowned

Adjo Honsou uses her West African cooking roots to win cooking show

Devored A. Horton Jr. St. Louis American

Adjo Honsou knew her favorite recipe, Oxtail in Palm Nut Stew, was a winner. Now, the rest of the world knows it, too, because it was the dish that earned Honsou the top prize on Season 3 of “The Great American” Recipe on PBS, which airs in St. Louis on the Nine Network.

“They reached out to me through FUFU n’ Sauce’s Instagram page,” said Honsou, a home chef from Togo, West Africa who has lived in St. Louis since she was 14 years old.

“They were casting for home cooks to represent different regions in America on the show.”

Honsou said the show taught her lessons that she will never forget.

“As a home cook you don’t necessarily have the techniques of trained chefs,” said Honsou.

“I think being on the show gave me some of those techniques and then at the same time made me think like a chef. I started thinking more executionary when it comes to cooking, rather than just the know-how when it comes to cooking.”

Growing up in Togo, West Africa cooking was a traditional activity for women and that’s where she nurtured her love for preparing meals, Honsou explained.

“I’m from a culture where cooking is part of the woman’s job,” Honsou said.

“From a young age you are just around cooking. My grandma’s cooking, my mom is cooking, my aunts are cooking, everybody is cooking. Cooking for us is such a community thing to do. For example, Sunday’s everybody gets together, everybody’s doing their part, and so I just always grew up around the kitch-

After moving to America, Honsou said she missed the food she grew up eating but couldn’t find it in America. Once again, necessity proved to be the mother of invention, as she started cooking her own native dishes.

Honsou has her own business and food truck named “FUFU n’ Sauce.” She’s had a food truck for about a year and a half. The Brand itself is two and a half years old.

“The first year there was a pop-up model at festivals and tents; the following year we bought the food truck,” Honsou said.

pastor and community leader Rev. Bishop

C. Garnett Henning and the late famed educator Dr. William Harrison. It was housed at St. Paul AME Church, where Henning served as senior pastor. The organization helped Black boys and teens like Jones see beyond their surroundings as gang violence gained a chokehold on several neighborhoods within the region during the early 1990s. He grew up on the West side of the city near Hodiamont and Julian in Alpha Gardens. At the time it was a Blood set.

“I was born at Homer G. Phillips hospital, so it doesn’t get more St. Louis

than that,” Jones said. “But my outlook has always been much deeper than Kingshighway and Natural Bridge.” A big part of who he is today is thanks to the monthly visits the group made to the Saint Louis Art Museum. It wasn’t long before Jones began traveling to the museum on his own. “It’s free to go in and you meet all kinds of people,” he said. “I just developed an affinity for art.” By the time he was 18, he was collecting art. He would hit up auctions and

Honsou has sold her sauce and cuisine at the Taste of St. Louis Festival, the Juneteenth Festival, the St. Louis Pride Festival, Festival of Nations, and several Food Truck Fridays. She plans to do more in the fall.

FUFU n’ Sauce has a homemade curry available for purchase on FUFU n’ Sauce. The curry is important because the PBS show will feature an e-cookbook of Honsou’s recipes. So, the curry will be essential in creating her entrees.

Devored Horton is The St. Louis American’s Comcast/NBCUniversal WIB fellow

Photo by Joan Marcus/Courtesy of The Fox

The national tour of ‘Hamilton’ is currently on stage at the Fabulous Fox Theatre through Sunday, September 8.

Photo by Nicholas Coulter/Courtesy of De’Joneiro Jones

‘Alchemical Abstractions,’ the latest exhibition by artist and art dealer De’Joneiro Jones is currently on view at The Griot Museum of Black History Through September 28.

Growing up in Togo, West Africa cooking was a traditional activity for women and that’s where Adjo Honsou nurtured her love for preparing meals.

CONCERTS AND LIVE SHOWS

Hamilton

9/6/2024 7:30 p.m.

9/7/2024 2:00 p.m.

9/7/2024 8:00 p.m.

9/8/2024 1:00 p.m.

HAMILTON is the saga that follows the rise of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton as he fights for honor, love, and a legacy that would shape the course of a nation. Based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography and set to a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway, HAMILTON has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education.

The Fabulous Fox 527 N Grand Blvd St. Louis, MO

$39-$249

Inside/Outside

9/12/2024 3:00 p.m.

FCM x MATI Place

Sophie’s Artist Lounge

3333 Washington Ave., suite 102 St. Louis, MO 63103 Free

NIGHTLIFE

Broadway Rave

9/7/2024 8:30 p.m.

Delmar Hall

6133 Delmar Blvd

St. Louis, MO

$20.00

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

Tower Grove Farmers’ Market

9/7/2024 8:00 a.m.

9/10/2024 4:00 p.m.

Tower Grove Park

4257 Northeast Drive St. Louis, MO

Walk to End Lupus Now 9/7/2024 9:00am

Walk to End Lupus Now® events provide all people affected by lupus and their families the opportunity to come together for one unified purpose — to end lupus.

Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park- Tremayne Pavilion 13725 Marine Ave Maryland Heights, MO Free

ART ACTIVITIES, EXHIBITS AND MUSEUMS

Family Sunday

9/8/2024 1:00 p.m.

Saint Louis Art Museum

One Fine Arts Drive St. Louis, MO Free

Great Rivers Biennial Artist and Juror Panel Discussion

9/7/2024 11:00 am

Celebrate the 11th edition of the Great Rivers Biennial (GRB) in this panel conversation with GRB artists Saj Issa, Basil Kincaid, and Ronald Young and jurors Rita Gonzalez, Jamillah James, and Caroline Kent. Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis 3750 Washington Boulevard St. Louis, MO Free

ASL Tour-Divine Royalty

9/6/2024 6:00 p.m.

Join Timothy Smith, a Deaf docent visiting from DEAF Inc. , as he leads you through the ancient Egyptian gallery, featuring more 100 works of art that explore death and the afterlife, Egyptian religion, the human figure in art, and more. This tour is designed for Deaf and hard

of hearing attendees and will be conducted in ASL (American sign Language).

Saint Louis Art Museum

One Fine Arts Drive St. Louis, MO Free

Fall/Winter 2024

Exhibitions Opening 9/6/2024 7:00 p.m.

Member Preview 6:00–7:00 pm Public Opening 7:00–9:00 pm

Join us for the opening of CAM’s fall/winter exhibitions, featuring Great Rivers Biennial: Saj Issa, Basil Kincaid, Ronald Young, Shinichi Sawada: Agents of Clay, Ad Minoliti: Manifestación pluriversal, and Charles Atlas: Painting by Numbers; and in the Education Galleries, Teen Museum Studies, LEAP Middle School Initiative, and New Art in the Neighborhood.

Please contact members@ camstl.org for any questions about membership and eligibility. Reser-

vations are not required for the public opening.

Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis 3750 Washington Blvd St. Louis, MO Free

New to St. Louis: STL 101 9/6/2024 1:00 p.m.

This half-day experience is designed to get you out and about, in the know, and up to speed on where St. Louis has been, what’s happening now, and where we’re going in the years ahead. Missouri History Museum 5700 Lindell Blvd St. Louis, MO

Storytelling: September 9/6/2024 10:30 a.m. September storytelling themes include Grandparents’ Day, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Mealtime. Missouri History Museum 5700 Lindell Blvd St. Louis, MO Free Art Fair

9/6/2024 5:00 p.m. 9/7/2024 10 a.m. 9/8/2024 11 a.m

The three-day celebration of art will attract thousands of art enthusiasts from across the region to downtown Clayton, which will be transformed with a myriad of original art; live musical, dance and spoken-word performances; delicious food samplings from some of the area’s premier restaurants; a special hands-on activities for children

225 S Meramec Ave #105, Clayton, MO 63105 Free COMMUNITY

Taste of Black St. Louis 9/13/24 - 9/15/24, Soldier’s Memorial Plaza Poelker Park & Kaufmann Park 1315 Chestnut Street St. Louis, MO 63103 Free

Brownpreneurs Entrepreneurship Academy (BEA) 9/7/2024 11:00am

Networking, and learning Interactive workshops, hear from successful entrepreneurs, and hands-on activities

St. Louis Community College - Forest Park 5600 Oakland Ave. St. Louis, MO Free

TEDxStLouis Women’s “Amplify” Talks 9/6/2024 3:00 p.m.

TEDxStLouis Women – a nonprofit community of learners and change-agents in St. Louis – will host its “Amplify” talks.

The “Amplify” TEDxStLouis Women’s event will highlight the remarkable achievements of women.

Speakers include: Hanz Dismer, Director of Psychosocial Services at Hope Clinic; Yvonne Foo, product manager at Fidelity Investments; April Foster, executive director at Keyway Center for Diversion & Reentry; Bronwyn Morgan, founder and CEO of Xeo Air; Laura Sawyier, founder and CEO of LKS Styling & Consulting Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center One University Blvd St. Louis, MO

$40.00 - $70.00

The Future of Reproductive Justice featuring Loretta Ross 9/7/2024 9:30 a.m. The symposium Reflecting on Reproductive Justice features Loretta J. Ross and additional speakers including Rockie Gonzalez, Cynthia Ingar, Kimberly Mutcherson and representatives from local organizations Washington University Hillman Hall 6387 Forsyth Blvd Clayton, MO Free

Welcome Neighbor STL Family Partnering Orientation 9/11/2024 7:00 p.m. We are Welcome Neighbor STL family partnering program partners volunteers with refugee families. Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom. us/j/84148849126?pwd=ZHlmYm9xZ3BVUDMzMmJjd3dENHQxQT09

Meeting ID: 848 3811 0879 Passcode: 902755 St. Louis, MO

Taste of Black St. Louis returns to Soldier’s Memorial Plaza, Poelker Park & Kaufmann Park at 1315 Chestnut Street in St. Louis September 13-15. Entrance to the event is free.

September 18, Jazz St. Louis September 19, The Sheldon

Courtesy photo

Continued from A1

estate sales. He would flip his purchases for a profit and use the surplus funds to buy original art from St. Louis artists. “That’s how I’ve been making it all these years,” Jones said. “By buying and selling other art to help other artists see the value in what they are doing, so they don’t play themselves.”

He seeks to encourage buyers as much as creators – particularly when it comes to supporting the Black artists who are often slighted, snubbed and unfairly compensated for their work. He spoke from experience about how the art business can be mutually beneficial for the buyer and the artist.

“When you are buying original art, it is an investment tool,” Jones said. “You are not just spending frivolously. It’s not like you are going to Target and buying a poster. The value of artwork steadily grows.”

Dealing art was his passion, but his main hustle was as the owner of a clothing store/ cleaners. He was in the art business for a dozen years before he picked up a brush to create.

“Early on, a lot of people didn’t think I made my own work,” Jones said. “Some people even say, ‘He ain’t doing nothing but throwing paint. Anybody can do that.” I say, ‘you’re right. But you have to have courage.’ You are dealing with creativity –so this is God’s work we are dealing with. It hits a little different when you are working in purpose. There are things you can’t explain.”

He now earns his living solely through the arts, and is a staple on the scene in his own right.

“I’m not poppin’ bottles, I’m poppin’ colors,” Jones said. His work has recently been showcased at the University City Public Library and Wildfruits Project in Dutchtown. He has his own gallery on Cherokee Street where he buys, sells and displays his art and the art of other St. Louis based practitioners. He credited several individuals who helped him on his path. Adrienne Davis – who hung his very first painting outside her office door at Washington University. There was also Freida Wheaton, the late Dr. Lee Blount – and many others.

“Dr. Blount was a huge supporter,” Jones said. “He really liked my work and would give me suggestions on who I should deal with and talk to – and I listened.”

He now provides that same type of counsel to emerging artists and buyers.

“There is so much healing in art – and there is so much education in learning about it,” Jones said. “And I’m proud of being a part of something that allows me to make a difference. We are only here for a short time. We might as well try leaving this world a little better than how we found it.”

“Alchemical Abstractions” will be on display at The Griot Museum of Black History, 2505 St. Louis Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63106. For more information, visit www. thegriotmuseum.com.

Hamilton

Continued from A1

harnessed their ambitions and navigated through conflicts for the greater good of nation building. What will keep audiences connected to “Hamilton” for generations to come is not only the story of the musical’s namesake –which plays out like a Shakespearian tragedy – but the talented individuals who rise to the incredible challenge of embodying him, and more of the men who constructed America. Much is required for those who fill the shoes in a show that made Grammy and Tony Award winners of its stars – heart, soul, humor, and swag are a prerequisite. So are vocal chops to carry a tune and enough

aptitude in lyrical cadence and vocal charisma to ride the beat while delivering a rap verse with intensity and precision. The latest cohort of performers to bring “Hamilton” to St. Louis fans have it all – coupled with natural magnetism and enchanting chemistry. In the title role, Tyler Fauntleroy paces himself perfectly for the marathon of heavy lifting that comes with being the central figure in an epic story. He graciously yields for supporting cast members to have their moment but flips the switch with dexterity for scenes that require all eyes to be on him or call for intense connection – or conflict –with his costars. As Aaron Burr, Jimmie “JJ” Jeter is a delightful antagonist. He is also armed with vocal prowess that will prove satisfactory even among lovers of the original cast

recording who have been accustomed to hearing the great Leslie Odom Jr. Lauren Mariasoosay is angelic as Eliza (Schuyler) Hamilton, which plays well against the strength and resolve exhibited by Marja Harmon as her sister Angelica Schuyler. But for this production, the show truly belongs to the artists in the smaller roles who, like Hamilton, make the most of their shot.

A.D. Weaver sings the stage down as George Washington. And Justin Matthew Sargent dials up the charm in his take on the whimsically-played King George III. Nathan Haydel could rival a Gen Z rap star with his Philip Hamilton. But Jared Howelton is the MVP among the supporting players. He exhibits range with the stark contrasts in his dual roles as Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson. His portrayal

of Jefferson – with Howelton’s thousandwatt smile beaming brighter than the spotlight – is a show stealer. And through hilarious choreography liberties, he has differentiated hinself distinguished from all the Jeffersons who have taken the stage before him.

Director Thomas Kail stages and paces the production to accentuate the talent and chemistry of his cast. And while the production elements are on brand with previous stagings, costume designer Paul Tazewell sets himself apart with pops of texture and color choices that add depth and dimension to the overall aesthetic.

“Hamilton” will continue through September 8 at The Fabulous Fox Theatre. For tickets or additional information, visit www. fabulousfox.com or call 314.534.1111.

“Hamilton” with Tyler Fauntleroy in the title role, is the biographical sketch of an American forefather who was raised in a culture different from most of his colonial counterparts. While the story might seem unlikely to build into a musical, it has become a cultural phenomenon.

Photo by Joan Marcus / Courtesy of The Fox

PINE LAWN CITY SEEKS:

General Contractor w/Structural Engineer to Rehab Old Community Building

Specification inquiries and subsequent Sealed bids needed asap from licensed, bonded, insured Contractors by 4 pm Sept. 16, 2024.

Resumes to Hire Municipal Housing Clerk w/Some Quick Books Experience & Public Works Employees w/Drivers License

All inquires for the General Contractor & Employment Applications are now available at Pine Lawn City Hall-6250 Steve Marre Ave., Pine Lawn, Mo. 63121. Call 314-261-5500 (when connected press 0) to expedite your interest and receive details of the jobs.

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.”

GUARDIAN AD LITEM – FAMILY COURT - JUVENILE DIVISION

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

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

To apply, please send a current resume, along with a cover letter, to SLCCourtJobs@courts.mo.gov or to the following address (application materials must be postmarked by October 4, 2024): 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.

CAREER OPPORTUNITY #2024-04

UNITED STATES PROBATION OFFICER LOCATION:

EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS CLOSING DATE: SEPTEMBER 13, 2024

The United States Probation Office for the Southern District of Illinois has a full-time vacancy for a United States Probation Officer. Please visit the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office website at https://www.ilsp.uscourts. gov and access the Career Opportunities tab for complete details of the position announcement and how to apply.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI EXTENSION HAS MULTIPLE NUTRITION PROGRAM ASSOCIATES POSITIONS

University of Missouri Extension has multiple Nutrition Program Associates positions in St. Louis, teaching low-income community members about healthy foods, basic cooking, and food safety through community partnerships. Reliable transportation, associate’s degree or equivalent education/ experience, and 6 months of work experience required. Offices on UMSL campus. FT (40 hr./wk.) with occasional evenings, weekends, or overnights. Pays $18/hr. w/full benefits. Flexible start dates. University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity/Access/ Affirmative Action/Pro Disabled & Veteran Employer. Online application at https://erecruit. umsystem.edu and select Prospective Staff and search for Job ID: 50597

HOME REPAIR PROJECT COORDINATOR

Mission: St. Louis is looking for a Home Repair Project Coordinator, to coordinate and perform minor home repairs for the Energy Efficiency, Accessibility, and Weatherization Program, which serves senior citizens in the city of St. Louis. Applicants should possess at least 3 years home repair or construction experience. If interested, submit cover letter & resume to todd.martin@missionstl.org

Interviews will begin immediately.

Mission: St. Louis is an EOE. This position(s) may be financed (in part) or (wholly) through an allocation of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds from the City of St. Louis Community Development Administration.

ST. LOUIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP (STL PARTNERSHIP) HAS OPENINGS.

To see the full job descriptions go to https://stlpartnership.com/ careers/ and scroll to “Available Opportunities.”

To apply online, submit resume at https://stlpartnership. aaimtrack.com

The St. Louis Public Schools Foundation is seeking a full-time Development Operations Coordinator to develop and monitor the implementation of contributions and transactions that support fund initiatives in alignment with our strategy.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY O’FALLON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

The O’Fallon Fire Protection District is currently seeking qualified applicants to establish a hiring pool for the position of Firefighter/ EMT-P. Application packets can be picked up at the O’Fallon Fire Protection District Administration Office located at 111 Laura K Drive, 2nd Floor, O’Fallon, MO 63366 beginning September 9, 2024 through September 13, 2024 between the hours of at 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. CST. Packets may be obtained electronically by going to our website ofallonfire.org and downloading the application packet beginning September 9, 2024 or by contacting the office at 636-272-3493. Application Packets can be returned beginning September 16, 2024 through September 20, 2024 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Packets can be returned in person or via US Mail. NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED VIA EMAIL.

The O’Fallon Fire Protection District is not responsible for any correspondence or mail that is lost or misdirected, or received after 2:00 p.m. on September 20, 2024.

The O’Fallon Fire Protection District is an Equal Opportunity Employer

HUMAN RESOURCES GENERALIST:

The Human Resource Generalist will support the daily functions of the Human Resource (HR) department including hiring and interviewing staff, administering pay, benefits, and leave, collaborating with leaders and managers, and interpreting and enforcing FPF’s policies and practices.

Interested applicants can visit our website for full job description and to apply online at: www.forestparkforever.org/jobs.

CITY OF ST. LOUIS BOARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES PROGRAM MANAGEMENT/ CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR THE CONSOLIDATED TERMINAL PROGRAM AT ST. LOUIS LAMBERT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. Statements of Qualifications are due by 5:00 PM CT, SEPTEMBER 13, 2024 through the Bid Express online portal at https://www.bidexpress.com/ businesses/20618/home? agency=true. RFQ may be obtained from the BPS website https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/ government/departments/ public-service/, under BPS RFQ and RFP Announcement, or email Board of Public Service at bryanth@stlouis-mo.gov. 25% MBE and 5% WBE goals

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.

NOTICE OF VOID TAX SALE

For 11708 Poggemoeller Ave 63138. There exists an equitable / legal adverse claim to the property. Respond to: PO Box 38036 St. Louis Mo, 63138.

REQUEST FOR PUBLICATION

Tower Grove Park, 4257 Northeast Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110 is requesting qualifications for Professional Design Services for Historic Pavilions Restoration. RFQ responses are due 9/12/24 by 2:00 p.m. Project information, registration, and questions through Katie Aholt (katie@navigatebuildingsolutions.com or 636-359-8538).

Tower Grove Park hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant of this advertisement, businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, ancestry or national origin in consideration for an award. Save America’s Treasures Grant Funds are being used in this project, and all relevant federal, state and local requirements apply.

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace Fire Alarm Systems - Multiple Assets, Western Reception and Diagnostic Correctional Center, Project No. C2325-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/26/24. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities

REQUEST FOR BIDS

STRUCTURAL REPAIR & RELATED SERVICES

3137 WHITTIER STREET

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63115

ISSUED SEPTEMBER 5, 2024 RESPONSES DUE SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

The Land Reutilization Authority of the City of St. Louis, MO (LRA) is seeking sealed Bids from qualified firms for structural repair and related work.

Selected firm(s) will stabilize and repair the building at 3137 Whittier Street. There is a Pre Bid Meeting scheduled September 16th at 9:30 a.m. at 1520 Market Street, Suite 2000.

Sealed Bids may be submitted via STL Permits at https://www.stlcitypermits.com/ or by hard copy at 1520 Market Street Suite 2000 St. Louis, Missouri 63103 (Attention: General Contractors), until 3:00 PM on September 26, 2024, at which time there will be a public bid opening.

The full invitation and all other documents may be downloaded at: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/ procurement.cfm

INVITATION TO BID

The Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit is currently soliciting proposal for CCB Plaster Ceiling Repairs under the direction of the Circuit Court in the Civil Court Building, 10 N. Tucker Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri 63101; The Request for Proposal is available on the Court’s website http://www. stlcitycircuitcourt.com, click on General Information, then Request for Proposals.

Proposals must be received no later than 10 a.m. on October 8, 2024.

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Great Rivers Greenway is requesting qualifications for IT Services & Hardware.

Go to www. greatriversgreenway. org/jobs-bids/ for details and submit by September 27,2024.

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for the South County ARPA Multiple Sewer Improvements and the South County ARPA Multiple Sewer Improvements-Phase II, St. Louis County Project Nos. AR/CR-1891 and AR/CR-1902, 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 October 2, 2024.

Plans and specifications will be available on September 2, 2024 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouiscountymo.gov) or by contacting Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies, 2731 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118 (314) 678-0087.

DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ST. LOUIS, COUNTY

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

A public meeting for the Pennsylvania Avenue Resurfacing Project, St. Louis County Project No. AR-1824, Federal Project No. STBG9901(686) will be held on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Carter Commons Food Hall located at 6746 Page Avenue, St. Louis MO, 63133.

The goal of this meeting is to inform the public and local stakeholders of St. Louis County’s plans to resurface and provide ADA improvements to Pennsylvania Avenue from Route D to Route 180. Additionally, a road diet will be implemented creating one lane in each direction to allow for the extension of bike lanes throughout the corridor.

The public meeting will be co-hosted by MoDOT who will have updated information and plans on Route D (Page Ave) from Pennsylvania Avenue to the Kienlen/Skinker intersection. The following QR code will link to the in-person meeting information on the St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works website:

https://bit.ly/3SV6T76

SOLICITING ELECTRONIC BIDS

Great Rivers Greenway is soliciting electronic bids for Demolition & Site Cleanup. Go to www. greatriversgreenway. org/jobs-bids/ for details and submit by September 27, 2024.

Great Rivers Greenway is requesting qualifications for Grant Support Services. Go to www. greatriversgreenway. org/jobs-bids/ for details and submit by September 27,2024.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Donald Maggi Inc. is accepting bids from Disadvantaged Business Enterprises for subcontracting opportunities on project: Replace 29 Basic Sites with 25 New Premium Sites, Lake of the Ozark State Park, Kaiser MO. Project No.: X2316-01 Bid Date and Time: 1:30 pm July 18, 2024 Plans/Specification is available via Dropbox or google drive or https:// missouribuys.mo.gov Contact Donald Maggi Inc. at 573-364-7733 or email maggiconst@gmail.com Donald Maggi Inc.

RFQ PROFESSIONAL DESIGN SERVICES

The School District of University City is seeking design services for a variety of Proposition U projects. Email DeAna Carter Dcarter@ kwamebuildinggroup.com for more information. Deadline for intent to respond and questions is September 6th at 10am. RFQ response due September 13th, 2024, at 10am.

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Repave Parking Lot at Professional Registration Building, Project No. O2364-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, September 17, 2024 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

ADVERTISEMENT/NOTICE

McCownGordon Construction is soliciting bids for the Missouri S&T –Advance Research Center (ARC) Addition and Renovation project, located at 500 St. Patrick’s Ln., Rolla, MO 65409. The scopes of work include Structural Steel, Site Utilities, Curtain Wall, and Elevator.

The bids will be submitted electronically through Building Connected by 2:00pm October 3rd, 2024, or by physical delivery; please submit in sealed envelope to Missouri S&T General Service Building, 1701 Spruce Dr, Rolla, MO 65409. If the bid date extends, an announcement will be made through Building Connected.

Contractors and sub-contractors may obtain bid documents and information about pre-bid events on or after September 5th, 2024, by emailing Kyle Pryor, kpryor@mccowngordon.com

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

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

A public hearing will be held at 5:45 p.m., September 19, 2024, at

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace Rooftop Units 5-7-8-9 and Server Room Air Conditioners, Lottery Headquarters, Project No. N2301-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/26/24. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities

$1,270,417,772

TOTAL $5,348,435,500

NOW LEASING-THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF EAST ST. LOUIS

Income Based/Income Restrictions

1

9XX Canaan 63147 $850/mo Section 8 Ok 314-568-5267

ROOMS FOR RENT Midtown, near downtown, $150-$600/mo W/D, All Util., Heat Cent. Air, Cable TV, Internet, Off Str. Park. 314-397-8422

FURN. ROOM FOR RENT Text Ms. Low for Details 314-280-4226 or 773-280-7475

Apartments 2, 3, 4, 5 Bedrooms and Single-family houses available. Visit our website at eslha.org to complete an on-line application or contact our leasing department at (618) 646-7131 for additional information. ROOM FOR RENT $600/mo, utilities included, Close to buslines, North City, Leave Message 314-283-5874

SEALED BIDS

OA-FMDC, State of MO will have the following MO National Guard projects that will be open for public bid through September 2024, subject to available funding. When released, bid documents will be available at https:// oa.mo.gov/facilities/ T2329-01 AVCRAD HVAC Repairs, Blade & Paint Shop T2333-01 Joplin Readiness Ctr Construct Addtn T2336-01 Ike Skelton Training Site Construct Addtn T2407-01 St Joe Rosecrans Bldg 25 Renovs

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Crime Lab-Exterior Renovations Troop-H Headquarters Building, Project No. R2338-01will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, September 10, 2024. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities

www.stlamerican.com

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE:

Advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, imitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial\ status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination. “We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.”

Call Angelita Houston at 314-289-5430 or email ahouston@stlamerican.com to place your ads today!