November 7th, 2024 edition

St. LouiS AmericAn

Faith at 50

Pastor Nunn a Bethel Christian Worship Center icon

By Ashley Winters

St. Louis American

“I didn’t foresee myself as a pastor”, said Pastor Curtis Nunn Sr. who is celebrating 50 years of pastoral service at Bethel Christian Worship Center in East St. Louis Illinois.

Nunn was just 19 years old when he became the pastor of Bethel Christian Worship Center. Nunn was a sophomore at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign studying electrical engineering and computer science. But as the old saying goes ‘Man plans, and God laughs’. The summer before his junior year of college Nunn started to experience the pull of his spiritual calling.

“It’s been a journey,” said the pastor, describing the last 50 years of pastoring at Bethel Church. There have been ups and downs, and being in East St. Louis has not always been the easiest call to mentor and serve those in his community.

But what keeps Nunn grounded is knowing this is his calling and will give it his all to ensure he is doing God’s will. The father of six adult children and 13 grandchildren, Nunn and his wife Kimberly

Wesley Bell breezes to victory

Who will replace him as County prosecutor?

By Ashley Winters

The St. Louis American

Following his expected victory in the race for the 1st Congressional District seat, St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell said he is recommending someone from his leadership team to be named to replace him.

B

Bell said two of his current staffers, who he did not identify, have expressed interest in the position, but added, “At the end of the day it’s [St. Louis County Executive] Sam Page’s decision to make and I’ll be here to support that decision in every way I can.”

Page confirmed that the application process would begin this week, and

applications are available online at stlouiscountymo.gov.

“There are a whole lot of people in the community that are interested, and a whole lot of people that are advocating for specific characteristics,” said Page.

By Keith Boykin Word in Black

Buckle up, folks. We’re in for a bumpy ride. Election Day is over. What happened? How did it happen? Why did it happen? What could we have done differently? What does this mean for the future? And what do we do next?

What happened?

Donald Trump won the presidential race, handily. Republicans won control of the U.S. Senate, and, as of Wednesday afternoon Nov. 6, it looked as though the GOP will retain control of the House of Representatives.

How did it happen?

The early exit polls show Trump’s three strongest groups were white men (59%), Hispanic men (54%), and white women (52%). In Georgia, it was even worse. One exit poll said that 69% of white women voted for Trump. Even after he took away their reproductive rights and was found liable for sexual assault, most white women voters still chose patriarchy over their own liberation. Kamala Harris’ three strongest groups

n “Tonight, we’re pulling off a win!” – Love Holt, long-time abortion rights advocate

Tuesday night. Joined by supporters of Proposition A, the measure to raise

NUNN, A7

The

St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell embraces his cousin, John McIntosh, after Bell defeated Republican Andrew Jones Jr. soundly to represent Missouri’s 1st Congressional District on Tuesday.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Pastor Curtis Nunn Sr., who is celebrating 50 years of pastoral service at Bethel Christian Worship Center in East St. Louis Illinois, was just 19 years old when he became the church’s pastor.

Photo by Cristina Fletes-Mach / St. Louis Public Radio

Prince’s sister passes at 64

Tyka Nelson, a Minneapolis singer and sister of late music icon Prince passed away on Monday, November 4.

Her son, President Nelson, confirmed the death but declined to offer details. Tyka was 64.

The daughter of John L. Nelson and Mattie Shaw Nelson, Tyka Nelson was Prince’s only full sibling. Like her famous brother, she had an interest in music.

Nelson released four albums between 1988 and 2011 and was supposed to have her retirement and farewell concert in June. However, she took ill and the concert carried on without her.

Shanice is a breast cancer survivor

On the final day of breast cancer awareness month, R&B veteran Shanice appeared on “Good Morning America” to share her journey with the disease.

In her forties, the “Silent Prayer” singer was told by doctors that she had

a cancerous lump in her breast. The fear of another misdiagnosis led her to not get another mammogram for nearly nine years.

“Because of the fear that I had when they thought they saw something, I didn’t go for eight years,” Shanice, now 51, told GMA.

Shanice decided to get screened in March after feeling a lump in her breast. The lump was determined to be cancerous.

Doctors initially believed that she had an early form of breast cancer called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which is a non-invasive, stage zero cancer trapped inside the milk ducts.

Shanice decided that a double mastectomy was the best option for her and she underwent surgery in May. During the procedure, doctors discovered that she actually had a stage 1, one-centimeter tumor in her breast.

“When I had my surgery and they told me I had cancer, I literally lost my smile,” she recalled. “But I wanted to come on the show to encourage women that you have to keep smiling. I got my smile back.”

“Thank God I caught it early,” Shanice said via Instagram. “I wasn’t ready to talk about it then but I’m strong enough to

talk about it now. Please, everyone get checked.

Judge blocks dismissal request of T.I. and Tiny in Sabrina Peterson lawsuit

According to In Touch Magazine, A judge denied rapper T.I. Harris and his wife Tiny’s attempt to dismiss the remaining claims in their ex-friend Sabrina Peterson’s lawsuit.

Court documents obtained by the outlet say the court refused the couple’s plea to toss the case due to Peterson failing to pay the nearly $100k she owes them in legal fees at a hearing on October 21. The judge warned Peterson if she doesn’t cough up the $96,000, she could face contempt if T.I. and Tiny, 49, ask for it. He also noted that the December 14 trial date is “firm.”

According to In Touch, a lawyer for T.I. and Tiny proclaimed their innocence – and slammed Sabrina in court documents – and said that Peterson “has a reputation for being unscrupulous.”

Young Thug released from jail

Jeffery Williams, better known as rapper

Young Thug was granted his freedom on Thursday, October 31. His release came after 150-plus days of trial and two-plus years inside of the Fulton County Jail.

According to WSBTV.com, Williams, who has been in jail since 2022 for a sprawling Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act indictment in Fulton County, pleaded guilty as part of a non-negotiated plea in the YSL RICO case.

In his plea agreement, Williams was sentenced under the first offender/ conditional discharge statute where he was sentenced to a total of 40 years, with the first five years in prison. The sentence was commuted to time served, followed by 15 years on probation, followed by 20 backloaded years in prison.

Should Williams complete the full 15 years of probation, the backloaded portion of the sentence will be commuted to time served.

WSBTV also reported that special conditions of his parole include a 10-year restriction from the Atlanta region. The only exceptions are if he is attending a wedding, funeral or graduation or medical emergency of an immediate family member.

Sources: Instagram.com, People. com, WSBTV.com, Intouch.com, Rollingstone.com, goodmorningamerica.com

By Alvin A. Reid

St. Louis American

As the last two months of his acclaimed tenure at the helm of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis conclude, the work of president and CEO Flint Fowler to expand its reach throughout the region was on display during the 30th Annual Great Futures Gala on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at the Big Top in Grand Center.

During the event, hosted by KSDK Newschannel 5 morning anchor Rene Knott, BGCSTL announced that the 2024-25 Youth of the Year award recipient is 17-year Austin Nichols, a long-time member of the Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto, Ill.

The Youth of the Year is the non-profit’s signature youth recognition program celebrating recipients’ contributions to their club, family, school, and community. It is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive.

Nichols will represent the club for the remainder of 2024 and 2025 as a brand ambassador, receive a $5,000 scholarship, use of a car courtesy of Frank Leta Automotive for a year and dinner at the Saint Louis Club.

He said he appreciates the leadership opportunities that BGCSTL has afforded him and fellow club members. Despite his hectic school activities,

and field seasons, he seldom misses a day at the Bethalto Club.

“Being a leader in the club is important to me. My favorite program is leadership clubs, specifically Keystone Club,” said Nichols.

During his award acceptance speech, Nichols said he enjoyed working with the Torch Club, learning leadership and feeling accomplished in volunteerism and community service.

Nichols plans to join the U.S. Air Force and then obtain a Doctorate in Computer Science.

“Throughout my time at the Club, I’ve learned a lot of things, and I have gotten better at a lot of gym games like basketball and volleyball, but most important to me is that the Club has helped me to grow to become the good person I am today,” he said.

Nichols’ fellow Youth of the Year finalists are also outstanding teens who serve the community. Each will receive scholarship funds. Congratulations to the following:

Second place winner ($2,500)

– Destiny Henry is a University City High School senior and has been a Teen Center of Excellence member for four years. Her future goals include attending college to study premed, researching non-opioid pain treatment, and working as an anesthesia resident. She also

is to make a significant breakthrough in treatments for Sickle Cell patients like her mother.

Third place winner ($1,000)

- D’Aura Tatum is a junior at McCluer North Senior High School. She plans to become a licensed cosmetologist, attend college and study nursing. A Club member for the past 10 years, Tatum says she loves the club’s SMART Girls program. “It brings girls together and focuses on teaching us life skills.”

Fourth place winner ($500) –Alex Sargent is a 13–year Club member, Alex says she plans to become an entrepreneur and cosmetologist. She also wants to pursue a business degree. Her favorite Boys & Girls activity is Keystone Club. “Keystone Club has offered me so many opportunities and resources.” She says

A celebration of youth Make Christmas Brighter

guidance, leadership, and confidence.”

“Congratulations to the ambitious, amazing Final Four,” said Fowler.

“What a magical evening.” Fowler announced earlier this year that he would retire at the end of 2024.

More than 500 guests attended the celebration, and honored Fowler’s legacy of growing Boys & Girls Club from one site to 12.

The Clubs serve youth across the region at the Adams Park Club, Bentwood Townhomes Bethalto Club, Lovejoy Club, Hazelwood Elementary School Club, Herbert Hoover Club, Mathews-Dickey Club, O’Fallon Park Club, Riverview Gardens Club, Hazelwood Southeast Middle School Club and the Teen Center of Excellence).

Mentor St. Louis and the St. Louis Internship Program.

Under Fowler, the annual operating budget grew from $800,000 to its current $6 million. BGCSTL serves more than 14,000 youth each year.

For his achievements, Alderwoman Shameem Clark Hubbard, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, and St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page proclaimed Oct. 24 as Dr. Flint Fowler Great Futures Day. Fowler thanked the “dedicated event committee,” which included co-chairs Julie and Tom Donnelly, Angelleen Peters Lewis and Keith Galloway, and Megan and Curtis Ridgeway.

“We also thank our sponsors, including Presenting Sponsors Dowd Bennett LLP and Emerson and Platinum Sponsors Charles Schwab, Jim Butler, and Edward

Photo by Lance Thurman / Courtesy BGCSTL

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis celebrated its Youth of the Year and finalists during the 30th Annual Great Futures Gala on Thursday Oct. 24, 2024, at the Big Top in Grand Center. From left are Alex Sergent, fourth place; D’Aura Tatum, third place; Flint Fowler, BGC president and CEO; Destiny Henry, second place; and 2024 Youth of Year Austin Nichols.

Guest Editorial

Black America has no true allies Trump still accountable to ‘Exonerated Five’ Commentary

By Stacy M. Brown

Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a St. Louis native, spoke words early Wednesday which mirrored Shirley Chisholm’s groundbreaking observation decades ago: “Of the two handicaps, being Black is much less of a handicap than being a female.”

Crockett’s reflection on Donald Trump’s resounding victory over Vice President Kamala Harris pointed to what many saw as a dissonance between the candidate and the country’s decision.

Crockett highlighted Harris’s qualifications, intelligence, and kindness compared to Trump, yet acknowledged the public’s apparent preference for fear over progress.

highlights the significant influence of race on the election outcome.”

“A majority of white women and men expressed reluctance towards having another Black president in office, regardless of the individual’s qualifications.”

Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation,” wrote, “Black people are relatively well prepared for what’s about to happen because it’s happened to us before. America has done this to us before.”

“As I said many times on the trail, this election was more about us and what it is that we wanted for our future… and well PROJECT 2025 is loading,” she warned, referencing the former president’s sweeping agenda.

For many African Americans, Trump’s victory felt like an isolating moment, a reaffirmation of what they’ve long suspected: their allies were never permanent.

Bishop Talbert Swan, a prelate in the Church of God in Christ serving the Vermont Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, put it bluntly on social media: “There is no Black/brown coalition…Latinos voted on the side of white supremacy. We’re in this by ourselves.”

Swan’s words echo the sentiments of many Black voters who watched as Latino support for Trump surged, even as his platform targeted marginalized communities. Meanwhile, Black voters were again held to their high standard of loyalty to the Democratic Party, only to feel abandoned as alliances dissolved and communities prioritized their own survival.

“Black people are tired,” shared journalist Kathia Woods on Let It Be Known, the Black Press of America’s daily news broadcast. This sentiment of exhaustion has been echoed across social media, Washington Informer journalist Anthony Tilghman tweeted “This presidential race

Actor Wendell Pierce, reflecting on Trump’s influence on the Supreme Court, tweeted, “The Supreme Court will be changed for a generation. I’ll never see a moderate court again in my lifetime.”

Actor Yvette Nicole Brown warned that the Black community will not be the only one to suffer Trump’s wrath.

“The rest of you are about to be shocked by how America treats you when it doesn’t care about you… The find out phase has begun,” she posted.

The sense of betrayal was palpable in many reflections. Mystal captured this frustration, stating, “Watching Latinos chase model minority status has never sat well with Black people, but this is a wound the Black community won’t soon forget.” The solidarity once hoped for among marginalized groups seems distant, fractured along lines of race, ideology, and self-interest.

University of South Carolina Professor Sueanna Smith weighed in on this political moment.

“There is a reason why educated people vote Blue. What we’re seeing is the uneducated population of America holding the rest of the country hostage. This is why there’s such a push to weaken education, ban books, and outlaw the teaching of Black history by the Republican Party.”

As Mystal aptly put it, “One thing I do worry about, is that the ‘solidarity’ between ‘people of color’ has been significantly damaged. Black people have learned that all we have is each other.”

Stacy M. Brown is senior writer and columnist for the Washington Informer

By Marc Morial

“Starting when I was 15, my life was not my own. For years, I had no control over what happened to me. Being in the spotlight makes me wary and self-conscious again. I am overwhelmed with fear that an overzealous Trump supporter might take matters into his or her hands. Doing something simple like picking up dinner for the family or going to the aquarium now fills me with dread. I’m constantly looking over my shoulder, keeping an eye out for people who stare too long. Like a soldier always on high alert, I can never enjoy myself fully, with all the adrenaline that comes with that. It’s a scary feeling.”

— Yusef Salaam

Matias Reyes violently raped a 28-year-old woman who was jogging in Central Park on April 19, 1989. He beat her so badly that she remained in a coma for 12 days.

assaults were not killed.”

Reyes confessed to the attack in 2002. DNA evidence confirmed his guilt. The five men wrongly convicted of that brutal attack and another assault the same night were cleared of all wrongdoing.

But Donald Trump, newly elected 47th President of the United States, advocated for their execution before they had been indicted and can’t stop lying about them.

During the Sept. 10 presidential debate, Trump falsely claimed, “They pled guilty. And I said, well, if they pled guilty, they badly hurt a person, killed a person ultimately.”

Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Antron Brown and Korey Wise — now known as the Exonerated Five — recently sued Trump for defamation.

“At the Sept. 10, 2024, presidential debate, Defendant Trump falsely stated that Plaintiffs killed an individual and pled guilty to the crime. These statements are demonstrably false. Plaintiffs never pled guilty to any crime and were subsequently cleared of all wrongdoing. Further, the victims of the Central Park

Trump can hardly claim ignorance about the case. In 2013, he attacked the acclaimed documentary “The Central Park Five” as “a one-sided piece of garbage.” When New York City reached a $41 million settlement with the exonerated men in 2014, Trump penned a guest editorial in the “New York Daily News” calling the settlement “a disgrace.” A 2019 television miniseries about the case, “When They See Us,” was streamed by more than 23 million viewers within a month of its release and was one of the most celebrated television dramas of the year. In the immediate aftermath of the Central Park attack, Trump spent a reported $85,000 to place a full-page ad in four New York City newspapers on May 1, 1989, calling for a reinstatement of the death penalty and decrying “roving bands of wild criminals” — an unmistakable reference to the teens, who had already been dubbed “The Wolf Pack.”

Trump’s ad “contributed to an atmosphere that deprived these men of a fair trial,” according to Barry Scheck, a founder of Innocence Project and one of the lawyers who worked with prosecutors to reinvestigate the case.

“He was the firestarter,” Salaam said. He was 15 at the time of his arrest and served seven years in prison.

Salaam, now a New York City Council member, tried to correct Trump’s false statement and seek an apology immediately after the debate. According to the lawsuit, Salaam approached Trump in the post-debate “spin room” and said, “President Trump, I’m Yusef Salaam, one of the Exonerated Five. How are you doing?”

Trump inexplicably responded, “Ah, you’re on my side then.” Salaam responded, “No, no, no, I’m not on your side.”

Trump waved his hand and walked away.

Marc Morial is president and CEO of the National Urban League

Commentary

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By Panama Jackson

Like a great many people, I was up until about 3 a.m. Wednesday, nauseously waiting for confirmation of dread I began to feel earlier in the night.

America had once again elected Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States of America. When I went to sleep, that fact wasn’t certain, but by the time I woke up at 6 a.m. to get my kids ready for school and share the results, all news outlets ensured Wednesday was not going to be a good day.

Tuesday, November 5, 2024, started out so promising.

My wife, an alumna of Howard University, took three of my children to vote with her, full of pride and confidence. My sons got to watch their mother cast her presidential ballot for a woman who walked the same campus yard she did. They saw the possibility. They saw promise. They saw the future.

Trump—again—with all of the information we have about him. I have a daughter this country failed back in 2016 when somehow, someway, Hillary Clinton lost the election to Trump. Kamala’s loss feels so much more personal now because the woman who lost to such a horrible human being looks like my daughter.

It’s a painful morning in African America. I’m a Black man. While I think the narrative that Black men refused to vote for a Black woman is overblown, more Black men voted for Trump this election than the last one. Some Black men just can’t vote for a woman, much less a Black woman.

My wife voted for Kamala Harris not just because she went to Howard University, but because she’s a woman and a mother and because the future of this nation, as always, depends on women and mothers to ensure its survival. Especially, Black women.

Also, because the other guy is a racist, misogynistic, xenophobic felon who shouldn’t even be allowed to run for the highest office in the land. But here we are today, having to explain to our children this hurtful reality of Trump’s return, trying to mask as much of the pain as possible to not kill their joy and innocence.

We told our kids matter-of-factly that Trump had been elected president, but honestly I wanted to yell and scream about what kind of country we live in that would so overwhelmingly vote for

Black women showed up and showed out for Kamala, but not just for Kamala, but for the possibility. For the potential. For the dream. I hurt for the Black women I know, love, and consider to be family and friends, who get constant reminders that America is not interested in their strength and might.

I hope all Black women I know are able to find some solace today, tomorrow and in the coming months. From where? I don’t know. Probably just from one another.

America is more than ready for a woman to lead. America is more than ready for a Black woman to lead. But being ready for it and being able to make it a possibility are two entirely different things.

Thank you, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, for a race well run and for giving us a new form of belief in what could be. For now, we’ll all be waiting for morning.

Panama Jackson is a columnist for TheGrio which originally published this commentary

Columnist Marc Morial

Columnist Stacy M. Brown

Bernard Chapman of Belleville West (first place) and Bryce Smith of Chaminade

claimed 2024 Paul Simon Youth Leadership and Character awards during the SIU-Carbondale Metro East Leadership Weekend

2-3, 2024. Anum Aningo was also honored for bravery and commitment to overcoming adversity. From left are: Chapman, Paul Simon Institute Director John Shaw, Aningo, Smith, and Dr. Linda Renee Baker.

Metro East Youth Leadership Weekend held Nov. 2-3

St. Louis American

The Southern Illinois UniversityCarbondale Paul Simon Public Policy Institute hosted its 19th Metro East Youth Leadership Weekend Nov. 2-3, welcoming over 40 Black males, grades eight through 12 on the SIU-C campus.

The 2024 theme was “Leadership: Young Men Making Your Mark in a Digital Age.” The students engaged in activities designed to promote career awareness, servant leadership and political involvement.

John Shaw, Policy Institute director, said the Leadership Weekend is one of its key programs.

“It’s very inspiring to see these young men work together and develop leadership skills that will grow and flourish in the years to come. The alumni of this program are hugely impressive and underscore the power of this

leadership weekend,” said Shaw.

Alderman Ronnie Mosley, who represents Chicago’s 21st Ward, delivered Saturday’s keynote address. He is Chicago’s youngest alderperson and serves one of the city’s largest south side wards.

The late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, who founded the institute along with then-associate director Mike Lawrence and SIU-C professor Linda Renee Baker, established the program in November 2003.

“I’m delighted to welcome this group of students back to campus as we continue advancing Paul Simon’s mission to build African American male leadership in the Metro East area,” Baker said.

“Our program’s success over the years is due to the crucial support of our community partners. Their continued support makes all the difference, and this year will be no exception.”

Acknowledging ‘brown-skin privilege’

By Camike Jones

I admit it. I have brown-skinned privilege.

I recognize this as a privilege — not because I have won some prize but because of the challenges I have not faced. I have seen what my darker and lighter brothers and sisters have had to endure, and there were times when, from my perspective, it was awful.

I was never once teased about my skin color while others, both dark and light, were.

I never had to explain my Blackness. I never had to explain my hair type. No one questions my ethnicity or my parentage. My nose is broad. My lips are full. I am very clearly Black.

I would not pass the paper bag test, a process by which a person’s skin color is measured to determine if it is lighter or darker than a paper bag. I’m darker.

I have many loved ones who would pass this test, but they have never treated me any differently.

While I have been able to enjoy a sense of neutrality, safe from the bitterness of colorism, I know and care for other people who do not share this privilege.

I have loved ones who are regularly asked to explain who they are. They are asked why their hair is the way it is or why they look one way, and their parents look another way. Having to explain themselves is a constant burden. Every new space brings new questions and new judgments.

To be honest, I have quite enjoyed this brown-skinned privilege of mine. It feels good to not be challenged in this area (though I am challenged in many other areas; people strongly believe I am short no matter how much I tell them otherwise). When it comes to my skin color, I get to sit out of the colorism fight.

Of course, it is disheartening to see people I care for being made fun of because of the skin they were born in.

I watched the documentaries, “Dark Girls” and “Light Girls.” I was enlightened. I learned the ways both groups have been mistreated. But when it was all said and done, I was still safely brown, and it was not my issue.

Are the feelings I have about my “brown-skinned privilege” the same as how some white people feel? You can see non-white people being mistreated. Maybe even feel badly for them. Maybe even speak up from time to time, join a march on their behalf, or write an editorial in a Black-owned newspaper.

You can see others being unfairly judged, disadvantaged, left out, othered, ignored, harmed or even murdered. But if this mistreatment will not happen to you, you can sit the whole race thing out.

There are times when being in the majority race may not be an advantage. However, overall, the number of obstacles not faced because of skin color outweigh the ones that do exist.

For me, brown-skinned privilege is the one I felt surest of, never having to worry about where I stood within the Black community.

We all need to check our privilege and take a deeper look into the times we sit down when we, because of whichever privilege we hold, could be standing up for someone else.

Camike Jones is Indianapolis Recorder editor-in-chief

College Prep (runner up)

Nov.

Photo courtesy of Paul Simon Institute

Camike Jones

Continued from A1

crowd went from raucous to wary in a matter of moments. Still, with the passage of Amendment 3, which overturned the state’s harsh abortion ban that provides no exceptions for rape or incest, hope remained in the air.

Seventh Ward Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier said, “I’m excited about reproductive access being available to Missouri women again.”

“We know that when people don’t have access, they die. Missouri has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country so this is really important.

“Love Holt, a long-time abortion rights advocate and intervention specialist with the Community Wellness project was ecstatic as positive numbers rolled in.

“I’ve come up from the Peabody Projects and have been telling women for years that we’ve got to get activated. Black and Brown women especially need to have safe access to abortions. I’m sad that we have to be in this place right now, but tonight, we’re pulling off a win!”

Nathaniel McBride, a 25-year-old St. Louis County resident, canvassed for the first time during the

Bell

Continued from A1

“I’m just going to let the process work and let people apply.” said Page.

To qualify for the office, a candidate must be a Democrat (Bell’s party), a licensed practicing attorney in Missouri for at least five years and resident of the county for at least three years before assuming office.

Bell a big winner

Bell was declared the winner over Republican challenger Andrew Jones by 8:30 p.m., and finished

2024 campaign, working for passage of Amendment 3 and Proposition A.

“We’re living in very radical times. I’ve always been politically-minded but this time I wanted to take action” McBride said, giving special emphasis on the abortion ban.

“I feel the attacks on a few will result in attacks on us all.”

In June 2022, with the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, Missouri outlawed abortions, with the only exception being saving the mother’s life literally making all abortions illegal.This ban made it a class B felony for any person who performed or induced an abortion.

Suzette Newman, who works with the local ACLU, was pleased with the early numbers indicating Amendment 3’s passage. Health concerns for women is her major motivator.

“There have been a lot of ladies that really need abortions that have been dying,” said Suzette Newman, who works with the local ACLU, citing a case where a woman’s life was drastically altered.

“She actually got so sick because she couldn’t have an abortion, her uterus was so messed up she will never be able to have babies anymore and that’s sad.”

The Associated Press

with 76% of the vote. Jones received just 18.3%. The celebration kicked off at Vue 17 in Brentwood with Bell declaring victory.

“We are much more alike than our politics may conceive, people ultimately want the same thing. A chance to work and live healthier and have brighter futures for their children and grandchildren,” said Bell said during his speech.

Bell told supporters he would never forget his ‘why’

“To deliver results for you,” he said. He plans to expand opportunities for 1st Congressional District

called the vote for the amendment shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday, with the amendment passing by a 52.3% to 47.6% margin.

The amendment’s passage, according to Jasmine Williams, manager of organizing campaigns for Planned ParenthoodGreat Rivers, is good for Missouri.

“Anything that involves a woman’s right to choose options for herself will always be important to me. Black women are

residents and “leveling the playing field” by lowering housing costs and making it easier to start a business.

“We have to protect everyone’s rights and freedoms,” he told the crowd. Bell, who is headed to a House with a Republican majority, said he intends to pass common sense gun safety laws, increase access to quality and affordable health care, and support climate resilience legislation.

“I’m telling you right now I’m ready to work,” he told his supporters.

Page said Bell represents the needs of the community and believes he will do a good job as a congressman.

already disenfranchised when it comes to healthcare so I want to make sure that in times when we are at our most vulnerable, we have the access we need.”

The amendment to the state constitution will take effect 30 days after the election, on Dec. 5.

Amendment 2 narrowly passes Missouri voters have approved Amendment 2, which allows sports gam-

Supporter P.K. Key said Bell is helping bridge the gap between police and the community. She hopes he will protect women’s reproductive rights on the federal level and push for better education policies.

“I want someone there that can work cohesively in government,” said Key. “When I look across this room and see the diversity, this is what this region is about,” said Bell. Bell made history in 2018 when he became the first African American to serve as the St. Louis County prosecuting attorney unseating his predecessor, 28-year incumbent Bob McCulloch.

After a contentious

Gabriella Love speaks as proposition 2 is called at the Marriott on Grand on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

bling in the state.

The measure passed by about 7,500 votes, according to unofficial results reported Wednesday morning by the Missouri Secretary of State’s office.

The amendment calls for a 10% sales tax on all collected gambling revenue to be directed toward funding education and the compulsive gambling fund.

The Missouri Gaming Commission will now be in charge of enforcing

Democratic primary campaign against incumbent Cori Bush, in which he was supported by Israelibacked organizations and some Republicans, Bell was a commanding favorite to win the seat.

As prosecutor, Bell created a violent crimes unit dedicated to combating violent crime, restructured the county domestic violence team, and created an auto theft task force. He also expanded diversion programs for low-level, non-violent offenders struggling with mental health issues and opioid and substance abuse disorders with a nearly 90% success rate.

Keisha Lee, CEO of

gambling regulations on operators.

“Every day, tens of thousands of Missourians are betting on sports, either on illegal offshore websites or they’re going to one of our seven neighboring states,” Jack Cardetti, spokesperson for Winning for Missouri Education said before the election.

“As it currently stands, Missouri is getting no benefit out of that.”

Amendment 6 loses by wide margin

The amendment to allow court fees to fund law enforcement retirement benefits was soundly defeated. It would have allowed Missouri’s court system to impose costs and fees on court cases to help fund salaries and benefits for current and former sheriffs, prosecuting attorneys and circuit attorneys.

Amendment 7 is approved Missouri voters added a constitutional provision that prevents ranked choice voting. Additionally, there is a redundant provision in the ballot language that says noncitizens can’t vote in a Missouri election –which is already illegal federally and in Missouri.

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

Annie Malone Children and Family Services, feels that Bell’s work in the community shows that he is for the people. She describes him as forward-thinking in helping get resources to those in need.

“Having the advantage of having a Black man like Wesley in office–coming from where we come from that means a lot,” said Lee. “If you want something you gotta go get it,” said Bell. “I believe this job is about making sure everyone has a voice, that everyone is heard.

Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for the St. Louis American.

Photo by Namratha Prasad

Continued from A1

were Black women, Black men, and Latino women. The final numbers will change when more data comes in, but the problem is that Harris’s base (Black women, Black men, and Hispanic/Latino women) are only 18% of the electorate. But Trump’s base (white men, white women, and Hispanic/Latino men) made up 77% of the electorate. As for the Senate, Democrats held a narrow majority and faced a brutal map trying to win in red states like West Virginia, Texas, Ohio, and Montana. That’s part of the reason Harris tried to stay away from controversies that might hurt the Senate candidates.

Why did it happen?

This is a tricky question to answer before all the data is collected, so let me just say this.

Some people are blaming inflation and the economy for Trump’s success. I don’t buy that because Black voters are more negatively affected by inflation and the economy than white voters, and we voted overwhelmingly for Kamala Harris.

In fact, I don’t think it was about issues at all. If you look at policy alone, nearly all of Harris’ proposals got majority support, but only half of Trump’s did in a recent Washington Post survey. Missouri voters approved a measure to increase the minimum wage, which Harris supports, but still voted for Trump to be president. Most Florida voters cast ballots to protect abortion and legalize marijuana, even though they didn’t reach the 60% threshold for a constitutional amendment. Those are Democratic positions. Let’s be real.

Nunn

Continued from A1

Nunn are still on fire for Christ. Bethel church has a youth outreach program, and food giveaways, provides services for the unhoused, sponsors community health fairs, and donates to women’s shelters. He describes himself as a nerd and a nerd for the Word of God. He studies the Word and teaches his congregation not to leave their brains at the door when coming into

Trump doesn’t represent policy. He represents cultural resentment against a changing America. That’s what people voted for.

What could Harris have done differently?

There’s going to be a lot of debate about campaign strategy, but it’s too early to draw definitive conclusions. Republican David Urban complained that Harris should have run a more centrist campaign. I disagree. She bent over backward to accommodate centrists and Republicans. Critics on the left argue that she should have run a more progressive campaign to motivate the base, and that’s complicated, too, because

the church. His sermons have gained popularity over the years and were featured on WESL radio station in East St. Louis. The 50-year pastor had a segment called Moments of Deliverance for three years that were broadcast in Topeka Kansas.

His mentorship helped other members start their churches in the Metro East, being a pastor for 50 years has required Nunn to be creative and think outside the box, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic–he had to rely on technology to preach the Word of God. He uses

doing so would have cost Democrats the Senate in those tough red states.

As a Black woman, Harris had little more than 100 days to introduce herself to the public and mount a presidential campaign against a powerful white man who is a former president bankrolled by the richest man in the world, Elon Musk. Despite those obstacles, she raised a billion dollars, drew huge crowds, and generated excitement in a race that was lifeless before she entered.

Nothing mattered because it was never about issues. White America has been lecturing Black people about crime, morality, and patriotism for years, and then they vote for a

social media to reach the younger generations.

Reaching young people was something Nunn was familiar with– at 19 when he started leading his church after the unexpected death of his mentor and pastor, Pastor Henry Phillips Sr. he said it was like Pastor Phillips was prepping him to lead his church. He had just pre-registered for his third year of college and was pretty excited about that.

But one day he drove to the White Castle at Natural Bridge and Kingshighway to grab some lunch and he started telling God in the

convicted criminal, sex offender, and insurrectionist to be president.

No Black person or woman with Trump’s track record and two impeachments could ever be nominated, much less elected president. That’s why it’s not about policy. It’s about race and gender and the changing America. Donald Trump is the avatar of white supremacy.

What does this mean for the future?

Trump can appoint a new attorney general who will fire Special Counsel Jack Smith and dismiss the criminal charges against Trump for the January 6 insurrection and stealing government documents.

parking lot his plans for his life. He wanted to get his degree in engineering, obtain his pilot’s license, and preach when he had time. He began to pray and said ‘If this is your will God for me to pastor then I’d rather do your will than my own’. At that moment Nunn said he felt convicted by God and dedicated his life to pastoring Bethel church. He became the youngest pastor in the Eastern Missouri and Western Illinois jurisdiction of the Church of God In Christ. The then19-year-old didn’t have a lot of resources to begin

With a Republican Senate, Trump will be able to appoint several new Supreme Court justices, who will be young enough to give Republicans control of the Supreme Court for the next 20-25 years.

Trump has also promised to abolish the Department of Education, bring back stop-and-frisk policing, and give law enforcement immunity from prosecution, so be ready for that too.

What do we do next?

Hakeem Jeffries will now become the leader of the opposition in Congress. And there is some good news in the results. Josh Stein defeated “Black Nazi”

his journey, and he didn’t want his age to hinder his calling. He was always told he was wise beyond his years and that characteristic helped him lead a church that had members much older than him.

He uses 1 Timothy 4:12 KJV as a point of reference– “ Let no man despise thy youth but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

With that in mind, he decided to not ‘preach’ to his congregation but instead share the teachings of the Bible.

A supporter waiting during an election night campaign watch party for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, on the campus of Howard University in Washington.

Rochester and Angela

won

Senate seats in Delaware and Maryland. But what happens next is up to us. This is not a sprint. It’s a marathon. And no matter what happens in the days to come, I am clear and certain that we are on the right side of history. Don’t give up. Live to fight another day.

“Black Vote, Black Power,” a collaboration between Keith Boykin and Word In Black, examines the issues, the candidates, and what’s at stake for Black America in the 2024 presidential election.

“The gospel and the Word of God hasn’t changed but we had to change our procedures and our mode of operations.” said the pastor. His goal for Bethel Christian Worship Center over the next 50 years is to prepare and help equip the next leader who can take Bethel into the future.

“Part of my calling is to equip the saints to do the work of Christ,” said Pastor Nunn.

Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for the St. Louis American.

Photo courtesy of the AP

Mark Robinson in North Carolina. Lisa Blunt

Alsobrooks

respective

‘Taking

Care of You’

A cut above

Coming together for a healthier community

Kimberly Borders, a WE CARE Clinic medical assistant, checked the blood pressure level of an Illinois State Police officer during the inaugural first Fall Community Health Festival on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, at the Alpha Complex in East St. Louis. The festival included health screenings, clothing, haircuts and health information provided by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Nursing and its WE CARE Clinic in East St. Louis.

By Alvin A. Reid

St. Louis American

Feeling good and looking good went hand-in-hand in the Metro East during the first Fall Community Health Festival on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, at the Alpha Complex in East St. Louis.

More than 200 residents were treated to free health screenings, clothing, haircuts and health information provided Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Nursing (SON), along with its WE CARE Clinic in East St. Louis.

The Metro East St. Louis Community Initiative and Delta Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., were also instrumental in hosting the inaugural festival.

A painless lung cancer test can save lives

By Dr. Graham A. Colditz Siteman Cancer Center

Our progress against lung cancer is something to celebrate. Millions of lives have been saved in the U.S. alone since rates of smoking began to drop in the mid-1960s. And as smoking continues to become less common and treatment improves, we expect to gain even more ground against the disease.

n Like other recommended cancer screening tests, lowdose CT helps find cancer earlier when it’s more treatable.

One key tool helping to make that happen is yearly lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography, or low-dose CT. A low-dose CT scan is a quick and simple screening test recommended for people ages 50-80 who are at increased risk of lung cancer because they smoke or have smoked within the past 15 years. People are eligible if they’ve smoked what amounts to one pack a day for 20 years, or half a pack a day for 40 years. Like other recommended cancer screening tests, lowdose CT helps find cancer earlier when it’s more treatable. Studies have found that yearly screening can lower the risk of dying of lung cancer by up to 20%. That’s a large benefit — like what we see with mammograms and breast cancer.

“It also addresses basic needs like clothing and food, improving physical well-being while fostering community trust and empowerment, all of which contributes to the overall quality of

See HEALTH FAIR, A9

“Hosting a health fair in East St. Louis, or any underserved area, is essential because it provides critical health screenings and resources that help identify and address health issues,” said Myjal Garner, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, assistant professor and WE CARE Clinic interim director.

It’s also a major advance. Becoming widely available for lung cancer screening about 10 years ago, low-dose CT is the only screening method that’s been found to lower the risk of dying of lung cancer. While other types of tests, like standard chest X-rays, can be good at helping find many types of

See COLDITZ, A9

Homer G. Phillips Public Health Lecture helps illuminate St. Louis’ dark past

Nurses Alumni lawsuit discussed

By JoAnn Weaver St. Louis American

The legal battle against controversial developer Paul McGee to remove the words “Homer G. Phillips Hospital” from his three-bed urgent care center will continue despite a St. Louis County judge’s recent ruling.

Speaking at the 28th Homer G. Phillips Public Health Lecture Series at Washington University, Homer G. Phillips Nurses Alumni Association member Lois Jackson shared the details of the prolonged legal fight to protect African American legacy from McGee’s selfish act.

Jackson told the audience that a copyright infringement lawsuit was filed against McKee in 2022. A federal court postponed the judgment summary three times, prompting the group to change to state court.

“They are now operating without a license, but yet they’re using our name without our permission,” Jackson said.

“Both attorneys agreed that they should change from federal to state court on Feb. 24 of this year.”

“We rally in front of the facility on Jefferson every second and fourth Saturday from noon to 1 p.m., weather permitting, so if you’re available, come on down and stand on Jefferson with us.”

On Aug. 8, 2024, Circuit Court Judge Heather Cunningham ruled in McKee’s

favor and dismissed the case for trial by jury.

“We will appeal her decision and file with the appellate court in St. Louis,” Jackson said.

Knowing the importance of the ongoing case, Will Ross, MD, associate dean for diversity and the Alumni Endowed Professor of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, asked Jackson to talk about the ruling before Dr. Geoff Ward, the event’s keynote speaker, offered his address.

This year’s lecture, held in October, was titled “Towards Systemic Health Equity: The Unfinished Work of Reconstruction in St. Louis.”

Ward is a professor of African and African American studies and faculty affiliate in the department of sociology

and American cultural studies program at Washington University in St. Louis.

He directs the WashU & Slavery Project, a university initiative based in the Center for Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity in collaboration with the Consortium of Universities Studying Slavery. His research explores the histories and legacies of racialized violence and their reparative implications.

“Legacies of slavery and other historical racial violence have also been documented in public health, including disparities in cardiovascular disease and life expectancy,” Ward said.

According to Ward, a recent study found the population enslaved in the U.S. Southern counties in the 1860s is associated with shorter lifespans.

Additional research has found that “widespread declines in heart disease are

Photo courtesy of SIUE School of Nursing

Graham A. Colditz

Geoff Ward

Health Fair

Continued from A8

life.”

The WE CARE Clinic provided a range of services such as wellness exams, flu shots, blood pressure screenings and health education, according to Garner.

In addition, participants received free clothing, coats, shoes and toiletries from the WE CARE Clinic Community Resource Center, along with complimentary haircuts, hair styling, manicures, makeovers, food and more from various vendors.

Services provided by SIUE faculty and students included:

• A mental health table to educate patients about mental health awareness, hosted by SON Associate Dean Becky Luebbert, PhD, PMHCNS-BC.

• An asthma assessment table to inform participants about asthma management and enroll those with asthma in the clinic’s program. It was hosted by Kerry Basarich, instructor in Primary Care and Health Systems Nursing and WE CARE asthma coordinator.

• Health education, blood pressure screenings and flu shots were provided at both the WE CARE Clinic table and the mobile health unit by Gayle Ostermiller, FHCH, SON instructor, Kimberly Borders, Clinic medical assistant, and SIUE nursing students Naomi Russell, Violet Patten and Brittney Harper.

• Community Resource Center tables with clothing, coats and shoes were

Lecture

Continued from A8

not as apparent among Black populations living in places with more pronounced histories of slavery as in the case of crime and justice outcomes around the nation.”

“Researchers attribute this legacy of slavery and heart disease mortality to a complex mix of risk exposures and opportunity structures, including uneven diffusion of effective preventive measures and what we might call medical estrangement similar to the concept of legal estrangement by which marginalized populations are alienated from,” Ward said.

Ward took the audience back in history to the 1836 “sadistic lynching” of Francis McIntosh in downtown St. Louis.

He said a journalist rec-

Colditz

Continued from A8

health problems, they are not effective for lung cancer screening. Even with its benefits, low-dose CT does have some potential risks that are important to know about. Potential harms can include experiencing shortterm stress and anxiety about unclear scan results. There can also be the need for follow-up tests of suspicious findings that turn out not to be cancer. And there can be low amounts of radiation exposure from a scan. This amount is more than a standard X-ray but less than the level of radiation people are exposed to during a normal year.

‘Taking

supervised by Jill Wright, Clinic medical assistant and Adrian Liley, public health student.

• A table to offer general pharmaceutical education was operated by SIUE School of Pharmacy students Lauren Wells, Luke Klinefelter, Venise Govan and Kristen Kennedy.

“Additionally, several items were given away,

ommended, “lowering the veil of oblivion over the whole fatal affair.”

He amplified 1890s newspaper accounts of white students complaining about the presence of Black classmates, writing “It can’t be a high-quality education if Black scholars are here.”

He quoted a letter written in 1906 by Winfield Chaplin, WashU’s fourth chancellor, which discouraged a prospective Black graduate student.

“In a letter he wrote, ‘I am obliged to state to you that Negroes have never been admitted to Washington University, ‘and it would therefore be useless for you to try and make any arrangement to continue your studies here.’”

According to Ward, Chaplin replaced William Greenleaf Eliot as chancellor in 1891, a year before the policy prohibiting Black student admissions was introduced.

Overall, the benefits of lung cancer screening are thought to outweigh the harms, though it is a personal balance. This makes it important for people thinking about screening to discuss the benefits and drawbacks with a doctor — and together decide if it’s right for them. If it is, the doctor can then make a referral for a screening appointment. Most health insurance plans cover low-dose CT screening, but it’s good to check with your plan, medical center or doctor’s office. Those without insurance can contact their local or state health department about possible options to help with the cost of testing. Once you get screened, it’s also important to keep getting tested each year for

including four $25 gift cards, a sound bar, two bikes and various school supplies,” said Garner.

“Both the community and vendors can’t wait for another free health festival – and we’re thrilled to say it’s already in the works!”

The WE CARE Clinic provides primary patient care at 601 James R. Thompson Blvd. on

He said Chaplin led the institution in a period of financial uncertainty where he and board president Robert Brookings appeared “to have leveraged the market forces of racial capitalism to build the WashU brand, and finances, which included the development of our medical department on a segregated basis.”

Ward also explained how white supremacist ideology reinforced the idea that Black people were biologically inferior.

This includes an 1898 meeting of the Academy of Science of St. Louis that was led by a WashU alum who was then dean of the School of Engineering.

It featured a “pseudoscientific presentation on ‘the sociology of the Negro,’” with a thesis that Black people were savages.

Ward also discussed WashU anthropology and anatomy professor Robert Terry, creator of a

as long as you’re eligible. This increases the chances of catching cancer early – again when it’s more treatable.

And getting smoke-free or staying smoking-free is another key step to look after lung health. Quitting smoking lowers not only the risk of lung cancer but also many other diseases, including stroke, diabetes, heart disease, bronchitis, emphysema, macular degeneration and many other cancers. The benefits begin soon after stopping and build over time. For tips and resources on quitting, call 1-800-QUITNOW (1-800-784-8669), or visit smokefree.gov

Even with the progress we’ve made against lung cancer, it remains all too common, killing more people each year than any

the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus in Building D. The Clinic staff includes four advanced Nurse Practitioners, a collaborating physician, health coaches, nursing faculty, and a pharmacist. All providers offer comprehensive services to diverse clients who reside in the Metro East and surrounding communities.

collection of unethically acquired skeletal remains composed largely of poor Black St. Louisans.

The skulls were used in “desperate efforts to measure and prove racial difference.”

According to Ward, Terry served as chair of the “Committee on the Negro” established by the National Research Council in 1926, further linking WashU and the city to national and international networks of scientific racism that helped sustain systemic inequity.

“This annual event is a cornerstone in our ongoing commitment to celebrate, reflect upon, and learn from the rich legacy of the Homer G. Phillips Hospital and its lasting impact on the medical profession and our community,” said Dr. Sherree Wilson, WashU associate vice chancellor and associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion.

“Homer G. Phillips

other cancer. Annual lung cancer screenings help save lives. Plus, it’s quick, easy and painless. That’s a great combination and, if you think you’re eligible, a great reason to call your medical center or doctor’s office to schedule an appointment. It’s your health. Take control.

Dr. Graham A. Colditz, associate director of prevention and control at Siteman Cancer Center at BarnesJewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is an internationally recognized leader in cancer prevention and the creator of the free prevention tool YourDiseaseRisk.com

From left, Kerry Basarich, instructor in Primary Care and Health Systems Nursing and WE CARE Clinic instructor; Brittney Harper, SIUE nursing student; and Gayle Ostermiller, FHCH, SIUE School of Nursing instructor volunteered at an asthma assessment table to inform Fall Health Festival attendees about asthma management and enroll those with asthma in the clinic’s program.

The SIUE School of Nursing’s programs enroll nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral programs. Its mission is to develop leaders in pursuit of shaping the nursing profession and impacting the health care environment, according to Garner. He said SIUE’s under-

Hospital was a noble and essential institution that served the Black community with unparalleled distinction and dedication.”

Wilson added that Homer G. Phillips was the epicenter of training for Black physicians and nurses for the entire country.

“It was not just a healthcare facility, it was a beacon of hope and a paragon of medical excellence,” Wilson said.

“In its heyday, one out of every three African American physicians in the country were trained at Homer G. Phillips Hospital, including such luminaries as Drs. LaSalle Leffall, James Whittico, Frank Richards, Howard Venable, and of course, Helen Nash.”

Additionally, a new Black history exhibit is on display at WashU.

“I think it’s important, given that we are seeing efforts all around the country, to erase, to eliminate race or Black history

graduate nursing programs “help solve the region’s shortage of baccalaureate-prepared nurses and enhance the quality of nursing practice within all patient service venues.” The school’s graduate programs prepare nurses for advanced roles in clinical practice, administration and education.

and so ensuring that the stories continue is particularly critical,” Dr. Eva Aagaard, WashU senior associate dean for education and vice chancellor for medical education, said.

According to Aagaard, a permanent exhibit was unveiled that depicts the desegregation of the Washington University School of Medicine last April with a timeline that spans two centuries highlighting the experiences of Black employees, students, and patients on the campus.

“The exhibit was years in the making,” Aagaard said.

“It includes 46 images and narratives of racially segregated wards, activists and allies who fought to end segregation, and the achievements of Black people at WashU Medicine, Barnes Jewish Hospital and the St. Louis Children’s Hospital.”

Photo courtesy of SIUE School of Nursing

The St. Louis American’s award winning NIE program provides newspapers and resources to more than 8,000 teachers and students each week throughout the school year, at no charge.

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

Students Arris Gibson, Talia Fulton, Deionna Williams, Royalti Burnett, and Aunye Dawkins, in Ms. Stovall’s fourth-grade class at Gateway MST Elementary School, are learning how to make a series circuit.

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT SCIENCE STARS

African-American Neurosurgeon Alexa Canady

SCIENCE CORNER

Your brain is pretty small and it weighs approximately 3 pounds. Scientists compare the texture of the brain to the texture of tofu. Your brain has 5 main parts: cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem, pituitary gland, and the hypothalamus. The cerebrum makes up 85% of the brain. It controls thinking, and the moving muscles. It is divided into two halves. The left of the brain controls the movements on the right side of your body and vice versa. The cerebellum makes up 1/8 of your brain. It controls balance, movement, and coordination. The brain stem is beneath the cerebrum and in front of the cerebellum. It connects to the spinal cord and controls all major life functions, such as breathing air, circulating blood,

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

Are you left handed or right handed? Did you know that your brain has a right or left side dominance, too? In this experiment, you will observe the brain dominance in your volunteers.

Materials Needed:

• 10 Volunteers • Paper • Pencil • Scissors

• Ball • Stairs • Coin • Tube • Shell

Process:

q In your science notebook, create the following chart:

w Ask each volunteer to complete the tasks on the chart and record the results on the paper—did they use their right hand or left hand, their right foot or left foot, their right eye or left eye, their right ear or left ear?

e Analyze the results — Did your right hand participants use their right side for all the tasks? Did your left hand participants use their left side for all the tasks?

Keep your skills sharp and test your brain power with these math problems.

z Ariel’s father gave her $125. Ariel bought 5 books, each of which cost $12.50. How much money does Ariel have left? ______

x For breakfast, Eli bought a bagel for $2.60 and a glass of orange juice for $1.25. At lunch, Eli spent $6.15 on a sandwich with chips and $1.50 on a carton of milk. How much more money did

DID YOU KNOW?

and digesting food. The pituitary gland is about the size of a pea. It controls growth, regulates metabolism, and releases hormones. The hypothalamus controls temperature. It tells your body to shiver when you are cold to generate heat; it tells your body to sweat when you are hot to release heat.

For information on creating models of the brain, visit: http://faculty. washington.edu/chudler/chmodel.html.

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

You Left or Right Sided?

Alexa Canady was born on November 7, 1950, in Michigan. Her father was a dentist and her mother was a teacher. They encouraged her to work hard and to take risks. She graduated from high school with honors and went to the University of Michigan to earn her bachelor’s degree in zoology. However, while attending a summer program for minority students, Canady became interested in studying medicine. So, after she earned her zoology degree, she enrolled in the University of Michigan’s medical school. She specialized in neurosurgery, which is brain surgery. She was an intern at Yale-New Haven Hospital. In 1975, she graduated cum laude from medical school.

One year later, she transferred to the University of Minnesota, where she was the first female African American in the U.S. to become a neurosurgery resident. In 1981, she became the first female African American to become a neurosurgeon. She completed surgeries to treat both brain injuries and brain diseases. Canady completed training for pediatric neurosurgery at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Next, she worked in pediatric neurosurgery at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. She ended her career at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan.

In 1984, she became the first female African American certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. Three years later, she became the director of neurosurgery at Children’s Hospital. Canady continued to conduct research and she was a professor of neurosurgery at Wayne State University. Canady retired in 2001 and moved to Florida. When she learned there was not a local pediatric neurosurgeon, she began working part time at the Pensacola Sacred Heart Hospital. Canady was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame in 1989 and she also received the American Medical Women’s Association President’s Award in 1993.

Learning Standards: I can read a biography about a person who has contributed to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.

Learning Standards: I can follow a sequential process to complete an experiment. I can draw conclusions and analyze results.

Brain Power!

Eli spend on lunch than on breakfast? ______ How much money did he spend in all? ______

c A group of 9 children and 5 adults are going to a movie. Child tickets cost $6 each, and adult tickets cost $9 each. How much will the movie tickets cost in all? ______ If each person spends $5 at the concession stand, how much money did they spend on

food and drinks?

v Layla has 19 red beads, and she has 2 fewer yellow beads than red beads. Lyla also has 7 more green beads than red beads. How many beads does Layla have in all? ______

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

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

Activities —

Perspective: Imagine that you are the main character in a news story. After reading the published story, give your version.

Creating an Advertisement: Look through the classified ads to identify the types of things that are sold. Read a few ads and list important facts included in an ad (item description, condition, price, etc.). Draw a picture of a toy that you have. Next, pretend you are going to sell it and write a classified ad below the picture.

Learning Standards:

I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can write for a specific purpose and audience. I can make text-to-self connections.

Photo by Ms. Stovall

Teachers, if you are using the St. Louis American’s NIE program and would like to nominate your class for a Classroom

Parts of the Brain

Dr. Canady prepping for surgery.

B Juiced squeezes good nutrition into community

‘Never had anything like this’

By Devored A. Horton Jr.

St. Louis American

Brandace Johnson and Jada Huffman say nutrition is a tie that has bound them together since they became friends in the seventh grade.

So it’s no surprise that this common link inspired their effort to create B Juiced so that customers inside and outside of Ferguson could benefit from a healthier food choice.

“Our business opened in May

2023, but before we were mobile. So, we do have a mobile trailer and we operated mobile for about a year and a half,” Johnson said. “Business has been good for us. We are really grateful.”

Located in historic downtown Ferguson at 605 S. Florissant Rd., B Juiced is a welcome oasis in an area some consider a food desert. Johnson and Huffman believe strongly in using the healing properties of nutrient rich fruits and vegetables to promote health-

ier lifestyles, community wellness, selflove and gratitude.

The storefront is making its mark on the community now, but Huffman and Johnson launched their business from the humble confines of a mobile trailer that quickly caught on in Ferguson.

In fact, the mobile unit became so popular that customers soon were asking the co-owners to make these healthy, delicious products available every day. That

B JUICED, A9

YWCA Metro St. Louis hosts ‘Pretty Empowered’

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

Dr. Cheryl Watkins, YWCA Metro St. Louis president and CEO, holds an MBA and a commitment to make sure young women have a path into the business world if they desire.

She knows the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education and the doors it opens.

Her mission includes the YWCA partnering with Ulta Beauty and the I Define Me Movement to host “Pretty Empowered” on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at the Phyllis Wheatley Heritage Center.

The girls in attendance received “life-changing well-being resources, [that bring] transformative experiences to young women in the region,” according to Watkins.

Pretty Empowered is designed to engage students through a series of interactive sessions that focus on various aspects of wellness, cosmetic science, supply chain logistics, and career exploration.

“Our partnership with Ulta Beauty allows us to bring valuable resources and mentorship to young women and girls in our community,” said Watkins.

“The Pretty Empowered initiative is a meaningful opportunity for girls to envision bright futures in STEM and beyond while strengthening their well-being and sense of self. We are

Will Ross has received Louis W. Sullivan Award

Will Ross, MD.

Will Ross, MD, associate dean for diversity and the Alumni Endowed Professor of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has received the 2024 Louis W. Sullivan, MD, Award from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The honor recognizes medical leaders committed to diversifying the health-care workforce. For nearly three decades, Ross, a nephrologist and public health epidemiologist, has devoted much of his career to eliminating health-care disparities in the U.S. and abroad as well as increasing diversity among medical students, residents and faculty.

Rodney Crim to receive East-West Gateway honor

Rodney Crim

Rodeny Crim and St. Louis Economic Development Partnership will receive the ‘Exemplary Collaboration, Partnership, or Regional Initiatives award’ from the East-West Gateway Council of Governments for the launch of its Business Retention and Expansion Program that connects St. Louis companies with government and economic officials to proactively address both opportunities and hindrances to business growth and innovation in the St. Louis region. East-West Gateway will present its annual Outstanding Local Government Achievement (OLGA) during the 59th Annual Meeting on Nov. 15, 2024.

Binion joins Community Health Commission

The Community Health Commission of Missouri has appointed Dr. Danielle Binion as chief strategy officer. Binion will lead strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing health equity and improving community health outcomes across the state. She brings extensive experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy development, educational reform, and public health advocacy to the commission. A recognized leader in her field, Binion has dedicated her career to addressing systemic inequities and creating innovative solutions that foster inclusive environments.

Marco Tipton joins McDonald’s Corporation

Marco Tipton has joined McDonald’s Corporation as manager of community affairs. He will oversee community affairs across 12 states, including Missouri and Illinois. He has past experience as lobbyist, and in his recent role as manager of local government and community affairs at Ameren, where he served 12 years, Tipton created and implemented strategies to enrich the lives of community members.

Girls from throughout St. Louis and St. Louis County joined with YWCA volunteers and Ulta Beauty professionals during the 2024 “Pretty Empowered” event on Nov. 2 at the Phyllis Wheatley Heritage Center. Pretty Empowered engages students through sessions that focus on wellness, cosmetic science, supply chain coordination, and career exploration.

Photo courtesy of YWCA Metro St. Louis

B Juiced owners Jada Huffman and Brandace Johnson strongly believe in using the healing properties of nutrient rich fruits and vegetables to promote healthier lifestyles, community wellness and self-love.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Danielle Binion

Marco Tipton

Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields, and creating a positive sense of connection, aiming to inspire and prepare the next generation of leaders.

Launched in 2022 by YWCA Metropolitan Chicago with funding from the Ulta Beauty Charitable Foundation, the Pretty Empowered initiative has grown in scope and impact.

Initially starting with a single site, the program grew to four locations in 2023 and hosted 400 participants.

YWCA and Ulta Beauty have doubled the program’s impact, seeking to reach 800 participants at eight local associations nationwide, including YWCA Metro St. Louis, YWCA El Paso Del Norte Region, YWCA Glendale

B Juiced

Continued from B1 was all the encouragement these entrepreneurs needed.

“We have impacted the community overall, because they have never had anything like this within the community,” Huffman said. “So, by having us here, it’s allowing them to have healthier options that they did not necessarily have before.”

The B Juiced storefront is going strong but Johnson and Huffman haven’t lost touch with the gains they earned when they were vendors with a mobile trailer. They still take to the streets with the trailer to hawk their products at festivals and special

& Pasadena, YWCA

Greater Atlanta, YWCA Kitsap County, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, YWCA Northern New Jersey, and YWCA South Florida.

Watkins called the increased participation “a significant milestone in the program’s mission to empower young women and girls through education and career exploration.”

Ulta Beauty’s support has been instrumental in the initiative’s growth.

Through its Charitable Foundation, the company supports “the holistic well-being of women and teens – a mission that aligns perfectly with YWCA USA’s goal to eliminate racism and empower women,” according to a release.

“Together, we are creating a platform that not only educates but also inspires participants to pursue their dreams with confidence and determina-

events like Frizz Fest, Trap Run, and VegFest.

As you might expect, summer is a hot time for B Juiced. The big seller then is a drink called “Meant To B,” which is a watermelon based concoction. During the fall the most popular drink is “B Grateful,” which consists of kale, pineapples, apples, and lemon.

B Juiced is also attracting corporate clients who use their space for employee events and business meetings.

“We’ve had a few organizations rent out our space and we have upcoming organizations that plan to rent out the space as well,” Johnson said. “So, yes, we do offer that as an option.”

B Juiced doesn’t go overboard marketing

tion.”

“We are incredibly excited to expand the ‘Pretty Empowered’ initiative this year,” said YWCA USA CEO, Margaret Mitchell.

“Our partnership with Ulta Beauty and the Ulta Beauty Charitable Foundation allows us to reach more young women and girls, providing them with invaluable resourc-

itself but social media has proved to be helpful in spreading the word. They have a Facebook & Instagram @bjuicedmo. B Juiced also has a website https://bjuicedmo.com where both owners post and manage content. The website lets their customers get a better sense of who they are and why this mission matters so much to them.

B Juiced is closed on Monday, but is open Tues.-Fri. 8am-5pm & Sat. 8am-3pm.

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

This story is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Lab fellowship. The Lab initiative is made possible with support from Comcast NBCUniversal.

es and opportunities to explore their sense of well-being, interests in STEM and leadership.

“This program is a testament to our commitment to empowering the next generation and fostering a diverse and inclusive future.”

According to a study commissioned by the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education,

“Empowering more women of color to pursue and thrive in STEM careers would help create a dynamic and innovative workforce that can advance the country’s competitiveness in a technology-driven global economy.”

The Pretty Empowered events feature hands-on workshops, mentorship opportunities, and discus-

sions led by industry professionals. Participants gained insight into critical well-being resources and the cosmetic industry’s scientific and logistical aspects while developing essential leadership and life skills.

According to YWCA Chicago, 89% of girls who participated in ‘Pretty Empowered’ agreed or strongly agreed that they understood the value of self-care and self-confidence and 90% said that they better understood the value of leadership.

“Through my involvement with YWCA, I have seen firsthand the power of helping young women and girls gain the confidence and capabilities they need to believe, dream and pursue their passions,”

Amiee Bayer-Thomas, chief store operations officer at Ulta Beauty and board member for YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, said in a release.

B Juiced owners Jada Huffman and Brandace Johnson outside their Ferguson, Missouri location Monday, Oct. 28, 2024.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

n “Night, night from the 216.”

– Cleveland’s Darius Garland after his 38 points sparked a 116-114 win over Milwaukee, moving Cavs to 8-0

There is another powerhouse football program in the metro east area that has state championship aspirations alongside the East St. Louis Flyers.

Belleville Althoff has put together another dominant season, which extended into last week’s Class 1A playoff opening round game against Dupo. The Crusaders posted a 60-0 victory to move into this weekend’s second round game at Carrollton.

InSIdE SportS

With Earl Austin Jr.

Hill climber

Future Duck Dierre Hill capping fantastic season

Central

Defensive back Steven Dyson II of Chaminade had two interceptions in the Red Devils 32-0 victory over McCluer North.

Quarterback Omar Mims of Cahokia had nine receptions for 119 yards and scored on a 77-yard kickoff return in the Comanches 30-17 victory over Columbia.

The Crusaders’ senior running back Dierre Hill is an Oregon Ducks recruit and is one of the top prospects in the Midwest. Hill has rushed for 1,639 yards and has added 241 receiving yards. His 34 touchdowns are tops in the St. Louis area.

Sophomore quarterback Jayden Ellington has passed for 1,668 yards with 28 touchdowns and only two interceptions. The top receiver is senior Charleston Coldon, who has 33 receptions for 672 yards and 15 touchdowns. He is a Boston College recruit.

The defensive line is anchored by big senior tackle Jason Dowell, who has a team-high 10 quarterback sacks. He has committed to Missouri. Senior linebacker Drake Mosley has a team-high 71 tackles while Colden has three interceptions.

Last Week’s Playoff Standouts

Quarterback Kyren Eleby of SLUH passed for 179 yards and three touchdowns in the Jr. Bills 35-0 victory over Hazelwood

Wide receiver Zach Allen had eight receptions for 152 yards and three touchdowns in the Jr. Bills 35-0 victory over Hazelwood Central.

Quarterback Collin Sinclair of Orchard Farm passed for 275 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 84 yards in the Eagles’ 48-26 victory over Lutheran St. Charles

Top Missouri District Semifinals

(All Games are on Friday at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted)

Class 6 Oakville at Seckman Marquette at CBC, Friday, 6 p.m.

Francis Howell at Kirkwood Pattonville at DeSmet SLUH at Ritenour, Friday, 6 p.m.

Francis Howell Central at Troy

Class 5

St. Mary’s at Cardinal Ritter

Washington at Eureka Summit at Lafayette Ladue at Hazelwood East, Friday, 6 p.m. MICDS at Chaminade, Friday, 6 p.m. Fort Zumwalt West at Fort Zumwalt North North Point at Wentzville Liberty,

Owensville last Saturday.

Class 4 Union at Gateway STEM Jennings at Lutheran North, Friday, 6 p.m. University City vs Miller Career Academy, Saturday, 1 p.m. (at Gateway STEM) Fort Zumwalt East at Parkway North, Friday, 6 p.m. Westminster at Orchard Farm, 6 p.m.

Class 3 Lift for Life at Borgia St. Clair at John Burroughs, Saturday, noon Hallsville at St. Charles West

IHSA Second Round Schedule (Date and times of games were TBA at press time)

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Tatum jumps at chance to

Jayson Tatum’s impact as an NBA superstar was signed, sealed, and delivered when he helped guide the Boston Celtics to an NBA Finals win over Dallas last June.

With his first title in hand, Tatum is interested in making an entrepreneurial move into ownership of an expansion WNBA franchise in his hometown of St. Louis.

Louis, and the arena where SLU men’s and women’s basketball teams play is named for him and his family.

Jacob Feldman of Sportico reported last week that Tatum “informally agreed to invest in the team should it come to fruition and contribute behind the scenes to the group’s pitch, both to other potential big-name investors and the league itself.”

Influential Saint Louis University alum and billionaire Richard Chaifetz would be part of the ownership group along with David Hoffman, according to Sportico.

Chaifetz has stated interest in bringing an NBA franchise to St.

Hoffman, a real estate developer, owns a St. Louis Blues minor league affiliate and has recently purchased a few small to mid-size newspapers throughout the nation. He is interested in purchasing the St. Louis Post-Dispatch if Lee Enterprises were to put it up for sale.

Noa Dalzell, who covers the NBA and WNBA for The Source, asked Tatum about his WNBA plans during a Celtics shootaround on Nov. 1, 2024.

“I can’t speak on it too much right now, but there will be a time when I can, and I’ll be able to elaborate,” Tatum told Dalzell. An NBA player can own up to 4% of a WNBA franchise. While Tatum is not a billionaire, he is on track to become the first

Class 6A Normal Community at East St. Louis

Class 5 Highland at Morris

Class 4 Cahokia at Waterloo

Class 1 Althoff at Carrollton

Earl’s World High school basketball standout Nicholas “Butta” Randall has given a commitment to the University of Missouri. A 6’8” senior forward, Randall is playing at Compass Prep (AZ) after playing three seasons at Vashon. Randall was the MBCA Class 4 Player of the Year in 2024 after helping lead Vashon to the Class 4 state championship. He averaged 10 points and seven rebounds while leading the Wolverines in blocked shots last season…Former East St. Louis football standout Dominic Lovett is having a solid season for the No. 2- ranked Georgia Bulldogs.. He posted a season-high seven receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown in the Bulldogs’ 34-20 victory over Florida. For the season, Lovett has 38 receptions for 389 yards and three touchdowns… Congrats to former St. Louis area star athletes Anthony Bonner and Lavar Miller, who were selected for induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Bonner was a former star basketball player at Vashon High, who went on to become an all-time great at Saint Louis University. He also played several seasons in the National Basketball Association. Miller was a former track star at McCluer South-Berkeley, where he was one of the top combination jumpers in history of the state. He excelled in the long jump, triple jump and high jump. He went on to have an excellent collegiate career at perennial national power Arkansas. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on November 24 at the Chase Park Plaza.

bring WNBA to STL

NBA player to net $1 billion solely on his respective NBA compensation.

Tatum is a true champion of his native St. Louis, and his Jayson Tatum Foundation has been a force in the non-profit arena since its inception in 2017. Nothing could stand in the way of St. Louis landing a WNBA franchise with Tatum on board, right?

It might not be that

easy. Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany, members of the Kansas City Current Women’s National Soccer League franchise ownership group, want to bring a WNBA franchise to our neighbor to the West.

“It was cool that we were able to get this soccer team here in the Current and they’re going into the playoffs now and you see the support that they

have,” Mahomes told ESPN.

“Let’s try to get a WNBA team in here as well [with] that same ownership group. They’ve done the Current the right way, and I want to continue to work with them to take that next step and get a WNBA team here.”

Mahomes has become the biggest name in American sports over the past seven years. The NBA and WNBA would certainly love to have his elite brand as part of an expansion franchise. Face it, folks. Missouri is not getting two WNBA franchises. This in-state battle is just beginning. Stay tuned.

The Reid Roundup

If Jayson Tatum and St. Louis do land a WNBA franchise, the team should simply drop the “s” from our former ABA franchise name and be called the St. Louis Spirit. The franchise should also petition the NBA and WNBA to use red, white and blue

basketballs during home games…After Monday’s win over the Philadelphia 76ers, Bradley Beal and the Phoenix Suns were off to an impressive 4-1 start of the season. Beal, a St. Louis native, was averaging 17.3 points and 4.5 assists per game. He missed a game because of a sprained elbow… Speaking of the 76ers, AllNBA center Joel Embiid missed the first two weeks of the season because of a knee injury, insulted fans who dared to criticize him, and verbally threatened and shoved Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes. Hayes chastised Embiid’s NBA work ethic and his lack of conditioning in a column, which included a mention of Embiid’s son and late brother. That is what set Embiid off…The Miami Marlins are among the cheapest franchises when it comes to player payroll and could be considering a trade for low-cost St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker, according to reports.

Earl Austin Jr.

Alvin A. Reid

John Burroughs running back Dylan Macon (19) rushed for 97 yards and two touchdowns in the Bombers’ 56-7 Missouri Class 3 playoff win over

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday of the world champion Boston Celtics posed with Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas before a WNBA game in Boston on August 20, 2024.

Photo courtesy of Boston Celtics

Dierre Hill

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Corps program and the Walt Disney World Culinary Program hosted a Culinary Career Fair at the St. Louis Job Corps campus Oct. 28-29, 2024., Students from 20 campuses from across the country, including the St. Louis area, attended the multi-day event and 27 attendees have received job offers.

“For more than 60 years, Job Corps has dedicated itself to equipping students with the education and skills necessary for success in high-demand careers,” said Job Corps National Director John E. Hall.

“By furthering our partnership with such a reputable employer as Disney, these career fairs provide students with the unique opportunity to connect with Disney recruiters and receive insights from culinary leaders.”

Job Corps officials and Disney’s senior culinary recruiter, Chef

Disney, Job Corp cook up career opportunities

Pauli Milotte, spoke with students about career opportunities in the culinary industry upon graduation.

St. Louis-based chefs, including Cathy’s Kitchen and Diner owner Cathy Jenkins and award-winning sugar artist, culinarian and pastry chef, Chef Jessie Bostick, performed culinary demonstrations and shared industry expertise with the students.

“Disney is committed to fostering the next generation of culinary talent, and our partnership with the Department of Labor’s Job Corps program is a testament to that dedication,” said Walt Disney World Senior Chef Recruiter Chef Pauli Milotte.

“By collaborating with Job Corps to host culinary job fairs, we gain a unique opportunity to engage directly with a pool of highly trained, passionate culinary students who are ready to launch their careers with Disney.”

Students from 20 different Job Corps

SLPS Foundation to host ‘EdTalk’ on community investment

The St. Louis Public Schools Foundation (SLPSF), will host EdTalk: Pipelining Regional Prosperity,” a virtual event that examines the role community investment plays in accelerating post-secondary success for SLPS scholars.

The first EdTalk of the 2024-25 school year will explore the impact of the Early College Academy (ECA) program. ECA, a signature initiative of the St. Louis Public Schools District, is a dual-enrollment program that currently serves up to 115 students per year, 70 of which participate in the program on a full-time basis.

Through the program, juniors and seniors can pursue both their high school diploma and an associate degree simultaneously through partnerships with St. Louis Community College and Harris-Stowe State University.

Bank of America is a funding partner for ECA staffing, student course materials and lab fees, tutoring services, and transportation.

The EdTalk will be held at noon Tuesday November 12, 2024, with Haliday Douglas, St. Louis Public Schools Foundation

CEO, serving as moderator.

Panelists include Josh Henning, SLPS associate superintendent of college and career readiness; Julie Fickas, Campus President and Chief Academic Officer, St. Louis Community CollegeForest Park president and chief academic officer; and Katie Fischer, Bank of America market executive. The event is open and free to the public. Register at https://www.eventbrite. com/e/slpsf-edtalk-pipelining-regional-prosperity-tickets

H. Humphrey,

Maui, New Hampshire, Penobscot, Ramey, San Diego, San Jose, South

Bronx, St. Louis, Treasure Island and Westover, attended the event.

Students from across the nation who are investing in their future careers with the Job Corp., were joined by Disney officials during the Walt Disney World Culinary Career Fair Oct. 28-29 at the St. Louis Job Corp campus.

Living It

A titan among music legends Clark and Q

Pioneering musician, producer, arranger and composer Quincy Jones passes at 91

By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American

Fifty years ago, Quincy Jones received a gift from jazz giant Duke Ellington that predicted the future.

“Before he passed, we did the ‘Duke Ellington … We Love You Madly’ TV special; my first television credit as a producer,” Jones told Revolt TV in 2021. “My blessed brother, Duke, gave me a photo of him, signed, ‘To Q, who will be the one to de-categorize American music.’” Jones spent the rest of his life fulfilling Ellington’s prophecy.

Jones died at his Bel-Air, California home in the late evening hours of Nov. 3. He was 91. At the time of Ellington’s prediction in 1974, he was already a towering figure in music. Jones left this earth as an absolutely singular contributor to music, media, film, television and popular culture in general.

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” the family said in a statement. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”

The eighth biggest selling single, USA For Africa’s “We Are The World,” and the biggest selling album of all time, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” have Jones’ name on them. The fact that these milestones are footnotes among many achievements during his paradigm-shifting, 80-year career further cements his legacy.

An attempt to list his honors and distinctions – which include 28 Grammy Awards (including a Grammy Legend Award), 80 Grammy nominations, a 2001 Kennedy Center Honors recipient, a 2011 National Medal of the Arts recipient and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee to name a few – would be pointless. In fact, his best-selling 2001 book Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones has nearly 20 full pages of accolades. Another dozen or so would probably be necessary to include the distinctions he has received since its original publication. He closed his eyes for the final time in much different surroundings from the humble beginnings that “Q” details.

From the South Side to Seattle

One of millions of sons and daughters of the Great Migration, Quincy Delight Jones Jr. came into the world on March 14, 1933, on the South Side of Chicago.

Award

producer and

his Bel-Air home in the late evening

He was the elder of two boys born to Quincy Delight Jones Sr., a carpenter, and Frances Jones, a bank officer.

His mother struggled with her mental health and his father was a workaholic. As small children, Jones and his younger brother were forced to fend for themselves. A feat made more difficult in the height of The Great Depression.

“We fought. We stole. We ran with gangs. We ran from gangs,” Jones said in the Netflix documentary “Quincy,” which is co-directed and co-written by his daughter Rashida Jones. “By that time, I was carrying a knife and doing whatever I thought I had to do to survive.” He was eight years old.

The next year his father found himself overwhelmed by raising the two of them alone, so they were sent to live with their maternal grandmother. “Grandma was a former slave,” Jones said. “She cooked

whatever she could get her hands on, mustard greens, okra, possums and rats. We ate them because that’s all there was to eat.”

By the time he was 10, Jones was with his father and his brother on a Trailways Bus to a better life. They ended up in Washington state. His life appeared to be headed in a similar direction as in Chicago, but fate intervened. He and a group of friends broke into an armory. On a stage in the building was an upright piano. He gravitated to the instrument –and found his passion.

“I tinkered on it for a moment,” Jones said in the documentary. “And I knew that was it for me. Forever.”

When other boys his age were dreaming of becoming the next Jackie

See Quincy, C3

The power of personal narrative

Agency through representation is a major draw for 33rd Annual SLIFF

By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American

Emmett Williams has worked as a filmmaker on six continents. And yet when he talked about his role curating Cinema St. Louis’ presentation of The 33rd Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival, there was this delightful “no place like home” energy in his remarks.

“St. Louis has so much filmmaking talent here and it is really amazing to see the passion, the talent and the imagination that’s here,” said Williams, who serves as Director of Festival Curation & Education for Cinema St. Louis.

“My goal is to not only make sure that people see themselves on screen but to make sure that anybody who wants to become a filmmaker can become a filmmaker – no matter their age or the skill level they happen to be.”

Audiences will see for themselves the caliber of the St. Louis filmmaking community at SLIFF. They are well represented among the 271 films and the robust events and programming related to the festival, which kicks off November 7 and continues through November 17 at

various locations.

The theme for 2024 is “The Great Escape.”

“It is an escape from reality – whatever their reality is – around the election,” Williams said. “Somebody is going to be unhappy next week – and even if they are not unhappy, it is still a stressful time. We are giving people a space – a refuge – to just be in community.

Some people want serious films, and some people just want a break. So, we, the presenting team, have really curated something for everybody.”

Williams is in a unique position as one of the few Black men in the world charged with the curation of a major international film festival. It is not a responsibility he takes lightly.

“I really feel the weight of what my

ancestors went through to get me to this point,” Williams said. “Every day I feel like I need to be honoring them. So, to have this responsibility, I feel like I have to make them proud. And that is not just doing the job well, but doing the job in a way that I am in service to the community. I want every young person of color to know that they can see themselves on screen.”

Looking back, him being “othered” was what framed his ultimate foray into filmmaking.

“I present mixed race or ethnically ambiguous,” Williams said. “From a very early age in St. Louis – five to seven years old – kids would ask me, ‘What color are you?” Six-year-olds shouldn’t have to think about race and their place in society.”

It was a pattern that would repeat itself for Williams in middle and high school at Parkway Central.

“Growing up in West County and being the only black kid for what seems like miles, kids say terrible things to you,” Williams said. “When that would happen, I wouldn’t react negatively or physically, but I would definitely think, ‘What made this kid say this to me? Where is this anger and hatred coming from?’ I started putting those pieces together at a very young age. I started to investigate it – in an 11-year-old way. I sometimes think that my work is me talking to that middle school kid, trying

The St. Louis icon who molded Quincy Jones into a master

By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American

When Quincy Jones sat down in 2014 to discuss “Keep on Keepin’ On,” a documentary he produced about St. Louis’ own Clark Terry and his mentorship of a then 23-year-old blind piano prodigy Justin Kauflin, he stopped the interviewer in his tracks.

The Dinner Party Download reporter couldn’t get the full statement of Jones being one of Terry’s first students out of his mouth before Jones jumped in.

“I wasn’t one of the first,” Jones said. “I was the first. The very first.”

Jones passed away on November 3 at the age of 91 – perhaps he joined Terry in the trumpet section of a heavenly big band. Although Jones enjoyed an unparalleled career in the music and entertainment industry, he was forced to put his beloved instrument down as a result of two near-fatal brain aneurysms in the early 1970s. During the interview he talked about how he wore Terry down early into a month-long engagement in Seattle with Count Basie’s band. Jones was relentless in his commitment to learn more about his chosen instrument from the best man he’d ever heard play it.

After a few days it became clear that Terry wouldn’t be able to shake Jones – who was already playing in nightclubs five nights a week. Jones was also only 13 years old. He would study under Terry after the final set of Basie’s band.

n “Teaching jazz allows me to play a part in making dreams come true for aspiring musicians,” Terry wrote on his website.

“We’d work a couple of hours and then he’d go to school,” Terry said, according to the Detroit Metro Times. “He had a beautiful embouchure. I had to straighten out his upper embouchure a little for high notes and power because his lips used to bleed, but he had great potential.”

In Terry, Jones found a mentor who he would later describe as a brother. Through Jones, Terry found a calling even higher than the notes he famously blew through his horn.

“Teaching jazz allows me to play a part in making dreams come true for aspiring musicians,” Terry wrote on his website. The bond Jones and Terry established would last the rest of Terry’s life. He was an icon in his own right when he died in 2016 at the age of 94. Among his many distinctions, the Vashon graduate became the first African American to become a regular in a band on a major US television network when he started his 13-yearrun on NBC’s “The Tonight Show.” Jones devoted himself to Terry’s standard for musical excellence and became a renaissance man of music and entertainment. His brilliance transcended genres

Photo courtesy of youtube.com

St. Louis’ own Clark Terry had a special bond with entertainment mogul Quincy Jones. A 13-year-old Jones was Terry’s first jazz pupil. Their friendship lasted 65 years, until Terry’s passing in 2015.

Courtesy photo

Grammy

winning

music icon Quincy Jones died at

hours of Nov. 3. He was 91.

Emmett Williams

St. Louis American Calendar

STL Sites & Sounds

CONCERTS

Sat., Nov. 9, 8 p.m., Lupe Fiasco Samurai Tour, The Factory STL, 17105 N. Outer 40 Rd. Chesterfield, MO. For more information, visit TheFactorySTL.com.

Sat., Nov. 16, Derrick Sr. presents The F.L.A.M. (Fight Like A Mother) Benefit Concert Series with Glenn Jones, Shantay Savage, Tracie Spencer, Tony Terry and Shanice Wilson. The attire is all black with a pink twist. The Ambassador, 9800 New Halls Ferry. Tickets are available at https://www. eventbrite.com/

Fri., Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m., Mariah Carey: Mariah Carey’s Christmas Time, Enterprise Center. Visit www.tickemaster.com for more information.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Sat., Nov. 9, 5 p.m., NABJSTL, The National Association of Black Journalists – Saint Louis 2024 Living Legends Awards reception. This year’s honorees include St. Louis broadcasting legend Julius Hunter, St. Louis American News Editor Alvin A. Reid and 5 On Your Side evening co-anchor Kelly Jackson, Nine PBS, 3855 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63108. For tickets visit, https://www.eventbrite. com/e/2024-living-legends-award-program-tickets-999737751527?aff=oddtdtcreator

Sat., Nov. 9, 7 p.m. (5:30 p.m. reception) Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Salute to Women in Leadership 20th Anniversary Celebration featuring Regina Belle and Kenny

Lattimore, honorees include Noémi Neidorff and Lynn Whitfield. Marriott St. Louis Grand, 800 Washington Ave. For more information, visit www. ulstl.com.

Sat., Nov. 9, 7 p.m. Slumfest Mixer & Showcase (The Return of Slumfest) Red Flag, 3040 Locust Street, St. Louis, MO, United States, Missouri. For tickets, visit https://www. etix.com/ticket/p/91775584/thereturn-of-slumfest-saint-louisred-flag

Sat., Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m., Dance St. Louis presents Pilobolus re: Creation, Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center. For more information, visit dancestlouis.org.

Through Sun., Nov. 17, Cinema St. Louis presents The 33rd Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF), various locations. For more information and a full schedule of films and related programming, visit www.cinemastlouis.org.

Sun., Nov. 24, 12 noon, The Beauty Konnect presents Bridging the Gap Beauty Career Fair, Machinist Hall District 9, 12365 St. Charles Rock Road. For more information, email: thebeautykonnect@gmail.com.

Wed., Nov. 27, 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. doors), Guns’n Hoses Charity Boxing Event, supporting families of officers killed in the line of duty, Enterprise Center. For more information, visit stlgunsnhoses.com.

COMEDY

Fri., Nov. 14 – Sun., Nov. 16, Flyover Comedy Festival fea-

Helium will welcome St. Louis’ own Lavell Crawford for a special Thanksgiving weekend engagement. See COMEDY for additional information.

turing Joyelle Nicole Johnson,

Anointed Greens Presents: Unsung Black Sheroes, DC Ervin and more. Various locations including Stifel Theatre. For more information, schedule and full lineup visit www.flyovercomedyfest.com.

Sat., Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m., Eddie Griffin Live, The Factory STL, 17105 N. Outer 40 Rd. Chesterfield, MO. For more information, visit TheFactorySTL.com.

Fri., Nov. 29 – Sat., Nov. 30, Helium welcomes St. Louis’ own Lavell Crawford, Helium Comedy Club, 1151 St Louis Galleria Street, St Louis MO 63117. For more information, call 314.727.1260 or visit st-louis.heliumcomedy.com.

ST. LOUIS MUSIC SPOTLIGHT

Wed., Nov. 13, 6 p.m. World Chess Hall of Fame Music Series featuring Louis York which includes Grammy Winner and East St. Louis native Chuck Harmony, 4652 Maryland Ave. For tickets, visit https://worldchesshof.regfox.com/

Sat., Nov. 15, 7 p.m. (6 p.m. doors), The Coleman Hughes Project featuring Adrianne, Le Belle Coeur, 1117 S. Main Street, St. Charles, MO. For tickets, visit https://tchpfaf.ticketbud. com/nov2024

THEATRE

Sat., Nov. 9, 7 p.m., St. Louis Black Repertory Company will present their 9th Annual Gala featuring The Spelman College Glee Club and honoring the achievements of playwright Pearl Cleage, designer Daryl Harris and Denise Thimes –who will receive the Woodie King Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award Maxine Clark and Rudy Nickens, who will receive the Frankie Muse Freeman Service Award, 560 Music Center. For more information, visit www.theblackrep.org or call 314.534.3807.

Through Nov. 17, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ Steve Woolf Studio Series returns with The Roommate, Emerson Studio Theatre, Loretto-Hilton, 130 Edgar Rd. Webster Groves, MO. For more information, visit www.repstl.org.

ART

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

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

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

Quincy

Continued from C1

Robinson, Jones had his heart set on jazz.

“I couldn’t get enough,” Jones said. “Just that idea of seeing Black men who were dignified and proud. I said, ‘That’s what I want to be.”

The trumpet became his instrument of choice.

“I was in night clubs, playing five night clubs a night at 13,” Jones said in a 2014 interview with Dinner Party Download to discuss the release of the film “Keep on Keepin’ On,” which featured St. Louis native Clark Terry as a subject. That same year he convinced a reluctant Terry to teach him more about the instrument.

“At 13, you’ve heard somebody like that with high notes, and with all that dexterity and personality, it was mind-boggling,” Jones said.

Jones spoke of being “the first” formal student of Terry’s with the same pride one might assume he would have with his endless list of awards. Out of that instruction came a mentorship – and friendship that spanned 65 years until Terry’s passing in 2015. Jones wrote the preface to Terry’s 2011 autobiography titled “Clark: The Autobiography of Clark Terry.” When Jones was 14, he

Clark & Q

Continued from C1

– and generations. Perhaps Terry saw some of himself in Jones. Neither grew up with a mother. Jones’ mother suffered with mental health issues from the time he was a small boy growing up on the South Side of Chicago. After divorcing Jones’ mother in 1943, Quincy Delight Jones Sr. relocated to Washington State with his two sons.

Jones discovered music when at 10 he and a group of friends broke into an armory building with an upright piano. After fiddling with the keys, Jones left the street life behind in

SLIFF

Continued from C1

to help him figure out how to live in this world.”

What he knows now is that being able to share one’s own story is key in the building of a beloved community.

“The first step towards equity is agency,” Williams said. “If everybody in the world could hear or see other people’s stories told by them, I think we would be better as a culture and a society. Helping other people tell their stories is an extension of my storytelling.”

One of the most anticipated moments of this year’s festival falls within the Race In America pro-

met another musician in Seattle who would become a lifelong friend and fellow music legend. His name was Ray Charles.

Into the music stratosphere

After working with the likes of Lionel Hampton, a 22-year-old Jones was asked by Dinah Washington if he would produce and arrange on her upcoming album. Washington’s label protested, saying that she should employ someone with a bigger name and an established reputation.

“I’ve got a name for your [expletive],” Jones recounted in the documentary. “Dinah [expletive] Washington.”

He went on to arrange for Billy Eckstine, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra and more before embarking on tours that kept him in Europe into the early 1960s. He returned stateside in 1961 as the first Black vice-president of a white-owned record label – which eventually paved the way for his own label, Qwest Records. Jones was also the arranger/conductor when Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin and Johnny Carson performed with the Count Basie orchestra in June 1965 in St. Louis in a benefit for Dismas House. The show was broadcast in movie theaters around the country and eventually

the name of music. Three years later, he met Terry.

The seventh of 11 children, Clark Terry’s mother Mary died when he was 6. When he was 10, he built himself a makeshift trumpet by attaching a funnel to a garden hose. Neighbors later pitched in to buy him a trumpet from a pawnshop.

The kindred spirits’ final exchange was captured in the film that Jones was promoting. Jones became such a familiar cultural figure that even his speech pattern was instantly identifiable –most notably ending every sentence with “man.” But not when he spoke with Terry at the side of his hospital bed in “Keep on Keepin’ On.” He referred to Terry as “baby.”

gramming. SLIFF will be commemorating the tenth anniversary of Ferguson with “TEN YEARS – Michael Brown, the Ferguson Uprising and The Impact on a Generation.”

The program will include shorts from seven area filmmakers in response to the uprising and the death of unarmed teen Michael Brown that incited the movement – and captured the world’s attention.

“The work that they are creating is so innovative and interesting – and I am so excited for people to see it,” Williams said. “So much of the news and the stories that have been told around Ferguson and Mike Brown have been told through the prism of mainstream media.

Wiliams said that quite a few of the individuals

released on VHS. Over the course of his career, Jones became a titan in the entertainment industry. He was a musician, record producer, label executive, arranger, conductor, composer, television producer, film producer, scorer, media mogul and overall influencer. But perhaps the greatest gift Jones possessed was his ability to not only be on the pulse of popular music, but to create the tempo for which it to beat.

He launched the careers of many. Revived the careers of many more –including his own. Jones was an icon maker within the realm of music. He vouched for the legitimacy of hip hop at a time when his musical peers refused to accept the genre as “real music.”

“I fell in love with hip hop because it reminds me of bebop,” Jones told Revolt.

And Jones received the same level of respect from Tupac Shakur – who was engaged to his daughter Kidada – to Frank Sinatra, who was the first to call him “Q” in front of mass audiences.

“We take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the world through all that he created,” the family’s statement read. “Through his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones’ heart will beat for eternity.”

“I’m sorry to have kept you up so late, baby,” Jones told a frail Terry. “I’m glad you did, baby,” Terry responded.

He had arisen from his bed to watch Jones hear Kauflin play.

“I guess you’ve always been a late night [m-f expletive],” Jones said. They laughed and exchanged and repeatedly said “I love you,” before Jones pulled himself away. There was a sorrow in Jones’ demeanor – the kind that comes in the knowing that it would probably be the last time he would see Terry alive.

But there was also a hint of joy that he was able to have one more late night with his hero.

on the ground during the Ferguson uprising took that energy and became filmmakers.

In addition to being one of the culminating programs of this year’s SLIFF, Williams intends to screen “TEN YEARS” across the country in the very near future.

“I hope that people view the story in a different way from those who actually literally lived it,” Williams said. “And from the stories that are being told, I hope that they walk away with some hope for the future.”

The 33rd Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF), presented by Cinema St. Louis, will take place from November 7 – November 17 at various locations. For more infovisit www. cinemastlouis.org.

The bond between Black and Chinese St. Louisans

By Jacquelyn Harris AAHI Intern

Black and Chinese Americans have faced unique challenges due to racial discrimination and segregation, and their experiences ignited a profound intercultural relationship in the 20th century. The history of the two communities is much more interconnected than we may think, including in St. Louis.

After emancipation, there were efforts to replace Black field labor on plantations with Chinese immigrants, especially in the Mississippi Delta. By the early 1900s, many immigrants had established communities filled with family-run businesses. Jim Crow laws deeply oppressed Black citizens, but they also affected the Chinese community, excluding them from white public schools and other spaces. Their independent efforts to survive a discriminatory society brought two marginalized communities together in a way that history books often bypass. Chinese businesses began to welcome and cater to their Black neighbors. Grocers allowed Black families to shop with extended credit, paying every month or so to go along with their salary schedule. Older Black residents in the south have shared that they felt as though they were treated with dignity and respect by Chinese grocers, an experience they did not often have elsewhere during Jim Crow.

As in the Mississippi Delta, Chinese grocers in St. Louis accommodated Black customers, and the relationship evolved further with Chinese restaurants and laundries. Until it was demolished to make way for Busch Memorial Stadium in 1966, St. Louis’s Chinatown, otherwise known as Hop Alley, was a flourishing commercial center and neighborhood filled with family-owned businesses including grocery stores, restaurants, and laundries. Residents prioritized cultural resilience and preservation by establishing community organizations, language schools, and cultural agencies such as the local chapter of On Leong Chinese Merchants Association.

Mill Creek Valley, in present-day midtown, was home to more than 20,000 Black St. Louisans who repackaged their collective circumstances into an unwavering sense of congregation. Author Vivian Gibson recounted in The Last Children of Mill Creek that as a child she was unaware of the intentional segregation that created Mill Creek because of the inherent sense of belonging she felt.

Both neighborhoods were cultural hubs and regions of vibrancy, support, and community. Yet Chinese businesses were constantly berated in local newspapers as substandard, while Black people were barred from using most public institutions, leaving the two groups to look inward and inspiring a consumer relationship that fostered solidarity and friendship.

Chinese restaurateurs shared their culture through food while incorporating their patrons’ preferences, popularizing American Chinese cuisine such as chop suey. A loyal customer base was found in neighboring Black communities, including Mill Creek Valley. The People’s Finance

1964.

Building, the first commercial building in the US funded entirely by Black money, was the center of Black social, political, and commercial life in St. Louis. Across from this essential space was King Hong Cafe, a popular Chinese takeout spot. Gibson explained in her book that this location on Jefferson and Market in Mill Creek Valley, close to the Star movie theater, was consistently busy, especially with Black youth.

Desmond Leong shared his experience growing up as a Chinese American a few streets from Mill Creek Valley in an oral history interview for the Missouri Historical Society. His family had operated a laundry on Market Street near Union Station since before he was born. He remembered Black customers becoming friends with his family over years of business together, specifically the Pullman porters, who came in between runs to get their sheets, pillowcases, and shirts washed. Leong emphasized that the laundry always used heavy starch to ensure the porters’ sharp presentation.

These transactional relationships implemented a sense of solidarity, both economically and socially. For the Leongs, after decades of service, they felt they were making genuine friendships as well.

Urban renewal and city development projects have stolen the culturally rich neighborhoods of Mill Creek Valley and Chinatown from St. Louis. The physical remnants of these communities may now be replaced with highways, universities, and sports facilities, but the stories of those who built, enjoyed, and fought for these communities must be properly acknowledged and valued.

The Missouri History Museum will host a daytime program on Tuesday, November 12, “A History of Chinese Restaurants in St. Louis.” At 11am, join Assistant Librarian and Curatorial Assistant Magdalene Linck to delve into the restaurants, the people behind them, and the neighborhoods they called home. To learn more about African American History Initiative (AAHI) internships, visit mohistory.org/collecting-initiatives/aahi. The AAHI is presented by Wells Fargo.

Photo courtesy of Missouri Historical Society Collections Chinatown district,

STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS FOR CONSULTANT

Great Rivers Greenway is seeking a highly qualified consultant to conduct database and asset management services, including Geographic Information System (GIS) analyses and metrics, mapping, financial projections and analyses, data hosting services, staff training, documentation, and technical integration of GRG’s various database software platforms. Statements of qualifications are due November 25, 2024. Go to https://greatriversgreenway. org/vendors/ for details.

PUBLIC NOTICE AFFIDAVIT OF OWNERSHIP OF CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH

I Ralph C. Moore Jr a native of the original peoples of North America present Minnesota Court Rule 220. Birth Certificates. I am familiar with the facts recited, stating the party named in said birth certificate is the same party as one of the owners named in said certificate of title; and that thereafter the Registrar of Titles shall treat said registered owner as having attained the age of the majority at a date 18 years after the date of birth shown by said certificate. Task Force comment – 1991 Adoption. This rule is derived from 4th Dist. R. 11.05.

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace Roof System & Selective Ceiling Demolition, 511 Airport Road, Jefferson City Airport, Jefferson City, Missouri 65109, Project No. R2407-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, December 5, 2024. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities

Bids for Design & Install Domestic Water Plant, Project No. U2409-01 St. James Veterans Home will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, December 10, 2024. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

A public meeting for the Airport Road Multimodal Improvements Project, St. Louis County Project No. AR-1887, Federal Project No. TAP-5613(612) will be held on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, from 4 p.m.to 6 p.m. at Berkeley City Hall located at 8425 Airport Road, St. Louis, MO, 63134. The goal of this meeting is to inform the public and local stakeholders of St. Louis County’s plans to enhance the recently repaved and striped road segment by installing physical separators and delineators between bicycle lanes and parking lanes and add curbing at marked crosswalks. We will provide full ADA sidewalk and curb ramp upgrades from Hanley Road to Fay Drive. This corridor has been identified as high impact under the St. Louis County Action Plan for Walking and Biking. 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/3A2G2jg

SEALED BIDS

Bids to Replace Roof, Warrensburg Veteran’s Home, Project No. U2501-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, November 19, 2024. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

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.

CITY OF ST. LOUIS ST. LOUIS LAMBERT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT®

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

Service: Management and Operations of Parking Facilities Services

Pre-Proposal Meeting Date: November 13, 2024, 1:00 PM (via Zoom)

Question Due Date: November 15, 2023

Proposal Due Date: December 4, 2024, 2:00pm

Point of Contact: Delia Cummings –dfcummings@flystl.com

Proposal documents may be obtained at St. Louis Lambert International Airport®, Airport Properties Division, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., or by calling (314) 426-8174. This RFP may also be obtained by visiting our website at https://www.flystl.com/civil-rights/business/contractopportunities

Robert Salarano Airport Properties Division Manager

OUTREACH INVITATION

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is holding an outreach for the following project:

SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital Bid Package 05 – Remainder of Work

An outreach meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 20 at 2:00 PM at McCarthy’s jobsite office located at 920 South Spring Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110. Certified MBE/WBE/ DBE subcontractors are encouraged to attend the Outreach to learn more about the project and forthcoming bid dates.

Please RSVP by emailing Jennifer Simpson at jsimpson@mccarthy.com

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS # 57824312, SECURITY CAMERAS

Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) is requesting proposals for Indoor and Outdoor internet protocol (IP) based security cameras, camera mounting hardware, a video management software system, support, maintenance, warranty, cabling and training for campus locations.

If interested, a copy of the request for proposals can be obtained by emailing Barbara A. Morrow at email address: morrowb@hssu.edu

A mandatory pre-bid conference and walk-thru will be held on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Central Standard Time (CST) in room 121 of the DJW Conference Center Conference Room (DJWCCMPR), which is located in the Dr. Henry Givens, Jr., Administration building, 3026 Laclede Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63103. Proposals must be emailed no later than 10:00 a.m. CST on Thursday, December 5, 2024 (there will not be a public opening), and must be emailed to: morrowb@hssu.edu.

The University reserves the right to accept or reject any or all responses received, or to cancel this request in part or in its entirety if it is in the best interests of the University to do so.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Donald Maggi Inc. is accepting bids from Disadvantaged Business Enterprises for subcontracting opportunities on the ARPA Water System Improvements Project No.: 20142411-06

Bid Date and Time: 1:00 pm November 19, 2024 Plans/Specification is available via Dropbox or Email Contact Donald Maggi Inc. at 573-364-7733 or email maggiconst@gmail.com Donald Maggi Inc.

ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY

COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College will receive electronic bids for the Furniture Package for Contract No. F25 402-B, Transformed Projects at the Forest Park Campus for the EHC Renovation, until December 3, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. local time CST. Proposals MUST be submitted electronically to Travis Aly, Project Manager at tcaly@ tarltoncorp.com on or before the time and date stipulated in the Request for Proposal (RFP) document. Specifications and drawings may be obtained from Cross Rhodes’ Plan room at 2731 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, MO 63118 https://www.x-rhodes.com/ sendfiles.php.

Documents are also available in Bonfire at https://stlcc. bonfirehub.com. Questions regarding the scope of work should be directed to Travis Aly. The College has the proposed minority goals MBE 15% and WBE 12%. Also proposed for Contractors to participate in a registered Apprenticeship Program approved through the United States Department of Labor. Individuals with special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act may contact 314-644-9039.

An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer

St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices St.

METROPOLITAN ST.

LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI ELTORA WET WEATHER STORAGE FACILITY NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed Statements of Qualifications for DesignBuild Services for Eltora Wet Weather Storage Facility under Letting No. 11737-015.8, at its “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM”, WWW.STLMSDPLANROOM. COM, until 2:00 PM on Monday, December 9, 2024. Please go to WWW. STLMSDPLANROOM.COM for more details.

THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (“MSD”) is seeking a Statement of Interest for a project partnership with a Responder to utilize the biogas produced at the Missouri River Wastewater Treatment Plant Facility (“MO River WWTF”). The MO River WWTF is located at 3455 Creve Coeur Mill Road in St. Louis, MO. The biogas is produced from on-site anaerobic digestion. MSD will supply raw and unscrubbed biogas to a custody transfer point for the Responder to upgrade it to renewable natural gas (“RNG”) and sell for its physical and environmental attributes. Additional information about the project and submittal requirements can be found on MSD’s Website (https://www.stlmsdplanroom.com ).

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace Highway AA Bridge at Katy Trail State Park, Project No. X2408-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, December 3, 2024 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

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!

LETTING NO.8779 TOWER GROVE CONNECTOR, PHASE 1

(662)

Electronic bids submitted through the Bid Express Online Portal will be received by the Board of Public Service until 1:45 PM, CT, on December 3, 2024, then publicly opened and read. Proposals must be submitted electronically using “Bid Express Online Portal” at https://www.bidexpress. com/businesses/20618/home. The bidder must pay $40 to submit a bid through the Bid Express service. Monthly subscriptions are available.

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

A pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held November 14, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. The pre-bid conference will be held in City Hall, 1200 Market Street, Room #305, St. Louis, Missouri 63103.

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

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

LETTING NO.8780

CONCRETE & BRICK REMOVAL/REPLACEMENT AND COMPLETE SIDEWALK INSTALLATION; PROJECT NO. SP-121

Electronic bids submitted through the Bid Express Online Portal will be received by the Board of Public Service until 1:45 PM, CT, on December 3, 2024, then publicly opened and read. Proposals must be submitted electronically using “Bid Express Online Portal” at https://www.bidexpress.com/businesses/20618/ home. The bidder must pay $40 to submit a bid through the Bid Express service. Monthly subscriptions are available.

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

A mandatory pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held November 13, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. The pre-bid conference will be held in Room 325 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103.

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

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

‘Unfit Christian’ offers an online spiritual home

Danyelle Thomas created site in 2016

By Dorothy S. Boulware Word In Black

Danyelle Thomas is a church girl — born and bred in the church. But with all the “drama and trauma” she found in church, she never envisioned becoming a pastor. Her experience showed her the office was rarely offered to believers of the female persuasion.

But today, Thomas stands as the “Passuh” to thousands who are members of her online congregation, Unfit Christian, a digital faith community she launched in 2016 that offers a safe haven for those seeking acceptance, kindness, healing and wholeness.

“It’s a faith community where we confront religion at the intersection of race, gender, sexuality, class, ability, all of the systems of oppression — but more than that, all of the systems and structure of culture,” Thomas says.

She says the community has grown because it resonated with “folks who had left the church but hadn’t left God.” These are the “folks who didn’t immediately jump to atheism or agnosticism, but folks who were like, ‘I still believe in God, I’m just not sure I believe in the church.’”

Thomas’s journey to creating Unfit Christian is chronicled in her new book, “The Day God Saw Me as Black,” which was released on October 29. The autobiographical chronicle delves into her spiritual trek, embracing her identity, and finding joy in what she calls her “unfitness.”

As a good pastor, Thomas was quick to offer three standout

points of “The Day God Saw Me As Black.”

“Christianity is not the white man’s religion. The pursuit of power is. Internalized anti-Blackness is a hell of a drug, especially when the Bible is your most faithful dealing. That’s chapter five,” she says.

Her next point is the one she most wants readers to get: “You can hear a different story of God, and you can always return to yourself,” — referring to the multiple ways scriptures have been used to assign sin to the collective Blackness of people of African descent.

And most of all, Thomas wants the takeaway to be the imperative to think for oneself.

The book, she says, is an invitation to imagine “what could be if we stopped denying ourselves and each other full liberation.”

And for Thomas, it’s a manifesto for those who feel disconnected from traditional church spac-

es but still long for spiritual belonging.

Thomas’ digital congregation not only engages in theological discussions but also helps attendees support one another in tangible ways, from mutual aid efforts to community support

during life’s significant moments like weddings and funerals.

The congregation is unlike any typical church setting, though. The community includes people from various religious backgrounds — all united in their search for a welcoming, judgment-free space.

“I have friends who are part of this congregation who come

from Islamic backgrounds, Jewish backgrounds, traditional Black Pentecostal backgrounds, atheism, agnosticism, and Buddhism,” she says. “So many different variations of practice and in between, and yet we formed this community.”

The inclusive faith space resonates beyond the boundaries of traditional church structures. Thomas calls it “digital discipleship,” and encourages open dialogue on issues often avoided in conventional religious settings.

“People have been living, leaving organized religion for years and generations,” Thomas says. “I think what’s novel about it is now creating and fostering a new version of what faith community looks like, so it’s still very much reminiscent for a lot of folks. They tell me, you know, you’re my pastor, you’re my pastor.”

In fact, her mission has resonated far beyond what she

Danyelle Thomas didn’t imagine that she would become pastor of a church. However, she now serves as ‘Passuh” to thousands of congregation members on the online site “Unfit Christian” that she created in 2016.

Photo courtesy of Danyelle Thomas

initially imagined — and as the good pastor Thomas is, she tends to the flock according to their need.

“I’m starting to make community with tangible, physical churches,” she says. “And I’m able to send people to churches that are safe now, because folks do still want that type of in-person community. I’m glad to see more pastors welcoming my people and making those spaces welcoming for them. It makes me feel like I’m doing the work that’s necessary.”

Thomas envisions Unfit Christian as a model for future faith communities that prioritize inclusivity and liberation. Her mission is to create more safe, welcoming spaces — both digital and physical — for those who still believe in God but are disillusioned by the traditional church. As she expands Unfit Christian’s reach, she hopes to partner with more churches and faith leaders who share her values.

With “The Day God Saw Me as Black” and Unfit Christian, Thomas hopes to push the boundaries of what faith communities can look like — more inclusive, more accessible, and more connected to the realities of those who have long felt left out.