F.I.R.E. in the pulpit

Beyonce’ on autopilot

‘Mrs. Carter’ serves STL oddly average stage show

Page C1

CAC Audited DECEMBER 19 – 25, 2013

Vol. 84 No. 37

stlamerican.com∞

COMPLIMENTARY

TIF Commission grills CORTEX

Minority participation stressed on $2.2B research park in city

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American On Tuesday, CORTEX president and CEO Dennis Lower asked the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Commission to activate almost $50 million in tax incentives for two redevelopment areas within the $2.2 billion research park in the Central West End – which will include the recently announced IKEA store.

Just after Lower gave his presentation, the TIF commissioners asked him a question he wasn’t ready to answer – what is your status on hiring minorities and women on the seven

n “We have not seen statistics that show where you are with compliance,” on minority participation requirements.

– TIF Commissioner Christina Bennett

in tax incentives from the City of St. Louis last December, told commissioners he wanted to wait until the construction projects were completed to talk about the inclusion numbers.

TIF Commissioners basically told Lower that’s not how it works.

current CORTEX construction sites?

Lower said “it’s not our policy” to publicly share numbers on how many minorities and women they have hired for the publicly funded construction projects currently underway.

Lower, who secured a total of $167.7 million

“We have not seen statistics that show where you are with compliance,” on the city’s minority participation requirements, said TIF Commissioner Christina Bennett.

If construction projects receive taxpayer money, they must abide by the mayor’s executive order of hiring 25 percent minority business enterprises (MBEs) and 5 percent women business enterprises (WBE) on all contracts.

They must also meet the city’s workforce goals of 25 percent minority, five percent

See CORTEX, A7

‘I keep people from burning on both ends’ Firefighter Pastor David L. Scott of Musick Baptist Church

By Bridjes O’Neil Of The St. Louis American

Photo by Wiley Price

Head Start youth welcome McMillan

Children from the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis’ Head Start program performed during last Thursday’s community reception and welcome for its new President Michael P. McMillan at the Sheldon Concert Hall.

Taking degrees to the community Harrison Center to offer associate degrees, certificates

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American In 1994, an academic dean for St. Louis Community College challenged the Forest Park campus to “take education to the community,” said Tracy Hall, vice president of academic affairs at STLCC-Forest Park.

Since then, the campus has continued to take on the challenge of William J. Harrison, then associate dean of academic support and continuing education.

Before Harrison died in June 1994, he helped open a facility at the Julia Davis Library,

BUSINESS

‘Working poor’ should be an oxymoron

President Obama should demand that Congress raise the minimum wage – and not by a little, but a lot.

Page B1

Stacy M. Edwards is the new manager of the William J. Harrison Education Center, part of St. Louis Community College.

where community members could take general education courses. Then, in 2010, the college built the state-of-the-art William J. Harrison Education Center, located near Vashon High School at 3140 Cass Ave. In January, the center will take another big step. For the first time, it will offer associate degrees and certificates in four programs, including human services, emergency medical technology, paramedic technology and fire protection technology.

“We think it’s time to go to another level,” See CENTER, A7

The historic Musick Baptist Church in Maryland Heights is the oldest black church of any denomination west of the Mississippi River, says Pastor David L. Scott.

The church was founded in 1811 by slaves on land given to them by their owner, Thomas Musick. Musick was a Baptist minister who had acquired large parcels of land stretching from the West Port area to St. Charles Rock Road, Scott said.

The church has remained at n “We its original location, 790 Fee go out to Fee Rd., for 202 years. The structural design of the church different has evolved over the years, apartment from a log cabin to a two-story complexes traditional-style wood frame. to talk to The area has also become more industrialized, with the the young headquarters St. Louis-based adults and World Wide Technology, families to Inc. – the state’s largest blacklet them owned business – just down know we’re the street.

Prospect Hill Friendly here.”

Temple Missionary Baptist Church is his “home” church, – Pastor Scott said, the one he grew up David L. in. At the time, Prospect Hill Scott was under the leadership of his mentor and former pastor, the late Adrian F. Jones. This is where Scott said he received his call to the ministry.

Although, admittedly, he never wanted to be a preacher.

See SCOTT, A6

Photo by Wiley Price

HEALTH

The SPOT champions healthy behavior in youth Supporting Positive Opportunities with Teens recently received a contract from the St. Louis Health Department.

Insert

SPORTS

Humble pie for the holidays

Though he was a heavy favorite in the bout, Adrien Broner was beaten up by Marcos “El Chino” Maidana.

Page B3

A6

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • DECEMBER 19 – 25, 2013

SCOTT

Continued from A1 “I ran from the ministry,” he said.

He didn’t think he was worthy of the call and even tried to bargain with God. “God, if you just pick somebody else, I’ll get back in the choir. I’ll drive the church bus. I’ll do anything but preach,” he said he prayed at the time.

However, God’s will was to be done.

Scott became a district missionary with the Berean Missionary Baptist District Association and would occasionally fill in as pastor at Musick. This is where he received his biblical training as well.

When Kendrick Trapp, former pastor of Musick, resigned, Scott was chosen by the congregation to serve in his first lead pastoral position in 2010.

Scott’s preaching style centers on a desire to bring the gospel to every single person, especially those who have strayed from the church. He and members of his church go out of their way to reel them back in.

“We go out to different apartment complexes to talk to the young adults and families to let them know we’re here,” he said. “They gotta see that you’re regular people. We’ve been through the same place that you are.”

In his basement office at the church, he has displayed two plaques linking him to his other career as a firefighter, which spans 25 years. He received his life-saving award for performing CPR on a woman who had went into cardiac arrest. In November 1991 he was awarded for aiding in the rescue of three children under the age of 10 from a burning building. One did not survive, he said.

Beside his awards is a framed photo of Scott, his wife, Carla, and son, Dominic.

Scott said he never wanted to be a firefighter, either. He

Pastor David L. Scott leads Musick Baptist Church in Maryland Heights and is captain of Engine House No. 6 in South St. Louis for the St. Louis Fire Department.

Photo by Wiley Price

studied at Vatterott College and thought he wanted to be an electrician. His interest in firefighting was piqued while working as a security guard at Medicare-Glazier, a neighborhood drugstore.

“It was a fireman that used to come in every day,” he recalled, referring to Wendell Goins. “One day he asked me how would I like to make a lot more money than I’m making now?”

Goins also played a role in recruiting Wayne Luster.

Luster, Scott and John Watson

Church: Musick Baptist Church Address: 790 Fee Fee Rd., Maryland Heights Founded: 1811 Denomination: Baptist Membership: 60 Pastor: David L. Scott First Lady: Carla M. Scott Ministries: Men, Women, Youth, Outreach

Jr. are all pastors and members of F.I.R.E. (Firefighters Institute for Racial Equality),

a fraternal and advocacy organization of AfricanAmerican firemen in the city

of St. Louis. Battalion Chief Steve Simpson, also a pastor, is a former member.

Scott is captain of Engine House No. 6 in South St. Louis. He says he owes his job to F.I.R.E. Its mission is to promote the hiring, retention and upward mobility of African-American firefighters.

Scott came into the department under 50/50, a court-ordered consent decree meant to promote diversity and equity in promotional practices in the St. Louis Fire Department. The 50/50 decree,

mandating racially balanced hiring and promotions, has since been overturned in the courts.

Being a pastor and firefighter have been rewarding careers, he said.

Scott said, “I like to keep people from burning on both ends.”

This story is part four of a four-part feature series entitled, “F.I.R.E. in the Pulpit.” For more information on F.I.R.E., visit firestl.net.

Happy Thanksgiving!

CAC Audited NOV. 28 – DEC. 4, 2013

Vol. 84 No. 34 COMPLIMENTARY

stlamerican.com

Martin Mathews to retire Rev. Nance: ‘We have some very big shoes to fill’

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

Photo by Wiley Price

On Nov. 25, Martin Mathews announced that after more than 50 years, he is retiring as president and chief executive officer of the Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club.

Martin Luther Mathews, co-founder of the MathewsDickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club, remembers a day in 1958 when a close friend invited him to his home.

“There, he had 30 boys in his house who wanted to do something with their lives,” said Mathews, who was coaching baseball outside for a textile manufacturing company of working in an engineering department.

He placed those 30 boys on baseball teams that year, but other kids just kept showing up wanting to play. In

the summer of 1960, Mathews and the late Hubert “Dickey” Ballentine, coaches of neighborhood baseball teams called the Knights and the Arabs, were talking in Handy Park after baseball practice. They both hated to turn kids away, and both desired to keep young men on the fields and off the streets. This meant they needed to organize more teams.

“We came up with a great idea,” Mathews said. “Why can’t we have a boys club like they have in South St.

– Martin Mathews

See MATHEWS, A7

McCoy says board ignores him

INSIDE OPINION

Missouri must raise minimum wage Missouri’s current minimum wage is $7.35, which on Jan. 1, 2014 will climb to a whopping $7.50.

Suspended super and community still waiting for explanation

~ Page A5 ~

BUSINESS

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

‘Making things better’ in local construction

On Tuesday, Ferguson-Florissant Superintendent Art McCoy Jr. made his first public comments since the school board placed him on administrative leave on Nov. 6 for “differences in focus and philosophy.”

“I choose to always do things the right way, do things with integrity, do things appropriately and within established policy, procedures and best practices,” McCoy said at a press conference held at Art Shalom Church (City of Peace) in McCoy Jr. Berkeley and organized by the Citizens’ Taskforce for Excellence in Education, a coalition of citizens, clergy and community leaders.

Upon placing McCoy on leave, Board of Education President Paul Morris said the action was not an indication of any wrongdoing on

The Construction Forum STL, a new nonprofit organization dedicated to holding discussions of local construction industry issues.

~ Page B1 ~

SPORTS

‘Mr. Cub’ given Presidential Medal of Freedom

See McCOY, A6

Chicago Cubs legend Ernie Banks, 82, was one of 16 individuals honored with a 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.

F.I.R.E. IN THE PULPIT

~ Page B4 ~

Photo by Wiley Price

Wellston’s McLamore scores for charity Jaleah Randolph, 5, enjoys her pre-Thanksgiving meal at the Wellston Community Center on Saturday. Wellston basketball standout and current Sacramento Kings rookie Ben McLamore held the dinner and turkey give-away. The event was sponsored by his All 4 Kids Foundation.

Help for the neediest Community Women Against Hardship partners with The American

By Clarice Evans For The St. Louis American

Hall of Famer Ernie Banks

“We came up with a great idea.

Why can’t we have a boys club like they have in South St. Louis?”

The effects of the government shutdown and congressional budget cuts have only led to the continued suffering of those most in need. Community Women Against Hardship and the St. Louis American have partnered again to address some of the needs of some of our most fragile citizens. As we find ways to continue to lift our community up, we are grateful for any

Teacher, preacher, battalion chief Longtime firefighter Steve Simpson serves in first pastoral role

By Bridjes O’Neil Of The St. Louis American

support. Help us encourage these families during this season of giving. Send all donations to CWAH, 3963 West Belle Pl., St. Louis, MO 63108 or call 314-289-7523.

Case 1 – Ms. A. is a single mother of four who is currently unable to work due to an injury. She is working on a nursing degree and is determined

See CWAH, A6

Steve Simpson

The church is the best place to raise a child, said Steve Simpson, pastor of Bethel Christian Assembly Faith Fellowship, 4006 Cottage Ave. in North St. Louis.

Simpson referred to himself as a “pew baby” and says his personal achievements are a direct result of his spiritual upbringing at Kennerly Temple Church of God In Christ, under the leadership of then Pastor

See SIMPSON, A6

A7

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • NOV. 28 – DEC. 4, 2013

MATHEWS

Martin Mathews’ retirement will become effective Nov. 1, 2014, allowing the agency an opportunity to initiate a yearlong search for a successor and celebrate his contributions with the establishment of a Martin Luther Mathews Legacy Fund Campaign.

Continued from A1 Louis?”

Five years later and still without a central facility, they had organized more than 100 teams: 75 baseball, 22 football, 22 cheerleading and two basketball teams.

“We use sports as a drawing card,” Mathews said. “My pride is to see kids take on sports and then they go on and develop in other areas. Those first 30 boys have become top FBI agents, top business people and educators, professional athletes. We use those first 30 boys as an example.”

On Nov. 25, Mathews announced that after more than 50 years, he is retiring as president and chief executive officer of the Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club. His retirement will become effective Nov. 1, 2014, allowing the agency an opportunity to initiate a yearlong search for a successor and celebrate his contributions with the establishment of a Martin Luther Mathews Legacy Fund Campaign.

“What would have happened if I had said ‘no’ to the man and those 30 kids?”

Mathews said. “We have touched the lives of millions of people. That’s what we’ve done.”

Mathews-Dickey has come a long way since the first meeting in Handy Park. The new facility at Kingshighway and Penrose is equipped with an Olympic-size pool, basketball gymnasiums, community meeting and music rooms, computer and tutorial labs and administrative offices. Today the club provides direct services to nearly 6,000 members and episodic services to more than 40,000 annually.

“Our Board of Directors cherishes the generations of lives that Mr. Mathews has touched and his tremendous leadership in growing the agency from a dream under a shade tree to a multi-faceted educational, cultural and sports institution,” said board

Photo by Wiley Price

Chairman Rev. Earl E. Nance Jr. “We have some very big shoes to fill and are thankful that Mr. Mathews will serve as president emeritus to advise the next leader.”

By forging relationships with business and community leaders, Mathews has been able to develop programs such as the Volunteer Tutorial to supply youth with “study buddies” and Computer Literacy Instruction to tackle the digital divide through technology training.

“Through education we can overcome hardships and difficulties and provide support systems to conquer poverty, ignorance and hatred to become productive citizens,” Mathews said. “My lifelong mission is to educate youth on

“Those first 30 boys have become top FBI agents, top business people and educators, professional athletes.”

– Martin Luther Mathews

the front end to prevent them from falling through the cracks on the back end – the guiding principle of our ‘It’s Better to Educate than to Incarcerate’ Initiative.”

Also a firm believer in youth employment opportunities, Mathews founded Earn and Learn to help them earn money as managers, coaches, scorekeepers and umpires. In an effort to reduce gang violence, he collaborated with the FBI in 1992 to establish the Motivation, Vocation and

Preparation program.

On July 22, 1982, President Ronald Reagan awarded Mathews the United States Presidential Citizens Medal.

“The good works of Martin Mathews flow as deeply through the City of St. Louis as the Mississippi River itself,” Reagan wrote on the award.

“His inspiring contribution to bettering the lives of inner-city youth is a shining example of the power of good.”

In order to renovate the club and broaden its services,

Mathews successfully worked with major corporate leaders and Civic Progress to solicit financial and in-kind donations. Mathews also was the first African American to serve on the board and executive committee of the United Way of Greater St. Louis.

An avid sportsman, Mathews built strong relationships with the Junior Football and Khoury baseball leagues. He also collaborated with Major League Baseball and St. Louis Cardinals officials on the creation of the Reviving Baseball in the Inner Cities (RBI) Program in 1992 and subsequent hosting of the first World Series for the program.

Among his numerous distinguished awards are The A&E Biography Community

Hero, Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame and the St. Louis American Salute to Excellence in Education Lifetime Achiever Award.

Mathews is also a recipient of honorary doctorate degrees from Saint Louis University, Washington University in St. Louis, Webster University and the University of Missouri – St. Louis.

“If we are going to be the greatest country in the world, we have to start investing in our young people,” Mathews said. “That’s why I have no regrets of my 55 years.

Millions of people remember those days when you were out there giving kids an opportunity when they didn’t have opportunities.”

‘From NFL to NFP’ Adrian Bracy of YWCA is 2013 Non-Profit Executive of the Year

Page B1

CAC Audited OCTOBER 10 – 16, 2013

Vol. 84 No. 28 COMPLIMENTARY

stlamerican.com

Teach For America boosts diversity

Doorways turns 25 Agency serves homeless people living with AIDS

By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American

Photo by Wiley Price

Teach For America corps member Chris Leatherwood taught class at Gateway Middle School in the St. Louis Public School District on Tuesday.

19 percent of new corps members in STL are African-American

By Rebecca S. Rivas Of The St. Louis American Chris Leatherwood is a seventh-grade math teacher at Gateway Middle School, and he is part of the two percent of teachers nationwide who are African-American males.

He understands that there is a growing need for more black male teachers, he said.

But that’s not why he chose to join Teach For America, a national organization that trains professionals to become teachers in lowincome communities.

“I’m a product of the public schools, and I

know how underprepared I was to enter college,” said Leatherwood, a Washington University graduate in English literature who joined the organization this year. “I wanted to help kids to be better prepared than I was.”

Just eight percent of children who grow up in low-income communities graduate college by age 24, according to the Postsecondary Education Opportunity research group. When

See TEACH, A6

F.I.R.E. IN THE PULPIT

Pastor on North, captain on South John Watson Jr. is a fire captain by profession and preacher by calling

By Bridjes O’Neil Of The St. Louis American

John Watson Jr. is a fire captain at Engine House No. 23, at 6500 Michigan Ave. in South St. Louis, and co-pastor of Maple Temple Church of God in Christ, 5195 Maple Ave. in North St. Louis.

John Watson Jr. is a firefighter by training, but he inherited his religious mission as co-pastor of Maple Temple Church of God in Christ.

His father, Elder John Watson Sr., is senior pastor of Maple Temple, located at 5195 Maple Ave. in North St. Louis. To honor his father’s influence in the church and community, 26th Ward Alderman Frank Williamson introduced an ordinance designating the 1200 block of Clarendon Avenue, at the intersection with Page

See WATSON, A7

It’s been 25 years since Doorways made its entrance to offer housing for homeless persons living with HIV and AIDS in the St. Louis area. It now serves 1,000 households in the 15-county St. Louis metropolitan area, 62 counties in outstate Missouri and 55 counties in outstate Illinois.

“You have to be homeless to qualify, so when clients come to us, they are dealing with a number of issues, from poverty to mental health, substance use, you name it,” said Opal M. Jones, president and CEO of Doorways.

“This is, in Jones wants the black many ways, community to engage with our disease AIDS as an issue, because the days of it being a white, now.” gay, male disease are long – Opal M. Jones, over.

“We need to know that Doorways this is affecting us in this community in higher rates than other communities,” Jones said. “This is, in many ways, our disease now, and we’ve got to take ownership of taking care of our own brothers and sisters.”

According to February 2013 statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, African Americans have the most severe burden of HIV of all racial/ethnic groups in the United States.

Compared with other races and ethnicities, African Americans account for a higher proportion of HIV

See JONES, A7

No turning back on Obamacare Insurance exchanges busy as Affordable Care Act goes into effect

By Eugene Robinson Washington Post While Republicans were throwing their silly tantrum, Obamacare became a fact. There is no turning back.

The point of no return was reached when millions of people crashed the websites of the new Affordable Care Act exchanges trying to buy health insurance. Republicans can fight rear-guard battles if they want, but last Tuesday they lost the war. All they can do at this point is harm the nation – and their own political prospects.

Someday, if the GOP captures the presidency and both houses of Congress, President Obama’s health care law could be altered or even repealed.

See ACA, A6 Photo by Wiley Price

A7

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • OCTOBER 10 – 16, 2013

WATSON Continued from A1 Boulevard, as “Rev. John Watson Sr. Avenue.”

Indeed, the adage “a family that prays together, stays together” rings true at Maple Temple. Most of his immediate family members serve in leadership roles within the church.

His mother, First Lady Addie Watson, serves as district missionary and oversees the Seed of Faith Ministry. Of his four daughters, two have taken up the family trade.

Sierra Watson oversees the Youth Ministry at Maple

JONES Continued from A1 infections in all age categories and at all stages of disease.

Despite representing only 12 to 14 percent of the U.S. population, African Americans accounted for an estimated 44 percent of all new HIV infections among adults and adolescents (aged 13 years or older) in 2010. In that same year, the estimated rate of new HIV infection for black men was seven times that of white men.

Doorways runs seven residential buildings in St. Louis where individuals and families live independently, with some supportive services. The organization also provides occasional rental and utility assistance for the highest-functioning clients.

Housing remains the single most critical unmet need for persons with HIV AIDS, Jones said.

“When you are not housed stably, you cannot take care of your complex medical regimens and you are not adherent to your medicines,” Jones said.

“Once you are not adherent to your medicines, sometimes those medicines might not work for you again. And if you don’t have your viral load

Temple, and Chavon Bethany is a missionary in Texas.

Watson joined his father in the pulpit at Maple Temple 10 years ago as an assistant pastor, before transitioning into the role of co-pastor four years ago. However, he didn’t start preaching just because his father was a preacher, he said.

“I was inspired by God to continue the mission of empowering people spiritually,” he said.

Watson serves as president of the Academy-Sherman Park Neighborhood Association, which works closely with elected officials. Elected officials are also invited to attend meetings at Maple Temple that

give the community an opportunity to discuss their grievances about crime, education, housing and commercial redevelopment.

“We’ve been able to organize the neighbors to bring the neighborhood back,” Watson said. “We’re one of the most successful neighborhood associations in the city of St. Louis.”

He said that true servants of the community don’t do it for the recognition, they do it because they have been called to do so. As a spiritual shepherd, he preaches this message.

“Make Jesus your Lord and continue to look out for one another in the community to

make it a better place,” he said.

Watson was directed to the fire service by a friend at his former church, Zion Temple C.O.G.I.C. This friend, who was a firefighter himself, mentioned that the St. Louis Fire Department was hiring.

Watson had worked previously at the Federal Reserve Bank in the Processing Department and the University City School District in the Supply Department. Taking his friend’s advice, he pursued and received his training and certifications through the St. Louis Fire Academy and the National Fire Academy.

He began his career as a

private at Engine Houses No. 12 and No. 17. At Engine House No. 11, he performed marine duties like river rescues and barge fires. “Any incidents that took place on the Mississippi River, the St. Louis Fire Department handles that,” he said.

He spent 20 years working as a firefighter in North St. Louis before being assigned to Engine House No. 23, at 6500 Michigan Ave., in South St. Louis’ Carondelet neighborhood. He now serves as its fire captain.

Being a firefighter, he said, has provided financial security for his family: his wife of 30 years, Jacqueline; their daugh-

ters Bethany, Rosetta Davis, Sierra and Adrien; and their son, John Watson III. As a member of the Firefighters’ Institute for Racial Equality (F.I.R.E.), he would like to see more African Americans working in the fire service. F.I.R.E.’s mission is to promote the hiring, retention, and upward mobility of African-American firemen in the City of St. Louis.

“What’s happening now,” Watson said, “is that you’ve got more going out and very few coming in.”

This story is part one of “F.I.R.E. in the Pulpit,” a four-part series about firefighter pastors.

under control through your medications, then you have a much greater risk of infecting other people with HIV.” Housing is essential – but insufficient.

“When I started managing programs for Doorways years ago, we literally gave our residents the key to an apartment and said, ‘Okay, call us if you need anything,’” Jones said.

“We were not doing our clients justice. You can give somebody housing, but if we don’t take care of all of those other, then they are dependent on Doorways forever. I want Doorways to be a stop in the road. It’s an open door, but keep on going. We want to be there, but we want them to move on.”

It was her own struggles as a stay-at-home mother of two autistic children (Robert, 14, and Isaac, 12) that led her to advocate on behalf of others, she said.

Her advocacy extends to the policy realm. “We work statewide to get more fair legislation on the books for people living with AIDS,” she said of her work with the Missouri AIDS Task Force.

In the fall, Jones will join the National AIDS Housing Coalition in Washington, D.C. “We specifically look at national policy and funding

and all of the various things that affect AIDS housing,” she said.

Jones became the president and CEO last December, previously serving as director of Doorways’ residential programs. The Doorways staff grew by one-third last year to include 70 employees. Since that time, Doorways has provided what Jones describes as a “living wage” for all employees – $10 per hour, plus benefits – addressing the reality that some of the staff were faring worse than some of the clients.

Jones is a 2012 graduate of the Coro Women in Leadership program of Focus St. Louis and earned a bachelor’s of science in management and organizational behavior from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Jones said Doorways is on track to hit $7 million in revenue this year.

Funding comes mostly from federal, state and local support, although individual donations are always needed and welcomed. Last year, it became a Medicaid provider.

But current funding leaves many needs unmet. Doorways has hundreds of people on its waiting list, some dating back almost three years, Jones said, “We have such a great need

out here,” she said, “that we cannot house everyone that needs housing.”

Doorways will hold a 25th anniversary celebration, “The Courage to Live,” 4-7 p.m.

Thursday, October 17at Soulard Preservation Hall, 1921 S. 9th St. It is free of charge and open to the public.

Dress is business casual and light hors d’oerves will be

served. For more information, call 314-535-1919, email info@doorwayshousing.org or visit http://www.doorwayshousing.org.

State playoffs get underway A schedule for this week’s postseason action

Page B3

CAC Audited OCT. 31 – NOV. 6, 2013

Vol. 84 No. 31 COMPLIMENTARY

stlamerican.com

F.I.R.E. IN THE PULPIT

Pastor and captain Wayne Luster serves ‘spiritual and natural’ needs

By Bridjes O’Neil Of The St. Louis American

Wayne Luster is founding pastor at Victory Outreach Ministries Church and a captain in the St. Louis Fire Department.

Wayne Luster is a captain in the St. Louis Fire Department today because he was a pastor first.

Some 25 years ago, Luster was an associate pastor at New Jerusalem Cathedral Church of God in Christ (COGIC), where he noticed a recruitment flier for firefighters on a bulletin board.

It had been posted by Wendell H. Goins, a member of New Jerusalem Cathedral and a founding member of the Firefighters Institute for Racial Equality (F.I.R.E.), a fraternal organization for African-American firefighters.

“Wendell Goins is the one who brought me on,”

See LUSTER, A7

Slay loses water fight Veolia is out, MSD will consult on city water division

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American After almost a year of protests against a $250,000 consulting contract with Veolia Water North America, the controversial company has decided not to do business with the City of St. Louis, according to Mayor Francis G. Slay’s representative who spoke at an aldermanic committee meeting on Tuesday morning.

Slay’s office spoke with the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) on Monday about taking on the role that Veolia would have played – improving the functions and efficiency of the water department – said Mary Ellen Ponder, the mayor’s special assistant.

However, Slay’s announcement did not stop the

Photo by Wiley Price

Pumpkin magic

See SLAY, A6

Sweet Potato Project students Keith Young, Darryeon Bishop and Marquitta Williams prepare a batch of sweet potato cookies under the supervision of Chef Bryan Rogers, a sous chef at Saint Louis University’s Salus Center.

Photo by Wiley Price

Journi Williams, 7, and her cousin Anayiah Neely, 8, work their magic on pumpkins Saturday at the Moonrise Hotel in the University City Loop. The annual Pumpkin Carve & Glow event is the fall kick off in the Loop.

Celebration of legal community Last week the Washington University School of Law hosted a celebration of the 65th anniversary of the Shelley v. Kraemer decision, where the U.S. Supreme Court

unanimously ruled that housing covenants restricting home ownership based on race violate the 14th Amendment.

The event, held in the law school’s moot courtroom, was also a celebration of AfricanAmerican legal community.

Kimberly Norwood, professor of law and of African and African-American Studies at

Sweet Potato Project brings national movement to STL with help of SLU

By Sylvester Brown Jr. For The St. Louis American

Washington University, was the first in a series of powerful speakers. She remembered visiting with Margaret Bush Wilson, lead attorney for the Shelleys in the landmark 1948 case, not long before the legal legend passed in 2009.

For the past two years, I have urged the Sweet Potato Project youth to see themselves as “urban pioneers.” I tell them they will lead a food-based economic movement in long-neglected, impoverished neighborhoods.

Today, they are planting sweet potatoes on vacant lots. The yield is used for the sweet potato cookies they will sell in a couple weeks. I ask them to imagine whole blocks where food is grown in

See LAW, A6

See PROJECT, A6

WUSTL School of Law hosts event in honor of Margaret Bush Wilson

By Chris King Of The St. Louis American

‘Agricultural renaissance in the city’

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • OCT. 31 – NOV. 6, 2013

A7

LUSTER Continued from A1

Church: Victory Outreach Ministries Church Address: #14 Village Square, Hazelwood

Luster said.

Luster began his career at Engine House No. 9 and recently celebrated his 24th anniversary in the fire department on October 2.

Goins led him into the fire service, but Luster said it was the Lord who led him into pastoral work.

While at New Jerusalem Cathedral, Luster said, the Lord called him to start his own ministry. His mentor, Elder Solomon L. Williams, senior pastor of New Jerusalem, gave his blessing, and Luster founded Victory Outreach Ministries Church in 2009.

“We actually started in a daycare,” Luster said.

That daycare was Perfect Gift Nursery, located at 1318 N. Newstead Ave. Victory Outreach Ministries is currently located in Hazelwood at #14 Village Square.

Luster’s spiritual roots might be in C.O.G.I.C., but his church is nondenominational, with its doors open to people of all religious faiths. As a pastor, he said, he tries to make the “glorious gospel of Jesus Christ” plain and describes his preaching style as “practical.”

“We address the social ills that are faced in our society,” Luster said. “Because the Bible says, ‘It’s first natural, then spiritual.’ You have to deal with the natural man as well as the spiritual.”

At Thanksgiving, for example, Victory Outreach Ministries partners with the Covenant House to feed homeless teens who stay there, while dishing out a helping of “spiritual nourishment” as well.

“We’re a biblically-based church, but we’re actively engaged,” he said.

Luster holds a bachelor’s degree in biblical general studies from the Mid-West Bible Institute. He also earned an associate’s degree in business administration and marketing

Denomination: Nondenominational Founded: 2009 Pastor: Wayne Luster First Lady: Michelle Luster Membership: 125 Ministries: Women, G.R.A.C.E (Girls Reared in Anointing Character and Excellence), D.I.V.A.S (Divine Intervention for Victory and Salvation), Men, B.R.O.T.H.A.S. (Bring Real Ones To Higher Authority & Salvation), Married/Unmarried, Prison and Health and Wellness.

and advertising from St. Louis Community College. But fighting fires is how he has fed his family.

He is proud to say that he is able to pay college tuition at Alabama A&M University for his daughters, Charity and

“We address the social ills that are faced in our society. You have to deal with the natural man as well as the spiritual.”

– Wayne Luster

Crystal. He also financially helped his wife, Michelle, to launch her own business, Alternative Nail Salon & Spa. Luster would not have entered the fire service without the support F.I.R.E. Its mission is to promote the hiring, retention and upward mobility of African-American firefighters.

It currently has about 275 members, including Battalion Chief Steve Simpson, Captain John Watson Jr. and Captain Dave Scott.

In Luster’s former role as vice chairman of F.I.R.E., he served as a political liaison. He organized marches and spoke

out against the contested demotion of then-Fire Chief Sherman George in October 2007. The city’s first AfricanAmerican fire chief, George retired and sued Mayor Francis G. Slay for racial discrimination, without success.

Luster believes that diversity within the fire department should be representative of the city of St. Louis, which has a plurality of African Americans, according to the 2010 census.

One of F.I.R.E.’s diversity initiatives is geared toward African-American youth.

Luster credits current F.I.R.E. President Capt. Abram Pruitt Jr. with leading the effort to promote firefighting as a viable career path for youth.

Luster is not finished pursuing promotions himself. He is currently captain of Engine House No. 1, located at 2910 S. Jefferson Ave. in the Benton Park neighborhood. He has his sights set, next, on battalion chief and has been studying for the promotional exam.

Men will judge his capacity to lead in the fire department, but he has a higher authority in the pulpit. Luster said, “I excel in the ministry by pleasing God and by serving people.”

Movin’ with JJK

This story is part two of a four-part feature series entitled, “F.I.R.E. in the Pulpit.”

Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee spent the morning at Hickey Elementary School last Thursday teaching St. Louis Public Schools students and parents about the importance of physical activity and good nutrition.

Photo by Wiley Price