The St. Louis American July 7, 2016

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Vol. 88 No. 14 COMPLIMENTARY

The costs and perils of fragmentation Better Together report shows how best practices and progress are hindered

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American Pine Lawn and Des Peres – two cities only 13 miles apart in St. Louis County – couldn’t be more different. But they have one thing in common.

“They both fund their municipal government through dollars that largely come from people outside their cities,” stated the recently released Better Together St. Louis study, which analyzed

n St. Louis’ governments cost taxpayers $1,800 per capita compared to just over $1,200 for Indianapolis-Marion County and $1,100 per capita in Louisville-Jefferson County.

the St. Louis region’s fragmented structures and systems.

“Some may say one method is superior to the other, but we can all agree that neither is

sustainable or fair.”

Des Peres, located near Interstate 270 and Manchester Road, has 8,500 residents who are 94.3 percent white with a median household

income of $116,000. Residents pay no municipal property tax, yet their municipal government has police and fire departments and offers its residents premium services, such as a state-ofthe-art recreation facility and free trash and leaf collection. West County Mall, situated in Des Peres, collects $12.7 million in sales taxes (fully 60 percent of Des Peres’ total revenue) from the mall and other smaller commercial sites.

See REPORT, A7

Lezley’s courage takes center stage at ESSENCE McSpadden joins mothers of Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis for heartfelt talk

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Michael Brown Jr.’s mother Lezley McSpadden spoke at ESSENCE Festival’s “Mothers Moments of Courage” Empowerment Session in New Orleans on Saturday, July 2.

NEW ORLEANS – The faces of Lezley McSpadden, Lucy McBath and Sybrina Fulton – the mothers of Michael Brown Jr., Jordan Davis and Trayvon Martin – were as familiar as any of the celebrities who flooded the Ernest Morial Convention Center on Saturday, July 2 for ESSENCE Festival 2016.

They stood before the audience as part of the Empowerment Session that complements the annual weekend of concerts.

“We know their names, but it’s for a heartbreaking reason,” Miki Taylor, ESSENCE editor at large and Empowerment Session host, told the audience. “These mothers will

n “This is a hard journey once you are thrust into it – and you don’t have anything to heal, as far as justice is concerned.”

– Lezley McSpadden

share their stories of loss, their journey towards healing, and how they found the courage to get to the other side of the pain.”

The trio belongs to a growing group of See ESSENCE, A6

Watch the County Council race

By Mike Jones Of The St. Louis American We have entered the stretch run of a historically important political season. On November 8, Missouri voters will elect a president, a governor and a senator who could determine control of the U.S. Senate (among other offices), and next March St. Louis city voters will elect a new mayor after 16 years of Francis G. Slay.

The outcome of these races will help determine public policy for at least the next four years, and could have unforeseen effects far

BUSINESS

Opinion

into the future. (Think President George W. Bush invading Iraq.) If you are black, however, other, lower-level elections may have a larger immediate impact on your life.

What could be more important than the presidential election? I would suggest two races: the Democratic nomination for St. Louis circuit attorney and the Democratic nomination for the 4th District seat on the St. Louis County Council.

Given the black community’s relationship

with the criminal justice system and general breakdown of public safety in too many black city neighborhoods, no one can overstate the importance of the circuit attorney’s race. This is, after all, the city’s elected prosecutor who decides which cases to take to trial and what sentences to seek.

But I want to focus on the Democratic primary for St. Louis County’s 4th District council seat, which represents the county’s farthest northern reaches, including most of Florissant and Bellefontaine Neighbors and all See RACE, A6

SPORTS

Mike O’Mara

Rochelle Walton Gray

LIVING IT

Free help for small urban businesses

Kevin Durant’s July 4th decision causes fireworks

Oprah goes to ESSENCE

Regions Bank and Regional Chamber bring Inner City Capital Connections to St. Louis.

The most coveted player in NBA free agency made the no-brainer decision to join the Golden State Warriors.

Media mogul inspires thousands, incites frenzy with surprise festival debut.

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 - 13, 2016

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Tamar checks out after crossing paths with ‘The Real’ execs at ESSENCE

Her former employer “The Real” was streaming live for the entire weekend of the 22nd Annual ESSENCE Festival.

Two months ago, singer and reality Former Destiny’s Child member television personality Tamar Braxton said to be ‘fighting for her life’ was dismissed from her duties as Shonda shuts down haters coming co-host of daytime television talk LaTavia Roberson, one of the show “The Real.” for Jesse Williams’ job original members Destiny’s Child, is According to the New York Post’s LaTavia said to be in critical condition because Last week, actor and activist Jesse Williams Page Six, Braxton and husband Roberson of pregnancy complications.

Vincent Herbert checked out of their delivered a stirring pro-black acceptance Roberson, who is expecting her New Orleans hotel after repeatedly speech after being bestowed with the second child, was said to have been running into executives from the Humanitarian Award at the 2016 BET rushed to the hospital over the Fourth of show during the ESSENCE Awards. Soon after, thousands of fans July weekend.

Festival. from Grey’s Anatomy started a petition According to the Shade Room, there is no “Tamar lasted one night in that in an attempt to get him fired. current update on Roberson’s condition, but a hotel. She and her husband Vince The change.com petition garnered source close to the singer told the outlet that [Herbert] kept running into executives nearly 5,000 signatures. she’s “fighting for her life.” from Warner Bros. and Tamar was The petition writes, “Jesse Williams Roberson, 34, announced in an Instagram very uncomfortable,” Page Six said. spewed a racist, hate speech against post last month that she was expecting “She even walked through the lobby law enforcement and white people with dark black ‘Jackie O’ sunglasses. another child. Roberson gave birth to her at the BET awards. There’s been no daughter Lyric Richard, with producer Don They were booked into a new hotel companies making a stand against Vito, in 2013. room first thing the next morning. his racist remarks and no swift action Roberson was one of the four Shonda Everyone was talking about how they condemning his negative attitude.” original members of Destiny’s demanded to leave.”

Rhimes Williams’ fans started a counter petition Child.

She left the group to Tamar Braxton was at ESSENCE to keep his job, but Grey’s Anatomy form the girl band, Anjel, and to honor Toni Braxton, who creator producer Shonda Rhimes let went on to star in several was bestowed with a Lifetime his supporters know that they need not Achievement Award at the 12th Annual urban stage plays, including bother because his job is safe.

“Those Jeans,” “Not My 365 Black Awards. Tamar and her sisters sang “Um, people? Boo don’t need a petition,” Family” and “How To in a star studded tribute and presented Toni Rhimes tweeted to her 1.25 million followers Love.” with her statue. with the hashtag “#shondalandrules.”

T.I.’s restaurant employees file suit over payment disputes Ten employees from T.I.’s Atlanta restaurant Scales 925 are suing the rapper and his partner Charles Hughes, claiming they are not being paid properly for hours worked or overtime.

According several reports, employees accuse restaurant manager Charles Hughes of using faulty payroll software that routinely deleted hours and would not record any more than 40 hours per week.

The group also claims they were forced to work three hours off the clock before they could leave at night and that their paychecks were docked, allegedly to tip out the bus boys, but the bus boys claim never received the money. Also the payroll software would declare more tips than were actually collected.

The waiters also say they were charged $4 for broken glasses even if there were none.

According to AJC.com, the case is pending.

T.I.

Sources: Eurweb. com, AJC.com, Twitter.com, New York Post, The Shade Room

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 - 13, 2016

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Deaconess Foundation hosts ‘Children at the Center’ At the Deaconess Foundation’s recent “Children at the Center” daylong festival at the MathewsDickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club, children were entertained while adults and youth discussed policy issues.

Rev. Starksy Wilson calls for ‘radical transformation’

By Rachel Sudduth For The St. Louis American He wore a T-shirt with the words “Children at the Center” tucked underneath a grey and white striped suit. Rev. Starksy Wilson, president and CEO of the Deaconess Foundation joined civic leaders, youth and parents for the third annual “Children at the Center” daylong festival and policy engagement held recently at the Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club.

The Deaconess Foundation is a faith-based grant-making organization devoted to the productivity of children’s mental and physical health, along with a healthy living environment.

“This is the first generation of Americans that are not going to do as well as their parents,”

Wilson said, after concluding a policy forum with State Treasurer Clint Zweifel.

Wilson said the greatest challenge facing young people today is the social stigma.

“They’re still not being protected by the criminal justice system, still don’t have jobs waiting on them, and there are still prejudices against them,” Wilson said.

To improve child development and child wellbeing, the foundation announced more than $600,000 for 2016 grant recipients.

Throughout the year, organizations that correlate with the foundation’s mission and vision can apply and may be eligible for the Deaconess Small Grants up to $5,000.

Preceding the policy forum, participants and attendants were exposed to a room filled

Understanding the Brexit vote What’s the big deal about the vote by Brits to leave the European Union (EU)? That’s across the pond and has nothing to do with us in the U.S., right?

Not quite true. Global capitalism has us all connected – for better or for worse. And while the complexities of the exit implementation (which may take years) are still being figured out, there are some simple take-ways.

Brexit, the shortened slang for British Exit of the EU, was a referendum to determine whether the UK would stay or leave the Union. The election saw the country’s highest voter turnout in nearly 25 years – 72 per cent.

Who were the voters and what did their vote really represent? Here’s what we know: Most rural voters said yes

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

with tables of non-profit organizations and activist groups, including Youth Undoing Institutional Racism (YUIR) project.

Established by the American Friends Service Committee, the YUIR meets every Saturday to analyze institutional racism, engaging the younger generation to partake in antiracism training at the end of

July for teens and adults, ages 14 through 23, in the Saint Louis area.

Peace Education Program Director Joshua Saleem said the focus of YUIR is improving the education system that is the “foot” of oppression in the communities’ with children of color.

Saleem said the group has created a list of demands that

they want to see school districts adopt. They include “changing the handbook, restoring justices to ending suspensions and expulsions, and making their curriculum more Africacentered,” said Saleem.

For more information on YUIR, contact Joshua Saleem at 314-932-5994 or JSaleem@ afsc.org.

As part of a panel for

to leaving the EU. Most city me bring it on home with a dwellers were in favor of quote from U.S. presidential staying. The baby boomers candidate Donald Trump on trounced the millennials with the referendum. Trump was in their majority yes votes to the U.K. at the time of leave. The more educated the big vote promoting voters favored staying, his new golf course in while the less educated Scotland. demanded out. Racial “I really do see a groups like Caribbeans, parallel between what’s Africans, Chinese and happening in the United Pakistani voted to stay States and what’s put while those who happening here,” Trump claimed English heritage told reporters. He pompously declared the said hell-to-the-no. Those Columnist people of the United who called themselves Kingdom are angry Christian told the EU Jamala and have “taken their to hit the road, but the Rogers country back” from majority of those who people “pouring into described themselves as their country and taking Muslims voted to stay put. over.”

The only grouping that saw This column is not about no significant gap was the vote the virtues or vices of the between men and women.

European Union. Globalism has Is the scenario starting to created discontent and uprisings sound familiar? If not, let

all over the world. The vast majority of the world’s people is experiencing corporate greed and suffering under the austere policies passed by politicians to maintain the obscene profits of the rich.

The Brexit vote plunged the value of English currency (the pound). Stock markets from Tokyo to New York tumbled.

The referendum set in motion a turbulent ripple in the global economy. and economists are unable to predict the full impact.

The parallel that Trump gloats about is the white supremacy that fuels the racial scapegoating in both countries.

Not fully understanding the financial consequences of Brexit, the racial prejudices and fears of white voters were stoked by conservative forces to win a victory. The same

Gregory F.X. Daly Collector of Revenue

Public NOTICE Suits have been filed

on the properties listed on the Collector of Revenue website. www.StLouisCollector.com Collector of Revenue Office St. Louis City Hall Room 109 1200 Market Street St. Louis, MO 63103-2895 Phone: (314) 622-4105 | Fax: (314) 589-6731 Email: propertytaxdept@stlouis-mo.gov Hours of Operation: Mon. - Fri., 8:00am - 5:00pm Tax Sale: 183 Circuit Court Division No: 29

child advocacy, Erin Brower, chairman of the Board of Directors for Raised Your Hands for Kids, discussed their initiative for the November 2016 ballot. The constitutional amendment pushes for a 60-cent tax increase per cigarette pack, gradually introducing a 15-cent tax over the course of four years, from 2017-2020.

Having the lowest tobacco tax in the nation, Missouri has not raised its cigarette tax since 1993.

“Missourians really don’t like raising taxes,” said Brower.

The new tax funds would go towards strengthening early childhood health and education for Missouri children from birth to age five.

Wilson called for grantmaking entities to make stronger stands if they want to make a difference.

“The system requires radical transformation,” said Wilson, “by people who are deeply rooted to see business done differently.”

divide-and-conquer tactic is used here.

The immigration issue has been over-simplified to claim that immigrants are taking over said countries.

The generalization is void of an objective critique of the economic policies and military actions that create de-stabilization of countries and the subsequent flow of refugees looking for safety and security wherever they can find them.

This is a situation worth watching for several good reasons. We may not know where the financial meltdown ends or whether the EU is heading for total dismantlement. We do know that the exit vote exposed a huge racial, class, religious and cultural divide – just the way the global capitalists like it.

Editorial / Commentary ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 - 13, 2016

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(April 14, 1922 – July 2, 2016)

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

Following in a giant’s footsteps The status quo and the Senate race Jack C. Taylor, who started Enterprise Leasing in 1957 with only seven vehicles and only began to rent cars five years later, saw his unconventional business tenure grow into an automotive industry colossus that made him a multibillionaire. Enterprise Holdings has grown to a reported revenue of $19.4 billion last year and has more than 1.7 million vehicles, making it twice the size of its major American rivals.

However, for us, it is his personal narrative that is most compelling.

Born in St. Louis in 1922, he admitted that he was a late starter. After graduating from Clayton High School, he spent some time at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri and Washington University here in St. Louis. Enlisting in the U.S. Navy after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he joked that military service “saved me from any further educational activities.” He became a war hero as a fighter pilot, earning the distinguished Flying Cross twice and the Navy Air Medal.

Even after he returned to St. Louis, he did not Jack C. Taylor start to dream big until he co-founded the auto leasing forerunner to the giant corporation that is now Enterprise Holdings. His son, Andrew Taylor, reportedly said, “My father took a simple the nation’s leading donors. Keep in mind that in idea and created a great company.” The largest New York City alone, there are 79 billionaires. privately held business in our region employs Few billionaires were as generous as Jack Taylor more than 93,000 employees worldwide. was.

According to Enterprise spokeswoman It is also important to note that much of his Christine Cavellini, “We work hard to ensure money was given to entities in his hometown. that our workforce mirrors the diversity of the He was a devoted civic champion who invested communities we serve.” She said that 48 percent in some of our community’s most-valued of Enterprise Holdings’ entry-level management institutions. The recipients of workers are African-American his largess ranged from the St. and cites their policy of n “His leadership Louis Symphony Orchestra, recruiting employees from and legacy have the St. Louis Public Schools historically black colleges and Foundation, the Boys’ and universities. Enterprise hires forever transformed Girls’ Clubs of Greater St. more college graduates than any Louis, the Urban League of the St. Louis other American corporation.

Metropolitan St. Louis, Ranken The company made him community.”

Technical College for lowone of the world’s richest income students and the United individuals. Forbes Magazine estimated his personal wealth at - Marie-Hélène Bernard, Way of Greater St. Louis. $5.3 billion earlier this year.

St. Louis Symphony He also gave $25 million to Yet Taylor was an amazingly Orchestra president Washington University in 2011 to help support minority and unpretentious and unassuming disadvantaged students. man for a person of such vast As St. Louis Symphony wealth. He was fond of saying Orchestra president Mariethat his goal in life and business Hélène Bernard said aptly, “His was for people “to think I’m a leadership and legacy have nice guy.” He has raised the bar forever transformed the St. Louis community.” for individual philanthropy in St. Louis. The St. His generosity may have been unprecedented, but Louis Post-Dispatch reports that he personally it can be imitated, albeit at different levels – and donated $860 million to many local institutions those civic and business leaders who survive him over the past three decades, and his family and are encouraged to follow in his giant footsteps in foundation have made more than $1 billion in supporting our local institutions and community. gifts. The Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked him number 11 on its 2015 “Philanthropy 50” list of

Will sit-in make Congress stand up on gun control? to ban military-style assault weapons of the kind used by Omar Mateen and so many other mass shooters. But if we are ever going to get to that point, the logjam has to be cleared. Something dramatic had to happen.

Enter U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., a hero of the Civil Rights Movement who knows something about thousandmile journeys that start with a single step. Lewis also knows something about sit-ins, and it was in his office that a group of House Democrats came up with the idea of occupying the chamber to demand gun control votes.

They achieved no success, of course – not yet, at least.

The speaker of the House

n The gun issue can help motivate the Democratic Party faithful.

has sweeping powers and cannot easily be coerced into anything. Ryan called a recess and Republicans left the chamber, which meant that the C-SPAN cameras that televise House proceedings went dark; Democrats began streaming video of the sit-in via their cellphones. The spectacle of members of Congress sitting on the floor and staging a protest drew nationwide attention.

Ryan eventually brought the House back into session, to show it could function despite the ongoing protest, and then finally, in the middle of the night, ordered a recess until July 5. Republicans were free to scurry out of town.

Nearly two years ago a crisis struck North County that sparked action. As an elected official in Dellwood, following the unrest in nearby Ferguson, I’ve seen first-hand the strength of our community, while also feeling the burden of our shared frustration.

This election we have the opportunity to Guest Columnist change that and elect a leader Mayor that has stood Reggie with us and is Jones committed to creating real change.

Too many black children in St. Louis, in Ferguson, and right here in Dellwood are in struggling schools. Too many of our children face disproportionately severe punishments that send them into the criminal justice system far too early in life and will continue a cycle of high recidivism rates that is too hard to overcome.

We cannot continue to accept such a status quo – one of lower pay and failing urban schools, of disproportionate imprisonment rates and mistrust between our communities and those in uniform.

We cannot continue to accept such a status quo – and that includes a U.S. senator who, after nearly 20 years in Washington, is committed to this status quo.

After nearly two decades in Congress, Senator Roy Blunt consistently puts the interests of Washington lobbyists before the needs of Missourians, and well before the needs of Missouri’s black communities.

That’s why Senator Blunt has received yet another “F” grade from the NAACP for the most recent Congress, when he voted with them on crucial bills only 18 percent of the time.

On issue after issue of immense importance to our community, Senator Blunt has let us down.

Time and again, he’s voted against important bills like the American Jobs Act, which would have created at least 9,300 jobs we sorely need here in St. Louis and across Missouri alone. And from Pre-K and Headstart to Pell Grants for higher education, Senator Blunt has repeatedly voted for funding cuts that would make it more difficult

n We cannot continue to accept such a status quo – and that includes a U.S. senator who, after nearly 20 years in Washington, is committed to this status quo.

for young Missourians to get the education they deserve.

As the Voting Rights Act was gutted by the U.S. Supreme Court, he stood idly by and waffled when asked if states with long, recent histories of discrimination at the ballot box no longer need national oversight. He’s even supported voter ID proposals that amount to some of the greatest voter suppression since the Voting Rights Act – proposals that unfairly target seniors, the working poor and people of

Letters to the Editor

Commentary

The extremely rare sit-in

by Democrats in the House chamber may have been, as Speaker Paul Ryan claimed, a “publicity stunt.” But it was a righteous one that may improve the prospects for meaningful gun control.

It won’t happen immediately.

Even after 49 innocent victims died Columnist in the Orlando massacre – the Eugene worst such Robinson shooting in modern U.S. history – Republicans remain adamantly opposed to any new legislation that might keep powerful weapons out of the hands of the next would-be mass murderer.

If Republicans care more about maintaining their standing with the National Rifle Association than saving lives, that’s their choice. But polls show majority support for sensible new gun control measures – and members of Congress should at least have to go on record. Democrats are demanding that the House do its job: vote yes or no.

One of the bills Democrats want the House to vote on should be a no-brainer: expanding background checks for gun purchases. The other, which would deny the right to buy guns to individuals on the terrorism watch list, is a tougher question. The American Civil Liberties Union has expressed “deep concerns” about relying on an “errorprone and unfair watchlisting system” to regulate access to firearms.

I wish the subject of the protest were, instead, a bill

By Mayor Reggie Jones Guest columnist

So did the protest have any real impact? Certainly some, and potentially a lot.

First, the tactic rallied Democrats in both chambers to the gun control cause and put Republicans on notice.

Mass shootings happen with depressing regularity, and by now everyone knows the drill: Congress argues about guns for a few days and then does nothing. The sit-in was not a part of the usual script, which makes the ending less certain.

Second, the protest drew widespread attention to the issue at a moment when the debate would otherwise be fading. Whether you thought the sit-in was courageous or absurd, you paid attention. It is helpful for advocates of gun control to have the issue in the news. People say they want to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of dangerous people.

Republicans should have to explain why they disagree.

Third, and perhaps most important, the sit-in means that gun control will be an issue in the coming election.

Republicans are badly divided and will be led by a nominee rejected by much of the party establishment.

Democrats see the potential for winning both the White House and the Senate and making major gains in the House – but only if the party is united and enthusiastic. The gun issue can help motivate the party faithful.

Taking action to prevent Orlando-style killings should also appeal to independent voters. Republicans take the position that nothing at all should be done to keep the next mass shooter from buying an assault rifle. Do they really believe that swing voters agree?

Ensuring diversity in higher education I am pleased that the Supreme Court has recognized our compelling interest in ensuring diversity in higher education in its ruling in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin.

Diverse student enrollment is a vital part of America’s educational experience. It creates a positive forum for scholarship and discovery, offering the opportunity for young people to learn from, interact with and work alongside individuals of different backgrounds. It promotes a stronger workforce, allowing employers and businesses to harness the wide range of experience and expertise they need to compete and win in today’s global economy.

And it aligns with the most cherished values of our country: opportunity, inclusion, and the notion that out of many disparate backgrounds, we are joined together as one united community. Our country is stronger, more credible, and more effective when our educational institutions include highly-qualified individuals with roots, cultures and traditions that reflect our nation’s rich diversity.

The Department of Justice will continue to stand up for these principles, and to work with colleges and universities to promote diversity in a way that is consistent with the law.

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch Washington, D.C.

Resurgence of voting discrimination This year marks the first presidential election in more than 50 years without the full protections afforded to us by the Voting Rights Act. Since the Supreme Court’s ruling in Shelby County,

color.

Luckily, we do have one candidate in this race who will fight for us in the Senate.

U.S. Secretary of State Jason Kander represents a new generation of leadership willing to tackle issues of racial prejudice and work for a society where everyone can get ahead.

After the events in Ferguson, Jason was there, and he and I together toured the damage in Dellwood. Jason was there in August of 2014 immediately following the Mike Brown incident, and he was there the day after the announcement of the Grand Jury’s decision in November of 2014, which sparked another round of unrest. Jason was the only statewide elected official that was there for Dellwood during both events.

Jason is willing to say, loudly, that black lives matter, and he’s willing to follow that up with real action. He has consistently fought against voter ID laws and advocated for more body cameras to increase transparency among our police departments.

As secretary of state, he removed the criminal-records check box from applications for employment, ensuring that individuals who have been incarcerated have the opportunity for a second chance at a productive life.

After Ferguson, he established #FergusonRebuild, a nonprofit initiative that raised $150,000 to help restore local businesses.

Jason knows what we know, that we can’t change the status quo until we change the people who represent us.

We also know that the choice we have to make in November is clear: Jason Kander is the voice our community needs in Washington.

Reggie Jones is mayor of Dellwood.

All letters are edited for length and style.

Alabama v. Holde , which gut a core provision of the Voting Rights Act, we have seen the resurgence of voting discrimination in many parts of the country. It is time for states to expand access to the ballot box by focusing on ways to bring Americans into the democratic process and time for Congress to take action to restore the Voting Rights Act. The past three years since the Shelby County decision have been marked by litigation and advocacy efforts aimed at confronting new voting rights challenges. The Lawyers’ Committee has actively been advocating for and litigating on behalf of clients who have been negatively affected by burdensome voting restrictions

The largest weekly newspaper in Missouri 70,000 copies - CAC Audited 100% Independently owned & operated Continuously published, without interruption since 1928

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across the U.S., including Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina and Utah.

The nationwide nonpartisan Election Protection Coalition, led by the Lawyers’ Committee, has been actively working to educate voters and safeguard their right to vote. Since the start of the 2016 presidential primary season, Election Protection has received over 21,000 calls to the 866-OUR-VOTE (6878083) hotline.

Kristen Clarke, president and executive director Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Washington, D.C.

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 – 13, 2016

A victory for women

By Pamela Merritt Guest columnist

Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Heavy lifting for Cooldownstlouis.org Ameren Missouri employee Marco Tipton recently joined Michael Moehn, president and CEO of Ameren Missouri and Brian Leonard, director of corporate contributions and community initiatives of Ameren Corp in helping move 540 ENERGY STAR-certified A/C units that meet strict energy efficiency guidelines. They cost approximately 75 cents per day to operate.

Eligible recipients (seniors and people with physical disabilities only) will be selected by Cooldownstlouis.org and its partner agencies, while supplies last. An additional 100 A/Cs were donated to the Cape and Jefferson City areas. The donation cost of these 640 A/C units is about $100,000. The public is also asked to drop-off a new or slightly used, two year-old or less A/C unit to any MO/IL area Vatterott College; and Cooldownstlouis.org will provide a taxdeduction.

ESL Class of ’86 gala The East St. Louis Senior High Class of 1986 will honor two local sports legends at its “Prom Night 3.0” 30-year Reunion Gala on Thursday, July 14 at the Regency Conference Center in O’Fallon, Illinois. NFL veteran Bryan Cox and legendary coach Robert “Bob” Shannon will be honored in recognition of the 30th anniversary of the Eastside Flyers football team achieving a No. 1 national ranking and an undefeated 44-0 record.

Other Class of 1986 honorees include Atty. Pamela Meanes, Dr. Carlos Smith, Dr. Tamiko Youngblood (posthumously) along with former principal, Mr. Samuel Morgan. Tickets are $95 and include a reception, dinner and dancing. All former players, coaches & local sports enthusiasts are encouraged to attend.

For tickets go to www.eastsideclassof86.eventbrite.com or contact Kennard Tucker at (618) 971-8333.

The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt is a victory for women.

In 2013, Texas passed ridiculous restrictions specifically targeting abortion providers that resulted in the closure of more than half of the state’s clinics.

These restrictions do nothing to safeguard women’s health, and the Supreme Court saw right through that argument when it issued a resounding victory for abortion providers in Texas.

It is too soon to know the specific impact this decision will have on Missouri’s numerous abortion restrictions, but the high court’s decision should deter legislators from passing new laws that would create an undue burden for women seeking abortion. A right without access is a right in name only.

The Supreme Court has spoken, and now our legislators need to focus on policies that improve health instead of restrictions that burden women seeking abortion.

Black women and girls must be able to determine when and if we want to parent, to build our families as we see fit, and be able to raise our children in communities free of violence and oppression. Abortion is a safe and common Pamela procedure, and one in three women will have an abortion in Merritt their lifetime.

But people seeking abortion in Missouri face serious burdens when trying to access care. They must navigate a mandatory 72-hour waiting period, medically unnecessary state-mandated lectures, and the geographic challenge of having only one abortion provider in the state. Meanwhile, legislation that would improve the lives of black women and girls gets little attention.

Let me be clear, the legislature’s inattention on expanding access to healthcare has consequences. As reported in The St. Louis American, there are neighborhoods in the St. Louis metropolitan area with infant mortality n It is too soon to know the rates worse than several third-world specific impact this decision countries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will have on Missouri’s the maternal mortality rate for black numerous abortion women is nearly four times the rate of restrictions. white women.

The Missouri legislature has the ability to act, but the majority lacks the will to seriously consider expanding access to healthcare. Missouri’s “pro-life” lawmakers like to give speeches about supporting a culture of life, but their inaction on healthcare access speaks volumes about how little they value black lives.

We know that abortion opponents will continue to push restrictions and work on ways to try to circumnavigate the high court’s decision, but this victory for abortion rights should inspire Missourians to hold legislators accountable for the time and money they waste doing so. Missourians face real problems, many of which have policy solutions legislators need to act on.

As a reproductive justice activist, I’m working to hold those in power accountable to the people. We should all celebrate the high court’s decision for providing clarity and giving abortion rights advocates a powerful tool to fight bad laws. We’ve also got to continue to pressure those in power to take action on good policy that would expand access to healthcare and improve health outcomes for black women and girls.

Pamela Merritt is a board member of NARAL Pro-Choice.

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ESSENCE Continued from A1 mothers who have lost children to gun violence, but their heartbreak had added stress and anguish. They watched their sons’ deaths become flashpoints for protest, unrest and heated dialogue about race.

“I am the mother of a young man who was shot down and killed due to systemic racism and implicit bias that played out through gun violence,” McBath said.

In 2012, her son Jordan Davis was killed in what media came to call the “loud music” case. Michael Dunn, a white man, fired into the vehicle when the group of young teenagers refused to turn down their music in Jacksonville, Florida. Davis was instantly killed. Two of his friends were injured.

Dunn was convicted of first degree murder and attempted murder.

“Sadly to say, we are one of the only cases in the United States where there was a shooter who was a white

RACE Continued from A1 of Black Jack and Spanish Lake.

A million people are residents of St. Louis County, and approximately 250,000 of them are African-American.

There are seven council members representing about 143,000 people each. Along with the county executive, they decide what happens and what matters in St. Louis County. Of the eight people who decide most meaningful public policy for a county of a million people, 25 percent of whom are African-American, only one is black, 1st District Councilwoman Hazel Erby.

African Americans hold only 14 percent of County Council seats, which means black

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 – 13, 2016

male and the victim was a young black male where there has been a sense of justice,” McBath said.

Because of the nightmare that played out in the streets of Ferguson when it was announced that Darren Wilson would not be indicted for killing her son, it goes without

saying that McSpadden felt she was denied justice. Her experience differed from the other two mothers because her son’s death came at the hands of a law enforcement officer.

With tears already flowing from her face, she had to take a moment to regroup before she could speak.

“We need everyone to come together and empower

us as well,” McSpadden said.

“Because this is a hard journey once you are thrust into it – and you have to walk this journey every day of your life and you don’t have anything to heal, as far as justice is concerned.”

She counted Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton as part of her support system.

“She was the first person to come to St. Louis and meet me, hug me and encourage me,” McSpadden said.

Fulton saw her son’s name become a hashtag and spark heated debate when George Zimmerman pursued him and shot him during a resulting scuffle in a Sanford, Florida gated community in 2012.

“People always walk up to me and tell me how strong I am. But what people don’t see are my broken pieces. You didn’t see those times when I was crawling on the floor,” Fulton said.

“Four years later, don’t think for one second that I don’t think about him every single day. A lot of people come up to us and tell us about our child, but we think about our children every day – even though they are in heaven.”

political influence is, for all practical purposes, nonexistent.

In the debate about MetroLink expansion, where is the voice representing the interests of African Americans in North County? Who, besides Erby, is advocating for North County for greater economic opportunity? The incumbent 4th District councilman’s most significant accomplishment is getting St. Louis County government to contribute $14 million to develop a soccer complex in Creve Coeur. As Northwest Plaza is getting repurposed, who is the advocate for redeveloping a vacant Jamestown Mall?

A second African American on the council would give the black community 28 percent of the council representation, a more equitable reflection of the African-American percentage

of the county population. An what happens to you and your African American representing community on a day-to-day, the African-American majority tactical level is a function of of the 4th District would local government. And local add strength and government is a amplification to function of who you n So, which Erby’s voice on send – or don’t send comes first behalf of the entire – to represent you.

– effective black community.

The and intelligent However, overwhelming they would need majority of African black political to be more than Americans live leadership or African-American in two council an informed elected officials; districts, the 1st and politically they would need to and the 4th. Both of be black political engaged black these districts have leaders. They African-American community? would need to work voting majorities. together to redefine How could African the economic, Americans be so political and policy relationship grossly underrepresented between the black community, in county government? The St. Louis County and the St simple answer is the apparent Louis region. indifference of the black There is no question about community in North County to the strategic importance of the its own political well-being. president or the governor, but In the black church, an

“What people don’t see are my broken pieces. You didn’t see those times when I was crawling on the floor.” n

– Sybrina Fulton

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Sybrina Fulton, Lucy McBath and Lezley McSpadden – the mothers of Michael Brown Jr., Jordan Davis and Trayvon Martin – shares their heartbreaking stories during the ESSENCE Festival’s “Mothers Moments of Courage” talk Saturday in New Orleans on Saturday, July 2.

effective sermon includes the rhythmic call and response between the preacher and the congregation. When it’s working, there’s a harmony, which is a reflection of the organic relationship between the minister and the congregation. Now, that doesn’t just happen. Some Sundays, the preacher has to move the congregation. Other Sundays, the congregation has to inspire the preacher. What matters, though, is that they get there.

There was a time in our not-too-distant past when that same symbiotic relationship existed between the black community and black political leadership, but those days are gone. So, which comes first – effective and intelligent black political leadership or an informed and politically engaged black community?

What we do know is that both conditions are a prerequisite for black progress.

On August 2, incumbent 4th District Councilman Mike O’Mara faces Rochelle Walton Gray in the Democratic primary. Curtis Faulkner (Republican) and Jeff Coleman (Libertarian) are unopposed in the primary. July 6 is the deadline to register to vote on August 2. Eligible voters may register to vote at their local election authority or any public library, Department of Revenue office or Social Services agency office.

Mike Jones, who has held senior policy positions in St. Louis and St. Louis County government, is a member of the St. Louis American editorial board, as well as the Missouri State Board of Education.

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 – 13, 2016

REPORT

Fragmentation and health disparities

Continued from A1

Better Together found that perhaps the most troubling result of fragmentation is its contribution to great race-based disparities in health outcomes, as documented in the “For the Sake of All” report. This report found that residents of zip codes separated by only a few miles have up to an 18-year difference in life expectancy.

Better Together found that the structure of the public health services in St. Louis city and county play a role in exacerbating disparities in health outcomes. Fragmentation has enabled vastly different funding scenarios for these two public health departments. The St. Louis Department of Health receives approximately 51.5 percent of its funding from grants and contracts, with the remainder coming from the city’s general fund. In contrast, St. Louis County’s department of public health has a dedicated property tax as its primary funding mechanism and only 3.5 percent of its funding comes from grants.

“The reliance on grant and contract funding means that the priorities of the city health department are often dictated by available grant funds rather than the health priorities as determined by the local department,” the study states.

Pine Lawn in North County has 3,200 residents, who are 97.7 percent African-American with a median household income of $26,632. Pine Lawn recently had to dissolve its police department due to financial hardships.

“In doing so, it chose an unaccredited agency to police the community because of the higher cost of professional police services from the CALEA-certified St. Louis County Police Department,” the report states. “Pine Lawn has also recently upgraded one of its municipal parks but cannot keep it open regularly due to an inability to have police patrol the area with the needed regularity to guarantee safety.”

The few services Pine Lawn is able to provide its residents are primarily funded through municipal court fines and fees, which totaled $2.4 million in 2014, or 62 percent of its budget.

North County municipalities, such as Pine Lawn, have been highly criticized in the past two years for abusing the municipal courts to fund their cities’ budgets. By comparing this practice to Des Peres, the Better Together St. Louis study brings the problem into perspective. Just as protestors were chanting outside court houses, the report also argues, “The system is broken.” The report indicts the larger problem of St. Louis’ “outdated and obsolete fragmented structure,” which leads some cities to struggle to provide basic services, while others can offer premium services without even collecting property taxes.

For the past two years, Better Together St. Louis studied the impact of the systems of the region, including the 90 independent municipalities within St. Louis County, 43 fire districts, 57 police departments, 81 municipal courts, and the more than 52,000 pages of ordinances that govern 1.3 million citizens.

Dave Leipholtz, Better Together’s director of community-based studies, said the study started out as a fact-finding mission for what it would look like to combine all the governments in the region, as other metropolitan areas have done, including Louisville-Jefferson County and Indianapolis-Marion County.

When regional leaders attempted to have this conversation in the past, they would get stuck on the facts, he said.

“People had hunches, but no one could provide a common source of data,” he said.

Yet, as they started getting information back, he said, “The conversation went from whether we should do

The St. Louis region has 43 fire districts.

something and whether we have a problem to what we should do.”

Better Together’s studies found that all of this government costs over $2.3 billion annually, which is significantly more than cities that have consolidated their governments. St. Louis’ governments cost taxpayers approximately $1,800 per capita compared to just over $1,200 for the same services in Indianapolis-Marion County and an even lower $1,100 per capita in Louisville-Jefferson County.

This “overspend” adds up to over $750 million annually on local government services, according to the report.

“The overspent sum represents huge opportunity costs for the region and is enough to pay for efforts like the CityArchRiver project more than twice over or provide our vibrant start-up community with a best-in-class fiber network,” the report states.

Researchers found that many of the disparities between the services in the region revolve around one thing: detrimental internal competition. And much of this stems from a 1969 law that allowed municipalities to pass their own sales tax. Now St. Louis has one of the highest sales taxes in the nation, and numerous studies find that high sales taxes – compared to property or income taxes – disproportionately affect lowerincome residents.

“Because of the prisoner’s dilemma that is created for municipal leaders in the current system (i.e., either chase the sales tax revenue or lose out to the communities that do), the St. Louis region has gone from having no municipal sales tax to gathering 36.7 percent of its annual regional revenue from

sales taxes,” the report states.

Fragmentation and inclusion A key problem with fragmentation is that it’s nearly impossible to establish best practices throughout the region – from everything from business licensing to municipal court practices and police and fire protection, the report states.

That’s particularly true with establishing equity in the region’s workforce standards – and the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) is one example of this. Researchers discovered that while both St. Louis city and MSD have strong standards for minority participation on projects, St. Louis County’s government had no standards at all.

Minority workforce standards ensure that contractors on sizeable government contracts employ minority and women workers.

When a contractor working with St. Louis County gets additional work with either St. Louis city or MSD, the ideal would be for that contractor to hire the necessary number of additional minority or female workers to meet the participation goals. However, since St. Louis County currently has no minimum standards for minority or female participation, the contractor tends to simply move the already existing minority workers in their company to the projects that require it – not hire more underrepresented workers.

“This diminishes the effectiveness of the existing workforce development standards and undercuts the legitimate goals of other governments to train a workforce that is reflective of its population,” the study states.

This dynamic also plays out in the use of development incentives like TIFs (Tax Increment Financing), the study found. These incentives were initially designed to combat blight and help spur development and growth in areas that were not reasonably anticipated to be developed without adoption of the tax incentive. Yet the criteria have been grossly redefined and led to the proliferation of tax incentives for ordinary development, with TIFs being among the most abused.

“The ultra-competitive pursuit of sales tax dollars in the region has served to undermine the effectiveness of these tools for those communities that experience true economic blight,” the study states. “The result again puts communities that may already have been at a competitive disadvantage even farther behind.”

Fragmented cops and courts The level of police service a citizen receives in the St. Louis region depends entirely upon where one lives or the area in which one is traveling, the study found. There are currently 57 police departments serving St. Louis city and county, with a wide range of policies and practices.

Great disparities exist in the hiring processes and standards across departments, the study found. In the more professional departments, all officer candidates are required to undergo extensive background checks that include drug screenings, credit checks, character references, as well

as independent physical and psychological screening before they can be approved for hire.

Other departments have no formal written requirement for hiring beyond the minimum licensure mandated by the state or have vague standards such as requiring applicants to be in “good emotional health.”

Better Together cited a finding in the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) report that it commissioned called the “muni shuffle.”

Police officers who are fired or allowed to resign because of disciplinary or performance issues in one department are quickly hired by another department, because it can be less expensive to hire an experienced (albeit compromised) officer than to recruit and train a new officer, the PERF report found.

Following Michael Brown Jr.’s shooting death in August 2014, many protestors also decried the practice and the harm it has caused residents.

“This not only leads to communities with fewer resources having compromised officers, but it breeds mistrust in law enforcement at-large,” the study states.

The study’s findings on the municipal court practices supported the passage of a state law that limited how much St. Louis County courts could raise through court fees and fines. A provision of the law said that county municipal courts could only raise 12.5 percent of their general revenue from traffic fines and fees – versus 20 percent for the rest of the state.

However, that provision of the law, known as Senate Bill 5, was struck down in March by a circuit court judge. The new standard statewide is 20 percent, down from the previous statewide 30 percent.

Leipholtz hopes the report spurs conversations about potential system overhauls, with input from all members of the community. Better Together continues to gather input. “We have been getting out into community groups,” Leipholtz, “and we need to continue to do that.”

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December 8, 1934 – June 1, 2016

Barbara Ann Marie Ingram

By Melanie Adams

Lots to do at the History Museum Summer means free public programs July is a great time to take advantage of all of the wonderful free programs at the Missouri History Museum. We have two great exhibitions open, Route 66 Main Street Through St. Louis and Little Black Dress from Mourning to Night.

These are in addition to our permanent galleries focused on St. Louis history, The 1904 World’s Fair, and the History Clubhouse.

July is a great time to plan a staycation and enjoy the wonderful cultural, education, and engaging opportunities offered in your own backyard. If you haven’t been to the Missouri History Museum since your 4th grade field trip, I encourage you to give us a chance to wow you with our exhibitions and programs.

I’ve picked a few programs to highlight below, but I encourage you to visit the museum’s website at www.mohistory.org for the full calendar listing. Through our exhibitions and programs, we make history relevant by showing you how our shared past has shaped our current realities.

Nicole Paris – a beatbox artist, musician, and native St. Louisan – will host “Beatboxing with Nicole Paris” in Lee Auditorium at Missouri History Museum at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 11.

exercises to get you making a few beats yourself.

Groups of 6 or more must call (314) 454-3114 to make reservations.

How to Care for your Old Books Saturday, July 9 at 10 a.m.

AT&T Multipurpose room Do you have books with tattered covers, loose pages, or brittle paper? Emily Jaycox and Randall Blomquist describe techniques and strategies that the Missouri History Museum’s Library uses to extend the life of books, newspapers, magazines, and maps. Please note: This workshop does NOT cover care of photographs.

Fashion Fun Day! Sunday, July 10 Boutique trucks from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Panel Discussion at 2 p.m.

Join us for a ton of fashion and fun! Visit our Little Black Dress exhibit and get some shopping in at our Museum Shop and at a selection of boutique trucks on the Museum’s front lawn.

At 2pm, pick up tips for shopping, wardrobe building, and outfit styling from a panel of fashion experts. And don’t forget to start your day off with a stylish brunch in the Museum’s restaurant, Bixby’s!

Beatboxing with Nicole Paris Monday, July 11 at 10:30 a.m.

Lee Auditorium Start your week off right with a little beatbox beat! Nicole Paris, a beatbox artist, musician, and native St. Louisan, gained notoriety and millions of fans when a YouTube battle against her mentor and father, Ed Cage, went viral within hours of its release. Mixing current EDM (Electronic Dance Music) sound, vibrant energy and passion to create new and unique beats, her freestyle will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Nicole will share technique tips and lead a few

www.stlamerican.com www.stlamerican.com www.stlamerican.com

In Mourning: Victorian Funeral Customs Thursday, July 14, at 7 p.m.

Saturday, July 16, at 2 p.m.

MacDermott Grand Hall

Barbara Ann Marie Marr was born on December 8, 1934 to the proud union of Hermann and Nealivee Marr in Webster Groves, Mo. She is preceded in death by both of her parents, her husband, seventeen of her brothers and sisters, one daughter-in-law (Everleen Ingram) and one sister-in-law (Ginny Bell Baker).

Barbara Ann received her education from Douglass High School and graduated in 1952.

She has been a member of Gospel Temple Church of God in Christ her entire life. Soon after graduating, she was united in Holy Matrimony to John Frank “Bitey” Ingram on June 2, 1953. Together, they were blessed to have seven sons; Gary, Curt, Chris, Leonard, Darryl, Kevin and Craig.

Barbara Ann provided nearly 30 years of service at Western Union Telegram Company as a Telegram Operator, then retired in 2003. In addition, she served as a Sunday School Teacher an announcer for over 40 years, as well as Assistant Church Mother and Senior Intercessory Prayer Warrior. Every Sunday,

Barbara Ingram she did her best to bring her grandchildren along with her.

Barbara Ann’s family will remember her as a humble and loving matriarch who made even outsiders feel welcome.

She is one of the last of the 19 children who were part of the Marr Legend. She cherished her family and knew each of her grandchildren, greatgrandchildren and great-greatgrandchildren by name. She was well known amongst her

family as a selfless, genuine, warm-hearted, praying woman.

Her character was rare and she had an amazing talent at making everyone feel like family. Her smile, her laugh and her famous lemon meringue pie will truly be missed.

Barbara Ann departed her life on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur, surrounded by family and friends.

Barbara Ann leaves to cherish her memories and sweet smile to: Her seven sons: Gary (Carolina), Curt (Sharon), Chris, Leonard (Joann), Darryl, Kevin (Cynathia), Craig (Christine); two sisters: Elizabeth Rusan and Regina Anderson; one childhood friend: Orpha Schell; two sisters-in-law: Josephine Hayes (George) and Dorothy Byrd (Herbert); one brotherin-law: James Ingram (Ruth); one godson: Donald Thomas; 34 grandchildren, 72 greatgrandchildren; 7 great-greatgrandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Boys & Girls Clubs inducts six into Alumni Hall of Honor

The Victorian mourning culture is a far cry from how we typically mourn our loved ones today, but a deeper understanding of these seemingly strict and sometimes macabre traditions reveals the significance behind them.

The Mourning Society of St. Louis will present a mock Victorian funeral, followed by a discussion of mourning clothing, postmortem photography, and other Victorian mourning traditions.

The National Day of Ice Cream Sunday, July 17 at noon MacDermott Grand Hall Join us to celebrate one of our favorite holidays! After completing a simple seek-andfind activity, participants will have their choice of yummy Ted Drewes frozen custard or another locally produced ice cream treat (while supplies last).

Fundisha Folktale Performance: Jumbo Gumbo Peas ‘n’ Rice Sunday, July 17 at 3 p.m.

Lee Auditorium Mama Lisa stages an Afro-Caribbean adventure to tease the minds and touch the spirits of children. Young and old alike will love learning about Jamaica, Haiti, the Bahamas, Trinidad, and more. Don’t miss this lively cultural showcase of music, song, and dance.

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Michael Butler, Danielle Scruggs, Christian Peebles Williams, Donald Buckner III, David Baylor, Youth of the Year Shaila Jones and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis President Flint Fowler

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis recently inducted David Baylor, Donald Buckner III, Michael Butler, Markita Cook, Danielle Scruggs and Christian Peebles Williams its Alumni Hall of Honor.

The Hall of Honor recognizes outstanding alumni for achievements in their respective fields, commitment to leadership, serving our community’s youth,

contributions to the St. Louis community and for living out the mission of the club.

David Baylor serves as pastor of Media and Music at Faith Miracle Temple; Donald Buckner III works for Charter Communications; Michael Butler serves as Missouri state representative; Markita Cook is a chemist at the United States Department of Agriculture; Danielle Scruggs is a Digital Content producer at KTVI

Fox 2; and Christian Peebles Williams serves at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis President Flint Fowler said of the Inductees, “It’s a great honor to recognize these outstanding men and women who embody the intent of the Boys & Girls Clubs mission.”

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 - 13, 2016

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quarter of this year.”

Confederates and Republicans

Rev. Larry Rice says board bill is ‘Anti-Good Samaritan’ A bill currently in front of the St. Louis Board of Alderman could prohibit people from giving out bottled water to the homeless in extreme heat and distributing blankets in the bitter cold, the Rev. Larry Rice said at a press conference on Wednesday, July 6 at his shelter, the New Life Evangelistic Center, 1411 Locust St. If passed, Alderman Jack Coatar’s Board Bill 66 would make do-gooders pay for a vendor’s license if they want to help the homeless.

“We’ve saved many people’s lives by passing out blankets in the winter,” Rice said.

Board Bill 66 proposes to add “dispensing and distributing” to the activities that require a vending license on any public sidewalk, street, park or roadway in St. Louis.

It would also limit vending to the hours between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.

Coatar is currently on vacation and did not respond to The American’s email.

The bill says nothing about feeding the homeless, but Rice and other individuals who help the homeless downtown said they can read between the lines.

“This is targeted against the homeless, clearly,” said Laura Shields, a volunteer with St. Louis Homeless Winter Outreach. “If a person’s on the street, and I have two sandwiches and they want one, why wouldn’t I give them one? It’s decency and common sense. And I will continue to do that.”

She said if it heats up, she will be passing out the bottled water in her trunk. Several leaders – including St. Louis Police Commissioner Sam Dotson recently – have said they are against individuals and religious groups feeding the

homeless on the street because it “enables” homelessness.

Sheila Irby, who is currently staying at the center, said that’s not the case. She moved here from Virginia a month ago because she is trying to start over, she said. There, she had a good job as a freelancer in the computer field, but her contract ended and she couldn’t land another gig.

“That’s when the money stopped coming,” she said.

“I’m really not trying to stay homeless.”

She chose to stay with Rice because she loves the Christian environment.

“We need those shelters to stay open,” she said.

Rosemary Porter is a volunteer at Rice’s center and is currently living there. She said she is in between jobs and needed a temporary helping hand.

“I don’t think it’s right to charge anybody or harass anyone from helping people,” she said. “If you give someone a sandwich, it’s not going to make them dependent on those sandwiches. Sometimes you just need it to go on.”

Rice said the center’s winter patrols have been helping people survive the cold for 40 years.

“Now the downtown aldermen and downtown St. Louis want to make criminals out of everyone who wants to do good,” he said. “I call it the ‘Anti-Good Samaritan Bill,’ and I’ll have to be arrested again.”

He pointed to the two police cars that are parked every day in the middle of the green space between the downtown library and Soldiers Memorial.

“St. Louis is supposed to be a city that cares,” he said. “It’s just going to give St. Louis another black eye.”

Photo by Wiley Price

Rev. Larry Rice and Chris Rice of the New Life Evangelistic Center opposed a bill before the St. Louis Board of Aldermen that they said will criminalize helping the homeless in a press conference on July 6.

Ballad of a ‘thin’ man Remember the jeremiad that the St. Louis Post-Dispatch waged against then-County Executive Charlie Dooley based on sourcing no stronger than “swirling whispers” of corruption? To replace Dooley – who insists to this day he was never interviewed by any investigative authority regarding corruption – the Post foisted then-Councilman Steve Stenger on us. In the Post’s endorsement of Stenger over Dooley, its editorial board admitted that Stenger’s public record was “thin,” an admission that they really had no reason to expect good – or ill – from the attorney and accountant from South County.

Well, Stenger’s public record is thickening. And the whispers are more than whispers. And they are more than swirling.

And the sources are not anonymous.

“County Executive Steve Stenger’s campaign has received $130,000 from the developers of the old Northwest Plaza site where Stenger wants to move some county offices, including the St. Louis County Election Board, that would result in a contract with St. Louis County said to be worth $40 million to $50 million for the developers,” local gadfly Tom Sullivan noted.

“News stories have put the campaign contributions at lesser amounts as only more current contributions were included or contributions from all the developer corporations

were not included. An editorial in the Post-Dispatch puts the amount at $75,000.”

The Post has indeed turned on its “thin” man. Even Tony Messenger, who served on the editorial board that sold Stenger to the public, wrote a scathing column about Stenger’s campaign contributors, David and Robert Glarner, landing this windfall.

The contributions to Stenger’s campaign committee, Citizens for Steve Stenger, were made by Givco LLC and Mallard LLC, both organized by the Glarner brothers, Sullivan noted.

Sullivan first raised questions at a County Council meeting last year about the first contribution of $25,000 from Givco LLC to Stenger’s campaign. The contribution was made on July 31, 2015 though the limited liability corporation was just formed a few weeks earlier on July 13.

“Efforts were made to cover up who the contribution was from,” Sullivan claimed. “The address for the corporation is a post office box, and the agent for the corporation is a third-party service, so it wasn’t known who was behind the contribution – and Stenger refused to say.”

When Messenger wrote his column, Stenger disclosed who the contributors were. He said the Glarners were “friends of his.”

“When Mr. Stenger was running for county executive he made a big to do about some county contracts in the Dooley

administration,” Sullivan told the St. Louis County Council, which is going along with Stenger on this deal. “The FBI was even called in for a contract with the police lab – but no one said it could be costing millions of dollars more. The same cannot be said of the proposed lease at the Crossings at Northwest Plaza.

Maybe the FBI should take a look at it also.”

Kander: No. 3 with bullet Roll Call named Jason Kander, currently serving as Missouri secretary of state, one of the three strongest U.S. Senate challengers this election cycle. He has his eyes set on incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Roy Blunt’s job. “The young Army veteran is the favorite candidate Jason of many Kander Washington Democrats, who credit his strong work ethic and natural political talent with forcing an otherwise uncompetitive race into play,” Roll Call noted. “Kander has already been elected statewide, and he’s moderate enough to contest a Republicanfavored seat. He’s also proven a stronger fundraiser after outraising Blunt in the first

It was not widely reported that the U.S. House Republicans used the hubbub of Democratic members of Congress staging a sit-in over gun control to plant the Confederate flag back in federal veterans’ cemeteries.

A measure to restrict the display of the Confederate battle flag in national cemeteries approved by the House in May was pulled from the chamber’s final compromise spending bill.

U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman’s (D-Calif.) amendment, adopted as part of the House’s version of the 2017 VA spending bill, would have prohibited the large-scale display of the Confederate battle flag in cemeteries run by the Veterans Administration, such as flying the banner over mass graves. It would still have allowed families to still place small flags on individual graves on two days of the year: Memorial Day and Confederate Memorial Day. U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (D-Missouri) blasted the GOP for dropping Huffman’s Confederate flag amendment during conference negotiations with the Senate at the same time that U.S. Rep. John Lewis was spearheading the House floor sit-in.

“While my House Democratic colleagues and I were engaged in a historic sit-in to protect the lives of innocent Americans by preventing individuals on the no-fly list from buying guns, and demanding a renewal of the assault weapons ban, House Republicans – in the middle of the night, without debate – revived a symbol of hatred, treason and racial violence that does not belong in a VA cemetery or any other place of honor.”

FIRE and black cops host town hall F.I.R.E. and the Ethical Society Of Police will host a town hall/community meeting about the issues that plague the St. Louis fire and police departments, including diversity, and what can be done to correct them. “Everyone is welcome,” organizers said.

“Come out and be a part of the discussion and solutions.

The Town Hall/Community Meeting will be held 6 p.m.

Thursday, July 7 at New Northside Conference Center, 5939 Goodfellow.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 - 13, 2016

NEWSPAPER IN

EDUCATION

Planting the Seeds for Success!

The weekly Healthy Families series is presented by the Missouri Foundation for Health to encourage your family to work (and play) together to improve your health.

Food Choice Makeover!

Healthy Families PRESENTS:

If your family has decided to live a healthier lifestyle, there are small changes you can make in your eating habits that will make a big difference in your overall health. Some easy substitutes can be found in the chart to the right.

Fried vs

Grilled or Baked

Soda vs

Water

Chips vs

Sliced Veggies

Cookies vs

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5

You’re #1!

Healthy Activities

Old vs New

What other substitutes can your family list?

Create a New Game!

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Have a contest to see who in your family can create the newest, active, outdoor game that you will all enjoy. Try to include physical actions that increase your heart rate and help your family stay active and healthy all summer long. You could use a ball, a stick, a Frisbee, a sheet, a bucket, or

Fresh Fruit

any number of other items that might already be sitting around your house. What are the rules, how do you play and how do you win? Practice your new games throughout the summer and share your ideas with your friends.

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 5

Hand out several small pieces of paper to each member of your family. On the first piece of paper, write the name of one of the members of your family on the top. Next list three things that you like about that person, or three things that they do really well. Using the other pieces of paper, do the same thing for everyone else

Larry

in your family. Now give each family member all of the pieces of paper with statements others wrote about him/her. Take turns reading out loud all of the positive things people wrote about you. Save these papers and read them again when you need a smile.

Learning Standards: HPE 2, NH 5

1. Plays well with others.

2. Takes out the trash for mom.

3. Helps me with my homework.

Your family would enjoy a fun day exploring the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park. This amazing location includes a variety of beautiful bird exhibits including Bald Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, Owls, Vultures and don’t miss the reptiles and mammals on-site as well. Visit on a weekend and enjoy one of the free Wildlife Shows or Presentations. Check their website (below) for show details and times.

Walking trails, educational programs and picnic areas are all around the sanctuary. And don’t forget to spend some time at the Olga Reyes Memorial library that offers free nature books and posters. The library also has a kids’ activity center with many fun things for kids to see and touch. Pack a healthy picnic lunch and enjoy all of the beauty of nature that the World Bird Sanctuary has to offer!

LOCATION 125 Bald Eagle Ridge Road, Valley Park, MO, 63088 COST No admission charge, but donations are accepted.

PLAN YOUR VISIT http://www.worldbirdsanctuary.org/.

HOURS Open Daily 8am - 5pm

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 – 13, 2016

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Your Family Doctor

Seat belts save lives

By Denise Hooks­Anderson, M.D. Of The St. Louis American

Photo by Sandra Jordan

The For the Sake of All project culminated its community action forums on Monday, June 27 with the topic: Disease Prevention and Management: Better Models for Better Health. Panelists discussed modification on existing models, case management, non-traditional collaborations; community partnerships and expanding Medicaid in Missouri.

Better models for better health?

Give more to those who need more

By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American For the past few years, public health researchers from Washington University and Saint Louis University have been looking at what it would take to improve the health and well-being of African Americans in the St. Louis area.

The last of seven community action For the Sake of All forums took place at n “And real the Danforth Plant equity means Science Center on June 27. Themed providing “Disease Prevention more to and Management: people who Better Models for Better need more Health,” panelists each – not giving made their case on what it would take to create everybody such models. Rebecca the same Bennett, principal and thing. founder of Emerging Wisdom LLC, moderat– Jason Q. ed the session.

Purnell, For The For the Sake the Sake of All of All Report to the community previously pointed out that race, zip code and individual behavior play a greater role than genetics in health disparities.

Their community discussions have looked at what can be done as a region to improve overall health, including removing social and economic barriers that directly affect it – such as housing, education, jobs with livable wages, transportation and access.

Panelist Deborah Kiel, PhD, associate

One of my favorite activities as a child involved packing up the car with snacks, luggage and jetting down the highway for a fun­filled road trip. It did not matter where we went; I was just excited to be leaving the state for a few days. We would play games, listen to music and ask my parents multiple times: “Are we there yet?”

Sound familiar?

However, what I do not remember is whether or not my parents enforced the seat belt rule. In fact, I am pretty sure that was not a major concern at the time since Denise Hooks- we are talking about Anderson, MD the 1970’s. If you recall, almost everyone during that time would sit in the back of a pickup truck and ride for hours. Sounds ludicrous today but it was commonplace back then.

In December 1984, New York was the first state to pass seat belt legislation and over the next years, other n Seat belts and 10 states passed car seats are similar laws.

All states and not intended to the District of impinge upon have your constitution- Columbia some form of an al rights. These adult seat belt devices are there law now, except New Hampshire. to protect you Some of these from harm and laws are primary save your life. enforcement­ police officers can pull you over simply because you were not wearing your seat belt. On the other hand, there are secondary enforcement laws­police officers can issue a citation for a seat belt violation only if you were incidentally found not wearing your seat belt during another primary violation. The majority of states have the secondary enforcement laws and their death rates from crashes is as you could logically guess, higher.

Per the CDC, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teens.

Wearing seat belts reduce serious motor vehicle injuries and death by about half,

See DOCTOR, A13

Photo by Sandra Jordan

See HEALTH, A13

For the Sake of All project lead Jason Purnell, PhD. of Washington University

Missouri Foundation for Health is a resource for the region, working with communities and nonprofits to generate and accelerate positive changes in health. As a catalyst for change, the Foundation improves the health of Missourians through partnership, experience, knowledge and funding.

Your Health Matters is provided in partnership with

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 – 13, 2016

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MFH Community Advisory Council gains three new members The three newest members of the Missouri Foundation for Health Community Advisory Council (CAC) are Miranda Lewis, Wilma Schmitz, and Heather Zoromski. All three hail from different regions in Missouri, and each will offer her own unique expertise and insight to this important group.

Their participation helps give the Foundation greater community insight into some of the most pressing health issues facing the state.

The 13-member CAC serves as a liaison between Missouri’s communities and the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The Council members help ensure the Foundation’s Board has a deeper understanding of how its grants are impacting communities and what health concerns need to be addressed. The CAC also oversees the recruitment of highly qualified candidates interested in serving on the Board of Directors.

Miranda Lewis is Directors of the Family the director of developCare Health Centers ment at Mercy Health in St. Louis and is Foundation Joplin. She the co-chair for the has been with Mercy, National Association formerly St. John’s of Community Health Regional Center, since Centers’ Elderly Issues 2007 and served as committee. spokesperson followHeather Zoromski ing an EF5 tornado that is the grants admindestroyed the hospital. istrator of Skaggs Lewis earned a Bachelor Foundation, which of Science degree in Miranda Lewis Wilma Schmitz Heather Zoromski supports community communication studies initiatives that improve and a master’s degree health and wellness in organizational leadin Stone and Taney change,” said Lewis. “I look family caregivers, emphaership, both from Evangel Counties. She is responsible forward to working among sizing quality care by utilizUniversity in Springfield, for securing grant fundsuch an esteemed group of ing a “person-centered” and Missouri. She currently serves ing for Skaggs Foundation individuals who share a pas“strength-based” philosophy. on Joplin City Council and is and Cox Medical Center sion for improving the health Schmitz obtained her Master the president-elect for Lafayette of our collective communiBranson, facilitating the of Arts degree in gerontology House, a domestic violence Skaggs Legacy Endowment ties.” from Lindenwood College and substance abuse shelter for grantmaking program, and Wilma Saunders Schmitz in St. Charles, Missouri. She women. working closely with partner is the owner of Aging served as an adjunct professor “I could not be more honagencies and local coalitions Concerns, an aging life care/ at the University of Missouri ored to be part of the CAC. on assessment and program geriatric-care management Gerontology Program and This is a meaningful opportudevelopment. Previously, she and consulting company in St. Human Services adjunct facnity to put my experience and served as executive director of Louis, Missouri. She works ulty at Southwestern Illinois passion for justice in health Children’s Miracle Network as an advisor and advocate Community College. She care to work and create positive for older individuals and Hospitals of CoxHealth, also serves on the Board of

DOCTOR Continued from A12 yet millions of adults fail to wear seat belts on every trip. It is estimated that the cost associated with non­fatal motor vehicle accidents in 2012 was over 50 billion dollars due to lost revenue from missed work and lifetime medical expenses.

Known facts about the people least likely to wear seat belts: 1. Of the teens that die in crashes, over half of them are not wearing seat belts.

2. Rural adults are 10 percent less likely to wear seat belts.

3. Rear­seated passengers are less likely to wear seats and more likely to hurt themselves and others in a crash.

Children are not exempt from car safety rules and should be seated in a proper restraint depending

HEALTH Continued from A12 professor, director of Graduate Nursing Programs and director of the Undergraduate Public Health Program at Lindenwood University – favors a modification of the current health model, which she said has been around a long time, although it is not funded consistently and often.

“And that model is really about community-based public health nurses and community-based community health worker teams that are based in the communities – and not program-based,” Kiel said.

“They have a district and they become as much a part of the community as anybody else – they know the mailman and they know the policeman and they know the fireman and the person that runs the nail salon.

They know who’s in trouble and who’s not in trouble. The model is proactive and holistic vs. case management.”

Panelist Jorge Riopedre, president of Casa de Salud, said the case management model has been successful in improving health at his clinic. Patients are referred into care, and the clinic advocates for patients to make sure they obtain, understand and own their health care. Additionally, it assists with financial aid and payment plans so that the patient knows how much they are going to spend, he explained.

Riopedre said for the past year, the clinic has conducted home visits for chronic condi-

where she was responsible for raising funds to support special pediatric medical needs. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in child and family development, and a master’s degree in public health, both from Missouri State University. She serves on the boards of the Tri-Lakes United Way and the Kyle Bruton Foundation.

Current CAC members Deborah Kiel and Loretta Prater were both elected for another three-year term, with Kiel chosen to serve as chair.

Prater will assume the role of vice chair.

The CAC begins its new session on July 1, 2016. The Council is currently accepting applications for the Foundation’s 2017 Board of Directors. Interested applicants should visit mffh.org/ Board2017 for more information.

Wearing seat belts reduce serious motor vehicle injuries and death by about half, yet millions of adults fail to wear seat belts on every trip.

upon on age, weight and height.

Up until age 2, children should be in a rear­facing car seat unless they have reached the maximum height/ weight allowed for that particular seat.

Children then progress to a forward facing car seat until age 5 or when they have outgrown their seat. Booster seats are recommended for children older than age 5 and less than 57 inches tall. In addition, children under the age of 12 should not be riding in the front passenger seat.

Seat belts and car seats are not intended to impinge upon your constitutional rights. These devices are there to protect you from harm and save your life. Therefore, enjoy your summer travels, but don’t forget to “click it” so that there are many more summers to enjoy.

Denise Hooks­Anderson, M.D. is assistant professor at SLUCare Family Medicine. To contact her go to yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com

tions, like diabetes and hypertension, which have been quite effective.

“I firmly believe it’s just the idea that the patient understands that someone is there, in their home, caring for them and about them, that has a medicinal impact for that patient,” Riopedre said. “If we’re going to have positive outcomes, it’s not just payment structures that are going to have to be redone … but we have to put collaboration ahead of competition.”

Riopedre said non-obvious collaborations and partnerships are needed, such as its collaboration with a housing corporation.

“The more we do that, the more successful we are going to be moving forward,” Riopedre said.

BJC senior vice president, chief clinical officer, director of the BJC Center for Clinical Excellence and professor at Washington University School of Medicine, Dr. Clay Dunagan, said the St. Louis region is applying for a $4.5 million grant from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS). The new CMS Accountable Health Community Model will connect patients with health care and social services needs to supports to make their lives healthier.

Dunagan said convener of the proposal is a consortium of organizations, including the Missouri Patient Care Association and the Behavioral Health Network. It would screen up to 75,000 adults per year and make at least 3,000 referrals to social services.

“The idea of the

Missouri has some of the stinAccountable Community giest Medicaid eligibility rules Health model is to establish in the country,” Watson said, a group organization that can and there are about 300,000 broker those connections when someone appears for healthcare Missourians in that hole.

“Women who are pregcan figure out what their additional needs are and get them nant get Medicaid, but at to those services as needed,” day 60, they are thrown off Dunagan said. the program,” Watson said.

With Missouri being a “Otherwise, if you are an adult, non-expanded Medicaid state, a caretaker, an aunt, a grandDunagan said, mother and caring “there is some risk for a minor child – n “If you work but you can’t make that we could clog 10 hours a up the system with more than $318 a people who do week at a min- month for a family of three.” have Medicare and imum-wage That’s 17 perMedicaid, at the job, you earn cent of poverty, complete expense too much she said, adding, of those who don’t “If you work 10 have insurance.” money to hours a week at a Even if they qualify for minimum-wage job, don’t get the grant, Medicaid here you earn too much Dunagant said the in Missouri.” money to qualify foundational work for Medicaid here in is important to con– Sidney D. Missouri.” tinue.

Watson, Center She reminded “This is an for Health Law the audience that opportunity to try Studies, Saint expanding Medicaid to focus on comLouis University would save Missouri munity rather than tax dollars, because individual providers of federal dollars or individuals themthat would go into selves,” Dunagan the state program. said. “It addresses “How do we close the gap, core areas of need… and it Missouri can do as 31 other builds on the evidence ... that states have done now and pass health outcomes are affected a statute that allows all adults, by factors beyond healthcare.”

19 to 64, who have incomes of Panelist Sidney D. Watson, up to 138 percent of poverty the Jane and Bruce Roberts professor of Law at Saint Louis – for a family of three, that’s almost $28,000, to qualify for University School of Law’s Center for Health Law Studies. Medicaid,” Watson said. “It would actually save Missouri Watson said without Medicaid tax dollars to cover the 300,000 expansion, Missouri’s safety more people in Medicaid each net for the most in need is like year.” an umbrella or safety net with A live audience-participation a big hole in the middle of it. poll, Bennett asked attendees “Because of the rules about what they needed to that govern Medicaid now,

Missouri Foundation for Health is a resource for the region, working with communities and nonprofits to generate and accelerate positive changes in health. As a catalyst for change, the Foundation improves the health of Missourians through partnership, experience, knowledge and funding.

improve health; gaps they see in implementing a healthier community model and actions needed to improve health equity in St. Louis.

In summary, a healthy community would involve medical workers asking different, culturally competent questions for a more complete picture of patient needs and partnering with them to reduce health disparities in chronic and infectious disease. It involves cultural empathy; supporting healthier behaviors within communities with fresh fruit and produce access; safe spaces for play and exercise; and eliminating smoking to lead a healthy lifestyle.

“People don’t think about that, but a job is a health intervention. An income is a health intervention. And having liquid assets is a health intervention,” said For the Sake of All project lead Jason Purnell, PhD. of Washington University.

“People don’t think about that – but the earliest years of life … even before – the months prior to the earliest years of live are crucial for health outcomes. So it turns out – early childhood intervention is a health intervention.

“Children that can’t hear and can’t see and can’t breathe and have been hurt and are hurting – can’t learn, so it turns out that education is a health intervention,” Purnell said.

“The strongest, most consistent predictor of all public health is your level of education.”

Where you live – your neighborhood – is a predictor of health outcomes, he added.

“That zip code turns out to

be a health intervention.”

Purnell summarized points of discussion from previous community meetings – behavioral health and toxic stress – to what it takes for a healthier community.

“Health is the whole thing – live, learn, work and play.

Health happens everywhere, but it doesn’t happen equally for everyone. And that’s not a mistake.

“It’s not a mistake the way resources are distributed in our region, in our nation. And real equity means providing more to people who need more – not giving everybody the same thing.

“People are struggling and suffering and it’s not enough to talk about equality in giving everybody the same thing when somebody’s in a hole – somebody’s in a ditch.” Purnell said. “You try to get them out of the ditch, because we are only as strong as a region as our most vulnerable members.

“You should care because this is costing us a great deal of money, Purnell added. “If you don’t care for the moral reason; if you don’t care for the preventable causes that we can do something about – you ought to care because of the billions of dollars… that we are leaving on the table by not expanding Medicaid.”

He said seven working groups are already strategizing to address issues that hinder a healthier community and their ongoing work will be posted online.

For further information, visit www.forthesakeofall.org.

Your Health Matters is provided in partnership with

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 - 13, 2016

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Scenes from the Who’s Who Diversity in Color 2nd Edition book release and networking reception

Healthy Eating, Preventing Cancer

Eating fruits and vegetables is a great way to help reduce your risk of developing cancer. Many research studies have highlighted the importance of incorporating them into a daily diet. Eating a healthy diet is just one way to reduce your cancer risk, but its impact is a profound one on your health.

Elizabeth Patton-Whiteside, a public health administrator in a local health office and a PECaD community member, works tirelessly to educate others on the benefits of eating healthy. She knows that a healthy diet and lifestyle are key aspects to cancer prevention. Elizabeth works diligently in her role as a community advocate for healthy eating. Part of the way she inspires her colleagues and community members is through the public garden she helps maintain. By planting and growing healthy food options, she not only takes care of herself, but encourages friends and family members to do the same

For more research-proven ways to lower your cancer risk, visit

8 w a y s .w u s t l . e d u The Program for the Elimination of Cancer Disparities (PECaD) recommends men and women work towards eating a healthy diet as one of 8ight Ways to reduce your risk of cancer. With many minority populations at a greater risk for cancer, lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, can be very beneficial in reducing your cancer risk.

SCC24806_PECaD St. Louis American Ad-healthy eating.indd 1

6/30/16 8:14 AM

Business

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JULY 7 – 13, 2016

Free help for small urban businesses

People On The Move Loretta McDonald has joined the executive team at Harris-Stowe State University as director of the Office of Admissions. Her responsibilities include enhancing the university’s Loretta student recruitment McDonald strategy, improving the campus visit experience, and building and strengthening partnerships with local and national school districts, community-based organizations and university partners. Most recently she was the dean of Recruitment and Admission at Fisk University.

Drew Canaday was sworn in as a police officer in the Ferguson Police Department, the seventh AfricanAmerican police officer in the department and the first recipient Drew of a scholarship Canaday to attend the St. Louis County Police Academy adopted by Ferguson City Council members in 2014. Previously he worked for St. Louis County Corrections for 14 years. Ferguson is seeking additional funding to hire more police officers.

Marie-Aimée Abizera is the new executive director of Missouri Immigrant & Refugee Advocates. Most recently she helped found and develop Legacy Mission Village, which Marieserves immigrants Aimee and refugees in Abizera Middle Tennessee.

She was born in Kigali, Rwanda, where she lived until the Rwandan genocide began against the Tutsi in 1994. Her family managed to survive the mass murders that took a million lives in the span of a hundred days.

Photo by Wiley Price

Hyacinth Vassell, program director for Inner City Capital Connections, spoke to St. Louis business owners and community leaders at a kick-off breakfast for the program on June 2 at Regions Bank – Midwest Area Headquarters in Clayton. Of program participants nationwide, 74 percent are minorities. The deadline to apply for the free business assistance program is August 31.

Regions Bank and Regional Chamber bring Inner City Capital Connections to STL

By Morgan Bradley For The St. Louis American Regions Bank and The St. Louis Regional Chamber have partnered to bring the Inner City Capital Connections program to St. Louis.

Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) is a national program designed to accelerate small business growth and access to capital. Through the program, inner-city business owners receive cost-free financial education, business training and one-on-one business counseling via intensive coaching sessions with capital providers. A variety of financial experts from Regions Bank and other sources will also coach participating business owners, free of charge.

The goal of the program is to strengthen local businesses, which ICCC, Regions Bank and the Regional Chamber believe will ultimately

n “We want to improve access for the underserved businesses in our community.”

– Mike Hart, president for Regions Bank in the Midwest Area

strengthen the St. Louis area as a whole.

“I’m confident that we can agree that what’s good for the St. Louis region is good for all of us,” said Mike Hart, president for Regions Bank in the Midwest Area.

ICCC focuses on businesses that are growthoriented and have a presence in urban or

economically underserved areas. The program is designed to accelerate small business growth and access to capital. Instructors hail from leading institutions, such as Harvard Business School and Stanford University, and are all business owners. During the class they will lead discussions on strategy, sales and marketing, entrepreneurial finance and talent management.

Since its development in 2005 ICCC representatives from more than 800 businesses have participated in ICCC programs across the country and have secured more than $1.3 billion to grow their businesses, while creating nearly 11,000 jobs in their respective communities. Of program participants nationwide, 74 percent are minorities and 32 percent are women.

“In February, Regions hosted a meeting with See INEQUITY, B2

New legal fellowship assists ex-offenders Bryan Cave partners with Concordance Academy

By Chris King Of St. Louis American The Concordance Academy of Leadership advocates for some of our society’s neediest and most challenged individuals – those who are being released from a correctional facility. The population served by the academy will now have expert, pro bono legal assistance from a bluechip law firm, Bryan Cave LLP. The global firm, based in St. Louis, is currently interviewing candidates for the first recipient of its new Bryan Cave-Concordance Academy Legal Fellowship, according to Bob Newmark, managing partner of the St. Louis

n “Many people, as they come out of incarceration, have a host of legal issues that they still need assistance with.”

– Bob Newmark, Bryan Cave

Office.

“Our fellows will assist with personal legal matters,” Newmark told The American. “We understand that many people, as they come out

of incarceration, have a host of legal issues that they still need assistance with.”

Newmark rattled off a few legal problems people commonly face as they exit prison: “outstanding warrants for other matters, traffic matters, landlord-tenant issues that remain unresolved, help sorting through housing arrangements, family legal matters.”

Notably, this assistance does include “minor criminal issues,” Newmark said. Other legal advocates that assist this population, like Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, restrict their case load to civil matters.

See BRYAN, B6

Michael Maclin received the Educator of the Year Award from the Alumni Association of Missouri Baptist University. He is principal of University City High School. The Michael Educator of the Year Maclin Award recognizes individuals who display excellence in their hard work and dedication and contribution to the positive development of our youth by fostering excellence in education and improvements to student learning.

Mary E. Nelson was appointed to the University of Missouri Board of Curators by Gov. Jay Nixon. She is general counsel and chief legal officer for the St. Louis Community Mary E. College District and Nelson previously served as an administrative hearing commissioner. She currently serves on the State Highways and Transportation Commission and previously served on the Board of Police Commissioners for St. Louis.

Sylvester Chisom was named board member of the Young Professional Board (YPB) for the St. Louis Crisis Nursery. He cofounded Showroom Shine with a water hose Sylvester and a bucket at the Chisom age of 17. He has grown his company to have multiple locations, winning the Steve Harvey Neighborhood Awards four years in a row for best detail shop in the nation. He is the author of “The Young Entrepreneur’s Guide to Success 2.0.”

On the move? Congratulations! Send your good professional news and a color headshot to cking@stlamerican. com

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 – 13, 2016

Personal Finance

Homebuyer education: first step to buying a home

By Nathaniel Sillin How well do you really understand the homebuying process? Taking a qualified homebuying class will do more than teach you how to get a mortgage or pull together a down payment. It will help you determine the amount of home you can afford without endangering other lifetime financial goals.

If you think this training is just for first-timers, think again. Real estate markets change, and so do homebuying environments. It is worth considering taking a class each time you’re making a home purchase, especially if it has been a significant number of years between purchases. The homebuying class can keep you up to date on what you’ll need to know this time around.

Where can you find these courses? Many private lenders offer their own training, but governments – local, state and federal – are the main source for instructional classes for homebuyers. In fact, on both the public and private side, these classes are often tied to special loans or funding assistance for the qualified.

Most homebuyer trainings are free – if you’re asked to pay, get an explanation for what those costs cover.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides a list of approved state (http://portal.hud.gov/ hudportal/HUD?src=/buying/ localbuying) and local agencies (http://www.hud.gov/offices/ hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm) that offer a range of homebuyer education options – some even

help first-time buyers obtain grants and other financial assistance with their down payments. HUD has backed up this effort with additional funding (http://portal.hud. gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/ press/press_releases_media_ advisories/2016/HUDNo_16022) this year.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and Department of Agriculture (USDA) also offer assistance and educational programs for qualified buyers. Meanwhile, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (https://www.fanniemae. com/content/faq/home-buyereducation-policies-faqs.pdf), the two government-sponsored agencies that keep mortgage funding flowing through our lending system, also support their own homebuyer education options. In fact, a 2013 Freddie Mac study (http://www.freddiemac. com/news/blog/robert_ tsien/20130415_getting_better. html) indicated that prepurchased financial counseling may cut the likelihood of a first-time homebuyer becoming seriously delinquent by nearly 30 percent.

Here are some of the major topics a thorough homebuying class should cover: 1. Homebuying readiness.

Explore the general questions around a homebuying decision, such as why you want to settle in a particular area, how long you plan to stay, what kind of property you’re considering and where you are in your career and lifestyle. You may also be asked to answer specific financial questions to support your thinking, which

to get more for your money, including specific local, state and federal borrowing programs (http://portal.hud. gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/ topics/buying_a_home) you may qualify for. Buying your dream home can seem nice, but it can turn into a nightmare if you can’t afford the home while living within your means.

5. Your home search.

Determine how, when and where to shop for specific properties within the neighborhoods you are interested in and how to get the best overall deal for what you’re buying.

should not be shared with others. The best courses will help you determine answers to the big questions, such as whether you should buy a home or stick with renting.

2. Budgeting and credit.

These courses will help you evaluate how you handle money. Do you have a budget?

If not, do you know how to create one? Do you understand your credit rating and what goes into determining your score? If you have debt, how are your efforts going to pay it off? Essentially, what you don’t know about spending and borrowing can limit your ability to buy a home.

3. Preapproval for mortgage financing. Navigate

the nitty-gritty of the loan process – what a mortgage is, the various types of mortgages, how they work and what it takes to be preapproved for a mortgage. Pre-approval involves filling out a full mortgage application, typically with a fee to cover an extensive credit check as if you were actually buying a home. Pre-approval, unlike prequalification, allows a potential borrower to receive a loan commitment for a specific amount, which can grease the wheels in a potential purchase.

4. Knowing what you can afford. Analyze the above and consider the reality of what kind of property you can really afford to buy. Look at price limits and locations and ways

INEQUITY continued from page B1 local leaders to talk about the needs of the community. From that meeting, we settled on five discussion points,” Hart said.

“Those discussion points were focused on poverty, housing, jobs and education, financial literacy, and small businesses in the St. Louis area.

We then got together to decide what we could do to make a difference in these areas in our community.”

From that meeting, Regions decided to bring ICCC to St. Louis.

“We decided to bring this program to St. Louis because it covers all these areas,” Hart said. “We want to improve access for the underserved businesses in our community.”

Joe Reagan, president and CEO of the St. Louis Regional Chamber, said the challenges of small urban businesses are

6. What you’ll need to close a home sale in your chosen community.

Buying a home can also include an introduction to the specific regulatory and cost environment where you’re planning to live.

For example, your course should take you through such things as community-specific housing laws and zoning restrictions that could affect what you’ll be investing in the property, property tax issues (particularly if an assessment is pending), your home titling (http://www.bankrate. com/finance/mortgages/ understanding-the-closingprocess-1.aspx) process, inspection requirements and the other costs linked to legal processes and paperwork.

7. The aftermath. A solid homebuying class should give you a wide picture of the costs you’ll face after the sale and how to manage them so

How to apply The 2016 program will begin in St. Louis on September 29 at Washington University.

Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis until the deadline of August 31. There is no cost to apply. For more information or to apply, visit http://icic.org/innercity-capital-connections/.

You may also contact ICCC Program Director Hyacinth Vassell at hvassell@icic.org.

relevant to the chamber and something that his members can help address.

“All of us need all of us – there is no single opportunity, problem or challenge that we face within our community that

you don’t put the rest of your finances in jeopardy. Being too “house poor” not only puts you at a risk of losing the property, it can threaten other important financial goals.

If you have your eye on particular lenders in your community, call them to see whether homebuying education can be a helpful factor in getting approved for a loan. Ask them to explain how they evaluate such training and what courses they recommend. Always ask whether any homebuyer class has a fee and why. Also, get a second opinion – if you work with a qualified financial professional, ask what he or she thinks about the course and its benefits.

As you consider such a course, don’t think narrowly about what you can get out of it. It’s not just about getting the mortgage. It’s a chance to ask about how a home purchase may affect other aspects of your financial life – all personal finance goals should be considered equally.

Bottom line: Since the mortgage industry collapse in 2008, it’s been a new day in residential homebuying.

Whether you’re buying your first home or beyond, taking a homebuyer education class can help you understand the mortgage process, improve your credit and shop smarter for a home you can actually afford.

Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www. twitter.com/PracticalMoney.

we can face alone,” Reagan said.

“We are looking to close the gap of racial discrimination and the concentration of poverty here in our bi-state region. We must work together to make St. Louis a more attractive place, to live, work and invest in.”

ICCC is part of the nonprofit Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, founded by Harvard Business School professor Michael Porter to strengthen America’s inner cities through education and private-sector investment to help create jobs, income and opportunities.

The 2016 program will begin in St. Louis on September 29 at Washington University in St. Louis. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis until the deadline of August 31. There is no cost to apply. For more information or to apply, visit http://icic.org/ inner-city-capital-connections/.

You may also contact ICCC Program Director Hyacinth Vassell at hvassell@icic.org.

n “Kevin Durant is trying to cheat his way into a championship.”

– Charles Barkley

Sports

INSIDE

Los Angeles Rams ticket sales soar ~ See ‘Sports Eye’ page B4 ~ B3

JULY 7 – 13, 2016

Inside Sports With Earl Austin Jr.

Beal nets max contract

Wizards keep former Chaminade star for $128M Former Chaminade College Prep AllAmerican Bradley Beal was one of the many players to cash in on the National Basketball Association’s free agent signing frenzy in the past week.

Beal, 23, agreed to a maximum contract deal with the Washington Wizards, where he has spent the first four seasons of the NBA career. Beal’s maximum contract is for $128 million over five years.

Despite battling a series of injuries over his four seasons, Beal has proven to be one of the league’s top young shooting guards.

He averaged 17.4 points and made 39 percent from 3-point range last season.

In four seasons with the Wizards, Beal is averaging 16 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists a game while Earl shooting 38 percent from Austin Jr. 3-point range and 78 percent from the free throw line.

Beal has also proven to be an even better performer in the playoffs, in which the Wizards qualified in 2014 and 2015. In 21 playoff games in two seasons, Beal averaged 21.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists while shooting 39 percent from 3-point range and 81 percent from the free throw line.

Congratulations to Bradley Beal. It pays to have a feathery jump shot and a strong work ethic.

Mike Rodgers is headed to Olympics St. Louisan Mike Rodgers will be headed to the 2016 Summer Olympics as a member of the USA Track and Field Team. Rodgers finished fourth in the 100-meter dash at the USA Olympic Trials in Eugene, OR. He just missed a berth on the team in the open 100, but his fourth-place finish earns him a spot on the 4x100-meter relay.

A former standout at McCluer SouthBerkeley High, Rodgers also enjoyed collegiate success at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, where he was a NAIA national champion. He has enjoyed an excellent career on the professional circuit for many years. He was also a member of the USA Olympic Team in 2012.

See INSIDE, B5

Despite battling a series of injuries, Bradley Beal is averaging 16 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists a game, while shooting 38 percent from 3-point range and 78 percent from the free throw line, in four seasons with the Wizards.

In The Clutch With Ishmael H. Sistrunk

Durant’s July 4th decision causes fireworks n Unsurprisingly, the haters crawled out of the deepest, darkest holes of the interweb to throw shade on Durant’s decision.

Gives Warriors one of the most lethal combos in NBA history How ironic is it that on the to throw shade on Durant’s Fourth of July, Independence decision. First up was ESPN’s Day, Kevin Durant sent the Stephen A. Smith, who’s internet spiraling into a raging head nearly exploded when hissy fit simply by exercising he discovered the news. He his right to choose attacked Durant in three his future? The most separate rants on ESPN, coveted player in NBA Twitter and Facebook, free agency made the calling Durant’s move, no-brainer decision to “the weakest move join the Golden State [he’s] ever seen a NBA Warriors. He was star commit.” Smith offered a maximum used the preposterous contract to play for a logic that because the team that should have Oklahoma City Thunder could have won the Ishmael H. lost to the Warriors NBA championship in the playoffs, once Sistrunk without him. Given during Durant’s ninethe option of playing year career, that they alongside one All-Star (Russell should be off-limits for the forWestbrook) or three Allmer MVP. Stars (Stephen Curry, Klay Charles Barkley claimed Thompson and Draymond he was disappointed by Green), for the same insane Durant’s decision. He accused amount of money, Durant Durant (and LeBron James) of made the obvious choice. “cheating” to win an NBA title Unsurprisingly, the haters by joining super teams. I guess crawled out of the deepest, Barkley forgot how he forced darkest holes of the interweb a trade to the Houston Rockets

Superstars Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant have joined forces to make one of the most lethal combinations in NBA history. Can they make the confetti fall together in Golden State? in order to chase rings with Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon. FoxSports’ Colin Cowherd somehow surmised that both Curry and Durant have forever eliminated them-

selves from Top 10 consideration by their willingness to join forces. He also remarkably determined that Durant’s decision “solidifies LeBron’s greatness.”

Like Cowherd, many of the people criticizing Durant are the same individuals who worshipped and praised James for chucking deuces at the Cleveland Cavaliers when

he took his talents to South Beach to form a super team and chase rings, and then again when he bolted Miami to go back to Cleveland. The same people who praise James for his three NBA championships (all with super teams) and sixstraight NBA Finals appearances (again, with super teams) somehow find a reason to fault Durant for wanting to maximize his chances at winning a ring.

Let’s not be ignorant, James isn’t the first superstar to cement his legacy by winning titles on super teams.

See CLUTCH, B5

B4

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 – 13, 2016

Sports Eye With Alvin A. Reid

L.A. Rams ticket sales soar ‘The warm reception we have received in this community has been unbelievable.’

– Rams COO Kevin Demoff The Los Angeles Rams, for and community interests now, do not have to win to win immediately after the Rams over fans. relocated.

Last week, Rams COO “I think what you’re going Kevin Demoff announced to see over the next four of five that more than 63,000 season years is a real resurgence of the tickets have been sold for the Chiefs brand in St. Louis,” he 2016 season, which said. will be played in “We do have some the L.A. Memorial advantages over the Coliseum. That puts other NFL franchises, the franchise well on not only in geography, its way to reaching its but because it’s in the goal of 70,000. state of Missouri, we’re The Coliseum will the only team that can be configured to hold actually market our 80,000 per game, with corporate partnerships, Alvin A. the Rams holding as well as our brand, in Reid 10,000 seats per game St. Louis, so that’s a big for single-game sales. advantage.”

“This has really been a The Chiefs will not be labor of love over the past five alone on the St. Louis airwaves months to get this team up and during preseason. KTVI running in every (Channel 2), which facet,” Demoff broadcast Rams n Last week, told the Ventura preseason contests, Rams COO County Star. will carry Chicago Kevin Demoff “Our group Bears games in has been working announced August, according tirelessly. I must to Caesar. that more than say, the warm 63,000 season reception we have tickets have received from Beal to get been sold for the everybody in $128M this community birthday 2016 season. has been present unbelievable.”

As for St. Washington Louis, Dan Caesar Wizards guard of the Post-Dispatch reported Bradley Beal celebrated his last week that KMOV (Channel 23rd birthday with his annual 4) will be carrying Kansas City White Party in St. Louis and Chiefs preseason games in reported maximum fiveAugust – including an August year, $128-million contract 20 game in L.A. against the extension. The pact cannot Rams. be finalized until July 7, but Chiefs President Mark Beal’s agent Mark Bartelstein Donovan told chiefs.com the has told several media outlets franchise began receiving the deal is done. inquiries from fans, business The Wizards are banking

The Los Angeles Rams have sold more than 63,000 season tickets for the 2016 season, which will be played in the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. on Beal to dodge the injuries that have hindered his career

and made him somewhat of an unknown quantity to other NBA franchises.

He played in just 55 games last year, the product of recurring stress injuries in his right leg. He has topped 70 games just once in his four-year career. While the Wizards have locked up Beal for the majority of his 20s, as he grows older his minutes on the court could drop.

Beal, who has averaged 16 points per game during his career, has shown continued improvement. He averaged 17.4 points per game during the 2015-16 season and shot 42.9 percent on corner three-pointers this past season, up from 35.8 percent the previous year.

The Wizards keep one of the NBA’s most promising backcourt duos intact by partnering Beal with All-Star John Wall for the foreseeable future.

In late May, with the 41-41 Wizards missing the playoffs,

n The Wizards keep one of the NBA’s most promising backcourt duos intact by partnering Beal with AllStar John Wall for the foreseeable future.

Beal said he wanted to stay in Washington – but not at a discount.

“I want to be valued the right way,” Beal told The Washington Post. “I feel like I’m a max player, and that’s what I’m looking for.

If Washington can’t meet that requirement, then I may be thinking elsewhere. I’m pretty sure that they probably won’t (let me go). At the end of the day, (Washington is) where I want to be. I think a deal will probably get done, but you just never know.”

Beal said with confidence, “The injury thing, that’s behind me. Hell, Steph Curry was hurt his first four years.

Look at him now. John (Wall) was hurt his first three or four years. Look at him now. I’m not worried about it.

People are going to say what they want to say. At the end of the day, it’s not going to affect me or the money.”

Speaking of Wall, his Twitter response to Beal’s deal was “congrats to my lil bro.”

Only time will tell if Beal can avoid future injuries – and if Wall remains cool with making substantially less than his backcourt mate.

Alvin A. Reid is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook and appears on ABC’s The Allman Report and several sports radio shows. His Twitter handle is @aareid1.

Visit us at www.stlamerican.com

B5

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 – 13, 2016

Gordon’s gold Webster Groves standout wins medal with USA U17 National Team n Gordon’s best overall performance came in the quarterfinals against South Korea, where he had 16 points, seven rebounds and made seven of eight from the field in a 13381 victory.

By Earl Austin Jr. Of The St. Louis American Webster Groves High basketball standout Carte’are Gordon earned a gold medal as a member of the USA U17 National Team over the weekend.

The 6’8” Gordon helped lead the USA to the gold at the FIBA u17 World Championships in Zaragoza, Spain. Team USA finished with a perfect 7-0 record after a 96-56 victory over Spain in the gold-medal game on Sunday.

Playing in his first international competition, Gordon enjoyed an excellent run at the World Championships. He averaged 11.6 points a game, which was fourth on the team. He also averaged 5.6 rebounds a game and led the team with a whopping 72 percent from the field. There were two games where he did not miss a field goal attempt.

Gordon’s best overall performance came in the

CLUTCH Continued from B5 Bill Russell, the greatest NBA champion of all-time, played with seven other Hall of Famers in Boston (even though a few of those inductees are questionable) during the 1957-58 and 1962-63 seasons. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson’s Lakers featured as many as five Hall of Fame players, as did Larry Bird’s Celtics teams of the 1980s.

Even in the modern era, the Lakers failed at a title attempt with Hall of Famers Gary Payton, Karl Malone, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant (not officially in HOF yet). The Celtics won with shoo-in HOF candidates Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. James won in Miami with Allen, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, who’s HOF credentials are now questionable only due to recent illnesses and injuries.

Unlike the modern-era super teams, the Warriors are largely home grown. Curry, Thompson and Green were all drafted and cultivated by the Warriors. Andre Iguodala, the sixth man, is the only key player for the Warriors who arrived via free agency before Durant. Unlike many of the other superstars, who took less money to join a merry band of ballers, Durant is going to Golden State with a max-level contract. In other words, he got the money and the power. Now he and the Warriors must win NBA titles so he can earn the

INSIDE Continued from B3 Courtney Ramey shines at NBA Top 100 Webster Groves basketball standout Courtney Ramey turned in a sparkling performance at the recent National Basketball Players Association Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville, VA. The 6’3” Ramey was rated among the top players at the camp, which included many of the top high school players in the country.

The Top 100 Camp was Ramey’s first game action since missing most of the spring grassroots season with a broken jaw. Now, back and healthy, Ramey will lead his Jets-Ramey United 16U team into action this week at the Adidas Uprising Series Gauntlet Finale in Spartanburg, S.C. St. Louis Surge back in action The St. Louis Surge will return to action on Saturday

Carte’are Gordon quarterfinals against South Korea, where he had 16 points, seven rebounds and made seven of eight from the field in a 133-81 victory. In the semifinals against Lithuania, Gordon had 13 points, nine rebounds and three assists in a 98-70 victory. He scored 12 points on a perfect six for six from the field in a 84-66

victory over Turkey in pool play.

Gordon will now return to the United States, where he will compete in the Nike EYBL Peach Jam with his MoKan Elite 17U Team. The Peach Jam gets under way on Wednesday in North Augusta, South Carolina.

Arsenal Hoops wins Midwest title Congratulations to Arsenal Hoops 15U boys basketball team on winning the 16U championship at the Threat Hoops Midwest Tune Up at Hazelwood Central High last weekend. Team Arsenal defeated the Cobras Elite 61-50 in the championship game. The team members include (in alphabetical order): Jackson Andrews (CBC), Jerram Adams (Westminster), Jack Buford (Kirkwood), Kaileb Bryant (DeSmet), Fahreed Cheeks (Vianney), Arvell Ferguson (Kirkwood); Loren Fortune Jr., Jordan Johnson, Nick Kurz (Priory), Jason Montgomery (Marquette), Eathan Noonan, Drew Ritter (Lutheran SC). The team is coached by Mike Asleson.

ings and considered the worldrespect so that many fans and wide leader in sports. Was that sports personalities claim to the ‘weakest move ever by a have “lost” for him by making sports journalist?’ Why didn’t the right choice. he lead his former employers to Keep in mind, that while overtake ESPN in the ratings? everybody was going crazy All the fuss about Durant about Durant’s choice, future is pure, unadulterated jealouHall of Famer Pau Gasol sy and nothing more. When announced that he was headDurant, Curry ing to the and Co. rack San Antonio up rings, their Spurs, a team legacies as that won 67 all-time greats games this past will be cementseason. Think ed just like the Durant and James, Russell, Westbrook Kareem, Magic would’ve beatand more. If the en the Spurs Warriors were with Gasol on the only super board? Think team in the again. league, maybe The most it would give hilarious of the some credence criticisms I see to the nonsense, about Durant’s but a quick look move are the at the rosters in cries for loyalCleveland and ty. I’m sure the San Antonio people who say prove they are he shouldn’t not alone. have left his best friend Owners lose alone in OKC Harrison Barnes gets their minds make their too career decisions $94 million from Dallas. based on their NBA fans BFFs. The and media personalities aren’t NBA is a business and players the only people to lose their can be cut or traded at any minds during this year’s given moment at the whim of free-agency period. With an owner or GM. Why aren’t the huge spike in salary cap owners and franchises held to money, team owners and genthe same standard of loyalty as eral managers have lost their superstar players? minds when it comes to some I’m sure that when Smith of the insane spending going left the now-defunct CNN/SI on. network and FoxSports Radio Mark Cuban and the Dallas for ESPN, it had nothing to do Mavericks made it rain on with the fact that ESPN was clobbering them all in the ratWarriors castaway Harrison

Barnes, who was a primary reason Golden State choked away the Finals. With averages of 11.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, the Mavs offered Barnes a max-level contract of $94 million over four years.

While Barnes’ numbers will certainly improve in Dallas, nearly $100 million dollars for a man who has never sniffed the All-Star game is just not a wise basketball decision.

The Memphis Grizzlies fell into the same boat by doling out the largest contract in NBA history to Mike Conley (five years, $153 million) and another max-level deal for former Mav Chandler Parsons (four years, $94 million). While it can be argued that Conley is an All-Star caliber player, despite zero actual All-Star appearances, committing that type of money should be reserved for perennial, unquestioned, automatic All-Stars, not hopefuls.

Let’s get one thing clear.

I’m not criticizing the players for taking the money. They should get whatever they can.

However, owners can’t complain about the formation of super teams and scream about unfairness in terms of competition and then flush cash down the toilet as so many franchises have done this off-season.

Yes, the billionaire owners have money to spend and the players responsible for the exciting product deserve to be rewarded richly. Still, poor drafting and owners throwing big money at average players has more to do with perennial struggling franchises than media markets or anything else.

Follow Ishmael on Twitter @IshmaelSistrunk

with a home game against the Cleveland Crush at the Mark Twain Building on the campus of the University of MissouriSt. Louis. Tip off time is at 7:05 p.m. The Surge sit atop the Women’s Blue Chip

lead a very balanced scoring attack. Michala Johnson and Jaleesa Butler averaged 12 points a game apiece while Leah Cotton averages 11 points a game.

Basketball League Midwest Division with a 7-1 record after their 93-88 victory over the Elsberry Flyers Elite last weekend.

Guard Rebecca Harris averages 18 points a game to

Visit us online at www.stlamerican.com

B6

BRYAN continued from page B1 Bryan Cave will begin the legal fellowship program with one lawyer, starting in the fall of 2016. An additional lawyer will be added in the fall of 2017. Each will serve for two years, running in staggered terms. Each fellow will spend approximately 50 percent of his or her time on pro bono matters for Concordance Academy participants, and the balance of his or her time on Bryan Cave billable matters.

Newmark said that Hal Goldsmith – a former federal prosecutor, now with Bryan Cave – is the partner who will mentor the fellows.

“This project tries to help people, who are coming out of prison, get back into society,” Goldsmith told The American.

“That’s my former world. It’s pretty exciting that we’ll get to help.”

Newmark said the firm’s partners have been discussing launching a fellowship to engage people coming out of law school who want to serve the public interest. When Danny Ludeman, the former

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 – 13, 2016

n “This project tries to help people, who are coming out of prison, get back into society.

It’s pretty exciting that we’ll get to help.”

– Hal Goldsmith, Bryan Cave

Wells Fargo Advisors CEO who founded Concordance Academy (in collaboration with Carrie Pettus-Davis of Washington University), approached Bryan Cave for assistance, this fellowship “seemed a natural fit,” Newmark said.

“We thank Bryan Cave as they continue to demonstrate good corporate citizenship,” Ludeman said in a statement.

“So many of our participants face a backlog of legal matters upon returning to the community, from child support to outstanding warrants. These fellows will be providing essential services that will make for successful transitions for this underserved population.”

The Concordance Academy works in partnership with the Concordance Institute for Advancing Social Justice, a research center housed at Washington University’s Brown School of Social Work that identifies and tests best practices to inform the academy’s work. Ludeman describes this partnership as “the first holistic, integrated, evidence-driven model in the country that engages the public, private and academic communities in providing quality services tailored to reentering prisoners.”

To learn more about the Concordance Academy and its services, visit www. concordanceacademy.com, and to learn more about the Concordance Institute and its research, visit www. concordanceinstitute.com.

Newmark said fellows will likely to be getting their first job out of law school, and his firm wants to hear from freshly baked lawyers or law students nearing the end of their studies.

Anyone interested in applying for the fellowship should submit a resume to Jennifer Guirl at Jennifer.guirl@ bryancave.com.

Financial Focus

By Veronica Coleman

Financial tips for newly single women Within a marriage, a man and a woman’s financial circumstances are generally pretty much equal. But if a divorce occurs, the woman’s situation tends to be somewhat more challenging than that of her ex-spouse. And that’s why, during this major life transition, you may want to meet with a professional financial advisor to go over your spending needs and your cash flow, so that you know what you absolutely need today — and how you can plan for tomorrow.

But before we get into some possible steps you can take, let’s look at some of the reasons that women may fare worse than men, financially speaking, following a divorce: • Lower income — The average woman’s family income drops by 37% after divorce, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And in many cases, divorce exacerbates a situation in which women were already trailing men in earnings. In fact, women still only earn 77 cents for each dollar earned by men, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• Smaller retirement accounts — The average balance on women’s defined contribution plans (such as 401(k) plans) is only 60 percent of men’s average balances, according to LIMRA, a financial services research organi-

you may need to “rebalance” your holdings.

Above all, get some help.

As mentioned above, now is a good time to meet with a financial advisor. And if you don’t have much experience in managing your finances, Create an emergency fund. Try you may even to put six months’ find it helpful to to a year’s worth of work with a trust living expenses in a n The avercompany, which liquid account. Once can collaborate you’ve established age womwith your financial this emergency fund, en’s family provider to manage you won’t have to dip into long-term income drops your assets and can also provide investments to pay by 37% after a variety of other for unexpected costs, functions, including such as an expensive divorce. bill payment and car repair, a new recordkeeping. A furnace or a large trust company’s medical bill. services can prove especially valuable to you and your Contribute as much as you can family should you ever afford to your retirement accounts. become incapacitated.

Even if you will eventually receive Unfortunately, a divorce some of your ex-spouse’s retirement may leave you feeling “at funds, you need to take full advantage sea” in many areas of your of your own savings opportunities life. But by following the — because it’s pretty hard to save above suggestions, you can at “too much” for retirement. If money least help keep your financial is tight, it won’t always be easy, but ship in calmer waters. contribute as much as you can to your

401(k) or similar employer-sponsored This article was written retirement plan. At a minimum, put in

by Edward Jones for use by enough to earn the employer’s match, your local Edward Jones if one is offered.

Financial Advisor.

Rebalance your investment portFor further information folio. If you are now investing for contact Veronica Coleman yourself, you’ll want to take a close at (618) 931-2397 or look at your asset mix to make sure 1-800-EDJONES it is appropriate for your situation.

For example, your risk tolerance may Copyright © 2015 be quite different than that of your Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. ex-spouse’s, so if you now have total All rights reserved. Member control over an investment portfolio, SIPC. you need to make sure it reflects your needs and preferences. Consequently, zation.

Of course, “averages” are just that — averages. But whether you recognize yourself in the above numbers or not, consider these suggestions:

• Only Online • Additional ‘American’ ESSENCE Festival coverage www.stlamerican.com C1 • ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 - 13, 2016

Oprah goes to ESSENCE

New Edition Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Top talent and high-profile performance debuts draws 450,000 to annual festival

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American NEW ORLEANS – “Ferguson had me so upset, Baltimore made me lose my breath,” rising soul star Andra Day sang while making her ESSENCE Music Festival mainstage debut Sunday night at the Mercedes Benz Superdome. She remixed Nina Simone’s “Mississippi Goddamn.”

Simone once said that it is the responsibility for the artist to reflect the times. Day manages to do exactly that while paying homage to icons like Simone and Etta James.

If there were a rookie of the year award for the ESSENCE Music Festival mainstage, Day would have been the unanimous winner for the 22nd annual weekend of live music that has grown into black music’s biggest stage.

Through her breakthrough hit “Rise Up,” Day has delivered the best of vintage soul to millennials in a manner so pure and authentic it’s impossible to ignore. And through her presence at ESSENCE, she fulfilled the festival’s purpose of putting black music lovers on to the new, now and next.

Her presence blended perfectly with the three dozen acts included

in the mix of veterans, living legends and reigning kings and queens of black music.

A-list debuts Between the musical and exposition components of the festival, more than 450,000 piled into to attend for 2016.

Year 22 of ESSENCE Music Festival will be most remembered for the big names who graced the stage for the first time. Oprah Winfrey was a first-time guest on the Empowerment stage, but there were also A-list musical artists who made their first trip to ESSENCE. Saturday night closed with pop diva Mariah Carey making her ESSENCE Music Festival debut.

Carried in on a chaise lounge by a handful of muscle-bound men, her performance seemed to be a re-hash of her Las Vegas residency, but it fared well enough with the festival audience.

She stuck to the most urban and upbeat of her favorites from a catalog of hits that made her the biggest-selling female artist of all time.

Selections from “The Emancipation of Mimi” were the alpha and omega of Carey’s headlining set. Kicking things off with “Shake You Off,” her performance will be most remembered for the provocative costumes and guest appearances by Jermaine Dupri and Da Brat.

See ESSENCE, C4 on mm o C

Oprah Winfrey made her ESSENCE Festival debut as the keynote speaker for the Empowerment Session stage Saturday afternoon at The Ernest Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

Media mogul inspires thousands, incites frenzy with surprise festival debut

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American NEW ORLEANS – “As a woman, when you find yourself in a really tight jam, and your back is against the wall, it’s usually a sister-friend that comes through and gets you out of that jam,” said Iyanla Vanzant. “And that is exactly what has happened for me today.”

In a pre-recorded voice message, the life coach, motivational speaker best-selling author and ESSENCE contributor announced that for the first time in 14 years she would not be closing out the Empowerment Session stage because of a healthrelated emergency.

But the sister-friend who stepped in as a See OPRAH, C4

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Faith and Biggie reunite on new record

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Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Faith Evans performing on the mainstage at the 22nd ESSENCE Music Festival Friday, July 1 in New Orleans.

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Photos by Lawrence Bryant

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Evans to release Notorious B.I.G. duet CD, makes ESSENCE mainstage debut

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American “ESSENCE has always been the place for black women and black culture, but the ESSENCE Festival is a measuring stick in R&B music,” said singer Faith Evans shortly after making her mainstage debut for the 22nd Annual Essence Festival Friday night.

Twenty-one years after her self-titled debut put her on the map as an R&B diva, Evans was thrilled See FAITH, C4

Calendar

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 – 13, 2016 Jerome Brown Jr. Spark The Leadership Foundation presents Dance for a Cause.

We will have the one & only DJ Tony-T. There will also be a silent auction including items like: Jerry J. Brown Jr. Dallas Cowboys jersey, Dez Bryant autographed jersey, signed Dallas Cowboys Helmet, and more. We will be selling raffle tickets for a chance to win: tablets, cameras, and other great prizes. All proceeds will go to the Foundation.

Polish Heritage Center, 1413 N. 20 th St., 63106. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

How to place a calendar listing 1. Email your listing to calendar@stlamerican. com OR 2. Visit the calendar section on stlamerican.com and place your listing Calendar listings are free of charge, are edited for space and run on a space-available basis.

concerts Wed., July 6, 7 p.m., Firebird presents Mark Battles Live. 2706 Olive St., 63103. For more information, call (314) 535-0353 or visit www.firebirdstl.com.

Fri., July 8, 8 p.m., Goodfellas Entertainment presents Lil Boosie. IP54 Bar & Grill, 2543 N. Grand Blvd., 63106. For more information, call (314) 535-4444.

Sat., July 9, 8 p.m., Summer Rain Benefit Jam feat.

Soultry. Grab your friends and family for a soulful night out to benefit teen girls in need.

Voce, 212 S. Tucker Blvd., 63102. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Sat., July 16, 6 p.m., Hot 104.1 presents Super Jam 2016 feat. Fetty Wap, Young Thug, K. Michelle, 50 Cent, Desiigner and more. Scottrade Center, 1401 Clark Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.scottradecenter.com.

Sat., July 16, 6 p.m., The Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council presents BBQ Concert: Jon Thomas & Friends. Enjoy fantastic tunes, world-class BBQ and beverages, as well as free art activities for the kids.

Greg Freeman Park, 6000 Kingsbury Ave., 63112. For more information, visit www. skinkerdebaliviere.wordpress. com.

Sat., Aug. 27, 7 p.m. An Evening with Chaka Khan

and El DeBarge, a benefit concert for Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club, The Fox Theatre. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

local gigs Sat., July 16, 6 p.m., The Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council presents BBQ Concert: Jon Thomas & Friends. Enjoy fantastic tunes, world-class BBQ and beverages, as well as free art activities for the kids.

Greg Freeman Park, 6000 Kingsbury Ave., 63112. For more information, visit www. skinkerdebaliviere.wordpress. com.

Tues., July 19, 8 p.m., The Ready Room presents Alunageorge. 4195 Manchester Ave., 63110.

For more information, call (314) 833-3929 or visit www. thereadyroom.com.

Sun., July 24, 5 p.m., Union Communion Ministries presents Free Concerts at Ivory Perry Park feat.

Soulard Blues Band with Marty Abdullah. 800 N. Belt, 63112. For more information, visit www.ivoryperrypark.com.

Sun., July 31, 6 p.m. (5 p.m. doors) Community Women Against Hardship Summer Jazz Benefit Concert with Johnny O’Neal, Anita Jackson, Eric Slaughter, Jerome Harris and Jeffrey Anderson. Harold and Dorothy Steward Center For Jazz, 3536 Washington.

For more information, call (34)

Goodfellas Entertainment presents Lil Boosie. For more information, see CONCERTS.

Featured Event Sat., July 16, 6 p.m., Hot 104.1 presents Super Jam 2016 feat. Fetty Wap, Young Thug, K. Michelle, 50 Cent, Desiigner and more. Scottrade Center, 1401 Clark Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. scottradecenter.com.

571-6000 or visit www.jazzstl. org.

special events July 7 – 10, Prophytes Be Like presents the Second Annual PBL Greek Weekend. The weekend will include parties, a picnic, a

community service event at Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club, and Sunday worship at Believers Temple Word Fellowship. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sat., July 9, Anthony Smith Memorial Basketball Tournament. This is a charity 3on3 tournament in the memory of Anthony Smith who died of Cancer

in 2008. He graduated from Kirkwood High School and Loyola University. Proceeds benefit Gateway chapter of the Leukemia Lymphoma Society and other local charities. The deadline to register is July 3. Kirkwood High School, 801 W. Essex, 63122. For more information, call (314) 281-9818 or visit www. keepwatching50.org.

Mon., July 11, 10:30 a.m., Summer Family Fun: Beatboxing with Nicole Paris.

Nicole will share technique tips and lead a few exercises to get you making a few beats yourself. Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For more information, call (314) 746-4599 or visit www.mohistory.org.

July 11 – 15, Global Mama’s and Plowsharing Crafts Summer Trunk Show. Global Mama’s helps to empower African women in need by offering jobs that allow them to create and sell unique, handcrafted clothing and accessories. The trunk show will feature women, children, and baby clothing handmade by the women of Africa. 6271 Delmar Blvd., 63130. For more information, call (314) 863-3723.

Fri., July 15, 6:30 p.m., Jerry

July 15 – 16, 11 a.m., Fundisha Movement Workshop: Caribbean Dance Camp. Wiggle and wind with Mama Lisa in free community dance classes for dancers of all ages. Enjoy a chance for the entire family to kick off those shoes and shake, shake, shake to the rhythms of the drums.

Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112.

For more information, call (314) 746-4599 or visit www. mohistory.org.

Sat., July 23, 12 p.m., 4th Annual Natural Hair Health & Cultural Expo. This event will be showcasing; health demonstrations, models, live music, poetry, Afrikan drumming, dancers, vendors and so much more. The Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, call (618) 5145240 or email nhbce@yahoo. com.

Sat., July 23, 12 p.m., SMKE & Liquid Assets present The Show Me Kicks Expo.

This is the premier buy, sale, and trade sneaker expo in St. Louis, Missouri. Peabody Opera House, 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, call (314) 458-1840 or email info@showmekicks.com.

Sat., July 23, 6:30 p.m., Style-Taneous Styles presents its 1st Annual Fashion Show.

4530 N. Lindbergh Blvd., 63044. For more information, call (314) 378-3443 or email styletaneousstyles@gmail.com.

comedy Through July 10, 7:30 p.m., Funny Bone St. Louis presents Justin Leon. Justin Leon is a well-respected Kansas City comic who has truly made a name for himself across the country and abroad.

614 Westport Plaza, 63146.

For more information, visit

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 – 13, 2016 www.stlouisfunnybone.com.

Ruth Brown. The exhibit also includes a bronze sculpture of the hands of blues artist Johnny Winter. 615 Washington Ave., 63101. For more information, call (314) 925-0016.

Tues., July 12, 8 p.m., Bare Knuckle Comedy presents History Shmistory.

Host Christian Lawrence leads comedians to perform stand up as a historical figure, in costume, in character. Foam, 3350 S. Jefferson Ave., 63118.

For more information, call (314) 772-2100.

The Griot Museum of Black History presents Lady Leaders and Legends. Artist Daniel Hodges honors 20 outstanding St. Louis women including Maya Angelou, Katherine Dunham, Frankie M. Freeman, Ida Woolfolk, and others. 2505 St. Louis Ave., 63110. For more information, call (314) 241-7057 or visit www.thegriotmuseum.org.

Sat., July 23, 6 p.m., All Laughs Matter/All Lives Matter. Come out and have an evening of family fun and laughter as we came together to help and heal through laughter. Harris Stowe State University, 3026 Laclede Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 243-6034.

health

Fri., July 29, 8 p.m. Martin Lawrence, Chaifetz Arena.

For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

literary Wed., July 13, 10:30 a.m., The Boeing Store hosts author Russ Banham, author of Higher: 100 Years of the Boeing Company. 5900 N. Lindbergh Blvd, Bldg. 73-222, 63042. For more information, visit www.runway.boeingstore. com/2016.

Thur., July 14, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts authors Greg Jobin-Leeds, Jose Jorge Diaz, and Deymirie Hernandez, authors of When We Fight, We Win!: Twenty-First Century Social Movements and the Activists That Are Transforming Our World. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 367-6731 or visit www.left-bank.com.

Thur., July 14, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books and NextSTL presents author David Dayen, author of Chain of Title: How Three Ordinary Americans Uncovered Wall Street’s Great Foreclosure Fraud. Space Architecture and Design, 4168 Manchester Ave., 63110. For more information, call (314)

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An Evening with Chaka Khan, a benefit concert for Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club, The Fox Theatre. For more information, see CONCERTS.

367-6731 or visit www.leftbank.com.

Tues., July 19, 7 p.m., St. Louis Count Library hosts author Peter Spiegelman, author of Dr. Knox. St. Louis County Library Headquarters, 1645 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131.

Sun., July 24, 5 p.m., STL Book Fair. This is not just your average book fair; we will have authors onsite to discuss their book and answer questions. Utopia Studios, 3957 Park Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ letterinvisibledaughter.

theatre Through July 11, The Muny presents The Music Man. When smooth-talking con man Harold Hill arrives in a small, tight-knit town in Iowa, he expects to dupe its

residents with his elaborate moneymaking scheme. Despite his complete lack of musical literacy, he will convince everyone that he is a brilliant bandleader and recruit all the boys in town to form a band, pocketing the cash for instruments and uniforms.

The problem? Some of the town members don’t quite buy Harold’s story. 1 Theatre Dr., 63112. For more information, call (314) 361-1900 or visit www.muny.org.

July 13 – 19, The Muny presents Young Frankenstein.

The gang’s all here: Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, Igor and the horse-frightening Frau Blücher – together again in scenic Transylvania to reanimate a monster. As this comedy classic comes to bawdy, musical life onstage, you too will feel like “Puttin’ on the Ritz” as you revel in a madcap evening of mad scientists and yodeling lab assistants. 1 Theatre Dr.,

63112. For more information, call (314) 361-1900 or visit www.muny.org.

July 29 – 30, COCA presents Memphis. Set in the underground dance clubs, radio stations and recording studios of 1950s Memphis, this hot musical bursts off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a tale filled with laughter, soul and rock & roll. Edison Theatre, 6465 Forsyth Blvd., 63105.

For more information, call (314) 725-6555 or visit www. cocastl.org.

arts The National Blues Museum presents A Cast of Blues.

Created by artist Sharon McConnell-Dickerson, the exhibit is composed of the life-cast masks of 40 blues musicians, including Big George Brock, David “Honeyboy” Edwards, and

Fri., July 8, 6 p.m., Pulse Healing Space. A safe, healing space to help those still coping with the tragic hate crime against the Latinx and GLBTQIAP community. The event is free, but an RSVP is required. Creve Coeur Counseling Associates, 10176 Corporate Square Dr., 63132.

For more information or to RSVP, visit pulsehealingspace. eventbrite.com.

Sat., July 9, 1 p.m., Sickle Cell Baby Shower. Play games, meet other parents, enjoy cake and punch, and most importantly be educated on the important facts for the road ahead. This event is primarily for those parents of a newly diagnosed infant, however it is open to parents of children 5 years and under, also diagnosed with sickle cell disease. RSVP required.

5615 Pershing Avenue, Ste. 29, 63112. For more information or to RSVP, call (314) 833-6751 or visit www. sicklecellassociation.org.

Tues., July 12, 6:30 p.m., St. Louis County Library presents Autism: A Personal Perspective. Florissant Valley Branch, 195 New Florissant Rd., 63031. For more information, call (314) 9943300 or visit www.slcl.org.

Thur., July 14, 1 p.m., Free Geriatric Screenings.

Screenings are for anyone age 65 years or older and will include assessment of frailty, nutrition, and cognitive function. Central Reform Congregation, 5020 Waterman Ave., 63108. For more information, call (800) 2723900 or visit www.alz.org/stl.

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 7:30 p.m., Get Sexy Movement Boot Camp. Station styled boot camp with 1 minute at each station for three rounds.

North County Recreation Center, 2577 Redman Rd., 63136.For more information, call (314) 898-8898.

spiritual Fri., July 8, 8 p.m., Dello Thedford & The Gospel Symphonic Choir. Jacoby Arts Center, 627 E. Broadway, Alton, IL. 62002. For more information, call (618) 4625222.

July 11 – 14, 6:30 p.m., Washington Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church invites you to Vacation Bible School 2016: I’ve Got Talent.

There will be nightly classes for adults and children age 2 and older. We will also be having a Community Fun Night on Fri., July 8 at 7 p.m..

3200 Washington Ave., 63103.

For more information, call (314) 533-8763 or visit www. washtabmbc.org.

July 11 – 17, Youth Gospel Music Conference 2016.

Calvary MB Church, 2822 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr., 63106.

For more information or to register, call (314) 884-8327 or email ygmc4me@gmail.com.

July 11 – 15, 9 a.m., San Francisco Temple Complex Vacation Bible School, Everyone is Welcome! Pre-K thru adult, San Francisco Temple 10191 Halls Ferry 63136. For more information or to register, call (314) 388-3300.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 - 13, 2016

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Oprah Continued from C1 substitute was beyond anyone the guests could have hoped for – and so was the pandemonium that surrounded the surprise.

It had only been announced one day in advance that Oprah Winfrey would be replacing Vanzant.

Even with the steady flow of hundreds of thousands of guests that come and go throughout the Ernest Morial Convention Center for the annual festival, the staff was overwhelmed because of the excitement surrounding Winfrey’s firstever trip to ESSENCE in the festival’s 22-year history.

She wasn’t scheduled to speak until 4:20 p.m., but by 2 p.m. the auditorium – and all three exit and entry areas leading to where her ESSENCE Empowerment keynote was to take place – were closed off.

The venue within the convention center looked as if it had the capacity to hold 10,000.

Every seat was full. Several thousand waited outside on standby at the doors leading to each end of the auditorium. If nothing else, they hoped to get a glimpse of Winfrey as she made her way to the stage. An entire entryway for the nearest exhibit hall of the massive festival had to be rerouted to accommodate the crowd of onlookers who refused to leave.

The “Oprah effect” was on full display – so much so that the other A-list celebrities on site could move about with ease as the anticipation for her first time at the ESSENCE Festival reached full on fever pitch.

She would be worth the wait – and the logistical nightmare – when she took the stage that afternoon.

Winfrey emerged on stage in a form-fitting red dress, which played up her substantial weight loss since she signed on as a major investor and brand ambassador for Weight Watchers in January. The room shook with applause and shouts.

“ESSENCE! ESSENCE! ESSENCE!” Winfrey shouted matching their excitement level and the rhythm of their shouts and “Oprah” chants. “My first time here. What took me so long?”

A recitation of “Phenomenal Woman” by her mentor

and mother figure the late Maya Angelou served as her introductory remarks.

“ESSENCE, all of you here are phenomenal women – and a few good men,” Winfrey said.

She likened her first ESSENCE experience to “the best family reunion you’ve ever had” before quickly getting about the business of inspiring the audience.

Leaning into God’s dream Her talk felt more like a finetuned sermon than a keynote.

Her message: to embolden listeners to get in tune with the life that God intended for them.

“I am one black woman with my hand in God’s hand trusting His word,” Winfrey said. “Every time you see me, I come as one and I stand as 10,000.”

She was again quoting Angelou.

“When I walk into a room and I can’t see another black face for a 50-mile radius, I stand and sit at the boards as one but I’m bringing the 10,000 of you – because I not only know who I am, but I also know whose I am.”

She wasn’t standing before them as a billionaire television network owner whose name had become a brand in itself.

Winfrey was one of them.

And she seemed determined to share the source of her success – from one sister-friend to another.

“I am living the dream. And I want you to live the dream,” Winfrey said. “I’m not living the dream because I’m special.

I’m living the dream because I was obedient to the call of the dream. I want you to leave here today thinking about what God’s dream holds for you. I’m here to tell you that you don’t get what you wish for; you don’t get what you hope for.

You get what you believe.”

She told the audience that they must believe that God has a bigger dream for them than they could ever have for themselves.

“The secret is to surrender to God’s dream and to quit fighting against and pushing against and resisting,” Winfrey said. “Quit telling God what you are supposed to do, and get still and know for sure what His dream is for you.”

• www.stlamerican.com •

ESSENCE Continued from C1 “We’re here to celebrate black excellence,” Sean “Diddy” Combs told the crowd as he closed out the 22nd annual ESSENCE Music Festival at the Mercedes Benz Superdome.

“That’s what ESSENCE fest is all about – good music and black excellence.”

It was Diddy’s first time on the ESSENCE stage, and the experience was not something he took lightly. He told the audience they were the “best crowd he’s ever performed for in his life” as he carried on with the Bad Boy Reunion segment that served as the grand finale of ESSENCE Fest and celebrated the work of the label and its most famous artist, the late Notorious B.I.G. Next year will mark 20 years since B.I.G.’s tragic and untimely passing while at the top of the rap game.

The tour relives the glory days of Bad Boy, but is mostly about Diddy with B.I.G. generously sprinkled in. The set featured everything from turn-up trap to slow jams – and Diddy inserted himself into

FAITH Continued from C1 to stand on black music’s biggest stage for the first time.

“To be here – and to be so well received – is just amazing,” Evans said after her performance.

She was a veteran of the Super Lounge side stage, but until this year she had yet to grace the mainstage at the Mercedes Benz Superdome.

Evans returned to the stage on Sunday, joining Sean “Diddy” Combs and company to close the weekend of concerts out with The Bad Boy Reunion Tour.

“We’ve stayed in touch,” Evans said. “I’ve maintained great relationships with mostly everybody. We still laugh at the same things – they’ll be like, ‘Yo, remember that time when you rolled up on…’ We have the same memories.”

Earlier in the festival at the Ernest Morial Convention Center, Evans talked about her life, career and broke the news that she was working on a special passion project.

Her next album, “The

During his Friday night mainstage performance, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds declared that The ESSENCE Music Festival is “the house that Frankie built.”

The Maze lead singer would usher in a collective groove by way of the band’s R&B classics for the several years they served as the resident grand finale performers.

Saturday night proved that Frankie’s foundation will continue to feed the souls of

music through a new generation by way of hip-hop, R&B and beyond.

Common was the first hiphop act on the mainstage – and the audience soaked up every second of his set, which opened with his Academy Awardwinning hit “Glory.”

For his return to the mainstage, he sprinkled in a taste of New Orleans with the New Breed Brass Band and started his show with a horn processional in honor of Muhammad Ali. With that gesture, Common instantly captured the audience’s attention – and never lost it.

Common also remixed snippets of his most popular songs to pay tribute to Prince.

“Go” would get a taste of “Kiss” and “Testify” was topped off with a “Darling Nikki” excerpt performed by Bilal Oliver – who brought the BET Awards audience to its feet with his cover of “Beautiful Ones.”

R&B veteran Charlie Wilson is the heir apparent to Frankie Beverly’s long-term residency as the staple of the ESSENCE Music Festival. For the past several years, Wilson has commanded the stage with a high-impact show that goes on forever, but never loses the attention of the crowd.

His presence has become the Saturday night staple of festival.

The applause was nonstop as he rode in on his “funk train.”

He bounced so high he seemed to levitate as he kicked right into The Gap Band classic “Early in The Morning.”

His set spanned five decades – and had something for everyone as he illustrated his unique experience as an R&B anomaly that has enjoyed fan bases from three generations.

He gave the new school something to enjoy with hits like “Beautiful” and his newer hits like “There Goes My Baby” – a song that also resonates with his early fans.

“I’m new school and old school,” Wilson declared as he performed his usual crowd participation element during his “Outstanding” finale.

He was absolutely right.

Other memorable mainstage performances included Maxwell (with a band that includes St. Louis natives Keyon Harrold and Shedrick Mitchell), Kendrick Lamar, Faith Evans and New Edition.

Mali Music, Lalah Hathaway, Jidenna, Judith Hill were among the biggest highlights of the Super Lounge side stages.

King and I,” will be a duet record with her late husband Christopher Wallace, better known to hip-hop fans as the Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls.

Before there was Bey-Z, there was Faith and Biggie.

They were the original hiphop R&B Bonnie and Clyde whose personal lives and music careers intertwined as label mates on Bad Boy

circle moment for Evans.

“My first album was about all of the things that I was going through in my marriage to Christopher,” Evans said. “I still can’t believe it’s been 20 years.”

Next year marks the 20th anniversary since her husband was tragically killed at the height of his career as Bad Boy’s biggest star.

When Evans took the stage

have been crazy.”

She didn’t name names, but was more than likely she was speaking of rapper Charli Baltimore, who was also under the Bad Boy umbrella at its peak.

Much has changed since the crazy days. Old wounds have healed. And Evans was thrilled about the opportunity to take the stage with her former label mates for the first time ever.

She still seemed full from the love they received when they kicked the reunion off with a pair of shows at The Barclays Center in Brooklyn in May. “Those two shows were amazing,” Evans said. “I never toured with the Bad Boy family back in the day, but I’ve also never had a production on that level. I’m used to just going on stage and making it do what it do.”

It’s a feeling that was recreated at the Superdome on Sunday.

“I think the fans’ reception of it was what made it so special for me,” Evans said.

I’ve been blessed, for one, to still be here and to be a part of such a huge movement; and, for two, to have had some really good records under my belt.”

most of the features. He even tried his hand at R&B crooning.

The crowd went wild as Faith Evans sang “Soon as I Get Home” and Diddy chimed in with some spirited melodic begging.

As expected, the highlight of the Bad Boy portion of the show was the Notorious B.I.G. tribute. Time didn’t appear to allow a full-fledged, uninterrupted tribute. But the Bad Boy family pulled out all the stops for the “Missing You” – including a full-scale gospel choir. It was the perfect sendoff for B.I.G. – and for ESSENCE Fest 2016.

Familiar favorites get the job done

n Before there was Bey-Z, there was Faith and Biggie. They were the original hip-hop R&B Bonnie and Clyde.

“It’s gonna be dope,” Evans said as she disclosed some of the names that are reportedly tied to the project – including Snoop Dogg. “They’re gonna to be mad at me for telling y’all all this, but hey, what better place to tell people than the ESSENCE Festival.”

She’s planning to release the album around Valentine’s Day 2017 and hopes to drop a single by the end of the year.

“The King and I” is a full

on Sunday for the ESSENCE Festival 2016 finale, she was introduced by Bad Boy founder Sean “Diddy” Combs as “The First Lady of Bad Boy.” However, while on the label she essentially operated more like a franchisee than a member of the core group. The reasons were a bit complicated.

“Y’all know me – I keep it real,” Evans said. “I just couldn’t be on the road with my husband’s mistress. It would

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 – 13, 2016

Celebrations Birthdays

Anniversary

FREE OF CHARGE

Mr. and Mrs. Dallas and Ida Powell will celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary on July 16.

Praise the Lord! They are the proud parents of Diane, Dallas Jr., Lora, Alonzo, Chris, Mark and Jonathan.

Just married Happy Birthday to my first born, Elijah “Baby E” Omari Bratcher on July 16. Mommy loves you!

Happy 9th Birthday to Mack Lomax III on July 16! We love you, Gamehead! From: Your Father, Stepmom and Aunt Shonda

Reunions All reunion announcements can be viewed online!

Beaumont High School Class of 1976 will have its 40th year reunion September 23-25, 2016. For more detailed information please email bhs1976@swbell.net or Facebook: Beaumont High class of 76.

Beaumont High School, Class of 1978 is organizing

to celebrate our 40th Class Reunion in 2018. For further information, please contact: Marietta Shegog Shelby, 314-799-5296, madeshe@ sbcglobal.net.

Beaumont High Class of 1984 can stay updated via our Facebook page “Beaumont Class of 1984”. We meet the last Friday of every month.

Contact Rochelle Williams at rochellewilliams001@yahoo. com.

East St. Louis Lincoln High Classes of 1966 will celebrate its 50-year reunion August 19 - 21, 2016 at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Fairview Hts., Ill. The cost is $100 for classmates and $50 for guests.

A late fee of $25 pp will be

assessed after May 31. Please contact John Cunningham for details and reservations at: 618-692-6610.

East St. Louis Class of 1971 will celebrate its 45-year reunion Sept. 2-4, 2016 at the Casino Queen. For more information, please contact Opal at 314-952-4729, Sandra at 314-249-7295 or Glenda at 618-781-4888 or email timac48@aol.com.

Hadley Technical High School Class of 1961 will celebrate its 55th class reunion, September 16-18, 2016 at the Renaissance Airport Hotel.

For more information, contact Ralph Johnson 477-2042, Shirley Woods 361-5351, or Jeffery Raybon 382-

Congratulations to Sharita Laronica and Rodney Lee Smith, who were married on July 2 at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis. The couple will honeymoon on a cruise to the Bahamas.

1875. Send updated contact information to celiajteach@ gmail.com. Our Annual Picnic on Sunday, September 4th at John L. Brown Park, 4300 Calvert Ave 63134 (off Woodson Rd.).

Harrison School All Class Reunion Saturday September 10, 2016, 6:30 pm-10:30 pm at Ambruster Great Hall (6633 Clayton Rd. Tickets are $60 per person.For more info contact; Judy Darris at 314-443-6741, Yolanda Beck at 314-346-8103 or Làshell Tolliver at 314-420-3566.

Ritenour High School Class of 1976 is having its 40th reunion on October 1, 2016. For more information please see our Facebook page,

Do you have a celebration you’re proud of? If so we would like to share your good news with our readers.

Whether it’s a birth, wedding, engagement announcement, anniversary, retirement or birthday, send your photos and a brief announcement (50 words or less) to us and we may include it in our paper and website – AT NO COST – as space is available. Photos will not be returned.

Send your announcements to: kdaniel@stlamerican. com or mail to: St. Louis American Celebrations c/o Kate Daniel 2315 Pine St. St. Louis, MO 63103

Ritenour Class of 1976 or email ekbyers58@gmail.com.

Soldan is having its 11th AllClass Alumni Picnic August 13, 2016 at Tiemeyer Park, 3311 Ashby Rd., St. Ann, MO 63074 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

The picnic is free. Bring your own basket or grill. T-Shirts will be sold for $15. For more information call 314-413-9088.

Vashon Class of 1967 is planning its 50-year reunion and is need of contact information for all interested alumni. Please contact JoAnn Alvoid at alvoidjoe8@gmail. com; Sarah (Taylor) Robinson at srobinson647@hotmail. com; or Sonya (Walker) Smith at 314.381.8221, with your contact information.

Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability.

We prefer that notices be emailed to us!

However, notices may also be sent by mail to: Kate Daniel, 2315 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103 Deadline is 10 a.m. on Friday. If you’d like your class to be featured in a reunion profile, email or mail photos to us.

Our email address is:

reunions@ stlamerican.com

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 - 13, 2016

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Swag Snap of the week

Singer and actress LeToya Luckett was just one of the celebrities in the build for High Society Saturday, she was joined by St. Louis’ own Shayla

St. Louis’ MPAC crew posted up in VIP Saturday at the High Society Party hosted by “Power Star” Omari Hardwick at the Le Meridien Hotel in New Orleans during the 22nd Annual ESSENCE Festival.

Singer/ actress Jordin Sparks @ MPAC’s @ High Society Saturday night @ Le Meridien

e c n e Ess Fred and Sam came through to show love to MPAC @ High Society Saturday night @ Le Meridien

‘The American’ at ESSENCE. That’s right; we headed back down to New Orleans and put in all kinds of overtime to give y’all a first-hand account of what went down at the 22nd Annual ESSENCE Festival. As per usual, the who’s who in black entertainment were all up and through it. Some of the biggest names in music hit the concert stage at the Superdome and celebrities of all sorts were scattered all across the Morial Convention Center.

Best in show. The big draw each year is the weekend of music. While familiar delivered as usual, I actually was more excited to see new faces like Diddy with his Bad Boy Reunion and Mariah Carey. Both of them were just a notch above regular. I did get every bit of my life from this list of folks: Maxwell, Andra Day, Mali Music, Lalah Hathaway, Jidenna, Common and Kendrick Lamar. I might have gotten more life from Diddy and the crew if so many of his former acts weren’t missing in action. I was downright sick that there was no Lil Kim’ – and the absence of Carl Thomas and Total was hurtful as well. I mean, what else could they have been doing to not be there besides being at odds with Diddy?

Maria Loggins, international renowned beauty and DIY expert and St. Louis native, with husband Robert as she represented Cantu @ ESSENCE Festival in the Morial Convention Center Friday afternoon

Don’t sleep on the ESSENCE expo. Everybody talks about the music, but the convention center component of ESSENCE gives just as much life. Imagine the most bustling Black Expo you’ve ever been to and multiply it by infinity. It’s definitely the place to be as far as hipping folks to the “new new” on people, products and programming that cater to African-Americans. And here’s the fantastic thing about it: it’s FREE. You might get taxed for the concerts at the Superdome, but everything (except the vendors and food, of course) at the convention center – which has a concert stage of its own – is completely free. And it features some of the biggest names in black America. This year included the one and only Oprah Winfrey. If I were to name the entire A,” “B,” “C” and “D” list celebrity sightings during my time at the convention center alone, I wouldn’t have time to write anything else. The good news for you is that thanks to our own Lawrence Bryant you can see for yourself.

He put in serious work over the weekend to capture ESSENCE 22 in photos – and you can check out HUNDREDS of photos on stlamerican.com.

‘RHOA’ husband Todd Tucker with Monica Witherspoon Saturday night @ Le Meridien

Helen Marie and CD bid farewell to the 22nd Annual ESSENCE Fest Sunday night

Ghost’s Power. Since I’m already speaking on the convention center action, I might as well let y’all know about a revelation I had while trying to get a taste of the upcoming season of television that features black folks. Based on what I saw, I’m going to go ahead and put it out there that “Power” just may be coming “Empire’s” crown as top of the flock as far as must see black TV. Now in all fairness, the headlining names on the “Empire” cast roster weren’t in the building for the “meet the cast” presentation. However, for it to be the phenomenon that it was there should have been more folks checking for them. On the other hand, I called myself getting in for a sneak peak at the upcoming season of “Power” by going first thing in the morning to get a ticket to the screening and there was not a seat to be had! People were lined all around the screening room trying to get a leftover spot. It was so crazy that when folks kept saying they wanted to see “O,” I had to check and make sure that they meant Omari Hardwick and not Oprah. And I’m saying this as a person who doesn’t feel one way or the other about either one of the shows – even though I do love me some Omari – and will take Ghost over Lucious Lyon any day in the lust department.

Rhashad and Maranda stopped by to get a taste of the tourist favorite and famed New Orleans eatery Mother’s Friday afternoon in New Orleans Cecilia and Pat, part of the viral sensation Patterson family of ‘Family Feud’ fame checked out some of the biggest names in music at ESSENCE Saturday night @ The Mercedes Benz Superdome

www.stlamerican.com

MO in the N.O. I usually don’t bother with the nightlife when I’m out of town because I see enough club savagery when I’m on the clock in The Lou. But this year I decided to hit up at least one ESSENCE after set spot over the course of the weekend in New Orleans. Imagine the delightful shock on my face when I strutted into the Le Meridian Hotel for a party hosted by Omari Hardwick (what? I told y’all I lust after him) and saw Terrence Ivy working the door with his MPAC t-shirt.

Okay, so maybe I knew ahead of time that Mo Spoon and company were involved in this event and I wanted to secretly see how they fared outside of the city limits… but whatever. The good news is it was a business as usual win. Actually it was better than business as usual, because in addition to them getting love from locals and St. Louis natives transplanted around the country who came down to show their party some love, there were quite a few celebrity revelers in the VIP as well. In addition to Omari, I saw LeToya Luckett, Jordin Sparks, Amber Riley, Todd Tucker and RonReaco Lee (i.e. that fine specimen from the TV show “Survivor’s Remorse”) to name a few. I also ran into fellow STLiens Shayla Vaughn, Fred Finley, Sam Williamson – and of course Mo and his lovely wife Monica. Since I’m already on the topic of St. Louis at ESSENCE, I might as well shout out the folks that I saw all over the city of New Orleans while I was beating the streets (and the heat) alongside the nearly half-a-million folks who came through. I ran into Rhashad (a.k.a.

Shadzilla) Maranda, Shaki from Star Power, Isis Mann, Mia, Chasity, Cecilia and Pat of the Patterson crew (of Family Feud fame), Helen Marie and CD. Oh and let me shout out St. Louis’ own Shedrick Mitchell and Keyon Harrold who helped Maxwell slay the ESSENCE stage as part of the Friday night headliner’s band – and Lezley McSpadden for sharing her story on the Empowerment Session stage.

Meanwhile in the STL. Don’t think for a second that I don’t have y’all covered on what went down in our town over the holiday weekend. Though it rained on most of the party parades, I still have the scoop on the empty boots Trick Daddy visit, Bradley Beal’s winning birthday bash, Keyshia Cole’s midnight concert snippet and more. We also have our usual Partyline gallery too. It is all on stlamerican.com, so be sure to check it out.

Layla and Ross hit up the French Quarter while in town for Essence Festival

Mia and Chasity enjoyed breakfast @ The Omni Royal Crescent Saturday morning Photos by Lawrence Bryant & John Scott

Religion

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JULY 7 - 13, 2016

D4

Jehovah’s Witnesses to convene in St. Charles

The Message

This tithing thing

Also, Catholic church in the Ville hosts ‘Mob Mass’ American staff Jehovah’s Witnesses will hold two weekend annual conventions at the St. Charles Family Arena. The first threeday event begins on Friday, July 8; the second three-day event begins on Friday, July 15.

The focus of the convention, according to organizers, is loyalty, an all too rare quality that strengthens relationships among friends and family.

The three-day program will feature 49 presentations, each exploring the theme “loyalty.” Additionally, the Witnesses have prepared 35 video segments specifically for the program plus two short films that will be shown on Saturday and Sunday. Each day, the morning and afternoon sessions will be introduced by music videos recorded for the convention.

A highlight of the program, the public Bible discourse on Sunday at 11:20 a.m., will answer the question: “When will loyal love triumph over hatred?”

“We strongly believe that loyalty is an essential part of any healthy relationship,” said David A. Semonian, a spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses at their world headquarters in Brooklyn, New York.

“Our convention this year features content that will help people develop stronger bonds with friends, family members

Jehovah’s Witnesses will hold two weekend annual conventions at the St. Charles Family Arena, one starting on Friday, July 8 and the other on Friday, July 15.

and, above all, with God. We are confident that all who attend will enjoy this program.”

All sessions are free, and no collection plates are passed.

‘Mob Mass’ at St. Matthew St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church, which has spent 123 years in St. Louis’s Ville neighborhood, will host a Mass Mob, an open church for residents of St. Louis and surrounding communities on Sunday, July 10.

Mass Mob VIII, which has the support of the St. Louis Archdiocese, is designed to

celebrate the history and present of St. Matthew the Apostle Church and its parishioners. St. Matt’s was founded in 1893 as a predominantly Irish parish. Today it provides a largely AfricanAmerican Catholic experience.

St. Matthew’s has been served by Jesuits since 1959.

“We have a rich history and a vibrant present,” said Father Pat Quinn, S.J., priest at St. Matthew’s. “We invite our brothers and sisters to experience St. Matt’s for themselves. Our doors are open … and all are welcome.”

Mass begins at 9:30 a.m. at St. Matthew’s, 2701 North Sarah.

A reception at the Stanley and Clayton Rice Family Center

on Kennerly, down the block from St. Matthew’s, will follow immediately after Mass.

Mother goes home Lady Linda Holloway of Solomon’s Temple lost her mom, Mother Mother Eddie Ray Liner.

Eddie Ray Services were Liner held Sunday, June 26 at Olivet MB Church, with interment at Jefferson Barracks.

I can personally remember times in church when tithing was my least favorite part of the service. But, as is my way, I have to read and understand things for myself as opposed to taking someone else’s word for things; that is, unless that Word comes straight from the Lord.

So I’m coming to you today with my interpretation of this tithing thing. And for my purposes let me simply say that my point is made by the phrase “putting God first.” I am convinced that God does not need my money, nor my time and certainly not my meager talents. But I believe He recognizes and appreciates how I use them all, as they are indeed gifts and blessings from Him. Without going into investing your talents and doing unto the least of these is doing unto Christ, the point is God is only seeking a tenth of what He has given to you so that we, you and me, the church, can invest back into His people for His purposes.

Again, God don’t need your money.

What He expects is for you to put Him first in all that you have, all that you do and especially with the unique gifts Columnist He’s blessed you with.

James See, tithing is really not about Washington giving. It is about receiving. I know that sounds backwards; however, the tithe represents a gift to be received by someone. That’s the point. I guess you could say God’s tithe is His grace to us. Our tithe is our gift given to Him. He just lets us know that the attitude of putting Him first is rewarded.

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” Malachi 3:10.

From God’s mouth to your ears. Test me, He says.

This is one place in the Bible that God says: I dare you to test me. The tithe is the test as in testimony.

I cannot speak for you, but for years I was unwilling to take this test. The world has a way of clouding the ultimate point of just attempting to tithe with time talent and money. But if you put God first, you will find the time, the money and the opportunity to share our gifts for His glory. It’s all about attitude and perspective.

But remember the servant who took the one talent and buried it and simply returned to the master one talent? It was taken from him and given to the one who took His five talents invested them, earned five more and returned 10 to the master.

What are you doing with yours? God is only testing you regarding 10 percent. It seems like a small price to pay to open the floodgates to heaven. I ain’t saying. I’m just saying. Take the test.