September 17 2015

‘Black-ish’ by popular demand Hit ABC show returns for second season on Wednesday with N-word episode.

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Vol. 86 No. 24 COMPLIMENTARY

Eight excellent awardees Educators from public schools and universities honored at Salute

By American staff At the 2015 Salute to Excellence in Education Gala, to be held 7 p.m. Friday, September 25 at the America’s Center Ballroom, the St. Louis American Foundation will honor eights awardees from six public school districts and two state universities who are helping to prepare today’s children for a better future.

2015

Russell Arms Jr.

If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, then several of Russell Arms’ teachers should feel very good about the positive influence they had on their former student.

Arms, a 28-year veteran educator with the St. Louis Public Schools, credits mentors from early in his life with helping shape him into the teacher he is today.

Arms decided to become a coach, mentor and teacher like his role models because they all were a great inspiration for young people. Arms only applied to teach with SLPS because he has always been a proponent of public education and See SALUTE, A6

Photo by Wiley Price

Gov. Jay Nixon was handed the Ferguson Commission’s final report by co-chair Rich McClure while shaking hands with co-chair Rev. Starsky Wilson when he joined them to release the report on Monday, September 14 at St. Louis Community College’s Center for Workforce Innovation in Ferguson.

Ferguson Commission challenges community to effect change

By Mariah Stewart Ferguson Fellow

directly from complaints brought forward by residents at one of the commission’s 17 public meetings or 38 working group sessions.

“Many of those voices articulated and documented After nine months of research, public meetings, helped us think through things and helped us community outreach and occasionally overcoming understand and helped the commission get depths ridicule from protestors, a commission tasked with and intensity and passion to the views,” helping the St. Louis region address McClure said. its issues with racial inequity released n “We want to The “Justice for All” segment of its final report on Monday, September get some results the report most closely deals with 14. The Ferguson Commission issued in these policy police issues raised by the Ferguson 189 calls to action, with a smaller set recommendations movement. Its calls to action include of “Signature” priorities, all viewed through “the lens of racial equity.” and impact lives of assigning the Missouri Attorney General as special prosecutor for use of Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon chose young people who force cases, tasking the state’s highway 16 area residents – out of more than are coming up in patrol with investigating such cases, 300 applicants – to form the Ferguson this region.” and providing consistent and universal Commission last year following the police training that would include a unrest provoked by the death of Michael – Rev. Starsky Wilson comprehensive plan to handle protest Brown Jr., an unarmed black teenager demonstrations. who was fatally shot by a white The section also calls for Ferguson police officer. consolidation of municipal courts, The commission’s report, titled among other court reforms, and the institution of “Forward Through Ferguson: A Path to Racial civilian review boards.

Equity,” is broken into three sections: “Justice For The “Youth at The Center” section of the report All,” “Youth at The Center” and “Opportunity to addresses child hunger and education reform. Its calls Thrive.” Each includes calls to action that address to action include establishing school-based health needed change in areas such as racial equity, police centers, revising the state’s school accreditation reform, education opportunities for children living system and reforming discipline practices. in poverty, minimum wage and access to affordable The “Opportunity to Thrive” section addresses health care.

Commission co-chair Rich McClure said many of the suggestions that ended up in the final report came See ACTION, A7

Photo by Wiley Price

St. Louis Civil Service Commissioners John Clark and Stanley Newsome Sr. discussed disciplinary appeal process with the director of personnel at a public meeting on Tuesday, September 15.

Police discipline ‘at a crossroads’ Slay tries to oust Civil Service commissioner after move to include cops in civil servant process

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American St. Louis Civil Service Commissioner John Clark received two letters from Mayor Francis Slay this month. The first letter on September 4 asked for his resignation, and the second came Tuesday, September 15 to inform him that Slay had scheduled a hearing for Clark’s removal. Slay appoints all members of the commission.

Clark said the letters were a direct response to the item he put on the agenda for Tuesday’s commission meeting – to make more changes to the “Rule 19” law regarding how police discipline appeals are handled.

This is not the first time Slay asked for Clark’s resignation. On January 8, the Civil Service Commission voted 2-1 to allow some police officers the right to the same disciplinary appeal process that all other city employees have. Now police See POLICE, A6

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2015

A2

Knowles and Beyoncé were no longer anything. on speaking terms after an audit I was duped. Our kid had been smoking this showed he was skimming money off mess. He got turned out...to the point where he her tours and for fathering children went off the rails for a moment outside his marriage.

The reason that we – me and my husband Iyanla feels she failed DMX Knowles denies that there’s any sort and my son – are choosing to share this with of estrangement between him and his you, [is because] this is not a surprise to any Back in 2013, DMX and his son daughter. of us. We’ve had several family meetings over Xavier appeared on an episode “Iyanla: After initially being super evasive the summer and it was so hard for me to be on Fix My Life” that ended with the rapper about whether or not he’s spoken to the road because Kevin and Kevin Jr. were not storming out in a huff.

Beyoncé or seen Blue Ivy, Mathew there with me and I’m trying to make funny Wendy In an interview with ESSENCE told entertainment news show on the tour, but in actuality my heart Williams Magazine, Iyanla Vanzant admits “The Insider” rumors he has is breaking and my son could’ve been DMX is the one client she’s failed been cut out of the family are dead.”

“I never second guess myself because not true and that he still sees I’m not committed to the outcome. I Beyoncé and that Blue Ivy is can’t want more for them than they want for the smartest 3-year-old he knows.

Tyra Banks reportedly themselves,” Vanzant said. “I failed one guest. I failed DMX because I was guided and directed in pieces over infertility by the Holy Spirit to do something and Wendy Williams’ son sent to I didn’t do it. And I don’t know had Insiders claim model Tyra Banks I done it, how the show would’ve rehab for synthetic marijuana broke down on the set of her new talk turned out. But that was my failure show because she hasn’t been able to Tyra and I have never done that again.

Daytime talk diva Wendy Williams start a family.

Banks What the Holy Spirit tells me to became her own hot topic when she “Tyra was bawling,” a source told do, I do – much to the horrification used the celebrity news and gossip Star Magazine. “She was crying about of my producers.” segment of her show to address the how she wants kids, and she made it headlines about her 14-year-old son’s stint in sound like she wasn’t able to. It just looked like rehab. it destroyed her “So the most important thing that happened She’s talked about adoption before, but the Mathew Knowles says this summer, which was a life-changing thing way she broke down, almost made everyone it’s all good between for the Hunter family, is our son was made wonder if an adoption had fallen through. It him, Bey and Blue exposed to synthetic marijuana and he was was heartbreaking to watch.” exposed by a loved one who he looked up to,” For years rumors have Williams said. “It’s one of those pens where Sources: Essence.com, Star Magazine, persisted that Mathew you don’t see the smoke and you don’t smell The Insider, TMZ.com day he is going to be an adult and may ask Sherri why she didn’t want to be his mother.”

THE STUFF THAT HAS PEOPLE TALKING Surrogate speaks out regarding Sherri Shepherd drama In a recent interview Jessica Bartholomew opened up about Sherri Shepherd’s refusal to accept the child she had for Shepherd and now ex-husband Lamar Sally.

“I will never help another mother have a baby,” the angry surrogate mother said. “Sherri put me and my family through so much emotionally and almost ruined me financially so I will never trust anyone to go through that again,” Bartholomew said. “I wanted to help her because she couldn’t have a child of her own and it was supposed to be a beautiful thing. But it Iyanla turned out to be a nightmare. Vanzant Sherri knew I was a waitress and a single mother but she didn’t care, she just walked away and let them demand support from me when she was the one who wanted this child. I hope Sherri realizes what she has done and becomes a real parent to LJ. One

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2015

Robbing payday lenders, investing in kids

STL treasurer brings free financial counseling, college savings accounts to city

Justice for Jeff Mizanskey

A3

By Camille Phillips Of St. Louis Public Radio St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones is following through with her campaign promises to help reduce the number of St. Louisans without a banking account and increase the number of St. Louis children who go to college.

Through a partnership with national nonprofit Operation Hope and five area banks, the treasurer’s office is hiring a financial counselor to offer St. Louisans free advice on how to improve their credit scores, buy a home and start a business.

Jones said teaching people how to make the most of their money is important because too many St. Louisans don’t use banks or find themselves relying on payday loans or other services that charge high interest rates.

“When I ran for this office, I saw some startling statistics,” Jones said. “We are on a mission to rob payday lenders of their customers in broad daylight.”

Just like the financial counseling center launched at Regions Bank in north St. Louis County earlier this year, Operation Hope will run the financial counseling services out of city hall while the banks provide the counselor’s salary and serve as advisors.

Jones said the plan is for the counselor to start work by the end of September or beginning of October.

Once hired, the counselor will set up shop at City Hall in the newly renovated Office of Financial Empowerment, which has a classroom and a computer lab.

“We want to make sure people have a place where they can feel comfortable asking sensitive questions about financial issues,” Jones said. “Those are issues that

St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones speaking at the 2014 “Money Wise” kick-off event in St. Louis.

people don’t necessarily like to talk about, and we are trying to make sure that we provide a safe space for that conversation to happen.”

The treasurer’s office is also working out the details of a new program to encourage St. Louis children to go to college. If all goes according to plan, the city will open a college savings account for every St. Louis kindergartner enrolled in public schools sometime this fall.

Each account will start out with $50, and families will have the opportunity to earn up to $150 more during the year.

“The way to start children thinking about college early and have them identify themselves as a college saver is to give them an account early in life and teach them from early ages that they can go to college and how to save for college,” Jones said.

She pointed to research that shows children with a college savings account are more likely to get a college degree, even if the amount of money in the account is minimal.

Funding for the college savings accounts, as well as for the Office of

Financial Empowerment, comes from unused parking revenue. The treasurer’s office is also collecting donations to help keep the program running in the future.

“We hope this program goes on in perpetuity and that every kindergartner from this year on receives an account from the city,” said Jones.

It’s fairly common for organizations to offer college savings accounts; Beyond Housing started a similar program for Normandy a few years back. But, said Jones, it’s unusual for a city to open the accounts. She said St. Louis will be the second in the country to offer the program, following San Francisco.

To Jones, helping the public use money wisely is an extension of her official job description: investing the city’s money and reconciling the city’s bank accounts.

“That’s the job of any public servant and any elected official,” Jones said: “to use whatever power they have to address the needs of the people they represent.”

Reprinted with permission from news. stlpublicradio.org.

Follow Camille Phillips on Twitter: @ cmpcamille.

Jeff Mizanskey was the only person in Missouri condemned to a life sentence for marijuana though he had never done time or been convicted of any violent offense.

By Rep. Shamed Dogan For The St. Louis American It has been an incredible first year of service as state representative, and the experience became even more rewarding recently as justice finally prevailed in the case of Jeff Mizanskey.

As someone who firmly believes this man had more than paid his debt to society, I was proud to take on his fight and to help organize the efforts of my legislative colleagues as we put pressure on Gov. Nixon to do the right thing. In May, the governor finally acted to commute Mr. Mizanskey’s sentence and on September 1, I was on hand with Jeff’s family as he was finally released from prison after more than 20 years of incarceration.

For those who don’t know the story, Jeff Mizanskey was convicted of three offenses involving the possession and sale of marijuana. After his third offense in 1993, Mizanskey was sentenced to a sentence of life without parole

under Missouri’s prior and persistent drug offender laws.

The Missouri Legislature has since passed revisions to those laws eliminating the possibility of a life sentence being given to future marijuana-only offenders.

However, that did nothing for Mizanskey, who was the only person in Missouri condemned to a life sentence for marijuana even though he had never before done time in prison previously and was never convicted of any violent offenses.

Thanks to the support of more than two-thirds of my legislative colleagues and more than 390,000 citizens who signed an online petition, Jeff Mizanskey is a free man today!

After spending one-third of his life in prison and costing taxpayers more than $20,000 a year, Jeff can now become a productive citizen again.

Shamed Dogan (R-Ballwin) represents District 98 in the Missouri House of Representatives.

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Editorial / Commentary A4

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2015

The fight for change won’t be pretty

Photo by Wiley Price

Gov. Jay Nixon joined the Ferguson Commission for the release of its final report on Monday, September 14 at St. Louis Community College’s Center for Workforce Innovation in Ferguson.

We were humbled reading the Ferguson Commission’s final report. In it, the volunteer commissioners appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon found themselves in the position of the editorial writer. They issue calls to action and name institutions, if not names, that should be held accountable for acting. We find them to be consistently insightful and appropriately urgent calls to action, with a sharp sense of which institutions or offices should be held accountable for acting.

The problem is – as all editorial writers soon learn – having the answers isn’t the same thing as actually effecting change. Information is power, but there are other forms of power – economic, political, physical – that very often trump accurate, urgent information. Being smart, insightful and correct doesn’t guarantee you can change a single thing. You have to fight for change – and the fight to change the St. Louis region, as directed by the Ferguson Commission, won’t be pretty.

Case in point: While the Ferguson commissioners, with brilliant ideas but zero effective power, were being lauded for their report on Tuesday, St. Louis Civil Service commissioners with actual disciplinary power were being strong-armed away from effecting change concerning St. Louis police.

With the police now under city control, the commissioners have been working to bring police officers under the disciplinary appeal process that governs other civil servants.

The police are fighting the change, the commissioners claim, because it would bring their work under greater public scrutiny. The city claims the commission’s proposed change would violate the police’s collective bargaining agreement, and Mayor Slay has asked for the resignation of John Clark, the commissioner leading the effort.

Clark claimed this fight shows that police and how they will be governed are “at a crossroads,” and we believe he is exactly right.

In fact, we believe this local skirmish should

be watched closely as a harbinger of change – or obstruction. Just like the mayor appoints Civil Service commissioners, he also appoints members of the new Civilian Oversight Board (with aldermanic input). Just as the police’s bargaining agreement is being evoked to block change in disciplinary review, city leaders have already said their new determination to fund a police body camera program must be bargained with the police union. And make no mistake: While elected officials may become more sensitive toward prioritizing “racial equity” in the wake of the Ferguson Commission report, expect for police unions – and St. Louis County municipalities, to name one other expected staunch opponent of change – to fight selfrighteously and without apology to preserve their status quo.

The Ferguson Commission report is a battle plan for pursuing racial equity and regional consolidation. It is an impressive battle plan – better than we could have hoped for – and amazingly, it has Gov. Jay Nixon’s imprimatur.

It is by far the most impressive progressive initiative of Nixon’s tenure in public office, and if it leads to sweeping change as intended, Nixon will deserve credit. But who are the warriors who will fight these battles?

The Ferguson commissioners say we are, the people. They also claim the commission’s public process has evolved a “problem-solving machine” adept at applying data to problems, coming up with solutions and then executing those solutions. That sounds slightly science fictional, even if it does metaphorically express what we most need in the years and decades ahead, which is a radically energized civic spirit.

We badly need a great many forward-thinking citizens of conscience willing to organize and fight for racial equity and regional consolidation.

There isn’t a moment to waste. Be very sure that the opponents of change are already organized and already fighting. Just ask the Civil Service Commission.

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

State of education emergency

By Councilwoman Hazel Erby For The St. Louis American

Last month a petition to raise Missouri’s tobacco tax from 17 cents to 50 cents a package was filed with Secretary of State Jason Kander’s office.

In addition to the fact that Missouri has the lowest tobacco tax in the nation, increasing the tax to 50 cents would still make Missouri’s tobacco tax well below the national average of $1.60.

There are two proposals on the table for the use of the tobacco tax.

One is a program to pay full in-state tuition costs for Missouri’s high school graduates who maintain a 3.0 grade-point-average and demonstrate civic responsibility. The other is a proposal to fund early childhood education statewide, possibly raising more than $200 million a year.

Proposal number two is the best choice! Recent test scores, MAP and SAT, indicate that minority students would not be able to compete for the scholarships in proposal number one.

I serve as the councilwoman for the 1st District of St. Louis County because of the foundation I received

as a child. That educational foundation provided me the wherewithal to commit to a lifetime of learning and to be successful in life. That same foundation is not a guarantee for all children today.

Because of the absence of a quality education for most minority students living in St. Louis County, St. Louis city and Kansas City, it is imperative that we try something different, that we try something bold, something that says that the children are our future and we Guest Columnist have their back and want them Hazel to be successful.

Erby Designating funds from the tobacco tax for early childhood would do just that. It’s time for Missouri’s leaders to make early childhood education a priority. It’s time to make our children a priority.

Based on recently released MAP test results, we should call for a State of Emergency in Education. Test results indicate that our children continue to struggle academically and that the achievement gap is significant and it continues

to increase. As a result, our children are spending their first year in college taking remedial classes to prepare them for their college course work.

Research has shown that achievement gaps between disadvantaged and advantaged students in language arts and mathematics form early.

Research has also shown that access to quality early childhood education closes the achievement gap, as well as promotes physical, mental, social and emotional development.

Education is an investment, and it pays off in the long run.

The more money we spend on education now, the less we spend on prisons later. A more educated populace makes more money, uses fewer government services and pays more taxes.

By supporting the tobacco tax increase for early childhood education, we give students a real shot at success. We must provide our children access to quality early childhood programs to increase overall student achievement and ensure that they succeed and move on to become productive citizens.

Our children are our future!

Councilwoman Hazel Erby (D-University City) represents the 1st District of St. Louis County on the County Council.

Commentary

This is not a peace treaty

By Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay For The St. Louis American

Over the past 51 days, I have engaged in an exhaustive review of the substantial benefits and very real risks associated with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. The lengthy negotiations, which produced this agreement were initiated by former President Bush and completed by President Obama.

After multiple classified briefings, and after thoughtful consideration of the testimony and public statements of former high-ranking military officers, nuclear weapons experts and the robust debate among my constituents, I have concluded that this arms control agreement, while not perfect, clearly advances the national security interests of the United States and our closest allies, including the State of Israel. It has earned my support.

This agreement requires Iran to destroy 98 percent of its enriched uranium stockpile; mothball two-thirds of its centrifuges (including the most advanced centrifuges); end all uranium enrichment at the formerly secret Fordow nuclear facility; and pour cement into the core of the Arak (plutonium) heavy water reactor, making it permanently

inoperable.

The agreement also establishes unprecedented 24-hour monitoring and snap inspections at all known Iranian nuclear facilities.

Simply put, over the next 15 years, this diplomatic solution will push Iran further away from acquiring a nuclear weapon than any conceivable military option, short of an all-out invasion, which the American people do not support.

Having reached this decision, I have no illusions about the brutal regime in Tehran which oppresses its own people, supports Guest Columnist terrorism, denies the Holocaust, Wm. Lacy and spews antiClay American and anti-Semitic rhetoric on a daily basis. The United States must remain vigilant and be willing, by all means necessary, to oppose Iran and its proxy clients, Hezbollah and Hamas, and to interdict the flow of weapons to these terrorist organizations, if necessary.

This is not a peace treaty; rather, it is an arms control agreement with a dangerous adversary. That is not without precedent in American foreign

Letters to the Editor Band-Aid on a gunshot wound St. Louis’ funding of body cams for their cops is a step in the right direction with regard to police reform. It is, however, the equivalent of a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound. Real reform will not come concomitant with the purchase and implementation of the latest in-vogue electronic gizmo. The desired result will come only with a diametric change in organizational mindset within the police department and the political entity that controls it.

Good luck with that! Sitting politicians aren’t going to willing give up their ability to furtively manipulate police management, training, promotions, job assignments and purchasing. Nor will their business and political associates, those able to manipulate police operations via their business/social connections. And police commanders will not willingly relinquish their ability to retaliate against irreverent cops who dare to rock the boat.

Law enforcement today is complex. Effective utilization of that complexity requires elevated educational levels, on-going comprehensive training, established career paths and competent managers and supervisors who operate without surreptitious manipulation. Pay and benefits commensurate with the obligations of professional police officers are also a must.

If we all leap in the air and click our heels at the same time, perhaps a “good witch” will appear and bestow amiable law enforcement for all. In the meantime, good people with good intentions need to be working toward that goal.

Michael K. Broughton Green Park

Law of the land As a long-time advocate for LGBT issues, I work with people of all walks of life to empower all Missouri couples with the right to marry. And today, marriage equality is the law of the land.

So you can imagine what I thought when I heard Josh Hawley, a Republican candidate for Missouri Attorney General, voice his support for Kim Davis and her refusal to issue marriage licenses. Hawley said, “As Attorney General,

All letters are edited for length and style.

on day one I will issue legal opinion protecting county clerks and people of faith in business.”

My friend Jake Zimmerman has said clearly, “The Attorney General’s job is to enforce the law, not to make it up as you go along. Marriage equality is the law of the land. If you don’t understand that, you shouldn’t be running for Attorney General.” We can’t afford to have someone in the Attorney General’s office who will pick and choose which laws he wants to enforce.

A.J. Bockleman, outgoing executive director PROMO

policy.

During the Cold War, while thousands of Soviet nuclear missiles were pointed at the United States, and with the Kremlin arming and training North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces who killed more than 58,000 brave American soldiers, both Republican and Democratic administrations understood the strategic necessity to negotiate several arms control agreements with the Soviets to control and then reduce the stockpiles of nuclear weapons.

As is the case with Iran today, those agreements were not based on trust or friendship, but on our means to verify compliance. History shows that those agreements were adhered to by both sides.

While we closely monitor Iranian compliance with this new agreement, the United States must strengthen and enhance our security cooperation and support for the State of Israel, our indispensable friend and trusted ally. And we must also continue to safeguard our vital regional partners, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and our Gulf Allies. Their security is inexorably linked to ours.

U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (D-St. Louis) represents Missouri’s 1st Congressional District.

HUD at 50

Fifty years after its founding, HUD remains a critical part of our nation’s social safety net and remains an essential part of ensuring that families have a stable roof over their heads.

In my role as the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, I was honored to work with HUD to preserve and rehabilitate public housing, reauthorize

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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critical homelessness assistance programs, to support the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) in its mission to expand homeownership, and to rebuild the Gulf Coast after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.

As part of 2008 legislation, I authored legislation that created the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which has infused over $7 billion into local communities across the country to rehabilitate foreclosed homes and breathe new life into distressed communities, nearly $230 million of which went to the Los Angeles region.

Today, as Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, I see firsthand how HUD supports American communities by providing housing assistance to more than 35 million individuals, helping 44 million families obtain affordable, sustainable mortgages through FHA, and investing over $144 billion in state and local economic development projects through the Community Development Block Grant program.

By U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters Los Angeles

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A5

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 – 23, 2015

Right-to-Work is wrong By state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed For The St. Louis American

Drumming for Carr Square

Photo by Wiley Price

Members of the BBI Drumline performed the 50th anniversary of the Carr Square Downtown Neighborhood Reunion on Sunday, September 6.

Walmart Foundation funding applications open to non-profits

The Walmart Foundation opened the application period for its State Giving Program funding cycle on September 14. Missouri nonprofits with programs that focus on hunger relief, healthy eating, career opportunity or meeting the needs of underserved, low-income populations are encouraged to apply for funding. The deadline to submit grant requests is Friday, Sept. 18.

Launched in 2008, associate-led State Advisory

Councils work with the Walmart Foundation to help identify needs within their state, review grant requests and make funding recommendations to the Foundation. Eligible applicants must have a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in order to meet the program’s minimum funding criteria.

Grant submissions are only accepted online at www.walmartfoundation.org/stategiving<http://www. walmartfoundation.org/stategiving>.

ACLU will help protestors The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri is committed to helping all who have been charged from Ferguson protests to find legal representation.

Those charged should complete the form at http://bit.

ly/1PwG6Ve. A representative will be in contact soon with next steps. If you are not sure if you have been charged, dial 314-615-8760, press 2, then 0 to check your status.

As the Missouri Legislature returns to Jefferson City for its annual veto session, out-state extremists are pushing legislators to override Gov. Nixon’s veto of the so-called Right-to-Work law from earlier this year. I’ll be opposing their efforts and wanted to take a moment to explain why.

Right-to-Work laws have a good name, but little else. These laws result in lower wages, fewer benefits and less job security within the states that adopt them. Of the 20 states with the most low-paying jobs, 70 percent of them are Right-to-Work.

In 2013, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Utah and Indiana led the nation in bankruptcy filing rates. Not coincidentally, each one of them is a Right-to-Work state.

Studies show that if Missouri adopted Right-to-Work, workers’ wages would decrease by about $1,500 a year on average.

In all, overriding Gov. Nixon’s veto would take between $4.5 and $6 billion annually right out of the pockets of our state’s working families. Hundreds of millions of tax dollars would disappear right along with them – lowering the quality of our roads, schools and other public services.

My colleagues in the Legislature who support this bill even admitted that wages will go down if it’s passed. When an Jamilah interviewer asked one sponsor to identify the companies that Nasheed would relocate to Missouri if his bill became law, he couldn’t name a single one.

In reality, this law is nothing more than political theater pushed by out-state interests. That’s why opposition to it is and always will be bipartisan. I’m proud to stand with my colleagues on both side of the aisle against Right-to-Work and in support of Missouri’s working families.

It’s no secret that the African-American community has faced a slower economic recovery than others. Our neighborhoods are hurting and jobs are hard to come by.

Some suggest that Right-to-Work would benefit minority communities more than others. This couldn’t be further from the truth. So-called “union premiums” paid to union labor workers help close racial and ethnic wage gaps. The 17.3 percent and 23.1 percent bumps that African-American and Hispanic union workers receive outpace the 10.9 percent premium that their white counterparts enjoy.

If Right-to-Work becomes law, those jobs will be even harder to come by.

And they’d be coupled with cuts to all sorts of social programs, like public transportation and the safety net. Far from having anything to gain with this law, the African-American community might actually have the most to lose should the legislature overturn Gov. Nixon’s veto.

Perhaps that is why Dr. King warned us about false slogans, like Right-toWork and demanded, “this fraud be stopped,” over half a century ago!

Since that time, the realities surrounding this bad legislation have never changed. But many other things have. The wage gap has widened. CEO pay has skyrocketed. And our country’s middle-class shop has fallen further and further behind.

These are the problems we should be focusing on in Jefferson City. We need better schools, more jobs and Medicaid expansion, not lower wages, higher corporate profits and pure political payback. That’s why Right-to-Work is wrong for Missouri and why I oppose this bad legislation.

State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis) represents Missouri’s 5th Senate District.

A6

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 – 23, 2015

POLICE

Continued from A1 officers are able to come before the commission to appeal any disciplinary cases – as long as the officers’ disciplinary action is for more than 15 days.

Although the majority of the discipline cases are for less than 15 days, Clark said it was all he could do at that time.

Days before the January public hearing, Slay’s office asked Clark for his resignation.

The commission’s decision went against what Slay’s office and the police union had proposed to the commission – that the police department keep its own internal hearing process when employees appeal discipline or corrective actions.

Both the mayor and union opposed the commission’s decision, and the city attorney’s office threatened to take the commissioners to court. The

SALUTE

Continued from A1 wanted to give back to the school district that has given him so much.

Dr. Erica L. Bumpers Erica Bumpers is a decorated scholar committed to charitable work in her region.

She is currently an associate professor of Education and Director of Field Experience at Missouri Baptist University.

In 2010, she founded Meeb’s Angels, a non-for profit organization designed to engage African-American

commission’s decision has not yet been legally challenged.

Clark argued it was past time for the police department to operate under the same procedures that all city departments do. On Tuesday, Clark moved to amend Rule 19 again and allow any police officer with a disciplinary action of 10 days or more to appeal to the Civil Service Commission.

“The Rule 19 is what caused all of this,” Clark told The St. Louis American, regarding Slay’s letters. “I really believe we are at a crossroads here. If we don’t set the tone that we want to move in one direction, it’s never going to happen.

We’ve got 150 years of culture here.”

Local control and police discipline Before the commission’s January vote, the police department was handling

young ladies and help them to further develop their intellect, character and self-confidence.

Through the organization Bumpers has provided one young woman a scholarship.

Bumpers also serves as a board member on St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund.

Bumpers is originally from the St. Louis region. When asked why she wanted to come back home, Bumpers replied, “I wanted to make a difference in our children.”

Dr. Ingrid Clark-Jackson Ingrid Clark-Jackson postponed retirement from Hazelwood School District last spring to serve as interim

discipline internally – as it did for the 150 years the department was under state control. An internal threemember “summary hearing board” listened to officers’ appeals to disciplinary action.

In this process, the board cannot question the validity of the employee’s charge, which comes from the police chief. Board members could only modify the discipline to a lesser degree if they believe it’s warranted.

When Missourians voted for local control in November 2012 through a ballot initiative, the commissioners thought they would gain the authority to hear appeals from police officers. However, in the fine print of the local control state law, it says that the commission only has the authority to hear appeals of those who face disciplinary actions of more than 15 days. Yet, most of the department’s discipline measures are for minor

offenses with punishment of less than 15 days.

The commissioners said that they never saw this passage in the ballot initiative. In the January meeting, Commission Chair Steven Barney said that it makes him question the process of how the initiative was drawn up. In 2012, the local control initiative faced much criticism for being a closed-door process between the police union, Slay’s office and Rex Sinquefield’s employees at A Safer Missouri.

The mayor’s office said the police’s internal discipline process was negotiated as part of their collective bargaining agreement with the city.

So in January, Clark proposed an amendment that keeps the police’s summary hearing board intact, but also allows employees to come before the commission if they do not get relief – in the cases of those who face discipline of more than 15 days.

The commission passed it.

However, since January, not one police officer has come forth to appeal a disciplinary decision. Clark said he thinks it’s because police officers don’t want to “break rank.”

Commissioner Stanley Newsome Sr., a retired firefighter, told The American that firefighters have a similar disciplinary appeal process as the police. They’ve also always been allowed to come before the Civil Service Commission for further appeals, and many opt to do so. But police have a different “culture,” Newsome said.

Barney said the firefighters’ internal process is consistent with all other branches of city government. The police department’s is not.

“The police came to us with their own system,” Barney said.

“Turns out, the disciplinary process is more shielded from public scrutiny.”

In Slay’s September 4 letter

to Clark, he said that Clark is unable to perform his duty as “an unbiased, objective arbiter.” Slay alleged that Clark said in a May meeting that “I will not vote in favor of anything that supports the police department.”

Clark said that was not true.

Regarding Tuesday’s motion, Clark said he doesn’t believe it will have any impact.

The police department is “a very militarized close-door, good-old-boy network,” Clark said. “They got a system that they like, why would they want to get into a public system?

They don’t see the value that I see in it – that if you have a public body outside of the police department looking at these appeals, it gives them a hell of a lot more credibility.”

The commission will hold a public hearing in October regarding Clark’s proposal.

superintendent for this school year. She has more than 36 years of experience as an educator, most recently serving as associate superintendent for human resources.

“I believe that the environment has to be adequate for learning – from the desk placements to the paint color on the walls, learning should be fun,” Clark-Jackson stated.

“Students should receive both instruction and relevance, as this will help them to grow further academically, in thought and in life.”

Clark-Jackson said the most rewarding things in the world is to help a student to understand a lesson. “Watching someone learn and grow,” she said, “is an amazing feeling.”

Veronica Hildreth There is perhaps no greater gift a teacher can receive than to hear from former students about how their time together in the classroom made an impact on those students’ lives.

Veronica Hildreth, who is part of the seventh grade team at Hixson Middle School in the Webster Groves district, has a collection of such correspondence from former students. She treasures each and every letter that she receives from former students who remember with gratitude their shared learning experiences.

The veteran educator of nearly 30 years is quite touched by their accolades.

She also believes teachers are challenged to recreate education for a better future by producing more creative, productive citizens. As educators continue to reinforce education and its benefits, she says, children will then be better prepared for the future.

care and custody of the state in 34 counties.

She advocates for educational services and planning, identifies and addresses systemic issues and service gaps, and provides workshop trainings for school districts and state staff. Her educational experience dates back to the middle sixties.

Her motto is: “Every child has potential and must be challenged to learn to the fullest extent when provided the necessary tools for learning in a positive motivating environment.”

Alicia G. Davis

Ashley McGhaw, M.A. Ed

If home is where the heart is, then the Jennings School District is fortunate that Alicia Davis’ heart belongs to Jennings.

Davis has taught at Northview Elementary School for three decades. Throughout her career, Davis has helped to develop one child at a time and to motivate them to go beyond their learning potential.

The motivation and needs of her students drive her teaching methods.

Davis began her career as a teaching assistant for the St. Louis Public Schools, then taught for five years for the St. Louis Archdiocese. She wanted to give back to the community that gave her a rich educational experience. And then Davis fell in love with the Jennings School District.

Ashley McGhaw, who recently accepted a position at North Glendale Elementary in the Kirkwood School District after six years of teaching in Ferguson-Florissant, loves to watch eagles. But you won’t find her along the Mississippi River in the dead of winter seeking out the majestic birds.

McGhaw’s idea of eagle watching is watching her young students reach new heights.

She believes youngsters today are raised with information at their fingertips.

No effort is required to obtain vast quantities of information.

Therefore, children lack the abilities to research and process information.

Once children grasp these concepts, they are able to spread wings and soar like eagles.

Dr. Tiffany Taylor-Johnson Tiffany Taylor-Johnson serves the families of the Ladue School District as associate principal at Ladue Middle School. Before joining the district in 2000, TaylorJohnson taught language arts at Margaret Buerkle Middle School in the Mehlville School District.

Although she focused on secondary education when she earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma, she fell in love with the middle-school setting at Margaret Buerkle.

She has since earned her master’s degree from Maryville University and her doctorate from Saint Louis University – both degrees in educational leadership – while working fulltime with middle schoolers.

She devotes her professional attention to character education, curriculum development, diversity and social justice.

Bessie Bennett Peabody As lead educational advisor for Northern Illinois University, Bessie Bennett Peabody is contracted to serve the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services in the Southern Region. She advocates for children in the

Follow this reporter on Twitter @rebeccarivas.

Net proceeds from the St. Louis American Foundation’s four annual Salute to Excellence events benefit scholarships for local minority students, as well as educator and community grants. In 2015, the St. Louis American Foundation will foster more than $580,000 in minority scholarships and community grants, and since its inception in 1994 the foundation, with the assistance of its educational, corporate and individual supporters, has distributed more than $4 million locally.

The Salute to Excellence in Education Gala will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, September 25 at the America’s Center Ballroom, following a reception at 6 p.m. Tickets are on sale now. Individual tickets are $85 each/$850 table, and VIP/ Corporate tickets are $1,500 table. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www. stlamerican.com and click on Salute to Excellence, or call 314-533-8000.

A7

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 – 23, 2015

ACTION

Continued from A1 issues of discrimination in housing, affordable health care, minimum wage, and access to jobs and job training.

The St. Louis American spoke to commission co-chairs McClure and Rev. Starksy Wilson on the eve of the report’s release. They made it clear that although some of the calls to action mentioned are directed at specific public offices and organizations, it is up to residents to really see them through.

“At the end of the day, the community and civic leaders and business leaders all across our region are going to have to keep up the pressure for the accountable bodies we identify to act,” McClure said.

“It is that pressure that will ultimately result in the action.”

Wilson said the commission started its community engagement from the beginning, keeping the community regularly updated on its process by sharing draft postings and updates on its website and through public meetings.

“Our ongoing intention was and is to communicate and report back to the community, which has been the process,” Wilson said.

The local engagement extends to the bodies addressed with calls to action.

“When you look at the accountable bodies, most of them are local and state bodies, so that’s where we focused most of our energy,” Wilson said.

McClure said the governor indicated he was studying the commission’s recommendations and taking them seriously.

The commission will not evolve into a lobbying organization to pursue its calls to action as legislation, McClure said, but he expects various lobbying groups to align themselves with the suggestions laid out in the report.

Wilson said his work on

Photo by Wiley Price

Ferguson Commission co-chair Rev. Starsky Wilson discussed the commission’s final report with the public and media on Monday, September 14 at St. Louis Community College’s Center for Workforce Innovation in Ferguson. the commission’s goals will continue after the sunset date at the end of the year, and he is willing to work with anyone who wants to get involved in holding public bodies accountable for change.

“The real deal is we want to get some results in these policy recommendations and impact lives of young people who are coming up in this region,” Wilson said. “So, whoever can help with that, we are willing to engage with.”

At a Monday afternoon press conference, dozens of community residents, politicians, civic leaders, protestors and media gathered to hear the commission discuss

the final report. n ‘The community be any different?”

Gov. Nixon McClure and civic leaders attended and said calmly responded and business he was proud of in his familiar the commission’s leaders all across rhetoric that work. he hopes the our region are People once accountable going to have again addressed bodies receive to keep up the the commission sustained pressure pressure for the with their from the public. concerns.

In the report, accountable “I’ve been bodies we identify the media through many of are named as to act.” these. I’ve read accountable through many of bodies for how – Rich McClure them,” one older they cover black white man said to communities. the commission.

At the press “Why do I have conference, to think after 80 years on this held at St. Louis Community great earth that this is going to College’s Center for Workforce

Innovation in Ferguson, local resident Michael Jackson said he was unarmed when police wrongfully shot him and accused him of robbery.

Jackson said despite being acquitted of his charges, local FOX, KSDK and KMOV stations only covered the police’s story.

“When I went to the news to tell how I was vindicated of my charges, no one wanted to tell my story, but they allowed the police to get on the news and say whatever they wanted to say,” Jackson said. As a result, Jackson said, he lost his job.

Wilson directed Jackson’s story toward the

media that lined the room.

“Accountability,” Wilson said.

“He’s talking to some news stations in the room.”

Some snickered, but Wilson quickly went on to say, “That’s really not a joke.”

Wilson had more to say, but was abruptly interrupted by a white male reporter who was looking to grab a question from Gov. Nixon. Many in the crowd were displeased with the reporter. One woman said, “Have some respect.”

This story is published as part of a partnership between The St. Louis American and The Huffington Post.

A8

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2015

Rich colleges saddle poorest students with debt

ProPublica analyzes newly available federal data on student loan debt

By Annie Waldman and Sisi Wei For ProPublica New York University is among the country’s wealthiest schools. Backed by its $3.5 billion endowment, the school has built campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai, invested billions in SoHo real estate, and given its star faculty loans to buy summer homes.

But the university does less than many other schools when it comes to one thing: helping its poor students.

A ProPublica analysis based on new data from the U.S. Department of Education shows that students from low-income families graduate from NYU saddled with huge federal loans. The school’s Pell Grant recipients – students from families that make less than $30,000 a year – owe an average of $23,250 in federal loans after graduation.

That’s more federal loan debt than low-income students take on at for-profit giant University of Phoenix, though NYU graduates have higher earnings and default less on their debt.

NYU is not the only university with a billiondollar endowment to leave its poorest students with heavy debt loads. More than a quarter of the nation’s 60 wealthiest universities leave their lowincome students owing an average of more than $20,000 in federal loans.

At the University of Southern California, which has a $4.6 billion endowment, low-income students graduate with slightly more debt than NYU’s graduates: $23,375. At Boston University ($1.5 billion endowment), it’s $27,000, and at Wake Forest University ($1.1

Since Catharine Bond Hill took over as president of Vasser College in 2006, she transformed it into one of the most affordable colleges in the country for lowincome students. Today, over 20 percent of Vassar students receive Pell Grants – double the percentage of low-income students a decade ago.

billion endowment) low-income students graduate with $29,150 in debt.

This new data on student debt is drawn from numbers that the Obama administration assembled as part of a planned effort to create grades for every college. In the face of fierce lobbying from universities, the administration backed away, but has made much of the data public on a new website called College Scorecard.

ProPublica has used that material to create Debt By Degrees, an interactive database that allows you to search information for almost 7,000 schools. The data provides an unprecedented level of detail on the financial burden that the poorest college students

face, showing for the first time how much federal debt poor students take on compared to their wealthier peers, and how well these students are able to repay their loans. The database also shows how much graduates earn on average after leaving school.

The implications of these numbers can be far-reaching.

Studies have shown that even small debts can increase a student’s chances of dropping out, particularly for minorities and low-income students.

Also, federal loans, which are typically capped at $27,000 over four years, often don’t cover the full expense of college. Many students also take on private bank loans or work jobs outside school.

“Student debt is not the same to every borrower,” said Mark Huelsman, a senior analyst at Demos, a public policy nonprofit. “It can look a lot different to a first generation student from a very modest economic background than to someone going to graduate school getting a law degree.”

Indeed, undergraduates take a fraction of the loans of graduate students but default at much higher rates. Debt can put low-income young adults at a disadvantage for years to come, limiting a graduate’s ability to save, get a mortgage, or get the job they aspire to.

“At the end of the day, you’re talking about households that don’t have nearly as much wealth to fall back on,” said Huelsman.

Rebecca Arthur wanted nothing more than to study photography at Tisch, NYU’s arts school. Her mother, however, made less than $25,000 a year working at a nursing home, so Arthur knew the school’s four-year price tag of over $250,000 would be a stretch. When Arthur was accepted, she was shocked – not only because she had gotten into her dream school, but also because the school only offered modest financial aid.

“The first bill was $32,000, and it was more than my mom made in a year,” she said.

“Why would they accept me if they knew I couldn’t afford it?”

Arthur tried to crowdfund the remaining amount of her tuition, but it was only when her mother died a month before school started that NYU agreed to take a second look at her financial aid package. Although they increased her aid, she works four jobs and expects to graduate with over $24,000 in loans.

In response to recent criticism of its financial priorities, NYU says it has more than doubled financial aid in the last decade and See COLLEGE, A10

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2015

A9

Black voters must challenge Democrats

I couldn’t help but think how Hillary Clinton must’ve felt when Bernie Sanders threw his hat in as a presidential candidate and started to draw record crowds to his events.

The self-assured Clinton saw an open path to the U.S. presidency when she ran Jamala in 2008 only Rogers to have a black male with the non-American name of “Barack Obama” dash her dream of becoming the first women president.

Now comes an old socialist whose campaign could threaten Hillary.

As the 2016 presidential race heated up, all that came up for me was dread that the public would have to hear from a lackluster pool of candidates for the next two years. Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush, both from political dynasties who had a family member in the Oval Office, hardly moved the needle of voter excitement. And the cast of characters who make up the Republican circus ring either make you cringe or laugh out loud.

I think it’s accurate to say that the GOP is not that into black folks. Add to the list brown folks, poor folks – well, just about anyone that is not rich and white. On the other hand, the Democratic Party has prided itself on being the voice of the voiceless, the disenfranchised, the economically oppressed, yet done a poor job at showing it.

Just recently we had to fight like hell for a little increase in the minimum wage in the

Democratic stronghold of the City of St. Louis. St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger, a Democrat, sent a message not to even come his way with such foolish talk.

Livable wages? Rubbish!

When reps from the #BlackLivesMatter movement started showing up at political events, storming stages and commandeering mics, candidates seemed surprised, even hurt, that their most loyal subjects were taking them to task.

Bernie Sanders comes from the second whitest state in the union, Vermont. Blacks are a mere 1 percent of the population and whites are 95 percent, so one can accurately say that Sanders has little experience dealing with the daily realities of black people.

n We must be more sophisticated about our participation in electoral politics.

Sanders is the longestserving independent in the U.S. Congress and has never hid his anti-capitalist politics since he started his political career as the mayor of Burlington. He has been vocal on the negative role of corporations in politics and the public policies that have been eroding the gains of the middle and working classes.

Still, he’s got a lot of work to do to connect with AfricanAmerican voters who play a pivotal role in presidential races.

Since the confrontation at

the annual Netroots conference, where he and others on the Democratic dais were forced to listen to members of Black Lives Matter, Sanders has scurried to figure out what he should be doing to reach out to black voters. He hired Symone Sanders to serve as his national press secretary. Symone, young and black, is the national youth chair of the Coalition on Juvenile Justice and a purported activist in #BlackLivesMatter.

A recent Gallup polls shows Sanders’ favorability rate among African Americans at 23 percent compared to Hillary Clinton’s 80 percent. Why? Are we allowing Hillary to ride the wave of her president-husband?

President Bill Clinton severely altered black lives with his crippling welfare and criminal justice reforms that will impact black families for generations.

Not every black person sees the electoral area as a viable place to spend our time and efforts. This is especially true of some young people in #BLM. For those of us who know that this is the place where decisions are made about our standard of living and our future, we must be more sophisticated about our participation in electoral politics.

We must look at candidates’ past practices, votes and programs and hold them accountable for their track records. Black folks can’t afford the luxury of being lulled into a false sense of inclusion with Democrats or Independents. We must fight for real power, for real representation and for real transformative change. This is a struggle for true democracy, not just to advance the Democratic Party.

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2015

COLLEGE Continued from A8

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that average student debt has decreased significantly in the past five years. The school also enrolls a greater percentage of Pell Grant recipients than other elite schools. Finally, NYU points out that its endowment is actually quite modest on a perstudent basis, since NYU has far more students than many other elite universities.

“NYU is deeply concerned about the issues of cost and debt,” John Beckman, NYU’s vice president for public affairs, told ProPublica. “NYU has made tremendous strides in improving financial aid.”

While NYU students average debt from both federal and private loans has gone down in the past five years, it’s about the same as a decade ago. And though NYU’s financial aid has doubled over the past decade, its revenue from tuition and fees has nearly doubled as well. Faculty and students have protested NYU’s $6 billion expansion plan, saying more should be spent on financial aid.

A new government report noted just how wide a disparity there can be in the prices poor students pay at competitor schools: Poor students pay an average of $8,086 per year at Columbia University ($8.2 billion endowment) versus $25,441 at NYU. Overall, students at nonprofit universities fare far better than those at for-profit schools and community colleges.

One recent study shows that students at public and nonprofit schools typically have lower default rates and higher earnings.

Out of the nearly 2,000 nonprofit colleges that ProPublica analyzed, a handful of wealthy schools do particularly well in serving the needs of low-income students.

Vassar College, with an endowment of close to $1 billion, charges its poorest students a quarter of what NYU does, and they graduate with

Today, over 20 percent of Vassar students receive Pell Grants. That’s double the percentage of low-income students of a decade ago.

less than half the debt.

Only a decade ago, Vassar looked little different than NYU. However, in 2006, the school hired a new president, Catharine Bond Hill, an academic who specializes in college access and affordability.

During her first few years, Hill instituted need-blind admissions, accepting students regardless of their financial background. She also created a policy of replacing loans with grants to poorer students.

And to bolster low-income applicants to the school, she initiated an aggressive recruiting campaign in poorer neighborhoods, partnering with pre-existing college prep programs.

After 10 years, these changes have made Vassar one of the most affordable colleges in the country for low-income students. Today, over 20 percent of Vassar students receive Pell Grants. That’s double the percentage of lowincome students of a decade ago.

“Schools that have the resources should be giving out more in need-based grant aid,”

Hill told ProPublica.

Other schools that have helped level the playing field for low-income students include Amherst College and Williams College, both in Western Massachusetts. Nearly 20 percent of students at these schools receive Pell Grants and they graduate with less than $10,000 of federal loans. Berea College in Kentucky charges no tuition and only accepts lowincome students.

Harvard ($35.9 billion endowment), Princeton ($20.9 billion endowment), and Yale ($23.9 billion endowment) all give generous support and even free tuition to low-income students. But they do not enroll many of them. At Harvard, only 10 percent of the students receive Pell Grants.

Asked about their modest number of low-income students, a Harvard official said that school is committed to enrolling the best students, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Co-author Sisi Wei was a paid adjunct professor at NYU in spring 2015.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2015

A comprehensive master plan for addressing racial inequity Those who say dismissive things about urban unrest commissions tend to say, “All they can do is issue a report.”

If all the Ferguson Commission could do was issue a report, then they deserve high praise for issuing a well researched, simply stated and urgent report on “the social and economic conditions that impede progress, equality and safety in the St. Louis region.”

Those quoted terms were included in Gov. Jay Nixon’s initial executive order that established the commission.

Nixon appointed a diverse group of 16 commissioners drawn from clergy, business, non-profits, education, politics, police (white and blue shirt), and the Ferguson protest movement. (One commissioner, Grayling Tobias, quietly stepped down after leaving his superintendent position in Hazelwood Schools.)

Starting on December 1, one week after the worst arsons in Ferguson, the commission held 17 full meetings, open to the public and held in various neighborhoods around the region. Almost 2,000 people participated. Since January 2015, the commission’s working groups held another 38 public meetings.

They also reviewed dozens of previously published research reports from government agencies and non-profit organizations. Most impactful were “For the Sake of All,” a major study of race-

based disparities led by Jason Q. Purnell at the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University; Better Together St. Louis’ landmark reports on municipal fragmentation in the St. Louis region; and ArchCity Defenders’ white papers on St. Louis County municipal courts.

They also heard testimony and presentations from more than two dozen subject matter experts and contracted with the Institute of Public Policy, a division of the Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri, for research support. Nicole Hudson, the commission’s strategic communication consultant, was the guiding hand in shaping the final report, titled “Forward Through Ferguson: A Path to Racial Equity,” under the direction of co-chairs Rev. Starsky Wilson and Rich McClure.

To get the right answers, you need to ask the right questions.

Clearly, this commission asked the right questions.

“Throughout the process, our work was unified by a series of key considerations,” the report states. “These common considerations ensured that every call to action we made would address these essential themes.” These considerations – Racial Equity, Generational Change and Health Equity – cut to the heart of the racial and regional issues laid bare by the Ferguson unrest.

“The statistical racial disparities in poverty,

Photo by Wiley Price

The Ferguson Commission – established by Gov. Jay Nixon with the Rev. Starsky Wilson and Rich McClure as co-chairs – released its report, “Forward Through Ferguson: A Path to Racial Equity,” on Monday. education, employment and wealth point to racial inequities that we believed must be considered in all of our deliberations,” the report states on Racial Equity.

“Many of the problems that face our region have developed over several generations. To solve them, we must do so with an eye toward future generations,” the report states on Generational Change.

For Health Equity, the report quotes from data previously compiled in “For the Sake of All,” released in May 2014, which in retrospect looks like the canary in the Ferguson coal mine.

“The life expectancy for a resident of zip code 63105 (Clayton), whose population is 9 percent black, is 85 years.

The life expectancy for a resident of zip code 63016 (North St. Louis), whose population is 95 percent black, is 67 years,” the report quotes.

Though its research base is deep and wide, the report is not framed around facts, but rather calls for action. The Ferguson Commission issued a total of 189 calls to action, most of them in advance of the final report, in keeping with the commission’s stated intent to be transparent and deliver no surprises at the end.

The commission prioritized among these 189 to identify

a smaller set of “Signature” calls to action, organized into three categories: Justice for All, Youth at the Center, and Opportunity to Thrive.

The working groups that produced these calls to action were asked to “intentionally apply a racial equity lens to the work” by asking the following three questions: “Who does this recommendation benefit?

Does this recommendation differentially impact racial and ethnic groups? What is missing from this recommendation that will decrease or eliminate racial disparities?”

The St. Louis American has asked these exact questions in covering St. Louis and its policy initiatives for more than seven decades. To see the Ferguson Commission so plainly prioritize racial equity in sifting its data and in framing calls to action is incredibly important. It makes this report a comprehensive master plan for addressing racial inequity in the region.

Of course, a comprehensive master plan is just a set of pretty drawings and expensive line items until someone starts buying land, raising capital and moving dirt. And calls to action are nothing but noise without the political will and leverage to force change. And make no mistake: these needed changes will be uncomfortable

A11 for many people who are comfortable now and perhaps only recently were made aware of the region’s inequities and inefficiencies.

The report addresses headon the sobering reality of race-based disparities: that those on the positive side of the disparity may not be aware there is a disparity, or may not care.

“If you live in a safe suburb, and you’ve got a good job, and you’ve got health insurance, and you never worry about your kids’ schools, and you don’t wonder if you might get pulled over because of the color of your skin, then maybe the status quo is working just fine for you,” the report states.

“But for thousands of St. Louisans, the status quo is killing them. The status quo means living in a food desert, with no grocery stores for miles around. The status quo means sending your children to underperforming schools that get fewer resources but dole out more punishments. The status quo means driving in fear of a court system that will put you in jail for failure to pay a traffic ticket.”

Then the commissioners move to a rhetorical question: “Are we as a region really willing to live with that status quo?”

The commission’s explicit attention to the intergenerational nature of these problems is proof that, for many generations, the region’s majority has been willing to live with this status quo.

The commission insists that its public process over the past nine months has started to create a “problem-solving machine” that will now start to solve the problems identified in this report.

“Together through our process of community engagement, we have begun to build a problem-solving machine,” the report states. “A catalyst that brings together people, organizations and resources to study a problem, gain a deep understanding of the core issues underlying the problem, develop a strategy for solving that problem, and execute a solution for that

problem.”

The “problem-solving machine” that the commissioners claim to have initiated faces some formidable and entrenched opponents to change. Take the “Justice for All” signature priorities, which are closest to the issues raised by the Ferguson protestors who ultimately compelled this commission.

“Police reform calls to action address use of force, police training, civilian review, and response to demonstration,” the report states. “Court reform calls to action address sentencing practices, protection of constitutional rights, and conflicts of interest in municipal and county courts.

Consolidation calls to action address consolidation among St. Louis County’s 81 different municipal courts and 60 separate municipal police departments.”

Right there we are reminded that reformers are up against a powerful, entrenched sector that combines law enforcement with organized labor – that is, the police – and that has leverage over both Democrats and Republicans.

And the political landscape that must be changed is broken into a jigsaw puzzle of municipalities, police departments, municipal courts and school districts.

Consolidating them will require a major act of political will – perhaps a great many major acts of political will, one for every municipality – and significantly reforming all of these splintered institutions individually before consolidation would require a whole lot of “problem-solving machines.”

That is the reality. This commission is well aware of that reality. “If we are to make true, long-term, sustainable progress,” the report states, “we can’t avoid our reality – we must confront it, and work through it.” The commission has been working through it since November of last year, and its work is drawing to a close. The next move is ours.

Are we as a region really willing to live with this status quo?

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2015

UMSL dedicates Marcus Allen Advising Center

Honors university’s first AfricanAmerican faculty member

By Ron Austin University of Missouri– St. Louis

As a young man, the late Marcus Allen studied French through frigid Pittsburgh winters, warming himself by the heat of his kitchen stove.

He captured his experiences in his autobiography “One Life: A Memoir.” A copy of the book is housed in the Amistad Research Center at Tulane University in New Orleans.

“During those days, Pittsburgh was an ethnic town,” Allen wrote. “Each group staked out a little piece of the land and defended it vehemently. The rich lived in the far off suburbs where steel mills belching smoke and flames did not pollute the air.

Blacks were left to live on the side streets and in the alleys.”

“Although Marcus came from humble circumstances, he had a goal in life, and he found a means to reach it,” said Mary Allen, his wife.

After serving in World War II and earning a PhD in French from the University of Pittsburgh, he would go onto become a beloved scholar and mentor. Over a fruitful career, he would write internationally lauded articles on Voltaire, win the 1972 Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques, serve as a member of The Friendship Force and play an integral role in growing the University of

Photo by August Jennewein

Mary Allen speaks at the dedication of the Marcus Allen Advising Center on September 3.

Missouri-St. Louis.

Not only did he institute UMSL’s exchange student program, lead the Department of Modern Foreign Languages and Literatures and serve on strategic planning committees, he offered students guidance and friendship.

UMSL has honored his contributions and legacy with the dedication of the Dr. Marcus Allen Advising Center located in 302 Lucas Hall. Mary Allen described how The her husband late Dr. might feel about Marcus the event.

Allen “Since Dr. Allen was a modest, reserved, non-pretentious individual, I think he would feel honored,” she said during the day of the ceremony. “But knowing him as well as I did, I think he would also be humbled by being recognized in this way.”

Mary Allen found the addition of a student advisory office at UMSL to be a direct

continuation of Allen’s efforts.

“Dedicating the advising center at the college of arts and sciences to my husband is a fitting memorial to him,” she said. “He had a special connection to his students, and they to him. This connection was evident in the letters they wrote in support of my naming proposal.”

The September 3 event attracted a multitude of Allen’s former students and colleagues.

Jeanne Zarucchi, professor of art history and French and 2015 recipient of the Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques, opened the ceremony with remarks spoken in French.

Faculty members offered their praise for Allen’s achievements, and most importantly, Mary Allen expressed admiration for her husband and the UMSL community.

“On behalf of his family, Diane, Amanda, Mark and me, I’d like to say this dedication is a high honor,” she said.

“He loved UMSL, and this recognition is returning that love to him and to us.”

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2015

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WEEK 5

ONE SMALL CHANGE is an ongoing series that challenges us to take very small steps toward being more environmentally-friendly. If we all participate, then ONE SMALL CHANGE can make a big difference!

MEATLESS MONDAYS!

All the food you eat goes through a process before it reaches your plate and some foods require more environmental resources than others.

Meat products require the most from our planet. Approximately 2,000 gallons of water are needed to produce a single pound of beef. (By comparison, 39 gallons of water are needed to create a pound of vegetables.) Farmers also need a lot of land to raise the animals that eventually become our food.

Our appetite for meat is one of the reasons for rainforest destruction. For each hamburger that originated from cows raised on rainforest land, 55 square feet of forest have been destroyed.

But you don’t have to go full vegetarian to make a big difference today. A lot of schools (and homes) are participating in a movement called Meatless Mondays. This means you and your classmates go without meat every Monday. This one small change is easy and healthy! In addition to helping the environment, you will reduce your risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Ask your school and family if they want to go “meat free” with you on Mondays!

THIS CHANGE SAVES MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER PER YEAR!

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2015

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NEWSPAPER IN

EDUCATION

Planting the Seeds for Success!

The weekly Healthy Kids page provides health tips on nutrition, exercise and more.

Nutrition

Try New Foods—

Adventure!

Exercise

Get Moving!

Walk !

And...

Sneezin g Season!

Healthy Kids PRESENT:

Healthcare Careers

Nutrition Challenge:

you would perhaps your class could create like to try. another way to purchase these in Education Program Research Weekly newNewspaper foods.) If a store does Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist When is the last to see which donate to your class, be sure Where do you work? time you tried have some to take a picture of your class I work at Family a new food? of the best tasting the new food and send Renewed, LLC. Break into nutritional it to the store’s manager along small groups Where did you go to content. with a thank-you letter. and come up with a school? I graduated Write a letter to a Adding variety to your diet list of five fruits or vegetables from Sumner Academy few local grocery stores to see helps you eat healthier. Give it that you have never tasted. of Arts and Science if one of them would be willing a try!

Compare your list with those High School in Kansas to donate the new, “adventure” Learning Standards: of the other groups. Now as a City, Kansas. I then foods for your class to try. (Or class, pick three of these that HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5 received a Bachelor of Arts in Human Biology from Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, and a Doctor of Medicine for at least 30 minutes, 5 Exercise Challenge: from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, days per week.

Walk! Walking is one of the Tennessee.

Learning Standards: best forms of exercise and most What does a child and adolescent psychiatrist HPE 1, NH 1, of us can do it. While always do? I am a doctor just like the doctor kids go NH 5 keeping safety in mind, seek out to when they aren’t feeling well, but I work opportunities to walk each day. with kids who are having a hard time in school Your goal should be to walk (whether it is their behavior or their grades),

As the weather starts to turn colder, flu season can hit area schools. To avoid passing/or getting someone else’s germs, remember to:

>

Sneeze into a tissue and immediately throw it away.

>

If caught without a tissue, sneeze into your elbow (while turning away from your friends). Do not sneeze into your hands!

>

Wash your hands frequently throughout the day and avoid touching your face: eyes, nose, and mouth.

Learning Standards: HPE 3, NH 1, NH 7

Dawn M. Porter, MD,

Healthy Snacks Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes Ingredients: 5 Cherry Tomatoes 2 Tbsp Softened low-fat cream cheese 2 Tsps Chopped fresh herbs Directions: Cut the cherry tomatoes in half. Top each with a dollop of cheese and sprinkle with the herbs. You can enjoy these cold, or you can place into a foil-lined pan and heat in the oven until the cheese starts to bubble.

how they feel about things or how they are getting along with family or friends. When I go to work, I meet with kids and their families.

I ask a lot of questions to better understand what their concerns are and strategize with the children and their parents on how to make things better for everyone in the family.

Why did you choose this career? I chose this career because I love helping children and I want all children to enjoy the life that they are living and reach their potential.

What is your favorite part of the job you have? My favorite part of the job is hearing the good news about how kids are happier and doing better in school and watching children develop into their best selves.

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2015

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The St. Louis American’s award winning NIE program provides newspapers and resources to more than 7,000 teachers and students each week throughout the school year, at no charge.

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT

SCIENCE STARS

Northview Elementary School 3rd grade teacher, Carmen Little, uses

African -American Inventor and Engineer Frederick Jones

the newspaper to teach Kamani Winston Dakotah Edwards, and Michael Wren how to look for positive stories about their community and find biographies on local community leaders.

Northview Elementary School is in the Jennings School District.

Photo by Wiley Price/ St. Louis American.

Frederick Jones was born in Ohio on May 17, 1893.

By the time Jones was nine, both of his parents had died, and he went to live with a priest in Kentucky. Two years later, he returned to Ohio, and began working as a janitor.

He later worked as an automobile mechanic.

Teachers, if you are using the St. Louis American’s NIE program and would like to nominate your class for a Classroom Spotlight, please email: nie@stlamerican.com.

SCIENCE CORNER The purpose of a refrigerator is to slow the growth of bacteria. In order to be effective, refrigerators should be kept between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit. The federal government estimates 1 in 6 Americans fall victim to a foodborne illness each year.

These illnesses include E. coli, salmonella, and botulism. In order to keep yourself safe, you need to be aware of how to use the refrigerator properly.

for two hours (one hour or less on a hot day). To be safe, refrigerate them promptly to keep harmful bacteria from growing and multiplying. Meat should not be set out to thaw at room temperature. Toxins will still be present even after cooking. Meat should be thawed using the refrigerator, cold water, or the microwave. If you follow these guidelines, you will help to prevent illness from bacteria.

For more information about refrigeration, check out this video:

Air needs to circulate in the refrigerator, so don’t pack it too full. Clean spills immediately to stop growth of bacteria that can spread from one food to another.

Keep foods in containers that are sealed and covered. Always check the expiration date and clean your refrigerator regularly.

http://home.howstuffworks. com/appliances/energyefficient/question121.htm.

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

If you have groceries, or leftovers, that are sitting out at room temperature, they are only safe

SCIENCE EXPERIMENT Background Information: If you have an ice cube sitting at the top of the glass, will it eventually melt and spill it over the edge? In this experiment, you will research the question.

Materials Needed:

• A Clear Glass • Warm Water • An Ice Cube Procedure:

q Fill the glass to the top with warm water. w Gently lower in the ice cube, making sure you don’t bump the table or spill any water over the edge of the glass.

e Watch the water level carefully as the ice cube

Water freezes at 32 degrees zFahrenheit.

If your freezer is set 26 degrees below freezing, at what temperature is your freezer set? ______

In the 1930s, Jones became interested in refrigeration and cooling techniques.

He created a portable air cooling unit so trucks could carry perishable foods.

Later, he founded the U.S. Thermo Control Company. In World War II, his company helped preserve blood, medicine, and food. The company was worth millions of dollars in 1949.

Jones received over 60 patents. Most of them were related to refrigeration techniques. Some were related to x-ray machines, engines, and sound equipment. In 1944, he became the first African American elected to the American Society of Refrigeration Engineers. In 1977, he was inducted into the Minnesota Inventors Hall of Fame. In 1991, he became the first African American to receive the National Medal of Technology. The last two awards were earned after Jones passed away in 1961 due to lung cancer.

melts, what happens?

Learning Standards: I can read a biography about a

Reflect: How long did it take the ice to melt?

person who has made a contribution to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.

When the ice turned to liquid, did it cause the water to overflow? How did this compare to your original prediction? Did you know when water freezes, it expands? This is what causes water pipes to burst in freezing temperatures. How does this fact relate to the experiment?

Learning Standards: I can follow sequential directions to complete an experiment. I can analyze results. I can make text to world connections.

MATH CONNECTION Try your hand at these word problems about the refrigerator.

Jones was self taught. He read regularly and loved learning about mechanics. In 1912, he moved to Minnesota to work on a farm as a mechanic.

Jones served in World War I, then returned to the farm. While there, Jones educated himself in electronics. He built the transmitter for a local radio station and created a device to combine moving picture with sound. His ideas were used to improve sound in the film industry.

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

Activity One — probability that Jesse will choose a regular soda? ______ Amanda has 8 ccontainers of chocolate

x

Jesse’s refrigerator has 7 bottles of diet soda, 4 bottles of regular soda, 2 bottles of juice, and 6 bottles of water. If Jesse chooses a bottle at random, what is the

DID YOU KNOW? A refrigerator typically accounts for around 10% of a home’s power bill. About 1/3 of a refrigerator’s cold air can escape when the door is open, which is why a closed door keeps energy costs down.

pudding, 4 containers of vanilla pudding, and 3 containers of butterscotch pudding. Write a fraction that shows the number of chocolate pudding containers compared to the total number of pudding containers. ______

Jeff has ⁄ of a leftover v pizza in the refrigerator.

1

2

He eats 1⁄3 of the leftover pizza for lunch. What fraction of the original pizza does he have left? ______ Diana bought 13 apples and 17 bpears.

What is the ratio of apples to pears? ______

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

Over 8 million refrigerators are sold each year in the U.S. November 14th is National Clean Out Your Refrigerator day.

Heralding Headlines: Headlines are not only designed to attract attention, they also are designed to summarize important elements of a news article. Skim the newspaper to find an interesting headline. After reading the headline only, write three predictions about the article. Read the article, revise your predictions, and list five important details you learned.

Next, write a new headline for the story. Trade stories with a partner and decide which headline is better.

Activity Two — Don’t “Rule” It Out: Why are rules important in society?

What are the pros and cons of having established rules? Scan the newspaper to find examples of people who are following, breaking, upholding, or enforcing rules.

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can make and revise predictions. I can find main idea and supporting details. I can make text to world connections.

This special Newspaper In Education initiative is made possible, and delivered to classrooms, through The St. Louis American Foundation and its NIE Corporate Partners:

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2015

Business

B1

SEPTEMBER 17 – 23, 2015

Charmaine Chapman Society kicks off campaign

Charmaine Chapman Leadership Society celebrated the kickoff of United Way’s 2015 annual fundraising campaign on August 27 at the newly remodeled Harold and Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz. The 2015 co-chairs are D’Anne Shelton and Reuben Shelton, senior counsel at Monsanto Co. and president of the Missouri Bar Association.

People On The Move Alexis Wright was selected by New City School’s Board of Trustees to serve as the next Head of School. He will leave Bank Street College of Education in New York City, where he has served Alexis as dean of Children’s Wright Programs and Head of School since 2009. Previously he held positions at Rye Country Day School, including Assistant Head of School.

Nikki Doughty was promoted to Chief Operating Officer of City Academy. She will oversee the dayto-day operations at the school. She most recently served as director of External Affairs since Nikki joining the private, Doughty independent school in 2005. She has served in various roles within admissions, alumni relations, parent and external relations over the past ten years.

United Way of Greater St. Louis announces $74.25M goal in 2015

By Chris King Of The St. Louis American One of St. Louis’ largest professional and civic groups for African Americans, United Way of Greater St. Louis’ African American – Charmaine Chapman Leadership Society, celebrated the kickoff of United Way’s 2015 annual fundraising campaign on Thursday, August 27 at the newly remodeled Harold and Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz.

For this year’s fundraising campaign, Chapman Society members aim to raise $2.85 million. The 2015 co-chairs are Reuben Shelton, senior counsel at Monsanto Co. and president of the Missouri Bar Association, and D’Anne Shelton.

n “We understand the far reach and commitment United Way has to helping people all across our region and in the African-American community.”

– Reuben Shelton

“It’s an honor for my wife, D’Anne, and I to serve as co-chairs of the Chapman Society again this year,” Reuben Shelton said.

“We understand the far reach and commitment United Way has to helping

Photo provided by United Way

people all across our region and in the AfricanAmerican community. We’re proud to once again bring together so many people within our community with the goal of helping people thrive in our region.”

United Way’s overall campaign goal of $74.25 million was announced September 8 at the St. Louis Rams’ 6th annual charity luncheon. The 2015 campaign co-chairs are Suzanne Sitherwood, president and CEO of The Laclede Group, Inc., and Sue McCollum, chairman and CEO of Major Brands Inc. The Charmaine Chapman Leadership Society is comprised of African Americans who donate $1,000 or more annually to United Way. Last See CAMPAIGN, B2

Regional Chamber celebrates ‘St. Louis Innovators’

Stadia launches Sports Innovation Hub in St. Louis

St. Louis American publisher receives 2015 Right Arm of St. Louis Award

By American staff At its Annual Event No. 178, held Wednesday, September 16 at the Peabody Opera House, the St. Louis Regional n Suggs was Chamber honored recognized “for a and celebrated St. lifetime of fighting Louis Innovators, both large and for equality and for small. Its theme bringing Africanwas “Creating American artistic Tomorrow endeavors to St. Together St. Louis Louis,” the Regional Innovators.”

“Earlier this Chamber said in a year, St. Louis release. ranked top in the country for Best Startup Cities in America in Popular Mechanics. This is exactly the right time to put a bright spotlight on innovation,” said Suzanne Sitherwood, St. Louis

Donald M. Suggs – seen here speaking at a St. Louis Regional Chamber Leadership Trip to Atlanta in 2006 – was presented with the Regional Chamber’s 2015 Right Arm of St. Louis Award. Suggs is publisher and executive editor of The St. Louis American and president of the St. Louis American Foundation.

Regional Chamber chair and The Laclede Group president and CEO. “St. Louis is a great place for entrepreneurs, and we are always looking for more innovative thinkers, the next big idea, and businesses that redefine how we live and work. A region that supports innovation supports the future of St.

Louis and our place on the world map.”

Several of the St. Louis region’s innovators took center stage – leaders from Prosper Women Entrepreneurs, SixThirty and Yield Lab Companies.

See AWARD, B2

Marion M. Gee is the new director of Finance for the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District.

He most recently served as assistant director of Finance for the City of San Antonio, and Marion led the Divisions M. Gee of Public Utilities and the Division of Compliance and Resolution. Before that, he served as Finance director for the Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District for 11 years.

Yemi AkandeBartsch is now President and Chief Executive Officer of FOCUS St. Louis.

Previously her position was titled “Executive Director.”

Tim Eby, General Manager for St. Louis Yemi Public Radio, is now AkandePresident of the Board Bartsch of Trustees, rather than chair. Molly Cline and Michelle Tucker are now Board Vice Presidents, rather than Vice Chairs.

Blake Hollis, a member of Boy Scout Troop 760, recently received his Eagle Scout award after having earned the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank of Eagle Scout.

In 2013, 56,841 Blake Scouts earned the Hollis Eagle Scout rank.

From 1912 to 2013, 2.3 million Boy Scouts earned the Eagle Scout rank. Around 7 percent of all Boy Scouts earned the Eagle Scout rank in 2013.

Taevin Lewis has been accepted as a student ambassador for this year’s White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities All-Stars. She is a sophomore at Taevin Harris-Stowe State Lewis University majoring in Biology/PreMedicine with a concentration in Cellular and Molecular Science. She is one of 83 students from 70 HBCUs selected for the program. This is the first time a Harris-Stowe student has been named a White House HBCU All-Star.

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

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 – 23, 2015

Personal Finance

By Nathaniel Sillin Could a mid- to late-career return to college make sense for you?

It’s essential to evaluate whether this is a financially risky move. In recent years, older Americans have been heading back to school parttime and during evenings in greater numbers than students of typical college age. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, enrollees 25 years of age and older account for 40 percent of all undergraduate and graduate students – by 2020, that number will rise to 43 percent.

Statistics proliferate on how much more valuable undergraduate college degrees are than high school diplomas alone – a recent Pew Research Analysis study reported that college graduates aged 25-32 and working full-time earn about $17,500 more a year than employed adults in that age group with only a high school diploma. It’s an indication why college is a fairly clear sell for younger people.

However, for people over 40, there are no similarly clearcut rewards. That’s why it’s particularly important to do extensive due diligence before returning to college or any other training program. That’s doubly true if you can’t afford

AWARD

Continued from B1 Also, Stadia Ventures – a new St. Louis startup

Back-to-school planning for returning students

tuition out-of-pocket.

Here are considerations to make before making a midor late-career return to the classroom:

work?

Find the most affordable training possible. If a field is friendly to new workers your age, what will you have to invest in training to get the right job? Will it require a masters-level degree or a training certificate that makes you a specialist in a specific skill? Will some employers accept free or low-cost online courses being offered by known colleges and universities?

The American Association of Community Colleges’ Plus 50 Initiative is a useful resource for lower-cost training options at community colleges throughout the country. Also check with your chosen industry’s leading trade associations to see what certificate training is most popular within the field and what it costs.

A degree doesn’t mean a job. That may seem obvious given the recent hiring fortunes of younger, first-time college grads. However, even though some job indicators are looking up for older workers, it doesn’t mean past experience and a highquality degree or certificate program will immediately lead to employment or better pay or for how long. Start with a thorough examination of working conditions and hiring forecasts (http://www.bls.gov/ oes/) in your chosen field. If it’s a complete career change, add face-to-face networking and observation of the job in action, if possible. Most of all, it’s important to know whether employers in that specific field really are interested in hiring older workers and have a record of doing so.

Fully evaluate your finances. As risky as student debt levels are now – the average student is borrowing around $30,000 – spending money on school when you’re older is a much riskier proposition than when you’re young. Consider that late-life tuition is money that won’t go

to retirement, a child’s tuition, an older relative’s needs, consumer debt or financial emergencies. In other words, it’s an investment that really has to pay off. Also keep in mind that student debt cannot be discharged in bankruptcy.

This is why it is important to

seek qualified financial and tax advice before committing to spending savings or taking out student loans to return to school.

Determine how long you really plan to work. A 2013 Gallup poll indicated that three

in four U.S. workers plan to work past the conventional retirement age of 65, but no one really knows how long they’ll be able to work given health and other factors. Will you be able to recoup the cost of training based on the number of years you hope to

accelerator that focuses on early-stage sports companies – revealed the four startups selected to take part in its first accelerator program: Fishidy, LEIF Technologies, Rookies and Winning

Identity . This program will invest up to $100,000 into these companies for an equity stake.

Fishidy (Madison, Wisconsin) created a locationbased fishing social network

with over 300,000 users that is ranked No. 2 on World Fishing Network’s list of “Top Mobile Fishing Apps.”

LEIF Technologies (Brooklyn, New York) makes a patented electric skateboard that “shreds like a snowboard,” according to promotional materials. Rookies (St.

Louis) creates personalized baseball cards “for all of life’s big events.” Winning Identity (Toronto, Canada) provides golf software solutions to maximize athletic performance potential and heighten motivation.

“In 1904, St. Louis was the epicenter of sports and

Bottom line: Education is beneficial at any age, but midto-late career workers should evaluate their finances and thoroughly investigate degree programs before going back to school.

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

business when we hosted the Olympics and World’s Fair,” said Stadia Ventures co-founder and managing director Tim Hayden. “In 2015, we are putting St. Louis back on the map with our Sports Business Accelerator, as we welcome some of the most innovative sports business startups in the world into the only Sports Innovation Hub – located here in St. Louis.”

Joe Reagan, St. Louis Regional Chamber president and chief executive officer, said Stadia’s investment in St. Louis keeps the innovation momentum going – and pledged a financial contribution of up to $50,000.

“We need to keep the innovation momentum going by having the mentorship, the capital and co-working spaces available and thriving where these innovators can turn their dreams and ideas into reality and create companies,” Reagan said.

During the Annual Event, the Regional Chamber also presented Donald M. Suggs with the 2015 Right Arm of St. Louis Award (sponsored

by Arcturis, MasterCard and the St. Louis Blues hockey team). First presented in 1975, the Right Arm of St. Louis is the Regional Chamber’s most prestigious annual award.

Suggs is president, publisher and executive editor of The St. Louis American, the largest weekly newspaper in Missouri, as well as the largest independent newspaper (daily or weekly) in the state, printing 70,000 copies each week. He also is president of the St. Louis American Foundation, which has distributed more than $4 million in scholarships for local minority students since its inception in 1994, with the assistance of its educational, corporate and individual supporters.

Suggs was recognized “for a lifetime of fighting for equality and for bringing African-American artistic endeavors to St. Louis,” the Regional Chamber said in a release.

The St. Louis Regional Chamber Annual Event, which drew more than 1,000 guests, was presented by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals for the second consecutive year. Reagan thanked Mallinckrodt CEO and President Mark Trudeau for the company’s “extraordinary devotion to our great region.”

n “I absolutely adored playing this game.”

– St. Louisan Jo Jo White, one of the newest members of the Basketball Hall of Fame

Sports

INSIDE

Rams are one of blackest teams in diverse NFL ~ See ‘Sports Eye’ page B4 ~ B3

SEPTEMBER 17 – 23, 2015

Rams Roundup

Prep Football Notebook

With Palmer L. Alexander III

With Earl Austin Jr.

Rams surprise Seahawks St. Louis is 1-0 after 34-31 OT victory

Photo by Wiley Price

Hazelwood East Spartans’ Shadrich Martin (21) knocks away a pass intended for McCluer’s John White (3) on Saturday. The Spartans went on to defeat the Stars 40-16.

MCC showdown

Chaminade hosts CBC in battle of unbeatens

We will begin this week’s notebook with the “Pick Game of the Week,” which does not come any bigger than Friday night’s Metro Catholic Conference showdown between CBC and host Chaminade. Both teams are currently 4-0 and dominating the competition in the process.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

These are two teams that you could very well see playing in the Edward Jones Dome during

averaging 53 points a game Thanksgiving weekend. while giving up only 11.

CBC won the Class 6 state CBC has a multitude championship last season of offensive weapons and is playing like a team led by seniors Tre that wants to get back to Bryant and Lamar the Dome to defend its title.

Anderson, who have six Chaminade is a talented touchdowns each. Senior team that should be a prime wide receiver Roddrick contender in Class 5 this Earl Bryant has hauled in four season. CBC is averaging Austin Jr. touchdown receptions 56 points a game while while senior quarterback its defense is surrendering Blake Charlton has thrown 10 only eight points. Chaminade is

touchdown passes.

Chaminade is coming off an impressive 41-27 victory at MCC rival SLUH last Friday night. The Red Devils are young and very talented as well. Senior defensive back Roderick Campbell is headed to Northwestern. Running back Bryce Johnson has seven touchdowns, including three last week at SLUH. Quarterback

The St. Louis Rams opened the 2015 season with an exciting overtime win against the Seattle Seahawks, 34-31.

I have to give this team the credit it deserves.

The Rams had more offensive yards than the Seahawks, even though the Rams ran 16 fewer plays. Nick Foles, making his debut as the Rams’ signal caller, had a very good game, completing 18 of 27 and coming up short just three passing yards of topping 300.

You can see an instant improvement in the Rams’ passing game. And even though it was the first game of the season and there is still a lot Palmer L. of football ahead, Foles Alexander did this against a team that won the NFC West division last year and competed in two straight Super Bowls.

The Rams also averaged nearly 11 yards per catch in the win last Sunday.

They were led in the passing game by tight end Jared Cook, who had a great day catching the football, with 5 catches for 85 yards. The n The Rams lone touchdown throw from Foles only had four went to the other penalties.

Rams tight end, Yes! Just four Lance Kendricks, penalties for a 37-yard strike. just 30 yards. It was Kendricks’ 14th career touchdown.

The Rams did struggle running the football. Running back Bennie Cunningham had the most carries with 16 and averaged a woeful 2.9 yards per carry. However, he did make up for that with 77 receiving yards, including a big 42-yard catch and run.

The Rams’ longest run of the day was from Tavon Austin, who ran a score in from 16 yards out. Nick Foles ran a touchdown in himself, showing off his

See PREP, B5

See RAMS, B5

In The Clutch With Ishmael H. Sistrunk

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has left the building If Floyd “Money” bought the fight or bothered to Mayweather fights a bum in venture out to a fight party to the desert and nobody watches, watch it. does the decision still count?

Before the fight was finalApparently so. ized, there were rumors that That’s precisely what we it would take place on CBS, learned from Mayweather’s Showtime’s parent compabout with Andre ny, instead of PPV. Berto, which was Had that happened, I billed as the final would’ve had no probfight of his storied lem with Mayweather career. Unsurprisingly, taking a ‘gimme’ in Mayweather ran his walk-off bout. walked away with an That’s where the fight easy decision victory belonged. According over his underdog to Forbes, Mayweather opponent. Judges made approximatescored the bout 120 Ishmael H. ly $700 million over – 108, 118- 110, 117 his 19-year career. It Sistrunk -111. With the win, would’ve been a nice Mayweather matched Rocky gesture for the Money man Marciano’s record with 49 and CBS/Showtime to appear wins and zero losses, the best to give something back to all record for a retiring champion. the fans that lined their Gucci How did I score the bout? pockets over the years. A I didn’t. Remember that part Mayweather fight on free TV about nobody watching? would have been worthwhile, Include me in that group. even against an overmatched When a die-hard boxing fan opponent. It would’ve likely and a person who is paid to broken network TV ratings. cover sports takes a pass, you People would have said know the event is lackluster. In “Mayweather cares.” Instead, fact, out of the dozens of hardit was on Showtime PPV with core boxing fans in my circle, a price tag of $75. I’d rather I only know of two people that go Adrien Broner-style and

n The truth is, Mayweather doesn’t really care about the fans. He is, indeed, all about that paper. That is not stated with judgement or malice, simply as fact.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. cruised to an easy unanimous decision over the overmatched Andre Berto in what he claims in the final fight of his career. With the win, Mayweather improved to 49-0, matching the late Rocky Marciano. literally flush my money down the toilet. It probably would’ve been as exciting as the bout.

To be fair to Berto, he’s not truly a bum, he’s a gatekeeper.

He’s good enough to weed out

the real bums from making it to the big stage, but not good enough to beat a true world-

class opponent. I will give him credit though, he tries really hard. All the effort in the world could not make up for the talent deficiency from an average fighter who was 3-3 over his previous six bouts and the best active fighter in the world.

Berto did not earn the fight, it was gifted to him.

The truth is, Mayweather doesn’t really care about the fans. He is, indeed, all about that paper. That is not stated with judgement or malice, simply as fact. By having the fight on PPV, the pound-forSee CLUTCH, B5

B4

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 – 23, 2015

Sports Eye

Rams are one of blackest teams in diverse NFL With Alvin Reid

After wide receivers quarterback Nick Foles and Stedman Bailey, Tavon center Tim Barnes, play what Austin, Chris Givens and are statistically the whitest Kenny Britt and tight end positions in the NFL. Jared Cook displayed the According to the 2015 NFL “Hands Up, Don’t shoot” Racial and Gender Report Card pose during their pregame

by The Institute for Diversity introduction before a home and Ethics in Sport (TIDES), contest against the Oakland 68.7 percent of NFL players Raiders last year, a firestorm of are African-American. The controversy erupted. number of white players The St. Louis Police decreased from 31 Officers Association percent in 2013 to 28.6 and other groups percent in 2014. demanded an apology.

Of 32 teams, five Several radio stations have black head that were affiliates coaches. Todd Bowles on the Rams Radio was the lone black Network wanted to drop coach hired after the the team’s games.

2014 season when the Alvin Some so-called fans New York Jets chose Reid still hold a grudge for him to replace Rex the act of free speech Ryan. and are quick to label AfricanBowles, who won his American Rams players first game as Jets coach last “thugs” when they incur late-hit Sunday, joins Marvin Lewis or unsportsmanlike conduct of the Cincinnati Bengals, Jim penalties.

Caldwell of the Detroit Lions, This is ironic, Mike Tomlin of because the Rams, n There are the Pittsburgh seven Africanwho shocked the Steelers and defending NFC American general Lovie Smith of Champion Seattle managers in the Tampa Bay Seahawks 34-31 Buccaneers.

2015, the ninth in overtime on There is consecutive year Sunday, are one one other head of the NFL’s coach of color, with at least five blackest teams Carolina’s Ron GMs who are – and this is in a Rivera. The people of color. league in which highest number of the majority of coaches of color players are black. in the NFL is On Sunday, eight in 2011. nine of 11 Rams starters Other highlights of the on one of the NFL’s best report include: defenses were black. Maybe There are seven Africansomewhat surprisingly, eight American general managers of 11 offensive starters are in 2015, the ninth consecutive African-American. Two of the year with at least five GMs Rams’ white offensive starters, who are people of color.

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

On Sunday, nine of 11 Rams starters on one of the NFL’s best defenses were black. Eight of 11 offensive starters – including Tavon Austin, being congratulated here – are African-American.

Seven out of the last 16 Super Bowl teams have had either an African-American head coach or general manager.

The coaches were Tomlin (Steelers, twice) and Caldwell (Colts). The GMs were Jerry Reese (Giants, twice), Rod

Graves (Cardinals) and Ozzie Newsome (Ravens).

NFL vice presidents of color increased from 11.5 percent in 2014 to 13.7 percent in 2015.

The percentage of women at the management level in the NFL increased from 29.6

percent in 2014 to an all-time high of 30.3 percent in 2015.

Senior administrative positions held by people of color jumped from 16.2 percent in 2014 to 19.3 percent in 2015.

The NFL also hired its first

female referee, Sarah Thomas, who worked the Kansas City at Houston game.

Alvin A. Reid is a panelist on KETC channel 9’s mostpopular show “Donnybrook,” and is also a radio commentator and author.

Jordan Burroughs brings home gold African-American Wrestlers deliver at World Championships in Vegas

Spenser Mango, a wrestler from North County, with reporter Umar Lee at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada.

By Umar Lee For The St. Louis American The 2015 World Wrestling Championships at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada are now in the books. Over 100 hundred countries competed for the right to see who is the best in the world at man’s oldest sport, and in the end only one person in each weight class was able to take home the gold.

African-American wrestlers came home with one gold medal and two bronze medals.

On the men’s freestyle side, Jordan Burroughs took home the gold at the 74 kilograms weight class. The defending Olympic champion and now three-time world champion, Burroughs entered last year’s world championships in Uzbekistan banged up and lost his semifinal match to Russian Denis Tsargush before rallying with a bronze.

This year, Burroughs came in healthy and was firing on all cylinders from his first round match. His only real test came in the semifinals against Russian Aniuar Geduev. In the gold medal match, Burroughs dazzled the crowd with a 10-0 win by technical-superiority over Purevjav Unurbat of Mongolia.

Burroughs, whose social media handle and motto is “all I see is gold,” thanked God after his victory and said now all eyes are on the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeriro, Brazil and capturing his second Olympic Gold Medal.

The two-time NCAA national champion for Nebraska has dominated since entering the world stage with a graceful combination of speed and power. With a likeable personality to go along with his skills on the mat, Burroughs has attracted a huge social media following and is in demand as a public speaker.

The South New Jersey native is also one of the few American

Photo by Umar Lee

Burroughs took home the gold at the 74 kilograms weight class for men’s freestyle wrestling at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada. wrestlers with an international following and is frequently cheered by foreign fans.

James Green, a fellow South Jersey native and Nebraska Cornhusker standout, earned a bronze medal and third-place finish at 70 kilograms during his first trip to the big global stage. Green was a four-time All-American in wrestling for Nebraska and, like Burroughs, began wrestling in a youth program near Camden, New Jersey. He won his spot on the national-team after defeating Mizzou grad Nick Marable.

Powering through the early rounds looking unbeatable, Green finally met his match in the semifinals. Hassan Yazdani Charati of Iran shut Green down with his defense and then successfully countered his way to a win. For his thirdplace match Green was back in form, scoring a pin at the 2:19 mark against Miloslav Kirov of

another African-American Bulgaria. and New Jersey-native stood Kyle Snyder of the United out. Leigh Jaynes-Provisor, a States became the youngest 35 year old mother, powered American world champion her way to a bronze medal in ever at the age of 19, winning the tournament, a hard-fought beating Irina match against n Burroughs, Netreba of Dagestani-Russian whose social Azerbaijan on Abdusalam media handle criteria to secure Gadisov in the her finish. finals. is “all I see is Two American Other men’s gold,” said all women took home freestyle gold eyes are on the gold medals. medals went to 2016 Olympics American Helen Frank Chamizo Maroulis, a (Italy), Haji Aliev in Brazil and former Missouri (Azerbaijan), capturing his wrestler, Abdulrashid second Olympic Baptist won a world Sadulaev Gold Medal. championship (Dagestaniat 55 kilograms, Russian), defeating Russian Vladimir Irina Ologonova Khinchegashvili in the finals, and Adeline (Georgia), Magomedrasul Gray defended her world Gazimagomedov (Dagestanichampionship at 75 kilograms Russian) and Taha Akgul with a 13-2 win over Qian (Turkey).

Zhou of China in finals.

In women’s freestyle,

All three women are looking to become the first women to ever win Olympic gold for the United States next year in Rio. Alli Ragan of Carbondale didn’t place, but looks promising for a future run.

On the men’s GrecoRoman side, three AfricanAmericans represented Team USA at their respective weight classes: Spenser Mango at 59 kilograms, Justin Lester at 71 kilograms, and Caylor Williams at 98 kilograms.

Unfortunately, all three failed to earn medals.

The only Americans to make it to the medal round in Greco-Roman were Andy Bisek at 75 kilograms with a third place finish and Robby Smith at 130 kilograms, who lost his bronze medal match in a thrilling bout against the tough Dagestani-Russian Bilyal Makhov.

Men’s world championships

in Greco-Roman went to Ismael Borrero Molina (Cuba) Rasul Chunayev (Azerbaijan), Selcuk Cebi (Turkey), Riza Kaylaap (Turkey), Zhan Belenyuk (Ukranine), Frank Staebler (Germany), Roman Vlasov (Russia) and Artur Aleksanyan (Armenia).

Mango is a two-time United States Olympian and St. Louis native. He grew-up in North County and began wrestling at CBC High School, continuing his wrestling at Northern Michigan University and in the United States Army.

“It’s crucial to give African-American and innercity kids access to the sport of wrestling,” Mango told The American. “They need both an outlet and a way out.

Look at me: I got a college education and didn’t have to pay anything because I had a wrestling scholarship.”

B5

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 – 23, 2015

RAMS

The St. Louis Rams’ Tavon Austion scores on a 16-yard run, the first of his two touchdowns, against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. The Rams went on to win in overtime 34-31.

Continued from B3 blazing speed.

Austin also returned a punt 75 yards for a score. He tiptoed down the sideline, showing some incredible balance. You see why the Rams traded up to grab him in the 2013 draft.

I saw a flag on the play, and of course I thought it was going against the Rams. Well, surprise, it wasn’t against the Rams. As a matter of fact, the Rams only had four penalties.

Yes! Just four penalties for just 30 yards The Rams’ defense was led by second year defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who led the defense with 2 sacks and 3 tackles for loss. How often do you hear about a defensive tackle leading a team in tackles in a game? Robert Quinn also chipped in with two sacks of his own as the Rams totaled 6 for the afternoon.

Often-overlooked Trumaine Johnson made a sizzling play, intercepting a pass from Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. Johnson told me

PREP

Continued from B3 Michael McGovern has eight touchdown passes, with four of them going to junior receiver Reginald Crawford.

Crusaders light up scoreboard The Althoff Crusaders have been putting up some video game numbers in their last two victories against Helias and Breese Mater Dei. They followed up their 54-38 victory over Helias with a 68-46 victory over Mater Dei last Friday night in Belleville.

Quarterback Jordan Augustine passed for 387 yards and three touchdowns against Helias.

He was even better against Mater Dei with 532 yards and five touchdowns through the air. Junior receiver C.J. Coldon caught 10 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns against Mater Dei. Coldon is one of several players from the Illinois Class 3A state runners-up basketball team to play football. Seniors Tarkus Ferguson and Keenan Young

CLUTCH

Continued from B3

pound king pocketed at least $32 million, per the terms of his Showtime contract.

Because it was a clear money grab, the fight did not sell out and only sold an estimated 500k PPV buys, Mayweather’s lowest since his 2006 bout with Carlos Baldomir. It was a far cry from the 4.4 million PPV buys in the “Fight of the Century” between Mayweather and Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao. Let’s keep it real though, that number is probably untouchable.

Mayweather fans will point to his 49-0 record as proof of his status as “TBE” (the best ever). However, how many people considered Marciano as TBE before Mayweather tied his record? The answer is the same number as fighters who defeated either man in the ring. It makes sense though for his fans to co-sign on his

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

during training camp that what helps him play corner position was he was recruited out of high school as a receiver.

In my opinion, he has the best instincts in the Rams’ secondary.

And how about the defense making the biggest play of the game, stuffing Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch on a 4th and 1 in

overtime? Not bad. Maybe Wilson should’ve passed on that play.

Overall, this was a big character win for this young team. This was the type of game the Rams would normally lose. I was impressed by the resolve of this team. Can they do it again?

The next game is on the road against the Washington

Redskins. On paper, the Rams should win, but you never know on any given Sunday.

and junior Jordan Goodwin are also basketball stalwarts who are getting it done on the football field.

from the Ritenour Huskies’ defense in their 20-14 victory over Pattonville. The Pirates entered the game with a 3-0 record and a high-powered offense that was averaging more than 50 points a game.

Ritenour held the Pirates to only 148 yards of total offense.

The speed and quickness of the Huskies was on full display as they had six quarterback sacks and forced three fumbles.

Senior defensive end Dontrell Walker had two sacks and a forced fumble. Rashaad Hughes had two sacks while cornerback Robyion Hughes had his fourth interception of the season, which is tops in the metro area. Pattonville also suffered a blow when standout sophomore quarterback Kaleb Eleby left the game with a wrist injury. Eleby is one of the area’s most prolific passers.

34 carries and two touchdowns to lead the Lions past O’Fallon Christian 48-14. Moore has rushed for 891 yards and nine touchdowns this season.

Youth served at Trinity Trinity High is currently 3-1 this season with a huge part of the production coming from freshmen and sophomores.

Freshman quarterback Isaiah Williams has rushed for 346 yards and four touchdowns while passing for 640 yards and seven touchdowns. The leading rusher is sophomore Darries Rainey, who has 477 yards and six touchdowns. Trinity’s leading receiver is freshman Marcus Washington, who has 287 yards and three touchdowns. Washington also has a team-high three interceptions. Junior receiver Darion Bolden also has three touchdown receptions. Trinity’s three leading tacklers are all freshmen in Shammond Cooper, Bryce Childress and Alphonzo Andrews. Trinity will host St. Charles on Friday.

Top performers

One of the most impressive efforts from last weekend came

Summit’s Sam Pennington rushed for 255 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Falcons to a 34-14 victory over Parkway North in a battle of undefeated teams.

Cardinal Ritter’s Naeem Moore rushed for 270 yards on

hollow claims as the greatest.

It’s human nature for us to want to witness the best ever, especially during our formative years. It’s the reason teens and twenty-somethings call LeBron James TBE of hoops. It’s the reason, my vote is for Michael Jordan. It’s the reason my dad would probably karate chop somebody for stating that any running back was better than Jim Brown. It’s the reason that some people will argue that a prime Mike Tyson was the greatest heavyweight of all-time, though the evidence clearly doesn’t support the claim.

All sports fans have the innate desire to witness history, then declare it greater than any history that others have witnessed. With Mayweather, he navigated around the most-dangerous fighters in their primes as skillfully as he navigated around opponents in the ring.

Most boxing fans, well-educated in the sport, will agree that he is certainly the best of his generation. However, he is not

really in the conversation as TBE – at least not as a fighter.

What cannot be disputed though is Mayweather’s status of TBE as a marketer. With his transition from his “Pretty Boy” to “Money” moniker, Mayweather took boxing marketing to the next level and ran laps around the “Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya, the previous gold standard. For a non-heavyweight fighter to earn the type of cash that Mayweather has grossed is incredible. Considering that Mayweather has never been an exciting knockout artist like the prime versions of Tyson or Pacquiao makes his achievements even more impressive.

Now the question that remains is whether Mayweather will really stay retired. Will the lure of 50-0 and another mega payday be too much him to resist? After all, we see old heads such as Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones Jr. and James Toney still lacing them up at advanced ages.

I firmly believe that answer is

Ritenour defense

For more Rams Roundup, subscribe to youtube.com/ stlamericanvideo. You can also hear me on The Charlie Tuna Show on Talk1380AM 6-8 p.m. and my weekly podcast @ NTheZone with Arlington Lane II.

Top Games of the Week Parkway North (3-1) at Kirkwood (3-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

Borgia (3-1) at Cardinal Ritter (3-1), Friday, 7 p.m.

University City (4-0) at Clayton (3-1), Friday, 7 p.m.

Francis Howell (4-0) at Fort Zumwalt West (2-2), Friday, 7 p.m.

Pattonville (3-1) at Webster Groves (2-1), Friday, 7 p.m.

St. Charles (2-2) at Trinity (3-1), Friday, 7 p.m.

Hillsboro (3-1) at Festus (2-2), Friday, 7 p.m.

Washington (2-2) at Fort Zumwalt South, Friday, 7 p.m.

Granite City (1-2) at East St. Louis (2-1), Friday, 7 p.m.

Summit (4-0) at Ritenour (2-1), Saturday, 1 p.m.

Lutheran South (2-2) at Westminster (4-0), Saturday, 1 p.m.

You can follow Earl Austin Jr. on twitter @earlaustinjr and watch him on the Fox 2 Prep Zone on Friday nights at 10:20 p.m.

no. Mayweather is done. As I mentioned before, Marciano’s 49-0 record was largely meaningless in terms of GOAT status before it was approached

by Mayweather. Breaking the record would be just as meaningless. Besides, Mayweather has over $700 million reasons not to get punched in the face for a living any longer. He might not be the best ever, but that’s one hell of a consolation!

Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @ IshmaelSistrunk

St. Louis American Prep Athletes of the Week

Dontrell Walker

Ritenour – Football

The senior defensive end turned in a dominant performance in leading the Huskies to a 20-14 victory over previously undefeated Pattonville last Friday night.

The 6’0” 230-pound Walker had two sacks, a forced fumble and a tackle for a safety as he led a stellar defensive effort against the high-powered Pirates. With Walker leading the way, Ritenour limited Pattonville’s offense to only 148 yards.

In just three games, Walker has already registered six quarterback sacks, which is one more than his season total from last season.

Anthony Cameron Clayton – Football The senior quarterback enjoyed a stellar performance in leading the Greyhounds to a 48-28 victory over McCluer South-Berkeley.

Cameron amassed 429 yards from scrimmage and accounted for seven touchdowns. He rushed for 234 yards and scored six touchdowns on runs of five, five, two, 10, five and five. He also passed for 166 yards and one touchdown.

For the season, Cameron has rushed for 567 yards and 11 touchdowns while passing for 653 yards and four touchdowns in leading the Greyhounds to a 3-1 record.

B6

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 – 23, 2015

Business Briefs

Free sustainable consultation for Near North Side St. Louis’ Near North Side neighborhood is one of six communities to receive free sustainable neighborhood planning and design consultation from Global Green USA. This technical assistance support is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Sustainable Communities under their Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program Global Green will conduct a 3-day site visit to the Near North Side with a team of planning and sustainability experts to provide comprehensive recommendations for infrastructure and policy changes aimed at helping to build a plan for a more resource-efficient, livable, healthy, equitable, and environmentally-friendly neighborhood.

“This support will enhance our current engagement in the Near North Side, and will strengthen our efforts to advance transformation planning for the community,” said Esther Shin, executive vice president of Urban Strategies. “We are excited to welcome Global Green and its sustainability experts to St. Louis.”

Urban Strategies applied for the award in partnership with the City of St. Louis, the City of St. Louis Community Development Administration, the St. Louis Housing Authority, and McCormack Baron Salazar.

Sept. 18 deadline for grant opportunity St. Louisan Henry Biggs swam 27 miles around Manhattan Island on Tuesday, July 14 to raise money to endow education and mentoring opportunities for youth in Ferguson and North County. Biggs raised over $100,000, which includes a match from an anonymous donor.

Supported by an allocation committee, Biggs is now preparing to afford the funds to three charities. Interested applicants can download the Swimming to Ferguson RFP and short application on the United Way of Greater St. Louis, www.stl.unitedway.org. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18. Agencies must have an established endowment to qualify.

For questions, contact Julie Russell at the United Way of Greater St. Louis at 314-421-0700.

CAMPAIGN Continued from B1

year, the society celebrated its 20th anniversary by raising more than $2.25 million for the campaign. The society is the largest African-American giving initiative of its type in the country among all United Way organizations, as well as the top philanthropic program for African Americans in the area.

More than 220 guests attended the Charmaine Chapman kickoff event, which featured entertainment from local music group Dirty Muggs.

Supporters had the opportunity to pledge their financial gift through United Way. Last year, more than 150,000 people and 2,500 businesses donated to United Way to collectively give more than $73 million. By funding agencies in 16 counties in Missouri and Illinois, United Way “helps one in three

MSD minority scholarships to wastewater program The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) has awarded academic scholarships to four minority students to attend the Environmental Resource Training Center of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE).

MSD received more than 100 inquiries about the scholarships when the scholarship opportunity was first announced. A total of six applicants completed the application process, and four were selected to receive the first annual minority scholarship. The recipients are Ralph Terrell Hamilton, Moriano Lardge, Lloyd James Huggans and Ryan Klocker.

The scholarship will provide $3,500 towards each recipient’s tuition and fees to attend the Water Quality Control Operations Program, which emphasizes practical training in drinking water and wastewater treatment. During the 11-month program, students will get hands-on experience in labs and treatment shops, and will complete a work-study internship at a treatment plant and water facility.

people in the region build a foundation for a good quality of life through basic needs, financial stability, education, health and strong communities,” according to the United Way. The Rams’ charity luncheon announcing the overall campaign goal was attended by more than 400 people and featured remarks from Sitherwood and McCollum.

“St. Louis has a great history of generosity and

helping people. And yet, everyone knows someone who is struggling and needs help,” Sitherwood said. “That’s why Sue and I are asking our community to keep supporting United Way so they can help one out of every three people in our region.”

McCollum said the co-chairs has learned a lot about the reach of United Way since committing to lead the campaign.

“Because of United Way, tens of thousands of people

in our community will get the critical resources they need including food, shelter, safe havens and much, much more,” McCollum said.

“United Way is a vital asset to our community and to all the people in it. When you invest in United Way, you not only help people, you invest in our entire region and in our collective future.”

Individuals may pledge a donation by calling 314-4210700 or visiting HelpingPeople. org.

“United Way is able to help people across our region because of the generosity of our community,” said Orvin Kimbrough, president and CEO of United Way of Greater St. Louis. “Our organization is proud to stand with the region to help shape the conditions for local people to live their best possible lives.”

For more information on becoming a mentor or joining the Charmaine Chapman Leadership Society, visit www.

HelpingPeople.org.

Check out the latest Edition of

PARTYLINE Page C12

C1 • ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2015

‘Black-ish’ by popular demand

Season two of ‘Black-ish,’ starring Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross, premieres on Wednesday, September 23 at 8:30 p.m. CST on ABC.

Salute style: couples edition

Hit ABC show returns for second season on Wednesday with N-word episode

By Danie Rae, Style Broker For The St. Louis American

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American “We knew that we were doing something special and great, but we could have only hoped for the success that the show has become,” said Anthony Anderson, who is still riding high on his Emmy nominated performance as Andre Johnson on the hit ABC show “Black-ish.”

The show returns for a second season next Wednesday (September 23), and Anderson and show creator n “’The Cosby Kenya Barris were eager to share the Show’ was secrets of their success about a family and what they have in store for viewers this that happened fall.

“It’s about living to be black and the American Dream they didn’t run and giving your from it, but this children better than what you had growing is a family that up while assimilating in this homogenized is absolutely world and holding black.” on to their identity,” Anderson said.

“America is a – Kenya Barris melting pot – that’s what America is all about. It’s one of the few places you can come with nothing and the sky is still your limit. That’s what our show is about – the success of Andre Johnson, professionally and personally, and what he goes through on a day-to-day basis.”

The show – which also stars Tracee EllisRoss, Laurence Fishburne and St. Louis’ See BLACK-ISH, C4

• Only Online • Last chance to see ‘Tell Me Something Good’

Marquita and Darius Chapman

Chauncey and Jermaine Tarrant

It’s that time of year again where the St. Louis American Foundation recognizes the area’s leaders and trailblazers in education with the 28th annual Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Gala.

This year, we have featured some of St. Louis’ most dashing couples showcasing how they get cleaned up for the gala.

Marquita and Darius Chapman, Chauncey and Jermaine Tarrant, and Jessica Kinsey and Robert Little are all no strangers to the Salute scene.

Even though the latter two couples are transplants to the area, they all have been supporters of the St. Louis American Foundation’s efforts to celebrate success and they always seem to do it in style.

“I enjoy stepping out with my lady. I don’t consider her a trophy, but more like a reflection of myself,” said Robert Little. “If she looks and more importantly, feels good, I feel good.”

I love to see couples coordinate. The ones who do it successfully aren’t too “matchy-matchy,” but more a compliment to each other.

If one partner isn’t too keen on getting “suited and booted” and the other is, the couple should be able to come to a compromise on what to wear. When getting gussied up for the Salute, couples should definitely not overthink the style process.

“We like to keep true to our everyday style perspective, while still remaining chic and classic,” said Jermaine Tarrant.

And chic and classic is the name of the Salute style game. When it comes to some men, it’s pretty simple – tuxedo, bow tie and, if he’s feeling fancy, a cummerbund.

Now don’t get me wrong, the men featured on our “Salute style” spread are more stylishly inclined than your average dude, but they also take a cue from their significant others.

As we all know, the ladies are really See STYLE, C4

Jessica Kinsey and Robert Little

Gala Style MUST HAVES Comfortable Shoes: Don’t wait until the day of to break in new pair of shoes. You want to be able to jam at the after party.

Accessories: Don’t be afraid to opt for a simple look and spice it up with one of a kind jewelry finds.

Don’t look too much alike: It’s hard not to look like each other when you’ve been together for a long time. But try to only coordinate one item of clothing or stay in the same color palette.

Photos by Lawrence Bryant Make up: Keisha Reece of Beauty by Reecey

Milestone for Hurvin Anderson

British artist of Jamaican descent gets first major U.S. museum show at Contemporary

By Chris King Of The St. Louis American

The Black Rep’s opened their 39th season with the beloved musical that closes this weekend. Don’t miss a chance to take a musical journey down memory lane.

www.stlamerican.com

When Jeffrey Uslip joined Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis early last year as chief curator, he knew the artist he most wanted to break into the Contemporary with his first major museum show in the United States. With the opening of “Hurvin Anderson: Backdrop” on Friday, September 11, Uslip made it happen.

Anderson is a British artist of Jamaican descent. Born in Birmingham, United Kingdom, to Jamaican parents in 1965, he draws his source

material from Birmingham’s Afro-Caribbean community, as well as from Trinidad, where he was an artist-in-residence. He now lives and works in London.

Anderson’s show sprawls across two large rooms and hallways at the Contemporary, giving Uslip space to curate work in a wide range of media, including a number of monumental drawings and paintings. Uslip told media on Friday that this is the most comprehensive See ART, C4

Hurvin Anderson, Peter’s Sitters II, 2009

Calendar

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 – 23, 2015 Sheldon Concert Hall presents Black Violin. See CONCERTS for details.

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

Fri., Oct. 9, 6 p.m., Healing Womens Ministries hosts 2nd Coffee House Session: Ladies Paint Night. Come out for an evening of food, laughter, freedom, and much more. Evangelist Cynthia Bennett will be the guest speaker and there will be a performance by Precious J. This event is free and open to the public. University City Library Auditorium, 6701 Delmar Blvd., 63130. For more information or to RSVP, call (314) 690-5673.

Calendar listings are free of charge, are edited for space and run on a space-available basis.

concerts Sept. 19, 8 p.m., Johnny Mathis, The Fox Theatre.

For more information, call (314) 534-1111 or visit www. metrotix.com.

Sept. 19, 730 p.m., Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith is proud to welcome iconic R&B vocal group Boyz II Men, along with special guests comedian Gary Mule Deer and singer/songwriter Nikko Smith, to St. Louis for his third annual “Ozzie & Friends Concert - A Benefit for PGA REACH.” Peabody Opera House. For tickets visit www. ticketmaster.com.

Fri., Oct. 2, 8 p.m., Sheldon Concert Hall presents Black Violin. Classically trained Wil Baptiste and Kevin “Kev Marcus” Sylvester are the new standard. There has been no band to meticulously meld classical, hip-hop, rock and

pop music into a single genrebusting act until now. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108.

For more information, call (314) 533-9900 or visit www. thesheldon.org.

Fri., Oct. 2, 8 p.m., The Chaifetz Arena presents Gateway Music Festival feat.

Keith Sweat, Bell Biv DeVoe, Salt-N-Pepa, 112, Silk, and Troop. 1 South Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.thechaifetzarena. com.

Sat., Oct. 10, 8 p.m., World Wide Technology, Inc. presents An Evening with Cedric the Entertainer and Friends feat. musical guest Patti LaBelle. A St. Louis native and an active philanthropist, Cedric is proud to come back home to host this special gala to support the women’s pavilion, which will be named after his mother Rosetta Boyce Kyles, a former cancer patient at SSM Health

Louis American Foundation presents 2015 Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship & Awards Gala. America’s Center, 701 Convention Plaza, 63101.

For more information, call (314) 533-8000 or visit www. stlamerican.com.

St. Mary’s Hospital. Peabody Opera House, 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit www.ssmstmarys.org.

Sun., Oct. 25, Stevie Wonder: Songs in The Key of Life Performance, Scottrade Center. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Thurs., Oct. 29, Janet Jackson: Unbreakable World Tour, Chaifetz Arena. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

local gigs Tues., Sept. 22, 6 p.m., Missouri History Museum presents Twilight Tuesday: Jeremiah Allen and Friends present a Tribute to Stevie Wonder. 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www.mohistory.org.

Tues., Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m., Sheldon Notes From Home Series Present Wendy L. Gordon & Jeanne Trevor & Friends Memories Lights The Corners Of My Mind, Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd. For Tickets call 314-524-1111 or www.

Metrotix.com

special events Sept. 18-20, 11th annual Budweiser Taste of St. Louis, The event is free to the public and showcases 35+

Featured Event Mon., Sept. 28, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Jamala Rogers, author of Ferguson is America: Roots of Rebellion. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 367-6731 or visit www.left-bank. com.

(In LITERARY)

restaurants, the Stella Artois Chef Battle Royale, the Goose Island School of Cooking Stage, free music concerts, the Marketplace, the ArtWalk, Kids’ Kitchen - Cooking with STEAM, Presented by SCOPE and more! Chesterfield Amphitheater. Visit TasteSTL. com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @ TASTESTL Sat., Sept. 19, 3 p.m., Soldan High School Class of 1973 hosts A Taste of Soldan An All Class Event. Calling the Best 50 Male Cooks of Soldan, men who cook! Entry fee $40.00 per cook, which includes your tent, table, chafers, souvenir apron & hat. Legacy Books & Café, 5249 Delmar Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 520-9848 or visit www.soldanclassof73.com.

Sun., Sept. 20, 2 p.m., M.A.D.E. Moguls hosts 5th Annual Charity Bowling Tournament. Registration is only $150, and includes entry into the tournament, unlimited bowling, free bowling shoes, and custom t-shirts for the entire team. Flamingo Bowl,

1117 Washington Ave, 63101.

For more information, call (314) 200-5348 or visit http:// www.eventbrite.com/e/themade-moguls-5th-annualcharity-bowling-tournament.

Thur., Sept. 24, 8 p.m., Gateway Arch Riverboats Blues Cruise. Experience the sounds of live blues as you cruise down the Mississippi River and enjoy the beautiful St. Louis skyline. Featuring music by Skeet Rodgers & the Inner City Blues Band. 50 S. Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd., 63102. For more information, visit www.gatewayarch.com.

Sept. 24 – 27, Chaifetz Arena presents Disney on Ice: Let’s Celebrate. 1 S. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.thechaifetzarena. com.

Fri., Sept. 25, 5 p.m., St. Mary Magdalen Parish presents Fall Food Festival.

Come out and enjoy a night of great food, fun with the kids, live music, and more. 2618 Brentwood Blvd., 63144.

Fri., Sept. 25, 6 p.m., St.

Sat., October 24, 2015 at 6 pm. The Dr. James Whittico 100th Birthday Scholarship Gala at the St. Louis Airport Marriott. For more information, contact Dr. Jacaqui Turner @jsturner47@ msn.com.

literary Sept. 17- Sept. 20, The City of St. Louis will experience its first poetry festival, inspired by St. Louis’ first Poet Laureate, Dr. Michael Castro. The St. Louis Brick City Poetry Festival will spread throughout the city, taking audiences to different venues from North City to the Delmar Loop to Cherokee Street as we introduce and celebrate up-and-coming poets and word warriors that’ve contributed to St. Louis’ rich literary legacy.

For more information contact 314.541.2491.

Mon., Sept. 28, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Jamala Rogers, author of Ferguson is America: Roots of Rebellion. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 367-6731 or visit www.left-bank.com.

Wed., Sept. 30, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Jocelyn Delk Adams, author of Grandbaby Cakes. This event will feature a tasting of samples courtesy of SweetArt Bakery. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 367-6731 or visit www.left-bank.com.

Thur., Oct. 1, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 – 23, 2015

C3 The Pulitzer has collaborated with local yoga studio Urban Breath Yoga to create a movement and sound class for infants of up to twelve months. For more information and to register, please email programs@ pulitzerarts.org.

Foundation and the 2015 Greater St. Louis Humanities Festival present Elizabeth Terry, John Wright and Patrick McCarthy, authors of Ethnic St. Louis. Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information, call (314) 994-3300 or visit www.slcl. org.

spiritual

Thur., Oct. 8, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Treasure Shields Redmond, author of chop: a collection of kwansabas for fannie lou hamer. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 367-6731 or visit www.left-bank.com.

Sat., Oct. 10, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library hosts Senator John Danforth, author of The Relevance of Religion: How Faithful People Can Change Politics.

The program will be an onstage interview moderated by KTRS host McGraw Milhaven followed by questions from the audience and a book signing.

Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information, call (314) 994-3300 or visit www.slcl. org.

theatre Through September 20, The Black Rep presents Tell Me Somethin’ Good. This critically acclaimed audience favorite is a stroll down memory lane, beginning with street corner acapella doowop and moving through the 60s, 70s, 80s right to hip-hop.

Nonstop music will have you dancing in your seats and in the aisles. Edison Theatre, Washington University, 6445 Forsyth Blvd., 63130. For more information, call (314) 534-3810 or visit www. theblackrep.org.

Mon., Sept. 21, 7 p.m., Missouri History Museum presents All the Way: An Evening with Brandon J. Dirden. 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www.mohistory.org.

Sun., Oct. 4, 5 p.m., Black and Blue, by Gitana productions, written by Lee Patton Chiles will be shown at Parkway United Church of Christ, 2814 N. Ballas Rd, in Town & Country, 63131.

Sat., Oct. 17, 3 p.m., Freshstart Productions presents “How Bad Do You Want It,” a benefit stage play for The Katherine Dunham Museum, The Sun Theatre, 3625 Grandel Square, St. Louis 63108. For more information, call 314.330.3442 or visit www.JLDFreshstartprod.com

arts Through Sept. 27, The Saint Louis Art Museum presents Senufo: Art and Identity in West Africa. One Fine Arts Dr., 63110. For more information, call (314) 7210072 or visit www.slam.org.

Through Sept. 30, Vaughn Cultural Center presents Ten Years After Katrina: Remembering Like it Was Yesterday. 3701 Grandel Square, 63108. For more information, call (314) 6061567 or visit www.racstl.org.

lectures/ workshops Thur., Sept. 17, 7 p.m., Sumner Alumni Association presents Stories from Sumner Panel Discussion. Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. mohistory.org.

Thur., Sept. 17, 7 p.m., Real Estate Investing Training: The “New” Rule of Wholesaling. Southwest Neighborhood Garden Association, 4950 Southwest Ave., 63110. For more information, visit http://www. meetup.com/stlrenetworking/ events.

Sat., Sept. 19, 9 a.m., Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis presents Credit and Money Management Workshop. 8960 Jennings Station Rd., 63136. For more

Through September 20, “HERE IT IS, KNOW LET’S DO IT” Choir Week 2015 with Dr. E. Wayne Evans & St. Louis Progressive Mass Choir. For ore information, visit http:// www.eventbrite.com/e/stlouis-progressive-mass-choir2015-city-wide-choir-weektickets-17627551481?aff=es2

Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith is proud to welcome iconic R&B vocal group Boyz II Men (above), along with special guests comedian Gary Mule Deer and singer/songwriter Nikko Smith, to St. Louis for his third annual “Ozzie & Friends Concert

information or to RSVP, call (314) 737-6086 or visit www. operationhope.org.

Sept. 25, 9:15 a.m., “Welcome Home to the Future of Dance” with keynote address by Alicia Graf Mack. LorettoHilton Center on Webster University’s home campus in Webster Groves. The event is free and open to the public.

To learn more about Webster University’s Centennial celebration, visit http://100. webster.edu.

Sat., Sept. 26, 2 p.m., St. Louis County Library presents In the Know at Your Library: College Fair.

Come and meet admission representatives from colleges across Missouri. Registration recommended. Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information or to register, call (314) 994-3300 or visit www.slcl.org.

Mon., Sept. 28, 7 p.m., YWCA Metro St. Louis presents Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race: A Talk with Debby Irving. YWCA Phyllis Wheatley Heritage Center, 2711 Locust St., 63103.

Thur., Oct. 8, 9 a.m., University of Missouri Extension presents Selling to the Government Seminar.

10650 Gateway Blvd., 63132.

For more information, call (314) 400-7378 or visit www. missouribusiness.net.

Fri., Oct. 23, 4 p.m., Accelerate St. Louis “Friday Meeting”. Drunken Fish in Ballpark Village, 601 Clark Ave., 63102. For more information, call (314) 3459481 or visit www.bit.ly/ SeptemberFridayMeeting.

health Sat., Sept. 19, 9 a.m., Shalom Church City of Peace presents Healthfest 2015. Screenings include mammograms, ECG/EKG, blood pressure, vision testing, and more.

Hazelwood East High School, 11300 Dunn Rd., 63138. For more information and preregistration, call (314) 6532322 or visit www.shalomccop. org.

Sat., Sept. 19, 10 a.m., Missouri Department of Transportation presents 2015 Show Me Safety Fair. Come out for giveaways, food, health screenings, bike helmets, and more. Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers, 5701 Delmar Blvd., 63112.

Sat., Sept. 19, 10 a.m., Junior League of St. Louis presents Strong Women & Families Health & Resource Fair.

Screenings include pediatric exams, vision, hearing, glucose and more. Services and resources include credit counseling, free school supplies, educational resources, and more. Grace Hill Water Tower Hub, 4414 N. Florissant

Ave., 63107. For more information, call (314) 8222344 or visit www.jlsl.org.

Sun., Sept. 20, 12 p.m., St. Louis University Hospital presents Family Fun Day. Admission is free, however, small fees apply for some premium activities. Ballpark Village, 601 Clark Ave., 63102.

For more information, call (314) 345-9481 or visit www. stlballparkvillage.com.

Mon., Sept. 21, 6 p.m., SSM DePaul hosts Treating Chronic Headache and Back Pain. May Conference Center, DePaul Hospital, 12303 DePaul Dr., 63044. For more information or to register, call (866) 776-3627 or visit www. ssmhealth.com/neurosciences.

Sat., Sept. 26, 10 a.m., Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. presents Get Pumped Healthy Heart Kick-off. Come out for free health screenings, exercise

demonstrations, giveaways, and more. O’Fallon Park Recreational Complex YMCA, 4343 W. Florissant Ave., 63115. For more information, call (314) 862-2933 ext. 246.

Sun., Sept. 27, 9 a.m., Foundation Fighting Blindness presents 9th Annual St. Louis VisionWalk. Help raise awareness and funds for sight-saving research for retinal diseases including retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration and Usher syndrome, which affect more than $10 million Americans.

People are invited to form teams or walk independently at the free, family-friendly event, which will also include activities for children, refreshments, entertainment and more. Tower Grove Park Pool Pavilion, 4256 Magnolia Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www.fightblindness.org/ stlouisvisionwalk.

Fri., Sept. 18, 7 p.m., Kingdom State University Pre Launch Concert feat. KB. Come rock with Christian Hip Hop artist, Kevin Burgess (KB), and join us for a pre-launch celebration of Kingdom State University (KSU) Ministries.

Sun Theater, 3625 Grandel Theater, 63108. For more information, call (314) 384-9960 or visit www. kingdomsu.org/kbconcert.

Sun., Sept. 20, 9 a.m., New Northside MB Church 113th Church Anniversary: Not Forsaking Coming Together.

The Rev. Ronald Bobo of Westside Baptist Church will bring the anniversary sermon.

We invite all visitors, former members and well-wishers to join in this celebration. 8645 Goodfellow Blvd., 63147. For more information, visit www. newnorthsidebaptist.org.

Sun., Sept. 27, 3 p.m., Jeremiah Free Will Baptist Church Women’s Day. Guest speaker is Pastor Velda Peals of St. John Baptist Church in Alton, IL. Jeremiah Free Will Baptist Church 538 South 35th Street, East St. Louis, IL 62207.

Rev. Dr. H. T. Goodwin Sr., pastor.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2015

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STYLE

If one partner isn’t too keen on getting “suited and booted” and the other is, the couple should be able to come to a compromise on what to wear.

n

Continued from C1

BLACK-ISH Continued from C1 own Jenifer Lewis – is loosely based on Barris’ life. The show has been hailed as a modern-day “Cosby Show.”

Both Anderson and Barris took the “Cosby Show” comparisons as the highest compliment and gave that show, which aired on NBC 1984 to 1992, credit for paving the way for them. Yet Barris and Anderson were eager to point out contrasts between the two shows. “’The Cosby Show’ was about a family that happened to be black and they didn’t run from it, but this is a family that is absolutely black,” Barris said.

“They are unapologetically black,” Anderson said.

As such, they feel like they are trailblazers in their own right as far as network television goes. “Now all of a sudden it becomes something where you don’t have to run from who you are,” Barris said.

N-word in primetime For the season premiere, “Black-ish” ambitiously takes on the N-word as the central theme of its show “The Word.” One of the Johnson children gets reprimanded at school for using the word, and it sparks rippling debate and controversy.

“In this time where we’re

supposed to be this elevated society, it’s still just as prevalent as it was during Jim Crow,” Barris said.

“We try to make sure to give our characters an honest voice with varying perspectives, because as a people we are not monolithic.

We have lots of different points of view. We’re trying to explore this word from a lot of different standpoints.”

Anderson and Barris hinted at holding opposing views on the word after Anderson admitted to using it as a part of his vernacular.

“Growing up in Compton, California, these are the words that I grew up using,” Anderson said. “Depending on how you say it, the inflection and the tone you use, it’s a term of endearment. It can also be used to mean get the [expletive] away from me.

When I use it, it’s a term of endearment among my peer group.”

“It’s a tribal call,” Barris chimed in.

“Do I use it amongst mixed company?” Anderson said.

“No. Am I offended when I hear it [from non-blacks]?

Yes.” “I hope that it resonates,” Barris said. “We’re sure that it will absolutely cause a lot of conversations, both for and against the topic and the episode itself.”

Season two of ‘Black-ish’ premieres on Wednesday, September 23 at 8:30 p.m.

CST on ABC. Check local listings for channels and visit www.abc.com/blackish for

the star of the show when it comes to styling as a couple.

Our options are endless. But complimenting one’s partner isn’t as easy as one might suspect. If one’s partner is a little on the “tacky” side – like wearing a red, three-quarterlength, pinstriped zoot suit with white gator shoes, “tacky” – it may be hard for a woman to aesthetically keep in step with her flamboyant boo. Instead of leaving the wardrobe selection to the guy, one should definitely take the style lead and choose the look for the evening.

But if one’s mate is the type to be hip to style trends, it should be easy to compliment his style.

“Darius is super conscious of his overall style aesthetic, which is definitely a good thing. And sometimes, he even tries (emphasis on tries) to get my look together,” Marquita Chapman said of her husband.

“But overall, we have a simple approach when it comes to our style as a couple. We like to look like a million bucks, but we also like to have a little

ART Continued from C1 presentation of the artist’s work to date and the first exhibition of his hybrids that pair landscape paintings with inset details of the photographs he painted from.

The show includes an entire room of what Uslip called the artist’s “improvisational barbershop” paintings. It’s the barbershops more than the paintings that were improvised.

As Anderson quietly looked on, Uslip described how Jamaican immigrants improvised their own barbershops in attic spaces after being denied service by white British barbers. This series began, Uslip said,

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

edge. I love wearing a bright color, while Darius keeps it sleek but fly by incorporating different fabrics like velvet into his suits.”

Many couples also have the same approach to their “stepping out” style as they do to their grooming. When it comes to the ladies, we know it will be an all-day process, including hair, make-up and nails. With some men, after a

fresh haircut, they’re ready to roll.

“I have had plenty of couples come to me for grooming purposes,” said Keisha Reece of Beauty by Reecey. “The man might need facial care and even a little blemish covering for a photo shoot or appearance purposes.

And, of course, most women get a full beat.”

The St. Louis American

Foundation’s 28th Annual Salute To Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Gala will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday, September 25 at America’s Center. For tickets or more information, call (314) 533-8000 or visit www.stlamerican.com.

Follow Danie Rae @ style_broker on Twitter and Instagram.

when the artist discovered a photograph of his father, Stepford Anderson, getting his hair cut.

Uslip pointed out that the “improvisational barbershop” photos are dominated by blank spaces – smudges of color, rather than distinct renderings.

This has the powerful effect of suggesting distant memories, where a powerful experience has been recollected, but not in realistic detail.

Anderson also uses a smudgy, abstracted technique in his landscape paintings.

Given the use of greens and other earth tones, Uslip described them evocatively as “camouflage paintings,” and noted the artist’s technique of allowing his stabs of paint to drip down the canvas as giving “the feeling of slipping away.”

“This work suggests the possibilities of what landscape can say about our own personalities,” Uslip said.

The barbershop scenes and landscapes are all gorgeous, vivid paintings that are extremely easy on the eye, particularly in a space like the Contemporary, where one expects to be challenged, as much as pleased.

More challenging and less pleasing, at least to these eyes, are Anderson’s monumental drawings, which look like scribbles, and his sculptures, which are replicas of cartons of carryout food or manufactured products, such as fried chicken or hair dye. Uslip described the sculptures as Anderson’s “most politically courageous work,” which seems a huge stretch.

The sculpture was described as

“previously unseen,” however, making it a curatorial coup.

The inclusion of the sculptures, drawings and hybrids is what makes this show the “most comprehensive” exhibition yet devoted to an artist best known as a painter. Uslip can certainly be forgiven for including less visually pleasing work in order to show St. Louis, the United States and the world new dimensions of an important artist, for whom Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis will always be a major career milestone.

“Hurvin Anderson: Backdrop” is on display at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, 3750 Washington Blvd., through December 27. Visit camstl.org.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2015

Ferguson gets after-school chess program

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Ascension partners with St. Louis Chess Club and Scholastic Center

By Mariah Stewart Ferguson Fellow The world’s largest nonprofit health system has partnered with the St. Louis Chess Club and Scholastic Center to help launch a new after-school chess program for the FergusonFlorissant school district.

Faculty, students, and staff gathered inside of Walnut Grove Elementary’s library on Tuesday, September 15 to hear of Ascension Health’s new collaboration. The program was opened on Tuesday for all 20 of the district’s middle and elementary schools.

Ascension, headquartered in St. Louis, is the nation’s largest nonprofit and faith-based healthcare system, offering personalized holistic care in 24 states and the District of Columbia. Ascension Health extends its services inside hospitals, outpatient centers, and senior, home health and long-term care facilities.

Among the excited children

in the library stood three grandmasters: Four-time United States Champion Yasser Seirawan, Central America’s first grandmaster; Alejandro Ramirez; and the first AfricanAmerican International Grandmaster of chess, Maurice Ashley.

Ashley, who is capable of playing 10 chess games at a time while blindfolded, came to the elementary school to attest to how chess changed his life for the better.

Ashley grew up in tough neighborhoods in Kingston, Jamaica and Brooklyn, New York. He is now a three-time national chess championship coach, a two-time author, ESPN commentator, iPhone app designer, puzzle inventor and a motivational speaker.

“Chess is something that can take you all over the world,” said Ashley. He told the students about the many places he has visited around the world and famous people he has met because of chess.

Photo by Mariah Stewart

Maurice Ashley, the first African-American International Grandmaster of chess, talked about chess and life to students of the Walnut Grove Elementary School on September 15.

Ashley told a fun story about how Jada-Pinkett Smith paid him to teach Will Smith chess for Valentine’s Day. That relationship was accompanied with perks of attending Hollywood movie premieres.

“Every time I meet someone like that, I think, ‘Chess really did that for me?’”

Throughout his career, Ashley has reached out to at-risk youth and shared his vision on the benefits of chess.

“One day you may compete in national championships,” Ashley told the students. “It’s a great game to learn and a lot of fun, and I’m really happy that Ascension is doing this. It takes great corporate partners to make things work sometimes.”

Jerry Meyers, a chess master, once wrote an article featured in the New York Times

highlighting the benefits of chess programs in schools.

Meyers cited a five-year study of seventh- and eighthgraders by Robert Ferguson of the Bradford School District in Pennsylvania. The

activities,” Dungeons and Dragons, problem solving with computers, independent study and creative writing.

Meyers also cited an experiment in Marina, California that indicated that

n “Chess is something that can take you all over the world.”

– Maurice Ashley

study showed that test scores improved 17.3 percent for students regularly engaged in chess classes, compared with only 4.56 percent for children participating in other forms of “enrichment

after only 20 days of instruction in chess, students’ academic performance improved dramatically. George L. Stephenson, math department chairman, reported that 55 percent of students showed

significant improvement in academic performance after this brief instruction in chess.

“Chess is another opportunity to give you more skills in your brain so that you become even smarter so you can work in places like Ascension and FergusonFlorissant and all over this country,” said FergusonFlorissant Superintendent Joseph Davis.

Three lucky students went on to play chess with the three grandmasters. Ashley says he plans to come back and visit the students at Walnut Grove Elementary to see if they have improved their games – in chess and life.

This story is published as part of a partnership between The Huffington Post and The St. Louis American.

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2015

By Melanie Adams

History Museum opens ‘Arch Perspectives’

Celebrates 50th anniversary of Gateway Arch with exhibition, programs

I have to admit I usually only go to the St. Louis Arch when I have family or friends in town. My most recent visit was two years ago with my brother, sister-in-law and three nephews, who were in town visiting from New Jersey.

We drove down to the landing and walked up the hundreds (it was not that many, but it felt like it) of stairs to the base of Arch. When we got to the Arch, my family went up while I decided that I didn’t need to squeeze myself into the egg-like container to make the trip to the top. As I waited below I wondered what could they be doing up there for almost 45 minutes.

When you are local, it is easy to forget the aweinspiring views from the small Arch windows and the feeling of wonder of the creation of such a monument.

In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the St. Louis Arch, the Missouri History Museum worked with students from the University of Missouri St. Louis Museum Studies program to design and install an exhibition entitled “Arch Perspectives.” This exhibition looks at the different ways the Arch is used by the community for celebrations, such as Fair St. Louis and for protests, as we saw last year with the events in Ferguson.

The Arch means different things to different communities and this exhibit tries to capture those stories through both historical and personal accounts. The exhibition also welcomes visitors to provide their Arch stories – stories that tell their favorite memories of the Arch.

Aside from my family’s visit, my favorite Arch story happened during one of the concerts that used to take place at the Arch in July. The concert performer was Musiq Soulchild, but that was not what made it such a great night. The concert happened around the time of Michael Jackson’s death, and the almost 30-minute firework show was accompanied by Jackson’s greatest hits. Imagine being surrounded by thousands of people on the St. Louis waterfront, dancing in the dark to Michael Jackson. That was a good night at the Arch.

To accompany the exhibition, the Museum staff planned programs that focus on the Arch and its relevance to the St. Louis community.

From a discussion with Percy Green about the employment issues related to the Arch to a discussion with the daughter of Arch architect Eero Saarinen, the programs reflect history of this National Monument.

As the St. Louis Arch commemorates 50 years, I hope you will take this opportunity to not only visit the exhibition, but also to be a tourist in your own hometown and visit the Arch. The view is just as great as it was the first time you experienced it.

“Arch Perspectives” exhibition Bank of America Atrium • Free Come see the Gateway Arch as a monument to Thomas Jefferson and westward expansion.

But for many of us, the Arch is St Louis, our

Senufo West African Decorative Arts Contributing Writer: Jennifer A. Doyle, Associate Educator

Gateway Arch shadow over downtown.

Photograph by Arthur Witman, 1965.

Arthur Witman Arch Photograph Collection. State Historical Society of Missouri–St. Louis.

imperfect home. We celebrate there, but we also come to the Arch to debate who we are, what we believe in, and what we want our city to be.

From its origins in the Great Depression to the present-day renovation, the Arch tells the story of St. Louis.

The St. Louis Arch: An Unfulfilled Promise of Employment Thursday, September 24, 2015 at 7:00pm Lee Auditorium • FREE Local activist Percy Green talks with Missouri History Museum curator Gwen Moore about his fight for jobs for African Americans during the construction of the Gateway Arch.

50th Anniversary of the St. Louis Arch Wednesday, October 28, 2015 Bank of America Atrium and Lee Auditorium • FREE Join us as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the completion of the Gateway Arch.

9:30am to 11am: Meet-and-greet with numerous construction workers who helped build the Arch 10am, 11am, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm: Monument to the Dream film screening 12pm: “The Gateway Arch: An Icon for Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”—A panel discussion with National Park Service historian Bob Moore, landscape architect Susan Saarinen (daughter of Arch architect Eero Saarinen), and others

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Less than two weeks remain to visit Senufo: Art and Identity in West Africa, the Saint Louis Art Museum’s featured summer exhibition.

Showcasing nearly 170 objects drawn from museums and private collections in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, the exhibition examines dynamic forms of visual art labeled “Senufo.” These magnificent figures, masks, and decorative arts date from the 19th through early 20th centuries and originate from related communities in an area spanning the West African nations of Côte dʼIvoire, Burkina Faso, and Mali.

In addition to the extensive selection of figural works and masks commissioned and used by men’s and women’s societies, the exhibition showcases decorative arts employed in domestic spaces. These household objects include large, hand-formed terracotta pots used to hold various liquids, including water and millet beer, as well as smaller, intricately carved wooden figural vessels used to hold shea butter, a rich substance used in food preparation, medication, and cosmetics. Also featured is an array of weaving implements, known as heddle pulleys, and other fine items such as a game board and lidded box In addition to the extensive selection of figural works and masks commissioned and used by men’s and women’s societies, the exhibition showcases decorative arts employed in domestic spaces. These household objects include large, hand-formed terracotta pots used to hold various liquids, including water and millet beer, as well as smaller, intricately carved wooden figural vessels used to hold shea butter, a rich substance used in food preparation, medication, and cosmetics. Also featured is an array of weaving implements, known as heddle pulleys, and other fine items such as a game board and lidded box. Often used, commissioned, and sometimes made by women, these domestic objects – as well as others that appear in another section of the exhibition devoted to divination and healing – underscore women’s roles in the creation and consumption of objects.

Midway through the exhibition you will find the Engagement Gallery, where you can sit and closely view a group of brass miniatures and adornments, also labeled Senufo, from the Saint Louis Art Museumʼs extensive collection of West African arts in metal. These finely made figurines, pendants, rings, and bracelets feature both abstract and representational designs and fulfilled a variety of purposes. The assortment includes small objects used for divination as well as those that were worn for personal decoration.

After using a magnifying glass to examine these works, you are welcome to experiment with sorting and classifying images of the miniatures on a community magnet board. You may also draw and write about these arts in metal in the activity space.

The diverse works featured in Senufo: Art and

Caryatid Vessel; probably Côte d’Ivoire; wood; h. 11 11/16 inches; Private collection; Photograph © Studio R. Asselberghs–Frédéric Dehaen, Brussels

Identity in West Africa offer an expanded view of the Senufo-speaking region’s dynamic arts traditions while questioning the application of the term “Senufo” to peoples, languages, places, and objects. The exhibition traces how these arts have been encountered, defined, and reconsidered from the early 20th century to the present, examining their significance through many shifting perspectives. Starting with the interests of European and American scholars, artists, and collectors during the first half of the 20th century, and concluding with new perspectives that shatter the boundaries of objects typically identified as Senufo, this compelling exhibition encourages visitors to think critically about the construction of identity and to focus on the individuality of art objects.

Senufo: Art and Identity in West Africa will be on view through September 27 in the Main Exhibition Galleries at the Saint Louis Art Museum. If your group or organization would like to see this extraordinary display of West African art and culture, please contact Renee Franklin, Director of Audience Development, at renee.franklin@slam.org. For a complete listing of programs related to the exhibition, please visit www.slam.org.

Religion

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2015

‘Painting Prayers’ at MOCRA

‘The Calligraphic Art of Salma Arastu’ makes art from sacred texts American staff

“Painting Prayers: The Calligraphic Art of Salma Arastu” opened September 13 at Saint Louis University’s Museum of Contemporary Religious Art (MOCRA) and closes December 6.

Drawing on her Hindu and Muslim background, and combining expertise in Arabic calligraphy with Abstract Expressionism and Color Field painting, Salma Arastu creates large, evocative canvases that invite viewers into quiet contemplation on texts from the Quran, the poet Rumi and other sources.

Text from the Quran that inspired paintings include: “Who listens to the (soul) distressed when it calls on Him, and who relieves its suffering” (Al-Quran 27:62); and “Peace! - a word (of salutation) from a Lord Most Merciful!” (Al-Quran 36:58).

Arastu was born in Rajasthan, India, and graduated with a Masters in Fine Arts from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India. She presently resides in the San Francisco Bay area. Arastu works in a variety of media, including painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture.

Raised in Hinduism, Arastu later embraced Islam through her marriage.

While living in Iran and Kuwait, she was fascinated by the beauty of Arabic calligraphy and began incorporating passages into her work.

“I paint to express the prayers of my heart, and intend for the energy of the calligraphy, powered by the positive messages from the texts, to reveal the joy and celebration that I experience while creating them,” Arastu said. “Each verse I portray gives me strength and peace,

“Peace - Greeting from the Beneficent Lord,” Salma Arastu

and I hope to instill these feelings in my viewers.”

MOCRA will display works from two of her most recent series. “Celebration of Calligraphy” harmoniously blends traditional Arabic calligraphy with Abstract Expressionism and Color Field painting, featuring lyrical, dynamic passages from the Quran flowing across dense layers of rich color.

She can quote the Quran at length in her work, such as Al-Quran 19:13: “O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).”

She also combines sacred texts from separate traditions, such as “God Is One,” which incorporates verses from

Christian, Jewish, Islamic and Hindu sacred texts about the Oneness of God. Arastu said: “My purpose is to reach out to a broad community in the pursuit of peace; to celebrate diversity, and create a positive interfaith dialogue through art that subtly penetrates the human heart to evoke response.”

Her works are found in numerous private and public collections, such as the 9/11 Memorial Museum, New York; the Museum of Modern Art, Hyderabad, India; the National Gallery of Art, New Delhi, India; the Islamic Museum of Australia, Melbourne; and the State Museum of the Arts, Harrisburg, PA. MOCRA is located at 3700 West Pine Mall Blvd., a pedestrian mall on the campus of Saint Louis University. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $5/adults, $1/students and children.

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The Message

Technicolor is better

to communicate elsewhere to I’ve discovered more about people who knew you when and people I thought I knew after did all those things with you that being saved than I ever thought you don’t do anymore. possible before I was saved. My It can be tough. If it were not analogy is that I saw the world for those Christians who can and and my friends as old black do relate to this, those who know and white movies. Now they where they are today compared come across in Technicolor and to where they were yesterday, I Surround Sound. It seems that might still see the world as only being kindred spirits in Christ, black and white, filled with a we got it like that now. bunch of gray people. Believe Then there are those who me, Technicolor is better. couldn’t and still can’t relate That’s why it is so easy for to me now. There were and are me to relate to Paul. You want so-called friends of mine in this to talk about a transformation! group too. It’s hard to explain, It’s a wonder Paul lived to tell but Bible study, tithing, regular anyone about Jesus. His life church attendance, prayer, before the road-to-Damascus praise and an honest attempt at enlightenment is a wholesome living can testament to what I’m bring out an unusual talking about. Why reaction in some folk. should anyone believe I know, because I used anything that came from to be one of those people Paul’s murderous mouth? who avoided anyone and I suppose the answer in anything that invited God hindsight is a pretty good into my life. I wasn’t one. The words that came malicious or anything. out of Paul’s mouth were It just wasn’t part of my Columnist indeed put there by Jesus, program. So I understood James the reaction I was getting Washington the same Christ who knocked me down and from those in this group.

Some thought it was a picked me up as He also phase, others an addiction, and did Paul. I’ve changed because still others felt I was on some I had no choice in this matter.

And if you’re saved, you don’t kind of moral guilt trip that I’d either. just get over. Many couldn’t But don’t worry about it. see the serious nature of my This is a new me and a new transformation because they too you with a new life and new saw me only in terms of black responsibilities. I think you’ll and white. find as Paul did that the point is Others just refused to accept who you have become and not God as the reason that my how others view you. behavior changed. There just Sooner or later they’ll come had to be another reason. I must to understand the change is real, have a hidden agenda. Salvation and they’ll just have to adjust to and eternity are vague concepts. you – or disappear. Or, if they What does eternity have to do don’t, you will. with right here, right now?

James A. Washington is What is so easy to publisher and editor of The acknowledge in church and Dallas Weekly. in Bible study is at times impossible, difficult at best,

C8

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 – 23, 2015

Celebrations Birthdays

Anniversaries

FREE OF CHARGE

Happy 5th Birthday to Cortez J. “C.J.” McDowell on September 10!

Happy 1st Anniversary to my husband, Ricardo Westfall (top, left) , on September 13. This has been amazing beginning of a lifetime journey that I wouldn’t want to share with anyone else! Love, Teara Jerry and Sarah Harris (left), you both are a wonderful example of love, relations and family. Happy Anniversary as you celebrate 51 years of marriage on September 10, 2015. We love you!

Mr. & Mrs. Marcus Henderson (top), will celebrate years of marriage on September 20, 2015. Happy Anniversary!

Reunions All reunion announcements can be viewed online!

Beaumont High School Class of 1965 will celebrate their 50th Class Reunion on September 26, 2015 at the Royale Orleans, 2801 Telegraph. Dinner dance with open bar is $65/person. For additional information contact Geraldine Carter-Reid at 314868-8284 or bluejackets65@ gmail.com.

Beaumont Class of 1970 will be celebrating their 45th Class Reunion Saturday, October 24,2015, at Catering to You.12775 New Halls Ferry Rd,63033. For more info please contact: Oneita (Meeks) Murphy: (314) 322-4205, Chuck Campbell: (314) 5204581, Toni (Brady) Hopson: beaumontclassof1970@gmail. com, or see our Facebook page.

Beaumont High School – Class of 1980 has planned its 35-year class reunion.

However all BHS Alumni are welcome to attend. Fri, Nov 13 – Sun., Nov. 15, 2015 Hotel Lumiere; Info available on www.eventbrite. com; Search on Beaumont

is inviting classes ‘87-‘93 to join them Saturday October 24, 2015 from 7pm -1am at the Bus Drivers Hall located at 1600 S. Broadway St. Louis, MO 63104. Tickets are $10 in adv. and $15 at the door.

For more info, contact Talisha Shelton at (314)363-1064 or on Facebook @Roosevelt class of 90.

Hazelwood East Class of 1995 will be celebrating their 20 year class reunion on Saturday, September 26th, 2015 at Dave and Busters.

For more information, please contact kpeoples33@gmail. com

Soldan Class of ‘65 presents: “On the Road Again” to Washington, DC. Cost: $479 per-person, double occupancy, 6-Days and 5-Nights, Thurs.

June 2- Tues. June 7, 2016.

First payment due now $75 each person. For more information and reservations contact: Corinne Stuckes (636)-294-4373, Brenda Yancey (314)-830-1334 or Isaiah Hair, Jr. (314)-387-7592 email: cstukes@charter.net.

Roosevelt High School Class of 1990 is hosting a “Rough Rider Alumni Reunion” and

St. Louis American Celebrations c/o Kate Daniel 2315 Pine St. St. Louis, MO 63103

Happy 1st Birthday to our little cousin Aiden L. Wilson on September 16!

Class of 1980. We need your home and/or email address immediately. Cutoff for reservations is Sat., Oct. 31, 2015. For more information, please contact: Terri Harris Pruitt: terrilynnhpruitt@att. net, 314-478-8923; Janice Lindsey Alphin: jmaphin1@ yahoo.com, 314-330-7881.

Call evenings only please.

Soldan Class of 1971 is planning its 45-year reunion for: June 17-19, 2016 at the Ameristar Casino Resort & Spa. In addition, the class will present a Harvest Dance from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at the Barrington Downs Clubhouse, 3898 Grand National Drive, Florissant,

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, graduation, 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:

Mo. 63034. Tickets are $15 each and may be purchased in advance only. No tickets will be sold at the door. B.Y.O.B. Set ups available. For tickets and more information call 314385-9554 or 636-486-2621.

Sumner High School Class of 1966 is planning their 50th Class Reunion. Please contact Ella Scott at 314-436-1696, Els2188@sbcglobal.net with your name, address and email or join the Sumner Class of 1966 Facebook Group page.

Sumner Alumni Association presents its Maroon and White Homecoming Week Oct. 11-17, 2015. The Sumner Class of 1980 kicks off Homecoming week with a Sunday Jazz Session at Dejavu II, Bowl with us Mon. at Crest Bowl, Family Skate Party Tues. at Skate King, Alumni Happy Hour Wed. at Dejavu II, Ladies Maroon & White Kick Ball Game & Men’s Flag Foot-Ball Game Thurs. at SHS, Alumni Dance Fri., 8 pm – 1 am at the Machinist Hall; $15 Advance/$20 Door (Vendors welcome $50 request appl.), Parade Sat. 10 am, Tailgate Party noon at SHS, Sumner’s

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 Homecoming Football Game at Sumner at 1 pm Sumner vs. Vashon. For tickets or more info, contact Ms. Prissy at 314.556.3944, Michelle Elgin at 314.452.1275, Sheila Goodwin SHS 314.371.1048 (Parade) or email: sumneralumniassn@yahoo. com.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2015

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Celebrity Swag Snap of the Week

Louisiana rapper and St. Louis favorite Lil Boosie stopped through Hot 104.1 FM studios before he blazed the stage Friday night at The Ambassador.

Alleah, Amriss, Manda, and Jasmine were just a few of the lovely ladies who came through to kick it with the men of the Alpha Eta Chapter of Alpha phi Alpha Saturday @ The Rustic Goat

Photo by Christopher Hawkins

Lisa West celebrated her birthday with friends Leslie, Denise and Sheila Sunday @ Ballpark Village’s PBR for the 4Play Day Party

Kimberly and Angie enjoyed the scene as they watched the Mayweather vs. Berto fight @ Knockouts Bar and Grill Saturday night

Salute countdown. Salute 28 is eight days away and while I will almost certainly be in Saran Wrap as I squeeze into my soul-slaying ensemble, I’m so excited I can barely stand it. We will have America’s Center on lock next Friday (September 25). It’s like I get to go to prom every single year – and fix every style mistake I made over the course of my junior high and high school career. Although I have a feeling I will never truly live down the turquoise dress, black tights and white Payless pumps fashion fail of tenth grade – trust and believe I’m trying to redeem myself. Listen, if you haven’t been to a Salute you are missing out on the best formal gathering of the year. Once we honor the stars of local education, we get all the way down. And you know it’s gonna be cracking at our Old School Afterparty (presented by Premiere Production Choice) with DJ Kut of Old School 95.5 FM on the tables. Even though I don’t have to because Salute sells itself, I try to hip y’all to it every year. Ask any of the folks who take my advice annually whether or not they have the time of their lives. I can’t promise anything, but we might have a few scattered seats. Call (314) 533-8000 or visit www.stlamerican.com to see if you can get in where you fit in.

Boosie in the Building. I made my way to the Ambassador Friday night for the Lil Boosie show. While I was underwhelmed by the size of the crowd – the turnup once he hit the stage had it feeling like the crowd was at capacity, even though everyone could easily fit in VIP. Boosie put on quite the show too. He spent plenty of time talking about how St. Louis has been riding with him from the get, and the way everybody – even the wait staff and custodians – knew every single lyric of every track he sang along with. Well, except for when it came time to spell out the title to his trapped out single woman anthem “Independent.” All sorts of letters were being shouted out to the universe at different times and in the most unsynchronized of manners. When I heard the poor soul next to me holler “I-E-N-E-D-E-P-T” I wanted to run home, dub a copy of “Hooked on Phonics” and smuggle it into her purse. Speaking of poor souls, who was that little thing trotting around in the fishnet dress that left absolutely nothing to anybody’s imagination? And she took it to the next level by having on see-through underwear as well. She shouldn’t have been able to enter the club like that, but walking in she had her Yaki draped across her bosom. After going hard for Boosie with her hands in the air, all her little business was in the street.

Birthday shout out for Shorty. I made my way to HG to show love to my baby bro Shorty Da Prince for his birthday party, but I was so caught up in Boosie’s ratchet rapture that I almost missed out. Nothing but death could keep me from kicking it with my baby bro, so I zoomed on over and caught the last little bit of his set. What I saw, I really enjoyed. I was not expecting him to have a full-on band. But he rocked it out on that stage, do you hear me? And plenty of the city came through to show him love doing it. I must say that Laudie (On The Track) embracing his Panamanian roots through his hair game is going to take me some getting used to. The natural hair movement includes the naturally silky too.

The men of the Alpha Eta Chapter of Alpha phi Alpha had to step outside to take a picture because the inside was so crazy packed Saturday night @ The Rustic Goat Saturday.

Shannon and LaTrese watched some bull riding and enjoyed each other’s company @ PBR for the 4play Day Party Sunday Photos by Lawrence Bryant & John Scott

Lex and promoter Dion eagerly posed as Boosie prepared to perform Friday night @ The Ambassador

Ani and Kamaya made sure they were up to the Style Code Saturday @ Mood

Queen Mocha Latte and Deerra kept their weekend going Saturday night @ HG

The bust of Mayweather’s last bout. For Floyd Mayweather Jr. to be so extra, he left boxing with a whisper this weekend! I mean to tell you that nobody was bothering with him vs. Berto baby. You would’ve thought it was a secret fight club and not the last hoorah for somebody who has dominated the sport and is preparing to bow out 49-0. He won, and people were like, “Oh well, he’ll be back.”

Because so few were checking for Floyd, I wouldn’t count it out. And for it to be a Mayweather affair, the afterparty action wasn’t hittin’ like one would expect either.

By the end of the undercard fights, Knockouts had a nice crowd but that was about the size of it.

Frat night over fight night. When I made my way to St. Louis’ new urban club district – i.e. from 19th and Locust through Washington and Jefferson – I thought that the fight party action was on official because of the traffic and the line that stretched almost to the Crown Mart at Jefferson and Martin Luther King Drive. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Those Alphas had that block hot for their set at the Rustic Goat, and it had nothing to do with Floyd Mayweather. I felt like I was caught up in a party scene for a new film about black college life. I’m telling you, it was like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I don’t see how they had the room to do so, but they were strolling up in that Rustic Goat for dear life. I was scared that the Kappas were one shoulder shimmy away from invading somebody’s personal space to the point of no return, but they made it work – so did the AKAs, Deltas and of course the Alphas. It was indeed one of those unforgettable black frat parties.

A day party rodeo. The stars were aligned for the 4-Play Day party to be another grand slam with respect to the glorious weather and the Ballpark Village location. And the thought was people were probably looking to celebrate the Rams’ tradition of beating the NFL powerhouse Seattle Seahawks yet, nobody else. Well, the Rams won, but the day party quietly lost when compared to epicness that was the last day party at Ballpark Village. I did get to see the lovely Lisa West looking absolutely fabulous in a black two-piece short set and some black pumps that had to be from her collection of red bottoms. I also made rare sightings of my girls Brittanye Skye and Maranda Witherspoon, who I haven’t seen kicking it in ages.

Even though it wasn’t bursting at the seams, I still managed to get the most life of my weekend by watching tragic attempts of a few brave ladies who thought it was going to be as easy as it looks to reenact the mechanical bull scene from “Urban Cowboy.” The keel-over was real. I started laughing uncontrollably the moment the young lady in a skirt hopped on because I knew what had to be in store. I almost choked to death when she was flung off head-first before the bull could get a single groove going.

Shay and Dfashionista were dolled up Saturday @ HG

Brittanye Skye and Maranda Witherspoon were among the STL movers and shakers in the spot for the 4Play Day Party Sunday @ PBR in Ballpark Village

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Page 2

My old school, southern-bred mother was appalled to learn that my then 2-year-old used words like vagina and penis. She could not believe I had taught her such language because she of course had taught me to say “private parts” and use nicknames such as “pocket book.”

Well, I suppose my liberating medical education had freed me from that type of sexual bondage and I dared to embrace body parts for what they were intended to be called.

As I matured even further in this journey, I began to see how so many adult women were still hindered by male-dominated social norms and old-fashioned myths about their bodies. I recall being taught not to bathe/shower or wash my hair while menstruating because this would cause illness. And let us not venture into the bedroom. I’m sure women in my mother’s generation thought it was normal to be directed in sexual intercourse by their partners and would have never considered telling their partners what was actually pleasurable to them.

I know women even today who have never actually explored their bodies to learn what pleases them. Where did such practices originate? Were these behaviors part of the reason why medical advances for women in regards to their sexual

YOUR HEALTH MATTERS

Sexual dysfunction

health lagged so far behind • Desire disorders-lack of those for men? sexual desire or interest When drugs such as • Arousal disorders-inViagra and Levitra hit the ability to become physically market, men across the world aroused or excited during sexrejoiced because they could ual activity now continue to experience • Orgasm disorders-desexual satisfaction even lay or absence of climax or though they were advancing orgasm in age. And please don’t get • Pain disorders-pain me wrong, sexual health is an during intercourse extremely important aspect Although the research of a man’s mental well-besuggests that more women ing. However, fewer men have problems with sexual Denise Hooks have issues as compared to dysfunction than men, very Anderson, M.D. women, 31 percent versus few women, for example, in 43 percent respectively. So, my practice have complained. when I learned that there was a possible Embarrassment has always been my solution to some of the concerns women assumption for this hesitancy in reportface as it relates to their sexual enjoying this important medical problem. ment, I was excited. No pun intended!

For instance, only a small percentage of Sexual dysfunction can occur at any women experience orgasm during interage and is defined as a disruption in the course yet rarely do women mention this sexual response cycle that inhibits a couto me during their exams. ple from experiencing sexual satisfaction.

There are many causes of sexual dysExcitement (desire and arousal), plateau, function and they can be divided into orgasm and resolution comprise the sexphysical and psychological. Conditions ual response cycle. Problems at any one such as heart disease, diabetes, neuroof these levels interferes with overall logical disorders, hormonal imbalances satisfaction. and a host of other health problems can Sexual dysfunction is classified in all cause sexual dysfunction. Stress as it four different categories: relates to work, marital relationship or finances also contribute to sexual dysfunction. Past history of sexual trauma/ abuse is a common reason for women to experience problems in their sexual relationships. Both women and men may also have issues with body image.

By now, many of you have been listening to all of the dialogue about the “female Viagra” pill, flibanserin, recently

September 17 – 23, 2015

approved by the FDA for premenopausal women with sexual dysfunction.

However, the first misconception to correct is that flibanserin is NOT Viagra and its exact mechanism of action is unknown, but it is believed to correct an imbalance of a chemical in the brain which is responsible for sexual desire.

Per the manufacturer, Addyi, the brand name for flibanserin, is billed to be a remedy for women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder. The drug’s effectiveness ranges anywhere from 8 to 13 percent. Side effects include low blood pressure, dizziness and fainting.

Furthermore, many of these side effects are exacerbated by alcohol thereby prompting the FDA to require a boxed warning label inside the package advising against alcohol use while on the medication.

This is not the first time this drug has attempted FDA approval and with such a low efficacy rate it makes you wonder why it was approved. Only certified pharmacies and providers will have access to this medication, but only after special training has been completed.

Therefore, my excitement for a substantial therapeutic option for women was slightly premature. Again, no pun intended. Both providers and patients will have to wait and see if Addyi is all that it is cracked up to be.

Yours in Service, Denise Hooks-Anderson, M.D. Assistant Professor SLUCare Family Medicine yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com

Your Health Matters

A bi-monthly special supplement of the St. Louis American

September 17, 2015 Your Health Matters provides up-to-date information, from an African-American perspective, about one of the most important subjects in evryone’s life – their personal health.

Donald M. Suggs, President and Publisher Kevin Jones, Senior Vice President, COO Dina M. Suggs, Senior Vice President Chris King, Editorial Director Denise Hooks Anderson, M.D., Medical Accuracy Editor Sandra Jordan, Health Reporter Debbie Chase, Director of Health Strategy & Outreach Onye Hollomon, Barb Sills, Pamela Simmons, Sales Michael Terhaar, Art/Production Manager Angelita Jackson, Cover Design Wiley Price, Photojournalist

St. Louis American The

September 17 – 23, 2015

YOUR HEALTH MATTERS

Food Challenge tests when children outgrow food allergy

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By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American Starting kindergarten marked new beginnings for Joy Haire and her parents, Will and Lisa Haire. Just before the school year started, through a Food Challenge, Joy’s doctor determined she outgrew the serious and potentially life-threatening dairy allergy that surfaced a few weeks before her first birthday.

Food allergy is an immune system response. The body’s immune system identifies a food protein as dangerous and tries to protect itself by creating antibodies against it and releasing histamines and other substances in the blood.

Common food allergies in children include peanuts, milk, eggs, tree nuts, such as pecans, almonds, cashews n Food and walnuts, and soy allergy is and wheat. In adults, an immune peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish system (especially shrimp) response. are the most common The body’s foods that cause food immune allergy, according to system iden- the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. tifies a food In Joy’s case, she protein as was taking one antidangerous biotic for a stubborn double ear infection and tries to protect itself and was prescribed a stronger antibiotic to by creating clear it up. Thinking antibodies back on the incident, Joy’s mother said against it. within 30 minutes after taking the antibiotic and eating Greek yogurt (to prevent stomach upset and diarrhea, as a pharmacist suggested), the allergic reaction began. Joy was a breast-fed baby and had never had dairy products or formula, in addition to taking to a new medication.

“She was restless almost immediately after ingesting the two new substances tossing, turning, hitting, and very uncomfortable. All unusual behaviors at the time,” mom Lisa Haire said.

They soon realized they were dealing with much more than a cranky baby.

“God orders things. Will was awake.

If the entire house had gone to bed, we might not have caught her reaction for six to eight hours instead of two,” Joy’s mother said. “At two hours, she was not having breathing difficulties and we were able to get her reaction stopped before it progressed further.”

A Food Challenge confirmed that Joy Haire outgrew a dairy allergy that put ice cream, milk, cheese and all food that included dairy products off her menu for the first five years.

Photo by Sandra Jordan

The Haires rushed their daughter to a nearby emergency department.

“When we got to the ER … she was unrecognizable with severe facial swelling, having full body hives, and skin hot

to the touch,” she said.

Benadryl eventually counteracted the frightening reaction. Doctors suspected that baby Joy was allergic to dairy as well as to the antibiotic. Joy’s dairy allergy

was not confirmed for several months after her initial reaction.

“We had to wait for the swelling to go

See ALLERGY, page 5

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YOUR HEALTH MATTERS

September 17 – 23, 2015

Photo by Wiley Price

At the Behavioral Health Network’s Pastor’s Brunch at New Horizon Christian Church on September 10, St. Louis area clergy learned about mental health first aid training that is available for their churches to become “behavioral health friendly” in order to reduce stigma in the African American community.

More clergy join efforts to reduce mental health stigma

By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American Through its’ program Bridges to Care and Recovery program, the Behavioral Health Network (BHN) of Greater St. Louis hosted a pastor’s brunch at the New Horizon Christian Church on Sept.

10 to invite pastors to join the movement to eliminate the stigma of mental health in African-American Community.

Stigmatization can result in mental health disorders going undiagnosed and untreated, organizers said. Bridges to Care mobilized clusters of churches in North St. Louis City and North County to support the behavioral health treatment and recovery of congregants and other community members with behavioral health disorders.

“Oftentimes, people will reach out to their churches first before they reach out to professional services. I think there is a lack of trust of traditional treatment,” said Wendy Orson, executive director

of BHN. “Oftentimes there is a gap in knowledge of what to do, what resources are available and how people access them.”

The organization partnered with Pathways to Promise, Missouri Institute of Mental Health and nine churches to become “behavioral-health-friendly.”

Those churches underwent Mental Health First Aid training, found out about community resources and learned how to build wellness ministries using volunteers/companions within the church.

Rev. B.T. Rice, pastor of New Horizons Church and faith-based director for BHN, said pastors from the 16 additional churches that joined the effort at the brunch learned about the crucial role they as leaders play in reducing mental health stigma.

“Their role was to hear the concept of behavioral health, reducing the stigma of behavioral health and hear the importance of their involvement as leaders in the church, how they can best deal with

behavior health issues,” Rice said.

“All of them bought into the program ... most of them saying they have these kinds of issues, sometimes weekly, and some being disruptive and they didn’t know what to do – whether to call the police, or let the deacons handle it.”

Orson said that by training the pastor and a few congregants about behavioral health, it could help reduce the higher prevalence of emergency room treatment when a person is in an acute behavioral health crisis.

Rice said training will take place onsite each church, with each pastor and his or her designated assistant(s) on mental health first aid and resources.

“Once they go through the training, they will become ‘wellness champions,’” Orson said. Churches that complete the program will receive a plaque designating them as mental health-friendly churches.

“Some will create behavioral health ministries in their churches,” Orson added. She said four churches are in that

process now.

“Through this project, we feel it’s also critical to develop relationships between the churches and the safety net providers in the communities,” Orson said. She said that is what Bridges to Access does access.

Pathways to Promise teaches about building mental health ministries, Alive and Well St. Louis talks about wellness; Behavioral Health Response provides information on crisis services and recovery resources, and community mental health centers share about their services as well.

SSM St. Mary’s and SSM Saint Louis University hospitals provide funding for Bridges to Care, as well as the Missouri Department of Mental Health.

Churches wanting to more information about mental health first aid and related community resources may contact Rev. B.T. Rice at 314-406-8217 or Wendy Olson at 314-449-6713.

September 17 – 23, 2015

YOUR HEALTH MATTERS

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ALLERGY

Continued from page 3

down. It took nearly two weeks. She still had facial swelling for her first Christmas. We had follow up appointments with her pediatrician,” she said.

“During her annual lab work, a blood test confirmed the dairy allergy.”

The Haires were referred to a pediatric allergist, who later confirmed her dairy allergy with a skin test. The Haires went to St. Louis allergist and pediatrician Ray Davis, M.D. The doctor’s office gave the Haires a list of food ingredients containing dairy in it that may not be as obvious to most people. It was copied for grandparents and caregivers. Everyone read food ingredients. Joy’s mom and dad carried an EpiPen (epinephrine injector) wherever they went and each grandparent’s home had an EpiPen, as well as the preschool she attended.

Fortunately, they never had to use them. If someone does get an epinephrine injection, seek emergency medical help immediately to prevent the return of the reaction and to stabilize the patient medically.

The “no butter, no milk, no cheese” rule applied to all home cooking and recipes were adapted accordingly. At restaurants, dining could be frustrating.

“You got to get the menu, the food list and find out what type of ingredients. When we sat down, we had to get that before we ordered,” dad Will Haire said. “We’d have to tell the waitress or waiter 900 times that she can’t have anything with milk products and they seemed like they didn’t know what milk products were.”

That wasn’t their entire experience.

They found some restaurants who actively work to avoid food allergy reactions in patrons are quite accommodating, with menu notations about dishes containing possible problem foods and using separate utensils, prep and cooking areas.

Fortunately, doctors said dairy allergies are usually outgrown by age five, time for kindergarten. When an annual blood test reveals negligible levels immune response to the food protein in question, the child is scheduled for a Food Challenge evaluation.

The Food Challenge, developed at National Jewish Health in Denver, is used by physicians to evaluate whether a child developed immunity to a food allergy.

It takes a few hours to complete the challenge. In Joy’s case, her parents brought in soy yogurt, a food that Joy safely eats. The nurse started by adding small amount of frozen dairy protein powder into a small amount of soy yogurt before Joy would eat it.

The amount of protein and the amount of yogurt would double in intervals of every 15 minutes, until she has the

Left: Joy before her food allergy

Right: Joy’s swollen face after a food allergy has taken affect.

equivalent to a full serving of milk.

She received five doses.

For two full hours after eating, the doctor and nurse monitored Joy’s vital signs for any sign of allergic reaction – a drop in blood pressure, changes in pulse, oxygen, breathing, pupils, redness or swelling of the face or throat, trouble swallowing, rash or hives.

“Staying the same, that’s what we like to see,” said Nurse Lesa Carrera, after taking Joy’s vitals.

After sustained non-reaction, Dr. Davis determined that Joy no longer had a dairy allergy. The doctor told her parents to give Joy a dairy food three times a week to build up the immunity.

The next day after the challenge, Joy’s first dairy treat she wanted to try was a “pink” ice cream cone, like the ones she would see in some of her favorite children’s books.

She loves it – but does not like the taste of dairy milk. Her parents provide rice milk for her to drink at school.

For severe allergic reactions, keep Epinephrine with you at all times If given in time, the hormone epinephrine counteracts the most serious allergic reactions of anaphylaxis. It works by rapidly reversing breathing problems, blood pressure drops and other symptoms associated with these life-threatening reactions. Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can happen within a couple of minutes after exposure.

Preventing symptoms of food allergy • Inform all caregivers on what foods to avoid, and why • Read labels for ingredients - know what you are eating and drinking • Be aware of ingredients in mixed foods • Substitute foods with nutrients the child would miss • Order carefully when eating out • Bring food from home • Teach your child how to respond when someone who doesn’t know about the food allergy offers food Source: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA

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YOUR HEALTH MATTERS

September 17 – 23, 2015

Calendar

Fri. Sept. 18, 9:30 a.m., Frankly Speaking about Coping with the Cost of Care, by Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis at Food Outreach. For more information, call 314-238-2000 or visit cancersupportstl.org.

Sat. Sept. 19, 7 a.m. – Noon, CHIPS 15th Annual Community Festival & 5K/1mile Run Walk, N. Grand at N. Market; free health screenings, food, prizes, family entertainment. For more information, call 314-652-9231 or visit www.chipsstl.org.

Sat. Sept. 19, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Free Kidney Health Check for ages 18 and older at Shalom Church HealthFest at Hazelwood East High School, 11300 Dunn Rd. St. Louis, 63138. Risk factors include diabetes and high blood pressure.

Check includes blood pressure, BMI, educational materials and ACR urine test for albumin for persons at risk for kidney disease. Preregister by calling 314-961-2828 ext. 482, email Suzanne.McComb@kidney. org or visit kidney.org/KEEPhealthy.

Sun., Sept. 20, 8:30 a.m., Families Run for Ovarian Cancer Annual ROC STAR 5K & 1mile walk/run, Soldiers Memorial downtown St. Louis, 1315 Chestnut. Registration begins at 7 a.m. with race at 8 a.m. Register at www.familiesroc.com.

Thurs. Sept. 24, 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Gateway Immunization Coalition’s meeting on Older Adult Health Disparities in Missouri, St. Charles Community Health & Environment Dept., 1650 Boone’s Lock Rd., St. Charles, MO 63301. For more information, visit http:// www.gatewayic.org.

Fri. Sept. 25, 7 p.m. – 11 p.m., Gateway to Hope’s KaleidoHope Gala, Chase Park Plaza Hotel, St. Louis. Event benefits uninsured and underinsured breast cancer patients. For ticket information, call 314-569-1113 or visit www.kaleidohopestl. org.

Sat. Sept. 26, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Annual Lupus Education Conference at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park. Learn about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and clinical trials. $10 cost covers light lunch; free parking. Register by phone at 314-644-2222 or 800-958-7876 or visit http://bit.ly/1JZDT3f.

Sat. Sept. 26, 25th Anniversary Celebration and Open House at Christian Hospital’s Graham Medical Center Rehabilitation Services, 1150 Graham Rd. in Florissant, MO 63031.

Register by calling 314-747-WELL(9355).

Sat. Sept. 26 & Sun. Sept. 27, Pedal the Cause, Chesterfield Amphitheatre, with six different ride distances, a virtual rider option, and a ride just for kids. All par-

ticipant donations go to Siteman Cancer Center and St. Louis Children’s Hospital to accelerate lifesaving cancer research. For more information, visit http://stlouis.pedalthecause.org.

Mon. Sept. 28, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Guy’s Night Out at Jim Krings Conference Center by SSM St. Clare Hospital and St. Louis CyberKnife. Men will have all their medical questions answered by a panel of men’s health physicians while enjoying free beer, food, giveaways. For more information, call 866-776-3627.

Tues. Sept. 29, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Building a Trauma-Informed Nation: Moving the Conversation into Action at United Way of Greater St. Louis, 910 N. 11th St., St. Louis 63101. Connect with the national discussion about toxic stress and trauma via livestream. Registration is required at https://awstlamplifer.eventbrite.com.

Sun. Oct. 11, 9 a.m., Bosom Buddies, Friends for Life Pep Rally & Walk at Orlando Gardens, 4300 Hoffmeister Ave., St. Louis 63125. Proceeds benefit Gateway to Hope, which connects breast cancer patients in Missouri and Illinois with medical, emotional and financial assistance.

For more information call 314-569-1113 or visit www.gthstl.org.

Thurs. Oct. 15– Fri., Oct. 16, Health Literacy Missouri Tribute Awards & Summit, Doubletree by Hilton Hotel St. Louis. For more information, visit healthliteracymissouri.org.

Sun., Oct. 25, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Free Kidney Health Check for ages 18 and older at Saint Cecilia’s Catholic Church Gymnasium, 5418 Louisiana Ave. St. Louis, 63111. Risk factors include diabetes and high blood pressure. Check includes blood pressure, BMI, educational materials and ACR urine test for albumin for persons at risk for kidney disease. Preregister by calling 314-961-2828 ext. 482, email Suzanne.McComb@kidney.org or visit kidney.org/KEEPhealthy.

Sat. Nov. 14, Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America St. Louis, 11th Annual Trivia Night, JCC Staenberg Family Complex, Creve Coeur. For more information, visit aafastl.org.

Fridays & Saturdays, 11 am – Noon, Get Pumped! Free Slide/Zumba classes, O’Fallon Park Recreation Complex YMCA, 4343 W. Florissant Ave. 63115.

Sundays, 10 a.m. – Alcoholics Anonymous Group 109 meets in the 11th floor conference room at Christian Hospital, 11133 Dunn Road at I-270/Hwy. 367. This is an open meeting for alcoholics, drug addicts and their family and friends.

YOUR HEALTH MATTERS

September 17 – 23, 2015

Health Resources

Asthma Free asthma and allergy clinic by Saint Louis University students at the HRC, every other Wednesday afternoon 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. by appointment with SLU physician Dr. Raymond Slavin.

The clinic offers allergy skin tests, pulmonary function tests and asthma and allergy education. It is located in the Victor Roberts Building, 1408 N. Kingshighway, between Martin Luther King Drive and Page Blvd. For more information, call 314-720-1522.

Behavioral Christian Hospital offers free and confidential psychiatric and chemical dependency evaluations at the Christian Hospital Center for Mental Health. For more information, call 314-839-3171.

Christian Hospital Key Program offers support and education to patients with chronic mental illness to prevent increased severity of symptoms and to reduce the need for inpatient re-hospitalization. Call confidentially to 314-8393171 or 1-800-447-4301.

Crime Victim Advocacy Center provides no cost support for persons affected by criminal acts. Email peggy@supportvictims.org, visit or call the 24-hour hotline 314-OK-BE-MAD (652-3673) or visit www.supportvictims.org.

Bike helmet safety The St. Louis County Health Department provides free bicycle helmets to St. Louis County residents between ages 1 and 17 by appointment only. Proof of residency is required. For the location nearest you, visit www. tinyurl.freebikehelmets.

Breast Cancer Gateway to Hope offers no-charge medical and reconstructive treatment for uninsured breast cancer patients in Missouri. Contact 314-569-1113.

Dental Free Dental Hygiene Clinic - No charge dental exams, x-rays, cleanings and other dental services for children and adults provided by dental students at Missouri College. Patients needing more extensive dental work (fillings, crowns, etc.) will be referred to local dentists. For information, call 314-768-7899.

Diabetes CHIPS Diabetes Support Group is open to anyone and meets on Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. For more information, call 314-652-9231.

SSM St. Mary’s Health Center provides free, Diabetes Support Group sessions the second Tuesday of every month from 6 – 7 p.m. to address health management issues. It’s located at Meeting

Room 1 on the second floor, 6420 Clayton Rd. in St. Louis. To register, call toll free 866-SSM-DOCS (866-7763627).

Fresh Food Coop Community Helpings Coop sells fresh fruits, vegetables and other foods at wholesale prices in locations throughout the St. Louis area and Metro-East. For more information, visit www.communityhelpingscoop.com.

Health Partnerships The Center for Community Health and Partnerships: Building Bridges for Healthy Communities works to develop and support beneficial community-academic partnerships to address the health needs of the St. Louis. For more information, email publichealth@wustl. edu; phone 314-747-9212 or visit publichealth.wustl.edu.

Information Missouri 2-1-1 offers referral and information on a wide range of social service and helpful resources. Call 2-1-1.

Lupus A Lupus Support Group in North St. Louis County meets the third Thursday of the month from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Community Room #1 at Northwest Health Care, 1225 Graham Rd. in Hazelwood. RSVP to the Lupus Foundation of America at 314-644-2222 or email info@lfaheartland.org.

Medical CHIPS Health & Wellness Center offers no cost medical, dental, psychiatric, chiropractic health care for uninsured children and adults by appointment only. $25 annual fee requested. For more information, call 314-652-9231 or visit www.chipsstl.org.

Boys & Girls Clubs Dental & Vision Clinic at Herbert Hoover Club, 2901 N. Grand, St. Louis. Open year-round for members at no additional fee by appointment only. Teeth cleaning, braces, x-rays, root canals, some extractions; vision mobile unit, comprehensive exam and glasses, if required. Make an appointment by calling 314-355-8122.

Salam Free Saturday Clinic, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Isom Community Center at Lane Tabernacle CME Church, 916 N. Newstead, St. Louis, Mo. for those who are uninsured. For more information, call 314-533-0534.

Nutrition Food Outreach provides food, meals and nutritional education/ counseling to eligible persons living with HIV/AIDS or cancer in St. Louis. For more information, call 314-652-3663 or visit www. foodoutreach.org.

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YOUR HEALTH MATTERS

September 17 – 23, 2015

Mosquitoes are still biting; protect yourself As summer draws to an end, the City of St. Louis Department of Health is reminding residents to remain vigilant in protecting themselves and their families from mosquitoes. These pests carry serious diseases like West Nile Virus, Chikungunya and Dengue.

“Being aware of the four D’s: Drain, Dress, DEET, and Dusk/ Dawn, is one of the best ways to protect yourself from mosquitoes,” said Jeanine Arrighi, environmental health manager for the City of St. Louis.

“The four D’s help reduce breeding areas and reduce the risk of mosquito bites.”

• Drain-Mosquitoes breed in water!

Drain any standing water in your yard each week. Bird baths, tires, clogged gutters and kiddie pools are common breeding sites.

• Dress-Wear lightweight, longsleeved shirts and long pants while outdoors. Spray clothing with insect repellent since mosquitoes can bite through clothing.

• DEET- Whenever you are outside, use insect repellants that contain

DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Apply insect repellent sparingly to exposed skin. Use an approved repellent according to its label.

• Dusk/Dawn-Limit time spent outdoors at dawn or dusk, when mosquitoes are most active and feeding.

Arrighi also recommends using natural insect repellants to help reduce the amount of mosquitoes around your property. Plants that can be grown in backyards and gardens that help keep mosquitos away include: citronella, lavender, lemon balm, catnip, basil, marigolds, peppermint, garlic, geranium, rosemary, pennyroyal and eucalyptus.

The DOH conducts precautionary mosquito fogging to help reduce the mosquito population. If you would like your block fogged please make a service request to the City of St. Louis Citizens’ Service Bureau (CSB) by calling (314) 622-4800. You can also contact the CSB if you do not want fogging conducted around your property.

To learn more about mosquito borne illnesses and how to protect your family visit the CDC website at http://www. cdc.gov/ncezid/dvbd/