LFCS offers mental health services for youth
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St. Louis American See page A8
The
CAC Audited JANUARY 23 – 29, 2025
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The saints are marching back in
COGIC Holy Convocation returns to STL for 2026-2028
See COGIC, A6
COMPLIMENTARY
Two sisters and a book
Snuggle Up for Literacy event brings huge crowd to Lewis and Clark Library
By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American Last Monday, delegates of the Church Of God In Christ (COGIC) General Assembly voted during a special session to return their Holy Convocation to St. Louis. On January 16th, Explore St. Louis made the official announcement at America’s Center – which spent ten years as host of the Holy Convocation, COGIC’s annual convention that draws saints from across the globe. “We’re happy to welcome the Holy Convocation back to St. Louis,” said Bob Wallace, Interim President of Explore St. Louis. “The economic impact of this conference on the St. Louis region is significant, with an estimated annual con-
Vol. 96 No. 42
By Ashley Winters The St. Louis American Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr., Presiding Bishop Emeritus of the Church Of God In Christ, was cheered on by church leadership as he delivered a sermon at the 109th Holy Convocation at America’s Center in 2016. To his immediate right is current Presiding Bishop J. Drew Sheard. To the far right is Bishop Lawrence Wooten, Sr., senior pastor of Williams Temple in St. Louis.
Aja La’Starr and Adrienne Draper are on a mission to empower Black youth with a tool that never loses its power – the ability to read. These dynamic sisters hosted their “Snuggle Up for Literacy” event at the Lewis and Clark Branch of St. Louis County Library on Jan. 11, from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Families of all backgrounds gathered outside the door eagerly waiting for the event to begin. “There are foster care families here, children on the spectrum, grandparents, and fathers, it is truly a beautiful sight to see,” La’Starr said. “We hope that families learn new literacy activities they can do at home, utilize resources from the local organizations represented here, and
See SNUGGLE UP, A6
A call for generational service St. Louis change agents honored at 40th Bayer YMCA MLK Breakfast
By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American
Sigmas celebrate Dr. King
Photo by Taylor Marrie / St. Louis American
Members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. took a moment to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the 10th Annual Mid-County MLK Celebration presented by Young Voices With Action on Monday, January 20th at Normandy Senior High School. They also paid tribute to their Civil Rights Movement icon fraternity brothers John Lewis, A. Philip Randolph and Hosea Williams.
A lifeline through music
Program to offer violin, piano lessons at County Justice Center By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American Before St. Louis Symphony Orchestra musician Peter Henderson began playing “Clair de lune” (“Moonlight”) from Suite bergamasque by Claude Debussy, he told his audience that the 19th century piece was one of the most famous piano composi-
tions of all time. During the opening chords, a woman became excited. “I know this,” she whispered loudly to her seat neighbor. “This is from ‘Ocean’s 11.’” A detainee of the women’s prison housed within the Buzz Westfall Justice Center in St. Louis County, she was delighted with herself for recognizing the piece that she heard in the Blockbuster film star-
BUSINESS
Transform Act compromise signals new investment era
Mayor Jones and Alderwomen Alisha Sonnier and Pamela Boyd, and GSL Inc., on Tuesday announced an agreement for the investment of funds from the Rams settlement.
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ring Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Don Cheadle and Bernie Mac. By the time he finished playing the song, tears were streaming down her face. “I wish every audience responded to ‘Clair de lune’ the way that they did,” said Maureen Byrne, Vice President of Education and
See MUSIC, A6
Forty was a special number for the 2025 Annual Bayer YMCA MLK Commemorative Breakfast held on Monday at the Marriott St. Louis Airport – and its keynote speaker. “This is the 40th year for the breakfast and this is my 40th year with Bayer,” Al Mitchell told the capacity crowd. It was his final address to an audience as President of the Bayer Fund and Vice Al Mitchell President of Corporate Engagement at Bayer before his retirement on Tuesday, January 21. He reminded guests of the sold-out breakfast of its origins in the gymnasium of the then Monsanto YMCA – a place where Mitchell spent his formative years. It was also there that he was introduced to community service by becoming a member of its board. And as he spoke about the legacy of Dr. King, he stressed the importance of community service that is essential to the foundation of building King’s “beloved
See MITCHELL, A6
SPORTS
Principia claws its way to 16-0 season mark
Under the direction of Hall of Fame head coach Jay Blossom, the Panthers are not only one of the top teams in the St. Louis area, but the state of Missouri as well.
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