Orvin Kimbrough, from social work to banking
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St. Louis American See page B1
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CAC Audited APRIL 11 – 17, 2024
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Black Maternal Health Week
By Ashley Winters St. Louis American
An appreciation of Black doulas calls to find solutions for the disparity in Black maternal deaths kicked off the St. Louis City Department of Health’s week-long celebration of Black Maternal Health Week on Wednesday. The event is a precursor to the screening of the film documentary “Sister Doula” created by Emmett Williams, CEO of Listen. Tell. Media on Thursday April 11. The documentary tells the story of Hakima Payne, a Kansas City nurse tackling the Black maternal health crisis headon. In 2018 Williams met Hakima Payne. For five years he filmed the life of a doula, this included doula classes and birthing exams. “Every single Black woman that I spoke to had some sort of negative experience with the U.S. health industry. That’s when I knew this was a story that I had to tell,” said Williams. He said that when telling Black stories it is equally important to tell the heroic work of
See HEALTH, A7
Okunsola M. Amadou, Founder & CEO, Jamaa Birth Village speaking at the Black Maternal Health press conference Tue. Apr. 10, 2024 at the Dept. of Health for the City of St. Louis.
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Vol. 96 No. 1 COMPLIMENTARY
A sit-down with U.S. Rep. Bush By Sylvester Brown Jr. St. Louis American “History will prove you were wrong.” Those were the words of U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) last year after her colleagues in the House voted to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the lone Palestinian American in Congress, over her comments on the Israel-Hamas war. Both Bush and Tlaib, are members of “the Squad,” a cadre of about eight progressive Democrats who often clash with their party’s establishment colleagues. Both drew condemnation over Cori Bush their call for a ceasefire of Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza after the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas. Reportedly, Jewish political groups are raising millions to oust Bush from office in the Nov. elections. In an interview with St. Louis Public Radio last year, Bush’s Democratic primary challenger, St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell, admitted that his decision to run against her was, in part, motivated by her criticism of Israel. It’s too early to tell if history will vindicate Bush, Tlaib or other politicians
See BUSH, A6
STL to get fed dollars to further crime drop By Lauren Brennecke St. Louis Public Radio
Eyes on the eclipse
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Barbara C. Jordan Elementary School kindergartners in the University City School District view the eclipse Monday, April 8, 2024.
Voter rights education a focus of ‘Freedom Summer’ ‘A way that inspires us’
St. Louis American The historic ‘Freedom Summer’ of 1963 will be celebrated in the St. Louis region through a $100,000 Deaconess Foundation grant to Arch City Defenders to support Freedom Summer STL. This summer marks the 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer, a pivotal moment in America’s civil rights history, as well as the 10th anniversary of the Ferguson Uprising following the killing of unarmed Michael Brown Jr.
HEALTH
CSF bringing mental health care to underserved families
Through strategic investment in local providers, as well as community resources, including its Find A Service Tool, CSF is building awareness of services available in St. Louis County.
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With consequential elections in November that will possibly impact communities for generations, the Freedom Summer STL effort will focus on political and voter rights education and advocacy. “It will create a space of service, activation, and recommitment to justice and transformation,” according to Blake Strode, executive director of ArchCity Defenders. The organization will collaborate with Action St. Louis, Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, Freedom Community Center, Homes For All, and other grassroots community partners. “Sixty years ago, Freedom Summer called into question
See RIGHTS, A7
The Department of Justice has added St. Louis to its violent crime initiative, a decision that will bring more federal dollars to police departments for crime prevention efforts. The DOJ will also add two prosecutors to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in St. Louis. In 2023, St. Louis n In 2023, marked its third consecutive year St. Louis with a decline in total marked homicides. St. Louis its third Mayor Tishaura Jones consecutive said the city has made year with reducing violent crime a priority. a decline “Under my in total administration, homicides. homicides in our city have decreased by 40%. We welcome this opportunity for St. Louis to work with the attorney general’s office as we continue to build upon our progress in reducing violent crime and saving lives,” Mayor Tishaura Jones said. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a recent announcement that the initiative will distribute an additional $78 million to community violence and intervention programs and research around the country. Community-led violence intervention efforts can apply for funding under the initiative.
See DOLLARS, A6
SPORTS
Saint Louis U. wins the WNIT Championship
The Billikens defeated Minnesota 69-50 in front of more than 1,500 fans last Saturday at the First Community Arena on the campus of SIU-Edwardsville.
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