Striking a chord for youth’s mental health
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Nottage bestowed with WU Humanities Prize
‘One of the most influential and vital playwrights in American theatre’
See NOTTAGE, A6
COMPLIMENTARY
Purpose driven giving
Urban League STL makes history with $1M raised at 107th Annual Dinner
By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American Those fortunate enough to have seen characters grace the stage conceived by the imagination of two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage over the past two decades are well aware of her storytelling ingenuity. What the audience seated in Edison Theatre learned Wednesday afternoon as she was presented with the Washington University International Humanities Prize is that this gift extends to her own lived experiences. After having the medal placed around her neck,
Vol. 97 No. 3
By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American
Photo by Whitney Curtis / courtesy of Washington University
Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage was presented with the Washington University International Humanities Prize.
The 107th Annual Dinner presented by the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Tuesday night will go down in history. The hundreds of guests who made their ascent up the escalators and took their seats in the largest ballroom at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel didn’t know it at the time, but they would have the distinction of history makers by the end of the night thanks to a fundraising effort that raised seven figures in one night. Because he conMichael tracted COVID-19, McMillan President and CEO Michael McMillan missed his first Urban League Annual Dinner in 37 years. A video of prepared remarks reminded the audience that he was there in spirit and shared that 2024 was the most exciting and productive year that the organization has ever had. “We had seven groundbreaking and grand openings, including our most historic one – the Centene Connected Community Center, which is the largest gift to any Urban League in the history of the Urban League movement,” McMillan said. “We served more people with more
See DINNER, A8
Photo by Fred Sweets / St. Louis American
A sinking feeling
Congressman Wesley Bell addressed concerns on Wednesday with a large sinkhole that was created on April 18, when part of the road collapsed near Cass Avenue and 18th Street. He was joined by 14th Ward Alderman Rasheen Aldridge (left) and Mayor Cara Spencer (right.) Repairs on the Cass sinkhole could take up to a month and the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District has hired private contractors to assist it with repairs. Another collapse occurred on April 18 near Park Avenue and Dillon Street in Lafayette Square.
SLPS superintendent ‘welcomes scrutiny’ from board
Karen Collins-Adams elected president By Sylvester Brown, Jr. The St. Louis American After vowing an oath to only represent the St. Louis public schools and pursuing no conflicts of interest within
the district, three newly elected school board members-Brian Marston, Karen Collins-Adams and Allisa “AJ” Fosterwere sworn in Tuesday evening. Board members also elected Karen Collins-Adams as the new president of SLPS Board. Former president, Antionette ‘Toni’ Cousins, who was elected to the position in 2021 did not win her reelection bid. Three seats were open, including
BUSINESS
Schnucks Springboard cohort companies making debut The products, part of the first class of Schnucks Springboard local and diverse-owned business accelerator, began four-week trial periods on Wednesday, April 23.
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Cousins.’ Matt Davis, the board’s vice president, and Natalie Vowell both decided not to defend the other two open seats. Ten candidates sought election to the board. The three who won-Marston, Collins-Adams and Foster-were all endorsed by St. Louis Board of Aldermen President Megan Green.
See SLPS, A8
City drops lawsuit against state takeover of police By Sylvester Brown, Jr. The St. Louis American Mayor Cara Spencer has abandoned pursuit of a lawsuit aimed at blocking the state takeover of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, at least for the time being. The action comes to the delight of St. Louis unions, and Gov. Mike Kehoe, who worked with Jefferson City Republicans to seize control of the department from St. Louis residents in March. Aldermanic President Megan Green, with the support of ex-Mayor Tishaura Jones, filed the lawsuit a day before Spencer took office. The federal lawsuit seeks to have the new law declared unconstitutional. In a one-on-one interview with then candidate Spencer in March, she
See LAWSUIT, A6
SPORTS
Track and field stars finding place in spring sun
The track and field season is off and running in the St. Louis metro area, and several top athletes are showing they have the mettle to win medals.
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