Anniversary of March Two buses will depart for D.C. from North St. Louis County on Friday, August 23.
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CAC Audited AUGUST 15 – 21, 2013
Gently bringing change
Vol. 84 No. 20
stlamerican.com
SLAM’s NIE named best in nation
On Daddy’s shoulders
Bishop Luther James Blackwell advances Gospel at San Francisco Temple
Expands program to include ‘Healthy Kids,’ more schools
By Wendy Todd For The St. Louis American Bishop Luther James Blackwell, pastor of the San Francisco Temple Christian Assembly in North St. Louis County, was led to his vocation by a powerful dream. “I felt an angelic call to the ministry and ran to my grandmother to ask her what I should “Twitter, do,” said Instagram Blackwell, an and all these Ohio native who things can be has been in ministry for 47 tools that can years. “She took advance the me to the pastor, who made space Gospel.” for me to preach at the House of – Bishop Prayer United Luther James Holy Church in Blackwell the city of Warren, Ohio.” From that moment, Blackwell set out on a journey that led him to found his own church in 1991, Mega Church in Cleveland, with his wife Pastor Lois Blackwell. The church now has about 1,200 members. Lois Blackwell grew up as a pastor’s daughter in St. Louis, where her father, Bishop Dwight Daniels, was the leader of San Francisco Temple See BLACKWELL, A7
COMPLIMENTARY
By American Staff The National Newspaper Association announced last week that The St. Louis American has won its coveted 2013 first place award, among all non-daily newspapers in the United States, for its Newspaper In Education (NIE) program. The award coincides with this week’s launch of the second academic year of The American’s NIE program, which will be expanded dramatically to include a new page, more schools, more classrooms and additional districts. The American’s award was part of the National Newspaper Association’s (NNA’s) annual Newspaper And Education conSee NIE, A7
‘Win-win’ on amnesty project BFL helps 14,000 nonviolent offenders clear warrants, municipalities collect fines By Andrew Fowler For The St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price
Treven Lawrence, 2, takes in the view at the Missouri Black Expo on Saturday during the expo’s first year at the Chaifetz Arena.
Better Family Life estimates that about 14,000 people participated in this year’s amnesty project for misdemeanor warrants, including – for the first time – warrants for child support violations. The event was held three days at three different St. Louis See AMNESTY, A6
Data-driven instruction leads to improvement Vogt Elementary is 2013 Monsanto School of Excellence By Bridjes O’Neil Of The St. Louis American Teachers at Vogt Elementary School in the Ferguson-Florissant School District say they would choose to educate their own children at their school. “That’s the ultimate testimony that I can give,” said Doug Ahlers, a fifthgrade teacher at school, “if I’m sending my own children here.” Ahlers’ two children are Vogt alumni.
On Friday, September 13, Vogt Elementary will receive the St. Louis American Foundation’s 2013 Monsanto School of Excellence Award at the Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Gala, held at the America’s Center Ballroom. Ferguson-Florissant superintendent Art McCoy Jr., Ph.D., highly recommended the school for the award. “Under the leadership of Principal Leslie Thomas-Washington, Vogt stu-
dents, staff and stakeholders exhibit excellence and equity in education every day,” said McCoy, who will receive the 2013 Stellar Performer in Education award at the Salute to Excellence in Education gala. Thomas-Washington oversees roughly 40 teachers and staff members who she considers to be like extended family. See VOGT, A6
Photo by Wiley Price
Leslie Thomas-Washington, principal of Vogt Elementary School in the Ferguson-Florissant School District, the St. Louis American Foundation’s 2013 Monsanto School of Excellence.