Randall Jones makes tracks to a new business
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St. LouiS AmericAn CAC Audited DECEMBER 14 – 20, 2023
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
Vol. 95 No. 36 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
Metro Boomin honored Boom town asBoomin a ‘key’ Metro honored by St. Louis celebrity
Metro Boomin Wayne was joined by his Metro Boomin siblings returnedon home the CityinauHall for the Rotunda gural St. steps Louis after CITY receiving block aparty Key in to March. the City Mayor The from Grammy Tishaura Jones Award winning on Thursday. producer and performer will Photo by Ashley Winters receive a Key to the City from Mayor Tishaura Jones on Thursday Dec. 14, 2023.
mayor Key to City Bigwith supporter
of single moms
By Ashley Winters The St. Louis American
BySt.Ashley Winters Louis native Leland “Metro Boomin” St. Louis American Wayne, Diamond-certified Grammy Awardnominated producer and entrepreneur, St. Louis nativehighest Leland honor “Metrofrom Boomin” received the city’s Mayor Wayne, Diamond-certified AwardTishaura O. Jones when he Grammy was presented a nominated producer entrepreneur will ceremonial Key to theand City on Thursday in the receive city’s highest honor from Mayor City Hallthe Rotunda “in recognition of his years Tishaura O. Jones when he is single presented a Key of commitment to supporting mothers to the City on Thursday “in recognition of and families.” hisMayor years of commitment to supporting single Tishaura O. Jones says the young mothers andaward-winning families.” top charting producer is a Following the presentation at the City Hall force to be reckoned with. rotunda, will host series of events “MetroWayne has a distinct eara for music,” said including his annual holiday celebration in the mayor. partnership with Rung for Women. Mayor Jones described him as a family 2023 marks the brother seventh to “Single Moms man, being the big his four younger Are The Real Superheroes” campaign and the
See BOOMIN, A6
Photo courtesy of St. Louis City
City NAACP launches ‘Right to Read’ campaign ‘Civil rights issue of our era’ By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American St. Louis Public Schools students have a reading proficiency score of 19% compared to a 45% statewide average, according to the National Center for Education Statistics annual report card. In the St. Louis region, African American students lag in reading proficiency when compared to other ethnic groups. The same is true throughout Missouri. The NCES report card shows that only three in ten Missouri students demonstrate reading proficiency at a fourth-grade level. Only one in 10 African American students reach the reading profiIan ciency level. Buchanan The knowledge of these numbers led the St. Louis NAACP to announce on Wednesday the launch of its “Right to Read” campaign. Adolphus Pruitt, chapter president, calls the effort “a comprehensive literacy initiative aimed at ensuring every child in St. Louis and St. Louis County has the opportunity to read on grade level by 3rd grade.” He said the campaign’s goal is for students to meet or exceed the overall state average by 2030. The campaign will be
See READ, A7
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Gospel greatness Grammy nominated baritone Wintley Phipps performed at the Stifel Theatre Friday night Dec. 8, 2023 with the SLSO IN UNISON Chorus conducted by Kevin McBeth.
22nd Salute to Business to highlight Black History Month By American Staff
Shooting spree puts spotlight on teen gun violence
Two other defendants previously charged in this incident, La’Marrion Matthews and Taivion Kirk, are being held on a $250,000 bond. Booze has been charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault, two counts of unlawful use of a
Three stalwart organizations have joined the St. Louis American Charitable Foundation in presenting next year’s annual Salute to Excellence in Business Networking & Awards Luncheon. Greater St. Louis, Inc., Regional Business Council and the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis have agreed to join the St. Louis American in presenting its 22nd annual Salute to Business luncheon Thursday, February 22, 2024 at the RitzCarlton St. Louis. Led by president and CEO Michael P. McMillan, the mission of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. is to empower African Americans and others throughout the region in securing economic self-reliance, social equality and civil rights. The local organization has become the top Urban League affiliate in
See VIOLENCE, A6
See SALUTE, A7
By Sylvester Brown Jr. Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow
n “What more can we do to avoid tragedies like this?”
Last week, St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell informed the community of shocking news. His office has charged Clifton Booze Jr., 14, of Hazelwood, with seven felonies in connection to the March 26, 2023, murder of James Bond, also 14 years of age. Berkeley Police had received calls about a wandering group of about 15 juveniles randomly firing gun shots that struck vehicles and residences in the 6800 block of Larry Lane. Responding officers found Bond, shot in the chest, dead in the front yard of a home. Witnesses at the scene, police said, identified Booze as one of the shooters.
– County Prosecutor, Wesley Bell
HEALTH
SPORTS
Seniors Community Fund awards grants totaling $350K
Showdown Shootout features first-rate matchups
The fund seeks to improve the public health system infrastructure to better serve residents 55 years of age and older. Its board selected 14 recipients with a focus on transportation, safety, and health navigation.
The 16th edition is on Saturday, Dec. 16 at Ritenour High and features seven games with excellent teams from Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
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