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2015 Newspaper of the Year!
St. LouiS AmericAn The
CAC Audited DECEMBER 8 – 14, 2016
Vol. 88 No. 35 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
How to parent as partners Fathers’ Support Center expands its services to include mothers Miriam Brown, Lisa Walton and Carmesha Jackson talk about what they have learned in Fathers’ Support Center’s new Parenting in Partnership Program.
By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American Thomascina Stringfellow pointed to a dry-erase board where she had written, “Shopping for the Perfect Mother.” “You’re going to have a grandchild,” said Stringfellow, a facilitator for Fathers’ Support Center’s new Parenting in Partnership Program. “You’re going to put out a want ad for the perfect mother, the right mother for your grandchild. What are some characteristics of her?” The three mothers in Stringfellow’s parenting class began to throw out answers: nurturing, loving and protective. But then Stringfellow pushed them further, saying, “What else? We need to fill this whole board.” Miriam Brown, a 26-year-old mother of three,
n “Most of the women have experienced some kind of trauma or have some mental health issues.” – Sandra Bryant
explained that a mother needs to know how to care for herself, eat right and be healthy, physically and emotionally. “If she can’t do that for herself, then she won’t be able to do it for her child,” Brown said. Staying healthy will also help her to motivate
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Photo by Wiley Price
Riverview Gardens regains provisional accreditation Decision on SLPS tabled until January By Camille Phillips Of St. Louis Public Radio
Photo by Wiley Price
Pearlie goes home
After almost a decade without accreditation from the State of Missouri, the Riverview Gardens School District in North County will be reclassified as provisionally accredited effective January 4. The State Board of Education voted Friday, December 2 for the classification upgrade to take effect on the first day of Riverview Gardens’ second semester on the recommendation of the Missouri Department of Education. Riverview was last provisionally accredited in 2007. Citing complex curriculum, a positive school climate and consistent leadership, assistant education commissioner Chris Neale said the Department of Education had concluded that Riverview Gardens “had significantly improved” and See RIVERVIEW, A6
Rev. Kevin Anthony and Rev. Starsky Wilson, who officiated the homegoing service for Pearlie Evans, led the processional at Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday, December 3. The longtime district director for Congressman Bill Clay and Democratic strategist passed on November 18 at age 84.
People Against Poverty Campaign
‘We build access for young people’ Mathews-Dickey hosts ‘Sheer Elegance’ fundraiser December 17 By Chris King Of The St. Louis American As the Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club approaches its final fundraiser for the year – the club hosts “Sheer Elegance” on Saturday, December 17 – its CEO Wendell Covington Jr. is positioning the club to become a “backbone” organization for the region in 2017 and beyond. “We are the perfect organization to create a blend of partnerships between K-12 institutions and institutions of
SPORTS
higher learning,” Covington said. “We can be the learning lab where students synthesize what they learn.” This vision for the club may seem a departure from the center for youth athletics that two Wendell Covington Jr. neighborhood baseball coaches, Martin Luther Mathews and the late Hubert
“Dickey” Ballentine, founded in 1960. But, in fact, Covington said he is doing consciously and mindful of research what the co-founders started doing by instinct 56 years ago. “They knew if you put a ball in a kid’s hands, he’s more likely to stay out of trouble,” Covington said. “Now we know that physical activity promotes brain function. Now we have the intellectual capital and research to legitimize what Mathews-Dickey has always done by
BUSINESS
Help for those who need it most By Clarice Evans For The St. Louis American These remarkable families have faced the loss of loved ones and suffered severe depression, heartache, domestic violence, personal health issues and horrific tragedies. Community Women Against Hardship (CWAH) and The St. Louis American seek community support to offer some of the needed resources to help them reach their goals. Give the gift of hope to a family in need today. Send
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THE GUIDE
Vashon cracks Top 25 nationwide
Community college offers free Boeing training programs
Language of dance taught by a master
Vashon has put themselves on the national map in starting the season with a 4-0 record.
Accelerated pre-employment programs to train individuals for potential jobs as assembly mechanics and composite mechanics at Boeing.
‘This is a conversation between you and the audience,” Ailey icon Judith Jamison teaches COCA students.
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