Young Leaders photo spread Two pages of color photos from the St. Louis American Foundation’s fourth annual Salute to Young Leaders Networking and Awards Reception.
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St. LouiS AmericAn
CAC Audited FEBRUARY 20 – 26, 2014
Vol. 84 No. 46 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
Young Leaders draws over 400 St. Louis American Foundation recognizes 20 African Americans under 40 Photo by Wiley Price
The mistress of ceremonies for the St. Louis American Foundation’s fourth annual Salute to Young Leaders Networking and Awards Reception was Rebeccah Bennett, senior public engagement consultant at Vector Communications.
By Bridjes O’Neil Of The St. Louis American The St. Louis American Foundation held its fourth annual Salute to Young Leaders Networking and Awards Reception Thursday, February 13.
Twenty accomplished African-American professionals under the age of 40 were recognized for making positive contributions to their communities. Some 400 people – mostly family, friends and colleagues of the awardees –attended the event, held for the first
Alumna to keynote Cardinal Ritter gala
City, Cordish, Cardinals won’t provide inclusion details for tenant finishes By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American
By Bridjes O’Neil Of The St. Louis American
See CHRISTIAN, A6
See LEADERS, A6
Ballpark figures
Margena A. Christian (Class of ’85) now senior editor at Ebony
Cardinal Ritter College Preparatory High School will host its third annual “Celebrating Success in Urban Education” Gala on Friday, February 28 at Kemoll’s Restaurant, 211 North Broadway. Native St. Louisan Margena A. Christian, senior editor for Ebony magazine and a Cardinal Ritter alumna, is the keynote speaker. Christian will Margena A. speak about the Christian importance of supporting schools like Cardinal Ritter, an Archdiocesan Catholic high school, and how attending the school shaped her life. “Cardinal Ritter is where the foundation and the n The theme groundwork reflects the was laid,” said school’s Christian, who 35-year history graduated from Cardinal Ritter of providing in 1985. a quality Her life education to was changed predominately forever when Sister Barbara, Africanknowing American Christian’s students. love of writing, suggested that she participate in a journalism workshop. “It was a nun who did not look like me,” Christian said of Sister Barbara, “but she saw something in me.” Although Christian was only a
time at the Four Seasons St. Louis near Laclede’s Landing. “We honor these young people who have already shown the self-motivation, grit and perseverance necessary to make a difference in their professional work, as well as their civic endeavors,” said Donald M. Suggs, president of the St.
Ballpark Village developers and the St. Louis Development Corporation still won’t provide contract amounts for the undisclosed millions in construction costs that are n “The developers not being monitored when do not represent the it comes to inclusion of interests of the taxpayers minorities and women in – that is the job of workforce and contracting. Developers Cordish and SLDC.” the St. Louis Cardinals contracted PARIC to – Aldermanic President complete the $21.65 million Lewis Reed “outer shell” and exterior infrastructure on the $91.3 million first phase of the retail and entertainment complex. However, that is the only contract the city is monitoring for minority participation on the project’s contract spending and workforce. See BALLPARK, A6
State to take over Normandy finances Will take ‘any and all measures’ to keep kids in local schools this term By Dale Singer Of St. Louis Public Radio
Photo by Wiley Price
Lifting her voice Jennifer Holliday commanded center stage at Powell Hall on Friday when she appeared as guest soloist with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s IN UNISON Chorus in its annual Lift Every Voice concert.
The Missouri state Board of Education surprised the Normandy School District Tuesday by voting to take over its finances in a bid to bolster chances that the district would get $5 million in emergency funds to help it finish the school year. The board also directed the commissioner to appoint a transition task force immediately to develop a detailed plan for the operation of Normandy Schools starting in July 2014, if the legislature fails to appropriate additional funds for the district and if the district lapses. The unanimous vote, which Normandy Superintendent Ty See NORMANDY, A7