Celebrating Black History Month
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@stlouisamerican
St. Louis American See D section
The
CAC Audited FEBRUARY 6 – 12, 2025
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
stlamerican.com
Vol. 96 No. 44 COMPLIMENTARY
2025 Salute to Business Networking and Awards Luncheon
Uniting the region
Helping shelter St. Louisans
Michelle Tucker a true community servant By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American
Few non-profit leaders touch as many lives as Michelle D. Tucker, United Way of Greater St. Louis president and CEO. The United Way, which just completed another milestone Capital Campaign which raised more than $58 million, currently helps more than one million people each year throughout 16 counties in Missouri and Illinois, which is 1 in 3 residents in its service area. It provides funding and training resources to over 160 local nonprofit partner agencies. The need is great because now 43% of all households in St. Louis region do not have the monthly income to meet their basic needs. “Through United Way, our staff, donors and volunteers have had a profound impact on the lives of millions of local individuals and families, raising nearly $3 billion overall to invest back into these communities we call home,” says Tucker.
See TUCKER, A6
Excellence in Community Impact awardee Chris Krehmeyer
By Sylvester Brown, Jr. St. Louis American
Photo courtesy of United Way of Greater St. Louis
Michelle Tucker, United Way of Greater St. Louis president and CEO is the Non-Profit Executive of the Year.
Chris Krehmeyer, CEO of the nonprofit Beyond Housing, wasn’t sure what is his future career would be when a young man - but he knew it would be based in an urban core. Born in Staten Island, New York, Krehmeyer traveled the globe with his father, who was in the Coast Guard and his mother. His parents, native St. Louisans, moved back to the area when Krehmeyer was in the fourth grade. He was raised in University Chris City and attended Krehmeyer Washington University. Krehmeyer wasn’t exactly sure of what he wanted to pursue so he took courses in business and law before taking an urban studies class that piqued his interest. “I figured if I was going to do something for the rest of my life, I wanted it to be something I was interested in, so I got an undergraduate’s degree in urban studies,” Krehmeyer recalled. The degree ultimately helped him land a position at Beyond Housing, a nationally recognized community development organization “dedicated to strengthening families and transforming ‘under-re-
See KREHMEYER, A6
Taking action
Dems vow to fight Trump’s tyranny Photo courtesy of the AP
Treasury protest
release. “When cooler heads prevail, my hope is that the Board of Aldermen will bring a bill to my desk that directs these historic funds to benefit all of St. Louis in ways that our residents can see and feel.” In December 2024, Jones, President of the Board of Aldermen Megan Green, and Alderwoman Alisha
President Donald Trump hasn’t been in office a month, yet his administration is pushing for some of the most extreme and controversial actions in modern American history. This now includes Trump’s bizarre proposition that the U.S. “take over” the Gaza strip, turning it into “the Riviera of the Middle East.” He has already left the nation reeling from his failed attempt to Wesley Bell halt federal aid programs, his reckless drive to eliminate all federal DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) programs, and his order to deny the right to citizenship to the children of migrants either in the US illegally or on temporary visas.
See RAMS, A7
See BELL, A7
Rep. Ayanna Pressley D-Mass., accompanied by other members of congress including from left, Rep. Maxwell Frost D-FL, Rep Maxine Waters D-CA, and Rep Joyce Beatty, D-OH, speaks during a rally against Elon Musk outside the Treasury Department in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
Mayor Jones, GSL Inc. scold BOA
Rams Settlement talks silenced By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American
While Mayor Tishaura Jones hopes “cooler heads” at the Board of Aldermen will soon lead to passage of Rams Settlement legislation, she and Greater St. Louis Inc., are steamed that
two critical bills were passed to BOA’s informal calendar, which ended all debate. “After almost a year and a half of public input and months of debate and compromise among city leaders, the public, and other stakeholders, it’s clear that there are a number of projects and programs this money could have supported that would result directly in notable quality-of-life improvements for everyone in St. Louis,” Jones said in a
BUSINESS
Urban League event showcases women-owned businesses
Entrepreneurs shared important business advice with a group of more than 50 women during an Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Save our Sisters event on the first day of Black History Month.
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By Sylvester Brown, Jr. St. Louis Amerian
SPORTS
Lift for Life girls basketball team is one of state’s best
The Hawks have won two state championships in the past five seasons, including the Class 4 state title last year. They are currently No. 1 in the state Class 5 poll at 15-4.
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