MLK Day concert at Powell Hall on January 16
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Business Salute Entrepreneur of the Year
A community communicator Laurna Godwin’s firm gives back to STL family
Laurna Godwin, working in her Union Station office near downtown St. Louis Monday, Jan. 9, is the Salute to Excellence in Business Entrepreneur of the Year.
By Ashley Winters St. Louis American Laurna Godwin, owner, co-founder, and president of Vector Communications Corporation exemplifies Black excellence and professionalism. Amazingly dedicated, she personifies a skillful hardworking, passionate professional who values the communities of St. Louis. Through her company, Vector Communications, Godwin has helped companies and individuals navigate challenges they face. “We give people a voice in issues that impact how they live, work and play,” said Godwin. For over 40 years, Godwin has used her communication skills to inform and educate underserved communities about issues that impact their everyday lives. A former reporter and a three-time Emmy award
See GODWIN, A7
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
MLK Kickoff celebration
Mizzou rejects punishment for student’s racist post week off.” In 1986, when the first federal holiday marking the birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., was celebrated, Washington D.C. disc jockey Doug Tracht said on the air, “Why don’t we shoot four more and get the whole Marlene week off?” followed by, Terry “Come on, now, you know I don’t mean nothin’!” WWDC suspended him five days, he publicly apologized, and donated money to create
SPORTS
High School Sports Year in Review
Decision to be announced publicly
By Rebecca Rivas Missouri Independent St. Louis Judge David Mason is still reviewing Lamar Johnson’s wrongful conviction case and working toward a decision on whether or not to set aside his 1995 murder conviction, a court spokesman told The Missouri Independent. “There’s no date set yet to issue his ruling, but he is planning to set a hearing to provide and summarize his decision,” said Joel Currier, chief communications officer for the 22nd Circuit Court. Mason will do his best to provide the public with a week’s advance notice of the hearing, Currier said. Johnson’s case marks the first time a St. Louis judge has heard an innocence claim filed by the city’s prosecuting attorney. During a weeklong hearing in December, St.
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
The University of Missouri – Columbia will not punish a student who recently posted a racist rant on social media. In a Snapchat post in December, student Meg Miller said, “If they would have killed 4 more n----- we would have had the whole
Judge Mason still mulling Johnson case
Sybrina Fulton, mother of the late Trayvon Martin, brought her inspirational story of hope and pursuit of justice to the St. Louis University/Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis MLK Memorial Tribute on Wednesday.
For more Dr Martin Luther King Jr., Weekend coverage please see the MLK Special Section in today’s St. Louis American and online at stlamerican.com.
St. Louis American staff
COMPLIMENTARY
See MASON, A6
Carol Daniel, KMOX media personality and mistress of ceremonies for Statewide MLK Commemoration, joined the Rev. Earl Nance Jr., in reminding the audience at Harris-Stowe State University, “We don’t just celebrate Dr. King because he did great things. We celebrate him because we can now do great things.” The 37th commemoration returned to the auditorium of the Dr. Henry Givens Main Building for the first time in two years.
Cites 1st Amendment rights
Vol. 94 No. 42
a scholarship at Howard University in honor of Dr. King. According to a Jan. 9, 2023, University of Missouri release on Jan., the school determined it cannot discipline the student due to First Amendment protections. “First Amendment law does not allow a public university to punish speech only because it is racist or hateful — even when that speech is diametrically opposed to our values,” Mun Choi, president of the University of Missouri System, said in a statement.
BUSINESS
Empowerment to the people
It was a terrific year for prep sports in the St. Louis area, with many state championships to celebrate. So let’s look back at what happened during a great 2022.
The Northside Economic Empowerment Center in the Sumner High School Annex is part of Mayor Tishaura Jones’ $93 million investment in north St. Louis.
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Sybrina Fulton continues fight for justice Trayvon Martin’s mom honored at MLK event
By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American Sybrina Fulton describes herself as an “average mom” when her life was changed. “I worked 24 years for the Miami Housing Authority, I had two young boys. We fussed about about average things like hair cuts and homework,” she said Wednesday in St. Louis. It has been more than a decade since George Zimmerman, then 28, followed, confronted, shot, and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, one of Fulton’s sons. “I don’t think anything could prepare me for the journey I would be on,” said during the 2023 Martin
See FULTON, A7
See MIZZOU, A6 HEALTH
Affinia Healthcare names new president and CEO
In roughly five years, Dr. Kendra Holmes has gone from Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer to president & CEO for Affinia Healthcare.
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