Rev. Sekou drops blues album ‘The Revolution Has Come’ released January 31 at 2720 Cherokee
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St. LouiS AmericAn The
CAC Audited JANUARY 21 – 27, 2016
Vol. 86 No. 42 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
To impeach – or not – in Jennings Jennings Mayor Yolonda Fountain Henderson spoke at the end of a City Council hearing about its vote to initiate the impeachment process against her at City Hall on Saturday, January 16.
City Council hears from residents about decision to investigate mayor By Chris King Of The St. Louis American The Jennings City Council heard public feedback on its vote to initiate the impeachment process against Mayor Yolonda Fountain Henderson at City Hall on Saturday, January 16. Many residents said the estimated cost, $50100,000, was beyond the city’s ability to pay. Most of the residents who raised the issue of cost also said they supported the mayor and that, as a newly elected mayor, she should be expected to make mistakes
without being immediately impeached. “We voted the mayor in with no cost to us,” Carolyn Harris said. “Now you’re asking us to pay to get her out? We don’t have the money.” Several residents who regularly attend council meetings said these vocal supporters of the mayor were unfamiliar faces and, because they did not attend council meetings, they did not understand the situation. “If you’d come to regular council meetings, you’d see what is really going on,” Robert Cotton Sr. said.
See JENNINGS, A7 Photo by Wiley Price
Annie Malone is moving forward New CEO Leslie Gill is ‘expected to really change things’ By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price
Marching for MLK Hundreds braved the freezing cold to march through downtown St. Louis on Monday, January 18 in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Torch passing at MLK celebration Eugene B. Redmond was the keynote speaker for the Saint Louis Art Museum’s 2016 Freedom Celebration for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. held on Friday, January 15.
Art Museum honors Dr. King’s ally Julian Bond – and their influences By Chris King Of The St. Louis American The 2016 Freedom Celebration for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. by the Saint Louis Art Museum was all about paying the tribute forward to the next person, or back to an elder who came before. The celebration of King’s memory focused not on King himself but on his fellow civil rights leader Julian Bond (1940-2015), in the museum’s tradition of honoring
“people who embodied King’s message of equality and civil rights,” said Sherri Williams, an associate educator in charge of the museum’s family programs, who led the celebration on Friday, January 15. Marcus A. Creighton, who presented on Dr. King on behalf of their mutual fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, shared his moment in the spotlight with a young college leader for the Alphas. This young man said, See MLK, A7 Photo by Lawrence Bryant
What if Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center opened an urban boarding school for young African-American children – right in the heart of North St. Louis? This is one of the innovative ideas that newly hired Leslie Gill has already presented to the Leslie Gill social-services organization’s board. Gill will take her place as Annie Malone’s chief executive on January 25. “Everyone in the nonprofit arena and the community at large that we’ve spoken to has had nothing but glowing comments to say about her,” See GILL, A6
2016 Young Leaders chosen To be honored at Feb. 25 networking reception American staff A diverse group of 20 accomplished AfricanAmerican professionals under age 40 has been selected as the 2016 class of Salute to Young Leader award recipients. Nominated by colleagues, friends and family, they are chosen by their peers and will be profiled in the February 25 edition of The St. Louis American. They will be honored at the St. Louis American Foundation’s sixth annual Salute to Young Leaders Networking Awards Reception See LEADERS, A6