Pair of powerhouse challenges charge into STL
@stlouisamerican
@stlouisamerican
St. Louis American See page B3
CAC Audited JANUARY 25 – 31, 2024
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
stlamerican.com
2024 St. Louis American Charitable Foundation Non-Profit Executive of the Year
By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American
Cheryl Jones keeps Girls Inc. on the go
Girls Inc. of St. Louis, under the leadership of President and CEO Cheryl Jones, was named the national organizations’ Outstanding Affiliate of the Year in the large budget category Salute to in 2020. A year later, it was one of seven Business affiliates to share a $10 million grant by the Equality Can’t Wait Challenge, which is being directed toward its Project Accelerate program. Yet Jones says she and her organization, which serves 9,000 girls annually through after school and summer programs, will not rest on its laurels. “We also go into schools, and right now we have 72 school partners. The work is just beginning,” Jones said emphatically.
See JONES, A7
Girls Inc. of St. Louis President and CEO Cheryl Jones has been named the 2024 St. Louis American Charitable Foundation Non-Profit Executive of the Year.
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Ilyasah Shabazz says ‘control the narrative’
Michael McMillan, president and CEO of The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, talking with Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X, at the 12th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Tribute at St. Louis University Busch Student Center, on January 18,2024. Shabazz said her mother, Betty Shabazz, taught her children about the contributions of all who were and are a part of the African Diaspora.
By Ashley Winters St. Louis American
INROADS College Links has found a new path to assist college students in the St. Louis region, many of whom are minorities. During a kickoff event Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at Harris-Stowe State University, Andrea Johnson-Lee, INROADS national director, said the program is active in 17 cities in the US. “I am truly elated Andrea Johnson-Lee that the 18th city is my hometown, St. Louis,” said Johnson-Lee. The nonprofit organization creates programs for high school students interested in STEM, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Students learn soft skills such as goal-setting and planning Tina Grimes skills, and will also have an opportunity to advance in their career of choice while fostering diverse and inclusive workspaces. Students must be in grades 9 through 12 with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. They can apply online at the INROADS website,
Say caucus system disenfranchises voters
By Sylvester Brown Jr. St. Louis American
hosted by SLU and the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. Shabazz said she strives to make her late parents proud through her role as Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Education Center chair. At the forefront is helping young people become more community-driven and civically engaged by providing them with the history of Civil Rights leaders. Her mother insisted on teaching her
HEALTH
Generate Health helping to reduce maternal health gap
Generate Health Director of Community Mobilization and Advocacy Lora Gulley collaborates with community organizations to improve the health of communities impacted by social and health inequities.
Page A10
A new road for INROADS College Links
Dems decry end of Missouri primary
Malcolm X daughter spoke at MLK tribute Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of civil and social rights icon Malcolm X, brought a spirit of justice, equity, and love to the St. Louis University Busch Student Center on January 18, 2024. She shared with the audience a glimpse into her family’s lives as activists during the 12th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Tribute,
COMPLIMENTARY
See INROADS, A7
Photo by Marcus Allen / St. Louis Urban League
By Ashley Winters St. Louis American
Vol. 95 No. 42
children about the contributions of all who were and are a part of the African Diaspora. “When you control that narrative, this allows everyone to appreciate the sacrifice and contributions [of Black people],” Shabazz told the audience. “We would not be able to call our country the leader of the free world [without us.”]
The period for presidential candidates to file to appear on the Missouri Democratic presidential primary ballot closed at 5pm on Tuesday. For decades, Missouri voters went to the polls to vote in a presidential preference primary. That process changed in 2022 after Republicancontrolled legislation passed that repealed the state’s primary. The bill (HB 1878) eliminated Missouri’s state-run presidential preference primary election and designated a party-run system for choosing presidential nominees. While Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft summarized the new way of selecting candidates as “a caucus system
See DEMS, A6
See SHABAZZ, A6 LIVING IT
Playwright basks in Black Rep’s world premiere staging
British screenwriter and playwright Paul Webb spoke of how his play “Hold On” managed to make its world premiere on the Black Rep stage as the opening production of their 47th season.
Page C1