A year of sports success throughout St. Louis
@stlouisamerican
@stlouisamerican
St. Louis American See page B3
The
CAC Audited JUNE 15 – 21, 2023
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
stlamerican.com
A celebration of Black fatherhood
Dear Fathers an outlet for African American dads By Danielle Brown St. Louis American Dear Fathers, an online media platform, is designed to promote stories, news, and information about Black fathers. Its goal is to allow them to be seen, heard, and celebrated. Leading to Father’s Day, Sunday, June 18, the organization will host an event Saturday, June 17 to “honor 15 Black fathers, while also fostering networking, fellowship, and community at Anew Rooftop in St. Louis. “There’s not a lot of spaces for Black men and Black fathers,” Jesse Alex, co-founder of Dear Fathers said. “Doing something that’s in a positive light and making people feel seen and heard through this
See FATHERS, A6
Vol. 95 No. 11 COMPLIMENTARY
Health Salute
Panel to discuss issues facing health care workers
St. Louis American Staff
Photo courtesy of Dear Fathers
Left to Right: AJ Whitfield, Ricky Hughes, Jesse Alex, Lamar Johnson Jr., and Brad Edwards of Dear Fathers, a premiere media platform designed to promote stories, news, and information about Black fathers.
A select panel of respected health care leaders will discuss some of the many important issues facing the critical challenges of our health care workers. Rebeccah Bennett of Emerging Wisdom will moderate the panel, comprised of: Bethany JohnsonJavois, president and CEO, Deaconess Foundation; Ciearra Walker, president and CEO, St. Louis Community Health Worker Coalition; and Dr. LJ Punch, BRIC Director and trauma surgeon. The group of panelists will have an engaging and informed discussion about the Bethany importance of self care, Johnsonunlearning behaviors Javois that have not been conducive to healthy growth, taking care of those who take care of us professionally and personally, and how we pass down these lessons to those coming up in the future. The panel discussion will lead off the program at the Thursday, June 22nd Salute to Health Reception. Following the panel discussion, nine high-achieving, dedicated professionals will be honored. Dr. Michael Ward will receive the 2023 Lifetime Achiever in Health Care Award. He recently retired after 48 years of service most recently at the Barnes Jewish College, Goldfarb School of Nursing with BJC HealthCare. Angelleen Peters-Lewis, vice president and chief operating officer of BarnesJewish Hospital, is the 2023 Stellar Performer in Health Care. Another five outstanding, dedicated
See SALUTE, A7
Photo by Dawn Suggs / St. Louis American
The Dellwood Juneteenth celebration will return on Saturday, June 17, at the Delwood Recreation Center. Rita (right) of Rita II Girlz Creations welcomes residents to her booth during the 2022 event. Her colorful booth caught the attention of A.J. Jones (right) and her son Ryan (center).
St. Louis to celebrate Juneteenth in style Events throughout the region
By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American A year ago, 22nd Circuit Court Judge David Mason was joined by hundreds of St. Louisans as he unveiled the Freedom Suits Memorial, located at the Civil Courts Building on 10 N. Tucker Street in St. Louis, Missouri. His work to investigate files on many of the hundreds of “freedom suits” he found in the basement of
n Juneteenth will be celebrated throughout St. Louis and St. Louis County during the weekend of June 17-19.
where he worked led to the memorial – which was made its debut on Juneteenth of 2022. “I thought about the all-white
BUSINESS
Ameren donates air conditioners to battle heat
In addition to 800 air conditionares, Ameren Missouri announced it is donating $100,000 to Cooldownstlouis.org and Cooldownmissouri. org to support heat vulnerable customers.
Page B1
male jurors who more than 100 times said to the slave owner, ‘Sorry, this slave is free. The evidence – the truth – says it,’” Mason said, receiving a roaring standing ovation. Mason will deliver the keynote address during the third annual Juneteenth Caribbean Heritage Festival: Missouri Gateway to Freedom and Justice on Saturday, June 17, 2023 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Cricket Field in Forest Park.
See JUNETEENTH, A7
Is reward worth the risk? NAACP Town Hall addresses deadly police pursuits
By Sylvester Brown, Jr. The St. Louis American A community gathering held Tuesday evening at the Omega Center on Goodfellow Blvd. was accentuated with sobs, condolences, accusations, explanations, outrage and frustration. A St. Charles resident stood to give his testimonial. After four words, his tears flowed. “My son was killed…” Composing himself, he began again. “He lost his life because St. Charles police were pursuing someone with a $500 fine. My son was killed over $500!” The presidents of the St. Louis City and St. Louis County NAACP, Adolphus Pruitt and John Bowman respectively, hosted the town hall meeting on police pursuits. Some have turned deadly, alter-
See POLICE, A6
HEALTH
Addressing prostate cancer disparities
African American men have a 60% higher incidence of prostate cancer according to a representative from the Siteman Cancer Center.
Page A14