Renee Horne talks career and achieving success
@stlouisamerican
@stlouisamerican
St. Louis American See page B1
The
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
CAC Audited MAR. 28 – APR. 3, 2024
stlamerican.com
‘Don’t let them bury my story’
Viola Ford ‘Mother’ Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre Viola “Mother” Fletcher, 109, recently published her memoir “Don’t Bury My Story: The Oldest Living Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre In Her Own Words.”
By Sylvester Brown Jr. The St. Louis American At 109-years-old, amid a busy media tour, it’s understandable that Viola “Mother” Fletcher-the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre-didn’t say much during her presentation at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville last week. Still the packed audience inside the university’s Dunham Hall seemed transfixed by the elderly legend’s actual presence. “She’s Black history, Black present and Black future,” Simone Williams, SIUE Diversity & Engagement librarian said in introducing Fletcher. Using the elderly author as an example, Williams went on to stress the importance of storytelling.
See FLETCHER, A7
Photo by WIley Price / St. Louis American
Vol. 95 No. 51 COMPLIMENTARY
There is no place like home for McDonnell Foundation Shifts focus to St. Louis
By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American For generations, the James S. McDonnell Foundation has been a leader in global research support and philanthropy. Its impact has reached all corners of the world since its creation in 1950 by James McDonnell, founder of the McDonnell Aircraft Corp. He established the foundation’s mission to improve quality of life by supporting advancements in complex areas of science. The foundation has Jason announced it will now Purnell focus all resources and expertise on St. Louis, according to Jason Purnell, JMF president. “Our North Star is shared prosperity and quality of life in St. Louis,” said Purnell, who has led the foundation since Feb. 1, 2023. “The [McDonnell] family decided to make this shift two years ago. We have spent the latter part of the past year developing our strategic plan. We have also talked with many local stakeholders. Purnell said the McDonnell Foundation’s community and civic sup-
See McDONNELL, A7
Photo by Eric Schmid / St. Louis Public Radio
Hunter Richardson, right, explains a racing tire nut to, from left, Juan Peal, Javahn Watkins, Nichelle Davis and Charles Singleton at World Wide Technology Raceway in 2019. A new report finds that Black students have the aptitude for STEM careers but do not pursue them because they are most likely not exposed to the industry.
STEM talent is there; opportunities are not
Black students lack exposure By Andrea Y. Henderson St. Louis Public Radio
Black students across the country have the aptitude for careers in science, technology, engineering and math, but they do not pursue them because they are most likely not exposed to the industry, according to a new report. The 2024 Black Students and STEM Report found significant exposure gaps across the field. There is a 75% gap between Black students aptitudes and natural skills in advanced manufacturing, a 57% gap in health science and a 56% gap in finance career exposure. The report also shows a 53% gap in architecture and construction and a 51% exposure gap in computers and technology.
HEALTH
Affinia Healthcare adds midwifery care
In North St. Louis County, DePaul Health Center is the only hospital where women can deliver their babies. There is a women’s health care void impacting many African American women.
Page A8
YouScience, a student career guidance technology company, and Black Girls Do STEM, a St. Louis-based STEM nonprofit, collaborated to produce the report. The organizations analyzed over 328,000 middle and high school students’ interests and talents through an aptitude assessment and interest survey to help identify which STEM areas students have not been exposed to and which field may match their skills and pique their curiosity. Now that the career exposure data has been revealed, the community can help Black students pair their interests and skills to a fulfilling career in STEM, said Cynthia Chapple, founder of Black Girls Do STEM. “When we think about the basic skills of technology, Black students have them,” Chapple said. “We are just simply not highlighting that for them well enough … and then telling
Blacks & reproductive rights: Attitudes are changing By Sylvester Brown Jr. St. Louis Amerian In 2022, Dr. Love Holt, at the time a reproductive freedom organizer with Pro Choice Missouri, shared a courageous commentary with the Riverfront Times, titled: “My Abortion Helped Me Escape an Abusive Marriage. “After I had my abortion, I gathered the courage to leave my abusive marriage,” Holt wrote. “I was homeless Kawanna with no resources to Shannon provide (for) myself or my children…I couldn’t imagine taking a new baby through this horrific journey. I don’t know if I would have made it as a single mother of four plus a newborn.” The commentary, Holt said, didn’t
See RIGHTS, A6
See STEM, A6 SPORTS
NCAA Sweet 16 has plenty of St. Louis flavor
Remaining in the men’s tournament are Caleb Love of Arizona (CBC), Keshon Gilbert of Iowa State (Vashon) and Ryan Kalkbrenner of Creighton (Trinity Catholic).
Page B3