Kinks, coils and curls unite ‘Natural Hair Meetup Day’ means major events in STL
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Vol. 84 No. 7
CAC Audited MAY 16 – 22, 2013
COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
Two commencements, same message given Tony Thompson encourages Maryville and HarrisStowe grads
Kimbrough to lead United Way Succeeds Gary Dollar at helm of nation’s fifth largest agency By Chris King Of The St. Louis American
By Rebecca S. Rivas Of The St. Louis American Anthony Thompson, CEO and chairman of Kwame Building Group, just delivered commencement speeches at both Maryville University and HarrisStowe State University. The audience at Maryville was predominately white, and at Harris-Stowe it was largely African American. Yet he gave the same speech to both sets of graduates, and at both he received a “Be bold standing ovation. and selfish His message spoke to how history can help us while you understand our ability to find your achieve – and survive. passion.” “My ancestry and history assures me that I can – Tony be anything I want to be,” Thompson Thompson told the new graduates. “They were the strong, wise and innovative, with survival instincts unseen.” Millions of Africans died chained togethSee THOMPSON, A7
Photo by Wiley Price
Lea Sutherlin and her husband Steve Sutherlin graduated from Harris-Stowe State University together on Saturday. As executive assistant to the president, Lea Sutherlin is a 22-year employee of HSSU. They both earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration, joining the ranks of their alumnae daughter, Tasha Sutherlin, valedictorian of the class of 2008.
PASTORAL PROFILE
Orvin Kimbrough, 38, reached a major career milestone yesterday when it was announced he will succeed Gary Dollar as president and CEO of the United Way of Greater St. Louis, the region’s primary funding source for social service agencies. The organization raised $72 million last year, when Kimbrough was senior vice president of major gifts and executive vice president, and it distributed more than 90 percent of that money to more than 170 health and human service agencies in Missouri and “I look Illinois. It’s the nation’s forward to fifth-largest United Way. helping Kimbrough, whose United Way appointment is effecand the tive July 1, said he is community “humbled by this do even more tremendous honor to to help people serve this community.” Kimbrough also is in need.” humbled, at the moment, by a more – Orvin personal milestone. His Kimbrough son Matthew Jacob is now 8, the same age Kimbrough was when he lost his mother, Carolyn. He never knew his own father. He was raised in foster care by some of the very organizations funded by the United Way. “I took my son to the old house I lived in, to the street where my mother passed, to a couple of the agencies I lived at,” Kimbrough said. “It was moving – and moving for him, as well, to see where Dad came from. You See KIMBROUGH, A6
Rev. Sammie E. Jones preparing for Baptist educators in June
Kennedy holds public budget hearing
By Bridjes O’Neil Of The St. Louis American
New Ways and Means Committee chair brings policy to the people
Local pastor hosting conference The Rev. Sammie E. Jones is senior pastor at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 1444 South Compton Ave.
The Rev. Sammie E. Jones is contending with recent tornado damage to his home church, Mount Zion Baptist Church, and the resulting insurance hassles. But that isn’t slowing him down in his efforts to promote the 108th Annual National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, which is coming to St. Louis. An estimated 30,000 people are expected to convene in St. Louis June 16-21, generating a substantial amount of revenue for the city. Rev. Jones is local host committee chairman and was instrumental in bringing the conference to St. Louis for the second straight year. “I really need the support of the city,” Rev. Jones said. “Every church, every pastor within the region needs to register.” See JONES, A7
Photo by Wiley Price
By Rebecca S. Rivas Of The St. Louis American One after another, African-American residents approached the microphone at the city’s budget meeting Tuesday night to praise the Board of Aldermen for holding two evening meetings so working taxpayers could offer ideas on how to bridge the city’s $16.3 million budget gap. The total proposed operating budget is $984.6 million. When Alderman Terry Kennedy became the new chairman of the board’s Ways and See KENNEDY, A6