Freese frames Hometown hero sears memories in minds of Cardinal Nation
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Vol. 83 No. 31
CAC Audited NOVEMBER 3 – 9, 2011
COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
COGIC returns with STL love During Tuesday’s evening session of the Church of God In Christ’s Holy Convocation in St. Louis, Sister Ida Goodwin Woolfolk presented COGIC Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr. with an autographed baseball from the World Series Champions St. Louis Cardinals. For a slideshow of GOGIC photographs, visit www.stlamerican.com.
104th Holy Convocation brings 60,000 saints to St. Louis By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American Tuesday night was a love exchange between the saints and the city as the Church of God in Christ kicked off its 104th Holy Convocation in St. Louis.
“I don’t know when a city has ever welcomed any convention of the Church of God in Christ the way these civic leaders have welcomed us,” said Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr. See COGIC, A6 Photo by Wiley Price
Library to vote on inclusion
Tribute to an educator
Protestors say ‘good agreement’ reached
HSSU celebrates Dr. Givens, names scholarship for president emeritus
By Rebecca S. Rivas Of The St. Louis American Protesters at the Central Library’s renovation site have reached an unofficial agreement with the St. Louis Public Library to increase minority workforce on the jobsite and to diversify the workforce on future library “We don’t projects. “We’ve come to where we have any feel is good agreement,” said motives Mikail Ali, president of the other than African-American Business & Contractors Association to make (AABCA). “It’s the dawning sure the of a new day.” AfricanThe library’s Board of American Directors will meet Monday to discuss and possibly vote on community is utilized in the agreement points. The ideas agreed upon cona way that’s ceptually, but not legally, fair and include: increasing the project’s minority workforce by consistent.” 50 percent, hiring five appren– Yusuf Haqq, tices from community schools such as Ranken and AABCA Construction Careers, and putting a policy together for minority workforce on future projects. “The library is interested in being a role model on how to best provide minority workforce participation in construction projects,” said Adolphus Pruitt, president of the St. Louis NAACP, who is representing the coalition of organizations led by AABCA. Pruitt said though the items have been discussed and agreed upon in principle, attorneys See LIBRARY, A7
By Rebecca S. Rivas Of The St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price
Whistle for the winners Richard Ellis, age 10, a fourth grader at Central Elementary School, whistled for the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals as they rode down Market Street on Sunday afternoon in the team’s victory parade. For a slideshow of World Series and parade photographs, visit www.stlamerican.com.
ELITE GIVING TOPS NATION By Rebecca S. Rivas Of The St. Louis American Three days remain for the United Way of Greater St. Louis’s African-American Leadership Giving Society to reach its goal of
raising $2 million this year. The society, also called the Charmaine Chapman Society, has 727 members and has raised more than $1.8 million for the 2011 campaign, which ends November 8.
Orvin Kimbrough, senior vice president, major gifts of the United Way of Greater St. Louis, recently shared with the Chapman leadership team that “the $2 milSee GIVING, A7
“Local African-American executives, nonprofit and civic leaders set the standard on top tier giving nationally.” – Orvin Kimbrough, United Way
Friends and supporters of Dr. Henry Givens Jr. know exactly what would make a perfect send-off gift, as his 32 years of leading Harris-Stowe State University come to a close last month. They are holding a reception and dinner on Nov. 4 at the Chase Park Plaza to fund a permanent scholarship in Givens’ name. The cocktail reception begins at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. The evening will include a tribute to commemorate the work of Givens, the longestserving president of any university in Missouri. The steering committee for the celebration includes Donna Last year Wilkinson, Greg Boyce, Dr. William Danforth, Dr. Givens Debra Hollingsworth, headed the David Steward, Donald most sucM. Suggs and Douglas cessful Yaeger. Under Givens’ leaderfundraising ship, the university (an campaign in Historically Black the universi- College or University, or ty’s 152-year HBCU) has nearly tripled its student population. It history, has grown from one reaching building with only one $45 million. degree to eight facilities and 14 degrees. David Steward, founder of World Wide Technology, Inc, said, “I view him as much as an entrepreneur as an educator can possibly be. I know what it takes as an entrepreneur myself. I have such admiration for him.” Givens has a knack for reeling in students on the fringe. About 90 percent of the university’s student population are first-generation college students. See GIVENS, A7