Appointment of ‘immeasurable’ value What Gov. Nixon’s choice of Judge Draper for Missouri Supreme Court means for African Americans and Missouri.
Page A4
Vol. 83 No. 30
CAC Audited OCT. 27 – NOV. 2, 2011
COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
MSD reconsiders MBE goals $4B in contracts at stake as board debates inclusion policy By Rebecca S. Rivas Of The St. Louis American Over the next 20 years, the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District faces $4 billion worth of reconstruction and improvement projects. More minority businesses would get a piece of those contracts if MSD board trustees pass new diversity goals proposed last week. At the Oct. 20 stakeholders’ committee meeting, the board presented a draft proposal that would increase the minority business enterprise
“If we have to pay our fair share, then no one should have any problem with us asking for our fair share of the work.” – Adolphus Pruitt, St. Louis NAACP
posal would separate MBE goals from women business enterprise (WBE) requirements, which were previously a combined 25 percent. WBE goals are now at 5 percent. The proposal also suggests setting “boots on the ground” goals for minorities at 25 percent and women at 6.9 percent. In June 2007, the U.S. government and the State of Missouri filed a civil action against MSD, which alleged that the district had been
(MBE) utilization to 25 percent for construction and professional services. Essentially, the pro-
See MSD, A6
Marching against drugs
Photo by Wiley Price
St. Louis storyteller Bobby Norfolk led the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in “The Composer is Dead” at Powell Symphony Hall yesterday.
From stuttering to the big stage Storyteller Bobby Norfolk leads St. Louis Symphony Orchestra at Powell Hall Photo by Wiley Price
Students at Gateway Elementary School celebrated Red Ribbon Week with a parade Tuesday morning. The program was created to teach drug awareness and encourage students to be drug-free.
LOYOLA FAMILY Jesuit school fights poverty with education
William Jefferson
Andrew Clair
Several weeks ago, my son who is seven years old got up and dressed at 4 a.m. While this is a typical rising time for me, I was shocked to see him so alert. I read him a story about vision, shared with him my expectation for his day and put him back to bed. In that moment, I imagined how many children in our region don’t have a male mentor, a warm bed or love in their homes. This was my story growing up, and it is what partly defines my outlook for this region. I have a younger brother who was the victim of
“It’s a great homecoming for me,” storyteller Bobby Norfolk said of his return to Powell Symphony Hall as the star of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s The “They put Composer is Dead. “I me in drama was kind of intimidatclass, in ed when I first walked poetry recitals, into this space after of those years.” they put me in all As a young boy, talent shows Norfolk got his first and whenever taste of captivating performances in the I would perform I wouldn’t space that now houses one of the world’s stutter.” most premier orchestras, back when it was – Bobby Norfolk the St. Louis Theater. “I saw the Ten Commandments here and Samson and Delilah,” Norfolk said with his welcoming grin. “The performer comes out and just feels the energy of the performances that have gone on here. The energy has vibrated into the floors, the walls and the ceilings and the
See CHILDREN, A7
See NORFOLK, A6
Needed: a vision for our children By Orv Kimbrough For The St. Louis American
By Rebecca S. Rivas Of The St. Louis American Seventh-graders William Jefferson and Andrew Clair have a few things in common. The most obvious – they both attend Loyola Academy, a Jesuit middle school located in Grand Center. Both say they are grateful that they have lifted a financial burden off their single mothers by attending Loyola. And they both hope to attend Saint Louis University High School and go on to be successful. “It helps a lot of boys, who don’t have the See LOYOLA, A7
Orv Kimbrough
By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American