‘Say Amen’ to Mathews-Dickey A’ngela Winbush serenades Mathews-Dickey President, CEO & Co-Founder Martin Luther Mathews at the “Say Amen” gala
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Vol. 83 No. 22
CAC Audited SEPTEMBER 1 – 7, 2011
COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
Dedication to the dreamer
Reed leads fair redistricting effort Unprecedented inclusion leads to first unanimous approval of ward map By Rebecca S. Rivas Of The St. Louis American For the first time in history, the City of St. Louis Board of Aldermen unanimously approved a ward redistricting map. For some, the Aug. 18 vote felt like a miracle, especially with the 2001 redistricting fights making international news and the state Legislature still facing a battle ahead over its redistricting maps. In the backdrop, some aldermen said wounds from the racially divisive deal-breaking 10 years ago haven’t quite healed yet. No ward went untouched this time. However, no line was drawn without the input and agreement of every single alderman. It was also the first time the ward map
“If you get people together and have them work together, you can see that it has made and will make positive change.” – Aldermanic President Lewis Reed
was redrawn when African Americans leaving the city outpaced white residents, according to 2010 Census data. As a result, black-majority North City wards had to creep into the Central Corridor to pick up residents, mostly whites. And Central Corridor ward boundaries pushed south,
Lewis Reed, president of the Board of Aldermen
See REED, A6
Early education is underfunded Study shows economic and social benefits to investing in early childhood American staff With more budgetary reductions to education, many governmentsponsored, urban pre-school programs are being underfunded or cut completely. However, a recent study by researchers from the University of Missouri and University of Minnesota show that such programs are vital to the future of many urban children.
“Early education programs can have a direct impact on economic success and good health.” – Irma Arteaga, University of Missouri In a study published in Science, Irma Arteaga, an assistant professor
in the Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri, examined the long-term success rates of Chicago’s ChildParent Center Education Program, and found that low-income children who spent two to six years in the program had higher rates of high school graduation, fewer criminal arrests, reduced instances of substance abuse and earned more money than children of the same age who did not participate in the program. Arteaga believes these positive See EDUCATION, A7
‘SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE’ – AND EQUITY
Bermuda Elementary School in the FergusonFlorissant School District, where Janet Walker is interim principal, will receive the Monsanto School of Excellence award at the St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship & Awards Gala on Sept. 16.
Bermuda Elementary honored at Sept. 16 Salute By Rebecca S. Rivas Of The St. Louis American
Photo by Fred Sweets
Members of Alpha Phi Alpha bearing flags with the names of past presidents of the fraternity lead the procession of Alpha members, the King family and civil rights leaders to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial during a private dedication last Friday. The formal dedication on the Mall in Washington, D.C. for the first African American and non-president was canceled due to Hurricane Irene. President Barack Obama was scheduled to speak.
Before Bermuda Elementary students leave their classrooms at the end of the day, they recite a reflection together. IN “Whatever I want to be, I can be. EDUCATION Whatever I want to see, I can see. 2011 Whatever I want to believe, I can believe. So today did I do my very best to learn?” Bermuda, at 5835 Bermuda Ave., produces some of the best students in the Ferguson-Florissant School District, said Superintendent Art McCoy. With a 98 See SCHOOL, A6 Photo by Wiley Price