COMPLIMENTARYCAC AuditedDECEMBER 19 – 25, 2013

Beyonce’ on autopilot‘Mrs. Carter’ serves STL oddly average stage show

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stlamerican.com∞

Vol. 84 No. 37

See SCOTT, A6

TIF Commission grills CORTEXBy Rebecca RivasOf The St. Louis American

On Tuesday, CORTEX president and CEO Dennis Lower asked the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Commission to activate almost $50 million in tax incentives for two redevelopment areas within the $2.2 billion research park in the Central West End – which will include the recently announced IKEA store.

Just after Lower gave his presentation, the TIF commissioners asked him a question he wasn’t ready to answer – what is your status on hiring minorities and women on the seven

current CORTEX construction sites?Lower said “it’s not our policy” to publicly

share numbers on how many minorities and women they have hired for the publicly funded construction projects currently underway.

Lower, who secured a total of $167.7 million See CORTEX, A7

Minority participation stressed on $2.2B research park in city

By Bridjes O’NeilOf The St. Louis American

The historic Musick Baptist Church in Maryland Heights is the oldest black church of

any denomination west of the Mississippi River, says Pastor David L. Scott.

The church was founded in 1811 by slaves on land given to them by their owner, Thomas Musick. Musick was a Baptist minister who had acquired large parcels of land stretching from the West Port area to St. Charles Rock Road, Scott said.

The church has remained at its original location, 790 Fee Fee Rd., for 202 years. The structural design of the church has evolved over the years, from a log cabin to a two-story traditional-style wood frame.

The area has also become more industrialized, with the headquarters St. Louis-based World Wide Technology, Inc. – the state’s largest black-owned business – just down the street.

Prospect Hill Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church is his “home” church, Scott said, the one he grew up in. At the time, Prospect Hill was under the leadership of his mentor and former pastor, the late Adrian F. Jones. This

is where Scott said he received his call to the ministry.

Although, admittedly, he never wanted to be a preacher.

‘I keep people from burning on both ends’Firefighter Pastor David L. Scott of Musick Baptist Church

See CENTER, A7

By Rebecca RivasOf The St. Louis American

In 1994, an academic dean for St. Louis Community College challenged the Forest Park campus to “take education to the community,” said Tracy Hall, vice president of academic affairs at STLCC-Forest Park.

Since then, the campus has continued to take on the challenge of William J. Harrison, then associate dean of academic support and continuing education.

Before Harrison died in June 1994, he helped open a facility at the Julia Davis Library,

where community members could take general education courses. Then, in 2010, the college built the state-of-the-art William J. Harrison Education Center, located near Vashon High School at 3140 Cass Ave.

In January, the center will take another big step. For the first time, it will offer associate degrees and certificates in four programs, including human services, emergency medical technology, paramedic technology and fire protection technology.

“We think it’s time to go to another level,”

Taking degrees to the communityHarrison Center to offer associate degrees, certificates

Children from the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis’ Head Start program performed during last Thursday’s community reception and welcome for its new President Michael P. McMillan at the Sheldon Concert Hall.

Head Start youth welcome McMillanPhoto by Wiley Price

in tax incentives from the City of St. Louis last December, told commissioners he wanted to wait until the construction projects were completed to talk about the inclusion numbers.

TIF Commissioners basically told Lower that’s not how it works.

“We have not seen statistics that show where you are with compliance,” on the city’s minority participation requirements, said TIF Commissioner Christina Bennett.

If construction projects receive taxpayer money, they must abide by the mayor’s executive order of hiring 25 percent minority business enterprises (MBEs) and 5 percent women business enterprises (WBE) on all contracts.

They must also meet the city’s workforce goals of 25 percent minority, five percent

n “We have not seen statistics that show where you are with compliance,” on minority participation requirements. – TIF Commissioner Christina Bennett

‘Working poor’ should be an oxymoron

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Humble pie for the holidays

BUSINESS SPORTS

Though he was a heavy favorite in the bout, Adrien Broner was beaten up by Marcos “El Chino” Maidana.Page B3

President Obama should demand that Congress raise the minimum wage – and not by a little, but a lot.

Supporting Positive Opportunities with Teens recently received a contract from the St. Louis Health Department.

The SPOT champions healthy behavior in youth

Insert

HEALTH

Stacy M. Edwards is the new manager of the William J. Harrison Education Center, part of St. Louis Community College.

Photo by Wiley Price

n “We go out to different apartment complexes to talk to the young adults and families to let them know we’re here.” – Pastor David L. Scott

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • DECEMBER 19 – 25, 2013A6

SCOTTContinued from A1

“I ran from the ministry,” he said.

He didn’t think he was worthy of the call and even tried to bargain with God.

“God, if you just pick somebody else, I’ll get back in the choir. I’ll drive the church bus. I’ll do anything but preach,” he said he prayed at the time.

However, God’s will was to be done.

Scott became a district missionary with the Berean Missionary Baptist District Association and would occasionally fill in as pastor at Musick. This is where he received his biblical training as well.

When Kendrick Trapp, former pastor of Musick, resigned, Scott was chosen by the congregation to serve in his first lead pastoral position in 2010.

Scott’s preaching style centers on a desire to bring the gospel to every single person, especially those who have strayed from the church. He and members of his church go out of their way to reel them back in.

“We go out to different apartment complexes to talk to the young adults and families to let them know we’re here,” he said. “They gotta see that you’re regular people. We’ve been through the same place that you are.”

In his basement office at the church, he has displayed two plaques linking him to his other career as a firefighter, which spans 25 years. He received his life-saving award for performing CPR on a woman who had went into cardiac arrest. In November 1991 he was awarded for aiding in the rescue of three children under the age of 10 from a burning building. One did not survive, he said.

Beside his awards is a framed photo of Scott, his wife, Carla, and son, Dominic.

Scott said he never wanted to be a firefighter, either. He

studied at Vatterott College and thought he wanted to be an electrician. His interest in firefighting was piqued while working as a security guard at Medicare-Glazier, a neighborhood drugstore.

“It was a fireman that used to come in every day,” he recalled, referring to Wendell Goins. “One day he asked me how would I like to make a lot more money than I’m making now?”

Goins also played a role in recruiting Wayne Luster. Luster, Scott and John Watson

Jr. are all pastors and members of F.I.R.E. (Firefighters Institute for Racial Equality),

a fraternal and advocacy organization of African-American firemen in the city

of St. Louis. Battalion Chief Steve Simpson, also a pastor, is a former member.

Scott is captain of Engine House No. 6 in South St. Louis. He says he owes his job to F.I.R.E. Its mission is to promote the hiring, retention and upward mobility of African-American firefighters.

Scott came into the department under 50/50, a court-ordered consent decree meant to promote diversity and equity in promotional practices in the St. Louis Fire Department. The 50/50 decree,

mandating racially balanced hiring and promotions, has since been overturned in the courts.

Being a pastor and firefighter have been rewarding careers, he said.

Scott said, “I like to keep people from burning on both ends.”

This story is part four of a four-part feature series entitled, “F.I.R.E. in the Pulpit.” For more information on F.I.R.E., visit firestl.net.

Church: Musick Baptist ChurchAddress: 790 Fee Fee Rd., Maryland HeightsFounded: 1811Denomination: BaptistMembership: 60Pastor: David L. ScottFirst Lady: Carla M. ScottMinistries: Men, Women, Youth, Outreach

Pastor David L. Scott leads Musick Baptist Church in Maryland Heights and is captain of Engine House No. 6 in South St. Louis for the St. Louis Fire Department.

Photo by Wiley Price

Happy Thanksgiving!

COMPLIMENTARYCAC AuditedNOV. 28 – DEC. 4, 2013

stlamerican.comVol. 84 No. 34

Martin Mathews to retireBy Rebecca RivasOf The St. Louis American

Martin Luther Mathews, co-founder of the Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club, remembers a day in 1958when a close friend invited him to his home.

“There, he had 30 boys in his house who wanted to dosomething with their lives,” said Mathews, who wascoaching baseball outside for a textile manufacturingcompany of working in an engineering department.

He placed those 30 boys on baseball teams that year,but other kids just kept showing up wanting to play. In

the summer of 1960, Mathews and the late Hubert“Dickey” Ballentine, coaches of neighborhood baseballteams called the Knights and the Arabs, were talking inHandy Park after baseball practice. They both hated toturn kids away, and both desired to keep young men onthe fields and off the streets. This meant they needed toorganize more teams.

“We came up with a great idea,” Mathews said. “Whycan’t we have a boys club like they have in South St.

See MATHEWS, A7

Rev. Nance: ‘We have some very big shoes to fill’

On Nov. 25, Martin Mathews announcedthat after more than 50 years, he is retiringas president and chief executive officer ofthe Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club.

Photo by Wiley Price

INSIDEMissouri must raiseminimum wage

Missouri’s current mini-mum wage is $7.35, whichon Jan. 1, 2014 will climbto a whopping $7.50.

~ Page A5 ~

BUSINESS

‘Making things better’in local construction

The Construction ForumSTL, a new nonprofitorganization dedicated to holding discussions of local construction industry issues.

~ Page B1 ~

OPINION

� “We came upwith a great idea.Why can’t we havea boys club likethey have in SouthSt. Louis?”

– Martin Mathews

‘Mr. Cub’ givenPresidential Medal of Freedom

Chicago Cubs legendErnie Banks, 82, was oneof 16 individuals honoredwith a 2013 PresidentialMedal of Freedom byPresident Barack Obama.

~ Page B4 ~

SPORTS

By Clarice EvansFor The St. Louis American

The effects of the government shut-down and congressional budget cuts haveonly led to the continued suffering ofthose most in need. Community WomenAgainst Hardship and the St. LouisAmerican have partnered again to addresssome of the needs of some of our mostfragile citizens. As we find ways to continue tolift our community up, we are grateful for any

support. Help us encourage these fami-lies during this season of giving. Sendall donations to CWAH, 3963 WestBelle Pl., St. Louis, MO 63108 or call314-289-7523.

Case 1 – Ms. A. is a single motherof four who is currently unable towork due to an injury. She is workingon a nursing degree and is determined

By Rebecca RivasOf The St. Louis American

On Tuesday, Ferguson-FlorissantSuperintendent Art McCoy Jr. made his first public

comments since the school boardplaced him on administrative leaveon Nov. 6 for “differences in focusand philosophy.”

“I choose to always do thingsthe right way, do things withintegrity, do things appropriatelyand within established policy, pro-cedures and best practices,” McCoysaid at a press conference held atShalom Church (City of Peace) inBerkeley and organized by theCitizens’ Taskforce for Excellence

in Education, a coalition of citizens, clergy andcommunity leaders.

Upon placing McCoy on leave, Board ofEducation President Paul Morris said the actionwas not an indication of any wrongdoing on

McCoysays boardignores himSuspended super andcommunity still waitingfor explanation

Art McCoy Jr.

By Bridjes O’NeilOf The St. Louis American

The church is the best place toraise a child, said Steve Simpson,pastor of Bethel ChristianAssembly Faith Fellowship, 4006Cottage Ave. in North St. Louis.Simpson referred to himself as a“pew baby” and says his personalachievements are a direct result ofhis spiritual upbringing at KennerlyTemple Church of God In Christ,under the leadership of then Pastor

Teacher,preacher,battalionchiefLongtime firefighter Steve Simpson serves in first pastoral role

F.I.R.E. IN THE PULPIT

Help for the neediestCommunity Women Against Hardship partners with The American

See McCOY, A6

See SIMPSON, A6

SteveSimpson

Jaleah Randolph, 5, enjoys her pre-Thanksgiving meal at the Wellston CommunityCenter on Saturday. Wellston basketball standout and current Sacramento Kingsrookie Ben McLamore held the dinner and turkey give-away. The event was sponsoredby his All 4 Kids Foundation.

Wellston’s McLamore scores for charityPhoto by Wiley Price

Hall ofFamerErnieBanks

See CWAH, A6

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • NOV. 28 – DEC. 4, 2013 A7

MATHEWSContinued from A1

Louis?”Five years later and still

without a central facility, theyhad organized more than 100teams: 75 baseball, 22 football,22 cheerleading and two bas-ketball teams.

“We use sports as a drawingcard,” Mathews said. “Mypride is to see kids take onsports and then they go on anddevelop in other areas. Thosefirst 30 boys have become topFBI agents, top business peo-ple and educators, professionalathletes. We use those first 30boys as an example.”

On Nov. 25, Mathewsannounced that after more than50 years, he is retiring as pres-ident and chief executive offi-cer of the Mathews-DickeyBoys’ & Girls’ Club. Hisretirement will become effec-tive Nov. 1, 2014, allowing theagency an opportunity to initi-ate a yearlong search for a suc-cessor and celebrate his contri-butions with the establishmentof a Martin Luther MathewsLegacy Fund Campaign.

“What would have hap-pened if I had said ‘no’ to theman and those 30 kids?”Mathews said. “We havetouched the lives of millions ofpeople. That’s what we’vedone.”

Mathews-Dickey has comea long way since the firstmeeting in Handy Park. Thenew facility at Kingshighwayand Penrose is equipped withan Olympic-size pool, basket-ball gymnasiums, communitymeeting and music rooms,computer and tutorial labs andadministrative offices. Todaythe club provides direct servic-es to nearly 6,000 membersand episodic services to morethan 40,000 annually.

“Our Board of Directorscherishes the generations oflives that Mr. Mathews hastouched and his tremendousleadership in growing theagency from a dream under ashade tree to a multi-facetededucational, cultural and sportsinstitution,” said board

Chairman Rev. Earl E. NanceJr.

“We have some very bigshoes to fill and are thankfulthat Mr. Mathews will serve aspresident emeritus to advisethe next leader.”

By forging relationshipswith business and communityleaders, Mathews has beenable to develop programs suchas the Volunteer Tutorial tosupply youth with “study bud-dies” and Computer LiteracyInstruction to tackle the digitaldivide through technologytraining.

“Through education we canovercome hardships and diffi-culties and provide supportsystems to conquer poverty,ignorance and hatred tobecome productive citizens,”Mathews said. “My lifelongmission is to educate youth on

the front end to prevent themfrom falling through the crackson the back end – the guidingprinciple of our ‘It’s Better toEducate than to Incarcerate’Initiative.”

Also a firm believer inyouth employment opportuni-ties, Mathews founded Earnand Learn to help them earnmoney as managers, coaches,scorekeepers and umpires. Inan effort to reduce gang vio-lence, he collaborated with theFBI in 1992 to establish theMotivation, Vocation and

Preparation program.On July 22, 1982, President

Ronald Reagan awardedMathews the United StatesPresidential Citizens Medal.

“The good works of MartinMathews flow as deeplythrough the City of St. Louisas the Mississippi River itself,”Reagan wrote on the award.“His inspiring contribution tobettering the lives of inner-cityyouth is a shining example ofthe power of good.”

In order to renovate theclub and broaden its services,

Mathews successfully workedwith major corporate leadersand Civic Progress to solicitfinancial and in-kind dona-tions. Mathews also was thefirst African American toserve on the board and execu-tive committee of the UnitedWay of Greater St. Louis.

An avid sportsman,Mathews built strong rela-tionships with the JuniorFootball and Khoury baseballleagues. He also collaboratedwith Major League Baseballand St. Louis Cardinals offi-cials on the creation of theReviving Baseball in theInner Cities (RBI) Program in1992 and subsequent hostingof the first World Series forthe program.

Among his numerous dis-tinguished awards are TheA&E Biography Community

Hero, Amateur Baseball Hallof Fame and the St. LouisAmerican Salute toExcellence in EducationLifetime Achiever Award.Mathews is also a recipient ofhonorary doctorate degreesfrom Saint Louis University,Washington University in St.Louis, Webster Universityand the University ofMissouri – St. Louis.

“If we are going to be thegreatest country in the world,we have to start investing inour young people,” Mathewssaid. “That’s why I have noregrets of my 55 years.Millions of people rememberthose days when you wereout there giving kids anopportunity when they didn’thave opportunities.”

� “Those first 30 boys have become top FBIagents, top business people and educators, professional athletes.”

– Martin Luther Mathews

MartinMathews’retirement willbecome effec-tive Nov. 1,2014, allowingthe agency anopportunity toinitiate a year-long search fora successorand celebratehis contribu-tions with theestablishmentof a MartinLutherMathewsLegacy FundCampaign.

Photo by Wiley Price

COMPLIMENTARYCAC AuditedOCTOBER 10 – 16, 2013

‘From NFL to NFP’Adrian Bracy of YWCA is 2013 Non-Profit Executive of the Year

Page B1

stlamerican.comVol. 84 No. 28

Teach For Americaboosts diversity

See TEACH, A6

See ACA, A6

By Sandra JordanOf The St. Louis American

It’s been 25 years since Doorways made itsentrance to offer housing for homeless persons liv-

ing with HIV and AIDS inthe St. Louis area. It nowserves 1,000 households inthe 15-county St. Louis met-ropolitan area, 62 counties inoutstate Missouri and 55counties in outstate Illinois.

“You have to be homelessto qualify, so when clientscome to us, they are dealingwith a number of issues,from poverty to mentalhealth, substance use, youname it,” said Opal M.Jones, president and CEO ofDoorways.

Jones wants the blackcommunity to engage withAIDS as an issue, becausethe days of it being a white,gay, male disease are longover.

“We need to know thatthis is affecting us in thiscommunity in higher ratesthan other communities,”

Jones said. “This is, in many ways, our diseasenow, and we’ve got to take ownership of takingcare of our own brothers and sisters.”

According to February 2013 statistics from theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention,African Americans have the most severe burden ofHIV of all racial/ethnic groups in the United States.Compared with other races and ethnicities, AfricanAmericans account for a higher proportion of HIV

Doorwaysturns 25Agency serveshomeless people living with AIDS

By Rebecca S. RivasOf The St. Louis American

Chris Leatherwood is a seventh-grademath teacher at Gateway Middle School, andhe is part of the two percent of teachersnationwide who are African-American males.

19 percent of new corps members in STLare African-American

See JONES, A7

See WATSON, A7

By Eugene RobinsonWashington Post

While Republicans were throwing their sillytantrum, Obamacare became a fact. There is noturning back.

The point of no return was reached when mil-lions of people crashed the websites of the newAffordable Care Act exchanges trying to buy healthinsurance. Republicans can fight rear-guard battlesif they want, but last Tuesday they lost the war. Allthey can do at this point is harm the nation – andtheir own political prospects.

Someday, if the GOP captures the presidencyand both houses of Congress, President Obama’shealth care law could be altered or even repealed.

No turningback onObamacareInsurance exchangesbusy as Affordable CareAct goes into effect

Photo by Wiley Price

By Bridjes O’NeilOf The St. Louis American

John Watson Jr. is a firefighter by training, but heinherited his religious mission as co-pastor of MapleTemple Church of God in Christ.

His father, Elder John Watson Sr., is senior pastor ofMaple Temple, located at 5195 Maple Ave. in North St.Louis. To honor his father’s influence in the church andcommunity, 26th Ward Alderman Frank Williamsonintroduced an ordinance designating the 1200 block ofClarendon Avenue, at the intersection with Page

Pastor on North, captain on SouthJohn Watson Jr. is a fire captain by profession and preacher by calling

John Watson Jr. is a firecaptain at Engine HouseNo. 23, at 6500 MichiganAve. in South St. Louis,and co-pastor of MapleTemple Church of God inChrist, 5195 Maple Ave. inNorth St. Louis.

Photo by Wiley Price

He understands that there is a growingneed for more black male teachers, he said.But that’s not why he chose to join Teach ForAmerica, a national organization that trainsprofessionals to become teachers in low-income communities.

“I’m a product of the public schools, and I

know how underprepared I was to enter col-lege,” said Leatherwood, a WashingtonUniversity graduate in English literature whojoined the organization this year. “I wanted tohelp kids to be better prepared than I was.”

Just eight percent of children who grow upin low-income communities graduate collegeby age 24, according to the PostsecondaryEducation Opportunity research group. When

F.I.R.E. IN THE PULPIT

Teach For America corps member Chris Leatherwood taught class at Gateway Middle School in the St. Louis Public SchoolDistrict on Tuesday.

� “This is, inmany ways,our diseasenow.”

– Opal M. Jones,Doorways

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • OCTOBER 10 – 16, 2013 A7

JONESContinued from A1

WATSONContinued from A1

infections in all age categoriesand at all stages of disease.

Despite representing only12 to 14 percent of the U.S.population, African Americansaccounted for an estimated 44percent of all new HIV infec-tions among adults and adoles-cents (aged 13 years or older)in 2010. In that same year, theestimated rate of new HIVinfection for black men wasseven times that of white men.

Doorways runs seven resi-dential buildings in St. Louiswhere individuals and familieslive independently, with somesupportive services. The organ-ization also provides occasion-al rental and utility assistancefor the highest-functioningclients.

Housing remains the singlemost critical unmet need forpersons with HIV AIDS, Jonessaid.

“When you are not housedstably, you cannot take care ofyour complex medical regi-mens and you are not adherentto your medicines,” Jones said.“Once you are not adherent toyour medicines, sometimesthose medicines might notwork for you again. And if youdon’t have your viral load

under control through yourmedications, then you have amuch greater risk of infectingother people with HIV.”

Housing is essential – butinsufficient.

“When I started managingprograms for Doorways yearsago, we literally gave our resi-dents the key to an apartmentand said, ‘Okay, call us if youneed anything,’” Jones said.

“We were not doing ourclients justice. You can givesomebody housing, but if wedon’t take care of all of thoseother, then they are dependenton Doorways forever. I wantDoorways to be a stop in theroad. It’s an open door, butkeep on going. We want to bethere, but we want them tomove on.”

It was her own struggles asa stay-at-home mother of twoautistic children (Robert, 14,and Isaac, 12) that led her toadvocate on behalf of others,she said.

Her advocacy extends to thepolicy realm. “We workstatewide to get more fair leg-islation on the books for peo-ple living with AIDS,” she saidof her work with the MissouriAIDS Task Force.

In the fall, Jones will jointhe National AIDS HousingCoalition in Washington, D.C.

“We specifically look atnational policy and funding

and all of the various thingsthat affect AIDS housing,” shesaid.

Jones became the presidentand CEO last December, previ-ously serving as director ofDoorways’ residential pro-grams. The Doorways staffgrew by one-third last year toinclude 70 employees. Sincethat time, Doorways has pro-vided what Jones describes asa “living wage” for all employ-ees – $10 per hour, plus bene-fits – addressing the realitythat some of the staff were far-ing worse than some of theclients.

Jones is a 2012 graduate ofthe Coro Women in Leadershipprogram of Focus St. Louisand earned a bachelor’s of sci-ence in management and orga-nizational behavior from theUniversity of Missouri-St.Louis.

Jones said Doorways is ontrack to hit $7 million in rev-enue this year.

Funding comes mostly fromfederal, state and local support,although individual donationsare always needed and wel-comed. Last year, it became aMedicaid provider.

But current funding leavesmany needs unmet. Doorwayshas hundreds of people on itswaiting list, some dating backalmost three years, Jones said,“We have such a great need

out here,” she said, “that wecannot house everyone thatneeds housing.”

Doorways will hold a 25thanniversary celebration, “TheCourage to Live,” 4-7 p.m.

Thursday, October 17atSoulard Preservation Hall,1921 S. 9th St. It is free ofcharge and open to the public.Dress is business casual andlight hors d’oerves will be

served. For more information,call 314-535-1919, emailinfo@doorwayshousing.org orvisit http://www.door-wayshousing.org.

Boulevard, as “Rev. JohnWatson Sr. Avenue.”

Indeed, the adage “a familythat prays together, staystogether” rings true at MapleTemple. Most of his immediatefamily members serve in lead-ership roles within the church.

His mother, First LadyAddie Watson, serves as dis-trict missionary and overseesthe Seed of Faith Ministry. Ofhis four daughters, two havetaken up the family trade.Sierra Watson oversees theYouth Ministry at Maple

Temple, and Chavon Bethanyis a missionary in Texas.

Watson joined his father inthe pulpit at Maple Temple 10years ago as an assistant pas-tor, before transitioning intothe role of co-pastor four yearsago. However, he didn’t startpreaching just because hisfather was a preacher, he said.

“I was inspired by God tocontinue the mission ofempowering people spiritual-ly,” he said.

Watson serves as presidentof the Academy-Sherman ParkNeighborhood Association,which works closely withelected officials. Elected offi-cials are also invited to attendmeetings at Maple Temple that

give the community an oppor-tunity to discuss their griev-ances about crime, education,housing and commercial re-development.

“We’ve been able to organ-ize the neighbors to bring theneighborhood back,” Watsonsaid. “We’re one of the mostsuccessful neighborhood asso-ciations in the city of St.Louis.”

He said that true servants ofthe community don’t do it forthe recognition, they do itbecause they have been calledto do so. As a spiritual shep-herd, he preaches this message.“Make Jesus your Lord andcontinue to look out for oneanother in the community to

make it a better place,” hesaid.

Watson was directed to thefire service by a friend at hisformer church, Zion TempleC.O.G.I.C. This friend, whowas a firefighter himself, men-tioned that the St. Louis FireDepartment was hiring.

Watson had worked previ-ously at the Federal ReserveBank in the ProcessingDepartment and the UniversityCity School District in theSupply Department. Taking hisfriend’s advice, he pursued andreceived his training and certi-fications through the St. LouisFire Academy and the NationalFire Academy.

He began his career as a

private at Engine Houses No.12 and No. 17. At EngineHouse No. 11, he performedmarine duties like river rescuesand barge fires. “Any incidentsthat took place on theMississippi River, the St.Louis Fire Department handlesthat,” he said.

He spent 20 years workingas a firefighter in North St.Louis before being assigned toEngine House No. 23, at 6500Michigan Ave., in South St.Louis’ Carondelet neighbor-hood. He now serves as its firecaptain.

Being a firefighter, he said,has provided financial securityfor his family: his wife of 30years, Jacqueline; their daugh-

ters Bethany, Rosetta Davis,Sierra and Adrien; and theirson, John Watson III.

As a member of theFirefighters’ Institute forRacial Equality (F.I.R.E.), hewould like to see more AfricanAmericans working in the fireservice. F.I.R.E.’s mission is topromote the hiring, retention,and upward mobility ofAfrican-American firemen inthe City of St. Louis.

“What’s happening now,”Watson said, “is that you’vegot more going out and veryfew coming in.”

This story is part one of“F.I.R.E. in the Pulpit,” afour-part series about firefight-er pastors.

COMPLIMENTARYCAC AuditedOCT. 31 – NOV. 6, 2013

State playoffs get underwayA schedule for this week’s postseason action

Page B3

stlamerican.comVol. 84 No. 31

Pastor and captain

See LUSTER, A7

See SLAY, A6

By Sylvester Brown Jr.For The St. Louis American

For the past two years, I have urged the SweetPotato Project youth to see themselves as “urbanpioneers.” I tell them they will lead a food-basedeconomic movement in long-neglected, impover-ished neighborhoods.

Today, they are planting sweet potatoes onvacant lots. The yield is used for the sweet potatocookies they will sell in a couple weeks. I ask themto imagine whole blocks where food is grown in

‘Agricultural renaissance in the city’Sweet Potato Project bringsnational movement to STL with help of SLU

By Bridjes O’NeilOf The St. Louis American

Wayne Luster is a captain in the St. Louis FireDepartment today because he was a pastor first.

Some 25 years ago, Luster was an associate pas-tor at New Jerusalem Cathedral Church of God inChrist (COGIC), where he noticed a recruitmentflier for firefighters on a bulletin board.

It had been posted by Wendell H. Goins, a mem-ber of New Jerusalem Cathedral and a foundingmember of the Firefighters Institute for RacialEquality (F.I.R.E.), a fraternal organization forAfrican-American firefighters.

“Wendell Goins is the one who brought me on,”

Wayne Luster serves ‘spiritual and natural’ needs

See PROJECT, A6See LAW, A6

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

After almost a year of protests against a$250,000 consulting contract with Veolia WaterNorth America, the controversial company hasdecided not to do business with the City of St.Louis, according to Mayor Francis G. Slay’s repre-sentative who spoke at an aldermanic committeemeeting on Tuesday morning.

Slay’s office spoke with the Metropolitan SewerDistrict (MSD) on Monday about taking on therole that Veolia would have played – improving thefunctions and efficiency of the water department –said Mary Ellen Ponder, the mayor’s special assis-tant.

However, Slay’s announcement did not stop the

Slay loseswaterfightVeolia is out, MSDwill consult on citywater division

Wayne Luster isfounding pastor atVictory OutreachMinistries Churchand a captain inthe St. Louis FireDepartment.

Photo by Wiley Price

By Chris KingOf The St. Louis American

Last week the Washington UniversitySchool of Law hosted a celebration of the65th anniversary of the Shelley v. Kraemerdecision, where the U.S. Supreme Court

unanimously ruled that housing covenantsrestricting home ownership based on raceviolate the 14th Amendment.

The event, held in the law school’s mootcourtroom, was also a celebration of African-American legal community.

Kimberly Norwood, professor of law andof African and African-American Studies at

Washington University, was the first in aseries of powerful speakers. She rememberedvisiting with Margaret Bush Wilson, leadattorney for the Shelleys in the landmark 1948case, not long before the legal legend passedin 2009.

Celebration of legal communityWUSTL School of Law hosts event in honor of Margaret Bush Wilson

Sweet Potato Project students Keith Young,Darryeon Bishop and Marquitta Williamsprepare a batch of sweet potato cookiesunder the supervision of Chef BryanRogers, a sous chef at Saint LouisUniversity’s Salus Center.

Photo by Wiley Price

Journi Williams, 7, and her cousin Anayiah Neely, 8, work their magic on pumpkins Saturday at the Moonrise Hotel in theUniversity City Loop. The annual Pumpkin Carve & Glow event is the fall kick off in the Loop.

Pumpkin magic

F.I.R.E. IN THE PULPIT

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • OCT. 31 – NOV. 6, 2013 A7

LUSTERContinued from A1

Luster said.Luster began his career at

Engine House No. 9 andrecently celebrated his 24thanniversary in the fire depart-ment on October 2.

Goins led him into the fireservice, but Luster said it wasthe Lord who led him into pas-toral work.

While at New JerusalemCathedral, Luster said, theLord called him to start hisown ministry. His mentor,Elder Solomon L. Williams,senior pastor of NewJerusalem, gave his blessing,and Luster founded VictoryOutreach Ministries Church in2009.

“We actually started in adaycare,” Luster said.

That daycare was PerfectGift Nursery, located at 1318N. Newstead Ave. VictoryOutreach Ministries is current-ly located in Hazelwood at #14Village Square.

Luster’s spiritual rootsmight be in C.O.G.I.C., but hischurch is nondenominational,with its doors open to peopleof all religious faiths. As a pas-tor, he said, he tries to makethe “glorious gospel of JesusChrist” plain and describes hispreaching style as “practical.”

“We address the social illsthat are faced in our society,”Luster said. “Because theBible says, ‘It’s first natural,then spiritual.’ You have todeal with the natural man aswell as the spiritual.”

At Thanksgiving, for exam-ple, Victory OutreachMinistries partners with theCovenant House to feed home-less teens who stay there,while dishing out a helping of“spiritual nourishment” aswell.

“We’re a biblically-basedchurch, but we’re activelyengaged,” he said.

Luster holds a bachelor’sdegree in biblical general stud-ies from the Mid-West BibleInstitute. He also earned anassociate’s degree in businessadministration and marketing

and advertising from St. LouisCommunity College. But fight-ing fires is how he has fed hisfamily.

He is proud to say that he isable to pay college tuition atAlabama A&M University forhis daughters, Charity and

Crystal. He also financiallyhelped his wife, Michelle, tolaunch her own business,Alternative Nail Salon & Spa.

Luster would not haveentered the fire service withoutthe support F.I.R.E. Its missionis to promote the hiring, reten-tion and upward mobility ofAfrican-American firefighters.It currently has about 275members, including BattalionChief Steve Simpson, CaptainJohn Watson Jr. and CaptainDave Scott.

In Luster’s former role asvice chairman of F.I.R.E., heserved as a political liaison. Heorganized marches and spoke

out against the contesteddemotion of then-Fire ChiefSherman George in October2007. The city’s first African-American fire chief, Georgeretired and sued Mayor FrancisG. Slay for racial discrimina-tion, without success.

Luster believes that diversi-ty within the fire departmentshould be representative of thecity of St. Louis, which has aplurality of African Americans,according to the 2010 census.One of F.I.R.E.’s diversity ini-tiatives is geared towardAfrican-American youth.Luster credits current F.I.R.E.President Capt. Abram PruittJr. with leading the effort topromote firefighting as aviable career path for youth.

Luster is not finished pursu-ing promotions himself. He iscurrently captain of EngineHouse No. 1, located at 2910S. Jefferson Ave. in the BentonPark neighborhood. He has hissights set, next, on battalionchief and has been studying forthe promotional exam.

Men will judge his capacityto lead in the fire department,but he has a higher authority inthe pulpit. Luster said, “I excelin the ministry by pleasingGod and by serving people.”

This story is part two of afour-part feature series enti-tled, “F.I.R.E. in the Pulpit.”

Church: Victory Outreach Ministries Church

Address: #14 Village Square, Hazelwood

Denomination: Nondenominational

Founded: 2009

Pastor: Wayne Luster

First Lady: Michelle Luster

Membership: 125

Ministries: Women, G.R.A.C.E (Girls Reared inAnointing Character and Excellence), D.I.V.A.S (DivineIntervention for Victory and Salvation), Men,B.R.O.T.H.A.S. (Bring Real Ones To Higher Authority &Salvation), Married/Unmarried, Prison and Health andWellness.

� “We address thesocial ills that are facedin our society. You haveto deal with the naturalman as well as thespiritual.”

– Wayne Luster

Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee spent the morning at Hickey Elementary Schoollast Thursday teaching St. Louis Public Schools students and parents about theimportance of physical activity and good nutrition.

Movin’ with JJKPhoto by Wiley Price