Historical February–March 2016 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
State Senator Joe Keaveny accepted the Neighborhood Steward Award on behalf of St. Roch Catholic Church with heartfelt personal history.
He noted that he had lived in the neighborhood his entire life and attended St. Roch School, and his grandfather’s dental office had once been in the current SDCC office!
He reflected on the wide diversity of his senatorial district, from areas of poorest to richest and said that he believed that he was well prepared by growing up and living in our great diverse neighborhood: “MLK said this was how we should live. Thanks for celebrating our neighborhood.” Ruth Beckloff and Rev. Thurman Williams accepted the award on behalf of Grace and Peace Fellowship, which began across the street from the SDCC Office on Kingsbury and Des Peres and later moved to Delmar/ Clara. Ruth spoke about the ministry of the church with the hungry and homeless, and Rev. Williams reflected that this neighborhood has helped, in Dr. King’s words, to “let freedom ring” in St. Louis, something few others have achieved. Cheryl Adelstein represents Washington University on the council.
She observed that WU was built on Skinker in 1903, before the area’s first houses, and she said that WU had always been dedicated to working with the neighborhood. WU is now in the midst of rehabbing all their property in the neighborhood to insure that sound housing for all income levels is preserved.
She also mentioned how proud they are to have brought a grocery store to the neighborhood after so many years. Rachel Asem and Kristi Saviers spoke on behalf of Grace United Methodist Church, describing the history of the church, which moved from downtown to Lindell and then again to Skinker, but which decided in the 60’s to stay, instead of moving again.
The congregation is one of the most diverse anywhere, and their food bank and other ministries are key elements in the lifeblood of the neighborhood. Rev. Mikki Merritt, Pastor of New Cote Brilliante Church of God, spoke very personally about how his church moved here from a small building at Cote Brilliante and Semple Avenues, in 1991.
He and his wife Carol had both attended WU and travelled across the USA, and they are so glad to be part of this diverse neighborhood, following in the path of their church building’s precursor, Delmar Baptist Church, which had been one of the founding partners of the SDCC. Brandon Sterling, the brand new Executive Director of the council, said that he believed “the legacy of MLK challenges us to be the voice of people who can’t be heard.” He challenged the audience to “find their own inner MLK and to continually look for ways to advocate for and help those in need.” Brandon assisted the MLK commemoration committee, which, in addition to Liz Johnson, consisted of Alice Stanley, former president of SDCC, Gwen LaZard, Arline Webb, and Rita Mauchenheimer. Liz Wright Johnson brought the remarkable Normandy High School Chorale to sing at the event, and emotionally expressed how important it is to see these outstanding young people. Everyone in the audience on Sunday felt as she did, that their excellent performance and willing participation on a cold and blustery day does indeed bode well for the future of not only our neighborhood, but the St. Louis area.
Original photograph caption
Event chair Liz Wright Johnson with Rev. Mikki Merritt and Al Polk.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February–March 2016.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2016_02.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 4.
