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The New President of Malawi Spent Nearly 40 Years on the Faculty at Washington University

6/20/2014

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Peter Mutharika, the newly elected president of the African nation of Malawi, has long ties to the United States. In fact, he had lived in the United States for such a long time that his citizenship status became an issue in the Malawi election. Malawi law does not permit someone with dual citizenship to hold the presidency. But Mutharika demonstrated that he had merely obtained permanent resident status in the United States and had not become a U.S. citizen.

President Mutharika was born in Malawi in 1940. He earned a law degree at the University of London and then earned a LL.M degree and a JSD degree from Yale Law School. He taught at several African universities and Rutgers University in New Jersey. But he spent most of his career teaching at Washington University in St. Louis. In fact, he spent nearly 40 years on the faculty of the Washington University School of Law, retiring just three years ago. His brother Bingu wa Mutharika also was president of Malawi. He died in office in 2012 after suffering a heart attack.

Source: www.jbhe.com

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Malawi (/məˈlɑːwi/; Chichewa: [malaβi][need tone]), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Malawi is over 118,000 km2 (45,560 sq mi) with an estimated population of 16,777,547 (July 2013 est.). Its capital is Lilongwe, which is also Malawi's largest city; the second largest is Blantyre and the third is Mzuzu. The name Malawi comes from the Maravi, an old name of the Nyanja people that inhabit the area. The country is also nicknamed "The Warm Heart of Africa".


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Lilongwe was presented with the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation for its City Development Strategy developed and implemented with the assistance of the City of Joburg in their drive to implement sustainable financial and job creation programmes. Also known as “The Guangzhou Award”, the prize is a joint initiative of the World Association of Major Metropolises, the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and the City of Guangzhou, China.


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What is Juneteenth?

6/13/2014

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Juneteenth, A Day To Remember
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States.  Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.

General Order Number 3

One of General Granger’s first orders of business was to read to the people of Texas, General Order Number 3 which began most significantly with:

"The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer."

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The reactions to this profound news ranged from pure shock to immediate jubilation. While many lingered to learn of this new employer to employee relationship, many left before these offers were completely off the lips of their former 'masters' - attesting to the varying conditions on the plantations and the realization of freedom. Even with nowhere to go, many felt that leaving the plantation would be their first grasp of freedom. North was a logical destination and for many it represented true freedom, while the desire to reach family members in neighboring states drove the some into Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Recounting the memories of that great day in June of 1865 and its festivities would serve as motivation as well as a release from the growing pressures encountered in their new territory. The celebration of June 19th was coined "Juneteenth" and grew with more participation from descendants. The Juneteenth celebration was a time for reassuring each other, for praying and for gathering remaining family members. Juneteenth continued to be highly revered in Texas decades later, with many former slaves and descendants making an annual pilgrimage back to Galveston on this date.


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Today, Juneteenth is enjoying a phenomenal growth rate within communities and organizations throughout the country. Institutions such as the Smithsonian, the Henry Ford Museum and others have begun sponsoring Juneteenth-centered activities. In recent years, a number of local and national Juneteenth organizations have arisen to take their place along side older organizations - all with the mission to promote and cultivate knowledge and appreciation of African American history and culture.

Juneteenth today, celebrates African American freedom and achievement, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures. As it takes on a more national, symbolic and even global perspective, the events of 1865 in Texas are not forgotten, for all of the roots tie back to this fertile soil from which a national day of pride is growing.

The future of Juneteenth looks bright as the number of cities and states creating Juneteenth committees continues to increase. Respect and appreciation for all of our differences grow out of exposure and working together. Getting involved and supporting Juneteenth celebrations creates new bonds of friendship and understanding among us. This indeed, brightens our future!


Source: http://www.juneteenth.com/history.htm
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Puppet Show At First Baptist of Meacham

6/13/2014

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50 Trees Program Wants Kirkwood Sites

6/7/2014

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June 06, 2014
Organizers of the 50 Trees street-tree planting program are requesting the help of Kirkwood citizens to nominate street-tree planting sites for Fall 2014.

Initiated in 2010 to honor the 50th anniversary of the Greentree Festival, the 50 Trees Program helps "pay it forward" to future generations of residents by replenishing the street-tree population. Plans call for at least 65 trees to be planted in November 2014.

Nominated sites must be located within Kirkwood street-side easements – usually a 3–4-foot grassy 'tree lawn' between the curb and sidewalk, and the sites must be clear of overhead power lines and underground utilities.

Residents willing to help care for a tree may email site location and contact info to KeepKirkwoodGreen@gmail.com. For more info, visit http://keepkirkwoodgreen.wordpress.com/.

Qualified sites will be selected on a "first-come, first-served" basis. Trees are planted free of charge, however monetary donations are greatly appreciated. Keep Kirkwood Green buys the trees with private donations.

For more information, call Co-chairs Kathy Paulsen, 822-8947 and Nancy Luetzow, 965-1470.

Read more: http://www.websterkirkwoodtimes.com/Articles-Kirkwood-i-2014-06-06-192489.114137-50-Trees-Program-Wants-Kirkwood-Sites.html#ixzz33yTu3o6D 
Follow us: @WKTimes on Twitter | WebsterKirkwoodTimes on Facebook

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Final Lecture: The Art of Kara Walker, Saint Louis Art Museum Education Space, This Friday, June 6 at 6:30 pm

6/4/2014

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