Jan 26, 2021
Black Funders of St. Louis (BFSTL), a philanthropic “giving circle,” represents the essence of what Black and urban communities across this country are lacking; hope, leverage, and support needed to reinvest in our communities without the exclusiveness and bias that typically harnesses our own economic development, growth, and empowerment. As an advocate and supporter for the…
Jan 26, 2021
When asked what’s most inspiring about our city, one answer comes clearly to mind. It is the ability for us, for St. Louisans, to come together and work together to meet the needs of the community. The fact that St. Louis is a medium-sized city is a bonus. Being a medium-sized city means it is…
Jan 26, 2021
Far too often in our urban cores across America, we hear and witness the frustration of people in the community desiring investment and change in their neighborhoods. The discussions of those in positions to bring aid to the plight of the residents often result in solutions disconnected or indifferent to the needs and longings of the…
Jan 25, 2021
We don’t ask you to believe in our ability to change, we ask you to believe in yours. – Barack Obama While change may be difficult, it is definitely necessary. If we continue to glean from the opening lines of A Tale of Two Cities, St. Louis epitomizes its very essence. “It was the best of times,…
Jan 25, 2021
St. Louis is still a segregated region. Not only by where people live—the result, no doubt, of systemic racism—but also where investments are made and opportunities are accessible. Our city has seen extraordinary growth and development over the past few years and yet, the benefits are not equitably distributed or represented throughout the region. As St. Louis…
Jan 25, 2021
As events continue to unfold in our communities from the fallout of Covid-19, social unrest, and sieges on the capital; many of our black-owned businesses are on the brink of extinction. Many minority business owners are facing unheard of challenges and are looking for some relief. In St. Louis City many of our black-owned businesses…
Jan 25, 2021
Equitable Economic Development. What does it mean? Well, equitable means fair and impartial. Economics is the study of production, distribution, and consumption of goods and service. And development is the process of starting an experience. Given these definitions, one could say equitable economic development means to begin fairly producing and distributing goods and services. If that is…
Jan 25, 2021
The St. Louis region is heading for one of its most impactful economic moments in decades. As a region, we need to ensure that government and commercial organizations have the talent pipelines needed to remain globally competitive. On June 23, 2020 the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (SLEDP) led GeoFutures committee released a full report on…
Jan 25, 2021
The adversity introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly defined one of the most difficult and trying periods of our lifetime. Between tremendous loss, economic instability and widespread public health threats, life as we know it has been replaced by what most consider to be an interim “new normal.” As we all endeavor to take…
Jan 25, 2021
I originally grew up in the housing projects of East St. Louis. So to me, St. Louis was the “big city.” As a young black girl, I looked at the shiny, silver Gateway Arch as a beacon of progress and hope for the region. I often walked from the front steps of my home to…
Jan 22, 2021
Nearly every American city has a neighborhood that has suffered from decades of disinvestment and blight, thus crippling the economic opportunity of its residents. Often, these neighborhoods are predominantly black. And we know that attempts to revitalize these neighborhoods through “trickle-down economic development” have failed — and will continue to fail. Yet despite the global…
Jan 22, 2021
St. LouisA New Urban Champion New Urban Champions is an initiative created to showcase the most successful, but less frequently told stories of collaboration, growth, and problem-solving happening in mid-sized cities that deserve a greater share of the spotlight. NewCities convened its first New Urban Champions Learning Expedition in Columbus, Ohio in October 2018. For this second edition, NewCities…
