Projects & Programs

The Community Allies Honoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum™ change management approach places youth and communities at the center of our regional decision-making. It enlists every school, business, and government in our region to do its part to replenish the sustainable resources that have been systematically depleted from black and brown communities in particular. It comes from my…

There is little question that we are living through a trying time right now in America. Even before the pandemic hit, further exacerbating the economic divide between economically advantaged and disadvantaged Americans, the disparities were already well-documented. This was particularly true in St. Louis, which Bruce Katz, a venerated economic strategist, describes as “possibly the…

Building Wealth and Equity Through Homeownership for Low to Moderate-Income Artists of All Disciplines.  In 2017, the St. Louis City Planning Commission adopted the Gravois-Jefferson Historic Neighborhoods Plan. Within this comprehensive visioning for the growth and development of this neighborhood was a call for affordable, for-sale housing for artists. The St. Louis Art Place Initiative…

The St. Louis region is full of character, culture, arts, and opportunity. Some might call it a hidden gem or an unknown treasure; those are things that came to my mind after I moved here two and a half years ago. St. Louis truly does have all of the culture, entertainment, and amenities that a…

Often when asked to write articles, typically, it is because of what has been seen in my bio; yet my work is not about me. I am a conduit to work for the community. If anything, I want my voice to serve as a reminder that conversations regarding community reform that don’t include the stakeholders…

Recent studies have illuminated vital health disparities that exist within minority populations around the U.S. This issue is also true for the city of St. Louis, MO. St. Louis’s minority communities have been disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted diseases, heart disease, high blood pressure, mental health challenges, and other communicable diseases. These issues have been exacerbated by the…

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…

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…

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…

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,…