Our Community

Ordinary people making an extraordinary difference.

These can-doers live on every block, in every neighborhood — including yours. From Belleville to Botanical Heights, the West End to Wentzville, meet the neighbors, heroes and helpers who make St. Louis a little brighter than it was the day before.

Featured Stories

Leveling the Playing Field

The Gateway Region YMCA’s Adaptive Sports Complex and adaptive programming offer inclusive play for all.

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Community

If You Can Dream It

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Conversation

Love Your Neighbor

With long-term tornado recovery now part of its mission, LOVEtheLOU continues to work from within to help North City flourish.

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Community

Glittering Grace

Through outreach, advocacy, and action, Fourth City Sisters create community and make St. Louis a more vibrant, joyful, and inclusive place to call home.

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Community

Pedal Power

Pedal the Cause has raised more than $51 million for cancer research in the St. Louis area — and it isn’t slowing down.

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Community

Belonging
Together

St. Louis is an amazing region for families who have children with disabilities. There are dozens and dozens of agencies dedicated to serving people with intellectual and developmental…

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Community

Bridging a Divide

In the growing Delmar Maker District and beyond, restaurants, maker and retail spaces, and nonprofits are thriving, ushering in a new era for the neighborhood.

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Community

Home Run

Exploring St. Louis by foot, Ricky Hughes helps locals and transplants alike connect with the city in a new way through St. Louis Run Crew.

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Community

From bocce to red sauce, dig into
the enduring legacy of St. Louis’
Little Italy

How The Hill, a beloved St. Louis neighborhood shaped by Italian immigrants, uses its past to build a culture still centered around faith, food, and family.

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Community

A World of Good

Through its skills training and support programs, Forai helps immigrant and refugee women in St. Louis build better lives — for themselves and their families.

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Community

Leading the Pack

For more than 50 years, the Endangered Wolf Center in Eureka has been a national leader in saving Mexican gray wolves and American red wolves from extinction by…

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Community

15+ Ways to Get Moving in St. Louis

Explore St. Louis area hiking trails, cycling paths, indoor dance studios, inclusive playgrounds and programs, and more ways to get moving across the metro.

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Community

Humans of St. Louis:
Ginelle Bess’ Story

With Grassroots Redeeming Love, Ginelle Bess is aiding the community and helping tornado victims recover and rebuild their lives.

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Community

2025 Year In Review: 40+ Inspiring
St. Louis Stories

From nationally beloved arts institutions and culinary stars to community leaders helping to rebuild after the tornado, take a look back at this year’s STLMade stories.

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Community

Rebuilding St. Louis

In the days, weeks, and months after the May 16, 2025 tornado that devastated St. Louis, residents and leaders are continuing to work to help people and neighborhoods…

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Community
Gateway Early Childhood Alliance

Recover. Rebuild. Renew.

In the week after the May 16, 2025 tornado that devastated St. Louis, photographers R.J. Hartbeck, Tyler Small, and Michael Thomas documented the communities hit the hardest.

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Community

Humans of St. Louis:
Jenna Elizabeth’s Story

After the tornado, St. Louis photographer and artist Jenna Elizabeth documents tree destruction in Forest Park through art — and invites others to help.

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Community

Love Your Neighbor

With long-term tornado recovery now part of its mission, LOVEtheLOU continues to work from within to help North City flourish.

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Community

Fielding
Opportunity

With the Dream Big Foundation, Jorge Flores is making competitive soccer more accessible for kids in underserved communities across the St. Louis metro.

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Community

Leveling the Playing Field

The Gateway Region YMCA’s Adaptive Sports Complex and adaptive programming offer inclusive play for all.

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Community

If You Can Dream It

With a new headquarters, retail store, tornado cleanup and reconstruction, and its successful internship program, Dream Builders 4 Equity has been busy. Catch up with co-founder Michael Woods.

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Community
Michael Woods, co-founder, Dream Builders 4 Equity

If You Can Dream It

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Conversation

Pedal Power

Pedal the Cause has raised more than $51 million for cancer research in the St. Louis area — and it isn’t slowing down.

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Community

Beyond Books

Under Kristen Sorth’s leadership, St. Louis County Library has reinvented itself as a modern hub for community events and services and an indispensable resource available to all.

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Community

Glittering Grace

Through outreach, advocacy, and action, Fourth City Sisters create community and make St. Louis a more vibrant, joyful, and inclusive place to call home.

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Community

Caring for the Caregivers

The St. Louis Early Childhood Tornado Response Team is raising money, collecting donations, supporting families, and helping childcare providers rebuild after a devastating tornado.

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Community

“Get In Where
You Fit In”

After a devastating tornado, the St. Louis community comes together to help North City residents.

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Community

Breaking the Ice

Based out of Maryland Heights, the St. Louis Blues’ Girls Development Program offers an accessible and affordable entry point into hockey for young girls.

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Community

Belonging Together

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Conversation

Building Blocks

With the Economic Mobility Program at Annie Malone Children and Family Services, Keisha Lee is empowering and elevating young men in St. Louis.

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Community

Set Up for Success

At the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Jonathan Lidgus and his team help students with disabilities thrive in college and land successful careers.

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Community

Fashion Forward

For 10 years, the Saint Louis Fashion Fund has helped grow and evolve the city’s fashion industry — and thanks to co-founder Susan Sherman, its future looks just…

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Community
Fashion Fund

Home Run

Exploring St. Louis by foot, Ricky Hughes helps locals and transplants alike connect with the city in a new way through St. Louis Run Crew.

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Community

Bridging a Divide

In the growing Delmar Maker District and beyond, restaurants, maker and retail spaces, and nonprofits are thriving, ushering in a new era for the neighborhood.

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Community

2024 Year In Review: 40+ Inspiring St. Louis Stories

From world-class artists and innovative entrepreneurs to culinary creatives and community trailblazers, take a look back at this year’s STLMade stories.

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Community

Brick by Brick

The legacy of St. Louis’ historic brick industry is alive and well in Laclede’s Landing, Main Street in St. Charles, and downtown Alton, Illinois.

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Community

Building a Legacy

Architects Peter Tao and Helen Lee are leaving their mark on St. Louis' built environment and helping to transform the community itself.

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Community

Fair Play

Unlimited Play founder Natalie Mackay designs and builds inclusive playgrounds for children across the St. Louis metro — and in cities across the country.

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Community

Foundational
Fathers

A new St. Louis-based program, Dads to Doulas, seeks to empower Black men in all aspects of fatherhood — both to enrich their parenting journeys and to advocate…

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Community

Paths Forward

Great Rivers Greenway is working to connect the region, one project and pathway at a time.

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Community

Main Attraction

When father-and-son team Barry and Denny Foster opened Main & Mill Brewing Company, they also ushered in a new era for now-thriving Festus Main Street.

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Community

Fit for Everyone

Team Saint Louis, an inclusive sports league, welcomes all for fitness, friendship, and fun.

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Community

In Perfect Harmony

For nearly three decades, BandTogether has united LGBTQ+ musicians of all ages and skill levels to share beautiful music and performance with the St. Louis community.

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Community

A Different Ball Game

At True Success Basketball & Fitness Academy in St. Charles, Thurlester Robinson, Jr. uses basketball as a vehicle to teach kids lessons in teamwork, self-esteem, and leadership.

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Community

Feeding the Need

The Little Angels Foundation serves hot, home-cooked meals to refugees, immigrants, and the unhoused community in St. Louis.

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Community

Community Fabric

At Profield Reserve on Cherokee Street, Christopher Loss designs vintage sportswear-inspired clothing — and offers a community hub for all.

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Work

All-Star Educators and
Future Leaders

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Community

Community Change Makers

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Community

Shared Language

Based in the Bevo neighborhood, Immigrant Home English Learning Program connects foreign-born residents with volunteer tutors to learn English — and often, to forge lifelong bonds.

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Community

Friendship, Faith and Futures

Pastors Ken and Beverly Jenkins opened community development hub R&R Marketplace in Dellwood with the aim to change lives.

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Community

A Welcoming
Space

MaTovu celebrates five years of fellowship and inclusive programming for the Jewish community in the City of St. Louis.

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Community

A Healing Helpline

St. Louis Queer Support & Healing offers identity-affirming resources for the region’s LGBTQIA+ community.

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Community

Making Moves

Danielle Deavens and Doug Spencer, Bold Xchange founders, and Craig and Mowgli Rivard, owners of Little Fox, share why they moved to St. Louis to grow their businesses.

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Community

Outdoor
Enthusiast

With Ope Outdoors, Juno Musonda is spreading love for the Midwest’s parks and natural attractions through merchandise, park cleanups and hikes.

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Community

A Promising
Prescription

Educator-turned-entrepreneur Marcus Howard is raising the standard of pharmacy care with the launch of GreaterHealth Pharmacy & Wellness in the Delmar DivINe.

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Community

Drawn to St. Louis

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Conversation

A Reading
Revolution

For more than 25 years, Ready Readers has helped advance social and racial equity in St. Louis by bolstering literacy education for preschoolers in low-income communities.

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Community

Just Dance

Jenny Hill’s Yes Honey Studio uses the art of dance to help people celebrate moving their bodies.

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Community

2022 Year In Review

Take a look back at this year's STLMade stories.

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Community

More Than A Market

Lacy Cagle leads City Greens Market in the Grove to be a hub for community, education and local produce.

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Community

Cooking Up

Propel Kitchens is building health and wealth within the historically under-resourced community of the St. Louis Promise Zone by providing its members with hands-on training in food preparation…

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Community

Up, Up and Away

The Great Forest Park Balloon Race, one of the country’s longest-running balloon races, celebrates 50 years of making St. Louisans smile.

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Community

Notes of Community

Soul artist turned community facilitator Brian Owens helps lift up young creatives in St. Louis.

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Culture

Nerds with Heart

In St. Peters, PokéNerds store owners Brian and Valeria Trull have built a community for Pokémon fans, who are in turn helping the Trulls support Ukrainians.

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Community

A Powerful Lift

As the executive director of Paralympic operations at Logan University, Kelley Humphries-Mascoll is advancing the Paralympic movement in St. Louis and beyond.

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Community

Branching Out

Forest ReLeaf’s Rebecca Hankins is leading the way in getting trees to the communities that need them.

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Community

Historical
Perspective

With unique bus and walking tours throughout the metro area, Amanda Clark helps people see St. Louis differently.

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Community

A Mindful Movement

With Generation Mindful, Suzanne Tucker is striving to create a more emotionally healthy world.

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Community

A Wider Net

St. Louis’ storied soccer tradition will take a leap forward in 2023 with an MLS team of its own, St. Louis CITY SC, whose goal is to include…

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Community

2021 Year In Review

Take a look back at this year's STLMade stories.

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Community

Empowering
Women

In Fox Park, nonprofit Rung for Women helps women take their personal and professional lives to the next level.

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Community

Advocating for Inclusion

With the Starkloff Disability Institute, Colleen Starkloff works to make the world a place where people of all abilities feel empowered and valued.

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Community

Small Park, Big Impact

Through Pocketparks, Samantha Lee Smugala is bringing art, activation and opportunity to transform vacant lots into community gathering spaces.

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Community

Off to the Races

St. Louis welcomes the NASCAR Cup Series to the region at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, thanks to the decade-long efforts of track owner and CEO…

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Community

Giving Lessons

With the support of her local Buy Nothing group, Briana Morales guides her students in East St. Louis through social-emotional learning as well as their academic education.

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Community

Natural Wonders

St. Louisans find peace and purpose in parks and on trails throughout the region.

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Community

Time for a Revolution

Saint Louis Story Stitchers brings young people together to express themselves through art and create social change.

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Community

Building the Future

Dream Builders 4 Equity aims not only to transform Hyde Park in the next five years, but also to serve as a model for closing the racial wealth…

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Community

Dreaming Big

Michael Woods and Neal Richardson knew a new approach was needed for real estate investment to make lasting change in disinvested neighborhoods. They created Dream Builders 4 Equity…

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Community

A Hearty Dish

Welcome Neighbor STL's drive-thru supper clubs are a lifeline for refugees.

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Community

Empowering
Parents

The Navigate STL Schools dashboard and programs are helping parents make informed decisions for their children's education.

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Community

Community Game Changer

Entrepreneur Julian Keaton aims to foster community engagement and move St. Louis forward through “Dimensions,” a new interactive geolocation mobile game.

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Work

Brewing Community

St. Louis brewers find new ways to connect with beer lovers and continue their businesses during the pandemic.

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Work

Empowering the Community

For 20 years, Diversity Gallery owner Leslie Christian Wilson has connected with St. Louisans through art, jewelry and natural hair.

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Community

Changing the Conversation

Local start-up We Stories is teaching the next generation to be anti-racist.

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Community

St. Louis, Together

How #314Together transformed from a pandemic relief Facebook group to an inspiring movement supporting local small businesses.

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Work

History’s Heroes

Amid the COVID-19 virus, the Missouri Historical Society is sharing the resilience of St. Louis by exploring the city’s past and documenting its present. 

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Culture

Traduciendo el Apoyo

Lourdes Bailón y Gabriela Ramírez-Arellano crearon STLJuntos, una paginaweb y de Facebook que se ha convertido en un recurso esencial para los hispanohablantes de St. Louis. 

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Community

Period Positive

Even during a pandemic, the St. Louis Alliance for Period Supplies is getting essential period products to people in need.

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Community

Power Drive

28 communities around the region joined together to donate nearly 15,000 pounds of food and personal care items to the St. Louis Area Foodbank.

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Community

Learning Through Play

Therapists who work with children on the autism spectrum shift their delivery methods to support families during the pandemic.

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Community

Come One, Come All

Circus Harmony Launches Free Online Classes for All Ages and Skill Levels.

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Community

Personal Growth

Home gardens flourish in quarantine, providing floral beauty, nutritious food and positive mental health benefits.

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Culture

Growing Together

EarthDance Organic Farm School Hosts Pay-What-You-Can Drive-Thru Farm Stand in Ferguson.

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Community

Serving Families in Need

When what's "normal" changes overnight, faith leaders come together to support children facing food insecurity.

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Community
African American man stands near grocery bags

Superhero Delivery

Martin Casas of Apotheosis Comics is making sure that St. Louis residents have plenty of comic books and drinks to get them through quarantine.

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Work

Streaming With Faith

Places of worship use technology to connect with those looking for guidance in a time of uncertainty. 

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Community
Caucasian man standing in front of home

Puppies in a Pandemic

What happens to unadopted pets during a crisis? St. Louis stepped up to foster them - including one family taking on eight puppies.

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Community
woman holds two puppies

#STLMade4Good Facebook Group

Join the #STLMade4Good Facebook Group

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STLMade
#STLMade4Good Facebook page on a computer

Designing with Purpose

David Cervantes is bringing together local volunteers to make personal protection equipment for health care providers.

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STLMade
Plastic Face Shield

Oasis in the Food Desert

Link Market’s new community stores in St. Louis could become the model for other cities tackling food insecurity.

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Community
Link Market founder Jeremy Gross

‘Round and ‘Round

For 50 years, Mathew and Niah Foggy have built community while circling the roller rink at Skate King.

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Culture
Man and woman standing at skate rental counter

Hope and Heart

Valeda Keys turns strength into action as she helps St. Louis women recover from breast cancer.

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Community
Valeda

Feeding St. Louis

Local food assistance organizations are gaining national recognition for their commitment to education and action.

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Community
St. Louis Area Foodbank

A Global Community

As the St. Louis region recruits top international talent to its companies, Susan Gobbo is building a support system for the families that follow.

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Community
Susan Gobbo of the International Spouses Meetup Group

Puppy Power

Fitness trainer Kim Gray built her wellness business for St. Louisans who love spending time with their pets.

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Work
Kim Gray and her poodle Oscar

Healing Through Art

Paige Walden-Johnson uses CommUNITY Arts STL’s creative outlets to help first responders and their families process trauma.

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Community
Paige Walden-Johnson

Shared Solutions

Through Odd Couples Housing, John Levis is tackling local lodging issues by pairing senior and millennial roommates.

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Community
“We think this idea has legs to expand to other communities,” founder John Levis says of Odd Couples Housing.

Making
Connections

Through Human Spaces, Lisa Rokusek is exploring how people can learn from each other with empathy and purpose.

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Community
Lady

All That Jazz

Lauren Parks and Jas Gary Pearson have turned the childhood home of music legend Miles Davis into a community catalyst.

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Culture
Lauren Parks and Jas Gary Pearson outside the childhood home of Miles Davis

Appetite for Action

De Nichols and the FoodSpark team bring social change to the potluck table.

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Community
De Nichols

Finding the Spirit

SLU professors Pauline Lee and Rachel Lindsey are exploring what religion in unexpected places means to St. Louis’s future.

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Community
Slu Religion Masthead

Keys to the Community

Kayia Baker and Pianos for People are changing lives one note at a time.

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Community

Art in Motion

Through the Justice Fleet, Amber Johnson empowers people to heal.

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Culture

Cooking with Love

Through food, ‘MamaCat’ Cathy Daniels nurtures and respects St. Louis’s unhoused residents.

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Community