The Wesley House builds partnerships to adapt, respond to community needs

Wesley House Association had to think fast after the COVID-19 pandemic led to a total shutdown almost a year ago. Today staff are still the only individuals inside the Wesley House at 4507 Lee Ave. in North St. Louis city, yet because of its strong partnerships and dedication to the residents of the 63115 zip […]

Ajuma focuses on mental health of Black youth

Ajuma Muhammad

Licensed psychotherapist Ajuma M. uses his life experiences and innate talents to focus on the mental health of young Black men and help them find their path through an obstacle-filled world. He is also a motivational speaker and author who has traveled the world. He learns new languages as a hobby, allowing him to deepen […]

Afro World has a long history of support for identity and community

Afro World Hair and Fashion Co. in North St. Louis County began as a mail-order hair business in the 1970s. Today, it has grown to be a community hub of cultural pride. The doors at 7276 Natural Bridge Road are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they have kept going with a drive-up window, tent, […]

St. Anthony Food Pantry adapts to continue serving St. Louis community

St. Anthony Food Pantry, in the basement of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church at 3130 Meramec Street, has been serving south St. Louis since 1991. Last year, the pantry served roughly 9,000 families. COVID-19 safety guidelines closed several food pantries in the spring, yet St. Anthony Food Pantry remained open.  The pantry removed its […]

Antajuan A. conveys his activism through urban farming and buttons

Growing up in the 1980s in North Saint Louis—an area with high rates of crime and poverty—Antajuan A. never imagined he would one day farm this area and that it would become a tool in a fight for social justice. New Roots Antajuan works part-time delivering plants to office spaces; this allows him to be at […]

Audrey C. draws from experience, training to help people in crisis

Audrey uses her past struggles to shape the authentic person she is today—a mother of three, a certified peer recovery support specialist, a domestic violence crisis hotline operator, and a powerful advocate for opioid overdose prevention. Her story Drug addiction changed the canvas of Audrey’s life while in college in the late 1980s. Smoking marijuana […]

Library assistant feels some anxiety about shopping and returning to work

Sue Anne

Sue Anne W. is a library assistant working from home in University City, MO. Due to the COVID-19 stay-at-home order, her son’s wedding has been postponed. She understands the necessity of social distancing and longs for the day when she can hug her son again. Grocery Shopping Sue Anne is frustrated with one aspect of […]

Terrez H. keeps a positive attitude, sees mixed compliance while canvassing

Terrez, right, puts up PrepareSTL poster at Employment Connection with instructor Calvin Burks.

Terrez H., a 24-year-old living in Soulard, was surprised by what he saw in the community when he took on a weekend canvassing position through PrepareSTL, sharing COVID-19 information in hot spot areas. COVID-19 Safety Campaign PrepareSTL is a collaborative campaign powered by the Missouri Foundation for Health in partnership with the Regional Health Commission, […]

Jeffrey S. mitigates risks, stays active taking care of himself, brother, and community

Jeffrey S. mitigates risks, stays active taking care of himself, brother, and community Jeffrey S. is a retired widower living in the west end of St. Louis city in a two-story home where he cares for an older brother who has diabetes and dementia. Jeffrey has always been active: roller skating, exercising, and staying connected […]