All posts under Community Conversations
At the start of 2020, Melanie K.’s main concern was how her shoulder surgery in July would impact her year. She had no idea the COVID-19 pandemic would threaten even greater limitations. However, Melanie dealt with her obstacles in great form; she provided physical therapy to young clients, coached gymnastics with the Illinois Special Olympics, […]
Tina A. has an intrinsic desire to help others. She loves helping her customers find high-end, reasonably priced clothing at Dos Resale Boutique in downtown Clayton. In November 2020, her desire to help others motivated her to participate in a COVID-19 vaccine trial. Resale Tina doesn’t like to hold onto anything that she no longer […]
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 […]
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 […]
Alderwoman Shameem Clark Hubbard of the 26th ward looks forward to returning to in-person events; she misses the music and energy that comes with them. She’s not rushing it though; she wants everyone to stay safe and healthy. The 26th ward in the city of St. Louis stretches northeast from just north of Forest Park […]
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, 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 […]
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 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 […]
Matt T. has spent over 20 years examining how people think, particularly when it comes to race and ethnicity. Currently, he is an Associate Professor of Psychological Sciences and the Associate Dean For Faculty Affairs in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, with an interest in minority mental health. […]