Speak Up St. Louis

Dr. Bill's acute awareness of being “different” inspired him to explore and subvert constructs of gender, sexuality, culture, and individual identity.Early influences of folk and fiber art traditions were passed down from his grandmother. He worked on trash trucks, switched trains on the Santa Fe Railroad, made a living as an archaeologist at the Cahokia Mounds, and restored historic architecture throughout St. Louis.Dr. Bill holds advanced degrees in physical medicine, acupuncture, and the fine arts including a BFA in Ceramics and Printmaking and an MA in Weaving from Pittsburg State University and an MFA in Multimedia from Washington University.Additionally, he studied dance with Katherine Dunham and DeBorah Ahmed, contact improvisation with Sarah Shelton Mann, West African percussion with Mor Thiam, and toured internationally with Gash/Voigt Dance Theater as an installation artist, videographer, and physician.

Tyler Small is a St. Louis based event photographer, digital producer at SLAM! Agency, board member of The Village Path, and, greatest of all, a proud father of two beautiful daughters.

New York-based artist, writer, and publisher Paul Chan came to prominence in the early 2000s with vibrant moving image works that touched upon aspects of war, religion, pleasure, and politics. Around 2009, following a decade of art-making, Chan embarked on a self-imposed break, turning his attention to experimental publishing and the economics of information by founding the press Badlands Unlimited. Taking the notion of a “breather” as its organizing principle, this exhibition surveys Chan's activities since his voluntary break from that point to the present.

Culture curator and music business coach Julian Keaton is one of the leading voices in the St. Louis music community. For the past 15 years, Julian has worked with award-winning talent and organizations across the country as an artist, talent manager, radio show host/producer, blog contributor, event & festival curator, consultant, brand ambassador, and founder of music business education and artist development incubator, The Jewel Mine, music discovery platform, Stereo Assault and social mobile game Dimensions. As a creative, Julian is passionate about storytelling & producing innovative ways to communicate stories thru art, tech & food.

Herman "Lee" Jimerson II owns a wealth management practice in Saint Louis, MO in the Chesterfield area. He started his practice in 2017 and only 5 years later was nationally recognized as not just one of the fastest growing advisor practices, but a qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table. An organization that recognizes the top 1% of advisors in the industry. Lee shares with us his perspective and experience as a successful, young financial advisor in Saint Louis.

Alexa Seda, who will receive this year's Emerging Artist award, is considered a rising star in the St. Louis arts scene. She weaves together her passion for theatre and urban design. As a co-producer at EncoreSTL, a platform that creates opportunities for Black and Brown artists through theatre and youth programs, she has also spearheaded the organization's Cuéntame storytelling initiative, in collaboration with the Latinx Arts Network STL. With Seda's background in public health specializing in urban design, her vision extends beyond the stage, such as her role in working to create equitable spaces through creative placemaking.Alexa is a 2024 Saint Louis Visionary  Awardee being honored with the Emerging Artist Award. The Saint Louis Visionary Awards is a  independent committee of women to celebrate the numerous contributions and achievements of women who work in or support the arts in St. Louis. From established working arts professionals and arts educators to emerging artists and community impact artists, each year's honorees are truly "visionary".https://www.vizawards.org/https://www.encorestl.org/

Lisa Melandri is the executive director of the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis.

Artist, Designer, Producer, Patrick Gutierrez has his hand in many different creative outlets most notably through UVA a brand that Patrick started. He also serves as a Co-Manager of House of Vision (HOV).  An innovative "retail space selling apparel, art, books, and other youth and community member-created local products. Serving as a catalyst and entry point into successful entrepreneurship by removing barriers and risk, and providing a safe training ground for our youth and community members." He is using this opportunity to not share his expertise of screen printing with youth but also uplifting and mentoring them to be able to create the dreams they have for themselves.https://www.dreambuilders4equity.org/house-of-vision

Harvey E. A. Lockhart is a Grammy nominated music educator, saxophonist, and composer. He is also the Founder, Executive and Artistic Director for HEAL Center for the Arts in St. Louis, MO, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and multi-disciplinary center of music, arts learning, and performance.

Leon Hite, III, affectionately known as Coach Hite, is an energetic, innovative, and compassionate inspirational speaker! His gift for inspiring others has enabled him to speak to, coach, and mentor over 10 thousand people of all ages in both the corporate world and educational institutions. Currently, Coach Hite is the Director of Safety and Security for Jennings School District and the administrator for JETS (Jennings Education and Training School) which is the district's alternative school.A man of God, devoted husband, father of three, and active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Leon believes that we all possess the ability to be a better version of ourselves if we are willing to “Think Outside the Box”.

Artist, educator, and speaker Katie Banister works  to educate and empower others through motivational speaking and disability education.  As the Co-founder  of Acces-4-All she and her partner Steve strive to fulfill the vision of full inclusion where everyone counts and has access to a fulfilled and truly accessible life. https://access-4-all.com/

From party promoting and engineering to entrepreneurship, Ono Ikanone has sprouted his St. Louis roots to create a legacy within the city's cultural fabric. In the heart of downtown St. Louis, Ono has tried his hand at his latest and greatest venture yet as restaurateur. Meet the founder of Levels Nigerian Cuisine.

An artist and writer, Dominic Chambers composes contemplative narratives which pull inspiration from critical voices within the Black literary canon. He introduces the figurative subject to create a new discourse around identity and perception. Combining both a vibrant and a near-monochromatic palette, Chambers sees color as a protagonist in his paintings. Dominic received his BFA from Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, Milwaukee, WI in 2016, and his MFA from Yale University School of Art, New Haven, CT in 2019.

Jacqueline “Jackie” Hamilton, MBA, CFRE, currently serves as Assistant Director of Advancement for St. Louis County Library (SLCL). As the Library's Chief Fundraiser, she leads SLCL's  Foundation team of four, which is responsible for planning, developing, and implementing strategic fundraising revenue generating programs to support the library's commitment to the community.Hamilton has over 15 years of fundraising experience. Through community involvement and professional opportunities, she has been vital in raising over $100 million to empower the St. Louis region.A proud St. Louis native, she enjoys being a mentor for BIPOC fundraising professionals and young people throughout the region.  In her free time, you can find her playing tennis, golfing, biking and traveling.

MyCol (Meta MyCol Martin) is a self-motivated multidisciplinary actor, artist, and visionary of a production company, DLiNX. His work derives from his admiration of the fine arts, education, and Hip-Hop. He studies cultural television, film, and music to blend community and activism throughout his craft.

Sara Burke is recognized as a Woman of Achievement. First as a dancer in East St. Louis with The Dunham Company and then as a working artist in St. Louis, she has fostered inclusiveness in the arts and provided numerous opportunities to minorities and those in underserved communities.

Jorge is a non-profit management professional who, for the last three years, has led Delmar Divine, a transformative project in North St. Louis City that provides shared space and myriad capacity building tools to 33 nonprofit organizations that collectively serve over 250,000 in the St. Louis MSA. He began his nonprofit career as CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro St. Louis which, during his tenure, increased membership and revenue by 40% and spearheaded growth of Hispanic business in the St. Louis metro area.

Tyrell Manning is a public health specialist working to end the HIV epidemic. Appointed by St. Louis City mayor Tishaura Jones, Manning is an active member of the LGBTQIA Advisory Board in pursuit of bringing the LGBTQIA+ communities and the larger St. Louis community together through long-range projects. Additionally, he was a regional integration specialist and site coordinator of Rustin's Place for Williams & Associates, a health-education and disease-prevention center addressing the health disparities in the St. Louis region.

Lois Conley is the Founder/President and CEO of the Griot Museum of Black History. She has dedicated many years toward researching African-American history, with particular emphasis on the Underground Railroad and Westward Expansion. Conley consulted for the Royal Tropical Museum in Amsterdam for its exhibition on slavery, was a member of the Neighborhood Leadership Team for St. Louis' 5th Ward Sustainable Neighborhood Project, has served on grant review panels for the Missouri Arts Council, St. Louis Regional Arts Commission and United Way, and was a founding member of the St. Louis Mid-Size Arts Collaborative.

Ashley Winters is a St. Louis native reporting for the St. Louis American, covering news impacting African Americans in the St. Louis metro area which includes education, business and entertainment. She is a two-time award recipient of the Excellence in Poverty Journalism Award and in 2019 she published her first children's book, called Memories Of A Bunny Rabbit, and received a Mission Attempt award. Winters has volunteered for the St. Louis City School District teaching fourth- through sixth-graders journalism, showing the importance of Black voices, and telling stories about our communities.

Welcome back to the Speak Up St. Louis Podcast as it launches season 2! Quinton Ward (Co-creator/Host), Tré Alexander (Executive Producer), and Michelle Dezember lay the ground-work for the upcoming season, sharing their thoughts and hopes for St. Louis. Thank you for listening!

Mark Saxon is a local baseball writer who covers the St. Louis Cardinals. He's worked for decades in the industry as a beat reporter with organizations such as The Athletic and ESPN, and is a frequent contributor on local sports radio.Mark joins the podcast to have a "meta" discussion about Cardinals Baseball. Beyond just the day-to-day tactics of the team, Mark outlines the history of the franchise, and the nature of it's uniquely close relationship to the St. Louis fan base. We also talk about the state of the game of Baseball as a whole, and how it compares to other sports in the American psyche.Mark Saxon is one of the most insightful and FUN baseball commentators out there, and we thank him for sharing his thoughts with the Speak  Up St. Louis listeners!Follow Mark on Twitter @markasaxon

KYJUAN is a rapper from the legendary Hip-Hop group the St. Lunatics! Hailing from U-City, KYJUAN and his brother Murphy Lee made it HUGE in the music industry, and put St. Louis on the map for hip-hop internationally.On the podcast, Kyjuan tells the legendary story of how  he met Nelly and the Lunatics were formed, recording early songs at Saints roller rink, what is was like to blow up on Country Grammar, advice for navigating the business side of the industry, and the INDEPENDENT release of Murphy Lee's new album 2nd Time Around, featuring a track with Kyjuan.This may be my favorite episode so far! Kyjuan is a legend and personal hero of the podcast.BUY THE NEW ALBUM HERE!INTRO - 93 Riverfront FlowOUTRO - 2nd Time Around

Katie Finch is the Director of AmeriCorps at Mission St. Louis, and oversees 150 AmeriCorps service members across 30 nonprofits in our region. As a result, Katie has her finger on the pulse of the St. Louis nonprofit ecosystem.In this episode, Katie joins us to discuss the AmeriCorps program: it's purpose, history, and impact on the St. Louis region. She also tells the story of her journey into service, and shares her optimistic view towards St. Louis, and our ability to solve the problems we face in our community.Katie is a passionate and dedicated servant of St. Louis, and we thank her for sharing her story on Speak Up St. Louis!https://www.americorpsstl.org/https://www.missionstl.org/https://my.americorps.gov/

Jeffrey Blair (and his wife Pamela)  are the owners and founders of EyeSeeMe African American Children's Bookstore. While raising children of their own, they sought to change a key problem with their education: the absence of books that reflected their own history and cultural heritage. Jeffrey and Pamela began curating books that featured African American children as main characters, so they could SEE themselves in the stories, protagonists, and overall narratives. Not surprisingly, their children became incredibly high achievers, attending Harvard, Columbia, and Bard colleges.Seeing the success that these books brought to their own family, Jeffery and Pamela started EyeSeeMe African American Children's Bookstore to bring it to the larger community. Their store in University City features thousands of titles by black authors, featuring black children, and accentuating African American history and culture.On this episode, Jeffrey discusses his family's journey of discovery, philosophy towards education, role of books in cultural life, and the founding of the business. Please visit the EyeSeeMe bookstore located at 6951 Olive Blvd in University City, and browse their WEBSITE to look at their many books and titles.Thank you to Jeffrey and Pamela for sharing their WONDERFUL bookstore, and philosophy, with the St. Louis community and beyond. We appreciate and support you!

Senator Brian Williams represents the St. Louis region's 14th District in the Missouri Senate.Brian joins the show to discuss his entrance into politics, what drives him as a lawmaker, how he creates legislative impact despite being in a super-minority, navigating the dynamics of Jefferson City, and what St. Louis can do to move forward as a region.Senator Williams is a brilliant political mind, and hardworking change agent who brings the voice of the people to the halls of power. We thank him for his work serving his constituents, and for taking time to come on Speak Up St. Louis!

Dr. Art McCoy is a trailblazer, educator, entrepreneur, evangelist, and leader passionately empowering people. He is the former Superintendent of Ferguson/Florissant and Jennings School District, and is currently the Champion of Workforce Development at STL.Works.On this episode, Dr. McCoy describes his journey from becoming the youngest teacher in the state of Missouri, to a Superintendent, CEO, and community leader. He shares his philosophy on life and career, while tying everything back to his new role at STL.Works, and their mission of providing high paying jobs to thousands of St. Louisans.Dr. McCoy is a charismatic speaker, brilliant multidisciplinary thinker, and passionate advocate for change in St. Louis. Whether your interests are education, leadership, or community development, you will thoroughly enjoy listening to Dr. McCoy!https://stl.works/LinkedIn

Julia Ho is the Founder of Solidarity Economy St. Louis. She has been living and organizing in St. Louis since 2011 and has been heavily involved in dozens of campaigns, coalitions, and organizations in the region.On this episode, Julia Ho and youth organizer JD Carranza explain what the Solidarity Economy movement is, how it's being cultivated in St. Louis, the journey of the activist and community organizer, and the importance of living your values.Thanks to these amazing young people for the great work they do in St. Louis, and for coming on the podcast to share their perspective! To get involved in Solidarity Economy, check out the link below.https://www.solidaritystl.org/

Javyn Solomon is a St. Louis based Artist and Designer.He is the founder of LouTopia, an art experience that envisions a more creative, sustainable, & mindful version of St. Louis. He is also the Vice President of AIGA St. Louis, & co-founder of STL By Design podcast.In this Episode we discuss Javyn's journey as an artist, the philosophy of action and activism that fuels his artistic practice, and the purpose of LouTopia and how we can envision a more beautiful, equitable version of St. Louis.Jayvn is a blast. He's insightful, hilarious, and very multidisciplinary. We absolutely loved having him on the show! Check out his work below:https://www.stloutopia.com/STL By Design Podcast

Speak Up St. Louis turns 50!Join us on this special 50th Episode featuring Shavanna Spratt. Shavanna is a Mother, Doula, Ferguson resident, and host of Da Hood Talks, a great podcast highlighting community voices in St. Louis. Shavanna is very active in the Ferguson community, and has dedicated her life to empowering community voices.In this Episode, we discuss Ferguson (and St. Louis) since Michael Brown, black maternal health, the Neighborhood Leadership Academy, and the ins and outs of Da Hood Talks Podcast. We are honored to share the mic with Shavanna Spratt for our 50th episode: a passionate, lively, intelligent, strong, and kind person who is making a difference in her community. She embodies what is great about St. Louis!https://www.dahoodtalks.com/#top

David Kirkman is a independent filmmaker from St. Louis, and the founder of Woke Nation. Raised in Ferguson, David has become a force to be reckoned internationally. He is best known for legendary Black Sci-Fi movies including Hardware, Icon, and Static Shock. In this episode, David discusses his origins as a filmmaker in North County, the genre of Afrofuturism, the relationship between music and movies, the burgeoning local film scene in St. Louis ,  and what it means to recapture the black imagination.David is busy doing BIG things, and it was a complete honor to have him on the show!Check out all of David's films here:Static ShockIconHardware

David Stavron is the Co-Founder and General Manager of Morning Glory Diner on Cherokee Street. He is an artist, fabricator, businessman, musician, and 13 year veteran of the Merchant Marines.In this very fun and engrossing episode, Dave talks about growing up on the Southside, his adventures as a Sailer, building the MetroMarket bus, the mission/genesis of the Morning Glory Diner, surviving the pandemic, and the spirit of Cherokee Street. Thank you Dave for coming on the show, and all you do in St Louis! And if you haven't yet, go check out Morning Glory Diner on Cherokee!Morning Glory WebsiteFacebook PageYELP

JerMarco Britton is a musician, advocate for the arts, and founder of Soul Shed STL.Soul Shed is a bi-weekly jam session and musical university that develops the  local community of musicians through training in performance, business and wellness. In this episode, JerMarco explains his musical roots, ecstatic experiences on stage, beating performance anxiety, and the spiritual elements of music, as well as the founding of Soul Shed, the challenges overcome, and major plans for future growth.JerMarco Britton is a brilliant human doing crucial and impactful work for local musicians; we thank him for sharing his story, time, and perspective with our listeners!JerMarco Brittonhttps://www.soulsheduniversity.org/

Janett Lewis is the Founder and Executive Director of Rustic Roots Sanctuary, a community based organic farm and healing sanctuary in Spanish Lake. In this episode, she explains her journey from Stone Mountain Georgia, to becoming a powerhouse real estate broker, to discovering Spanish Lake and founding Rustic Roots, and what it means to manifest a vision. This conversation took place onsite at Rustic Roots, and covers sustainable farming, the Spanish Lake community, food equity, the need for healing spaces during the pandemic, and what's next for this social entrepreneur.Be sure to check out the weekly Farmers Market at Rustic Roots, and the arts festival on October 16th!https://rusticrootssanctuary.org/Fall Arts Festival

Kelly McGowan is the founder of EVOLVE, a community-driven platform that activates equitable food systems and built environments to support the wellbeing of all St. Louisans. In this episode, Kelly discusses growing up on the West Side, her journey towards founding EVOLVE, and the state of Public Health in St. Louis. We also touch on many other topics including food justice, local politics, community development, and North St. Louis.This was a fun episode, thanks to Kelly for always keeping it real and sharing her story with our listeners!Facebook - @314EvolveInstagram - @314evolve

Drew Jameson is the owner of Jamo Presents, and one of St. Louis's premier concert and event promoters. Drew is a key player in our local music ecosystem, and is behind some of the most exciting concert venues in the City, including The Foundry, Tower Grove Park, and the Lot on Laclede's Landing.In this episode we discuss Drew's journey into the business via Lucas School House and Nectar's in Burlington, his experience as a touring musician, St. Louis's top venues, Mississippi Nights, upcoming shows on Laclede's Landing, the impact of CoVid on the industry, and the lasting influence of the Grateful Dead.Drew is a stellar human, and a powerful positive force on our local music scene! We really enjoyed this interview with him. Check out the links below to support his upcoming events.https://www.jamopresents.com/Shloop!

Matthew R. Kerns is the Executive Director of St. Lou Fringe Festival, and Director of Emerging Leaders at Focus St. Louis. Matthew is a performing artist, member of the LGBTQIA+ community, and advocate for Diversity and Inclusion in St. Louis. St. Lou Fringe is a free and uncensored performing arts festival held in Grand Center, showcasing theatre, dance, storytelling, spoken word, burlesque, acrobatics, and more. This year's festival will be held August 13-18th.In this episode, Matthew discusses his journey as a creative, the origins of St. Lou Fringe, and what the festival will look like in 2021. He also delves into the impact of CoVid 19 on the Arts Community, and offers his thoughts on the importance of Diversity and Inclusion in the St. Louis region.Matthew is brilliant, witty, creative, insightful...and fun!!! We appreciate him sharing his story and point of view on the Speak Up St. Louis Podcast. Enjoy this interview, links to St. Lou Fringe Festival are below!St. Lou Fringe FestivalA Wedding Under the St. Louis Arch

Jaer Jones is a middle school teacher, proud U-City native, and author of the My Invisible Father, a new novel about a St. Louis teenager navigating adolescence without his Father.In this episode, Jaer tells his life story. From U-City, to discovering his passions for writing, basketball, Hip-Hop, and working with children, to the discipline and creative process behind his new book. Jaer Jones is a deeply interesting, creative, and thoughtful person. His story contains soul, inspiration, poignance, redemption, and love. We thoroughly enjoyed this discussion with him, and wish this him success on his first book! We are confident there will be many more to come.Support Jaer and buy the book today at https://jaerarmsteadjones.com/

Randy and Jeff Vines are the owners of STL Style House, a renowned St. Louis apparel line and clothing shop on Cherokee Street. Identical twins and St. Louis dynamos, Jeff and Randy are unapologetically proud of St. Louis. More then just clothing designers, they are passionate urbanists, historic preservationists, and big time STL enthusiasts and promoters. What don't we discuss in this conversation? From the Style House origin story, to the Vines Bros high school TV show, the St. Louis accent, city neighborhoods, local politics, their favorite bars, beers, and streets, we cover every little thing that makes St. Louis great.These guys represent everything that is right with St. Louis. They are witty, fun, intelligent, creative, and kind. We are proud to call them St. Louisans, and grateful for sharing their story with our listeners!https://www.stl-style.com/

Deneen Busby is a former St. Louis radio talk show host, and current Director of Marketing and Communications for Care STL Health.In this episode, Deneen talks about her journey in the local radio business, her experience as a talk show host on Magic, transitioning into Public Health, how CoVid impacted the STL community, and so much more.This is a FUN, relaxed interview. We just hang out together on air, and Deneen shows us all her phenomenal personality, and that she still has skills in talk radio!Thank you Deneen, we appreciate you!

LeLe Williams is the founder of AllenGossipBlu StreetWear, and creator of the St. Louis vs. Errrbody T-Shirts. The St. Louis vs. Errbody T-Shirts are taking STL by storm. LeLe explains why this is more then just a slogan on a T-Shirt, it's a movement towards unity, pride for our city, and helping to reduce the violence in our streets. LeLe has a beautiful heart, soul, and message. We loved talking to her, getting her story, and helping spread the movement. It's St. Louis vs. ERRRRRRBODY!!!!!BUY YOUR T SHIRTS HERE! - https://www.allengossipblu.com/

Andrew Weil is an archaeologist, historic preservationist, and advocate for St. Louis's built environment. He is the Executive Director of the Landmarks Association of St. Louis, founded in 1959 to preserve, promote, and enhance St. Louis's architectural heritage.In today's episode, Andrew discusses the history of St. Louis architecture, the delicate balance between demolition and preservation, and why he's so passionate about preserving historic neighborhoods in St. Louis.Thanks to Andrew for coming on the show - if you love St. Louis's brick buildings, you will appreciate and learn from this episode! https://www.landmarks-stl.org/

Eric “Prospect” White is a prolific DJ, Rapper, and Poet from the Southside of St. Louis. In addition to being one of the City's best homegrown hip-hop artists, Prospect is also an Outreach Worker for Cure Violence, putting him on the front lines of combatting the gun violence epidemic in the City.In this episode, Prospect breaks down his origins as a Rapper and DJ, discusses his work on the streets with Cure Violence, and what it really means to be "Out HRR"!We love Prospect for his energy, charisma, flavor, real talk, and relentless creativity. Much respect!Prospect Out Hrr | SoundCloudProspect — FarFetched (wearefarfetched.net)

Fatimah Muhammad has been a resident of Hyde Park for over 20 years. She and her family purchased a 120 year old LRA property, completed a total rehab, and have called it home for 23+ years.Her mission is to help revitalize the Hyde Park neighborhood– By Hand to commit to do the work, by By Heart with compassion, and By Eye to see clearly and remain focused. She is a servant of her community and the community at large.Fatimah joins the podcast to tell her story as a Social Entrepreneur, and Community Activist. Listeners will learn about the Hyde Park Neighborhood in North St. Louis, how development is bringing change to the community, and how Fatimah's "Apiary at the Park" project fits in.We appreciate Fatimah for her conviction, vision, and powerful belief in the community she lives in. Our hope is that you enjoy this episode, and follow it up with a VISIT to Hyde Park to see with your own eyes the beauty and potential in this neighborhood.

Richard Reilly is an activist, photographer and Energy Programs Manager at the Earthways Center of Sustainability.  He is a St. Louis Renaissance Man. With expertise in the fields of Construction, Art, Sustainability, and Activism, Richard has a truly multi-disciplined perspective on the world, and on St. Louis.In this episode, Richard artfully weaves together his life's story using the threads of his fields of passion: Photography, Environmentalism, Architecture, Social Justice...and St. Louis.Richard is one of the coolest cats around, we thank him for sharing his time and insight on Speak Up St. Louis!

Roy Anderson is a 50 year veteran of the local radio business in St. Louis. He grew up in North St. Louis, and began working at radio stations as a teenager. When it comes to broadcasting, Roy has seen it all!In this episode, Roy tells his story of growing up in North City, making his way into broadcasting, the legendary stations and radio personalities in STL, how the game has changed, and some of the blatant racism and barriers he overcame along the way.Roy is one of the funniest, big hearted people you will ever find. He is fascinating, and simply a joy to speak with. We are grateful to share his story with the Speak Up St. Louis community!

James Forbes is a social entrepreneur and Founder of Good Life Growing (an urban farm and agricultural training center in The Ville Neighborhood) and Old North Provisions (a healthy grocery store in Old North St. Louis).This episode was recorded onsite at Old North Provisions, and we speak to James about his journey as a social entrepreneur, experience working with the community in North St. Louis, urban agriculture as a solution to vacancy, Bill Clinton's visit to Good Life Growing, and so much more.James Forbes and his team are extremely underrated for their contribution and commitment to sustainable agriculture, community engagement, and neighborhood redevelopment. THEY DO THE WORK! His story has SO much to teach those of us committed to making St. Louis a better community for all.Much love to James and his team! Learn more about their businesses below:https://www.goodlifegrowing.com/https://www.facebook.com/Old-North-Provisions-104426121053791/

Peat Wollaeger is a legendary St. Louis Street Artist. Most known for the "St. Louis Eye", you can see Peat's beautiful murals on buildings all over St. Louis (and the world).In this episode Peat discusses his journey as an artist, the origins of Street Art, it's culture in St. Louis, and the deeper meaning behind his Eyez. We also discuss prospects for Cement Land. Eye'm sure you'll be inspired by this conversation with one of the GREAT St. Louis Artists out here doing it! Thanks to Peat for putting St. Louis on the map for Street Art, and opening our Eyez to the beauty and potential that exists in our Streets. https://eyez.me/Watch Peat's TED Talk

Erica Williams is an activist in North St. Louis County, and Executive Director of  A Red Circle, a nonprofit dedicated to bettering community and reversing racism through employment, education, holistic living, policy, and the arts.On this episode of Speak Up St. Louis, Erica shares her journey towards getting involved in the community, and what inspired her to start A Red Circle. We discuss the impacts of racial inequity in St. Louis, and why Erica is a proponent of taking a multi-disciplinary, HOLISTIC approach towards community work.Erica is an important leader and crucial voice in the North St. Louis County region, and we THANK HER for serving our community and sharing her perspective on Speak Up St. Louis.https://aredcircle.org/

Tim Tucker is an Urban Pioneer. He co-founded The City Museum with Bob Cassilly in the 90s, and previously participated in the revitalization of the Loft District, Lafayette Square, and Benton Park. Tim joins the podcast to discuss St. Louis's decline in the 1970s, and his lived experience of Urban Renewal ever since, including the founding of the City Museum. We touch on history, community development, art, and what it means to be an Urban Pioneer in St. Louis.Tim Tucker is one of the most interesting people in our City. He is humble, inquisitive, creative, insightful, and an absolute wealth of knowledge. We thank him for sharing his story with our listeners!