Aaron Rogers is a passionate preacher, teacher, and nonprofit leader based in St. Louis, MO. He received his B.S. from Bradley University, his M. Div from Eden Theological Seminary, and will complete a Diploma in Anglican Studies this May at Virginia Theological Seminary. Notably, Aaron has served as the Associate Minister of Stewardship and Development at the historic Riverside Church in Harlem, NY and as the Associate to the Rector for Trinity Episcopal Church in the Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis.
Currently, Aaron serves as the chair of the board for East Side Aligned, a collective impact organization for children and youth in East Saint Louis, and for Faith for Justice, a coalition of Christian activists in the St. Louis area. He is also a member of the Community Governance Board for Forward Through Ferguson's Racial Healing and Justice Fund. Aaron serves the Diocese of Missouri as a member of the Emery Washington Convocation Leadership Council and as a member of the Dismantling Racism Leadership Team. Top
Alisha Phillips-Jones is currently a Membership Consultant for ArchWell Health, a primary care facility providing a higher level of senior-focused care to adults 60 and older in underserved communities. A career choice that followed over 20 years of Medical Office experience advocating for seniors and connecting the elderly with essential resources. With a passion for volunteering and community service, Alisha is instrumental in two very active Saint Louis Non-profit organizations both committed to making a difference in the lives of our most vulnerable. She's excited to become a Neighborhood Leadership Fellows Cohort to amplify her community efforts and assume a more pivotal role in serving the needs of the underrepresented and in the words of the esteemed Mr. Dwayne T. James, P.E., Ed.D., "change the world!" Top
Amber South-Harris is the Co-founder and Cheif Operations Officer of Restorative Justice Movement. Facilitating trainings on Restorative Justice practices, Trauma-Informed care, culturally specific traumas, the assessment of community needs, the different levels and approaches of healing for the individual, family, and communities through educational platforms is the current purposed role. Amber Harris is a seasoned Medical Technician, of 15yrs, who is skilled in palliative care, and geriatric wound care.
16 years in recovery from substance abuse has afforded a lived experience that has been a catalyst for step by step transformations turned into educational curriculums. Currently enrolled in UMSL pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, the pathway incorporating education with lived experience and personal purpose is the foundation believed to assist all residents in every community. Top
Antonio Weston is an experienced digital marketer skilled in influencer marketing and social media management. Proven track record of driving online engagement and increasing brand visibility. Passionate about YouTube and community leadership. Top
Anthony Taylor, a native of Saint Louis, is driven by a profound dedication to his community and those around him. Having faced adversity from a young age, including the loss of him mother to gun violence and surviving multiple gunshot wounds resulting in the amputation of his left leg, Anthony’s resilience shines through his commitment to positive change. A devoted father to five children, Anthony takes immense pride in nurturing his family bonds, serving as their steadfast anchor. Motivated by his own experiences, Anthony pursued education, earning an Associate’s Degree from Saint Louis College and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Missouri- Saint Louis. Currently pursuing his Master’s in Business, he leverages his academic background to forge pathways towards societal healing.
Certified as a Peer Specialist in Missouri, Anthony blends empathy with humor, illuminating even the darkest moments with his infectious laughter. His passion for building relationships and empowering others to pursue their aspirations is evident in his work and personal endeavors. Authoring “Five Ways of Healing from an Amputation,” Anthony shares his journey of overcoming adversity, offering hope and guidance to others facing similar challenges. Recognized for his advocacy, he received a resolution from the City of Saint Louis for his contributions to the Limb Loss and Limb Differences Community. As the founder of AmpConnections, Anthony spearheads initiatives to uplift individuals, fostering a supportive environment for dreams to flourish. Additionally, he co-founded Hind Tax Services, empowering small businesses to thrive financially with their critical initial years.
Anthony invites you to connect with him through his website, where his unwavering commitment to community and empowerment continues to shine: https://www.ampconnect.info/.
Mrs. Barbara Davis is the College Kids Program Manager with the St. Louis City Treasurer’s Office. Prior to joining the Treasurer’s Office, she was the 2nd Ward Neighborhood Improvement Specialist at the Neighborhood Stabilization Division and the Social Services Coordinator with the Fathers and Families Support Center. Barbara believes that being a lifelong learner is not just a choice; it's a mindset that opens doors to personal growth, adaptability, and a more fulfilling life. She earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and has a wealth of knowledge and experience in project management, community engagement, partnership development, strategic planning, collaboration, and fundraising.
She’s been recognized for being very resourceful, highly organized, and maintaining professional relationships. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, arts and crafts, and hosting themed events. Barbara is committed to improving outcomes, increasing access to resources, and empowering individuals to be their best possible self. Top
Brandy Davis is deeply rooted in the fabric of Saint Louis, having strong connections to the KingsWay West Neighborhood and Saint Louis Public Schools. A proud alumna of Soldan International Studies (1998) and UMSL (2015) where she earned a BSN in Nursing. Driven by the diverse experiences gained from living in various neighborhoods, Brandy founded Be Designed by You, LLC. Her vision is to offer accessible, high-quality housing options for seniors, individuals with disabilities and unhoused veterans within St.Louis City. Through an intuitive approach, the company aims to innovate solutions by leveraging existing land, buildings, grants, and financial resources, revitalizing housing in the city. The primary objectives are to rejuvenate local neighborhoods, decrease vacancy rates and foster diversity.
Brandy’s innate problem-solving skills and fervent dedication have been honed over 15 years of assisting seniors, individuals with disabilities, and the unhoused in navigating complex resources across long-term care, home health, and hospital settings as a registered nurse. Recognizing the pressing need for housing and acknowledging St.Louis City’s potential to meet this need with its resources and capacity, Brandy is committed to bridging this gap for quality affordable housing. Top
Christina L. Dancy is an accidental banker with 25 years of experience in the financial industry. As AVP, Community Impact Manager at U.S. Bank, Christina designs community-centered activities focused on increasing homeownership and wealth in historically underserved communities. Christina is a multifaceted professional who founded Your Purposeful Legacy, a well-being coaching firm focused on empowering clients to design and cultivate their legacy. She earned a B.S. in Public Policy and Administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and an M.A. in Management and Leadership from Webster University.
As an advocate for social change, Christina serves the St. Louis community as the Chair of the MU Extension for St. Louis County, Co-chair of the City of University City 3rd Ward Revitalization Task Force, and serves on the board of InvestSTL. She is a member of the Regional Business Council's Leadership 100 and the United Way's Charmaine Chapman Leadership Society Cabinet. The St. Louis American Foundation honored Christina with the Salute to Young Leaders award for her career achievements and community service. Christina is a published author and nerd who loves new adventures. She is an avid reader (currently loving Afrofuturism), loves gardening and traveling, and plans to revisit South Africa. Top
Denise Carter is the Children’s Services Project Director at St. Louis Mental Health Board. My portfolio consists of tax-funded City of St. Louis mental health projects focused on children from 0-5 years of age and out of school time services for children up to age 13. I also founded a grant-writing consulting business. I am inspired by my family who were financially poor but provided love and grace freely. I am blessed to have a strong friend/family/mentor support network that thinks that I am beautiful, smart, capable and that I am the only one who can limit me.
I have two teenagers, have been married 25 years, enjoy reading, cheering on the New Orleans Saints, playing board games, and making fried biscuits for my godchildren. Because I like to see the good in every situation, I am reminded often by my brother, Dad (father-in-law), and parrains (NOLA Godfather) that my friendship quota is taken. Three family quotes that influence me are Psalms 56:3, never be lower than a snake on its belly and the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Top
I am Deon Williams; my present occupation is Area Community Coordinator for the company I work for. In that capacity, I am charged with community engagement, creating and forming relationships with community partners, as well as overseeing the security operations and assigned team. I meet and speak with community leaders, appointed and elected regularly to discuss either forward progress, issues and or concerns relative to the community. Another duty I am charged is to address and or investigate criminal and nuisance behavior that occurs and or reported on assigned properties.
Regarding Personal, I am 48 years old, a father of 4 adult children and 7 grandchildren. An active member in the residential community as well as my working community and to my observation both are the same. I am the oldest of 5 children, my siblings and one all have same mother and father that were married. Our present relationship is strong and thrive, holding family stability and growth as top values. It is my most sincere hope and desire that the Neighborhood Leadership Fellows aid and assist my position to afford me access and mediums to help improve the focused community, North St. Louis. Top
Evelyn Days is currently the Director of Operations at Normandy Schools Collaborative where she previously served on the school board and attended school. A true native St. Louisan, Evelyn holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Missouri - St. Louis, along with a Graduate Certification in Human Resources. Her commitment to professional development is evident through her Six Sigma Certifications, Project Management Professional (PMP), and other certifications.
Additionally, Evelyn is a classically trained violinist and a certified Zumba instructor, showcasing her diverse skill set, creativity, and passion for continuous learning. Beyond her professional endeavors, Evelyn is actively involved in community initiatives. She recently graduated from the North County Co-Op Citizens Police Academy and believes in giving back to the community that has always supported her. Top
St. Louis native Johnson Young Lancaster is the owner of Po Tolo Applied Insights, a multi-faceted professional services enterprise that helps clients add value to their businesses by leveraging customer data, multimedia platforms and public outreach strategies to increase market share. He is a co-founder and manager of the Progressive Emporium and Education Center, a St. Louis-based provider of holistic grocery products, literature, clothing and imports of the African diaspora. He is a seasoned journalist, editor, and historian who has helped at least 10 authors publish their books and he is currently writing/compiling a book of essays to be published by the end of 2024. A proud graduate of HBCU Howard University, Lancaster honors his parents who both earned degrees at HBCU Xavier University. His father Charles W. Lancaster Sr., an accountant and his mother, Doris Y. Lancaster, an educator, imbued him and his 7 siblings with a commitment to serving society and working for the greater good.
Introduced to the Seven Principles in 1976, these values have formed the core of his laser like focus on raising the quality of life in his community. These values have guided his involvement in various non-profits since 1981 Lancaster currently serves on the board of community arts groups the Sudan Illustrators and First Civilizations and is a steering committee member of the St. Louis Coalition Against Police Crimes and Repression. He is a former board member of Double Helix, owners of KDHX FM radio station, former president of the local chapter of the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations, a former volunteer with local American Friends Service Committee and a former member of the planning committee for the St. Louis African Arts Festival. Lancaster is an avid chess player, board game fanatic, card player, jazz lover and cryptocurrency enthusiast. He has traveled to Colombia, South America and plans to visit six other countries on his bucket list. Some other desires on his bucket list are to ride in a hot air balloon, attend the Aspen Food and Wine Festival in 2025, and complete work on his family's genealogy. Top
Julian Roberts is a Software Analyst at Enterprise. I ensure the integrity of our databases by managing the data stored in our repositories or databases. In addition, I also worked as a Senior Business Analyst eliciting requirements from stakeholders and refining those requirements to deliver a viable product or service. Within my 9 years in IT, I have supported several global booking and reservation application upgrades to improve performance and reduce vulnerabilities. I’m a Business graduate from UMKC and have worked in corporate America for going on 15 years; I have a strong sense of leadership, analytics and how performance drives profit. I also see how qualifications or corporate policies directly impact representation.
My personal journey up the corporate ladder was more often who you knew instead of what you knew and my tenured in corporate America has allowed me to build extensive contacts but also great friendships. I am strong believer of work/life balance so on my down time I enjoy catching up on local and national news, online shopping from Sams to SAKS and spending time with my family. I am a core humanitarian so I enjoy helping others in need and conflict resolution.Top
Kayla D. Moore, is a third-generation educator, Urban Farm Apprentice with Rustic Roots Sanctuary, and recognized as Nine PBS' Early Learning Champion in 2023. Concurrently, she launched Shape Change, a movement dedicated to creating a more equitable future. Shape Change stands as a beacon of commitment, focusing on building youth life skills for the 21st Century, connecting community members to local farm-fresh foods, and fostering economic justice and advocacy building for disadvantaged communities. With a background deeply rooted in Early Education, Kayla's journey extends beyond the classroom. Shape Change is her vehicle for change, envisioning vibrant cities and thriving neighborhoods where everyone has the opportunity to grow, learn, and connect.
Her commitment as a Kinloch native drives her to advocate tirelessly, ensuring its rich history remains intact and seeking justice for its residents. Kayla D. Moore's mission is clear—to shape change, uplift communities, and amplify voices. As a participant in the Neighborhood Leadership Fellowship, Kayla aims to leverage this platform to extend her impact, contributing to a transformative narrative that echoes the values of saving the future by shaping it through intentional communities and cultural liberation. Top
Kiesha Williams is the CEO of Empowering You 2 Move, a Non-Profit Organization in the Promise Zones of St. Louis City. Where our mission and aim is to uplift, restore, educate, and strengthen the lives of those in our community one life at a time. Within our organization we strive to make bold moves, via practical ideas to provide a strong foundation support system for those we serve. Since our inception in 2019 we have successfully engaged over 500 people with more than half of them being our senior population. We have done this by providing resources and tangible items to assist the in their everyday life situations and circumstances.
What I have personally learned in this journey of engaging the community hands on is that impact on contact is vital and people don’t know how much you can until they know how much you care. I have also found what sets us apart from other organizations is that our aim is to do life with you, not before you or for you. But to empower you right where you are so much so that you and your legacy will impacted forever. Top
Lakesha Robinson, a St. Louis native with two decades of experience in education and nonprofits, excels in youth and family programming, strategic planning, and integrating mental health services. As the former Community Engagement Director for United 4 Children and Executive Director for Horizons St. Louis, she champions innovative strategies for youth development and education. Holding an MSW and a Bachelor of Science in Human Environmental Studies, Robinson is committed to creating positive change and improving opportunities for youth in her community.
Passionate about community-led advocacy, Lakesha is skilled at group facilitation and consensus-building. In recent years, she has cultivated productive working relationships with project stakeholders to advance education system improvement. In 2017, Lakesha founded LMR Enterprise to leverage management resources in companies, nonprofits, and programs. She co-created an equity framework addressing agency policies, procedures, and culture through continuous staff review. Currently serving as the Senior Advisor to the Mayor of St. Louis, Lakesha is dedicated to improving access and collaboration among entities to positively impact the community.Top
Nathan Mai-Lombardo serves as the City Manager of Berkeley, Missouri. A North County native, he grew up in neighboring Ferguson, Missouri, while his father was from Berkeley. Serving a community that both neighbors his hometown and has a familial connection to him has made his role deeply personal and profoundly gratifying. Nathan has led major reinvestment and redevelopment efforts in the community. These include road repaving, park renovations, partnering with the Ferguson-Florissant School District on a new Community Center, multiple industrial and commercial projects, and many policy updates.
He believes that every community, including Berkeley and its neighbors that he knows well, has the opportunity and obligation to be a leader. He believes that every new day should be better than the one before it, and has dedicated his career to the improvement of the lives of others. Nathan has a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology, as well as a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Savannah State University. When he has free time, he enjoys trying new restaurants, film photography, spoiling his niece and nephew, and dropping the top on his Corvette whenever the weather cooperates. Top
Born in St. Louis City, lived in several housing projects (Pruitt Igoe, Darst Webbe & Blumeyer). Favorite residence was in the Pruitt Projects. It was a fun, safe, well-rounded community with all of the amenities to help mold budding citizens. Elementary school - Pruitt, our teachers looked like us and "taught us "well''. Graduate of Vashon High School, class of '72. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management '06. I have a plethora of experiences and interests. Married a few times, have two adult children with 2 adult grandchildren. Retired from the Department of Defense (Army) as a thirty-year civilian. There I managed soldiers - from basic training to retirement and after. Advanced swimmer, cyclist, recent pickle-baller, and former jogger.
Owned three businesses, two before I turned thirty. Started a non-profit to raise funds for Black citizens with their medical needs. Long-time advocate for this government to better take care of all of its citizens. Lover of education, travel, food, straight ahead jazz, reading, and driving. Active in the O'Fallon Community as a 34-year resident who volunteers at Yeatman-Liddell Middle School and a former member of a community organization. Top
Tiffany Brown is the lead family planning educator at Adas Life Lessons. Calling Saint Louis City her home, Tiffany has worked with area nonprofit agencies and community-based local government for 20 years. After identifying a community’s need for more family planning education and resources, Tiffany set out on a journey to reach young adults as they lay the foundation for their families and their futures. To provide the best experience and be of service to families, Tiffany became a Culturally Congruent Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula in December 2023. As a family planning educator and doula, Tiffany is warm, patient and resourceful.
She finds fulfillment in assisting families navigate one of the most trying and exciting times of their lives and is passionate about teaching because she believes parents have the right to make informed decisions about their childbirth and family planning experiences. With the belief that family is the base for community, Tiffany hopes that reaching families is the key to improving communities. She trusts that as families connect with resources and improve the quality of their birth and family planning experiences, they will increase their awareness and participation in their communities. Top
