JUNE 23, 2025

A NEW SLPS!

New Board, New Hope

Dear Changemakers,

There is new leadership at SLPS! Though we were not successful with our change slate, we were successful in helping to change SLPS leadership. We welcome the new President, Dr. Collins-Adams, and Vice President, Emily Hubbard along with new board members AJ Foster and Brian Marston. Their success will lead to the success of our children and so we have high hopes, offer our support and assistance, and will collaborate to turn this district around.

The next board meeting is on July 8th at 6:30 PM, 801 N. 11th. St. Sign up to speak before 6:30 and ask that they set a city wide literacy goal.

Like it or not, how millions of our tax dollars are used, is determined by politicians. If we want better schools, if we want better pay for teachers, if we want new community centers, if we want everyone to have healthcare… We need raw, political, power. We need to elect the people who are committed to our shared goals.

To this end, we wish to start political power mapping - mapping out the places of civic engagement throughout our city. Please help us by completing this short survey (2 mins) letting us know the neighborhood, community, or aldermanic meeting happening in your area or throughout the city. This will help us broaden our coalition and connect with more people as we build political power.

The storm was devastating. It was also a reminder of the economic, educational, and political storm of neglect and disinvestment North City has been battling for decades.

However, it highlighted the amazing heart and spirit of the people of this city as they jumped into action to help their fellow neighbors. There were also organizations that stepped up in a big way like, Action STL, For the Culture, Invest STL, and 4theVille. Blessings and gratitude to these organizations for leading the effort.

As the attention subsides let our involvement rise. The storm was an unfortunate and tragic opportunity, not to rebuild, but to reimagine. What existed before the storm was insufficient. Let us use this storm as an unfortunate and tragic opportunity to reimagine. What should schools and education look like, what should economic development look like, what should improved affordable housing look like, and who should be the people putting together these plans? We have seen gentrification consume whole neighborhoods, we have seen economic development wipe out whole communities. How do we, 1. protect the current residents of North City, help them stay in their homes, and build back better, and 2. Create the conditions for, particularly marginalized communities, to move BACK, to North City? We are calling this the Great Migration BACK to North City. Help us as we think of the organizations and people we should be building with in order to achieve both goals. Complete the survey here (3 mins).

GET INVOLVED

Your Role In The Movement

A movement requires people to move. Do what you can, when you can. Pick something on the list below and let’s go.

How Much Time Do You Have?

• (1 min) Like, follow, and share. Internet activism is real and has an impact. Please take a minute and do so here: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

• (2 mins) Let us know about your community meeting here.

• (3 mins) Let us know of organizations and people particularly in North City, that can help with the Great Migration Back, by adding names here.

• (1 hr per week) Volunteer Weekly: Tutor a child with Black Men Read or join one of our committees (Tutoring, Teacher Pay, Behavior Support, or SLPS Board Replacements). Learn more here.

• (1 hr) attend one of or upcoming events or an event from one of our partner organizations. See our events and events from our partner organizations here and mark your calendar.

• (3 hrs) speak at a board meeting for SLPS or your child’s charter school. Contact us at info@cwstlk.org.
  

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Connect With The Coalition

• Wartime Round Table - Join Black Men Build to break bread, read, discuss, digest, and strategize the politics of our time and the theoretical structures that undergird our strategy for change. Mon July 7th, and every 1st and 3rd Monday of the Month, 7PM, 2006 S. 8th St. All are welcome.

• 8th Ward Aldermanic Forum - St. Louis had one of its lowest voter turnouts in recent history. Help Senator Jamilah Nasheed, and the Voter Empowerment Coalition as we help to strategize and mobilize voters. Saturday, June 28th, 2-4PM at The Kingdom House, 1321 S. 11th St.

• Zoom General Meeting - Our time (Every 2 weeks) to provide updates, celebrate wins, checkin on action steps, and improve plans. Thursday, July 3rd, 6-7:15 PM, on Zoom. Sign up for a committee to get the link.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay updated, and share our message with your networks.

Because #WeCantWait

Sign up to volunteer, donate, or learn more today.

Warm regards,

Asher

(314) 816-0087