2025 Year In Review: 40+ Inspiring
St. Louis Stories
From nationally beloved arts institutions and culinary stars to community leaders helping to rebuild after the tornado, take a look back at this year’s STLMade stories.
As we say goodbye to 2025 and celebrate the year ahead, we’re also reflecting on the highs and lows we’ve weathered together this year.
On May 16, in the hours after a tornado devastated St. Louis, community organizers, volunteers, and residents were already working hard to help people in its path, especially in historically underserved communities in north and west St. Louis, where some of the worst damage occurred. In the days, weeks, and months that followed, St. Louis has shown up for St. Louis, helping to secure and rebuild homes; support the community, including childcare providers and families; and feed and house those in need. The need for help, financial assistance, and support for tornado victims is ongoing, and you can learn how to get involved here.
Alongside these stories of St. Louisans supporting their neighbors through the toughest times, we also shared the inspiring and uplifting stories of the people making St. Louis a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable place to call home. From highly acclaimed arts institutions and organizations to visionary artists and makers to pioneering entrepreneurs changing the landscape of technology, business, and innovation happening here, St. Louis is brimming with success, talent, and opportunity. Explore a few of these stories in the video above, and reflect on all of our STLMade stories from the past year below.
Thank you for helping us elevate and celebrate these voices in 2025, and cheers to sharing more St. Louis stories in 2026.
Artists & Art Institutions
Bright Outlook: A highly sought designer and illustrator, St. Louis native Chelsey Farris has built a reputation for deftly integrating color, pattern, and shape to distill complex messages and spark emotion through branding.
Center Stage: For over 100 years, The Muny has been a jewel of U.S. musical theater and a vibrant cultural institution for generations of St. Louisans.
Centered on Art: The Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles creates community through unique exhibitions, artist development, education and outreach, and more.
Composing the Future: St. Louis Symphony Orchestra President and CEO Marie-Hélène Bernard reflects on the debut and future of the institution at its expanded and renovated home at Powell Hall at The Jack C. Taylor Music Center.
Following in the Footsteps: Run by the Premachandra family, Dances of India, one of the oldest classical Indian dance companies in the U.S., combines movement and storytelling to wow St. Louis audiences.
Go With the Flow: Whether she’s spinning records in the top local clubs or leading a yoga class in the studio or online, DJ and yogi Nico Marie gets St. Louis moving.
The Heart of the Arts: For four decades, the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis has invested more than $115 million to shape and support the region’s vibrant arts community.
Entrepreneurs & Innovators
Connecting Care: With Rezilient Health, founders Danish Nagda and Jeff Gamble are hoping to improve health care experiences and outcomes for patients in the St. Louis metro and across the U.S.
Engineering a Better Tomorrow: At LUZCO Technologies in Maplewood, founder and CEO Lusnail Haberberger has built a successful engineering consulting firm with a focus on recruiting a diverse team.
Fit for a Kid: With Lion+Owl, St. Louis entrepreneur Jeff Bender is bringing thoughtfully designed inclusive clothing to kids here and across the country.
Good to Grow: With her line of self-watering planters, Posie Pots founder Kay Wells uses 3D printing technology to make good plant care easier.
Opening Doors: We Hear You makes spaces more accessible for people with disabilities — and with its Hero device, it’s literally opening doors across St. Louis and the U.S.
Rooted in Style: Kimberly Franks is empowering individuals to be their authentic selves while being responsible stewards of the community and the planet — something she works to instill through every aspect of Liberated Roots Co.
Seeding Solutions: As part of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, plant biologist Katie Murphy addresses global challenges through the meticulous study of plants and shares her life and work as a scientist via social media, teaching, and mentorship.
Scaling Up Startups: Jesse Winters joined T-REX in January because he believes in the power of tech innovation to jumpstart the economy and guide the region’s evolution.
Style Icons: For 15 years, Randy and Jeff Vines at STL Stylehouse have promoted St. Louis and played a vital role in the city’s community fabric — including Cherokee Street’s eclectic identity.
Culinary, Coffee, & Craft Beer Creatives
Authenticity in the City: At Amaizing Arepa Bar in Downtown St. Louis, Mayra and Maria Pacheco share delicious Venezuelan cuisine, with hopes to expand across the metro.
Destination Dessert: After a corporate career that took her across the globe, Monica Lee returned home to open Spoonful Desserts, which offers up Korean desserts, drinks, and a palpable sense of community in Creve Coeur and Edwardsville, Illinois.
Fill Your Cup: With a focus on ethical sourcing and high-quality beans, Goshen Coffee Roasters in Edwardsville, Illinois, helmed by the Beard and Hughey families, serves up delicious coffee here and across the U.S.
Put Down Roots: Michael and Tara Gallina’s Take Root Hospitality serves seasonally inspired and regionally sourced eats at three lauded spots in the St. Louis area, including nationally renowned Vicia.
Rising to the Occasion: At its North American headquarters in St. Louis, AB Mauri drives innovative baking and fermentation solutions for bakeries across the country.
Sweet Spot: With a passion for showstopping painted cakes and from-scratch baked goods, Lia Holter of Made. by Lia is ushering in a new generation of investment in her native North County.
Teachers & Knowledge Seekers
Belonging Together: Through her work with the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis, Erin Suelmann is helping to make the St. Louis metro a better place for people with Down syndrome.
Beyond Books: Under Kristen Sorth’s leadership, St. Louis County Library has reinvented itself as a modern hub for community events and services and an indispensable resource available to all.
Breaking the Ice: Based out of Maryland Heights, the St. Louis Blues’ Girls Development Program offers an accessible and affordable entry point into hockey for young girls.
Business Class: In April 2024, Shu Schiller, Ph.D., assumed her role as Dean of the College of Business Administration at UMSL, a position that tasks her with developing the region’s future workforce, while at the same time, figuring out what that future will look like.
Game Changing: Mona Jawad and Ayesha Kazi founded ASL Aspire to bring a game-based approach to teaching American Sign Language for STEM concepts through interactive lessons.
Getting Up to Kode: With roots in St. Louis, Karlie Kloss’ Kode With Klossy nonprofit celebrates 10 years of working to close the gender equity gap in tech.
Success in the Making: Through its St. Louis Internship Program, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, along with partner companies and institutions, are investing in students and the future of the metro’s economy.
Helpers & Doers
Building Blocks: With the Economic Mobility Program at Annie Malone Children and Family Services, Keisha Lee is empowering and elevating young men in St. Louis.
Caring for the Caregivers: The St. Louis Early Childhood Tornado Response Team is raising money, collecting donations, supporting families, and helping childcare providers rebuild after a devastating tornado.
“Get In Where You Fit In”: After a devastating tornado, the St. Louis community comes together to help North City residents.
Glittering Grace: Through outreach, advocacy, and action, Fourth City Sisters create community and make St. Louis a more vibrant, joyful, and inclusive place to call home.
Humans of St. Louis, Jenna Elizabeth: After the tornado, St. Louis photographer and artist Jenna Elizabeth documents tree destruction in Forest Park through art — and invites others to help.
Humans of St. Louis, Ginelle Bess: With Grassroots Redeeming Love, Ginelle Bess is aiding the community and helping tornado victims recover and rebuild their lives.
If You Can Dream It: With a new headquarters, retail store, tornado cleanup and reconstruction, and its successful internship program, Dream Builders 4 Equity has been busy in 2025.
Love Your Neighbor: With long-term tornado recovery now part of its mission, LOVEtheLOU continues to work from within to help North City flourish.
Pedal Power: Pedal the Cause has raised more than $51 million for cancer research in the St. Louis area — and it isn’t slowing down.
Outdoor Adventurers & St. Louis Experiences
Fielding Opportunity: With the Dream Big Foundation, Jorge Flores is making competitive soccer more accessible for kids in underserved communities across the St. Louis metro.
Leveling the Playing Field: The Gateway Region YMCA’s Adaptive Sports Complex and adaptive programming offer inclusive play for all.
On the Right Track: Race car driver and Kirkwood native Spike Kohlbecker’s career is picking up speed as he cruises into his third season with Toyota Gazoo Racing North America.
Ready to Roll: Arch Rival, St. Louis’ oldest roller derby league, celebrates 20 years of skating, competition, and belonging.
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