community
From bocce to red sauce, dig into
the enduring legacy of St. Louis’
Little Italy
How The Hill, a beloved St. Louis neighborhood shaped by Italian immigrants, uses its past to build a culture still centered around faith, food, and family.
A World of Good
Through its skills training and support programs, Forai helps immigrant and refugee women in St. Louis build better lives — for themselves and their families.
Leading the Pack
For more than 50 years, the Endangered Wolf Center in Eureka has been a national leader in saving Mexican gray wolves and American red wolves from extinction by…
15+ Ways to Get Moving in St. Louis
Explore St. Louis area hiking trails, cycling paths, indoor dance studios, inclusive playgrounds and programs, and more ways to get moving across the metro.
Humans of St. Louis:
Ginelle Bess’ Story
With Grassroots Redeeming Love, Ginelle Bess is aiding the community and helping tornado victims recover and rebuild their lives.
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.
Rebuilding St. Louis
In the days, weeks, and months after the May 16, 2025 tornado that devastated St. Louis, residents and leaders are continuing to work to help people and neighborhoods…
Recover. Rebuild. Renew.
In the week after the May 16, 2025 tornado that devastated St. Louis, photographers R.J. Hartbeck, Tyler Small, and Michael Thomas documented the communities hit the hardest.
Humans of St. Louis:
Jenna Elizabeth’s Story
After the tornado, St. Louis photographer and artist Jenna Elizabeth documents tree destruction in Forest Park through art — and invites others to help.
Love Your Neighbor
With long-term tornado recovery now part of its mission, LOVEtheLOU continues to work from within to help North City flourish.
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.
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. Catch up with co-founder Michael Woods.
If You Can Dream It
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.
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.
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.
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 WhereYou Fit In”
After a devastating tornado, the St. Louis community comes together to help North City residents.
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.
Belonging Together
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.
Set Up for Success
At the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Jonathan Lidgus and his team help students with disabilities thrive in college and land successful careers.
Fashion Forward
For 10 years, the Saint Louis Fashion Fund has helped grow and evolve the city’s fashion industry — and thanks to co-founder Susan Sherman, its future looks just…
Home Run
Exploring St. Louis by foot, Ricky Hughes helps locals and transplants alike connect with the city in a new way through St. Louis Run Crew.
Bridging a Divide
In the growing Delmar Maker District and beyond, restaurants, maker and retail spaces, and nonprofits are thriving, ushering in a new era for the neighborhood.
2024 Year In Review: 40+ Inspiring St. Louis Stories
From world-class artists and innovative entrepreneurs to culinary creatives and community trailblazers, take a look back at this year’s STLMade stories.
Brick by Brick
The legacy of St. Louis’ historic brick industry is alive and well in Laclede’s Landing, Main Street in St. Charles, and downtown Alton, Illinois.
Building a Legacy
Architects Peter Tao and Helen Lee are leaving their mark on St. Louis' built environment and helping to transform the community itself.
Fair Play
Unlimited Play founder Natalie Mackay designs and builds inclusive playgrounds for children across the St. Louis metro — and in cities across the country.
Foundational
Fathers
A new St. Louis-based program, Dads to Doulas, seeks to empower Black men in all aspects of fatherhood — both to enrich their parenting journeys and to advocate…
Paths Forward
Great Rivers Greenway is working to connect the region, one project and pathway at a time.
Main Attraction
When father-and-son team Barry and Denny Foster opened Main & Mill Brewing Company, they also ushered in a new era for now-thriving Festus Main Street.
Fit for Everyone
Team Saint Louis, an inclusive sports league, welcomes all for fitness, friendship, and fun.
In Perfect Harmony
For nearly three decades, BandTogether has united LGBTQ+ musicians of all ages and skill levels to share beautiful music and performance with the St. Louis community.
A Different Ball Game
At True Success Basketball & Fitness Academy in St. Charles, Thurlester Robinson, Jr. uses basketball as a vehicle to teach kids lessons in teamwork, self-esteem, and leadership.
Feeding the Need
The Little Angels Foundation serves hot, home-cooked meals to refugees, immigrants, and the unhoused community in St. Louis.
Community Fabric
At Profield Reserve on Cherokee Street, Christopher Loss designs vintage sportswear-inspired clothing — and offers a community hub for all.
All-Star Educators andFuture Leaders
Community Change Makers
Shared Language
Based in the Bevo neighborhood, Immigrant Home English Learning Program connects foreign-born residents with volunteer tutors to learn English — and often, to forge lifelong bonds.
Friendship, Faith and Futures
Pastors Ken and Beverly Jenkins opened community development hub R&R Marketplace in Dellwood with the aim to change lives.
A Welcoming
Space
MaTovu celebrates five years of fellowship and inclusive programming for the Jewish community in the City of St. Louis.
A Healing Helpline
St. Louis Queer Support & Healing offers identity-affirming resources for the region’s LGBTQIA+ community.
Making Moves
Danielle Deavens and Doug Spencer, Bold Xchange founders, and Craig and Mowgli Rivard, owners of Little Fox, share why they moved to St. Louis to grow their businesses.
Outdoor
Enthusiast
With Ope Outdoors, Juno Musonda is spreading love for the Midwest’s parks and natural attractions through merchandise, park cleanups and hikes.
A Promising
Prescription
Educator-turned-entrepreneur Marcus Howard is raising the standard of pharmacy care with the launch of GreaterHealth Pharmacy & Wellness in the Delmar DivINe.
Drawn to St. Louis
A Reading
Revolution
For more than 25 years, Ready Readers has helped advance social and racial equity in St. Louis by bolstering literacy education for preschoolers in low-income communities.
Just Dance
Jenny Hill’s Yes Honey Studio uses the art of dance to help people celebrate moving their bodies.
2022 Year In Review
Take a look back at this year's STLMade stories.
More Than A Market
Lacy Cagle leads City Greens Market in the Grove to be a hub for community, education and local produce.
Cooking Up
Propel Kitchens is building health and wealth within the historically under-resourced community of the St. Louis Promise Zone by providing its members with hands-on training in food preparation…
Up, Up and Away
The Great Forest Park Balloon Race, one of the country’s longest-running balloon races, celebrates 50 years of making St. Louisans smile.
Notes of Community
Soul artist turned community facilitator Brian Owens helps lift up young creatives in St. Louis.
Nerds with Heart
In St. Peters, PokéNerds store owners Brian and Valeria Trull have built a community for Pokémon fans, who are in turn helping the Trulls support Ukrainians.
A Powerful Lift
As the executive director of Paralympic operations at Logan University, Kelley Humphries-Mascoll is advancing the Paralympic movement in St. Louis and beyond.
Branching Out
Forest ReLeaf’s Rebecca Hankins is leading the way in getting trees to the communities that need them.
Historical
Perspective
With unique bus and walking tours throughout the metro area, Amanda Clark helps people see St. Louis differently.
A Mindful Movement
With Generation Mindful, Suzanne Tucker is striving to create a more emotionally healthy world.
A Wider Net
St. Louis’ storied soccer tradition will take a leap forward in 2023 with an MLS team of its own, St. Louis CITY SC, whose goal is to include…
2021 Year In Review
Take a look back at this year's STLMade stories.
Empowering
Women
In Fox Park, nonprofit Rung for Women helps women take their personal and professional lives to the next level.
Advocating for Inclusion
With the Starkloff Disability Institute, Colleen Starkloff works to make the world a place where people of all abilities feel empowered and valued.
Small Park, Big Impact
Through Pocketparks, Samantha Lee Smugala is bringing art, activation and opportunity to transform vacant lots into community gathering spaces.
Off to the Races
St. Louis welcomes the NASCAR Cup Series to the region at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, thanks to the decade-long efforts of track owner and CEO…
Giving Lessons
With the support of her local Buy Nothing group, Briana Morales guides her students in East St. Louis through social-emotional learning as well as their academic education.
Natural Wonders
St. Louisans find peace and purpose in parks and on trails throughout the region.
Time for a Revolution
Saint Louis Story Stitchers brings young people together to express themselves through art and create social change.
Building the Future
Dream Builders 4 Equity aims not only to transform Hyde Park in the next five years, but also to serve as a model for closing the racial wealth…
Dreaming Big
Michael Woods and Neal Richardson knew a new approach was needed for real estate investment to make lasting change in disinvested neighborhoods. They created Dream Builders 4 Equity…
A Hearty Dish
Welcome Neighbor STL's drive-thru supper clubs are a lifeline for refugees.
Empowering
Parents
The Navigate STL Schools dashboard and programs are helping parents make informed decisions for their children's education.
Community Game Changer
Entrepreneur Julian Keaton aims to foster community engagement and move St. Louis forward through “Dimensions,” a new interactive geolocation mobile game.
Brewing Community
St. Louis brewers find new ways to connect with beer lovers and continue their businesses during the pandemic.
Empowering the Community
For 20 years, Diversity Gallery owner Leslie Christian Wilson has connected with St. Louisans through art, jewelry and natural hair.
Changing the Conversation
Local start-up We Stories is teaching the next generation to be anti-racist.
St. Louis, Together
How #314Together transformed from a pandemic relief Facebook group to an inspiring movement supporting local small businesses.
History’s Heroes
Amid the COVID-19 virus, the Missouri Historical Society is sharing the resilience of St. Louis by exploring the city’s past and documenting its present.
Traduciendo el Apoyo
Lourdes Bailón y Gabriela Ramírez-Arellano crearon STLJuntos, una paginaweb y de Facebook que se ha convertido en un recurso esencial para los hispanohablantes de St. Louis.
Period Positive
Even during a pandemic, the St. Louis Alliance for Period Supplies is getting essential period products to people in need.
Power Drive
28 communities around the region joined together to donate nearly 15,000 pounds of food and personal care items to the St. Louis Area Foodbank.
Learning Through Play
Therapists who work with children on the autism spectrum shift their delivery methods to support families during the pandemic.
Come One, Come All
Circus Harmony Launches Free Online Classes for All Ages and Skill Levels.
Personal Growth
Home gardens flourish in quarantine, providing floral beauty, nutritious food and positive mental health benefits.
Growing Together
EarthDance Organic Farm School Hosts Pay-What-You-Can Drive-Thru Farm Stand in Ferguson.
Serving Families in Need
When what's "normal" changes overnight, faith leaders come together to support children facing food insecurity.
Superhero Delivery
Martin Casas of Apotheosis Comics is making sure that St. Louis residents have plenty of comic books and drinks to get them through quarantine.
Streaming With Faith
Places of worship use technology to connect with those looking for guidance in a time of uncertainty.
Puppies in a Pandemic
What happens to unadopted pets during a crisis? St. Louis stepped up to foster them - including one family taking on eight puppies.
#STLMade4Good Facebook Group
Join the #STLMade4Good Facebook Group
Designing with Purpose
David Cervantes is bringing together local volunteers to make personal protection equipment for health care providers.
Oasis in the Food Desert
Link Market’s new community stores in St. Louis could become the model for other cities tackling food insecurity.
‘Round and ‘Round
For 50 years, Mathew and Niah Foggy have built community while circling the roller rink at Skate King.
Hope and Heart
Valeda Keys turns strength into action as she helps St. Louis women recover from breast cancer.
Feeding St. Louis
Local food assistance organizations are gaining national recognition for their commitment to education and action.
A Global Community
As the St. Louis region recruits top international talent to its companies, Susan Gobbo is building a support system for the families that follow.
Puppy Power
Fitness trainer Kim Gray built her wellness business for St. Louisans who love spending time with their pets.
Healing Through Art
Paige Walden-Johnson uses CommUNITY Arts STL’s creative outlets to help first responders and their families process trauma.
Shared Solutions
Through Odd Couples Housing, John Levis is tackling local lodging issues by pairing senior and millennial roommates.
Making
Connections
Through Human Spaces, Lisa Rokusek is exploring how people can learn from each other with empathy and purpose.
All That Jazz
Lauren Parks and Jas Gary Pearson have turned the childhood home of music legend Miles Davis into a community catalyst.
Appetite for Action
De Nichols and the FoodSpark team bring social change to the potluck table.
Finding the Spirit
SLU professors Pauline Lee and Rachel Lindsey are exploring what religion in unexpected places means to St. Louis’s future.
Keys to the Community
Kayia Baker and Pianos for People are changing lives one note at a time.
Art in Motion
Through the Justice Fleet, Amber Johnson empowers people to heal.
Cooking with Love
Through food, ‘MamaCat’ Cathy Daniels nurtures and respects St. Louis’s unhoused residents.
