Inclusive Economic Growth
Read the stories of St. Louisans who are working to open doors, provide opportunities and make sure everyone has a seat at the table.
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.
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.
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.
True Colors
Michelle Robinson has found success with her vegan, cruelty-free, and vibrant nail-care company, DEMIblue Natural Nails, and entrepreneurial support from St. Louis investors and innovators.
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.
Scaling Up Startups
Jesse Winters joined T-REX because he believes in the power of tech innovation to guide the region’s evolution.
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…
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.
DestinationDessert
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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mapping
Tomorrow
Through her nonprofit workforce development organization, Gateway Global, Zekita Armstrong Asuquo is training under-resourced high school students for entry-level jobs in the geospatial field.
Friendship, Faith and Futures
Pastors Ken and Beverly Jenkins opened community development hub R&R Marketplace in Dellwood with the aim to change lives.
Manufacturing the Future
Southwestern Illinois College leads the way in educating the next generation of manufacturing workers, helping to realize the vision of a thriving advanced manufacturing industry that will drive…
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.
A World of Possibilities
Founded at Vashon High School, Show Me the World Project provides transformative education in entrepreneurship, leadership, and STEM to students in under-resourced communities in St. Louis.
Harnessing Talent
Entrepreneur and talent recruiter Anjie Sanford has launched a new program through BioSTL that offers minority college students internships at St. Louis bioscience companies and helps them thrive…
Trading Up
As part of the Missouri Works Initiative, the Building Union Diversity program is expanding access to careers in construction.
Empowering
Entrepreneurs
By supporting first-time entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities, Cortex’s Square One programs, led by Ben Molina and Gabriela Ramirez-Arellano, is bringing inclusive economic growth to the St. Louis metro.
The Courage to Dream
Dream Builders 4 Equity empowers young St. Louisans to achieve their goals.
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.
Generation
Geospatial
At Harris-Stowe State University, Dr. Freddie E. Wills, Jr., Ph.D., is training students from historically Black colleges and universities across the U.S. for futures in geospatial science.
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…
Space for STEM
With Black Girls Do STEM, chemist Cynthia Chapple and her team are carving out an inclusive space for young Black girls to engage with science, technology, engineering and…
Tap Into Talent
Led by Chief Operating Officer Sarah Bernard, Inclusively connects employees with disabilities with compatible jobs, and helps companies adapt to employees’ needs.
Empowering
Women
In Fox Park, nonprofit Rung for Women helps women take their personal and professional lives to the next level.
Bold Moves
Through Bold Xchange, co-founders Danielle Deavens and Doug Spencer aim to improve equity in entrepreneurship by helping large companies support smaller Black-owned businesses.
Creating Space
At Heydays HQ, Keisha Mabry Haymore provides the space and support for women and founders of color to create, collaborate and grow their businesses.
