Cycle 1 Grantees

The “You Lucky You Gotta Mama” documentary film project shows the daily life of Black women, non-binary, and trans people through various stages of their pregnancy, exploring the intimacy and humanity of pregnancy as a natural condition and birthright.

_{*With Fiscal Sponsorship from Jamaa Birth Village}

Providing entrepreneurial training workshops for African-American high school and college students. The Teen Summit hosts students from throughout St. Louis region for a free in-depth, three-day, eight-hour training workshop. Each day is centered around a different fundamental business principle; breakfast and lunch are also included. All sessions are taught by an experienced entrepreneur, industry professional, or educator.

The “new” movement toward racial healing, justice, and equity has left out key members of the Black and brown community, including the elderly and disabled, ex-offenders, and those who cannot participate due to family or job obligations. United Voices will provide opportunities for these groups to have a voice in the movement, and will ensure that new leaders in the cause will have the foundational tools they need to develop and push an agenda toward change, and will interface with existing momentum toward equity and justice.

Providing at-risk youth with access to a diverse and broad set of assets through mentorship, entrepreneurship, scholarship, and leadership training. The Dream Builders Academy Program will support two cohorts of high school students with the development of leadership, financial, construction, real estate development, book publishing, and community development skills.

Developing communities and young leaders by promoting cultural understanding, and providing skills, experiences, opportunities, and encouragement for success. The development of the Black Youth Corps – Our Community Our World project will address the issue of racism experienced by Black youth in youth spaces, and the lack of a Black empowered youth movement to consciously and systematically address the racism they experience in those spaces.

Created as a vessel to aid individuals whom have become troubled with day-to-day stress, societal challenges and undiagnosed mental health struggles. This project will offer Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Floatation therapy, and other wellness activities and tools for helping brown and black residents of the St. Louis metropolitan area manage and treat the effects of racial stress and trauma.

*With Fiscal Sponsorship from Kabila Heart

Helping women and men, ages 60 and older, to heal and remain whole. “The Sankofa Village Griot Project: Our Voices, Our Wisdom“ will impact healing across generations through story sharing. By soliciting, curating, and amplifying truth narratives on experiences with racial oppression, the project will activate its audiences for systemic change.

A sustainable farm in Spanish Lake with an organic community garden growing organic, local, whole foods. The development of Rustic Roots’ Farmer’s Market, Senior Outreach, and STEM Summer Camp projects will each help to heal racial inequity and food access issues by bringing awareness to health inequities, collaborating with other food access organizations, and providing fresh produce to the Spanish Lake area.

Empowering Girls and Women through school based/community based mentoring wellness circles, online connection platforms for girls yearly summits, and volunteer opportunities. The IDM Mobile Wellness initiative will provide mobile mental health services and support to women and girls who have experienced trauma.

Intentionally creating a healthy and safe experience catered to Black people by offering compassionate wisdom that helps heal the mind, body, and spirit through techniques of yoga, mindfulness, and culturally relevant self-care strategies. Yoga for the People is a donation-based class open to all people and all levels. Classes are designed to be fun, engaging, and challenging, yet accessible to all levels. Teachers utilize fluid transitions from pose to pose, seamlessly linking body, breath, and movement.

A mobile, social justice, pop-up museum that fosters communal healing through art, dialogue, and play. The Justice Fleet is committed to expanding safe access to the arts, healing, and green space through their four interactive exhibits. The Justice Fleet Grief Garden is a safe, public, green space that fosters healing for people experiencing systemic injustice and the earth via horticulture therapy and conservation.

*With Fiscal Sponsorship from Saint Louis University

Developing affordable, program-enriched housing for low-to-moderate income families, people with special needs, or those who lack the skills, supports, or economic resources to access quality, safe housing on their own. The Greater House Sober Living Program will enhance and expand The Nehemiah Program’s capacity to serve women who presently do not qualify for existing leveraged funding opportunities, and to extend their stays for longer periods of time as finding permanent housing becomes more difficult due to the many challenges that the COVID-19 has presented.

Providing one-on-one tutoring and creative writing workshops for underserved students. Crossing Delmar is a collaborative project that fosters individual and relational healing by guiding the development of racial and emotional literacy among elementary and middle school students from schools located on opposite sides of the Delmar Divide.