Stories

November 29, 2022 What it Takes to Thrive: The Importance of Investing in Everyone By: Amina Abdul-Malik WEPOWER’s Director of Investments and a native North St. Louisan, Amina Abdul-Malik, reads on the steps of her former middle school, a place where she saw “the possibilities of educational equity come to life” in her childhood. Photo…

August 25, 2022 For Us, By Us, with Love By: Coral Bello-Martinez Meet Coral Bello-Martinez, an alum of WEPOWER’s Power-Building Academy who just joined the WEPOWER team as the new Economic Justice Organizer. Photo by Nyara Williams.   What drew me to work in education? I wanted to become the teacher that I had needed…

August 4, 2022 We Have More Power Than We Recognize By: Jacqueline Person Jacqueline Person, a recent Power Building Academy and Chisholm’s Chair alum, as well as a recently retired teacher from St. Louis Public Schools, stands in her former classroom. “I decided to pursue being a teacher…so I could have a lot more interaction…

July 14, 2022 You Have a Future in This: How vision can help build a village   By: Tim Eleby (aka Tim the Caterer) Tim “Tim the Caterer” Eleby, co-owner of Pure Catering, stands at the entrance of Café St. Louis in the Missouri History Museum, which they have been running since June 2021. Pure Catering…

June 13, 2022 Keeping Kids at the Center By Adesha Armstrong Adesha Armstrong, founder and operator of Early Adventures in-home family child care center in Florissant, MO. Photo by Nyara Williams.   This kind of work we do? It isn’t about us—it’s about the kids. If we’re not holding kids at the center, then how…

November 23, 2021 Letting Curiosity Lead By Vanessa Pimblott Vanessa is WEPOWER’s Lead of Community Building and Partnerships, and an alum of WEPOWER’s inaugural Tomorrow Builder’s Fellowship. Photo by Izaiah Johnson. I have a longstanding nickname that my grandma gave me: Sinvergüenza. It’s Spanish for “bold and without shame.” She has always told me, “¡Eres…

September 20, 2021 A Catalyst for Change By Marie Franklin Marie Franklin is a mother, grandmother, caretaker, leader, community organizer, Chisholm’s Chair alum, and life-long East St. Louis resident. Photo by Izaiah Johnson. “I am and always will be a catalyst for change.” -Shirley Chisholm   Our street was horrible. It was barely passable in…

August 21, 2021 Supporting the Soles of St. Louis By Jaquan Vassel Jaquan Vassel is a certified pedorthist and founder of Vassel’s Comfort Shoes and Custom Insoles, a leading specialist in diabetic footwear and exceptional customer service. Photo by Izaiah Johnson. I’m a certified pedorthist–someone who specializes in footwear. I help people find the right…

July 9, 2021 The Worlds We Invest In: Building Economy and Community in St. Louis and Honduras By Patrick Clapp Patrick Clapp is co-founder of Coffeestamp coffee roaster and café, and a current participant in the WEPOWER Accelerator program. Photo by Whitney Bembenek Different people are exposed to different worlds, and at times there is…

MARCH 15, 2021 A Whole Different Vibration by Fatimah Muhammad with Joey Saunders   Entrepreneurialism is in my blood, passed down by my parents and grandparents. My fascination with bees, on the other hand, came about suddenly, almost like I’ve heard poets describe the moment inspiration strikes only, instead of scribbling down rhymes, I found…