Updates
For Us, By Us, with Love
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…
Read MoreWe Have More Power Than We Recognize
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…
Read MoreYou Have a Future in This: How vision can help build a village
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…
Read MoreKeeping Kids at the Center
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…
Read MoreMeet + Support The Spring 2022 Cohort of Elevate/Elevar Biz Accelerator!
May 4, 2022 Meet + Support The Spring 2022 Cohort of Elevate/Elevar Biz Accelerator! WEPOWER is beyond thrilled to welcome our third ever cohort of Elevate/Elevar, our accelerator for Black and Latinx-owned companies. This year, we are scaling our impact by transitioning to run not one but two programs per year. Today, we want…
Read MoreA “One-Of-A-Kind” Team: An Interview with WEPOWER’s Community Wealth Building Team
March 30, 2022 A “One-Of-A-Kind” Team: An Interview with WEPOWER’s Community Wealth Building Team WEPOWER’s Community Wealth Building team came together with interviewer Whitney Bembenek to share about their backgrounds, personal visions, superpowers, and the meaning of their work. The team leads WEPOWER’s three entrepreneurship-based initiatives: Elevate/Elevar Accelerator, an entrepreneurship support and growth program; Kiva…
Read More13 Black and Latinx Women graduate from WEPOWER’s Chisolm’s Chair Fellowship, prepare to pursue public leadership positions
March 18, 2022 13 Black and Latinx Women graduate from WEPOWER’s Chisolm’s Chair Fellowship, prepare to pursue public leadership positions In its second year, the Fellowship is designed to support and train Black and Latinx women as they pursue public leadership in St. Louis. Graduates will go on to pursue appointed and elected positions with…
Read MoreLetting Curiosity Lead
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…
Read MoreA Catalyst for Change
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…
Read MoreWEPOWER Recruits Second Cohort of Black and Latinx Women Preparing For Public Leadership
September 1, 2021 WEPOWER Recruits Second Cohort of Black and Latinx Women Preparing For Public Leadership In its second year, the Fellowship is designed to support and train Black and Latinx women to hold public leadership in St. Louis St. Louis, MO – WEPOWER, a community of Black and Latinx changemakers and entrepreneurs who…
Read More