You 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…

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Keeping 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…

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Meet + Support The Spring 2022 Cohort of WEPOWER Biz Accelerator!

May 4, 2022 Meet + Support The Spring 2022 Cohort of WEPOWER Accelerator! WEPOWER is beyond thrilled to welcome our third ever cohort of WEPOWER Accelerator, 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 to…

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A “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: WEPOWER Accelerator, an entrepreneurship support and growth program; Kiva…

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13 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…

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Letting 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…

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A 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…

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Supporting the Soles of St. Louis

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…

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