Ashley Winters

According to a 2021 study published by the American Cancer Society, African Americans have a higher risk of developing oral cancer and a higher likelihood of dying from it compared to white Americans. Mortality rates for oral cancer were 85% higher for African American men than White men in 2000. “Early diagnosis of oral cancer […]

While Black Maternal Health Week has passed,  the conversation and the work behind the movement goes on. Tiara Johnson has made it her life’s mission to help other Black mothers receive quality maternal health care.   At just 25 years old, Johnson was diagnosed with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM): heart failure that happens in the last month […]

United Way of Greater St. Louis (UWGSL) hosted its annual Run for the Roses Derby event at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center on May 3–the event served as a precursor to UWGSL’s community fundraising campaign. Nearly 200 Leadership Giving Society members committed to the early campaign donations that will be used to invest in […]

On May 19, 2024, Jacqueline Rhone passed away after being diagnosed with a brain aneurysm – an ailment that strikes Black Americans at a higher rate than other ethnic groups. Her mother Jazzie Ford created the LaLa Speaks Foundation in honor of the daughter she describes as “a rare soul.” “She was kind, smart, and deeply […]

Five years have passed since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, unleashing an unforgettable chain of events.  It was an ordeal the U.S. had not endured in more than a century. “Long COVID is known to cause over 200 different symptoms in nearly a dozen organ systems, including those of the heart, […]

The City of St. Louis Planning Commission has approved an overhaul to the city’s Strategic Land Use Plan (SLUP), which Mayor Tishaura O. Jones says “will serve as a guiding legal document on how to best use the land and development.” “Our zoning code has not been holistically updated in more than 70 years, and […]

Yoro Styles and Neiman Marcus are partnering to honor and celebrate Black creatives in the Lou on February 1, 2025. The showcase is a collaboration where art and fashion intertwine. Yolanda “Yoro” Newson – creator of the annual Black History Month Designer Showcase – said the event will feature works of visual art, fashion design, […]

Lutheran Family and Children’s Services strengthens mental health services for children and adolescents in the greater St. Louis Area. Dr. Claudia T. Viamontes, MD, PhD, and Dr. Bryan Sewing, DO, will lead LFCS psychiatry services. Both doctors have extensive experience supporting the mental well-being of children and families across the St. Louis region. “By offering […]

Trina Williams, owner of Thick Chick Fitness, never really felt comfortable at those flashy big box gyms. The plus-size workout instructor has experienced everything from awkward stares to downright rude insults. Thick Chick Fitness workout gym studio is a haven for those who aren’t the typical gym-size commercial model. Williams studio is a place where […]

Ricky Hughes never imagined a world in which he would develop a passion for distance running, which he calls God’s purpose for his life. He ran track in high school but his interest never drifted toward the longer races. Today, his outlook is driven by the running community he discovered only a few years ago.  […]

Teaching children to read at an early age is not only fundamental, it’s also a major boost to their overall pediatric health care. According to an American Academy of  Pediatrics study, parents should begin reading to children at birth. Ready Readers Executive Director Angela Sears Spittal says early literacy directly connects to pediatric health care. […]

The Whitfield Foundation 4th Annual Toy Giveaway was held on Sunday, December 22, 2024, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at Topgolf Midtown. Families and kids of all ages enjoyed free toys, clothes, holiday music, and a chance to meet St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver ‘Oli’ Marmol and his family.  At the annual toy giveaway […]

Christmas came early for moms, soon-to-be moms, and families in the St. Louis region. The Jamaa Birth Village’s annual Mother Blessing Baby Shower and Fundraiser gave away free car seats, diapers, receiving blankets, and more. Okunsola M. Amadou, founder, and CEO of Jamaa Birth Village, was filled with joy when she saw the smiling faces […]

Rosa Powered, a new app that gives schools access to professional crisis intervention resources and provides students with daily mental health support, will soon be available to area school districts. The app, powered by Behavioral Health Response, is now being offered to St. Louis metro area schools with plans for implementation for the 2025-2026 academic […]

“The housing shortage that exists in our community mirrors national trends for seniors and veterans.” When it comes to the lack of housing options for seniors and veterans, the St. Louis area is no different than other parts of the country. Fortunately, that trend will improve a bit thanks to a new $21 million senior […]

The start of the school year is exciting for children and adults. Often lost in the joy of beginning this annual journey is the anxiety that kids feel when they have to find new ways to cope with getting used to a new school, teachers and friends. That’s one of the main reasons that Lutheran […]

In 2017, Brad Edwards and the mother of his son and daughter faced a nightmare scenario he prays no expectant parent must experience. Excited to welcome twins into the world, their joy turned to grief when the babies were delivered stillborn, an experience that would go on to shape Edwards’ view of fatherhood. St. Louis […]

“She enjoyed seeing how the creatives put their creative spin on the suggested themes for the artwork and how they interpreted Frizz Fest putting those ideas into concepts and designs” The 7th Annual Frizz Fest behind-the-scenes art installations with local creatives is happening on Aug. 17-18 at 3529 Broadway. The open call for St. Louis […]

“And it took some faith to do so because when she told people about her idea she was met with nay-sayers telling her ‘Black people in St. Louis don’t read.’”  Growing up as an only child LaParis Hawkins had a lot of time to herself and reading was one of her favorite pastimes. For Hawkins, […]

Nine PBS Listen, St. Louis Podcast: Live Ferguson Special commemorates the 10th Anniversary of the Michael Brown Jr. shooting and the Ferguson Unrest with a live audience and panel discussion with Carol Daniel as host.  “We are grateful for everyone who has shared their stories with us so we can help our region understand where […]