I really want people in St. Louis to know what we do and how it benefits everyone here.
Our workforce team focuses on bringing economic development and equality to the bioscience space. That means giving individuals in underserved areas the opportunity to earn nationally recognized credentials. This better positions them to be desirable applicants for top employers in the region, in human health and agriculture.
That connects with BioGenerator, BioSTL’s startup arm, because now you have people considering going back to school, getting a degree, and innovating. And BioGenerator is a place that invests in startups and has opportunities—not just to start their own company, but to work for one. I wish people knew that’s what the bridge looks like.
To hear adults say, “I used to like science, but I didn’t do well in high school, so I gave up on it,” and then see them in a lab saying, “Man, look at me.” That’s BioSTL’s impact.
As the Manager of Community Partnerships, I work with different organizations to see what resources they have available and how we can bring them into the fold to connect our talent to those resources. These include things like utility support, job readiness skills, food, and housing. We build partnerships to assist the talent that comes through our Bio Bootcamp.
Another part of my role is working with community partners who want to offer similar bioscience training programs to clients in their areas—whether that’s North City, North County, South City, any place within the metropolitan region.
We’ve also had the opportunity to work with two community partners on career development workshops. That’s a new project we’re launching this summer, and our talent is really excited about it.
Growth. And not just my personal growth, but the growth of the region. I joke a lot about my phone ringing or getting text messages all day and night. But that means the world to me. These adults, these teenagers, they feel safe enough with me to call and say, “Hey, I have this life situation happening. I’m not going to be able to finish the program. Can you stop by this evening so we can talk it through and figure out how I can move forward?” That means a lot to me. I hold that responsibility, being there for them, very near and dear.
I think a lot about the work we do for the region, especially North City. When the tornado happened, and there’s still a lot of cleanup happening, I thought about how I grew up in North City, in one of the harder areas. Most, if not all, of my advocacy work is for North City.
I love connecting people to resources. Not just handing over a list of names, but saying, “Here’s an actual contact and email of someone who will respond. And I’ll do you one better, I’ll start the conversation for us.” I really enjoy being that connector.
At the end of 2023, I was half-listening to a motivational speaker and he said, “The thing you do most easily, with the least amount of effort, and are most successful at—that’s what you’re gifted to do.”
For some reason, that caught my attention. Then I went outside. Some kids were running around, playing, and one of their moms said, “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you all this summer.” I listed off some things. She said, “I can’t afford that.” So I listed off some free things. It was just a conversation. I didn’t know that woman. I don’t even know if those kids lived on my street. But I went back inside and thought, That’s my thing. But what I am is a community connector.
I was this year’s Earth Day 365 Keystone Community Activist recipient. It still feels like it isn’t real because, as the connector, I like to be in the shadows. I don’t necessarily need people to say my name, because the work itself is what matters.
What really got me was that they weren’t just talking about my recent work. The recognition went all the way back—ten years of my career. That made me very emotional. Because one thing about this work—and my leadership coach, Maranda Witherspoon, says this often—is that the work never stops. You can be so deep in the work that you forget what you’ve already done. That’s why it’s important to pause. And in that moment, I understood why she always tells me that.
I’ve sung professionally with the symphony for about five seasons. I’ve toured Italy, not just as a tourist, but performing. We sang at the Vatican and did a group performance with a local choir while in Rome.
And my son and I are urban farmers. We manage the Heru Urban Farming and Gardening community space in North City. We grow fruits and vegetables. This past Monday, we planted some new fruit trees, nectarine and two pear trees.
And I love a good dad-joke.
Search
