Recent Activities
Speed Social: Voices Of Connection
Our recent Voices of Connection: Speed Social at Northwest Coffee Roasting created a warm, intentional space for men and women from across communities to sit together, share perspectives, and build authentic relationships. Over coffee and conversation, participants engaged in dialogues that rarely receive the room they deserve, discussions that stretched beyond surface-level exchanges and opened the door to understanding.
This social was more than a gathering; it was an opportunity to discuss real issues, discover common ground, and recognize the power that exists when we come together with purpose. The event offered a table where diverse voices could be heard, respected, and connected.
Rather than simply another meetup, this was the first step toward creating actual impact. It allowed us to align our missions, share our visions for our communities, and build bridges across backgrounds and experiences. We walked away knowing, without question, that we are stronger together than apart, and this event reminded us of the full potential of that togetherness.
We also served as a hub for people to sign the People Not Politicians petition to stand up against efforts to further gerrymander Missouri’s congressional maps.
A Call to Action: Join the Movement
As the Membership Director for Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice, I know how vital it is to grow a community of people committed to equity, advocacy, and meaningful change. Spaces like this social show us what becomes possible when our voices unite, but sustaining this momentum requires more hands, more voices, and more hearts invested in the work.
If you believe in building safer, stronger, and more just communities, we invite you to join Women’s Voices Raised. Your membership strengthens our mission, expands our impact, and ensures that conversations like these continue to turn into action.
Film Screening – Remembering Mill Creek Valley: When We Were There
Presented by Eliot Unitarian Universalist Chapel and Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice
Friday, October 17, 2025
A very welcoming and enthusiastic audience of 60 joined us for a special screening of the powerful new documentary, Remembering Mill Creek: When We Were There”, followed by insightful comments and a Q&A session with the film’s author and producer, Vivian Gibson. This event offered a unique opportunity to engage with the stories of those who once called Mill Creek Valley home.
Vivian’s book “The Last Children of Mill Creek” was available for purchase after the screening, and sold out.
Copies of the author’s book, “The Last Children of Mill Creek”, were available for purchase, and all 20 copies sold out. Read more here.
Heart Of The Ville Walking Tour
The “Heart of The Ville” Walking Tour immersed participants in the rich and dynamic history of The Ville neighborhood—one of the most historic Black communities in the United States and a designated local historic district. Mr. Williams provided a fascinating overview of St. Louis’s history, highlighting the patterns of development in North St. Louis from its early days to the present, including current revitalization efforts. Read more here.
Missouri Historical Archives Tour
On October 3, 2025, Women’s Voices members and supporters enjoyed a special private tour of the Missouri Historical Society archives, organized by Racial Justice Committee Co-Chairs Liz Sondhaus and Anne Litwin. Archivist Gwen Moore presented an engaging lecture on the history of the Dred Scott portrait held by the Historical Society, which will soon be featured in a special exhibition currently in development. Read more here.
No Kings October 2025
On Saturday, October 18, people across the country came together for a nationwide day of action to stand up for democracy, justice, and collective freedom. Shoutout to everyone who braved the rain with smiles and signs.
The Truth About the “T” in LGBTQ+
Our September speaker, Jordan Braxton, shared her personal story of deciphering her transgender identity and the resulting transition, both social and medical. She explained that she always knew herself as female, but originally adopted the male persona she was assigned at birth. Later in life, some bloodwork revealed that her chromosomes were actually a mix of male and female – intersex – and she decided on estrogen therapy and a public identity as “Jordan”.
Read More
Listen to a Podcast from the program here.
Good Trouble Lives On Rally
On July 17, the fifth anniversary of Congressman John Lewis’s passing, we gathered to uplift our freedom to vote, defend our democracy and carry forward his legacy of Good Trouble.
We were proud co sponsors of the rally, because it is up to us to continue John Lewis’ work of “peaceful action to challenge injustice and create meaningful change.”
Lunch and Learn with Taylor Tiamoyo Harris
Investigative reporter Taylor Tiamoyo Harris shared “A Journalist’s Look at Power, Punishment, and the Politics of Storytelling” at Women’s Voices’ June 17 Lunch and Learn. She emphasized the need to cover marginalized communities and tell stories that give voice to individuals impacted by the criminal legal system.
Harris’s goal as a journalist is to make complex policy issues understandable – telling stories about the day-to-day impact of policy on diverse individuals – because how the press frames a policy issue subtly shapes public opinion, which, in turn, influences policymakers.
She shared three examples of how responsible journalism can use storytelling to look beyond police reports. For example, is it necessary to post mugshots and addresses of people arrested for but not convicted of crimes? How can journalism give voice to issues that motivate protesters and not merely address unlawful actions? And how does the harm that electronic monitors inflict on individuals prior to trial weigh in comparison to any societal benefit?
Harris challenged Women’s Voices to work more closely with the press. In addition to op-eds and letters to the editor, she suggested contacting reporters, editors and sometimes even a publisher. Harris emphasized that effective feedback starts with identifying an article’s strengths followed up with suggestions for how future articles can be more effective with storytelling that illustrates how policies can harm individuals, families and communities. Providing names of knowledgeable individuals and organizations can make the journalist’s job easier.
Over time, these contacts may lead to mutual trust that subtly affects how stories get told and how the press frames policy issues.
Watch the program here.
Listen to the podcast here.
Freedom Suits Exhibit Tour
On June 20, 2025, the Racial Justice Committee of Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice organized a tour, for the second time, of the Freedom Suits for Women’s Voices members. The Freedom Suits exhibit, curated by the Missouri State Archives of St. Louis and exhibited at the Law Library, has existed for 20 years but had not been made available to the public until recently. This fascinating exhibit shows actual samples of some of the approximately 400 lawsuits by enslaved people suing for their freedom that were filed in Missouri. At least one third of them were successful, which is a remarkable achievement given that African American enslaved people were not allowed to appear in court and testify in their own lawsuits. Pro-bono lawyers gave their time to prosecute these suits for freedom.
According to one of the many informational posters available as part of the exhibit, we know that slavery was a defining issue in the U.S. from 1776 until the end of the Civil War. While many slave-holding states had laws on their books that allowed an enslaved person to file for freedom under certain conditions, most enslaved people were not aware of these laws. Perhaps because there were many free Blacks living in St. Louis, an information network existed and the news traveled that encouraged enslaved Blacks to file suits.
We encourage everyone who has not yet seen this amazing exhibit to go to the Law Library to see it. Go to their website for information at: https://llastl.org/freedom-suits-exhibit
No Kings Day
On Saturday, June 14, people across the country came together for a nationwide day of action to stand up for democracy, justice, and collective freedom.
United in courage and purpose, WVR participants gathered in purple shirts to raise their voices against cruelty, corruption, and division. The rallies reflected a shared belief that power belongs with the people—not kings—and that change happens when we show up together.
Tornado Relief
Since last month’s tornado struck our community, WVR volunteers have stepped up to support relief efforts in the areas most affected by the storm. Whether it was serving hot meals with the Northside Youth and Senior Service Center, volunteering at Action St. Louis’s The People’s Response, or distributing aid alongside the Urban League, every act of service played a vital role in helping our neighbors recover and rebuild.
Read More and See Photos Here.
Celebrating WVR 20th Anniversary
In May of 2005 four friends were together when their conversation turned to concerns about where the country could be headed under the newly elected administration, and they asked themselves (as we do today) what they could do to make things better. Out of these conversations came the start of Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice. On April 26, 2025, more than 70 people gathered to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Women’s Voices and to honor the four Founders: Ruth Ann Cioci, Joanne Kelly, Barbara Finch and Ann Ruger. It was a joyful occasion filled with fun stories, moments of pride and aspirations for a strong future.
Women’s Voices Raises Up Little Known Civil Rights Hero, the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray
Women’s Voices Raised was honored to host Angela Thorpe Mason, executive director of the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice for our March Lunch & Learn. Ms. Thorpe Mason shared a fascinating and inspiring introduction to the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray. Although rarely mentioned in the popular history of the Civil Rights Movement, Murray was arguably one of the most important figures in 20th Century history.
The Rev. Dr. Murray was a human rights activist, legal scholar, feminist, poet, author, Episcopal priest, labor organizer, multiracial Black, LGBTQ+ person who lived one of the most remarkable lives of the 20th century. S/he was the first Black person to earn a JSD (Doctor of the Science of Law) degree from Yale Law School, a founder of the National Organization for Women and the first Black person perceived as a woman to be ordained an Episcopal priest.
Read more here.
Watch the program here.
Clean Slate Day at Jeff City
March 5, 2025
On Wednesday, March 5, seven members of Women’s Voices traveled to the Capitol in Jefferson City for Clean Slate Day. Karen Coulson, Karen Francis, Anne Litwin, Leslie McCormick, Nancy Price, Rochelle Kaskowitz, and Ellen Wentz went to over 50 Senators’ and Representatives’ offices.
They talked to the legislators or their assistants about Clean Slate generally and the current bills pending in the Missouri House and Senate. Mary Schuman provided participants with information about the legislators, and she and Michele Steinberg prepared informative flyers to distribute to legislators. Those who WVR members spoke with generally supported Clean Slate.
Clean Slate would give a second chance to individuals convicted of certain nonviolent crimes who have served their time and paid any penalties. The law would automatically expunge the convictions, giving the individuals an opportunity to obtain employment, find housing, and lead productive lives, rather than encountering barriers for a lifetime.
Update on Clean Slate Bills: HB 953 has been voted out of the Economic Development committee with a “Do Pass” recommendation, has acquired two new sponsors, and is scheduled for executive session before the Administrative Rules Committee on March 13; SB 19 has been heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee and SB 435 is before that committee.
We are hoping for a Clean Slate Law this year!
Lunch & Lock Gun Lock Bundling
March 12 & 14, 2025
Thanks to our volunteers, we bundled 1,500 gun locks for distribution throughout the community.
Lunch & Learn with Annie Legomsky
Watch the recorded program here.
A Bounty of Treasures at the George B. Vashon Museum
October 24, 2024
WV Racial Justice Committee members and supporters were treated to an in-depth tour of the George B. Vashon Museum of African American History. Calvin Riley, executive director and founder of the museum, shared his vast knowledge, along with his collection of 10,000+ artifacts spanning 250 years of St. Louis’ African American history, amassed over 40 years. In a remarkable testament to Riley’s integrity and deep commitment to St. Louis’s Black history, he has chosen to keep these priceless pieces in St. Louis, despite being approached by many national museums, including the Smithsonian, which have sought to acquire his collection.
The museum highlights the extreme experiences African Americans had to endure in order to succeed and build a strong, cohesive Black community. It also demonstrates that Black history is St. Louis history because of the multitude of contributions made by African Americans.
22nd Annual Mary Meachum Celebration
October 19, 2024
WV members attended the 22nd Annual Mary Meachum Celebration to learn about the amazing work of this founder of the Underground Railroad, Mary Meachum, in St. Louis to aid the escape of enslaved people. This celebration included the re-enactment of three escapes of enslaved people in the early 1800’s.
Lunch & Learn-MetroLink Extension &
Jeff-Vander-Lou’s Fight to Preserve Its Community & History
October 16, 2024
Carla Alexander of the Jeff-Vander-Lou (JVL) Neighborhood Association briefly discussed the history of JVL and described the association’s current fight to protect the majority-Black JVL neighborhood and historic district. Bi-State Development and the East-West Gateway Council of Governments are proposing a $1.1 billion MetroLink extension along the Jefferson Corridor to serve the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
Get Out the Vote Postcard Party
October 15, 2024
Walking Tour of Old North St. Louis
September 28, 2024
Participated in a See STL Walking Tour by the Missouri Historical Society to visit two of St. Louis’s most historic neighborhoods, Old North and St. Louis Place. Gathered a group of 12 WV members and supporters to share this excellent opportunity to learn about these historic Black-majority neighborhoods.
Racial Justice Film-
Suppressed and Sabotaged: The Fight to Vote
September 27, 2024
The Racial Justice Film Festival, in collaboration with Eliot Unitarian Chapel, showed the film: Suppressed and Sabotaged 2024: The Fight to Vote, followed by a discussion with a panel of election experts.
Get Out the Vote Postcard Party
September 17, 2024
Lunch & Learn
Media and Democracy Project:
Advocating for a better-informed America
September 16, 2024
Milo Vassallo, executive director of the Media and Democracy Project (MAD) discussed concrete actions to hold Fox/The Murdochs accountable for 2020 election lies, such as advocacy for and support of local journalism, demanding better pro-democracy media coverage, and efforts to hold media accountable for 2020 election lies.
MAD is a non-partisan, all-volunteer, 501(c)(4), grassroots civic membership organization formed in 2020. MAD is fighting for a more informative and pro-democracy media, operating in the public interest. MAD is alarmed by the power that media narratives wield over our society and electoral outcomes.
MAD advocates and empowers people to activate civically:
- to support local and non-profit journalism
- to advance media literacy and engage in media criticism
- to advocate for legislative and regulatory solutions to support better media
Watch the program recording here.
WV Members Field Trip to Habitat for Humanity Lookaway Summit Housing Community
June 30, 2024
On Sunday afternoon several Women’s Voices members joined the Attainable Housing Task Force for a tour of the Habitat for Humanity housing community, Lookaway Summit, in North Saint Louis County.
Avis Laden of Habitat for Humanity discussed how housing creates stability in every aspect of life, specifically mental health. Poor housing conditions increase the risk of depression by up to 64 percent over a lifetime.
Freedom Summer
June 19, 2024
Several Women’s Voices members attended two June Freedom Summer events, hosted by ArchCity Defenders in June. Volunteers connected with community members and organization and representatives to discuss resources and opportunities related to voting rights, housing, criminal legal system and more. Lock It for Love volunteers were on hand to distribute FREE gun locks to those with unsecured firearms in their homes.
Women’s Voices Hosts Second Welcome Neighbor Supper Club
May 2, 2024
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Welcome Neighbor Supper Club! We had a lovely evening filled with engaging conversations, delicious food, and new friendships.
Lunch & Learn: Why Medicaid Matters
Thursday, April 25
Medicaid is a “political hot potato” topic, with many legislators offering positive or negative opinions and expressing strong feelings about the costs of the program. But to people with disabilities, Medicaid is an essential health insurance program that saves lives. Medicaid is there following a life changing accident. Medicaid allows people with disabilities to access the doctors, medicines, and therapies they need in many cases.
Paraquad Medicaid ambassadors Everlene Falconer and Constance Phillips-Gray, along with Ronald Wallace, shared their experiences with Medicaid. Jeanette Mott Oxford offered an update on several Medicaid issues in Missouri and provided information on services available through Paraquad. Paraquad, serving primarily St. Louis City and County, is one of Missouri’s 22 independent living centers providing five core services to people with disabilities: information and referral, peer support, independent living skills training, transitions, and advocacy.
Watch the recorded presentation here.
Lunch & Learn: Challenges in American Higher Education
April 17, 2024
Turmoil on college campuses is in the news as students protest the war in Gaza and administrators attempt to defuse the chaos. Members or Women’s Voices were privileged to hear some thoughts about this when Professor Mark Wrighton, former chancellor of Washington University and past president of George Washington University, spoke about challenges in higher education at a Lunch and Learn session on April 17.
View the recorded program here
Watch the recorded presentation to hear about Professor Wrighton’s own journey from a small elementary school in Florida to the top of the
Ivy League.
Lunch & Learn: The Power of the People-Understanding the Initiative Petition Process in Missouri’s Democracy
April 5, 2024
Speaker M’Evie Mead, director of strategic partnerships at Missouri Jobs with Justice and facilitator of the Will of the People Coalition, explored the history of initiative petitions in our state and reviewed current challenges in the Missouri legislature aimed at reshaping this important citizen-driven tool.
On April 25, the Missouri House of Representatives passed SJR 74. SJR 74 would require constitutional initiative petitions to pass by not just a majority of all votes cast, as is the case now, but also by a majority of votes in a majority of the state’s eight Congressional districts. This means that measures approved by a majority of Missouri’s voters may not pass into law, allowing a minority of citizens to determine policy outcomes.
The measure now goes back to the Missouri Senate, where a filibuster is expected to challenge the inclusion of the “ballot candy” provisions. If approved there, the proposed change would go to the ballot for approval by Missouri voters.
Call and write the your State Senator and tell them you OPPOSE this bill and any measure that changes the initiative petition process advancing in the legislature.
This event was co-hosted by Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice and the Ashrei Foundation.
Watch the recorded presentation here.
Racial Justice Film Series: The Right to Read
March 29, 2024
Lunch & Learn: Pretrial Detention and the Criminalization of Poverty
February 22, 2024
Insha Rahman joined us to share stories from her work on ending mass incarceration and the criminalization of poverty across the country, including in New York, Illinois, Texas, and elsewhere. She offered lessons for countering the “tough-on-crime” rhetoric and reactionary backlash that stands in the way of advancing policies that deliver safety and justice for all.
As vice president for advocacy and partnerships at Vera Institute of Justice and vice president at Vera Action, Insha Rahman leads the development of advocacy priorities and campaigns. This includes partnering with government and communities to end mass incarceration, fight for immigrants’ rights, ensure dignity behind bars, and build safe, thriving communities for all. Rahman is a nationally recognized expert on bail reform and criminal justice. Prior to joining Vera, she was a public defender at The Bronx Defenders.
Watch the recorded presentation here.
Lunch & Learn: Arts at the Forefront of Social Justice
February 13, 2024
Speakers:
Renée Brummell Franklin, chief diversity officer, Saint Louis Art Museum
Nicole Ambos Freber, managing director, Opera Theatre of St. Louis (OTSL)
Emily Kohring, executive director, Bread and Roses of Missouri
Watch the recorded presentation here.
