Upcoming Activities
Film Screening of “The Risk of Giving Birth – Episode 2: Black Maternal Health
Friday, April 3, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Eloit Chapel
100 S. Taylor
Kirkwood, MO 63122
Let us know you are coming here.
We will show the documentary “The Risk Of Giving Birth – Episode 2: Black Maternal Health”. Long-held beliefs as to why Black women suffer higher rates of death and complications in pregnancy and childbirth are upended as we examine the racial disaprities in care and the research showing the impacts of structural racism.
The Risk of Giving Birth is a locally focused three part series examining the maternal health crisis in the US. The series comprises personal stories and interviews with medical professionals, politicians, and community activists to shed light on Rhode Island’s efforts to improve outcomes, the impact of structural racism on Black mothers, and the alarming rise in complications for Latina mothers.
Speaker: Kyra Betts – Policy and Advocacy Manager at Generate Health STL
Kyra Betts Patton
Kyra Betts Patton, GH’s dynamic Policy and Advocacy Manager. Not only does she lead GH’s advocacy effort, Kyra also wears many hats. She leads the statewide policy and advocacy efforts of the Missouri MOMNIBUS (advancing Black maternal health policy), a trained-certified Doula, Community Health Improvement Plan subgroup working on advocacy and engagement throughout the STL region, nationally recognized ‘Dads to Doula’ curricula creator/facilitator, Advocacy Manager Doula Lab (Illinois-based org) and oh yea, she’s also a doctoral student at Wash U.
No Kings
Saturday, March 28
Various locations
Change happens when we show up together, so grab a friend, your purple shirt and raise your voice!
We are showing up together again on March 28.
When our families are under attack and costs are pushing people to the brink, silence is not an option. We will defend ourselves and our communities against this administration’s unjust and cruel acts of violence. America does not belong to strongmen, greedy billionaires, or those who rule through fear. It belongs to us, the people.
To align with our 501(c)(3) status, we recommend that any signs or posters brought to the rally focus on our core issues, instead of referencing specific elected officials. Keeping the message centered on our mission helps maintain our compliance and impact. If representing WVR, or wearing WVR shirts, please use good judgement when creating signs and participating in non partisan chants.
25th Anniversary Memorial In Honor Of The Memory of Rodney McAllister
Thursday, March 5
Ivory Perry Park
800 Belt Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63112
2026 Virtual AAUW Missouri Legislative Briefing
Saturday, February 28
9:30 a.m. – Noon
Virtual
Join us on February 28, 2026, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. via Zoom and learn about legislation that affects the lives of Missouri residents. Contact AAUW for the Zoom link or download the flyer with the link.
Leaders from organizations will share their strong advocacy positions and how they are working to influence Missouri legislative action. The annual briefing is informative in general, but also specific, in that it helps branches determine what specific focus areas they choose to work on.
The Legislative Briefing is offered as a forum for Missouri organizations with common missions to share their activities at this free public event. Leaders will give a brief overview of their organization and explain their main legislative priorities, the bill authors, numbers and titles they suggest we monitor.
Juice & Justice: Community Town Hall + Cash Mob
Event Details
Juice & Justice: Community Town Hall + Cash Mob
Saturday, February 21
B Juiced, Ferguson
3:30 pm– 5:00 pm
Co-Hosts
• Councilman Jamil Franklin
• Ferguson Neighborhood Police Steering Committee
• B Juiced
Special Guest Partner
• Women’s Voices Raised
As part of Buy Back The Block: The Ferguson Black Out, The Emerging Collective of Ferguson is hosting Juice & Justice, a community town hall and cash mob designed to bring residents, leaders, and organizations together around solutions rooted in public safety, social justice, and economic empowerment.
This gathering is not just a conversation—it is a call to action. By combining a town hall with intentional spending at a Black-owned business, we are creating space for dialogue while actively circulating dollars back into the community.
We are inviting community partners, organizers, faith leaders, nonprofits, and business advocates to collaborate, attend, and help amplify this moment. Your presence and voice matter as we work together to address the realities our community is facing and identify pathways forward.
From Sundown Town to “Burn It Down” Book Talk
Thursday, February 19, 6:30 p.m.
Ferguson Community Center
1050 Smith Ave
Ferguson, MO 63135
This program is free and open to the public
Let us know you are coming here.
In honor of Black History Month, join Women’s Voices at the Ferguson Historical Society author talk and community conversation, featuring journalist and communications professional Patricia Washington, whose forthcoming book examines the lasting effects of racial exclusion in America and its impact on Ferguson.
Washington’s work in progress, From Sundown Town to “Burn It Down,” explores the historical and emotional throughline between the era of sundown towns – communities that enforced racial exclusion through law, intimidation or violence – and the modern-day trauma experienced by Ferguson’s Black community following the 2014 killing of Michael Brown Jr.
The book draws on historical analysis, lived experience and civic memory to argue that systems of racial control have not disappeared but have evolved, reshaping public trust, policing and governance in contemporary American life.
The events in Ferguson unfolded during the final days of Washington’s tenure as communications director for St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley. While managing national and international media coverage by day, she also spent time in the streets of Ferguson, witnessing a community grappling with grief, anger and demands for accountability.
Washington currently serves as public information officer for the Ferguson Police Department and as consent decree coordinator for the city of Ferguson, working on issues related to reform, accountability and public trust.
Doors open at 6 p.m., with the presentation scheduled for 6:30 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session. Light refreshments will be provided.
Tour of Mill Creek: Black Metropolis
Monday, March 23, 1:30 p.m.
Missouri History Museum
5700 Lindell Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63112
Program is free and limited to 18 attendees
Let us know you are coming here.
Join us for a free, private, curator-led tour of Mill Creek: Black Metropolis at the Missouri History Museum, exploring the rich history of a St. Louis neighborhood that historians have likened to New York’s legendary Harlem. It was the home of St. Louis’s major Black newspapers, the offices of numerous Black professionals, a center of social activism, and the birthplace of ragtime. All this richness thrived amid and despite racial segregation, providing African Americans common ground and the refuge from the daily slights and indignities of a stark color divide in 20th-century St. Louis.
This is a free, private Women’s Voices members and subscribers only.
We will meet in the Main Hall of the Missouri History Museum at 1:15 pm. Parking is available in the two history museum parking lots west and east of the museum.
Registration required. For questions, contact Liz Sondhaus, WV Racial Justice Committee Co-Chair, lsond16@gmail.com.
Ferguson MLK Day Unity and Social Justice Tour
Monday, January 19, 9 a.m. – 5:00 p.m
City of Ferguson
There will be shuttle buses running all day, picking up at the parking lot behind Taste every 15-30 minutes, and transporting attendees to each historical site and business on the route.
Taste
254 S Florissant Rd
Ferguson, MO 63135
Join us for a powerful and inspiring MLK Unity Day in the City of Ferguson, co-sponsored by Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice. This meaningful day offers opportunities to learn, heal, and take action while supporting the Ferguson community.
Participants will:
- Discover, heal and uplift minority-owned businesses in Ferguson
- Learn about and support Ferguson’s ongoing work to implement the Consent Decree established after the death of Michael Brown, Jr. in 2014
The tour begins at 9:30 a.m. with a visit to B Juiced, a woman-owned business. While there, Women’s Voices Raised will share a brief presentation about who we are and the work we do. From there, the tour will continue to other local businesses, the Michael Brown Memorial, and the BLM Art Gallery—honoring the movement that began in Ferguson following Michael Brown’s death.
The day will also feature a mini Town Hall, including remarks from Michael Brown, Sr., the Troy Doyle, Chief of Police, elected officials, and the Consent Decree Auditor. Panelists will discuss progress made and the current status of the Consent Decree. The event will conclude with a friendly social mixer.
There will be shuttle buses transporting everyone to each historical site and business on the route.
Questions? Contact info@womensvoicesraised.org.
Close the Gap Clean Slate: St. Louis Town Hall
Wednesday, February 4
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m
University City Library
6701 Delmar Blvd
University City, MO 63130
Let us know you are coming here
Clean Slate Lobby Day In Jefferson City
On February 17, we will go to the Capitol to educate state legislators about the importance of Clean Slate.
Clean Slate laws provide automated expungement of eligible non-violent and non-sexual offense records of those formerly incarcerated who have committed no criminal offenses in a set number of years following release from prison.
This results in a win-win situation: Rather than being repeatedly punished for the same crime, individuals have a second chance at obtaining work, housing, and education.
And the community benefits. Recidivism declines when people gain employment after expungement. Missouri saves taxpayer dollars when more people are brought into the workforce and the cycle of reincarceration is interrupted.
Clean Slate does not change the crimes that are eligible for expungement; it simply automates the process. The current petition procedure has been found expensive and time consuming. In 2021, less than 1% of the 518,000 eligible had their records expunged.
We will travel to Jefferson City on February 17th, leaving about 7:00 a.m. and returning by about 4:00 p.m. If you would like to join us or want to know more, please contact Rochelle at rakasko@gmail.com.
For more information about Clean Slate in Missouri visit mocleanslate.org.
Voices Of Connection: The Speed Social Experience
Anti Poverty Advocates Summit
November 18 – 19
For over 120 years Empower Missouri has brought together a team of anti-poverty advocates to learn together, make connections, and advance our mission. Women’s Voices Raised is a proud supported of the summit and several board members will be attending. Sign up here to join us and other advocates advancing this important work.
The 2025 Anti-Poverty Advocates Summit will be held at Stoney Creek Hotel in Columbia, Missouri on November 18th & 19th.
Signature Gathering for People Not Politicians
Governor Kehoe and leaders in the Missouri legislature want to illegally gerrymander our state, break up our communities, and silence our voices. They passed a new congressional map in an attempt to rig the 2026 election.
Politicians in Jefferson City may think that new maps are good for them, but it’s terrible for the people and communities of Missouri.
We believe voters should pick their politicians, politicians should not be picking their voters.
We’re proud to be a part of the People Not Politicians campaign to collect signatures and put this unjust map before Missouri voters.
Join the People Not Politicians campaign today to show your solidarity with thousands of Missourians across our state and remind these power-hungry politicians that people, not politicians, still have the power in our state.
Together, we will fight back against this illegal gerrymander and preserve democracy in Missouri.
Read more and start gathering signatures today!
No Kings
Saturday, October 18
Change happens when we show up together, so grab a friend, your purple shirt and raise your voice! See below to contact one of our WVR rally hosts to connect with other members at a rally on Saturday, October 18 for a day of standing together against cruelty and corruption.
To align with our 501(c)(3) status, we recommend that any signs or posters brought to the rally focus on our core issues, instead of referencing specific elected officials. Keeping the message centered on our mission helps maintain our compliance and impact. If representing WVR, or wearing WVR shirts, please use good judgement when creating signs and participating in non partisan chants.
Walking Tour of The Ville Neighborhood
Saturday, October 11
10:00 a.m. – Noon
4theVille Office
4067 Lincoln
St. Louis, MO 63133
Let us know you are coming here
Tour price: $25/person, Cash Only (collected at the tour meeting point on the day of the tour)
Optional voluntary donation for 4theVille Tornado Relief Efforts: Suggested donation $25. Donate here.
Please join the WV Racial Justice Committee on a walking tour of the Ville Neighborhood. The Heart of The Ville walking tour engages participants in the dynamic history of The Ville neighborhood – which is one of the most historic Black communities in the United States and one of the few remaining historically Black neighborhoods in St. Louis. The neighborhood is registered as a local historic district and contains four national historic districts, ten national historic buildings, and boasts several artifacts in the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
● Tour includes a 2-mile walk through the center of The Ville neighborhood
● Participants receive an overview of the history of St. Louis and the social/political dynamics that created THE VILLE neighborhood
● Tour kick-off includes a hands-on activity and brief lecture
● The tour will visit at least eight landmarks and/or cultural assets
● The tour will end with a Q&A session and photo opportunity
● Restroom facilities will be available before and after the tour
● Participants should be prepared to be in the elements for up to 90 minutes. Please dress accordingly.
Legally Reading: A Joint Book Club
Tuesday, October 14
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Virtual
Legally Reading: A Joint Book Club is co‑sponsored by the Law Library Association of St. Louis and the Saint Louis Public Library. Several WV members are interested in participating and everyone is invited to join the virtual meetings.
For more information, or to register, contact Library Director Gail Wechsler at 314-622-4470 or gwechsler@llastl.org.
This months selection is: The Unclaimed: Abandonment and Hope in the City of Angels by Pamela Prickett and Stefan Timmermans
A rare and compassionate look into the lives of Americans who go unclaimed when they die and those who dedicate their lives to burying them with dignity.
Film Screening: “Remembering Mill Creek: When We Were There”
A film in the Racial Justice Film Series presented by: Eliot Unitarian Chapel and Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice
Friday, October 17
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Eliot Chapel
1001 S. Taylor
Kirkwood, MO 63122
FREE to attend, please register here.
We will show this new documentary, and have comments and a Q & A session by the author and producer of the film, Vivian Gibson.
Copies of the author’s book, The Last Children of Mill Creek by Vivian Gibson, will be available for sale at the event (cash only, please).
Remembering Mill Creek: When We Were There
Nearly seventy years later, the children who once lived in the segregated community of Mill Creek Valley in downtown St. Louis share their stories. Once home to 20,000 people, this neighborhood was demolished in 1959 as part of federal urban renewal policies. Now, these former residents reflect on their lives within this vibrant, close-knit Black community, revealing their resilience as children who witnessed the decline and eventual erasure of their neighborhood.
Drop In Volunteer Gun Lock Bundling
Help bundle gun lock for distribution throughout the community. Feel free to drop by for whatever amount of time fits your schedule!
Tuesday, October 7 &
Wednesday, October 22
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Webster Hills United Methodist Church (McKelvey Room)
698 W Lockwood Ave
Webster Groves, MO 63119
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