Collectively Challenging Inequities in the St. Louis Promise Zone : Meet Our 2020 Community Design Apprentices!

Power stems from the ability to come together as a collective — in spite of differences — to create change. Creative Reaction Lab is proud to introduce to you the six youth who have taken on the issue of limited healthy food access in our Community Design Apprenticeship Program (CDAP).

As the 2020 cohort, these six young leaders are working as a collective to support members of the Normandy and Wellston communities in North St. Louis County, Missouri by co-creating interventions to advance food justice in the area. Each apprentice brings their own experience and skill set to the table. Read below to learn more about how the apprentices mobilize together to tackle this local issue.

Reina Stovall
(She/Her)

Reina is inspired by the way in which her family maneuvers life. One day she hopes to create change by serving her community. Originally from North St. Louis and currently living in Florissant (North County), as a chef and food lover Reina understands the importance that healthy food access has on the overall wellbeing of bodies. When she’s not filling up stomachs with nutritious meals, Reina can be found listening to music and dancing. In the future, Reina hopes to be a powerhouse through the creation of her own business that manifests jobs and opportunities for others.

Ashley Coleman
(She/Her)

It takes more than one person to make change. Ashley strives to create a more equitable world using this ideology as the starting block for the impact she hopes one day to achieve. A North County (St. Louis) native turned South City (St. Louis), community member, Ashley is the go-to for anything hair related. Aside from her kids, she is passionate about styling hair and hopes to one day use her skills in the field to create a better community.

Hannah Price
(She/Her)

What inspires Hannah? Acts of kindness are what get her mind circulating. Florida native Hannah believes that everyone deserves to have their basic needs met. In her spare time, Hannah enjoys reading and dancing. In the future, you will find Hannah living without reservation, giving advice on her areas of expertise — nails and skincare.

Kristin Brown
(She/Her)

Born and raised in St. Louis County, nothing inspires Kristin more than making her community better by shining light on injustices. Ten years from now, she hopes to have made her mark in the journalism world as a reporter bringing forth change. The one word that drives Kristin on her journey of manifesting a better world is her son.

Deja Brown
(She/Her)

Deja is a St. Louis native. Her drive to create change is based on the idea that avenues untraveled present themselves when you step out of your comfort zone. If you have any questions about accentuating your natural given beauty, look no further. Deja is a beauty expert and will ensure that you learn all the necessary tools to accentuate your natural given beauty. Ten years from now, Deja hopes to create meaningful change and give back to the youth in the community.

Robert Beckles
(He/Him)

If your interests involve social justice concepts or sexual health topics, then sitting down with Robert might be the best avenue to expand your knowledge. Eager to combine his interest with his profession, Robert envisions himself working as a social worker within the legal field — public interest sector. Originally from Ferguson and now a resident of The Grove, Robert believes that there is knowledge everywhere that is just waiting to be absorbed.

With support for their civic engagement, connections to leaders in their city, and organizing their fellow residents to be advocates, Community Design Apprentices become the real on-the-ground revolutionaries working to support themselves and the Wellston and Normandy areas as they fight existing racial and health disparities — disparities built into communities through systems of policy, education, housing, criminal justice, and more. The Community Design Apprentices all come from differing backgrounds, yet they are all united by the desire to engage in participatory community-centered initiatives that promote local change.

To stay up-to-date with our Apprentices’ learnings and actions, make sure to:

• Follow Creative Reaction Lab’s Medium publication, Equal Space.
• Follow Creative Reaction Lab’s social media on Twitter and Instagram @CRXLAB.

Furthermore, if you’re interested in supporting Creative Reaction Lab or learning more about our work, check out the following opportunities below:

• Donate to Creative Reaction Lab’s Youth Creative Leadership Fund.
• Register for our Redesigners in Action Webinar Series.
• Shop Creative Reaction Lab gear and tools.

The Community Design Apprenticeship Program (CDAP) is expresses gratitude to Missouri Foundation for Health, Herman Miller Cares, the St. Louis Promise Zone, the Deaconess Foundation, and the Roddenberry Foundation for making this program possible.