Louis Anchor Action Network Director Stefani Weeden-Smith spoke at an executive learning event in June at Sumner High School. (Photo by August Jennewein)
Health care systems, institutions of higher education, corporations and nonprofits with deep roots in the St. Louis region. of disinvestment.
The network, led by the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Edward Jones, specifically targeting intentional hiring and career development, purchasing and community investment in 22 ZIP codes, mostly in north St. Louis. Louis and northern St. Louis County, which has been affected for more than a century by systemic racial and spatial inequity.
Honored in St. Louis Business Journal recognized the network for its continued efforts when it was named one of four recipients of the 2023 Innovation in Philanthropy Awards. The awards, now in their fourth year, are intended to celebrate local partnerships for going above and beyond traditional philanthropic acts in new and creative ways.
“I am very grateful for this honor and am really excited to work with our business partners and be able to continue investing in a disinvested area of our community,” St. Louis Anchor Action Network Executive Director Stefani Weeden-Smith said. “We are really looking for an aligned mindset. We are looking to build coalition, accountability for our community anchor institutions, and combine our resources to support the community in a way that has never been done before.
The Network began as an initiative within UMSL and several key education and health care partners and then expanded in the fall of 2021 with the help of a grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health, which has grown to now include of 14 members in addition to Edward Jones and UMSL : Ameren, BJC HealthCare/Christian Hospital, Equifax, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Great Rivers Greenway, Harris-Stowe State University, Mercy, Missouri Botanical Garden, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis Zoo, SSM Health, St. College, Washington University in St. Louis and Webster University.
They create an environment within their work groups where they can share best practices and other resources.
“We are very pleased that the Business Journal is bringing more attention to this important work with this honor,” said UMSL Chancellor Kristin Sobolik. “We are grateful to all our partners for their willingness to work together to intentionally help address fundamental inequities in our region and to place inclusive development as a core value in the way we interact, work and do business.”
Laura Ellenhorn, principal and head of community impact at Edward Jones, echoed those sentiments.
“Our coalition of regional anchor institutions is honored to be recognized by the Business Journal for our collective efforts to create more equitable growth and development in our region,” he said. “Together, we’re working to improve hiring, purchasing and community investment in our organizations to enable more people and our entire region to thrive. It’s a real privilege to collaborate on this incredible effort with of our members, community partners and residents and businesses across the city and county as we work to achieve our collective goals and transform the future of St.
Weeden-Smith and Ellenhorn appeared on a panel to talk about the Network’s work during the Business Journal’s Corporate Philanthropy Awards breakfast Thursday at the Marriott St. Louis West.
The St. Louis Anchor Action Network works in coordination with the Greater St. Louis, Inc.’s STL 2030 Jobs Plan and aligns with the Black and Brown Executive Leadership program of the Regional Business Council and STL.works.
Last year, it held three career expos and hiring events, helping community members get a foot in the door with some of the region’s top employers. More than 340 registered for the events, and more than 50 job applicants were hired through those and other initiatives, with more applicants in the pipeline.
The Network has developed a searchable community business tool that includes more than 13,000 area businesses to help Network members expand and diversify their purchases. At least 50 small businesses are connected with Network members about opportunities to bid for contracts.
Executives and other representatives from each member organization also participated in community listening sessions and participated in an executive learning experience last summer in The Ville neighborhood to better understand the community. .
Weeden-Smith is also exploring ways to spotlight local businesses for network members through video segments called Conscious Conversations.
Network members collectively set a goal to increase purchasing and hiring by 10% of the focus footprint over the next year. And they want to model decisions that many others can follow.
“People don’t have to be members, but they can be thoughtful about who they hire and who they buy from — even on an individual basis,” Weeden-Smith said. “We can think about, ‘OK, this cup of coffee, where do I buy it? Do I buy it from the usual place or can I think of different places in my community?’ Especially communities that we know have been disinvested and overlooked. We can make different choices. I hope this continues to happen. “
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St. Louis Business Journal