The St. Louis Civic Pride Foundation honored its first class of St. Louis Champions, a group of leaders who are mobilizing and helping shape the transformation of St. Louis in arts, culture, innovation and inclusion.
The awards ceremony at Hotel Saint Louis, Form Skybar paid tribute to 29 local leaders who intentionally share an honest and bright narrative – through demonstration of their successful daily life in work, travel, family and play.
“We are proud to acknowledge these St. Louis Champions for making a positive impact in the community and across the region through their testimonials of how St. Louis has been good to them,” said David Robert, chair of the St. Louis Civic Pride Foundation.
The 2019 St. Louis Champions Award Honorees are:
Derrion Henderson – Anchor, KTVI-TV Fox 2
Michael McMillan – President and CEO, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis
Lindy Drew – Co-Founder, Humans of St. Louis
Julius Anthony – President and Founder, St. Louis Black Authors
Karlos Ramirez – President, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Neal Richardson – Co-Founder, Dream Builders for Equity
Michael Woods – Co-Founder, Dream Builders for Equity
Dave Sandusky – Owner, Beast BBQ
Flint Fowler, Ph.D. – President, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis
Michelle Tucker – President and CEO, United Way Greater St. Louis
Erica King – Operations and Events Specialist, Arch Grand; On-Air Radio Personality
Segun Babalola – President, African Chamber of Commerce
R.J. Crunk – Chief Development Officer, Greater St. Louis Area Council
Vin Ko – Program Manager, Mosaic Project – St. Louis Economic Development Partnership
Michelle Smallmon – 101 ESPN Radio Personality
Tamara Keefe – Owner, Clementine’s Naughty & Nice Creamery
Andrew Gibson – Executive Director, Freedom Arts and Education of St Louis
Missy Kelley – President and CEO, Downtown STL
Larry Morris – Member of the iLLphonics
Dana Kay Goddard – STL.LIVE
Jeff Fitter – Owner, Super Smokers BBQ
Stan Shoun – CEO, Ranken Technical College
Matt Menietti – Executive Director, GlobalHack
Michelle Mitchell – Program Director, St. Louis ReCast
Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge – Director, St. Louis Lambert International Airport
Art McCoy, Ph.D. – Superintendent, Jennings School District
De Nichols – Principal of Design & Social Practice at Civic Creatives
Mike Emerson – Co-Founder, Pappy’s Smokehouse
Michael Houlihan – President, Houlihan Development Company
The St. Louis Civic Pride Foundation was created to further inspire local residents and organizations about the many virtues of St. Louis.