Charli Cooksey

Sustaining Movement Beyond the Moment: Lessons from St. Louis

In 2014, the St. Louis region was thrust into the national spotlight, as long-term calls for change from activists and organizers reached a fever pitch following the murder of Michael Brown. Multiple commitments were made and new organizations founded to address the historic disparities and targeted disinvestment in communities of color throughout the region. Ten years later, how does the work look today?

This session will explore how grassroots organizers and other community leaders in St. Louis are partnering with funders to sustain the movement for racial and economic justice. We’ll discuss concrete strategies for funders looking to incorporate power-building into their work and highlight opportunities for funders to leverage their influence beyond the check to ensure community has a seat at the table.

We’ll also explore the story of one local family foundation that recently pivoted its strategy to support these efforts and what they’re learning along the way.

Charli Cooksey will share how her organization, WEPOWER, is partnering with local funders to build power in St. Louis and the kinds of effective funder relationships she’s cultivated over the years.

Erica Henderson, who leads Key Strategic Group, will share how her organization works to keep community voices centered at the region’s civic infrastructure and collaborative planning efforts. And Dr. Jason Purnell, President of the James S. McDonnell Foundation, will share how the foundation is honoring community wisdom and expertise as it pursues a new strategy to advance shared prosperity in the local region.