Tamar Brown, Educational Advocacy Director & Cynthia Veal, Education Advocacy Coordinator, A Red Circle
This month we are pleased to highlight a newer organization in the St. Louis region. A Red Circle promotes community and family betterment in North St. Louis County through addressing racial injustice and inequality. The agency’s educational advocacy director, Tamar Brown, and education advocacy coordinator, Cynthia Veal, spoke with us about A Red Circle’s history, mission, and programming.
Executive director Erica Williams established the nonprofit agency in 2017 to address disinvestment in North St. Louis County that has resulted from systemic racism. This disinvestment has created an economically unhealthy region characterized by underfunded schools, property vacancies, fewer employment opportunities, limited access to fresh, healthy food, and lack of exposure to the arts. With a laser focus on community and family betterment in North County, A Red Circle aims to reverse the trend of disinvestment by leading and promoting substantial investment into the region. A Red Circle’s team of 25 staff members, alongside many committed volunteers, is realizing the organization’s goals through its flourishing programming in education, community wellness, and the arts.
A Red Circle’s Student Advocates for Education (SAFE) program places college students into paid internships within schools in the Ferguson-Florissant School District. The student advocates provide many important services to the Ferguson-Florissant students in need: tutoring children, assisting the school counselors, and working to keep kids in school. Ms. Brown and Ms. Veal note that increase children’s school attendance often involves thinking outside the box of what schools generally do and provide for their students. The SAFE advocates are trained to help the whole families of the students they are serving; for example, they might help a family obtain healthy food, arrange for transportation, or assist with utility bills. Ms. Brown and Ms. Veal emphasize that their advocates listen to what families say they need rather than what outsiders think they need.
Ms. Veal and Ms. Brown explain that the North St. Louis County region is a “food swamp” (vs. a food desert): while residents have access to food, it is typically unhealthy, pre-packaged foods sold at convenience stores or gas stations. Due to disinvestment, many grocery stores have closed, meaning residents must travel a greater distance to obtain a variety of healthy foods. A Red Circle’s community wellness programming educates North County residents about agriculture and healthy foods. Through urban farming, the organization grows fresh produce that is distributed to community members.
In 2023, A Red Circle purchased a former bank building to serve as its future headquarters and community space. Located at 9300 Lewis and Clark Boulevard, The North County Neighborhood Nexus will eventually house a learning farm, demonstration garden, farm-to-table grocery store, café, and education center. The Nexus building is already operational in some capacities and will host two upcoming community events: an ice cream social on June 1st (11:30 am to 2:30 pm) and a back-to-school event on August 3rd where families will receive free books. Note: anyone looking to donate new books for the event is encouraged to check out A Red Circle’s Amazon wish list.