theSTL/STLMADE

As a freelance writer for theSTL.com, I tell stories that highlight the community and culture that make St. Louis a great place to live and work. Over the years, I’ve interviewed chefs, distillers, small business owners, nonprofit leaders and more.

With Rated Test Kitchen, chef Juwan Rice is bringing a new kind of fine-dining restaurant to Downtown St. Louis

Serving seasonal eats, Fresh Gatherings Cafe + Farm is a unique culinary teaching lab on the Saint Louis University campus — and serves as a model for colleges far and wide

Founded at Vashon High School, Show Me the World Project provides transformative education in entrepreneurship, leadership, and STEM to students in under-resourced communities in St. Louis

St. Louis’ Switchgrass Spirits is carving its own path with its grain-to-glass whiskey and brandy

Girl Conductor founder Maria A. Ellis uses a unique blend of gospel, R&B, and hip-hop to make music education more approachable and accessible for young people

At Homegrown Hair Co. in Tower Grove South, Caitlin Tyczka creates an inclusive, welcoming environment for all by offering gender-neutral hair services.

The Little Angels Foundation serves hot, home-cooked meals to refugees, immigrants, and the unhoused community in St. Louis

Jenny Hill’s Yes Honey Studio uses the art of dance to help people celebrate moving their bodies

With May’s Place, Katie May highlights the merits of shopping vintage – both for you and for the planet

At True Success Basketball & Fitness Academy in St. Charles, Thurlester Robinson, Jr. uses basketball as a vehicle to teach kids lessons in teamwork, self-esteem, and leadership.