Cynthia Chapple
BLACK GIRLS DO STEM, FOUNDER
Chapple describes herself as the student who would sit in the front of the class and immediately raise her hand if she didn't understand something. “I've always been inquisitive,” she says. But at math camp and in other environments, she was often the only woman or person of color. “You get a sense of isolation and let some of that self-doubt take over,” she says. Still, Chapple envisioned herself working in science when she graduated. Then, Ferguson changed everything. “I wanted to give back to the Black community at a time of high grief,” she says. Chapple realized that she could help Black girls learn about careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and provide the tools to overcome any doubt as they pursued these fields. She created Black Girls Do STEM, an educational organization that offers Saturday workshops where Black girls learn about STEM careers through field trips, lectures, and hands-on experiments. Black Girls Do STEM has partnerships with some area school districts, such as Ferguson-Florissant, though the workshops are also open to the community. The program, which launched in 2019, has served 200 girls and is graduating its first cohort in May. “The five [students] who are graduating this year are all thinking about going into STEM,” says Chapple. “To be impacting the learning of so many young Black girls that I see a part of myself in is a pretty eye-opening, joyful experience.”
Dr. Anna Guzon
YOURWORDSSTL, FOUNDER/PROGRAMMING DIRECTOR
Guzon believes in the power of words—to heal, connect, and foster growth. Her nonprofit—which uses tutoring, writing workshops, and collaborative projects—helps young St. Louisans share what they're going through, which strengthens community bonds across racial, cultural, and economic fault lines in the city. Guzon and the nonprofit's co-founder, Dr. Steve Handoyo, were moved to act after Michael Brown's death in 2014. “We wanted to amplify the voices of marginalized youth,” she says. “Instead of other people telling their story, we wanted to allow marginalized people to share their words.” The nonprofit responds to requests from the community and is now expanding its reach into new populations, such as the immigrant community, the LGBTQ+ community, and people living with various disabilities. “Oftentimes, it is an alignment,” says Guzon. “I keep my eyes and ears open and so does the board.” The students give low- or no-cost readings of the work they produce, and YourWordsSTL creates publications of student work that people can take and read on their own time. “We try to create opportunities for the community to listen,” she says. Guzon says the work has increased her curiosity and compassion for everyone she meets. “Every student reminds me that all of us have something deeper,” she says.
Spring Schmidt
MISSOURI CENTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH EXCELLENCE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Schmidt heads the team at MOCPHE, a public health institute and member association for licensed practitioners that works to improve Missouri's public health system and funding. And as director of public health practice at Saint Louis University, she's on the St. Louis Academic Health Department leadership team, which promotes health through a lens of
