Saint Louis Story Stitchers

The Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective is artists and urban youth ages 16-24, working together to create positive social change. Stitchers collect local stories and reframe and retell them through art, writing and performance to promote understanding, civic pride, intergenerational relationships and literacy. Story Stitchers are honored to be a Resident Organization at Kranzberg Arts Foundation in the vibrant Grand Center Arts District.

Projects create a platform for community engagement through an artistic lens and with it the Saint Louis Story Stitchers work to shift perceptions and realities and bring hope to the Saint Louis community.

A social enterprise based on publishing supports the mission. The content is the stories of St. Louis. Content collectors are youth and artists. Partners are cultural and educational institutions across the city. Products are indigenous stories retold through performances and publications. Customers are the public, youth, educators, and tourists. The Story Stitchers message is peaceful co-existence and mutual respect.

Board of Directors

Susan Colangelo, President and CEO susanc@storystitchers.org

Breona Butler, Vice President breona@storystitchers.org

Tausha Dirks, Secretary

Phil Eager, Treasurer Phil@storystitchers.org

Members At Large: George Bryan – Renita Clayton – Oluwagbemiga Dasylva – JoAnn Sanditz – Hassan Shariff  Cassandria White – John A Wright, Jr

POLICIES

Saint Louis Story Stitchers does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran or national guard status, handicap status, or any other factor prohibited by law in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its programs and/or activities.

Saint Louis Story Stitchers is committed to ADA compliance. The Collective welcomes people with disabilities and subscribes to the goal of providing access to programs, services and facilities. The Collective’s goal is to integrate this philosophy into all activities: policies, guidelines, plans, budgets, funding proposals, meetings and outreach.

Saint Louis Story Stitchers wishes to make programming accessible to all. In-person events are held in ADA compliant facilities allowing those with mobility issues to participate. Please contact the executive director, Susan Colangelo at susanc@storystitchers.org if you have any additional requests to accommodate visual, hearing or other accessibility issues.

IDEA

As an organization dedicated to nurturing young artists and fostering community connections, inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) is at the heart of everything Saint Louis Story Stitchers does. We believe that every individual, regardless of their background, deserves equal opportunities to participate in and benefit from our programs and initiatives.

We constantly strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected; actively seek out and engaging with diverse perspectives, experiences, and voices; provide equitable access to resources, opportunities, and support for all individuals, especially those from underrepresented or marginalized communities; and continuously evaluate and improve our practices to ensure fairness and inclusivity in everything we do. 

We recognize that this work is ongoing and requires continuous learning, reflection, and action. We are dedicated to engaging with our stakeholders, including our staff, volunteers, program participants, donors, and community partners, to advance the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, and access across all aspects of our organization. Together, we aim to not only enrich the experiences of young artists and community members but also contribute to a more equitable and harmonious society.