Our Approach
Why it matters
One in five children in the St. Louis region lives in poverty. This increases to two in five for Black or Brown children. Deaconess envisions a community that values the health and well-being of all children and gives priority attention to the most vulnerable. This community only thrives if the allocation of power and distribution of resources, benefits, opportunities and burdens are not predictable by, nor predicated on race.
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Recent News
March Newsletter | From Where the Wind Blows
Greetings Deaconess Community, It is my honor to share with you the first of many columns to come that I penned for The St. Louis American. Published earlier this month, …Learn More
Action Alert | Medicaid Renewal Required Again
Since March 2020 individuals insured through Medicaid retained their health insurance coverage through automatic continuous enrollment. The pandemic-era policy paused annual Medicaid eligibility verifications and prevented health insurance coverage disruption …Learn More
February Newsletter | Telling Our Story
Deaconess Community, With intention, each February we celebrate and honor the rich and dynamic history of Black Americans. This history – the lived experiences of Black women, children, men, families, …Learn More
OUR PARTNERS
We support and learn from our region’s
leading community organizations.
Partner Highlight
Action St. Louis and United Congregations of Metro East
The greater St. Louis region experienced historic flooding in late July, with the most devastating impact located in predominantly Black communities...Read more
Beyond Housing
Beyond Housing is a nationally recognized, comprehensive community development organization dedicated to transforming the St. Louis region’s under-resourced communities to..Read more
Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition
The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition (FAAC) strives to create permanency in foster children’s lives by recruiting and supporting foster..Read more
St. Louis Art Place Initiative
St. Louis Art Place Initiative’s mission is to build wealth and equity for low-to-moderate-income artists through homeownership. The Initiative was..Read more
Leading Liberation Retreat Series
As an institution grounded in the pursuit of healing, Deaconess Foundation seeks to invest in holistic opportunities for enhanced health..Read moreAction St. Louis and United Congregations of Metro East
The greater St. Louis region experienced historic flooding in late July, with the most devastating impact located in predominantly Black communities...Read more
Rustic Roots Sanctuary
Rustic Roots Sanctuary is a sustainable farm and retreat space located in the Spanish Lake community of North St. Louis..Read more
Freedom Community Center
The Freedom Community Center (FCC) is a Black-led organization in North St. Louis that was founded to dismantle systems of..Read more
Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis
The Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis (CBN) gathers community leaders of various backgrounds to build engaged and equitable..Read more
Alive & Well Communities
Alive and Well Communities was formed in 2017 by the joining of two separate initiatives focused on activating communities in..Read more
Kids Win Missouri
Kids Win Missouri began in 2013 as a small group of children’s advocacy stakeholders seeking to ensure children have a..Read more
Annie Malone Children & Family Services
Annie Malone Children & Family Services was founded in 1888 as the St. Louis Colored Orphan’s Home. Helping St. Louis..Read more
ArchCity Defenders
ArchCity Defenders (ACD) is a holistic legal advocacy organization that combats the criminalization of poverty and state violence, especially in..Read more
Fathers & Families Support Center
Fathers & Families Support Center (FFSC) is dedicated to improving the lives of children and families by encouraging committed and..Read more
Good Journey Development Foundation
Good Journey Development Foundation supports and builds sustainable communities and young leaders who take responsibility for the improvement of our..Read more
The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis
The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis (SFSTL) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1920, and it is rooted in the..Read more
St. Louis Inter-Faith Committee on Latin America
The St. Louis Interfaith Committee on Latin America (IFCLA) envisions a world in which partners reach across economic, political, and..Read more
St. Louis American Foundation
The St. Louis American, the only African-American newspaper continuously published since 1928 and the longest continuously published weekly newspaper in..Read more
Dutchtown South Community Corporation
Dutchtown South Community Corporation (DSCC) is a community development corporation started and led by neighborhood residents serving four southeast St...Read more
Missouri Jobs with Justice
Missouri Jobs with Justice’s (JwJ) mission is to organize Missourians to build transformative power for social, racial, and economic justice..Read more
Forward Through Ferguson
After the death of Michael Brown, Jr. on Aug. 9, 2014, “Ferguson” came to symbolize racial strife and inequality in..Read more
2020 Public Policy Campaign Partners
During the Just 4 Kids Community Conversation on November 18, 2019 we announced an investment of $100,000 to support a..Read more
Action St. Louis Tenant Organizing
Action St. Louis is the Deaconess Foundation’s Reverend Buck Jones Memorial Grant for Tenant Organizing partner, Rev. Starsky Wilson, president..Read more
Missouri Health Care for All
Missouri Health Care for All (MHCFA) is the only permanent, statewide organization in Missouri focused solely on grassroots mobilization on health..Read more
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