Missouri State Budget: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion The Missouri House of Representatives passed a $45 billion state budget at the end of March that blocks funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and efforts across the state. The harmful impact of anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion language in state law is far and wide. To that...

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, Blow, Wind Blow, is also the title of the message my beloved father, Essel Emmanuel Johnson, was most known for preaching. Originally published: March 9,...

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 based on eligibility. Beginning as early as April 2023, most states will resume annual Medicaid eligibility verifications and again require Medicaid clients to renew their...

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, churches, and communities that have been cataloged in volumes lining library shelves, depicted in theaters on and off Broadway, illustrated in portraits and exhibits from...