The City of St. Louis has been selected as one of only 10 cities nationwide to take part in Work for America's (WFA) second Talent Accelerator program, Data-Driven Hiring for Cities. The Department of Personnel's Talent Acquisition team was chosen from a competitive pool of municipal applicants from across the country.

The eight-week workshop began on October 13 and runs through December 15, 2026.

About the Program

WFA's Talent Accelerator programs are free, virtual workshops that help city HR and operations teams make practical, near-term improvements to their hiring systems. This cohort focuses on how cities collect, manage, and use their hiring data.

By the end of the workshop, the City's Talent Acquisition team will have:

• Defined its priority hiring metrics
• Identified specific improvements to its data practices
• Delivered a briefing to Department leadership outlining its findings and recommended next steps

Selection to the cohort recognizes the City's commitment to investing in the systems that serve St. Louis residents, and to strengthening data-informed decision making across its hiring process.

Why the City of St. Louis Applied

The application was led by Aaron Swearngin, Talent Acquisition and Onboarding Manager. He applied with the Department's upcoming internal hiring dashboard in mind, along with its continuing work alongside the administration's analytics team.

"We were fortunate to be selected for such a competitive opportunity, and we are very grateful," said Swearngin. "We thought it was important to further advance our understanding of how we use and interpret our own data, as well as how we present it to others. This is also a great opportunity for Talent Acquisition to collaborate with other municipal HR professionals, many of whom face the very same challenges we do. We are not alone, and this allows for the network building necessary to plan for impactful change."

Building on an Established Partnership

The Department has worked with Work for America before, and Swearngin credits the organization with helping the team think differently about its everyday work.

"Work for America has opened new avenues for thinking and talking about our strengths and areas for improvement, helping us innovate a better approach to our everyday jobs," he said. "They have also highlighted our progress in their national publications, which is great for employee morale."

"Every city service depends on hiring the right people, and hiring well depends on understanding our own data," said Brian Light, Director of Personnel. "I'm proud of our talent acquisition team for earning a place in this national cohort. The metrics and practices they develop over the next eight weeks will help us fill positions faster, measure what matters, and show residents and city leadership exactly how we are improving. We are filling city positions 2.5 times faster in 2026 than we did in 2024, and we're always aiming to improve."

The Fall 2026 Cohort

The City of St. Louis joins Baltimore, MD; El Paso, TX; Erie, PA; Jackson, TN; Little Rock, AR; Los Angeles, CA; Nashville, TN; Pompano Beach, FL; and the San Francisco Human Services Agency.

"There is no shared standard for excellent government hiring," said Caitlin Lewis, Executive Director of Work for America. "These 10 cities will use existing data to set clear hiring metrics, track their progress, and take the first step toward a national baseline other cities can rally around."

This workshop builds on WFA's inaugural Talent Accelerator, Transforming City Hiring Processes, in which cities mapped their end-to-end hiring processes to find bottlenecks and delays. WFA turned those findings into a free toolkit, Built to Hire: A Process Mapping Toolkit for Government Hiring Teams.

Read Work for America's full announcement. 

To explore careers with the City of St. Louis, visit stlouis-mo.gov/jobs.

Judge Miller succeeds Judge Newton McCoy, who is retiring October 21, 2026, after leading the court as Administrative Judge since 2017 and serving more than three decades as a provisional City Court judge before that. Hurst fills the Municipal Judge seat left vacant when Judge Karma Edwards was appointed by Governor Mike Kehoe in February 2026 as an Associate Circuit Judge in the 22nd Judicial Circuit.

"Our Municipal Court is where most St. Louisans come face to face with the justice system, over a traffic ticket, a housing code violation, or a problem property in their neighborhood. Residents deserve a court that is fair, efficient, and treats every person with respect," said Mayor Spencer. "Judge Miller, Doug Hurst, and Maribeth McMahon bring decades of experience from every side of the courtroom, as prosecutors, defenders, and judges. I'm grateful to Judge McCoy for his long service to this city, and confident this team will keep moving our courts forward."

Judge Joan K. Miller, Administrative Judge

As Administrative Judge, Judge Miller will serve as the chief judicial officer of the Municipal Courts. She will oversee docket management, case assignments, and administrative policy across all courtrooms. She will also lead work to modernize court procedures, expand access to the courts, and partner with the City Counselor's Office and the Circuit Clerk.

Judge Miller has served as a St. Louis Municipal Judge since 2013, presiding over arraignment, trial, traffic, housing, and nuisance dockets, as well as the court's Special Assistance Docket. Since 2018 she has also served as a hearing officer in attorney disciplinary cases for the Supreme Court of Missouri's Office of Legal Ethics Counsel, and since 2024 as a member of its Advisory Committee.

She began her legal career in 1995 as an Assistant Circuit Attorney in the City of St. Louis, where she spent more than two years in the Sex Crimes, Child Abuse, and Family Violence Unit and served as lead attorney on more than a dozen felony jury trials. She later served as a claims attorney for UniGroup, Inc., and in 2003 founded her own practice focused on criminal defense and family law. She serves on the lead Criminal Justice Act panel for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and as a Guardian ad Litem in St. Louis Family Court.

A lifelong civic volunteer, Judge Miller has served as a Commissioner of the Port Authority of St. Louis since 2004. She earned her law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law and her bachelor's degree in government from Smith College. Before law school, she spent ten years as a reservations sales agent for Trans World Airlines in St. Louis.

"I'm happy to serve as administrative judge to the people of St. Louis," said Judge Miller. "I will be doing my part in ensuring all who come to municipal court have their cases resolved quickly, efficiently and fairly."

Douglas J. Hurst, Municipal Judge

As Municipal Judge, Hurst will preside over weekly traffic, nuisance, and DWI dockets and conduct arraignments, motion hearings, and bench trials. He fills the seat vacated by Judge Karma Edwards, who now serves as an Associate Circuit Judge in the 22nd Judicial Circuit.

Hurst brings nearly two decades of criminal defense experience, much of it in municipal courts across the St. Louis region, including the City of St. Louis. He founded The Hurst Law Firm in 2009 and led its criminal defense and trial practice until 2025, when he joined the Missouri State Public Defender as a trial attorney. He is licensed to practice in Missouri and Illinois.

For 28 years, Hurst taught legal studies and communications at St. Louis Community College, including courses in criminal law, criminal procedure, and evidence. He served as lead faculty for the college's small group and interpersonal communication division and as president of the faculty union, STLCC-NEA, from 2010 to 2014. He also served on the Missouri National Education Association Board of Directors and trained higher education leaders nationally.

Hurst earned his law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law, a master's degree in speech communication from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and bachelor's degrees in economics and speech communication from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

"As a municipal court judge I want to be fair, efficient, and have an even judicial temperament while on the bench," says Judge Hurst. "The citizens of St. Louis deserve a court that is both equitable and respectful to their needs."

Maribeth McMahon, Provisional Judge

As Provisional Judge, McMahon will preside over Municipal Court proceedings when other judges are unavailable, helping keep dockets moving and cases heard on time.

McMahon returns to City service with deep roots in the court she will now serve. From 1994 to 2016 she was an Associate City Counselor in the City of St. Louis Law Department, where she served as lead prosecutor in City Courts. She also represented parents in juvenile care and protection cases, supervised nine contract attorneys, and defended the City in federal and state employment and contract litigation, trying multiple cases to verdict.

From 2016 to 2022, she served as an Administrative Law Judge with the U.S. Social Security Administration. Earlier in her career, she was an Assistant Public Defender in St. Louis County, where she tried 15 felony jury trials to verdict, and a staff attorney at Sindel & Sindel, P.C. Before practicing law, she spent five years at the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, as a deputy clerk and as law clerk to Judge William H. Crandall Jr.

McMahon earned her law degree and a bachelor's degree in social work from Saint Louis University.

"I am delighted to return as a city court judge having previously served as a municipal prosecutor," Judge McMahon adds."I look forward to showing all people the attention, respect, and fairness our justice system can provide."

About the St. Louis Municipal Courts

The St. Louis City Municipal Division is a division of Missouri's 22nd Judicial Circuit. It hears traffic citations issued by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol, as well as illegal dumping, housing code, minor criminal, earnings tax, and truancy cases. The court also operates specialized dockets, including Problem Property Court. More information is available at stlouis-mo.gov/municipal-court.

Co-hosted by Mayor Cara Spencer and Director of Personnel Brian Light, the ceremony in the Rotunda at City Hall brought together finalists, their families and colleagues, department leaders and members of the public. Awards were presented in six categories, followed by two presentations of the Mayor's Choice Award, the premier honor of the evening.

A Celebration of St. Louis Talent

The program opened with a presentation of colors by the Sumner High School JROTC, followed by the National Anthem, performed by Perry Anselman of Central Visual & Performing Arts High School. The Central Visual & Performing Arts High School Choir, directed by Brianna Brown, then gave a featured performance.

City of St. Louis Poet Laureate Pacia Anderson delivered a featured reading before Director Light's opening remarks and Mayor Spencer's address to attendees.

2026 Award Recipients

Finalists were nominated by department heads, appointing authorities and managers across City government. Three finalists were named in each category, and the recipients were announced during the ceremony.

• Civil Service Rising Star Award, recognizing exceptional early-career talent: Max Magee, Neighborhood Stabilization Division
• Innovation & Efficiency Award, honoring process modernization, operational improvements and cost savings: Deputy Fire Chief Derrick Phillips, St. Louis Fire Department
• Behind-the-Scenes Hero Award, recognizing administrative, IT, legal and financial support staff: Anastasia Luettecke, St. Louis Fire Department
• Frontline & Trades Hero Award, honoring field, maintenance and trades personnel: Jerry Buettner, Equipment Services Division, Board of Public Service
• Resilience & Emergency Response Award, celebrating exceptional service during crises and severe weather events: Kristen Capps-Jones, City Emergency Management Agency
• Gateway Public Service Award, highlighting resident-facing and community-centered service: Bob Ray, Soulard Market, Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry

Mayor's Choice Award Recipients

The ceremony concluded with the Mayor's Choice Award, selected personally by Mayor Spencer for overall excellence in public service. In the program's inaugural year, the Mayor presented two awards.

The first was presented to Garrett Allen, Constituent Services Lead in the Office of the Mayor. The second was presented to La-Teisha Woolfolk, Head Receptionist to the Mayor.

Thank you to all our colleagues

The Department of Personnel congratulates every recipient and finalist, and thanks the colleagues and managers who took the time to submit nominations. The Department also thanks the students, performers and staff whose work made the evening possible.

The Excellence in Public Service Awards will continue as an annual program. Information about nominations for the 2027 awards will be released in November 2026.

"Our employees are this city's greatest resource, and they deserve a system that hires good people quickly, treats them fairly, and resolves problems promptly," said Mayor Spencer. "These bills keep the core promises of civil service, merit, fairness, and freedom from political pressure, in the Charter where they belong, while giving us the tools to recruit and keep the skilled workers St. Louis needs."

Article XVIII of the City Charter, which governs how St. Louis hires, promotes, pays, and supports its more than 4,000 employees, remains substantially in the form adopted in 1941. Because so many personnel rules are written into the Charter itself, even routine updates have required a citywide vote. 

The bill package, Proposition HR, includes a Charter amendment for the April 6, 2027 ballot that repeals and replaces Article XVIII with a modern human resources system. Proposition HR would change the name of the Department of Personnel to the Human Resources Department, and states it will be led by a Chief Human Resources Officer chosen from the top three candidates on a competitive exam and removable only for cause after a public hearing. It also keeps merit-based hiring and protections against political coercion and discrimination in the Charter, and moves detailed pay, hiring, and work rules into ordinance and administrative regulation.

"This work makes good on a promise made by the Board of Aldermen when it established the Charter Commission in 2023." said President Green. "The commission created a roadmap for fixing longstanding, structural roadblocks that have held St. Louis back, and reforming our personnel department is a critical step in moving our city forward."

Moving the city forward requires competitive hiring practices. Right now, the lack of a modern system that meets job seekers where they are causes unnecessary hold ups in getting people to work. From application to start date takes an average of 54 days. The goal, with the support of Proposition HR, is to decrease that time to 45 days. Increasing efficiency in hiring directly impacts the administration of civil services.

"When voters approve these reforms, it will mark a sweeping transformation in how St. Louis recruits and retains employees and, ultimately, how we deliver services to residents," said Alderwoman Daniela Velazquez. "We're trying to run a modern city with a personnel system from 1941. It's time to update these rules so city government works better for the people who depend on it and for the public servants who keep it running." 

Proposition HR also includes a Civil Service Commission ordinance that focuses the Commission on overseeing the merit system and hearing appeals. Commissioners must be City residents who have not held elected office or a political party position in the past four years, and serve staggered six-year terms. For the first time, the Commission must rule on disciplinary appeals within 60 days of the evidence being submitted, or the employee's appeal is granted. The bill package's grievance process ordinance gives employees a defined, deadline-driven path to resolve workplace problems, including optional mediation and a review committee that includes a labor representative.

"We worked closely with labor organizations to develop legislation that helps the City attract and retain employees while creating a fairer workplace, holding City government to the same standards we expect of our workforce," said Alderman Matt DeVoti. "I'm especially proud that these reforms would restore City employees' ability to express their political views and participate in the political process as private citizens, with appropriate safeguards in place. If we want residents to be engaged in local democracy, we should make sure that the people who keep our city running every day have the same opportunity."

Proposition HR includes a political activity ordinance, making clear how city employees can and should lawfully express political opinions, as well as a definitions ordinance establishing consistent terms across the City's personnel code.

"Since taking office, I have emphasized the importance of modernizing our City Charter, and meaningful reform begins with our city employees," Comptroller Donna Baringer said. "I commend Alderwoman Velazquez and Alderman Devoti for their partnership in advancing these changes. I look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts to reform and modernize the Charter in ways that strengthen City government and better serve taxpayers." 

The six ordinances take effect only if voters approve the Charter amendment.

Under ARPA, the City received one of the largest per-resident ARPA allocations of any major U.S. city: $498 million. A resident Stimulus Advisory Board, a revived Citizen Advisory Committee and a seven-language survey answered by more than 5,000 residents shaped how the money was split.

Over five years, the City appropriated its full allocation through 17 ordinances. While many cities placed their ARPA funds in a few large buckets; St. Louis spread its allocation across 416 distinct projects, and executed more than 868 contracts approved by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment.

"When I took office, 55% of the ARPA funds were not spent and we had 18 months left to spend those funds, or face returning them to the federal government," said Mayor Cara Spencer. "Our administration took this mandate seriously, starting weekly tracking meetings, and consistent reporting. This year alone we paved 34 miles of road, replaced 5,300 feet of water pipe, and updated more than 70 hydrants."

The vast number of projects and contracts was a new challenge for the City. More than a dozen City departments and agencies managed them including the ARPA Compliance Team, the City Counselor's Office, the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, the Board of Aldermen, the Comptroller's Office, the Budget Division, and the Treasurer's Office.

"Behind each of these 416 projects is a City employee who wrote a scope, reviewed an invoice, checked a payroll or walked a job site," Mayor Spencer said. "They took on federal compliance requirements they had never seen, on top of their regular jobs. St. Louis owes them real thanks."

Many programs were delivered by community organizations, public agencies or contracted private firms. No ARPA program was run by City employees alone. Departments built a network of more than 50 nonprofits, public agencies and private firms to deliver vaccines, food, housing, legal help, behavioral health care, youth jobs, small business grants and construction. Through those partnerships, the City put the dollars to work in extraordinary ways. While a more comprehensive report is forthcoming, here are a few highlights:

• Improved more than 30 miles of main roadways, including Kingshighway, Grand Ave., Jefferson Ave., Goodfellow, Union, and Broadway, and overhauled the city's 10 most dangerous intersections
• Supported tornado recovery with home weatherization, home repairs, home inspections, asbestos surveys, title searches, and program and case management
• Installed free public Wi-Fi across downtown streets, city parks, and community recreation centers
• Supported more than 45 first-time home buyers with down payment assistance
• Launched the Office of Violence Prevention and empowered local youth by financing youth-led summer initiatives focused on health literacy, leadership development and physical wellness
• Replaced aging police vehicles, upgraded ambulances and support vehicles, renovated multiple police buildings, and provided funding for a new unified 911 Dispatch Center to enhance public safety efforts
• Deployed community health workers and mobile health units directly into high-need neighborhoods, providing health screenings and preventive care connections 

"Our community partners mobilized, often in neighborhoods where the need was greatest and the paperwork hardest," Spencer said. "They proved what St. Louis can do when the City and its neighbors work as one team."

With the performance period over, the City now turns to recording every eligible cost before the federal deadline. November 1, 2026, is the deadline for departments to submit invoices, which leaves time for invoice approvals, including resubmittals if additional documentation is needed.

As of Tuesday, October 6, 2026, $462,482,252 has been spent and processed, with $35,593,802 left to process before the deadline of December 31, 2026. 

"We are confident that we've got a path to ensure every dime is spent and accounted for," said Mayor Spencer.

Any expense not recorded in Oracle by December 31, 2026 will be subject to clawback by the U.S. Treasury. As projects have closed or stalled, the City has moved unspent balances to work that could be completed on time. Most recently, Ordinance 72125 (March 2026) directed $5.5 million to Water Division infrastructure replacement and repair.

Join us at the Rotunda, City Hall, on Tuesday, October 13, as we celebrate these outstanding public servants and reveal the recipient of the Gateway Public Service Award! The Excellence in Public Service Awards program runs from 6 - 7:30 p.m.

Kristen Capps-Jones

City Emergency Management Agency

During the May 16, 2025 tornado response, Kristen Capps-Jones led the Planning Section of the City's Emergency Operations Center, the team responsible for building the operational picture that guided decisions on where to send resources and how to reach affected residents. Across a multi-day, multi-agency operation, she ran situation reporting, coordinated with local, state, and federal partners, and maintained the documentation that allowed the City to act deliberately rather than reactively.

Her contribution continued well after the immediate response. With key administrative positions vacant, Kristen took on CEMA's payroll and accounting duties, resolved outstanding invoices, and built the financial tracking needed to separate disaster costs spanning two fiscal years from day-to-day operations. That work is essential to the City's eligibility for federal reimbursement. She also authored a new procurement policy, effective August 2026, that gives the agency a clear and consistent process for routine purchases.

"I've always been driven by a sense of fairness and a desire to make a tangible difference in people's lives. Public service is the most direct way to do that.."

Deputy Fire Chief Michael Arras

St. Louis Fire Department

When an EF3 tornado struck St. Louis on May 16, 2025, Deputy Fire Chief Michael Arras was the department's duty chief. He assumed Incident Command, then went into the damaged area himself as reports of trapped residents came in. He went on to lead operations, directing search and rescue across the hardest-hit parts of the City and bringing together STLFD companies, regional Urban Search & Rescue teams, mutual-aid crews, and state and federal resources. He did so while contending with disrupted communications, blocked streets, and a disaster area that was changing by the hour.

That day drew on nearly five decades of preparation. Over his career, Chief Arras has helped shape much of the equipment and capability today's firefighters rely on, including safer apparatus and ambulance designs, improved protective gear and breathing apparatus, individual thermal imaging cameras, and the department's Rapid Intervention Team program. As Special Operations Chief, he serves on regional hazardous materials, USAR, and maritime committees and has secured federally supported vehicles, boats, and equipment that strengthen emergency response across the region.

Chief Arras is quick to say that none of it was achieved alone, and he credits firefighters, City personnel, and regional partners for their part in the work. In his own words, his role has been to help push good ideas "through to the finish line."

Engine Company 28 & Rescue Squad 2

St. Louis Fire Department

In the first moments of the May 16, 2025 tornado response, the members of Engine Company 28 and Rescue Squad 2 faced several life-threatening emergencies at once. Rescue Squad 2 was working to locate and free a man buried beneath the debris of a collapsed home when crews came upon a family injured in the storm, among them a five-month-old infant struggling to breathe.

With streets blocked by fallen trees and live power lines, firefighters carried their equipment on foot. As the infant's condition deteriorated to near respiratory arrest, personnel were redirected from the collapse to assist. Recognizing that the child could not wait for an ambulance, crews enlisted St. Louis Metropolitan Police Officer William Triplett, who drove the infant, family members, and a firefighter to the hospital while respiratory care continued en route. By the time they arrived, the infant was breathing independently again. The firefighter then returned with Officer Triplett to the disaster area to rejoin the rescue effort.

Under the leadership of Captains Matt Taylor and Jacques Mathews, the crews adapted to every obstacle in front of them. Their response stands as an example of fire and police personnel working together when residents needed them most.

Engine Company 28: Captain Matt Taylor; Firefighters Justin Stalley, Cody Carpenter, Blake Novack, and Roarke Kelly

Rescue Squad 2: Captain Jacques Mathews; Firefighters Daniel Hill, Bradley Trower, David Rodrigues, Steve Lodes, Corey Franklin, and Jared Uthe

Co-hosted by Mayor Cara Spencer and Director of Personnel Brian Light, the awards establish the City's first centralized, formal employee recognition program. Department heads, appointing authorities, and managers across City government were invited to submit nominations, and finalists were selected in six categories spanning field operations, administrative support, emergency response, community service, innovation, and early-career achievement.

"Over 3,000 civil servants keep St. Louis running every day," said Brian Light, Director of Personnel. "Establishing a permanent annual tradition like this allows us to highlight the exceptional talent across our departments, from frontline crews to behind-the-scenes staff, who make a difference in our city every single day." 

The evening's program will feature performances by students from Central Visual & Performing Arts High School, a presentation of colors by the Sumner High School JROTC, and remarks by City of St. Louis Poet Laureate Pacia Anderson. The ceremony will conclude with the announcement of the Mayor's Choice Award, the premier honor of the evening, selected by Mayor Spencer.

"We are cultivating a culture of excellence and that includes recognizing employees who are going above and beyond to serve our City," said Mayor Cara Spencer. "I cannot wait to celebrate these honorees!" 

City employees, their families, members of the media, and the public are invited to attend.

Event Details

• Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2026 (rescheduled from October 8)
• Time: 6 to 7:30 p.m.
• Location: The Rotunda at City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103
• Admission: Open to all City employees, families, and members of the public
• Parking: Free parking at City Hall is available to all attendees

2026 Excellence in Public Service Awards Finalists

Frontline & Trades Hero Award
Honoring field, maintenance, and trades personnel

• Jerry Buettner, Equipment Services Division, Board of Public Service
• Nathan Schmittgens, Equipment Services Division, Board of Public Service
• Damond Wiley, Forestry Division

Behind-the-Scenes Hero Award
Recognizing administrative, IT, legal, and financial support staff

• Anastasia Luettecke, St. Louis Fire Department
• Erin McGowan, City Counselor's Office
• Jeffery Scott, St. Louis Fire Department

Resilience & Emergency Response Award
Celebrating exceptional service during crises and severe weather events

• Deputy Fire Chief Michael Arras, St. Louis Fire Department
• Kristen Capps-Jones, City Emergency Management Agency
• Engine Company 28 and Rescue Squad 2, St. Louis Fire Department

Gateway Public Service Award
Highlighting resident-facing and community-centered service

• Bretton DeLaria, Department of Public Safety
• Captain Garon Mosby, St. Louis Fire Department
• Bob Ray, Soulard Market, Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry

Innovation & Efficiency Award
Honoring process modernization, operational improvements, and cost savings

• Elizabeth Dasenbrock, Forestry Division
• Kurtis Michelfelder, Water Division
• Deputy Fire Chief Derrick Phillips, St. Louis Fire Department

Civil Service Rising Star Award
Recognizing exceptional early-career talent with fewer than five years of municipal service

• Bretton DeLaria, Department of Public Safety
• Kate Eckelkamp, Neighborhood Stabilization Division
• Max Magee, Neighborhood Stabilization Division

Mayor's Choice Award
The premier honor of the evening, awarded for overall excellence in public service. The recipient, selected by Mayor Spencer, will be announced at the ceremony.

Be Well Cafe & Market will celebrate a ribbon-cutting for the Be Well Pavilion ceremony on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 in the Hyde Park neighborhood of North St. Louis. The community is invited to join Be Well, neighborhood residents, community partners, supporters, and local leaders in celebrating this important investment in the neighborhood.

The Be Well Pavilion is part of a larger project that includes a community garden and rainscape, transforming the 2030 Salisbury Street vacant property into a community space. The project was made possible in part through a $217,000 Neighborhood Transformation Grant from the Community Development Administration (CDA), funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

"We are excited to see this vision come to life in Hyde Park," said Fatimah Muhammad, Executive Director of Be Well Cafe & Market. "The Be Well Pavilion is a highly visible investment in this neighborhood and in the people who live here. It is a place to gather, enjoy the outdoors, participate in wellness and outdoor markets, gardening activities, and build connections. Its completion is a special moment for Be Well and for Hyde Park."

 "The Be Well Pavilion is an investment that Hyde Park residents can see and feel. We're taking a vacant property, and we're turning it around to align with the future of this neighborhood," said Mayor Cara Spencer. "I'm thrilled to see this market and pavilion open and be assets to the community."

The Pavilion builds on Be Well's ongoing work to increase access to fresh wholesome produce as well as support local farmers, entrepreneurs, and economic development. The Be Well Pavilion, along with the community garden and rainscape, creates an opportunity for residents and visitors to connect food, wellness, environmental stewardship, education, and community engagement.

The October 14 ribbon cutting marks an important milestone, but also the beginning of the Pavilion's next chapter — putting the space to work for the Hyde Park community and North St. Louis.

BE WELL PAVILION RIBBON CUTTING

Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
2030 Salisbury Street St. Louis, MO 63107

About the Community Development Administration (CDA):

Established in 1974, CDA invests approximately $25 million each year in affordable housing, community development, and public services across St. Louis. As the City's housing and community development agency, CDA works in partnership with HUD, the Planning and Urban Design Agency and the St. Louis Development Corporation to ensure that funding priorities are transparent, competitive, and community-driven.

● Exit polling 

● Surveying 

● Sampling 

● Electioneering 

● Distributing election literature 

● Petitioning 

● Placing vehicles bearing signs 

Note that, while the above activities are strictly prohibited within the full fifty-foot zone, an exception applies from twenty-five feet out to fifty feet from the building's outer door closest to the polling place whereby a candidate who is not seeking to vote at that polling place may be present within this zone and may distribute election literature, and campaign signs may be placed within this zone.