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This summer, Civic Scholar Margo Ogrosky ‘26 is making waves by providing mental health rehabilitation through art seminars and young adult programming at the Independence Center. The Independence Center uses the “Clubhouse Model,” a psychosocial rehabilitation program for adults living with severe and persistent mental illness in the St. Louis region. Rather than operating from a clinical perspective, the Independence Center emphasizes community, connection, and empowerment as integral to healing.  

This summer, St. Louis Fellow Dalen Ainsworth ‘27 is applying his technical skills in service of community transformation. As an intern at the Cabanne District Community Development Corporation (CDC), Ainsworth supports neighborhood revitalization through solar energy, digital infrastructure and disaster relief efforts. The work at the Cabanne District CDC focuses on addressing energy needs within the district, through innovative and renewable methods. It also has a major focus to prepare the next generation of leaders, by providing educational opportunities for the youth.  

On Wednesday, June 11, three St. Louis Fellows in the Goldman Fellows cohort — Jerry Liao ‘26, Jayden Urioste ‘27, and Briannah Anderson ‘26 — joined a community-wide volunteer day in O’Fallon Park to clean up debris following the May 16 tornado and to build new walking trails. The volunteer day was led by St. Louis City Forestry, where Liao and Urioste are both interning this summer as part of the St. Louis Fellows Program, in collaboration with other local non-profits such as The Sierra Club, Open Space STL, and the Ozark Trail Association. 

In June, St. Louis Fellows and Gephardt Institute staff contributed hands-on support to tornado recovery efforts in North St. Louis as part of an Engage St. Louis Day. Despite the summer heat, 35 St. Louis Fellows and six Gephardt staff members rose early on Saturday, June 21 to join Black Power Blueprint and lend their labor to recovery efforts that are still underway over a month after a devastating May 16 tornado that ripped through the city. 

A group of WashU Philanthropy Lab student “Ambassadors” traveled to Texas last month to pitch for funding for St. Louis organizations — one of whom landed $50,000 for LifeWise STL. Luc Neacy ‘27, pitched on behalf of LifeWise STL, which helps families and people of all ages achieve economic well-being through high-impact, relationship-based programming and addressing systemic barriers. The additional funds bring the total Philanthropy Lab grants from the spring 2025 course to $60,000 for LifeWise STL — and to $120,900 across 22 community nonprofits in the St. Louis region.  

Ronné Turner, vice provost for undergraduate enrollment and student financial aid at Washington University in St. Louis, recently sat down for an interview with Inside Higher Ed. Ronné discussed the university’s WashU Pledge program, which offers eligible students from Missouri and southern Illinois a full scholarship. “It is our hope that no talented student, regardless of their family background, sees finances as a barrier to entry at WashU,” Turner said in the interview.

Founders looking to innovate in the health sector are finding that St. Louis’ medical and academic prowess makes it a great place to grow their companies, with experts at local institutions including WashU who are generous with their time and willing to share their knowledge. 

Martin Mwita, who just turned 21, recently became the first patient in the St. Louis region to receive a gene therapy newly approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for sickle cell disease. Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and St. Louis Children’s Hospital are among only a few academic medical centers in the U.S. that have begun offering the treatment.

It’s been over a century since the city of St. Louis hosted some of the world’s best athletes for the Summer Olympic Games. On June 20, those fields used over 100 years ago played host to the next generation. Hundreds of kids from our area took a lap around the historic track at Francis Olympic Field at Washington University.

Rebecca Brown, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and university governance at Washington University in St. Louis, has been named to the St. Louis Business Journal’s “Most Influential Business Women” class of 2025. Established in 1999, the “Most Influential Business Women” awards annually recognize and celebrate women in the St. Louis area who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in business careers, and for their accomplishments and contributions to their industries.