Role of Black Churches in Historic Preservation

StitchCast Studio Special Edition: The Why of MY City is a series of unique conversations that will bring historical context around recurring topics chosen by youth for the StitchCast Studio published podcasts, including the preservation of black history and historical sites and the stories of Missouri's people throughout time. The Series dovetails into Story Stitchers’ multi-year signature program, The WHY of MY City, which focuses on the stories and history embedded in St. Louis, Missouri’s historically Black neighborhoods.

Celebrate Juneteenth with The WHY of MY City, a new play by Saint Louis Story Stitchers, written by Mario Farwell and directed by Gregory S. Carr.

The story…Wanda, a young African American, returns to St. Louis after graduating high school.  She wants to explore opportunities, but Zoot Suit, a well-known gangster, entices her to come work for him. The community rallies to prevent Wanda from making a serious mistake and with the help of Scott Joplin, Madam CJ Walker, Cool Papa Bell and Tina Turner, they manage to save her from the clutches of Zoot Suit.

June 16 and 16 at 7:00 PM at the .ZACK Theater, St. Louis, MO.

Get your tickets on Metrotix.

In this Special Edition episode of StitchCast Studio for The WHY of MY City, our StitchCast, led by Emeara Burns and Branden Lewis, sits down with Pastor Richard Ashley from Lutheran Church in The Ville, to discuss the role of Black churches in preserving history. Recorded live at Story Stitchers’ Studio at Hansen House, St. Louis, Missouri, on December 14, 2022. 

 

Pick the City UP Art Interlude

Sneaker Tact

K.P. Dennis

Copyright, Saint Louis Story Stitchers

 

The WHY of MY City captures and documents pieces of black history through written word and art while training the next generation to become active, engaged citizens. Our goal is that programs become a force multiplier, rippling into families, schools, and neighborhoods, offering solutions to common urban problems. 

Saint Louis Story Stitchers’ The WHY of MY City is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. On the web at arts dot gov. And by Missouri Arts Council, a State Agency, which receives support from the State of Missouri.

The WHY of MY City is supported in part by Missouri Humanities Council, a state agency, which receives support from the State of Missouri.

Story Stitchers is supported in part by The Lewis Prize for Music’s 2021 Accelerator Award. The mission of The Lewis Prize is to partner with leaders who create positive change by investing in young people through music. 

Additional support for StitchCast Studio and Story Stitchers programs is provided by the Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund, City of St. Louis Youth at Risk Crime Prevention grant of 2023, and Trio Foundation of St. Louis.