Back in 2009, HUD gave St. Louis their largest-ever grant award to develop a regional sustainability plan. A zillion stakeholder-session hours late, OneSTL took form. But, as with many plans, there was no $$ for implementation - until Person-Power took the helm.

Today, circles of advocates working in six focus areas are implementing SMART targets, making OneSTL both plan and reality. Earthworms is proud to spotlight OneSTL in this conversation with Aaron Young, Sustainability Project Manager, and Gena Jain, Sustainability Planner with our East-West Gateway Council of Governments. 

      

Across our bi-state region, under the banner of OneSTL, good work is underway the areas of Food Access, Water and Green Infrastructure, Materials and Recycling, Energy and Emissions, Green Transportation and Biodiversity. Give a listen!

THANKS to Earthworms engineers, Andy Heaslet, Jon Valley and Andy Coco

Earthworms host Jean Ponzi contributed to We Are OneSTL stories for November 2020. 

Earthworms Conversations with St. Louis Leaders: 

Dr. Sharon Deem, DVM: One Health for People, Animals, Earth

VR Botany: Dr. Kyra Krakos Brings Outdoors Waaaaaaay In

Heather Navarro: 50 Years of MO Coalition for the Environment

The mission of Heru Urban Farming, growing on lots in the City of St. Louis, is to bring healthy, sustainable produce to those who need it most. Founder and CEO Tyrean Heru Lewis is a 5th generation farmer with a background in health and physical education, a Master's degree in Management, and a vibrant passion for growing food that will grow health and vitality for the community he feeds.

Heru's passion is a tangible force. Hearing him talk about his work is feeling the joyful focus he pours into working. Inspiring, practical.  Extraordinary. Heru Urban Farming holds Golden Beet Certification from Known & Grown STL, our regional sustainable food brand and certification system. 

Big congrats for the early December announcement that Heru Urban Farming is awarded a $50,000 grant from the University of Missouri-St. Louis Accelerator. Heru is one of five recipients selected from 470 applicants. The award also includes $200,000 in in-kind service from the Accelerator program.

THANKS to Andy Heaslet, Earthworms engineer, supported by Andy Coco and Jon Valley at KDHX Production

Related Earthworms Conversations: 
Tosha Phonix: Organizing Food Justice, Growing Community (Oct 2019)

Known & Grown: Brand Boosting Capacity for Local Food (June 2019)

Greenwood Cemetery: History, Community, Restoration Work (Jan 2018)