PUBLIC Version

The Community Impact Network (the Network) celebrated the exceptional contributions of direct service providers in North St. Louis County during its second annual "A Night With the Stars" event on Dec. 8. Hosted by Emmy-winning personality Jade Harrell and featuring guest speakers Winston Calvert, President and CEO of the Network, and Julius B. Anthony, Founder of St. Louis Black Authors of Children's Literature, the ceremony recognized the pivotal role of these individuals who provide direct, face-to-face services within the 24:1 community, which makes up the Normandy Schools Collaborative in North St. Louis County.

“We are here to make sure there’s one night when the spotlight shines right on you,” Calvert said in his remarks at the event. “Because we know that most of you aren’t usually in the spotlight. You get up and do what needs to be done. You don’t do it for the money or the worldly success. And you don’t do it for the attention. In fact, you don’t usually even have time for the spotlight, because there is work to be done.”

Nine individuals received awards out of 24 nominees. Awardees ranged from a 14-year-old activist to retired educators who are still making a difference in classrooms. The 14-year-old awardee, Legacy Jackson, inspired the Network to create a new award called the Emerging Changemaker Award, which honors young people in the 24:1 who are making a positive impact.

Watch video of the full event here.

Awardees include:

Teamwork Award: The Teamwork Award is awarded to individuals who demonstrate the ability to seek out and engage in innovative collaborations with other service providers, no matter how "small" the collaboration may be.

• Jacqueline Buck-Horton is on the Beyond Housing Board of Directors and serves on the Normandy High School alumni board. She uses her background in finance and her passion for the 24:1 to make a difference in the community.
• Amanda Mitchell is a program manager for the Core Collective at Saint Vincent. She enthusiastically forges collaboration internally and with external partners.
• Mary Saunders is the program manager for street outreach at Epworth Children and Family Services. She started as a peer advisor and now oversees outreach and case management at the Drop-In Center in Normandy.

Listening Award: Individuals who demonstrate an extraordinary dedication to engaging with the community and actively listening to those they serve.

• Jessica Burton is an occupancy specialist at Beyond Housing. She works to transition families into affordable housing and has helped more than 60 applicants find housing this year alone.
• Jenn Deaton is the lead outreach worker at the Epworth Children and Family Services Drop-In Center in Normandy. She builds relationships with young people to make the drop-in center a safe, welcoming environment for all.
• Relda Owens-Mathews is an education support counselor for BJC Behavioral Health, specifically being recognized for her work at Bel Nor Elementary School. Dr. O, as the Bel Nor community calls her, supports students, staff and community members through case management and assistance with crisis events.

Solutions Award: The Solutions Award pays tribute to an individual who has crafted unique, creative or unorthodox solutions to challenges that they, their organization or those they serve were facing.

• Marcia Hayes-Harris is a Beyond Housing Family Engagement Liaison, working in the Normandy Early Learning Center. She’s a career educator who began working with Beyond Housing after retiring from early learning leadership in St. Louis Public Schools.
• Mia Turner is a community health worker with Nurses for Newborns. She was originally a client who began her affiliation with Nurses for Newborns as a community outreach mother. She has also worked with Generate Health to address gaps in services for Black women and babies in St. Louis.

Emerging Changemaker Award: Recognizing the impactful contributions of young community members making an impact in 24:1.

• Legacy Jackson is the founder of Little Legacies Community Service Organization. At just 14 years old, she has been leading monthly service projects for the past seven years with the goal of making giving back fun for children.               

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Pictured: Photos by Phillp Hamer Photography

Teamwork Award (L to R): Mary Saunders, program manager for street outreach at Epworth Children and Family Services; Amanda Mitchell, program manager at the Core Collective at Saint Vincent; and Jacqueline Buck-Horton, Beyond Housing Board of Directors.

Listening Award (L to R): Relda Owens-Mathews, education support counselor for BJC Behavioral Health; Jenn Deaton, lead outreach worker at the Epworth Children and Family Services Drop-In Center in Normandy; and Jessica Burton, occupancy specialist at Beyond Housing.

Solutions Award (L to R): Mia Turner, community health worker at Nurses for Newborns; Marcia Hayes-Harris, Family Engagement Liaison at Beyond Housing; and Legacy Jackson (Emerging Changemaker awardee), founder of Little Legacies Community Service Organization.