2025 Excellence in the Public Sector Leadership Awardee, Kristen Sorth!

Congratulations to Kristen Sorth, Director and CEO of the St. Louis County Library, and recipient of our 2025 Excellence in the Public Sector Leadership Award!

The Excellence in the Public Sector Leadership Award recognizes an individual, government, quasi-government agency, or tax-supported entity that:

  • Develops or protects policy that supports investment in communities.

  • Demonstrates innovative use of resources for community improvement.

  • Is proactive, persistent, professional, and efficient in finding ways to support community building initiatives.

Kristen Sorth always had the drive, but she never expected the St. Louis County Library to be the vehicle that would fuel her passion for community transformation. It has turned out to be quite a ride. After earning her Master’s degree in Public Administration, she began her career at the Department of Economic Development. When her husband's career brought the family to St. Louis, she took her second adult job at the library. Despite feeling underqualified, she quickly rose to the challenge, stepping into the role of head of HR for 600 employees—a position she excelled in. Twenty-seven years later, she has never looked back, dedicating her career to driving change and reinvention within the library system.

Kristen spearheaded an ambitious renovation plan to reimagine library spaces as vibrant, welcoming community hubs. Over the next decade, she led the transformation of 20 branches and an Administrative Building, turning them into fun, dynamic, innovative spaces where people of all ages can learn, connect, and grow. Her holistic approach to library services has expanded their role far beyond bookshelves. Under her leadership, the library has become a trusted safe space, offering everything from Wi-Fi and Chromebooks to 3D printing workshops, book signings, and frequent community events.

Her motto? “Start with yes”—always putting the community’s needs first… and also, no “shushing” allowed. Libraries are loud. 

Kristen has also made a significant impact by addressing the social needs of the community. In partnership with Epworth Children & Family Services, the library now employs six social workers to assess and support individuals in need. Even in the face of challenges like book banning and political distractions, she remains steadfast in the library’s commitment to improving the area's literacy challenges through initiatives like the "Gateway to Reading" program, which focuses on the science of reading and brain development.

When she’s not shaping the future of the library, Kristen enjoys life with her supportive husband, Mike, their son Jack—who is away at college—and their three standard poodles, who no doubt keep things lively at home.

We hope you can join us to celebrate community builders like Kristen Sorth at our 13th Annual Community Development Family Reunion event on April 23rd! 

2025 Rising Star in Community Building Awardee, Kelly McGowan!

Congratulations to Kelly McGowan, founder of Transform314, and recipient of our 2025 Rising Star in Community Building Award!

The Rising Star in Community Building Award recognizes a person who:

  • Demonstrates strong dedication to and passion for community building work.

  • Exhibits leadership, vision, and a commitment to action and results.

  • Shows promising potential to catalyze outstanding impact in community building policy, investment, and/or community change.

  • Works to challenge the status quo in the St. Louis region.

Born and raised in neighborhoods throughout St. Louis, Kelly McGowan saw firsthand how outcomes could shift dramatically just ten minutes apart. These early experiences shaped her understanding of inequity from the inside and sparked her lifelong commitment to advancing the health and well-being of all people - especially communities of color.

Despite her credentials in Public Health and degrees from both Saint Louis University and Washington University, she couldn’t initially find work in St. Louis - so she took her passion to Harlem, where she helped reimagine wellness programs by directly engaging the voices of young people.

Her motto was simple but powerful: “Ask kids.”

Kelly returned home with a new clarity: real change happens when we work with communities—not for or on behalf of them. This city girl began working in three school districts in North County on Missouri’s statewide childhood obesity initiative. Kelly began learning in real time - navigating complex municipal systems, healthy food deserts, community engagement, and the built environment - all while staying grounded in those she served.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kelly attended virtual Council and Board of Aldermen meetings, listening, learning, and studying the power of civic processes. Transform 314, a grassroots movement focused on connecting residents to systems that often overlook them, was founded from what she learned during those meetings. The organization provides “Edutaining content” that informs, engages, and empowers readers of all ages.

Through her work with SLATE, Kelly has mentored and mobilized young people—especially young Black men - to not only sit at tables of power, like the Board of Aldermen and the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC), but to speak, strategize, and lead. Her efforts are rooted in real solutions, built from the ground up, and driven by a vision of St. Louis that leans into itself instead of tearing itself apart.

Kelly’s passion is clear: she believes in St. Louis vs. Everybody—but more importantly, in St. Louis for St. Louis. Her mission is to empower residents as the true drivers of change, bringing more hope, more votes, and more community-led transformation to the place she calls home.

We hope you can join us to celebrate community builders like Kelly McGowan at our 13th Annual Community Development Family Reunion event on April 23rd! 

2025 Collaboration + Coalition Building Awardee, ST. LOUIS METRO HOUSING COLLECTIVE!

Congratulations to STL Metro Housing Collective, recipient of the 2025 Collaboration & Coalition Building Award!

The Collaboration & Coalition Building Award recognizes a person who:

  • Demonstrates incredible commitment to working through partnerships, even when it’s more challenging than “going it alone.”

  • Forges new connections that bridge gaps between people, organizations, and places that don’t normally interact with each other in the St. Louis region.

  • Shows up for others and participates directly in their work; does not only ask or expect that partners and collaborators come to them.

  • Approaches difficulty and conflict with understanding, compassion, and an open mind.

The St. Louis Metro Housing Collective was born from a simple but powerful belief:

We can end homelessness—and the only way to do it is together, with housing.

What began as twice-yearly landlord engagement events has grown into a dynamic coalition working across local sectors to connect people to stable housing and second chances. The collective builds strong partnerships between service providers, landlords, and community stakeholders—all working toward a shared vision of housing for all.

The collective tackles tough challenges head-on—from addressing landlord concerns about the voucher process, asset protection, and helping landlords to feel confident renting to agency supported individuals. They work to debunk voucher holder myths, share resources, and encourage collaboration rather than competition. With a holistic approach they are able to offer the client/tenant assistance with mental health support, credit-building, conflict resolution, and workforce development. The group opens the lines of communication between landlords and agencies that serve clients, while also building relationships among community partners.

Even though it's not easy, the Collective proves that coordination makes things easier. While they are still dividing and conquering, before their work was more siloed. Their success is now fueled by authentic relationships, shared learning, and a commitment to breaking down those silos. They meet quarterly for social events and more opportunities for personal connections.

Founding members like Christina, who brings 20 years of experience in low-income housing and a gift for mentorship, and Jonathan, who has spent 15 years at St. Patrick’s and cherishes life with his two young children, model the Collective’s balance of professionalism and humanity. Together, they are showing the region what’s possible when we build community—with intention, compassion, and collaboration at the core. It takes a collective to make St. Louis the place to live.

We hope you can join us to celebrate community builders like the St. Louis Metro Housing Collective at our 13th Annual Community Development Family Reunion event on April 23rd! 

2025 TRANSPARENCY & TRUST AWARDEE, BRIDGET FLOOD!

Congratulations to Bridget Flood, Executive Director of Incarnate Word Foundation, and recipient of our 2025 Transparency & Trust Award.

The Transparency & Trust Award recognizes a person who:

  • Works with honesty and openness and isn’t afraid to be vulnerable, especially when things don’t go as planned.

  • Co-creates work with the people and partners they serve and works to build shared trust so that all at the table feel supported and valued as part of the process.

  • Embraces mistakes and weaknesses in the open as opportunities to learn and grow.

As Executive Director of the Incarnate Word Foundation, Bridget Flood leads with heart, not hierarchy. For her, incarnational spirituality means seeing God in every person—and letting that belief guide every grant, partnership, and project. She believes the most impactful change doesn't come from strategic plans on paper, but from the ground up, rooted in the human element.

Bridget’s work reflects that philosophy. Some of her proudest contributions have been in affordable housing through the St. Louis Art Place Initiative, a land trust model designed to support artists of color and LGBTQIA+ artists in Gravois Park, and the St. Joseph Housing Initiative (SJHI), a buy, rehab, and sell model in Dutchtown and now Baden. Originally partnerships with the Kranzberg Arts Foundation and the Archdiocese of St. Louis, these projects have flourished with 16 homes completed in Dutchtown, expansion into Baden, with Kranzberg now carrying their models and organizations forward independently.

Her longstanding commitment to justice took on new urgency in the years following Ferguson. Bridget and the Foundation deepened their focus on community-led solutions—supporting efforts like repurposing church properties, building new homes in The Ville, and creating pathways to wealth-building through homeownership. She emphasizes the importance of community ownership, where residents lead the work and parishioners help to fund the change.

Bridget still carries with her the moment a little girl, proud in her new home, said she’d sit in the window she helped paint “like a princess in her castle.” “For $41,000, we helped eight people who have since helped hundreds,” she says.

“Making a grant is not hard. The people doing the work—that’s hard. The real hero isn’t me. I did one thing. They do the hard work every day.”

Bridget is also an author, mother of two daughters, proud grandmother of five, wife to Michael, and finds joy with her dogs and in her pottery studio—a space for reflection, creativity, and grounding.

We hope you can join us to celebrate community builders like Bridget Flood at our 13th Annual Community Development Family Reunion event on April 23rd! 

2025 Growing in Equity & AntiRacism Awardee, Kevin Poe!

Congratulations to Kevin Poe, Executive Director of the St. Louis Home Repair Network, and recipient of our 2025 Growing in Equity & Anti-racism Award!

The Growing in Equity & Anti-Racism Award recognizes a person who: 

  • Demonstrates a deep and honest commitment to transforming work being done in the St. Louis region so that it is more equitable, just, and antiracist.

  • “Walks the talk”—goes beyond verbal commitments to ask hard questions, embrace and push through discomfort, work to rectify inequities where they exist, and take action.

  • Actively works to dismantle systems of oppression.

After more than two decades of success in the construction industry, Kevin Poe made history by spearheading the first diversity committee in his former company’s 100-year existence. He didn’t just challenge leadership there—he took a stand against microaggressions, workplace inequities, and the industry-wide lack of diversity. But his true calling wasn’t corporate reform—it was community transformation.

In 2014, Kevin began mentoring minority contractors, offering guidance and support whenever he could to those often overlooked. When his efforts were recognized, it was the confirmation that changed his life.

The journey wasn’t easy. Although he faced challenges like being told he was "underqualified" and understandable skepticism from the local community—Kevin never wavered in his devotion. His breakthrough came when he connected with Mike Sorth, who opened the door to a life-changing opportunity: Director of Community Assets, overseeing church and large building renovations that prioritized people over profits. In this role, Kevin applied his deep industry knowledge to create real change, helping to ensure that development served everyone - not just corporate interests, and using his passion to empower disadvantaged communities, cultivate economic opportunity, and save seats at the table for voices who are left out.  

For Kevin, receiving this award from his peers is a powerful affirmation of his work. More than anything, Kevin wants people to know that he’s the real deal. And, in fact, when his name is mentioned in rooms he’s not in, the response is often similar to: “Kevin Poe? Oh, he’s the truth!”

Equally as proud of his 15+ years of sobriety, he’s also proud of raising his children in a world where they are doing everything differently from what he was told growing up. For Kevin, this recognition is just another step in living out his commitment to real change and making a lasting impact on both his community and his industry.

We hope you can join us to celebrate community builders like Kevin Poe at our 13th Annual Community Development Family Reunion event on April 23rd! 

2025 RESIDENT LEADERSHIP AWARDEE, CARLA REID!

Congratulations to Ms. Carla Reid, President of the Mark Twain Neighborhood Association, and recipient of our 2025 Resident Leadership Award!

The Resident Leadership Award recognizes a person who:

  • Has shown incredible volunteerism and involvement in their community and/or community initiatives.

  • Goes above and beyond typical resident action to sit on boards, head committees, and/or encourage the engagement of other residents.

  • Works to challenge the status quo in the St. Louis region.

Carla Reid has always had a heart for serving her community and uplifting others in an effort to support safe and vibrant communities. As a social worker by trade, Carla has decades of experience in working in community to provide financial, housing, and health resources and support where needed. Through community resource fairs, outreach programs, and her own real estate investments, Carla has been able to provide help to those whom are often overlooked.

Throughout her almost 20-year history has a resident of the Mark Twain neighborhood, Carla was an active participant in spearheading the revitalization of the Mark Twain Neighborhood Association, where she now serves as the president. She has organized several community clean-ups, toy drives, resource fairs, and revitalization projects in Mark Twain in an effort to make the community safer and more vibrant. She has also helped to bring Mark Twain to forefront of community planning and development conversations held by St. Louis City government officials.

Carla's genuine passion and effort to uplift her community ultimately led to her getting involved in real estate development. Due to her community involvement, she saw an increasing need for affordable housing solutions for Mark Twain residents and neighboring communities as well as an influx of vacant and derelict housing. In an effort to bridge the gap, Carla started her own real estate investment and property management company. Her company's mission is to provide safe and affordable housing that allows residents to participate in the revitalization of their communities while supporting the economic growth of the community. Her company also works with investors (local and out-of-state) who are looking to renovate their properties to make them safer, more energy efficient, and marketable to potential renters looking for safe and sustainable housing.

Carla's love and dedication to her community has consistently shown through her community based efforts for over two decades. She's always had a passion for helping other and building communities. Her dedication to people is not just for the people of Mark Twain, but for everyone that encounters her orbit. She is a physical manifestation of CBN's vision: creating safe, economically strong, and vibrant communities.

We hope you can join us to celebrate community builders like Carla Reid at our 13th Annual Community Development Family Reunion event on April 23rd! 

2025 LIFETIME DEDICATION TO COMMUNITY BUILDING AWARDEE, FR. GERRY KLEBA!

Congratulations to Father Gerry Kleba, founder of St. Louis Association of Community Organizations (SLACO) and retired priest of St. Cronan Catholic Church, recipient of our 2025 Lifetime Dedication to Community Building Award!

The Lifetime Dedication to Community Building Award recognizes a person who:

  • Has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to community building work.

  • Has exhibited leadership, vision, and a commitment to action and results.

  • Has catalyzed outstanding impact in community building policy, investment, and/or community change.

  • Has worked to challenge the status quo in the St. Louis region.

Born and raised in St. Louis, Father Gerry Kleba still holds the front door key his father gave him in fifth grade to the family home they’ve owned for over 85 years. It’s a symbol of his enduring connection to his roots and his deep commitment to the community. His passion for social justice and community development was sparked early on, inspired by witnessing his father’s service at St. Francis de Sales. While he recognizes the importance of physical spaces, he believes true community development goes far beyond bricks and mortar.

Fr. Kleba appreciates the name of this celebration—the “Family Reunion”—because, to him, community is about people. As he says, “It’s not just bricks and houses with glass windows.” He draws inspiration from the energy of younger CBN members who are actively pursuing change in today’s challenging climate. Acknowledging that these days, its easy to be hopeless or depressed — especially with current attempts from the government to erase history—he calls on us, “You have to keep going.”

He emphasizes the power of unity, reminding us that the real enemy is neglect and disinvestment, not the communities themselves.

A steadfast advocate for affordable housing, he believes Catholic schools, rectories, and convents can—and already have—been transformed into quality housing.

Forty-six years ago, Father Kleba founded the St. Louis Association of Community Organizations (SLACO) in a modest space at Taylor and Martin Luther King Drive. He led a “Weed Parade” to City Hall of seventeen residents from four neighborhoods who were burdened by neglected LRA properties on their blocks. They advocated for community-driven solutions like gardens and infrastructure renewal. When other institutions hesitated, Father Kleba led by example—helping secure government funding to build 15 homes at Newstead and Fairfax in an effort to not only provide housing, but to also restore dignity to the community, believing, "We should build people." Years later, when local institutions finally began funding scholarships, a leader publicly acknowledged Fr. Kleba, saying he had been the “Prophet of the school for decades,” while admitting they were only now beginning to listen. 

His storytelling and advocacy continue today through film and education. He recently completed his second documentary, A Black History Tour of St. Louis, created in partnership with producer and director Tony West and currently being submitted to major film festivals. Father Kleba will also give his 17th bus tour next month, and estimates that the 400 people he’s guided over the years have passed that knowledge on to more than 2,000 others. Following the unrest in Ferguson, he gave a personal tour to the newly appointed Archbishop to St. Louis, sharing his perspective on both the challenges and hopes within St. Louis. 

One of Father Kleba’s proudest moments came in 2017 when he received the Key to the City of Midtown for his contributions to the community, particularly his work with a local nonprofit. Recently, one of those children, now grown, reminded him of his own words that day: “The most important thing is to find out if people trust you.” For Fr. Kleba, that trust is everything. It’s a reflection of a life dedicated not to recognition, but to building lasting relationships, promoting equity, and ensuring that history, community, and opportunity are never forgotten.

He does not seek recognition or awards; instead, he hopes his legacy will be his vision of empowering economic and educational opportunities, especially for women and people of color. His life is one of service, compassion, and unwavering commitment to building a better future for the next generation.

We hope you can join us to celebrate community builders like Fr. Gerry Kleba at our 13th Annual Community Development Family Reunion event on April 23rd! 

CBN Members Secure Over $8M in LIHTC Awards for 2025 Multifamily Rental Production Projects for St. Louis Families

St. Louis, MO – December 19, 2024 – The Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis (CBN) proudly announces that several of its member organizations have been awarded Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) through the Missouri Housing Development Commission’s 2025 Multifamily Rental Production Applications. This achievement highlights the ongoing dedication of CBN members to addressing affordable housing needs and fostering equitable community development across the region.

The LIHTC program is a vital tool for financing the construction and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing for low- to moderate-income households. This year’s awards reflect the strength of CBN members in advancing innovative, impactful housing solutions in collaboration with local stakeholders.

Award Highlights
The following CBN member organizations received LIHTC awards for their proposed projects:

  • DeSales Community Development: The DeSales Preservation II will acquire and rehab 71 units of affordable housing in the Fox Park, Tower Grove East and Benton Park West neighborhoods. 

  • North Newstead Association: The New Northside Rehabilitation will acquire and rehab 113 units of affordable housing in the O’Fallon, Greater Ville, Kingsway West and Penrose neighborhoods. 

  • Preservation of Affordable Housing: The Clinton-Peabody Redevelopment - Phase 1 is new mixed income development of 89 units of which 71 will be affordable housing in the Peabody-Darst-Webbe neighborhood. 

  • Rise Community Development: The Carr Square Tenant Corporation, with the Rise Community Development serving as development consultant, will rehab 182 units of affordable housing in the Carr Square neighborhood. 

These developments will result in the creation of 455 new or rehabilitated housing units, expanding access to high-quality, affordable homes while promoting neighborhood stability and economic growth. The over $8 million secured through this recent round of LIHTC funding will be used and leverage to promote the overall total cost of $105M in affordable housing developments in the City of St. Louis.

Commitment to Community Impact
CBN Executive Director Linda Nguyen remarked on the significance of these awards: “These LIHTC allocations underscore the incredible efforts of our members to meet the critical housing needs of our communities. By leveraging these resources, we are not only building homes but also creating opportunities for families and individuals to thrive in our St. Louis region.”

CBN extends its congratulations to all recipients and their partners. Their projects exemplify the power of collaboration in addressing housing challenges and building stronger, more inclusive communities.

About the Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis
The Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis (CBN) is a coalition of leaders and organizations committed to creating thriving neighborhoods. Through advocacy, capacity building, and collaboration, CBN empowers its members to develop sustainable housing solutions and strengthen the St. Louis region.

For More Information
To learn more about CBN and its members' work, visit www.communitybuildersstl.org or contact Linda Nguyen at 314-730-5449 or info@communitybuildersstl.org.

SLDC and CBN Incentives Guide

The St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) has launched comprehensive Financial Incentives Guide designed to streamline the City of St. Louis development process. These user-friendly guides, created in collaboration with the Community Builders Network (CBN), provides detailed information on various economic development incentives. Check out the Residential Incentive Programs & Financing Tools guide displayed above. The guides are now available on SLDC's Developer Portal, offering developers an accessible resource to navigate the financial incentives that support investment and job creation in the region. For more information and to access the guides, visit SLDC’s Developer Portal.

CBN's Sustainability Developers Summit Brings Funding + Connections to St. Louis Community Developers

Connecting STL Community Developers with Strategies + Resources to Address Climate Resiliency

We are delighted to host our first-ever 2024 Sustainability Developers Summit on September 10th, 2024 at the WashU's Knight Center! We are so appreciative of the 70+ attendees who attended the summit to pick up new skills and meet new peers to continue our work in making better and more sustainable communities here in St. Louis. Thank you for our friends and partner from Institute for Sustainable Communities for sponsoring our summit!

The goal of our summit is to share tools and resources with small scale developers to increase and encourage more sustainable development in St. Louis. This summit aimed to foster discussions and actions to create a more equitable and sustainable St. Louis. Attendees had plenty of opportunities throughout the summit to engage in critical conversations on building decarbonization, housing inequality, and climate adaptation with educational panels covering topics like racial justice in the built environment, green banks, and funding opportunities.

Climate 101 Presentation

Presenter: Jean Ponzi, MO Botanical Garden

CDFIs and Green Funding Presentation

Presenter: Stephen Westbrook, IFF Southern Region

Panel Discussion on the Racial Justice: The Intersection of Health + Housing

From left to right: Khilia Logan (Institute for Sustainable Communities), Jasmine Hall Ratliff (Build MO Health), Tara A. Rocque (WashU Law) and Sunni Hutton (Transforming Tenants of Greater St. Louis)

Environmental Racism in St. Louis Presentation

Presenter: Tara A. Rocque, WashU Law - Environmental Clinic

Summit Audience for Morning Presentations

For those who missed the event, you can view the Event Recordings below:

Speakers' Presentation Slides: Click here to view the slide decks from the summit.

Building Decarbonization 101 Presentation 

Presenter: Malachi Rein, Building Energy Exchange St. Louis

Panel Discussion on Funding Opportunities for Sustainable Development

From left to right: Linda Nguyen (CBN), Stephen Westbrook (IFF), Stephen Davis (St. Louis Development Corp) and LaDedra Wilson (Elevate)

Summit Networking Lunch in Frick Atrium, Knight Hall

Summit Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Technical Assistance for Nonprofit Developers and Community-Based Programming

Presenters: LaDedra Wilson, Elevate Consulting and Mandy La Brier (Heartland Environmental Justice Center, not pictured)

STL Approach Toward Building Decarbonization

Presenters: Elysia Russell and Katarina Michalova (City of St. Louis)

Understanding How to Manage Energy Efficiency in 2- or 4-Family Units

Presenters: Richard Reilly (MO Botanical Garden) and Malachi Rein (Building Energy Exchange STL, not pictured)

MO Landscape and Advocacy Efforts for Funding Sustainability in LIHTC Projects

Presenters: Jeff Smith (MO Workforce Housing Association, Dana Gray (Tower Grove Community Development Corp) and Jacob Serfling (Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition)

Last, here are some great pictures from this year's summit. If you missed the summit this year and looking to increase your knowledge and connections in the community development sector, consider joining our membership to continue getting connected to resources and great people to make this work happen in our community!