Andrea Y. Henderson
Race, Identity and Culture ReporterAndrea Henderson joined St. Louis Public Radio in March 2019, where she covers race, identity, and culture. Andrea comes to St. Louis Public Radio from NPR. She reported for the race and culture podcast Code Switch and produced pieces for All Things Considered. Andrea’s passion for storytelling began at a weekly newspaper in her hometown of Houston, Texas.
Andrea graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and earned her master’s degree in arts journalism from Syracuse University. When the proud Houstonian is not chasing a story, she enjoys catching up on her shows, getting lost in museums and swimming in tropical waters.
Follow her journey through St. Louis via Twitter at @drebjournalist.
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The Deaconess Foundation this fall will launch the Institute for Black Liberation to help develop Black leaders in the St. Louis region who can help their communities heal from internalized racism. Participants will learn tactics to help combat stereotypes and to celebrate Blackness in ways that help communities. -
St. Louis County Library is launching a small-business program for formerly incarcerated people. The six-month program will teach people who served time in prison how to write a business plan, prepare marketing materials and create an elevator pitch.
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St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine launched a mobile pediatric diabetes bus for students in north St. Louis County to learn about the illness and how to manage it. The Healthy Kids Express Diabetes mobile unit will provide checkups, education about disease prevention and nutrition information to those in areas with high rates of diabetes and childhood obesity.
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Advocates for transgender people in the St. Louis region say some transgender people in the area are being cast out of shelters and other housing because of their gender identities. Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing and Opportunity Council officials say they are receiving an uptick in calls from transgender people complaining about housing discrimination.
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A St. Louis environmental group wants to help urban farmers in north St. Louis and north St. Louis County monitor air quality. Climate Changents are placing air monitoring machines that test fine particulate matter on urban farms and schools.
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Vitendo4Africa is an African social organization in the St. Louis region providing dance therapy to African immigrant children weekly. Most of the children are either immigrants or the children of immigrants who struggle with depression and anxiety. Program director Faiza Muhambi says African children need dance to help improve their physical and mental health, which will benefit them educationally and socially.
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Bilingual International Assistant Services, a St. Louis nonprofit received a $1.8 million federal grant to provide mental health support to Afghans who resettled in St. Louis after August 2021. The grant will provide therapy and other support to about 600 Afghans suffering from trauma of war.
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Urban Strategies Inc. has received a $20.8 million federal Promise Neighborhoods grant to provide academic and social services support to students and families in struggling schools in the 63106 ZIP code of north St. Louis. The federal grant will give families access to early childhood education, emotional support programs and college and career readiness assistance.
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Mosques, worship centers and community centers across the St. Louis region are celebrating Ramadan with Iftar celebrations for all faith-based communities. Many Muslims say iftar dinners are communal times to reflect with family and friends and bring communities together.
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A Washington University librarian received a $10,000 grant from the Missouri Humanities Council to research Asian American History in St. Louis during the 20th century. Project coordinator Joan Wang said the history will help people in the region gain a better understanding of Asian communities in St. Louis.
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Some Metro Call-A-Ride users who have depended on the service for decades will soon have to find alternatives, because the paratransit service is reducing routes in St. Louis County beginning April 10. One rider says she will lose her independence and miss out on social activities.
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There are five little-known Black cities across the St. Louis region that were created before and after the end of the slavery — and only one still exists. The cities are included on an online map featuring Black townships across the nation that will be presented Thursday at the Missouri History Museum.
