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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According to new U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the St. Louis region lost more than 3,200 residents in the year ending July 1, 2023. The population decline caused the region to drop from the 21st-largest U.S. metro area to the 23rd, now behind Charlotte and Orlando.
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Research and data suggest that Black girls in U.S. public schools are disciplined more harshly than white girls. A study in the Journal of Black Psychology that’s co-authored by a Washington University professor finds that programming for Black girls can boost self-esteem and helps with racial trauma.
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STL Metropolitan Alliance for Reliable Transit, a disability advocacy group, released its first of a series of report cards that assesses Metro Transit on Thursday. The report card gave near-failing scores in customer service and engagement with people with disabilities, and failed Metro for not being ADA compliant.
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Over 15,000 people in the St. Louis region who were jailed in Ferguson can receive money from a $4.5 million class-action settlement. The City of Ferguson settled a lawsuit filed by ArchCity Defenders in 2015. The suit alleges that the city's courts system jailed people for an inability to pay traffic fines and fees and were kept in horrible conditions.
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Asian Americans across the St. Louis region are celebrating the Lunar New Year with friends, attending traditional ceremonies and making traditional foods with family. However, many say the holiday should be treated as a major cultural event.
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Homeownership rates have increased for minorities over the past few years, according to the National Association of Realtors 2024 Snapshot of Race and Home Buying in America Report. Just 41% of Black Americans own homes in Missouri, which is below the national average.
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The St. Louis County Police Department is warning Asian American businesses and families in West County that they are targets for burglaries. County police have received seven burglary reports since the beginning of January.
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Descendants of enslaved Black people who worked for Jesuit missions in Missouri, including building St. Louis University, say the institution owes them up to $74 billion for unpaid labor. They are demanding that SLU officials hold to their commitments to work toward racial healing.
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St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones created the Office of New Americans in October to help prepare the city for newly arrived immigrants. Jones appointed Gilberto Pinela, Cortex's former communications director, to lead the office with plans to help the city become the fastest growing city for immigrants.
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The proposed issues for the report will likely include housing, neighborhood and built environment, education, public health, jobs and economy and state violence.
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The Missouri Historical Society will start Black History Month with a conversation on Thursday about Black contributions to the fashion industry.
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The district is partnering with St. Louis Public Libraries to provide books, literacy activities and summer reading programs to help kids get excited about reading.