Ashley Winters is reporting for the St. Louis American, covering news impacting African Americans in the St. Louis metro area which includes education, business and entertainment. Winters is from St. Louis, Missouri and attended Columbia College Chicago, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism with a concentration in Magazine Article Writing. After graduation, her roots called her back home to be the watchdog for Black and Brown communities impacted by racial and social/ economic disparities in the St. Louis region. Winters has worked for local media outlets including the Nine Network of Public Media, St. Louis Public Radio, St. Louis Magazine, the St. Louis American Newspaper, and Northsider Newspaper. She also serves on the Community Governance Board of the Racial Healing + Justice Fund.

 Highlighted Work:

• Award: Excellence in Poverty Journalism
• Children’s book: Memories of a Bunny Rabbit
• Journalist profile: Ashley Winters on MuckRack.com

*Profile sourced from Ashley Winter’s bio on Report for America’s website.

Darian Wigfall is the Executive Director of St. Paul Episcopal Church, a Community Governance Board Member of the Racial Healing + Justice Fund, and a dynamic entrepreneur. From running Certain Media to DJing to his book series, one can see he is a storyteller all about exposing the truth, creating connection and leveling up in one’s own life. He’s a published author, a published scientist, and he’s been inducted into the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture for his roles in the Ferguson uprising.

 Highlighted Work:

• St. Louis American article: “Airwatch STL fights for environmental justice”
• Video: “Darian Wigfall on the importance of diversity in literature“
• Book: A Dying Breed, Volume 1
• Book: Not So Princess Jasmine, Volume 1

The Racial Healing + Justice Fund (RH+JF) was established by Forward Through Ferguson, Deaconess Foundation, and the Missouri Foundation for Health to invest in racial healing as a core component of achieving Racial Equity and to make space for affected residents, Black and Brown St. Louisans (defined regionally), to have direct power over the distribution of resources for healing, justice, and transformation. Through these investments, the Racial Healing + Justice Fund aligns local and national philanthropy, community-set priorities, and community-led grantmaking that puts racial equity, healing and justice at the center, creating a future St. Louis where all residents have the opportunity to thrive. During the 2020-23 pilot of the fund, $1.6 million was committed over a three year period by approximately 20 philanthropic partners, with the largest investment from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This pilot paves the way for one of the Ferguson Commission’s calls to action–the creation of a “generational” managed or endowed fund that intentionally supports Black and Brown changemakers in the St. Louis region. 

Learn more at Forward through Ferguson’s website.