Stefani Weeden-Smith was honored along with 12 other individuals, one nonprofit and one for-profit company at the St. Louis Business Journal’s annual Champions for Diversity and Inclusion Awards luncheon on Thursday at the Missouri Botanical Garden. (Photo courtesy of Dilip Vishwanat/St. Louis Business Journal)

As a lifelong St. Louisan raised in Ferguson, Stefani Weeden-Smith is deeply aware of the region’s historical divides and the barriers that have limited economic mobility for some residents.

She’s been motivated to try to help alleviate some of those inequities throughout her professional career, and it’s been her singular focus the past three years while she’s served as the inaugural director of the St. Louis Anchor Action Network.

The alliance of higher education institutions, hospital systems, corporations and nonprofits, led by the University of Missouri–St. Louis and Edward Jones, launched in 2021. Its members share a commitment to advancing inclusive prosperity by removing obstacles to economic opportunity so everyone in the region has a chance to thrive.

“We really want to figure out how we can change the structures that are creating barriers for folks, so they have greater access to wealth and health,” Weeden-Smith said. “Those are things that should just be rights that people have.”

Weeden-Smith was honored along with 12 other individuals, one nonprofit and one for-profit company at the St. Louis Business Journal’s annual Champions for Diversity and Inclusion Awards luncheon, held Thursday at the Bayer Event Center at the Missouri Botanical Garden.

The awards celebrate those who promote diversity in all forms as they work to make the St. Louis region a more inclusive place. The 2024 honorees represented some of the region’s largest private and public companies, including MilliporeSigma, SSM Health and St. Louis CITY SC.

“I am very honored,” Weeden-Smith said. “My life’s work is to try to dismantle the inequities that we have in our society. That’s what I hope that we do and that I can be a part of that. To be recognized in this way is quite special.”

Weeden-Smith was quick to credit the many people she works with at the Network’s 16 member organizations who share in the honor. The Business Journal previously presented the Network with one of four Innovation in Philanthropy Awards in 2023.

The Network has been using its collective power to increase hiring and procurement opportunities for people and businesses in 22 ZIP codes of St. Louis city and St. Louis County that have faced decades of disinvestment. Nearly 25% of the population in those ZIP codes live below the poverty line.

Members have been working toward a goal of increasing their collective hiring and purchasing from those communities by 10%, leading to a $50 million increase in direct investment.

“We talk a lot about it in our work – and I really do take this to heart – that any of our anchor members, they could do it alone.” Weeden-Smith said. “They could go and do this work alone. But it is so much more impactful when we really do this together.”

It isn’t always easy to get large institutions with their own visions, objectives, commitments and responsibilities to focus on the same goals.

“Stefani has been a wonderful leader, working collaboratively to bring people together so they see the big picture and the human and societal impact we can all have,” said UMSL Chancellor Kristin Sobolik, who nominated Weeden-Smith for the award. “She’s pragmatic but also filled with hope and optimism, which are needed qualities as we work to address some of the most daunting challenges facing our region.”

Weeden-Smith believes her new award is evidence that people recognize the value in the Network’s long-term vision.

“I feel honored and humbled to be a part of this,” she said. “But I know on the other side of it is, we can’t rest. There’s still more that we have to accomplish and more to do to continue to keep this at the forefront.”

Read more about Weeden-Smith in the St. Louis Business Journal.