On May 16th, an EF-3 tornado, a mile wide with wind speeds up to 150+ miles per hour hit my hometown of St. Louis, MO.

And not just any part, it pummeled the Westside and North City.

I grew up in North City. My family is still there. I returned to teach there. My students families are still there. This is my community. I don't care what anyone says about the northside, North St. Louis is my heart.

North City and the westside are predominantly Black communities that have been systematically divested from and intentionally exploited by local and state-level government officials for decades.

To make matters worse, the tornado sirens didn't go off in the city which just shows the lack of attentiveness and care for city residents (a predominantly Black city).

A week later, as spring storms continue, FEMA aid is still unclear if it will be available and housing is precarious for many.

These areas of the city have been hit the hardest and are now facing the aftermath.

Power was just restored for many this Tuesday, but too many people are still without electricity.

My heart aches for my friends and community who are without shelter, childcare, transportation, and routine meals. All the while the entire community is subject to significant health risks and tornado lung due to all the materials and chemicals in the air.

While city, state, and federal leadership have fallen short, everyday people are stepping up.

Action STL and ForTheCultureSTL launched a community-led rapid response -The People’s Response - mobilizing hundreds of volunteers daily to help with immediate critical needs, fallen trees on property and cars, additional clean-up efforts, and so much more.

This is an immediate crisis, and also this is a moment for all of us to reflect on our own emergency preparedness. Climate change is here, and disasters like this are becoming more frequent and regular. This is our new reality.

Given that, I've partnered with the Black Genome Project to 1) deliver solar powered flashlights and power bank combos to Black St. Louisans that urgently need them and 2) encourage you to get some for yourself (if you don't already have it).

Please consider ordering urgently needed supplies from this page: https://tinyurl.com/STLTornado.

Items can be sent directly to the address below and we will distribute:

Brett Maricque

4444 Forest Park Ave.

Rm 4163

St. Louis, MO 63108

More updates and ways to help will follow regarding donations and mutual aid. The BGP linktree below has a few resources and a plethora of nonprofits you can donate to and support additional community-led relief efforts on the ground.

Black St. Louisans need support now and for their future.

With gratitude + resilience,

Woods Adisa, Well with Woods

Chelsey Carter, Brett Maricque, and team, Black Genome Project

https://linktr.ee/blackgenomeproject