Staff
Jelani Brown
Youth ORGANIZER
Jelani Brown brings several talents to his role as our Youth Organizer. He is a screenprinter, graphic designer, illustrator and community organizer who believes that the path to racial equity is one that relies heavily on community self-reliance and self-sustainability. Jelani’s organizing experiences include the Youth Council for Positive Development’s Ma’at Youth Program and Youth Undoing Institutional Racism. Jelani has been involved with many community projects in the St. Louis area including the Healing Walls Mural Project, the Freedom Garden Initiative, and YUIR’s Undoing Institutional Racism’s “Pipe Dreams,” a mini documentary on St. Louis Public School’s prison to pipeline.
Velta smith
office manager
Velta comes to OBS with over with 24 years of administrative experience. During her tenure, she played a vital role in making sure things flowed smoothly for the teams she supported. She enjoys volunteering her time to serve meals to the unhoused. Velta brings a positive outlook and professional attitude. She takes pride in keeping the office organized and coordinated. In her free time, she appreciates reading thriller and mystery books and takes pleasure in spending quality time with her 2 grandsons.
Lisa LaGrone
Staffer
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- You will be joining an organization with nearly four decades on the battlefront for justice and racial equality.
- You will be part of an organization that has a respected history locally and nationally.
- You will work with others committed to making transformative change for our community.