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
Lisa is the coordinator for Project Haki, the OBS violence prevention based in the 22nd Ward. She connects well with victims of violence and their families. She has extensive experience working with populations that have been alienated and criminalized by society. Lisa supports the organizing of the State Repression Committee around issues such as police accountability and restorative justice. She’s the business manager for her grandson’s football league and loves watching their games. Lisa is an avid reader and a creative decorator. She is deeply committed to making a difference in her community.
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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.