June Internal News
Welcome to JUNE
As we reach the halfway point of the year, June offers an opportunity to look back on what has been accomplished thus far and look ahead to the opportunities still to come. June is also a month of celebration and recognition, featuring Pride Month and Juneteenth, both of which remind us of the importance of community, inclusion, and progress.
We hope you enjoy this month’s newsletter!
In Honor of Juneteenth
Juneteenth, celebrated each year on June 19, marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. The holiday recognizes both the end of slavery in the United States and the continued pursuit of equality, opportunity, and economic empowerment for Black Americans.
As professionals working in economic development, Juneteenth also serves as a reminder of the important connection between opportunity and community growth. Supporting small businesses, entrepreneurship, and community investment helps create a stronger and more inclusive economy across the St. Louis region.
This month, we recognize the resilience, innovation, and contributions of Black business owners, leaders, and community members whose impact continues to shape our region.
June
Fun Facts
• On average, Americans plan to spend more than $2,800 on summer travel alone, with transportation, hotels, and dining leading the charge.
• More Nobel Prize winners are born in June than in any other month.
• George Washington had a massive sweet tooth. In the summer of 1790, the founding father spent roughly $200 (roughly $5,800 in today's money) on ice cream.
• The month gets its name from Juno, the ancient Roman queen of the gods and the goddess of marriage and childbirth.
Staff Highlights
Toni shares experience on stage in front of 300 people
While attending the JMT Innovate Conference 2026 in Washington, D.C., I had an unexpected opportunity to be part of one of the keynote sessions. Earlier in the conference, a gentleman in the crowd wearing his hat backwards approached me and asked if I would mind holding a key. At the time, I had no idea that this small moment would become part of something much bigger.
Shortly after, a video introduced the next keynote speaker, Ari Gunzburg, author of The Little Book of GREATNESS. As he took the stage, he began sharing his message on the Five Keys to Greatness: Give, Reason, Engage, Amazing, and Tenacity. He
explained that several audience members had been given keys and that when the name of their key was called, they would be invited to come up on stage.
I was given the key “Give.”
When I joined him on stage, I shared my personal experience of being a single mother of three when my family was impacted by the Good Friday tornado, which destroyed our home and most of our belongings. I spoke about how our community and church family came together during one of the most difficult times in our lives. A member of our church had a home available
to rent in St. Peters, Missouri, giving us a place to stay. The Red Cross assisted by paying our first and last month’s rent, and an anonymous donor from our church generously furnished our entire home.
That experience reminded me of the power of ‘Give’ and how people came together to bless my family and me during one of our greatest times of need.
Zack Folk and Annie Mbale
Zack and Annie were recently selected to participate in the 2026-2027 class of Leadership St. Louis®. Make sure to congratulate them the next time you see them in the office!
Suzanne Sierra
Suzanne wrote an op-ed piece about the importance of companies hiring from the international talent pool in St. Louis. It was published by the St. Louis Business Journal. Check our website to read her insightful piece!
Marketing Team
Andy and Megan gave a presentation at the Lemay Incubator about marketing, including topics like media relations and branding. If you would like to share your professional expertise with small business owners, contact Colleen!
Staff Member Spotlight JACE FREDGREN
Credit Analyst
How long have you been at STL Partnership? I have been at STL Partnership for almost 4.5 years.
What is your favorite part of your day-to-day work at the office?
My favorite part of work is when I get to observe the results, and I love seeing how we have benefited businesses in the community.
What’s a surprising fact people don’t know about you?
Something people don’t know about me is that I play the piano.
What do you think the secret to your success is?
My secret to success is being open-minded and having a desire to learn. I also believe that being consistent and developing a healthy daily routine is crucial for being successful.
"We are glad to have Jace as a member of our team. He has displayed a willingness to take on new assignments and displays a great work ethic. "
- STL Partnership Leadership
Welcome to the Team!
Mitra Heravi Executive Assistant
World
Trade Center St. Louis
What are you most looking forward to in your new position?
I am looking forward to learning, contributing, and being part of the STL Partnership’s positive impact in helping make our community a better place for all of us.
What would people be surprised to learn about you (fun fact)?
I can think of a few:
- I don’t have any social media accounts.
- I’ve lived on four continents. For my grad school, I attended the northernmost university (located in Tromsø, Norway) where the sun doesn’t bother rising for two months in winter and never sets for two months in summer.
- I’ve had the opportunity to learn and/or do limited linguistic research on about 10 languages in total. Do I still remember them all? No! But it seems like my brain tends to enjoy mixing together whatever hasn’t already been lost, usually at the worst possible moments.
What’s your hobby/passion?
I enjoy reading, hiking, baking and cooking, traveling, and spending time with my dogs. I’m also passionate about languages and different cultures.
What is your favorite place/activity in St. Louis?
I’d say my favorite activity in St. Louis is exploring parks, local neighborhoods, and different cafes and restaurants.
Is there anything else you would like the team to know?
I’m excited to be here and looking forward to meeting everyone and being part of the work ahead.
Get to know our Summer Interns!
Nayeon Kim
Mosaic Project Intern
Washington University
Political Science and Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies
Favorite Spot in St. Louis:
City Museum & Cherokee Street
Hobbies:
Volleyball & Drawing
Dream Career:
Nonprofit/Social Work Sector
Fun Fact:
Broken all 4 limbs (not at the same time!)
Maggie Owens
Immigration Communication & Digital Marketing Assistant Intern
Georgetown University International Politics
Favorite Spot in St. Louis: Forest Park or Busch Stadium
Hobbies:
Sailing, Old Movies, Running, & Hiking
Dream Career:
Foreign Country Ambassador/Embassy or Consulate Work
Fun Fact: SCUBA Certified
Maxine Strata
Business & Marketing Intern for WTC
Webster University History, Spanish, & Creative Writing
Favorite Spot in St. Louis:
Tower Grove Park & South Grand
Hobbies:
Knitting, Crocheting, Embroidery, Writing, Drawing, etc.
Dream Career:
Professor of Latin American Studies
Fun Fact: Crotcheting for 14 years
Genesis Starks
WashU Gephardt Institute Fellow Intern
Washington University
Major: Finance & Organization and Strategic Management. Minor: Political Science
Favorite Spot in St. Louis:
Forest Park
Hobbies:
Basketball, Working Out, & Reading
Dream Career: NBA Attorney
Fun Fact:
Charged by an elephant multiple times in South Africa
Brain Games
A. I have keys but no locks. I have space but no room. You can enter, but you can’t go outside. What am I?
B. The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?
C. What breaks yet never falls, and what falls yet never breaks?
D. What can you hold in your right hand, but never in your left hand?
E. What coat is best put on wet?
JUNE
Marking Juneteenth
Juneteenth, a shortened form of June 19th, is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.
History of Juneteenth
On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were free. This was two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. That executive order had not had much impact on the Texans due to the small number of Union troops available to enforce the order there. With the end of the Civil War, those forces were deployed to influence and overcome resistance to ending slavery.
Juneteenth Today
On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law establishing the date as a federal holiday. The national holiday celebrates African American freedom and achievement, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures. It is also a time for many to gather with family and community to honor the present and reflect on shared history and tradition.
For more information:
Your EAP is committed to supporting diverse workforces and strives to fulfill your preferences for culturally competent mental health professionals who can meet your emotional needs. Contact us to learn about what else may be available to you.
• Juneteenth.com
• National Museum of African American History & Culture
• PBS – What is Juneteenth
• GovInfo – Juneteenth
Celebrating pride month
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersexual, Asexual (LGBTQIA+) Pride Month is celebrated each year in June to mark the occasion of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan.
The uprising, in which Stonewall Inn patrons and others staged protests over police harassment, was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States.
Initially, the last Sunday in June was celebrated as Gay Pride Day. That one-day celebration has grown to encompass a month-long series of events, including parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia, and concerts, which attract millions of participants around the world. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the significant impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.
LGBTQIA+ employees face a unique set of challenges in the workplace. Your ComPsych ® GuidanceResources ® Employee Assistance Program understands this and is available to help, not just when at work, but also while at home and in your community.
National Indigenous History Month
Every June, Canada recognizes National Indigenous History Month and the opportunity it offers to learn about the cultures, traditions, and experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. These three distinct peoples enjoy rich and unique histories, languages, cultures, and spiritual practices. Collectively, their stories, achievements, and resilience have had a profound impact on Canadian history and culture. In fact, more than 1.8 million people in Canada identify themselves as an Indigenous person, according to the 2021 Census. That represents 5 percent of Canada’s total population.
In addition to celebrating Indigenous peoples and their cultures, it’s also important to spend some time in June reflecting on the historic mistreatment of Indigenous communities in Canada and what can be done to promote understanding, awareness, and healing.
Further information on the importance of diversity and inclusion is available from your Employee Assistance Program. Log on to guidanceresources.com for articles, on-demand trainings, and other tools, as well as to access culturally sensitive counselling and similar support.
THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA OFFERS MORE INFORMATION ON NATIONAL INDIGENOUS HISTORY MONTH AND THE PEOPLES IT HONOURS AT canada.ca .
International Day of Yoga
The International Day of Yoga is celebrated globally on June 21, which coincides with the summer solstice. In yoga philosophy, the solstice is a time of spiritual renewal, making it an ideal day to celebrate the goal of yoga: balancing body, mind, and spirit.
Why practice yoga?
Your body records experiences and sensations, shaping your thoughts, beliefs, and approach to life, which in turn affects your physical condition. Traditional yoga was a spiritual pursuit, with practitioners contemplating the questions: Who am I? Where do I come from? What must I do? Today, people still realize the importance of yoga’s mental aspects but often focus more on its physical benefits.
Key restorative yoga poses
These deeply relaxing and revitalizing poses encourage rest while resetting the body, mind, and spirit:
Child’s pose, or Balasana: Back and neck pain
Reclining hero pose, or Supta Virasana: Digestion and menstrual pain
Corpse pose, or
Stress, fatigue, blood pressure, and insomnia
Reclining bound angle pose, or Supta Baddha Konasana: Mind calming, depression, and menopause
The reclining big toe pose, or Supta Padangusthasana: Sciatica
Legs-up-the-wall pose, or Viparita Karani: Tired feet and legs
Savasana:
STL Partnership Job Openings
Are you or someone you know a great fit for one of the job openings at the Partnership? Please share and visit our Careers page to see the latest jobs. Available Opportunities:
• Staff Accountant
• Business Lending Loan Closer
Mission Statement
St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (SLEDP) is the regional economic development organization which attracts, retains, and facilitates growth of businesses in St. Louis County and City. The Partnership works with economic development partners to help companies of all sizes thrive in the St. Louis region. The Partnership serves as a convener and partner on strategic regional economic development initiatives.
The internal newsletter is designed to keep you informed of the great efforts in our company.