Julia Ho - Founder
Born and raised in Lubbock, TX and with deep roots in Taiwan, Julia has been living and organizing in St. Louis since 2011 and has been heavily involved in dozens of campaigns, coalitions, and organizations in the region throughout that time. Her passion for community stems first and foremost from her early experiences with TreeGrace Farms, a certified organic farm founded by her mother and named after her grandfather. As a student at Wash U, she was one of the co-founders of SWAP STL, a student-run collective dedicated to facilitating the free exchange of goods and resources on and off-campus. Throughout the Ferguson Uprising, she was a lead organizer with Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment (MORE), providing movement support and developing campaigns for racial justice and municipal court reform. All of these experiences and passions have served as a foundation for the development of Solidarity Economy St. Louis.
Can be reached at julia@solidaritystl.org
Salena B - Program Director
Salena Burch is a Saint Louis Native. She is a Certified Spiritual Life Coach and Certified Sound Therapist with over 5yrs of experience in facilitating healing space for the community. Salena leads spiritual sister circles, grieving circles and offers one on one and group spiritual life coaching. She is the founder of Healing Cotton and Healing Cotton Collective, whose focus is to aid in the spiritual health of the communities they serve. She is passionate about spiritual health, youth, the land, eating good food and liberation.
Can be reached at Salena@solidaritystl.org
Umeme Houston - Youth Council Coordinator
Umeme Houston, a creative visionary, textile artist, and entrepreneur, was born, raised, and currently residing in St. Louis, MO. She is deeply rooted in creating systemic change in her community through art and a new economy practice. Umeme has earned degrees and certificates in accounting, general transfer studies, and civic leadership. She has been trained by Urban Bush Woman, Highlander Economics and Governance, and University of Missouri Extension Neighborhood Leadership Academy. She is the founder of Sewcial Impact Project which is a project that teaches youth the life skill and art of sewing as a means self-sufficiency, social justice,self expression, and social change. Umeme is a proud fellow of Urban Bush Women and the Regional Arts Commission’s Community Arts Training (CAT). As a result of her formal community organizing training, Umeme has been able to touch many lives in her community while cultivating her craft. She believes the world can be changed through art and has dedicated her life to making a positive everlasting contribution to that change.
Can be reached at umeme@solidaritystl.org
Drew Foster - Member Coordinator
Drew was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. She has been with the network since 2019. Drew's passion for community stemmed from living in North St. Louis County and learning about racial disparities through her work with A Red Circle. She graduated with her BSW with a minor in Psychology from the University of Missouri - St. Louis and wants to advance social, racial and health inequalities the queer community and BIPOC through community organizing and outreach. Drew enjoys gardening, dancing, volunteering, playing pool, festivals, live music and the arts.
Can be reached at members@solidaritystl.org