This article was originally posted by Forward Through Ferguson Photo credit: Lindy Drew / Humans of St. Louis “The moment I felt like I was a leader was in 5th grade. I was captain of Safety Patrol and promoted the fastest at my school ever at the time. Usually, it was me and two other […]
On June 18, MCU presented "A State of Urgency" by Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, Senior Pastor of Trinity UCC in Chicago, IL. Rev. Dr. Moss explained what the stakes are for the upcoming 2026 elections and how we can prepare spiritually for this season. He addressed questions like “What are the spiritual responsibilities of […]
Ward Chapel AME presents a gathering of family and friends to discuss the upcoming 2026 elections and the deep impact they will have on our community. Mr. Demarco Davidson, Executive Director of MCU, will be our guest speaker as we navigate the path of our faith through the implications and real effects of the issues […]
Originally published by by Ashley Winters | The St. Louis American May 16, 2026 A year after a devastating tornado tore through the St. Louis region and into parts of Southern Illinois, blue tarps still cling to rooftops across parts of North St. Louis. Vacant buildings remain partially collapsed. Families continue navigating insurance claims, housing […]
On June 7, 2026, our Executive Director, Demarco Davidson had the honor of speaking to the congregation led by Rev. Emmanuel Cleaver III at St. James Church in Kansas City. This is an ongoing workshop series calling black men to action around changing harmful attitudes and actions toward black women and women in general. More information […]
Follow along with Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU) Executive Director DeMarco Davidson as he breaks down how democracy in Missouri is becoming more expensive, less accessible, and harder for everyday people to influence without organized community action. Support DeMarco & MCU by signing up: https://secure.everyaction.com/-tS0D7... In this series, DeMarco connects the dots between fair maps, voting […]
This Juneteenth weekend, join us for a celebration of liberation, hope, and community at Power Creative. Renowned concert pianist and speaker, Eric Genuis, will take the stage, performing uplifting original compositions with a message that highlights the underserved members of our society. June 19 @ 7:30 PM — June 20 @ 11:00 AM — June […]
Join us for a fun night of trivia, support MCU and maybe learn a few new things about our environment. Saturday, April 11, 2026 Schroer CommonsEden Theological Seminary475 East Lockwood AveSt. Louis, MO 63119 NOTE: Alcohol is not permitted at this event.
Join us to hear about why our faith traditions call us to support our immigrant neighbors and defend all of our civil rights. Listen to local faith and community leaders about their involvement and how you can lend your strength to an organized movement to protect and care for those caught in the sights of this administration.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 25 • 7pm Central Time BIT.LY/NATIONALFAITHCALLTOACTION Following the tragic killing of Alex Pretti in Minnesota by ICE, people of faith across the country are coming together to lament, pray, and take action. Join us as we:
Meet the Live Performers Bringing the Soundtrack to “Unsung Sheroes, Untold Stories: Ryze from the Rubble” At Metropolitan Congregations United, our work is rooted in faith, justice, and the unbreakable power of community. This year’s Gala — Unsung Sheroes, Untold Stories: Ryze from the Rubble — is a celebration of resilience, rebirth, and the voices […]
🎤 Announcing Our Gala Emcee: Genell Reynolds of 5 On Your Side! 🎤 Metropolitan Congregations United is thrilled to announce Genell Reynolds, Digital Audience Producer at 5 On Your Side (KSDK), as the Emcee for our 2025 Ryze from the Rubble Gala! In her work at KSDK, Genell connects the St. Louis community to impactful […]
Meet Daniel Reynolds — MCU’s 2025 Gala Live Auctioneer Bringing Faith, Fun, and Fire to the “Ryze from the Rubble” Gala Metropolitan Congregations United is thrilled to announce Daniel Reynolds as our Live Auctioneer for Ryze from the Rubble – MCU’s 2025 Gala Fundraiser! Daniel is a Christian author, anime enthusiast, and full-time goofball on a serious mission: to share the […]
Award from The Courage Project given to 20 organizations and individuals across the nation for demonstrating the power of courage in their communities Public award nomination form is open to the public to honor individuals or organizations acting with courage and compassion to help their communities St. Louis, MO – Metropolitan Congregations United, a member-based nonprofit organization […]
Metropolitan Congregations United is proud to honor Lisa Williams as one of our Unsung Sheroes at Ryze from the Rubble – MCU’s 2025 Gala Fundraiser. Lisa’s decades-long commitment to justice, equity, and community organizing exemplifies the heart and soul of MCU’s mission. A Journey of Service and Advocacy Lisa began her work with MCU over […]
Metropolitan Congregations United is proud to announce Councilmember Jamie Hasemeier as one of our 2025 Unsung Shero Award honorees at Ryze from the Rubble – MCU’s Gala Fundraiser! A Journey Rooted in Faith, Family, and Justice Jamie describes her life’s work as being deeply grounded in intuition, faith, and community. She believes our “gut feeling” […]
We are honored to announce Calvina D. Brown as our third Unsung Shero honoree for Ryze from the Rubble – MCU’s 2025 Gala Fundraiser! Calvina, lovingly known as Cal, is a beacon of hope, resilience, and healing. She wears many hats — a devoted wife, mother of 7, community healer, and powerful change agent — […]
We are thrilled to announce that Rev. Eric Moeller, a United Church of Christ pastor and long-time rock ‘n’ roll musician, will be bringing his signature sound and powerful spirit to Ryze from the Rubble – MCU’s 2025 Gala Fundraiser! About Rev. Eric Hailing from Washington, MO, Eric has been performing, writing, and recording for […]
We are honored to announce that Jessica Mayo, co-founder and co-director of the Migrant and Immigrant Community Action (MICA) Project, will serve as the Keynote Speaker for Ryze from the Rubble – MCU’s 2025 Gala Fundraiser. About Jessica Mayo Jessica Mayo is a lifelong advocate for immigrant rights, family unity, and racial equity. She co-founded […]
We are thrilled to announce our second 2025 Unsung Shero Award recipient: Reverend Angela M. Tate! Her lifelong dedication to faith, mental health, and community healing embodies the very spirit of our upcoming gala theme — Ryze from the Rubble. A Life Rooted in Faith and Service A lifelong St. Louis resident, Rev. Tate was […]
You're Cordially Invited🌟 RYZE from the RUBBLE 🌟MCU's 2025 Gala Fundraiser 🗓 Thursday, November 13, 2025📍 The Historic Stone House of St. Charles 🕕 Cocktail Hour | 6 PM🍽️ Seating & Appetizers | 6:30 PM🎤 Program Begins | 7 PM In the wake of the devastating St. Louis tornadoes, RYZE from the RUBBLE is more than just […]
🌟 Your Path to a Brighter Future Starts Here! 🚀 3 Daughters and 1000 Sons is proud to bring back our FREE Expungement Information Clinics! 📍 Where: Virtual & In-Person option In Person: St. Louis Community College – William J. Harrison Education Center3140 Cass Ave, St. Louis, MO 63106 Virtual: Zoom 📅 When: Every 1st […]
As we reach the halfway point of my second year as Executive Director of Metropolitan Congregations United, I continue to be amazed by the courage, compassion, and deep faith of our community. On Friday, May 16th, 2025, our St. Louis region was shaken by devastating tornadoes that left destruction and loss across several St. Louis region communities. […]
🎉✨ Our 2nd Quarter MCU General Newsletter of 2025 is Live! ✨🎉Don’t miss this 2nd Quarter edition packed with:✅ Inspiring stories of our 2025 victories thus far 💪✅ Updates on critical issues like #EnvironmentalJustice and #SacredVotes 🌍📚✅ What’s ahead for rest of 2025! 🚀📩 Read it now and stay inspired at the button below or […]
Prop 24 Momentum Is Building — Here’s How You Can Get Involved= Last week on June 30th, Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU) and Beyond Housing co-hosted a powerful Community Town Hall Meeting to engage residents in the Normandy School District around a vital local issue: the need for safe, reliable, and accessible transportation in our communities. […]
STL Tornado Testimony Video Series 📽️ Share Your Storm Story: MCU Wants to Uplift Your Voice When the EF-3 tornado tore through St. Louis, it didn’t just damage homes and churches—it shook the very heart of our communities. But even in the midst of loss, we’ve seen powerful moments of love, faith, and resilience rise […]
Faith, Earth, and Action: Celebrate Earth Day by Investing in Environmental Justice As Earth Day arrives, we’re reminded of the sacred responsibility we hold to protect and preserve the world around us. At Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU), environmental justice is not just a cause—it’s a faithful calling. Our commitment is rooted in the belief that […]
Barbara Johnson and Her Legacy with MCU Barbara Johnson’s story is one of resilience, dedication, and unwavering commitment to justice. As she transitions out of her role as a Board Member with MCU, Barbara continues to build her legacy and carve an inspirational path through her commitment to leadership and activism that has profoundly shaped […]
Join Our Board and Help Us Build a More Just Community! Are you passionate about faith-driven community organizing and social justice? Do you believe in the power of collective action to create meaningful change? Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU) is seeking dedicated leaders to join our Board of Directors! As a board member, you will:✅ Provide […]
STRIVE FOR 2025 ELEVATE TO 2028 MCU CAPITAL CAMPAIGN Dear friends, supporters, and community leaders, My first year as Executive Director of MCU has been a profound journey of development and dedication as we have worked to fulfill our mission of putting our faith into action by developing leaders who move their congregations, organizations, and […]
🎉✨ Our Final MCU Newsletter of 2024 is Live! ✨🎉Don’t miss this year-end edition packed with:✅ Inspiring stories of our 2024 victories 💪✅ Updates on critical issues like #EnvironmentalJustice and #BreakTheSchoolToPrisonPipeline 🌍📚✅ A sneak peek at what’s ahead for 2025 🚀📩 Read it now and stay inspired at the button below or visit bit.ly/MCU2024News💙 Let’s […]
🌟This weekend, over 225 people across 15 states and South Africa gathered in Detroit, Michigan for Gamaliel Network's Fifth Biennial 2024 Race and Power Summit!❤️🔥💥The summit offered faith-based organizers and leaders from across the nation and beyond to reflect and strategize during such a "Pivotal Moment in Time" for "Resistance, Persistence, & Insistence" to the challenges to […]
How Faith, Community, and Dedication Made a Better Future Possible Written by Emmaline Giles, MCU Communications Consultant & Israel Collier, MCU Board Member In an extraordinary display of unity and determination, Missouri has made history. With the passage of Proposition A, working families across the state will now benefit from a $15 per hour minimum […]
The Humans of St. Louis (HOSTL) partnered with Forward Through Ferguson for their interview picture series this year to mark the 10th anniversary since Michael Brown Jr.'s passing and the Ferguson Uprising. Our Executive Director was the final person to be featured in this year's series. HOSTL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that shares first-person stories and photographic portraits, […]
MCU needs everyone we can gather to help get the word out about the upcoming election. MO Amendment A, Missouri Healthy Families initiative — a push for paid sick leave for all workers and important adjustment to the state minimum wage — as well as many other initiatives supporting the health and well being of Missourians are at stake.
From Pain to Purpose Growing Up in St. Louis Born in 1977 in the heart of St. Louis, Michael Brown Sr. grew up in the neighborhoods of Pine Lawn and the Normandy district. Michael’s early life was a mix of tough lessons and unique experiences. His dad, a truck driver and military veteran, passed away […]
Congregations Unite for First Annual Youth Affirmation Worship Service and Youth Justice Day of Action Friday, August 9, 2024 marked the 10th Angelversary of Michael Brown Jr. His tragic death and the Ferguson Uprising shook America to its core, causing pivotal shifts within communities around the world. In honor of his life, The Michael Brown […]
Discovering a Path to Justice Work: Garrett Finazzo's Journey Through Art, Faith, and Community Organizing Upbringing Growing up in Webster Groves, Missouri, Garrett Finazzo's upbringing was filled with a diverse array of experiences. As a child, he attended six different schools, all while being raised by a single mother. This constant change exposed him to […]
Affirming the Youth in Our Congregations & Communities to Encourage Their Faith & Healing, And Answering a Call to Action The Michael Brown Sr. Chosen For Change Organization (CFC) partners with Metropolitan Congregations United of St. Louis (MCU) and St. John’s Church UCC - The Beloved Community to call for faith and community leaders to […]
Story by MCU Leader Kelly Bono Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU) Leader Sandra Keely is on a mission: to help 1000 people expunge their criminal records. One thousand people is no small goal, but Sandra draws power from the number. “In the holy Bible, the number 1000 is very liberally used.” Sandra drew from the spiritual […]
🎉 What an incredible week! Our local Gamaliel Network National Leadership Training (NLT) "Week-Long" event in St. Louis was a huge success! 🙌 📅 From June 9-15, 2024, leaders from our #MCU Member Network and beyond came together for an intense 7-day #LeadershipTraining. We built power, deepened our skills, and renewed our commitment to creating […]
Earn a FREE Certificate in Organizing and Social Transformation from the Center For Lived Faith and Organizing (CFLO)! 🌟We have purchased a limited number of CFLO workshops for our Members & Leaders! Take a free workshop or take 5 workshops to earn a FREE Certificate for Organizing and Social Transformation at Eden Theological Seminary!🎓️CFLO educates, trains, and […]
Since the start of Summer 2023, MCU leaders and our statewide partners have been collecting signatures from their neighbors and community throughout Missouri in support of the Missourians for Healthy Families & Fair Wages Initiative! 🗳️ This ballot initiative campaign aims to ensure that all Missouri voters have the option to voice their opinions for Earned Paid […]
Story by MCU Leader Kelly Bono For MCU leader Brian Nikodym, being an educator is a spiritual calling. His journey to the classroom began when he started working with children in his church, MCU member congregation, St. John’s United Church of Christ. At the time, Brian was working as a computer programer for the U.S. […]
Carolyn Redmore grew up in a farming family in Southwest Louisiana. Although she said it was a modestly privileged white middle-class family that could afford household help, her parents upheld fairness in their treatment of people regardless of status or race. She recalls how in the early 50s her mother worked with her employee to […]
Sarah Rose grew up in suburban Maryland with academic parents between Quaker and Jewish communities. Her parents helped instill strong critical thinking skills, an interest in politics, and a curiosity of how things happened around her. Sarah was introduced to Quakerism through school from 3rd to 7th grade where she gained a foundation for valuing […]
Ensure ALL Missourians can Vote to Ensure Paid Sick Leave and Fair Wages this Fall! CALLING ALL RESIDENTS, LEADERS, & CONGREGATIONS IN #STL! We are reaching our completion of Part 2 for our 2024 Ballot Initiative Signature Campaign efforts for the state-wide Missourians for Healthy Families & Fair Wages Initiative alongside our partner the Missouri Organizing and Voter Engagement Collaborative (MOVE). Read about the […]
MCU's Break the Pipeline Team (BTP) and the Advocacy Team of A Red Circle have teamed up to support education legislation this session with a "Testimony" Virtual Action on February 19th! MCU’s Break the Pipeline is a multi-system campaign to end criminalization, mass incarceration and supervision of black youth and adults in the education, police, […]
Torrey grew up in a small rural town in Southern Illinois in a catholic family while attending private catholic school. As long as Torrey can remember, she was always connected to nature. As a youth in a small rural town, much of the ways she connected with friends and her community was through outdoor activities. […]
MCU is in a new season of change with its recent transition of leadership from David Gerth’s 12-year tenure as our longest serving director. In the fall of October 2023, DeMarco K. Davidson stepped up from his role as MCU’s Voter Program Lead to become MCU's new Executive Director. DeMarco’s dedication to MCU’s mission and […]
Relaunching a New Year of Justice Work In a Season of Change On Saturday, January 20th, local St. Louis faith leaders and community members gathered at Webster Groves Presbyterian Church for the first MCU event of its kind. This event merged MCU’s historically independent Annual Membership and Annual Issue Summit meetings together. Attendees had the […]
CALL TO ACTION for STL Congregations during MLK Weekend: Jan 12-15 Watch DeMarco's special request by clicking the video below or read his message below! Dear all St. Louis Congregations, We believe congregations can strengthen communities and families. As a united organization composed of member congregations throughout the St. Louis metropolitan region, our mission is […]
Ms. Sonja Little-Cochren Member of New Sunnymount Missionary Baptist Church “Leadership is working with a team of people, not just yourself, and its about the mission, vision, and goals you want to accomplish collectively.” Ms. Sonja Little-Cochren Listen to why she does the work! Ms. Sonja first learned about MCU in 2015 when former Director […]
Season of Change, Leadership Transition, & Transformation We listened, we cried, we laughed, we ate, we danced, we built community, and created joy! MCU hosted our 2nd Annual Gala on October 5th to celebrate growth, hope, community power building, and a season of change in our executive leadership. The evening brought community members from across […]
Environmental Action is Social Action Guest blog post by Kelly Bono, Spring 2023 Environmental Justice Intern “We can improve outcomes for people by caring for our environment. We just have to dig in.” -Kelly As a social justice advocate that also happens to study ecosystems, I’m very interested in how human social systems, the natural […]
Should there be a new youth prison built or should there be a rebuilding of how we handle the school to prison pipeline? The facility proposed in north St. Louis will increase the city's capacity to house youth even as the Hogan Street facility sits more than half empty. Can we reimagine using some of […]
MCU puts faith into action by developing leaders who move their congregations, organizations and communities to change public policy for the common good.
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