Our team had the pleasure of sitting down with the founder of A Red Circle, Erica Williams, to learn more about her organization’s incredible story.
A Red Circle was established in 2017 and exists to promote community betterment in North St. Louis County, through a racial equity lens.
Erica has always enjoyed serving her community, from organizing organized meals for the sick to hats and gloves drives for local children’s home to home improvement parties for the disabled, she has done it all.
After the Ferguson, MO events in 2014, while researching St. Louis’ real estate history, she discovered that the current racial tension in St. Louis was the result of past racist laws and public policies – on each level of government. Moreover, these policies are now manifested in the region of St. Louis known as North St. Louis County. She decided that a substantial investment into North County was necessary to provide equitable relief to the region.
North County contains a predominantly African American population, and the majority of the residents are from low, single-income households. Few residents possess advanced college degrees, and more families rent rather than own their homes. To spur the investment needed into North County, she founded a collaborative, community benefit organization: A Red Circle.
Red, because all blood is red and a circle to represent safety, unity, and the interconnection of needs for a healthy community.
A Red Circle’s purpose is economic development through a racial equity lens. Its mission statement is the holistic betterment of our community, reversing the effects of racism one person and cause at a time.
A Red Circle has five Circles in which she and other volunteers will work to combat economic segregation – Employment, Education, Holistic Living, Policy, and the Arts.
A Red Circle’s Board of Directors is diverse, and its team of volunteers come from all walks of life. A Red Circle is committed to bringing everyone to the table, so long as individuals are open to honest dialogue concerning racial justice, equity, equality, and healing.
Click here to learn more about the organization and its mission.
