On November 5, the St. Louis Business Journal is inducting our Executive Director into the 2026 class of 40 Under 40. Darnell and 39 other young community leaders will be honored for their continuous display of action-provoking leadership in their respective industries.

I introduced “Dear Democracy…” as a community-centered initiative designed to make democracy more accessible and approachable. Through facilitated conversations, educational sessions, community partnerships, and leadership opportunities, the initiative helps people move from simply observing democracy to actively participating in it. I also shared my vision for an annual Dear Democracy… Summit that would bring together residents, students, nonprofits, businesses, educators, faith leaders, and local government around the shared goal of building a stronger East St. Louis.

On Saturday, August 22, The VALUE collective hosted a Community Candidate Forum at Southern Mission Missionary Baptist Church. With the Illinois primaries coming up, we felt it was important that create space for the candidates to meet residents, hear from the youth in the community and address the public. We had been planning this since Spring, making sure participants would be informed and submit substantial questions for the two men who plan to represent District 114.

Only one showed up.

“The Illinois EPA is keen to work with UCM and other interested local organizations to facilitate a quarterly meetings intended to connect members of the community and relevant Agency staff, including myself, to discuss environmental issues affecting the region.”

“God measures us by how we treat the 'least of these'...and right now the least of these is most of us.” - Rev. Charles Burton

The question is not simply how long America has existed. The question is whether America has become what it declared itself to be. Have the poor been heard? Have the oppressed been lifted? Have the forgotten been remembered? Has justice truly rolled down like waters? Or have we simply become better at celebrating the illusion of freedom while tolerating inequality? I love this country enough to tell the truth about it.

The most meaningful relationships of my life have been forged during the twenty-six years of my involvement in UCM. When asked why I keep doing the work, I reply that “I can not, not do this work”. I consider the work UCM does in our communities as my vocation.

As someone familiar to the area this came as no surprise. We all know the times where pools of water sit on the sides of the road, often stretching out into the street causing slippery driving conditions, often spanning days after rain came to and left the area. What was a surprise was how normal that abnormality was to me. Proper drainage infrastructure can be fixed, yet after a lifetime of never seeing East St. Louis without clear ditches that reality is often justified as just the way things are.

Article XI of the Illinois Constitution guarantees that “each person has the right to a healthful environment.” The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) Director reminded the audience of this at a recent Fireside Chat event, hosted by United Congregations of Metro-East (UCM) in East St. Louis. This constitutional promise reflects a core principle of “environmental justice”: that all people should be protected from environmental pollution regardless of race, income, or where they live. 

UCM’s Disco and Disruption was a friend-raising event that not only honored community leadership but challenged our position on current events while allowing us to boogie down in the process. 

Today is the National Day of Prayer. And I’ll be honest: this year, prayer feels different.

Because we are not praying in a country at peace with itself.

We are praying in a country where voting rights are under attack, where courts are making decisions that could weaken the voice and power of Black communities, Brown communities, poor communities, and working people.

We are praying in a country where people are tired. Tired of high bills. Tired of political games. Tired of being told to be patient while their neighborhoods flood, their children breathe polluted air, their water is unsafe, and their communities are ignored until somebody needs a vote.

Thank you for the privilege to serve as President of UCM. I will continue to support the mission, the new leadership team, and the communities we are called to uplift. Together, we will keep building power, advancing justice, and transforming the Metro-East for generations to come.

As we take time to honor Earth Day, I want to ground us in a truth that is both spiritual and practical:

In the beginning, we were given dominion not domination.
We were given responsibility not permission to destroy.

Community Day is an event dedicated to uplifting the Metro-East community by connecting residents with valuable resources, job employers, and pathways to education, health, and wealth. Join us next year as we continue to restore opportunity and move forward together because when we invest in health, wealth and jobs, we invest in our future.

Let’s be clear: when families cannot trust the water coming from their faucet, that is not just an infrastructure failure it is a moral failure.

The inspiration behind the event came from a desire to create a space where the younger population felt heard and valued. During such an important moment in our political climate, many young people have strong opinions, frustrations, and questions, but not always a place where they feel comfortable expressing them. This event was meant to change that by encouraging honest dialogue, respectful disagreement, and thoughtful reflection.

We spent the entire day listening to each other’s stories - wins, losses and frustrations - and building a brave space that allows our voices to be heard. UCM’s Executive Director, Darnell Tingle, posed the question: What impact would a specific harm have on your community. It was a harsh reality that many of us have already had to live through.