2026 40 Under 40
STL Business Journal to honor Darnell Tingle at upcoming award ceremony
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.
“Throw it back to the 90s with the St. Louis Business Journal as we celebrate the young leaders we expect to see shaping headlines for the next 10 years. The 40 Under 40 Class of 2026 isn’t just defining the future of our region; they’re the next chapter in a story that started with mixtapes, dial-up connections, and limitless potential.”
In a society where many accept the status quo, these 40 leaders have decided to not only push the envelope by creating positive change; they are challenging others to also accept the call.
“This recognition belongs to the whole UCM team. I’m honored to be named to the St. Louis Business Journal’s 2026 class of 40 Under 40, and I see it as recognition of the work we’re all doing together to move our mission forward.”
Although Darnell holds many titles, he is honored to accept this award on behalf of UCM’s mission. We are committed to guiding community leaders- those who have stepped into that role and those who hold the potential for it- equipping them with necessary resources and assisting them in transforming their communities in positive ways.
Over the last 25 years, UCM has stood in tandem with many other organizations to cure many injustices in our community. We have been involved in several legislation changes including the Pretrial Fairness Act. We have also been heavily involved in pushing the Illinois POWER Act to project our natural resources from the harm caused by data centers.
If you would like to get connected further with our mission we offer many ways to get involved including programs such as the CEJA Workforce Hub in collaboration with Macedonia Development Corporation, along with our efforts to create engaged and informed voting at all political levels.
To learn more about UCM, please email info@ucmetroeast.org to be connected to an organizer.