I am interested in serving on the Cherokee Street CID Board because Cherokee Street has become so much more than the place where my business is located. It has become a community that has supported me, challenged me, and helped Butter Love grow over the years. I want the opportunity to give that same support back.  As a small business owner, I understand both the rewards and the challenges of operating on Cherokee Street. I know how important it is for businesses to feel heard, supported, and connected. I believe our district is full of creativity, culture, and passionate entrepreneurs, and I want to help strengthen those qualities while creating opportunities for sustainable growth.  I'm passionate about building community, supporting fellow business owners, and helping make Cherokee Street a destination where people want to shop, gather, and experience everything our neighborhood has to offer. I believe my perspective as a business owner, event host, and community advocate would allow me to contribute thoughtful ideas while working collaboratively with other board members to ensure the district continues to thrive for years to come.  Serving on the board would be an opportunity to invest in the neighborhood that has invested so much in me, and I would be honored to help shape the future of Cherokee Street.

I'd love to see Cherokee Street become a leader in what a thriving Community Improvement District can look like. I want our district to be recognized as an example of what's possible when community is at the center of every decision.  One area I'd like the CID to continue investing in is beautification. A clean, vibrant, and welcoming streetscape creates pride for business owners, residents, and visitors while encouraging more people to spend time on Cherokee Street. From landscaping and public art to lighting and maintenance, I believe every detail contributes to the overall experience.  I'd also like to see safety remain a top priority. Creating a safe environment isn't just about supporting our small businesses, it's about ensuring that our customers, neighbors, employees, and visitors feel comfortable walking, shopping, and gathering here every day.  Ultimately, I want Cherokee Street to be known as a place where small businesses can thrive, where community comes first, and where people from across the region come to experience the creativity, culture, and sense of belonging that make our neighborhood so special.

I believe I would be a strong addition to the Cherokee Street CID Board because I bring both the perspective of a small business owner and someone who genuinely cares about the long-term success of our neighborhood.  As the founder of Butter Love, I've experienced many of the realities that come with owning and operating a business on Cherokee Street. Those experiences have taught me the importance of collaboration, resilience, and creating spaces where both businesses and the community can thrive together.  One of my greatest strengths is community building. Whether through events, partnerships, or everyday interactions in my shop, I enjoy bringing people together and creating experiences that make them feel welcome. I believe thriving business districts are built on relationships, and I value listening to different perspectives and working collaboratively to find solutions that benefit everyone.  I also bring creativity, a strong work ethic, and a forward-thinking mindset. I'm always asking how we can improve, grow, and create opportunities that not only support the businesses here today but also strengthen Cherokee Street for future generations.Most importantly, I care deeply about this neighborhood. I want to help preserve what makes Cherokee Street unique while helping it evolve into a place where businesses, residents, artists, and visitors all feel proud to be a part of the community. It would be an honor to serve alongside others who share that same vision.

I care deeply about my neighbors and the community and want this neighborhood to be a place that other communities can look to as an expample of what Saint Louis can look like.

I'd like to see more youth centric events and activities, less vacant store fronts and more inclusive community based spaces.

I've lived and worked in the neighborhood for ten years and feel like I have a good understanding of how the neighborhood operates. I also have experience in event management both small and larger scale.

I would like to share the perspective from someone who cares about living and existing in the microcosm of Cherokee Street, without the influence of commerce or rental profits. I would like to provide opinions on matters brought to the CID of current residents in Benton Park/West, Marine Villa, and Gravois Park, specifically, as well as actively inform the community about the goals of the CID and it’s role.

In addition to maintaining some of the projects the CID has worked on in the past, I would like to see an increase in features and promotions for current local businesses, local art and music events, restaurants and bars, and create more “third spaces” for adults and youths under 21. I would personally like to work on a consolidated monthly calendar available to the public via social media. This could eventually expand into a “newsletter” of sorts for local job opportunities, rentals and homes for sale, and community focused events.

I have seen the changes, and the permanence, of Cherokee street as it has gone through the past two decades as a St. Louis native and Cherokee Street visitor since 2005/2006. I have also lived on the street for almost 10 years combined, in the bottoms (closer to Gravois) as well as east and west of Jefferson. I shop for groceries at Don Carlos and El Torito markets. I have patronized many restaurants, bars and shops on the street, some open and some now closed. I live above an active business on Cherokee and walk my dogs around the neighborhood. I firmly believe that active participation in your “village” is important to the success of a community and am long overdue. I think I am skilled in plan execution and logistics, organized documentation, and simplifying communication in multidimensional dynamics.

I’ve spent countless hours on Cherokee Street over the last 15 years as a resident, employee, volunteer, patron, and business owner. I love Cherokee Street, and I’m committed to doing my part to help ensure a vibrant and healthy community. Serving on the board of directors is one way I can use my skills and experience to contribute!

I would love to work together on ways to compassionately support our unhoused friends and neighbors who frequent Cherokee Street. I think there are opportunities to make the street feel welcoming and safe for everyone while also connecting people with the resources and support they need.

I bring a blend of community development knowledge, civic engagement experience, and small business skills that would be an asset to the Cherokee CID. Prior to opening Anchovy Book Co., I spent nearly two decades teaching community groups, congregations, and nonprofits across the country about the principles of Asset-Based Community Development. I also now have firsthand experience as a small business owner on Cherokee Street, and I’d bring both perspectives to the board.

I've been a part of the community for fifteen years including purchasing a building and moving onto the street in 2018, starting a family, and starting a business here in 2023. I want to see the people here successful and cared for while we maintain the street's free and beautiful culture and community. I want my children to grow up here appreciating what this place offers, and I want other families to have the same opportunity to live and work and stay here. Based on my professional experience I can also help keep businesses informed and encourage their cooperation and participation in the community.

I've been an active part of this neighborhood for years: serving on committees, volunteering at events, and helping with the Pulse Project to try to fill vacant storefronts on the street. I work here, I shop here, and I encourage others to keep it on the street. I have great relationships with neighbors and businesses including many that are not involved at all with the CID or its activities. I want to see everyone on the street be connected and treated with dignity, and I want to encourage a sense of community and optimism, especially among the people that have felt left behind or disconnected.