Community Events

Periodically, Places for People participates in events to better the community in which we serve. Below are some examples of either upcoming or past events.

NAMI Walk St. Louis - May 25, 2013

Places for People will once again field a team for the NAMI Walk in St. Louis. This year's NAMI Walk will be held May 25 in Forest Park, with check-in beginning at 8 a.m. and the walk starting from the Muny's Upper Lot at 9 a.m.

NAMI's mission is to "Improve the lives of persons with mental illness and their families through education, support, advocacy and research, in order to achieve the highest possible quality of life." Learn more about NAMI St. Louis.

The funds raised from the walk help pay for the education classes, support groups, and advocacy that NAMI provides to St. Louis.

Visit the PfP team page to join the fun or donate toward our goal.

Access to Healthcare - Unlocking Doors in St. Louis: A Community Conversation

You are invited to attend "Access to Healthcare - Unlocking Doors in St. Louis: A Community Conversation," from 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Friday, March 15, 2013, at the Saint Louis University School of Law. The forum will address the challenge of how a region with extraordinary health care can provide greater access to vulnerable populations.

Dr. Katherine Mathews, Director of Clinical Services at Casa de Salud, will deliver the keynote address.

Places for People's Leon Farrar and Virginia Selleck will be among the panelists during the break-out session "Strategies for Increasing Access to Behavioral Health Care," which will be moderated by PfP Executive Director Joe Yancey.

For additional information, the full list of break-out sessions, and to register for this free event, please visit http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5309954216#.

Making Homelessness History: Innovations That Work in St. Louis

Making Homelessness History:Innovations That Work in St. Louis, presented by the Advocacy Committee of the St. Louis Continuum of Care, was held Tuesday, February 26, 2013, at the Missouri History Museum.

The free program started at 1 p.m. with information tables in the MacDermott Grand Hall. There were several presentations throughout the day, culminating with a keynote speech at 6 p.m. Places for People Housing Manager Daniel Gray and Outreach Team member Megan Heeney made a brief presentation during the afternoon session regarding some of Places for People's innovative efforts involving mental health outreach and housing.

• 1 p.m. | MacDermott Grand Hall | Information Tables
• 2 p.m. | Lee Auditorium | Presentation by St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay
• 3 p.m. | Lee Auditorium | Organizational Presentations
• 4:15 p.m. | Lee Auditorium | Show of Strength Screening
• 4:45 p.m. | Lee Auditorium | Dignity Harbor Screening
• 6 p.m. | Lee Auditorium | Keynote Lecture

All sessions of Making Homelessness History were free and open to the public. The event was part of the museum's monthly Avenues of Activism series.

The Longest Night Memorial Service

On December 21—the first day of winter and the longest night of the year—a memorial service will be held to remember individuals who died homeless in 2012.

“The Longest Night” will begin with an ecumenical service at 4 p.m. at The Centenary United Methodist Church (1610 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63103). During the service, the names of those who have died will be read, and candles will be lit in their honor. Often, this is the only chance to remember and celebrate friends and family who died without homes. A complimentary dinner will follow in the church's downstairs dining room.

Places for People Associate Executive Director Dr. Gary Morse will be one of the speakers at the event. "No one in America should have to live without a home and certainly no one should have to die homeless, and yet sadly each year brings the premature and often tragic deaths a number of homeless people in St. Louis. The Longest Night event is an opportunity to remember and celebrate the lives of these citizens as well as a calling to redouble our efforts to end homelessness," Morse said.

Other speakers at the event include Father Ed Murphy of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Rabbi Susan Talve of Central Reform Congregation, and Imam Muhamed Hasic of Islamic Community Center. There will also be an honor guard presentation to salute veterans who died homeless in 2012.

Event organizers currently have the names of 13 people who died homeless in 2012. If you know of someone to add to the list, please contact Debra Crowe of The Bridge at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The event, which has been held since 2004, is provided by The Bridge, Places for People, the St. Louis City Continuum of Care and St. Louis County Department of Homeless Services.

Plowsharing Crafts Holds Fundraiser for PfP Faith Team

Do your holiday shopping and help others at the same time!

Plowsharing Crafts will donate a portion of proceeds from 5-8 p.m. on December 7, 2012, to the Places for People Faith Team. Learn more about the Faith Team here.

Plowsharing Crafts is located at 137 West Jefferson Avenue in Kirkwood. Plowsharing Crafts offers imported crafts from Third World countries and observes Fair Trade guidelines.

Ethnic hor-d'oeuvres will be served and door prizes will be awarded! Parking is available at St. Peter's Church across Clay Avenue.

For more information about the event, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

World AIDS Day 2011 - A Day of Celebration, Remembrance, Awareness and Togetherness  

To properly recognize World AIDS Day 2011, Places for People hosted a day of celebration, rememberance, awareness, education and togetherness called "Light of Life" at Central Reform Congregation on December 1st.

Mistress of Ceremonies, Dawn Sherrod, from Places for People's PATH Team led the lunch program filled with guest speakers who discussed the day's theme, "Getting to Zero," while addressing stigma and services for people living with HIV/AIDS.

The program included touching performances from both Bishop Tony Lane who sang "When You Walk Through a Storm" and an inspiring interpretive dance performance by Ms. Crystal Johnson.

Special thanks to Chris Kreutz, Robert Kreutz, Julia Day, Joe Yancey, Anthony Tripp, Sheila Jackson and Tawnya Brown for also contributing to the day's success.

Places at Page Alley Clean Up

In April 2010, Places for People partnered with Operation Brightside on a Project Blitz to clean up overgrown plants and debris behind its Places at Page building. Over 100 volunteers came together from AmeriCorps, Metropolis, the Academy/Sherman Park Neighborhood Association, the Friends of PfP and more to “make over” the alley.