Vitendo 4 Africa

09/08/2026

Join Vitendo4Africa (V4A) and St. Louis, MO Chapter of The Links, Incorporated for an inspiring conversation celebrating the journeys, experiences, leadership, and contributions of immigrants in the St. Louis region.
Building Momentum Speaker Series, proudly presented as part of Welcoming America Welcoming Week 2026!

📅 Tuesday, September 15, 2026
⏰ 6:00–7:30 PM
📍 Deaconess Foundation
🎉 Welcoming Week 2026

We are excited to bring together an incredible panel:

🎤 Harlan Hodge - University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis
🎤 Dr. Ingrid Taylor - The St. Louis, MO Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
🎤 Cheryl Walker - Property Shoppers LLC
🎤 Dr. Samuel Shearer - Washington University in St. Louis

Our panelists will share their stories, insights, and experiences—and explore how we can continue building stronger connections, creating opportunities, and strengthening the St. Louis community.

This is more than a conversation; it’s an opportunity to listen, connect, learn, and build momentum together.

Come be part of the conversation!

REGISTER https://forms.gle/uVqHqkr67Yp9t8GD7

Vitendo4Africa is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to welcome, connect and empower healthier immigrant individuals and families through the provision of supports and services, and by coordinating resources.
https://vitendo4africa.org/

09/08/2026

CONGRATULATIONS, HARRIET OMENGE!

We are proud to celebrate Harriet Omenge, a Kenyan-born graduate student in the University of Missouri School of Medicine’s Translational Biosciences PhD Program, for earning national recognition for her groundbreaking research on endometriosis pain.

Born and raised in Kenya, Harriet moved to the United States after high school to pursue her education. She earned her undergraduate degree from Davenport University and is now advancing her research at the University of Missouri Mizzou.

Harriet’s journey is a powerful reminder of the talent, knowledge, innovation, and determination that immigrants bring to our communities. Immigrants are not only building businesses and strengthening our workforce; they are conducting research, advancing medicine, creating new solutions, and contributing to the future of our region.

From Kenya to Missouri, Harriet is showing what is possible when talent is given the opportunity to thrive. Her success is a success for all of us.

Congratulations, Harriet! Your community is proud of you, and we look forward to seeing the impact of your work on women’s health and beyond!
Read more: https://medicine.missouri.edu/news/omenges-research-endometriosis-pain-garners-accolades?fbclid=IwY2xjawUNJ4twZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMXNuNnBZMElwNUFZNzMwSnpzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe6rkNOwqyrIrGkdQdEN3mQyFHt0W8LqlLGPJMlc0xZ-jb75fylTN_pNhwl7A_aem_iMNr3HLG1kSA0o5vk-_TnQ


St. Louis Mosaic Project African Chamber of Commerce, St. Louis

09/07/2026

FROM AFRICA TO ST. LOUIS: STORIES, EXPERIENCES & CONNECTIONS

Join Vitendo 4 Africa (V4A) and St. Louis, MO Chapter of The Links, Incorporated for our Building Momentum Speaker Series, proudly presented as part of Welcoming Week 2026!

This special panel brings together St. Louis residents who have meaningful connections to Africa, sharing their experiences from traveling, living, working, or engaging with communities across the continent and how those experiences have shaped their welcoming work here in St. Louis.

Building Momentum: Welcoming Through Connection, Culture & Community

Our conversation will explore how our experiences across cultures can inspire us to build stronger, more connected, and more welcoming communities right here in St. Louis.

📅 Tuesday, September 15, 2026
⏰ 6:00 PM
📍 Deaconess Foundation
1000 N. Vandeventer Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63113

Come connect, learn, share, and be inspired as we celebrate the powerful connections between Africa and St. Louis.

Everyone is welcome!
REGISTER https://forms.gle/uVqHqkr67Yp9t8GD7

St. Louis Mosaic Project Welcoming America

09/06/2026

Today's St. Louis Ethiopian Day Festival was amazing - a perfect example of how community brings us together. We appreciate the community leaders and all volunteers for putting this great event together.

Events like this help immigrant children stay connected to their culture, build friendships across the region, and create a true sense of belonging.

V4A , African Chamber of Commerce, St. Louis, St. Louis Mosaic Project and believe that working with grassroots organizations is so important. They fight social isolation, support mental health, and make St. Louis a welcoming place where talent wants to stay.

With our birth rate now lower than our death rate, we cannot grow without welcoming and retaining new families. Investing in grassroots groups is investing in population growth and regional economic growth.

Thank you to V4A Traction Teen Traffic Safety Program for the outreach campaign.

DrLynn Ogbah Faas Faiza Faiza Muhambi Jean Konde Arinola Smith Solanke Gilberto Pinela Annie Nyabwati

09/05/2026

Join us tomorrow at 2pm.

09/05/2026

Register. https://pathway.wustl.edu/register/?id=a9f1681c-b119-47cb-a700-fc0347799189

Zinash: Bridge the Gap is back!

Join WashU ASA on Saturday, September 26 for a day dedicated to connecting high school students from the Greater St. Louis area with WashU’s African student community.

Students will get the chance to explore campus, spend time with current ASA members, have lunch with students, and learn more about the college admissions process, financial aid, and the experiences of first- and second-generation African immigrant students at WashU. Interested in joining us? Scan the QR code or use the link on the flyer to register!

09/04/2026

Welcoming New Americans Forum Tomorrow

Join us for an engaging and informative workshop designed to help newcomers feel confident, connected, and supported as they build their new lives in the United States.

Date: Saturday Sept 5th, 2026
🕙 Time: 10 AM
📍 Location: Vitendo 4 Africa. 7220 N. Lindbergh Blvd. Hazelwood, MO 63042

Register here: https://forms.gle/CkTn7fcVzzp6tbkK8

We look forward to welcoming you.

09/04/2026

The Bands of America (BOA) St. Louis Super Regional Championship will take place October 23–24, 2026, at The Dome at America's Center, bringing thousands of high school marching band students, families, and visitors from across the country to St. Louis.

This major event provides an excellent opportunity to showcase St. Louis as a diverse and welcoming community. The City of St. Louis is a Certified Welcoming City, recognized by Welcoming America for its commitment to immigrant inclusion and creating opportunities for all residents to participate in civic, social, and economic life.

Together, BOA and St. Louis can celebrate music, culture, youth, diversity, and community connection.

https://marching.musicforall.org/st-louis-super-regional/

Read more about certified welcoming cities across US. https://certifiedwelcoming.org/

St. Louis Mosaic Project African Chamber of Commerce, St. Louis

Tickets are also available for purchase at the box office at Broadway Central at the Dome at America’s Center. We encourage spectators to give themselves plenty of time to visit the box office.

09/04/2026

Today, Vitendo4Africa (V4A) was honored to join the Washington University in St. Louis Department of African and African American Studies (AFAS) for its Welcome Back Gathering.
The gathering provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with AFAS students, faculty, staff, and fellow community partners as we welcomed the new academic year.
V4A is proud to partner with AFAS to help strengthen the connection between Washington University and the broader St. Louis community, creating opportunities for collaboration, cultural exchange, mentorship, and community engagement.
We look forward to another year of building bridges, creating opportunities, and working together to ensure that our African and African American communities continue to thrive.

Welcoming America Jean Konde St. Louis Mosaic Project Arinola Smith Solanke African Chamber of Commerce, St. Louis

09/03/2026

Immigrant and refugee youth and families often encounter cultural and language barriers, social isolation, and misconceptions that can make it difficult to feel a sense of belonging and fully participate in community life. Creating opportunities for meaningful, positive, real-world connections can help build understanding, strengthen relationships across cultures, and ensure that every young person has the opportunity to thrive.

V4A creates real-life opportunities for immigrant and refugee youth to connect, belong, participate, and lead alongside their peers. Through sports, arts, STEM, mentoring, leadership, and wellness activities, young people develop relationships and shared experiences that build understanding across cultures and strengthen the social fabric of our communities.
Visit our programs at https://vitendo4africa.org/programs/youth-empowerment/
Thank you to all our partners who continue to invest in, believe in, and transform the lives of young people in our community. Your partnership creates opportunities today while helping us build a stronger, more connected, and more prosperous future for the region. Thank you to St. Louis Internship Program (SLIP) UMSL Bridge Program S&T Ku**er Center for STEM St. Louis Zoo Midwest BankCentre Saint Louis Mental Health Board Deaconess Foundation, Nike St. Louis CITY SC Traction Teen Traffic Safety Program St. Louis County Children's Service Fund PreventEd Mental Health First Aid Missouri, STL Youth Jobs, and many others

As we look toward the future and the growth of our region, we are reminded of the African proverb: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.”

Together, we can expand opportunity, strengthen our communities, and ensure that every young person has the support and opportunity to thrive. Our collective investment today is shaping the leaders and communities of tomorrow.


Arinola Smith Solanke
African Chamber of Commerce, St. Louis St. Louis Mosaic Project