Annual A Night With the Stars awards event recognizes record number of nominees doing vital work in 24:1
There was a record number of nominees this year, including several young people.
The Community Impact Network hosted its third annual A Night With the Stars awards celebration on Dec. 6, 2024, honoring a record number of nominees while celebrating the power of the arts.
Forty-seven individuals were nominated for awards this year, which is the most nominees in the awards ceremony’s history. Nominees ranged from across the Network’s priority areas: early childhood specialists who prepare children for kindergarten, construction workers who help bring quality affordable housing to the 24:1, street outreach workers who support young people in obtaining basic needs, volunteers who use their time to uplift others, and more.
Channel 4 anchor Damon Arnold was the emcee for the event, sharing his enthusiasm and his moving life story with more than 200 attendees at 18Rails, the event venue at the City Foundry. Network CEO Neosha Franklin spoke at the event about how A Night With the Stars reminds us to honor the beauty, voices and joy in the 24:1 community.
“Tonight, we celebrate your voices, your service, and the power of what we create together,” Franklin said. “Thank you for being part of the Network, for sharing your joy, and for making a difference every day. Let’s continue to uplift one another and the community we serve.”
This year’s theme was Empowerment Through Expression: Honoring the Voices of Service, examining ways the arts can uplift and inspire a community. The night’s two keynote speakers – Griot Museum of Black History founder Lois Conley and The Black Rep founder Ron Himes – shared their stories and their wisdom about how the arts can tell powerful stories.
The evening also featured performances from some of St. Louis’ outstanding Black artists. The Blck Bird String Ensemble – an all-Black string quartet that strives to inspire young people through education and community engagement – provided music throughout the night while The Black Rep vocalist De-Rance Blaylock brought the house down with a performance of “I’m Changing” from Dreamgirls.
Thirteen individuals received awards, and you can read more about them below. Below that, see the full list of nominees. All photos from the event are by Phillip Hamer Photography, and all awardees pictured at the event are alongside Network CEO Neosha Franklin.
Solutions Award Recipients
Carrie Henderson
is the Director of Youth and Family Programming at Beyond Housing. She is a St. Louis native and currently leads the network of Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools that Beyond Housing sponsors.
Dr. Lanor Payne
is the principal at the Normandy Early Learning Center. He has 18 years of experience in education as a teacher and as a leader, and has brought an innovative approach to the Early Learning Center.
Joey Saunders
is the Chief of Strategy and Institutional Advancement for Urban Sprouts. He has helped streamline operations and lead the organization of a program to build capacity of early education leaders in the region.
Teamwork Award Recipients
David Gorden
is a Teaching Artist with St. Louis ArtWorks. He teaches young people the power of art, runs his own freelance studio and has done many community projects in the 24:1.
Janice Green
is the assistant director of Jessie B’s Academy. She frequently organizes events that provide children with opportunities to engage and learn.
Lertwichan Liwapattanapichit
is a PE Teacher at the Normandy Early Learning Center. He makes sure students of all ability levels are involved and inspired, and he uplifts coworkers with his positive attitude.
Listening Award Recipients
Antoinette Becerra
is a Parent Educator with Parents as Teachers. She has served families for PAT in the Normandy Schools Collaborative for the past six years.
Ti’Ana Edwards
is a Street Outreach Worker for Epworth’s Drop-In Center in Normandy. Ti’Ana builds trust and fosters a sense of hope and possibility among the youth she serves.
Terricka Reese
is Family Development Specialist with the Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition. She has worked in the child-welfare field since 2013 and currently works with foster families.
Emerging Changemaker Award Recipients
Amir Brown, Zechariah Barber and Adaiah Gordon
are on the chess team at Normandy High School. They recently won the Gateway Chess regional championship and have even been invited to Washington D.C. to meet and play against U.S. senators. (Brown and Barber pictured)
Jaylen Stewart
is a senior at Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School. He lives and works in the 24:1, serving as a tutor at SoulFisher Ministries for the past four years. He also has completed LEAD STL’s year-long Cultural Leadership Fellowship.
Deanna Allsman, Epworth Children & Family Services
Anthony Clark, Normandy High School Alumni Association
Danielle Daniels, Infant Loss Resources
Carrie Henderson, Beyond Housing
Kathleen Johnson, Beyond Housing
Marquetta Lane-Hamell, CHADS Coalition for Mental Health
Ellicia Lanier, Urban Sprouts Child Development Center
Dr. Lanor Payne, Normandy Early Learning Center
Joey Saunders, Urban Sprouts Child Development Center
Dr. Toni Strong, Prodigal House Ministry
Brian Beedie, Beyond Housing
Noreen Conte, Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments
David Gorden, St. Louis ArtWorks and 4Sight Studio
Janice Green, Jessie B’s Academy LLC
Lori Hendrick, Epworth Children & Family Services
Courtney Hinton, PreventEd
Dave Hines, Equity Homes
Chelsea Johnson, Beyond Housing
Kathleen Johnson, Beyond Housing
Kyla Kikkawa, St. Louis ArtWorks
Marquetta Lane-Hamell, CHADS Coalition for Mental Health
Lertwichan Liwapattanapichit, Normandy Schools Collaborative and Normandy Early Learning Center
Tinisha Manning, Korner Stone Kids Preschool
Sarah Marshall, Belle Children’s Services of St. Louis Arc
Gabriela Ochoa, Community Impact Network
Jacob Painter, CHADS Coalition for Mental Health
Adeshia Session, Beyond Housing
Muriel Smith, St. Louis Area Diaper Bank
Queenie Vesey, A Red Circle
Nykea Watts Edwards, Ed.D., Normandy High School Alumni Association
Quen Agnew, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership
LaShonna Barrow, Beyond Housing
Antoinette Becerra, Parents as Teachers
Angela Byas, Parents as Teachers
Ti’Ana Edwards, Epworth Children & Family Services
Verba Harris, Smart Kids, Inc.
D’Quann Knight, Youth in Need
Theresa Pearson, Normandy Schools collaborative
Terricka Reese, Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition
Rachel Rice, Korner Stone Kids Preschool
Dr. Robert Strong, Prodigal House Ministry
Amir Brown, Zechariah Barber, and Adaiah Gordon, Normandy High School
Amirah Cotton, Normandy High School
Tiana Harris, Clyde C. Miller Academy High School
Skyler King, Lucas Crossing Middle School
Treyton Parker, Lucas Crossing Middle School
Jaylen Stewart, Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School
