4theville

05/22/2026

✊🏽✊🏽🙏🏽

After losing his home and brother in the north St. Louis tornado, Sumner senior Rondré Phillips graduates with resilience and a mission to uplift his community.

05/08/2026

is happy to announce that Mack Williams III from the St. Louis region has been nominated for the 2026 National History Day Teacher of the Year Award in the Senior Division for the state of Missouri. Results will be announced at the contest in June.

Mr. Williams teaches at Sumner High School. He shared: "Helping my students learn how to preserve our community's history and tell its stories has been one of the most fulfilling experiences in my life. I have been teaching the Museum Studies Pathway course at Sumner High School for four years, and have participated in NHD each year. Our involvement with NHD has not only increased student interest in history, it has exposed them to subjects and locations that have helped transition them from having a fear of failure to confidence that they belong in any and all spaces."

Congratulations, Mack!

05/06/2026

Today is Give STL Day, and it's our first year. 🙌🏾

We reclaim, restore, and transform. The Ville has been here. The Ville is here. And The Ville is just getting started.

Give today → secure.qgiv.com/for/4theville 🔗

05/04/2026

✨ If you’ve ever felt called to share the stories that don’t always make it into the history books — this is your sign.

4TheVille is now accepting applications for its second Docent cohort, and we’re looking for storytellers ready to bring St. Louis’ Black history to life.

Over 24 weeks (June–October), you’ll train in storytelling, historical research, community engagement, tour management, and more — all while connecting with an incredible community of people who get it.

📍 St. Louis, MO 📅 Apply by May 22nd 🔗 Learn more at 4theville.org

04/25/2026

When a strong principal allows a community to wrap its arms around her school, this is what you get! 😁

We are so proud to partner with WashU Office for Socially Engaged Practice, Sam Fox School and DrRonda Wallace to offer collaborative opportunities between Sumner and Wash U students in The Ville.

We’re proud to celebrate Sumner High School Principal Dr. Ronda Wallace 🎉

Dr. Wallace has received a 2026 Provost Impact Award from Washington University in St. Louis alongside Kelley Van Dyck Murphy for their project, “Building Pathways.”

This initiative connects Sumner students to hands-on experiences in architecture and design—expanding career pathways and helping students see themselves in new futures.

This recognition highlights the power of collaboration in creating meaningful opportunities for our students.

👏 Join us in congratulating Dr. Wallace on this well-deserved honor!

04/23/2026

Did you know that architect William B. Ittner was once called on to design the new Dunbar High School (1st Black public high school in the US) in DC, but was too busy designing 50 St. Louis schools (YES! Including the Sumner High School) to take the job?

He did eventually design Central High in DC, but 1 doesn't compare to the 50 in St. Louis!

Learn more about our rich public school history at tonight!

04/23/2026

Sumner High is now the oldest Black high school building in the United States! And yet, it is simply a small piece of the storied past of St. Louis public education. In many ways, St. Louis created the standard for public education, especially for the architectural design of school buildings.

Join tonight at the to learn more about this storied past with .louis and

04/08/2026

03/17/2026

Step back into St. Louis history with our 2-hour guided walking tour.

In the mid-20th century, the area around Union Station was ground zero for massive urban renewal projects. Entire neighborhoods like Chestnut Valley and Mill Creek were bulldozed in the name of “progress,” uprooting thousands of families and erasing vibrant communities.

Join our See STL Tour to uncover the people, places and policies behind these lost neighborhoods, and see how their legacy still shapes the city today.

Tours are wheelchair accessible.

🗓️ Sunday, March 29
⏰ 10am-12pm
🎟️ $17 MHS members | $22 per person
🔗 Register online: https://bit.ly/46UiVVj

After the tour, be sure to visit our “Mill Creek: Black Metropolis” exhibit to dive deeper into the lives of those who lived in this historic neighborhood.

03/17/2026

4theville stands with Vanessa Foster-Cooksey and Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis any day and every day. Protect the arts. Protect servant leaders.

03/07/2026

THANK YOU for showing up and showing out for the Plan Area 5 launch event!! More than 200 community members came to document their thoughts, hopes and experiences that will shape priorities for the Rising Together Neighborhood Plan.

This sponsored plan includes the Academy-Sherman Park and Fountain Park Lewis Place neighborhoods. Plan Area 5 is co-designed with a group of 15 dedicated community members who live, work and play in the plan area.

Know that we can’t do this work alone… This plan takes all of us, and we want YOU to join our team!

With this incredibly successful launch, we’re seeking PAID neighborhood ambassadors to spread the word about this plan. You could earn $22/hr just for walking around your neighborhood, talking to your neighbors!

Apply now and learn more about Plan Area 5 at bit.ly/RisingTogetherSTL. Applications are due next Friday, March 13!