The People’s Response 2025

The People’s Response Impact Report

On May 16, 2025, a tornado tore through North St. Louis, damaging homes, displacing families, and revealing once again the cost of generations of disinvestment in our neighborhoods. Less than 48 hours later, The People’s Response was born—not from an institution or mandate, but from a deep desire to act, to care, and to protect our people.

What began as a call to respond quickly transformed into a full-scale, community-powered relief hub. Over six weeks, we served thousands of residents through direct supply distribution, community clean ups, coordinated door-to-door deliveries, and a system that tracked needs and ensured follow-up. We built something that was both urgent and deeply intentional.

This effort was made possible by the people—by the staff of Action St. Louis and leaders of ForTheCultureSTL, who showed up every single day with commitment and care. By our partner organizations who brought vision, infrastructure, and relationships that held this work together.

We were lifted by foundations and community organizations that trusted our leadership and resourced our work through institutional support. Local businesses and artists leveraged their platforms, creativity, and networks to fundraise and amplify the response. And most importantly, every single person who dropped off supplies, made a donation, or volunteered their time became the heartbeat of this operation. You are why we could meet the moment with power and love.

This report reflects the scale and scope of what’s possible when community leads. It is also a mirror to the failures of systems that should have acted faster, reached farther, and been better prepared to serve our people. The need in North City remains profound. While The People’s Response has shown what’s possible, we are clear that sustained, long-term recovery must be led and resourced by city and state institutions—with accountability to the people most impacted.

In love and solidarity,

Kayla Reed, Executive Director, Action St. Louis
Ohun Ashe, Founder, ForTheCultureSTL