Lewis Place, located less than five miles from the Cathedral, holds deep historical significance. In the 1940s, Black residents fought to overturn a restrictive covenant that barred them from owning homes there. Today, it remains the oldest private street owned by Black St. Louisans.

On May 16, a devastating EF3 tornado struck Lewis Place and the neighboring Fountain Park community. Due to ongoing evils of systemic racism and redlining, more than two months later, many residents are still living with the consequences, facing urgent, unmet needs and uncertain futures.

Here are just a few stories from the community:
• A grandmother raising four grandchildren in a home with broken windows and no secure fencing.
• A family displaced due to unsafe living conditions, now burdened with overwhelming repair costs.
• A single mother who lost everything, struggling to pay rent while caring for children with medical needs.

If you feel called to explore how we, as a Cathedral community, might respond, please contact Sandy Padgett.