Mourning Mill Creek – Aug 14 & 15, 2026

July 28, 2026 by pdc_mgmt

Events

Mourning Mill Creek – Aug 14 & 15, 2026

A tribute to St. Louis Mill Creek community that was destroyed in the mid-20th century due to urban renewal, displacing its vibrant African American residents.

Upcoming Events

Mourning Mill Creek – Aug 14 & 15, 2026

A tribute to St. Louis Mill Creek community that was destroyed in the mid-20th century due to urban renewal, displacing its vibrant African American residents.

Project Her Name Matters Presents – Town Hall – Aug 8, 2026

How does the epidemic of missing Black women and girls impact the St. Louis region and what can we do about it? The Her Name Matters Town Hall event will cover these topics and more, bringing together Jamala Rogers of the Organization for Black Struggle, State Senator Angela Mosley (Sponsor of the Missing and Murdered African American Women and Girls Task Force), and Sara White of the Salvation Army Anti-Human Trafficking Initiative for an in-depth discussion on this urgent crisis.

The Golden Era of Black Radio presented by the National Black Radio Hall of Fame – Aug 8, 2026

This exciting fundraising event will feature a heartfelt tribute to the late Doug Eason and will bring together many of the legendary voices heard on local radio stations, along with several pioneers of the industry.

Project Her Name Matters Presents – Town Hall – Aug 8, 2026

July 28, 2026 by pdc_mgmt

Events

Project Her Name Matters Presents – Town Hall – Aug 8, 2026

Upcoming Events

Mourning Mill Creek – Aug 14 & 15, 2026

A tribute to St. Louis Mill Creek community that was destroyed in the mid-20th century due to urban renewal, displacing its vibrant African American residents.

Project Her Name Matters Presents – Town Hall – Aug 8, 2026

The Golden Era of Black Radio presented by the National Black Radio Hall of Fame – Aug 8, 2026

July 28, 2026 by pdc_mgmt

Events

The Golden Era of Black Radio presented by the National Black Radio Hall of Fame – Aug 8, 2026

Upcoming Events

Mourning Mill Creek – Aug 14 & 15, 2026

A tribute to St. Louis Mill Creek community that was destroyed in the mid-20th century due to urban renewal, displacing its vibrant African American residents.

Project Her Name Matters Presents – Town Hall – Aug 8, 2026

The Golden Era of Black Radio presented by the National Black Radio Hall of Fame – Aug 8, 2026

August 4, 2026 is Election Day in Missouri

July 28, 2026July 28, 2026 by pdc_mgmt

Events

August 4, 2026 is Election Day in Missouri

Get informed about candidates and amendments for this years special election.

Recent Posts

OBS Statement on March 2026 Youth Detainment

We are outraged over the treatment of youth last weekend by the Mayor of St. Louis and SLMPD. After incidents were reported in North City, South City, and Downtown on 314 Day Weekend, the Mayor put a 10pm curfew in place for Downtown the following weekend. As a result, 23 youth from ages 11 to 17 were threatened, harassed, zip-tied, thrown into SLMPD vehicles, and taken to a non-disclosed location.

UMSL CANCELS THE 46TH ANNIVERSARY PROGRAM OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR BLACK STRUGGLE

St. Louis – The 46th anniversary celebration of the Organization for Black Struggle was rescheduled due to the January snowstorm. This year’s event marked a significant departure from previous celebrations: the dinner portion was eliminated, and for the first time, the event included a partnership with the Museum Department of the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL).

45th Commemorative Edition Newsletter Pt.2

To the members of the OBS—both past and present, as well as those who have made their transition—we stand on their shoulders. In the spirit of Imani, we value their contributions to the freedom struggles.

Smoke & Spice Celebrating Lois Conley at 80 – Aug 1st, 2026

July 28, 2026 by pdc_mgmt

Events

Smoke & Spice Celebrating Lois Conley at 80 – Aug 1st, 2026

A cultural fundraiser honoring one of St. Louis’ most influential historians, museum leaders, and community advocates.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of bold flavors, rich history, live entertainment, and legacy as we honor a visionary whose life work continues to inspire and transform our community.

Upcoming Events

Mourning Mill Creek – Aug 14 & 15, 2026

A tribute to St. Louis Mill Creek community that was destroyed in the mid-20th century due to urban renewal, displacing its vibrant African American residents.

Project Her Name Matters Presents – Town Hall – Aug 8, 2026

The Golden Era of Black Radio presented by the National Black Radio Hall of Fame – Aug 8, 2026

Graduate Internship for the Organization for Black Struggle Archive Project

April 23, 2026 by pdc_mgmt

opportunity, Press Statement

Graduate Internship for the Organization for Black Struggle Archive Project

The Organization for Black Struggle (OBS) is seeking a summer intern to work with the team on a collaborative project with several partners. They include, but are not limited to, the UMSL Museum Department, the State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSMO), and We Are St. Louis. The team will include interns working with our partners.

We are seeking a graduate student, ideally in a history or museum studies M.A. program, with a strong interest and/or experience in digital platforms, social movement history, Black history, St. Louis history, participatory digital public history, user-generated archival content, metadata, content management systems, including omeka and the oral history metadata synchronizer (OHMS), and/or digital user experience (UX). OBS is seeking self-motivated applicants with strong time management, communication, and interpersonal skills.

The internship runs from June 1 to August 7, 2026, requiring a minimum of 20 hours per week for 10 weeks, with a pay rate of $20 per hour. The intern will report directly to Jamala Rogers, Executive Director.

Applications are due by 4/30. Please submit a resume and cover letter reflecting relevant experience, training, and scholarly interest in the content. Applications should be emailed to lara.kelland@umsl.edu.

OBS is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, individuals with disabilities, women, and LGBTQIA+ applicants.

Recent Posts

Mourning Mill Creek – Aug 14 & 15, 2026

A tribute to St. Louis Mill Creek community that was destroyed in the mid-20th century due to urban renewal, displacing its vibrant African American residents.

Project Her Name Matters Presents – Town Hall – Aug 8, 2026

The Golden Era of Black Radio presented by the National Black Radio Hall of Fame – Aug 8, 2026

Reject The Takeover Mass Emergency Meeting – 4/1/2026

March 25, 2026 by pdc_mgmt

Events

Reject The Takeover Mass Emergency Meeting – 4/1/2026

The Board of Police Commissioners is demanding $250-350 million of OUR tax dollars to fund police. St. Louisans are coming together to stop this attack and demand that St. Louis City’s budget go towards services and resources that actually help our communities–things like mental health service expansion, Right to Counsel, and funding for a just recovery in North City.

Join us to learn more about the Board of Police Commissioners, the overreach on the city’s budget and how community can help stop the state using SLMPD to steal our money and resources!

Location: The Northside Movement Center 5939 Goodfellow Blvd. St. Louis, 63147

Upcoming Events

Mourning Mill Creek – Aug 14 & 15, 2026

A tribute to St. Louis Mill Creek community that was destroyed in the mid-20th century due to urban renewal, displacing its vibrant African American residents.

Project Her Name Matters Presents – Town Hall – Aug 8, 2026

The Golden Era of Black Radio presented by the National Black Radio Hall of Fame – Aug 8, 2026

OBS Racial Justice Organizer

May 5, 2021May 5, 2021 by pdc_mgmt

opportunity

OBS Racial Justice Organizer

The Organization for Black Struggle was founded in 1980 by community activists, students, workers’ rights organizers and others to address the burning issues confronting the African American community. We are a Black-led and member-driven organization. One of the foundational pillars of OBS is the important work around racial justice. This includes, but is not limited to, police accountability, mass incarceration, judicial reform and the death penalty.
The organizer’s primary duties are to advance our strategic objectives around police accountability and community engagement on re-envisioning public safety.

General Staff Expectations

Hold a general belief that the police/court systems do not work in the interests of the Black community
Participate in regular staff meetings
Attend all trainings mandated by OBS
Attend meetings and events related to staff’s scope of work
Keep abreast of issues, policies, legislation, research, etc. related to staff’s scope of work
Assist in building and sustaining collaborative relationships that strengthen and expand the racial justice movement locally and nationally
Contribute summations, write-ups and photos on work
Recruit members and build the State Repression Committee

Skills and Qualifications

2-3 years of experience in community organizing, union organizing, or grassroots-focused political campaigns
Ability to manage and prioritize several tasks/projects concurrently and work effectively either independently or in close collaboration with others.
Ability to communicate effectively, have good written and verbal communication skills,
Attention to detail, ability to meet deadlines and provide weekly reports to supervisor.
Experience working with diverse communities, with demonstrable cultural competency.
Must be willing to work some evenings and weekends
Must have a functioning vehicle with valid driver’s license and car insurance.
Must be social media savvy

Compensation & Benefits

OBS organizers are paid $15-$20 per hour depending on demonstrated organizing experience and work 40-hour weeks. Competitive benefits package is available, including medical, dental, vacation and sick leave.

Contact Information

Please send a cover letter that speaks to how your skills and experiences connect with the position. Include three references of people who have worked with you and who are familiar with your work experience, such as a supervisor. Send cover letter and a resume to contactus@obs-stl.org. OBS is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, people with disabilities, women, and LGBT applicants.

Recent Posts

Graduate Internship for the Organization for Black Struggle Archive Project

OBS Racial Justice Organizer

The Organization for Black Struggle was founded in 1980 by community activists, students, workers’ rights organizers and others to address the burning issues confronting the African American community. We are a Black-led and member-driven organization. One of the foundational pillars of OBS is the important work around racial justice.This includes, but is not limited to, police accountability, mass incarceration, judicial reform and the death penalty.

OBS Executive Director

The Organization for Black Struggle (OBS) is seeking an Executive Director. We seek an experienced and dynamic executive leader who, in partnership with members, board and staff, will be prepared to carry forward and build on OBS’ 41-year history of multi-issue organizing for Black liberation in the St. Louis region. We are looking for a skilled manager, with a background in movement organizing, who will be able to provide dynamic leadership and direction for OBS.

Sign up for Updates

Organization for Black Struggle
P.O. Box 5277
St. Louis, MO 63115
(314) 367-5959 | contactus@obs-stl.org

“This is what happens to us” Washington Post article on failed response by cities to COVID-19

January 29, 2025May 3, 2021 by pdc_mgmt

COVID Response

“This is what happens to us” Washington Post article on failed response by cities to COVID-19

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins had a hunch. He had used data compiled for emergency responders in late March to create a computerized map showing cases of the novel coronavirus by address. A cluster of red pins curved around downtown and extended into black neighborhoods toward the city’s western edge.

At the time, policymakers and public health experts studying the still mysterious disease had been focusing on risk factors such as international travel, age and chronic health conditions including diabetes and heart disease — not race. Most states — including Louisiana — weren’t even publicly tracking race-related data about the virus’s impact.

But Perkins’s map was showing him that ignoring race could be a catastrophic mistake.

“People in these areas need to know their neighborhoods are being affected disproportionately,” he said.

It was a rare, early action aimed at halting the spread of the coronavirus among African Americans, who bore the brunt of the disease across the country as attention and resources flowed elsewhere.

Recent Posts

“This is what happens to us” Washington Post article on failed response by cities to COVID-19

Poor reporting of data, which initially masked the fact that the disease was disproportionately affecting black communities, remains a problem even as states move to reopen their economies.

Today, Americans living in counties with above-average black populations are three times as likely to die of the coronavirus as those in above-average white counties, according to an analysis of census and other data by The Washington Post.

Jamala & Health Dept Directors on COVID-19 Preparedness

Host Hank Thompson speaks with St. Louis County health director, Spring Schmidt, St. Louis City health director, Dr. Fred Echols, and community activist, Jamala Rogers to discuss the 2019 Coronavirus and St. Louis’ ability to handle an epidemic.

Prosecutors’ Statement on COVID-19 & Incarceration

Today over 30 elected prosecutors representing more than17 million people across the country issued a joint statement recommending immediate actions to mitigate community spread of COVID–19 amongst the 2.3 million adults and children held in prisons, local jails, youth correctional facilities, immigration detention centers, and other forms of confinement. Key recommendations include:

Sign up for Updates

Organization for Black Struggle
P.O. Box 5277
St. Louis, MO 63115
(314) 367-5959 | contactus@obs-stl.org

Jamala & Health Dept Directors on COVID-19 Preparedness

January 29, 2025May 3, 2021 by pdc_mgmt

COVID Response

Jamala & Health Dept Directors on COVID-19 Preparedness

Recent Posts

Sign up for Updates

Organization for Black Struggle
P.O. Box 5277
St. Louis, MO 63115
(314) 367-5959 | contactus@obs-stl.org