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.
Towards the Dismantling of the Prison Industrial Complex and the
Re-imagining Alternatives that Deliver Real Justice
OBS has devoted much of its organizational time and resources to this pillar of our foundational work. We have seen progress but it is not fast enough nor expansive enough. Greater, more strategic efforts must be waged against a system that is eating our communities alive.
Although some may find the terms “abolition” or “defund the police” problematic, all justice-seeking people believe that the current system that encompasses the police, the courts and the prisons is racially biased and corrupt. It rarely works for Black people. OBS has devoted much of its organizational time and resources to this pillar of our foundational work. We have seen progress but it is not fast enough nor expansive enough. Greater, more strategic efforts must be waged against a system that is eating our communities alive.
OBS has joined allies in working the system inside and out—meaning organizing campaigns to pass new laws and elect officials who share a restorative justice agenda and will use our resources to meet the basic human needs of communities. We spend way much money on control and punishment, with little impact on the root causes.
It is reform laws that allowed Bobby Bostic to seek relief from an unjust sentence he received as a teen. OBS helped to pass historic legislation that gave new powers to the Circuit Attorney’s office to hold police and courts accountable. Having led the efforts to establish a civilian over-sight board in 2015, it was time to create a new office for its expanded functions and improved efficiency.
Recent Posts
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.