Marissanne Lewis-Thompson
St. Louis Public Radio
Contact Marissanne
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
| Recent: |
|
| Past: |
|
Past articles by Marissanne:
A growing number of Black families are taking education into their own hands
The U.S. Census Bureau published findings from a survey that found the rate of Black families swapping traditional learning with homeschooling between the spring and fall of 2020 was five times more than any other racial group in the country. → Read More
Metro East Animal Rescue Addresses Increase In Strays With Free Spay And Neuter Program
Pet owners in the Metro East have a chance to get their pets spayed and neutered free of charge in an effort to address overcrowding in shelters. → Read More
St. Louis Area Schools Face Uphill Battle With Ongoing Staffing and Supply Shortages
School districts in the St. Louis Metro are experiencing a staffing, supply and teacher shortage that’s grown with the coronavirus pandemic. → Read More
Nonprofit To Build Tiny Homes For St. Louis Homeless Veterans
The Veterans Community Project, a Kansas City-based nonprofit, is building tiny homes and an outreach center in the JeffVanderLou neighborhood to help veterans who are experiencing homelessness get a second chance at life. → Read More
Missouri’s Oldest One-Room Schoolhouse Gets A New Chance At Life
A one-room schoolhouse built in 1894 for African American children is moving to a St. Louis County park where it will be restored. African School #4 had been converted into a garage after the schoolhouse closed in the 1950s. → Read More
‘Change Agent’: Michael Brown Jr.’s Parents Reflect On His Legacy 7 Years Later
Michael Brown Jr.'s father and stepmother are still hopeful that the former Ferguson police officer who shot their son will be held accountable as conversations surrounding police violence and justice continue. Yet the family also is focused on healing. → Read More
Two St. Louis Catholic High Schools Grapple With Namesakes’ Ties To Slavery
The Archdiocese of St. Louis recently revealed some of its early bishops and clergy held enslaved people. That includes Bishop William DuBourg and Bishop Joseph Rosati. Now two schools named for the men are reckoning with that history. → Read More
Local Churches Are Headed Back To In-Person Worship
Faith groups in St. Louis are welcoming worshippers back in person as the region opens up. The Archdiocese of St. Louis lifted its dispensation of obligation for all parishes as of July 1. → Read More
St. Louis Archdiocese Uncovers Its Own History With Slavery In Midst Of National Reckoning
The Archdiocese of St. Louis is the latest religious institution to acknowledge its role in enslaving people. The Archdiocese started a project called “Forgive Us Our Trespasses” to uncover that history. → Read More
St. Louis Community 'Devastated’ By Sudden Death Of SLU Professor
Jonathan Smith, the vice president for diversity and community engagement at St. Louis University has died. Smith, 61, served as an assistant professor of American Studies, African American Studies, and would later become the university’s first chief diversity officer. → Read More
'Their Lives Matter': Descendants Of Those Owned By Jesuits Want Their Voices Heard
In March, the Jesuits and a group of Georgetown University descendants announced a new foundation with a plan for racial healing, but some St. Louis descendants say they had no input in a plan to allocate $100 million. → Read More
St. Louis Tenants Going It Alone Have Harder Time In Court, But New Guide Could Help
ArchCity Defenders has launched a new guide to help St. Louisans facing evictions represent themselves in court. “Representing Yourself When Facing Eviction” explains the types of eviction lawsuits and how to prepare for court. → Read More
New Program to Help Eligible Missourians Temporarily Pay For Internet
The Emergency Broadband Benefit program will give eligible Missourians up to $50 per month toward their internet bill. The $3.2 billion program was announced by the Federal Communications Commission. → Read More
Wash U Explores Its History And Relation To Slavery In New Project
Washington University is the latest among a growing list of universities and colleges nationwide looking into the role they may have played in slavery. → Read More
St. Louis Faith Leaders Blast Bill Allowing Guns In Houses Of Worship
St. Louis faith leaders are opposing a bill making its way through the Senate that would allow guns in houses of worship. They say churches are safe spaces that should continue to be gun free zones. → Read More
Black St. Louisans Turn To Therapy, Nature And Family To Heal From Police Violence
A week after the Minneapolis jury’s verdict, Black people in the St. Louis region are struggling to reconcile a brief moment of relief with painful reminders that police continue to use deadly force against Black people. They’re also seeking ways to heal from generational trauma — through therapy, yoga, meditation and spending time outdoors. → Read More
'Recipe For Disaster:' St. Louis Officials React To Bill Allowing Guns On Public Transit
A bill proposed in the Missouri legislature would allow people to carry concealed weapons on public transit. → Read More
Metro Transit Adds New Technology To COVID Safety Measures
Starting Monday, Metro Transit will use a new antimicrobial technology to reduce the spread of bacteria, viruses and other germs on its transit systems. Its maintenance crews will use a fogging device to create a protective barrier on surfaces that lasts for 30 days. → Read More
St. Louis Chemical Engineer Who Led Pfizer Team Says The Vaccine Is The Only Way Out
Paul Mensah, a Black chemical engineer and vice president of Bioprocess Research and Development group at Pfizer in St. Louis, led a team of scientists, engineers and technicians to develop Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. → Read More
Q-Tips To Drive-Thru Services: Churches Get Creative This Ash Wednesday
Churches in the St. Louis region are rethinking Ash Wednesday in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Some churches are skipping ashes altogether, while others will have parishioners put on their own ashes. → Read More